Confidential Draft Submission submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 13, 2018.
This draft registration statement has not been filed publicly with the Securities and Exchange
Commission and all information contained herein remains confidential.
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Osmotica Pharmaceuticals plc(1)
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Ireland (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
2834 (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) |
Not Applicable (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
400 Crossing Boulevard
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
(908) 809-1300
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
Brian Markison
Chief Executive Officer
400 Crossing Boulevard
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
(908) 809-1300
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to: | ||
Craig E. Marcus Ropes & Gray LLP Prudential Tower 800 Boylston Street Boston, MA 02199 (617) 951-7000 |
Marc. D. Jaffe Ian D. Schuman Latham & Watkins LLP 885 Third Avenue New York, NY 10022-4834 (212) 906-1200 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to public:
As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement is declared effective.
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, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
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. o
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 earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer o | Accelerated filer o | Non-accelerated filer ý (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |
Smaller reporting company o Emerging growth company ý |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ý
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
|
||||
Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered |
Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(2)(3) |
Amount of Registration Fee(2) |
||
---|---|---|---|---|
Ordinary Shares, nominal value $0.01 per share |
$ | $ | ||
|
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 Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
Explanatory Note
This amendment to the Registrant's draft Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been prepared for the purpose of submitting certain exhibits incorporated in Item 16 of Part II and updating the Exhibit Index in Item 16 accordingly. As a result, this submission consists only of the S-1 cover page, this explanatory note, Part II of the draft Registration Statement on Form S-1, including the Exhibit Index, and the exhibits submitted herewith.
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The following table sets forth the estimated expenses payable by us in connection with the sale and distribution of the securities registered hereby, other than underwriting discounts or commissions. All amounts are estimates except for the SEC registration fee and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority filing fee.
SEC Registration fee |
$ | * | ||
FINRA filing fee |
* | |||
Stock exchange listing fee |
* | |||
Printing and engraving expenses |
* | |||
Legal fees and expenses |
* | |||
Accounting fees and expenses |
* | |||
Transfer agent and registrar fees |
* | |||
Miscellaneous fees and expenses |
* | |||
| | | | |
Total |
$ | * | ||
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
To the fullest extent permitted by Irish law, our Articles of Association (which are substantially in the form attached as Exhibit 3.1 to this registration statement) will confer an indemnity on our directors and officers. However, this indemnity is limited by the Irish Companies Act, which prescribes that an advance commitment to indemnify only permits a company to pay the costs or discharge the liability of a director or corporate secretary where judgment is given in favor of the director or corporate secretary in any civil or criminal action in respect of such costs or liability, or where an Irish court grants relief because the director or corporate secretary acted honestly and reasonably and ought fairly to be excused. Any provision whereby an Irish company seeks to commit in advance to indemnify its directors or corporate secretary over and above the limitations imposed by the Irish Companies Act will be void under Irish law, whether contained in its articles of association or any contract between the company and the director or corporate secretary. This restriction does not apply to our executives who are not directors, the corporate secretary or other persons who would be considered "officers" within the meaning of that term under the Irish Companies Act.
Our Articles of Association will also contain indemnification and expense advancement provisions for persons who are not directors or our corporate secretary.
We plan to maintain directors' and officers' liability insurance, as well as other types of insurance, for our directors, officers, employees and agents, which is permitted under our Articles of Association and the Irish Companies Act.
We and certain of our subsidiaries expect to enter into indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers providing for customary indemnification in connection with their service to us or on our behalf to the maximum extent allowed under applicable law.
Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
None.
II-1
Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
Exhibit No. |
Description | ||
---|---|---|---|
1.1 | * | Form of Underwriting Agreement | |
2.1 | **# | Business Combination Agreement, dated as of December 3, 2015, among Osmotica Holdings Corp Limited, the shareholders of Osmotica Holdings Corp Limited party thereto, Altchem Limited, Vertical/Trigen Holdings, LLC, the shareholders of Vertical/Trigen Holdings, LLC party thereto, Avista Capital Partners III GP, LP, and Osmotica Holdings S.C.Sp. | |
2.2 | # | Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 24, 2017, by and between Revitalid, Inc. and Osmotica Pharmaceutical Corp. | |
3.1 | Form of Memorandum and Articles of Association Osmotica Pharmaceuticals plc | ||
4.1 | * | Form of Shareholders' Agreement | |
5.1 | * | Opinion of A&L Goodbody | |
10.1 | | License, Supply, Marketing, Distribution and Collaboration Agreement, dated as of November 24, 2003, by and between Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc. and Orion Corporation | |
10.2 | ** | First Amendment to License, Supply, Marketing, Distribution and Collaboration Agreement, dated as of May 20, 2004, by and between Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc. and Orion Corporation | |
10.3 | ** | Second Amendment to License, Supply, Marketing, Distribution and Collaboration Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2004, by and between Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc. and Orion Corporation | |
10.4 | ** | Third Amendment to License, Supply, Marketing, Distribution and Collaboration Agreement, dated as of May 20, 2010, by and between Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc. and Orion Corporation | |
10.5 | ** | Fourth Amendment to License, Supply, Marketing, Distribution and Collaboration Agreement, dated as of August 1, 2013, by and between Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc. and Orion Corporation | |
10.6 | ** | Fifth Amendment to License, Supply, Marketing, Distribution and Collaboration Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2018, by and between Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc. and Orion Corporation | |
10.7 | | Distribution and Supply Agreement, dated as of June 28, 2011, by and between Cipher Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Vertical Pharmaceuticals Inc. | |
10.8 | ** | First Amendment to Distribution and Supply Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2012, by and between Cipher Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Vertical Pharmaceuticals Inc. | |
10.9 | ** | Second Amendment to Distribution and Supply Agreement, dated as of November 21, 2013, by and between Cipher Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Vertical Pharmaceuticals Inc. | |
10.10 | ** | Third Amendment to Distribution and Supply Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2015, by and between Cipher Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Vertical Pharmaceuticals Inc. | |
10.11 | ** | Methylphenidate Supply Agreement, effective as of March 16, 2017, by and among Mallinckrodt LLC, Osmotica Kereskedelmi es Szolgalato Kft and Osmotica Pharmaceutical Corporation |
II-2
Exhibit No. |
Description | ||
---|---|---|---|
10.12 | ** | Manufacturing and Supply Agreement, effective as of March 8, 2010, by and between Mikart, Inc. and Vertical Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | |
10.13 | ** | Tablets Marketing Rights Agreement, dated as of March 10, 2010, by and between Argent Development Group, LLC and Vertical Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | |
10.14 | ** | Master Manufacturing Services Agreement, dated as of August 21, 2014, by and between Patheon Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Osmotica Pharmaceutical Corp. | |
10.15 | ** | First Amendment to Master Manufacturing Services Agreement, dated as January 1, 2017, by and between Patheon Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Osmotica Pharmaceutical US, LLC | |
10.16 | ** | Product Agreement, dated as of October 1, 2014, by and between Patheon Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Osmotica Pharmaceutical Corp. | |
10.17 | ** | License Agreement dated as of August 31, 2011 by and between VOOM, LLC and Revitalid, Inc. | |
10.18 | ** | Exclusive Supply Agreement, dated as of February 7, 2013, by and between Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Revitalid, Inc. | |
10.19 | ** | First Amendment to Exclusive Supply Agreement, dated as October 24, 2017 by and between Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Revitalid, Inc. | |
10.20 | ** | Credit Agreement, dated February 3, 2016, by and among Osmotica Pharmaceutical Corp., Orbit Blocker I LLC, Orbit Blocker II LLC, Valkyrie Group Holdings, Inc., Osmotica Holdings US LLC, the lenders party thereto, and CIT Bank, N.A. as administrative agent and swingline lender | |
10.21 | ** | First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated November 10, 2016, by and among Osmotica Pharmaceutical Corp., Orbit Blocker I LLC, Orbit Blocker II LLC, Valkyrie Group Holdings, Inc., Osmotica Holdings US LLC, the lenders party thereto, and CIT Bank, N.A. as administrative agent and swingline lender | |
10.22 | ** | Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated April 28, 2017, by and among Osmotica Pharmaceutical Corp., Orbit Blocker I LLC, Orbit Blocker II LLC, Valkyrie Group Holdings, Inc., Osmotica Holdings US LLC, the lenders party thereto, and CIT Bank, N.A. as administrative agent and swingline lender | |
10.23 | ** | Third Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated December 21, 2017, by and among Osmotica Pharmaceutical Corp., Orbit Blocker I LLC, Orbit Blocker II LLC, Valkyrie Group Holdings, Inc., Osmotica Holdings US LLC, the lenders party thereto, and CIT Bank, N.A. as administrative agent and swingline lender | |
10.24 | Form of Director and Officer Indemnification Agreement | ||
10.25 | Form of Osmotica Holdings US LLC Director and Corporate Secretary Indemnification Agreement | ||
10.26 | * | Form of Nonqualified Option Award Agreement under the Amended and Restated Osmotica Pharmaceuticals plc 2016 Equity Incentive Plan | |
10.27 | * | Amended and Restated Osmotica Pharmaceuticals plc 2016 Equity Incentive Plan | |
10.28 | * | Osmotica Pharmaceuticals plc 2018 Incentive Plan | |
10.29 | * | Osmotica Pharmaceuticals plc 2018 Annual Cash Incentive Plan | |
II-3
Exhibit No. |
Description | ||
---|---|---|---|
10.30 | **+ | Employment Agreement, dated December 3, 2015, by and between Vertical/Trigen Holdings, LLC and Brian A. Markison | |
10.31 | **+ | Employment Agreement, dated December 16, 2013, by and between Vertical/Trigen Opco, LLC and James Schaub | |
10.32 | **+ | Employment Agreement, dated May 2, 2016, by and between Vertical/Trigen Opco, LLC and Tina deVries | |
21.1 | ** | Subsidiaries of Osmotica Pharmaceuticals plc | |
23.1 | * | Consent of BDO USA, LLP Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | |
23.2 | * | Consent of BDO USA, LLP Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | |
23.3 | * | Consent of A&L Goodbody (included in Exhibit 5.1) | |
24.1 | * | Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page) |
All schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is included in the financial statements or notes thereto.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreement certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
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 Securities and Exchange Commission 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 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.
II-4
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) That 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) That for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
II-5
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Bridgewater, New Jersey, on the day of , 2018.
|
OSMOTICA PHARMACEUTICALS LIMITED | |||||
|
By: |
|
||||
|
Name: | Brian Markison | ||||
|
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each officer and director of Osmotica Pharmaceuticals Limited whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Brian Markison, Andrew Einhorn and Christopher Klein, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and revocation, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute any or all amendments including any post-effective amendments and supplements to this Registration Statement, and any additional Registration Statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other 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 necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
Signature
|
Title
|
Date
|
||
---|---|---|---|---|
Brian Markison |
Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Chairman of the Board of Directors | , 2018 | ||
Andrew Einhorn |
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) |
, 2018 |
||
David Burgstahler |
Director |
, 2018 |
II-6
Signature
|
Title
|
Date
|
||
---|---|---|---|---|
Sriram Venkataraman |
Director | , 2018 | ||
Daniel Sielecki |
Director |
, 2018 |
||
Carlos Sielecki |
Director |
, 2018 |
||
Juan Vergez |
Director |
, 2018 |
||
Authorized Representative in the United States |
, 2018 |
II-7
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
by and among the shareholders of
REVITALID, INC. (COMPANY)
and
OSMOTICA PHARMACEUTICAL CORP. (BUYER)
Dated as of October 24, 2017
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I DEFINED TERMS |
1 | |
|
|
|
Section 1.1. |
Definitions |
1 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE II PURCHASE AND SALE OF SHARES; CLOSING |
10 | |
|
|
|
Section 2.1. |
Purchase and Sale of the Shares; Purchase Price |
10 |
|
|
|
Section 2.2. |
Closing |
10 |
|
|
|
Section 2.3. |
Earn-Out |
11 |
|
|
|
Section 2.4. |
Withholding |
14 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
14 | |
|
|
|
Section 3.1. |
Representations and Warranties of the Sellers |
14 |
|
|
|
Section 3.2. |
Representations and Warranties of the Buyer |
23 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE IV COVENANTS |
24 | |
|
|
|
Section 4.1. |
Publicity |
24 |
|
|
|
Section 4.2. |
Further Assurances |
25 |
|
|
|
Section 4.3. |
Confidentiality |
25 |
|
|
|
Section 4.4. |
Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation |
25 |
|
|
|
Section 4.5. |
Tax Matters |
26 |
|
|
|
Section 4.6. |
No Additional Warranties or Representations; Due Diligence |
27 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE V INDEMNIFICATION |
28 | |
|
|
|
Section 5.1. |
Survival |
28 |
|
|
|
Section 5.2. |
Indemnification of the Buyer Parties |
28 |
|
|
|
Section 5.3. |
Indemnification of Sellers |
29 |
|
|
|
Section 5.4. |
Provisions Related to Indemnification of the Indemnified Parties |
29 |
|
|
|
Section 5.5. |
Indemnification Procedures and Related Provisions |
30 |
|
|
|
Section 5.6. |
Exclusive Remedy |
31 |
|
|
|
Section 5.7. |
Tax Treatment of Indemnity Payments |
31 |
|
|
|
Section 5.8. |
Certain Additional Limitations |
31 |
|
|
|
Section 5.9. |
Right to Setoff |
31 |
|
|
|
Section 5.10. |
Duty to Mitigate |
32 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE VI ADDITIONAL OPERATIVE PROVISIONS |
32 | |
|
|
|
Section 6.1. |
Assignment; Binding Effect |
32 |
|
|
|
Section 6.2. |
Reversion Right |
32 |
|
|
|
Section 6.3. |
Commercially Reasonable Efforts |
33 |
|
|
|
Section 6.4. |
Choice of Law |
33 |
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Section 6.5. |
Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial |
34 |
|
|
|
Section 6.6. |
Notices |
34 |
|
|
|
Section 6.7. |
Headings |
35 |
|
|
|
Section 6.8. |
Fees and Expenses |
35 |
|
|
|
Section 6.9. |
Entire Agreement |
35 |
|
|
|
Section 6.10. |
Interpretation |
35 |
|
|
|
Section 6.11. |
Waiver and Amendment |
35 |
|
|
|
Section 6.12. |
Third-Party Beneficiaries |
36 |
|
|
|
Section 6.13. |
Severability |
36 |
|
|
|
Section 6.14. |
Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures |
36 |
|
|
|
Section 6.15. |
Specific Performance |
36 |
|
|
|
Section 6.16. |
Non-Recourse |
37 |
|
|
|
Section 6.17. |
Sellers Representative |
37 |
Exhibits
Exhibit A License Agreement
Exhibit B Pro Rata Shares
Exhibit C Disclosure Schedule
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT is made and entered into and effective as of October 24, 2017, by and among Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NPC), Point Guard Partners, LLC, VOOM LLC, Tom Riedhammer, Avery Family Trust, and Vision Quest Holdings, LLC, collectively, the shareholders of REVITALID, INC., a Delaware corporation (herein the Company), the Sellers; and OSMOTICA PHARMACEUTICAL CORP, a Delaware corporation (the Buyer); each of which is a Party and all together the Parties.
Background
The Company and VOOM LLC (Licensor), have entered into a License Agreement dated August 31, 2011, a copy of which is attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A (the License Agreement), pursuant to which the Licensor granted an exclusive license to the Company under Licensors Patent and Know-How (as defined in the License Agreement), including the rights for manufacturing, processing, conditioning, marketing and sale of Product (as hereinafter defined) (the License);
Sellers collectively own all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company (the Shares); and
The Buyer desires to acquire the Shares (being one hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company) and all rights incident to the ownership of such Shares from Sellers, and the Sellers desire to sell all of the Shares to the Buyer, all on and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
Terms and Conditions
The Parties agree to the following terms and conditions:
ARTICLE I
DEFINED TERMS
Section 1.1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement and such other Transaction Documents as specifically incorporate the definitions below, the following capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:
Action means any action, claim, complaint, litigation, mediation, audit, investigation, petition, suit, arbitration, order, or other proceeding by or pending before any Governmental Entity or arbitration tribunal, whether civil or criminal, at law or in equity.
Affiliate means, with respect to any specific Person, another Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person. A Person shall be deemed to control another Person if such first Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct, or cause the direction of, the management and policies of such other Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise, and such control (and Affiliate status of such Persons with respect to each other) will be presumed to exist where any Person owns ten percent (10%) or
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
more of the voting capital stock or other ownership interests, directly or indirectly, of any other Person. For the avoidance of doubt, immediately following the Closing, the Company shall be deemed an Affiliate of the Buyer.
Agreement means this Stock Purchase Agreement, as the same may be amended or supplemented, together with all of its exhibits and the schedules attached hereto.
Balance Sheet means the unaudited balance sheet of the Company as of the Balance Sheet Date.
Balance Sheet Date means September 30, 2017.
Business means the aggregate of the Companys business activity relative to holding the License and undertaking the development and commercialization of the Product, including, but not limited to, conducting clinical trials for the Product, filing a NDA with the FDA, obtaining Regulatory Approval of the Product in the United States, and manufacturing, marketing and selling the Product in the Territory.
Business Day means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or any other day on which banks are closed in New York, New York or Tampa, Florida.
Closing Date means the date upon which this Agreement is executed and effective, which will be the date upon which the Closing occurs.
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Company Contracts has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(k).
Competitive Activity means the research, development, manufacture, marketing, licensing or sale of any pharmaceutical product for the same indication as the Product or that contains oxymetazoline without the express written permission of Buyer.
Confidential Information means all information of a confidential or proprietary nature (whether or not specifically labeled or identified as confidential), in any form or medium, that relates to the business, products, financial condition, services or research or development of the Company or its suppliers, distributors, clients, patients, payers, independent contractors or other business relations. Confidential Information of the Company includes, but is not limited to, the following: (i) internal business and financial information of the Company (including information relating to strategic and staffing plans and practices, business, finances, training, marketing, promotional and sales plans and practices, cost, rate and pricing structures and accounting and business methods); (ii) identities of, individual requirements of, specific contractual arrangements with, and information about, the suppliers, distributors, clients, patients, payers, independent contractors or other business relations of the Company and its confidential information; (iii) Company trade secrets, know-how, compilations of data and analyses, techniques, systems, formulae, recipes, research, records, reports, manuals, documentation, models, data and data bases relating thereto; (iv) Company inventions, innovations, improvements, developments, methods, designs, analyses, drawings, reports and all similar or related information (whether or not patentable); and (v) other Intellectual Property of the
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
Company; provided, however, that Confidential Information shall exclude that portion of such information or materials that a Party can demonstrate by competent written proof: (i) was generally available to the public or otherwise part of the public domain as of the Closing Date or (ii) became generally available to the public or otherwise part of the public domain after its disclosure and other than through breach of Section 4.3 or of the Confidentiality Agreement.
Confidentiality Agreement means the nondisclosure agreement dated as of January 30, 2017 by and between the Company and Vertical Pharmaceuticals, LLC, an Affiliate of Buyer.
Contract means any oral or written arrangement, contract, agreement, commitment, franchise, indenture, lease or sublease, license, sublicense, purchase order, license, note, bond or mortgage or other commitment, promise, undertaking, obligation, arrangement, instrument or understanding, whether written or oral, to which or by which such Person is a party or otherwise subject or bound or to which or by which any property, business, operation or right of such Person is subject or bound.
Development Costs means any direct costs incurred by or on behalf of Buyer, the Company or their respective Affiliates, excluding any allocated corporate overhead cost of the Buyer, in connection with researching, testing or developing the Product, including conducting non-clinical research, safety and toxicology studies and clinical trials required to obtain or maintain the Regulatory Approval from the FDA, and any formulation or process development with respect to the Product, including all manufacturing and supply costs associated with the Product for such purposes required to obtain or maintain the Regulatory Approval from the FDA.
Disclosure Schedule means the aggregate disclosure schedules attached as Exhibit C to this Agreement, which are incorporated herein by reference. The aggregate Disclosure Schedule, and any part thereof, shall be considered a Schedule to this Agreement.
Earn-Out means the earn-out portion of the Purchase Price as determined pursuant to Section 2.3 of this Agreement.
Earn-Out Period means the period beginning on the first Sale in the Territory and ending on the earlier of (i) the 12th anniversary of such first Sale in the Territory, or (ii) on a country-by-country basis, the Regulatory Approval of a Generic Product in that country.
Employee Benefit Plan means an employee benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA and any other bonus, profit sharing, pension, medical coverage, life, disability or other employee benefit plan, program or arrangement that is maintained, sponsored or contributed to by the Company or with respect to which the Company has any Liability, except in each case for any such plans, agreements, programs or policies that are mandated by applicable Law.
Encumbrance means any lien (statutory or otherwise), encumbrance, easement, covenant, security interest, option, pledge, Tax, proxy, voting agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, hypothecation, preference, priority, charge, conditional sale, restriction on transfer of title or voting rights, whether imposed by agreement, understanding, law, equity or otherwise, except for any restrictions on transfer generally arising under any applicable federal or state securities Laws.
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the related regulations and published interpretations.
Excluded Losses means (i) punitive, special or exemplary damages and (ii) any Losses that are not probable or reasonably foreseeable and that were not proximately caused by (A) the breach or alleged breach of this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents or (B) the facts, circumstances or basis of the other matters giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder.
FDA means the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
FDCA means the United States Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended from time to time, and the rules, regulations, guidelines, guidances and requirements promulgated thereunder, as may be in effect from time to time (including all additions, supplements, extensions and modifications thereto).
Financial Statements means collectively: (i) the unaudited balance sheets and related consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders equity and cash flows of the Company as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016; and (ii) the Balance Sheet and the related unaudited statement of income as of and for the 9-month interim period ended on the Balance Sheet Date, including in each case, any notes thereto.
Fundamental Representations means Sections 3.1(a) (Due Organization and Good Standing), 3.1(b) (Capacity, Authorization, Execution and Delivery; Valid and Binding Agreement), 3.1(d) (Capital Structure; Subsidiaries), 3.1(i)(ii) (Personal Property), 3.1(i)(iii) (Owned and Leased Real Property), 3.1(j), (Taxes), 3.1(l) (Employees and Compensation), 3.1(m) (Employee Benefit Plans) and 3.1(n) (Intellectual Property).
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as in effect from time to time.
Generic Product means any pharmaceutical product that (i) is sold by a Third Party that is not an Affiliate or licensee of Buyer and (ii) (a) contains the same active pharmaceutical ingredient as the Product or (b) is categorized by the applicable Governmental Entity in a country to be therapeutically equivalent to, or interchangeable with, the Product, such that the pharmaceutical product may be substituted for the Product at the point of dispensing without any intervention by the prescribing physician in such country.
GMP means the then-current good manufacturing practices required by the FDCA, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder by the FDA at 21 C.F.R. Parts 210 and 211, for the manufacture and testing of pharmaceutical materials, and comparable applicable Law related to the manufacture and testing of pharmaceutical materials in jurisdictions outside the United States.
Governmental Approval means any permit, license, approval, supplement, amendment, registration, listing, certification, qualification or authorization required by or granted by any Governmental Entity.
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
Governmental Entity means (i) any United States or foreign governmental authority, including, but not limited to, any national, federal, or territorial authority thereof, and any state, commonwealth, province, territory, county, municipality, district, local governmental, political jurisdiction or other subdivision or part of any of the foregoing (including any governmental department, division, agency, bureau, office, branch, court, commission, tribunal, or other governmental instrumentality), (ii) any quasi- governmental authority vested with authority by a Governmental Entity described in (i) above to grant or revoke accreditation or certification of the Company and like businesses of the Company, or any entity contracting with any of the foregoing (such as carriers, fiscal intermediaries, and fiscal agents) with responsibility for regulating, licensing, certifying, surveying, authorizing, permitting, paying, recouping overpayments, fining, excluding, or taking any enforcement action against health care service providers providing the items and services that the Company provides.
Indebtedness means, with respect to any Person at any particular time, without duplication: (i) obligations for borrowed money or in respect of loans or advances, (ii) obligations evidenced by any note, debenture, or other similar instrument or debt security; (iii) obligations of any other Person guaranteed in any manner by such Person; (iv) obligations under swaps, hedges, interest rate protection agreements or similar instruments; (v) obligations in respect of letters of credit and bankers acceptances issued for the account of such Person; (vi) obligations arising from cash/book overdrafts, but less any deposits in transit; (vii) obligations for the deferred purchase price of property or services or the acquisition of a business or portion thereof or insurance premium financing, in each case, whether contingent or otherwise, as obligor or otherwise; (viii) obligations created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to acquired property; (ix) obligations, contingent or otherwise, arising from deferred compensation arrangements; (x) obligations arising from the redemption of equity; (xi) obligations under capitalized leases; (xii) obligations secured by an Encumbrance on any of such Persons assets; (xiii) all non-current Liabilities; (xiv) any amounts owed to Oculos Clinical Research LLC set forth on Part 3.1(d)(iii) of the Disclosure Schedule; and (xv) all accrued interest, prepayment premiums, penalties, expenses or other amounts due related to any of the foregoing.
Intellectual Property means all rights, title, and interests in and to all intellectual property rights of every kind and nature however denominated, in any jurisdiction of the world, including: (i) patents, patent applications, patent disclosures and inventions, (ii) Internet domain names, trademarks, service marks, trade dress, trade names, brand names, logos, corporate names and registrations, and applications for registration thereof, together with all of the goodwill and activities associated therewith, (iii) copyrights (registered or unregistered), copyrightable works, and registrations and applications for registration thereof, (iv) mask works and registrations and applications for registration thereof, (v) computer software (in both source code and object code form), data, data bases, and documentation thereof, (vi) trade secrets and other Confidential Information (including ideas, formulas, compositions, recipes, inventions (whether patentable or unpatentable, and whether or not reduced to practice)), know- how, manufacturing and production processes and techniques, research and development information, drawings, specifications, designs, plans, proposals, technical data, copyrightable works, financial and marketing plans, and customer and supplier lists and information, (vii) other proprietary rights, (viii) copies and tangible embodiments thereof (in whatever form or medium) and (x) all actions and rights to sue at law or in equity for any past or future infringement or other impairment of
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
any of the foregoing, including the right to receive all proceeds and damages therefrom, and all rights to obtain renewals, continuations, divisions, or other extensions of legal protections pertaining thereto.
Inventory means all of the Companys inventory of (i) finished quantities of the Product and (ii) quantities of the active pharmaceutical ingredient for the Product.
Knowledge means, (i) with respect to the Company and/or the Sellers, the actual knowledge of Barry Butler, Bill Kennedy, Mark Silverberg, William Stringer, Jeremy Brace, Charles Slonim and Drey Coleman and such additional knowledge as such individuals would reasonably be expected to obtain after a reasonable investigation of the matter in question and in the normal performance of their duties in their capacities with respect to the Company, and (ii) with respect to the Buyer, the actual knowledge of Brian Markison, JD Schaub, Nicholas Fee, Andrew Einhorn and Tina deVries and such additional knowledge as such individuals would reasonably be expected to obtain after a reasonable investigation of the matter in question and in the normal performance of their duties in their capacities with respect to the Buyer.
Law means any law, statute, code, rule, regulation, order, ordinance, judgment, decree, or other pronouncement (which pronouncement has the effect of law) of any Governmental Entity having the effect of law.
Liability means any liability or obligation of any kind, character or description, whether known or unknown, absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured, joint or several, accrued and due or to become due, vested or unvested, executory, determined, determinable or otherwise.
Licensed Patents shall have the same meaning as is ascribed to such term in the License Agreement.
Material Adverse Effect means any events, changes, effects, occurrences, states of fact, circumstances or developments that, individually or in the aggregate, that could reasonably be expected to be materially adverse, taken as a whole, to (i) the marketability of the Product or (ii) the Companys financial condition, operations, assets, liabilities or properties; provided, however, that any event, change or effect will not be deemed to constitute a Material Adverse Effect to the extent resulting from (A) acts of war or terrorism (or the escalation of the foregoing) or natural disasters or other force majeure events, (B) compliance by the Company or Sellers with this Agreement or with a request by Buyer that Sellers or the Company take an action (or refrain from taking an action) to the extent such action or inaction is in compliance with such request, (C) the execution or announcement of this Agreement or the pendency or consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Transaction Documents, (D) changes in general economic, financial, banking, currency or securities market conditions, including changes in interest rates, (E) changes or conditions generally affecting any of the markets or industries to which any of the Business relates, (F) conditions described in the Disclosure Schedule or of which Buyer has Knowledge as of Closing, (G) changes or effects resulting from any breach by Buyer of this Agreement, or (H) any proposed or enacted legislation or regulatory changes, changes in Law or in GAAP, interpretations thereof, or regulatory accounting principles or in applicable financial accounting standards or any of the
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
foregoing related to GMP; except, for purposes of clauses (D), (E) and (H), to the extent that such conditions have a materially disproportionate impact on the Company as compared to other Persons engaged in the pharmaceutical industry.
NDA means a New Drug Application as such term and related process is used and utilized by the FDA.
Net Sales means the gross amounts invoiced by Buyer and its Affiliates and Sublicensees directly to end users, or to Third Party Intermediaries for sale of Products to end users, less: (i) all customary rebates, coupons, credits and cash, trade and quantity discounts; (ii) excise taxes, sales, use, value added, and other taxes, customs, duties and tariffs incurred in connection with the sale, transportation, exportation or importation of Products; (iii) freight, shipping and insurance costs; and (iv) amounts allowed or credited due to returns or uncollectable amounts. In the event that Buyer (or an Affiliate or Sublicensee of Buyer, as applicable) sells a Product in combination with other products, ingredients or substances (a Combination Product), the Net Sales of such Combination Product will be based on the gross amount invoiced with respect to such Combination Product. In the event that Buyer (or an Affiliate or Sublicensee of Buyer, as applicable) sells a Product in a kit containing other products, whether prescription or not, the Net Sales with respect to the Product will be based on the average gross invoiced amount of the Product sold individually. Non-monetary consideration shall not be accepted by Buyer (or an Affiliate or Sublicensee of Buyer, as applicable) for any Product without the prior written consent of Sellers.
Person means any individual, association (incorporated or unincorporated), corporation, partnership (of any designation, i.e. limited partnership, general partnership, limited liability partnership, or otherwise), limited liability company, trust, or any other entity or organization, public or private, including a Governmental Entity.
Post-Closing Taxable Period means any Tax period beginning after the Closing Date or the portion beginning after the Closing Date of any Straddle Taxable Period (as determined in accordance with Section 4.5(f)).
Pre-Closing Taxable Period means any Tax period ending on or before the Closing Date or the portion through the end of the Closing Date of any Straddle Taxable Period (as determined in accordance with Section 4.5(f)).
Product shall have the same meaning as is ascribed to Licensed Product in the License Agreement.
Regulatory Approval means, with respect to a product in any country or jurisdiction, any approval, registration, license or authorization that is required by the applicable Governmental Entity responsible for granting Regulatory Approvals in such country or jurisdiction to market and sell such product in such country or jurisdiction.
Sale means the transfer or disposition of the Product for value to a Third Party for end use or consumption after Regulatory Approval of the Product.
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor to such statute, rules or regulations. Any reference herein to a specific section, rule or regulation of the Securities Act shall be deemed to include any corresponding provisions of future Law.
Sellers Pro Rata Share means, as to any Seller, such Sellers percentage ownership interest in the Company and resulting pro rata portion of the Purchase Price, each as set forth on Exhibit C to this Agreement.
Sellers Expenses means any and all: (a) legal, accounting, tax, financial advisory, environmental consultants, and other professional or transaction related costs, fees and expenses incurred by the Company or the Sellers in connection with this Agreement or in investigating, pursuing, or completing the transactions contemplated hereby (including any amounts owed to any consultants, auditors, accountants, attorneys, brokers or investment bankers), including (i) all legal fees of Hill Ward Henderson, P.A., whenever incurred, (ii) all fees of Leerink Partners LLC, whenever incurred, and (iii) the obtaining of any consent required to be obtained in connection with any of such transactions, (b) compensatory payments, bonuses, deferred bonuses, or severance which becomes due from the Company or is otherwise required to be made by the Company as a result of or in connection with the Closing or as a result of any change in control or similar provisions, and (c) payroll, employment, or other Taxes (if any) required to be paid by the Company with respect to the amounts payable pursuant to this Agreement or incident to the payment of the amounts described in clauses (a) and (b) above. Except as and to the extent they are specifically enumerated in clauses (a) (c) above, any expenses pertaining to the operation and management of the Company are not Sellers Expenses.
Sellers Representative means Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation acting in its capacity as such. The rights and duties of the Sellers Representative are set forth in Section 6.15 of this Agreement.
Stockholder Agreements means, collectively, (i) the Investor Rights Agreement, dated January 31, 2012, by and among the Sellers and the Company and (ii) the Amended and Restated Shareholder Agreement dated May 26, 2011, by and among the Sellers and the Company.
Straddle Taxable Period means any Tax period that includes (but does not end on) the Closing Date.
Sublicensee means any Third Party, other than a Third Party Intermediary, to which a Party grants a sublicense of the rights granted to it under the License to manufacture, develop, commercialize or otherwise exploit the Product.
Supply Agreement means the Exclusive Supply Agreement dated as of February 7, 2013 by and between Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation and RevitaLid, Inc., as amended from time to time.
Tax means any: (i) foreign, federal, state, or local income, sales, use, excise, franchise, alternative minimum, add-on minimum, profits, real and personal property (tangible and intangible), gross receipts, net proceeds, documentary, turnover, license, premium, windfall profits, capital stock, production, business and occupation, disability, employment, payroll,
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
unemployment, stamp, customs, severance, withholding, social security, Medicare, disability, value added, environmental, transfer, or estimated tax or any similar tax, duty, fee, assessment, or charge of any kind whatsoever imposed by any taxing authority, including any interest, addition, or penalties imposed in respect of the foregoing; (ii) Liability of the Company for the payment of any amounts of the type described in clause (i) above arising as a result of being (or ceasing to be) a member of any affiliated group (or being included (or required to be included) in any Tax Return relating thereto); and (iii) Liability of the Company for the payment of any amounts of the type described in clause (i) above as a result of any express or implied obligation to indemnify or otherwise assume or succeed to the Liability of any other Person.
Tax Claim means an assessment of Tax, adjustment of Tax (assessed, owing or paid), proposed adjustment of Tax, notice of Tax protest (challenging an assessment, penalty, or other amount claimed owed), Tax deficiency, Tax delinquency, or other administrative or judicial proceeding, suit, dispute, Action, or claim arising from the assessment, non-payment, and/or collection of Tax.
Tax Return means any return, report, declaration, information return, claim for refund, or other document (including any related or supporting schedules, statements or information) filed or required to be filed in connection with the determination, assessment, or collection of any Tax or the administration of any Laws or administrative requirements relating to any Tax.
Territory shall have the same meaning as is ascribed to such term in the License Agreement.
Territory Zone 1 shall mean, with respect to any Net Sales, all countries and territories in the Territory where, as of the date of the applicable sale of the Product, such Product is covered by a Valid Claim.
Territory Zone 2 shall mean, with respect to any Net Sales, all countries and territories in the Territory that, as of the date of the applicable sale of the Product, are not in Territory Zone 1.
Third Party means any Person other than a Party or an Affiliate of a Party.
Third Party Intermediary means any Third Party (including Third Party wholesalers, resellers, distributors and pharmacy chains), other than a Sublicensee, that distributes (but does not develop or manufacture) the Product directly to customers.
Transaction Documents means this Agreement and any other documents, exhibits, schedules, and instruments executed in connection with the transactions addressed in this Agreement and those other agreements.
Valid Claim means a claim of an issued and unexpired patent, contained in the Licensed Patents that has not been held unpatentable, invalid or unenforceable by a court or other government agency of competent jurisdiction and has not been admitted to be invalid or unenforceable through reissue, re-examination, disclaimer or otherwise.
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
ARTICLE II
PURCHASE AND SALE OF SHARES; CLOSING
Section 2.1. Purchase and Sale of the Shares; Purchase Price.
(a) Purchase and Sale of the Shares. On and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing, the Buyer shall purchase and receive transfer from Sellers, and Sellers shall sell, transfer and deliver to the Buyer (or Buyers designated Affiliate), all of the Shares of the Company, free and clear of Encumbrances.
(b) Purchase Price. In consideration of the Shares and the other agreements, covenants, warranties and indemnities of the Sellers and the Company contained in this Agreement (and subject to the terms of this Agreement), Buyer agrees to pay to the Sellers the net sum of: (i) Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($12,500,000) payable at the Closing pursuant to Section 2.2(a); minus (ii) all Indebtedness of the Company then-outstanding; minus (iii) all Sellers Expenses of the Company then-outstanding (clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), collectively, the Closing Consideration); plus (iv) the Earn-Out, as determined pursuant to and payable at the time specified in Section 2.3 (clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv), collectively, the Purchase Price). All portions of the Purchase Price shall be paid by wire transfer to an account designated by the Sellers Representative, or such other account as otherwise specified in writing by the Sellers Representative.
Section 2.2. Closing. On the date of this Agreement (which is also the Closing Date), simultaneous with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Parties shall take the actions contemplated by this Section 2.2, which, in the aggregate, shall be referred to herein as the Closing.
(a) Payment by Buyer. On the Closing Date, the Buyer shall make the payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Sellers Representative of the Closing Consideration.
(b) Deliveries of the Sellers. On the Closing Date, the Company or the Sellers, as applicable, shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Buyer (or Buyers designated Affiliate) the following:
(i) a certificate from the Secretary of the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, in a form approved by the Buyer, certifying attached copies of the articles of incorporation and the bylaws of Company as in effect on the Closing Date;
(ii) a certificate of good standing for the Company issued by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, issued no earlier than ten days prior to the Closing Date;
(iii) a certificate from the Secretary or equivalent officer of each shareholder in a form approved by the Buyer, certifying the resolutions of the Board of Directors/Management Committees of such Seller authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Agreements and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby;
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
(iv) certificates representing the Shares, accompanied by separate stock powers duly endorsed in blank;
(v) a certification of each Seller, dated as of the Closing Date, in the form specified by Treasury Regulation Section 1.1445-2(b)(2)(iv) certifying that such Seller is not a foreign person within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1445-2(b)(2);
(vi) a closing statement setting forth (A) the allocation of the Closing Consideration among the Sellers, (B) the aggregate Indebtedness of the Company outstanding as of Closing; minus (C) the aggregate Sellers Expenses of the Company outstanding as of Closing, duly executed by the Company and the Sellers;
(vii) a written resignation, effective as of the Closing, from each director, officer, and employee of the Company, in a form approved by the Buyer, duly executed by each such director, officer and employee of the Company;
(viii) evidence of termination, in a form approved by the Buyer, of each of the Stockholder Agreements; and
(ix) such other documents and instruments as may be requested by the Buyer, each in a form satisfactory to the Buyer and its legal counsel.
(c) Deliveries of the Buyer. In addition to the payments required by Section 2.2(a), on the Closing Date, the Buyer shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Sellers or the Company, as applicable, the following:
(i) a certificate from the Secretary of the Buyer, dated as of the Closing Date, in a form approved by the Sellers, certifying the resolutions of the Board of Directors and the shareholders of the Buyer authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Agreements and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby; and
(ii) such other documents and instruments as may be reasonably requested by the Sellers, each in form reasonably satisfactory to the Sellers and their legal counsel.
(d) Effectiveness. All of the foregoing deliveries by one Party to another Party shall be deemed to have occurred simultaneously at the Closing and none shall be effective until and unless all have occurred in accordance with this Agreement or have been waived.
(e) Effective Time. The Closing shall be effective as of 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on the Closing Date.
Section 2.3. Earn-Out. The Buyer shall make (or cause the Company to make) additional, ongoing payments (the Earn-Out Payments) to the Sellers, as specified in this Section 2.3.
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
(a) Earn-Out Conditions. During the Earn-Out Period, the Earn-Out Payments shall be payable as a percentage of Net Sales of the Product in the Territory.
(b) Earn-Out Payments. Subject to Sections 2.3(c), (d) and (g) and Section 5.9, during the Earn-Out Period:
(i) For all Product sold in Territory Zone 1, Buyer shall make payments to Sellers Representative on aggregate Net Sales of the Product equal to [***] of the first [***] in aggregate annual Net Sales generated by the Product plus [***] of the aggregate annual Net Sales of the Product between [***] and [***] plus [***] of aggregate annual Net Sales of the Product in excess of [***].
(ii) For all Product sold in Territory Zone 2, Buyer shall make payments to Sellers Representative on aggregate Net Sales of the Product equal [***] of the first [***] in aggregate annual Net Sales generated by the Product plus [***] of aggregate annual Net Sales of the Product between [***] and [***] plus [***] of aggregate annual Net Sales of the Product in excess of [***].
(c) Deductions and Adjustments. The Earn-Out Payments shall be subject to the following deductions and adjustments:
(i) In the event that the Development Costs incurred after the Closing and prior to the expiration of the Earn-Out Period exceed [***], then Buyer may offset such excess amount of Development Costs against any and all Earn-Out Payments that would otherwise become payable thereafter.
(ii) If Buyer reasonably determines that it cannot develop or commercialize the Product without infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating the Intellectual Property of any Third Party, then on a calendar quarter-by-calendar quarter basis, Buyer may offset up to [***] of any amounts due to any Third Party in consideration for a grant of rights to such Intellectual Property in such calendar quarter against any and all Earn-Out Payments otherwise due to Sellers in such calendar quarter; provided that the Earn-Out Payment due in any calendar quarter may not be reduced pursuant to this Section 2.3(c)(ii) by more than [***] of the amount otherwise due to Sellers in such calendar quarter, but Buyer may carry forward any such amounts that Buyer would otherwise be permitted to offset against Earn-Out Payments but for the foregoing [***] floor and apply such deductions against Earn-Out Payments due to Sellers in subsequent calendar quarters until fully offset.
(iii) In the event Buyer grants a sublicense of its rights to the Product, cash payments associated with the grant of such a sublicense, including any closing payments and milestone payments, will be added to Net Sales in the calendar quarter in which such payments are received by Buyer; provided, however, that if Buyer enters into a sub-licensing agreement with [***], or with [***], Buyer will directly pay to Sellers Representative [***] of such cash payments when they are received and such amounts will not be counted as Net Sales.
(d) Determination of Earn-Out Revenues. The Buyer and Company shall, within 60 days after the conclusion of each calendar quarter (ending December 31, March 31, June 30, and September 30) during the Earn-Out Period, send to Sellers Representative a report
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
setting forth the determination of the Net Sales accrued through the end of the preceding quarter and cumulatively during the entire Earn-Out Period. Within 60 days after the end of each calendar quarter during the Earn-Out Period, Buyer will submit a written report to Sellers Representative setting forth for such quarter the quantity of Products sold by Buyer or any of its Affiliates to unaffiliated third Persons, the aggregate Net Sales thereof and the Earn-Out payable with respect thereto. Buyer will keep books of account and other records in sufficient detail so that the amount of the Earn-Out to be paid to Sellers Representative hereunder can be properly ascertained. At the request of Sellers Representative, Buyer will permit, and will cause its Affiliates to permit, a certified public accountant or attorney or other representative selected by Sellers to have access to such books and records as may be necessary to determine the correctness of any report or Earn-Out under this Section 2.3(b). Any such examination will be made during reasonable business hours at the place of business of Buyer in the United States and will be at Sellers sole expense, subject to Section 2.3(f) below.
(e) Challenges to Quarterly Reports. If Sellers Representative does not send to Buyer a notice challenging a quarterly report within 45 days from the receipt of such quarterly report, Sellers shall be deemed to have accepted such determination and such determination shall be deemed binding and final (other than with respect to any underpayment by Buyer identified by the certified public accountant, attorney or other representative of Sellers in the course of the examination of the applicable books and records of Buyer pursuant to Section 2.3(d) above). If a notice is delivered to Buyer by Sellers Representative pursuant to which it challenges a quarterly report (such challenge including the request for additional information or the right to access books and records of Buyer) within 45 days after the date Sellers Representative receives the quarterly report, the dispute resolution procedures set forth in Section 2.3(e) shall govern. Seller agrees to keep confidential and not disclose, divulge, or use for any purpose (other than for purposes of the Earn-Out Payments as contemplated herein) any confidential information obtained from Buyer pursuant to the terms of this Section 2.3.
(f) Dispute Resolution. If Sellers Representative timely delivers a challenge to a quarterly report, then during the 30 days following delivery of the challenge notice, Buyer and Sellers Representative shall use reasonable good faith efforts to reach agreement on the disputed items or amounts in order to determine the Earn-Out Payment or other amount. If, during such period, the Parties are unable to reach agreement, they shall promptly thereafter cause a firm of independent public accountants with regional or national standing, such firm having no material relationship to Buyer or Sellers and reasonably acceptable to Buyer and Sellers Representative (the Accounting Referee), promptly to review this Agreement and the disputed items or amounts for the purpose of calculating the Earn-Out Payment or other amount in question. In making such calculation, the Accounting Referee shall consider only those items or amounts to which Sellers have disagreed, shall be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement, and shall not ascribe a value to any disputed item or amount higher or lower, as the case may be, than the highest or lowest value ascribed by Buyer or Sellers Representative in their submissions to the Accounting Referee. For purposes of assisting the Accounting Referee in making such calculation, each of Sellers Representative and Buyer shall submit a proposed determination of the applicable items or amounts in dispute. The Accounting Referee shall deliver to Buyer and Sellers Representative, as promptly as practicable, a report setting forth such calculation. Such report shall be final and binding upon the Parties. The cost of such review
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
and report shall be borne by the Parties in proportion to the final adjustment determination made by the Accounting Referee relative the amount challenged by the Sellers.
(g) Timing and Manner of Contingent Payments. Buyer shall pay to Sellers Representative the Earn-Out Payments generated from the quarterly Net Sales reflected in the quarterly report within 60 days after the end of the applicable calendar quarter. Payment shall be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds to Sellers Representative pursuant to written wire transfer instructions delivered to Buyer by Sellers Representative from time to time.
(h) Assignment of Earn-Out Payments. The right of each Seller to the Earn-Out Payments may not be sold, transferred or otherwise assigned by such Seller without the consent of Buyer, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, NPC may assign its right to the Earn-Out Payments to its secured lender(s) from time to time with or without the consent of Buyer; provided that any such secured lender has complied with Section 2.4(b) below.
(i) For all purposes, including Tax purposes, the Earn-Out Payments shall be treated as additional purchase price paid by the Buyer to the Sellers for the Shares (except (i) the right of any Seller to the Earn-Out Payments has been assigned pursuant to Section 2.3(h) or (ii) to the extent a portion of each Earn-Out Payment is treated as imputed interest for Tax purposes), and the parties will file all Tax Returns consistent with such treatment.
Section 2.4. Withholding. Buyer shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any amounts otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to Sellers such amounts as are required to be withheld with respect to the making of such payment under the Code, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any other provision of applicable Tax Laws; provided that (a) the Buyer shall give at least five (5) Business Days prior written notice to, and shall consult with, the applicable Seller if it believes that any amount is required to be deducted and withheld under current applicable Tax Law with respect to the Purchase Price and (b) as a condition to providing consent to any assignment of the right of any Seller to the Earn-Out Payments pursuant to Section 2.3(h) (including any assignment by NPC to its secured lender(s)), Buyer may require Seller to provide Tax certifications from the proposed assignee that eliminates any potential deductions and withholdings that the Buyer or other applicable withholding agent may believe it is required to make under applicable Tax Law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld and paid over to the appropriate Governmental Entity, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Section 3.1. Representations and Warranties of the Sellers. The Sellers, severally on their own behalf and not jointly, represent and warrant to the Buyer that each of the statements contained in this Section 3.1 is true and correct as of the Closing Date.
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
(a) Due Organization and Good Standing. The Company is duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware. The Company is qualified or otherwise authorized to transact business as a foreign business entity and is in good standing under the Laws of every other state in which such qualification or authorization is required under applicable Law. The Company has all requisite power and authority and all authorizations, licenses, permits and consents (collectively, the Authorizations) necessary to own, lease, hold and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now conducted, and the Company has all Authorizations necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Capacity, Authorization, Execution and Delivery; Valid and Binding Agreement. Each Seller and the Company has the power, authority and legal capacity and has taken all required corporate and other action on its part necessary to permit and duly authorize it to execute and deliver and to carry out and perform the terms of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement, and the other Transaction Documents have been, at or prior to the Closing, duly and validly executed and delivered by each Seller and the Company, and (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the other Parties hereto and thereto) this Agreement constitutes, and such other Transaction Documents, when so executed and delivered will constitute, the legal, valid and binding obligation of each Seller and the Company, enforceable against each such Seller and the Company in accordance with its terms.
(c) Governmental Filings. No filing or registration with, notification to, or authorization, consent or approval of any Governmental Entity (collectively, Governmental Filings) is required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents by the Sellers or the Company, or the consummation by the Sellers and the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and other Transaction Documents.
(d) Capital Structure; Subsidiaries.
(i) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists entirely of 5,500,000 shares of capital stock. No shares of such capital stock are issued or outstanding except for the Shares, which are held by the Sellers in the amounts set forth in Part 3.1(d)(i) of the Disclosure Schedule. The Shares are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable. Each Seller has, and at the Closing the Buyer shall receive, good and marketable title to the Shares, free and clear of any and all Encumbrances. There are no other outstanding shares of capital stock, or other equity interests or securities, or options, warrants, convertible or exchangeable securities or other rights that would obligate the Company to issue shares of capital stock or other equity interests or securities. There are no agreements, written or oral, to which the Company or any Seller is a party relating to the acquisition, disposition, voting or registration under applicable securities Laws of the Shares or any other stock or equity interests or other security of the Company. There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, phantom stock, or equity or similar rights with respect to the Company. There are no outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other Indebtedness of the Company having the right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) or otherwise on any matters on
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
which any stockholders of the Company may vote. There are no preemptive rights, rights of first refusal, or other rights to acquire stock or other securities of the Company.
(ii) The Company does not have any subsidiaries and does not own, directly or indirectly, any stock or membership interest of, or other equity or voting interest in any Person.
(iii) Except as set forth in Part 3.1(d)(iii) of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company does not have any Indebtedness.
(e) Financial Statements; Corporate Records; No Undisclosed Liabilities. Part 3.1(e) of the Disclosure Schedule attaches true and complete copies of the Companys Financial Statements. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the tax basis of accounting the Company has adopted for its Federal income tax return reporting and are consistent in all material respects with the books and records of the Company (which, in turn, are accurate and complete in all material respects). The Financial Statements fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of the dates thereof and the results of operations, revenues and expenses. Except for obligations and Liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business, the Company does not have any material obligation or Liability other than Liabilities set forth in the Financial Statements.
(f) Absence of Certain Developments. Except as set forth in the Financial Statements or in Part 3.1(f) of the Disclosure Schedule, since January 1, 2016, the Company has not:
(i) borrowed any amount or incurred or become subject to any liabilities, except current liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(ii) discharged or satisfied any Encumbrance or paid any liabilities, other than current liabilities paid in the ordinary course of business;
(iii) declared or made any payment or distribution of cash or other property to its stockholders with respect to its capital stock, or purchased or redeemed any shares of its capital stock;
(iv) mortgaged, pledged or subjected to any Encumbrance any of its assets;
(v) sold, assigned, transferred or licensed any of its assets (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Intellectual Property assets), or canceled without fair consideration any debts or claims owing to or held by it;
(vi) made any capital expenditures or commitments therefor;
(vii) made any loans or advances to any Persons;
(viii) suffered any extraordinary losses or waived any rights of material value;
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
(ix) suffered any damage, destruction or loss of any of its assets, or any other event or condition of any character that has had or likely would have a Material Adverse Effect; or
(x) changed its accounting principles or practices or the method of recording transactions involving accounts receivable and inventory.
(g) No Conflict or Violation. Except as set forth in Part 3.1(g) of the Disclosure Schedule, the execution, delivery and performance by the Company and by each of the Sellers of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the consummation by the Company and each of the Sellers of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not: (i) violate any applicable Law to which such Company or any Seller is subject, assuming all Governmental Filings described or listed in Part 3.1(c) of the Disclosure Schedule have been or will be obtained or made; (ii) (A) require a consent, approval or notice under, (B) conflict with, result in a violation or breach of, or constitute a default under (whether with or without the giving of notice, the passage of time or both), (C) result in the acceleration under, or a right to accelerate obligations under, modify, terminate or cancel, or (D) result in the creation of an Encumbrance on the Shares or on the assets or interests of the Company; or (iii) violate the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the Company. Neither the Company nor any Seller is subject to any judgment, decree, injunction or order of any Governmental Entity which would impair the Companys or a Sellers ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents.
(h) Legal Proceedings. There are (and, since the formation of the Company, have been) no Actions pending or, to the Knowledge of Seller, threatened (i) by or against the Company, (ii) by or against any Seller or its assets or properties that would materially affect such Sellers Shares or that would delay or materially impede such Sellers ability to consummate any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or (iii) to the Knowledge of the Sellers, against any of the officers, directors or employees of the Company relating to or resulting from their services to the Company (any such Action described in clauses (i)-(iii), a Legal Proceeding). To the Knowledge of the Sellers, there are no facts, circumstances or conditions that would reasonably be expected to form the basis for any Legal Proceeding. The Company is not, and since its formation has not been, the subject of any judgment, decree, injunction or order of any Governmental Entity.
(i) Inventory; Personal Property; Owned and Leased Real Property.
(i) All of the Inventory conforms to the applicable specifications for the Product, in not adulterated or misbranded, was manufactured in compliance with applicable Law, has been stored and maintained in accordance with GMP, and is otherwise usable for its intended purposes.
(ii) The Company does not own any tangible personal property other than the Inventory.
(iii) The Company does not own or lease any real property.
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
(j) Taxes.
(i) The Company has timely filed all Tax Returns required to be filed by it, each such Tax Return has been prepared in compliance with all applicable Laws in all material respects, and all Tax Returns are true and accurate in all material respects. All Taxes due and payable by the Company (whether or not shown or required to be shown on any Tax Return) have been paid and the Company has withheld and paid over to the appropriate taxing authority all Taxes which it is required to withhold from amounts paid or owing to any employee, shareholder, creditor, or other Third Party and has complied with all informational reporting and other requirements of Law related to such withholding obligations in all material respects.
(ii) There is currently no Tax Claim concerning any material Tax liability of the Company claimed or raised by any taxing authority, nor has the Company received written notice of the institution of, or intent to institute, any such Tax Claim. The Company has not waived any statute of limitations in respect of material Taxes beyond the date hereof or agreed to any extension of time beyond the date hereof with respect to a material Tax assessment or deficiency.
(iii) The Company has not requested or been granted, or is a beneficiary of, an extension of the time for filing any Tax Return to a date later than the Closing Date, other than an automatic extension to extend the time for filing any Tax Return in the ordinary course of business.
(iv) No power of attorney has been granted with respect to the Company relating to Taxes of the Company, which power of attorney will be in force after the Closing.
(v) The Company will not be required to include any item of income in, or exclude any item of deduction from, taxable income for any Post-Closing Taxable Period as a result of any (i) closing agreement as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding provision of state, local or foreign Tax Law) entered into on or before the Closing Date, (ii) any election under Section 108(i) of the Code made on or before the Closing Date, (iii) installment sale or open transaction disposition made on or before the Closing Date, (iv) prepaid amount received on or before the Closing Date, (v) any deferred intercompany gain or excess loss account described in Treasury Regulations under Section 1502 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision or administrative rule of federal, state, local or foreign Law) or (vi) adjustment pursuant to Section 481(a) of the Code or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Law for an accounting method change made prior to the Closing Date.
(vi) There is no application pending with any Governmental Entity requesting permission for any changes in any of accounting methods of the Company for Tax purposes. No Governmental Entity has proposed in writing any such adjustment or change in accounting method.
(vii) The Company has not been either a distributing corporation or a controlled corporation in a distribution occurring during the last two years in which the parties
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
to such distribution treated the distribution as one to which Section 355 of the Code is applicable. Except as contemplated in connection with this Agreement, the Company has not distributed assets or equity of a subsidiary to a shareholder in a taxable transaction.
(viii) The Company is not liable for any Taxes of any other Person pursuant to Treasury Regulation section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of applicable Law) or as a transferee or successor, by contract or otherwise, or is a party to any Tax allocation or sharing agreement or any Tax indemnity agreement (other than commercial contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business that do not relate primarily to Taxes).
(ix) There is no Encumbrance for Taxes on any assets of the Company, other than Encumbrances for Taxes not yet due and payable.
(x) The Company has not participated in a listed transaction within the meaning of Treasury Regulations section 1.6011-4(b)(2).
(k) Company Contracts.
(i) Part 3.1(k) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a list of all Contracts to which the Company is and after Closing shall remain a party or to which any of its assets or properties are and after Closing shall remain bound (the Company Contracts). True, complete and correct copies of all Company Contracts have been provided to Buyer prior to the Closing Date.
(ii) Except as set forth on Part 3.1(k) of the Disclosure Schedule: (A) the Company is not in breach of or default under any Company Contract and (B) to the Knowledge of the Sellers, no counterparty is in breach of or default under any Company Contract. The License Agreement and the Supply Agreement are each binding and enforceable in accordance with their respective terms and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents will not afford any other Person the right to terminate or make any modifications to the terms of any such agreement. To the Companys Knowledge, all of the other Company Contracts are binding and enforceable in accordance with their respective terms and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents will not afford any other Person the right to terminate or make any modifications to the terms of any such Company Contract. The Company has made available to the Buyer true and correct copies of all Company Contracts (together with all amendments, waivers or other changes thereto) set forth or required to be set forth on Part 3.1(k) of the Disclosure Schedule.
(l) Employees and Compensation. The Company has no employees and has never had any employees.
(m) Employee Benefit Plans. The Company has no Employee Benefit Plans and has never had any Employee Benefit Plans.
(n) Intellectual Property.
(i) Part 3.1(n) of the Disclosure Schedule identifies the only Intellectual Property owned, licensed or used by the Company in the operation of the Business
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
(the Company Intellectual Property) and no other Intellectual Property is used to operate the Business. Except as set forth on Part 3.1(n) of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company owns the entire right, title and interest in, under and to, free and clear of any Encumbrances, all Company Intellectual Property. To Sellers Knowledge, the Company Intellectual Property are valid, enforceable, subsisting and in full force and effect.
(ii) The Company does not own, control or hold for use any Intellectual Property other than the Intellectual Property in-licensed to the Company pursuant to the License Agreement. Neither the Company nor Licensor is in breach of, or default under, the License Agreement, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated under this Agreement will not cause any such breach or default. The Company has not received notice of any actual or alleged breach of, default under, the License Agreement or of any other dispute arising in connection therewith. The License Agreement is in full force and effect, valid and enforceable in accordance with its terms against each of the Company and Licensor.
(iii) To Sellers Knowledge, the conduct and operation of the Company and the Business, as conducted and operated since the formation of the Company and planned to be conducted, does not misappropriate, infringe, dilute or otherwise violate and has not misappropriated, infringed, diluted or otherwise violated any Persons Intellectual Property. Since the Companys formation, there has been no claim, suit or proceeding asserted or threatened, including in the form of an offer or invitation to obtain a license, against the Company relating to the Company Intellectual Property (I) alleging misappropriation, infringement, dilution or other violation of any Persons Intellectual Property, (II) challenging the Companys ownership of, right, title or interest in, under or to, use of, or the registrability or maintenance of any Company Intellectual Property, (III) adversely affecting the ownership rights of the Company in, under or to any Company Intellectual Property or (IV) challenging the validity or enforceability of any Company Intellectual Property, and there is no basis for any such claim, suit or proceeding. Neither the Company nor the Sellers have agreed to or have any Contracts to indemnify any Person for or against any interference, infringement, dilution, misappropriation or violation with respect to any Intellectual Property.
(iv) To the Knowledge of Sellers, since the Companys formation, no Person has misappropriated, infringed, diluted, or otherwise violated, either directly or indirectly, any Company Intellectual Property.
(v) Other than the License Agreement, the Company is not a party to any Contract pursuant to which the Company has granted to any Third Party, or a Third Party has granted to the Company, a license, covenant not to sue, option, or other right with respect to any Intellectual Property. The Company is not bound by any Contract that, upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, will cause Buyer, or any of its Affiliates, to (I) grant to any Third Party any right to or with respect to any Intellectual Property owned by, or licensed to, any of them prior to the Closing or otherwise cause any of them to lose any rights with respect to any Intellectual Property or (II) be obligated to pay any royalties or other fees or consideration with respect to any Intellectual Property of any Third Party.
(o) Affiliate Transactions. Except as set forth on Part 3.1(o) of the Disclosure Schedule, there have been no transactions, and there are no Contracts, between any of the Sellers
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
or officers or directors of the Company or any of their Affiliates, in which any such Person or individual owns any beneficial interest, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand.
(p) Brokers Fees. With the exception of the investment banking agreement with Leerink Partners LLC included on Part 3.1(k) of the Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any Seller has dealt with any broker, finder or similar agent with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and the Company is not under any obligation to pay any brokers fee, finders fee, commission or similar amount in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(q) Legal Compliance. The Company is operating and conducting the Business, and at all times since its formation has operated and conducted the Business, in compliance in with all applicable Laws. The Company has not received any notice or correspondence from any Governmental Entity alleging or asserting noncompliance with any applicable Law. To the Companys Knowledge, there are no facts, circumstances or conditions that would reasonably be expected to form the basis for any investigation, audit, suit, claim or action with respect to, or proceeding to withdraw or place material restrictions on the production, dosing, clinical use or testing, or sales or marketing of, or request the recall, suspension or discontinuation of, the Product.
(r) Regulatory Matters.
(i) The Company, its Affiliates and, the contract research organizations engaged to perform clinical trials on behalf of the Company (the CROs) have obtained all Governmental Approvals required by any Governmental Entity, including the FDA, to permit the conduct of the Business and all such Governmental Approvals are valid and in full force and effect, and no such Governmental Approval has been or is being revoked or challenged. Neither the Company, nor to the Knowledge of the Company, any CRO, has received any communication from any Governmental Entity regarding, any such Governmental Approvals, any failure to materially comply with applicable Laws or any term or requirement of any such Governmental Approval, or any revocation, withdrawal, suspension, cancellation, material limitation, termination or material modification of any such Governmental Approval. To the Knowledge of the Company, there are no facts or circumstances that are reasonably likely to adversely affect any such Governmental Approvals. The Company, and to the Knowledge of the Company, the CROs, have filed with the applicable Governmental Entities, including the FDA, all filings, representations, declarations, listings, and registrations, as well as all reports or submissions required under the FDCA and the Public Health Service Act of 1944, as amended, and their implementing regulations, as well as adverse event reports and all other submitted data relating to the Product required to be filed or submitted to permit the conduct of the Business. All such filings, representations, declarations, listings, registrations, reports and submissions were in material compliance with applicable Laws when filed, and no material deficiencies have been asserted in writing by any applicable Governmental Entity with respect to any such filings, representations, declarations, listing, registrations, reports or submissions.
(ii) All nonclinical and clinical investigations conducted or sponsored by or on behalf of the Company, and all manufacturing operations, both with respect to the Product, are being, and have been since the Companys formation, conducted in material
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
compliance with applicable Laws, including, but not limited to the FDCA, good clinical practice requirements, good laboratory practice requirements, GMP, ICH principles and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, Public Law 104-191 (HIPAA) and other legal requirements restricting the use and disclosure of individually identifiable health information. Neither the Company, nor any CRO, has received any written notice, correspondence or other communication from any institution, institutional review board, the FDA, or any other Governmental Entity with respect to any completed, ongoing or planned clinical or nonclinical studies or tests sponsored or conducted by or on behalf of the Company requiring the termination, suspension or material modification of such studies or tests, or regarding material noncompliance of such studies or tests of the Product, and to Knowledge of the Company there is no reason to believe that any institution, institutional review board, the FDA, or any other Governmental Entity is considering such action or communication.
(iii) Neither the Company, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company any of the CROs, has (a) made an untrue statement of a material fact or fraudulent statement to the FDA or any Governmental Entity, (b) failed to disclose a material fact required to be disclosed to the FDA or other Governmental Entity or (c) committed any other act, made any statement or failed to make any statement, that (in any such case) establishes a reasonable basis for a Governmental Entity to allege a violation of an applicable Law, including without limitation, for the FDA to invoke its Fraud, Untrue Statements of Material Facts, Bribery, and Illegal Gratuities Final Policy. Neither the Company, nor, to Knowledge of the Company, any of its officers, CROs, agents or clinical investigators is the subject of any pending or threatened investigation by the FDA pursuant to its Fraud, Untrue Statements of Material Facts, Bribery, and Illegal Gratuities Final Policy or by any other Governmental Entity pursuant to any similar applicable Law.
(iv) None of the Company, the Sellers or the CROs, nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, shareholders, consultants, agents, clinical investigators or Affiliates has been debarred or convicted, or is subject to debarment or conviction, pursuant to Section 306 of the FDCA. In the course of the discovery, research and any other development of the Product (including in the conduct of any non-clinical research, safety and toxicology studies or clinical trials with respect to the Product), the Company has not, directly or indirectly, used any employee, agent, or independent contractor who has been (i) debarred by, or is the subject of debarment proceedings by, any Governmental Entity or (ii) convicted pursuant to Section 306 of the FDCA.
(v) The Companys and, with respect to the Product, the CROs, use and dissemination of any personally-identifiable information or Protected Health Information (as defined under HIPAA) concerning individuals is in compliance with all applicable Laws, contracts to which the Company or CRO is bound, privacy policies and terms of use. The Company and the CROs each maintain policies and procedures regarding data security and privacy and maintains administrative, technical and physical safeguards that are commercially reasonable and, in any event, in compliance with all applicable Laws and contracts. There have been no security breaches relating to, or violations of any security policy regarding, or any unauthorized access of, any data or information used by the Company or, with respect to the Product, the CROs.
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
(s) Insurance. Part 3.1(s) of the Disclosure Schedule contains a complete list and description of all insurance policies issued to or for the benefit of the Company. The insurance coverage of the Company is customary for corporations of similar size engaged in similar lines of business and is reasonable to cover the Companys properties, assets and business. Each insurance policy maintained by the Company with respect to its properties, assets and businesses is in full force and effect as of the date hereof and shall remain in full force and effect following the date hereof through its stated date of termination. The Company is not in default with respect to its obligations under any insurance policy maintained by it.
Section 3.2. Representations and Warranties of the Buyer. Buyer represents and warrants to the Sellers that each of the statements contained in this Section 3.2 is true and correct as of the Closing Date.
(a) Due Organization and Good Standing. The Buyer is a corporation duly formed, validly existing and in active status under the Laws of the State of Delaware, with all requisite power and authority to own its properties and to carry on its business, and, as manager of the Company, the Companys business as such business is now conducted.
(b) Authorization and Execution by the Buyer. The Buyer has all requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance by the Buyer of this Agreement and such other Transaction Documents and the consummation by the Buyer of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Buyer and no other proceedings on the part of the Buyer is necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by the Buyer of this Agreement and such other Transaction Documents, or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby. This Agreement and the other Transaction Documents have been duly executed and delivered by the Buyer and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other Parties, constitutes, and each of the other Transaction Documents contemplated hereby, when executed and delivered by the Buyer (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other Parties thereto) shall constitute, a valid and binding obligation of the Buyer, enforceable against the Buyer in accordance with its terms.
(c) Governmental Filings. Except as set forth by Buyer in Part 3.2(c) of the Disclosure Schedule, to Buyers Knowledge, no Governmental Filings are required by Buyer in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or the other agreements, instruments or documents of the Buyer contemplated hereby, or the consummation by the Buyer of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, as applicable; except that Part 3.2(c) of the Disclosure Schedule is not required to list: (i) those Governmental Filings that are set forth in or required to be set forth in Part 3.2(c) of the Disclosure Schedule, (ii) those Governmental Filings that are filed or required to be filed by the Company or the Sellers or their Affiliates incident to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents or the Companys continuing Business if such transactions were not entered into or pending, and (iii) any other Governmental Filings, the failure of which to be filed, made, or obtained would not materially impair the Buyers ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
(d) No Conflict or Violation. The execution, delivery and performance by the Buyer of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents of the Buyer contemplated hereby, as applicable, and the consummation by the Buyer of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (i) do not, assuming all authorizations, consents and approvals described or referred to in Section 3.2(c) have been obtained or made, violate any applicable Law to which the Buyer is subject, require a consent, approval or notification under, conflict with, result in a violation or breach of, or constitute a default under, result in the acceleration of, create in any Person the right to accelerate, terminate or cancel any Contract to which the Buyer is a party (except for consents required by the Buyers and its Affiliates lenders, which have been obtained), or (ii) violate the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the Buyer in any manner as would impair the Buyers ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
(e) Legal Proceedings. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no Actions pending or, to the knowledge of the Buyer, threatened against the Buyer that challenge the validity or enforceability of this Agreement against the Buyer or seek to enjoin or prohibit consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby by the Buyer. Neither the Buyer nor any Affiliate is subject to any judgment, decree, injunction or order of any Governmental Entity that would impair its ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
(f) Acquisition of Equity for Investment. The Buyer has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters such that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its purchase of the Shares. The Buyer is acquiring the Shares for investment only and not with a view toward or for sale in connection with any distribution thereof, or with any present intention of distributing or selling the Shares. The Buyer agrees that the Shares may not be sold, transferred, offered for sale, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of without registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities Laws, except pursuant to an exemption from such registration available under such federal and state Laws.
(g) Brokers Fees. The Buyer has not dealt with any broker, finder or similar agent with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and is not under any obligation to pay any brokers fee, finders fee, commission or similar amount in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS
Section 4.1. Publicity. No Seller shall issue a press release or make any other public announcement concerning the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or with respect to the Product or the development or commercialization thereof, in each case, without the prior written consent of the Buyer, except as such release or announcement, upon the advice of outside counsel, may be required by Law, in which case the Seller required to make the release or announcement shall allow the Company and the Buyer reasonable time to comment on such release or announcement in advance of such issuance. Nothing herein will restrict Buyer from issuing a press release or making any public announcement concerning the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or relating to the Product.
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
Section 4.2. Further Assurances. On and after the Closing Date, the Sellers, the Company, and the Buyer shall each cooperate and use all of their respective commercially reasonable efforts to take or cause to be taken all appropriate actions and do, or cause to be done, all things necessary or appropriate to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated hereby, including the execution of any additional documents or instruments of any kind, the transfer of assets or property, the obtaining of consents which may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to carry out any of the provisions hereof and the taking of all such other actions as such Party may reasonably be requested to take by the other Party hereto from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Agreement and the other agreements, instruments and documents contemplated hereby, in order to effectuate the provisions and purposes hereof and thereof and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 4.2 shall be deemed to require the Company and Sellers to use commercially reasonable efforts to assist by in providing any notice to the FDA or any other Governmental Entity that Buyer determines to be necessary or advisable following the Closing Date to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 4.3. Confidentiality.
(a) All information received by or behalf a Party prior to the Closing that is proprietary to another Party shall be held as Confidential Information, as defined in, and pursuant to the terms of, the Confidentiality Agreement, subject to the limitations and exceptions set forth therein. Following the Closing Date, the terms of this Agreement will control and govern all Confidential Information of the Parties.
(b) Each Party shall each keep confidential, and shall use reasonable efforts to cause its respective Affiliates, officers, directors, employees, advisors and auditors to keep confidential, all Confidential Information of any other Party or any of its Affiliates; provided, that a Party may disclose Confidential Information of another Party to the extent required by applicable Law. After the Closing, all Confidential Information relating to the Company, the Business and the Product shall be deemed to be the Confidential Information of Buyer.
(c) Nothing herein shall be deemed to restrict or prevent NPC from disclosing the terms of this document and the transaction in general to NPCs secured creditor, now or hereafter existing.
Section 4.4. Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation. Except in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and subject to applicable Law, for the duration of the Earn-Out Period, the Sellers shall not, and the Sellers shall cause their respective Affiliates not to, engage, on their own behalf or on behalf of any other Person, in any Competitive Activity. It is the understanding of the Parties that the scope of the covenants contained in this Section 4.4 both as to time and area covered, are reasonable and necessary to protect the rights of the Parties. It is the Parties intention that these covenants be enforced to the greatest extent (but to no greater extent) in time, area, and degree of participation as is permitted by applicable Law. In the event that any provision of this Section 4.4 is determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable by reason of its being extended over too great a time, too large a geographic area or too great a range of activities, such
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
provision will be deemed to be modified to permit its enforcement to the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law.
Section 4.5. Tax Matters.
(a) Transfer Taxes. All transfer, documentary, sales, use stamp, registration and other such Taxes, and any conveyance fees or recording charges (collectively, Transfer Taxes) incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid one-half by the Sellers and one-half by the Buyer when due and payable.
(b) Filing of Returns. The Sellers shall, at their sole cost and expense, prepare all Tax Returns of the Company for any Tax period ending on or before the Closing Date. The Sellers shall submit drafts of such Tax Returns to Buyer for its review at least 30 days prior to the due date for the filing thereof (taking into account any permitted extensions). The Buyer shall have the right to review and comment on such Tax Returns and the Sellers shall make such changes thereto as are reasonably requested by the Buyer. Upon completion of Sellers and approval by Buyer of such Tax Returns, Buyer shall cause the Company to timely file such Tax Returns. The Sellers shall cause to be timely paid and shall be responsible for all Taxes due with respect to all such Tax Returns (taking into account any applicable extensions of time to file). Buyer shall prepare and file all Tax Returns of the Company for any Tax period ending after the Closing Date; provided, however, that not later than 30 days prior to the due date for filing of a Straddle Taxable Period Tax Return Buyer shall provide Sellers with a copy of drafts of such Tax Return and shall consider in good faith any comments from the Sellers on the portions of such Tax Return that relate to the Pre-Closing Taxable Period. In the case of a Straddle Taxable Period Tax Return, Sellers shall pay to Buyer the Sellers share of any Taxes due with respect to such Tax Return not later than seven days prior to the due date for filing such Tax Return.
(c) Amendments to Tax Returns. Except as required by Law, without the prior written consent of Sellers, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, Buyer shall not make, change or rescind any Tax election, amend any Tax Return or take any position on any Tax Return, take any action, omit to take any action or enter into any other transaction that would have the effect of increasing the Tax liability or reducing any Tax asset of any of the Companies in respect of any Pre-Closing Taxable Period.
(d) Tax Claims. Sellers shall have the right to control, at their sole cost and expense, and Buyer shall have the right to participate in, at its sole cost and expense, any Tax Claim that relates to any Pre-Closing Taxable Period to the extent Sellers conduct the defense of such Tax Claims actively, diligently and in good faith. If Sellers elect not to control any such Tax Claims, then Buyer shall control such matter, provided, that (i) Sellers Representative shall have the right to participate in any such matter, (ii) Buyer shall keep Sellers Representative reasonably informed of the status of such matter (including providing Sellers Representative with copies of all written correspondence regarding such matter), and (iii) Sellers shall promptly reimburse the Buyer for any and all reasonable expenses incurred in connection with Buyers defense of such Tax Claims.. In the case of any Tax Claim for Taxes that applies to a Straddle Taxable Period and to the extent such Tax Claim would result in an indemnification obligation by the Sellers under this Agreement (A) each Party may participate in the Tax Claim; (B) such Tax Claim shall be controlled by that Party that would bear the burden of the greater portion of
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
the sum of the adjustment and any corresponding adjustments that may reasonably be anticipated for any Tax periods; and (C) each Party shall bear the appropriate portion of the expenses of such Tax Claim. Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.5(d), in the case of any audit, proceeding, adjustment or other claim made by any Governmental Entity for Taxes that applies to any Post-Closing Taxable Period and/or to the extent the Sellers have no indemnification obligation under this Agreement, Buyer shall have the right to control the conduct of such audit or proceeding in its sole discretion.
(e) Cooperation. Buyer, the Company, and Sellers will cooperate fully, as and to the extent reasonably requested by the other Party, in connection with any Tax matters relating to the Company (including by the provision of reasonably relevant records or information). The Party requesting such cooperation will pay the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the other Party.
(f) Straddle Taxable Period. For purposes of this Agreement, in the case of any Straddle Taxable Period, the amount of any Taxes of the Company not based upon or measured by income, activities, events, the level of any item, gain, receipts, proceeds, profits or other similar items for Tax periods (or the portion thereof) ending on or before the Closing Date will be deemed to be the amount of such Taxes for the entire Tax period multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the Tax period ending on the Closing Date and the denominator of which is the number of days in such Straddle Taxable Period. The amount of any other Taxes for a Straddle Taxable Period that relates to the Tax period (or the portion thereof) ending on or before the Closing Date will be determined based on an interim closing of the books as of the end of the day on the Closing Date, provided, however, that any item determined on an annual or periodic basis (such as a deduction for depreciation or real estate Taxes) shall be apportioned on a daily basis.
Section 4.6. No Additional Warranties or Representations; Due Diligence. Buyer, on behalf of itself and its affiliates, acknowledges and agrees that neither it nor any of its or their officers, directors, managers, employees, agents, attorneys, accountants, advisors or representatives (Buyer Representatives) has relied, and none of such Persons is relying upon any statement, warranty or representation (whether written or oral) not expressly set forth in this Agreement. Buyer, on behalf of itself and its affiliates, acknowledges that none of Sellers or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, partners members, managers, attorneys or agents, has made any representation or warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of any information regarding the Company or its business, properties or assets, which has been communicated, furnished or made available to Buyer or any Buyer Representatives, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement. None of the Sellers shall have, or be subject to, any liability to any Indemnified Party or other Person resulting from the distribution to Buyer or any Buyer Representatives, or any of Buyers or Buyer Representatives use of, any information, documents or materials made available to any of them in due diligence, including any information, documents or materials stored on computer disks or online or physical data rooms, provided during managements presentations, or in any other forms in expectation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement.
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
ARTICLE V
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 5.1. Survival. The representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and the certificates contemplated hereby shall survive the Closing for a period of 18 months and shall at that time expire, and no indemnification claim under this Article V (a Claim) for a breach of any representation or warranty may be brought after such 18-month period; provided, however, that if any Party provides written notice to the other Party of an indemnification claim under this Article V for a breach of a representation or warranty prior to the expiration of such 18-month period, then such claim shall survive until it is fully and finally resolved and any obligations with respect thereto are fully satisfied; and provided, further, that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (a) the Fundamental Representations and all corresponding claims for indemnification and claims for indemnification under Section 5.2(b) shall remain in full force and effect until the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, and (b) all of the covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement that by their nature are required to be performed after the Closing shall survive the Closing until fully performed or fulfilled. Any Claim not submitted in writing (and which must contain in reasonable detail the legal and factual basis therefor) by the Person seeking indemnification pursuant to this Article V (the Indemnified Party) to the applicable Party from whom it is seeking indemnification (the Indemnifying Party) prior to the expiration of the applicable survival period shall be deemed to have been waived and shall be absolutely and forever barred and unenforceable.
Section 5.2. Indemnification of the Buyer Parties. From and after the Closing, the Sellers shall indemnify and hold harmless the Buyer, its Affiliates, and each of their respective officers, directors, shareholders, employees, agents, partners, managers, members, representatives, successors and permitted assigns (collectively, the Buyer Parties, but for the avoidance of doubt, in each case, excluding the Sellers) from and against, and shall pay to the Buyer Parties the amount of or reimburse them for, all losses, damages, Liabilities, fines, obligations, Taxes, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees and expenses and all reasonable amounts paid in investigation or defense) (collectively, Losses) incurred by a Buyer Party that arises out of or results from:
(a) any breach of any of the representations or warranties of the Sellers set forth in this Agreement or in any of the other Transaction Documents, or contained in any certificate, instrument, or document delivered at the Closing by the Sellers or the Company pursuant to the Agreement or the other Transaction Documents;
(b) all Liabilities of the Company for any and all (i) Taxes with respect to any Pre- Closing Taxable Period and any Transfer Taxes for which the Sellers are liable pursuant to Section 4.5(a), (ii) Sellers Expenses or (iii) Indebtedness of the Company;
(c) all Liabilities arising as a result of, or relating to, activities conducted by or on behalf of the Company on or prior to the Closing, including any Liabilities arising out of or relating to (i) any discovery, research and development of the Product, (ii) execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or (iii) any Legal Proceeding; or
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
(d) the failure of the Company (with respect to its pre-Closing obligations only) or of the Seller to perform any of its respective covenants or other agreements contained in this Agreement or in any of the other Transaction Documents.
The indemnification obligations of each Seller under this Article V shall be several and not joint, and, except in the case of intentional fraud or misrepresentation, no Seller shall have liability pursuant to this Article V in an aggregate amount in excess of such Sellers pro rata portion of the Indemnity Cap (as hereinafter defined). Subject to the limitations set forth in this Section 5.2 and Section 5.4, in the event that a Buyer Party suffers, sustains or becomes subject to a Loss indemnifiable under this Section 5.2, and seeks to enforce its rights to indemnification hereunder, such Buyer Party shall proceed directly against each Seller for an amount equal to such Sellers Pro Rata Share of such Buyer Loss; provided, that no Seller shall have any liability in an amount in excess of such Sellers Pro Rata Share of such Buyer Loss.
Section 5.3. Indemnification of Sellers. From and after the Closing, the Buyer shall indemnify and hold harmless the Sellers from and against, and shall pay to the Sellers the amount of or reimburse them for, all Losses incurred by a Seller that arises out of or results from:
(a) any breach of any of the representations or warranties of the Buyer set forth in Section 3.2 of this Agreement or contained in any certificate, instrument or document delivered at the Closing by the Buyer, and
(b) the failure of the Buyer to perform any of its respective covenants or other agreements contained in this Agreement.
Section 5.4. Provisions Related to Indemnification of the Indemnified Parties.
(a) Neither Sellers nor Buyer shall be liable for any Losses under the indemnification obligations set forth in Section 5.2(a) or 5.3(a), as applicable, unless and until the aggregate amount of such Losses exceeds [***] (the Basket), and then such Person shall be entitled to be indemnified and held harmless for the full amount of such Losses, including the Losses equal to or less than the Basket, but only up to a maximum amount equal to [***] of the Closing Consideration (the Indemnity Cap); provided, however, that the Basket and the Indemnity Cap shall not apply to Losses resulting from (i) intentional fraud or misrepresentation, (ii) breaches of any Fundamental Representation or (iii) other claims for indemnification under Section 5.2(b)-(e); provided, further, that (i) the maximum aggregate liability of the Sellers for breaches of Fundamental Representations shall not exceed a maximum amount equal to the [***], and (ii) the maximum aggregate liability of the Sellers for claims for indemnification under Section 5.2(b)-(d) shall not exceed a maximum amount equal to the [***].
(b) For purposes of Section 5.2(a) and Section 5.3(a), in calculating the amount of any Loss with respect to any such breach or alleged breach, all qualifications in the applicable representation or warranty referencing the terms material, materiality, Material Adverse Effect or other terms of similar import or effect shall be disregarded.
(c) With respect to each Claim, the Indemnified Party shall use reasonable efforts to assert and prosecute and pursue diligently all claims under all applicable insurance policies or coverage, and any Losses that may be recovered by the Indemnified Party with
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
respect to such Claim shall be net of any insurance proceeds received or coverage obtained with respect thereto. To the extent that insurance proceeds are collected or coverage obtained after a Claim has been settled, the Indemnified Party shall restore the Indemnifying Party to the same economic position as would have existed had such insurance proceeds been collected or coverage been obtained prior to the settlement of such Claim. In addition, the Losses that may be recovered by an Indemnified Party shall be net of any Tax benefit realized in cash by, or that reduces cash Tax payments of, the Indemnified Party in the year of indemnification as a result of the Loss. In computing the amount of any such Tax benefit, the Indemnified Party shall be deemed to first utilize all available expenses, deductions, credits or other Tax attributes before utilizing any Tax attributes arising as a result of the Loss.
(d) Sellers shall not have any liability hereunder for Losses arising from or relating to any breach of representation or warranty if Buyer had Knowledge as of the Closing Date of the fact, circumstance, condition or event constituting such breach.
Section 5.5. Indemnification Procedures and Related Provisions.
(a) Upon the occurrence of any event that any Indemnified Party asserts to be the basis for a Claim against the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnified Party shall notify (such notice, a Claim Notice) the Indemnifying Party of the Claim after receiving notice or becoming aware of such Claim, describing the Claim in reasonable detail, with supporting documentation to provide the factual basis for such Claim (to the extent available) and the estimated amount reasonably necessary to satisfy such Claim; provided that the failure to so notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations hereunder except to the extent that (and only to the extent that) such failure shall have caused the damages for which the Indemnifying Party is obligated to be greater than such damages would have been had the Indemnified Party given the Indemnifying Party prompt notice hereunder. Whenever the Indemnified Party shall have given a Claim Notice to the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party may, within 30 days after receipt of such Claim Notice, notify the Indemnified Party that the Indemnifying Party disputes the Claim for indemnification set forth in the Claim Notice (a Dispute Notice), and if no Dispute Notice is given to the Indemnified Party within such 30 day period, the Claim shall be deemed final and binding for all purposes of this Article V.
(b) The Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party agree to make available to each other, their counsel and other representatives, all reasonably requested information and documents available to them which relate to a Claim in order to determine the existence and amount of Loss and resolve any disputes relating to same.
(c) The Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party shall cooperate in the defense of any third-party Action that the Indemnified Party asserts to be the basis for a Claim, with such cooperation to include (i) the retention and the provision to the Indemnified Party and Indemnifying Party of records and information that are reasonably relevant to such Action and (ii) reasonable access to employees on a mutually convenient basis for providing additional information and explanation of any material provided hereunder.
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
(d) The Indemnifying Party will make promptly, and in any event within ten days, any payment required to be made by it to the Indemnified Party under this Article V. Any claims for indemnification, whether or not disputed, shall be resolved pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and those other Transaction Documents which are relevant to the claims.
(e) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, neither Party shall be liable to the other Party or to any Indemnified Party under this Agreement for any Excluded Losses except (i) to the extent that an Indemnified Party pays such Losses or other items in connection with a third-party Action with respect to which the Indemnified Party is entitled to indemnification hereunder or (ii) in the case of intentional fraud or misrepresentation.
Section 5.6. Exclusive Remedy. Except in the case of intentional fraud or misrepresentation, and subject to Section 6.15, the remedies provided in this Article V shall be the sole and exclusive remedies of the Parties for all claims, Losses and disputes arising out of any matter set forth in or related to this Agreement or the subject matter hereof and will supersede and replace all other rights and remedies arising out of this Agreement that any of the Parties (or their Affiliates) may have at law or in equity.
Section 5.7. Tax Treatment of Indemnity Payments. For all Tax purposes, the Parties agree to treat indemnity payments made pursuant to this Agreement as an adjustment to the consideration for the Shares to the extent permitted by applicable Tax Law.
Section 5.8. Certain Additional Limitations.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in calculating amounts payable to an Indemnified Party hereunder, the amount of any indemnified Loss shall be determined without duplication of any recovery by reason of the state of facts giving rise to such Claim constituting a breach of more than one representation, warranty, covenant or agreement.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no Indemnifying Party shall be liable for any Losses to the extent that the Losses suffered by the applicable Indemnified Party result from any improper or tortious act by the Indemnified Party or its Affiliates.
Section 5.9. Right to Setoff. Upon notice to the Sellers, Buyer shall have a claim and right of setoff as to any amount to which any Indemnified Party is entitled under this Article V against amounts otherwise payable to Sellers under any provision of this Agreement, including its payment of any portion of the Earn-Out. The exercise of such right of setoff by Buyer in good faith, whether or not ultimately determined to be justified, will not constitute a breach of Buyers obligation to pay the Earn-Out or any other amounts due under this Agreement. Neither the exercise of nor the failure to exercise such right of setoff will constitute an election of remedies or limit Buyer in any manner in the enforcement of any other remedies that may be available to it, including Buyers right to recover the amount by which any amount due to Buyer exceeds the Earn-Out. To the extent that liability for or the amount of indemnifiable Losses in respect of an Action or Claim against a Seller has not yet been finally determined in accordance with this
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
Agreement, Buyer shall be entitled to withhold payment of any portion of the Earn-Out otherwise due and payable to such Seller (up to the amount of indemnifiable Losses that Buyer in good faith reasonably determines are likely to be incurred upon the advice of counsel) and place such amounts in escrow with an escrow agent mutually acceptable to the Parties until such liability or the amount of indemnifiable Losses has been finally determined.
Section 5.10. Duty to Mitigate. Each of the Parties agrees that no Indemnified Party can recover Losses to the extent that such Losses could have been reasonably mitigated or avoided after such Indemnified Party became aware of any event or condition that could reasonably be expected to give rise to those Losses that are indemnifiable hereunder. In such event, all costs incurred by the Indemnified Parties in connection with any such mitigation efforts actually taken will be includable as Losses.
ARTICLE VI
ADDITIONAL OPERATIVE PROVISIONS
Section 6.1. Assignment; Binding Effect. This Agreement and the rights hereunder are not assignable by Sellers unless such assignment is consented to in writing by the Buyer, which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, delayed or withheld. This Agreement and all the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective successors, heirs, and permitted assigns. For purposes of clarity, the Buyer shall be permitted, without the consent of the Sellers, (a) to assign its rights hereunder to any of its Affiliates or (b) to make a collateral assignment of its rights hereunder to its or its Affiliates lenders (or an agent thereof) for security purposes and such lenders (or agent thereof) may exercise remedies in connection therewith, subject only to such restrictions as arise by operation of the governing Law; provided, however, that no such assignment under (a) or (b) shall release, terminate or affect Buyers obligations or liability hereunder. For the avoidance of doubt, a change of control transaction (whether by merger, consolidation, reorganization, acquisition, sale or otherwise) of any direct or indirect parent company of Buyer shall not be deemed an assignment for purposes of this Section 6.1 or Section 6.2. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 6.1 or Section 6.2, Buyer shall provide Sellers Representative reasonable prior written notice of any assignment of this Agreement or the rights hereunder.
Section 6.2. Reversion Right. If Buyer assigns this Agreement or the License Agreement to, or otherwise sells or transfers the Business to, a Third Party (the Acquiring Party), then within 60 days after the closing of such foregoing assignment transaction (the Confirmation Period), the Acquiring Party shall provide to Sellers Representative written confirmation of the Acquiring Partys intent to satisfy the requirements of Section 6.3 and to pay any Earn-Out due to Sellers under Section 2.3 (a Confirmation Notice). If the Acquiring Party does not provide Sellers Representative a Confirmation Notice, Sellers, through the Sellers Representative, may elect, by giving written notice to the Acquiring Party within 90 days following the end of the Confirmation Period, to have Acquiring Party assign to Sellers Representative, in exchange for [***], all of the Acquiring Partys right, title and interest in the Business, including any Regulatory Approvals for the Product in the Territory and any Company Intellectual Property, which assignment shall occur as soon as practicable, as reasonably determined by Sellers. The Parties agree that, following the foregoing assignment and reversion of rights to the Product to Sellers Representative, the Acquiring Party and Buyer shall have no
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
further obligations to Sellers pursuant to Sections 2.3 and 6.3 (except, in the case of Buyer, with respect to any Earn-Out Payments already accrued and payable to Sellers prior to the consummation of the sale, transfer or assignment of rights from Buyer to the Acquiring Party described above).
Section 6.3. Commercially Reasonable Efforts. After the Closing and until the end of the Earn-Out Period, subject to Section 6.2, Buyer shall use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to (i) receive approval by the FDA of the NDA for the Product, and (ii) otherwise develop and commercialize the Product. Commercially Reasonable Efforts, for purposes of this Section 6.3, means efforts and resources customarily used in the pharmaceutical business by a company of similar size with respect to the development and/or commercialization of a product of a market potential similar to the market potential of the Product with similar commercial and scientific potential at a similar stage in their lifecycle taking into consideration all relevant factors including their safety and efficacy, product profile (including the approved labeling and indication under the applicable NDA) the cost and timing to develop, the cost of and timing of clinical trials or comparative testing, the competitiveness of alternative formulations or products, as applicable, the anticipated or actual nature and extent of their market potential and exclusivity (including without limitation patent coverage and regulatory exclusivity), the likelihood, timing and cost of seeking and obtaining Regulatory Approval, and market potential and estimated profitability, including the amounts of marketing and promotional expenditures. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Sellers acknowledge and agree that (a) the use of Commercially Reasonable Efforts by Buyer may result in ceasing development, manufacturing or commercialization activities with respect to the Product in any country in the Territory or in the Territory as a whole and (b) within the context of Commercially Reasonable Efforts, Buyer shall have discretion with respect to the timing and manner of all development, manufacturing and commercialization activities with respect to the Product and any and all expenditures by or on behalf of Buyer in connection therewith. Within 60 days following the Closing Date, Buyer shall provide to Sellers Representative a written plan containing reasonable detail for the development of the Product through approval by the FDA of the NDA for the Product. Within 60 days following the end of each calendar quarter ending thereafter, Buyer shall provide Sellers Representative a written update on progress toward completion of such development plan. In the event of any dispute arising under this Section 6.3, then the Parties shall first attempt in good faith to reach a mutually agreeable resolution with respect to the Buyers compliance with this Section 6.3; provided, that if the Parties are unable to reach a mutually agreeable resolution within 30 days after commencing such discussions, then either Buyer or Sellers Representative may, by written notice to the other Party, refer such matter to the Chief Executive Officers of Buyer and of the Sellers Representative for attempted resolution by good faith negotiation for a period of 30 days after such notice is received. If such Chief Executive Officers are unable to resolve such matter within such 30 day period, then each Party may, in its sole discretion, seek resolution in accordance with Article V and Section 6.5.
Section 6.4. Choice of Law. This Agreement and all claims arising from and relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be governed by and interpreted and enforced in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflicts of Laws rules thereof.
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
Section 6.5. Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. The federal or state courts of the State of Delaware shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and decide any suit, action, proceeding or claim that may arise out of or in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Parties hereby consent to personal jurisdiction in those courts. Each of the Parties irrevocably waives its right to a jury trial in connection with any suit, action, proceeding or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 6.6. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) if delivered personally or actually received, as of the date received, (b) if delivered by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, the next Business Day after being deposited with such delivery service for next Business Day delivery, or (c) if sent via facsimile, electronic mail in portable document format (pdf), or similar electronic transmission with a hard copy to follow and such form of address is specifically designated and permitted by a Party by listing such address (i.e., e-mail address or fax number) below, then as of the date received, to such Party at its address set forth below (or such other address as it may from time to time designate in writing to the other Parties hereto):
If to the Buyer or, after the Closing, the Company, to: |
Revitalid, Inc.
|
with courtesy copies to (which shall not constitute notice): |
Ropes & Gray LLP
|
If to the Sellers, c/o Sellers Representative, to: |
Barry Butler
|
with courtesy copies to (which shall not constitute notice): |
Hill Ward Henderson |
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
Section 6.7. Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience, and shall not control over the other text, but may be considered in interpreting or construing any of the provisions contained in this Agreement in the event of any ambiguity, in which case, such headings shall be construed in a manner giving them such meaning as appears most consistent with the context of the entire Agreement.
Section 6.8. Fees and Expenses. Except as otherwise specified in this Agreement, each Party hereto shall bear its own costs and expenses (including investment advisory fees, legal fees, accounting fees, other professional fees, and such Partys allocated transaction expenses) incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents. In any mediation, arbitration, or legal proceeding arising out of or related to this Agreement, the non-prevailing Party shall reimburse the prevailing Party, on demand, for all costs incurred by the prevailing Party therein, including reasonable attorneys fees.
Section 6.9. Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including all of the exhibits and schedules hereto), the Confidentiality Agreement, the Transaction Documents, and the other specified reports, agreements, instruments and documents which are executed and delivered among the Parties hereto at or in connection with the Closing, shall constitute the entire agreement between the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings between the Parties with respect to such subject matter.
Section 6.10. Interpretation.
(a) When a reference is made to an Article, Section, Exhibit or a Schedule, such reference shall be deemed to refer to such Article, Section or Schedule of or to this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. Whenever the words include, includes, or including are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words without limitation. The phrase ordinary course of business shall include consistent with past practices of the Business without material deviation from the Companys general past practices and experiences in the Business, including regarding the frequency and quantity of the matter in question where frequency or quantity is relevant to describing such practice. References to dollars or $ are in U.S. dollars. The terms hereof, herein, hereby, hereto and derivative or similar words refer to this entire Agreement. The phrase made available means the referenced document (i) was physically or otherwise delivered (including, but not limited to, delivery via electronic media, such as a .pdf attachment to an email or a faxed document) to the Buyer or its agents at any time prior to the execution of this Agreement, or (ii) was posted and accessible to the Buyer and its agents in the electronic data room for this transaction no less than three Business Days prior to the date of this Agreement and remained so through the date of this Agreement.
(b) This Agreement was prepared jointly by the Parties hereto, each of which has respectively retained legal counsel, and no rule that ambiguities or other aspects hereof be construed against the drafter will have any application in its construction or interpretation.
Section 6.11. Waiver and Amendment. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written mutual agreement executed by duly authorized representatives of the respective
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
Parties (that is, only by a written mutual agreement executed and delivered by the Buyer, the Company and the Sellers respectively to the other Parties) and evidence of execution shall be delivered to each of the other Parties hereto. Any condition or performance due pursuant to the terms of this Agreement may be waived only by a written instrument specifically identifying the condition or performance which is waived, such waiver shall be executed by all Parties for whom such condition or performance would constitute any benefit, and such written waiver shall be delivered by such waiving Parties to all other Parties so as to effect notice of the same in accordance with the notice provisions of this Agreement. Any amendment, modification, or supplement to this Agreement affected in accordance with this section shall be binding on all Parties hereto, however, a waiver shall not require the consent of any Party for whom the waived condition or performance constitutes no benefit. No waiver or failure to insist upon strict compliance with any obligations, covenant, agreement or condition shall operate as a waiver of or estoppel with respect to any subsequent condition or performance due.
Section 6.12. Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except as otherwise specifically set forth in this Agreement, this Agreement is for the sole benefit of the Parties hereto and their permitted assigns, and nothing herein express or implied shall give or be construed to give to any Person, other than the Parties hereto, and such permitted assigns, any legal or equitable rights hereunder, except that the Buyer Parties are intended third party beneficiaries of Article VI.
Section 6.13. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the application of any such provision to any Person or circumstance shall be held invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision hereof or such provision to any other Person or circumstance or in any other jurisdiction.
Section 6.14. Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterpart signature pages, each of which will be deemed to be an original copy of this Agreement and all of which, when taken together, will be deemed to constitute one and the same agreement, which shall be binding upon all of the Parties hereto notwithstanding the fact that all Parties are not a signatory to the same counterpart. The exchange of copies of this Agreement and of signature pages by facsimile transmission, by electronic mail in portable document format (.pdf) form, or by any other electronic means intended to preserve the original graphic and pictorial appearance of a document, will have the same effect as physical delivery of the paper document bearing an original signature.
Section 6.15. Specific Performance. The Sellers acknowledge and agree that Buyer would be irreparably harmed if any of the provisions of this Agreement are not performed in accordance with their specific terms and that any material breach of this Agreement by any Seller or the Company could not be adequately compensated in all cases by monetary damages alone. Accordingly, the Sellers and the Company agree that, in addition to any other right or remedy to which Buyer may be entitled at law or in equity, Buyer shall be entitled to enforce any provision of this Agreement by a decree of specific performance and to obtain temporary, preliminary, and permanent injunctive relief to prevent breaches or threatened breaches, without posting any bond or giving any other undertaking.
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
Section 6.16. Non-Recourse. This Agreement may only be enforced against, and any Action based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the Transaction Documents, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents, may only be brought against the entities that are expressly named as Parties hereto and then only with respect to the specific obligations set forth in this Agreement or the Transaction Documents with respect to such Party. Except to the extent a named Party to this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents (and then only to the extent of the specific obligations undertaken by such named party in this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents and not otherwise), no past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, manager, member, partner, stockholder, Affiliate, agent, attorney or other representative of any Party or of any Affiliate of any Party, or any of their successors or permitted assigns, shall have any liability for any obligations or liabilities of any Party under this Agreement or any other Transaction Documents or for any Action based on, in respect of or by reason of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby. The provisions of this Section 6.16 are intended to be for the benefit of, and enforceable by, the directors, officers, employees, incorporators, managers, members, partners, stockholders, Affiliates, agents, attorneys or other representatives of the Parties hereto, and each such person shall be a third party beneficiary of this Section 6.16.
Section 6.17. Sellers Representative. By execution of this Agreement, the Sellers hereby irrevocably and unconditionally appoint Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation as the Sellers Representative of all Sellers, as the attorney-in-fact for and on behalf of each such Seller, and irrevocably agree that the taking by the Sellers Representative of any and all actions and the making of any decisions required or permitted to be taken by it or by a Seller under this Agreement or any Transaction Documents to which the Sellers are a party are hereby authorized and approved in all respects, including without limitation the exercise of the power to (i) receive from Buyer and disburse to Sellers any payments constituting any part of the Purchase Price and receive and disburse from and to any Party or any Third Party which may be contemplated to be made under the Transaction Documents, (ii) agree to, negotiate, enter into settlements and compromises of and comply with orders of courts with respect to any indemnification claims or disputes, (iii) resolve any indemnification claims or disputes, and (iv) take all actions necessary in the judgment of the Sellers Representative for the accomplishment of the other terms, conditions and limitations of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents. The Sellers Representative has authority and power to act on behalf of the Sellers with respect to this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the disposition, settlement or other handling of all indemnification claims, rights or obligations arising from and taken pursuant to this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents. The Sellers irrevocably agree to be bound by all and any such actions taken by the Sellers Representative in connection with this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which the Sellers are a party, and Sellers and Buyer shall only be required to acknowledge or act upon written communication signed by the Sellers Representative. Each Seller agrees that he, she or it has not, and will not, threaten or commence or join any legal action, which term includes, without limitation, any demand for arbitration proceedings and any complaint to any foreign, federal, state or local agency, court or other tribunal, to assert any claim against the Sellers Representative or its advisors for acting in such capacity with respect to this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents. If any Seller commences or joins any such prohibited legal action against the Sellers Representative, such Seller agrees to promptly indemnify Sellers Representative and advisers of Sellers
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
Representative for all losses, liabilities, reasonable costs or expenses, including without limitation all reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of attorneys incurred by Sellers Representative and/or its advisers in defending such action as well as any monetary judgment obtained against the Sellers Representative in such action. The Sellers Representative may resign at any time upon 30 days written notice to the Sellers.
[Signature Pages Follow]
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties has caused this Stock Purchase Agreement to be executed on its behalf by its respective duly authorized officer as of the Closing Date.
BUYER:
OSMOTICA PHARMACEUTICAL CORP.
By: |
/s/ Brian Markison |
|
Name: |
Brian Markison |
|
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
|
THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties has caused this Stock Purchase Agreement to be executed on its behalf by its respective duly authorized officer as of the Closing Date.
SELLERS:
NEPHRON PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION
By: |
/s/ Lou W. Kennedy |
|
Name: |
Lou W. Kennedy |
|
Title: |
CEO |
|
POINT GUARD PARTNERS, LLC
By: |
/s/ Barry Butler |
|
Name: |
Barry Butler |
|
Title: |
Managing Partner |
|
VOOM, LLC
By: |
/s/ Mark Silverberg |
|
Name: |
Mark Silverberg |
|
Title: |
Manager |
|
TOM RIEDHAMMER
By: |
/s/ Tom Riedhammer |
|
Name: |
Tom Riedhammer |
|
AVERY FAMILY TRUST
By: |
/s/ Robert Avery |
|
Name: |
Robert Avery |
|
Title: |
Trustee |
|
VISION QUEST HOLDINGS, LLC
By: |
/s/ Alexander Eaton |
|
Name: |
Alexander Eaton |
|
Title: |
Manager |
|
A PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
CONSTITUTION
OF
OSMOTICA PHARMACEUTICALS PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
(adopted on [·] 2018)
COMPANIES ACT 2014
A PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
OF
OSMOTICA PHARMACEUTICALS PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
1. The name of the Company is Osmotica Pharmaceuticals public limited company.
2. The Company is a public limited company for the purposes of Part 17 of the Companies Act 2014.
3. The objects for which the Company is established are:
3.1. To carry on the business of a holding company and to coordinate the administration, finances and activities of any subsidiary companies or associated companies, to do all lawful acts and things whatsoever that are necessary or convenient in carrying on the business of such a holding company and in particular to carry on, in all its branches, the business of a management services company, to act as managers and to direct or coordinate the management of other companies or of the business, property and estates of any company or person and to undertake and carry out all such services in connection therewith as may be deemed necessary or appropriate by the Companys board of directors and to exercise its powers as a shareholder of other companies.
3.2. To carry on the business of a pharmaceuticals company and to research, develop, design, manufacture, produce, supply, buy, sell, distribute, import, export, provide, promote and otherwise deal in pharmaceuticals, active pharmaceutical ingredients and dosage pharmaceuticals and other devices or products of a pharmaceutical, medicinal or healthcare character and to hold intellectual property rights and to do all things usually done by persons carrying on the above mentioned activities or any of them or likely to be required in connection with any such activities.
3.3. To invest in pharmaceutical and related assets, including, amongst other items, investments in pharmaceutical companies, products, businesses, divisions, technologies, devices, sales force and other marketing capabilities, development projects and related activities, licences, intellectual and similar property rights, premises and equipment, royalty rights and all other assets needed to operate a pharmaceuticals business.
3.4. To establish, maintain and operate laboratories for the purposes of carrying on chemical, physical and other research in medicine, chemistry, industry or other unrelated or related fields.
3.5. To invest (including long-term investments in, and acquisitions of, the shares or other securities or ownership interests in other companies) any monies of the Company in such investments and in such manner as may from time to time be determined, and to hold, sell or deal with such investments and generally to purchase, take on lease or in exchange or otherwise acquire any real and personal property and rights or privileges.
3.6. To develop and turn to account any land acquired by the Company or in which it is interested and in particular by laying out and preparing the same for building purposes, constructing, altering, pulling down, decorating, maintaining, fitting up and improving buildings and conveniences, and by planting, paving, draining, farming, cultivating, letting on building lease or building agreement and by advancing money to and entering into contracts and arrangements of all kinds with builders, tenants and others.
3.7. To acquire and hold shares and stocks of any class or description, debentures, debenture stocks, bonds, bills, mortgages, obligations, investments, partnership interests, limited partnership interests, trust interests, membership interests and other securities or ownership interests of all descriptions and of any kind issued or guaranteed by any company or undertaking of whatever nature and wheresoever constituted or carrying on business or issued or guaranteed by any government, state, dominion, colony, sovereign ruler, commissioners, trust, public, municipal, local or other authority or body of whatever nature and wheresoever situated and investments, securities and property of all descriptions and of any kind, including real and chattel real estates, mortgages, reversions, assurance policies, contingencies and choses in action.
3.8. To remunerate by cash payments or allotment of shares or securities or other ownership interests (including rights to acquire shares or securities or other ownership interests) of the Company credited as fully paid up or otherwise any person or company for services rendered or to be rendered to the Company or any parent or subsidiary body corporate whether in the conduct or management of its business, or in placing or assisting to place or guaranteeing the placing of any of the shares of the Companys capital, or any debentures or other securities of the Company or in or about the formation or promotion of the Company.
3.9. To purchase for investment property of any tenure and any interest therein, and to make advances upon the security of land or other similar property or any interest therein.
3.10. To acquire by purchase, exchange, lease, fee, farm grant or otherwise, either for an estate in fee simple or for any less estate or other estate or interest, whether immediate or reversionary and whether vested or contingent, any lands, tenements or hereditaments of any tenure, whether subject or not to any charges or encumbrances, and to hold, farm, work and manage and to let, sublet, mortgage or charge land and buildings of any kind, reversions, interests, annuities, life policies, and any other property real or personal, movable or immovable, either absolutely or conditionally, and either subject or not to any mortgage, charge, ground rent or other rents or encumbrances.
3.11. To erect or secure the erection of buildings or other structures of any kind with a view of occupying or letting them or otherwise utilising them and to enter into any contracts or leases and to grant any licences necessary to effect the same.
3.12. To maintain and improve any lands, tenements or hereditaments acquired by the Company or in which the Company is interested, in particular by decorating, maintaining, furnishing, fitting up and improving houses, shops, flats, maisonettes and other buildings and structures and to enter into contracts and arrangements of all kinds with tenants and others.
3.13. To sell, exchange, mortgage (with or without power of sale), assign, turn to account or otherwise dispose of and generally deal with the whole or any part of the property, shares, stocks, securities, estates, rights or undertakings of the Company, real property, chattels real or personal, movable or immovable, either in whole or in part.
3.14. To take part in the management, supervision, or control of the business or operations of any company or undertaking, and for that purpose to appoint and remunerate any directors, accountants, or other experts or agents to act as consultants, supervisors and agents of other companies or undertakings and to provide managerial, advisory, technical, design, purchasing and selling services and any other services deemed appropriate by the Company.
3.15. To make, draw, accept, endorse, negotiate, issue, execute, discount and otherwise deal with bills of exchange, promissory notes, letters of credit, circular notes, and other negotiable or non-negotiable or transferable or non-transferrable instruments.
3.16. To redeem, purchase, or otherwise acquire in any manner permitted by law any shares in the Companys capital or other securities or ownership interests of any kind issued by the Company.
3.17. To guarantee, support or secure whether by personal covenant or by mortgaging or charging all or any part of the undertaking, property and assets (present and future) and uncalled capital of the Company or by both such methods, or by any other method whatsoever, the performance of the obligations of, and the repayment or payment of the principal amounts of and the premiums, interest, dividends and other amounts due on or with respect to any security of any person, firm or company, including any company which is for the time being the Companys holding company (as defined by section 8 of the Companies Act 2014) or subsidiary (as defined by section 7 of the Companies Act 2014) or another subsidiary as defined by the said section of the Companys holding company (as defined by section 8 of the Companies Act 2014) or otherwise associated with the Company in business notwithstanding the fact that the Company may not receive any consideration, advantage or benefit, direct or indirect from entering into such guarantee or other arrangement or transaction contemplated herein.
3.18. To lend the funds of the Company with or without security and at interest or free of interest.
3.19. To raise or borrow or secure the payment of money, including by the issue of bonds, debentures or debenture stock, perpetual or redeemable, or by mortgage, charge, lien or pledge upon the whole or any part of the undertaking, property, assets or rights of the Company, present or future, including its uncalled capital and generally in any other manner as the directors shall from time to time determine and to enter into or issue interest and currency hedging and swap agreements, forward rate agreements, interest and currency futures or options and other forms of financial instruments, and to purchase, redeem or pay off any of the foregoing and to guarantee any or all of the liabilities of the Company, any other company or any other person, and any debentures, debenture stock or other securities may be issued at a discount, premium or otherwise, and with any special privileges as to redemption, surrender, transfer, drawings, allotments of shares, attending and voting at general meetings of the Company, appointment of directors and otherwise.
3.20. To accumulate capital for any of the purposes of the Company, and to appropriate any of the Companys assets to specific purposes, either conditionally or unconditionally, and to admit any class or section of those who have any dealings with the Company to any share in the profits thereof or in the profits of any particular branch of the Companys business or to any other special rights, privileges, advantages or benefits.
3.21. To reduce the share capital of the Company in any manner permitted by law.
3.22. To make gifts or grant bonuses to officers or other persons who are or have been in the employment of the Company and to allow any such persons to have the use and enjoyment of such property, chattels or other assets belonging to the Company upon such terms as the Company shall think fit.
3.23. To establish and maintain or procure the establishment and maintenance of any pension or superannuation fund (whether contributory or otherwise) for the benefit of and to give or procure the giving of donations, gratuities, pensions, annuities, allowances, emoluments or charitable aid to any persons who are or were at any time in the employment or service of the Company or any of its predecessors in business, or of any company which is a subsidiary of the Company or who may be or have been directors or officers of the Company, or of any such other company as aforesaid, or any persons in whose welfare the Company or any such other company as aforesaid may be interested and the wives, husbands, widows, widowers, families, relatives or dependants of any such persons, and to make payments towards insurance and assurance and to form and contribute to provident and benefit funds for the benefit of any such persons and to remunerate any person, firm or company rendering services to the Company or of any company which is a subsidiary of the Company, whether by cash payment, gratuities, pensions, annuities, allowances, emoluments or by the allotment of shares or securities of the Company credited as paid up in full or in part or otherwise.
3.24. To employ experts to investigate and examine into the conditions, prospects, value, character and circumstances of any business concerns, undertakings, assets, property or rights.
3.25. To insure the life of any person who may, in the opinion of the Company, be of value to the Company, as having or holding for the Company interests, goodwill, or influence or otherwise and to pay the premiums on such insurance.
3.26. To distribute either upon a distribution of assets or division of profits among the Members of the Company in kind any property of the Company, and in particular any shares, debentures or securities of other companies belonging to the Company or of which the Company may have the power of disposing.
3.27. To give, whether directly or indirectly, and whether by means of a loan, guarantee, the provision of security or otherwise, any financial assistance for the purpose of or in connection with a purchase or subscription made or to be made by any person of or for any shares in the Company, or, where the Company is a subsidiary company, in its holding company.
3.28. To do and carry out all or any of the foregoing or following objects in any part of the world and either as principals, agents, contractors, trustees or otherwise, and either by or through agents, trustees or otherwise and either alone or in partnership or in conjunction with any other company, firm or person, provided that nothing herein contained shall empower the Company to carry on the business of insurance.
3.29. To apply for, purchase or otherwise acquire any patents, brevets dinvention, licences, trademarks, trade names, copyrights, industrial designs, know-how, concessions and other forms of intellectual property rights and the like conferring any exclusive or non-exclusive or limited or contingent rights to use, or any secret or other information as to any invention or process of the Company, or the acquisition of which may seem calculated directly or indirectly to benefit the Company, and to use, exercise, develop, or grant licences in respect of, or otherwise turn to account the property, rights or information so acquired.
3.30. To enter into partnership or into any arrangement for sharing profits, union of interests, co-operation, joint venture, reciprocal concession or otherwise with any person or company.
3.31. To acquire and undertake the whole or any part of the undertaking, business, property and liabilities of any person or company.
3.32. To adopt such means of making known the Company and its products and services as may seem expedient.
3.33. To acquire and carry on any business carried on by a subsidiary or a holding company of the Company or another subsidiary of a holding company of the Company.
3.34. To promote any company or companies for the purpose of acquiring all or any of the property and liabilities of this Company or for any other purpose which may seem directly or indirectly calculated to benefit this Company.
3.35. To amalgamate with, merge with or otherwise become part of or associated with any other company or association in any manner permitted by law.
3.36. To make voluntary dispositions of all or any part of the property and rights of the Company and to make gifts thereof or gratuitous payments either for no consideration or for a consideration less than the market value of such property or rights or the amount of cash payment or by all or any such methods.
3.37. To receive voluntary dispositions of all or any part of the undertakings, properties, assets or rights of any other corporation and to receive gifts thereof or gratuitous payments either for no consideration or for a consideration less than the market value of such property or rights or the amount of cash payment or by all or any such methods.
3.38. To do and carry out all such other things, except the issuing of policies of insurance, as may be deemed by the Company capable of being carried on in connection with the above objects or any of them or calculated to enhance the value of or render profitable any of the Companys undertakings, properties, assets or rights.
And it is hereby declared that (i) the word company in this clause, except where used in reference to this Company, shall be deemed to include any person, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company, other corporate body, trust or other body of persons whether incorporated or not incorporated and whether domiciled in Ireland or elsewhere and that the objects of the Company as specified in each of the foregoing paragraphs of this clause shall be separate and distinct objects and shall not be in anyway limited or restricted by reference to or inference from the terms of any other paragraph or the name of the Company and (ii) any phrase introduced by the terms including, include, in particular or any similar expression shall be construed as illustrative and shall not limit the sense of the words preceding those terms.
4. The liability of each Member is limited to the amount from time to time unpaid on such Members Shares.
5. The authorised share capital of the Company is 25,000 and US$[·] divided into 25,000 Euro Deferred Shares of 1.00 each, [·] Ordinary Shares of US$0.01 each and [·] Preferred Shares of US$0.01 each.
6. Notwithstanding any other provision of these Memorandum and Articles of Association, amendments to this paragraph of the Memorandum of Association, and amendments to Articles 17, 67.1, 76, 90, 92, 112, 156-159 (inclusive), 194, and 196-198 (inclusive) may only be made with the prior approval of the holders of at least 75% in nominal value of the issued Ordinary Shares of the Company which carry an entitlement to vote at a general meeting of the Company.
7. The shares forming the capital, increased or reduced, may be increased or reduced and be divided into such classes and issued with any special rights, privileges and conditions or with such qualifications as regards preference, dividend, capital, voting or other special incidents, and be held upon such terms as may be attached thereto or as may from time to time be provided by the original or any substituted or amended Articles of Association and regulations of the Company for the time being, but so that where shares are issued with any preferential or special rights attached thereto such rights shall not be alterable otherwise than pursuant to the provisions of the Companys Articles of Association for the time being.
COMPANIES ACT 2014
A PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
OSMOTICA PHARMACEUTICALS PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PRELIMINARY |
9 |
REGISTERED OFFICE |
13 |
SHARE CAPITAL; ISSUE OF SHARES |
13 |
ORDINARY SHARES |
14 |
EURO DEFERRED SHARES |
14 |
PREFERRED SHARES |
15 |
ISSUE OF WARRANTS |
16 |
CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES |
16 |
REGISTER OF MEMBERS |
16 |
TRANSFER OF SHARES |
17 |
REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASE OF SHARES |
19 |
VARIATION OF RIGHTS OF SHARES |
19 |
LIEN ON SHARES |
20 |
CALLS ON SHARES |
21 |
FORFEITURE |
22 |
NON-RECOGNITION OF TRUSTS |
23 |
TRANSMISSION OF SHARES |
23 |
AMENDMENT OF MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION; CHANGE OF LOCATION OF REGISTERED OFFICE; AND ALTERATION OF CAPITAL |
23 |
CLOSING REGISTER OF MEMBERS OR FIXING RECORD DATE |
24 |
GENERAL MEETINGS |
25 |
NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS |
25 |
PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS |
26 |
VOTES OF MEMBERS |
30 |
PROXIES AND CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVES |
31 |
DIRECTORS |
32 |
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS INTERESTS |
33 |
POWERS AND DUTIES OF DIRECTORS |
34 |
MINUTES |
35 |
DELEGATION OF THE BOARDS POWERS |
35 |
CHAIRPERSON AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS |
36 |
PROCEEDINGS OF DIRECTORS |
37 |
RESIGNATION AND DISQUALIFICATION OF DIRECTORS |
38 |
APPOINTMENT, ROTATION AND NOMINATION OF DIRECTORS |
38 |
SECRETARY |
40 |
SEAL |
40 |
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND RESERVES |
40 |
CAPITALISATION |
41 |
ACCOUNTS |
42 |
AUDIT |
43 |
NOTICES |
43 |
UNTRACED HOLDERS |
45 |
DESTRUCTION OF DOCUMENTS |
46 |
WINDING UP |
46 |
INDEMNITY |
47 |
FINANCIAL YEAR |
48 |
SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN |
48 |
BUSINESS COMBINATION |
48 |
EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION |
54 |
PRELIMINARY
1. Sections 43(2), 43(3), 65(2)-(7), 77-81, 83(3), 94(1), 95(1), 96(2)-(11), 124, 125, 126(2) to (8), 144(3)-(4), 148(2), 158-165, 178(2), 180(5), 181(1), 181(6), 182(2), 182(5), 183(3), 186(c)(i), 187, 188, 193, 218(3)-(5), 229, 230, 338(5)-(6), 618(1)(b), 620(8), 1090, 1092, and 1113 of the Companies Act shall not apply to the Company. The provisions of the Companies Act which are stated therein to apply to a public limited company, save to the extent that its constitution is permitted to provide or state otherwise, will apply to the Company subject to the alterations contained in these Articles, and will, so far as not inconsistent with these Articles, bind the Company and its Members.
2.
2.1. In these Articles:
1990 Regulations |
|
The Companies Act 1990 (Uncertificated Securities) Regulations 1996 (S.I. No. 68 of 1996) as may be amended from time to time. |
|
|
|
address |
|
includes any number or address used for the purposes of communication by way of electronic mail or other electronic communication. |
|
|
|
Adoption Date |
|
means [·] 2018. |
|
|
|
Articles or Articles of Association |
|
means these articles of association of the Company, as amended from time to time by Special Resolution or in accordance with paragraph 6 of the Memorandum. |
|
|
|
Assistant Secretary |
|
means any person appointed by the Board from time to time to assist the Secretary. |
|
|
|
Auditors |
|
means the persons for the time being performing the duties of the statutory auditors of the Company. |
|
|
|
Board |
|
means the board of Directors for the time being of the Company. |
|
|
|
Chairperson |
|
means the chairperson of the Board from time to time and/or chairperson of a general meeting of the Company as the context may require. |
|
|
|
clear days |
|
means, in relation to a period of notice, that period excluding the day when the notice is given or deemed to be given and the day for which notice is being given or on which an action or event for which notice is being given is to occur or take effect. |
|
|
|
Companies Act |
|
means the Irish Companies Act 2014 and every statutory modification, replacement and re-enactment thereof for the time being in force. |
Company |
|
means Osmotica Pharmaceuticals plc. |
|
|
|
Court |
|
means the Irish High Court. |
|
|
|
CSD Regulation |
|
means any regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on improving securities settlement in the European Union and on central securities depositories and amending Directive 98/26/EC. |
|
|
|
Derivative Transaction |
|
means any agreement, arrangement, interest or understanding entered into by, or on behalf or for the benefit of, any Proponent or any of its affiliates or associates, whether record or beneficial: (A) the value of which is derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of Shares or other securities of the Company, (B) which otherwise provides any direct or indirect opportunity to gain or share in any gain derived from a change in the value of securities of the Company, (C) the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss, manage risk or benefit of security value or price changes with respect to any securities of the Company, or (D) which provides the right to vote or increase or decrease the voting power of such Proponent, or any of its affiliates or associates, with respect to any securities of the Company, which agreement, arrangement, interest or understanding may include, without limitation, any option, warrant, debt position, note, bond, convertible security, swap, stock appreciation right, short position, profit interest, hedge, right to dividends, voting agreement, performance-related fee or arrangement to borrow or lend shares (whether or not subject to payment, settlement, exercise or conversion in any such class or series), and any proportionate interest of such Proponent in the securities of the Company held by any general or limited partnership, or any limited liability company, of which such Proponent is, directly or indirectly, a general partner or managing member. |
|
|
|
Directors |
|
means the directors for the time being of the Company. |
|
|
|
dividend |
|
includes dividends, final dividends, interim dividends and bonus dividends. |
|
|
|
electronic communication |
|
shall have the meaning given to those words in the Electronic Commerce Act 2000. |
|
|
|
electronic signature |
|
shall have the meaning given to those words in the Electronic Commerce Act 2000. |
|
|
|
Enterprise |
|
means the Company and any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise or entity which a person is or was serving at |
|
|
the request of the Company. |
|
|
|
Exchange |
|
means any securities exchange or other system on which the Shares of the Company may be listed or otherwise authorised for trading from time to time. |
|
|
|
Exchange Act |
|
means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 of the United States of America. |
|
|
|
IAS Regulation |
|
means Regulation (EC) No. 1606/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 July 2002 on the application of internal accounting standards. |
|
|
|
Member |
|
means a person who has agreed to become a member of the Company and whose name is entered in the Register of Members as a registered holder of Shares. |
|
|
|
Memorandum |
|
means the memorandum of association of the Company as amended from time to time by Special Resolution or in accordance with paragraph 6 of the Memorandum. |
|
|
|
month |
|
means a calendar month. |
|
|
|
Official |
|
means a director, officer, secretary, employee, trustee, agent, partner, managing member, fiduciary or other official of the Company or another Enterprise. |
|
|
|
Ordinary Resolution |
|
means an ordinary resolution of the Companys Members within the meaning of section 191 of the Companies Act. |
|
|
|
paid-up |
|
means paid-up in accordance with the Companies Act as to the nominal value and any premium payable in respect of the issue of any Shares and includes credited as paid-up. |
|
|
|
Proponent |
|
shall have the meaning given to that term in Article 90.4. |
|
|
|
Redeemable Shares |
|
means redeemable shares in accordance with the Companies Act. |
|
|
|
Register of Members or Register |
|
means the register of Members of the Company maintained by or on behalf of the Company, in accordance with the Companies Act. |
|
|
|
registered office |
|
means the registered office for the time being of the Company. |
Seal |
|
means the seal of the Company, if any, and includes every duplicate seal. |
|
|
|
Secretary |
|
means the person appointed by the Board to perform any or all of the duties of secretary of the Company and includes an Assistant Secretary and any person appointed by the Board or the Secretary to perform the duties of secretary of the Company, in each case, when acting in the capacity of the secretary of the Company. |
|
|
|
Share and Shares |
|
means a share or shares in the capital of the Company. |
|
|
|
Special Resolution |
|
means a special resolution of the Companys Members within the meaning of section 191 of the Companies Act. |
|
|
|
Sponsor Holders |
|
means each of Avista Capital Holdings, L.P. and Altchem Limited and their respective affiliates, and Sponsor Holder means either of them. |
2.2. In these Articles (unless otherwise specified):
2.2.1. words importing the singular number include the plural number and vice-versa;
2.2.2. words importing the feminine gender include the masculine gender and the neuter and vice-versa;
2.2.3. words importing persons include any company, partnership or other body of persons, whether corporate or not, any trust and any government, governmental body or agency or public authority, whether of Ireland or elsewhere and references to a company, except where used in reference to the Company, shall be deemed to include any person, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company, other corporate body, trust or other body of persons whether incorporated or not incorporated and whether domiciled in Ireland or elsewhere;
2.2.4. expressions referring to written and in writing shall be construed, unless the contrary intention appears, as including references to printing, lithography, photography and any other modes of representing or reproducing words in a visible form except as provided in these Articles and/or where it constitutes writing in electronic form sent to the Company;
2.2.5. expressions referring to execution of any document shall include any mode of execution whether under seal or under hand or any mode of electronic signature;
2.2.6. references to provisions of any law or regulation shall be construed as references to those provisions as amended, modified, re-enacted or replaced from time to time;
2.2.7. any phrase introduced by the terms including, include, in particular or any similar expression shall be construed as illustrative and shall not limit the sense of the words preceding those terms;
2.2.8. reference to officer or officers in these Articles means any executive that has been designated by the Company as an officer and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not have the
meaning given to such term in the Companies Act and any such officers shall not constitute officers of the Company within the meaning of section 2(1) of the Companies Act;
2.2.9. headings are inserted for reference only and shall be ignored in construing these Articles; and
2.2.10. references to US$, USD, $ or dollars shall mean United States dollars, the lawful currency of the United States of America and references to , euro, or EUR shall mean the euro, the lawful currency of Ireland.
REGISTERED OFFICE
3. The registered office shall be at such place in Ireland as the Board from time to time shall decide.
SHARE CAPITAL; ISSUE OF SHARES
4. The authorised share capital of the Company is 25,000 and US$[·] divided into 25,000 Euro Deferred Shares of 1.00 each, [·] Ordinary Shares of US$0.01 each and [·] Preferred Shares of US$0.01 each.
5. Subject to the provisions of these Articles relating to new Shares, the Shares shall be at the disposal of the Directors, and they may (subject to the provisions of the Companies Act) allot, issue, grant options over or otherwise dispose of them to such persons, on such terms and conditions and at such times as they may consider to be in the best interests of the Company and its Members, but so that no Share shall be issued at a discount save in accordance with sections 71(4) and 1026 of the Companies Act, and so that, in the case of Shares offered to the public for subscription, the amount payable on application on each such Share shall not be less than one-quarter of the nominal amount of the Share and the whole of any premium thereon. To the extent permitted by the Companies Act, Shares may also be allotted by a committee of the Directors or by any other person where such committee or person is so authorised by the Directors.
6. Subject to any requirement to obtain the approval of Members under any laws, regulations or the rules of any Exchange, the Board is authorised, from time to time, to grant such persons, for such periods and upon such terms as the Board deems advisable, options or awards to purchase or subscribe for any number of Shares of any class or classes or of any series of any class and other securities or ownership interests of the Company as the Board may deem advisable, and to cause warrants or other appropriate instruments evidencing such options or awards to be issued.
7.
7.1. The Directors are, for the purposes of section 1021 of the Companies Act, generally and unconditionally authorised to exercise all powers of the Company to allot and issue relevant securities (as defined by the said section 1021) up to the amount of the Companys authorised but unissued share capital and to allot and issue any Shares acquired by or on behalf of the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Companies Act and held as treasury shares and, unless it is renewed or a longer period of time is allowed under applicable law, this authority shall expire five years from the Adoption Date.
7.2. The Directors are hereby empowered pursuant to sections 1022 and 1023(3) of the Companies Act to allot equity securities (as defined by the said section 1023) for cash pursuant to the authority conferred by Article 7.1 as if section 1022 of the Companies Act did not apply to any such allotment.
7.3. The Company may before the expiry of the authorities conferred by Articles 7.1 and/or 7.2 make an offer or agreement which would or might require relevant securities (as defined in section 1021 of the Companies Act) and/or equity securities (as defined in section 1023 of the Companies Act), as the case may be, to be allotted after such expiry and the Board may allot relevant securities and/or equity securities in pursuance of such an offer or agreement as if the authorities conferred by Articles 7.1 and/or 7.2 had not expired.
7.4. The Company may issue permissible letters of allotment (as defined by section 1019 of the Companies Act) to the extent permitted by the Companies Act.
8. The Company may pay commission to any person in consideration of any person subscribing or agreeing to subscribe, whether absolutely or conditionally, for the Shares in the Company or procuring or agreeing to procure subscriptions, whether absolute or conditional, for any Shares in the Company on such terms and, subject to the provisions of the Companies Act and to such conditions as the Board may determine including by paying cash or allotting and issuing fully or partly paid Shares or any combination of the two. The Company may also on any issue of Shares pay such brokerage as may be lawful.
ORDINARY SHARES
9. The rights and restrictions attaching to the Ordinary Shares shall be as follows:
9.1. subject to the right of the Company to set record dates for the purposes of determining the identity of Members entitled to notice of and/or to vote at a general meeting and any rules or regulations applicable to the conduct of any general meeting of the Company, the right to attend and speak at any general meeting of the Company and to exercise one vote per Ordinary Share held at any general meeting of the Company;
9.2. the right to participate pro rata in all dividends declared by the Company with respect to the Ordinary Shares; and
9.3. the right, in the event of the Companys winding up, to participate pro rata with all other Ordinary Shares in the total assets of the Company.
10. The rights attaching to the Ordinary Shares shall be subject to the terms of issue of any series or class of Preferred Shares allotted by the Directors from time to time in accordance with Article 17.
11. Unless the Board specifically resolves to treat such acquisition as a purchase for the purposes of the Companies Act, an Ordinary Share shall be deemed to be a Redeemable Share on, and from the time of, the existence or creation of an agreement, transaction or trade between the Company (including any agent or broker acting on behalf of the Company) and any third party pursuant to which the Company acquires or will acquire Ordinary Shares, or an interest in Ordinary Shares, from such third party and the Company is hereby authorised to enter into any such agreement, transaction or trade. In these circumstances, the acquisition of such Shares or interest in Shares by the Company shall constitute the redemption of a Redeemable Share in accordance with the Companies Act. No resolution, whether special or otherwise, shall be required to be passed to deem any Ordinary Share a Redeemable Share, or to authorise the redemption of such a Redeemable Share and once deemed to be a Redeemable Share such share shall be redeemable at the instance of the Company.
12. All Ordinary Shares shall rank pari passu with each other in all respects.
EURO DEFERRED SHARES
13. The holders of the Euro Deferred Shares shall not be entitled to receive any dividend or distribution and shall not be entitled to receive notice of, nor to attend, speak or vote at, any general meeting of the Company. On a return of assets, whether on liquidation or otherwise, the Euro Deferred Shares shall entitle the holder thereof only to the repayment of the amounts paid up on such shares after repayment of the capital paid up on the Ordinary Shares plus the payment of $5,000,000 on each of the Ordinary Shares and the holders of the Euro Deferred Shares (as such) shall not be entitled to any further participation in the assets or profits of the Company.
14. The Company has the irrevocable authority at any time after the Adoption Date to:
14.1. acquire all or any of the fully paid Euro Deferred Shares otherwise than for valuable consideration in accordance with section 102 of the Companies Act and without obtaining the sanction of the holders thereof;
14.2. appoint any person to execute on behalf of the holders of the Euro Deferred Shares remaining in issue (if any) a transfer thereof and/or an agreement to transfer the same otherwise than for valuable consideration to the Company or to such other person as the Company may nominate;
14.3. cancel any acquired Euro Deferred Shares; and
14.4. pending such acquisition and/or transfer and/or cancellation, retain the certificate (if any) for such Euro Deferred Shares.
15. In accordance with section 1040(3) of the Companies Act, the Company shall, not later than three (3) years after any acquisition by it of any Euro Deferred Shares as aforesaid, cancel such shares (except those which, or any interest of the Company in which, it shall have previously disposed of) and reduce the amount of the share capital by the nominal value of the shares so cancelled and the Board may take such steps as are required to enable the Company to carry out its obligations under that section without complying with sections 84 and 85 of the Companies Act, including passing resolutions in accordance with section 1040(5) of the Companies Act.
16. Neither the acquisition by the Company otherwise than for valuable consideration of all or any of the Euro Deferred Shares nor the redemption thereof nor the cancellation thereof by the Company in accordance with these Articles shall constitute a variation or abrogation of the rights or privileges attached to the Euro Deferred Shares, and accordingly the Euro Deferred Shares or any of them may be so acquired, redeemed and cancelled without any such consent or sanction on the part of the holders thereof. The rights conferred upon the holders of the Euro Deferred Shares shall not be deemed to be varied or abrogated by the creation of further Shares ranking in priority thereto or pari passu therewith.
PREFERRED SHARES
17.
17.1. The Directors are authorised to issue all or any of the authorised but unissued Preferred Shares from time to time in one or more classes or series, and to fix for each such class or series such voting power, full or limited, or no voting power, and such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and such qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as shall be stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Directors providing for the issuance of such class or series, including (but not limited to) the authority to provide that any such class or series may be:
17.1.1. redeemable at the option of the Company, or the holders, or both, with the manner of the redemption to be set by the Directors, and redeemable at such time or times, including upon a fixed date, and at such price or prices as the Directors may determine;
17.1.2. entitled to receive dividends (which may be cumulative or non-cumulative) at such rates, on such conditions and at such times as the Directors may determine, and which may be payable in preference to, or in such relation to, the dividends payable on any other class or classes of Shares or any other series as the Directors may determine;
17.1.3. entitled to such rights upon the dissolution of, or upon any distribution of the assets of, the Company as the Directors may determine; or
17.1.4. convertible into, or exchangeable for, Shares of any other class or classes of Shares, or of any other series of the same or any other class or classes of Shares, of the Company at such price or prices or at such rates of exchange and with such adjustments as the Directors may determine.
17.2. The Directors may at any time before the allotment of any Preferred Share by further resolution in any way amend the designations, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations or restrictions, or vary or revoke the designations of such Preferred Shares.
18. The rights conferred upon the holder of any pre-existing Shares in the share capital of the Company shall be deemed not to be varied by the creation, issue and allotment of Preferred Shares in accordance with Article 17.
ISSUE OF WARRANTS
19. The Board may issue warrants to subscribe for any class of Shares or other securities of the Company on such terms as it may from time to time determine.
CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES
20. Unless otherwise provided for by the Board or the rights attaching to or by the terms of issue of any particular Shares, or to the extent required by any Exchange, depository or any operator of any clearance or settlement system or by law, no person whose name is entered as a Member in the Register of Members shall be entitled to receive a share certificate for any Shares of any class held by him or her (nor on transferring a part of holding, to a certificate for the balance).
21. Any share certificate, if issued, shall specify the number of Shares in respect of which it is issued and the amount paid thereon or the fact that they are fully paid, as the case may be, and may otherwise be in such form as shall be determined by the Board. Such certificates may be under Seal. All certificates for Shares shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified and shall specify the Shares to which they relate. The name and address of the person to whom the Shares represented thereby are issued, with the number of Shares and date of issue, shall be entered in the Register of Members. All certificates surrendered to the Company for transfer shall be cancelled and no new certificate shall be issued until the former certificate for a like number of Shares shall have been surrendered and cancelled. The Board may authorise certificates to be issued with the Seal and authorised signature(s) affixed by some method or system of mechanical or electronic process. In respect of a Share or Shares held jointly by several persons, the Company shall not be bound to issue a certificate or certificates to each such person, and the issue and delivery of a certificate or certificates to one of several joint holders shall be sufficient delivery to all such holders.
22. If a share certificate is defaced, worn out, lost or destroyed, it may be renewed on such terms (if any) as to evidence and indemnity and on the payment of such expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in investigating such evidence, as the Board may prescribe, and, in the case of defacement or wearing out, upon delivery of the old certificate.
REGISTER OF MEMBERS
23. The Company shall maintain or cause to be maintained a Register of its Members in accordance with the Companies Act.
24. If the Board considers it necessary or appropriate, the Company may establish and maintain a duplicate Register or Registers of Members at such location or locations within or outside Ireland as the Board thinks fit. The original Register of Members shall be treated as the Register of Members for the purposes of these Articles and the Companies Act.
25. The Company, or any agent(s) appointed by it to maintain any duplicate Register of Members in accordance with these Articles shall, as soon as practicable and on a regular basis record, or procure the recording of, in the original Register of Members, all transfers of Shares effected on any duplicate Register of Members and shall at all times maintain the original Register of Members in such manner as to show at all times the Members for the time being and the Shares respectively held by them, in all respects in accordance with the Companies Act.
26. The Company shall not be bound to register more than four (4) persons as joint holders of any Share. If any Share shall stand in the names of two (2) or more persons, the person first named in the Register of Members shall be
deemed the sole holder thereof as regards service of notices and, subject to the provisions of these Articles, all or any other matters connected with the Company.
TRANSFER OF SHARES
27. Subject to such of the restrictions of these Articles and to such of the conditions of issue or transfer as may be applicable, all transfers of Shares shall be effected by an instrument in writing (an instrument of transfer) in such form as the Board or the Secretary may approve. All such instruments of transfer must be left at the registered office or at such other place as the Board or the Secretary may specify and all such instruments of transfer shall be retained by the Company.
28.
28.1. In the case of transfers to Cede & Co (or to any successor thereto, or to any other affiliate or nominee of The Depositary Trust Company or of any successor to The Depositary Trust Company) the instrument of transfer shall not be effective until executed by:
28.1.1. the Secretary (or such person as may be nominated by the Secretary for this purpose) on behalf of the Company; and
28.1.2. by the transferor or alternatively by or on behalf of the transferor by the Secretary (or such person as may be nominated by the Secretary for this purpose) on behalf of the Company, and the Company shall be deemed to have been irrevocably appointed agent for the transferor of such Share or Shares with full power to execute, complete and deliver in the name of and on behalf of the transferor of such Share or Shares all such transfers of Shares held by the Members in the share capital of the Company.
28.2. In the case of transfers other than those to Cede & Co (or to any successor thereto, or to any other affiliate or nominee of The Depositary Trust Company or of any successor to The Depositary Trust Company), the instrument of transfer of any Share shall be executed by the transferor or alternatively for and on behalf of the transferor by the Secretary (or such other person as may be nominated by the Secretary for this purpose) on behalf of the Company, and the Secretary (or relevant nominee), acting on behalf of the Company shall be deemed to have been irrevocably appointed agent for the transferor of such Share or Shares with full power to execute, complete and deliver in the name of and on behalf of the transferor of such Share or Shares all such transfers of Shares held by the Members in the share capital of the Company.
28.3. An instrument of transfer need not be executed by the transferee except to the extent required by the Companies Act. Any document which records the name of the transferor, the name of the transferee, the class and number of Shares agreed to be transferred and the date of the agreement to transfer the Shares, shall, once executed in accordance with this Article, be deemed to be a proper instrument of transfer for the purposes of section 94 of the Companies Act.
28.4. The transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of the Share until the name of the transferee is entered on the Register in respect thereof, and neither the title of the transferee nor the title of the transferor shall be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the sale should the Board so determine.
28.5. The Company, at its absolute discretion and insofar as the Companies Act or any other applicable law permits, may, or may procure that a subsidiary of the Company shall, pay Irish stamp duty arising on a transfer of Shares on behalf of the transferor or transferee of such Shares of the Company. If stamp duty resulting from the transfer of Shares in the Company which would otherwise be payable by the transferor or transferee is paid by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company on behalf of the transferor or transferee, then in those circumstances, the Company shall, on its behalf or on behalf of its subsidiary (as the case may be), be entitled, but not required, to (i) seek reimbursement of the stamp duty from the transferor or transferee, (ii) set-off the stamp duty against any dividends payable to the transferor or transferee of those Shares or (iii) claim a first and permanent lien on the Shares on which stamp duty has
been paid by the Company or its subsidiary for the amount of stamp duty paid. The Companys lien shall extend to all dividends paid on those Shares.
28.6. Notwithstanding the provisions of these Articles and subject to any CSD Regulation or any regulations made under section 1086 of the Companies Act or the 1990 Regulations (including any modification thereof or any regulations in substitution therefor made under the Companies Act or otherwise), title to any Shares may also be evidenced and transferred without a written instrument in accordance with any CSD Regulation or section 1086 of the Companies Act or any regulations made thereunder or the 1990 Regulations (including any modification thereof or any regulations in substitution therefor made under the Companies Act or otherwise). The Board shall have power to permit any class of Shares to be held in uncertificated form and to implement any arrangements they think fit for such evidencing and transfer which accord with such regulations and in particular shall, where appropriate, be entitled to disapply or modify all or part of the provisions in these Articles with respect to the requirement for written instruments of transfer and share certificates (if any), in order to give effect to such regulations.
29. The Board may, without assigning any reason for its decision, decline to register any transfer of any Share which is not a fully paid Share. The Board may also, without assigning any reason, refuse to register a transfer of any Share unless:
29.1. the instrument of transfer is fully and properly completed and is lodged with the Company at the registered office or at such other place as the Board or the Secretary may specify, accompanied by the certificate(s) for the Shares (if any) to which it relates (which shall upon registration of the transfer be cancelled) and such other evidence as the Board may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer;
29.2. the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of Shares;
29.3. a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 (as amended) of the United States of America is in effect with respect to such transfer or such transfer is exempt from registration and, if requested by the Board, a written opinion from counsel reasonably acceptable to the Board is obtained to the effect that such transfer is exempt from registration;
29.4. the instrument of transfer is properly stamped (in circumstances where stamping is required);
29.5. in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to which the Share is to be transferred does not exceed four;
29.6. it is satisfied, acting reasonably, that all applicable consents, authorisations, permissions or approvals of any governmental body or agency in Ireland or any other applicable jurisdiction required to be obtained under relevant law prior to such transfer have been obtained; and
29.7. it is satisfied, acting reasonably, that the transfer would not violate the terms of any agreement to which the Company (or any of its subsidiaries) and the transferor are party or subject.
30. If the Board shall refuse to register a transfer of any Share, it shall, within two (2) months after the date on which the transfer was lodged with the Company, send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of such refusal.
31. The Company shall not be obligated to register any transfer to an individual under 18 years of age or to a person in respect of whom an order has been made by a competent court or official on the grounds that he or she is or may be suffering from mental disorder or is otherwise incapable of managing his or her affairs or under other legal disability.
32. Upon every transfer of Shares, the certificate (if any) held by the transferor shall be given up to be cancelled, and shall forthwith be cancelled accordingly, and subject to Article 20 a new certificate may be issued without charge to the transferee in respect of the Shares transferred to him or her, and if any of the Shares included in the certificate so given up shall be retained by the transferor, a new certificate in respect thereof may be issued to him or her without charge.
REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASE OF SHARES
33. Subject to the provisions of Chapter 6 of Part 3 and Chapter 5 of Part 17 of the Companies Act and the other provisions of this Article 33, and without prejudice to Article 17, the Company may:
33.1. pursuant to section 66(4) of the Companies Act, allot and issue any Shares of the Company which are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Company or the Member on such terms and in such manner as may be determined by the Board;
33.2. redeem Shares of the Company on such terms as may be contained in, or be determined pursuant to the provisions of, these Articles. Subject as aforesaid, the Company may cancel any Shares so redeemed or may hold them as treasury shares (as defined in section 106(1) of the Companies Act) and re-issue such treasury shares as Shares of any class or classes or cancel them;
33.3. subject to or in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act and without prejudice to any relevant special rights attached to any class of Shares, pursuant to section 105 and Chapter 5 of Part 17 of the Companies Act, acquire any of its own Shares (including any Redeemable Shares and without any obligation to acquire on any pro rata basis as between Members or Members of the same class) and may cancel any Shares so acquired or hold them as treasury shares (as defined in section 106(1) of the Companies Act) and may re-issue any such Shares as Shares of any class or classes or cancel them; or
33.4. convert any of its Shares into Redeemable Shares provided that the total number of Shares which shall be redeemable pursuant to this authority shall not exceed the limit in section 1071(b) of the Companies Act. No resolution of Members, whether special or otherwise, shall be required to be passed to convert any of the Shares into Redeemable Shares.
34. The Company may make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own Shares in any manner permitted by the Companies Act.
35. The holder of the Shares being redeemed or purchased shall be bound to deliver up to the Company, at its registered office or such other place as the Board shall specify, the certificate(s) (if any) thereof for cancellation and thereupon the Company shall pay to him or her the purchase or redemption monies or consideration in respect thereof.
VARIATION OF RIGHTS OF SHARES
36. Without prejudice to the authority conferred on the Directors pursuant to Article 17 to issue Preferred Shares in the capital of the Company, if at any time the share capital of the Company is divided into different classes or series of Shares, the rights attached to any class or series (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the Shares of that class or series) may be varied or abrogated with the consent in writing of the holders of a majority of the issued Shares of that class or series entitled to vote on such variation or abrogation, or with the sanction of an Ordinary Resolution passed at a general meeting of the holders of the Shares of that class or series.
37. The provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings of the Company shall apply mutatis mutandis to every such general meeting of the holders of one class or series of Shares except that the necessary quorum shall be one or more persons holding or representing by proxy at least a majority of the issued Shares of the class or series.
38. The rights conferred upon the holders of the Shares of any class or series issued with preferred or other rights shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of the Shares of that class or series, be deemed to be varied by (i) the creation or issue of further Shares ranking pari passu therewith; (ii) a purchase or redemption by the Company of its own Shares; or (iii) the creation or issue for value (as determined by the Board) of further Shares ranking as regards participation in the profits or assets of the Company or otherwise in priority to them. For the avoidance of doubt:
38.1. the issue, redemption or purchase of any of the 25,000 Euro Deferred Shares of 1.00 each or the [·] Preferred Shares of US$0.01 each shall not constitute a variation of the rights of the holders of Ordinary Shares; and
38.2. the issue of Preferred Shares or any class or series of Preferred Shares which rank pari passu with, or junior to, any existing Preferred Shares or class or series of Preferred Shares shall not constitute a variation of the existing Preferred Shares or class or series of Preferred Shares.
LIEN ON SHARES
39. The Company shall have a first and paramount lien on every Share (not being a fully paid Share) for all monies (whether presently payable or not) payable at a fixed time or called in respect of that Share. The Board, at any time, may declare any Share to be wholly or in part exempt from the provisions of this Article 39. The Companys lien on a Share shall extend to all monies payable in respect of it.
40. The Company may sell in such manner as the Board determines any Share on which the Company has a lien if a sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable and is not paid within fourteen (14) clear days after notice demanding payment, stating that if the notice is not complied with the Share may be sold, has been given to the holder of the Share or to the person entitled to it by reason of the death, bankruptcy or insolvency of the holder or otherwise by operation of law or regulation (whether of Ireland or otherwise).
41. To give effect to a sale, the Board may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Share(s) sold to, or in accordance with the directions of, the transferee. The transferee shall be entered in the Register as the holder of the Share(s) comprised in any such transfer and he or she shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase monies nor shall his or her title to the Share(s) be affected by any irregularity in, or invalidity of, the proceedings in reference to the sale, and after the name of the transferee has been entered in the Register, the remedy of any person aggrieved by the sale shall be in damages only and against the Company exclusively.
42. The net proceeds of the sale, after payment of the costs, shall be applied in payment of so much of the sum for which the lien exists as is presently payable and any residue (upon surrender to the Company for cancellation of the certificate for the Shares sold and subject to a like lien for any monies not presently payable as existed upon the Shares before the sale) shall be paid to the person entitled to the Shares at the date of the sale.
43. Whenever any law for the time being of any country, state or place imposes or purports to impose any immediate or future or possible liability upon the Company to make any payment or empowers any government or taxing authority or government official to require the Company to make any payment in respect of any Shares registered in the Register as held either jointly or solely by any Member or in respect of any dividends, bonuses or other monies due or payable or accruing due or which may become due or payable to such Member by the Company on, or in respect of, any Shares registered as mentioned above or for or on account or in respect of any Member and whether in consequence of:
(a) the death of such Member;
(b) the non-payment of any income tax or other tax by such Member;
(c) the non-payment of any estate, probate, succession, death, stamp or other duty by the executor or administrator of such Member or by or out of his or her estate; or
(d) any other act or thing,
in every such case (except to the extent that the rights conferred upon holders of any class of Shares renders the Company liable to make additional payments in respect of sums withheld on account of the foregoing):
43.1. the Company shall be fully indemnified by such Member or his or her executor or administrator from all liability;
43.2. the Company shall have a lien upon all dividends and other monies payable in respect of the Shares registered in the Register as held either jointly or solely by such Member for all monies paid or payable by the Company as referred to above in respect of such Shares or in respect of any dividends or other monies thereon or for or on account or in respect of such Member under or in consequence of any such law, together with interest at the rate of fifteen percent (15%) per annum (or such other rate as the Board may determine) thereon from the date of payment to the date of repayment, and the Company may deduct or set off against such dividends or other monies so payable any monies paid or payable by the Company as referred to above together with interest at the same rate;
43.3. the Company may recover as a debt due from such Member or his or her executor or administrator (wherever constituted) any monies paid by the Company under or in consequence of any such law and interest thereon at the rate and for the period referred to above in excess of any dividends or other monies then due or payable by the Company; and
43.4. the Company may, if any such money is paid or payable by it under any such law as referred to above, refuse to register a transfer of any Shares by any such Member or his or her executor or administrator until such money and interest is set off or deducted as referred to above or, in the case that it exceeds the amount of any such dividends or other monies then due or payable by the Company, until such excess is paid to the Company.
44. Subject to the rights conferred upon the holders of any class of Shares, nothing in Article 43 will prejudice or affect any right or remedy which any law may confer or purport to confer on the Company. As between the Company and every such Member as referred to above (and, his or her executor, administrator and estate, wherever constituted), any right or remedy which such law shall confer or purport to confer on the Company shall be enforceable by the Company.
CALLS ON SHARES
45. Subject to the terms of allotment, the Board may make calls upon the Members in respect of any monies unpaid on their Shares and each Member (subject to receiving at least fourteen (14) clear days notice specifying when and where payment is to be made) shall pay to the Company as required by the notice the amount called on his or her Shares. A call may be required or permitted to be paid in instalments. A call may be revoked before receipt by the Company of a sum due thereunder, in whole or in part, and payment of a call may be postponed in whole or in part.
46. A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the Board authorising the call was passed.
47. A person on whom a call is made shall (in addition to a transferee) remain liable notwithstanding the subsequent transfer of the Share in respect of which the call is made.
48. The joint holders of a Share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect thereof.
49. If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable, the person from whom it is due and payable shall pay interest on the amount unpaid from the day it became due until it is paid at the rate fixed by the terms of allotment of the Share or in the notice of the call or, if no rate is fixed, at the appropriate rate (as defined by the Companies Act), but the Board may waive payment of the interest wholly or in part.
50. An amount payable in respect of a Share on allotment or at any fixed date, whether in respect of nominal value or by way of premium, shall be deemed to be a call and, if it is not paid, the provisions of these Articles shall apply as if that amount had become due and payable by virtue of a call.
51. Subject to the terms of allotment, the Board may make arrangements on the issue of Shares for a difference between the holders in the amounts and times of payment of calls on their Shares.
52. The Directors may, if they think fit, receive from any Member willing to advance the same all or any part of the monies uncalled and unpaid upon any Shares held by him or her, and upon all or any of the monies so advanced may pay (until the same would, but for such advance, become payable) interest at such rate as may be agreed upon between the Directors and the Member paying such sum in advance.
FORFEITURE
53. If a Member fails to pay any call or instalment of a call on the day appointed for payment thereof, the Directors, at any time thereafter during such times as any part of the call or instalment remains unpaid, may serve a notice on him or her requiring payment of so much of the call or instalment as is unpaid together with any interest which may have accrued.
54. The notice shall state a further day (not earlier than the expiration of fourteen (14) clear days from the date of service of the notice) on or before which the payment required by the notice is to be made, and shall state that in the event of non-payment at or before the time appointed, the Shares in respect of which the call was made will be liable to be forfeited.
55. If the requirements of any such notice as aforesaid are not complied with, then at any time thereafter before the payment required by the notice has been made, any Shares in respect of which the notice has been given may be forfeited by a resolution of the Directors to that effect. The forfeiture shall include all dividends or other monies payable in respect of the forfeited Shares and not paid before forfeiture. The Board may accept a surrender of any Share liable to be forfeited hereunder.
56. On the trial or hearing of any action for the recovery of any money due for any call, it shall be sufficient to prove that the name of the Member sued is entered in the Register as the holder, or one of the holders, of the Shares in respect of which such debt accrued, that the resolution making the call is duly recorded in the minute book and that notice of such call was duly given to the Member sued, in pursuance of these Articles, and it shall not be necessary to prove the appointment of the Directors who made such call nor any other matters whatsoever, but the proof of the matters aforesaid shall be conclusive evidence of the debt.
57. A forfeited Share may be sold or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the Directors think fit and, at any time before a sale or disposition, the forfeiture may be cancelled on such terms as the Directors think fit. Where for the purposes of its disposal, such a Share is to be transferred to any person, the Board may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Share to that person. The Company may receive the consideration, if any, given for the Share on any sale or disposition thereof and may execute a transfer of the Share in favour of the person to whom the Share is sold or disposed of and thereupon he or she shall be registered as the holder of the Share and shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, if any, nor shall his or her title to the Share be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the forfeiture, sale or disposal of the Share.
58. A person whose Shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a Member in respect of the forfeited Shares, but nevertheless shall remain liable to pay to the Company all monies which, at the date of forfeiture, were payable by him or her to the Company in respect of the Shares, without any deduction or allowance for the value of the Shares at the time of forfeiture but his or her liability shall cease if and when the Company shall have received payment in full of all such monies in respect of the Shares.
59. A statement in writing that the maker of the statement is a Director or the Secretary of the Company, and that a Share in the Company has been duly forfeited on the date stated in the statement, shall be conclusive evidence of the facts therein stated as against all persons claiming to be entitled to the Share.
60. The provisions of these Articles as to forfeiture shall apply in the case of non-payment of any sum which, by the terms of issue of a Share, becomes payable at a fixed time, whether on account of the nominal value of the Share or by way of premium, as if the same had been payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified.
61. The Directors may accept the surrender of any Share which the Directors have resolved to have been forfeited upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed and, subject to any such terms and conditions, a surrendered Share shall be treated as if it has been forfeited.
NON-RECOGNITION OF TRUSTS
62. The Company shall not be obligated to recognise any person as holding any Share upon any trust (except as is otherwise provided in these Articles or to the extent required by law) and the Company shall not be bound by or be compelled in any way to recognise (even when having notice thereof) any equitable, contingent, future, or partial interest in any Share, or any interest in any fractional part of a Share, or (except only as is otherwise provided by these Articles or the Companies Act) any other rights in respect of any Share except an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the registered holder. This shall not preclude the Company from requiring the Members or a transferee of Shares to furnish the Company with information as to the beneficial ownership of any Share when such information is reasonably required by the Company.
TRANSMISSION OF SHARES
63. If a Member dies, the survivor or survivors where the deceased was a joint holder, and the legal personal representatives of the deceased where he or she was a sole holder or the only survivor of joint holders, shall be the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to his or her interest in the Shares; but nothing herein contained shall release the estate of any deceased holder from any liability in respect of any Share which had been jointly held by him or her solely or jointly with other persons.
64. A person becoming entitled to a Share in consequence of the death, bankruptcy, liquidation or insolvency of a Member, or otherwise becoming entitled to a Share by operation of any law, directive or regulation (whether of Ireland, the European Union, or any other jurisdiction) may elect, upon such evidence of title being produced as the Directors or the Secretary (or such other person as may be nominated by the Secretary for this purpose) may reasonably require at any time and from time to time, and subject as further provided in this Article, either to become the holder of the Share or to have some person nominated by him or her registered as the transferee of such Share. If he or she elects to become the holder of the Share, he or she shall give notice to the Company to that effect and, where the Directors or the Secretary (or such other person as may be nominated by the Secretary for this purpose) are satisfied with the evidence of title produced to them, they may register such person as the holder of the Share, subject to the other provisions of these Articles and of the Companies Act. If he or she elects to have another person registered as the transferee of the relevant Share, he or she shall execute an instrument of transfer of the Share to that person. All of these Articles relating to the transfer of Shares shall apply to the notice or instrument of transfer as if it were an instrument of transfer executed by the relevant Member and the event giving rise to the entitlement of the relevant person to the Shares had not occurred.
65. A person becoming entitled to a Share by transmission shall have the rights to which he or she would be entitled if he or she were the holder of the Share (including the right to receive and give a valid discharge for any dividends, distributions or other moneys payable on or in respect of the Share), except that, before being registered as the holder of the Share, he or she shall not be entitled in respect of it to receive notices of, or to attend or vote at, any meeting of the Company or at any separate meeting of holders of any class of Shares in the Company. The Directors or the Secretary (or such other person as may be nominated by the Secretary for this purpose), at any time, may give notice requiring any such person to elect either to be registered himself or herself as the holder of the Share or to transfer the Share and, if the notice is not complied with within ninety (90) days, the Directors or the Secretary (or such other person as may be nominated by the Secretary for this purpose) thereupon may withhold payment of all dividends, bonuses or other monies payable in respect of the Share until the requirements of the notice have been complied with.
AMENDMENT OF MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION;
CHANGE OF LOCATION OF REGISTERED OFFICE; AND
ALTERATION OF CAPITAL
66. The Company may by Ordinary Resolution (or as otherwise provided in these Articles, or determined by the Board, or otherwise permitted under applicable law):
66.1. divide its share capital into several classes and attach to them respectively any preferential, deferred, qualified or special rights, privileges or conditions;
66.2. increase the authorised share capital by such sum to be divided into Shares of any nominal value;
66.3. consolidate and divide all or any of the Shares into Shares of a larger nominal value than the existing Shares;
66.4. subdivide the Shares, or any of them, into Shares of a smaller nominal value, 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 Board 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);
66.5. cancel any Shares which have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person and diminish the amount of the Companys share capital by the amount of the Shares so cancelled;
66.6. increase the nominal value of any of the Shares by the addition to them of any undenominated capital;
66.7. reduce the nominal value of any of the Shares by the deduction from them of any part of that value, subject to the crediting of the amount of the deduction to undenominated capital, other than the share premium account;
66.8. convert any undenominated capital into Shares for allotment as bonus shares to holders of existing Shares; and/or
66.9. subject to applicable law, change the currency denomination of its share capital.
67. Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act and to paragraph 6 of the Memorandum, the Company may:
67.1. by Special Resolution (or as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law and/or paragraph 6 of the Memorandum) change its name, alter or add to the Memorandum with respect to any objects, powers or other matters specified therein or alter or add to these Articles;
67.2. by Special Resolution (or as otherwise required or permitted by these Articles and applicable law (including, without limitation, section 83 of the Companies Act)) reduce its issued share capital and any capital redemption reserve fund, share premium account or undenominated capital account. In relation to such reductions, the Company may by Special Resolution (or as otherwise required or permitted by these Articles and applicable law) determine the terms upon which the reduction is to be effected, including in the case of a reduction of part only of any class of Shares, those Shares to be affected; and
67.3. by resolution of the Directors, change the location of its registered office.
68. Where any difficulty arises in regard to any alteration or reorganisation of the share capital of the Company, the Board may settle the same as they think expedient and in particular, may arrange to sell any Shares representing fractions for the best price reasonably obtainable to any person and distribute the proceeds of sale in due proportion among those Members, and the Board may authorise any person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Shares to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The transferee shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money nor shall his or her title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity in or invalidity of the proceedings in reference to the sale.
CLOSING REGISTER OF MEMBERS OR FIXING RECORD DATE
69. For the purpose of determining Members entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of Members or any adjournment thereof, or Members entitled to receive payment of any dividend, or in order to make a determination of Members for any other proper purpose, the Board may provide, subject to the requirements of section 174 of
the Companies Act, that the Register of Members shall be closed for transfers at such times and for such periods, not exceeding in the whole thirty (30) days in each year, as it may determine. If the Register of Members shall be so closed for the purpose of determining Members entitled to notice of, or to vote at, a meeting of Members, such Register of Members shall be so closed for at least five (5) days immediately preceding such meeting and the record date for such determination shall be the date of the closure of the Register of Members.
70. In lieu of, or apart from, closing the Register of Members, the Board may fix in advance a date as the record date (a) for any such determination of Members entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Members, which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) days before the date of such meeting, and (b) for the purpose of determining the Members entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution, or in order to make a determination of Members for any other proper purpose, which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) days prior to the date of payment of such dividend or other distribution or the taking of any action to which such determination of Members is relevant.
71. If the Register of Members is not so closed and no record date is fixed for the determination of Members entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Members, the date immediately preceding the date on which notice of the meeting is deemed given under these Articles shall be the record date for such determination of Members. Where a determination of Members entitled to vote at any meeting of Members has been made as provided in these Articles, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof; provided, however, that the Directors may fix a new record date of the adjourned meeting, if they think fit.
GENERAL MEETINGS
72. The Board shall convene and the Company shall hold annual general meetings in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act.
73. The Board may, whenever it thinks fit, and shall, on the requisition in writing of Members holding such number of Shares as is prescribed by, and made in accordance with the Companies Act, convene a general meeting in the manner required by the Companies Act. All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings. Where any provision of the Companies Act confers rights on the members of a company to convene a general meeting without first directing the board of directors to convene a general meeting and expresses such rights to apply save where a companys articles of association or constitution provides otherwise, such rights shall not apply to the Members of the Company.
74. The Company shall in each year hold a general meeting as its annual general meeting in addition to any other meeting in that year, and shall specify the meeting as such in the notice calling it. Not more than fifteen (15) months shall elapse between the date of one annual general meeting of the Company and that of the next. Each general meeting shall be held at such time and place as designated by the Board and as specified in the notice of meeting. Subject to section 176 of the Companies Act, all general meetings may be held outside of Ireland.
75. The Board may authorise the Secretary to postpone or cancel any general meeting called in accordance with the provisions of these Articles (other than a meeting requisitioned by the Members in accordance with the Companies Act or the postponement or cancellation of which would be contrary to the Companies Act, law or a Court order pursuant to the Companies Act) if the Board considers that, for any reason, it is impractical or unreasonable to hold the general meeting, provided that notice of postponement or cancellation is given to each Member before the time for such meeting. Fresh notice of the date, time and place for any postponed meeting shall be given to each Member in accordance with the provisions of these Articles.
NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS
76. Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act allowing a general meeting to be called by shorter notice, an annual general meeting, and an extraordinary general meeting called for the passing of a Special Resolution, shall be called on at least twenty-one (21) clear days notice and all other extraordinary general meetings shall be called on at least fourteen (14) clear days notice. Such notice shall state the date, time, place of the meeting and the general nature of the business to be considered. Every notice shall specify such other details as are required by applicable law or the relevant code, rules and regulations applicable to the listing of the Shares on any Exchange.
77. A general meeting of the Company shall, whether or not the notice specified in Article 76 has been given and whether or not the provisions of the Articles regarding general meetings have been complied with, be deemed to have been duly convened if applicable law so permits and it is so agreed by the Auditors and by all the Members entitled to attend and vote thereat or by their proxies.
78. The notice convening an annual general meeting shall specify the meeting as such, and the notice convening a meeting to pass a Special Resolution shall specify the intention to propose a resolution as a Special Resolution. Notice of every general meeting shall be given in any manner permitted by these Articles to all Members.
79. There shall appear with reasonable prominence in every notice of general meeting of the Company a statement that a Member entitled to attend and vote is entitled to appoint one or more proxies to attend and vote instead of him or her and that a proxy need not be a Member of the Company.
80. The accidental omission to give notice of a general meeting to, or the non-receipt of notice of a meeting by, any person entitled to receive notice shall not invalidate the proceedings of that meeting.
81. In cases where instruments of proxy are sent out with notices, the accidental omission to send such instrument of proxy to, or the non-receipt of such instrument of proxy by, any person entitled to receive notice shall not invalidate the notice or any resolution passed or any proceeding at any such meeting. A Member present, either in person or by proxy, at any general meeting of the Company or of the holders of any class of Shares in the Company will be deemed to have received notice of that meeting and, where required, of the purpose for which it was called.
PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS
82. The business of annual general meetings shall include:
82.1. the consideration of the Companys statutory financial statements and the report of the Directors and the report of the Auditors on those statements and that report;
82.2. the review by the Members of the Companys affairs;
82.3. the appointment or re-appointment of the Auditors;
82.4. the authorisation of the Directors to approve the remuneration of the Auditors; and
82.5. the election and re-election of Directors.
83. No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present. One or more Members present in person or by proxy (whether or not such Member actually exercises his voting rights in whole, in part or at all at the relevant general meeting) holding not less than a majority of the issued and outstanding Shares of the Company entitled to vote at the meeting in question shall be a quorum.
84. If within 15 minutes (or such longer time not exceeding one hour as the Chairperson 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 (i) if convened on the requisition of Members, shall be dissolved; and (ii) in any other case, shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week or to such other day and at such other time and place as the Chairperson (or, in default, the Board) may, subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, determine. If at such adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within 15 minutes after the time appointed for holding it the adjourned meeting shall be dissolved.
85. If the Board wishes to make this facility available to Members for any or all general meetings of the Company, a Member may participate in any general meeting of the Company by means of a telephone, video, electronic or similar communication equipment by way of which all persons participating in such meeting can communicate with each other simultaneously and instantaneously and such participation shall be deemed to constitute presence in person at the meeting.
86. Each Director and the Auditors shall be entitled to attend and speak at any general meeting of the Company.
87. The Chairperson, or in his absence, some other Director nominated by the Directors shall preside at every general meeting of the Company, but if at any meeting neither the Chairperson, nor such other Director, is present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for the holding of the meeting, or if none of them are willing to act as Chairperson, the Directors present shall choose some Director present to be Chairperson, or if no Director is present, or if all the Directors present decline to take the chair, the Members present shall choose some Member present to be Chairperson.
88. The Chairperson of the meeting may, and shall if so directed by the meeting (upon the passage of an Ordinary Resolution), adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place, but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished, or which might have been transacted, at the meeting from which the adjournment took place. When a general meeting is adjourned for thirty (30) days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting; save as aforesaid it shall not be necessary to give any notice of an adjournment or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned general meeting. Without prejudice to any other power of adjournment which the Chairperson of the meeting may have under these Articles, at common law or otherwise, the Chairperson may, without the consent of the meeting, adjourn the meeting from time to time (or indefinitely) and from place to place if he or she decides that it is necessary or appropriate to do so in order to: (a) secure the proper and orderly conduct of the meeting; (b) give all persons entitled to do so an opportunity of attending the meeting; (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.
89.
89.1. Subject to the Companies Act, a resolution may only be put to a vote at a general meeting of the Company or of any class of Members if:
(a) it is specified in the notice of meeting;
(b) it is proposed by or at the direction of the Board;
(c) it is proposed at the direction of a court of competent jurisdiction;
(d) it is proposed pursuant to, and in accordance with, the procedures and requirements of Article 90 or 155;
(e) it is proposed on the requisition in writing of such number of Members as is prescribed by, and is made in accordance with, section 178(3) of the Companies Act;
(f) the Chairperson of the meeting decides that the resolution may properly be regarded as within the scope of the meeting; or
(g) it has not been withdrawn by the Chairperson in accordance with Article 89.2.
89.2. The Chairperson of the meeting may, at his sole discretion, withdraw any resolution to be put to a vote at a general meeting of the Company or of any class of Members and such withdrawal shall not invalidate the proceedings of such meeting and shall be without prejudice to any other resolutions to be put to a vote at such general meeting of the Company or any class of Members.
89.3. No amendment may be made to a resolution, at or before the time when it is put to a vote, unless the Chairperson of the meeting decides that the amendment or the amended resolution may properly be put to a vote at that meeting.
89.4. If the Chairperson of the meeting rules a resolution or an amendment to a resolution admissible or out of order (as the case may be), the proceedings of the meeting or on the resolution in question shall not be
invalidated by any error in his or her ruling. Any ruling by the Chairperson of the meeting in relation to a resolution or an amendment to a resolution shall be final and conclusive.
90.
90.1. For business to be properly requested by a Member to be brought before a general meeting, (other than nominations of directors, which may only be made in accordance with Article 155.1) the Member must:
(a) be a Member of the Company at the time of the giving of the notice for such general meeting;
(b) be entitled to vote at such meeting; and
(c) have given timely and proper notice in writing to the Secretary in accordance with this Article 90.
90.2. To be timely for an annual general meeting, a Members notice to the Secretary must be delivered to or mailed and received at the registered office of the Company: (i) with respect to the first annual general meeting of the Company as a public limited company, not later than the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such annual general meeting is first made by the Company; and (ii) with respect to all other annual general meetings, not less than ninety (90) days nor (except for shareholder proposals subject to Rule14a-8(e)(3) of the Exchange Act) more than one hundred and twenty (120) days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the notice convening the preceding years annual general meeting; provided, however, that if the date of the annual general meeting is changed by more than thirty (30) days from the first anniversary date of the preceding years annual general meeting, the Members notice must be so received not earlier than one hundred and twenty (120) days prior to such annual general meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of (x) the 90th day prior to such annual general meeting or (y) the 10th day following the day on which a public announcement of the date of the annual general meeting is first made. In no event shall the adjournment or postponement of any annual general meeting, or the public announcement of such an adjournment or postponement, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a Members notice to the Secretary pursuant to this Article 90.2.
90.3. To be timely for a general meeting (other than an annual general meeting), a Members notice to the Secretary must be delivered to or mailed and received at the registered office of the Company not less than ninety (90) days nor (except for shareholder proposals subject to Rule14a-8(e)(3) of the Exchange Act) more than one hundred and twenty (120) days prior to the date of such meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such meeting, the 10th day following the date on which public announcement is first made of the date of the general meeting. In no event shall the adjournment or postponement of any general meeting, or the public announcement of such an adjournment or postponement, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a Members notice to the Secretary pursuant to this Article 90.3.
90.4. To be in proper written form, a Members notice shall set forth as of the date of the notice and as to the Member giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (each, a Proponent and collectively, the Proponents) as to each matter such Member proposes to bring before the meeting:
(a) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting;
(b) the name and address, in the case of a Member as it appears on the Register of Members, of each Proponent;
(c) date(s) upon which each Proponent acquired such Shares;
(d) the class, series and number of Shares which are beneficially owned by each Proponent and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith;
(e) any option, warrant, convertible security, share appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of Shares or with a value of each Proponent;
(f) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which each Proponent has a right to vote any class or series of Shares;
(g) any rights to dividends on the Shares beneficially owned by each Proponent that are separated or separable from the underlying Shares;
(h) any proportionate interest in the Shares held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which each Proponent is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner of such general or limited partnership;
(i) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that each Proponent is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of the Shares, including without limitation any such interests held by members of each Proponents immediate family sharing the same household
(j) any significant equity interests, derivative or short interests in any principal competitor of the Company held by each Proponent;
(k) any direct or indirect interest of each Proponent in any contract with the Company, any affiliate of the Company or any principal competitor of the Company (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement);
(l) any agreement, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, including any repurchase or similar so-called stock borrowing agreement or arrangement, involving each Proponent, directly or indirectly, the purpose or effect of which is to mitigate loss to, reduce the economic risk (of ownership or otherwise) of any class or series of the Shares by, manage the risk of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, each Proponent with respect to any class or series of the Shares, or which provides, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the price or value of any class or series of the Shares;
(m) any material interest of each Proponent, or of any other person on whose behalf such business is raised, in such business;
(n) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether oral or in writing) with respect to such nomination or proposal between or among each Proponent and any of its affiliates or associates, and any others (including their names) acting in concert, or otherwise under the agreement, arrangement or understanding, with any of the foregoing;
(o) a representation that each Proponent is holders of record or beneficial owners, as the case may be, of Shares entitled to vote at the meeting and intend to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice (with respect to a notice under Article 155) or to propose the business that is specified in the notice (with respect to a notice under Article 90);
(p) a representation as to whether each Proponent intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of a sufficient number of holders of the Companys voting shares to elect such nominee or nominees (with respect to a notice under Article 155) or to carry such proposal (with respect to a notice under Article 90);
(q) to the extent known by any Proponent, the name and address of any other Member supporting the proposal on the date of such Members notice;
(r) a description of all Derivative Transactions by each Proponent during the previous twelve (12) month period, including the date of the transactions and the class, series and number of securities involved in, and the material economic terms of, such Derivative Transactions; and
(s) any other information relating to each Proponent that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement and form of proxy or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act.
90.5. The Chairperson shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that business was not properly brought before the meeting and in accordance with the provisions of this Article and, if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.
91. Except where a greater majority is required by the Companies Act or where these Articles provide otherwise, any question proposed for a decision of the Members at any general meeting of the Company or a decision of any class of Members at a separate meeting of any class of Shares shall be decided by an Ordinary Resolution.
92. At any general meeting, a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a poll. The Board or the Chairperson may determine the manner in which the poll is to be taken and the manner in which the votes are to be counted.
93. A poll demanded on the election of the Chairperson or on a question of adjournment shall be taken forthwith. A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken at such time as the Chairperson of the meeting directs, and any business other than that on which a poll has been demanded may be proceeded with pending the taking of the poll.
94. No notice need be given of a poll not taken immediately. The result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the general meeting at which the poll was demanded. On a poll, a Member entitled to more than one vote need not use all his or her votes or cast all the votes he or she uses in the same way.
95. If authorised by the Board, any vote taken by written ballot may be satisfied by a ballot submitted by electronic and/or telephonic transmission, provided that any such electronic or telephonic submission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the electronic or telephonic submission has been authorised by the Member or proxy.
96. The Board may adopt such rules, regulations and procedures for the conduct of any meeting of the Members as it deems appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with any applicable rules, regulations or procedures adopted by the Board, the Chairperson of any meeting may adopt such rules, regulations and procedures for the meeting, and take such actions with respect to the conduct of the meeting, as the Chairperson of the meeting deems appropriate. The rules, regulations and procedures adopted may include, without limitation, ones that (i) establish an agenda or order of business, (ii) are intended to maintain order and safety at the meeting, (iii) contain limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to Members of record of the Company, their duly authorised proxies or such other persons as the Chairperson of the meeting shall determine, (iv) contain restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for its commencement and (v) limit the time allotted to Member questions or comments.
VOTES OF MEMBERS
97. Subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to any class or classes of Shares, every Member present in person or by proxy shall have one vote for each Share registered in his or her name in the Register of Members.
98. In the case of joint holders of record the vote of the senior holder who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy, shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders, and for this purpose seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names stand in the Register of Members.
99. A Member of unsound mind, a Member who has made an enduring power of attorney, or in respect of whom an order has been made by any court, having jurisdiction in cases of unsound mind, may vote by his or her committee, donee of an enduring power of attorney, receiver, guardian or other person appointed by the foregoing court, and any such committee, donee of an enduring power of attorney, receiver, guardian or other persons appointed by the foregoing court may vote by proxy.
100. No Member shall be entitled to vote at any general meeting unless he or she is registered as a Member on the record date for such meeting.
101. No objection shall be raised to the qualification of any voter except at the general meeting or adjourned general meeting at which the vote objected to is given or tendered and every vote not disallowed at such general meeting shall be valid for all purposes. Any such objection made in due time shall be referred to the Chairperson of the general meeting whose decision shall be final and conclusive.
102. Unless the Board decides otherwise, no Member shall be entitled to be present or vote at any meeting either personally or by proxy until such Member has paid all calls due and payable on every Share held by him or her whether alone or jointly with any other person together with interest and expenses (if any) to the Company.
103. Section 193 of the Companies Act will not apply to the Company and no resolutions in writing may be validly passed by the Members.
PROXIES AND CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVES
104. Votes may be given either personally or by proxy. A Member may appoint more than one proxy or the same proxy under one or more instruments to attend and vote at a meeting and may appoint a proxy to vote both in favour of and against the same resolution in such proportion as specified in the instrument appointing the proxy.
105.
105.1. Every Member entitled to attend and vote at a general meeting may appoint a proxy to attend, speak and vote on his or her behalf and may appoint more than one proxy to attend, speak and vote at the same meeting. The appointment of a proxy or corporate representative shall be in such form and may be accepted by the Company at such place and at such time as may be specified in the notice convening the meeting or in any other information sent to the Members by or on behalf of the Board in relation to the meeting, subject to applicable requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any Exchange on which the Shares are listed.
105.2. Without limiting the foregoing, the Board or the Secretary may from time to time permit appointments of a proxy to be made by means of an electronic or internet communication or facility and may in a similar manner permit supplements to, or amendments or revocations of, any such electronic or internet communication or facility to be made. For the avoidance of doubt, such appointments of proxy made by electronic or internet communications (as permitted by the Board or the Secretary) will be deemed to be deposited at the place specified for such purpose once received by the Company. The Board or the Secretary may in addition prescribe the method of determining the time at which any such electronic or internet communication or facility is to be treated as deposited at the place specified for such purpose. The Board may treat any such electronic or internet communication or facility which purports to be or is expressed to be sent on behalf of a Member as sufficient evidence of the authority of the person sending that instruction to send it on behalf of that Member.
106. Any body corporate which is a Member of the Company may authorise such person or persons as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or of any class of Members of the Company and the person or persons so authorised shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the body corporate
which he or she represents as that body corporate could exercise if it were an individual Member of the Company. The Company may require evidence from the body corporate of the due authorisation of such person or persons to act as the representative of the relevant body corporate.
107. An appointment of proxy relating to more than one meeting (including any adjournment thereof) having once been received by the Company for the purposes of any meeting shall not require to be delivered, deposited or received again by the Company for the purposes of any subsequent meeting to which it relates.
108. Receipt by the Company of an appointment of proxy in respect of a meeting shall not preclude a Member from attending and voting at the meeting or at any adjournment thereof which attendance and voting will automatically cancel any proxy previously submitted.
109. An appointment of proxy shall be valid, unless the contrary is stated therein, for any adjournment of the meeting as well as for the meeting to which it relates.
110. A vote given in accordance with the terms of an appointment of proxy or a resolution authorising a representative to act on behalf of a body corporate shall be valid notwithstanding the death or insanity of the principal, or the revocation of the appointment of proxy or of the authority under which the proxy was appointed or of the resolution authorising the representative to act or transfer of the Share in respect of which the proxy was appointed or the authorisation of the representative to act was given, provided that no notice in writing (whether in electronic form or otherwise) of such death, insanity, revocation or transfer shall have been received by the Company at the registered office before the commencement of the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the appointment of proxy is used or at which the representative acts.
111. The Board may send, at the expense of the Company and subject to applicable law (including the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission), by post, electronic mail or otherwise, to the Members forms for the appointment of a proxy (with or without stamped envelopes for their return) for use at any general meeting or at any class meeting, either in blank or nominating any one or more of the Directors or any other persons in the alternative.
DIRECTORS
112. The number of Directors on the Board shall be not less than three (3) nor more than fifteen (15). The authorised number of Directors (within such fixed maximum and fixed minimum numbers) shall be determined solely by the Board and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not require approval or ratification by the Company in general meeting.
113. The remuneration to be paid to the Directors shall be such remuneration as the Directors in their sole discretion shall determine. The Directors shall also be entitled to be paid their travelling, hotel and other expenses properly incurred by them in going to, attending and returning from meetings of the Directors, or any committee of the Directors, or general meetings of the Company, or otherwise in connection with the business of the Company, or to receive a fixed allowance in respect thereof as may be determined by the Board from time to time, or a combination partly of one such method and partly the other. The amount, rate or basis of the remuneration or expenses to be paid to the Directors shall not require approval or ratification by the Company in general meeting. A Director is expressly permitted (for the purposes of section 228(1)(d) of the Companies Act) to use the Companys property pursuant to or in connection with: the exercise or performance of his duties, functions and powers as Director or employee; the terms of any contract of service or employment or letter of appointment; and, or in the alternative, any other usage authorised by the Directors (or a person authorised by the Directors) from time to time; and including in each case for a Directors own benefit or for the benefit of another person.
114. The Board may approve additional remuneration to any Director undertaking any special work or services for, or undertaking any special mission on behalf of, the Company other than his or her ordinary routine work as a Director. Any fees paid to a Director who is also counsel or solicitor to the Company, or otherwise serves it in a professional capacity, shall be in addition to his or her remuneration as a Director.
115. The salary or remuneration of a Director appointed to hold employment or executive office 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 such Director for his or her services as Director pursuant to these Articles.
116. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for service on any such committees or for attending committee meetings, or both.
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS INTERESTS
117. A Director or an officer of the Company who is in any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in a contract, transaction or arrangement or proposed contract, transaction or arrangement with the Company shall, in accordance with section 231 of the Companies Act, declare the nature of his or her interest at the first opportunity either (a) at a meeting of the Board at which the question of entering into the contract, transaction or arrangement is first taken into consideration, if the Director or officer of the Company knows this interest then exists, or in any other case, at the first meeting of the Board after learning that he or she is or has become so interested or (b) by providing a general notice to the Directors declaring that he or she is a Director or an officer of, or has an interest in, a person and is to be regarded as interested in any transaction or arrangement made with that person, and after giving such general notice it shall not be necessary to give special notice relating to any particular transaction.
118. A Director may hold any other office or place of profit with the Company (other than the office of its Auditors) in conjunction with his or her office of Director for such period and on such terms as to remuneration and otherwise as the Board may determine.
119. Nothing in section 228(1)(e) of the Companies Act shall restrict a Director from entering into any commitment which has been approved by the Board or has been approved pursuant to such authority as may be delegated by the Board in accordance with these Articles. It shall be the duty of each Director to obtain the prior approval of the Board, before entering into any commitment permitted by sections 228(1)(e)(ii) and 228(2) of the Companies Act.
120. A Director may act by himself or herself or by his or her firm in a professional capacity for the Company (other than as its Auditors) and he or she or his or her firm shall be entitled to remuneration for professional services as if he or she were not a Director.
121. A Director may be or become a director, managing director, joint managing director, deputy managing director, executive director, manager or other officer or member of any other entity or otherwise interested in any entity promoted by the Company or in which the Company may be interested as member or otherwise, and no such Director shall be accountable to the Company for any remuneration or other benefits received by him or her as a Director, managing director, joint managing director, deputy managing director, executive director, manager or other officer or member of such other entity; provided that he or she has declared the nature of his or her position with, or interest in, such entity to the Board in accordance with Article 117 and this has been approved by a majority of the disinterested Directors, notwithstanding the fact that the disinterested Directors may represent less than a quorum.
122. Nothing in section 228(1)(d) or section 228(1)(f) of the Companies Act shall restrict a Director from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Company or any of its subsidiaries. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company renounces any interest or expectancy of the Company and its subsidiaries in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, business opportunities that may from time to time be presented to Directors other than in their role as directors of the Company, even if the opportunity is one that the Company or its subsidiaries might reasonably be expected to have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so. The Directors shall have no duty to communicate or offer such business opportunity to the Company and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall not be deemed to have breached any fiduciary or other duty solely by reason of the fact that such Director pursues or acquires such business opportunity, directs such business opportunity to another person or fails to present such business opportunity, or information regarding such business opportunity, to the Company or any of its subsidiaries. A business opportunity shall not be deemed to be an opportunity of the Company if it is an
opportunity that the Company is not financially able or contractually permitted or legally able to undertake, or that is, by its nature, not in line with the Companys business or is of no advantage to it or is one in which the Company has no interest or reasonable prospect.
123. No person shall be disqualified from the office of Director or from being an officer of the Company or prevented by such office from contracting with the Company, either as vendor, purchaser or otherwise, nor shall any such contract or any contract or transaction entered into by or on behalf of the Company in which any Director or officer of the Company shall be in any way interested be or be liable to be avoided, nor shall any Director or officer of the Company so contracting or being so interested be liable to account to the Company for any profit realised by any such contract or transaction by reason of such Director or officer of the Company holding office or of the fiduciary relation thereby established; provided that:
123.1. he or she has declared the nature of his or her interest in such contract or transaction to the Board in accordance with Article 117; and
123.2. the contract or transaction is approved by a majority of the disinterested Directors, notwithstanding the fact that the disinterested Directors may represent less than a quorum.
124. A Director may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board which authorises or approves the contract, transaction or arrangement in which he or she is interested and he or she shall be at liberty to vote in respect of any contract, transaction or arrangement in which he or she is interested, provided that the nature of the interest of any Director in any such contract or transaction shall be disclosed by him or her in accordance with Article 117, at or prior to its consideration and any vote thereon.
125. For the purposes of Article 117:
125.1. a general notice given to the Directors that a Director is to be regarded as having an interest of the nature and extent specified in the notice in any transaction or arrangement in which a specified person or class of persons is interested shall be deemed to be a disclosure that the Director has an interest in any such transaction of the nature and extent so specified;
125.2. an interest of which a Director has no knowledge and of which it is unreasonable to expect him or her to have knowledge shall not be treated as an interest of his or hers; and
125.3. a copy of every declaration made and notice given under Article 117 shall be entered within three (3) days after the making or giving thereof in a book kept for this purpose. Such book shall be open for inspection without charge by any Director, Secretary, the Auditors or Member of the Company at the registered office and shall be produced at every general meeting of the Company and at any meeting of the Directors if any Director so requests in sufficient time to enable the book to be available at the meeting.
POWERS AND DUTIES OF DIRECTORS
126. The business of the Company shall be managed by the Directors, who may pay all expenses incurred in promoting and registering the Company and may exercise all such powers of the Company as are not, by the Companies Act or by these Articles, required to be exercised by the Company in general meeting, subject, nevertheless, to any of these Articles and to the provisions of the Companies Act. No resolution made by the Company in general meeting shall invalidate any prior act of the Directors that would have been valid if that resolution had not been made.
127. The Board shall have the power to appoint and remove officers and executives on such terms as the Board sees fit and to give such titles and delegate such responsibilities to those officers and executives as it sees fit.
128. The Company may exercise the powers conferred by section 44 of the Companies Act with regard to having an official seal for use abroad and such powers shall be vested in the Directors.
129. Unless otherwise ordered by the Board, the chief executive officer shall have the authority to exercise the voting powers conferred by shares of any other company held or owned by the Company in such manner in all respects as he or she thinks fit and in particular they may exercise their voting powers in favour of any resolution appointing the Directors or any of them as director or officers of such other company or providing for the payment of remuneration or pensions to the directors or officers of such other company. The Board may from time to time confer like powers upon any other person or persons.
130. All cheques, promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange and other negotiable instruments and all receipts for money paid to the Company shall be signed, drawn, accepted, endorsed or otherwise executed, as the case may be, by such person or persons and in such manner as the Directors shall from time to time by resolution determine.
131. The Directors may from time to time authorise such person or persons as they see fit to perform all acts, including, without prejudice to the foregoing, to effect a transfer of any shares, bonds, or other evidences of indebtedness or obligations, subscription rights, warrants, and other securities in another company in which the Company holds an interest and to issue the necessary powers of attorney for the same; and each such person is authorised on behalf of the Company to vote such securities, to appoint proxies with respect thereto, and to execute consents, waivers and releases with respect thereto, or to cause any such action to be taken.
132. The Board may exercise all powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and uncalled capital or any part thereof and to issue debentures, debenture stock, mortgages, bonds or such other securities whether outright or as security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party.
133. The Directors may procure the establishment and maintenance of or participate in, or contribute to, any non-contributory or contributory pension or superannuation fund, scheme or arrangement or life assurance scheme or arrangement for the benefit of, and pay, provide for or procure the grant of donations, gratuities, pensions, allowances, benefits or emoluments to any persons (including Directors or officers) who are or shall have been at any time in the employment or service of the Company or of any company which is or was a subsidiary or holding company of the Company or of any predecessor in business of the Company or any such subsidiary or holding company and the wives, husbands, widows, widowers, families, relatives or dependants of any such persons. The Directors may also procure the establishment and subsidy of or subscription to and support of any institutions, associations, clubs, funds or trusts calculated to be for the benefit of any such persons as aforesaid or otherwise to advance the interests and well-being of the Company or of any such other company as aforesaid or its Members, and payments for or towards the issuance of any such persons as aforesaid and subscriptions or guarantees of money for charitable or benevolent objects or for any exhibition or for any public, general or useful object; provided that any Director shall be entitled to retain any benefit received by him or her under this Article 133, subject only, where the Companies Act requires, to disclosure to the Members and the approval of the Company in general meeting.
134. The Board may from time to time provide for the management of the affairs of the Company in such manner as it shall think fit and the specific delegation provisions contained in the Articles shall not limit the general powers conferred by these Articles.
MINUTES
135. The Board shall cause minutes to be made in books kept for the purpose of all (i) appointments of officers and committees made by the Board; and (ii) resolutions and proceedings at meetings of (a) the Company or of the holders of any class of Shares and (b) the Board and of committees of the Board, including in each case the names of the Directors and others present at each meeting. Any such minutes, if signed by the Chairperson of the meeting at which the proceedings were held or by the Chairperson of the next succeeding meeting or the Secretary, shall be prima facie evidence of the matters stated in them.
DELEGATION OF THE BOARDS POWERS
136. The Board may delegate any of its powers (with power to sub-delegate) to any committee consisting of one or more Directors and/or (if thought fit) one or more other persons. The Board may also delegate to any Director,
officer or member of the management of the Company or any of its subsidiaries such of its powers as it considers desirable to be exercised by him or her. The Board may also designate one or more persons as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of any such committee. Any such delegation may be made subject to any conditions the Board may impose, and either collaterally with or to the exclusion of its own powers, and may be revoked or altered. Subject to any such conditions, the proceedings of a committee shall be governed by the Articles regulating the proceedings of Directors, so far as they are capable of applying. Each committee shall keep regular minutes and report to the Board when required. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the quorum necessary for the transaction of any business at any committee meeting shall be a majority of the members of such committee. 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.
137. The Board may, by power of attorney or otherwise, appoint any person to be the agent of the Company on such conditions as the Board may determine, provided that the delegation is not to the exclusion of its own powers and may be revoked by the Board at any time.
138. The Board may, by power of attorney or otherwise, appoint any company, firm, person or body of persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Board, to be the attorney or authorised signatory of the Company for such purpose and with such powers, authorities and discretions (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the Board under these Articles) and for such period and subject to such conditions as they may think fit, and any such powers of attorney or other appointment may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of persons dealing with any such attorneys or authorised signatories as the Board may think fit and may also authorise any such attorney or authorised signatory to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in him or her.
CHAIRPERSON AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
139. The Board may elect any Director as Chairperson of the Board and determine the period for which he or she is to hold office.
140. In addition to the Chairperson, the Directors and the Secretary, the Company may appoint such other officers, including executive officers, as the Board may from time to time determine and, without limitation to the foregoing, the Board may appoint any person (whether or not a Director) to fill the following positions: chief executive officer, chief financial officer, general counsel, president, treasurer and controller. Any person may hold more than one of the foregoing positions.
141. Any person elected or appointed pursuant to Articles 139 and 140 shall hold his or her office or other position for such period and on such terms as the Board may determine and the Board may revoke or vary any such election or appointment at any time by resolution of the Board. Any such revocation or variation shall be without prejudice to any claim for damages that such person may have against the Company or the Company may have against such person for any breach of any contract of service between him or her and the Company which may be involved in such revocation or variation. If any such office or other position becomes vacant for any reason, the vacancy may be filled by the Board.
142. Except as provided in the Companies Act or these Articles, the powers and duties of any person elected or appointed to any office or executive or official position pursuant to Articles 139 and 140 shall be such as are determined from time to time by the Board.
143. Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Company. The resignation is effective without acceptance when the notice is given to the Company, unless a later effective date is specified in the notice.
144. The use of the word officer, director (save where the relevant person is a Director for the purposes of these Articles) (or similar words) in the title of any executive or other position shall not be deemed to imply that the person holding such executive or other position is an officer or director of the Company within the meaning of the Companies Act.
PROCEEDINGS OF DIRECTORS
145. Except as otherwise provided by these Articles, the Directors shall meet together for the despatch of business, convening, adjourning and otherwise regulating their meetings and procedures as they think fit. Questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes of the Directors present at a meeting at which there is a quorum. Each Director shall have one vote.
146. Regular meetings of the Board may be held at such times and places as may be provided for in resolutions adopted by the Board. No additional notice of a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board shall be required.
147. A Director may, and the Secretary on the requisition of a Director shall, at any time summon a meeting of the Directors by at least 24 hours notice (or, if notice is mailed, at least four calendar days notice) in writing to every Director, unless notice is waived by all the Directors either at, before or after the meeting is held and, provided further, if notice is given in person, by telephone, cable, telex, telecopy or email, the same shall be deemed to have been given on the day it is delivered to the Directors or transmitting organisation, as the case may be. The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting of the Directors to, or the non-receipt of notice of a meeting by, any person entitled to receive notice shall not invalidate the proceedings of that meeting. The presence of a Director at a meeting of the Directors shall be deemed to be a waiver of any failure to give due notice of such meeting unless such Director states that he or she is not waiving any such failure promptly following the calling to order of such meeting. Notice of a Board meeting shall be deemed to be duly given to a Director if it is given to such Director personally or by word of mouth or sent in writing to his or her last known address or any other address given to the Company by such Director for such purpose or given by electronic communications to an address for the time being notified to the Company by the Director. In this Article address, in relation to documents in electronic form, includes any number or address used for the supply of documents in electronic form.
148. The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business of the Board shall be a majority of the Directors in office. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board, the Directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.
149. The continuing Directors may act notwithstanding any vacancy in their body, but if and so long as their number is reduced below the number fixed by or pursuant to these Articles as the minimum number of Directors, the continuing Directors or Director may act for the purpose of increasing the number of Directors to that number, or of summoning a general meeting of the Company, but for no other purpose. If there is/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 Director so appointed shall hold office (subject to these Articles) only until the dissolution of the annual general meeting next following such appointment unless such Director is re-elected during such meeting.
150. If no Chairperson is elected, or if at any meeting the Chairperson is not present within five (5) minutes after the time appointed for holding the same, the Directors present may choose one of their number to be the Chairperson of the meeting or proceed without a Chairperson of the meeting.
151. All acts done by any meeting of the Directors or of a committee of Directors shall, notwithstanding that it be afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any Director, or that they or any of them were disqualified, be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed and qualified to be a Director.
152. Members of the Board or of any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board or of such committee by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and participation in a meeting pursuant to this provision shall constitute presence in person at such meeting. Unless otherwise determined by the Directors, the meeting shall be deemed to be held at the place where the telephone call or similar communication was initiated.
153. A resolution or other document in writing (in electronic form or otherwise), signed (whether by electronic signature, advanced electronic signature or otherwise as approved by the Directors) by all the Directors entitled to
receive notice of a meeting of Directors or of a committee of Directors, and to vote on the relevant resolution or matter, shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a meeting of Directors or (as the case may be) a committee of Directors duly convened and held and may consist of several documents in the like form each signed by one or more Directors, and such resolution or other document or documents when duly signed may be delivered or transmitted (unless the Directors shall otherwise determine either generally or in any specific case) by facsimile transmission, electronic mail or some other similar means of transmitting the content of documents.
RESIGNATION AND DISQUALIFICATION OF DIRECTORS
154. The office of a Director shall be vacated ipso facto:
154.1. on the death of a Director;
154.2. if he or she resigns his or her office, on the date on which notice of his or her resignation is delivered to the registered office or tendered at a meeting of the Board or on such later date as may be specified in such notice;
154.3. if he or she ceases to be a Director by virtue of any provision of the Companies Act, is removed from office pursuant to these Articles or the Companies Act or becomes prohibited by law from being a Director;
154.4. if he or she becomes bankrupt, has an interim receiving order made against him or her, makes any arrangement or compounds with his or her creditors generally or applies to the court for an interim order in connection with a voluntary arrangement under any legislation relating to insolvency;
154.5. if the health of the Director is such that, in the opinion of a majority of the other Directors, he or she can no longer be reasonably regarded as possessing adequate decision making capacity;
154.6. in the case of a Director who holds executive office, his or her appointment to such office is terminated or expires and the Board resolves that such Directors office be vacated;
154.7. if he or she is absent, without permission of the Board, from Board meetings for six consecutive months and the Board resolves that his or her office be vacated; or
154.8. if the Director is requested to resign in writing by not less than a majority of the other Directors provided always that this Article 154.8 shall only apply if neither of the Sponsor Holders holds 10% or more of the entire issued share capital of the Company.
155. A resolution of the Board declaring a Director to have vacated office pursuant to this Article shall be conclusive as to the fact and grounds of vacation stated in the resolution.
APPOINTMENT, ROTATION AND NOMINATION OF DIRECTORS
156.
156.1. No person shall be appointed a Director unless nominated in accordance with the provisions of this Article 156. Nominations of persons for election to the Board at a general meeting may be made:
(a) by or at the direction of the Board or a committee thereof;
(b) with respect to election at a general meeting, by any Member who holds Shares carrying the general right to vote at general meetings of the Company, who is a Member at the time of the giving of the required notice of the relevant general meeting provided for in these Articles and at the time of the relevant general meeting, and who has given timely and proper notice in writing to the Secretary in accordance with Article 156.2 and 156.3;
(c) with respect to election at an extraordinary general meeting requisitioned in accordance with section 178(3) of the Companies Act, by a Member or Members who hold Shares carrying the general right to vote at general meetings of the Company and who make such nomination in the written requisition of the extraordinary general meeting in accordance with these Articles, including Article 156.3, and the provisions of the Companies Act relating to nominations of Directors and the proper bringing of special business before an extraordinary general meeting,
(sub-clauses (b) and (c) being the exclusive means for a Member to make nominations of persons for election to the Board).
156.2. For nominations of persons for election as Directors at a general meeting to be timely, a Members notice must comply with the requirements of Article 90.2 or 90.3 (as applicable).
156.3. To be in proper written form, a Members notice for nomination(s) of person(s) for election pursuant to Article 156.1(b), or in the case of nomination(s) of person(s) for election pursuant to Article 156.1(c), a Members written requisition of the extraordinary general meeting, must, in addition to any other applicable requirements, set forth:
(d) as to each person whom the Member proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a Director, all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations for proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including such persons written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); and
(e) as to the Member giving the notice and each Proponent, the information required in Article 90.4.
156.4. The Chairperson of the meeting shall determine whether a nomination was made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by these Articles, and if he or she should determine that such nomination was not made in accordance with such procedures, he or she shall declare to the meeting that the nomination was defective and such defective nomination shall be disregarded. Any such ruling by the Chairperson of the meeting shall be final and conclusive.
156.5. The Company may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require, including the completion of any questionnaires, to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a Director and the impact that such service would have on the ability of the Company to satisfy the requirements of laws, rules, regulations and listing standards applicable to the Company or its Directors.
157. At every annual general meeting of the Company, all of the Directors shall retire from office unless re-elected in accordance with Article 156.5. A Director retiring at a meeting shall retain office until the close of that meeting (including any adjournment thereof). Each Director shall be eligible to stand for re-election at an annual general meeting.
158. Directors will be elected by way of Ordinary Resolution of the Company in general meeting, provided that if the number of Director nominees exceeds the number of Directors (as determined by the Board) to be elected at such meeting (a contested election), each of those nominees shall be voted upon as a separate resolution and the Directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the Shares present in person or represented by proxy at any such meeting and entitled to vote on the election of Directors. For the purposes of this Article 158, elected by a plurality means the election of those Director nominees, equal in number to the number of positions to be filled at the relevant general meeting (as determined by the Board), that received the highest number of votes in the contested election. Cumulative voting is prohibited in the election of Directors.
159. Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles, the Directors may appoint a person who is willing to act to be a Director, either to fill a casual vacancy or as an additional Director, provided that the appointment does not cause the number of Directors to exceed the number prescribed by the Board in accordance with Article 112. A
casual vacancy shall include, without limitation, a vacancy that results from the death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal of a Director.
160. The Company may, by Ordinary Resolution, of which notice has been given in accordance with section 146 of the Companies Act, remove any Director before the expiration of his or her period of office notwithstanding anything in these Articles or in any agreement between the Company and such Director. Such removal shall be without prejudice to any claim such Director may have for damages for breach of any contract of service between him or her and the Company.
SECRETARY
161. The Board shall appoint the Secretary and may appoint one or more persons to be a joint, deputy or Assistant Secretary at such remuneration (if any) and on such terms as the Board sees fit and any person so appointed may be removed by the Board at any time.
162. The duties of the Secretary shall be those prescribed by the Companies Act, together with such other duties as shall from time to time be prescribed by the Board, and in any case, shall include the making and keeping of records of the votes, doings and proceedings of all meetings of the Members and the Board of the Company, and committees, and the authentication of records of the Company.
163. A provision of the Companies Act or 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 Director and as, or in the place of, the Secretary.
SEAL
164. The Company may, if the Board so determines, have a Seal (including any official seals kept pursuant to the Companies Act) which shall only be used by the authority of the Board or by a duly authorised committee of the Board and every instrument to which the Seal has been affixed shall be signed by any person who shall be either a Director or the Secretary or some other person authorised by the Board, either generally or specifically, for that purpose.
165. The Company may have for use in any place or places outside Ireland a duplicate Seal or Seals, each of which shall be a duplicate of the Seal of the Company, except, in the case of a seal for use in sealing documents creating or evidencing securities issued by the Company, for the addition on its face of the word Securities and, if the Board so determines, with the addition on its face of the name of every place where it is to be used.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND RESERVES
166. The Company in general meeting may by Ordinary Resolution declare dividends, but no dividends shall exceed the amount recommended by the Board. Subject to the Companies Act, the Board may, from time to time, pay such interim dividends as appear to it to be justified by the profits of the Company available for distribution. The Board may direct that any dividend declared by the Company in general meeting or by the Board in accordance with these Articles, may be paid wholly or partly by the distribution of specific assets and in particular of paid up shares, debentures or debenture stocks of any other company or in any one or more of such ways. Where any difficulty arises in regard to such distribution, the Board may settle the same as they think expedient, and in particular may issue fractional certificates or ignore fractions, fix the value for distribution of such specific assets or any part thereof and may determine that cash payments shall be made to any Members upon the footing of the value so fixed, in order to adjust the rights of all the parties, and may vest any such specific assets in trustees as may seem expedient to the Board.
167. Subject to the Companies Act, the Board may from time to time declare dividends (including interim dividends) and distributions on Shares outstanding and authorise payment of the same out of the funds of the Company lawfully available therefore and in any currency chosen at its discretion.
168. The Board may, before recommending or declaring any dividends or distributions, set aside such sums as it thinks proper as a reserve or reserves which shall, as directed by the Board, be applicable for any purpose of the Company and pending such application may, as directed by the Board, be employed in the business of the Company or be invested in such investments as the Directors may lawfully determine. The Directors may also, without placing the same to reserve, carry forward any profits which they may think it prudent not to dividend or distribute.
169. No dividend, interim dividend or distribution shall be paid otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of section 117 of the Companies Act.
170. Subject to the rights of persons, if any, entitled to Shares with special rights as to dividends or distributions, if dividends or distributions are to be declared on a class of Shares, they shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid or credited as paid on the Shares of such class outstanding on the record date for such dividend or distribution as determined in accordance with these Articles.
171. The Directors may deduct from any dividend payable to any Member all sums of money (if any) immediately payable by him or her to the Company in relation to his or her Shares.
172. Any dividend, distribution, interest or other monies payable in cash in respect of Shares may be paid by cheque or warrant sent through the post, or sent by any electronic or other means of payment, directed to the registered address of the holder or, in the case of joint holders, to the holder who is first named on the Register of Members or to such person and to such address as such holder or joint holders may in writing direct. Every such cheque or warrant, electronic or other payment shall be made payable to the order of the person to whom it is sent and payment of the cheque or warrant shall be a good discharge to the Company. Any one of two or more joint holders may give effectual receipts for any dividends, bonuses, or other monies payable in respect of the Share held by them as joint holders. Any such dividend or other distribution may also be paid by any other method (including payment in a currency other than US$, electronic funds transfer, direct debit, bank transfer or by means of a relevant system) which the Directors consider appropriate and any Member who elects for such method of payment shall be deemed to have accepted all of the risks inherent therein. The debiting of the Companys account in respect of the relevant amount shall be evidence of good discharge of the Companys obligations in respect of any payment made by any such methods.
173. No dividend or distribution shall bear interest against the Company.
174. 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. If the Directors so resolve, subject to applicable law, any dividend which has remained unclaimed for twelve (12) years from the date of its declaration shall be forfeited and cease to remain owing by the Company. The payment by the Directors of any unclaimed dividend or other monies payable in respect of a Share into a separate account shall not constitute the Company a trustee in respect thereof.
175. If, in respect of a dividend or other amount payable in respect of a Share (i) a cheque, warrant or money order is returned undelivered or left uncashed or (ii) a transfer made by or through a bank transfer system and/or other funds transfer system(s) 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 or she notifies the Company of an address or account to be used for such purpose.
CAPITALISATION
176. Without prejudice to any powers conferred on the Directors as aforesaid, and subject to the Boards authority to issue and allot Shares under Article 7, the Board may:
176.1. resolve to capitalise an amount standing to the credit of reserves (including, without limitation, a share premium account, undenominated capital account, capital redemption reserve and profit and loss account), whether or not available for distribution;
176.2. appropriate the sum resolved to be capitalised to the Members in proportion to the nominal amount of Shares held by them respectively and apply that sum on their behalf in or towards paying up in full unissued Shares or debentures of a nominal amount equal to that sum, and allot the Shares or debentures, credited as fully paid, to the Members (or as the Board may direct) in those proportions, or partly in one way and partly in the other, but the share premium account, undenominated capital account, capital redemption reserve and profits that are not available for distribution may, for the purposes of this Article 176, only be applied in paying up unissued Shares to be allotted to Members credited as fully paid;
176.3. make any arrangements it thinks fit to resolve a difficulty arising in the distribution of a capitalised reserve, including that where Shares or debentures become distributable in fractions, the Board may deal with the fractions as it thinks fit;
176.4. authorise a person to enter (on behalf of all the Members concerned) into an agreement with the Company providing for the allotment to the Members respectively, credited as fully paid, of Shares or debentures to which they may be entitled on the capitalisation and any such agreement made under this authority being effective and binding on all those Members; and
176.5. generally do all acts and things required to give effect to the resolution of the Board.
177. Any such capitalisation will not require approval or ratification by the Members of the Company.
ACCOUNTS
178. The Board shall, in accordance with Chapter 2 of Part 6 of the Companies Act, cause to be kept adequate accounting records, whether in the form of documents, electronic form or otherwise, that:
178.1. correctly record and explain the transactions of the Company;
178.2. will at any time enable the financial position of the Company to be determined with reasonable accuracy;
178.3. will enable the Board to ensure that any financial statements of the Company comply with the requirements of the Companies Act and any directors report, required to be prepared under the Acts, comply with the requirements of the Companies Act and, where applicable, Article 4 of the IAS Regulation;
178.4. will record all sums of money received and expended by the Company and the matters in respect of which the receipt or expenditure takes place, all sales and purchases of goods by the Company and the assets and liabilities of the Company; and
178.5. will enable the financial statements of the Company to be readily and properly audited.
179. Accounting records shall be kept on a continuous and consistent basis and entries therein shall be made in a timely manner and be consistent from year to year. The Company may send by post, electronic mail or any other means of electronic communication a summary financial statement to its Members or persons nominated by any Member. The Company may meet, but shall be under no obligation to meet, any request from any of its Members to be sent additional copies of its full report and accounts or summary financial statement or other communications with its Members.
180. The accounting records shall be kept at the registered office of the Company or, subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, at such other place as the Directors think fit and shall be open at all reasonable times to the inspection of the Directors.
181. Accounting records shall not be deemed to be kept as required by Articles 178 to 180 if there are not kept such accounting records as are necessary to give a true and fair view of the state of the Companys affairs and to explain its transactions.
182. In accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act, the Board may from time to time cause to be prepared and to be laid before the Company in general meeting profit and loss accounts, balance sheets, group accounts (if any) and such other reports and accounts as may be required by law.
183. A copy of every balance sheet (including every document required by law to be annexed thereto) which is to be laid before the annual general meeting of the Company together with a copy of the Directors report and Auditors report shall be sent by post, electronic mail or any other means of communication (electronic or otherwise), not less than twenty-one (21) clear days before the date of the annual general meeting, to every person entitled under the provisions of the Companies Act to receive them; provided that in the case of those documents sent by electronic mail or any other means of electronic communication, such documents shall be sent with the consent of the recipient, to the address of the recipient notified to the Company by the recipient for such purposes.
AUDIT
184. Auditors shall be appointed and their duties regulated in accordance with Part 6, Chapter 18 of the Companies Act or any statutory amendment thereof, any other applicable law and such requirements not inconsistent with the Companies Act as the Board may from time to time determine.
NOTICES
185. Any notice to be given, served, sent or delivered pursuant to these Articles shall be in writing (whether in electronic form or otherwise).
185.1. A notice or document to be given, served, sent or delivered in pursuance of these Articles, and the annual report of the Company, may be given to, served on or delivered to any Director, Member or committee member by the Company:
(a) by handing same to their authorised agent;
(b) by delivering same to their registered address;
(c) by sending same by the post in a pre-paid cover addressed to their registered address; or
(d) by sending, with the consent of the Director, Member or committee member to the extent required by law, same by means of electronic mail or other means of electronic communication approved by the Directors or the Secretary (or such other person as may be nominated by the Secretary for this purpose), to the address of the Director, Member or committee member notified to the Company by the Director, Member or committee member for such purpose (or if not so notified, then to the address of the Director, Member or committee member last known to the Company). A notice or document may be sent by electronic means to the fullest extent permitted by the Companies Act.
185.2. For the purposes of these Articles and the Companies Act, a document, including the Companys financial statements and the directors and auditors reports thereon, shall be deemed to have been sent to a Director, Member or committee member if a notice is given, served, sent or delivered to the Director, Member or committee member and the notice specifies the website or hotlink or other electronic link at or through which the Director, Member or committee member may obtain a copy of the relevant document.
185.3. Where a notice or document is given, served or delivered pursuant to sub-paragraph 184.1(a) or 184.1(b) of this Article, the giving, service or delivery thereof shall be deemed to have been effected at the time the same was handed to the Director, Member or committee member or his or her authorised agent, or left at his or her registered address (as the case may be).
185.4. Where a notice or document is given, served or delivered pursuant to sub-paragraph 184.1(c) of this Article, the giving, service or delivery thereof shall be deemed to have been effected at the expiration of
twenty-four (24) hours after the cover containing it was posted. In proving service or delivery it shall be sufficient to prove that such cover was properly addressed, stamped and posted.
185.5. Where a notice or document is given, served or delivered pursuant to sub-paragraph 184.1(d) of this Article, the giving, service or delivery thereof shall be deemed to have been effected at the expiration of forty-eight (48) hours after despatch.
185.6. Every legal personal representative, committee, receiver, curator bonis or other legal curator, assignee in bankruptcy, examiner or liquidator of a Member shall be bound by a notice given as aforesaid if sent to the last registered address of such Member, or, in the event of notice given or delivered pursuant to sub-paragraph 184.1 (d), if sent to the address notified to the Company by the Member for such purpose notwithstanding that the Company may have notice of the death, lunacy, bankruptcy, liquidation or disability of such Member.
185.7. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article to the contrary, the Company shall not be obliged to take account of or make any investigations as to the existence of any suspension or curtailment of postal services within or in relation to all or any part of any jurisdiction.
185.8. Any requirement in these Articles for the consent of a Member in regard to the receipt by such Member of electronic mail or other means of electronic communications approved by the Directors, including the receipt of the Companys annual report, statutory financial statements and the Directors and auditors reports thereon, shall be deemed to have been satisfied where the Company has written to the Member informing him or her of its intention to use electronic communications for such purposes and the Member has not, within four (4) weeks of the issue of such notice, served an objection in writing on the Company to such proposal. Where a Member has given, or is deemed to have given, his/her consent to the receipt by such Member of electronic mail or other means of electronic communications approved by the Directors, she/he may revoke such consent at any time by requesting the Company to communicate with him or her in documented form; provided, however, that such revocation shall not take effect until five (5) days after written notice of the revocation is received by the Company. No such consent shall be necessary, and to the extent it is necessary, such consent shall be deemed to have been given, if electronic communications are permitted to be used under the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any Exchange on which the Shares or other securities of the Company are listed.
185.9. Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-paragraphs 185.1 (a) and 185.1(b) of this Article, if at any time by reason of the suspension or curtailment of postal services in any territory, the Company is unable effectively to convene a general meeting by notices sent through the post, a general meeting may be convened by a public announcement (as defined below) and such notice shall be deemed to have been duly served on all Members entitled thereto at noon (New York time) on the day on which the said public announcement is made. In any such case the Company shall put a full copy of the notice of the general meeting on its website. A public announcement shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a financial news service or in a document publicly filed by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
186. Notice may be given by the Company to the joint holders of a Share by giving the notice to the joint holder whose name stands first in the Register in respect of the Share and notice so given shall be sufficient notice to all the joint holders.
187.
187.1. Every person who becomes entitled to a Share shall, before his or her name is entered in the Register in respect of the Share, be bound by any notice in respect of that Share which has been duly given to a person from whom he or she derives his or her title.
187.2. A notice may be given by the Company to the persons entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member by sending or delivering it, in any manner authorised by these Articles for the giving of notice to a Member, addressed to them at the address, if any, supplied by them for that purpose. Until such an address has been supplied, a notice may be given in any manner in which it might have been given if the death or bankruptcy had not occurred.
188. The signature (whether electronic signature, an advanced electronic signature or otherwise) to any notice to be given by the Company may be written (in electronic form or otherwise) or printed.
189. A Member present, either in person or by proxy, at any meeting of the Company or the holders of any class of Shares in the Company shall be deemed to have received notice of the meeting and, where requisite, of the purposes for which it was called.
UNTRACED HOLDERS
190.
190.1. Subject to applicable law, the Company shall be entitled to sell, at the best price reasonably obtainable, any Share or stock of a Member or any Share or stock to which a person is entitled by transmission if and provided that:
(a) for a period of twelve (12) years (not less than three (3) dividends having been declared and paid) no cheque or warrant sent by the Company through the post in a prepaid letter addressed to the Member or to the person entitled by transmission to the Share or stock at his or her address on the Register or other than the last known address given by the Member or the person entitled by transmission to which cheques and warrants are to be sent has been cashed and no communication has been received by the Company from the Member or the person entitled by transmission; and
(b) at the expiration of the said period of twelve (12) years, the Company has given notice by advertisement in a leading newspaper circulating in the area in which the address referred to in paragraph (a) of this Article is located of its intention to sell such Share or stock; and
(c) the Company has not during the further period of three (3) months after the date of the advertisement and prior to the exercise of the power of sale received any communication from the Member or person entitled by transmission.
190.2. To give effect to any such sale, the Company may appoint any person to execute as transferor an instrument of transfer of such Share or stock and such instrument of transfer shall be as effective as if it had been executed by the Member or person entitled by transmission to such Share or stock. The Company shall account to the Member or other person entitled to such Share or stock for the net proceeds of such sale by carrying all monies in respect thereof to a separate account which shall be a permanent debt of the Company and the Company shall be deemed to be a debtor and not a trustee in respect thereof for such Member or other person. Monies carried to such separate account may either be employed in the business of the Company or invested in such investments (other than shares of the Company or its holding company if any) as the Directors may from time to time think fit.
190.3. To the extent necessary in order to comply with any laws or regulations to which the Company is subject in relation to escheatment, abandonment of property or other similar or analogous laws or regulations (Applicable Escheatment Laws), the Company may deal with any Share of any Member and any unclaimed cash payments relating to such Share in any manner which it sees fit, including transferring or selling such Share and transferring to third parties any unclaimed cash payments relating to such Share.
190.4. The Company may only exercise the powers granted to it in paragraph 190.1 above in circumstances where it has complied with, or procured compliance with, the required procedures (as set out in the
Applicable Escheatment Laws) with respect to attempting to identify and locate the relevant member of the Company.
190.5. Any stock transfer form to be executed by the Company in order to sell or transfer a Share pursuant to Article 190.1 may be executed in accordance with Article 28.1.
DESTRUCTION OF DOCUMENTS
191. Subject to applicable law, the Company may destroy:
191.1. any dividend mandate or any variation or cancellation thereof or any notification of change of name or address, at any time after the expiry of two (2) years from the date such mandate variation, cancellation or notification was recorded by the Company;
191.2. any instrument of transfer of Shares which has been registered, at any time after the expiry of six (6) years from the date of registration; and
191.3. any other document on the basis of which any entry in the Register was made, at any time after the expiry of six (6) years from the date an entry in the Register was first made in respect of it,
and it shall be presumed conclusively in favour of the Company that every share certificate (if any) so destroyed was a valid certificate duly and properly sealed and that every instrument of transfer so destroyed was a valid and effective instrument duly and properly registered and that every other document destroyed hereunder was a valid and effective document in accordance with the recorded particulars thereof in the books or records of the Company provided always that:
(a) the foregoing provisions of this Article shall apply only to the destruction of a document in good faith and without express notice to the Company (by a Member or a court) that the preservation of such document was relevant to a claim;
(b) nothing contained in this Article shall be construed as imposing upon the Company any liability in respect of the destruction of any such document earlier than as aforesaid or in any case where the conditions of proviso (a) above are not fulfilled; and
(c) references in this Article to the destruction of any document include references to its disposal in any manner.
WINDING UP
192. If the Company shall be wound up and the assets available for distribution among the Members as such shall be insufficient to repay the whole of the paid up or credited as paid up share capital, such assets shall be distributed so that, as nearly as may be, the losses shall be borne by the Members in proportion to the capital paid up or credited as paid up at the commencement of the winding up on the Shares held by them respectively. If in a winding up the assets available for distribution among the Members shall be more than sufficient to repay the whole of the share capital paid up or credited as paid up at the commencement of the winding up, the excess shall be distributed among the Members in proportion to the capital at the commencement of the winding up paid up or credited as paid up on the said Shares held by them respectively. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Article shall not affect the rights of the Members holding Shares issued upon special terms and conditions.
192.1. In case of a sale by the liquidator under section 601 of the Companies Act, the liquidator may by the contract of sale agree so as to bind all the Members, for the allotment to the Members directly, of the proceeds of sale in proportion to their respective interests in the Company and may further, by the contract, limit a time at the expiration of which obligations or Shares not accepted or required to be sold shall be deemed to have been irrevocably refused and be at the disposal of the Company, but so that nothing herein contained shall be taken to diminish, prejudice or affect the rights of dissenting Members conferred by the said section.
192.2. The power of sale of the liquidator shall include a power to sell wholly or partially for debentures, debenture stock, or other obligations of another company, either then already constituted or about to be constituted for the purpose of carrying out the sale.
193. If the Company is wound up, the liquidator, with the sanction of a Special Resolution and any other sanction required by the Companies Act, may divide amongst the Members in specie or kind the whole or any part of the assets of the Company (whether they shall consist of property of the same kind or not), and, for such purpose, may value any assets and determine how the division shall be carried out as between the Members or different classes of Members. The liquidator, with the like sanction, may vest the whole or any part of such assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of the contributories as, with the like sanction, he or she determines, but so that no Member shall be compelled to accept any assets upon which there is a liability.
INDEMNITY
194.
194.1. Subject to the provisions of, and so far as may be permitted by, the Companies Act, every Director and Secretary shall be entitled to be indemnified by the Company against all costs, charges, losses, expenses and liabilities incurred by him or her in the execution and discharge of his or her duties or in relation thereto, or in his or her capacity as an officer, including any liability incurred by him in defending any proceedings, civil or criminal, which relate to anything done or omitted or alleged to have been done or omitted by him as a director, officer or employee of the Company and in which judgement is given in his or her favour (or the proceedings are otherwise disposed of without any finding or admission of any material breach of duty on his or her part) or in which he or she is acquitted or in connection with any application under any statute for relief from liability in respect of any such act or omission in which relief is granted to him by the Court.
194.2. As far as permissible under the Companies Act, the Company shall indemnify any current or former Official (excluding any Director or Secretary in respect only of their role as Director or Secretary of the Company) against expenses, including attorneys fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, other than an action by or in the right of the Enterprise in respect of which the Official serves or has served as an Official, to which he or she was, is or is threatened to be, made a party by reason of the fact that he or she is or was such an Official, provided always that the indemnity contained in this Article 194.2 shall not extend to any matter which would render it void pursuant to the Companies Act.
194.3. In the case of any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding by or in the right of an Enterprise in respect of which a current or former Official serves or has served, the Company shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by the Companies Act, each person indicated in Article 194.2 against expenses, including attorneys fees actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defence or the settlement thereof, except no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable for fraud or dishonesty in the performance of his or her duty to the relevant Enterprise unless and only to the extent that the Court or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that despite the adjudication of liability, but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the Court shall deem proper.
194.4. As far as permissible under the Companies Act, expenses, including attorneys fees, incurred in defending any action, suit or proceeding referred to in this Article shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of a written affirmation by or on behalf of the Director, Secretary, Official or other indemnitee of a good faith belief that the criteria for indemnification have been satisfied and a written undertaking to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company as authorised by these Articles.
194.5. It being the policy of the Company that indemnification of the persons specified in this Article shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law, the indemnification provided by this Article shall not be deemed exclusive (a) of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under the Memorandum, Articles, any agreement, any insurance purchased by the Company, any vote of Members or disinterested Directors, or pursuant to the direction (however embodied) of any court of competent jurisdiction, or otherwise, both as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, (b) of the power of any Enterprise to indemnify any Official, to the same extent and in the same situations and subject to the same determinations as are hereinabove set forth with respect to a Director, Secretary or Official or (c) of any amendments or replacements of the Companies Act which permit for greater indemnification of the persons specified in this Article and any such amendment or replacement of the Companies Act shall hereby be incorporated into these Articles. As used in this Article 194.5, references to the Company include all constituent companies in a consolidation or merger in which the Company or any predecessor to the Company by consolidation or merger was involved. The indemnification provided by this Article shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Director, executive, officer or trustee and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of such a person.
194.6. The Directors shall have power to purchase and maintain for any Director, the Secretary or other officers or employees of the Company insurance against any such liability as referred to in section 235 of the Companies Act and such insurance in respect of Officials as the Directors deem to be appropriate.
194.7. The Company may additionally indemnify any employee or agent of the Company or any director, executive, officer, employee or agent of any of its subsidiaries to the fullest extent permitted by law.
FINANCIAL YEAR
195. The financial year of the Company shall be as prescribed by the Board from time to time.
SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN
196. The Board is hereby expressly authorised to adopt any shareholder rights plan, or similar plan, agreement or arrangement pursuant to which, under circumstances provided therein, some or all Members will have rights to acquire Shares or interests in Shares, upon such terms and conditions as the Board deems expedient and in the best interests of the Company.
BUSINESS COMBINATION
197.
197.1. The Company may not engage in any business combination, or vote, consent, or otherwise act to authorise a subsidiary of the Company to engage in any business combination, with, with respect to, proposed by or on behalf of, or pursuant to any written or oral agreement, arrangement, relationship, understanding, or otherwise with, any interested Member of the Company or any affiliate or associate of the interested Member for a period of three (3) years following the date that the Member became an interested Member unless:
(a) prior to the date that the Member became an interested Member, the business combination was approved by a committee of the Board formed in accordance with Article 197.3; or
(b) at or following the date that the Member became an interested Member, the business combination is approved by a committee of the Board formed in accordance with Article 197.3 and is authorized by a Special Resolution of the Members. In determining whether the Special Resolution has been adopted by the general meeting, votes cast with respect to Shares of interested Members and their affiliates and associates shall not be taken into account.
197.2. If a good faith definitive proposal regarding a business combination is made in writing to the Board, a committee of the Board formed in accordance with Article 197.3 shall consider and take action on the proposal and respond in writing within thirty (30) days after receipt of the proposal by the Company, setting forth its decision regarding the proposal.
197.3. When a business combination is proposed pursuant to this Article 197, the Board shall promptly form a committee composed solely of one or more disinterested Directors. The committee shall take action on the proposal by the affirmative vote of a majority of committee members. No larger proportion or number of votes shall be required. Notwithstanding anything in these Articles to the contrary, subject to applicable law, the committee shall not be subject to any direction or control by the Board with respect to the committees consideration of, or any action concerning, a business combination pursuant to this Article 197. If the Board has no disinterested Directors, the Board shall select three or more disinterested persons to be committee members. Committee members shall act in accordance with the standard of conduct applicable to the Directors and shall be indemnified in accordance with Article 194. For purposes of this Article 197.3, a Director or person is disinterested if the Director or person is neither an officer nor an employee, nor has been an officer or employee within five (5) years preceding the formation of the committee pursuant to this Article 197.3, of the Company or of a related company.
197.4. This Article 197 may only be amended in accordance with paragraph 6 of the Memorandum. In determining whether the relevant resolution has been approved by the requisite majority, votes cast with respect to Shares of interested Members and their affiliates and associates shall not be taken into account. Notwithstanding any such amendment, unless determined otherwise by the Board, this Article 197 (as its stands prior to any such amendment) shall apply to any business combination of the Company with an interested Member who became an interested Member before the effective date of the amendment of this Article 197.
197.5. As used in this Article 197 only, the term:
(i) affiliate means a person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, a specified person;
(ii) associate, when used to indicate a relationship with any person, means any of the following:
(a) any company of which the person is an officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the beneficial owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of any class or series of shares entitled to vote or other equity interest;
(b) any trust or estate in which the person has a substantial beneficial interest or as to which the person serves as trustee or executor or in a similar fiduciary capacity; or
(c) any relative or spouse of the person, or any relative of the spouse, residing in the home of the person;
(iii) beneficial owner, when used with respect to shares or other securities, includes, but is not limited to, any person who, directly or indirectly through any written or oral agreement, arrangement, relationship, understanding, or otherwise, has or shares the power to vote, or direct the voting of, the shares or securities or has or shares the power to dispose of, or direct the disposition of, the shares or securities, except that:
(a) a person shall not be deemed the beneficial owner of shares or securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by the person or any of the persons affiliates or associates until the tendered shares or securities are accepted for purchase or exchange; and
(b) a person shall not be deemed the beneficial owner of shares or securities with respect to which the person has the power to vote or direct the voting arising solely from a revocable proxy given in response to a proxy solicitation required to be made and made in accordance
with the applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act and is not then reportable under that act on a Schedule 13D or comparable report, or, if the company is not subject to the rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, would have been required to be made and would not have been reportable if the company had been subject to the rules and regulations;
(iv) beneficial ownership includes, but is not limited to, the right to acquire shares or securities through the exercise of options, warrants, or rights, or the conversion of convertible securities, or otherwise. The shares or securities subject to the options, warrants, rights, or conversion privileges held by a person shall be deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of outstanding shares or securities of the class or series owned by the person, but shall not be deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of the class or series owned by any other person. A person shall be deemed the beneficial owner of shares and securities beneficially owned by any relative or spouse of the person or any relative of the spouse, residing in the home of the person, any trust or estate in which the person owns fifteen percent (15%) or more of the total beneficial interest or serves as trustee or executor or in a similar fiduciary capacity, any company in which the person owns fifteen percent (15%) or more of the equity, and any affiliate of the person.
When two or more persons act or agree to act as a partnership, limited partnership, syndicate, or other group for the purposes of acquiring, owning, or voting shares or other securities of a company, all members of the partnership, syndicate, or other group are deemed to constitute a person and to have acquired beneficial ownership, as of the date they first so act or agree to act together, of all shares or securities of the company beneficially owned by the person;
(v) business combination means any of the following:
(a) any merger, acquisition, scheme of arrangement or amalgamation of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company with (1) the interested Member or (2) any other company (whether or not itself an interested Member of the Company) that is, or after the merger would be, an affiliate or associate of the interested Member, but excluding (x) the merger of a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company into the Company, (y) the merger of two or more wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company, or (z) the merger of a company, other than an interested Member or an affiliate or associate of an interested Member, with a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company pursuant to which the surviving company, immediately after the merger, becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company;
(b) any exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or money, or other property, for shares, other securities, money, or property of (1) the interested Member or (2) any other company (whether or not itself an interested Member of the Company) that is, or after the exchange would be, an affiliate or associate of the interested Member, but excluding the exchange of shares of a company, other than an interested Member or an affiliate or associate of an interested Member, pursuant to which the company, immediately after the exchange, becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company;
(c) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer, or other disposition (in a single transaction or a series of transactions), other than sales of goods or services in the ordinary course of business, to or with the interested Member or any affiliate or associate of the interested Member, other than to or with the Company or a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, of assets of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company (1) having an aggregate market value equal to ten percent (10%) or more of the aggregate market value of all the assets, determined on a consolidated basis, of the Company, (2) having an aggregate market value equal to ten percent (10%) or more of the aggregate market value of all the outstanding Shares of the Company, or (3) representing ten percent (10%) or more of the earning power or net income, determined on a consolidated basis, of the Company, except a cash dividend or distribution paid or made pro rata to all Members of the Company;
(d) the issuance or transfer by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company (in a single transaction or a series of transactions) of any shares of, or other ownership interests in, the Company or any subsidiary of the Company that have an aggregate market value equal to five percent (5%) or more of the aggregate market value of all the outstanding Shares of the Company to the interested Member or any affiliate or associate of the interested Member, except pursuant to the exercise of warrants or rights to purchase shares offered, or a dividend or distribution paid or made, pro rata to all Members of the Company other than for the purpose, directly or indirectly, of facilitating or effecting a subsequent transaction that would have been a business combination if the dividend or distribution had not been made;
(e) the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, or any reincorporation of the Company in another jurisdiction, proposed by or on behalf of, or pursuant to any written or oral agreement, arrangement, relationship, understanding, or otherwise with, the interested Member or any affiliate or associate of the interested Member;
(f) any reclassification of securities (including, without limitation, any bonus shares or share split, reverse share split, or other distribution of shares in respect of shares), recapitalisation of the Company, merger of the Company with any subsidiary of the Company, exchange of Shares of the Company with any subsidiary of the Company, or other transaction (whether or not with or into or otherwise involving the interested Member), proposed by or on behalf of, or pursuant to any written or oral agreement, arrangement, relationship, understanding, or otherwise with, the interested Member or any affiliate or associate of the interested Member, that has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class or series of shares entitled to vote, or securities that are exchangeable for, convertible into, or carry a right to acquire shares entitled to vote, of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company that is, directly or indirectly, owned by the interested Member or any affiliate or associate of the interested Member, except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments; or
(g) any receipt by the interested Member or any affiliate or associate of the interested Member of the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a Member of the Company), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges, or other financial assistance, or any tax credits or other tax advantages provided by or through the Company or any subsidiary of the Company;
(vi) company means a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, joint venture, association, business trust, estate, trust, enterprise, and any other legal or commercial entity;
(vii) control, including the terms controlling, controlled by, and under common control with, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise. A persons beneficial ownership of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the voting power of a companys outstanding shares entitled to vote in the election of directors creates a presumption that the person has control of the company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a person is not considered to have control of a company if the person holds voting power, in good faith, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian, or trustee for one or more beneficial owners who do not individually or as a group have control of the company;
(viii) governing body means the body of a company selected by its owners that has the ultimate power to determine the companys policies and control its activities; and
(ix) interested Member means any person (including for this purpose any persons acting in concert with that person (as that term is defined in the Takeover Rules issued pursuant to the Irish Takeover Panel Act 1997)) that is (1) the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the voting power of the outstanding Shares entitled to vote of the
Company or (2) an affiliate or associate of the Company that, at any time within the three (3) year period immediately before the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such person is an interested Member, was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the voting power of the then outstanding Shares entitled to vote of the Company.
If a person who has not been a beneficial owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the voting power of the outstanding Shares entitled to vote of the Company immediately prior to an acquisition of Shares by, or recapitalisation of, the Company or similar action shall become a beneficial owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the voting power solely as a result of the share acquisition, recapitalisation, or similar action, the person shall not be deemed to be the beneficial owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the voting power for purposes of (1) or (2) above, unless:
(a) the share acquisition, recapitalisation, conversion, or similar action was proposed by or on behalf of, or pursuant to any agreement, arrangement, relationship, understanding, or otherwise (whether or not in writing) with, the person or any affiliate or associate of the person; or
(b) the person thereafter acquires beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, of outstanding Shares entitled to vote of the Company and, immediately after the acquisition, is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the voting power of the outstanding Shares entitled to vote of the Company.
(x) an interested Member does not include:
(a) the Company or any of its subsidiaries;
(b) either of the Sponsor Holders;
(c) a savings, employee stock ownership, or other employee benefit plan of the Company or its subsidiary, or a fiduciary of the plan when acting in a fiduciary capacity pursuant to the plan; or
(d) a licensed broker/dealer or licensed underwriter who (1) purchases Shares of the Company solely for purposes of resale to the public and (2) is not acting in concert with an interested Member.
Shares beneficially owned by a plan described in clause (b) or by a fiduciary of a plan described in clause (b), pursuant to the plan, are not deemed to be beneficially owned by a person who is a fiduciary of the plan;
(xi) market value, when used in reference to shares or other property of any company, means the following:
(a) in the case of shares, the average closing sale price of a share during the thirty (30) trading days immediately preceding the date in question:
(1) on the composite tape for Nasdaq Stock Market listed shares; or
(2) if the shares are not quoted on the composite tape or not listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, on the principal United States securities exchange registered under Exchange Act on which the shares are listed; or
(3) if the shares are not listed on any such exchange, on any system then in use.
If no quotation under clauses (1) through (3) is available, then the market value is the fair market value on the date in question of the shares as determined in good faith by the governing body of the company.
(b) in the case of property other than cash or shares, the fair market value of the property on the date in question as determined in good faith by the governing body of the company.
(xii) parent of a specified company means a company that directly, or indirectly through related companies, owns more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the shares or other ownership interests entitled to vote for directors or other members of the governing body of the specified company;
(xiii) person includes a natural person and a company;
(xiv) related company of a specified company means:
(a) a parent or subsidiary of the specified company;
(b) another subsidiary of a parent of the specified company;
(c) a limited liability company owning, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote for directors of the specified company;
(d) a limited liability company having more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of its membership interests entitled to vote for members of its governing body owned directly or indirectly by the specified company;
(e) a limited liability company having more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of its membership interests entitled to vote for members of its governing body owned directly or indirectly either (1) by a parent of the specified company or (2) a limited liability company owning, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote for directors of the specified company; or
(f) a company having more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of its shares entitled to vote for directors owned directly or indirectly by a limited liability company owning, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote for directors of the specified company;
(xv) security means a note, stock, treasury stock, security future, bond, debenture, evidence of indebtedness, certificate of interest or participation in a profit-sharing agreement, collateral trust certificate, preorganization certificate or subscription, transferable share, investment contract, voting trust certificate, certificate of deposit for a security, fractional undivided interest in oil, gas, or other mineral rights, put, call, straddle, option, or privilege on a security, certificate of deposit, or group or index of securities, including an interest therein or based on the value thereof, put, call, straddle, option, or privilege entered into on a national securities exchange relating to foreign currency, or, in general, an interest or instrument commonly known as a security; or a certificate of interest or participation in, temporary or interim certificate for, receipt for, guarantee of, or warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase, any of the foregoing. The term:
(a) includes both a certificated and an uncertificated security;
(b) does not include an insurance or endowment policy or annuity contract under which an insurance company promises to pay a fixed or variable sum of money either in a lump sum or periodically for life or other specified period;
(c) does not include an interest in a contributory or non-contributory pension or welfare plan subject to the United States Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended;
(d) includes as an investment contract, among other contracts, an interest in a limited partnership and a limited liability company and an investment in a viatical settlement or similar agreement; and