UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of November 2014
Commission File Number: 001-34804
IAO KUN GROUP HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED
(Translation of registrant’s name
into English)
Unit 605, East Town Building, 16 Fenwick
Street, Wanchai, Hong Kong
(Address of Principal Executive Office)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will
file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F x Form
40-F ¨
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form
6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ¨
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form
6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing
the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b)
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes ¨ No
x
If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number
assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-_______________.
Other Information
Attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 is a Notice
of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement of Iao Kun Group Holding Company Limited (the “Company”) relating
to the Company’s 2014 Annual Meeting.
Where to Find Additional Information
Shareholders are urged to carefully read
the proxy statement, because it contains important information about the Company and the 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Copies
of the proxy statement and other documents filed by the Company will be available at the website maintained by the Securities and
Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. Copies of such filings can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a request to Iao
Kun Group Holding Company Limited, Unit 605, East Town Building, 16 Fenwick Street, Wanchai, Hong Kong.
Exhibits
Exhibit No. |
|
Description |
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|
|
99.1 |
|
Final Proxy Statement |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Dated: November 19, 2014
|
IAO KUN GROUP HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED |
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|
|
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By: |
/s/ Leong Siak Hung |
|
Name: |
Leong Siak Hung |
|
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. |
|
Description |
|
|
|
99.1 |
|
Final Proxy Statement |
Exhibit 99.1
IAO KUN GROUP HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED
Unit 605, East Town Building, 16 Fenwick
Street, Wanchai, Hong Kong
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To be held on December 5, 2014
(or any adjournment or postponement thereof)
To the Shareholders of
Iao Kun Group Holding Company Limited
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of Iao Kun Group Holding Company Limited
(the “Company”) will be held on December 5, 2014 at 11:30 a.m. local time at Iao Kun VIP Club 1/F., East VIP Entrance,
Galaxy Macau, Cotai, Macau, and at any adjourned or postponement thereof. The Annual Meeting is called for the following purposes:
| 1. | To elect each of Peter Li, Raymond Li Chun Ming, and Yeung Lun Allan to serve on the Board of Directors of the Company as Class
A directors until the 2017 annual meeting of shareholders of the Company or until their respective successors are duly appointed
and qualified; |
| 2. | To adopt a share option scheme (“Share Option Scheme”) that complies with the Rules (“Listing Rules”)
Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (“the Hong Kong Stock Exchange”), conditional
upon the listing of the Company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (the “Listing”); |
| 3. | To amend the authorized share capital of the Company by the cancellation of the 1,150,000 authorized but unissued preference
shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each in the authorized share capital of the Company, such that the authorized share capital
of the Company is US$50,000 divided into 500,000,000 ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each; |
| 4. | To adopt “友權集團控股有限公司”
as the Company’s dual foreign name as a special resolution; |
| 5. | To amend and restate the Third Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company currently in effect
by the deletion in their entirety and the substitution in their place of the Fourth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles
of Association with effect from the Listing, as a special resolution; |
| 6. | To grant authority to directors to issue new shares (not exceeding 20% of issued share capital) (the “Issue Mandate”),
repurchase shares (not exceeding 10% of issued share capital) (the “Repurchase Mandate”) and to increase the number
of shares issuable by the number of shares repurchased during the year, all conditional upon the Listing, and will remain valid
until the next annual general meeting, or the deadline for holding the next annual general meeting under the articles of association
of the Company and applicable laws and regulations, or when the power is revoked by shareholders, whichever is the earliest; |
| 7. | To ratify the appointment of UHY LLP as the independent auditors of the Company for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2014 relating to financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States (“GAAP”); |
| 8. | To
approve the appointment of RSM Nelson Wheeler as the Company’s additional independent auditors conditional upon the Listing
relating to financial statements to be prepared in accordance with the international financial reporting standards (“IFRS”);
and |
| 9. | To consider and take action upon such other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement
thereof. |
A proxy statement providing information,
and a form of proxy to vote, with respect to the foregoing matters accompany this notice. The Board of Directors of the Company
fixed the close of business on October 10, 2014 as the record date (the “Record Date”) for determining the shareholders
entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjourned or postponement thereof. The register of members
of the Company will not be closed. A list of the shareholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting may be examined at the Company’s
offices during the 10-day period preceding the Annual Meeting.
Holders of record of the Company’s
ordinary shares as of the Record Date are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting in person. Your vote is important. Whether
or not you expect to attend the Annual Meeting in person, you are urged to complete, sign, date and return the accompanying proxy
form as promptly as possible. We must receive the proxy form no later than 48 hours before the time of the Annual Meeting to ensure
your representation at such meeting. Shareholders who execute proxies retain the right to revoke them at any time prior to the
voting thereof, and may nevertheless vote in person at the annual meeting. A return envelope which requires no postage if mailed
in the United States is enclosed for your convenience. You may obtain directions to the meeting by calling our offices at 852-2110-9133.
This Proxy Statement, a form of proxy and our most recent Annual Report are available to view online at the following internet
address: http://ir.ikghcl.com/events.cfm. Shareholders may obtain a copy of these materials, free of charge, by contacting William
Schmitt at IRC LLC; 761 Main Avenue; Norwalk, CT 06851; U.S.A.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Leong Siak Hung
Chief Executive Officer
Hong Kong, November 19, 2014
IMPORTANT
Whether or not you expect to attend the Annual Meeting
in person, you are urged to complete, sign, date and return the accompanying proxy form to ensure your representation at such meeting.
If your shares are held in street name, your broker, bank,
custodian or other nominee holder cannot vote your shares in the election of directors, unless you direct the nominee holder how
to vote, by marking your proxy card.
IAO KUN GROUP HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
Page |
Proxy Statement |
1 |
Questions and Answers about the Annual Meeting |
2 |
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management |
7 |
Proposal 1: Election of Directors |
8 |
Executive Officers |
16 |
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions |
18 |
Proposal 2: Share Option Scheme |
20 |
Proposal 3: Amend Authorized Share Capital |
21 |
Proposal 4: Adoption of Dual Foreign Name |
22 |
Proposal 5: Authority to Directors to Issue New Shares; Repurchase Shares; Increase Shares Issuable |
23 |
Proposal 6: Fourth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association |
25 |
Proposal 7: Ratification of Independent Auditors |
27 |
Proposal 8: Appointment of Company’s Additional Independent Auditors Upon Hong Kong Listing
|
|
Other Matters |
29 |
Proxy Card |
30 |
IAO KUN GROUP HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED
Unit 605, East Town Building
16 Fenwick Street, Wanchai
Hong Kong
PROXY STATEMENT
for
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To be held on December 5, 2014
(or any adjournment or postponement thereof)
PROXY SOLICITATION
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors
(the “Board” or the “Board of Directors”) of Iao Kun Group Holding Company Limited (the “Company,”
“Iao Kun,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held
at Iao Kun VIP Club 1/F., East VIP Entrance, Galaxy Macau, Cotai, Macau on December 5, 2014, at 11:30 a.m. local time and for any
adjournment or postponement thereof, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Any
shareholder giving such a proxy has the power to revoke it at any time before it is voted. Written notice of such revocation should
be forwarded directly to the Secretary of the Company, at the above stated address. Proxies may be solicited through the mails
or direct communication with certain shareholders or their representatives by Company officers, directors, or employees, who will
receive no additional compensation therefor. You may obtain directions to the meeting by calling our offices at 852-2110-9133.
If the enclosed proxy is properly executed
and returned, the shares represented thereby will be voted in accordance with the directions thereon and otherwise in accordance
with the judgment of the persons designated as proxies. Any proxy on which no direction is specified will be voted in favor of
the actions described in this Proxy Statement and for the election of the nominees set forth under the caption “Election
of Directors.”
The Company will bear the entire cost of
preparing, assembling, printing and mailing this Proxy Statement, the accompanying proxy form, and any additional material that
may be furnished to shareholders. The date on which this Proxy Statement and the accompanying Form of Proxy will first be mailed
or given to the Company’s shareholders is on or about November 20, 2014.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability
of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting
We have elected to provide access to our
proxy materials both by sending you this full set of proxy materials, including the notice of our annual meeting, this proxy statement,
a proxy card and our 2013 Annual Report to Shareholders, and by notifying you of the availability of our proxy materials on the
Internet. The notice of annual meeting, proxy statement, form of proxy and our 2014 Annual Report are also available at http://ir.ikghcl.com/events.cfm.
The materials on the site are searchable, readable and printable, and the site does not use “cookies” or other tracking
devices that identify visitors.
Your vote is important. Whether or
not you expect to attend the Annual Meeting in person, you are urged to complete, sign, date and return the accompanying proxy
form as promptly as possible to ensure your representation at such meeting. Shareholders who execute proxies retain the right to
revoke them at any time prior to the voting thereof, and may nevertheless vote in person at the annual meeting. If you hold your
shares in street name and wish to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting, you should contact your broker, bank, custodian or other
nominee holder about getting a proxy appointing you to vote your shares.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL
MEETING
The following is information regarding the
proxy material, annual meeting and voting is presented in a question and answer format.
| Q. | What is the purpose of this document? |
| A. | This document serves as the Company’s proxy statement, which is being provided to Company shareholders of record at the
close of business on October 10, 2014 (the “record date”) because the Company’s Board of Directors is soliciting
their proxies to vote at the 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (“Annual Meeting”) on the items of business outlined
in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting Notice”). |
| Q. | Why am I receiving these materials? |
| A. | We have sent you this proxy statement and the enclosed proxy card because the Board of Directors of the Company is soliciting
your proxy to vote at the Annual Meeting, including at any adjournments or postponements of the meeting. You are invited
to attend the Annual Meeting to vote on the proposals described in this proxy statement. However, you do not need to attend
the meeting to vote your shares. Instead, you may simply complete, sign and return the enclosed proxy card.
When you sign the enclosed proxy card, you appoint the proxy holder as your representative at the meeting. The proxy holder will
vote your shares as you have instructed in the proxy card, thereby ensuring that your shares will be voted whether or not you attend
the meeting. Even if you plan to attend the meeting, you should complete, sign and return your proxy card in advance of the meeting
just in case your plans change.
If you have signed and returned the proxy card and an issue comes up for a vote at the meeting that is not identified on the card,
the proxy holder will vote your shares, pursuant to your proxy, in accordance with his or her judgment.
The Company intends to mail this proxy statement and accompanying proxy card on or about November 20, 2014 to all shareholders
of record entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. |
| Q. | Who may vote and how many votes my I cast? |
| A. | Only shareholders of record on the record date, October 10, 2014, will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. On the record
date, there were 59,202,314 ordinary shares outstanding and entitled to vote. Each ordinary share is entitled to one vote on each
matter. There are no other classes of share capital outstanding. |
| A. | You are being asked to vote to on the following matters: |
| · | To elect three Class A directors; |
| · | To adopt the Share Option Scheme that complies with the Listing Rules conditional upon the Listing; |
| · | To amend the authorized share capital of the Company by the cancellation of the 1,150,000 authorized but unissued preference
shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each in the authorized share capital of the Company, such that the authorized share capital
of the Company is US$50,000 divided into 500,000,000 ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each; |
| · | To adopt “友權集團控股有限公司”
as the Company’s dual foreign name as a special resolution; |
| · | To amend and restate the Third Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company currently in effect
by the deletion in their entirety and the substitution in their place of the Fourth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles
of Association with effect from the Listing, as a special resolution; |
| · | To approve the granting of the Issue Mandate and the Repurchase Mandate and to increase the number of shares issuable by the
number of shares repurchased during the year, all conditional upon the Listing, and will remain valid until the next annual general
meeting, or the deadline for holding the next annual general meeting under the articles of association of the Company and applicable
laws and regulations, or when the power is revoked by shareholders, whichever is the earliest; |
| · | To ratify the appointment of UHY LLP as the independent auditors of the Company for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2014 relating to financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP; |
| · | To approve the appointment of RSM Nelson Wheeler as the Company’s additional independent auditors
conditional upon the Listing relating to financial statements to be prepared in accordance with IFRS; and |
| · | To consider and take action upon such other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement
thereof. |
If any nominee for director is unable or unwilling
to serve, or if an item properly comes up for vote at the Annual Meeting, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, that is
not described in the Meeting Notice, that person acting as proxy pursuant to the proxy card will vote the shares as recommended
by the Board of Directors pursuant to the discretionary authority granted in the proxy. At the time this proxy statement was printed,
we were not aware of any matters to be voted on which are not described in this proxy statement.
| A. | You may either vote “For” or “Against” each of the nominees to the Board of Directors named herein
and you may vote “For” or “Against” each of the other proposals, or “Abstain” from voting on
such other proposals. The procedures for voting are outlined below: |
Shareholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name
If you are a shareholder of record, you may vote in
person at the Annual Meeting or vote by proxy using the enclosed proxy card.
| · | To vote in person, come to the Annual Meeting and we will give you a ballot when you arrive; or |
| · | To vote using the proxy card, simply complete, sign and date the enclosed proxy card and return it promptly in the envelope
provided. If you return your signed proxy card to us by 11:59 p.m. EST on the day before the Annual Meeting, we will vote your
shares as you direct. |
Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker,
Bank, Custodian or Other Nominee Holder
If you received this proxy statement from your broker,
bank, custodian or other nominee holder, your broker, bank, custodian or other nominee holder should have given you instructions
for directing how that person or entity should vote your shares. It will then be your broker, bank, custodian or other nominee
holder’s responsibility to vote your shares for you in the manner you direct. Please complete, execute and return the proxy
card in the envelope provided by your broker, bank, custodian or other nominee holder promptly.
Under the rules of various national and regional securities
exchanges, brokers generally may vote on routine matters, such as the ratification of the engagement of an independent public accounting
firm, but may not vote on non-routine matters unless they have received voting instructions from the person for whom they are holding
shares. The election of directors and the amendment to effect the change in the Company’s corporate name are non-routine
matters, and, consequently, your broker, bank, custodian or other nominee holder will not have discretionary authority to vote
your shares on these matter. If your broker, bank, custodian or other nominee holder does not receive instructions from you on
how to vote on these matters, your broker, bank, custodian or other nominee holder will return the proxy card to us, indicating
that he or she does not have the authority to vote on these matters. This is generally referred to as a “broker non-vote”
and may affect the outcome of the voting.
We therefore encourage you to provide directions to
your broker, bank, custodian or other nominee holder as to how you want your shares voted on all matters to be brought before the
Annual Meeting. You should do this by carefully following the instructions your broker, bank, custodian or other nominee holder
gives you concerning its procedures. This ensures that your shares will be voted at the Annual Meeting.
You are also invited to attend the Annual Meeting.
However, since you are not the shareholder of record, you may not vote your shares in person at the meeting unless you request
and obtain a valid proxy from your broker, bank, custodian or other nominee holder.
| Q. | How does the Board recommend I vote? |
| A. | Our Board of Directors recommends that you vote: |
| · | FOR election of each of our three nominees for director; |
| · | FOR adoption of the Share Option Scheme that complies with the Listing Rules conditional upon the Listing; |
| · | FOR amending the authorized share capital of the Company by the cancellation of the 1,150,000 authorized but unissued
preference shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each in the authorized share capital of the Company, such that the authorized share
capital of the Company is US$50,000 divided into 500,000,000 ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each; |
| · | FOR adoption of “友權集團控股有限公司”
as the Company’s dual foreign name as a special resolution; |
| · | FOR amending and restating the Third Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company currently
in effect by the deletion in their entirety and the substitution in their place of the Fourth Amended and Restated Memorandum and
Articles of Association with effect from the Listing; |
| · | FOR approving the granting of the Issue Mandate and the Repurchase Mandate and to increase the number of shares issuable
by the number of shares repurchased during the year, all conditional upon the Listing, and will remain valid until the next annual
general meeting, or the deadline for holding the next annual general meeting under the articles of association of the Company and
applicable laws and regulations, or when the power is revoked by shareholders, whichever is the earliest; |
| · | FOR
approving the appointment
of RSM Nelson Wheeler as the Company’s additional independent auditors conditional
upon the Listing relating to financial statements to be prepared in accordance with IFRS;
and |
| · | FOR
ratification of the appointment
of UHY LLP as the independent auditor of the Company for the fiscal year ending December
31, 2014 relating to financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. |
| Q. | What if I change my mind after I vote via proxy? |
| A. | If you hold your shares in your own name, you may revoke your proxy at any time before your shares are voted by: |
| · | mailing a later dated proxy prior to the Annual Meeting; |
| · | delivering a written request in person to return the executed proxy; |
| · | voting in person at the Annual Meeting; or |
| · | providing written notice of revocation to the Corporate Secretary of the Company at: Unit 605, East Town Building; 16 Fenwick
Street; Wanchai, Hong Kong. |
If you hold your shares in the name
of your broker, bank, or other fiduciary, you will need to contact that person or entity to revoke your proxy.
| Q. | What does it mean if I receive more than one proxy card or voting instruction form? |
| A. | It means that you have multiple accounts at our transfer agent or with brokers, banks, or other fiduciaries. Please complete
and return all proxy cards and voting instruction forms to ensure that all of your shares are voted. |
| Q. | How many shares must be present to hold a valid meeting? |
| A. | For us to hold a valid Annual Meeting, we must have a quorum, which means that greater than 33.33% of our outstanding ordinary
shares that are entitled to cast a vote are present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting. Proxies received but marked as
abstentions and Broker Non-Votes will be treated as shares that are present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining a
quorum. Your shares will be counted as present at the Annual Meeting if you: |
| · | properly submit a proxy card (even if you do not provide voting instructions); or |
| · | attend the Meeting and vote in person. |
On October 10, 2014, the record date, there were 59,202,314
ordinary shares outstanding. Therefore, at least 19,732,132 shares need to be present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting
in order to hold the meeting and conduct business.
| Q. | How many votes are required to approve an item
of business? |
| A. | Each director shall be elected by a simple majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting. There is no cumulative voting
for the Company’s directors. |
The proposal to adopt the Share
Option Scheme that complies with the Listing Rules conditional upon the Listing will be approved if passed by a simple majority
of the votes cast by the shareholders at the Annual Meeting.
The proposal to amend the authorized
share capital of the Company will be approved if the holders of not less than a simple majority of the votes cast by the shareholders
at the Annual Meeting vote in favor of such amendment.
The proposal to adopt “友權集團控股有限公司”
as the Company’s dual foreign name as a special resolution will be approved if the holders of not less than two-thirds of
the votes cast by the shareholders at the Annual Meeting vote in favor of such adoption.
The proposal to amend and restate
the Third Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company currently in effect by the deletion in their
entirety and the substitution in their place of the Fourth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association with effect
from the Listing as a special resolution will be approved if the holders of not less than two-thirds of the votes cast by the shareholders
at the Annual Meeting vote in favor of such amendment and restatement.
The proposal approve the granting
of the Issue Mandate and the Repurchase Mandate and to increase the number of shares issuable by the number of shares repurchased
during the year, all conditional upon the Listing, and will remain valid until the next annual general meeting, or the deadline
for holding the next annual general meeting under the articles of association of the Company and applicable laws and regulations,
or when the power is revoked by shareholders, whichever is the earliest will be approved if passed by a simple majority of the
votes cast by the shareholders at the Annual Meeting.
The affirmative vote of a simple
majority of the votes cast in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting is required for the approval of the appointment of RSM Nelson
Wheeler as the Company’s additional independent auditors conditional upon the Listing.
The affirmative vote of a simple
majority of the votes cast in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting is required for the ratification of the appointment of UHY
LLP as the independent auditors of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014.
Only shares that are voted are taken
into account in determining the proportion of votes cast for any of the proposals. Any shares not voted (whether by abstention,
broker non-vote or otherwise) will not impact any of the votes.
Except for determining the presence
or absence of a quorum for the transaction of business, broker non-votes are not counted for any purpose in determining whether
a matter has been approved.
| Q. | Who pays the cost for soliciting proxies? |
| A. | We will pay the cost for the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors. Our solicitation of proxies will be made primarily
by mail. Proxies may also be solicited personally, by telephone, fax or e-mail by our officers, directors, and regular supervisory
and executive employees, none of whom will receive any additional compensation for their services. We will also reimburse brokers,
banks, custodians, other nominees and fiduciaries for forwarding these materials to beneficial holders to obtain the authorization
for the execution of proxies. |
| Q. | Where can I find additional information about the Company? |
| A. | Our reports on Forms 20-F and 6-K, and other publicly available information, should be consulted for other important information
about the Company. You can also find additional information about us on our web site at http://ir.ikghcl.com/. The principal executive
office of the Company is located at Unit 605, East Town Building, 16 Fenwick Street, Wanchai, Hong Kong. The mailing address of
the principal executive office is Unit 605, East Town Building, 16 Fenwick Street, Wanchai, Hong Kong. The telephone number for
the Company is 852-2110-9133. |
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL
OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth information
regarding the beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares as of October 24, 2014 by:
| · | each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding ordinary shares; |
| · | each of our current executive officers and directors; and |
| · | all of our current executive officers and directors as a group. |
Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that
all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by
them. Percentages of ownership are based on 60,452,314 Ordinary Shares outstanding as of October 24, 2014. Shares which an individual
or group has a right to acquire within 60 days pursuant to the exercise or conversion of options, warrants or other convertible
securities are deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of such individual or group, but
are not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person shown in the table.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner | |
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership | | |
Percent of Class | |
Sylvia Lee(1) | |
| 2,434,566 | (2) | |
| 4.0 | % |
Vong Hon Kun(3) | |
| 8,386,122 | | |
| 13.9 | % |
Lam Chou In(3) | |
| 6,771,875 | | |
| 11.2 | % |
Lam Man Pou(3) | |
| 6,513,265 | | |
| 10.8 | % |
Chui Vai Hou, George(3) | |
| 12,140 | | |
| * | |
James R. Preissler(4) | |
| 228,197 | | |
| * | |
Leong Siak Hung(5) | |
| 1,321,757 | | |
| 2.2 | % |
Li Chun Ming, Raymond(3) | |
| 20,825 | | |
| * | |
Peter Li | |
| 183,413 | | |
| * | |
Joao Manuel Santos Ferreira(3) | |
| 17,304 | | |
| * | |
Yeung Lun, Allan(3) | |
| 17,304 | | |
| * | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
All of our directors and executive officers as a group (10 individuals) | |
| 19,134,893 | | |
| 31.7 | % |
| |
| | | |
| | |
All of our directors, executive officers and 5% stockholders who are our employees as a group. | |
| 25,906,768 | | |
| 42.9 | % |
* |
Less than 1%. |
(1) |
The business address of Mrs. Lee is 4100 N.E. Second Avenue, Suite 318, Miami, Florida 33137. |
(2) |
Represents 115,849 ordinary shares owned jointly by Mrs. Lee and her husband, 20,825 ordinary shares owned by Mrs. Lee and 2,297,892 ordinary shares held by CS Capital USA, LLC, an affiliate of Mrs. Lee and her husband. |
(3) |
Each of these persons maintains a business address at 605 East Town Building, 16 Fenwick Street, Wanchai, Hong Kong. |
(4) |
The business address of James R. Preissler is 50 Old Route 25A, Fort Salonga, NY 11768. |
(5) |
1,300,932 of such shares are held by Legend Global International Limited, of which Leong Siak Hung, director, has sole voting and dispositive power over the shares owned by it, which shares constitute all of the shares beneficially owned by Mr. Leong. The business address of Legend Global International Limited is Flat G, 37/F, Block 3, Island Harbourview, Tai Kok Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. |
PROPOSAL NO. 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors, upon recommendation
from the Nominating Committee, has nominated the persons identified under the caption “Class A Directors - Nominees”
for election as directors, to serve until the 2017 annual meeting and their successors have been elected and qualified If any nominee
becomes unavailable for election, which is not expected, the persons named in the accompanying proxy intend to vote for any substitute
whom the Board of Directors nominates. Information regarding the directors whose terms expire at the next two annual meetings is
also set forth below.
Name |
|
Age |
|
Other positions with Company |
Class A Directors – nominees |
|
|
|
|
Peter Li |
|
50 |
|
NA |
Raymond Li Chun Ming |
|
57 |
|
Chief Financial Officer |
Yeung Lun Allan |
|
58 |
|
NA |
|
|
|
|
|
Class B Directors - one-year term remaining |
|
|
|
|
Leong Siak Hung |
|
44 |
|
Chief Executive Officer |
James R. Preissler |
|
41 |
|
NA |
João Manuel Santos Ferreira |
|
61 |
|
NA |
|
|
|
|
|
Class C Directors - two-year term remaining |
|
|
|
|
Lam Man Pou |
|
51 |
|
Chairman and Chief Marketing Officer |
Vong Hon Kun |
|
49 |
|
Chief Operating Officer |
George Chui Vai Hou |
|
47 |
|
NA |
The Company has no reason to believe that
any of the nominees will not be a candidate or will be unable to serve. However, in the event that any of the nominees should become
unable or unwilling to serve as a director, the persons named in the proxy have advised that they will vote for the election of
such person or persons as shall be designated by the directors.
If a quorum is present at the annual meeting,
the three nominees for director receiving a majority of the votes properly cast for the election of directors at the annual meeting
will be elected to our Board of Directors.
The following pages set forth the names,
ages and director start dates of the directors and director nominees, their respective principal occupations or brief employment
history for the past five years and the names of other publicly-held companies of which each serves or has served as a director
during the past five years.
Lam Man Pou, age 51, has been
the chairman and chief marketing officer and a director of the Company since February 2010 and has been the chairman, chief marketing
officer and a director of AGRL since its inception in May 2007. He is responsible for the overall direction and development of
the Company, its subsidiaries and VIP gaming promoters. He is also responsible for developing IKGH’s and its VIP gaming promoters’
marketing programs. Mr. Lam is a citizen of Macau, China and has been involved in the gaming industry in Macau for over 20 years.
He had served as junket agent for various VIP gaming rooms in SJM casinos and Waldo Casino before setting up his own gaming promotion
business in May 2006. From May 2006 to early July 2007, he was the sole proprietor of Sang Heng and Spring. From March 1990 to
May 2002, Mr. Lam was a junket agent for the Casinos of Sociedade de Turismo e Diversoes de Macau, S.A. From June 2002 through
May 2005, Mr. Lam was a junket agent for Casino New Century. From July 2004 through May 2006 Mr. Lam was a junket agent for Waldo
Casino. He is a member of the Macau Gaming Industry General Association of Administrators and VIP Gaming Promoters. Mr. Lam’s
business address is Unit 605, East Town Building, 16 Fenwick Street, Wanchai, Hong Kong.
Leong Siak Hung, age 44, has
served as the Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company since February 2010 and has served as the chief executive officer
and a director of AGRL since its formation and is responsible for the direct general administration of the Company and the Company’s
strategic planning and expansion. Mr. Leong is a citizen of Macau, China and has over 17 years of active management with various
industrial and real property companies in Macau, Hong Kong and China. From November 2001 through June 2003, he was chief executive
officer of National Craft Industrial Co. Ltd, a toys manufacturing company in China. From July 2003 to June 2006, he was chief
executive officer of Idea Kids Toy Co. Ltd. and Genesis Industrial Co. Ltd. Since July 2006, he has been chairman of Idea Kids
Toy Co., Ltd, a toy manufacturing company in China, and also has been chairman of Genesis Industrial Co., Ltd, a toy manufacturing
company in Macau. From July 2006 to December 31, 2009, he was chairman of Zhuhai Zhongzhu Real Estate Development Company Ltd,
a real property developer. He has acted as management advisor for Mr. Lam in respect of general administration and human resources
management for VIP gaming rooms since May 2006. Mr. Leong’s business address is Unit 605, East Town Building, 16 Fenwick
Street, Wanchai, Hong Kong.
Li Chun Ming, Raymond, age
57, has served as the chief financial officer and a director of the Company since February 2010 and has served as chief financial
officer and a director of AGRL since its formation and is responsible for the accounting and finance of the Company. Mr. Li is
a citizen of Hong Kong, China and is a practicing Certified Public Accountant and a member of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified
Public Accountants. He is also an associate of the Hong Kong Taxation Institute and the Association of International Accountants.
He is a graduate of Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Department of Accounting. From July 1984 through July 2005 he worked as senior
manager for Tony C. M. Yau & Company, Certified Public Accountant, in Hong Kong, where he was engaged in auditing, accounting
and corporate services. From August 2005 through July 2006 he worked as a consultant for K Li Business Consultancy Limited, where
he was engaged in the provision of corporate and financial advisory services. Since August 2006 he has been an executive director
of Klis & Associates CPA Limited, Certified Public Accountants, in Hong Kong. In September 2004, he was appointed as an independent
non-executive director of Benefun International Holding Limited, a Hong Kong publicly listed company engaged in the sales of plantation
products, property development, garment manufacturing and retailing, and held such position until May 2009. He has acted as an
advisor to Mr. Lam in respect of the financial management of the VIP gaming rooms since May 2006. Mr. Li’s business address
is Unit 605, East Town Building, 16 Fenwick Street, Wanchai, Hong Kong.
Vong Hon Kun, age 49, has
served as the chief operating officer and a director of the Company since February 2010 and has served as chief operating officer
and a director of AGRL since its formation and is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Company and developing the VIP
gaming patron market in mainland China and the junket agent network throughout that country. Mr. Vong is a citizen of Macau, China.
Mr. Vong has spent over 20 years in the gaming industry and had served as junket agent for various VIP gaming rooms in SJM casinos
and Waldo Casino before joining Lam Man Pou for promoting gaming business in May 2006. From July 1990 to May 2002, Mr. Vong was
a junket agent for the Casinos of Sociedade de Turismo e Diversoes de Macau, S.A. From June 2002 through May 2005, Mr. Vong was
a junket agent for Casino New Century. From July 2004 through May 2005 Mr. Vong was a junket agent for Waldo Casino. Before he
joined the gaming industry, Mr. Vong had worked as a civil servant for six years. He is a member of the Macau Gaming Industry General
Association of Administrators and VIP Gaming Promoters. Mr. Vong’s business address is Unit 605, East Town Building, 16 Fenwick
Street, Wanchai, Hong Kong.
James R. Preissler, age 43,
has served as a director of CS China Acquisition Corp. (“CS China”), the Company’s corporate predecessor, from
June 2008 and served as chief financial officer and secretary of the Company from June 2008 until the Company’s acquisition
of AGRL on February 2, 2010. Since November 2006, Mr. Preissler has served as a managing partner of Panthera Capital Group, an
advisory firm for Chinese companies. From November 2004 until November 2006, Mr. Preissler served as the chief financial officer
and secretary for China Unistone Acquisition Corp., a blank check company that subsequently merged with a target in China to form
Yucheng Technologies (Nasdaq: YTEC), a provider of financial technologies and solutions to banks in China. Mr. Preissler has served
as an investment advisor to Yucheng Technologies since its merger in November 2006. From March 2003 until September 2005, Mr. Preissler
served as the associate director of research for Majestic Research, a New York-based independent research boutique firm focused
on proprietary research for hedge funds and institutional investors. From March 2002 to February 2003, he served as a head of the
digital media research group of Investec, an investment bank specializing on mid-cap growth companies in the United States and
Europe. Mr. Preissler received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University and currently holds Series 7, 24, 63, and 79 securities
licenses. Mr. Preissler’s business address is 50 Old Route 25A, Fort Salonga, New York.
João Manuel Santos Ferreira,
age 61, has served as a director of the Company since April 7, 2010. Mr. Ferreira is an attorney at law in Macau. From 1996 to
July 2008, he was a practicing solicitor at the Macau Jurisdiction Court. From 1975 to 1996, he served in various positions with
Macau public departments, including the Macau Inspection Gaming Bureau (DICJ), where he was a Gaming Inspector from 1989 to 1996.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Macau. Mr. Ferreira’s business address is Suite G, 2/F,
26 Rua Dr. Pedro Jose Lobo, Macau.
Yeung Lun Allan, age 58, has
served as a director of the Company since April 7, 2010. Since 1982, Mr. Yeung has had extensive experience in the manufacturing
industry in China. Since June 2008, he has been the operation manager of Yen Hing Leather Works Factory, which operates a manufacturing
plant of 3,500 employees in Dongguang, China. From 1982 to 1985, he was with Sun Chung Precision Metal Industry Limited, where
he was General Manager at the time he left that company. From 1995 to March 2007, as general manager or deputy general manager,
he managed 5 other manufacturing plants in China having thousands of employees. From April 2007 to March 2009, he was an assistant
operations manager for High-Tech Industrial (HK) Ltd. Mr. Yeung holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from
Aichi Institute of Technology in Japan. Mr. Yeung’s business address is 27/F, Yen Sheng Centre, 64 Hoi Yuen Road, Kwun Tong,
Kowloon, Hong Kong.
George Chui Vai Hou, age 47,
has served as a director of the Company since April 7, 2010. Mr. Chui has been Executive Director of Wai Luen Import & Export
Company Limited in Macau since 1998. Since December 2008, he has also been Executive Director of Ieng Tat Investment & Development
Company Limited, a Macau company engaged in investment activities. From December 2000 to June 2006, he was also Executive Director
of Tai Chong Ip (Group) Company Limited, a real estate trading company in Macau. Mr. Chui has also been invited and serves as a
Member of the 9th, 10th and 11th Guangzhou Committees of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference of China,
which are consultative committees for the Conference. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences with First Class
Honours, majoring in accounting and statistics, from the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom and also holds a Master
of Science degree in International Banking and Financial Studies from the same university. Mr. Chui’s business address is
13A Seng Vo Kok, 405 Rua De Amizade, Macau.
Peter Li, age 50, has served
as our director since December 2011. Mr. Li served as a director of CS China from June 2008 until the Company’s acquisition
of AGRL on February 2, 2010. Mr. Li is currently chief financial officer of Hollysys Automation Technologies (NASDAQ: HOLI), a
leading automation technology and product provider to industrial, rail, and nuclear sectors in China. Mr. Li is an independent
director and audit committee chairman for China Valves Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: CVVT) and Yuhe International Inc.(PK.YUII). Prior
to working at Hollysys, Mr. Li was CFO of Yucheng Technologies (NASDAQ: YTEC), a leading IT service provider to banking industry
in China. Mr. Li was Internal Controller with Lenovo, a leading PC maker in China, before he joined Yucheng Technologies. Mr. Li
graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University with a B.A. and received a Master of Education from University of Toronto. Mr.
Li is a Certified General Accountant in Ontario, Canada.
There are currently no family relationships
among our directors, director nominees, and executive officers.
It is intended that the accompanying proxy
will be voted for the election, as directors, of the three persons named under “Nominees for three-year term” above,
unless the proxy contains contrary instructions.
The Board and Board Committees
During the year ended December 31, 2013,
the Board of Directors met two times and took action by written consent on six occasions. All of the directors attended at least
75% of the aggregate of the total number of board meetings and the total number of meetings held by all committees of the board
on which such director served. Each director is expected to participate, either in person or via teleconference, in meetings of
our Board of Directors and meetings of committees of our Board of Directors in which each director is a member, and to spend the
time necessary to properly discharge such director’s respective duties and responsibilities. We do not have a written policy
with regard to directors’ attendance at annual meetings of shareholders; however, all directors are encouraged to attend
the annual meeting. The Board of Directors has determined that the following directors and director nominees are each independent
directors as defined in Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Listing Rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (the “Nasdaq Listing Rules”):
James R. Preissler, Yeung Lun Allan, João Manuel Santos Ferreira, George Chui Vai Hou, and Peter Li.
| |
Current Committee Composition |
Name | |
Audit | |
Nominating | |
Compensation |
James R. Preissler | |
C | |
| |
|
Yeung Lun Allan | |
M | |
| |
M |
João Manuel Santos Ferreira | |
| |
C | |
M |
George Chui Vai Hou | |
M | |
M | |
|
Peter Li | |
| |
M | |
C |
“C” Indicates committee
chair.
“M” Indicates committee member.
Audit Committee.
On March 10, 2010, the Board of Directors
formed the Audit Committee and adopted a written charter. The Company intends to adopt a new written charter, substantially in
the form attached hereto as Annex A, upon the Listing. The Audit Committee is established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). James R. Preissler (Chairman), Yeung Lun Allan
and George Chui Vai Hou currently serve on this committee. The Audit Committee held two meetings during 2013, and took action by
written consent on four occasions. The Board of Directors has determined that James R. Preissler is an “audit committee financial
expert”. The Board of Directors has determined that each of the members of the Audit Committee are independent as defined
in Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules.
The Audit Committee operates under a written
charter adopted by the Board of Directors and assists the Board of Directors by overseeing the performance of the independent auditors
and the quality and integrity of our internal accounting, auditing and financial reporting practices. The Audit Committee is responsible
for retaining and, as necessary, terminating, the independent auditors, annually reviews the qualifications, performance and independence
of the independent auditors and the audit plan, fees and audit results.
Report of the Audit Committee
The Audit Committee assists the Board of
Directors in providing oversight of the systems and procedures relating to the integrity of the Company’s financial statements,
the Company’s financial reporting process, its systems of internal accounting and financial controls, the annual independent
audit process of the Company’s annual financial statements, the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements
and the qualification and independence of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. Management has the
responsibility for the implementation of these activities. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee reviewed
and discussed with management the audited financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2013, including a discussion of the quality and the acceptability of the Company’s financial reporting
and controls.
The Company’s independent registered
public accounting firm is responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited financial statements with U.S.
generally accepted accounting principles and on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
With respect to the audit of Company’s financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013, the Audit Committee has
reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with management; has discussed with Company’s independent accountants
the matters required to be discussed by the Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended (AICPA, Professional Standards,
Vol. 1, AU section 380), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T; and has received the written
disclosures and the letter from the independent accountant required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence and
has discussed with the independent accountant the independent accountant’s independence.
Based on these reviews and discussions,
the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the company’s
annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013. The Audit Committee also reappointed UHY LLP as the Company’s
independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2014.
The members of the Audit Committee are:
James R. Preissler
Yeung Lun Allan
George Chui Vai Hou
Nominating Committee.
On April 7, 2010, the Board of Directors
formed the Nominating Committee and adopted a written charter. The Company intends to adopt a new written charter, substantially
in the form attached hereto as Annex B, upon the Listing. João Manuel Santos Ferreira (Chairman), George Chui Vai
Hou and Peter Li, each of whom is independent as defined in Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules, currently serve on this
committee. The Nominating Committee did not meet in person at any time during 2013, but did act by written consent on two occasions.
The Committee will consider and evaluate
each director-candidate based upon its assessment of the following criteria:
| · | Whether the candidate is independent pursuant to applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
and any stock exchange. |
| · | Whether the candidate is accomplished in his or her field and has a reputation, both personal and professional, that is consistent
with the image and reputation of the Company. |
| · | Whether the candidate has the ability to read and understand basic financial statements. The Nominating Committee also will
determine if a candidate satisfies the criteria for being an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined by the
Securities and Exchange Commission. |
| · | Whether the candidate has relevant experience and expertise and would be able to provide insights and practical wisdom based
upon that experience and expertise. |
| · | Whether the candidate has knowledge of the Company and issues affecting the Company. |
| · | Whether the candidate is committed to enhancing shareholder value. |
| · | Whether the candidate fully understands, or has the capacity to fully understand, the legal responsibilities of a director
and the governance processes of a public company. |
| · | Whether the candidate is of high moral and ethical character and would be willing to apply sound, objective and independent
business judgment, and to assume broad fiduciary responsibility. |
| · | Whether the candidate has, and would be willing to commit, the required hours necessary to discharge the duties of Board membership. |
| · | Whether the candidate has any prohibitive interlocking relationships or conflicts of interest. |
| · | Whether the candidate is able to develop a good working relationship with other Board members and contribute to the Board’s
working relationship with the senior management of the Company. |
| · | Whether the candidate is able to suggest business opportunities to the Company. |
“Diversity,” as such, is not
a criterion that the Nominating Committee considers. The directors will consider candidates from any reasonable source, including
current board members, shareholders, professional search firms or other persons. The directors will not evaluate candidates differently
based on who has made the recommendation.
Shareholders who wish to recommend to the
Nominating Committee a candidate for election to the Board of Directors should send their letters to Unit 605 East Town Building,
16 Fenwick Street, Wanchai, Hong Kong, Attention: Nominating Committee. The Corporate Secretary will promptly forward all such
letters to the members of the Nominating Committee. Shareholders must follow certain procedures to recommend to the Nominating
Committee candidates for election as directors. In general, in order to provide sufficient time to enable the Nominating Committee
to evaluate candidates recommended by shareholders in connection with selecting candidates for nomination in connection with the
Company’s annual meeting of shareholders, the Corporate Secretary must receive the shareholder’s recommendation no
later than thirty (30) days after the end of the Company’s fiscal year.
The recommendation must contain the following
information about the candidate:
| · | Business and current residence addresses, as well as residence addresses for the past 20 years; |
| · | Principal occupation or employment and employment history (name and address of employer and job title) for the past 10 years
(or such shorter period as the candidate has been in the workforce); |
| · | Permission for the Company to conduct a background investigation, including the right to obtain education, employment and credit
information; |
| · | The number of ordinary shares of the Company beneficially owned by the candidate; |
| · | The information that would be required to be disclosed by the Company about the candidate under the rules of the SEC in a Proxy
Statement soliciting proxies for the election of such candidate as a director (which currently includes information required by
Items 401, 404 and 405 of Regulation S-K); and |
| · | A signed consent of the nominee to serve as a director of the Company, if elected. Although it has not done so in the past,
the Nominating Committee may retain search firms to assist in identifying suitable director candidates. |
Compensation Committee.
On April 7, 2010, the Board of Directors
formed a Compensation Committee and adopted a written charter. The Company intends to adopt a new written charter, substantially
in the form attached hereto as Annex C, upon the Listing. Peter Li (Chairman), João Manuel Santos Ferreira, and Yeung
Lun Allan, each of whom is independent as defined in Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules, currently serve on this committee.
The Compensation Committee did not meet in person during 2013 but took action by written consent on two occasions. The charter
sets forth responsibilities, authority and specific duties of the Compensation Committee. The principal functions of the compensation
committee are to evaluate the performance of our officers, to review any compensation payable to our directors and officers, to
prepare compensation committee reports, and to administer the issuance of any common stock or other equity awards issued to our
officers and directors.
Compensation Committee Interlocks
and Insider Participation
No member
of our Compensation Committee has at any time been an officer or employee of ours or our subsidiaries. No interlocking relationship
exists between our Board of Directors or Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors or Compensation Committee of any other
company, nor has any interlocking relationship existed in the past.
Board Operations
The positions of principal executive officer
and chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company are held by different persons. The chairman of the Board of Directors chairs
Board of Director and shareholder meetings and participates in preparing their agendas.
The Board of Directors is responsible for
overall supervision of the Company’s risk oversight efforts as they relate to the key business risks facing the organization. Management
identifies, assesses, and manages the risks most critical to the Company’s operations on a day-to-day basis and routinely
advises the Board of Directors on those matters as the CEO and CFO have access to the Board of Directors, attend regular meetings
as well as the audit committee meetings. The Board’s role in risk oversight of the Company is consistent with the Company’s
leadership structure, with senior management having responsibility for assessing and managing the Company’s risk exposure,
and the Board and its Committees, providing oversight as necessary in connection with those efforts.
Director Compensation
All of our directors presently receive annual
compensation of $30,000 in cash and $20,000 in our ordinary shares, valued at the average of the closing prices of the ordinary
shares over the three-month period preceding the end of each fiscal year. The directors of the Company are entitled to receive
an aggregate of 60,790 ordinary shares for fiscal 2013. The chairman of the audit committee receives additional annual cash compensation
of $10,000 and the other members of the audit committee each receive additional annual cash compensation of $5,000. The chairman
of the compensation and nominating committees each receive additional annual cash compensation of $5,000 and the other members
of these committees each receive additional annual cash compensation of $3,000. Each director receives $1,000 for each board or
committee meeting that he or she attends (whether in person or telephonically) that is at least an hour in duration and $500 for
each board or committee meeting he or she attends that is less than an hour in duration.
The following table sets forth information
regarding compensation provided to our directors for their service on the board of directors in 2013.
Name | |
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash (US$) | | |
Ordinary Shares(1) (US$) | | |
Total (US$) | |
Raymond Li Chun Ming | |
| 35,000 | | |
| 20,000 | | |
| 55,000 | |
Yeung Lun Allan | |
| 38,000 | | |
| 20,000 | | |
| 58,000 | |
Lam Man Pou | |
| 30,000 | | |
| 20,000 | | |
| 50,000 | |
Vong Hon Kun | |
| 30,000 | | |
| 20,000 | | |
| 50,000 | |
George Chui Vai Hou | |
| 38,000 | | |
| 20,000 | | |
| 58,000 | |
Leong Siak Hung | |
| 30,000 | | |
| 20,000 | | |
| 50,000 | |
James R. Preissler | |
| 40,000 | | |
| 20,000 | | |
| 60,000 | |
Manuel Santos Ferreira | |
| 38,000 | | |
| 20,000 | | |
| 58,000 | |
Peter Li | |
| 38,000 | | |
| 20,000 | | |
| 58,000 | |
|
(1) |
Our board of directors determined that the valuation price of our ordinary shares with respect to the 2013 directors’ equity compensation was $3.29. |
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A
VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE ABOVE NOMINEES.
PLEASE NOTE: If your shares are held in street name, your
broker, bank, custodian, or other nominee holder cannot vote your shares in the election of directors, unless you direct the holder
how to vote, by marking your proxy form.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following sets forth the names and ages
of our executive officers, their respective positions and offices, and their respective principal occupations or brief employment
history.
Name |
|
Office |
Lam Man Pou |
|
Chairman and Chief Marketing Officer |
Leong Siak Hung |
|
Chief Executive Officer |
Li Chun Ming, Raymond |
|
Chief Financial Officer |
Vong Hon Kun |
|
Chief Operating Officer |
Sylvia Lee |
|
Executive Vice President |
Biographical information for Lam Man Pou,
Leong Siak Hung, Raymond Li Chun Ming, and Vong Hon Kun are set forth above beginning on page 8.
Sylvia Lee, age 50, became
our executive vice president in April 2010. She served as the president, chief financial officer and secretary of CS China from
its inception until June 2008 and as a director of the Company from February to April 2010. Ms. Lee is a founding member, and has
served as the vice chairman and chief financial officer of CS Capital USA since August 2004. She has also been a director of SK
Development since May 2006. Ms. Lee is a founding member and has been the executive vice president of Lee Holdings Company, Inc.
since August 1989. From November 1994 to January 2001, Ms. Lee served as the president and was a co-founder of Unique Domain, Inc.,
an interior design firm and furniture trade showroom chain store in Florida. From June 1993 to September 1997, Ms. Lee was a member
and also served as the treasurer of the Arts and Design Village Development Council of Buena Vista, Inc., a non-profit organization
which had helped revitalize the mid-town Miami area and the Miami Design District. From August 1989 to August 1995, Ms. Lee served
as the vice president of City Homes, Inc. Ms. Lee received a Master of Science degree. from Florida International University and
a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Hawaii. Ms. Lee’s business address is 4100 N.E. Second Avenue, Suite 318,
Miami, Florida 33137.
Executive Compensation
Benchmarking of Cash and Equity
Compensation
We
believe it is important when making compensation-related decisions to be informed as to current practices of similarly situated
publicly held companies. We expect to stay apprised of the cash and equity compensation practices of publicly held companies in
the gaming industry through the review of such companies’ public reports and other resources. It is expected that any companies
chosen for inclusion in any benchmarking group would have business characteristics comparable to us, including revenues, financial
growth metrics, stage of development, employee headcount and market capitalization. While benchmarking may not always be appropriate
as a stand-alone tool for setting compensation due to the aspects of our business and objectives that may be unique to us, we generally
believe that gathering this information will be an important part of our compensation-related decision-making process.
Compensation Components
Base Salary. Generally,
we set executive base salaries for our executives and those of Iao Kun at levels comparable with those of executives in similar
positions and with similar responsibilities at comparable companies. We seek to maintain base salary amounts at or near the industry
norms while avoiding paying amounts in excess of what we believe is necessary to motivate executives to meet corporate goals. Base
salaries will generally be reviewed annually, subject to terms of employment agreements, and we will seek to adjust base salary
amounts to realign such salaries with industry norms after taking into account individual responsibilities, performance and experience.
Incentive Bonuses. We
may design and utilize cash incentive bonuses for our executives and those of AGRL to focus them on achieving key operational and
financial objectives within a yearly time horizon. It is expected that such bonuses will be based on the standards include objective
standards for job specific matters and subjective standards based on diligence, improvement of skills and company loyalty, decisiveness
and an appropriate service mind-set. Improvement over the prior year is considered highly important. No cash bonuses have been
granted to date.
Equity-Based Awards. We
may also use equity-based awards, such as stock options and stock grants, as part of our compensation packages. As of the date
of this annual report, we have not adopted any plans or policies regarding such awards. As part of her annual compensation, Sylvia
Lee, our executive vice president, receives $20,000 of our ordinary shares, as further described under “—Officer Compensation;
Employment Agreements” below.
Officer Compensation; Employment
Agreements
The following table sets forth all compensation
paid to our executive officers (not including amounts paid in connection with their services as directors, which is described below)
during 2013:
Name and Principal Position | |
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash (US$) | | |
Ordinary Shares (US$) | | |
Total (US$) | |
Lam Man Pou, Chairman and Chief Marketing Officer | |
| 163,987 | | |
| — | | |
| 163,987 | |
Leong Siak Hung, Chief Executive Officer | |
| 270,734 | | |
| — | | |
| 270,734 | |
Raymond Li Chun Ming, Chief Financial Officer | |
| 212,719 | | |
| — | | |
| 212,719 | |
Vong Hon Kun, Chief Operating Officer | |
| 163,987 | | |
| — | | |
| 163,987 | |
Sylvia Lee, Executive Vice President | |
| 30,000 | | |
| 20,000 | | |
| 50,000 | |
(1) Our board of directors determined that the valuation price
of our ordinary shares with respect to the 2013 equity compensation was $3.29.
IKGH has employment agreements with two
of its executive officers. The following table sets forth certain information about these employment agreements as of December
31, 2013.
Officer | |
Position | |
Termination Date | |
Annual Salary | |
Lam Man Pou | |
Chief Marketing Officer | |
February 1, 2015 | |
$ | 201,189 | |
Vong Hon Kun | |
Chief Operating Officer | |
February 1, 2015 | |
$ | 201,189 | |
These agreements were amended on July 1,
2013 to increase the annual salary for each officer. As of July 1, 2013: Lam Man Pou’s annual salary increased to $201,189;
and Von Hon Kun’s annual salary increased to $201,189.
Each officer is entitled to paid vacation
in accordance with IKGH’s policies. Each officer is also entitled to reasonable use of company-provided automobiles, with
the officer to be reimbursed for all reasonable expenses related to the use and operation of such automobiles. However, no automobiles
are currently being provided and we currently have no plan in place to provide automobiles.
The employment agreements provide that the
executive, during a period of five years following the termination of his employment shall not compete with IKGH or solicit any
of its employees.
The agreements contain provisions prohibiting
the executives, during their respective terms of employment, from selling, hypothecating or otherwise transferring more than 20%
of any ordinary shares that may be transferred to them by Spring Fortune from shares it received or receives as a result of the
acquisition. If an executive’s employment is terminated for any reason prior to the expiration of the employment term, or
if the executive breaches the confidentiality and non-competition and non-solicitation provisions of his employment agreement,
the executive is obligated to transfer and assign to us all securities then held by him and all rights to receive securities in
the future, which securities will be canceled.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Code of Ethics and Related Person Policy
Our Code of Ethics requires us to avoid,
wherever possible, all related party transactions that could result in actual or potential conflicts of interest, except under
guidelines approved by the board of directors (or the audit committee, if one exists at the time). Related-party transactions are
defined as transactions in which (1) the aggregate amount involved will or may be expected to exceed $120,000 in any calendar year,
(2) we or any of our subsidiaries is a participant, and (3) any (a) executive officer, director or nominee for election as a director,
(b) greater than 5 percent beneficial owner of our ordinary shares, or (c) immediate family member, of the persons referred to
in clauses (a) and (b), has or will have a direct or indirect material interest (other than solely as a result of being a director
or a less than 10 percent beneficial owner of another entity). A conflict of interest situation can arise when a person takes actions
or has interests that may make it difficult to perform his or her work objectively and effectively. Conflicts of interest may also
arise if a person, or a member of his or her family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position. We
are not prohibited from entering into related-party transactions with our directors and officers.
Our board of directors is responsible for
reviewing and approving related-party transactions to the extent we enter into such transactions. The board of directors will consider
all relevant factors when determining whether to approve a related party transaction, including whether the related party transaction
is on terms no less favorable than terms generally available to an unaffiliated third-party under the same or similar circumstances
and the extent of the related party’s interest in the transaction. No director may participate in the approval of any transaction
in which he is a related party, but that director is required to provide the other members of the board of directors with all material
information concerning the transaction. Additionally, we require each of our directors and executive officers to complete a directors’
and officers’ questionnaire that elicits information about related party transactions. These procedures are intended to determine
whether any such related party transaction impairs the independence of a director or presents a conflict of interest on the part
of a director, employee or officer.
Related Person Transactions of the Company
Because IKGH and its subsidiaries are not
able to directly operate as VIP gaming promoters, IKGH’s management has technical ownership of IKGH’s VIP gaming promoters,
but each such VIP gaming promoter has entered into an agreement with a subsidiary of IKGH providing that 100% of the profits of
each VIP gaming promoter be paid to a subsidiary of IKGH. None of the members of IKGH’s management team receive compensation
for being the owners of IKGH’s VIP gaming promoters. The following table shows the relationships of IKGH’s management
team to its Promotion Entities:
Entity Name |
|
Management Team Member Owning Entity |
Sang Heng |
|
Lam Man Pou, Vong Hon Kun and Leong Siak Hung |
Doowell Limited |
|
Lam Man Pou, Vong Hon Kun and Leong Siak Hung |
Iao Pou |
|
Lam Chou In |
King’s Gaming |
|
Mok Chi Hung |
Sang Lung |
|
Lam Man Pou and Vong Hon Kun |
Bao Li |
|
Lou Kan Kuong and Lei Kam Keong |
Oriental |
|
Lam Chou In and Vong Veng Im |
The following is a summary of related party
transaction and balances as of and for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011:
| |
2013 | | |
2012 | | |
2011 | |
Loans payable to Mr. Lam Man Pou and Mr. Vong Hon Kun | |
$ | 5,809,075 | | |
$ | 62,214,078 | | |
$ | 62,641,619 | |
Loan payments made to Mr. Lam Man Pou and Mr. Vong Hon Kun in cash | |
$ | 25,802,070 | | |
$ | 671,071 | | |
$ | - | |
Contingent consideration payable to Mr. Mok Chi Hung | |
$ | 9,000,000 | | |
$ | 18,000,000 | | |
$ | 44,550,585 | |
Contingent consideration paid to Mr. Mok Chi Hung in cash | |
$ | 9,000,000 | | |
$ | 9,000,000 | | |
$ | - | |
Contingent consideration payable to Mr. Lou Kan Kuong and Mr. Lei Kam Keong | |
$ | 33,027,050 | | |
$ | 32,294,981 | | |
$ | - | |
Contingent consideration paid to Mr. Lou Kan Kuong and Mr. Lei Kam Keong | |
$ | 13,000,000 | | |
$ | 15,146,032 | | |
$ | - | |
Contingent consideration payable to Mr. Vong Veng Im | |
$ | 36,528,269 | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | - | |
Contingent consideration paid to Mr. Vong Veng Im | |
$ | 20,000,000 | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | - | |
Payable to Pak Si for management services | |
$ | 619,042 | | |
$ | 567,684 | | |
$ | 462,665 | |
Total expense for Pak Si for management services | |
$ | 6,807,018 | | |
$ | 5,966,147 | | |
$ | 5,305,258 | |
Entertainment expense paid to restaurant owned by Mr. Lam Man Pou, Mr. Vong Hon Kun and Mr. Leong Siak Hung | |
$ | 779,224 | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | - | |
Star World Hotel and Casino has extended
a credit line of $27.2 million to Sang Heng which is guaranteed by Mr. Lam. Galaxy Macau Resort has extended a credit line of $25.6
million to Sang Lung which is guaranteed by Mr. Lam. These credit lines are used to advance funds to VIP gaming patrons so that
the VIP gaming patrons can purchase non-negotiable chips on credit at the Iao Kun VIP Rooms operated by Sang Heng at the Star World
Hotel and Casino and by Sang Lung at the Galaxy Macau Resort. The credit lines are non-interest bearing, and Mr. Lam is not compensated
by AGRL for the guarantee.
The Sands Cotai Central has extended a credit
line of $3.85 million to King’s Gaming, which is guaranteed by Mr. Vong and Mr. Mok. The credit line is used to advance funds
to VIP gaming patrons so that theVIP gaming patrons can purchase non-negotiable chips on credit at the Wenzhou VIP gaming room
promoted by King’s Gaming at the Venetian Resort Hotel. The credit line is non-interest bearing and Mr. Vong and Mr. Mok
are not compensated by AGRL for the guarantees.
From time to time, Mr. Lam and Mr. Vong
Hon Kun make small loans to AGRL for operational purposes. Such loans do not bear interest and Mr. Lam is not otherwise compensated
for making such loans.
City of Dreams Hotel & Casino has extended
a credit line of $3.9 million to Bao Li Gaming, which is guaranteed by Mr. Lou. The credit line is used to advance funds to VIP
gaming patrons so that the VIP gaming patrons can purchase non-negotiable chips on credit at the VIP gaming room promoted by Bao
Li Gaming at City of Dreams Hotel & Casino. The credit line is non-interest bearing and Mr. Lou is not compensated by AGRL
for the guarantee.
Messrs. Lam and Vong have agreed to extend
credit to AGRL to lend funds to its VIP gaming promoters so that they in turn can extend credit to their VIP gaming patrons. Such
loans by Messrs. Lam and Vong are non-interest bearing. See the section entitled “AGRL’s Gaming Operations—Profit
Interest Agreements” under Item 4.B. herein for further information regarding these arrangements.
Day-to-day management and operation of the
VIP gaming rooms is contracted by the VIP gaming promoter to a management company that is responsible for hiring and managing all
staff needed for the operation. This includes local managers and executives to provide supervision, finance and cage personnel,
public relations, drivers and other service staff (waiters, cleaners, etc.). The VIP Gaming Entities have entered into such agreements
with Pak Si Management and Consultancy Limited (“Pak Si”), owned by Ms. Tam Lai Ching, Mr. Vong’s sister-in-law,
pursuant to which Sang Heng pays Pak Si approximately US $142,000 per month for the VIP gaming room at Star World Hotel; King’s
Gaming pays approximately US $97,000 per month for the VIP gaming room at the Sands Cotai Central Resort; Bao Li pays approximately
US $97,000 per month for the VIP gaming room at the City of Dreams Hotel and Casino, Cotai, Macau; Sang Lung pays approximately
$142,000 per month for the VIP gaming room at the Galaxy Resort, Macau; and Oriental pays approximately $97,000 per month for the
VIP gaming room at Le Royal Arc Casino in Macau. Pak Si must pay all salaries, benefits and other expenses of operation out of
such amounts. Such agreements are for one-year terms.
PROPOSAL NO. 2
PROPOSAL TO ADOPT A SHARE OPTION SCHEME
THAT COMPLIES WITH HONG KONG LISTING RULES
General
The Company wishes to adopt the Share Option
Scheme, or the Scheme, that complies with the Listing Rules conditional upon the Listing, and which authorizes the directors to
approve any amendments to the rules of the Scheme as may be permitted by the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The Scheme would allow the
directors, in their absolute discretion, to grant options to subscribe for shares thereunder and to allot, issue and deal with
shares pursuant to the exercise of options which may be granted under the Scheme, and to take all such steps as may be necessary
to implement the Scheme, conditional upon the Listing. Approval of this proposal would also allow the listing of, and permission
to deal in, such number of shares of the Company which may fail to be allotted and issued pursuant to the exercise of the options
which may be granted under the rules of the Scheme.
Purpose of the Share Option Scheme
The purpose
of the Scheme is to attract and retain the best available personnel, to provide additional incentive to the employees, directors,
consultants and advisors of the Company and its subsidiaries and to promote the success of the business of the Company and its
subsidiaries.
Description of the Share Option Scheme
The Board
may from time to time during the period of 10 years commencing from the date of the Listing offer options to eligible persons (to
be selected in each case at the absolute discretion of the Board from time to time based on the Board’s opinion as to such
person’s contribution or potential contribution to the development and growth of the Company and its subsidiaries), subject
to the terms, conditions, restrictions or limitations (if any) as the Board may think fit in accordance with the terms of the Scheme.
Subject to the limitations referred to in the Scheme, the Board shall also determine the number of shares to be included in an
option to be offered to an eligible person provided always that such terms shall not be inconsistent with the relevant requirements
of the Listing Rules.
The number
of shares which may be issued upon exercise of all options granted under the Scheme and all other share option schemes of the
Company existing at any point in time may not in the aggregate exceed 10% of the total number of shares issued and outstanding
as at the date of the shareholders’ approval of the Scheme (December 5, 2014, if the Scheme is approved at the meeting).
The number of shares which may be issued upon the exercise of all outstanding options granted and yet to be exercised under the
Scheme and any other schemes of the Company may not exceed such number of shares as shall represent 30% of the issued and outstanding
shares of the Company from time to time. Unless approved by the shareholders of the Company in the manner as set out in Scheme,
the total number of shares issued and to be issued upon the exercise of the options granted to each eligible person (including
both exercised, cancelled and outstanding options) in any 12-month period may not exceed one percent of the issued and outstanding
shares of the relevant class of securities of the Company. The Board may amend any of the provisions of the Scheme or withdraw
or otherwise terminate the Scheme at any time but no alterations shall be made to the advantage of any participant unless approved
by the shareholders of the Company in a general meeting.
In the judgment of the Company’s Board
of Directors, the adoption of the Scheme that complies with the Listing Rules as described above is desirable so that, among other
reasons, the Company can attract and retain the best available personnel and incentivize its employees, directors, consultants
and advisors.
The form of Scheme is attached hereto as
Annex D.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE
“FOR” APPROVAL TO ADOPT A SHARE OPTION SCHEME THAT COMPLIES WITH HONG KONG LISTING RULES.
PROPOSAL NO. 3
PROPOSAL TO AMEND
THE AUTHORIZED SHARE CAPITAL OF THE COMPANY
The Company proposes
to amend the authorized share capital of the Company by cancellation of the 1,150,000 authorized but unissued preference shares
of a par value of US$0.0001 each in the authorized share capital of the Company, such that the authorized share capital of the
Company is US$50,000 divided into 500,000,000 ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each.
Purpose of Cancellation of Preference Shares
Article
6 currently permits the Board to issue preferred shares having voting, conversion and other rights to be determined by the Board
in its sole discretion. This is sometime referred to as “blank check” preferred shares because it does not require
shareholder approval. When a board of directors retains the “blank check” authority to issue preferred shares, such
a provision is typically viewed as an anti-takeover defense that a board of directors can use to frustrate a merger or acquisition
transaction that could be viewed favorably by shareholders. In order to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, we are required to
eliminate the provision relating to “blank check” preferred.
This amendment
does not preclude the Company from issuing preferred shares in the future. However, if the proposed amendment of the Articles is
approved, any future issuances of preferred shares would require shareholder approval. The Board does not intend to issue preferred
shares in the future absent shareholder approval.
In the
judgment of the Company’s Board of Directors, the change to repeal the authority to issue preference shares in the Company’s
Amended and Restated Articles of Association is desirable in order to have the Company list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL TO AMEND AND RESTATE THE COMPANY’S CONSTITUTIONAL DOCUMENTS TO REPEAL THE AUTHORITY
TO ISSUE PREFERENCE SHARES CONTAINED THEREIN.
PROPOSAL NO. 4
PROPOSAL TO ADOPT
“友權集團控股有限公司”
AS THE COMPANY’S DUAL FOREIGN NAME
The Company proposes
as a special resolution:
That the Company adopt
the Chinese name “友權集團控股有限公司”
as the Company’s dual foreign name.
In the judgment of
the Company’s Board of Directors, the adoption of the Chinese name “友權集團控股有限公司”
as the Company’s dual foreign name is desirable as the business operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are situated
in Macau and the Company’s shares are proposed to be listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Shareholders will not
be required to exchange outstanding share certificates for new share certificates if the new name is adopted.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A
VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL TO ADOPT
“友權集團控股有限公司”
AS THE COMPANY’S DUAL FOREIGN NAME.
PROPOSAL NO. 5
PROPOSAL TO ADOPT THE FOURTH AMENDED
AND RESTATED MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF THE COMPANY WITH EFFECT FROM THE LISTING
The Company proposes as a special resolution:
That the Third Amended and Restated Memorandum
and Articles of Association of the Company currently in effect be amended and restated by the deletion in their entirety and the
substitution in their place of the Fourth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association annexed hereto with effect
from the Listing.
Purpose of Adopting Fourth Amended and Restated Memorandum
and Articles of Association
The Company’s
Third Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association was adopted by a special resolution passed on September 24, 2013.
The Board proposes to make certain amendments to the Company’s Third Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association
for the purpose of, amongst other things, conforming to the requirements under the Listing Rules and the usual features of memorandum
and articles of association of Cayman Islands companies listed in Hong Kong, which are conditional upon and with effect from the
Listing, while at the same time still in compliance with the laws of the Cayman Islands and the relevant requirements under U.S.
laws and regulations. The Board proposes to adopt the Fourth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association which
are conditional upon and with effect from the Listing, for the purpose of consolidating all the proposed amendments to the Third
Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, including, amongst other things, reflecting the cancellation of the
unissued preference shares and adoption of “友權集團控股有限公司”
as the Company’s dual foreign name, to be approved and adopted by the Shareholders in the 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
as set out in Proposals No. 3 and 4 hereinabove.
Principal Effects of Adopting Fourth Amended and Restated
Memorandum and Articles of Association
The proposed changes to the Company's Third
Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association are principally being made to conform with the relevant requirements
of the Listing Rules and the usual features of memorandum and articles of association of Cayman Islands companies listed in Hong
Kong for the purpose of the Listing and the relevant requirements under U.S. laws and regulations, as described above and in the
form attached hereto as Annex E.
The proposed changes include, but are not
limited, to the following:
| · | To amend the authorized share capital of the Company to cancel the unissued preferred shares; |
| · | To include The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited as a "Designated Stock Exchange"; |
| · | To incorporate reference to the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange
of Hong Kong Limited; |
| · | To include the ability for the Company to maintain a branch register of members; |
| · | To clarify the limited circumstances in which the Directors of the Company may refuse to register
a transfer of shares of the Company and to permit transfers of shares of the Company by any method permitted by a Designated Stock
Exchange; |
| · | To clarify the circumstances in which shares of the Company may be repurchased; |
| · | To increase the number of days' notice of general meetings from 10 days to 21 days (for special
resolutions) and 14 days (for any other resolutions); |
| · | To provide that where a shareholder is required under the Listing Rules to abstain from voting
on any particular resolution or restricted to voting only for or only against any particular resolution, any votes cast by or on
behalf of such shareholder in contravention of such requirement or restriction shall not be counted; |
| · | To provide for the appointment of independent non-executive directors as required by the Listing
Rules, to remove the provisions providing for a classified board of A, B and C Directors and to provide that at every annual general
meeting at least one-third of the Directors shall retire by rotation; |
| · | To provide that the Company shall not, amongst other things, make loans to Directors of the Company
or his associates, except in limited specified circumstances; |
| · | To provide that Directors shall not be entitled to vote or be counted in the quorum in relation
to resolutions in respect of any contract or arrangement or any other proposal whatsoever in which he or any of his associates
has any material interest, and if he shall do so his vote shall not be counted, except in the limited circumstances set out in
the Fourth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association; |
| · | To provide for a securities seal of the Company; and |
To remove the business combination
provisions of the Articles, which will be redundant following the Listing.
In the judgment of
the Company’s Board of Directors, the adoption of the Fourth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association
of the Company is desirable because the proposed amendments are necessary and required for the Company to comply with the Listing
Rules upon Listing and are necessary and required for the Listing itself.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A
VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL ADOPT THE FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF THE COMPANY WITH
EFFECT FROM THE LISTING.
PROPOSAL NO. 6
PROPOSAL APPROVE
MATTERS RELATING TO THE ISSUE MANDATE AND THE REPURCHASE MANDATE
By approving this proposal,
shareholders would:
| (a) | grant a general unconditional mandate (“Issue
Mandate”) to the directors to allot, issue and deal with, including the power to make or grant agreements and options which
would or might require such shares so allotted and issued or dealt with (other than shares issuable pursuant to, or in consequence
of, (i) the Listing, any rights issue, (ii) any scrip dividend scheme or similar arrangement, any adjustment of rights or subscribe
for shares under the options and warrants or a specific authority granted by the shareholders of the Company, (iii) any grant of
shares under the 2011 Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan; and (iv) any incentive consideration shares which may be issued and
allotted as a result of the King’ s Acquisition, Bao Li Acquisition and L’Arc Acquisition), up to 20% of the aggregate
nominal amount of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares as of December 5, 2014, which authorization will remain in
effect until the earliest of (i) the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company; (ii) the expiration of the period
within which the next annual general meeting of the Company is required by its memorandum and articles of association or any applicable
law to be held; or (iii) the revocation or variation of the authority by an ordinary resolution of the Shareholders in a general
meeting; |
| (b) | grant a general unconditional mandate to the directors
(“Repurchase Mandate”), to exercise all powers of the Company to repurchase on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange or on any
other stock exchange on which the securities of the Company may be listed and which is recognized by the Hong Kong Securities and
Futures Commission and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange for this purpose, such number of shares as will represent up to 10% of the
aggregate nominal value of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares as of December 5, 2014, which authorization which
will remain in effect until the earliest of (i) the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company; (ii) the expiration
of the period within which the next annual general meeting of the Company is required by its memorandum and articles of association
or any applicable law to be held; or (iii) the revocation or variation of the authority by an ordinary resolution of the Shareholders
in a general meeting. A copy of the Repurchase Mandate explanatory statement is set out in Annex F; and |
| (c) | extend the Issue Mandate described in paragraph
(a) by the addition to the aggregate nominal amount of the share capital of the Company which may be allotted or agreed conditionally
or unconditionally to be allotted by the directors pursuant to such general mandate of an amount representing the aggregate nominal
amount of the share capital of the Company repurchased by the Company pursuant to the Repurchase Mandate, provided that such extended
amount shall not exceed 10% of the aggregate nominal amount of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares as of December
5, 2014; |
Purpose of Granting Authority to Directors to Issue New
Shares and Repurchase Shares
Pursuant
to the Rules of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the Company is permitted to obtain shareholders’ approval to issue shares and
repurchase shares. By approving the limits specified in the resolution, our Board will be able to issue up to the number of shares
specified and repurchase up to the number of shares specified subject to the terms and conditions specified in the shareholders’
approval without the need to obtain further specific shareholder approval.
Potential Advantages and Disadvantages of Granting Authority
to Directors to Issue New Shares and Repurchase Shares
The directors believe
that it is in the best interests of the Company and the shareholders to have a general authority from shareholders to give the
Company the flexibility to raise capital by way of a further issuance of shares or to enter into agreements for acquisitions involving
the issuance of new shares as consideration in respect thereof should any appropriate opportunities arise.
In addition, the directors
believe that it is in the best interests of the Company and the shareholders to have a general authority from shareholders to enable
the Company to repurchase shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Such repurchases may, depending on market conditions and funding
arrangements at the time, lead to an enhancement of the net value of the Company and its assets and/or its earnings per share and
will only be made when the board of directors believes that such purchases will benefit the Company and the shareholders.
In the judgment of
the Company’s Board of Directors, the granting of authority to directors to issue new shares (not exceeding 20% of issued
share capital), repurchase shares (not exceeding 10% of issued share capital) and to increase the number of shares issuable by
the number of shares repurchased during the year, all conditional upon the Listing, and will remain valid until the next annual
general meeting, or the deadline for holding the next annual general meeting under articles and applicable laws and regulations,
or when the power is revoked by shareholders, whichever is the earliest is desirable because it will allow the Company to issue
or repurchase a limited number of shares without having to wait for shareholder approval.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF MATTERS RELATING TO THE ISSUE MANDATE AND THE REPURCHASE MANDATE.
PROPOSAL NO. 7
RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Audit Committee has appointed UHY LLP as independent auditors to audit the financial statements of
the Company for the year ending December 31, 2014 relating to financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP, and the Board
of Directors is asking shareholders to ratify that appointment.
A representative of UHY LLP is expected
to be present at the Annual Meeting, with the opportunity to make a statement, if he or she desires to do so, and is expected to
be available to respond to appropriate questions.
The Audit Committee is not required to take
any action as a result of the outcome of the vote on this proposal. In the event shareholders fail to ratify the appointment, the
Audit Committee will reconsider this appointment. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its discretion,
may direct the appointment of a different independent accounting firm at any time during the year if the Audit Committee determines
that such a change would be in the Company’s and the shareholders’ best interests.
Audit Fees
The firm of UHY LLP has acted since our
inception as our principal independent registered public accounting firm. UHY LLP leases all its personnel, who work under the
control of UHY LLP partners, from wholly-owned subsidiaries of UHY Advisors, Inc. (“UHY”) in an alternative practice
structure. UHY LLP is a registered firm with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and is a member of the American Institute
of Certified Public Accountants.
The business address of UHY LLP is 19 West
44th Street, New York, New York 10036.
The following is a summary of fees paid
or to be paid by us to UHY LLP for services rendered as the principal accountant.
| |
Year Ended December 31, 2012 | | |
Year Ended December 31, 2013 | |
Audit Fees – UHY LLP | |
$ | 416,400 | | |
$ | 342,153 | |
| |
| | | |
| 170,577 | |
Audit-Related Fees – UHY LLP | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Tax Fees – UHY LLP | |
| - | | |
| - | |
All Other Fees – UHY LLP | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Audit fees billed by UHY LLP during the
fiscal years ended December 31, 2012 and 2013 related to professional services rendered in connection with the audits of our annual
financial statements included in our Annual Reports on Form 20-F for those fiscal periods, the review of our financial information
included in semi-annual Reports of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K, and our registration statements and proxy statement filings.
Audit Committee Pre-Approval
We do not rely on pre-approval policies
and procedures. Our audit committee approved the services described above relating to the 2012 and 2013 fiscal years.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A
VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF UHY LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR THE YEAR
ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2014.
PROPOSAL NO. 8
APPOINTMENT OF RSM NELSON WHEELER AS THE COMPANY’S ADDITIONAL INDEPENDENT AUDITORS CONDITIONAL UPON
THE LISTING
The Audit Committee has approved RSM Nelson Wheeler as the Company’s additional independent auditors
conditional upon the Listing relating to financial statements to be prepared in accordance with IFRS, and the Board of Directors
is asking shareholders to approve such appointment.
The Audit Committee is not required to take any action as a result of the outcome of the vote on this
proposal. In the event shareholders fail to approve the appointment, the Audit Committee will reconsider this appointment.
RSM Nelson Wheeler is the seventh largest
firm of accountants providing services which include Audit and Assurance, Tax, Risk Advisory, Transaction Advisory and Corporate
Advisory in Hong Kong and part of the global network of RSM with 32,500 people in over 100 countries. The business address of RSM
Nelson Wheeler is 29th Floor, Caroline Centre, 28 Yun Ping Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A
VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE
APPOINTMENT OF RSM NELSON WHEELER AS THE COMPANY’S ADDITIONAL INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
CONDITIONAL
UPON THE LISTING.
OTHER MATTERS
General
Management does not know of any matters
other than those stated in this Proxy Statement that are to be presented for action at the Annual Meeting. If any other matters
should properly come before the Annual Meeting, it is intended that proxies in the accompanying form will be voted on any such
other matters in accordance with the judgment of the persons voting such proxies. Discretionary authority to vote on such matters
is conferred by such proxies upon the persons voting them.
We will bear the cost of preparing, printing,
assembling and mailing the proxy, Proxy Statement and other material which may be sent to shareholders in connection with this
solicitation. It is contemplated that brokerage houses will forward the proxy materials to beneficial owners at our request. In
addition to the solicitation of proxies by use of the mails, our officers and regular employees may solicit proxies without additional
compensation, by telephone, facsimile or other electronic communications. We may reimburse brokers or other persons holding ordinary
shares in their names or the names of their nominees for the expenses of forwarding soliciting material to their principals and
obtaining their proxies.
A copy of our Annual Report on Form 20-F
for the year ended December 31, 2013 (as filed with the SEC) including the financial statements thereto, is being provided with
the proxy statement. Requests for additional copies should be directed to William Schmitt at IRC, LLC; 761 Main Avenue; Norwalk,
CT 06851, U.S.A. Proxy materials are also available on the Company website at: ir.ikghcl.com/events.cfm.
Communications with the Board of Directors
Shareholders wishing to communicate with
the Board or any individual director may write to the Board of Directors or the individual director to the Board of Directors;
Iao Kun Group Holding Company Limited, Unit 605, East Town Building, 16 Fenwick Street, Wanchai, Hong Kong. Any such communication
must state the number of shares beneficially owned by the shareholder making the communication. All such communications will be
forwarded to the full Board or to any individual director or directors to whom the communication is directed unless the communication
is clearly of a marketing nature or is unduly hostile, threatening, illegal, or similarly inappropriate, in which case the Company
has the authority to discard the communication or take appropriate legal action regarding the communication.
Where You Can Find More Information
We file annual reports and other documents
with the SEC under the Exchange Act. Our SEC filings made electronically through the SEC’s EDGAR system are available to
the public at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file with the SEC at the
SEC’s public reference room located at 100 F Street, NE, Room 1580, Washington, DC 20549. Please call the SEC at (800) SEC-0330
for further information on the operation of the public reference room.
Code of Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct
and Ethics that applies to our directors, officers and employees, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
(our principal executive officer and principal financial and accounting officer, respectively). A copy of the Code of Ethics is
available on our website, http://ir.ikghcl.com/governance.cfm.
Changes in Director Nomination Process for Shareholders
There were no changes in the director nomination
process from January 1, 2013 through the present.
|
By Order of the Board of Directors, |
|
|
|
/s/ Leong Siak Hung |
|
Chief Executive Officer |
November 19, 2014
Annex A
Form of Audit Committee Charter
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
OF
IAO KUN GROUP HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED
Adopted: __________ 2014.
The responsibilities and powers of the Audit
Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Iao Kun Group Holding Company Limited. (the “Company”),
as delegated by the Board, are set forth in this charter (this “Charter”). Whenever the Audit Committee
takes an action, it shall exercise its independent judgment on an informed basis that the action is in the best interests of the
Company and its shareholders.
The purpose of the Audit Committee shall
be to assist the Board in monitoring (i) the integrity of the annual, quarterly and other financial statements of the Company,
(ii) the external auditor’s qualifications and independence, (iii) the performance of the Company’s external
auditor and (iv) the compliance by the Company with legal and regulatory requirements. The Audit Committee shall also review
and approve all related-party transactions and prepare the report required by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”), Rules Governing the Listing of Securities (the “Listing Rules”) on
the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Stock Exchange”) to be included in the Company’s
annual proxy statement.
The Audit Committee shall consist of non-executive
directors only and shall consist of at least three independent non-executive Directors (“INEDs”), absent
a temporary vacancy, as determined from time to time by the Board. Each member shall be an INED and meet the independence and experience
requirements and standards established from time to time by the SEC and the Listing Rules and any securities exchange on which
the Company’s securities are listed or quoted for trading, in each case as amended from time to time. At least one of the
members of the Audit Committee shall have appropriate professional qualifications or accounting or related financial management
expertise as required under Rule 3.10(2) of the Listing Rules.
The Board shall elect the members of the
Audit Committee amongst the non-executive directors of the Company at the first Board meeting practicable and may make changes
from time to time pursuant to the provisions below. The members of the Audit Committee shall serve until they are removed or their
successors are appointed and qualify. There shall be a Chairman of the Audit Committee (the “Chairman”),
whom shall also be an INED appointed by the Board. The Chairman shall be a member of the Audit Committee and, if present, shall
preside at each meeting of the Audit Committee. The Chairman shall advise and counsel with the executives of the Company and shall
perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to the Chairman by the Audit Committee or the Board.
An Audit Committee member may resign by
delivering his or her written resignation to the chairman of the Board, or may be removed by majority vote of the Board by delivery
to such member of written notice of removal, to take effect at a date specified therein, or upon delivery of such written notice
to such member if no date is specified. The Board shall have the power at any time to fill vacancies in the Audit Committee, subject
to such new member(s) satisfying the above requirements.
A former partner of the Company’s
existing auditing firm that has not previously worked on the Company’s audit shall be prohibited from acting as a member
of the Audit Committee for a period of one (1) year from the date of his ceasing (a) to be a partner of the firm; or (b) to have
any financial interest in the firm, whichever is later. A partner or employee of an auditing firm that previously worked on the
Company’s audit shall be prohibited from acting as a member of the Audit Committee if such partner or employee worked on
the Company’s audit at any time in the last three years.
| III. | MEETINGS AND COMMITTEE ACTION |
The Audit Committee shall meet at such times
as it deems necessary to fulfill its responsibilities, but not less frequently than quarterly with at least two of such meetings
to be held in the presence of the external auditors. The external auditors may request the chairman of the Audit Committee to convene
a meeting if they consider that it is necessary. Meetings of the Audit Committee shall be called by a majority of the members of
the Audit Committee upon such notice as is provided for in the Company’s charter documents with respect to meetings of the
Board. Two members of the Audit Committee including one which has appropriate qualifications or accounting or related financial
management expertise as required under Listing Rule 3.10(2), shall constitute a quorum. The chairman of the Board, chief executive
and the representative(s) of the external auditors may be invited to attend meeting(s), where appropriate. Other staff members,
including other Board members, who have specific responsibility for an issue under review may also be invited to attend. Actions
of the Audit Committee may be taken in person at a meeting or in writing without a meeting. Actions taken at a meeting, to be valid,
shall require the approval of a majority of the members of the Audit Committee present and voting. Actions taken in writing, to
be valid, shall be signed by all members of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee shall report its minutes from each meeting
to the Board.
The Chairman (or in his or her absence,
a member designated by the Chairman) shall preside at all meetings of the Audit Committee. The Chairman shall be responsible for
leading the Audit Committee, including scheduling meetings, preparing agendas and making regular reports to the Board. For regular
meetings and as far as practicable in all other cases, an agenda and accompanying committee papers should be sent, in full, to
all members of Audit Committee. These should be sent in a timely manner and at least 3 days before the intended date of meeting
(or such other agreed period as agreed).
A majority of the members of the Audit Committee may establish
such rules as may from time to time be necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business of the Audit Committee. At each
meeting, a majority of the members of the Audit Committee shall appoint as secretary a person who may, but need not, be a member
of the Audit Committee. A certificate of the secretary of the Audit Committee or minutes of a meeting of the Audit Committee executed
by the secretary setting forth the names of the members of the Audit Committee present at the meeting or actions taken by the Audit
Committee at the meeting shall be sufficient evidence at all times as to the members of the Audit Committee who were present, or
such actions taken. The minutes should record in sufficient detail the matters considered and decisions reached, including any
concerns raised by members of the Audit Committee or dissenting views expressed. Draft and final versions of meeting minutes should
be sent to all Audit Committee members for their comment and records respectively, in both cases within a reasonable time after
the meeting. The minutes shall be sent to all members of the Board as soon as practicable after the conclusion of any meeting of
the Audit Committee and should be open for inspection at any reasonable time on reasonable notice by any member of the Board.
The Audit Committee shall have the authority
to delegate any of its responsibilities to subcommittees as it may deem appropriate in its sole discretion.
Proceedings of meetings of the Audit Committee
shall be governed by the provisions of the articles of association of the Company.
The Audit Committee shall meet periodically
with management and the Company’s external auditor in separate executive sessions. The Audit Committee may request any officer
or employee of the Company or the Company’s outside counsel or external auditor to attend a meeting of the Audit Committee
or to meet with any members of, or consultants to, the Audit Committee. The Chairman shall attend the annual general meeting of
the Company prepared to respond to any questions from shareholders on the Audit Committee’s activities. In his or her absence,
one other member of the Audit Committee, or failing this, his or her duly appointed delegate should attend.
| IV. | COMMITTEE AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES |
The Audit Committee shall be directly responsible
to appoint, reappoint, dismiss or remove the Company’s external auditor. The Audit Committee shall be directly responsible
for determining the compensation and terms of engagement of the Company’s external auditor (including resolution of disagreements
between management and the Company’s external auditor regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing
an audit report or related work. The Company’s external auditor shall report directly to the Audit Committee.
The Audit Committee shall review and monitor
the external auditor’s independence and objectivity and the effectiveness of the audit process in accordance with applicable
standards. The Audit Committee should discuss with the auditor the nature and scope of the audit and reporting obligations before
the audit commences.
The Audit Committee shall develop
and implement policy on engaging an external auditor to supply, and pre-approve all auditing services and permitted non-audit
services to be performed for the Company by the Company’s external auditor, including the fees and terms thereof (subject
to the de minimus exceptions for non-audit services described in Section 10A(i)(1)(B) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the “Exchange Act”) which are approved by the Audit Committee prior to the completion of the
audit) (Note). The Audit Committee may form and delegate authority to subcommittees of the Audit Committee consisting of
one or more Audit Committee members when appropriate, including the authority to grant pre-approvals of audit and permitted non-audit
services, provided that decisions of such subcommittee to grant pre-approvals shall be presented to the full Audit Committee at
its next scheduled meeting. For this purpose, “external auditor” includes any entity
that is under common control, ownership or management with the audit firm or any entity that a reasonable and informed third party
knowing all relevant information would reasonably conclude to be part of the audit firm nationally or internationally. The Audit
Committee should report to the Board, identify and make recommendations on any matters where action or improvement is needed.
The Audit Committee shall have access to
management where necessary. The Audit Committee shall be provided with sufficient resources to discharge its duties. The Audit
Committee shall have the authority, to the extent it deems necessary or appropriate, to retain independent legal, accounting or
other advisors, at the Company’s expense. The Company shall provide for appropriate funding, as determined by the Audit Committee,
for ordinary administrative expenses of the Audit Committee and payment of compensation to (i) the Company’s external
auditor for the purpose of rendering or issuing an audit report and (ii) any advisors employed by the Audit Committee.
The Audit Committee shall make regular reports
to the Board. The Audit Committee shall review and reassess the adequacy of this charter annually and recommend any proposed changes
to the Board for approval. The Audit Committee annually shall review the Audit Committee’s own performance.
The Audit Committee shall:
| A. | Financial Statement and Disclosure Matters |
| 1. | Meet with the Company’s external auditor prior to the audit to review the scope, planning and staffing of the audit. |
| 2. | Review and discuss with management and the Company’s external auditor the Company’s annual audited financial statements,
and recommend to the Board whether the Company’s audited financial statements should be included in any filing by the Company
in accordance with the requirements established from time to time to time by the SEC, the Stock Exchange, any securities exchange
on which the Company’s securities are listed or quoted for trading or applicable law. |
| 3. | Review and discuss with management and the Company’s external auditor the Company’s quarterly financial statements,
including the results of the review of the Company’s quarterly financial statements by the Company’s external auditor,
and recommend to the Board whether the Company’s quarterly financial statements should be included in any filing by the Company
in accordance with the requirements established from time to time to time by the SEC, the Stock Exchange, any securities exchange
on which the Company’s securities are listed or quoted for trading or applicable law. |
| 4. | Monitor the integrity of the Company’s financial statements and annual report and accounts, half-year report and, if
prepared for publication, quarterly reports, and to review and discuss with management and the Company’s external auditor,
as appropriate, significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the Company’s
financial statements, including: |
| (a) | any significant changes in the Company’s selection or application of accounting principles; |
| (b) | the Company’s critical accounting policies and practices; |
| (c) | all alternative treatments of financial information within GAAP that have been discussed with management and the ramifications
of the use of such alternative accounting principles; |
| (d) | any major issues as to the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls and any special steps adopted in light of material
control deficiencies; and |
| (e) | any material written communications between the Company’s external auditor and management, such as any management letter
or schedule of unadjusted differences. |
| (g) | significant adjustments resulting from audit; |
| (h) | the going concern assumptions and any qualifications; |
| (i) | compliance with accounting standards; and |
| (j) | compliance with the Listing Rules, requirements of the SEC and legal requirements in relation to financial reporting; |
| (a) | Members of the Audit Committee should liaise with the Board and senior management and the Audit Committee must meet, at least
twice a year, with the Company’s external auditors; and |
| (b) | The Audit Committee should consider any significant or unusual items that are, or may need to be, reflected in the report and
accounts, it should give due consideration to any matters that have been raised by the Company’s staff responsible for the
accounting and financial reporting function, compliance officer or auditors; |
| 6. | Discuss with management the Company’s earnings press releases generally, including the use of “pro forma”
or “adjusted” non-GAAP information, and any financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating
agencies. Such discussion may be general and include the types of information to be disclosed and the types of presentations to
be made. |
| 7. | Discuss with management and the external auditor the effect on the Company’s financial statements of (i) regulatory
and accounting initiatives and (ii) off-balance sheet structures. |
| 8. | Discuss with management the Company’s major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and
control such exposures, including the Company’s risk assessment and risk management policies. |
| 9. | Discuss with the Company’s external auditor the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61
relating to the conduct of the audit, including any difficulties encountered in the course of the audit work, any restrictions
on the scope of activities or access to requested information, and any significant disagreements with management. |
| 10. | Review disclosures made to the Audit Committee by the Company’s CEO and CFO (or individuals performing similar functions)
during their certification process for any filing by the Company in accordance with the requirements established from time to time
to time by the SEC, any securities exchange on which the Company’s securities are listed or quoted for trading or applicable
law about any significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of the Company’s internal control
over financial reporting and any fraud involving management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s
internal control over financial reporting. |
| B. | Oversight of the Company’s Relationship with the External Auditor |
| 1. | At least annually, obtain and review a formal written report from the Company’s external auditor, consistent with Independence
Standards Board Standard 1, regarding (i) the internal quality-control procedures of the Company’s external auditor,
(ii) any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of the firm, or by any
inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities within the preceding five years respecting one or more external
audits carried out by the firm, (iii) any steps taken to deal with any such issues and (iv) all relationships between
the Company’s external auditor and the Company. |
| 2. | Actively engage in a dialogue with the Company’s external auditor with respect to any disclosed relationships or services
that may impact the objectivity and independence of the Company’s external auditor and take, or recommending that the full
board take, appropriate action to oversee the independence of the Company’s external auditor. |
| 3. | Evaluate the qualifications, performance and independence of the Company’s external auditor, including whether the external
auditor’s quality controls are adequate and the provision of permitted non-audit services is compatible with maintaining
the auditor’s independence, and taking into account the opinions of management and the internal auditor. The Audit Committee
shall present its conclusions with respect to the Company’s external auditor to the Board. |
| 4. | Verify the rotation of the lead (or coordinating) audit partner having primary responsibility for the audit and the audit partner
responsible for reviewing the audit as required by law. Consider whether, in order to assure continuing auditor independence, it
is appropriate to adopt a policy of rotating the Company’s external auditing firm on a regular basis. |
| 5. | Oversee the Company’s hiring of employees or former employees of the Company’s external auditor who participated
in any capacity in the audit of the Company. |
| 6. | Be available to the Company’s external auditor during the year for consultation purposes. |
| C. | Company’s Financial Reporting System and Internal Control Procedures Compliance Oversight Responsibilities |
| 1. | Review the Company’s financial controls, internal control and risk management systems; |
| 2. | Discuss the internal control system with management to ensure that management has performed its duty to have an effective internal
control system. This discussion should include the adequacy of resources, staff qualifications and experience, training programmes
and budget of the Company’s accounting and financial reporting function; |
| 3. | Consider major investigation findings on internal control matters as delegated by the Board or on its own initiative and management’s
response to these findings; |
| 4. | Where an internal audit function exists, to ensure co-ordination between the internal and external auditors, and to ensure
that the internal audit function is adequately resourced and has appropriate standing within the Company, and to review and monitor
its effectiveness; |
| 5. | Review financial and accounting policies and practices of the Company and its subsidiaries; |
| 6. | Review the external auditor’s management letter, any material queries raised by the auditor to management about accounting
records, financial accounts or systems of control and management’s response; |
| 7. | Ensure that the Board will provide a timely response to the issues raised in the external auditor’s management letter; |
| 8. | Obtain assurance from the Company’s external auditor that Section 10A(b) of the Exchange Act has not been implicated. |
| 9. | Review and approve all related-party transactions. |
| 10. | Inquire and discuss with management the Company’s compliance with applicable laws and regulations and with the Company’s
Code of Ethics in effect at such time, if any, and, where applicable, recommend policies and procedures for future compliance. |
| 11. | Establish procedures (which may be incorporated in the Company’s Code of Ethics, in effect at such time, if any) for
the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or
reports which raise material issues regarding the Company’s financial statements or accounting policies. |
| 12. | Establish procedures for the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Company of concerns regarding questionable
accounting or auditing matters. |
| 13. | Discuss with management and the Company’s external auditor any correspondence with regulators or governmental agencies
and any published reports that raise material issues regarding the Company’s financial statements or accounting policies. |
| 14. | Discuss with the Company’s Chief Financial Officer legal matters that may have a material impact on the Company’s
financial statements or the Company’s compliance policies. |
| 15. | Review and approve all payments made to the Company’s officers and directors or its or their affiliates. Any payments
made to members of the Audit Committee will be reviewed and approved by the Board, with the interested director or directors abstaining
from such review and approval. |
| 16. | Report to the Board on the matters listed in this paragraph C; |
| 17. | Consider other topics as defined by the Board; |
| 18. | Review arrangements (for example, a whistle-blowing policy and system) employees of the Company can use, in confidence, to
raise concerns about possible improprieties in financial reporting, internal control or other matters. The Audit Committee should
ensure that proper arrangements are in place for fair and independent investigation of these matters and for appropriate follow-up
action; and |
| 19. | Act as the key representative body for overseeing the Company’s relations with the external auditor. |
| V. | LIMITATION OF AUDIT COMMITTEE’S ROLE |
While the Audit Committee has the responsibilities
and powers set forth in this charter, it is not the duty of the Audit Committee to plan or conduct audits or to determine that
the Company’s financial statements and disclosures are complete and accurate and are in accordance with GAAP and applicable
rules and regulations. These are the responsibilities of management and the Company’s external auditor.
If there is any inconsistency between the
English and Chinese version of these terms of reference, the English version shall prevail.
The Company shall make available this charter for reference
on the Stock Exchange’s website and the Company’s website.
Note:
According to Section 10A(i)(1)(B) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the preapproval requirement for permitted non-audit services to be performed for the Company by
the Company’s external auditor, including the fees and terms thereof, is waived with respect to the provision of non-audit
services for an issuer, if—
| (i) | the aggregate amount of all such non-audit services provided to the issuer constitutes not more
than 5 percent of the total amount of revenues paid by the issuer to its auditor during the fiscal year in which the non-audit
services are provided; |
| (ii) | such services were not recognized by the issuer at the time of the engagement to be non-audit services;
and |
| (iii) | such services are promptly brought to the attention of the audit committee of the issuer and approved
prior to the completion of the audit by the audit committee or by 1 or more members of the audit committee who are members of the
board of directors to whom authority to grant such approvals has been delegated by the audit committee. |
Annex B
Form of Governance and Nominating Committee
Charter
GOVERNANCE AND NOMINATING COMMITTEE
CHARTER
OF
IAO KUN GROUP HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED
Adopted: _________ 2014.
The responsibilities and powers of the Governance
and Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Iao Kun Group Holding Company Limited
(the “Company”), as delegated by the Board, are set forth in this charter (this “Charter”).
Whenever the Governance and Nominating Committee takes an action, it shall exercise its independent judgment on an informed basis
that the action is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.
The purpose of the Governance and Nominating
Committee shall be to assist the Board in discharging its responsibilities relating to the appropriate size, functioning and needs
of the Board including, but not limited to, recruitment and retention of high quality Board members and the composition and structure
of committees of the Board.
The Governance and Nominating Committee
shall consist of at least three members of the Board, absent a temporary vacancy, as determined from time to time by the Board.
Each member shall be an independent non-executive director (“INED”) and experience requirements and standards
established from time to time to time by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), the Rules
Governing the Listing of Securities (the “Listing Rules”) of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited
(the “Stock Exchange”), and any securities exchange on which the Company’s securities are listed
or quoted for trading, in each case as amended from time to time. The Governance and Nominating Committee shall have a chairman
(the “Chairman”) who is a member of the Governance and Nominating Committee appointed by the Board.
The Board shall elect the members of the
Governance and Nominating Committee at the first Board meeting practicable and may make changes from time to time pursuant to the
provisions below. The members of the Governance and Nominating Committee shall be appointed and removed by the Board. If present,
the Chairman shall preside at each meeting of the Governance and Nominating Committee. The Chairman shall perform such duties as
may from time to time be assigned to the Chairman by the Governance and Nominating Committee or the Board.
A Governance and Nominating Committee member
may resign by delivering his or her written resignation to the chairman of the Board, or may be removed by majority vote of the
Board by delivery to such member of written notice of removal, to take effect at a date specified therein, or upon delivery of
such written notice to such member if no date is specified. If a member shall cease to assume the responsibilities of a director,
that member shall automatically lose the qualifications as a member and if this results in the number of members to fall below
the minimum, the Board shall appoint a new member to complement the number of members in the Committee. The Board shall have the
power at any time to fill vacancies in the Governance and Nominating Committee, subject to such new member(s) satisfying the above
requirements.
| III. | MEETINGS AND COMMITTEE ACTION |
The Governance and Nominating Committee
shall meet at such times as it deems necessary to fulfill its responsibilities, but not less frequently than once a year (“Meeting(s)”).
Meetings of the Governance and Nominating Committee shall be called by a majority of the members of the Governance and Nominating
Committee upon such notice as is provided for in the Company’s charter documents with respect to meetings of the Board. A
majority of the Governance and Nominating Committee members shall constitute a quorum. Actions of the Governance and Nominating
Committee may be taken in person at a meeting or in writing without a meeting. Actions taken at a meeting, to be valid, shall require
the approval of a majority of the members of the Governance and Nominating Committee present and voting. Actions taken in writing,
to be valid, shall be signed by all members of the Governance and Nominating Committee. The Governance and Nominating Committee
shall report its minutes from each meeting to the Board.
For regular meetings
and as far as practicable in all other cases, notice of meeting and the agenda and accompanying committee papers should be sent,
in full, to all members of Governance and Nomination Committee at least 3 days before the intended date of meeting (or such other
shorter period agreed by the members).
A majority of the members of the Governance
and Nominating Committee may establish such rules as may from time to time be necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business
of the Governance and Nominating Committee. At each meeting, a majority of the members of the Governance and Nominating Committee
shall appoint as secretary a person who may, but need not, be a member of the Governance and Nominating Committee. A certificate
of the secretary of the Governance and Nominating Committee or minutes of a meeting of the Governance and Nominating Committee
executed by the secretary setting forth the names of the members of the Governance and Nominating Committee present at the meeting
or actions taken by the Governance and Nominating Committee at the meeting shall be sufficient evidence at all times as to the
members of the Governance and Nominating Committee who were present, or such actions taken. The
minutes should be recorded in sufficient detail the matters considered and decisions reached, including any concerns raised or
dissenting views expressed. Draft and final versions of minutes of meetings should be sent to members of the Governance and Nomination
Committee for their comment and records respectively, in both cases within a reasonable time after the meeting is held. The minutes
shall be sent to all members of the Board as soon as practicable after the conclusion of any meeting of the Governance and Nomination
Committee and should be open for inspection at any reasonable time on reasonable notice by any member of the Board. The Governance
and Nomination Committee should report back to the Board on its decisions or recommendations, unless there are legal or regulatory
restrictions on its ability to do so (such as a restriction on disclosure due to regulatory requirements).
The Governance and Nominating Committee
shall have the authority to delegate any of its responsibilities to subcommittees as it may deem appropriate in its sole discretion.
| IV. | COMMITTEE AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES |
| · | Developing the criteria and qualifications for membership on the Board while conforming to any requirement, direction, and
regulation that may from time to time be prescribed by the Board or contained in the constitution of the Company or imposed by
the Listing Rules, requirements of the SEC or applicable law. |
| · | To ensure the Chairman, or in the absence of the Chairman, another member of the Governance and Nominating Committee or failing
this, his duly appointed delegate, to be available to answer questions at the annual general meeting of the Company. |
| · | To identify individuals suitably qualified to become directors and select or make recommendations to the Board on the selection
of, individuals nominated for directorships (including candidates proposed by shareholders). In identifying suitable candidates,
the Governance and Nominating Committee should consider candidates on merit and against the objective criteria, with due regard
for the benefits of diversity on the Board. |
| · | To review the size, structure, composition (including the skills, knowledge and experience) and diversity of the Board (which
can be achieved through consideration of factors including but not limited to gender, age, cultural and educational background
or professional experience) (the “Board Diversity Policy”) at least annually and make recommendations
to the Board regarding any proposed changes to complement the Company’s corporate strategy. |
| · | To review the Board Diversity Policy as appropriate, to review the measurable objectives set for implementing the Board Diversity
Policy and the progress made towards achieving those objectives, and to disclose the review results in the annual Corporate Governance
Report. |
| · | To assess the independence of the independent non-executive directors. |
| · | To make recommendations to the Board on the appointment or re-appointment of directors and succession planning for Directors
in particular the chairman and the chief executive (as defined in the Listing Rules). |
| · | Where the Board proposes a resolution to elect an individual as an independent non-executive Director at a general meeting,
the Governance and Nominating Committee shall set out in the circular to Shareholders and/or explanatory statement accompanying
the notice of the relevant general meeting why they believe the individual should be elected and the reasons why they consider
the individual to be independent. |
| · | Establishing subcommittees for the purpose of evaluating special or unique matters. |
| · | Monitoring and making recommendations regarding Board committee functions, contributions and composition. |
| · | Evaluating, on an annual basis, the Governance and Nominating Committee’s performance. |
The Governance and Nominating Committee
shall prepare a statement each year concerning its compliance with this Charter for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement,
and evaluate and assess the effectiveness of the Committee and the adequacy of these Governance and Nomination Committee terms
of reference on an annual basis and recommend any proposed changes to the Board.
The Chairman should, as far as practicable, attend
the annual general meeting and make himself available to respond to any shareholder questions on the Governance and Nominating
Committee’s activities. In the absence of the Chairman, another Member or failing that a duly appointed delegate of such
Chairman or Member should attend the annual general meeting. Unless authorized by the Board, Member(s) attending the Meeting shall
have the duty to keep confidential all matters discussed at the Meeting and shall not disclose relevant information to outsiders.
| VII. | Continuing application of the articles of association of the Company |
The articles of association of the Company regulating
the meetings and proceedings of the Directors so far as the same are applicable and are not replaced by the provisions in these
terms of reference shall apply to the meetings and proceedings of the Governance and Nominating Committee.
| VIII. | Authority of the Committee |
| a. | The Governance and Nominating Committee is authorised by the Board to review, assess and make recommendations upon any issue
within its terms of reference. It is authorised to seek any information it requires from any employee or executive Director and
such persons are directed to co-operate with any request made by the Governance and Nominating Committee. |
| b. | The Governance and Nomination Committee shall have full access to management and may invite members of management or others
to attend its meetings as necessary or desirable. The Company should provide the Governance and Nomination Committee with sufficient
resources to perform the duties set forth herein. |
| c. | The Governance and Nominating Committee is authorised by the Board, and at the reasonable expense of the Company, to discharge
its duties, including but not limited to obtaining outside legal or other independent professional advice and to securing the attendance
of independent professional advisers with the relevant experience and expertise, if it considers this necessary. |
The
Company shall make available this charter reference on the Stock Exchange’s website and Company’s website.
The
Board may, subject to compliance with the articles of association of the Company and the Listing Rules, amend and supplement these
terms of reference provided that no amendment to these terms of reference shall invalidate any prior act and resolution of the
Governance and Nomination Committee which would have been valid had there not been such amendment.
(If there is any inconsistency between the English
and Chinese version of these terms of reference, the English version shall prevail.)
IAO KUN GROUP HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED
Board of Director Candidate Guidelines
The Governance and Nominating Committee
of Iao Kun Group Holding Company Limited (the “Company”) will identify, evaluate and recommend candidates
to become members of the Company’s Board of Directors (“Board”) with the goal of creating a balance
of knowledge and experience on the Board. Nominations to the Board may also be submitted to the Governance and Nominating Committee
by the Company’s shareholders in accordance with the Company’s policy for shareholder nominations of Board candidates,
a copy of which is attached hereto. Candidates will be reviewed in the context of the current composition of the Board, the operating
requirements of the Company and the long-term interests of the Company’s shareholders. In conducting this assessment, the
Governance and Nominating Committee will consider and evaluate each candidate for election to the Board based upon its assessment
of the following criteria:
| · | Whether the candidate is independent pursuant to the requirements of the established from time to time to time by the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and any securities exchange on which the Company’s securities
are listed or quoted for trading. |
| · | Whether the candidate is accomplished in his or her field and has a reputation, both personally and professionally, that is
consistent with the image and reputation of the Company. |
| · | Whether the candidate has the ability to read and understand basic financial statements. The Governance and Nominating Committee
will also determine if a candidate satisfies the criteria for being an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined
by the SEC. |
| · | Whether the candidate has relevant experience and expertise and would be able to provide insights and practical wisdom based
upon that experience and expertise. |
| · | Whether the candidate would enhance the diversity of our Board with respect to business experience, professional expertise,
age, gender, and ethic background. |
| · | Whether the candidate has knowledge of the Company and issues affecting the Company. |
| · | Whether the candidate is committed to enhancing shareholder value. |
| · | Whether the candidate fully understands, or has the capacity to fully understand, the legal responsibilities of a director
and the governance processes of a public company. |
| · | Whether the candidate is of high moral and ethical character and would be willing to apply sound, objective and independent
business judgment, and to assume broad fiduciary responsibility. |
| · | Whether the candidate has, and would be willing to commit, the required hours necessary to discharge the duties of Board membership. |
| · | Whether the candidate has any prohibitive interlocking relationships or conflicts of interest. |
| · | Whether the candidate is able to develop a good working relationship with other Board members and contribute to the Board’s
working relationship with the senior management of the Company. |
| · | Whether the candidate is able to suggest business opportunities to the Company. |
IAO KUN GROUP HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED
Policy for Shareholder Nominations
of Board Candidates
Shareholders who wish to recommend to the
Governance and Nominating Committee a candidate for election to the Board should send their letters to Iao Kun Group Holding Company
Limited, Unit 605, East Town Building, 16 Fenwick Street, Wanchai, Hong Kong, Attention: Governance and Nominating Committee. The
Corporate Secretary will promptly forward all such letters to the members of the Governance and Nominating Committee. Shareholders
must follow certain procedures to recommend to the Governance and Nominating Committee candidates for election as directors. In
general, in order to provide sufficient time to enable the Governance and Nominating Committee to evaluate candidates recommended
by shareholders in connection with selecting candidates for nomination in connection with the Company’s annual meeting of
shareholders, the Corporate Secretary must receive the shareholder’s recommendation no later than thirty (30) days after
the end of the Company’s fiscal year.
The recommendation must contain the following
information about the candidate:
| · | Business and current residence addresses, as well as residence addresses for the past twenty (20) years; |
| · | Principal occupation or employment and employment history (name and address of employer and job title) for the past ten (10)
years (or such shorter period as the candidate has been in the workforce); |
| · | Permission for the Company to conduct a background investigation, including the right to obtain education, employment and credit
information; |
| · | The number of ordinary shares of the Company beneficially owned by the candidate; |
| · | The information that would be required to be disclosed by the Company about the candidate under the rules of the SEC in a Proxy
Statement soliciting proxies for the election of such candidate as a director (which currently includes information required by
Items 401, 404 and 405 of Regulation S-K); and |
| · | A signed consent of the nominee to serve as a director of the Company, if elected. |
Annex C
Form of Compensation Committee Charter
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE CHARTER
OF
IAO KUN GROUP HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED
Adopted: _________ 2014.
The responsibilities and powers of the Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Iao Kun Group Holding Company Limited (the “Company”),
as delegated by the Board, are set forth in this charter (this “Charter”). Whenever the Compensation
Committee takes an action, it shall exercise its independent judgment on an informed basis that the action is in the best interests
of the Company and its shareholders.
The purpose of the Compensation Committee
shall be to make recommendations to the Board in determining the compensation of individual executive directors and senior management
of the Company (collectively, the “Management”) and make recommendations to the Board in determining
the compensation of independent non-executive directors.
The Compensation Committee shall consist
of at least three members of the Board, absent a temporary vacancy, as determined from time to time by the Board. All members of
the Compensation Committee shall be independent non-executive directors (“INED(s)”). Each member shall
meet the independence and experience requirements and standards established from time to time to time by the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “SEC”), Rules Governing the Listing of Securities (the “Listing Rules”)
on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Stock Exchange”), and any securities exchange on which the
Company’s securities are listed or quoted for trading, in each case as amended from time to time. Each member of the Compensation
Committee shall disclose to the Compensation Committee any personal financial interest (other than as a Shareholder of the Company)
in any matter to be decided by the Compensation Committee; or any potential conflict of interest arising from a cross-directorship.
Any such member shall abstain from voting on resolutions of the Compensation Committee in relation to which such interest exists
and from participating in the discussions concerning such resolutions, and shall (if so required by the Board) resign from the
Compensation Committee.
The Board shall elect the members of the
Compensation Committee at the first Board meeting practicable and may make changes from time to time pursuant to the provisions
below. . The chairman of the Compensation Committee (the “Chairman”) shall be a member of the Compensation
Committee elected by the Board and, if present, shall preside at each meeting of the Compensation Committee. The Chairman shall
perform such duties as may from time to time be assigned to the Chairman by the Compensation Committee or the Board.
A Compensation Committee member may resign
by delivering his or her written resignation to the chairman of the Board, or may be removed by majority vote of the Board by delivery
to such member of written notice of removal, to take effect at a date specified therein, or upon delivery of such written notice
to such member if no date is specified. If a member shall cease to assume the responsibilities of a director, that member shall
automatically lose the qualifications as a member and if this results in the number of members to fall below the minimum, the Board
shall appoint a new member to complement the number of members in the Compensation Committee. The Board shall have the power at
any time to fill vacancies in the Compensation Committee, subject to such new member(s) satisfying the above requirements.
| III. | MEETINGS AND COMMITTEE ACTION |
The Compensation Committee shall meet at
least once every year. Meetings of the Compensation Committee shall be called by a majority of the members of the Compensation
Committee upon such notice as is provided for in the Company’s charter documents with respect to meetings of the Board. A
majority of the Compensation Committee members shall constitute a quorum. Actions of the Compensation Committee may be taken in
person at a meeting or in writing without a meeting. Actions taken at a meeting, to be valid, shall require the approval of a majority
of the members of the Compensation Committee present and voting. Actions taken in writing, to be valid, shall be signed by all
members of the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee shall report its minutes from each meeting to the Board.
For regular meetings
and as far as practicable in all other cases, notice of meeting and the agenda and accompanying committee papers should be sent,
in full, to all members of Compensation Committee at least 3 days before the intended date of meeting (or such other shorter period
as agreed by the members).
A majority of the members of the Compensation
Committee may establish such rules as may from time to time be necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business of the
Compensation Committee. At each meeting, a majority of the members of the Compensation Committee shall appoint as secretary a person
who may, but need not, be a member of the Compensation Committee. A certificate of the secretary of the Compensation Committee
or minutes of a meeting of the Compensation Committee executed by the secretary setting forth the names of the members of the Compensation
Committee present at the meeting or actions taken by the Compensation Committee at the meeting shall be sufficient evidence at
all times as to the members of the Compensation Committee who were present, or such actions taken. The minutes should be recorded
in sufficient detail the matters considered and decisions reached, including any concerns raised or dissenting views expressed.
Draft and final versions of minutes of meetings should be sent to members of the Compensation Committee for their comment and records
respectively, in both cases within a reasonable time after the meeting is held. The minutes shall be sent to all members of the
Board as soon as practicable after the conclusion of any meeting of the Compensation Committee and should be open for inspection
at any reasonable time on reasonable notice by any member of the Board.
The CEO of the Company shall not be permitted
to be present during deliberations or voting on the CEO’s compensation.
The Compensation Committee shall have the
authority to delegate any of its responsibilities to subcommittees as it may deem appropriate in its sole discretion. The CEO of
the Company may not be present during voting or deliberations of the Compensation Committee with respect to his compensation.
Proceedings of meetings
of the Compensation Committee shall be governed by the provisions of the articles of association of the Company.
The Chairman shall
attend the annual general meeting of the Company prepared to respond to any question from shareholders on the Compensation Committee’s
activities. In his or her absence, one other member of the Compensation Committee or failing this his or her duly appointed delegate
should attend.
| IV. | COMMITTEE AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES |
The Compensation Committee shall have the
following authority and responsibilities:
| · | Make recommendations to the Board on the Company’s policy and structure for all directors’ and senior management
remuneration and on the establishment of a formal and transparent procedure for developing remuneration policy. |
| · | At least annually review the Company’s corporate goals and objectives relevant to the Management’s compensation;
evaluate the Management’s performance in light of such goals and objectives; and, either as a Compensation Committee or,
together with the other independent directors (as directed by the Board), determine, approve, disapprove, modify, or terminate
existing or proposed compensation packages of the Management based on this evaluation. Compensation packages of the Management
should include benefits in kind, benefits plans, pension rights and compensation payments, including any compensation payable for
loss or termination of their office or appointment. In determining the long-term incentive component of the Management’s
compensation, the Compensation Committee will consider the Company’s performance, the value of similar incentive awards to
the Management at comparable companies, the awards given to the Management in past years and any relevant legal requirements and
associated guidance of the applicable law. |
| · | Make recommendations to the Board and at least annually review with respect to independent non-executive directors’ compensation
to assist the Board in making the final determination as to independent non-executive directors’ compensation. |
| · | Approve any stock option award or any other type of award as may be required for complying with any tax, securities, or other
regulatory requirement, or otherwise determined to be appropriate or desirable by the Compensation Committee or Board. |
| · | Approve the policy for authorizing claims for expenses from the Executives. |
| · | The Compensation Committee is authorised by the Board to seek any necessary information which
is within the Compensation Committee’s scope of duties from the Board and the employees. |
| · | The Compensation Committee shall be provided with sufficient resources to perform its duties
and is authorised by the Board to retain, in the Compensation Committee’s sole discretion, outside independent professional
advice (including compensation consultants and/or legal counsel), at the Company’s expense, and to secure the attendance
of outsiders with relevant experience and expertise if it considers necessary. |
| · | The Compensation Committee shall be directly responsible for determining the appointment, compensation
and oversight of the work of any compensation consultant, legal counsel and other adviser retained by the Compensation Committee. |
| · | The Compensation Committee may select, or receive advice from, a compensation consultant, legal
counsel or other adviser to the Compensation Committee, other than in-house legal counsel, only after taking into consideration
the following factors: |
| · | the provision of other services to the Company such compensation consultant, legal counsel or other
adviser; |
| · | the amount of fees received from the Company by the such compensation consultant, legal counsel
or other adviser, as a percentage of the total revenue of the person that employs the compensation consultant, legal counsel or
other adviser; |
| · | the policies and procedures of such compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser that
are designed to prevent conflicts of interest; |
| · | any business or personal relationship of the compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser
with a member of the compensation committee; |
| · | any stock of the Company owned by the compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser;
and |
| · | any business or personal relationship of the compensation consultant, legal counsel, other adviser
or the person employing the adviser with a member of senior management. |
| · | The Compensation Committee shall be provided with adequate information in a timely manner to
enable it to make informed decision. |
| · | The Compensation Committee is authorised to do any such things to enable the Committee to properly
perform its powers and functions. |
| · | The Compensation Committee should consult the chairman and/or chief executive about their remuneration
proposals for other executive directors of the Company. |
| · | Consider salaries paid by comparable companies, time commitment and responsibilities and employment conditions elsewhere in
the Company and its subsidiaries. |
| · | Attempt to ensure that the Company’s compensation program is effective in attracting and retaining key employees, reinforce
business strategies and objectives for enhanced shareholder value, and administer the compensation program in a fair and equitable
manner consistent with established policies and guidelines. |
| · | Administer the Company’s incentive-compensation plans and equity-based plans, insofar as provided therein. |
| · | Review and approve compensation payable to executive directors and senior management for any
loss or termination of office or appointment to ensure that it is consistent with the contractual terms and is otherwise fair and
not excessive. |
| · | Review and approve compensation arrangements relating to dismissal or removal of directors for
misconduct to ensure that they are consistent with contractual terms and are otherwise reasonable and appropriate. |
| · | Ensure that no director or any of his associates is involved in deciding his own remuneration. |
| · | Review and assess the adequacy of this charter annually, and evaluate and assess the effectiveness of the Compensation Committee
and the adequacy of these Compensation Committee terms of reference on an annual basis and recommend any proposed changes to the
Board. |
| · | Review and approve the compensation disclosure and analysis prepared by the Company’s management, as required to be included
in the Company’s proxy statement or annual report on Form 20-F, or equivalent, filed with the SEC. |
The Compensation Committee shall have full
access to management and may invite members of management or others to attend its meetings as necessary or desirable, except that
the CEO of the Company shall not be permitted to be present at deliberations or voting on the CEO’s compensation. The Compensation
Committee should be provided with sufficient resources to discharge its duties. The Compensation Committee shall have the authority
to retain outside counsel and any other advisors as it may deem appropriate in its sole discretion, at the Company’s expenses.
The Compensation Committee shall have sole authority to approve related fees and retention terms.
If there is any inconsistency between the
English and Chinese version of these terms of reference, the English version shall prevail.
The Company shall make
available this charter for reference on the Stock Exchange’s website and Company’s website.
For the purpose of
this charter, “senior management” means (a) the same persons as referred to in the Company's annual report and is required
to be disclosed under paragraph 12 of Appendix 16 to the Listing Rules, as such rule may be amended from time to time; and (b)
those officers covered in Rule 16a-1(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934..
Annex D
Form of Share Option Scheme
Dated
the day of
IAO
KUN GROUP HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED
(Incorporated
in the Cayman Islands with limited liability)
_____________________________________________
SHARE OPTION
SCHEME
adopted
by the shareholders at the [annual/extraordinary] general meeting
held
on [*] 2014
_____________________________________________
Iu,
Lai & Li
Solicitors
& Notaries
Rooms
2201, 2201A & 2202, 22nd Floor
Tower
I, Admiralty Centre
No.
18 Harcourt Road
Hong
Kong
TN:ADL:YYWT:76354
IAO KUN GROUP
HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED
(Incorporated
in the Cayman Islands with limited liability)
_____________________________________________
Rules of
the Share
Option Scheme
adopted by
the shareholders at the [annual/extraordinary] general meeting
held on [*]
2014
_____________________________________________
I, [*],
an executive director of Iao Kun Group Holding Company Limited (the "Company") hereby certify that the rules of the
attached share option scheme of the Company were adopted by the shareholders of the Company on [*] 2014.
Dated [*],
2014.
CONTENTS
1. |
Conditions |
1 |
|
|
|
2. |
Definitions |
1 |
|
|
|
3. |
Purpose |
4 |
|
|
|
4. |
Grant of Options |
4 |
|
|
|
5. |
Maximum number of Shares available for subscription |
4 |
|
|
|
6. |
Option certificate |
5 |
|
|
|
7. |
Restriction on grant of Options |
6 |
|
|
|
8. |
Options granted to Directors or substantial shareholders |
6 |
|
|
|
9. |
Exercise of Options |
6 |
|
|
|
10. |
Lapse of Options |
7 |
|
|
|
11. |
Cancellation of Options |
8 |
|
|
|
12. |
Rights |
8 |
|
|
|
13. |
Reorganisation of capital structure |
8 |
|
|
|
14. |
Take-over, schemes of compromise or arrangement and liquidation |
9 |
|
|
|
15. |
Amendment and termination |
9 |
|
|
|
16. |
General |
10 |
RULES OF
THE SHARE OPTION SCHEME
OF
IAO KUN GROUP
HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED
(the “Scheme”)
The
Scheme shall take effect subject to and is conditional on:
| (A) | the
passing of an ordinary resolution to adopt the Scheme (as hereinafter defined) by the
shareholders of the Company in general meeting (with any persons required to abstain
from voting under the Listing Rules so abstaining); |
| (B) | the
Listing (as hereinafter defined); and |
| (C) | the
Listing Committee (as hereinafter defined) granting approval of the Scheme and the granting
of Options (as hereinafter defined), and the listing of and permission to deal in the
Shares (as hereinafter defined) which may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Options. |
| 2.1 | For the
purpose of the Scheme, unless the context otherwise requires, the following words and
expressions shall have the following meanings: |
"Adoption
Date" |
|
means
[·]
2014, the date on which the Scheme is conditionally adopted by [ordinary] resolution of the shareholders of the Company in
general meeting; |
|
|
|
“Advisor” |
|
means
any such person as shall have been designated by the Board as such, being a person who provides advisory services (in the
areas of legal, technical, financial, corporate managerial or otherwise) to the Group or any member of the Group; |
|
|
|
“Articles” |
|
means
the articles of association of the Company for the time being; |
|
|
|
“Auditors” |
|
means
the auditors for the time being of the Company (acting as experts and not as arbitrators); |
|
|
|
“Board” |
|
means
the board of directors of the Company (and, where appropriate, includes any committee or delegate of the Board appointed by
the Board to perform any of its functions); |
|
|
|
“Business Day” |
|
means
any day on which the Stock Exchange is open for the business of dealing in securities; |
“Companies
Law” |
|
means
the Companies Law (Chapter 22) of the Cayman Islands as amended from time to time; |
|
|
|
“Companies
Ordinance” |
|
means
the Companies Ordinance (Chapter 622 of the Laws of Hong Kong) as amended from time to time; |
|
|
|
“Company” |
|
means
Iao Kun Group Holding Company Limited, a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability, the securities
of which are listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the Symbol IKGH; |
|
|
|
“Consultant” |
|
means
any such person as shall have been designated by the Board as such, being a person who provides consultancy services to the
Group or any member of the Group; |
|
|
|
“Date of Grant” |
|
means
the date, which must be a Business Day, of a written notice from the Company granting Options to Eligible Persons; |
|
|
|
“Date of Listing” |
|
means
the date on which dealings in the Shares commence on the Stock Exchange; |
|
|
|
“Director” |
|
means
any person who is a director (including non-executive director and independent non-executive director) of the Group or any
member of the Group; |
|
|
|
“Eligible Person” |
|
means
any person who is (or will be on the Date of Grant) an [Employee, a Director, a Consultant or an Advisor of the Group or any
member of the Group]; |
|
|
|
“Employee” |
|
means
a person who is in full-time or part-time employment of the Group or any member of the Group; |
|
|
|
“Employment” |
|
means
employment by the Group or any member of the Group; |
|
|
|
“Exercise Period” |
|
means
the period within which an Option may be exervised in accordance with the terms of the Scheme, such period not to exceed 10
years from the Date of Grant of the relevant Option; |
|
|
|
“Exercise Price” |
|
means
the amount payable for each Share to be subscribed for under an Option in the event of the Option being exercised, being an
amount determined by the Board [in its sole and absolute discretion] and notified to a Participant, which shall not be less
than the greater of: |
|
|
|
|
|
(A) |
the
closing price of the Shares on the Stock Exchange as stated in the Stock Exchange’s daily quotations sheet on the Date
of Grant; |
|
|
(B) |
the
average of the closing prices of the Shares as stated in the Stock Exchange’s day quotation sheets for the five Business
Days immediately preceding to the Date of Grant; |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(C) |
the
nominal value of the Shares (if the Shares have nominal value); |
|
|
|
“Group” |
|
the
Company and its greater than 50% owned subsidiaries (for the avoidance of doubt, include the Promotion Entities) from time
to time and “members of the Group” shall be construed accordingly; |
|
|
|
“Inside information” |
|
has
the meaning set out in the Listing Rules; |
|
|
|
“Listing” |
|
the
listing of the Shares on the Stock Exchange; |
|
|
|
“Listing Committee” |
|
means
the listing committee of the Council of the Stock Exchange; |
|
|
|
“Listing Document” |
|
the
listing document to be issued by the Company in connection with the Listing; |
|
|
|
“Listing Rules” |
|
means
the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited as may be amended from time to time; |
|
|
|
“Option” |
|
means
a right granted under the Scheme to subscribe for Shares in accordance with the Scheme; |
|
|
|
“Participant” |
|
means
any [Employee, Director, Consultant or Advisor] who for the time being participates in the Scheme (or, where applicable, his
personal representatives); |
|
|
|
“Promotion
Entities” |
|
shall
have the same meaning as described in the Listing Document; |
|
|
|
“Scheme Period” |
|
means
the period within which the Scheme remains valid and effective, which shall be the period of 10 years commencing from the
Date of Listing; |
|
|
|
“Shares” |
|
means
the ordinary shares of US$0.0001 each in the capital of the Company (or of such nominal amount as shall result from any sub-division
or consolidation of such shares from time to time or of no nominal value as adopted by the Company from time to time); |
|
|
|
“Stock Exchange” |
|
means
The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited; |
|
|
|
“subsidiaries” |
|
shall
have the meaning ascribed to it in the Listing Rules; |
|
|
|
“Subsisting
Option” |
|
means
an Option which has been duly granted in accordance with the Scheme and has neither lapsed nor been cancelled or exercised
in full; |
“$” |
|
means
Hong Kong dollars; |
|
|
|
“substantial
shareholder” |
|
shall
have the meaning ascribed to it in the Listing Rules; |
|
|
|
“associate”
|
|
shall
have the meaning ascribed to it in the Listing Rules; |
|
|
|
“connected
person” |
|
shall
have the meaning ascribed to it in the Listing Rules; and |
|
|
|
“chief executive” |
|
shall
have the meaning ascribed to it in the Listing Rules. |
| 2.2 | Where
the context so permits the singular shall include the plural and vice versa and the masculine
shall include the feminine. |
| 2.3 | References
to any ordinance, statute or law shall include any statutory modification, amendment
or re-enactment thereof. |
| 2.4 | Unless
the context otherwise requires, references to clauses are to clauses of the Scheme and
references to paragraphs are to paragraphs of the clauses in which the reference appears. |
| 2.5 | The headings
are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of the provision
of the Scheme. |
The
purposes of the Scheme are to attract and retain the best available personnel, to provide additional incentive to [Employees,
Directors, Consultants and Advisors] and to promote the success of the business of the Group.
| 4.1 | The Board
may from time to time during the Scheme Period (at its absolute discretion) offer an
Option to an Eligible Person (to be selected in each case at the absolute discretion
of the Board from time to time based on the Board’s opinion as to such person’s
contribution or potential contribution to the development and growth of the Group) subject
to the terms, conditions, restrictions or limitations (if any) as the Board may think
fit in accordance with the terms of the Scheme. |
| 4.2 | Subject
to the limitations referred to in the Scheme, the Board shall also determine the number
of Shares to be included in an Option to be offered to an Eligible Person provided always
that such terms shall not be inconsistent with the relevant requirements of the Listing
Rules. |
| 4.3 | An offer
of an Option to acquire Shares must be made by the Company on a Business Day in writing
and shall specify the Exercise Price, the number of Shares covered by such Option and
any terms and conditions, restrictions and/or limitations applicable to the Option and
the Exercise Period and include a statement to the effect that any acceptance thereof
shall render the Eligible Person to whom the offer is made bound by the provisions of
the Scheme and that the Option shall only be accepted in writing in such manner as the
Board may prescribe within [14] days of the same being made and if not so accepted shall
lapse. An offer may be accepted in part. An offer may not be accepted unless the offeree
remains [an Employee, Director, Consultant or Advisor] (as the case may be) on acceptance. |
| 4.4 | A Subsisting
Option and an offer to grant an Option shall be personal to the [Employee, Director,
Consultant or Advisor] to whom it is granted or made and shall not be transferrable or
assignable. No Participant shall in any way sell, transfer, charge, mortgage, encumber
or create any interest in favour of any third party over or in relation to any Option. |
| 4.5 | Acceptance
of the offer of an Option shall be subject to payment of the sum of $[1.00] which shall
be paid upon acceptance of the offer of such Option. This consideration shall not be
refundable to the Participant and shall not be deemed to be a part payment of the Exercise
Price. |
| 4.6 | No offer
of an Option which is capable of or open for acceptance shall be made after the expiry
of the Exercise Period. |
| 5. | Maximum
number of Shares available for subscription |
| 5.1 | The maximum
number of Shares which may be issued upon the exercise of all outstanding Options granted
and yet to be exercised under the Scheme and any other schemes of the Company shall not
exceed such number of Shares as shall represent 30 per cent. of the issued share capital
of the Company from time to time. |
| 5.2 | Subject
always to the overall limit specified in clause 5.1: |
| (A) | the
Board may grant Options, generally and without further authority, in respect of such
number of Shares which may be issued upon exercise of all options to be granted under
the Scheme and any other schemes in aggregate not exceeding 10 per cent. of the issued
share capital of the Company as at the date of approval of the Scheme (the “Scheme
Mandate Limit”). For the avoidance of doubt, Options lapsed in accordance with
the Scheme shall not be counted for the purpose of calculating the Scheme Mandate Limit; |
| (B) | the
Scheme Mandate Limit may be renewed by obtaining approval of the shareholders of the
Company in general meeting provided that such renewed limit shall not exceed 10 per cent.
of the Shares in issue as at the date of approval of such limit (the “Refreshed
Limit”). Options previously granted under the Scheme (including those outstanding,
cancelled, lapsed in accordance with the Scheme or exercised Options) shall not be counted
for the purpose of calculating the Refreshed Limit. In such case, the Company shall send
a circular to its shareholders containing the information required under rule 17.02 of
the Listing Rules; and |
| (C) | the
Board may grant Options in excess of the 10 per cent. limit to specifically identified
Eligible Persons by first obtaining approval of the shareholders of the Company in general
meeting to grant the Options in the amounts and to the Eligible Persons specified in
the resolution. The Company shall send a circular to the shareholders of the Company
in accordance with and containing such information as required under rule 17.03(3) of
the Listing Rules. |
5.3 |
(A) |
Unless approved by the shareholders of the Company in the manner as set out in clause 5.3(B) below, the total number of Shares issued and to be issued upon the exercise of the Options granted to each Eligible Person (including both exercised, cancelled and outstanding Options) in any 12 month period shall not exceed 1 per cent. of the relevant class of securities of the Company in issue. |
| (B) | Further
Options may be granted to an Eligible Person, which, if exercised, would result in such
Eligible Person becoming entitled to subscribe for Shares in excess of the limit stated
in clause 5.3(A) above, by obtaining approval of the shareholders of the Company in general
meeting with such Eligible Person and his associate(s) abstaining from voting provided
that the terms and number of Shares subject to the Options to be granted to such Eligible
Person are fixed before the relevant shareholders’ approval is obtained, and the
date of the meeting of the Board proposing such further grant shall be deemed to be the
Date of Grant for the purpose of determining the Exercise Price of such Options. The
Company shall send a circular to the shareholders of the Company in accordance with and
containing such information as required under rule 17.02 and 17.03(4) of the Listing
Rules. |
| 6.1 | Each Participant
will receive an Option certificate sealed by the Company specifying the number of Option(s)
granted and the number of Shares that may be granted under such Option(s) and specifying
the applicable terms and conditions relating to such Options. Without limiting the generality
of clause 9.1, these terms and conditions may include provisions as to any or all of
the following matters: |
| (A) | performance
conditions (if any) which must be satisfied before the Option can be exercised as the
Board may determine; |
| (B) | the
minimum period (if any) for which an Option must be held before it can be exercised as
the Board may determine; |
| (C) | vesting
conditions (if any), which must be satisfied before a Participant's Option shall become
vested as the Board may determine; |
| (D) | lapse
conditions (if any) which may be different from the general provisions set out in clause
10 (but not so as to extend the Exercise Period beyond 10 years) as the Board may determine;
and |
| (E) | such
other provisions as the Board may determine provided that such provisions are not in
contravention of the Listing Rules. |
| 6.2 | If any
Option certificate is worn out, defaced or lost, the Company may replace it on such conditions
as they wish to set concerning the surrender, continued validity or any other matter
relevant to the original certificate being replaced provided that such conditions are
reasonable in the circumstances. If an Option is exercised in part, and the balance remains
exercisable, the Board shall provide the Participant with a balance certificate. |
| 7. | Restriction
on grant of Options |
The
Company may not grant any Options after Inside Information has come to the Company’s knowledge, until such Inside Information
has been publicly disseminated in accordance with the Listing Rules. In particular, during the period of one month immediately
preceding the earlier of:
| (A) | the
date of the Board meeting (as such date is first notified to the Stock Exchange in accordance
with the Listing Rules) for the approval of the Company’s annual, half-year, quarterly-year
or any other interim results; and |
| (B) | the
deadline for the Company to publish its annual, half-year, quarterly-year or any other
interim results announcement (whether or not required under the Listing Rules), |
and
ending on the date of the results announcement, no Option shall be granted. Such period will cover any period of delay in the
publication of a results announcement.
| 8. | Options
granted to Directors, Chief Executive or substantial shareholders |
| 8.1 | Any Options
granted to a Participant who is a Director, chief executive or substantial shareholder
of the Company or any of their respective associates shall be approved by the independent
non-executive Directors and in any event if the proposed grantee is an independent non-executive
Director of the Company, the vote of such grantee shall not be counted for the purpose
of approving such grant. |
| 8.2 | Any Options
granted to an Eligible Person who is a substantial shareholder or independent non-executive
Director or their respective associates, which will result in the total number of Shares
issued and to be issued upon exercise of all Options granted and to be granted (including
Options whether exercised, cancelled or still outstanding) to such person in the period
of 12 months up to and including the date of such grant: |
| (A) | representing
in aggregate over 0.1 per cent. of the issued share capital of the Company; and |
| (B) | having
an aggregate value, based on the closing price of the Shares at the date of each grant,
in excess of $5,000,000.00, |
such
further grant of Options must be approved by the shareholders of the Company in general meeting by poll convened and held in accordance
with the Articles and the Listing Rules. The Company shall send a circular to the shareholders of the Company in accordance with
and containing such information as required and as referred to under rule 17.04 of the Listing Rules. All connected persons of
the Company shall abstain from voting in favour at such general meeting.
| 9.1 | Save as
otherwise determined by the Board in relation to the grant of Options to any Eligible
Persons and provided in the offer of the grant of the relevant Options, (i) there is
no performance target which must be achieved before any of the Options can be exercised;
and (ii) there is no general requirement that an Option must be held for any minimum
period before it can be exercised. |
| 9.2 | An Option
may be exercised in whole or in part by the Participant at any time during the Exercise
Period by delivering to the Company a notice duly signed in a form approved by the Board
(together with payment of the Exercise Price in full in respect of each Share to be subscribed
for) and delivery of the Option certificate (issued under clause 6.1) for amendment or
cancellation, as the case may be, and shall be effective on the date of receipt of the
same by the Company. |
| 9.3 | The exercise
of any Option shall be subject to the shareholders of the Company in general meeting
approving any necessary increase in the authorised share capital of the Company. Subject
thereto, the Company shall make available sufficient authorised but unissued share capital
of the Company to meet subsisting requirements on the exercise of Options. |
| 9.4 | Subject
to clause 9.2 and any necessary consents and to an Option having been exercised in accordance
with the provisions of clause 9.1, the Company shall as soon as reasonably practicable
and in any event not later than 30 days (or 14 days where the option is exercised pursuant
to clause 14.1) after the exercise of an Option and, where appropriate, receipt of the
Auditor’s certificate(s) pursuant to clause 13, make an allotment to the Participant
of the number of Shares specified in the notice exercising the Option and shall deliver
to the Participant a definitive share certificate in respect thereof. |
| 9.5 | When an
Option is exercised only in part, the balance shall remain exercisable on the same terms
as originally applied to the whole Option and a new Option certificate in respect of
the Subsisting Option shall be issued accordingly by the Company (pursuant to clause
6.2) as soon as reasonably practicable after such partial exercise. |
| 10.1 | An Option
shall lapse forthwith (to the extent not already exercised) on the earliest of the following
events : |
| (A) | expiry
of the Exercise Period; |
| (B) | the
first anniversary of the death of the Participant; |
| (C) | in
the case of a Participant who is an Employee or a Director, upon the Participant ceasing
to be an Employee or a Director by reason of dismissal from employment or termination
of office, in the case of a Participant who is a Consultant or an Advisor, by reason
of termination by the Company or the relevant Subsidiary of the contract for provision
of such services, in each case on the ground of: |
| (1) | the
Participant’s misconduct; |
| (2) | the
Participant committing an act of bankruptcy; |
| (3) | the
Participant becoming insolvent or making any arrangements or composition with his creditors
generally; or |
| (4) | the
Participant being convicted of any criminal offence involving his integrity or honesty. |
The
decision of the Board on whether Options lapse under this paragraph (C) shall be conclusive and binding on such Participant;
| (D) | [three]
month[s] after the Participant ceases to be an Employee by reason of: |
| (1) | his
retirement on or after attaining normal retirement age; |
| (3) | ill
health or disability; |
| (4) | the
company by which he is employed ceasing to be a Subsidiary; |
| (5) | the
expiry of his contract of Employment; |
| (6) | termination
of Employment for reasons other than the reasons specified in paragraphs (B) and (C)
above; |
| (E) | three
months after the Participant ceases to be a Director for reasons other than the reasons
specified in paragraphs (B) and (C) above. |
| (F) | the
expiry of any period referred to in clauses 14.1 to 14.3 and on commencement of the winding
up of the Company, provided that in the case of clause 14.2 the proposed compromise or
arrangement becomes effective; |
| (G) | save
as otherwise provided in clause 14.3, the earlier of the close of business on the fifth
Business Day prior to the general meeting referred to in clause 14.3 or the date of the
commencement of the winding up of the Company; |
| (H) | any
breach of the provisions of clause 4.4; or |
| (I) | in
the case of a Participant who is a Consultant or an Advisor, on the date which is the
later of (1) the date on which the Board resolves in its reasonable opinion that the
Participant no longer provides consultancy or advisory (as appropriate) services to the
Group or any member of the Group and (2) the date which falls three months after the
date on which the Participant is notified of such resolution. |
| 10.2 | If an
Option shall lapse, the Board shall notify the Participant in writing of such lapse and
forthwith upon such notification the Participant shall be bound to surrender to the Company
the certificate evidencing such Option. |
| 10.3 | All lapsed
option may be reissued by the Company as if the Scheme Mandate Limit was refreshed by
the same amount of the number of Shares which may be issued upon the exercise of the
lapsed of the option. |
| 11. | Cancellation
of Options |
| 11.1 | Any cancellation
of any Subsisting Option shall be conditional on the approval by the Board (including
the approval of independent non-executive Directors) and the Participant(s) concerned. |
| 11.2 | In the
event that the Board elects to cancel Subsisting Options and issue new Options to the
Participant(s) concerned, the issue of such new Options shall be made with available
unissued Options (excluding the cancelled Options) within the Scheme Mandate Limit or
the Refreshed Limit, as the case may be. |
No
dividends shall be payable and no voting rights shall be exercisable in relation to Options that have not been exercised. Shares
issued or transferred on the exercise of an Option shall rank equally in all respects with the other Shares of the same class
in issue at the date of allotment (including without limitation as to voting, dividend and transfer rights and rights arising
on the liquidation of the Company) and will be subject to all the provisions of the Articles. They shall not rank for any rights
attaching to Shares by reference to a record date preceding the date of allotment. A share issued upon the exercise of an Option
shall not carry voting rights until the registration of the grantee (or any other person) as the holder thereof.
| 13. | Adjustments
in case of reorganisation of capital structure |
Subject
to clauses 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3, in the event of capitalisation issue, rights issues, consolidation, subdivision or reduction of the
share capital of the Company in accordance with applicable laws and regulatory requirements, such corresponding adjustments (if
any) shall be made in relation to any Subsisting Option to:
| (A) | the
number of Shares subject to the Option to the extent it is unexercised; and/or |
| (B) | the
Exercise Price; and/or |
| (C) | in
the event of a consolidation and subdivision of the share capital of the Company, the
maximum number of Shares referred to in clause 5. |
as
the Auditors shall certify in writing, either generally or, if applicable, as regards any particular Participant, to be in their
opinion fair and reasonable, provided that any such adjustment shall give a Participant the same proportion of the issued share
capital of the Company as that to which he was previously entitled, but so that no such adjustment shall be made the effect of
which would enable a Share to be issued at less than its nominal value (if the Share has a nominal value) or which would result
in the aggregate amount payable on the exercise of any Option in full being increased. Where any such adjustment shall be required
for any alteration in the capital structure of the Company (other than by way of a capitalisation of profits or reserves) such
adjustment shall be further conditional on the Auditors also certifying in writing that (1) such adjustment shall give a Participant
the same proportion of the issued share capital of the Company as that to which he was previously entitled, and (2) such adjustment
shall not have the effect of enabling a Share to be issued at less than its nominal value (if the Share has a nominal value).
The certifications of the Auditors shall be final and binding on the Company and the Participants. The costs of the Auditors in
so certifying shall be borne by the Company. The Company shall notify Participants of any adjustment made under this clause.
| 14. | Take-over,
schemes of compromise or arrangement and liquidation |
| 14.1 | If during
the Exercise Period an offer is made to acquire all or part of the issued Shares, or
all or part of the issued Shares other than those held by the offeror and any persons
acting in concert with the offeror, and such offer becomes or is declared unconditional,
the Company shall give written notice to all Participants then holding Subsisting Options
of the offer becoming unconditional as soon as reasonably practicable after becoming
so aware, and each Participant may, by notice in writing to the Company, within 14 days
of the date of such notice (and subject to clause 9.1 above) exercise his Option to its
full extent or to the extent specified in such notice. |
| 14.2 | If during
the Exercise Period an application is made to the court (otherwise than where the Company
is being voluntarily wound up), pursuant to the Companies Laws and/or the Companies Ordinance,
in connection with a proposed compromise or arrangement between the Company and its creditors
(or any class of them) or between the Company and its members (or any class of them),
a Participant may by notice in writing to the Company, within the period of 21 days after
the date of such application (and subject to clause 9.1 above), exercise his Option to
its full extent or to the extent specified in such notice. |
| 14.3 | In the
event of a notice of a meeting being convened to consider a resolution for the voluntary
winding up of the Company during the Exercise Period, the Company shall forthwith upon
notice of such meeting being given, give to the Participants written notice of the convening
of such meeting and a Participant may thereupon by notice in writing to the Company exercise
any Subsisting Option at any time not later than five Business Days prior to the proposed
general meeting of the Company to its full extent or to the extent specified in such
notice. |
| 14.4 | Upon
the occurrence of any of the events referred to in clauses 14.2 or 14.3, notice of that
event and the effect thereof shall be given by the Company to all Participants as soon
as reasonably practicable. |
| 15. | Amendment
and termination |
| 15.1 | Subject
to the provisions of clause 15.2, the Board may amend any of the provisions of the Scheme
or withdraw or otherwise terminate the Scheme at any time but no alterations shall be
made to the advantage of any Participant unless approved by the shareholders of the Company
in general meeting. In addition, no alteration shall operate to affect adversely any
rights which have accrued to any Participant at that date. In the event that the Board
elects to terminate the operation of the Scheme, no further Option shall be offered thereunder
but the provisions of the Scheme shall remain in force in all other respects. All Options
granted prior to such termination and not then exercised shall continue to be valid and
exercisable subject to and in accordance with the terms of the Scheme. |
| 15.2 | Any alterations
to the terms and conditions of the Scheme which are of a material nature such as the
following: |
| (A) | the
persons to or for whom Shares may be provided under the Scheme; |
| (B) | the
authority of the Board in relation to any alteration to the terms of the Scheme; |
| (C) | the
limitations on the number of Shares which may be issued under the Scheme; |
| (D) | the
individual limit for each Participant under the Scheme; |
| (E) | the
determination of the Exercise Price; |
| (F) | any
rights attaching to the Options and the Shares; |
| (G) | the
rights of Participants in the event of a capitalisation issue, rights issue, sub-division
or consolidation of shares or reduction or any other variation of capital of the Company; |
| (H) | the
terms of this clause 15.2; |
| (I) | any
matters as set out in rule 17.03 of the Listing Rules as amended from time to time; and |
| (J) | any
alteration to the Scheme which are of a material nature |
or
any change to the terms of the Options granted shall be subject to the approval of shareholders save where the alterations take
effect automatically under the existing terms of the Scheme.
| 15.3 | Except
as described in clause 15.2, the Board shall not require the approval of the shareholders
of the Company in general meeting for any minor changes: |
| (A) | to
benefit the administration of the Scheme; |
| (B) | to
comply with or take account of the provisions of any proposed or existing legislation; |
| (C) | to
take account of any changes to the legislation; or |
| (D) | to
obtain or maintain favourable tax, exchange control or regulatory treatment of the Group
or any member of the Group or any present or future Participant. |
| 15.4 | Unless
otherwise approved by the Stock Exchange, the amended terms of the Scheme or the Options
shall comply with the relevant requirements of Chapter 17 of the Listing Rules. |
| 16.1 | The Scheme
shall not form part of any contract of Employment or for services between the Group or
any member of the Group and any Participant (whilst he is an [Employee, Director, Consultant
or Advisor]) and the rights and obligations of such Participant under the terms of his
Employment or under the terms of his appointment with the Group or any member of the
Group shall not be affected by his participation in the Scheme or any right which he
may have to participate in it and the Scheme shall afford such Participant no additional
rights to compensation or damages in consequence of the termination of such Employment
or appointment for any reason. |
| 16.2 | The Scheme
shall not confer on any person any legal or equitable rights (other than those constituting
the Options themselves) against the Company directly or indirectly or give rise to any
cause of action at law or in equity against the Company. |
| 16.3 | The Company
shall maintain all necessary books of account and records relating to the Scheme. |
| 16.4 | The Scheme
shall in all respects be administered by the Board which (A) shall administer the Scheme
in accordance with all applicable requirements of the Listing Rules and (B) may make
such rules not being inconsistent with the terms and conditions hereof for the conduct
of the Scheme and the determination and terms of each Participant’s Option entitlements
as the Board thinks fit. Any disputes regarding the interpretation of such rules or the
terms of any Option, or otherwise in connection with the Scheme, shall be determined
by the Board (upon such advice as it shall consider necessary) and its decision shall
be final and binding. |
| 16.5 | A Participant
who is a member of the Board may, subject to and in accordance with the Articles, notwithstanding
his interest, vote on any Board resolution concerning the Scheme (other than in respect
of his own participation therein) and may retain any benefit under the Scheme. |
| 16.6 | The Board
or the Company in general meeting may at any time terminate the Scheme and in such event
no further Options shall be granted or offered but in all other respects the provisions
of the Scheme shall remain in full force and effect. All Options granted prior to such
termination and not then exercised shall continue to be valid and exercisable subject
to and in accordance with the Scheme. |
| 16.7 | Participants
shall be entitled while they have subsisting rights under the Scheme to receive copies
of all notices and other documents sent by the Company to the holders of Shares generally. |
| 16.8 | The cost
of establishing and operating the Scheme shall be borne by the Company. |
| 16.9 | Any
notice or other communication between the Company and an Eligible Person or a Participant
shall be in writing and may be given by sending the same by prepaid post or by personal
delivery to, in the case of the Company, its principal place of business in Hong Kong,
which is, at the Adoption Date, [·],
or such other address as may be notified to the Eligible Persons and the Participants
from time to time and, in the case of the Eligible Person or the Participant, his or
her address in Hong Kong as notified to the Company from time to time. |
| 16.10 | Any
notice or other communication served by post: |
| (A) | by
the Company shall be deemed to have been served 48 hours after it was placed in the post;
and |
| (B) | by
the Eligible Person or the Participant shall not be deemed to have been served until
the same shall have been received by the Company. |
| 16.11 | In the
case of clause 16.10, in proving the service of any notice or other communication by
post, it will be sufficient to prove that the notice or other communication was properly
stamped, addressed and placed in the post. |
| 16.12 | All
allotments and issues of Shares pursuant to the Scheme shall be subject to any necessary
consents under any relevant legislation for the time being in force in the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and the Cayman
Islands. An Eligible Person or a Participant, as the case may be, shall be responsible
for obtaining any governmental or other official consent that may be required by any
country or jurisdiction in order to permit the grant or exercise of an Option, as the
case may be. The Company shall not be responsible for any failure by such person to obtain
any such consent or for any tax or other liability to which that person may become subject
as a result of his participation in the Scheme. |
| 16.13 | The
Company shall disclose all information as required by the Listing Rules or any other
applicable rules and regulations in its annual and half-year reports. |
| 16.14 | The
Scheme and all Options granted hereunder shall in all respects be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s
Republic of China. |
Annex E
Form of Fourth Amended and Restated Memorandum
and Articles of Association
THE COMPANIES LAW (2013 REVISION)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED
MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES
OF
ASSOCIATION
OF
IAO KUN GROUP HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED
友權集團控股有限公司
(As adopted by special resolution passed
on [●] 2014 and effective on [●] 2014)
THE COMPANIES LAW (2013 REVISION)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED
MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
OF
IAO KUN GROUP HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED
友權集團控股有限公司
(As adopted by special resolution passed
on [●] 2014 and effective on [●] 2014)
| 1 | The name of the Company is Iao Kun Group Holding Company Limited友權集團控股有限公司. |
| 2 | The registered office of the Company shall be at the offices of Maples Corporate Services Limited,
PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands, or at such other place as the Directors may from time to time
decide. |
| 3 | The objects for which the Company is established are unrestricted and the Company shall have full
power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by the Companies Law (2013 Revision) or as the same may be revised from
time to time, or any other law of the Cayman Islands. |
| 4 | The liability of each Member is limited to the amount from time to time unpaid on such Member's
shares. |
| 5 | The share capital of the Company is US$50,000.00 divided into 500,000,000 ordinary shares of a
par value of US$0.0001 each. |
| 6 | The Company has power to register by way of continuation as a body corporate limited by shares
under the laws of any jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands and to be deregistered in the Cayman Islands. |
| 7 | Capitalised terms that are not defined in this Memorandum of Association bear the same meaning
as those given in the Articles of Association of the Company. |
THE COMPANIES LAW (2013 REVISION)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
IAO KUN GROUP HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED
友權集團控股有限公司
(As adopted by special resolution passed
on [●] 2014 and effective on [●] 2014)
INTERPRETATION
| 1 | In these Articles Table A in the First Schedule to the Statute does not apply and, unless there
is something in the subject or context inconsistent therewith: |
"Articles" |
|
means these articles of association of the Company. |
|
|
|
"Associate" |
|
has the meaning attributed to it in the Listing Rules. |
|
|
|
"Audit Committee" |
|
means, where applicable, the audit committee of the Company formed pursuant to Article 174 hereof, or any successor audit committee. |
|
|
|
"Auditor" |
|
means the person for the time being performing the duties of auditor of the Company (if any). |
|
|
|
"business day" |
|
means a day on which each Designated Stock Exchange on which the Shares are listed or quoted is generally open for the business of dealing in securities. For the avoidance of doubt, where The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited is closed for the business of dealing in securities on a day by reason of a Number 8 or higher typhoon signal, black rainstorm warning or other similar event, such day shall for the purpose of these Articles be counted as a business day. |
"clearing house" |
|
a clearing house recognised by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Shares (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on a stock exchange or interdealer quotation system in such jurisdiction. |
|
|
|
"Companies Ordinance" |
|
means the Companies Ordinance (Cap.622 of the Laws of Hong Kong) as in force from time to time. |
|
|
|
"Company" |
|
means the above named company. |
|
|
|
"Company's website" |
|
means the website of the Company, the address or domain name of which has been notified to the Members. |
|
|
|
"competent regulatory authority" |
|
a competent regulatory authority in the territory where the Shares (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on a stock exchange or interdealer quotation system in such territory. |
|
|
|
"Designated Stock Exchange" |
|
shall mean one or more of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board, the National Market System or the Capital Market of the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc., the American Stock Exchange, or the New York Stock Exchange, provided, however, that until the Shares are listed or quoted on any such "Exchange" the rules of any such Designated Stock Exchange shall be inapplicable to these Articles. |
|
|
|
"Directors" |
|
means the directors for the time being of the Company. |
|
|
|
"Dividend" |
|
includes an interim dividend. |
|
|
|
"Electronic Record" |
|
has the same meaning as in the Electronic Transactions Law (2003 Revision). |
|
|
|
"executive office" |
|
means such office of the Company as the Directors may from time to time determine to be the principal office of the Company. |
|
|
|
"holidng company" |
|
has the meaning attributed to such term in the Companies Ordinance. |
"Independence Non-Executive Director" |
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means a person recognised as such by the relevant code, rules and regulations applicable to the listing of the Shares on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. |
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"Listing Rules" |
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means the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, as amended from time to time. |
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"Member" |
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has the same meaning as in the Statute. |
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"Memorandum" |
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means the memorandum of association of the Company. |
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"Ordinary Resolution" |
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means a resolution passed by a simple majority of the Members as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting, and includes a unanimous written resolution. In computing the majority when a poll is demanded regard shall be had to the number of votes to which each Member is entitled by the Articles. |
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"Register of Members" |
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means the register maintained in accordance with the Statute and includes (except where otherwise stated) any branch or duplicate Register of Members. |
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"Registered Office" |
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means the registered office for the time being of the Company. |
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"Seal" |
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means the common seal of the Company and includes the securities seal and every duplicate seal. |
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"SEC" |
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means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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"Share" and "Shares" |
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means a share or shares in the Company and includes a fraction of a share. |
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"Special Resolution" |
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a resolution shall be a special resolution when it has been passed by a majority of not less than three-quarters of votes cast by such Members as, being entitled so to do, vote in person or, in the case of such Members as are corporations, by their respective duly authorised representative or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting of which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a Special Resolution, has been duly given (or duly waived in accordance with these Articles), or by a unanimous written resolution of all Members. |
"Statute" |
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means the Companies Law (2013 Revision) of the Cayman Islands. |
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"subsidiary" |
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has the meaning attributed to it in the Listing Rules. |
| 2.1 | words importing the singular number include the plural number and vice versa; |
| 2.2 | words importing the masculine gender include the feminine gender; |
| 2.3 | words importing persons include corporations; |
| 2.4 | "written" and "in writing" include all modes of representing or reproducing
words in visible form, including in the form of an Electronic Record; |
| 2.5 | references to provisions of any law or regulation shall be construed as references to those provisions
as amended, modified, re-enacted or replaced from time to time; |
| 2.6 | any phrase introduced by the terms "including", "include", "in particular"
or any similar expression shall be construed as illustrative and shall not limit the sense of the words preceding those terms; |
| 2.7 | headings are inserted for reference only and shall be ignored in construing these Articles; and |
| 2.8 | in these Articles Section 8 of the Electronic Transactions Law (2003 Revision) shall not apply. |
COMMENCEMENT OF BUSINESS
| 3 | The business of the Company may be commenced as soon after incorporation as the Directors shall
see fit. |
| 4 | The Directors may pay, out of the capital or any other monies of the Company, all expenses incurred
in or about the formation and establishment of the Company, including the expenses of registration. |
SHARE CAPITAL
| 5 | The authorised share capital of the Company at the date of the adoption of these Articles is US$50,000
divided into 500,000,000 Shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each. |
ISSUE OF SHARES
| 6 | Subject to the provisions, if any, in the Memorandum (and to any direction that may be given by
the Company in general meeting) and, where applicable, the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange and/or any competent regulatory
authority, and without prejudice to any rights attached to any existing Shares, the Directors may allot, issue, grant options over
or otherwise dispose of Shares (including fractions of a Share) with or without preferred, deferred or other rights or restrictions,
whether in regard to Dividend, voting, return of capital or otherwise and to such persons, at such times and on such other terms
as they think proper. |
| 7 | Without prejudice to the generality of Article 6, the Directors may authorise by resolution or
resolutions from time to time: |
| 7.1 | the issuance of one or more classes or series of preferred shares and may fix the designations,
powers, preferences and relative, participation, optional and other rights, if any, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions
thereof, if any, including, without limitation, the number of shares constituting each class or series, dividend rights, conversion
rights, redemption privileges, voting powers and liquidation preferences; |
| 7.2 | the increase or decrease of the size of any class or series of preferred shares (but not below
the number of shares of any class or series of preferred shares then outstanding or above the number of shares of any class or
series of preferred shares then authorised) to the extent permitted by applicable law. |
| 8 | Neither the Company nor the Directors shall be obliged, when making or granting any allotment of,
offer of, option over or disposal of shares, to make available any such allotment, offer, option or shares to Members or others
with registered addresses in any particular territory or territories being a territory or territories where, in the absence of
a registration statement or other special formalities, this would or might, in the opinion of the Directors, be unlawful or impractical.
Members affected as a result of the foregoing shall not be, or be deemed to be, a separate class of Members for any purpose whatsoever.
Except as otherwise expressly provided in the resolution or resolutions providing for the establishment of any class or series
of preferred shares, no vote of the holders of preferred shares or of the holders of ordinary shares shall be a prerequisite to
the issuance of any Shares of any class or series of the preferred shares authorised by and complying with the conditions in the
Memorandum or these Articles. |
| 9 | Subject to the rules of any Designated Stock Exchange, the Directors may issue options, warrants
or convertible securities or securities of similar nature conferring the right upon the holders thereof to subscribe for, purchase
or receive any class of shares or securities in the capital of the Company on such terms as it may from time to time determine.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Directors may issue options, warrants or convertible securities in connection with the Company's
initial public offering. No warrants shall be issued to bearer. |
| 10 | The Company shall not issue Shares to bearer. |
REGISTER OF MEMBERS
| 11 | The Company shall maintain or cause to be maintained the Register of Members in accordance with
the Statute. |
| 12 | If the Directors considers it necessary or appropriate, the Company may establish and maintain
a branch Register or Registers of Members at such location or locations within or outside the Cayman Islands as the Directors think
it. The principal Register of Members and the branch Register(s) of Members shall together be treated as the Register of Members
for the purposes of these Articles. |
| 13 | The Directors may, in its absolute discretion, at any time transfer any Share on the principal
Register of Members to any branch Register of Members or any Share on any branch Register of Members to the principal Register
of Members or any other branch Register of Members. |
| 14 | Notwithstanding anything contained in these Articles, the Company shall as soon as practicable
and on a regular basis record in the principal Register of Members all transfers of Shares effected on any branch Register of Members
and shall at all times maintain the principal Register of Members in such manner as to show at all times the Members for the time
being and the Shares respectively held by them, in all respects in accordance with the Statute. |
| 15 | For so long as any Shares are listed on a Designated Stock Exchange which is an approved stock
exchange (as defined in Section 40B of the Statute), title to such listed Shares may be evidenced and transferred in accordance
with the rules of such Designated Stock Exchange that are or shall be applicable to such listed Shares. The Register of Members
maintained by the Company in respect of such listed Shares (whether the principal Register of Members or a branch Register of Members)
may be kept by recording the particulars required by Section 40 of the Statute in a form otherwise than legible (provided it is
capable of being reproduced in a legible form) if such recording otherwise complies with the rules of the relevant Designated Stock
Exchange that are or shall be applicable to such listed Shares. |
| 16 | Except when a Register of Members is closed and, if applicable, subject to the additional provisions
of Article 17, the principal Register of Members and any branch Register of Members shall during business hours be kept open to
the inspection of any Member without charge. The reference to business hours in this Article 16 is subject to such reasonable restrictions
as the Company in general meeting may impose, but so that not less than two hours in each business day is to be allowed for inspections. |
| 17 | Any Register of Members held in Hong Kong shall during normal business hours (subject to such reasonable
restrictions as the Directors may impose) be open to inspection by a Member without charge and any other person on payment of such
fee not exceeding the amount as may from time to time be permitted under the Listing Rules as the Directors may determine for each
inspection. Any Member may require a copy of the Register of Members, or any part thereof, on payment of such fee not exceeding
the amount as may from time to time be prescribed by the Listing Rules as the Directors may determine. |
CLOSING REGISTER OF MEMBERS OR FIXING
RECORD DATE
| 18 | For the purpose of determining Members entitled to notice of, or to vote at any meeting of Members
or any adjournment thereof, or Members entitled to receive payment of any Dividend, or in order to make a determination of Members
for any other purpose, the Directors may, after 14 days' notice (or after 6 business days' notice in the case of a rights issue)
has been given by advertisement in an appointed newspaper or any other newspaper or by any other means in accordance with the requirements
of the Designated Stock Exchange, if applicable, provide that the Register of Members shall be closed for transfers for a stated
period which shall not in any case exceed thirty days in any calendar year. If the Register of Members shall be closed for the
purpose of determining Members entitled to notice of, or to vote at, a meeting of Members the Register of Members shall be closed
for at least ten days immediately preceding the meeting. In the event that there is an alteration of book closure dates, the Company
shall give at least 5 business days' notice in accordance with the procedures set out in this Article. |
| 19 | In lieu of, or apart from, closing the Register of Members, the Directors may fix in advance or
arrears a date as the record date for any such determination of Members entitled to notice of, or to vote at any meeting of the
Members or any adjournment thereof, or for the purpose of determining the Members entitled to receive payment of any Dividend or
in order to make a determination of Members for any other purpose. |
| 20 | If the Register of Members is not so closed and no record date is fixed for the determination of
Members entitled to notice of, or to vote at, a meeting of Members or Members entitled to receive payment of a Dividend, the date
on which notice of the meeting is sent or the date on which the resolution of the Directors declaring such Dividend is adopted,
as the case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of Members. When a determination of Members entitled to vote
at any meeting of Members has been made as provided in this Article, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof. |
CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES
| 21 | Every person whose name is entered as a Member in the Register of Members shall be entitled to
receive, within the relevant time limit as prescribed by the Statute or, if applicable, as the Designated Stock Exchange may from
time to time determine, whichever is shorter, and subject to payment of a fee of such maximum as the Designated Stock Exchange
may from time to time determine to be payable (or such lesser sum as the Directors may from time to time require), after allotment
or lodgement of transfer, one certificate for all his Shares of each class or, if he shall so request, in a case where the allotment
or transfer is of a number of Shares in excess of the number for the time being forming a Designated Stock Exchange board lot,
such number of certificates for Shares in Designated Stock Exchange board lots or multiples thereof as he shall request and one
for the balance (if any) of the Shares in question. All certificates for shares shall be delivered personally or sent through the
post addressed to the Member entitled thereto at his registered address appearing in the Register of Members. |
| 22 | Share certificates representing Shares, if any, shall be in such form as the Directors may determine.
Every certificate for Shares shall be issued under the seal of the Company, which shall only be affixed with the authority of the
Directors. All certificates for Shares shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified and shall specify the Shares to
which they relate. No certificate shall be issued representing Shares of more than one class. All certificates surrendered to the
Company for transfer shall be cancelled and subject to these Articles no new certificate shall be issued until the former certificate
representing a like number of relevant Shares shall have been surrendered and cancelled and until a fee, not exceeding the relevant
maximum amount as the Designated Stock Exchange, if applicable, may from time to time determine, has been paid by the transferee. |
| 23 | The Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate for Shares held jointly by more
than one person and delivery of a certificate to one joint holder shall be a sufficient delivery to all of them. |
| 24 | The Company shall not be bound to register more than four persons as joint holders of any Share.
If any Share shall stand in the names of two or more persons, the person first named in the register shall be deemed the sole holder
thereof as regards service of notices and, subject to the provisions of these Articles, all or any other matters connected with
the Company, except the transfer of the Share. |
| 25 | If a share certificate is defaced, worn out, lost or destroyed, it may be renewed on payment of
such fee, if any, not exceeding such amount as may from time to time be permitted under the rules of any Designated Stock Exchange
(or such lesser sum as the Directors may from time to time require) and on such terms (if any) as to evidence and indemnity and
on the payment of such expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in investigating evidence, as the Directors may prescribe, and
(in the case of defacement or wearing out) upon delivery of the old certificate. |
TRANSFER OF SHARES
| 26 | The Directors may, in their absolute discretion, and without assigning any reason, refuse to register
a transfer of any Share which is not fully paid up or on which the Company has a lien. |
| 27 | The Directors may also decline to register any transfer of any Share unless: |
| 27.1 | the instrument of transfer is lodged with the Company accompanied by the certificate for the Shares
to which it relates (which shall upon registration of the transfer be cancelled) and such other evidence as the Directors may reasonably
require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer; |
| 27.2 | the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of Shares; |
| 27.3 | the instrument of transfer is properly stamped (in circumstances where stamping is required); |
| 27.4 | in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to which the Share is to
be transferred does not exceed four; |
| 27.5 | the Shares concerned are free of any lien in favour of the Company; and |
| 27.6 | a fee of such maximum as the Designated Stock Exchange may from time to time determine to be payable
(or such lesser sum as the Directors may from time to time require) is paid to the Company in respect thereof. |
| 28 | If the Directors refuse to register a transfer they shall notify the transferee within two months
of such refusal. If the Shares in question were issued in conjunction with options or warrants issued pursuant to Article 9 on
terms that one cannot be transferred without the other, the Directors shall refuse to register the transfer of any such Share without
evidence satisfactory to them of the like transfer of such option or warrant. |
| 29 | The instrument of transfer of any Share shall be in writing in the usual or common form or, if
applicable, in a form prescribed by the Designated Stock Exchange or in any other form approved by the Directors and shall be executed
by or on behalf of the transferor (and if the Directors so require, signed by the transferee) and may be under hand or, if the
transferor or transferee is a clearing house or its nominee(s), by hand or by machine imprinted signature or by such other manner
of execution as the Directors may approve from time to time. The transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of a Share until
the name of the transferee is entered in the Register of Members. |
| 30 | Notwithstanding Article 29, transfer of Shares which are listed on a Designated Stock Exchange
which is an approved stock exchange (as defined in Section 40B of the Statute) may be effected by any method of transferring or
dealing in securities permitted by the rules of such Designated Stock Exchange and which has been approved by the Directors for
such purpose. |
REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASE OF SHARES
| 31 | Subject to the provisions of the Statute and, where applicable, the rules of the Designated Stock
Exchange and/or any competent regulatory authority, the Company may issue Shares or other securities that are to be redeemed or
are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Member or the Company. The redemption of such Shares shall be effected in such manner
as the Company may, by Special Resolution, determine before the issue of the Shares. |
| 32 | Subject to the provisions of the Statute, and, where applicable, the rules of the Designated Stock
Exchange and/or any competent regulatory authority, the Company may purchase its own issued and outstanding Shares provided that
the Members shall have approved the manner of purchase by Ordinary Resolution. |
| 33 | Where the Company purchases or redeems any Share, purchases or redemption not made through the
market or by tender shall be limited to a maximum price, and if purchases are by tender, tenders shall be available to all Members
alike. |
| 34 | The purchase of any Share shall not oblige the Company to purchase any other Share other than as
may be required pursuant to applicable law and any other contractual obligations of the Company. |
| 35 | The Company may make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own Shares in any
manner permitted by the Statute, including out of capital. |
VARIATION OF RIGHTS OF SHARES
| 36 | If at any time the share capital of the Company is divided into different classes of Shares, the
rights attached to any class (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the Shares of that class) may, whether or not
the Company is being wound up, be varied with the consent in writing of the holders of three-quarters of the issued Shares of that
class, or with the sanction of a Special Resolution passed at a general meeting of the holders of the Shares of that class. |
| 37 | The provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings shall apply to every class meeting
of the holders of one class of Shares except that the necessary quorum shall be one person holding or representing by proxy at
least one third of the issued Shares of the class and that any holder of Shares of the class present in person or by proxy may
demand a poll. |
| 38 | The rights conferred upon the holders of the Shares of any class issued with preferred or other
rights shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of the Shares of that class, be deemed to be varied
by the creation or issue of further Shares ranking pari passu therewith. |
COMMISSION ON SALE OF SHARES
| 39 | The Company may, in so far as the Statute permits, pay a commission to any person in consideration
of his subscribing or agreeing to subscribe whether absolutely or conditionally for any Shares of the Company. Such commissions
may be satisfied by the payment of cash and/or the issue of fully or partly paid-up Shares. The Company may also on any issue of
Shares pay such brokerage as may be lawful. |
NON RECOGNITION OF TRUSTS
| 40 | The Company shall not be bound by or compelled to recognise in any way (even when notified) any
equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any Share, or (except only as is otherwise provided by these Articles or the
Statute) any other rights in respect of any Share other than an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the registered holder. |
LIEN ON SHARES
| 41 | The Company shall have a first and paramount lien on all Shares (not being a fully paid-up Share)
registered in the name of a Member (whether solely or jointly with others) for all debts, liabilities or engagements to or with
the Company (whether presently payable or not) by such Member or his estate, either alone or jointly with any other person, whether
a Member or not, but the Directors may at any time declare any Share to be wholly or in part exempt from the provisions of this
Article. The registration of a transfer of any such Share shall operate as a waiver of the Company's lien thereon. The Company's
lien on a Share shall also extend to any amount payable in respect of that Share. |
| 42 | The Company may sell, in such manner as the Directors think fit, any Shares on which the Company
has a lien, if a sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable, and is not paid within fourteen clear days after
notice has been given to the holder of the Shares, or to the person entitled to it in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of
the holder, demanding payment and stating that if the notice is not complied with the Shares may be sold. |
| 43 | To give effect to any such sale the Directors may authorise any person to execute an instrument
of transfer of the Shares sold to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The purchaser or his nominee shall be
registered as the holder of the Shares comprised in any such transfer, and he shall not be bound to see to the application of the
purchase money, nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the sale or the exercise of
the Company's power of sale under these Articles. |
| 44 | The net proceeds of such sale after payment of costs, shall be applied in payment of such part
of the amount in respect of which the lien exists as is presently payable and any residue shall (subject to a like lien for sums
not presently payable as existed upon the Shares before the sale) be paid to the person entitled to the Shares at the date of the
sale. |
CALL ON SHARES
| 45 | Subject to the terms of the allotment the Directors may from time to time make calls upon the Members
in respect of any monies unpaid on their Shares (whether in respect of par value or premium), and each Member shall (subject to
receiving at least fourteen days notice specifying the time or times of payment) pay to the Company at the time or times so specified
the amount called on the Shares. A call may be revoked or postponed as the Directors may determine. A call may be required to be
paid by instalments. A person upon whom a call is made shall remain liable for calls made upon him notwithstanding the subsequent
transfer of the Shares in respect of which the call was made. |
| 46 | A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the Directors authorising
such call was passed. |
| 47 | The joint holders of a Share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect
thereof. |
| 48 | If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable, the person from whom it is due shall
pay interest on the amount unpaid from the day it became due and payable until it is paid at such rate as the Directors may determine,
but the Directors may waive payment of the interest wholly or in part. |
| 49 | An amount payable in respect of a Share on allotment or at any fixed date, whether on account of
the par value of the Share or premium or otherwise, shall be deemed to be a call and if it is not paid all the provisions of these
Articles shall apply as if that amount had become due and payable by virtue of a call. |
| 50 | The Directors may issue Shares with different terms as to the amount and times of payment of calls,
or the interest to be paid. |
| 51 | The Directors may, if they think fit, receive an amount from any Member willing to advance all
or any part of the monies uncalled and unpaid upon any Shares held by him, and may (until the amount would otherwise become payable)
pay interest at such rate as may be agreed upon between the Directors and the Member paying such amount in advance. |
| 52 | No such amount paid in advance of calls shall entitle the Member paying such amount to any portion
of a Dividend declared in respect of any period prior to the date upon which such amount would, but for such payment, become payable. |
FORFEITURE OF SHARES
| 53 | If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the Directors may give to the person
from whom it is due not less than fourteen clear days notice requiring payment of the amount unpaid together with any interest,
which may have accrued. The notice shall specify where payment is to be made and shall state that if the notice is not complied
with the Shares in respect of which the call was made will be liable to be forfeited. |
| 54 | If the notice is not complied with any Share in respect of which it was given may, before the payment
required by the notice has been made, be forfeited by a resolution of the Directors. Such forfeiture shall include all Dividends
or other monies declared payable in respect of the forfeited Share and not paid before the forfeiture. |
| 55 | A forfeited Share may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner
as the Directors think fit and at any time before a sale, re-allotment or disposition the forfeiture may be cancelled on such terms
as the Directors think fit. Where for the purposes of its disposal a forfeited Share is to be transferred to any person the Directors
may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Share in favour of that person. |
| 56 | A person any of whose Shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a Member in respect of them
and shall surrender to the Company for cancellation the certificate for the Shares forfeited and shall remain liable to pay to
the Company all monies which at the date of forfeiture were payable by him to the Company in respect of those Shares together with
interest, but his liability shall cease if and when the Company shall have received payment in full of all monies due and payable
by him in respect of those Shares. |
| 57 | A certificate in writing under the hand of one Director or officer of the Company that a Share
has been forfeited on a specified date shall be conclusive evidence of the fact as against all persons claiming to be entitled
to the Share. The certificate shall (subject to the execution of an instrument of transfer) constitute a good title to the Share
and the person to whom the Share is disposed of shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, if any, nor
shall his title to the Share be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the forfeiture, sale
or disposal of the Share. |
| 58 | The provisions of these Articles as to forfeiture shall apply in the case of non payment of any
sum which, by the terms of issue of a Share, becomes payable at a fixed time, whether on account of the par value of the Share
or by way of premium as if it had been payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified. |
TRANSMISSION OF SHARES
| 59 | If a Member dies the survivor or survivors where he was a joint holder, and his legal personal
representatives where he was a sole holder, shall be the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to his interest.
The estate of a deceased Member is not thereby released from any liability in respect of any Share, which had been jointly held
by him. |
| 60 | Any person becoming entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy or liquidation
or dissolution of a Member (or in any other way than by transfer) may, upon such evidence being produced as may from time to time
be required by the Directors, elect either to become the holder of the Share or to have some person nominated by him as the transferee.
If he elects to become the holder he shall give notice to the Company to that effect, but the Directors shall, in either case,
have the same right to decline or suspend registration as they would have had in the case of a transfer of the Share by that Member
before his death or bankruptcy, as the case may be. |
| 61 | If the person so becoming entitled shall elect to be registered himself as holder he shall deliver
or send to the Company a notice in writing signed by him stating that he so elects. |
| 62 | A person becoming entitled to a Share by reason of the death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution
of the holder (or in any other case than by transfer) shall be entitled to the same Dividends and other advantages to which he
would be entitled if he were the registered holder of the Share. However, he shall not, before being registered as a Member in
respect of the Share, be entitled in respect of it to exercise any right conferred by membership in relation to meetings of the
Company and the Directors may at any time give notice requiring any such person to elect either to be registered himself or to
transfer the Share. If the notice is not complied with within ninety days the Directors may thereafter withhold payment of all
Dividends, bonuses or other monies payable in respect of the Share until the requirements of the notice have been complied with. |
UNTRACEABLE MEMBERS
| 63 | Without prejudice to the rights of the Company under Article 64, the Company may cease sending
cheques for Dividend entitlements by post if such cheques have been left uncashed on two consecutive occasions. However, the Company
may exercise the power to cease sending cheques for Dividend entitlements after the first such occasion on which such a cheque
is return undelivered. |
| 64 | The Company shall have the power to sell, in such a manner as the Directors think fit, any Shares
of a Member who is untraceable, but no such sale shall be made unless: |
| 64.1 | all cheques in respect of Dividends of the Shares in question, being not less than three in total
number, for any sum payable in cash to the holder of such Shares in respect of them sent during the relevant period in the manner
authorised by these Articles have remained uncashed; |
| 64.2 | so far as it is aware at the end of the relevant period, the Company has not at any time during
the relevant period received any indication of the existence of the Member who is the holder of such Shares or of a person entitled
to receive such Shares by death, bankruptcy or operation of law; and |
| 64.3 | if applicable, the Company, if so required by the rules governing the listing of the Shares on
the Designated Stock Exchange, has given notice to, and caused advertisement in newspapers to be made in accordance with the requirements
of, the Designated Stock Exchange of its intention to sell such Shares in the manner required by the Designated Stock Exchange,
and a period of three months or such shorter period as may be allowed by the Designated Stock Exchange has elapsed since the date
of such advertisement and, if required, the Designated Stock Exchange has been notified of such intention. |
For the purposes of this Article,
the "relevant period" means the period commencing twelve years before the publication of the advertisement referred to
in Article 64.3 and ending at the expiry of the period referred to in that paragraph.
| 65 | To give effect to a sale under Article 64, the Directors may authorise some person to transfer
the said Shares and an instrument of transfer signed or otherwise executed by or on behalf of such person shall be effective as
if it had been executed by the registered holder or the person entitled by transmission to such Shares, and the purchaser shall
not be bound to see the application of the purchase money nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity or
invalidity in the proceedings relating to the sale. The net proceeds of the sale will belong to the Company and upon receipt by
the Company of such net proceeds it shall become indebted to the former Member for an amount equal to such net proceeds. No trust
shall be created in respect of such debt and no interest shall be payable in respect of it and the Company shall not be required
to account for any money earned from the net proceeds which may be employed in the business of the Company or as it thinks fit.
Any sale under Article 64 shall be valid and effective notwithstanding that the Member holding the Shares sold is dead, bankrupt
or otherwise under any legal disability or incapacity. |
AMENDMENTS OF MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES
OF ASSOCIATION AND ALTERATION OF CAPITAL
| 66 | The Company may by Ordinary Resolution: |
| 66.1 | increase the share capital by such sum as the resolution shall prescribe and with such rights,
priorities and privileges annexed thereto, as the Company in general meeting may determine; |
| 66.2 | consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into Shares of larger amount than its existing
Shares; |
| 66.3 | without prejudice to the powers of the Directors under Articles 6 to 9, divide its Shares into
several classes and without prejudice to any special rights previously conferred on the holders of existing Shares attach thereto
respectively any preferential, deferred, qualified or special rights, privileges, conditions or such restrictions which in the
absence of any such determination by the Company in general meeting, as the Directors may determine provided always that, for the
avoidance of doubt, where a class of Shares has been authorised by the Company no resolution of the Company in general meeting
is required for the issuance of Shares of that class and the Directors may issue Shares of that class and determine such rights,
privileges, conditions or restrictions attaching thereto as aforesaid, and further provided that where the Company issues Shares
which do not carry voting rights, the words "non-voting" shall appear in the designation of such Shares and where the
equity capital includes Shares with different voting rights, the designation of each class of Shares, other than those with the
most favourable voting rights, must include the words "restricted voting" or "limited voting"; |
| 66.4 | by subdivision of its existing Shares or any of them divide the whole or any part of its share
capital into Shares of smaller amount than is fixed by the Memorandum or into Shares without par value; and |
| 66.5 | cancel any Shares that at the date of the passing of the resolution have not been taken or agreed
to be taken by any person. |
| 67 | All new Shares created in accordance with the provisions of the preceding Article shall be subject
to the same provisions of the Articles with reference to the payment of calls, liens, transfer, transmission, forfeiture and otherwise
as the Shares in the original share capital. |
| 68 | Subject to the provisions of the Statute and the provisions of these Articles as regards the matters
to be dealt with by Ordinary Resolution, the Company may by Special Resolution: |
| 68.2 | alter or add to these Articles; |
| 68.3 | alter or add to the Memorandum with respect to any objects, powers or other matters specified therein;
and |
| 68.4 | reduce its share capital and any capital redemption reserve fund. |
REGISTERED OFFICE
| 69 | Subject to the provisions of the Statute, the Company may by resolution of the Directors change
the location of its Registered Office. |
GENERAL MEETINGS
| 70 | All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings. |
| 71 | The Company shall in each year hold a general meeting as its annual general meeting, and shall
specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it. The annual general meeting shall be held at such time and place as the Directors
shall appoint provided that not more than 15 months (or such longer period as the Designated Stock Exchange may authorise) shall
elapse between the date of one annual general meeting of the Company and that of the next. At these meetings the report of the
Directors (if any) shall be presented. |
| 72 | The majority of the Directors, the chief executive officer or the chairman of the board of Directors
may call general meetings, and they shall on a Members requisition forthwith proceed to convene an extraordinary general meeting
of the Company. |
| 73 | A Members requisition is a requisition of one or more Members of the Company holding at the date
of deposit of the requisition not less than ten per cent. in par value of the capital of the Company which as at that date carries
the right of voting at general meetings of the Company. |
| 74 | The requisition must state the objects of the meeting and must be signed by the requisitionists
and deposited at the Registered Office, and may consist of several documents in like form each signed by one or more requisitionists. |
| 75 | If the Directors do not within twenty-one days from the date of the deposit of the requisition
duly proceed to convene a general meeting to be held within a further twenty-one days, the requisitionists, or any of them representing
more than one-half of the total voting rights of all of them, may themselves convene a general meeting, but any meeting so convened
shall not be held after the expiration of three months after the expiration of the said twenty-one days. |
| 76 | A general meeting convened as aforesaid by requisitionists shall be convened in the same manner
as nearly as possible as that in which general meetings are to be convened by Directors. |
NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS
| 77 | An annual general meeting and any extraordinary general meeting called for the passing of a Special
Resolution shall be called by not less than 21 days' notice in writing and any other extraordinary general meeting shall be called
by not less than 14 days' notice in writing. Every notice shall be exclusive of the day on which it is given or deemed to be given
and of the day for which it is given and shall specify the place, the day and the hour of the meeting, the particulars of the resolutions
to be considered at the meeting and the general nature of the business and shall be given in manner hereinafter mentioned or in
such other manner if any as may be prescribed by the Company, provided that a general meeting of the Company shall, whether or
not the notice specified in this regulation has been given and whether or not the provisions of the Articles regarding general
meetings have been complied with, be deemed to have been duly convened if it is so agreed: |
| 77.1 | in the case of an annual general meeting, by all the Members (or their proxies) entitled to attend
and vote thereat; and |
| 77.2 | in the case of an extraordinary general meeting, by a majority in number of the Members (or their
proxies) having a right to attend and vote at the meeting, being a majority together holding not less than ninety five per cent.
in par value of the Shares giving that right. |
| 78 | The accidental omission to give notice of a general meeting to, or the non receipt of notice of
a meeting by, any person entitled to receive notice shall not invalidate the proceedings of that meeting. |
PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS
| 79 | All business transacted at an extraordinary general meeting or an annual general meeting shall
be deemed special, with the exception of: |
| 79.1 | the declaration and sanctioning of dividends; |
| 79.2 | consideration and adoption of the accounts and balance sheet and the reports of Directors and Auditors
and other documents required to be annexed to the balance sheet; |
| 79.3 | the election of Directors; |
| 79.4 | appointment of Auditors (where special notice of the intention for such appointment is not required
by applicable law) and other officers; |
| 79.5 | the fixing of remuneration of the Auditors, and the voting of remuneration or extra remuneration
to the Directors; |
| 79.6 | the granting of any mandate or authority to the Directors to offer, allot, grant options over or
otherwise dispose of the unissued shares in the capital of the Company representing not more than 20 per cent. in nominal value
of its existing share capital; and |
| 79.7 | the granting of any mandate or authority to the Directors to repurchase the securities of the Company. |
| 80 | No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present. A quorum shall
consist of the holder or holders present in person or by proxy entitled to exercise more than thirty three and a third per cent.
(33.33%) of the voting rights of the Shares of each class or series of Shares entitled to vote as a class or series thereon and
the same proportion of the votes of the remaining Shares entitled to vote thereon unless the Company has only one Member entitled
to vote at such general meeting in which case the quorum shall be that one Member present in person or by proxy or (in the case
of a corporation or other non-natural person) by a duly authorised representative. |
| 81 | A person may participate at a general meeting by conference telephone or other communications equipment
by means of which all the persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each other. Participation by a person in a
general meeting in this manner is treated as presence in person at that meeting. |
| 82 | A resolution (including a Special Resolution) in writing (in one or more counterparts) signed by
all Members for the time being entitled to receive notice of and to attend and vote at general meetings (or, being corporations,
signed by their duly authorised representatives) shall be as valid and effective as if the resolution had been passed at a general
meeting of the Company duly convened and held. |
| 83 | If a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting or if during
such a meeting a quorum ceases to be present, the meeting, if convened upon the requisition of Members, shall be dissolved and
in any other case it shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and place or to such other day, time
or such other place as the Directors may determine, and if at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within half an hour
from the time appointed for the meeting the Members present shall be a quorum. |
| 84 | The chairman, if any, of the board of Directors shall preside as chairman at every general meeting
of the Company, or if there is no such chairman, or if he shall not be present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed
for the holding of the meeting, or is unwilling to act, the Directors present shall elect one of their number to be chairman of
the meeting. |
| 85 | If no Director is willing to act as chairman or if no Director is present within fifteen minutes
after the time appointed for holding the meeting, the Members present shall choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting. |
| 86 | The chairman may, with the consent of a meeting at which a quorum is present, (and shall if so
directed by the meeting), adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place, but no business shall be transacted at
any adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place. When a general
meeting is adjourned for thirty days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting.
Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any such notice. |
| 87 | If an amendment is proposed to any resolution under consideration but in good faith is ruled out
of order by the chairman of the meeting, the proceedings on the substantive resolution shall not be invalidated by any error in
such ruling. In the case of a resolution duly proposed as a Special Resolution, no amendment thereto (other than a mere clerical
amendment to correct a patent error) may in any event be considered or voted upon. |
| 88 | A resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands unless: |
| 88.1 | before, or on the declaration of the result of, the show of hands, the chairman demands a poll;
or |
| 88.2 | any other Member or Members collectively present in person or by proxy and holding at least ten
per cent. in par value of the Shares giving a right to attend and vote at the meeting demand a poll; or |
| 88.3 | if applicable, a poll is required by the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange; or |
| 88.4 | if applicable and if required by the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, any Director or Directors
who, individually or collectively, hold proxies in respect of Shares representing five per cent. or more of the total voting rights
at such meeting demand a poll. |
| 89 | Unless a poll is duly demanded a declaration by the chairman that a resolution has been carried
or carried unanimously, or by a particular majority, or lost or not carried by a particular majority, an entry to that effect in
the minutes of the proceedings of the meeting shall be conclusive evidence of that fact without proof of the number or proportion
of the votes recorded in favour of or against such resolution. |
| 90 | The demand for a poll may be withdrawn. |
| 91 | Except on a poll demanded on the election of a chairman or on a question of adjournment, a poll
shall be taken as the chairman directs, and the result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the general meeting
at which the poll was demanded. |
| 92 | A poll demanded on the election of a chairman or on a question of adjournment shall be taken forthwith.
A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken at such time as the chairman of the general meeting directs, and any business
other than that upon which a poll has been demanded or is contingent thereon may proceed pending the taking of the poll. |
| 93 | All questions submitted to a meeting shall be decided by a simple majority of votes except where
a greater majority is required by these Articles or by the Statute. In the case of an equality of votes, whether on a show of hands
or on a poll, the chairman shall be entitled to a second or casting vote. |
VOTES OF MEMBERS
| 94 | Subject to any rights or restrictions attached to any Shares, on a show of hands every Member who
(being an individual) is present in person or by proxy or, if a corporation or other non-natural person is present by its duly
authorised representative or proxy, shall have one vote and on a poll every Member shall have one vote for every Share of which
he is the holder. |
| 95 | Where any Member is, under the Listing Rules, required to abstain from voting on any particular
resolution or restricted to voting only for or only against any particular resolution, any votes cast by or on behalf of such Member
in contravention of such requirement or restriction shall not be counted. |
| 96 | In the case of joint holders of record the vote of the senior holder who tenders a vote, whether
in person or by proxy, shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders, and seniority shall be determined
by the order in which the names of the holders stand in the Register of Members. |
| 97 | A Member of unsound mind, or in respect of whom an order has been made by any court, having jurisdiction
in lunacy, may vote, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, by his committee, receiver, curator bonis, or other person on such
Member's behalf appointed by that court, and any such committee, receiver, curator bonis or other person may vote by proxy. |
| 98 | No person shall be entitled to vote at any general meeting or at any separate meeting of the holders
of a class of Shares unless he is registered as a Member on the record date for such meeting nor unless all calls or other monies
then payable by him in respect of Shares have been paid. |
| 99 | No objection shall be raised to the qualification of any voter except at the general meeting or
adjourned general meeting at which the vote objected to is given or tendered and every vote not disallowed at the meeting shall
be valid. Any objection made in due time shall be referred to the chairman whose decision shall be final and conclusive. |
| 100 | On a poll or on a show of hands votes may be cast either personally or by proxy. A Member may appoint
more than one proxy or the same proxy under one or more instruments to attend and vote at a meeting. Where a Member appoints more
than one proxy the instrument of proxy shall state which proxy is entitled to vote on a show of hands. |
| 101 | A Member holding more than one Share need not cast the votes in respect of his Shares in the same
way on any resolution and therefore may vote a Share or some or all such Shares either for or against a resolution and/or abstain
from voting a Share or some or all of the Shares and, subject to the terms of the instrument appointing him, a proxy appointed
under one or more instruments may vote a Share or some or all of the Shares in respect of which he is appointed either for or against
a resolution and/or abstain from voting. |
| 102 | Any person entitled under Article 60 to be registered as the holder of any Shares may vote at any
general meeting in respect thereof in the same manner as if he were the registered holder of such Shares, provided that forty-eight
hours at least before the time of the holding of the meeting or adjourned meeting, as the case may be, at which he proposes to
vote, he shall satisfy the Directors of his entitlement to such Shares, or the Directors shall have previously admitted his right
to vote at such meeting in respect thereof. |
PROXIES
| 103 | Any Member entitled to attend and vote at a meeting of the Company shall be entitled to appoint
another person (who must be an individual) as his proxy to attend and vote instead of him and a proxy so appointed shall have the
same right as the Member to speak at the meeting. Votes may be given either personally or by proxy. |
| 104 | The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing, be executed under the hand of the appointor
or of his attorney duly authorised in writing, or, if the appointor is a corporation under the hand of an officer or attorney duly
authorised for that purpose. A proxy need not be a Member of the Company. |
| 105 | The instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited at the Registered Office or at such other
place as is specified for that purpose in the notice convening the meeting, or in any instrument of proxy sent out by the Company: |
| 105.1 | not less than 48 hours before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the
person named in the instrument proposes to vote; or |
| 105.2 | in the case of a poll taken more than 48 hours after it is demanded, be deposited as aforesaid
after the poll has been demanded and not less than 24 hours before the time appointed for the taking of the poll; or |
| 105.3 | where the poll is not taken forthwith but is taken not more than 48 hours after it was demanded
be delivered at the meeting at which the poll was demanded to the chairman or to the secretary or to any Director; |
provided that the Directors may
in the notice convening the meeting, or in an instrument of proxy sent out by the Company, direct that the instrument appointing
a proxy may be deposited (no later than the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting) at the Registered Office or at such
other place as is specified for that purpose in the notice convening the meeting, or in any instrument of proxy sent out by the
Company. The chairman may in any event at his discretion direct that an instrument of proxy shall be deemed to have been duly deposited.
An instrument of proxy that is not deposited in the manner permitted shall be invalid.
| 106 | The instrument appointing a proxy may be in any usual or common form or such other form that complies
with the rules of any Designated Stock Exchange as the Directors may from time to time approve, provided that it shall enable a
Member, according to his intention, to instruct his proxy to vote in favour of or against (or in default of instructions or in
the event of conflicting instructions, to exercise his discretion in respect of) each resolution to be proposed at the meeting
to which the form of proxy relates, and may be expressed to be for a particular meeting or any adjournment thereof or generally
until revoked. An instrument appointing a proxy shall be deemed to include the power to demand or join or concur in demanding a
poll. |
| 107 | Votes given in accordance with the terms of an instrument of proxy shall be valid notwithstanding
the previous death or insanity of the principal or revocation of the proxy or of the authority under which the proxy was executed,
or the transfer of the Share in respect of which the proxy is given unless notice in writing of such death, insanity, revocation
or transfer was received by the Company at the Registered Office before the commencement of the general meeting, or adjourned meeting
at which it is sought to use the proxy. |
| 108 | Anything which under these Articles a Member may do by proxy he may likewise do by his duly appointed
attorney and the provisions of these Articles relating to proxies and instruments appointing proxies shall apply mutatis mutandis
in relation to any such attorney and the instrument under which such attorney is appointed. |
CORPORATE MEMBERS
| 109 | Any corporation or other non-natural person which is a Member may in accordance with its constitutional
documents, or in the absence of such provision by resolution of its directors or other governing body, authorise such person as
it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or of any class of Members, and the person so authorised
shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the corporation which he represents as the corporation could exercise
if it were an individual Member and where a corporation is so represented, it shall be treated as being present at any meeting
in person. |
| 110 | If a clearing house (or its nominee(s)), being a corporation, is a Member, it may authorise such
persons as it sees fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or at any meeting of any class of Members provided
that the authorisation shall specify the number and class of Shares in respect of which each such representative is so authorised.
Each person so authorised under the provisions of this Article shall be deemed to have been duly authorised without further evidence
of the facts and be entitled to exercise the same rights and powers on behalf of the clearing house (or its nominee(s)) as if such
person was the registered holder of such Shares held by the clearing house (or its nominee(s)) including the right to vote individually
on a show of hands. |
SHARES THAT MAY NOT BE VOTED
| 111 | Shares in the Company that are beneficially owned by the Company shall not be voted, directly or
indirectly, at any meeting and shall not be counted in determining the total number of outstanding Shares at any given time. |
DIRECTORS
| 112 | There shall be a board of Directors consisting of not less than three persons (exclusive of alternate
Directors) provided however that the Company may from time to time by Ordinary Resolution increase or reduce the limits in the
number of Directors. So long as any Share is listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, the board of Directors shall include
such number of Independent Non-Executive Directors as the relevant code, rules or regulations applicable to the listing of any
Share on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited require. |
| 113 | The Directors shall have power from time to time and at any time to appoint any person as a Director
either to fill a casual vacancy or as an addition to the existing Directors. Any Director so appointed shall hold office only until
the next following general meeting of the Company and shall then be eligible for re-election at that meeting. |
| 114 | Subject to the provisions of these Articles and the Statute, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution
elect any person to be a Director either to fill a casual vacancy or as an addition to the existing Directors. |
| 115 | No person shall, unless recommended by the Directors, be eligible for election to the office of
Director at any general meeting unless during the period, which shall be at least seven days, commencing no earlier than the day
after the despatch of the notice of the meeting appointed for such election and ending no later than seven days prior to the date
of such meeting, there has been given to the Company notice in writing by a Member (not being the person to be proposed), entitled
to attend and vote at the meeting for which such notice is given, of his intention to propose such person for election and also
notice in writing signed by the person to be proposed of his willingness to be elected. |
POWERS OF DIRECTORS
| 116 | Subject to the provisions of the Statute, the Memorandum and the Articles and to any directions
given by Special Resolution, the business of the Company shall be managed by the Directors who may exercise all the powers of the
Company. No alteration of the Memorandum or Articles and no such direction shall invalidate any prior act of the Directors which
would have been valid if that alteration had not been made or that direction had not been given. A duly convened meeting of Directors
at which a quorum is present may exercise all powers exercisable by the Directors. |
| 117 | All cheques, promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange and other negotiable instruments and all
receipts for monies paid to the Company shall be signed, drawn, accepted, endorsed or otherwise executed as the case may be in
such manner as the Directors shall determine by resolution. |
| 118 | The Directors on behalf of the Company may pay a gratuity or pension or allowance on retirement
to any Director who has held any other salaried office or place of profit with the Company or to his widow or dependants and may
make contributions to any fund and pay premiums for the purchase or provision of any such gratuity, pension or allowance. |
| 119 | The Directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge
its undertaking, property and uncalled capital or any part thereof and to issue debentures, debenture stock, mortgages, bonds and
other such securities whether outright or as security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party. |
| 120 | Except as would, if the Company were a company incorporated in Hong Kong, be permitted by Section
500 of the Companies Ordiance as in force at the date of adoption of these Articles, and except as permitted under the Statute,
the Company shall not directly or indirectly: |
| 120.1 | make a loan to a Director or his Associates or a director of any holding company of the Company
or a body corporate controlled by a Director or such a director; |
| 120.2 | enter into any guarantee or provide any security in connection with a loan made by any person to
a Director or a director of any holding company of the Company or a body corporate controlled by a Director or such a director;
or |
| 120.3 | if any one or more of the Directors hold (jointly or severally or directly or indirectly) a controlling
interest in another company, make a loan to that other company or enter into any guarantee or provide any security in connection
with a loan made by any person to that other company. |
REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS
| 121 | The Company may by Ordinary Resolution remove any Director (including a managing Director or other
executive Director) before the expiration of his period of office notwithstanding anything in these Articles or in any agreement
between the Company and such Director and may by Ordinary Resolution elect another person in his stead. Any person so elected shall
hold office during such time only as the Director in whose place he is elected would have held the same if he had not been removed.
Nothing in this Article should be taken as depriving a Director removed under any provision of this Article of compensation or
damages payable to him in respect of the termination of his appointment as Director or of any other appointment or office as a
result of the termination of his appointment as Director or as derogatory from any power to remove a Director which may exist apart
from the provision of this Article. |
VACATION OF OFFICE OF DIRECTOR
| 122 | The office of a Director shall be vacated if: |
| 122.1 | he gives notice in writing to the Company that he resigns the office of Director; or |
| 122.2 | he absents himself (without being represented by proxy or an alternate Director appointed by him)
from three consecutive meetings of the board of Directors without special leave of absence from the Directors, and they pass a
resolution that he has by reason of such absence vacated office; or |
| 122.3 | he dies, becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors generally;
or |
| 122.4 | he is found to be or becomes of unsound mind; or |
| 122.5 | all the other Directors of the Company (being not less than two in number) resolve that he should
be removed as a Director for cause; or |
| 122.6 | if he is removed from office under Article 121. |
| 123 | At every annual general meeting of the Company one-third of the Directors for the time being (or,
if their number is not three or a multiple of three, then the number nearest to, but not less than, one-third) shall retire from
office by rotation provided that every Director (including those appointed for a specific term) shall be subject to retirement
by rotation at least once every three years. Any Director appointed pursuant to Articles 113 or 114 shall not be taken into account
in determining which Directors are to retire by rotation. A retiring Director shall retain office until the close of the meeting
at which he retires and shall be eligible for re-election thereat. The Company at any annual general meeting at which any Director
retire may fill the vacated office by electing a like number of persons to be Directors. The re-election of an Independent Non-Executive
Director who has held such office for more than nine years shall require separate approval of an Ordinary Resolution of the Members
in general meeting and the Directors shall provide reasons to the Members prior to the general meeting as to why they believe such
Independent Non-Executive Director is still independent and should be re-elected. |
PROCEEDINGS OF DIRECTORS
| 124 | The quorum for the transaction of the business of the Directors may be fixed by the Directors,
and unless so fixed shall be a majority of the Directors if there are two or more Directors, and shall be one if there is only
one Director. A person who holds office as an alternate Director shall, if his appointor is not present, be counted in the quorum.
A Director who also acts as an alternate Director shall, if his appointor is not present, count twice towards the quorum. |
| 125 | Subject to the provisions of the Articles, the Directors may regulate their proceedings as they
think fit. Questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. In the case of an equality of votes, the chairman
shall have a second or casting vote. A Director who is also an alternate Director shall be entitled in the absence of his appointor
to a separate vote on behalf of his appointor in addition to his own vote. |
| 126 | A person may participate in a meeting of the Directors or committee of Directors by conference
telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all the persons participating in the meeting can communicate with
each other at the same time. Participation by a person in a meeting in this manner is treated as presence in person at that meeting.
Unless otherwise determined by the Directors the meeting shall be deemed to be held at the place where the chairman is at the start
of the meeting. |
| 127 | Unless required otherwise by the Listing Rules, a resolution in writing (in one or more counterparts)
signed by all the Directors or all the members of a committee of Directors (an alternate Director being entitled to sign such a
resolution on behalf of his appointor) shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Directors,
or committee of Directors as the case may be, duly convened and held. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a resolution in writing shall
not be valid and effective if the resolution relates to any matter or business in which a substantial shareholder of the Company
(as defined in the Listing Rules from time to time), or a Director, has an interest conflicting with that of the Company which
the Directors determines, prior to the passing of such resolution, to be material. |
| 128 | A Director or alternate Director may, or other officer of the Company on the requisition of a Director
or alternate Director shall, call a meeting of the Directors by at least two days' notice in writing to every Director and alternate
Director which notice shall set forth the general nature of the business to be considered unless notice is waived by all the Directors
(or their alternates) either at, before or after the meeting is held. |
| 129 | The continuing Directors may act notwithstanding any vacancy in their body, but if and so long
as their number is reduced below the number fixed by or pursuant to these Articles as the necessary quorum of Directors the continuing
Directors or Director may act for the purpose of summoning a general meeting of the Company, but for no other purpose. |
| 130 | The Directors may elect a chairman of their board and determine the period for which he is to hold
office; but if no such chairman is elected, or if at any meeting the chairman is not present within five minutes after the time
appointed for holding the same, the Directors present may choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting. |
| 131 | All acts done by any meeting of the Directors or of a committee of Directors (including any person
acting as an alternate Director) shall, notwithstanding that it be afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment
of any Director or alternate Director, or that they or any of them were disqualified, be as valid as if every such person had been
duly appointed and qualified to be a Director or alternate Director as the case may be. |
| 132 | A Director but not an alternate Director may be represented at any meetings of the board of Directors
by a proxy appointed in writing by him. The proxy shall count towards the quorum and the vote of the proxy shall for all purposes
be deemed to be that of the appointing Director. |
PRESUMPTION OF ASSENT
| 133 | A Director of the Company who is present at a meeting of the board of Directors at which action
on any Company matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless his dissent shall be entered in the
minutes of the meeting or unless he shall file his written dissent from such action with the person acting as the chairman or secretary
of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by registered post to such person immediately after
the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a Director who voted in favour of such action. |
DIRECTORS' INTERESTS
| 134 | A Director may hold any other office or place of profit under the Company (other than the office
of Auditor) in conjunction with his office of Director for such period and on such terms as to remuneration and otherwise as the
Directors may determine. |
| 135 | A Director may act by himself or his firm in a professional capacity for the Company and he or
his firm shall be entitled to remuneration for professional services as if he were not a Director or alternate Director. |
| 136 | A Director or alternate Director of the Company may be or become a director or other officer of
or otherwise interested in any company promoted by the Company or in which the Company may be interested as shareholder or otherwise,
and no such Director or alternate Director shall be accountable to the Company for any remuneration or other benefits received
by him as a director or officer of, or from his interest in, such other company. |
| 137 | No person shall be disqualified from the office of Director or alternate Director or prevented
by such office from contracting with the Company, either as vendor, purchaser or otherwise, nor shall any such contract or any
contract or transaction entered into by or on behalf of the Company in which any Director or alternate Director shall be in any
way interested be or be liable to be avoided, nor shall any Director or alternate Director so contracting or being so interested
be liable to account to the Company for any profit realised by any such contract or transaction by reason of such Director holding
office or of the fiduciary relation thereby established, provided that such Director shall, if his interest in such contract or
arrangement is material, declare the nature of his interest at the earliest meeting of the Directors at which it is practicable
for him to do so, either specifically or by way of a general notice stating that, by reason of the facts specified in the notice,
he is to be regarded as interested in any contract of a specified description which may subsequently be made by the Company. |
| 138 | Following a declaration being made pursuant to Article 137, subject to Article 139 and any separate
requirement for Audit Committee approval under applicable law or the listing rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, if applicable,
and unless disqualified by the chairman of the relevant meeting of the Directors, a Director may vote in respect of any contract
or proposed contract or arrangement in which such Director is interested and may be counted in the quorum at such meeting. |
| 139 | A Director shall not be entitled to vote on (nor shall be counted in the quorum in relation to)
any resolution of the Directors in respect of any contract or arrangement or any other proposal whatsoever in which he or any of
his Associates has any material interest, and if he shall do so his vote shall not be counted (nor is he to be counted in the quorum
for the resolution), but this prohibition shall not apply to any of the following matters, namely: |
| 139.1 | the giving of any security or indemnity either: |
| (a) | to the Director or any of his Associates in respect of money lent or obligations incurred or undertaken
by him or any of them at the request of or for the benefit of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or |
| (b) | to a third party in respect of a debt or obligation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries for
which the Director or any of his Associates has himself/themselves assumed responsibility in whole or in part and whether alone
or jointly under a guarantee or indemnity or by the giving of security; |
| 139.2 | any proposal concerning an offer of shares or debentures or other securities of or by the Company
or any other company which the Company may promote or be interested in for subscription or purchase where the Director or any of
his Associates is/are or is/are to be interested as a participant in the underwriting or sub-underwriting of the offer; |
| 139.3 | any proposal or arrangement concerning the benefit of employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
including: |
| (a) | the adoption, modification or operation of any employees' share scheme or any share incentive scheme
or share option scheme under which the Director or any of his Associates may benefit; or |
| (b) | the adoption, modification or operation of a pension or provident fund or retirement, death or
disability benefits scheme which relates both to Directors, their Associates and employees of the company or any of its subsidiaries
and does not provide in respect of any Director or any of his Associates as such any privilege or advantage not generally accorded
to the class of persons to which such scheme or fund relates; and |
| 139.4 | any contract or arrangement in which the Director or any of his Associates is/are interested in
the same manner as other holders of Shares or debentures or other securities of the Company by virtue only of his/their interest
in Shares or debentures or other securities of the Company. |
| 140 | If any question shall arise at any meeting of the Directors as to the materiality of a Director's
interest or the significance of a contract, arrangement or transaction or proposed contract, arrangement or transaction or as to
the entitlement of any Director to vote or form part of a quorum and such question is not resolved by his voluntarility agreeing
to abstain from voting or not to be counted in the quorum, such question shall be referred to the chairman of the meeting (or,
where such question relates to the interest of the chairman, to the other Directors at the meeting) and his ruling (or, as appropriate,
the ruling of the other Directors) in relation to any other Director (or, as appropriate, the chairman) shall be final and conclusive
except in a case where the nature or extent of the interests of the Director concerned (or, as appropriate, the chairman) as known
to such Director (or, as appropriate, the chairman) has not been fairly disclosed to the Directors. |
MINUTES
| 141 | The Directors shall cause minutes to be made in books kept for the purpose of all appointments
of officers made by the Directors, all proceedings at meetings of the Company or the holders of any class of Shares and of the
Directors, and of committees of Directors including the names of the Directors or alternate Directors present at each meeting. |
DELEGATION OF DIRECTORS' POWERS
| 142 | The Directors may delegate any of their powers to any committee consisting of one or more Directors.
They may also delegate to any managing director or any Director holding any other executive office such of their powers as they
consider desirable to be exercised by him provided that an alternate Director may not act as managing director and the appointment
of a managing director shall be revoked forthwith if he ceases to be a Director. Any such delegation may be made subject to any
conditions the Directors may impose, and either collaterally with or to the exclusion of their own powers and may be revoked or
altered. Subject to any such conditions, the proceedings of a committee of Directors shall be governed by the Articles regulating
the proceedings of Directors, so far as they are capable of applying. |
| 143 | The Directors may establish any committees, local boards or agencies or appoint any person to be
a manager or agent for managing the affairs of the Company and may appoint any person to be a member of such committees or local
boards. Any such appointment may be made subject to any conditions the Directors may impose, and either collaterally with or to
the exclusion of their own powers and may be revoked or altered. Subject to any such conditions, the proceedings of any such committee,
local board or agency shall be governed by the Articles regulating the proceedings of Directors, so far as they are capable of
applying. |
| 144 | The Directors may by power of attorney or otherwise appoint any person to be the agent of the Company
on such conditions as the Directors may determine, provided that the delegation is not to the exclusion of their own powers and
may be revoked by the Directors at any time. |
| 145 | The Directors may by power of attorney or otherwise appoint any company, firm, person or body of
persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Directors, to be the attorney or authorised signatory of the Company for
such purpose and with such powers, authorities and discretions (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the Directors under
these Articles) and for such period and subject to such conditions as they may think fit, and any such powers of attorney or other
appointment may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of persons dealing with any such attorneys or authorised
signatories as the Directors may think fit and may also authorise any such attorney or authorised signatory to delegate all or
any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in him. |
| 146 | The Directors may appoint such officers as they consider necessary on such terms, at such remuneration
and to perform such duties, and subject to such provisions as to disqualification and removal as the Directors may think fit. Unless
otherwise specified in the terms of his appointment an officer may be removed by resolution of the Directors or Members. |
ALTERNATE DIRECTORS
| 147 | Any Director (other than an alternate Director) may by writing appoint any other Director, or any
other person willing to act, to be an alternate Director and by writing may remove from office an alternate Director so appointed
by him. |
| 148 | An alternate Director shall be entitled to receive notice of all meetings of Directors and of all
meetings of committees of Directors of which his appointor is a member, to attend and vote at every such meeting at which the Director
appointing him is not personally present, and generally to perform all the functions of his appointor as a Director in his absence. |
| 149 | An alternate Director shall cease to be an alternate Director if his appointor ceases to be a Director. |
| 150 | Any appointment or removal of an alternate Director shall be by notice to the Company signed by
the Director making or revoking the appointment or in any other manner approved by the Directors. |
| 151 | An alternate Director shall be deemed for all purposes to be a Director and shall alone be responsible
for his own acts and defaults and shall not be deemed to be the agent of the Director appointing him. |
NO MINIMUM SHAREHOLDING
| 152 | The Company in general meeting may fix a minimum shareholding required to be held by a Director,
but unless and until such a shareholding qualification is fixed a Director is not required to hold Shares, and a Director who is
not a Member shall be entitled to receive notice of and attend and speak at any general meeting of the Company and of all classes
of Shares. |
REMUNERATION OF DIRECTORS
| 153 | The remuneration to be paid to the Directors, if any, shall be such remuneration as the Directors
shall determine. The Directors shall also be entitled to be paid all travelling, hotel and other expenses properly incurred by
them in connection with their attendance at meetings of Directors or committees of Directors, or general meetings of the Company,
or separate meetings of the holders of any class of Shares or debentures of the Company, or otherwise in connection with the business
of the Company, or to receive a fixed allowance in respect thereof as may be determined by the Directors, or a combination partly
of one such method and partly the other. |
| 154 | The Directors may by resolution approve additional remuneration to any Director for any services
other than his ordinary routine work as a Director. Any fees paid to a Director who is also counsel or solicitor to the Company,
or otherwise serves it in a professional capacity shall be in addition to his remuneration as a Director. |
| 155 | Payment to any Director or past Director of any sum by way of compensation for loss of office or
as consideration for or in connection with his retirement from office (not being a payment to which the Director is contractually
entitled) must first be approved by the Company in general meeting. |
SEAL
| 156 | The Company may, if the Directors so determine, have a Seal. The Seal shall only be used by the
authority of the Directors or of a committee of the Directors authorised by the Directors. Every instrument to which the Seal has
been affixed shall be signed by at least one person who shall be either a Director or some officer or other person appointed by
the Directors for the purpose. |
| 157 | The securities seal which shall be a facsimile of the Seal with the word "Securities"
engraved thereon shall be used exclusively for sealing securities issued by the Company and for sealing documents creating or evidencing
securities so issued. The Directors may either generally or in any particular case resolve that the securities seal or any signatures
or any of them may be affixed to certificates for shares, warrants, debentures or any other form of security by facsimile or other
mechanical means specified in such authority or that any such certificates sealed with the securities seal need not be signed by
any person. |
| 158 | The Company may have for use in any place or places outside the Cayman Islands a duplicate Seal
or Seals each of which shall be a facsimile of the common Seal of the Company and, if the Directors so determine, with the addition
on its face of the name of every place where it is to be used. |
| 159 | A Director or officer, representative or attorney of the Company may without further authority
of the Directors affix the Seal over his signature alone to any document of the Company required to be authenticated by him under
seal or to be filed with the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere wheresoever. |
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND RESERVE
| 160 | Subject to the Statute and this Article, the Directors may declare Dividends and distributions
on Shares in issue and authorise payment of the Dividends or distributions out of the funds of the Company lawfully available therefor.
No Dividend or distribution shall be paid except out of the realised or unrealised profits of the Company, or out of the share
premium account or as otherwise permitted by the Statute. |
| 161 | Except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to Shares, all Dividends shall be declared
and paid according to the par value of the Shares that a Member holds. If any Share is issued on terms providing that it shall
rank for Dividend as from a particular date, that Share shall rank for Dividend accordingly. |
| 162 | The Directors may deduct from any Dividend or distribution payable to any Member all sums of money
(if any) then payable by him to the Company on account of calls or otherwise. |
| 163 | The Directors may declare that any Dividend or distribution be paid wholly or partly by the distribution
of specific assets and in particular of shares, debentures, or securities of any other company or in any one or more of such ways
and where any difficulty arises in regard to such distribution, the Directors may settle the same as they think expedient and in
particular may issue fractional Shares and fix the value for distribution of such specific assets or any part thereof and may determine
that cash payments shall be made to any Members upon the basis of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of all Members
and may vest any such specific assets in trustees as may seem expedient to the Directors. |
| 164 | Any Dividend, distribution, interest or other monies payable in cash in respect of Shares may be
paid by wire transfer to the holder or by cheque or warrant sent through the post directed to the registered address of the holder
or, in the case of joint holders, to the registered address of the holder who is first named on the Register of Members or to such
person and to such address as such holder or joint holders may in writing direct. Every such cheque or warrant shall be made payable
to the order of the person to whom it is sent. Any one of two or more joint holders may give effectual receipts for any Dividends,
bonuses, or other monies payable in respect of the Share held by them as joint holders. |
| 165 | No Dividend or distribution shall bear interest against the Company. |
| 166 | Any Dividend which cannot be paid to a Member and/or which remains unclaimed after six months from
the date of declaration of such Dividend may, in the discretion of the Directors, be paid into a separate account in the Company's
name, provided that the Company shall not be constituted as a trustee in respect of that account and the Dividend shall remain
as a debt due to the Member. Any Dividend which remains unclaimed after a period of six years from the date of declaration of such
Dividend shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Company. |
CAPITALISATION
| 167 | The Directors may capitalise any sum standing to the credit of any of the Company's reserve accounts
(including share premium account and capital redemption reserve fund) or any sum standing to the credit of profit and loss account
or otherwise available for distribution and to appropriate such sum to Members in the proportions in which such sum would have
been divisible amongst them had the same been a distribution of profits by way of Dividend and to apply such sum on their behalf
in paying up in full unissued Shares for allotment and distribution credited as fully paid-up to and amongst them in the proportion
aforesaid. In such event the Directors shall do all acts and things required to give effect to such capitalisation, with full power
to the Directors to make such provisions as they think fit for the case of Shares becoming distributable in fractions (including
provisions whereby the benefit of fractional entitlements accrue to the Company rather than to the Members concerned). The Directors
may authorise any person to enter on behalf of all of the Members interested into an agreement with the Company providing for such
capitalisation and matters incidental thereto and any agreement made under such authority shall be effective and binding on all
concerned. |
BOOKS OF ACCOUNT
| 168 | The Directors shall cause proper books of account to be kept with respect to all sums of money
received and expended by the Company and the matters in respect of which the receipt or expenditure takes place, all sales and
purchases of goods by the Company and the assets and liabilities of the Company. Proper books shall not be deemed to be kept if
there are not kept such books of account as are necessary to give a true and fair view of the state of the Company's affairs and
to explain its transactions. |
| 169 | The Directors shall from time to time determine whether and to what extent and at what times and
places and under what conditions or regulations the accounts and books of the Company or any of them shall be open to the inspection
of Members not being Directors and no Member (not being a Director) shall have any right of inspecting any account or book or document
of the Company except as conferred by Statute or authorised by the Directors or by the Company in general meeting. |
| 170 | The Directors shall, commencing with the first annual general meeting cause to be prepared and
to be laid before the Members at every annual general meeting a profit and loss account for the period, in the case of the first
account, since the incorporation of the Company and, in any other case, since the preceding account, together with a balance sheet
as at the date to which the profit and loss account is made up and a Directors' report with respect to the profit or loss of the
Company for the period covered by the profit and loss account and the state of the Company's affairs as at the end of such period,
an Auditor's report on such accounts prepared pursuant to Article 177 and such other reports and accounts as may be required by
law. |
| 171 | Copies of those documents to be laid before the Members at an annual general meeting shall not
less than 21 days before the date of the meeting be sent in the manner in which notices may be served by the Company as provided
in these Articles to every Member, provided that the Company shall not be required to send copies of those documents to any person
of whose address the Company is not aware or to more than one of the joint holders of any Shares. |
| 172 | To the extent permitted by and subject to due compliance with these Articles, the Statute and all
applicable rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the rules of any Designated Stock Exchange, and to obtaining all
necessary consents, if any, required thereunder, the requirements of Article 171 shall be deemed satisfied in relation to any Member
by sending to such person instead of such copies, not less than 21 days before the date of the annual general meeting, in any manner
not prohibited by these Articles and the Statute, a summary financial statement derived from the Company's annual accounts, together
with the Directors' report and the Auditors' report on such accounts, which shall be in the form and containing the information
required by these Articles, the Law and all applicable laws and regulations, provided that any person who is otherwise entitled
to the annual accounts of the Company, together with the Directors' report and the Auditor's report thereon may, if he so requires,
by notice in writing served on the Company, demand that the Company sends to him, in addition to the summary financial statement,
a complete printed copy of the Company's annual accounts, together with the Directors' report and the Auditor's report thereon. |
AUDIT
| 173 | Without prejudice to the freedom of the Directors to establish any other committee, if the Shares
(or depositary receipts therefore) are listed or quoted on the Designated Stock Exchange, and if required by the Designated Stock
Exchange, the Directors shall establish and maintain an Audit Committee as a committee of the board of Directors, the composition
and responsibilities of which shall comply with the rules and regulations of the SEC and the Designated Stock Exchange. The Audit
Committee shall meet at least once every financial quarter, or more frequently as circumstances dictate, |
| 174 | If the Shares are listed or quoted on a Designated Stock Exchange that requires the Company to
have an Audit Committee, then the Directors shall adopt a formal written Audit Committee charter and review and assess the adequacy
of the formal written charter on an annual basis. |
| 175 | If the Shares (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on the Designated Stock Exchange,
the Company shall conduct an appropriate review of all related party transactions on an ongoing basis and shall utilise the Audit
Committee for the review and approval of potential conflicts of interest. Specifically, the Audit Committee shall approve any transaction
or transactions between the Company and any of the following parties: |
| 175.1 | any shareholder owning an interest in the voting power of the Company that gives such shareholder
a significant influence over the Company; |
| 175.2 | any Director or executive officer of the Company and any relative of such Director or executive
officer; and |
| 175.3 | any person in which a substantial interest in the voting power of the Company is owned, directly
or indirectly, by a person referred to in Articles 175.1 or 175.2 or over which such a person is able to exercise significant influence;
and |
| 176 | If applicable, and subject to applicable law and the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange: |
| 176.1 | at the annual general meeting or at a subsequent extraordinary general meeting in each year, the
Members shall appoint an Auditor who shall hold office until the Members appoint another Auditor. Such auditor may be a Member
but no Director or officer or employee of the Company shall during, his continuance in office, be eligible to act as Auditor; |
| 176.2 | a person, other than a retiring Auditor, shall not be capable of being appointed Auditor at an
annual general meeting unless notice in writing of an intention to nominate that person to the office of Auditor has been given
not less then fourteen days before the annual general meeting and furthermore the Company shall send a copy of such notice to the
retiring Auditor; |
| 176.3 | the Members may, at any general meeting convened and held in accordance with these Articles, by
Special Resolution remove the Auditor at any time before the expiration of his term of office and shall by ordinary resolution
at that meeting appoint another Auditor in his stead for the remainder of his term. |
| 177 | The Auditor shall audit the profit and loss account and balance sheet of the Company in each year
and shall prepare a report thereon to be annexed thereto. Such report shall be laid before the Company at its annual general meeting
in each year and shall be open to inspection by any Member. |
| 178 | If the office of Auditor becomes vacant by resignation or death of the Auditor, or by his becoming
incapable of acting by reason of illness or other disability at a time when his services are required, the Directors shall fill
the vacancy and determine the remuneration of such Auditor. |
| 179 | Every Auditor shall have a right of access at all reasonable times to the books and accounts and
vouchers of the Company and shall be entitled to require from the Directors and officers of the Company such information and explanation
as may be necessary for the performance of the duties of the Auditor. |
| 180 | The statement of income and expenditure and the balance sheet provided for by these Articles shall
be examined by the Auditor and compared by him with the books, accounts and vouchers relating thereto, and he shall make a written
report thereon stating whether such statement and balance sheet are drawn up so as to present fairly the financial position of
the Company and the results of its operations for the period under review and, in case information shall have been called for from
the Directors or officers of the Company, whether the same has been furnished and has been satisfactory. The financial statements
of the Company shall be audited by the Auditor in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. The Auditor shall make
written report thereon in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and the report of the Auditor shall be submitted
to the Members in general meeting. The generally accepted auditing standard referred to herein may be those of a country or jurisdiction
other than the Cayman Islands, If so, the financial statements and the report of the Auditor should disclose this act and name
such country or jurisdiction. |
NOTICES
| 181 | Notices shall be in writing and may be given by the Company to any Member either personally or
by sending it by courier, post, cable, telex, fax or e-mail to him or to his address as shown in the Register of Members (or where
the notice is given by e-mail by sending it to the e-mail address provided by such Member). Any notice, if posted from one country
to another, is to be sent airmail. If applicable, notice may also be served by advertisement in appropriate newspapers in accordance
with the requirements of the Designated Stock Exchange and the rules and regulations of the SEC and giving to the Member a notice
(in the manner set out above) stating that the notice or other document is available there or, to the extent permitted by the rules
of the Designated Stock Exchange and all applicable laws and regulations, by placing it on the Company's website or the Designated
Stock Exchange's website provided that the Company has obtained either (a) the Member's prior express positive confirmation in
writing or (b) the Member's deemed consent, in the manner specified in the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange to receive or
otherwise have made available to him notices and documents to be given or issued to him by the Company. |
| 182 | Where a notice is sent by courier, service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by delivery
of the notice to a courier company, and shall be deemed to have been received on the third day (not including Saturdays or Sundays
or public holidays) following the day on which the notice was delivered to the courier. Where a notice is sent by post, service
of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, pre paying and posting a letter containing the notice, and
shall be deemed to have been received on the fifth day (not including Saturdays or Sundays or public holidays) following the day
on which the notice was posted. Where a notice is sent by cable, telex or fax, service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected
by properly addressing and sending such notice and shall be deemed to have been received on the same day that it was transmitted.
Where a notice is given by e-mail service shall be deemed to be effected by transmitting the e-mail to the e-mail address provided
by the intended recipient and shall be deemed to have been received on the same day that it was sent, and it shall not be necessary
for the receipt of the e-mail to be acknowledged by the recipient. Any notice served by advertisement shall be deemed to have been
served on the day of issue of the official publication and/or newspapers in which the advertisement is published (or on the last
day of issue if the publication and/or newpapers are published on different dates). Any notice given by placing it on the Company's
website or the Designated Stock Exchange's website shall be deemed to have been served and delivered on the day following that
on which it is successfully transmitted or at such later time as may be prescribed by the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange
or any applicable laws or regulations. |
| 183 | A notice may be given by the Company to the person or persons which the Company has been advised
are entitled to a Share or Shares in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member in the same manner as other notices which
are required to be given under these Articles and shall be addressed to them by name, or by the title of representatives of the
deceased, or trustee of the bankrupt, or by any like description at the address supplied for that purpose by the persons claiming
to be so entitled, or at the option of the Company by giving the notice in any manner in which the same might have been given if
the death or bankruptcy had not occurred. |
| 184 | Notice of every general meeting shall be given in any manner hereinbefore authorised to every person
shown as a Member in the Register of Members on the record date for such meeting except that in the case of joint holders the notice
shall be sufficient if given to the joint holder first named in the Register of Members and every person upon whom the ownership
of a Share devolves by reason of his being a legal personal representative or a trustee in bankruptcy of a Member of record where
the Member of record but for his death or bankruptcy would be entitled to receive notice of the meeting, and no other person shall
be entitled to receive notices of general meetings. |
| 185 | A Member shall be entitled to have notice served on him at any address within Hong Kong. Any Mmeber
who has not given an express positive confirmation in writing to the Company in the manner specified in the Listing Rules to receive
or otherwise have made available to him notices and documents to be given or issued to him by the Company by electronic means and
whose registered address is outside of Hong Kong may notify the Company in writing of an address in Hong Kong which for the purpose
of service of notice shall be deemed to be his registered address. For the purposes of the Listing Rules, a Member who has no registered
address in Hong Kong shall be deemed to have received any notice which shall have been displayed at the transfer office and shall
have remained there for a period of 24 hours and such notice shall be deemed to have been received by such Member on the day following
that on which it shall have been first so displayed, provided that, without prejudice to the other provisions of these Articles,
nothing in this Article shall be construed as prohibiting the Company from sending, or entitling the Company not to send, notice
or other documents of the Company to any Member whose registered address is outside Hong Kong. |
WINDING UP
| 186 | If the Company shall be wound up and the assets available for distribution amongst the Members
shall be insufficient to repay the whole of the share capital, such assets shall be distributed so that, as nearly as may be, the
losses shall be borne by the Members in proportion to the par value of the Shares held by them. If in a winding up the assets available
for distribution amongst the Members shall be more than sufficient to repay the whole of the share capital at the commencement
of the winding up, the surplus shall be distributed amongst the Members in proportion to the par value of the Shares held by them
at the commencement of the winding up subject to a deduction from those Shares in respect of which there are monies due, of all
monies payable to the Company for unpaid calls or otherwise. This Article is without prejudice to the rights of the holders of
Shares issued upon special terms and conditions. |
| 187 | If the Company shall be wound up the liquidator may, with the sanction of a Special Resolution
of the Company and any other sanction required by the Statute, divide amongst the Members in kind the whole or any part of the
assets of the Company (whether they shall consist of property of the same kind or not) and may for that purpose value any assets
and determine how the division shall be carried out as between the Members or different classes of Members. The liquidator may,
with the like sanction, vest the whole or any part of such assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of the Members as
the liquidator, with the like sanction, shall think fit, but so that no Member shall be compelled to accept any asset upon which
there is a liability. |
INDEMNITY
| 188 | Every Director, agent or officer of the Company shall be indemnified out of the assets of the Company
against any liability incurred by him as a result of any act or failure to act in carrying out his functions other than such liability
(if any) that he may incur by his own fraud or wilful default. No such Director, agent or officer shall be liable to the Company
for any loss or damage in carrying out his functions unless that liability arises through the fraud or wilful default of such Director,
agent or officer. |
FINANCIAL YEAR
| 189 | Unless the Directors otherwise prescribe, the financial year of the Company shall end on 31st December
in each year and, following the year of incorporation, shall begin on 1st January in each year. |
TRANSFER BY WAY OF CONTINUATION
| 190 | If the Company is exempted as defined in the Statute, it shall, subject to the provisions of the
Statute and with the approval of a Special Resolution, have the power to register by way of continuation as a body corporate under
the laws of any jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands and to be deregistered in the Cayman Islands. |
Annex F
Repurchase Mandate Explanatory Statement
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited
and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited take no responsibility for the contents of this document, make no representation as
to its accuracy or completeness and expressly disclaim any liability whatsoever for any loss however arising from or in reliance
upon the whole or any part of the contents of this document.
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
This is an explanatory statement given
to the shareholders of Iao Kun Group Holding Company Limited (the “Company”) relating to resolutions authorizing
the Company to repurchase its own securities (the “Repurchase Mandate”) to be passed by resolutions of the shareholders
of the Company on 5 December 2014 in connection with the proposed listing of the Company’s shares (the “Shares”)
on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Stock Exchange”) by way of introduction as
set out in a listing of the Company which is expected to be dated in December 2014 (the “Listing Document”)
conditional upon the approval by the Stock Exchange.
This explanatory statement contains all
the information required pursuant to Rule 10.06(l)(b) of the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on the Stock Exchange (the
“Listing Rules”) which is set out as follows:
(a) Provisions of the Listing Rules
The Listing Rules permit companies
with a primary listing on the Stock Exchange to repurchase their own securities on the Stock Exchange subject to certain restrictions,
the more important of which are summarised below:
(i) Shareholders ’ approval
All proposed repurchases of securities
(which must be fully paid up in the case of shares) by a company with a primary listing on the Stock Exchange must be approved
in advance by an ordinary resolution of the shareholders, either by way of general mandate or by specific approval of a particular
transaction.
(ii) Source of funds
Repurchases must be funded out
of funds legally available for the purpose in accordance with the Memorandum and Articles and the Listing Rules and the applicable
laws of the Cayman Islands. A listed company may not repurchase its own securities on the Stock Exchange for a consideration other
than cash or for settlement otherwise than in accordance with the trading rules of the Stock Exchange. Subject to the foregoing,
any repurchases by the Company may be made out of the Company ’ s funds which would otherwise be available for dividend or
distribution or out of the proceeds of a new issue of Shares made for the purpose of the repurchase. Any amount of premium payable
on the purchase over the par value of the Shares to be repurchased must be out of the funds which would otherwise be available
for dividend or distribution or from sums standing to the credit of the Company ’ s share premium account.
(iii) Trading restrictions
The total number of shares which
a listed company may repurchase on the Stock Exchange is the number of shares representing up to a maximum of 10% of the aggregate
number of shares in issue. A company may not issue or announce a proposed issue of new securities for a period of 30 days immediately
following a repurchase (other than an issue of securities pursuant to an exercise of warrants, share options or similar instruments
requiring the Company to issue securities which were outstanding prior to such repurchase) without the prior approval of the Stock
Exchange. In addition, a listed company is prohibited from repurchasing its shares on the Stock Exchange if the purchase price
is 5% or more than the average closing market price for the five preceding trading days on which its shares were traded on the
Stock Exchange. The Listing Rules also prohibit a listed company from repurchasing its securities which are in the hands of the
public falling below the relevant prescribed minimum percentage as required by the Stock Exchange. A company is required to procure
that the broker appointed by it to effect a repurchase of securities discloses to the Stock Exchange such information with respect
to the repurchase as the Stock Exchange may require.
(iv) Status of repurchased shares
All repurchased securities (whether
effected on the Stock Exchange or otherwise) will be automatically delisted and the certificates for those securities must be cancelled
and destroyed.
(v) Suspension of repurchase
A listed company may not make
any repurchase of securities after any inside information has come to its knowledge until the inside information has been made
publicly available. In particular, during the period of one month immediately preceding the earlier of (a) the date of the board
meeting (as such date is first notified to the Stock Exchange in accordance with the Listing Rules) for the approval of a listed
company ’ s results for any year, half-year, quarterly or any other interim period (whether or not required under the Listing
Rules) and (b) the deadline for publication of an announcement of a listed company ’ s results for any year or half-year
under the Listing Rules, or quarterly or any other interim period (whether or not required under the Listing Rules), the listed
company may not repurchase its shares on the Stock Exchange other than in exceptional circumstances. In addition, the Stock Exchange
may prohibit a repurchase of securities on the Stock Exchange if a listed company has breached the Listing Rules.
(vi) Reporting requirements
Certain information relating to
repurchases of securities on the Stock Exchange or otherwise must be reported to the Stock Exchange not later than 30 minutes before
the earlier of the commencement of the morning trading session or any pre-opening session on the following business day. In addition,
a listed company ’ s annual report is required to disclose details regarding repurchases of securities made during the year,
including a monthly analysis of the number of securities repurchased, the purchase price per share or the highest and lowest price
paid for all such purchase, where relevant, and the aggregate prices paid.
(vii) Connected persons
A listed company is prohibited
from knowingly repurchasing securities on the Stock Exchange from a ‘‘ connected person ’’ , that is, a
director, chief executive or substantial shareholder of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or their associates and a connected
person is prohibited from knowingly selling his securities to the Company.
(viii) Reasons for repurchases
The Directors believe that the
ability to repurchase Shares is in the interests of the Company and the Shareholders. Repurchases may, depending on the circumstances,
result in an increase in the net assets and/or earnings per Share. The Directors sought the grant of a general mandate to repurchase
Shares to give the Company the flexibility to do so if and when appropriate. The number of Shares to be repurchased on any occasion
and the price and other terms upon which the same are repurchased will be decided by the Directors at the relevant time having
regard to the circumstances then pertaining.
(ix) Funding of repurchases
In repurchasing securities, the
Company may only apply funds lawfully available for such purpose in accordance with its Memorandum and Articles, the Listing Rules
and the applicable laws of the Cayman Islands. There could be a material adverse impact on the working capital or gearing position
of the Company (as compared with the position disclosed in this listing document) in the event that the repurchase mandate were
to be carried out in full at any time during the share repurchase period. However, the Directors do not propose to exercise the
general mandate to such extent as would, in the circumstances, have a material adverse effect on the working capital requirements
of the Company or the gearing levels which in the opinion of the Directors are from time to time appropriate for the Company.
| (x) | The Directors do not propose to exercise the Repurchase Mandate to such an extent as would, in
the circumstances, have a material adverse effect on the working capital requirements of the Company or the hearing level which
in the opinion of the Directors are from time to time appropriate for the Company. |
| (a) | The exercise by the Company in full of the repurchase
mandate, on the basis of 60,452,314 Shares in issue as at the passing of the resolution granting the Repurchase Mandate (assuming
there is no change in the issued share capital of the Company prior to the passing of the resolution granting the Repurchase Mandate),
could accordingly result in up to approximately 6,045,231 Shares being repurchased by the Company during the period prior to the
earliest of: |
(i) the conclusion of our next
annual general meeting; or
(ii) the expiration of the period
within which our next annual general meeting is required by any applicable law or our Articles to be held; or
(iii) the revocation or variation
of the authority given by an ordinary resolution of our Shareholders in general meeting.
| (b) | None of the Directors nor, to the best of their knowledge having made all reasonable enquiries,
any of their close associates currently intends to sell any Shares to the Company. The Directors have undertaken to the Stock Exchange
that, so far as the same may be applicable, they will exercise the repurchase mandate in accordance with the Listing Rules and
the applicable laws in the Cayman Islands. |
| (c) | If, as a result of any repurchase of Shares, a Shareholder ’ s proportionate interest in
the voting rights of the Company is increased, such increase will be treated as an acquisition for the purposes of the Takeovers
Code. Accordingly, a Shareholder or a group of Shareholders acting in concert could obtain or consolidate control of the Company
and become obliged to make a mandatory offer in accordance with Rule 26 of the Takeovers Code. As far as the Directors are aware,
Mr. Vong Hon Kun, a substantial Shareholder holding 8,386,122 Shares, representing approximately 13.87% of the total issued Shares
as at the date hereof, is currently the single largest Shareholder of the Company. Assuming the Repurchase Mandate is exercised
in full, i.e., a total of 6,045,231 Shares are purchased by the Company during the validity of the Repurchase Mandate, the shareholding
level of Mr. Vong Hon Kun would be increased to approximately 15.41% (assuming there will be no other changes in the Company’s
issued share capital other than the repurchases). Therefore, the Directors consider that the concern that the repurchases which
may be made in exercising the power under the Repurchase Mandate would result in a Shareholder or a group of Shareholders acting
in concert could obtain or consolidate control of the Company and become obliged to make a mandatory offer in accordance with Rule
26 of the Takeovers Code is remote. |
| (d) | Any repurchase of Shares that results in the number of Shares held by the public being reduced
to less than 20% of the Shares then in issue could only be implemented if the Stock Exchange agreed to waive the Listing Rules
requirements regarding the public shareholding referred to above. It is believed that a waiver of this provision would not normally
be given other than in exceptional circumstances. |
| (e) | No core connected person of the Company has notified the Company that he or she has a present intention
to sell Shares to the Company, or has undertaken not to do so, if the repurchase mandate is exercised. |
| (f) | The Directors will undertake to the Stock Exchange that, so far as the same may be applicable,
they will exercise the Repurchase Mandate in accordance with the Listing Rules and the applicable laws of the Cayman Islands. |
| (g) | Rule 10.06(1)(b)(viii) of the Listing Rules which relates to the inclusion of a statement herein
giving details of any purchases by the Company of Shares made in the previous six months (whether on the Stock or otherwise), giving
the date of each purchase and the purchase price per Share or the highest and lowest prices paid for such purchases, where relevant,
is not applicable. |
| (h) | Rule 10.06(1)(b)(x) of the Listing Rules which relates to the inclusion of a statement herein giving
the highest and lowers prices at the Shares have traded on the Stock Exchange during each of the previous twelve months is not
applicable. |
| (i) | The statement which is required under Rule 10.06(1)(b)(xi) of the Listing Rules to be included
in this explanatory statement is set out on the front page (in Italic style) of explanatory statement. |
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF
IAO KUN GROUP HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED
December 5, 2014
NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY
OF PROXY MATERIAL:
The Notice of Meeting, Proxy Statement and
Proxy Card are available at: ir.ikghcl.com/events.cfm.
Please sign, date and mail your proxy
card in the envelope provided promptly.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS AND “FOR” PROPOSAL 2, PROPOSAL 3, PROPOSAL 4, PROPOSAL
5, PROPOSAL 6, PROPOSAL 7 AND PROPOSAL 8. PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE
IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE x
This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of
the Board of Directors
The undersigned hereby appoints Leong Siak Hung or Raymond Li
Chun Ming, individually, as proxy to represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at Iao Kun VIP
Club 1/F., East VIP Entrance, Galaxy Macau, Cotai, Macau on December 5, 2014 at 11:30 a.m., local time, and at any adjournments
thereof, and to vote the ordinary shares the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present, as indicated below.
1. |
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS: |
NOMINEES: |
|
|
¨ FOR ALL NOMINEES |
○ Peter Li |
○ Yeung Lun Allan |
|
|
○ Raymond Li Chun Ming |
|
|
¨ AGAINST
ALL NOMINEES |
|
|
|
¨ FOR ALL EXCEPT (See instructions below) |
|
|
INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold
authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “FOR ALL EXCEPT” and fill in the circle next to each nominee
you wish to withhold, as shown here: l
2. |
ADOPTION OF SHARE OPTION SCHEME |
FOR
¨ |
AGAINST
¨ |
ABSTAIN
¨ |
3. |
AMENDMENT OF SHARE CAPITAL |
FOR
¨ |
AGAINST
¨ |
ABSTAIN
¨ |
4. |
ADOPTION OF “友權集團控股有限公司” AS THE COMPANY’S DUAL FOREIGN NAME |
FOR
¨ |
AGAINST
¨ |
ABSTAIN
¨ |
5. |
ADOPTION OF FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION WITH EFFECT FROM THE LISTING OF THE COMPANY’S ORDINARY SHARES ON THE HONG KONG STOCK EXCHANGE |
FOR
¨ |
AGAINST
¨ |
ABSTAIN
¨ |
6. |
AUTHORITY TO DIRECTORS TO ISSUE NEW SHARES; REPURCHASE SHARES; INCREASE SHARES ISSUABLE |
FOR
¨ |
AGAINST
¨ |
ABSTAIN
¨ |
7. |
RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS |
FOR
¨ |
AGAINST
¨ |
ABSTAIN
¨ |
8. |
APPROVAL OF ADDITIONAL AUDITORS UPON HONG KONG LISTING |
FOR
☐ |
AGAINST
☐ |
ABSTAIN
☐ |
If any other business is presented at the meeting, this proxy
will be voted by those named in this proxy in their best judgment. At the present time, the Board of Directors knows of no other
business to be presented at the meeting.
The ordinary shares represented by this proxy, when properly
executed, will be voted as directed. If no direction is given, this proxy will be voted in favor of Items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
and 8. Abstentions will be treated as being present and entitled to vote and, therefore, will have the effect of votes against
such proposals. If you do not provide your broker or other nominee with instructions on how to vote your “street name”
shares, your broker or nominee will not be permitted to vote them on non-routine matters (a broker “non-vote”) such
as Item 1. Shares subject to a broker “non-vote” will not be considered entitled to vote with respect to Item 1, and
will not affect the outcome on that Item. Please note that this year the rules regarding how brokers may vote your shares have
changed. Brokers may no longer vote your shares on the election of directors in the absence of your specific instructions as to
how to vote. We encourage you to provide instructions to your broker regarding the voting of your shares.
Signature of Shareholder |
|
|
Date |
|
Signature of Shareholder |
|
|
Date |
|
Note: Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this
Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian,
please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving
full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.
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