EX-2.2 3 ex2-2.htm EX-2.2

 

Exhibit 2.2

 

Description of Rights of Each Class of Securities
Registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Amended (the “Exchange Act”)

 

Pitanium Limited (“we,” “our,” “our Company,” or “us”) is a British Virgin Islands company limited by shares, and our affairs are governed by our memorandum and articles of association, as currently in effect (the “Memorandum and Articles of Association”) and the BVI Companies Act (each as amended or modified from time to time). As provided in our Memorandum and Articles of Association, subject to the BVI Business Companies Act, 2004 (as amended) (“BVI Companies Act”), we have full capacity to carry on or undertake any business or activity, do any act or enter into any transaction, and, for such purposes, have full rights, powers, and privileges.

 

Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share, of Pitanium Limited are listed and traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market, and in connection therewith, its Class A ordinary shares are registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act. This exhibit contains a description of the rights of the holders of Class A ordinary shares.

 

Description of Ordinary Shares

 

The following is a summary of the material provisions of our first amended and restated memorandum and articles of association as well as the BVI Companies Act, insofar as they relate to the material terms of our ordinary shares. Notwithstanding this, because it is a summary, it may not contain all the information that you may otherwise deem important. For more complete information, you should read the entirety of our first amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, which have been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 3.1 to our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-284998), as amended, initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 25, 2025).

 

Type and Class of Securities (Item 9.A.5 of Form 20-F)

 

Our ordinary shares are divided into Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares. Except for conversion rights and voting rights, the Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares shall carry equal rights and rank pari passu with one another, including but not limited to the rights to dividends and other capital distributions.

 

Each Class A ordinary share has US$0.0001 par value. The number of Class A ordinary shares that have been issued as of the last day of the most recent financial year is provided on the cover of the annual report on Form 20-F for the most recent fiscal year (the “Form 20-F”). All of our issued Class A ordinary shares are fully paid and non-assessable. Certificates representing the Class A ordinary shares are issued in registered form. Our shareholders who are non-residents of the BVI may freely hold and vote their Class A ordinary shares.

 

Preemptive Rights (Item 9.A.3 of Form 20-F)

 

Our shareholders do not have preemptive rights.

 

Limitations or Qualifications (Item 9.A.6 of Form 20-F)

 

We have a dual-class voting structure such that our ordinary shares consist of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares. Pursuant to our Memorandum and Articles of Association, at each general meeting of our Company, on a poll, each shareholder who is present in person or by proxy (or, in the case of a shareholder being a corporation, by its duly authorized representative) shall have one (1) vote for each Class A ordinary share and twenty (20) votes for each Class B ordinary share which such shareholder holds. The holders of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares shall at all times vote together as one class on all resolutions of the shareholders.

 

At any general meeting, the chairman is responsible for deciding in such a manner as he considers appropriate whether any resolution proposed has been carried or not, and the result of his decision shall be announced to the meeting and recorded in the minutes of the meeting. If the chairman has any doubt as to the outcome of the vote on a proposed resolution, he shall cause a poll to be taken of all votes cast upon such resolution. If the chairman fails to take a poll, then any member present in person or by proxy who disputes the announcement by the chairman of the result of any vote may, immediately following such announcement, demand that a poll be taken, and the chairman shall cause a poll to be taken. If a poll is taken at any meeting, the result shall be announced to the meeting and recorded in the minutes of the meeting. There are no prohibitions on cumulative voting under the laws of the BVI, but our Memorandum and Articles of Association do not provide for cumulative voting.

 

 
 

 

Due to the super voting power of Class B ordinary shareholders, the voting power of the Class A ordinary shares may be materially limited. See also “— Requirements to Change the Rights of Holders of Class A ordinary shares (Item 10.B.4 of Form 20-F) — Variations of Rights of Shares.”

 

Rights of Other Types of Securities (Item 9.A.7 of Form 20-F)

 

Not applicable.

 

Rights of Class A Ordinary Shares (Item 10.B.3 of Form 20-F)

 

General

 

Except in relation to voting rights and conversion rights, holders of ordinary shares will have the same rights. All of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares are fully paid and non-assessable. Our ordinary shares are issued in registered form and are issued when registered in our register of members. We may not issue shares to bearer. Our shareholders who are non-BVI residents may freely hold and transfer their ordinary shares.

 

Conversion

 

Each Class B ordinary share is convertible into one (1) Class A ordinary share at any time by the holder thereof. The right to convert shall be exercisable by the holder of the Class B ordinary shares delivering a written notice to our Company that such holder elects to convert a specified number of Class B ordinary shares into Class A ordinary shares. In no event shall Class A ordinary shares be convertible into Class B ordinary shares.

 

Dividends

 

The holders of our ordinary shares are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by our Board of Directors subject to the BVI Companies Act and our Memorandum and Articles of Association. Our Memorandum and Articles of Association provide that the Directors may, by resolution of directors, authorize and declare a distribution at a time and of an amount they think fit if they are satisfied, on reasonable grounds, that, immediately after the distribution, the value of the Company’s assets will exceed its liabilities and the Company will be able to satisfy its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business.

 

Voting Rights

 

In respect of all matters subject to a shareholders’ vote, holders of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares shall, at all times, vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote by the members at any such general meeting. Each Class A ordinary share shall be entitled to one vote on all matters subject to the vote at general meetings of our Company, and each Class B ordinary share shall be entitled to twenty (20) votes on all matters subject to the vote at general meetings (including extraordinary general meetings) of our Company.

 

At any general meeting, the chairman is responsible for deciding in such a manner as he considers appropriate whether any resolution proposed has been carried or not, and the result of his decision shall be announced to the meeting and recorded in the minutes of the meeting. If the chairman has any doubt as to the outcome of the vote on a proposed resolution, he shall cause a poll to be taken of all votes cast upon such resolution. If the chairman fails to take a poll, then any member present in person or by proxy who disputes the announcement by the chairman of the result of any vote may, immediately following such announcement, demand that a poll be taken, and the chairman shall cause a poll to be taken. If a poll is taken at any meeting, the result shall be announced to the meeting and recorded in the minutes of the meeting. There are no prohibitions on cumulative voting under the laws of the BVI, but our Memorandum and Articles of Association do not provide for cumulative voting.

 

Meeting of Shareholders

 

Any of our directors may convene a meeting of shareholders at any time and in any manner and place the director considers necessary or desirable. The director convening a meeting must not give less than seven clear calendar days’ notice of the meeting to those shareholders whose names appear as shareholders in the register of shareholders on the date of the notice and are entitled to vote at the meeting, and the other directors. Our board of directors must convene a meeting of shareholders upon the written request of shareholders entitled to exercise 30% or more of the voting rights in respect of the matter for which the meeting is requested. A meeting of shareholders held in contravention of the requirement to give notice is valid if shareholders holding at least 90% of the total voting rights on all the matters to be considered at the meeting have waived notice of the meeting and, for this purpose, the presence of a shareholder at the meeting shall constitute a waiver in relation to all the shares that shareholder holds.

 

 
 

 

The quorum for a meeting of shareholders is duly constituted if, at the commencement of the meeting, there are present in person or by proxy not less than 50% of the votes of the shares (or class or series of shares) entitled to vote on the resolutions to be considered at the meeting. A quorum may comprise a single shareholder or proxy. If within two hours from the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting, if convened upon the requisition of the shareholders, will be dissolved. In any other case, it will stand adjourned to the next business day in the jurisdiction in which the meeting was to have been held at the same time and place or to such other time and place as the directors may determine, and if at the adjourned meeting there are present within one hour from the time appointed for the meeting in person or by proxy not less than one-third of the votes of the shares or each class or series of shares entitled to vote on the matter to be considered by the meeting, those present will constitute a quorum; but otherwise, the meeting will be dissolved.

 

Transfer of Ordinary Shares

 

Subject to the restrictions in our Memorandum and Articles of Association, the lock-up agreements, if any, and applicable securities laws, any of our shareholders may transfer all or any of his or her Class A ordinary shares by written instrument of transfer signed by the transferor and containing the name and address of the transferee. The transfer of a share of our Company is effective when the name of the transferee is entered on the register of members of our Company. Pursuant to our Articles of Association, our board of directors may not resolve to refuse or delay the transfer of any ordinary share unless the shareholder has failed to pay an amount due in respect of it.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, under the BVI Companies Act, shares that are listed on a recognized exchange may be transferred without the need for a written instrument of transfer if the transfer is carried out in accordance with the laws, rules, procedures and other requirements applicable to shares registered on the recognized exchange and subject to the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association. The registration of transfers may, after compliance with any notice required of Nasdaq, be suspended and the register closed at such times and for such periods as our board of directors may from time to time determine.

 

Liquidation

 

As permitted by BVI law and our Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Company may be voluntarily liquidated by a resolution of members or, if permitted under section 199(2) of the BVI Companies Act, by a resolution of directors if we have no liabilities or if we are able to pay our debts as they fall due, and the value of our assets equals or exceeds our liabilities by resolution of directors and resolution of shareholders. On a liquidation, on winding up, or other return of assets of the Company to shareholders (other than on conversion, redemption, or purchase of ordinary shares), assets available for distribution among the holders of ordinary shares shall be distributed among the holders of the ordinary shares on a pro rata basis.

 

Calls on Ordinary Shares and Forfeiture of Ordinary Shares

 

Our Company’s ordinary shares that are not fully paid on issue are subject to the forfeiture provisions set forth in our Memorandum and Articles of Association. For this purpose, shares of our Company issued for a promissory note or a contract for future services are deemed to be not fully paid.

 

If a shareholder fails to pay any call, the directors may give such shareholder not less than 14 days’ written notice requiring payment and specifying the amount unpaid, including any interest that may have accrued, any expenses that have been incurred by us due to that person’s default, and the place where payment is to be made. The written 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 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, and that member shall be discharged from any further obligation to the Company.

 

Redemption and Repurchase of Ordinary Shares

 

We may purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire and hold our own ordinary shares save that we may not purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire our own ordinary shares without the consent of the shareholders whose ordinary shares are to be purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired unless we are permitted or required by the BVI Companies Act or any other provision in our Memorandum and Articles of Association to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire the ordinary shares without such consent.

 

Requirements to Change the Rights of Holders of Class A Ordinary Shares (Item 10.B.4 of Form 20-F)

 

Variations of Rights of Shares

 

The rights attached to any class of shares may only, whether or not the Company is being wound up, be varied by a resolution of shareholders, provided that only the holders of the relevant class of shares shall be entitled to vote thereon, unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of such class.

 

 
 

 

Limitations on the Rights of Holders of Class A Ordinary Shares (Item 10.B.4 of Form 20-F)

 

There are no limitations under BVI laws or under the Memorandum and Articles of Association that limit the right of non-BVI residents or foreign owners to hold or vote Class A ordinary shares.

 

Provisions Affecting Any Change of Control (Item 10.B.7 of Form 20-F)

 

Anti-Takeover Provisions

 

Our Memorandum and Articles of Association do not contain provisions that would have the effect of delaying, deferring, or preventing a change in control of our Company and that would operate only with respect to a merger, acquisition, or corporate restructuring involving our Company or any of its subsidiaries. Our directors’ ability to amend our Memorandum and Articles of Association, without shareholder approval in certain circumstances, may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our Company or management that shareholders may consider favorable, including provisions that restrict the ability of our shareholders to call shareholder meetings.

 

Ownership Threshold (Item 10.B.8 of Form 20-F)

 

There are no provisions under the Memorandum and Articles of Association that require our Company to disclose shareholder ownership above any particular ownership threshold.

 

Differences between the Law of Different Jurisdictions (Item 10.B.9 of Form 20-F)

 

The BVI Companies Act and the laws of the BVI affecting BVI companies like us and our shareholders differ from laws applicable to U.S. corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of the significant differences between the provisions of the laws of the BVI applicable to us and, for illustrative purposes only, the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), which governs companies incorporated in the state of Delaware.

 

Mergers and Similar Arrangements

 

Under the BVI Companies Act, two or more companies, each a “constituent Company”, may merge or consolidate in accordance with Section 170 of the BVI Companies Act. A merger means the merging of two or more constituent companies into one of the constituent companies and a consolidation means the uniting of two or more constituent companies into a new company. In order to merge or consolidate, the directors of each constituent company must approve a written plan of merger or consolidation, which must be authorized by a resolution of shareholders. While a director may vote on the plan of merger or consolidation even if he has a financial interest in the plan, the interested director must disclose the interest to all other directors of the company promptly upon becoming aware of the fact that he is interested in a transaction entered into or to be entered into by the company.

 

A transaction entered into by our Company in respect of which a director is interested (including a merger or consolidation) is voidable by us unless the director’s interest was (a) disclosed to the board prior to the transaction or (b) the transaction or proposed transaction is (i) between the director and the company and (ii) the transaction or proposed transaction is or is to be entered into in the ordinary course of the company’s business and on usual terms and conditions.

 

Notwithstanding the above, a transaction entered into by a BVI company is not voidable if (a) the material facts of the interest of the director in the transaction are known by the shareholders entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders and the transaction is approved or ratified by a resolution of shareholders; or (b) the company received fair value for the transaction.

 

Shareholders not otherwise entitled to vote on the merger or consolidation may still acquire the right to vote if the plan of merger or consolidation contains any provision that, if proposed as an amendment to the Memorandum or Articles of Association, would entitle them to vote as a class or series on the proposed amendment. In any event, all shareholders must be given a copy of the plan of merger or consolidation irrespective of whether they are entitled to vote at the meeting to approve the plan of merger or consolidation. The shareholders of the constituent companies are not required to receive shares of the surviving or combined company but may receive debt obligations or other securities of the surviving or combined company, other assets, or a combination thereof. Further, some or all of the shares of a class or series may be converted into a kind of asset while the other shares of the same class or series may receive a different kind of asset. As such, not all the shares of a class or series must receive the same kind of consideration. After the plan of merger or consolidation has been approved by the directors and authorized by a resolution of the shareholders, articles of merger or consolidation are executed by each company and filed with the Registrar of Corporate Affairs in the BVI. A shareholder may dissent from a mandatory redemption of his shares pursuant to an arrangement (if permitted by the court), a merger (unless the shareholder was a shareholder of the surviving company prior to the merger and continues to hold the same or similar shares after the merger) or a consolidation. A shareholder properly exercising his dissent rights is entitled to a cash payment equal to the fair value of his shares.

 

 
 

 

A shareholder dissenting from a merger or consolidation must object in writing to the merger or consolidation before the vote by the shareholders on the merger or consolidation, unless notice of the meeting was not given to the shareholder. If the merger or consolidation is approved by the shareholders, the company must give notice of this fact to each shareholder who gave written objection within 20 days immediately following the date of the shareholders’ approval. These shareholders then have 20 days from the date of such notice to give to the company their written election in the form specified by the BVI Companies Act to dissent from the merger or consolidation, provided that in the case of a merger, the 20 days starts when the plan of merger is delivered to the shareholder. Upon giving notice of his election to dissent, a shareholder ceases to have any shareholder rights except the right to be paid the fair value of his shares. As such, the merger or consolidation may proceed in the ordinary course notwithstanding his dissent. Within seven days of the later of the delivery of the notice of election to dissent and the effective date of the merger or consolidation, the company must make a written offer to each dissenting shareholder to purchase his shares at a specified price per share that the company determines to be the fair value of the shares. The company and the shareholder then have 30 days to agree upon the price. If the company and a shareholder fail to agree on the price within the 30 days, then the company and the shareholder shall, within 20 days immediately following the expiration of the 30-day period, each designate an appraiser and these two appraisers shall designate a third appraiser. These three appraisers shall fix the fair value of the shares as of the close of business on the day prior to the shareholders’ approval of the transaction without taking into account any change in value as a result of the transaction.

 

Under Delaware law, each corporation’s board of directors must approve a merger agreement. The merger agreement must state, among other terms, the terms of the merger and method of carrying out the merger. This agreement must then be approved by the majority vote of the outstanding stock entitled to vote at an annual or special meeting of each corporation, and no class vote is required unless provided in the certificate of incorporation.

 

Delaware permits an agreement of merger to contain a provision allowing the agreement to be terminated by the board of directors of either corporation, notwithstanding approval of the agreement by the stockholders of all or any of the corporations (1) at any time prior to the filing of the agreement with the Secretary of State or (2) after filing if the agreement contains a post-filing effective time and an appropriate filing is made with the Secretary of State to terminate the agreement before the effective time. In lieu of filing an agreement of merger, the surviving corporation may file a certificate of merger, executed in accordance with Section 103 of the DGCL. The surviving corporation is also permitted to amend and restate its certification of incorporation in its entirety. The agreement of merger may also provide that it may be amended by the board of directors of either corporation prior to the time that the agreement filed with the Secretary of State becomes effective, even after approval by stockholders, so long as any amendment made after such approval does not adversely affect the rights of the stockholders of either corporation and does not change any term in the certificate of incorporation of the surviving corporation. If the agreement is amended after filing but before becoming effective, an appropriate amendment must be filed with the Secretary of State. If the surviving corporation is not a Delaware corporation, it must consent to service of process for enforcement of any obligation of the corporation arising as a result of the merger; such obligations include any suit by a stockholder of the disappearing Delaware corporation to enforce appraisal rights under Delaware law.

 

If a proposed merger or consolidation for which appraisal rights are provided is to be submitted for approval at a shareholder meeting, the subject company must give notice of the availability of appraisal rights to its shareholders at least 20 days prior to the meeting.

 

A dissenting shareholder who desires to exercise appraisal rights must (a) not vote in favor of the merger or consolidation; and (b) continuously hold the shares of record from the date of making the demand through the effective date of the applicable merger or consolidation. Further, the dissenting shareholder must deliver a written demand for appraisal to the company before the vote is taken. The Delaware Court of Chancery will determine the fair value of the shares exclusive of any element of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the merger, together with interest, if any, to be paid upon the amount determined to be the fair value. In determining such fair value, the court will take into account “all relevant factors.” Unless the Delaware Court of Chancery in its discretion determines otherwise, interest from the effective date of the merger through the date of payment of the judgment will be compounded quarterly and accrue at 5% over the Federal Reserve discount rate.

 

Indemnification of Directors and Officers

 

BVI 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 provision providing indemnification may be held by the BVI courts to be contrary to public policy (e.g. for purporting to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime).

 

Under our Memorandum and Articles of Association, subject to certain limitations, we may indemnify against all expenses, including legal fees, and against all judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement and reasonably incurred in connection with legal, administrative or investigative proceedings for any person who:

 

  is or was a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that the person is or was our director; or
     
  is or was, at our request, serving as a director of, or in any other capacity is or was acting for, another body corporate or a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise.

 

 
 

 

These indemnities only apply if the person acted honestly and in good faith with a view to our best interests and, in the case of criminal proceedings, the person had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. The decision of the directors as to whether the person acted honestly and in good faith and with a view to our best interests and as to whether the person had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful is, in the absence of fraud, sufficient for the purposes of our Memorandum and Articles of Association, unless a question of law is involved. The termination of any proceedings by any judgment, order, settlement, conviction or the entering of a nolle prosequi does not, by itself, create a presumption that the person did not act honestly and in good faith and with a view to our best interests or that the person had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

 

This standard of conduct is generally the same as permitted under the DGCL for a Delaware corporation.

 

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 advised 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 BVI law, the directors owe the company certain statutory and fiduciary duties including, among others, a duty to act honestly, in good faith, for a proper purpose and with a view to what the directors believe to be in the best interests of the company. When exercising powers or performing duties as a director, the director is required to exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonable director would exercise in the circumstances taking into account, without limitation, the nature of the company, the nature of the decision and the position of the director and the nature of the responsibilities undertaken. In exercising the powers of a director, the directors ensure neither they nor the company acts in a manner which contravenes the BVI Companies Act or our Memorandum and Articles of Association, as amended and restated from time to time. A shareholder has the right to seek damages for breaches of duties owed to us by our directors.

 

Under Delaware corporate 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 act 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, a director must prove the procedural fairness of the transaction and that the transaction was of fair value to the corporation.

 

Shareholder Action by Written Consent

 

BVI law provides that shareholders may approve corporate matters by way of a written resolution without a meeting signed by or on behalf of shareholders sufficient to constitute the requisite majority of shareholders who would have been entitled to vote on such matter at a general meeting; provided that if the consent is less than unanimous, notice must be given to all non-consenting shareholders. Pursuant to our Memorandum and Articles of Association, an action that may be taken by the shareholders of our Company at a meeting may also be taken by a resolution of shareholders of our Company consented to in writing, without the need for any notice, but if any resolution of shareholders of our Company is adopted otherwise than by the unanimous written consent of all shareholders of our Company, a copy of such resolution shall forthwith be sent to all shareholders of our Company not consenting to such resolution. The consent may be in the form of counterparts, each counterpart being signed by one or more shareholders of our Company. If the consent is in one or more counterparts, and the counterparts bear different dates, then the resolution shall take effect on the earliest date upon which shareholders holding a sufficient number of votes of Shares to constitute a resolution of shareholders of our Company have consented to the resolution by signed counterparts. Under the DGCL, a corporation may eliminate the right of shareholders to act by written consent by amendment to its certificate of incorporation.

 

Shareholder Proposals

 

BVI law and our Memorandum and Articles of Association provide that shareholders holding 30% or more of the voting rights entitled to vote on any matter for which a meeting is to be requested may request that the directors shall requisition a shareholder’s meeting. Under the DGCL, a shareholder has the right to put any proposal before the annual meeting of shareholders, provided it complies with the notice provisions in the governing documents. A special 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.

 

 
 

 

As a BVI company, we are not obliged by law to call shareholders’ annual general meetings, but our Memorandum and Articles of Association do permit the directors to call such a meeting. The location of any shareholders’ meeting can be determined by the board of directors and can be held anywhere in the world.

 

Cumulative Voting

 

There are no prohibitions in relation to cumulative voting under the laws of the BVI, but our Memorandum and Articles of Association do not provide for cumulative voting. Under the DGCL, cumulative voting for elections of directors is not permitted unless the corporation’s certificate of incorporation specifically provides for it. 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 our Memorandum and Articles of Association, a director of our Company may be removed from office, with or without cause, by a resolution of shareholders of our Company passed at a meeting of shareholders of our Company called for the purposes of removing the director or for purposes including the removal of the director or by written resolution passed by at least 75 percent of the votes of the shareholders of our Company entitled to vote, or by a resolution of directors of our Company passed at a meeting of directors called for the purpose of removing the director or for purposes including the removal of the director. Under the DGCL, 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.

 

Transactions with Interested Shareholders

 

The Delaware General Corporation Law contains a business combination statute applicable to Delaware public corporations whereby, unless the corporation has specifically elected not to be governed by such statute by amendment to 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 group who or which owns or owned 15% or more of the target’s outstanding voting shares 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 public corporation to negotiate the terms of any acquisition transaction with the target’s board of directors.

 

BVI law has no comparable statute. As a result, we are not afforded the same statutory protections in the BVI as we would be offered by the Delaware business combination statute. Although BVI law does not regulate transactions between a BVI company and its significant members, it does provide that such transactions must be entered into bona fide in the best interests of the company and not with the effect of constituting fraud on the minority members.

 

Dissolution; Winding Up

 

Under the BVI Companies Act and our Memorandum and Articles of Association, we may appoint a voluntary liquidator by a resolution of the shareholders of our Company or by a resolution of the directors of our Company if we have no liabilities or if we are able to pay our debts as they fall due and the value of our assets equals or exceeds our liabilities. 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.

 

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 BVI law and our Memorandum and Articles of Association, if at any time our shares are divided into different classes of shares, the rights attached to any class may only be varied, whether or not our Company is in liquidation, with the consent in writing of or by a resolution passed at a meeting by a majority of the votes cast by those entitled to vote at a meeting of the holders of the issued shares in that class. The rights conferred upon the holders of our shares of any class shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of our shares of that class, be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further shares ranking equally with such existing shares.

 

Amendment of Governing Documents

 

Under the BVI Companies Act and our Memorandum and Articles of Association, our Memorandum and Articles of Association may be amended by a resolution of our shareholders or, subject to certain exceptions, by resolutions of directors. An amendment is effective from the date it is registered at the Registry of Corporate Affairs in the BVI or from such other date as may be ordered by the Court under Section 13(5) of the BVI Companies Act. 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.

 

 
 

 

Anti-Money Laundering

 

In order to comply with legislation or regulations aimed at the prevention of money laundering, we are required to adopt and maintain anti-money laundering procedures, and may require subscribers to provide evidence to verify their identity 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 as is necessary to verify the identity of a subscriber. In some cases, the directors may be satisfied that no further information is required since an exception applies under the Anti-Money Laundering Regulations (as revised) of the BVI, as amended and revised from time to time or any other applicable law.

 

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.

 

If any person resident in the BVI knows or suspects that another person is engaged in money laundering or terrorist financing and the information for that knowledge or suspicion came to their attention in the course of their business the person will be required to report his belief or suspicion to the Financial Investigation Agency of the BVI, pursuant to the Proceeds of Criminal Conduct Act (as revised). 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.

 

Changes in Capital (Item 10.B.10 of Form 20-F)

 

Our Memorandum and Articles of Association do not contain provisions that regulate and limit the changes in the capital, where such conditions are more stringent than is required by law.

 

Debt Securities (Item 12.A of Form 20-F)

 

Not applicable.

 

Warrants and Rights (Item 12.B of Form 20-F)

 

Not applicable.

 

Other Securities (Item 12.C of Form 20-F)

 

Not applicable.

 

Description of American Depositary Shares (Items 12.D of Form 20-F)

 

Not applicable.