EX-2.4 2 tm206466d1_ex2-4.htm EXHIBIT 2.4

Exhibit 2.4

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

 

As of December 31, 2019, Xunlei Limited (“Xunlei,” “we,” “our,” “our company,” or “us”) had 339,165,241 common shares outstanding (excluding (i) 20,192,820 common shares that are (a) issued to our depositary bank for the purpose of bulk issuance and (b) repurchased by the company, and (ii) 9,519,144 common shares issued to Leading Advice Holdings Limited, our employee share incentive platform). Each common share of the Company has a par value of US$0.00025. Our common shares may be held in either certified or uncertified form.

 

American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), each representing five common shares of Xunlei are listed and traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “XNET” and, in connection therewith, our common shares are registered under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

This exhibit contains a description of the rights of (i) the holders of our common shares, and (ii) the holders of ADSs. Common shares underlying the ADSs are held by the Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary, and holders of ADSs will not be treated as holders of common shares.

 

MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

 

On June 11, 2014, we adopted our eighth amended and restated memorandum of association and seventh amended and restated articles of association, or memorandum and articles of association, which will become effective upon the completion of this offering. The following are summaries of material provisions of our memorandum and articles of association and the Companies Law insofar as they relate to the material terms of our common shares. This summary is not complete, and you should read the form of our memorandum and articles of association, which have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

 

Exempted company

 

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

 

·an exempted company does not have to file an annual return of its shareholders with the Registrar of Companies;

 

·an exempted company is not required to open its register of members for inspection;

 

·an exempted company does not have to hold an annual general meeting;

 

·an exempted company may in certain circumstances issue no par value, negotiable or bearer shares;

 

·an exempted company may obtain an undertaking against the imposition of any future taxation (such undertakings are usually given for 20 years in the first instance);

 

   

 

 

·an exempted company may register by way of continuation in another jurisdiction and be deregistered in the Cayman Islands;

 

·an exempted company may register as a limited duration company; and

 

·an exempted company may register as a segregated portfolio company.

 

Common shares

 

General.  All of our issued and outstanding common shares are fully paid. Certificates representing the common shares are issued in registered form. Our shareholders who are non-residents of the Cayman Islands may freely hold and vote their shares. We will issue non-negotiable shares and may not issue bearer or negotiable shares.

 

Register of members. Under Cayman Islands law, we must keep a register of members and there shall be entered therein:

 

(a)the names and addresses of the members, together with a statement of the shares held by each member, and such statement shall confirm (i) the amount paid or agreed to be considered as paid, on the shares of each member, (ii) the number and category of shares held by each member, and (iii) whether each relevant category of shares held by a member carries voting rights under the articles of association of the company, and if so, whether such voting rights are conditional;

 

(b)the date on which the name of any person was entered on the register as a member; and

 

(c)the date on which any person ceased to be a member.

 

Under Cayman Islands law, the register of members of our company is prima facie evidence of the matters set out therein (i.e. the register of members will raise a presumption of fact on the matters referred to above unless rebutted) and a member registered in the register of members shall be deemed as a matter of Cayman Islands law to have legal title to the shares as set against its name in the register of members. Once the register of members of our company has been updated, the shareholders recorded in the register of members shall be deemed to have legal title to the shares set against their name. There is no requirement under Cayman Islands laws for the register of members to be filed with the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands.

 

If the name of any person is incorrectly entered in or omitted from our register of members, or if there is any default or unnecessary delay in entering on the register the fact of any person having ceased to be a member of our company, the person or member aggrieved (or any member of our company or our company itself) may apply to the Cayman Islands Grand Court for an order that the register be rectified, and the Court may either refuse such application or it may, if satisfied of the justice of the case, make an order for the rectification of the register.

 

Dividends.  The holders of our common shares are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors. In addition, our shareholders may by ordinary resolution declare a dividend, but no dividend may exceed the amount recommended by our board of directors. Under Cayman Islands law, dividends may be declared and paid only out of funds legally available therefor, namely out of either profit or our share premium account, and provided further that a dividend may not be paid if this would result in our company being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business.

 

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Voting rights.  Each common share is entitled to one vote on all matters upon which the common shares are entitled to vote. Voting at any meeting of shareholders is by show of hands unless a poll is demanded. A poll may be demanded by the chairman of such meeting or any one or more shareholders present in person or by proxy entitled to vote and who together hold not less than 10 percent of our paid up voting share capital.

 

A quorum required for a meeting of shareholders consists of at least one shareholder present in person or by proxy or, if a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorized representative, who hold in aggregate not less than fifty percent of the total voting power of the company. Shareholders’ meetings may be held annually and may be convened by our board of directors on its own initiative or upon a request to the directors by shareholders holding in aggregate at least one-third of the total voting power of the company. Advance notice of at least seven calendar days is required for the convening of shareholders’ meetings.

 

An ordinary resolution to be passed by the shareholders requires the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes attaching to the common shares cast in a general meeting, while a special resolution requires the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes attaching to the common shares cast in a general meeting. Both ordinary resolutions and special resolutions may also be passed by a unanimous written resolution signed by all the shareholders of our company, as permitted by the Companies Law and our memorandum and articles of association. A special resolution is required for important matters such as a change of name or making changes to our memorandum and articles of association. Holders of the common shares may effect certain changes by ordinary resolution, including increasing the amount of our authorized share capital, consolidating all or any of our share capital and dividing all or any of our share capital into shares of larger amount than our existing shares, and cancelling any authorized but unissued shares.

 

Transfer of shares.  Subject to the restrictions set out in our memorandum and articles of association, our shareholders may transfer all or any of their common shares by an instrument of transfer in writing and executed by or on behalf of the transferor (and if our directors so require, signed by the transferee). Our directors may also accept mechanically executed instruments of transfer.

 

Our board may decline to register any transfer of any common share which is not fully paid up or on which we have a lien. Our board may also decline to register any transfer of any share unless (a) the instrument of transfer is lodged with us, accompanied by the certificate for the common shares to which it relates and such other evidence as our board may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer; (b) the shares transferred are free of any lien in favor of us; and (c) a fee of such maximum sum as the NASDAQ Global Select Market may determine to be payable, or such lesser sum as our board may from time to time require, is paid to us in respect thereof.

 

If our board of directors refuses to register a transfer it shall, within two months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged, send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of such refusal. The registration of transfers may be suspended on 14 days’ notice being given by advertisement in such one or more newspapers or by electronic means and the register closed at such times and for such periods as our board may from time to time determine.

 

Liquidation.  On a return of capital on winding up, assets available for distribution shall be distributed among the holders of common shares on a pro rata basis. If our assets available for distribution are insufficient to pay all of the paid up capital, the assets will be distributed so that the losses are borne by our shareholders proportionately. We are an exempted company with “limited liability” incorporated under the Companies Law, and under the Companies Law, the liability of our members is limited to the amount, if any, unpaid on the shares respectively held by them. Our memorandum of association contains a declaration that the liability of our members is so limited.

 

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Calls on shares and forfeiture of shares.  Our board of directors may from time to time make calls upon shareholders for any amounts unpaid on their shares in a notice served to such shareholders at least 14 calendar days prior to the specified time and place of payment. Shares that have been called upon and remain unpaid on the specified time are subject to forfeiture.

 

Redemption, Repurchase and Surrender of Shares.  We may issue shares on terms that such shares are subject to redemption, at our option or at the option of the holders thereof, on such terms and in such manner as may be determined, before the issue of such shares, by our board of directors. Our company may also repurchase any of our shares (including redeemable shares) provided that our shareholders shall have approved the manner of purchase by ordinary resolution unless (i) if the number of shares being purchased is less than 3% of the issued shares of our company, then we may purchase our own shares in such manner our board of directors may, by a simple majority of the entire board of directors (which must include one non-independent director), approve and on such terms as our board of directors may agree with the relevant shareholder, and (ii) if the number of shares being purchased is more than 3% but less than 5% of the issued shares of our company, then we may purchase our own shares in such manner our board of directors may, by a majority of two-thirds of our entire board of directors (which must include one non-independent director), approve and on such terms as our board of directors may agree with the relevant shareholder. Under the Companies Law, the redemption or repurchase of any share may be paid out of our company’s profits or out of the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares made for the purpose of such redemption or repurchase, or out of capital (including share premium account and capital redemption reserve) if the company can, immediately following such payment, pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. In addition, under the Companies Law no such share may be redeemed or repurchased (a) unless it is fully paid up, (b) if such redemption or repurchase would result in there being no shares outstanding, or (c) if the company has commenced liquidation. In addition, our company may accept the surrender of any fully paid share for no consideration.

 

Variations of rights of shares.  If at any time, our share capital is divided into different classes or series of shares, all or any of the rights attached to any class or series of shares may be varied or abrogated either with the written consent of the holders of a majority of the issued shares of that class or series or with the sanction of an ordinary resolution passed at a general meeting of the holders of the shares of that class or series.

 

General Meetings of Shareholders and Shareholder Proposals.  As a Cayman Islands exempted company, we are not obliged by the Companies Law to call shareholders’ annual general meetings. Our memorandum and articles of association provide that we may (but are not obliged to) in each year hold a general meeting as our annual general meeting in which case we shall specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it, and the annual general meeting shall be held at such time and place as may be determined by our directors.

 

Shareholders’ annual general meetings and any other general meetings of our shareholders may be convened by a simple majority of our board of directors (which must include one non-independent director) or our chairman. Advance notice of at least seven calendar days is required for the convening of our annual general shareholders’ meeting and any other general meeting of our shareholders.

 

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Cayman Islands law provides shareholders with only limited rights to requisition a general meeting, and does not provide shareholders with any right to put any proposal before a general meeting. However, these rights may be provided in a company’s articles of association. Our memorandum and articles of association allow our shareholders holding not less than one-third of the aggregate voting power of our company to requisition an extraordinary general meeting of our shareholders, in which case our directors are obliged to call such meeting and to put the resolutions so requisitioned to a vote at such meeting; however, our memorandum and articles of association do not provide our shareholders with any right to put any proposals before annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings not called by such shareholders.

 

No business can be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum of shareholders is present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business. One or more shareholders holding not less than an aggregate of fifty percent of the total voting power of our company in issue present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall be a quorum for all purposes.

 

Election and Removal of Directors.  Our memorandum and articles of association provide that, unless otherwise determined by us in general meeting, our board will consist of not less than five directors (two of which must be non-independent directors). Directors may be elected by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders, or by the affirmative vote of a simple majority of our directors (which must include one non-independent director) present and voting at a meeting of our board of directors, and shall hold office until the expiration of his term and until his successor has been elected and qualified. There are no provisions relating to retirement of directors upon reaching any age limit.

 

A director may be removed from office by ordinary resolution at any time before the expiration of his term. A director shall be automatically and immediately removed from office if (i) he is notified of, and fails to attend, an aggregate of three duly called and constituted board meetings within any 365-day period or (ii) if a simple majority of all directors determine at a duly called and constituted board meeting that such director has been guilty of actual fraud or willful neglect in performing his duties as a director. In addition, the office of a director will be vacated if such director (a) dies, becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors, (b) is found to be or becomes of unsound mind, (c) resigns his office by notice in writing to us, or (d) or is removed as a director pursuant to our memorandum and articles of association.

 

If (i) a director was or is affiliated with or was appointed to our board by a holder or a group of affiliated holders of common shares converted from our preferred shares prior to the completion of our initial public offering, and (ii) such holder or holders cease to own in aggregate 5% or more of our total issued common shares, our board may request the director to resign from the board and the director should resign from the board when a suitable director replacement candidate is identified by our board after a reasonable period of time.

 

Proceedings of Board of Directors.  Our memorandum and articles of association provide that our business is to be managed and conducted by our board of directors. The quorum necessary for the board meeting may be fixed by the board and, unless so fixed at another number, will be a simple majority of the directors then in office (which should include a non-independent director).

 

Our directors may appoint any person, whether or not a director of our company, to hold such office in our company as our directors may think necessary for the administration of our company, including a chief executive officer and chief financial officer, for such term as the directors think fit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our chief executive officer may appoint any person, whether or not a director of our company, to hold such offices (other than chief executive officer or chief financial officer) as he may think necessary, including the office of one or more vice presidents, chief operating officer, chief technology officer, for such term and with such powers and duties as the chief executive officer may think fit. Our directors may also appoint one or more of our directors to the office of managing director, but any such appointment shall terminate if any managing director ceases from any cause to be a director, or if our shareholders by ordinary resolution resolve that his tenure of office be terminated.

 

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Our memorandum and articles of association provide that all the powers of our company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and uncalled capital or any part thereof, to issue debentures, debenture stock and other securities whenever money is borrowed or as security for any debt, liability or obligation of our company or of any third party may only be carried out jointly by our chief executive officer and chief financial officer.

 

Inspection of books and records.  Holders of our common shares will have no general right under Cayman Islands law to inspect or obtain copies of our list of shareholders or our corporate records (save for our memorandum and articles of association). However, we intend to provide our shareholders with annual audited financial statements.

 

DIFFERENCES IN CORPORATE LAW

 

The Companies Law of the Cayman Islands is modeled after that of the English Companies legislation but does not follow recent English statutory enactments. In addition, the Companies Law differs from laws applicable to United States corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of the significant differences between the provisions of the Companies Law applicable to us and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the United States and their shareholders.

 

Mergers and similar arrangements.  The Companies Law permits mergers and consolidations between Cayman Islands companies and between Cayman Islands companies and non-Cayman Islands companies. For these purposes, (a) “merger” means the merging of two or more constituent companies and the vesting of their undertaking, property and liabilities in one of such companies as the surviving company; and (b) a “consolidation” means the combination of two or more constituent companies into a consolidated company and the vesting of the undertaking, property and liabilities of such companies to the consolidated company. In order to effect such a merger or consolidation, the directors of each constituent company must approve a written plan of merger or consolidation, which must then be authorized by (a) a special resolution of the shareholders of each constituent company, and (b) such other authorization, if any, as may be specified in such constituent company’s articles of association. The written plan of merger or consolidation must be filed with the Registrar of Companies together with a declaration as to the solvency of the consolidated or surviving company, a list of the assets and liabilities of each constituent company and an undertaking that a copy of the certificate of merger or consolidation will be given to the members and creditors of each constituent company and that notification of the merger or consolidation will be published in the Cayman Islands Gazette. Dissenting shareholders have the right to be paid the fair value of their shares (which, if not agreed between the parties, will be determined by the Cayman Islands court) if they follow the required procedures, subject to certain exceptions. Court approval is not required for a merger or consolidation which is effected in compliance with these statutory procedures.

 

In addition, there are statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction and amalgamation of companies, provided that the arrangement is approved by a majority in number of each class of shareholders and creditors with whom the arrangement is to be made, and who must in addition represent three-fourths in value of each such class of shareholders or creditors, as the case may be, that are present and voting either in person or by proxy at a meeting, or meetings, convened for that purpose. The convening of the meetings and subsequently the arrangement must be sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. While a dissenting shareholder has the right to express to the court the view that the transaction ought not to be approved, the court can be expected to approve the arrangement if it determines that:

 

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·the statutory provisions as to majority vote have been met;

 

·the shareholders have been fairly represented at the meeting in question;

 

·the arrangement is such that a businessman would reasonably approve; and

 

·the arrangement is not one that would more properly be sanctioned under some other provision of the Companies Law.

 

When a take-over offer is made and accepted by holders of 90.0% of the shares affected within four months, the offeror may, within a two month period commencing on the expiration of such four month period, require the holders of the remaining shares to transfer such shares on the terms of the offer. An objection can be made to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands but this is unlikely to succeed unless there is evidence of fraud, bad faith or collusion.

 

If the arrangement and reconstruction is thus approved, the dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights, which would otherwise ordinarily be available to dissenting shareholders of United States corporations, providing rights to receive payment in cash for the judicially determined value of the shares.

 

Shareholders’ Suits.  In principle, we will normally be the proper plaintiff and a derivative action may not be brought by a minority shareholder. However, based on English authorities, which would in all likelihood be of persuasive authority in the Cayman Islands, the Cayman Islands courts ordinarily would be expected to apply and follow the common law principles (namely the rule in Foss v. Harbottle and the exceptions thereto) which permit a minority shareholder to commence a representative action against, or derivative actions in the name of, our company to challenge:

 

·an act which is illegal or ultra vires and is therefore incapable of ratification by the shareholders;

 

·an act which requires a resolution with a qualified (or special) majority (i.e. more than a simple majority) which has not been obtained; and

 

·an act which constitutes a fraud on the minority where the wrongdoers are themselves in control of the company.

 

Indemnification.  Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s memorandum and articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime.

 

Under our memorandum and articles of association, we shall indemnify each of our directors and officers of our company against all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by him, otherwise than by reason of his own dishonesty, actual fraud or willful default, in connection with the execution or discharge of his duties, powers, authorities or discretions as a director or officer of our company.

 

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We intend to enter into indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers to indemnify them to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and our articles of association, from and against all costs, charges, expenses, liabilities and losses incurred in connection with any litigation, suit or proceeding to which such director is or is threatened to be made a party, witness or other participant.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us under the foregoing provisions, we have been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

 

General meetings and shareholder proposals.  Cayman Islands law provides shareholders with only limited rights to requisition a general meeting, and does not provide shareholders with any right to put any proposal before a general meeting. However, these rights may be provided in a company’s articles of association. Our memorandum and articles of association allow our shareholders holding not less than one-third of our voting share capital to requisition a general meeting of the shareholders, in which case the directors are obliged to call such meeting and to put the resolutions so requisitioned to a vote at such meeting; however, our articles of association do not provide our shareholders with any right to put any proposals before annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings not called by such shareholders.

 

As a Cayman Islands exempted company, we are not obliged by the Companies Law to call shareholders’ annual general meetings. Our memorandum and articles of association provide that we may (but are not obliged to) in each year hold a general meeting as our annual general meeting in which case we shall specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it, and the annual general meeting shall be held at such time and place as may be determined by our directors. We, however, will hold an annual shareholders’ meeting during each fiscal year, as required by the rules of the NASDAQ Global Select Market.

 

DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES

 

American depositary shares

 

The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary, will register and deliver American depositary shares, also referred to as ADSs. Each ADS represents five common shares (or a right to receive five common shares) deposited with the principal Hong Kong office of The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, as custodian for the depositary. Each ADS will also represent any other securities, cash or other property which may be held by the depositary. The depositary’s corporate trust office at which the ADSs will be administered is located at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286. The Bank of New York Mellon’s principal executive office is located at One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286.

 

You may hold ADSs either (A) directly (i) by having an American depositary receipt, also referred to as an ADR, which is a certificate evidencing a specific number of ADSs, registered in your name, or (ii) by having ADSs registered in your name in the direct registration system, or (B) indirectly by holding a security entitlement in ADSs through your broker or other financial institution. If you hold ADSs directly, you are a registered ADS holder, also referred to as an ADS holder. This description assumes you are an ADS holder. If you hold the ADSs indirectly, you must rely on the procedures of your broker or other financial institution to assert the rights of ADS holders described in this section. You should consult with your broker or financial institution to find out what those procedures are.

 

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The direct registration system, also referred to as DRS, is a system administered by The Depository Trust Company, also referred to DTC, under which the depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated ADSs, which ownership is confirmed by periodic statements sent by the depositary to the registered holders of uncertificated ADSs.

 

As an ADS holder, we will not treat you as one of our shareholders and you will not have shareholder rights. Cayman Islands law governs shareholder rights. The depositary will be the holder of the shares underlying your ADSs. As a registered holder of ADSs, you will have ADS holder rights. A deposit agreement among us, the depositary, ADS holders and all other persons indirectly or beneficially holding ADSs sets out ADS holder rights as well as the rights and obligations of the depositary. New York law governs the deposit agreement and the ADSs.

 

The following is a summary of the material provisions of the deposit agreement. For more complete information, you should read the entire deposit agreement and the form of ADR.

 

Dividends and other distributions

 

How will you receive dividends and other distributions on the shares?

 

The depositary has agreed to pay to ADS holders the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on shares or other deposited securities, after deducting its fees and expenses. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of Shares your ADSs represent.

 

Cash.  The depositary will convert any cash dividend or other cash distribution we pay on the shares into U.S. dollars, if it can do so on a reasonable basis and can transfer the U.S. dollars to the United States. If that is not possible or if any government approval is needed and cannot be obtained, the deposit agreement allows the depositary to distribute the foreign currency only to those ADS holders to whom it is possible to do so. It will hold the foreign currency it cannot convert for the account of the ADS holders who have not been paid. It will not invest the foreign currency and it will not be liable for any interest.

 

Before making a distribution, any withholding taxes, or other governmental charges that must be paid will be deducted. It will distribute only whole U.S. dollars and cents and will round fractional cents to the nearest whole cent. If the exchange rates fluctuate during a time when the depositary cannot convert the foreign currency, you may lose some or all of the value of the distribution.

 

Shares.  The depositary may, and shall if we so request in writing, distribute additional ADSs representing any shares we distribute as a dividend or free distribution. The depositary will only distribute whole ADSs. It will sell shares which would require it to deliver a fractional ADS and distribute the net proceeds in the same way as it does with cash. If the depositary does not distribute additional ADSs, the outstanding ADSs will also represent the new shares. The depositary may sell a portion of the distributed shares sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in connection with that distribution.

 

Rights to purchase additional shares.  If we offer holders of our securities any rights to subscribe for additional shares or any other rights, the depositary may make these rights available to ADS holders. If the depositary decides it is not legal and practical to make the rights available but that it is practical to sell the rights, the depositary will use reasonable efforts to sell the rights and distribute the proceeds in the same way as it does with cash. The depositary will allow rights that are not distributed or sold to lapse. In that case, you will receive no value for them.

 

If the depositary makes rights available to ADS holders, it will exercise the rights and purchase the shares on your behalf. The depositary will then deposit the shares and deliver ADSs to the persons entitled to them. It will only exercise rights if you pay it the exercise price and any other charges the rights require you to pay.

 

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U.S. securities laws may restrict transfers and cancellation of the ADSs represented by shares purchased upon exercise of rights. For example, you may not be able to trade these ADSs freely in the United States. In this case, the depositary may deliver restricted depositary shares that have the same terms as the ADSs described in this section except for changes needed to put the necessary restrictions in place.

 

Other distributions.  The depositary will send to ADS holders anything else we distribute on deposited securities by any means it thinks is legal, fair and practical. If it cannot make the distribution in that way, the depositary has a choice. It may decide to sell what we distributed and distribute the net proceeds, in the same way as it does with cash. Or, it may decide to hold what we distributed, in which case ADSs will also represent the newly distributed property. However, the depositary is not required to distribute any securities (other than ADSs) to ADS holders unless it receives reasonably satisfactory evidence from us that it is legal to make that distribution. The depositary may sell a portion of the distributed securities or property sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in connection with that distribution.

 

The depositary is not responsible if it decides that it is unlawful or impractical to make a distribution available to any ADS holders. We have no obligation to register ADSs, shares, rights or other securities under the Securities Act. We also have no obligation to take any other action to permit the distribution of ADSs, shares, rights or anything else to ADS holders. This means that you may not receive the distributions we make on our shares or any value for them if it is illegal or impractical for us to make them available to you.

 

Deposit, withdrawal and cancellation

 

How are ADSs issued?

 

The depositary will deliver ADSs if you or your broker deposit shares or evidence of rights to receive shares with the custodian. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees, the depositary will register the appropriate number of ADSs in the names you request and will deliver the ADSs to or upon the order of the person or persons that made the deposit.

 

Except for common shares deposited by us in connection with this offering, no shares will be accepted for deposit during a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus. The 180-day lock-up period is subject to adjustment under certain circumstances as described in the section entitled “Shares Eligible for Future Sale—Lock-up Agreements.”

 

How can ADS holders withdraw the deposited securities?

 

You may surrender your ADSs at the depositary’s corporate trust office. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees, the depositary will deliver the shares and any other deposited securities underlying the ADSs to the ADS holder or a person the ADS holder designates at the office of the custodian. Or, at your request, risk and expense, the depositary will deliver the deposited securities at its corporate trust office, if feasible.

 

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How do ADS holders interchange between certificated ADSs and uncertificated ADSs?

 

You may surrender your ADR to the depositary for the purpose of exchanging your ADR for uncertificated ADSs. The depositary will cancel that ADR and will send to the ADS holder a statement confirming that the ADS holder is the registered holder of uncertificated ADSs. Alternatively, upon receipt by the depositary of a proper instruction from a registered holder of uncertificated ADSs requesting the exchange of uncertificated ADSs for certificated ADSs, the depositary will execute and deliver to the ADS holder an ADR evidencing those ADSs.

 

Voting rights

 

How do you vote?

 

ADS holders may instruct the depositary how to vote the number of deposited shares their ADSs represent. The depositary will notify ADS holders of shareholders’ meetings and arrange to deliver our voting materials to them if we ask it to. Those materials will describe the matters to be voted on and explain how ADS holders may instruct the depositary how to vote. For instructions to be valid, they much reach the depositary by a date set by the depositary. Pursuant to the deposit agreement, there are no circumstances where we would not instruct the depositary to notify ADSs holders of shareholders’ meetings or where the depositary may itself determine not to notify ADS holders of such meetings.

 

Otherwise, you will not be able to exercise your right to vote unless you withdraw the shares. However, you may not know about the meeting enough in advance to withdraw the shares.

 

The depositary will try, as far as practical, subject to the laws of the Cayman Islands and of our articles of association or similar documents, to vote or to have its agents vote the shares or other deposited securities as instructed by ADS holders. The depositary will only vote or attempt to vote as instructed. If we ask for your instructions but the depositary does not receive your instructions by the date the depositary sets, the depositary may give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by us to vote the amount of deposited shares your ADSs represent, unless we notify the depositary that (i) substantial opposition exists or (ii) the matter to be voted on would have a material adverse effect on the rights of holders of our common shares.

 

We cannot assure you that you will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that you can instruct the depositary to vote your shares. In addition, the depositary and its agents are not responsible for failing to carry out voting instructions or for the manner of carrying out voting instructions. This means that you may not be able to exercise your right to vote and there may be nothing you can do if your shares are not voted as you requested.

 

We have agreed to give the Depositary notice of any such meeting and details concerning the matters to be voted upon as far in advance of the meeting date as practicable. Under our post-offering memorandum and articles of association, the minimum notice period required to convene a general meeting is seven calendar days.

 

Reclassifications, recapitalizations and mergers

 

If we:

 

Then:

 

·      Change the nominal or par value of our shares

 

·      Reclassify, split up or consolidate any of the deposited securities

 

·      Distribute securities on the shares that are not distributed to you

 

·      Recapitalize, reorganize, merge, liquidate, sell all or substantially all of our assets, or take any similar action

 

 

The cash, shares or other securities received by the depositary will become deposited securities. Each ADS will automatically represent its equal share of the new deposited securities.

 

The depositary may distribute new ADSs representing the new deposited securities or ask you to surrender your outstanding ADRs in exchange for new ADRs identifying the new deposited securities.

 

 

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Amendment and termination

 

How may the deposit agreement be amended?

 

We may agree with the depositary to amend the deposit agreement and the ADRs without your consent for any reason. If an amendment adds or increases fees or charges, except for taxes and other governmental charges or expenses of the depositary for registration fees, facsimile costs, delivery charges or similar items, or prejudices a substantial right of ADS holders, it will not become effective for outstanding ADSs until 30 days after the depositary notifies ADS holders of the amendment. At the time an amendment becomes effective, you are considered, by continuing to hold your ADSs, to agree to the amendment and to be bound by the ADRs and the deposit agreement as amended.

 

How may the deposit agreement be terminated?

 

The depositary will terminate the deposit agreement at our direction by mailing notice of termination to the ADS holders then outstanding at least 30 days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination. The depositary may also terminate the deposit agreement by mailing notice of termination to us and the ADS holders if 60 days have passed since the depositary told us it wants to resign but a successor depositary has not been appointed and accepted its appointment.

 

After termination, the depositary and its agents will do the following under the deposit agreement but nothing else: collect distributions on the deposited securities, sell rights and other property, and deliver shares, other deposited securities and distributions upon cancellation of ADSs. Four months after termination, the depositary may sell any remaining deposited securities by public or private sale. After that, the depositary will hold the money it received on the sale, as well as any other cash it is holding under the deposit agreement for the pro rata benefit of the ADS holders that have not surrendered their ADSs. It will not invest the money and has no liability for interest. The depositary’s only obligations will be to account for the money and other cash. After termination our only obligations will be to indemnify the depositary and to pay fees and expenses of the depositary that we agreed to pay.

 

Limitations on obligations and liability

 

Limits on our obligations and the obligations of the depositary; limits on liability to holders of ADSs

 

The deposit agreement expressly limits our obligations and the obligations of the depositary. It also limits our liability and the liability of the depositary. We and the depositary:

 

·are only obligated to take the actions specifically set forth in the deposit agreement without negligence or bad faith;

 

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·are not liable if we are or it is prevented or delayed by law or circumstances beyond our control from performing our or its obligations under the deposit agreement;

 

·are not liable if we or it exercises discretion permitted under the deposit agreement;

 

·are not liable for the inability of any holder of ADSs to benefit from any distribution on deposited securities that is not made available to holders of ADSs under the terms of the deposit agreement, or for any special, consequential or punitive damages for any breach of the terms of the deposit agreement;

 

·have no obligation to become involved in a lawsuit or other proceeding related to the ADSs or the deposit agreement on your behalf or on behalf of any other person;

 

·are not liable for the acts or omissions of any securities depository, clearing agency or settlement system; and

 

·may rely upon any documents we believe or it believes in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person.

 

In the deposit agreement, we and the depositary agree to indemnify each other under certain circumstances.

 

Requirements for depositary actions

 

Before the depositary will deliver or register a transfer of an ADS, make a distribution on an ADS, or permit withdrawal of shares, the depositary may require:

 

·payment of stock transfer or other taxes or other governmental charges and transfer or registration fees charged by third parties for the transfer of any shares or other deposited securities;

 

·satisfactory proof of the identity and genuineness of any signature or other information it deems necessary; and

 

·compliance with regulations it may establish, from time to time, consistent with the deposit agreement, including presentation of transfer documents.

 

The depositary may refuse to deliver ADSs or register transfers of ADSs when the transfer books of the depositary or our transfer books are closed or at any time if the depositary or we think it advisable to do so.

 

Your right to receive the shares underlying your ADSs

 

ADS holders have the right to cancel their ADSs and withdraw the underlying shares at any time except:

 

·When temporary delays arise because: (i) the depositary has closed its transfer books or we have closed our transfer books; (ii) the transfer of shares is blocked to permit voting at a shareholders’ meeting; or (iii) we are paying a dividend on our shares.

 

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·When you owe money to pay fees, taxes and similar charges.

 

·When it is necessary to prohibit withdrawals in order to comply with any laws or governmental regulations that apply to ADSs or to the withdrawal of shares or other deposited securities.

 

This right of withdrawal may not be limited by any other provision of the deposit agreement.

 

Pre-release of ADSs

 

The deposit agreement permits the depositary to deliver ADSs before deposit of the underlying shares, unless requested in writing by us to cease doing so. This is called a pre-release of the ADSs. The depositary may also deliver shares upon cancellation of pre-released ADSs (even if the ADSs are canceled before the pre-release transaction has been closed out). A pre-release is closed out as soon as the underlying shares are delivered to the depositary. The depositary may receive ADSs instead of shares to close out a pre-release. The depositary may pre-release ADSs only under the following conditions: (1) before or at the time of the pre-release, the person to whom the pre-release is being made represents to the depositary in writing that it or its customer owns the shares or ADSs to be deposited; (2) the pre-release is fully collateralized with cash or other collateral that the depositary considers appropriate; and (3) the depositary must be able to close out the pre-release on not more than five business days’ notice. In addition, the depositary normally will limit the number of ADSs that may be outstanding at any time as a result of pre-release to no more than 30% of the amount of shares on deposit, although the depositary may disregard the limit from time to time if it thinks it is appropriate to do so. The depositary has full discretion on how and to what extent it may disregard the limit for the amount of ADSs that may be outstanding at any time as a result of pre-release.

 

Direct registration system

 

In the deposit agreement, all parties to the deposit agreement acknowledge that the DRS and Profile Modification System, or Profile, will apply to uncertificated ADSs upon acceptance thereof to DRS by DTC. DRS is the system administered by DTC under which the depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated ADSs, which ownership will be confirmed by periodic statements sent by the depositary to the registered holders of uncertificated ADSs. Profile is a required feature of DRS that allows a DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf of a registered holder of ADSs, to direct the depositary to register a transfer of those ADSs to DTC or its nominee and to deliver those ADSs to the DTC account of that DTC participant without receipt by the depositary of prior authorization from the ADS holder to register that transfer.

 

In connection with and in accordance with the arrangements and procedures relating to DRS/Profile, the parties to the deposit agreement understand that the depositary will not determine whether the DTC participant that is claiming to be acting on behalf of an ADS holder in requesting registration of transfer and delivery described in the paragraph above has the actual authority to act on behalf of the ADS holder (notwithstanding any requirements under the Uniform Commercial Code). In the deposit agreement, the parties agree that the depositary’s reliance on and compliance with instructions received by the depositary through the DRS/Profile System and in accordance with the deposit agreement will not constitute negligence or bad faith on the part of the depositary.

 

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Shareholder communications; inspection of register of holders of ADSs

 

The depositary will make available for your inspection at its office all communications that it receives from us as a holder of deposited securities that we make generally available to holders of deposited securities. The depositary will send you copies of those communications if we ask it to. You have a right to inspect the register of holders of ADSs, but not for the purpose of contacting those holders about a matter unrelated to our business or the ADSs.

 

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