Exhibit 4.2
DESCRIPTION OF OUR SECURITIES
The following description of our securities and provisions of our Second M&A, as amended from time to time (which we refer to as the articles below), are summaries and do not purport to be complete. Reference is made to our Second M&A, copies of which are filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
We are a Cayman Islands exempted company and our affairs are governed by our articles, as amended from time to time, the Companies Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands (which we refer to as the Companies Act below) and the common law of the Cayman Islands.
Pursuant to our articles and through designations by our board of directors, our authorized share capital is US$320,000.00 divided into 320,000,000 shares of a par value of $0.001 each comprising (i) 100,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares; (ii) 20,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares; (iii) 50,000 Series A Preferred Shares; and (iv) 199,950,000 Un-designated Shares. Each Class A ordinary share is entitled to one vote per share on all matters subject to vote at general meetings of our company. Each Class B ordinary share is entitled to twenty-five (25) votes on all matters subject to vote at general meetings of our company. Each Series A Preferred Share is entitled to zero (o) votes on all matters subject to vote at general meetings of our company. As of the date of this prospectus, 26,370,521 Class A Ordinary Shares, 20,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares, and 1,080 Series A Preferred Shares were issued and outstanding.
Class A Ordinary Shares
All of our issued and outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares are fully paid and non-assessable. Our Class A Ordinary Shares are issued in registered form, and are issued when registered in our register of members. Unless the board of directors determine otherwise, each holder of our Class A Ordinary Shares will not receive a certificate in respect of such Class A Ordinary Shares. Our shareholders who are non-residents of the Cayman Islands may freely hold and vote their Class A Ordinary Shares. We may not issue shares or warrants to bearer.
Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act and our articles regarding redemption and purchase of the shares, the directors have general and unconditional authority to allot (with or without confirming rights of renunciation), grant options over or otherwise deal with any unissued shares to such persons, at such times and on such terms and conditions as they may decide. The directors may deal with unissued shares either at a premium or at par, or with or without preferred, deferred or other special rights or restrictions, whether in regard to dividend, voting, return of capital or otherwise. No share may be issued at a discount except in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act. The directors may refuse to accept any application for shares, and may accept any application in whole or in part, for any reason or for no reason.
Dividends
Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act and any rights attaching to any class or classes of shares under and in accordance with the articles:
| ● | the directors may declare dividends or paid out of our funds which are lawfully available for that purpose; and | |
| ● | our shareholders may, by ordinary resolution, declare dividends but no such dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the directors. |
Subject to the requirements of the Companies Act regarding the application of a company’s share premium account and with the sanction of an ordinary resolution, dividends may also be declared and paid out of any share premium account. The directors when paying dividends to shareholders may make such payment either in cash or in specie.
Unless provided by the rights attached to a share, no dividend shall bear interest.
Variation of Rights of Shares
Whenever our capital is divided into different classes of shares, the rights attaching to any class of share (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class) may be varied either with the consent in writing of the holders of not less than fifty percent of the issued shares of that class, or with the sanction of a special resolution passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the holders of shares of the class present in person or by proxy at a separate general meeting of the holders of shares of that class.
Unless the terms on which a class of shares was issued state otherwise, the rights conferred on the shareholder holding shares of any class shall not be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further shares ranking pari passu with the existing shares of that class.
Alteration of Share Capital
Subject to the Companies Act, our shareholders may, by ordinary resolution:
| ● | increase our share capital by new shares of the amount fixed by that ordinary resolution and with the attached rights, priorities and privileges set out in that ordinary resolution; | |
| ● | consolidate and divide all or any of our share capital into shares of larger amount than our existing shares; | |
| ● | convert all or any of our paid-up shares into stock, and reconvert that stock into paid up shares of any denomination; | |
| ● | sub-divide our shares or any of them into shares of an amount smaller than that fixed by the memorandum, 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 case of the share from which the reduced share is derived; and | |
| ● | cancel shares which, at the date of the passing of that ordinary resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person and diminish the amount of our share capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled or, in the case of shares without nominal par value, diminish the number of shares into which our capital is divided. |
Subject to the Cayman Companies Act and to any rights for the time being conferred on the shareholders holding a particular class of shares, our shareholders may, by special resolution, reduce its share capital in any way.
Calls on Shares and Lien on Shares
Subject to the terms of allotment, the directors may make calls on the shareholders in respect of any monies unpaid on their shares including any premium and each shareholder shall (subject to receiving at least 14 clear days’ notice specifying when and where payment is to be made), pay to us the amount called on his shares. Shareholders registered as the joint holders of a share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect of the share. 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 and payable 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 rate of ten percent per annum. The directors may waive payment of the interest wholly or in part.
We have a first and paramount lien on all shares (whether fully paid up or not) registered in the name of a shareholder (whether solely or jointly with others). The lien is for all monies payable to us by the shareholder or the shareholder’s estate:
| ● | either alone or jointly with any other person, whether or not that other person is a shareholder; and | |
| ● | whether or not those monies are presently payable. |
At any time the directors may declare any share to be wholly or partly exempt from the lien on shares provisions of the articles.
We may sell, in such manner as the directors may determine, any share on which the sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable, if due notice that such sum is payable has been given (as prescribed by the articles) and, within 14 clear days of the date on which the notice is deemed to be given under the articles, such notice has not been complied with.
Unclaimed Dividend
A dividend that remains unclaimed for a period of six years after it became due for payment shall be forfeited to, and shall cease to remain owing by, our company.
Forfeiture or Surrender of Shares
If a shareholder fails to pay any capital call, the directors may give to such shareholder not less than 14 clear days’ notice requiring payment and specifying the amount unpaid including any interest which may have accrued, any expenses which have been incurred by us due to that person’s default and the place where payment is to be made. The notice shall also contain a warning that if the notice is not complied with, the shares in respect of which the call is made will be liable to be forfeited.
If such notice is not complied with, the directors may, before the payment required by the notice has been received, resolve that any share being the subject of that notice be forfeited (which forfeiture shall include all dividends or other monies payable in respect of the forfeited share and not paid before such forfeiture).
A forfeited share may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the directors determine and at any time before a sale, re-allotment or disposition the forfeiture may be cancelled on such terms as the directors think fit.
A person whose shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a shareholder in respect of the forfeited shares, but shall, notwithstanding such forfeiture, remain liable to pay to us all monies which at the date of forfeiture were payable by him to us in respect of the shares, together with all expenses and interest from the date of forfeiture or surrender until payment, but his liability shall cease if and when we receive payment in full of the unpaid amount.
A declaration, whether statutory or under oath, made by a director or the secretary shall be conclusive evidence that the person making the declaration is our director or secretary and that the particular shares have been forfeited or surrendered on a particular date.
Share Premium Account
The directors shall establish a share premium account and shall carry the credit of such account from time to time to a sum equal to the amount or value of the premium paid on the issue of any share or capital contributed or such other amounts required by the Companies Act.
Redemption and Purchase of Own Shares
Subject to the Companies Act and any rights for the time being conferred on the shareholders holding a particular class of shares, we may by action of our directors:
| ● | issue shares that are to be redeemed or liable to be redeemed, at our option or at the option of the shareholders holding those redeemable shares, on the terms and in the manner our directors determine before the issue of those shares; |
| ● | with the consent by special resolution of the shareholders holding shares of a particular class, vary the rights attaching to that class of shares so as to provide that those shares are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at our option on the terms and in the manner which the directors determine at the time of such variation; and | |
| ● | purchase all or any of our own shares of any class including any redeemable shares on the terms and in the manner which the directors determine at the time of such purchase. |
We may make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of our own shares in any manner authorized by the Companies Act, including out of any combination of capital, our profits and the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares.
When making a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of shares, the directors may make the payment in cash or in specie (or partly in one and partly in the other) if so authorized by the terms of the allotment of those shares or by the terms applying to those shares, or otherwise by agreement with the shareholder holding those shares.
Transfer of Shares
Subject to any applicable requirements set forth in the articles and provided that a transfer of Class A Ordinary Shares complies with applicable rules of Nasdaq, a shareholder may transfer Class A Ordinary Shares to another person by completing an instrument of transfer in a common form or in a form prescribed by Nasdaq or in any other form approved by the directors, executed:
| ● | where the Class A Ordinary Shares are fully paid, by or on behalf of that shareholder; and | |
| ● | where the Class A Ordinary Shares are partly paid, by or on behalf of that shareholder and the transferee. |
The transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of an ordinary share until the name of the transferee is entered into our register of members.
Where the Class A Ordinary Shares in question are not listed on or subject to the rules of Nasdaq, our board of directors may, in its absolute discretion, decline to register any transfer of any ordinary share that has not been fully paid up or is subject to a company lien. Our board of directors may also, but are not required to, decline to register any transfer of such ordinary share unless:
| ● | the instrument of transfer is lodged with us, accompanied by the certificate for the Class A Ordinary Shares to which it relates and such other evidence as our board of directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer; | |
| ● | the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of Class A Ordinary Shares; | |
| ● | the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required; | |
| ● | the ordinary share transferred is fully paid and free of any lien in favor of us; | |
| ● | any fee related to the transfer has been paid to us; and | |
| ● | in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to whom the ordinary share is to be transferred does not exceed four. |
If our directors refuse to register a transfer, they are required, within one month after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged, to send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of such refusal.
The registration of transfers may, on 14 clear days’ notice being given by advertisement in such one or more newspapers or by electronic means, be suspended and our register of members closed at such times and for such periods as our board of directors may, in their absolute discretion, from time to time determine. The registration of transfers, however, may not be suspended, and the register may not be closed, for more than 30 clear days in any year.
Inspection of Books and Records
Holders of our Class A Ordinary Shares will have no general right under the Companies Act to inspect or obtain copies of our register of members or our corporate records.
Class B Ordinary Shares
The Company is authorized to issue up to 20,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares. Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares shall carry equal rights and rank pari passu with one another in all respects other than (i) each Class A ordinary share shall be entitled to one vote on all matters subject to the vote at general meetings of the Company; whereas, each Class B ordinary share shall be entitled to twenty five votes on all matters subject to the vote at general meetings of the Company; (ii) the Class A Ordinary Shares may be transferred in accordance with our articles of association and any applicable laws while the Class B Ordinary Shares shall under no circumstances be transferrable; and (iii) dividends may be declared or paid, and other distribution (whether in cash or otherwise) of the Company’s assets (including any distribution of assets to shareholders on a winding up) may be made to a holder of a Class A ordinary share while no dividend may be declared or paid, and no other distribution (whether in cash or otherwise) of the Company’s assets (including any distribution of assets to shareholders on a winding up) may be made to a holder of a Class B ordinary share.
Our Class A Ordinary Shares shall not be convertible into Class B Ordinary Shares, and Class B Ordinary Shares shall not be convertible into Class A Ordinary Shares.
Series A Convertible Preferred Shares
The Company is authorized to issue and designate 50,000 shares of the Company’s from the authorized and unissued undesignated shares as Series A Preferred Shares and establish the rights, preferences and privileges of the Series A Preferred Shares pursuant to the Certificate of Designations of Rights and Preferences of the Series A Preferred Shares (the “Certificate of Designations”), as summarized below:
General. Each share of Series A Preferred Shares will have a stated value of $1,000 per share and, when issued, the Series A Preferred Shares will be fully paid and non-assessable.
Ranking. The Series A Preferred Shares, with respect to the payment of dividends, distributions and payments upon the liquidation, dissolution and winding up of the Company, ranks senior to all other classes of shares of the Company, unless the Required Holders (as defined in the Certificate of Designations) consent to the creation of other class of shares in the Company that is senior or equal in rank to the Series A Preferred Shares.
Dividends. The holders of Series A Preferred Shares will be entitled to a 12% per annum dividends. The dividends will be payable to each record holder of the Series A Preferred Shares in cash or in shares of Class A Ordinary Shares or any combination thereof. The Company may, at its option, under certain circumstances, capitalize the dividend by increasing the stated value of the Series A Preferred Shares or elect a combination of the capitalized dividend and a payment in dividend shares. If a Triggering Event (defined below) is continuing, the dividend rate increases to the default rate specified in the Certificate of Designations until cured. If equity conditions are not satisfied for payment in shares on a given dividend date (and the applicable holder does not waive), dividends are capitalized (or paid in cash if expressly provided).
Purchase Rights. If at any time the Company grants, issues or sells any options, convertible securities, or rights to purchase shares, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to all or substantially all of the record holders of any class of Class A Ordinary Shares (the “Purchase Rights”), then each holder of Series A Preferred Shares will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which such holder could have acquired if such holder had held the number of shares of Class A Ordinary Shares acquirable upon complete conversion of all the Series A Preferred Shares held by such holder immediately prior to the date as of which the record holders of shares of Class A Ordinary Shares, subject to certain limitations on beneficial ownership.
Conversion Rights. Each holder of Series A Preferred Shares may convert all, or any part, of the Stated Value (which is equal to $1,000 per share of Series A Preferred Shares) of the outstanding Series A Preferred Shares, at any time at such holder’s option, into shares of the Class A Ordinary Shares (which converted Ordinary Shares are referred to as “Conversion Shares” herein) at the 110% of “Conversion Price,” which equals the lesser of (i) the Fixed Conversion Price of $1.00 and (ii) the Variable Conversion Price, 90% of the lowest volume weighted average price of the Class A Ordinary Shares (“VWAP”) during the applicable measuring period (as defined in the Certificate of Designations), each of which is subject to the “Floor Price” which is initially set at $0.20. The Conversion Price and the Floor price shall be subject to proportional adjustment upon the occurrence of any stock split, stock dividend, stock combination and/or similar transactions, as well as under the circumstances described below. The amounts to be converted include unpaid dividends and other charges for the Series A Preferred Shares.
If on any seven month anniversary after the date the Series A Preferred Shares are issued (the “Initial Issuance Date”) (each, a “Reset Date”), the Floor Price then in effect is greater than the closing price of the Class A Ordinary Shares as of such applicable Reset Date (each, a “Reset Price”), immediately after the close of trading on such applicable Reset Date the Floor Price shall automatically lower to the Reset Price. The Certificate of Designations contains full “price-based” anti-dilution if the Company issues Class A Ordinary Shares (or certain dilutive securities) below the then-applicable Conversion Price (other than Excluded Securities), the Conversion Price is adjusted down to the new issuance price, in each case subject to the Floor Price and other conditions.
Voluntary Adjustment Right. Subject to the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq, the Company has the right, at any time, with the written consent of the Required Holders, to lower the fixed conversion price to any amount and for any period of time deemed appropriate by the Board.
Beneficial Ownership Limitation; Exchange Cap; Shareholder Approval. With the exception of the Affiliate Buyer, which is expressly excluded, conversions are subject to a 4.99% beneficial ownership blocker, which is adjustable up to 9.99% on 61 days’ notice from certain selling shareholders. In addition, until the Company obtains shareholder approval under applicable exchange rules, the Company may not issue, in the aggregate, more than the number of Class A Ordinary Shares permitted under such rules (the “Exchange Cap”), and not more than 20% of the pre-transaction outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares may be issued upon conversion and as dividends prior to such shareholder approval. The Company is obligated to use best efforts to obtain shareholder approval and to increase authorized shares to avoid any “Authorized Share Failure.”
Triggering Events. The Certificate of Designations contains triggering events (each, a “Triggering Event” including certain Bankruptcy Triggering Event (as defined therein)), including but not limited to: (i) failure of a registration statement for the shares of Class A Ordinary Shares underlying to be maintained effective; (ii) the suspension from trading or the failure to list the Class A Ordinary Shares within certain time periods; (iii) failure to declare or pay any dividend when due; (iv) the occurrence of any default under, redemption of or acceleration prior to maturity above agreed thresholds, (v) the Company’s failure to cure a conversion failure of failure to deliver shares of the Class A Ordinary Shares upon conversion, or notice of the Company’s intention not to comply with a request for conversion of any Series A Preferred Shares, and (vi) bankruptcy or insolvency of the Company.
From and after the occurrence and during the continuance of any Triggering Event, the Dividend Rate in effect shall automatically be increased to the Default Rate of (i) 15% per annum.
Triggering Event Redemption Right. Upon the occurrence and continuance of and Triggering Event, and following the expiration of any applicable cure period, a Holder has the right, exercisable at its option by written notice to the Company to redeem all or any portion of such Holder’s outstanding stated value of the Preferred Shares for cash. Upon notice, the Company shall immediately redeem in cash all amounts due under the Series A Preferred Shares at a redemption price equal to 110% of the Conversion Amount (as defined in the Certificate of Designations).
Company Optional Redemption. At any time the Company shall have the right to redeem in cash all, but not less than all, the shares of Series A Preferred Shares then outstanding at a price equal to the greater of (i) the Conversion Amount being redeemed, and (ii) the product of (1) the Conversion Rate with respect to the Conversion Amount being redeemed, multiplied by (2) the equity value of the Class A Ordinary Shares underlying the Series A Preferred Shares. The equity value of the Class A Ordinary Shares underlying the Series A Preferred Shares is calculated using the greatest closing sale price of the Class A Ordinary Shares on any trading day immediately preceding the date the Company notifies the holders of the Company’s election to redeem and the date the Company makes the entire payment required.
Fundamental Transactions. The Certificate of Designations prohibit the Company from entering specified fundamental transactions (including, without limitation, mergers, business combinations and similar transactions) unless (i) the Company (or the Company’s successor) assumes in writing all of the Company’s obligations under the Certificate of Designations and the other Transaction Documents (as defined in the Certificate of Designations) and (ii) the Successor Entity (including its Parent Entity) is a publicly traded corporation whose common stock is quoted on or listed for trading on an Eligible Market. Conversely, the Company may exercise its Fundamental Transaction Redemption right and pays the applicable redemption price at or about closing. Upon such transactions, holders will thereafter be entitled to receive the securities or other property receivable had they converted immediately prior to the event, subject to the Certificate of Designations’ limitations.
Voting Rights. The holders of the Series A Preferred Shares shall have no voting power and no right to vote on any matter at any time, either as a separate series or class or together with any other series or class of share, and shall not be entitled to call a meeting of such holders for any purpose nor shall they be entitled to participate in any meeting of the holders of Class A Ordinary Shares, except as provided in the Certificate of Designations (or as otherwise required by applicable law).
Covenants. The Certificate of Designations contains a variety of obligations on the Company’s part not to engage in specified activities. In particular, the Company will not, and will cause the Company’s subsidiaries to not, redeem, repurchase or declare any dividend or distribution on any of the Company’s capital stock (other than as required under the Certificate of Designations) and will not, subject to certain exceptions, incur any indebtedness, other than ordinary course trade payables and factoring of accounts receivable not exceeding certain amounts or, subject to certain exceptions, incur any liens. In addition, the Company will not issue any preferred shares or issue any other securities that would cause a breach or default under the Certificate of Designations.
Reservation Requirements. So long as any Series A Preferred Shares remains outstanding, the Company shall at all times reserve (i) 100% of the number of shares of Class A Ordinary Shares to convert the then outstanding Preferred Shares at the effective Floor Price, plus (ii) 100% of the Class A Ordinary Shares that would be issuable as Dividend Shares for 12 months of dividends, allocated pro rata amount holders and reallocated upon transfers or conversions.
General Meetings
As a Cayman Islands exempted company, we are not obligated by the Companies Act to call shareholders’ annual general meetings; accordingly, we may, but shall not be obliged to, in each year hold a general meeting as an annual general meeting. Any annual general meeting held shall be held at such time and place as may be determined by our board of directors. All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings.
The chairman of the board of directors or the directors by board resolutions may convene general meetings whenever they think fit. General meetings shall also be convened on the written requisition of one or more of the shareholders entitled to attend and vote at our general meetings who (together) hold not less than one-third of the rights to vote at such general meeting in accordance with the notice provisions in the articles, specifying the purpose of the meeting and signed by each of the shareholders making the requisition. If the directors do not convene such meeting within 21 clear days from the date of receipt of the written requisition, those shareholders who requested the meeting or any of them may convene the general meeting themselves within two months after the end of such period of 21 clear days in which case reasonable expenses incurred by them as a result of the directors failing to convene a meeting shall be reimbursed by us.
At least 7 clear days’ notice must be given to the shareholders for any annual general meeting and at least 5 clear days’ notice must be given to the shareholders for any other general meeting. The notice shall specify: (i) the place, the date and the hour of the meeting; (ii) whether the meeting will be held virtually, at a physical place or both; (iii) if the meeting is to be held in any part at a physical place, the address of such place; (iv) if the meeting is to be held in two or more places, or in any part virtually, the electronic communication facilities that will be used to facilitate the meeting, including the procedures to be followed by any shareholder or other participant of the meeting who wishes to utilize such electronic communication facilities for the purposes of attending and participating in such meeting; (v) subject to item (vi) and the requirements of (to the extent applicable) the rules of Nasdaq, the general nature of the business to be transacted; and (vi) if a resolution is proposed as a special resolution, the text of that resolution. Notice of every general meeting shall also be given to the directors and our auditors.
Subject to the Companies Act and with the consent of the shareholders who, individually or collectively, hold at least 90 percent of the voting rights of all those who have a right to vote at a general meeting, a general meeting may be convened on shorter notice.
A quorum shall consist of the presence (whether in person or represented by proxy) of one or more shareholders holding shares that represent not less than one-third of the outstanding shares carrying the right to vote at such general meeting.
If, within 15 minutes from the time appointed for the general meeting, or at any time during the meeting, a quorum is not present, the meeting, if convened upon the requisition of shareholders, shall be cancelled. In any other case it shall stand adjourned to the same time and place seven days hence or to such other time or place as is determined by the directors.
The chairman may, with the consent of a meeting at which a quorum is present, adjourn the meeting. When a meeting is adjourned for more than seven clear days, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given in accordance with the articles.
At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a poll. A poll shall be taken in such manner as the chairman directs. He may appoint scrutineers (who need not be shareholders) and fix a place and time for declaring the result of the poll. If, through the aid of technology, the meeting is held as a virtual meeting or in more than one place, the chairman may appoint scrutineers virtually and in more than one place; but if he considers that the poll cannot be effectively monitored at that meeting, the chairman shall adjourn the holding of the poll to a date, place and time when that can occur.
In the case of an equality of votes, the chairman of the meeting shall not be entitled to a second or casting vote.
Directors
We may by ordinary resolution, from time to time, fix the maximum and minimum number of directors to be appointed. Under the articles, we are required to have a minimum of one director and the maximum number of directors shall be unlimited.
A director may be appointed by ordinary resolution or by the directors. Any appointment may be to fill a vacancy or as an additional director.
Unless the remuneration of the directors is determined by the shareholders by ordinary resolution, the directors shall be entitled to such remuneration as the directors may determine.
The shareholding qualification for directors may be fixed by our shareholders by ordinary resolution and unless and until so fixed no share qualification shall be required.
A director may be removed by ordinary resolution.
A director may at any time resign from office by giving us notice in writing. Unless the notice specifies a different date, the director shall be deemed to have resigned on the date that the notice is delivered to us.
Subject to the provisions of the articles, the office of a director may be terminated forthwith if:
| ● | he is prohibited by the law of the Cayman Islands from acting as a director; or | |
| ● | he is made bankrupt or makes an arrangement or composition with his creditors generally; or | |
| ● | he resigns his office by notice to us; or | |
| ● | he only held office as a director for a fixed term and such term expires; or | |
| ● | in the opinion of a registered medical practitioner by whom he is being treated he becomes physically or mentally incapable of acting as a director; or | |
| ● | he is given notice by the majority of the other directors (not being less than two in number) to vacate office (without prejudice to any claim for damages for breach of any agreement relating to the provision of the services of such director); or | |
| ● | he is made subject to any law relating to mental health or incompetence, whether by court order or otherwise; or | |
| ● | without the consent of the other directors, he is absent from meetings of directors for continuous period of nine months. |
For so long as the Class A Ordinary Shares are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, the board shall, if required by the Nasdaq rules, establish an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee. Each of these committees shall be empowered to do all things necessary to exercise the rights of such committee set forth in the articles and committee charters. The committees shall be made up of such number of independent directors as required from time to time by the Nasdaq rules or otherwise required by applicable law, subject to any exemptions permitted under the Nasdaq rules and other applicable laws.
Powers and Duties of Directors
Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act and our amended and restated memorandum and articles, our business shall be managed by the directors, who may exercise all our powers. No prior act of the directors shall be invalidated by any subsequent alteration of our memorandum or articles. To the extent allowed by the Companies Act, however, shareholders may by special resolution validate any prior or future act of the directors which would otherwise be in breach of their duties.
The directors may delegate any of their powers to any committee consisting of one or more persons who need not be shareholders and may include non-directors so long as the majority of those persons are directors; any committee so formed shall in the exercise of the powers so delegated conform to any regulations that may be imposed on it by the directors. Our board of directors have established an audit committee, compensation committee, and nomination and corporate governance committee.
The board of directors may establish any local or divisional board of directors or agency and delegate to it its powers and authorities (with power to sub-delegate) for managing any of our affairs whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere and may appoint any persons to be members of a local or divisional board of directors, or to be managers or agents, and may fix their remuneration.
The directors may from time to time and at any time by power of attorney or in any other manner they determine appoint any person, either generally or in respect of any specific matter, to be our agent with or without authority for that person to delegate all or any of that person’s powers.
The directors may from time to time and at any time by power of attorney or in any other manner they determine appoint any person, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the directors, to be our attorney or our authorized signatory and for such period and subject to such conditions as they may think fit. The powers, authorities and discretions, however, must not exceed those vested in, or exercisable, by the directors under the articles.
The board of directors may remove any person so appointed and may revoke or vary the delegation.
The directors may exercise all of our powers to borrow money and to mortgage or charge our undertaking, property and assets both present and future and uncalled capital or any part thereof, to issue debentures and other securities whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of ours or our parent undertaking (if any) or any subsidiary undertaking of us or of any third party.
A director who is in any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in a contract or transaction or proposed contract or transaction with the Company shall declare the nature of his interest at a meeting of the directors. A general notice given to the directors by any director to the effect that he is a member of any specified company or firm and is to be regarded as interested in any contract or transaction which may thereafter be made with that company or firm shall be deemed a sufficient declaration of interest in regard to any contract so made or transaction so consummated. Subject to the Nasdaq rules and disqualification by the chairman of the relevant board meeting, a director may vote in respect of any contract or transaction or proposed contract or transaction notwithstanding that he may be interested therein provided the director discloses to his fellow directors the nature and extent of any material interests in respect of any contract or transaction or proposed contract or transaction and if he does so his vote shall be counted and he may be counted in the quorum at any meeting of the directors at which any such contract or transaction or proposed contract or transaction shall come before the meeting for consideration.
Capitalization of Profits
The directors may resolve to capitalize:
| ● | any part of our profits not required for paying any preferential dividend (whether or not those profits are available for distribution); or | |
| ● | any sum standing to the credit of our share premium account or capital redemption reserve, if any. |
The amount resolved to be capitalized must be appropriated to the shareholders who would have been entitled to it had it been distributed by way of dividend and in the same proportions.
Winding Up
If we are wound up, the shareholders may, subject to the articles and any other sanction required by the Companies Act, pass a special resolution allowing the liquidator to do either or both of the following:
| ● | to divide in specie among the holders of class A Ordinary Shares the whole or any part of our assets and, for that purpose, to value any assets and to determine how the division shall be carried out among the holders of the class A Ordinary Shares; and | |
| ● | to vest the whole or any part of the assets in trustees for the benefit of holders of the class A Ordinary Shares and those liable to contribute to the winding up. |
The directors have the authority to present a petition for our winding up to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands on our behalf without the sanction of a resolution passed at a general meeting.
Register of Members
Under the Companies Act, we must keep a register of members and there should be entered therein:
| ● | the names and addresses of our shareholders, and, a statement of the shares held by each member, which: | |
| ● | distinguishes each share by its number (so long as the share has a number); | |
| ● | confirms the amount paid, or agreed to be considered as paid, on the shares of each member; |
| ● | confirms the number and category of shares held by each member; and | |
| ● | confirms whether each relevant category of shares held by a member carries voting rights under the articles of association of the company, and if so, whether such voting rights are conditional; | |
| ● | the date on which the name of any person was entered on the register as a shareholder; and | |
| ● | the date on which any person ceased to be a shareholder. |
Under the Companies Act, the register of members of our Company is prima facie evidence of the matters set out therein (that is, the register of members will raise a presumption of fact on the matters referred to above unless rebutted) and a shareholder registered in the register of members is deemed as a matter of the Companies Act to have legal title to the shares as set against its name in the register of members.
If the name of any person is incorrectly entered in or omitted from our register of members, or if there is any default or unnecessary delay in entering on the register the fact of any person having ceased to be a shareholder of our company, the person or shareholder aggrieved (or any shareholder of our company or our company itself) may apply to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands for an order that the register be rectified, and the Court may either refuse such application or it may, if satisfied of the justice of the case, make an order for the rectification of the register.
Comparison of Cayman Islands Corporate Law and U.S. Corporate Law
Cayman Islands companies are governed by the Companies Act. The Companies Act is modeled on English Law but does not follow recent English Law statutory enactments, and accordingly there are significant differences between the Companies Act and the current Companies Act of England and Wales. In addition, the Companies Act differs from laws applicable to United States corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of the material differences between the provisions of the Companies Act applicable to us and the comparable laws applicable to companies incorporated in the United States and their shareholders.
Mergers and Similar Arrangements
In certain circumstances the Cayman Islands Companies Act allows for mergers or consolidations between two Cayman Islands companies, or between a Cayman Islands company and a company incorporated in another jurisdiction (provided that is permitted by the laws of that other jurisdiction). For these purposes, (a) “merger” means the merging of two or more constituent companies and the vesting of their undertaking, property, and liabilities in one of such companies as the surviving company, and (b) a “consolidation” means the combination of two or more constituent companies into a consolidated combined company and the vesting of the undertaking, property and liabilities of such companies into the consolidated company.
Where the merger or consolidation is between two Cayman Islands companies, the directors of each company must approve a written plan of merger or consolidation containing certain prescribed information. That plan or merger or consolidation must then be authorized by either (a) a special resolution of the shareholders of each company; or (b) such other authorization, if any, as may be specified in such constituent company’s articles of association. The written plan of merger or consolidation must be filed with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands together with, among other documents, a declaration as to the solvency of the consolidated or surviving company, a list of the assets and liabilities of each constituent company, and (unless the surviving or consolidated company is to be a non-Cayman Islands company) an undertaking that a copy of the certificate of merger or consolidation will be given to the members and creditors of each constituent company and that notification of the merger or consolidation will be published in the Cayman Islands Gazette. Court approval is not required for a merger or consolidation which is effected in compliance with these statutory procedures.
A shareholder has the right to vote on a merger or consolidation regardless of whether the shares that he holds otherwise give him voting rights. No shareholder resolution is required for a merger between a parent company (i.e., a company that owns at least 90% of the issued shares entitled to vote of each class in a subsidiary company) and its subsidiary company, provided that a copy of the plan of merger is given to every member of each subsidiary company to be merged unless the member agrees otherwise.
The consent of each holder of a fixed or floating security interest of a constituent company must be obtained, unless the court waives such requirement. If the Registrar is satisfied that the requirements of the Companies Act (which includes certain other formalities) have been complied with, the Registrar will register the plan of merger or consolidation.
Where the surviving company is the Cayman Islands company and where the merger or consolidation involves a foreign company, the procedure is similar, save that with respect to the foreign company, the director of the Cayman Islands company is required to make a declaration to the effect that, having made due enquiry, he is of the opinion that the requirements set out below have been met: (i) that the merger or consolidation is permitted or not prohibited by the constitutional documents of the foreign company and by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the foreign company is incorporated, and that those laws and any requirements of those constitutional documents have been or will be complied with; (ii) that no petition or other similar proceeding has been filed and remains outstanding or order made or resolution adopted to wind up or liquidate the foreign company in any jurisdictions; (iii) that no receiver, trustee, administrator or other similar person has been appointed in any jurisdiction and is acting in respect of the foreign company, its affairs or its property or any part thereof; (iv) that no scheme, order, compromise or other similar arrangement has been entered into or made in any jurisdiction whereby the rights of creditors of the foreign company are and continue to be suspended or restricted; (v) that the foreign company is able to pay its debts as they fall due and that the merger or consolidated is bona fide and not intended to defraud unsecured creditors of the foreign company; (vi) that in respect of the transfer of any security interest granted by the foreign company to the surviving or consolidated company (a) consent or approval to the transfer has been obtained, released or waived; (b) the transfer is permitted by and has been approved in accordance with the constitutional documents of the foreign company; and (c) the laws of the jurisdiction of the foreign company with respect to the transfer have been or will be complied with; (vii) that the foreign company will, upon the merger or consolidation becoming effective, cease to be incorporated, registered or exist under the laws of the relevant foreign jurisdiction; and (viii) that there is no other reason why it would be against the public interest to permit the merger or consolidation.
Where the above procedures are adopted, the Companies Act provides for a right of dissenting shareholders to be paid a payment of the fair value of his shares (which, if not agreed between the parties, will be determined by the Cayman Islands court) upon their dissenting to the merger or consolidation if they follow a prescribed procedure. In essence, that procedure is as follows (a) the shareholder must give his written objection to the merger or consolidation to the constituent company before the vote on the merger or consolidation, including a statement that the shareholder proposes to demand payment for his shares if the merger or consolidation is authorized by the vote; (b) within 20 days following the date on which the merger or consolidation is approved by the shareholders, the constituent company must give written notice to each shareholder who made a written objection; (c) a shareholder must within 20 days following receipt of such notice from the constituent company, give the constituent company a written notice of his intention to dissent including, among other details, a demand for payment of the fair value of his shares; (d) within seven days following the date of the expiration of the period set out in paragraph (c) above or seven days following the date on which the plan of merger or consolidation is filed, whichever is later, the constituent company, the surviving company or the consolidated company must make a written offer to each dissenting shareholder to purchase his shares at a price that the company determines is the fair value and if the company and the shareholder agree on the price within 30 days following the date on which the offer was made, the company must pay the shareholder such amount; (e) if the company and the shareholder fail to agree on a price within such 30 day period, within 20 days following the date on which such 30 day period expires, the company (and any dissenting shareholder) must file a petition with the Cayman Islands Grand Court to determine the fair value and such petition must be accompanied by a list of the names and addresses of the dissenting shareholders with whom agreements as to the fair value of their shares have not been reached by the company. At the hearing of that petition, the court has the power to determine the fair value of the shares together with a fair rate of interest, if any, to be paid by the company upon the amount determined to be the fair value. Any dissenting shareholder whose name appears on the list filed by the company may participate fully in all proceedings until the determination of fair value is reached. These rights of a dissenting shareholder are not be available in certain circumstances, for example, to dissenters holding shares of any class in respect of which an open market exists on a recognized stock exchange or recognized interdealer quotation system at the relevant date or where the consideration for such shares to be contributed are shares of any company listed on a national securities exchange or shares of the surviving or consolidated company.
Moreover, Cayman Islands law also has separate statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction or amalgamation of companies in certain circumstances, schemes of arrangement will generally be more suited for complex mergers or other transactions involving widely held companies, commonly referred to in the Cayman Islands as a “scheme of arrangement” which may be tantamount to a merger. In the event that a merger was sought pursuant to a scheme of arrangement (the procedure of which are more rigorous and take longer to complete than the procedures typically required to consummate a merger in the United States), the arrangement in question must be approved by (i) in relation to a compromise or arrangement between a company and its creditors or any class of them, a majority in number of such creditors or class of creditors with whom the arrangement is to be made and who must in addition represent 75% in value of such creditors or class of creditors, as the case may be, that are present and voting either in person or by proxy at a meeting summoned for that purpose; and (ii) in relation to a compromise or arrangement between a company and its shareholders or any class of them, shareholders who represent 75% in value of the company’s shareholders or class of shareholders, as the case may be, that are present and voting either in person or by proxy at a meeting summoned for that purpose. The convening of the meetings and subsequently the terms of the arrangement must be sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. While a dissenting shareholder would have the right to express to the court the view that the transaction should not be approved, the court can be expected to approve the arrangement if it satisfies itself that:
| ● | the proposed scheme fell within the parameters of the Companies Act; | |
| ● | the scheme document provided all material information reasonably required to enable the scheme shareholders to come to an informed view on the merits of the scheme; | |
| ● | the Cayman Court ordered meetings were properly held and the required statutory majorities were achieved; | |
| ● | there was any reason to believe that the views of the majority voting in favour of the scheme did not fairly represent the views of the scheme shareholders as a whole or that they were not acting bona fide or subject to coercion; | |
| ● | the scheme is fair in the sense that an intelligent and honest person acting in respect of their relevant interest might approve of it; and | |
| ● | there is a good reason for the Court not to exercise its residual discretion in sanctioning the scheme |
If a scheme of arrangement or takeover offer (as described below) is approved, any dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights, which would otherwise ordinarily be available to dissenting shareholders of United States corporations, providing rights to receive payment in cash for the judicially determined value of the shares.
Squeeze-out Provisions
The Companies Act contains a statutory power of compulsory acquisition which may facilitate the “squeeze out” of dissentient minority shareholders upon a tender offer. When a tender offer is made and accepted by holders of 90% of the shares to whom the offer is made within four months, the offeror may, within a two-month period commencing on the expiration of such four-month period, require the holders of the remaining shares to transfer such shares to the offeror on the terms of the offer. An objection can be made to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands but this is unlikely to succeed unless there is evidence of fraud, bad faith, collusion or inequitable treatment of the shareholders.
Further, transactions similar to a merger, reconstruction and/or an amalgamation may in some circumstances be achieved through other means to these statutory provisions, such as a share capital exchange, asset acquisition or control, through contractual arrangements, of an operating business.
Shareholders’ Suits
In principle, we will be the proper plaintiff in any claim based on a breach of duty owed to us, and a claim against (for example) our officers or directors usually may not be brought by a shareholder. However, based on English authorities, which would in all likelihood be of persuasive authority and be applied by a court in the Cayman Islands, exceptions to the foregoing principle apply in circumstances in which:
| ● | a company is acting, or proposing to act, illegally or beyond the scope of its authority and is therefore incapable of ratification by the shareholders; | |
| ● | an act irregularity in the passing of a resolution which, although not ultra vires, requires authorization by a qualified (or special) majority (that is, more than a simple majority) which has not been obtained; and | |
| ● | those who control the company are perpetrating a “fraud on the minority.” |
Indemnification of Directors and Executive Officers and Limitation of Liability
Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s memorandum and articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against the consequences of committing a crime, or against the indemnified person’s own fraud or dishonesty. Our amended and restated articles of association provide to the extent permitted by law, we shall indemnify each existing or former secretary, director (including alternate director), and any of our other officers (including an investment adviser or an administrator or liquidator) and their personal representatives against:
| (a) | all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages, or liabilities incurred or sustained by the existing or former director (including alternate director), secretary, or officer in or about the conduct of our business or affairs or in the execution or discharge of the existing or former director (including alternate director), secretary’s or officer’s duties, powers, authorities, or discretions; and | |
| (b) | without limitation to paragraph (a) above, all costs, expenses, losses, or liabilities incurred by the existing or former director (including alternate director), secretary, or officer in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative proceedings (whether threatened, pending or completed) concerning us or our affairs in any court or tribunal, whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere. |
No such existing or former director (including alternate director), secretary, or officer, however, shall be indemnified in respect of any matter arising out of his own dishonesty.
To the extent permitted by law, we may make a payment, or agree to make a payment, whether by way of advance, loan, or otherwise, for any legal costs incurred by an existing or former director (including alternate director), secretary, or any of our officers in respect of any matter identified in above on condition that the director (including alternate director), secretary, or officer must repay the amount paid by us to the extent that we are it is ultimately found not liable to indemnify the director (including alternate director), the secretary, or that officer for those legal costs.
This standard of conduct is generally the same as permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law for a Delaware corporation. In addition, our offer letters to our independent directors and our employment agreements with our executive officers provide such persons with additional indemnification beyond that provided in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as amended from time to time.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers or persons controlling us under the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
Directors’ Fiduciary Duties
Under Delaware General Corporation Law, a director of a Delaware corporation has a fiduciary duty to the corporation and its shareholders. This duty has two components: the duty of care and the duty of loyalty. The duty of care requires that a director act in good faith, with the care that an ordinarily prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances. Under this duty, a director must inform himself of, and disclose to shareholders, all material information reasonably available regarding a significant transaction. The duty of loyalty requires that a director acts in a manner he reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation. He must not use his corporate position for personal gain or advantage. This duty prohibits self-dealing by a director and mandates that the best interest of the corporation and its shareholders take precedence over any interest possessed by a director, officer or controlling shareholder and not shared by the shareholders generally. In general, actions of a director are presumed to have been made on an informed basis, in good faith and in the honest belief that the action taken was in the best interests of the corporation. However, this presumption may be rebutted by evidence of a breach of one of the fiduciary duties. Should such evidence be presented concerning a transaction by a director, the director must prove the procedural fairness of the transaction, and that the transaction was of fair value to the corporation.
Under Cayman Islands law, all of our directors owe three types of duties to us: (i) statutory duties, (ii) fiduciary duties, and (iii) common law duties. The Companies Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands imposes certain statutory duties on a director. A Cayman Islands director’s fiduciary duties are not codified, however, the courts of the Cayman Islands have held that a director owes the following fiduciary duties: (a) a duty to act in what the director bona fide considers to be in the best interests of the company, (b) a duty to exercise their powers for the purposes they were conferred, (c) a duty to avoid fettering his or her discretion in the future and (d) a duty to avoid conflicts of interest and of duty. The common law duties owed by a director are those to act with skill, care and diligence that may reasonably be expected of a person carrying out the same functions as are carried out by that director in relation to the company and, also, to act with the skill, care and diligence in keeping with a standard of care commensurate with any particular skill they have which enables them to meet a higher standard than a director without those skills. In fulfilling their duty of care to us, our directors must ensure compliance with our articles of association as may be expected to be amended from time to time. We have the right to seek damages if a duty owed by any of our directors is breached.
The functions and powers of our board of directors include, among others:
| ● | appointing officers and determining the term of office of the officers; | |
| ● | exercising the borrowing powers of the Company and mortgaging the property of the Company; and | |
| ● | maintaining or registering a register of mortgages, charges, or other encumbrances of the Company. |
Shareholder Action by Written Consent
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may eliminate the right of shareholders to act by written consent in its certificate of incorporation. Our amended and restated articles of association allows shareholders to approve corporate matters by way of a written resolution signed by the requisite majority for passing an ordinary resolution or unanimous written resolution signed by or on behalf of each shareholder who would have been entitled to vote on such matter at a general meeting for passing a special resolution without a meeting being held.
Shareholder Proposals
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a shareholder has the right to put any proposal before the annual general meeting, provided it complies with the notice provisions in the governing documents. An extraordinary general meeting may be called by the board of directors or any other person authorized to do so in the governing documents, but shareholders may be precluded from calling special meetings.
Cayman Islands law provides shareholders with only limited rights to requisition a general meeting, and does not provide shareholders with any right to put any proposal before a general meeting. However, these rights may be provided in a company’s articles of association. Our amended and restated articles of association provide that general meetings shall be convened on the written requisition of one or more of the shareholders entitled to attend and vote at our general meetings who (together) hold not less than one-third of the rights to vote at such general meeting in accordance with the notice provisions in the amended and restated articles of association, specifying the purpose of the meeting and signed by each of the shareholders making the requisition. If the directors do not convene such meeting for a date not later than 21 clear days’ after the date of receipt of the written requisition, those shareholders who requested the meeting may convene the general meeting themselves within 2 months after the end of such period of 21 clear days in which case reasonable expenses incurred by them as a result of the directors failing to convene a meeting shall be reimbursed by us. Our amended and restated articles of association provide no other right to put any proposals before annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings. As a Cayman Islands exempted company, we are not obligated by law to call shareholders’ annual general meetings.
Cumulative Voting
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, cumulative voting for elections of directors is not permitted unless the corporation’s certificate of incorporation specifically provides for it. Cumulative voting potentially facilitates the representation of minority shareholders on a board of directors since it permits the minority shareholder to cast all the votes to which the shareholder is entitled on a single director, which increases the shareholder’s voting power with respect to electing such director. There are no prohibitions in relation to cumulative voting under the Companies Act but our amended and restated articles of association do not provide for cumulative voting. As a result, our shareholders are not afforded any fewer protections or rights on this issue than shareholders of a Delaware corporation.
Removal of Directors
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a director of a corporation with a classified board may be removed only for cause with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Subject to the provisions of our amended and restated articles of association (which include the removal of a director by ordinary resolution), the office of a director may be terminated forthwith if (a) he is prohibited by the laws of the Cayman Islands from acting as a director, (b) he is made bankrupt or makes an arrangement or composition with his creditors generally, (c) he resigns his office by notice to us, (d) he only held office as a director for a fixed term and such term expires, (e) in the opinion of a registered medical practitioner by whom he is being treated he becomes physically or mentally incapable of acting as a director, (f) he is given notice by the majority of the other directors (not being less than two in number) to vacate office (without prejudice to any claim for damages for breach of any agreement relating to the provision of the services of such director), (g) he is made subject to any law relating to mental health or incompetence, whether by court order or otherwise, or (h) without the consent of the other directors, he is absent from meetings of directors for continuous period of nine months.
Transactions with Interested Shareholders
The Delaware General Corporation Law contains a business combination statute applicable to Delaware corporations whereby, unless the corporation has specifically elected not to be governed by such statute in its certificate of incorporation, it is prohibited from engaging in certain business combinations with an “interested shareholder” for three years following the date that such person becomes an interested shareholder. An interested shareholder generally is a person or a group who or which owns or owned 15% or more of the target’s outstanding voting share within the past three years. This has the effect of limiting the ability of a potential acquirer to make a two-tiered bid for the target in which all shareholders would not be treated equally. The statute does not apply if, among other things, prior to the date on which such shareholder becomes an interested shareholder, the board of directors approves either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the person becoming an interested shareholder. This encourages any potential acquirer of a Delaware corporation to negotiate the terms of any acquisition transaction with the target’s board of directors.
Cayman Islands law has no comparable statute. As a result, we cannot avail ourselves of the types of protections afforded by the Delaware business combination statute. However, although Cayman Islands law does not regulate transactions between a company and its significant shareholders, it does provide that such transactions must be entered into bona fide in the best interests of the company and for a proper corporate purpose and not with the effect of constituting a fraud on the minority shareholders.
Dissolution; Winding up
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, unless the board of directors approves the proposal to dissolve, dissolution must be approved by shareholders holding 100% of the total voting power of the corporation. Only if the dissolution is initiated by the board of directors may it be approved by a simple majority of the corporation’s outstanding shares. Delaware law allows a Delaware corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a supermajority voting requirement in connection with dissolutions initiated by the board.
If we are wound up, the shareholders may, subject to the articles and any other sanction required by the Cayman Companies Act, pass a special resolution allowing the liquidator to do either or both of the following:
● to divide in specie among the holders of the class A Ordinary Shares the whole or any part of our assets and, for that purpose, to value any assets and to determine how the division shall be carried out as among the holders of the class A Ordinary Shares; and
● to vest the whole or any part of the assets in trustees for the benefit of the holders of the class A Ordinary Shares and those liable to contribute to the winding up.
The directors have the authority to present a petition for our winding up to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands on our behalf without the sanction of a resolution passed at a general meeting.
Variation of Rights of Shares
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may vary the rights of a class of shares with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of such class, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under Cayman Islands law and our amended and restated articles of association, if our share capital is divided into more than one class of shares, we may vary the rights attached to any class with the written consent of the holders of not less than fifty percent of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a general meeting of the holders of the shares of that class.
Amendment of Governing Documents
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation’s governing documents may be amended with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. As permitted by Cayman Islands law, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association may only be amended with a special resolution of our shareholders.
Anti-Money Laundering - Cayman Islands
In order to comply with legislation or regulations aimed at the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing, we are required to adopt and maintain anti-money laundering procedures and will require subscribers to provide information and evidence to verify their identity, address and source of funds. Where permitted, and subject to certain conditions, we may also delegate the maintenance of our anti-money laundering procedures (including the acquisition of due diligence information) to a suitable person.
We reserve the right to request such information and evidence as is necessary to verify the identity, address and source of funds of a subscriber. In the event of delay or failure on the part of the subscriber in producing any information required for verification purposes, we may refuse to accept the application, in which case any funds received will be returned without interest to the account from which they were originally debited. We will not be liable for any loss suffered by a subscriber arising as a result of a refusal of, or delay in processing, an application from a subscriber if such information and documentation requested has not been provided by the subscriber in a timely manner.
We also reserve the right to refuse to make any redemption payment to a shareholder if our directors or officers suspect or are advised that the payment of redemption proceeds to such shareholder might result in a breach of applicable anti-money laundering or other laws or regulations by any person in any relevant jurisdiction, or if such refusal is considered necessary or appropriate to ensure our compliance with any such laws or regulations in any applicable jurisdiction.
If any person resident in the Cayman Islands knows or suspects or has reasonable grounds for knowing or suspecting that another person is engaged in criminal conduct or is involved with terrorism or terrorist property and the information for that knowledge or suspicion came to their attention in the course of their business in the regulated sector, or other trade, profession, business or employment, the person will be required to report such knowledge or suspicion to (i) a nominated officer (appointed in accordance with the Proceeds of Crime Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands) or the Financial Reporting Authority of the Cayman Islands, pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime Act (Revised), if the disclosure relates to criminal conduct or money laundering or (ii) to the Financial Reporting Authority or a police constable or a nominated officer (pursuant to the Terrorism Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands), if the disclosure relates to involvement with terrorism or terrorist financing and terrorist property. Such a report shall not be treated as a breach of confidence or of any restriction upon the disclosure of information imposed by any enactment or otherwise.
By subscribing for shares, the subscriber consents to the disclosure of any information about them to regulators and others upon request in connection with money laundering and similar matters both in the Cayman Islands and in other jurisdictions.
Economic Substance Legislation of The Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands, together with several other non-European Union jurisdictions, have introduced legislation aimed at addressing concerns raised by the Council of the European Union and the OECD as to offshore structures engaged in certain activities which attract profits without real economic activity. The International Tax Co-operation (Economic Substance) Act (Revised) (the “Substance Act”) came into force in the Cayman Islands in January 2019, introducing certain economic substance requirements for in-scope Cayman Islands entities which are engaged in certain geographically mobile business activities (“relevant activities”). As we are a Cayman Islands exempted company, compliance obligations include filing annual notifications, in which need to state whether we are carrying out any relevant activities and if so, whether we have satisfied economic substance tests to the extent required under the Substance Act. It is anticipated that our company will not be engaging in any “relevant activities” and will therefore not be required to meet the economic substance requirements tests or will otherwise be subject to more limited substance requirements. However, it is anticipated that the Substance Act will evolve and be subject to further clarification and amendments. Failure to satisfy applicable requirements may subject us to penalties under the Substance Act.
Data Protection - Cayman Islands
We have certain duties under the Data Protection Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands (the “DPA”) based on internationally accepted principles of data privacy.
Data Protection in the Cayman Islands - Privacy Notice
This privacy notice explains the manner in which we collect, process, and maintain personal data about investors of the Company pursuant to the Data Protection Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands, as amended from time to time and any regulations, codes of practice, or orders promulgated pursuant thereto.
We are committed to processing personal data in accordance with the DPA. In our use of personal data, we will be characterized under the DPA as a “data controller,” whilst certain of our service providers, affiliates, and delegates may act as “data processors” under the DPA. These service providers may process personal data for their own lawful purposes in connection with services provided to us. For the purposes of this privacy notice, “you” or “your” shall mean the subscriber and shall also include any individual connected to the subscriber.
By virtue of your investment in the Company, we and certain of our service providers may collect, record, store, transfer, and otherwise process personal data by which individuals may be directly or indirectly identified. We may combine personal data that you provide to use with personal data that we collect from, or about you. This may include personal data collected in an online or offline context including from credit reference agencies and other available public databases or data sources, such as news outlines, websites and other media sources and international sanctions lists.
Your personal data will be processed fairly and for lawful purposes, including (a) where the processing is necessary for us to perform a contract to which you are a party or for taking pre-contractual steps at your request, (b) where the processing is necessary for compliance with any legal, tax, or regulatory obligation to which we are subject, or (c) where the processing is for the purposes of legitimate interests pursued by us or by a service provider to whom the data are disclosed, or (d) where you otherwise consent to the processing of personal data for any specific purpose. As a data controller, we will only use your personal data for the purposes for which we collected it. If we need to use your personal data for an unrelated purpose, we will contact you.
We anticipate that we will share your personal data with our service providers for the purposes set out in this privacy notice. We may also share relevant personal data where it is lawful to do so and necessary to comply with our contractual obligations or your instructions or where it is necessary or desirable to do so in connection with any regulatory reporting obligations. In exceptional circumstances, we will share your personal data with regulatory, prosecuting, and other governmental agencies or departments, and parties to litigation (whether pending or threatened), in any country or territory including to any other person where we have a public or legal duty to do so (e.g. to assist with detecting and preventing fraud, tax evasion, and financial crime or compliance with a court order).
Your personal data shall not be held by the Company for longer than necessary with regard to the purposes of the data processing.
We will not sell your personal data. Any transfer of personal data outside of the Cayman Islands shall be in accordance with the requirements of the DPA. Where necessary, we will ensure that separate and appropriate legal agreements are put in place with the recipient of that data.
We will only transfer personal data in accordance with the requirements of the DPA, and will apply appropriate technical and organizational information security measures designed to protect against unauthorized or unlawful processing of the personal data and against the accidental loss, destruction, or damage to the personal data.
If you are a natural person, this will affect you directly. If you are a corporate investor (including, for these purposes, legal arrangements such as trusts or exempted limited partnerships) that provides us with personal data on individuals connected to you for any reason in relation to your investment into the Company, this will be relevant for those individuals and you should transmit this document to those individuals for their awareness and consideration.
You have certain rights under the DPA, including (a) the right to be informed as to how we collect and use your personal data (and this privacy notice fulfils our obligation in this respect), (b) the right to obtain a copy of your personal data, (c) the right to require us to stop direct marketing, (d) the right to have inaccurate or incomplete personal data corrected, (e) the right to withdraw your consent and require us to stop processing or restrict the processing, or not begin the processing of your personal data, (f) the right to be notified of a data breach (unless the breach is unlikely to be prejudicial), (g) the right to obtain information as to any countries or territories outside the Cayman Islands to which we, whether directly or indirectly, transfer, intend to transfer, or wish to transfer your personal data, general measures we take to ensure the security of personal data, and any information available to us as to the source of your personal data, (h) the right to complain to the Office of the Ombudsman of the Cayman Islands, and (i) the right to require us to delete your personal data in some limited circumstances.
If you do not wish to provide us with requested personal data or subsequently withdraw your consent, you may not be able to invest in the Company or remain invested in the Company as it will affect the Company’ ability to manage your investment.
If you consider that your personal data has not been handled correctly, or you are not satisfied with our responses to any requests you have made regarding the use of your personal data, you have the right to complain to the Cayman Islands’ Ombudsman. The Ombudsman can be contacted by calling +1 (345) 946-6283, by email at info@ombudsman.ky or by accessing their website at ombudsman.ky.
Listing
Our Class A Ordinary Shares are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “OFAL.”
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our Class A Ordinary Shares is ClearTrust, LLC. The transfer agent and registrar’s address is 16540 Pointe Village Drive Suite 210, Lutz, Florida 33558.