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EX-2.2 2 ex2-2.htm Youxin Technology Ltd - Description of Securities

 

Exhibit 2.2

 

Description of Securities
Registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

As of September 30, 2024, Youxin Technology Ltd (the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us”) had one class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as follows:

 

Title of each class   Symbol   Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A Ordinary Shares, par value US$0.0001 per share   YAAS   Nasdaq Capital Market

 

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the annual report on Form 20-F.

 

We are a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability duly registered with the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies. Our affairs are governed by our memorandum and articles of association (as amended and restated from time to time) (the “Memorandum and Articles of Association”), the Companies Act (as revised) of the Cayman Islands, which is referred to as the Companies Act below, and the common law of the Cayman Islands. Our corporate purposes are unrestricted and we have the authority to carry out any object not prohibited by any law as provided by Section 7(4) of the Companies Act.

 

The authorized share capital of our company is $50,000 divided into 500,000,000 ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 consisting of 400,000,000 Class A Shares and 100,000,000 Class B Shares. As of September 30, 2024, our company had 22,304,693 Class A Shares and 8,945,307 Class B Shares, issued and outstanding, respectively.

 

Ordinary Shares

 

General

 

All 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. The title to Shares listed on Nasdaq Stock Market may be evidenced and transferred in accordance with the laws applicable to the rules and regulations of Nasdaq Stock Market. Our shareholders who are non-residents of the Cayman Islands may freely hold and vote their Class A Shares and Class B Shares. Our Memorandum and Articles of Association do not permit us to issue bearer shares.

 

Holders of Class A Shares and Class B Shares vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote by the shareholders at any general meeting of our company and have the same rights except each Class A Share is entitled to 1 vote and each Class B Share is entitled to 20 votes. The Class A Shares are not convertible into shares of any other class. Upon any direct or indirect sale, transfer, assignment or disposition, the Class B Shares will be automatically and immediately convertible into Class A Shares on a one-to-one basis.

 

Listing

 

Our Class A Shares are listed for trading on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “YAAS.” We will not list Class B Shares on The Nasdaq Capital Market.

 

Issuance of Shares

 

Our Board of Directors has general and unconditional authority to grant options over, offer or otherwise deal with or dispose of any unissued shares in our capital without further action by our shareholders (whether forming part of the original or any increased share capital), either at a premium or at par, with or without preferred, deferred or other special rights or restrictions, whether in regard to dividend, voting, return of capital or otherwise and to such persons, on such terms and conditions, and at such times as the directors may decide, but so that no share shall be issued at a discount, except in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act. We will not issue bearer shares.

 

 

 

 

Fiscal Year

 

Our fiscal year ends on September 30 of the calendar year.

 

Record Dates

 

The Board of Directors may determine that the shareholders entitled to receive notice of a meeting or the dividend are those persons entered on the register of members at the close of business on a day determined by the Board of Directors.

 

General Meetings of Shareholders

 

As a Cayman Islands exempted company, we are not obliged by the Companies Act to call 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. For any general meeting of shareholders the notice of a general meeting shall specify (a) the place, date and hour of the meeting; (b) if the meeting is to be held in two or more places, the technology that will be used to facilitate the meeting; (c) the general nature of the business to be transacted and (d) if a resolution is proposed as a special resolution, the text of that resolution.

 

The Companies Act of the Cayman Islands 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 Articles of Association provide that upon the requisition of shareholders representing not less than 10% of the voting rights entitled to vote at general meetings, our Board will convene a general meeting and put the resolutions so requisitioned to a vote at such meeting.

 

Subject to regulatory requirements, our annual general meeting and any extraordinary general meetings must be called by not less than 5 clear days’ notice prior to the relevant shareholders meeting and convened by a notice discussed below. But a meeting may be convened on shorter notice with the consent of the Member or Members who, individually or collectively, hold at least 90% of the voting rights of all those who have a right to vote at that meeting.

 

We will give notice of each general meeting of shareholders by publication on our website, in a Cayman Islands daily newspaper with national distribution and in any other manner that we may be required to follow in order to comply with Cayman Islands law, Nasdaq Capital Market and SEC requirements. The holders of registered shares may be convened for a shareholders’ meeting by means of letters sent to the addresses of those shareholders as registered in our shareholders’ register, or, subject to certain statutory requirements, by electronic means. We will observe the statutory minimum convening notice period for a general meeting of shareholders.

 

A quorum for a general meeting consists of any one or more persons holding or representing by proxy not less than one-third of our outstanding shares carrying the right to vote at such general meeting. As noted in the risk factor titled “We are a “foreign private issuer,” and our disclosure obligations differ from those of U.S. domestic reporting companies. As a result, we may not provide you the same information as U.S. domestic reporting companies or we may provide information at different times, which may make it more difficult for you to evaluate our performance and prospects.”, The Nasdaq Capital Market allows foreign private issuers like our Company to opt to follow rules that apply in the issuer’s home country instead of a given Nasdaq rule. NASDAQ Listing Rule 5615(a)(3) permits a foreign private issuer like us to follow home country practices in lieu of certain requirements of Listing Rule 5600, provided that such foreign private issuer discloses in its annual report filed with the SEC each requirement of Rule 5600 that it does not follow and describes the home country practice followed in lieu of such requirement. We have opted to follow home country practice regarding quorum requirements pursuant to NASDAQ Listing Rule 5615(a)(3).

 

 

 

 

At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands, unless a poll is (before, or on, the declaration of the result of the show of hands) demanded by the chairman of the meeting or by at least two shareholders having the right to vote on the resolutions or one or more shareholders present who together hold not less than ten percent of the voting rights of all those who are entitled to vote on the resolution. Unless a poll is so demanded, a declaration by the chairman as to the result of a resolution and an entry to that effect in the minutes of the meeting, shall be conclusive evidence of the outcome of a show of hands, without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favor of, or against, that resolution. If a poll is duly demanded it shall be taken in such manner as the chairman directs. In the case of an equality of votes, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, the chairman of the meeting at which the show of hands takes place or at which the poll is demanded, shall not be entitled to a second or casting vote.

 

An ordinary resolution to be passed by the shareholders requires the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes cast by, or on behalf of, the shareholders entitled to vote present in person or by proxy and voting at the meeting. A special resolution requires the affirmative vote of no less than two-thirds of the votes cast by the shareholders entitled to vote who are present in person or by proxy at a general meeting. Both ordinary resolutions and special resolutions may also be passed by a unanimous written resolution signed by all the shareholders of our company, as permitted by the Companies Act and our Articles of Association.

 

Pursuant to our Articles of Association, the chairman of a general meeting shall be the chairman of the Board or such other director as the directors have nominated to chair Board meetings in the absence of the chairman of the Board. Absent any such person being present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, the directors present shall elect one of them to chair the meeting. If no director is present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, or if no director is willing to act as chairman, the shareholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall choose one of them to chair the meeting.

 

Liquidation Rights

 

Subject to any special rights, privileges or restrictions as to the distribution of available surplus assets on liquidation applicable to any class or classes of shares (1) if we are wound up and the assets available for distribution among our shareholders are more than sufficient to repay the whole of the capital paid up at the commencement of the winding up, the excess shall be distributed pari passu among our shareholders in proportion to the amount paid up at the commencement of the winding up on the shares held by them, respectively, and (2) if we are wound up and the assets available for distribution among our shareholders as such are insufficient to repay the whole of the paid-up capital, those assets shall be distributed so that, as nearly as may be, the losses shall be borne by our shareholders in proportion to the capital paid up at the commencement of the winding up on the shares held by them, respectively.

 

If we are wound up, the shareholders may, subject to our Articles of Association and any other sanction required by the Companies Act, pass a special resolution allowing the liquidator to do either or both of the following: (a) divide in specie among our shareholders the whole or any part of our assets and may, for such purpose, value any assets and may determine how such division shall be carried out as between the shareholders or different classes of shareholders; and (b) vest the whole or any part of these assets in trustees for the benefit of our shareholders 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.

 

Changes to Capital

 

Pursuant to our Articles of Association, we may from time to time by shareholders resolution passed by a simple majority of the voting rights entitled to vote at a general meeting:

 

  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 its paid-up shares into stock and reconvert that stock into paid up shares of any denomination;

 

 

 

 

  sub-divide our existing shares, or any of them, into shares of smaller amounts than is fixed pursuant to our Memorandum of Association; and
     
  cancel any shares which at the date of the passing of the 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, subject to the provisions of the Companies Act.

 

In addition, subject to the provisions of the Companies Act and our Articles of Association, we may:

 

  issue shares on terms that they are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed;
     
  purchase our own shares (including any redeemable shares); and
     
  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 our capital.

 

Transfer of Shares

 

Subject to any applicable restrictions set forth in our Articles of Association, any of our shareholders may transfer all or a portion of their ordinary shares by an instrument of transfer in the usual or common form or in the form prescribed by The Nasdaq Capital Market or in any other form which our Board of Directors may approve.

 

We have been approved to have our Shares listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market. Our Shares will be traded in book-entry form and may be transferred in accordance with Articles of Association and the rules and regulations of such exchange.

 

Where the ordinary shares in question are not listed on or subject to the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, registration of any transfer of shares must be approved by our Board of Directors, and our directors may in their absolute discretion decline to register any transfer of shares which are not fully paid up or on which our company has a lien. The directors may also, but are not required to, decline to register any transfer of any such share unless:

 

  (a) the instrument of transfer is lodged with our company, accompanied by the certificate for the Class A Shares or Class B 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;
     
  (b) the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of shares;
     
  (c) the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required;
     
  (d) the Class A Share or Class B Share transferred is fully paid and free of any lien in favor of us;
     
  (e) any fee related to the transfer has been paid to us; and
     
  (f) the transfer is not to more than four joint holders.

 

If our directors refuse to register a transfer of any of our shares which are not listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market, they are required, within three months 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 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 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 days in any year.

 

 

 

 

In addition, upon any sale, transfer, assignment, or disposition of Class B Shares by a holder to a non-affiliate, the Class B Shares shall be immediately and automatically converted into such number of Class A Shares based on a one-to-one basis. It is clarified that the sale, transfer, assignment, or disposition shall be deemed effective only upon the registration of such transaction in our company’s register of members. The creation of a pledge, charge, encumbrance, or other third-party right on any Class B Shares shall not be considered as a sale, transfer, assignment, or disposition unless and until it is enforced and the third party holds full ownership interest in the Class B Shares. In such a case, the Class B Shares shall be converted automatically into Class A Shares upon the registration of the third party or its designee as a shareholder holding an equal number of Class A Shares in the register of members.

 

Share Repurchase

 

We are empowered by the Companies Act and our Articles of Association to purchase our own shares, subject to certain restrictions and requirements under the Companies Act and our Articles of Association. Our Board of Directors may only exercise this power on our behalf, subject to the Companies Act, our Articles of Association and to any applicable requirements imposed from time to time by the SEC, The Nasdaq Capital Market, or by any recognized stock exchange on which our securities are listed.

 

Dividends and Capitalization of Profits

 

Subject to the Companies Act, our company may by ordinary resolution declare dividends in accordance with the respective rights of the shareholders, but no dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the directors of our company. Our Board of Directors may pay interim dividends or declare final dividends in accordance with the respective rights of the shareholders if it appears to them that they are justified by the financial position of our company and that such dividends may lawfully be paid. Subject to the provisions of the Act, in relation to the distinction between interim dividends and final dividends, the following applies: (a) upon determination to pay a dividend or dividends described as interim by the directors in the dividend resolution, no debt shall be created by the declaration until such time as payment is made; and (b) upon declaration of a dividend or dividends described as final by the directors in the dividend resolution, a debt shall be created immediately following the declaration, the due date to be the date the dividend is stated to be payable in the resolution. If the resolution fails to specify whether a dividend is final or interim, it shall be assumed to be interim.

 

In relation to Shares carrying differing rights to dividends or rights to dividends at a fixed rate, the following applies: (a) If the share capital is divided into different classes, the directors may pay dividends on Shares which confer deferred or non-preferred rights with regard to dividends as well as on Shares which confer preferential rights with regard to dividends but no dividend shall be paid on Shares carrying deferred or non-preferred rights if, at the time of payment, any preferential dividend is in arrears; (b) The directors may also pay, at intervals settled by them, any dividend payable at a fixed rate if it appears to them that there are sufficient funds of our company lawfully available for distribution to justify the payment and; (c) If the directors act in good faith, they shall not incur any liability to the Members holding Shares conferring preferred rights for any loss those Members may suffer by the lawful payment of the dividend on any Shares having deferred or non-preferred rights.

 

Except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to Shares, all dividends shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid up on the Shares on which the dividend is paid. All dividends shall be apportioned and paid proportionately to the amount paid up on the Shares during the time or part of the time in respect of which the dividend is paid. But if a Share is issued on terms providing that it shall rank for dividend as from a particular date, that Share shall rank for dividend accordingly. The directors may deduct from a dividend or any other amount payable to a person in respect of a Share any amount due by that person to our Company on a call or otherwise in relation to a Share.

 

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

 

If a dividend cannot be paid to a member or remains unclaimed within six weeks after it was declared or both, the directors may pay it into a separate account in our Company’s name. If a dividend is paid into a separate account, our Company shall not be constituted trustee in respect of that account and the dividend shall remain a debt due to the Member. 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.

 

 

 

 

Appointment, Disqualification and Removal of 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. Any director appointed by the board of directors of our company shall, if still a director, retire at the next annual general meeting after his appointment and be eligible to stand for election as a director at such meeting.

 

A director may be removed by ordinary resolution. As of the date of this report, our Board of Directors has in place an audit committee. See “Management — Board Committee.”

 

A director may at any time resign or retire 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.

 

Grounds for Removing a Director

 

Subject to the provisions of the articles, the office of a director may be terminated forthwith if:

 

  (a) he is prohibited by the law 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 six months.

 

Proceedings of the Board of Directors

 

Our Articles of Association provide that our business is to be managed and conducted by our Board of Directors. The quorum necessary for the Board meeting may be fixed by the Board and, unless so fixed at another number, will be two and business at any meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. In the case of an equality of votes, the chairman shall have a casting vote.

 

Subject to the provisions of the Articles of Association, our Board of Directors may regulate their proceedings as they determine is appropriate.

 

Subject to the provisions of the Articles of Association, to any directions given by the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes cast on the resolution by the shareholders entitled to vote who are present in the meeting and the listing rules of The Nasdaq Capital Market, our Board of Directors may from time to time at its discretion exercise all powers of our company, including to raise capital or borrow money, to mortgage or charge all or any part of the undertaking, property and assets (present and future) and uncalled capital of our company and, subject to the Companies Act, issue debentures, bonds and other securities of our company, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of our company or of any third party.

 

 

 

 

Inspection of Books and Records

 

Holders of ordinary shares will have no general right under Cayman Islands law to inspect or obtain copies of our list of shareholders or our corporate records (other than the memorandum and articles of association, our register of mortgages and charges and special resolutions of our shareholders). However, our Board of Directors may determine from time to time whether our accounting records and books shall be open to the inspection of our shareholders not members of our Board of Directors. Notwithstanding the above, our Articles of Association provide our shareholders with the right to receive annual audited financial statements. Such right to receive annual audited financial statements may be satisfied by filing such annual reports as we are required to file with the SEC.

 

Register of Shareholders

 

Under Cayman Islands law, we must keep a register of shareholders that includes:

 

  the names and addresses of the shareholders, a statement of the shares held by each member, and of the amount paid or agreed to be considered as paid, on the shares of each member;
     
  the date on which the name of any person was entered on the register as a member; and
     
  the date on which any person ceased to be a member.

 

Exempted Company

 

We are an exempted company with limited liability under the Companies Act of the Cayman Islands. The Companies Act in the Cayman Islands distinguishes between ordinary resident companies and exempted companies. Any company that is registered in the Cayman Islands but conducts business mainly outside of the Cayman Islands may apply to be registered as an exempted company. The requirements for an exempted company are essentially the same as for an ordinary company except for the exemptions and privileges listed below:

 

  an exempted company does not have to file an annual return of its shareholders with the Registrar of Companies;
     
  an exempted company’s register of shareholders is not open to inspection;
     
  an exempted company does not have to hold an annual general meeting;
     
  an exempted company need not issue par value, negotiable or bearer shares;
     
  an exempted company may obtain an undertaking against the imposition of any future taxation (such undertakings are usually given for 20 years in the first instance);
     
  an exempted company may register by way of continuation in another jurisdiction and be deregistered in the Cayman Islands;
     
  an exempted company may register as a limited duration company; and
     
  an exempted company may register as a segregated portfolio company.

 

“Limited liability” means that the liability of each shareholder is limited to the amount unpaid by the shareholder on the shares of our company (except in exceptional circumstances, such as involving fraud, the establishment of an agency relationship or an illegal or improper purpose or other circumstances in which a court may be prepared to pierce or lift the corporate veil).

 

 

 

 

Anti-Takeover Provisions in our Articles of Association

 

Some provisions of our Memorandum and Articles of Association may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company or management that shareholders may consider favorable, including provisions that:

 

  limit the ability of our shareholders to requisition and convene general meetings of shareholders and to propose special matters for consideration at general meetings; and
     
  authorize our board of directors to issue shares with preferred, deferred or other special rights or restrictions.

 

However, under Cayman Islands law, our Board of Directors may only exercise the rights and powers granted to them under our Articles of Association, for what they believe in good faith to be in the best interests of our company.

 

Protection of Minority Shareholders

 

The Grand Court of the Cayman Islands may, on the application of shareholders holding not less than one fifth of our shares in issue, appoint an inspector to examine our affairs and report thereon in a manner as the Grand Court shall direct.

 

Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, any shareholder may petition the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands which may make a winding up order, if the court is of the opinion that it is just and equitable that we should be wound up.

 

Notwithstanding U.S. securities laws and regulations applicable to us, general corporate claims against us by our shareholders must, as a general rule, be based on the general laws of contract or tort applicable in the Cayman Islands or their individual rights as shareholders as established by our Articles of Association.

 

The Cayman Islands courts ordinarily would be expected to follow English case law precedents, which permit a minority shareholder to commence a representative action against us, or derivative actions in our name, to challenge (1) an act which is ultra vires or illegal, (2) an act which constitutes a fraud against the minority and the wrongdoers themselves control us, and (3) an irregularity in the passing of a resolution that requires a qualified (or special) majority.

 

Differences in Corporate Law

 

The Companies Act is modelled after similar laws in England and Wales but does not follow recent statutory enactments in England and Wales. In addition, the Companies Act differs 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 Companies Act applicable to us and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the United States and their shareholders.

 

Mergers and Similar Arrangements

 

The Companies Act permits mergers and consolidations between Cayman Islands companies and between Cayman Islands companies and non-Cayman Islands companies.

 

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 company and the vesting of the undertaking, property and liabilities of such companies in the consolidated company. In order to effect such a merger or consolidation, the directors of each constituent company must approve a written plan of merger or consolidation, which must then be authorized by either (a) a special resolution of the shareholders of each constituent company; and (b) such other authorization, if any, as may be specified in such constituent company’s articles of association. The plan must be filed with the Registrar of Companies together with a declaration as to: (1) the solvency of the consolidated or surviving company, (2) the merger or consolidation is bona fide and not intended to defraud unsecured creditors of the constituent companies; (3) no petition or other similar proceeding has been filed and remains outstanding and no order or resolution to wind up the company in any jurisdiction, (4) no receiver, trustee, administrator or similar person has been appointed in any jurisdiction and is acting in respect of the constituent company, its affairs or property, (5) no scheme, order, compromise or similar arrangement has been entered into or made in any jurisdiction with creditors; (6) a list of the assets and liabilities of each constituent company; (7) the non-surviving constituent company has retired from any fiduciary office held or will do so; (8) that the constituent company has complied with any requirements under the regulatory laws, where relevant; and (9) 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 published in the Cayman Islands Gazette.

 

 

 

 

Dissenting shareholders have the right to be paid the fair value of their shares (which, if not agreed between the parties, may be determined by the Cayman Islands’ court) if they follow the required procedures, subject to certain exceptions. Court approval is not required for a merger or consolidation which is effected in compliance with these statutory procedures.

 

In addition, there are statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction and amalgamation of companies by way of schemes of arrangement. Those provisions provide that if a majority in number representing 75% in value of the creditors or class of creditors (as the case may be) present and voting either in person or by proxy at the meeting, agree to any compromise or arrangement, the compromise or arrangement shall, if sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, be binding on all the creditors or the class of creditors, as the case may be, and also on the company or, where a company is in the course of being wound up, on the liquidator and contributories of the company. Alternatively, if 75% in value of the members or class of members (as the case may be) present and voting either in person or by proxy at the meeting, agree to any compromise or arrangement, the compromise or arrangement shall, if sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, be binding on all the members or the class of members, as the case may be, and also on the company or, where a company is in the course of being wound up, on the liquidator and contributories of the company. The convening of the meetings and subsequently 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:

 

  we are not proposing to act illegally or ultra vires and the statutory provisions as to majority vote have been complied with;
     
  the shareholders have been fairly represented at the meeting in question;
     
  the arrangement is such that may be reasonably approved by an intelligent and honest man of that class acting in respect of his interest; and
     
  the arrangement is not one that would more properly be sanctioned under some other provision of the Companies Act or that would amount to a “fraud on the minority.”

 

The Companies Act also 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 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 on the terms of the offer. An objection may be made to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands but is unlikely to succeed unless there is evidence of fraud, bad faith or collusion.

 

If the arrangement and reconstruction by way of a scheme of arrangement is thus approved an sanctioned, or if a tender offer is made and accepted, in accordance with the foregoing statutory procedures, a dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights, which might otherwise ordinarily be available to dissenting shareholders of U.S. corporations and allow such dissenting shareholders to receive payment in cash for the judicially determined value of their shares.

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ Suits

 

Class actions are not recognized in the Cayman Islands, but groups of shareholders with identical interests may bring representative proceedings, which are similar. However, a class action suit could nonetheless be brought in a U.S. court pursuant to an alleged violation of U.S. securities laws and regulations.

 

In principle, we will normally be the proper plaintiff to sue for a wrong done to us as a company, and as a general rule, a derivative action may not be brought by a minority shareholder. However, based on English authorities, which would in all likelihood be of persuasive authority in the Cayman Islands, the Cayman Islands court can be expected to apply and follow the common law principles (namely the rule in Foss v. Harbottle and the exceptions thereto, which limits the circumstances in which a shareholder may bring a derivative action on behalf of the company or a personal action to claim loss which is reflective of loss suffered by the company) which permit a minority shareholder to commence a class action against, or derivative actions in the name of, a company to challenge the following:

 

  a company acts or proposes to act illegally or ultra vires and is therefore incapable of ratification by the shareholder;
     
  an irregularity in the passing of a resolution which requires a qualified majority;
     
  an act purporting to abridge or abolish the individual rights of a member; and
     
  an act which constitutes a fraud on the minority where the wrongdoers are themselves in control of the company.

 

In the case of a company (not being a bank) having its share capital divided into shares, the Grand Court may, on the application of members holding not less than one fifth of the shares of the company in issue, appoint an inspector to examine the affairs of the company and to report thereon in such manner as the Grand Court shall direct.

 

Corporate Governance

 

Cayman Islands law restricts transactions with directors unless there are provisions in the Articles of Association which provide a mechanism to alleviate possible conflicts of interest. Additionally, Cayman Islands law imposes on directors’ duties of care and skill and fiduciary duties to the companies which they serve. Under our Articles of Association, a director must disclose the nature and extent of his material interest in any contract or arrangement, and the interested director may not vote at any meeting on any resolution concerning the interested matter. The interested director shall be counted in the quorum at such meeting and the resolution may be passed by a majority of the disinterested directors present at the meeting, even if the disinterested directors constitute less than a quorum.

 

Indemnification of Directors and Executive Officers and Limitation of Liability

 

The Companies Act does not limit the extent to which a company’s articles of association may provide for indemnification of directors and officers, except to the extent that it may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our Articles of Association provides that we shall indemnify and hold harmless our directors and officers against all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages, liabilities, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts incurred or sustained by such directors or officers, other than by reason of such person’s dishonesty, willful default or fraud, in or about the conduct of our company’s business or affairs (including as a result of any mistake of judgment) or in the execution or discharge of his duties, powers, authorities or discretions, including without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, any costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by such director or officer in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil proceedings concerning our company or its affairs in any court whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere. This standard of conduct is generally the same as permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law for a Delaware corporation. In addition, we entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers that will provide such persons with additional indemnification beyond that provided in our Articles of Association.

 

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, this indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

 

 

 

 

Directors’ Fiduciary Duties

 

As a matter of Cayman Islands law, a director of a Cayman Islands company is in the position of a fiduciary with respect to the company. Accordingly, directors owe fiduciary duties to their companies to act bona fide in what they consider to be the best interests of the company, to exercise their powers for the purposes for which they are conferred and not to place themselves in a position where there is a conflict between their personal interests and their duty to the company. Accordingly, a director owes a company a duty not to make a profit based on his or her position as director (unless the company permits him or her to do so) and a duty not to put himself or herself in a position where the interests of the company conflict with his or her personal interest or his or her duty to a third party. In addition, directors of a Cayman Islands company must not therefore place themselves in a position in which there is a conflict between their duty to the company and their personal interests. However, this obligation may be varied by the company’s articles of association, which may permit a director to vote on a matter in which he has a personal interest provided that he has disclosed that nature of his interest to the Board of Directors. Our Articles of Association provides that a director must disclose the nature and extent of his material interest in any contract or arrangement, and such director may not vote at any meeting on any resolution concerning such interested matter.

 

A director of a Cayman Islands company also owes to the company duties to exercise independent judgment in carrying out his functions and to exercise reasonable skill, care and diligence. It was previously considered that a director need not exhibit in the performance of his or her duties a greater degree of skill than may reasonably be expected from a person of his or her knowledge and experience. However, English and Commonwealth courts have moved towards an objective standard with regard to the required skill and care and these authorities are likely to be followed in the Cayman Islands. A general notice may be given at a meeting of the Board of Directors to the effect that (1) the director is a member or officer of a specified company or firm and is to be regarded as interested in any contract or arrangement which may after the date of the notice in writing be made with that company or firm; or (2) he is to be regarded as interested in any contract or arrangement which may after the date of the notice in writing to the Board of Directors be made with a specified person who is connected with him or her, will be deemed sufficient declaration of interest. This notice shall specify the nature of the interest in question. Following the disclosure being made pursuant to our Articles of Association and subject to any separate requirement under applicable law or the listing rules of The Nasdaq Capital Market, except for certain circumstances as set out in our Articles of Association (including the giving of any security, guarantee or indemnity in respect of money lent or obligations incurred by him or by any other person for the benefit of the Company or any of its subsidiaries), a director may not vote in respect of any contract or arrangement in which he or she has a material interest nor in relation thereto shall he or she be counted in the quorum present at the meeting. However, even if a director discloses his interest and is therefore permitted to vote in accordance with our Articles of Association, he must still comply with his duty to act bona fide in the best interest of our company.

 

In comparison, 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 or herself 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 or she reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation. He or she must not use his or her 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 Proposals

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, 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. The Delaware General Corporation Law does not provide shareholders an express right to put any proposal before the annual meeting of shareholders, but Delaware corporations generally afford shareholders an opportunity to make proposals and nominations provided that they comply with the notice provisions in the certificate of incorporation or bylaws. 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.

 

 

 

 

The Companies Act of the Cayman Islands 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 Articles of Association provide that upon the requisition of shareholders representing not less than 10% of the voting rights entitled to vote at general meetings, our Board will convene a general meeting and put the resolutions so requisitioned to a vote at such meeting. However, our Articles of Association do not provide our shareholders with any right to put any proposals before annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings not called by such shareholders. As an exempted Cayman Islands company, we are not obliged 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. As permitted under Cayman Islands law, our Articles of Association do not provide for cumulative voting. As a result, our shareholders are not afforded any less protections or rights on this issue than shareholders of a Delaware corporation.

 

Removal of Directors

 

Under our Articles of Association, any of our directors may be removed by ordinary resolution of our shareholders. A director will be removed from office automatically if, among other things, he or she (1) becomes prohibited by law from being a director, (2) becomes bankrupt or makes an arrangement or composition with his creditors, (3) 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 (4) is made subject to any law relating to mental health or incompetence, whether by court order or otherwise or (5) he is absent from meetings of directors for a continuous period of six months without the consent of the other directors.

 

Transactions with Interested Shareholders

 

The Delaware General Corporation Law provides that; unless the corporation has specifically elected not to be governed by this statute, it is prohibited from engaging in certain business combinations with an “interested shareholder” for three years following the date that this 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 shares or who or which is an affiliate or associate of the corporation and owned 15% or more of the corporation’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 the 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 these 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. If the dissolution is initiated by the board of directors, it may 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. Under Cayman Islands law, a company may be wound up by either an order of the courts of the Cayman Islands or by a special resolution of its members or, if the company is unable to pay its debts as they fall due, by an ordinary resolution of its members. The court has authority to order winding up in a number of specified circumstances including where it is, in the opinion of the court, just and equitable to do so.

 

Under the Companies Act, a company may be wound up by either an order of the courts of the Cayman Islands or by a special resolution of its shareholders or, if the company is unable to pay its debts as they fall due, by an ordinary resolution of its shareholders. The court has authority to order winding up in a number of specified circumstances including where it is, in the opinion of the court, just and equitable to do so.

 

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 that class, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under our Articles of Association, if our share capital is divided into more than one class of shares, the rights attached to any such class may, subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to any class, only be varied with the consent in writing of the holders of two-thirds of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the shares of that class.

 

Amendment of Governing Documents

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation’s certificate of incorporation may be amended only if adopted and declared advisable by the board of directors and approved by a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, and the bylaws may be amended with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote and may, if so provided in the certificate of incorporation, also be amended by the board of directors. Under the Companies Act, our Articles of Association may only be amended by special resolution of our shareholders.

 

Rights of Non-Resident or Foreign Shareholders

 

There are no limitations imposed by our Articles of Association on the rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders to hold or exercise voting rights on our shares. In addition, there are no provisions in our Articles of Association governing the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed.

 

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 or evidence 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.