EX-3.2 4 d562574dex32.htm EX-3.2 EX-3.2

Exhibit 3.2

B Y E - L A W S

OF

New SDRL Limited

I HEREBY CERTIFY that the within-written bye-laws are a true copy of the bye-laws of New SDRL Limited, as subscribed by the subscriber to the memorandum of association and approved at the statutory general meeting of the above Company on March 29, 2018.

 

/s/ Georgina E. Sousa

Georgina E. Sousa
Secretary


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION

     1  

CONSTRUCTION

     2  

REGISTERED OFFICE

     3  

SHARES

     3  

POWER TO PURCHASE OWN SHARES

     4  

PREFERENCE SHARES

     5  

RIGHTS ATTACHING TO SHARES

     5  

TREASURY SHARES

     5  

MODIFICATION OF RIGHTS

     6  

NO NOTICE OF THIRD PARTY INTERESTS

     6  

CERTIFICATES

     7  

LIEN

     7  

CALLS ON SHARES

     8  

FORFEITURE OF SHARES

     9  

REGISTER OF SHAREHOLDERS

     10  

REGISTER OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

     10  

TRANSFER OF SHARES

     10  

TRANSMISSION OF SHARES

     11  

INCREASE OF CAPITAL

     12  

ALTERATION OF CAPITAL

     13  

GENERAL MEETINGS AND WRITTEN RESOLUTIONS

     13  

NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS

     14  

PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS

     15  

VOTING

     16  

PROXIES AND CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVES

     18  

APPOINTMENT AND REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS

     20  

RESIGNATION AND DISQUALIFICATION OF DIRECTORS

     21  

ALTERNATE DIRECTORS

     21  

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES

     22  

DEFECT OF APPOINTMENT

     22  


DIRECTORS’ INTERESTS

     23  

POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD

     24  

DELEGATION OF THE BOARD’S POWERS

     25  

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD

     26  

OFFICERS

     28  

MINUTES

     28  

SECRETARY AND RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE

     29  

THE SEAL

     29  

DIVIDENDS AND OTHER PAYMENTS

     29  

RESERVES

     31  

CAPITALISATION OF PROFITS

     31  

RECORD DATES

     31  

ACCOUNTING RECORDS

     32  

AUDIT

     32  

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

     33  

SERVICE OF NOTICES AND OTHER DOCUMENTS

     33  

WINDING UP

     34  

INDEMNITY

     34  

CONTINUATION

     36  

ALTERATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL DOCUMENTS

     36  


B Y E – L A W S

OF

New SDRL Limited

DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION

 

1. In these Bye-laws, and any Schedule, unless the context otherwise requires:

Alternate Director” means such person or persons as shall be appointed from time to time pursuant to these Bye-laws;

Annual General Meeting” means a meeting convened by the Company pursuant to Section 71(1) of the Companies Act;

Bermuda” means the Islands of Bermuda;

Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company or the Directors present at a meeting of Directors at which there is a quorum;

Bye-laws” means these Bye-laws in their present form or as they may be amended from time to time;

Companies Act” means the Companies Act 1981 as amended, re-stated or re-enacted;

Company” means the company incorporated in Bermuda for which these Bye-laws are adopted;

“Corporate Director” means a director which is not a natural person, whether incorporated, unincorporated or otherwise;

Company Website” means the website of the Company established pursuant to these Bye-laws;

Director” means such person or persons as shall be elected or appointed to the Board from time to time pursuant to these Bye-laws or the Companies Act;

Electronic Record” has the meaning ascribed to that expression in the Electronic Transactions Act 1999;

“Finance Officer” means such person or persons appointed from time to time by the Board pursuant to these Bye-laws to act as the Finance Officer of the Company;

Officer” means such person or persons appointed from time to time by the Board pursuant to these Bye-laws;

 

1


paid up” means paid up or credited as paid up;

Register” means the Register of Shareholders of the Company;

Registered Office” means the registered office for the time being of the Company;

Resident Representative” means any person appointed to act as the resident representative of the Company and includes any deputy or assistant resident representatives;

Resolution” means a resolution of the Shareholders or, where required, of a separate class or separate classes of Shareholders, adopted either in general meeting or by written resolution, in accordance with the provisions of these Bye-laws;

Seal” means the common seal of the Company, if any, and includes any duplicate thereof;

Secretary” means the person appointed to perform any or all of the duties of the secretary of the Company and includes a temporary or assistant Secretary and any person appointed by the Board to perform any of the duties of the Secretary;

Shareholder” means a shareholder or member of the Company;

Special General Meeting” means a general meeting, other than the Annual General Meeting;

Treasury Shares” means any share of the Company that was acquired and held by the Company, or as treated as having been acquired and held by the Company, which has been held continuously by the Company since it was acquired and which has not been cancelled;

CONSTRUCTION

 

2.

 

  (a) Words importing only the singular number include the plural number and vice versa;

 

  (b) without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (a), during periods when the Company has elected or appointed only one (1) Director as permitted by the Companies Act references to “the Board” and “the Directors” shall be construed as if they are references to the sole Director of the Company.

 

  (c) words importing only the masculine gender include the feminine and neuter genders respectively;

 

2


  (d) words importing persons include companies or associations or bodies of persons, whether corporate or un-incorporate wherever established;

 

  (e) reference to a “share” shall mean a share in the capital of the Company and shall include a fraction of a share;

 

  (f) for so long as a Corporate Director has been elected or appointed to hold office as the sole Director of the Company, all references in these bye-laws to the Directors or the Board shall be construed as if they are references to the Corporate Director;

 

  (g) for the purposes of these Bye-laws a corporation shall be deemed to be present in person if its representative duly authorised pursuant to the Companies Act is present; and

 

  (h) references to “writing” shall include typewriting, printing, lithography, photography and other modes of representing or reproducing words in a legible and non-transitory form.

 

3. Unless otherwise defined herein, any words or expressions defined in the Companies Act in force on the date when these Bye-laws, or any part hereof, are adopted shall bear the same meaning in these Bye-laws or such part (as the case may be).

 

4. Any reference in these Bye-laws to any statute or section thereof shall unless expressly stated, be deemed to be a reference to such statute or section as amended, restated or re-enacted from time to time.

REGISTERED OFFICE

 

5. The Registered Office shall be at such place in Bermuda as the Board shall from time to time appoint.

SHARES

 

6. Subject to the provisions of these Bye-Laws, the unissued shares of the Company (whether forming part of the original capital or any increased capital) shall be at the disposal of the Board, which may offer, allot, re-classify, grant options over or otherwise dispose of them to such persons, at such times and for such consideration and upon such terms and conditions as the Board may determine.

 

7. Subject to any special rights conferred on the holders of any share or class of shares, any share in the Company may be issued with or have attached thereto such preferred, deferred, qualified or other special rights or such restrictions, whether in regard to dividend, voting, return of capital or otherwise, as the Company may by Resolution determine or, if there has not been any such determination or so far as the same shall not make specific provision, as the Board may determine.

 

3


8. Subject to the provisions of these Bye-laws, the Company may issue shares in fractional denominations and deal with such fractions to the same extent as its whole shares and shares in fractional denominations shall have in proportion to the respective fractions represented thereby all of the rights of whole shares including (but without limiting the generality of the foregoing) the right to vote, to receive dividends and distributions and to participate in a winding-up.

POWER TO PURCHASE OWN SHARES

 

9. The Company shall have the power to purchase its own shares for cancellation, and the Board may exercise all of the powers of the Company to purchase its own shares.

 

10. The Board may exercise all the powers of the Company to:

 

  (a) divide the Company’s shares into several classes and attach thereto respectively any preferential, deferred, qualified or special rights, privileges or conditions;

 

  (b) consolidate and divide all or any of the Company’s share capital into shares of larger amount than its existing shares;

 

  (c) subdivide the Company’s shares, or any of them, into shares of smaller amount than is fixed by the memorandum of association, so, however, that in the subdivision the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced share shall be the same as it was in the case of the share from which the reduced share is derived; or

 

  (d) make provision for the issue and allotment of shares which do not carry any voting rights.

 

11. Where any difficulty arises in regard to any division, consolidation, or sub-division under Bye-law 10, the Board may settle the same as it thinks expedient and, in particular, may arrange for the sale of the shares representing fractions and the distribution of the net proceeds of sale in due proportion amongst the Shareholders who would have been entitled to the fractions and, for this purpose, the Board may authorise some person to transfer the shares representing fractions to the purchaser thereof, who 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 proceedings relating to the sale.

 

4


PREFERENCE SHARES

 

12. Subject to the Companies Act, any preference shares may, with the sanction of a Resolution, be issued on terms:

 

  (a) that they are to be redeemed on the happening of a specified event or on a given date; and/or,

 

  (b) that they are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Company; and/or,

 

  (c) if authorised by the memorandum of association of the Company, that they are liable to be redeemed at the option of the holder.

 

13. The terms and manner of redemption of any preference shares shall be either as the Company may in general meeting determine or, in the event that the Company in general meeting may have so authorised, as the Board or any committee thereof may by resolution determine before the issuance of such shares.

RIGHTS ATTACHING TO SHARES

 

14. Subject to any Resolution to the contrary and the power to determine share rights and restrictions pursuant to Bye-law 7 (and without prejudice to any special rights conferred thereby on the holders of any other shares or class of shares), the share capital shall be divided into shares of a single class the holders of which shall, subject to these Bye-laws:

 

  (a) be entitled to one vote per share;

 

  (b) be entitled to such dividends as the Board may from time to time declare;

 

  (c) in the event of a winding-up or dissolution of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary or for the purpose of a reorganisation or otherwise or upon any distribution of capital, be entitled to the surplus assets of the Company; and

 

  (d) generally be entitled to enjoy all of the rights attaching to shares.

TREASURY SHARES

 

15. The Company shall have the power to acquire its own shares to be held as Treasury Shares.

 

16. The Board may exercise all of the powers of the Company to purchase or acquire its own shares be held as Treasury Shares in accordance with the Companies Act.

 

5


17. At any time that the Company holds Treasury Shares, all of the rights attaching to the Treasury Shares shall be suspended and shall not be exercised by the Company. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if the Company holds Treasury Shares, the Company shall not have any right to attend and vote at a general meeting or sign written resolutions and any purported exercise of such a right shall be void.

 

18. Except where required by the Companies Act, Treasury Shares shall be excluded from the calculation of any percentage or fraction of the share capital, or shares, of the Company.

 

19. The Board may dispose of or transfer Treasury Shares for cash or other consideration.

MODIFICATION OF RIGHTS

 

20. Subject to the Companies Act, all or any of the special rights for the time being attached to any class of shares for the time being issued may from time to time (whether or not the Company is being wound up) be altered or abrogated with the consent in writing of the holders of not less than seventy five percent of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a Resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the holders of such shares voting in person or by proxy. To any such separate general meeting, all the provisions of these Bye-laws as to general meetings of the Company shall mutatis mutandis apply, but the necessary quorum shall be two or more persons holding or representing by proxy any of the shares of the relevant class, that every holder of shares of the relevant class shall be entitled on a poll to one vote for every such share held by him and that any holder of shares of the relevant class present in person or by proxy may demand a poll; provided, however, that if the Company or a class of Shareholders shall have only one Shareholder, one Shareholder present in person or by proxy shall constitute the necessary quorum.

 

21. The special rights conferred upon the holders of any shares or class of shares shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided in the rights attaching to or the terms of issue of such shares, be deemed to be altered by the creation or issue of further shares ranking pari passu therewith.

NO NOTICE OF THIRD PARTY INTERESTS

 

22. Except as ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction or as required by law, no person shall be recognised by the Company as holding any share upon trust and the Company shall not be bound by or required in any way to recognise (even when having notice thereof) any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any share or any interest in any fractional part of a share or (except only as otherwise provided in these Bye-laws or by law) any other right in respect of any share except an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the registered holder.

 

6


CERTIFICATES

 

23. The preparation, issue and delivery of share certificates shall be governed by the Companies Act. In the case of a share held jointly by several persons, delivery of a certificate to one of several joint holders shall be sufficient delivery to all.

 

24. If a share certificate is defaced, lost or destroyed it may be replaced without fee but on such terms (if any) as to evidence an indemnity and to payment of the costs and out of pocket expenses of the Company in investigating such evidence and preparing such indemnity as the Board may think fit and, in case of defacement, on delivery of the old certificate to the Company.

 

25. All certificates for share or loan capital or other securities of the Company (other than letters of allotment, scrip certificates and other like documents) shall, except to the extent that the terms and conditions for the time being relating thereto otherwise provide, be issued under the Seal or bearing the signature of at least one person who is a Director or Secretary of the Company or a person expressly authorised to sign such certificates on behalf of the Company. The Board may by resolution determine, either generally or in any particular case, that any signatures on any such certificates need not be autographic but may be affixed to such certificates by some mechanical means or may be printed thereon.

LIEN

 

26. The Company shall have a first and paramount lien on every share (not being a fully paid share) for all moneys, whether presently payable or not, called or payable, at a date fixed by or in accordance with the terms of issue of such share in respect of such share, and the Company shall also have a first and paramount lien on every share (other than a fully paid share) standing registered in the name of a Shareholder, whether singly or jointly with any other person, for all the debts and liabilities of such Shareholder or his estate to the Company, whether the same shall have been incurred before or after notice to the Company of any interest of any person other than such Shareholder, and whether the time for the payment or discharge of the same shall have actually arrived or not, and notwithstanding that the same are joint debts or liabilities of such Shareholder or his estate and any other person, whether a Shareholder or not. The Company’s lien on a share shall extend to all dividends payable thereon. The Board may at any time, either generally or in any particular case, waive any lien that has arisen or declare any share to be wholly or in part exempt from the provisions of this Bye-law.

 

27. The Company may sell, in such manner as the Board may think fit, any share on which the Company has a lien but no sale shall be made unless some sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable nor until the expiration of fourteen days after a notice in writing, stating and demanding payment of the sum presently payable and giving notice of the intention to sell in default of such payment, has been served on the holder for the time being of the share.

 

7


28. The net proceeds of sale by the Company of any shares on which it has a lien shall be applied in or towards payment or discharge of the debt or liability in respect of which the lien exists so far as the same is presently payable, and any residue shall (subject to a like lien for debts or liabilities not presently payable as existed upon the share prior to the sale) be paid to the holder of the share immediately before such sale. For giving effect to any such sale the Board may authorise some person to transfer the share sold to the purchaser thereof. The purchaser shall be registered as the holder of the share and he shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, nor shall his title to the share be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings relating to the sale.

CALLS ON SHARES

 

29. The Board may from time to time make calls upon the Shareholders in respect of any moneys unpaid on their shares (whether on account of the par value of the shares or by way of premium) and not by the terms of issue thereof made payable at a date fixed by or in accordance with such terms of issue, and each Shareholder shall (subject to the Company serving upon him at least fourteen days notice specifying the time or times and place of payment) pay to the Company at the time or times and place so specified the amount called on his shares. A call may be revoked or postponed as the Board may determine.

 

30. A call may be made payable by installments and shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the Board authorizing the call was passed.

 

31. The joint holders of a share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect thereof.

 

32. If a sum called in respect of the share shall not be paid before or on the day appointed for payment thereof the person from whom the sum is due shall pay interest on the sum from the day appointed for the payment thereof to the time of actual payment at such rate as the Board may determine, but the Board shall be at liberty to waive payment of such interest wholly or in part.

 

33. Any sum which, by the terms of issue of a share, becomes payable on allotment or at any date fixed by or in accordance with such terms of issue, whether on account of the nominal amount of the share or by way of premium, shall for all the purposes of these Bye-laws be deemed to be a call duly made, notified and payable on the date on which, by the terms of issue, the same becomes payable and, in case of non-payment, all the relevant provisions of these Bye-laws as to payment of interest, forfeiture or otherwise shall apply as if such sum had become payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified.

 

34. The Board may on the issue of shares differentiate between the allottees or holders as to the amount of calls to be paid and the times of payment.

 

8


FORFEITURE OF SHARES

 

35. If a Shareholder fails to pay any call or installment of a call on the day appointed for payment thereof, the Board may at any time thereafter during such time as any part of such call or installment remains unpaid serve a notice on him requiring payment of so much of the call or installment as is unpaid, together with any interest which may have accrued.

 

36. The notice shall name a further day (not being less than 14 days from the date of the notice) on or before which, and the place where, the payment required by the notice is to be made and shall state that, in the event of non-payment on or before the day and at the place appointed, the shares in respect of which such call is made or installment is payable will be liable to be forfeited. The Board may accept the surrender of any share liable to be forfeited hereunder and, in such case, references in these Bye-laws to forfeiture shall include surrender.

 

37. If the requirements of any such notice as aforesaid are not complied with, any share in respect of which such notice has been given may at any time thereafter, before payment of all calls or installments and interest due in respect thereof has been made, be forfeited by a resolution of the Board to that effect. Such forfeiture shall include all dividends declared in respect of the forfeited shares and not actually paid before the forfeiture.

 

38. When any share has been forfeited, notice of the forfeiture shall be served upon the person who was before forfeiture the holder of the share; but no forfeiture shall be in any manner invalidated by any omission or neglect to give such notice as aforesaid.

 

39. A forfeited share shall be deemed to be the property of the Company and may be sold, re-offered or otherwise disposed of either to the person who was, before forfeiture, the holder thereof or entitled thereto or to any other person upon such terms and in such manner as the Board shall think fit, and at any time before a sale, re-allotment or disposition the forfeiture may be cancelled on such terms as the Board may think fit.

 

40. A person whose shares have been forfeited shall thereupon cease to be a Shareholder in respect of the forfeited shares but shall, notwithstanding the forfeiture, remain liable to pay to the Company all moneys which at the date of forfeiture were presently payable by him to the Company in respect of the shares with interest thereon at such rate as the Board may determine from the date of forfeiture until payment, and the Company may enforce payment without being under any obligation to make any allowance for the value of the shares forfeited.

 

9


41. An affidavit in writing that the deponent is a Director or the Secretary and that a share has been duly forfeited on the date stated in the affidavit shall be conclusive evidence of the facts therein stated as against all persons claiming to be entitled to the share. The Company may receive the consideration (if any) given for the share on the sale, re-allotment or disposition thereof and the Board may authorise some person to transfer the share to the person to whom the same is sold, re-allotted or disposed of, and he shall thereupon be registered as the holder of the share and 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 relating to the forfeiture, sale, re-allotment or disposal of the share.

REGISTER OF SHAREHOLDERS

 

42. The Secretary shall establish and maintain the Register in the manner prescribed by the Companies Act. Unless the Board otherwise determines, the Register shall be open to inspection in the manner prescribed by the Companies Act between 10.00 a.m. and 12.00 noon on every working day. Unless the Board otherwise determines, no Shareholder or intending Shareholder shall be entitled to have entered in the Register any indication of any trust or any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any share or any interest in any fractional part of a share and if any such entry exists or is permitted by the Board it shall not be deemed to abrogate any of the provisions of Bye-law 11.

REGISTER OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

 

43. The Secretary shall establish and maintain a register of the Directors and Officers of the Company as required by the Companies Act. Every officer that is also a Director and the Secretary must be listed officers of the Company in the Register of Directors and Officers. The register of Directors and Officers shall be open to inspection in the manner prescribed by the Companies Act between 10.00 a.m. and 12.00 noon on every working day.

TRANSFER OF SHARES

 

44. Subject to the Companies Act and to such of the restrictions contained in these Bye-laws as may be applicable, any Shareholder may transfer all or any of his shares by an instrument of transfer in the usual common form or in any other form which the Board may approve.

 

10


45. The instrument of transfer of a share shall be signed by or on behalf of the transferor and where any share is not fully-paid the transferee, and the transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of the share until the name of the transferee is entered in the Register in respect thereof. All instruments of transfer when registered may be retained by the Company. The Board may, in its absolute discretion and without assigning any reason therefore, decline to register any transfer of any share which is not a fully-paid share.

 

46. The Board may also decline to register any transfer unless:

 

  (a) the instrument of transfer is duly stamped and lodged with the Company, accompanied by the certificate for the shares to which it relates, and such other evidence as the Board may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer,

 

  (b) the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of share,

 

  (c) where applicable, the permission of the Bermuda Monetary Authority with respect thereto has been obtained.

 

47. Subject to any directions of the Board from time to time in force, the Secretary may exercise the powers and discretions of the Board under these Bye-laws.

 

48. If the Board declines to register a transfer it shall, within three months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged, send to the transferee notice of such refusal.

 

49. No fee shall be charged by the Company for registering any transfer, probate, letters of administration, certificate of death or marriage, power of attorney, distringas or stop notice, order of court or other instrument relating to or affecting the title to any share, or otherwise making an entry in the Register relating to any share.

 

50. Notwithstanding anything contained in these Bye-laws (save for Bye-law 47(c)), the Directors shall not decline to register any transfer of shares, nor may they suspend registration thereof where such transfer is executed by any bank or other person to whom such shares have been charged by way of security, or by any nominee or agent of such bank or person, and whether the transfer is effected for the purpose of perfecting any mortgage or charge of such shares or pursuant to the sale of such shares under such mortgage or charge, and a certificate signed by any officer of such bank or by such person that such shares were so mortgaged or charged and the transfer was so executed shall be conclusive evidence of such facts.

TRANSMISSION OF SHARES

 

51.

In the case of the death of a Shareholder, the survivor or survivors, where the deceased was a joint holder, and the estate representative, where he was sole holder, shall be the only person recognised by the Company as having any title to his shares; but nothing herein contained shall release the estate of a deceased

 

11


  holder (whether the sole or joint) from any liability in respect of any share held by him solely or jointly with other persons. For the purpose of this Bye-law, estate representative means the person to whom probate or letters of administration has or have been granted in Bermuda or, failing any such person, such other person as the Board may in its absolute discretion determine to be the person recognised by the Company for the purpose of this Bye-law.

 

52. Any person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death of a Shareholder or otherwise by operation of applicable law may, subject as hereafter provided and upon such evidence being produced as may from time to time be required by the Board as to his entitlement, either be registered himself as the holder of the share or elect to have some person nominated by him registered as the transferee thereof. If the person so becoming entitled elects to be registered himself, he shall deliver or send to the Company a notice in writing signed by him stating that he so elects. If he shall elect to have his nominee registered, he shall signify his election by signing an instrument of transfer of such share in favour of his nominee. All the limitations, restrictions and provisions of these Bye-laws relating to the right to transfer and the registration of transfer of shares shall be applicable to any such notice or instrument of transfer as aforesaid as if the death of the Shareholder or other event giving rise to the transmission had not occurred and the notice or instrument of transfer was an instrument of transfer signed by such Shareholder.

 

53. A person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death of a Shareholder or otherwise by operation of applicable law shall (upon such evidence being produced as may from time to time be required by the Board as to his entitlement) be entitled to receive and may give a discharge for any dividends or other moneys payable in respect of the share, but he shall not be entitled in respect of the share to receive notices of or to attend or vote at general meetings of the Company or, save as aforesaid, to exercise in respect of the share any of the rights or privileges of a Shareholder until he shall have become registered as the holder thereof. The Board may at any time give notice requiring such person to elect either to be registered himself or to transfer the share and if the notice is not complied with within sixty days the Board may thereafter withhold payment of all dividends and other moneys payable in respect of the shares until the requirements of the notice have been complied with.

 

54. Subject to any directions of the Board from time to time in force, the Secretary may exercise the powers and discretions of the Board under these Bye-laws.

INCREASE OF CAPITAL

 

55. The Company may from time to time increase its capital by such sum to be divided into shares of such par value as the Company by Resolution shall prescribe.

 

12


56. The Company may, by the Resolution increasing the capital, direct that the new shares or any of them shall be offered in the first instance either at par or at a premium to all the holders for the time being of shares of any class or classes in proportion to the number of such shares held by them respectively or make any other provision as to the issue of the new shares.

 

57. The new shares shall be subject to all the provisions of these Bye-laws with reference to lien, the payment of calls, forfeiture, transfer, transmission and otherwise.

ALTERATION OF CAPITAL

 

58. The Company may by Resolution increase, divide, consolidate, subdivide, change the currency denomination of, diminish or otherwise alter or reduce its share capital in any manner permitted by the Act.

 

59. In relation to any such reduction, the Company may by Resolution determine the terms upon which such reduction is to be effected including in the case of a reduction of part only of a class of shares, those shares to be affected.

 

60. Subject to the Companies Act and to any confirmation or consent required by law or these Bye-laws, the Company may by Resolution from time to time convert any preference shares into redeemable preference shares.

GENERAL MEETINGS AND WRITTEN RESOLUTIONS

 

61. Except where the Company has passed a Resolution dispensing with the holding of Annual General Meetings and such Resolution continues to be in effect, the Board shall convene and the Company shall hold general meetings as Annual General Meetings in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act at such times and places as the Board shall appoint. The Board may, whenever it thinks fit, and shall, when required by the Companies Act, convene general meetings other than Annual General Meetings which shall be called Special General Meetings. Any such Annual or Special General Meeting shall be held at the Registered Office of the Company in Bermuda or such other location suitable for such purpose but in no event shall any such Annual or Special General meeting be held in Norway or the United Kingdom.

 

62.

Except in the case of the removal of auditors and Directors and subject to these Bye-laws, anything which may be done by Resolution of the Company in general meeting or by Resolution of a meeting of any class of the Shareholders of the Company may, without a meeting be done by Resolution in writing, signed by a simple majority of all of the Shareholders (or such greater majority as is required by the Companies Act or these Bye-laws), or in the case of a Shareholder that is a corporation (whether or not a company within the meaning of the Companies Act)

 

13


  on behalf of such Shareholder, being all of the Shareholders of the Company who at the date of the Resolution in writing would be entitled to attend a meeting and vote on the Resolution. Such Resolution in writing may be signed by, or in the case of a Shareholder that is a corporation (whether or not a company within the meaning of the Companies Act) on behalf of, all the Shareholders of the Company, or any class thereof, in as many counterparts as may be necessary.

 

63. Notice of any Resolution to be made under these Bye-laws shall be given, and a copy of the Resolution shall be circulated, to all members who would be entitled to attend a meeting and vote on the Resolution in the same manner as that required for a notice of a meeting of members at which the Resolution could have been considered, except that any requirement in this Act or in these Bye-laws as to the length of the period of notice shall not apply.

 

64. A Resolution in writing is passed when it is signed by, or, in the case of a Shareholder that is a corporation (whether or not a company within the meaning of the Companies Act) on behalf of, such number of Shareholders of the Company who at the date of the notice represent such majority of votes as would be required if the Resolution had been voted on at a meeting of Shareholders at which all Shareholders entitled to attend and vote thereat were present and voting.

 

65. A Resolution in writing made in accordance with these Bye-laws is as valid as if it had been passed by the Company in general meeting or, if applicable, by a meeting of the relevant class of Shareholders of the Company, as the case may be. A Resolution in writing made in accordance with these Bye-laws shall constitute minutes for the purposes of the Companies Act and these Bye-laws.

 

66. The accidental omission to give notice to, or the non-receipt of a notice by, any person entitled to receive notice of a Resolution does not invalidate the passing of a Resolution.

NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS

 

67. An Annual General Meeting shall be called with not less than 5 days’ notice in writing and a Special General Meeting shall be called with not less than 5 days’ notice in writing. The notice shall be exclusive of the day on which it is served or deemed to be served and of the day for which it is given, and shall specify the place, day and time of the meeting and, in the case of a Special General Meeting, the general nature of the business to be considered. Notice of every general meeting shall be given in any manner permitted by these Bye-laws. Shareholders other than those required to be given notice under the provisions of these Bye-laws or the terms of issue of the shares they hold, are not entitled to receive such notice from the Company.

 

14


68. Notwithstanding that a meeting of the Company is called by shorter notice than that specified in these Bye-laws, it shall be deemed to have been duly called if it is so agreed:

 

  (a) in the case of a meeting called as an Annual General Meeting, by all the Shareholders entitled to attend and vote thereat;

 

  (b) in the case of any other meeting, by a majority in number of the Shareholders having the right to attend and vote at the meeting, being a majority together holding not less than 95 percent in nominal value of the shares giving that right.

 

69. The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting or (in cases where instruments of proxy are sent out with the notice) the accidental omission to send such instrument of proxy to, or the non-receipt of notice of a meeting or such instrument of proxy by, any person entitled to receive such notice shall not invalidate the proceedings at that meeting.

PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS

 

70. No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present when the meeting proceeds to business, but the absence of a quorum shall not preclude the appointment, choice or election of a chairman, which shall not be treated as part of the business of the meeting. Save as otherwise provided by these Bye-laws, at least two Shareholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall be a quorum for all purposes; provided, however, that if the Company shall have only one Shareholder, one Shareholder present in person or by proxy shall constitute the necessary quorum.

 

22. If within five minutes (or such longer time as the chairman of the meeting may determine to wait) after the time appointed for the meeting, a quorum is not present, the meeting, if convened on the requisition of Shareholders, shall be dissolved. In any other case, it shall stand adjourned to such other day and such other time and place as the chairman of the meeting may determine and at such adjourned meeting two Shareholders present in person or by proxy (whatever the number of shares held by them) shall be a quorum provided that if the Company shall have only one Shareholder, one Shareholder present in person or by proxy shall constitute the necessary quorum. The Company shall give not less than 5 days’ notice of any meeting adjourned through want of a quorum and such notice shall state that the sole Shareholder or, if more than one, two Shareholders present in person or by proxy (whatever the number of shares held by them) shall be a quorum.

 

71. A meeting of the Shareholders or any class thereof may be held by means of such telephone, electronic or other communication facilities as permit all persons participating in the meeting to communicate with each other simultaneously and instantaneously and participation in such a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

15


72. Each Director shall be entitled to attend and speak at any general meeting of the Company.

 

23. The Chairman (if any) of the Board or, in his absence, the President (if any) or in his absence the Director who has been appointed as the head of the Board shall preside as chairman at every general meeting. If there is no such Chairman or President or such Director, or if at any meeting neither the Chairman nor the President nor such Director is present within five (5) minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, or if neither of them is willing to act as chairman, the Directors present shall choose one of their number to act or if one Director only is present he shall preside as chairman if willing to act. If no Director is present, or if each of the Directors present declines to take the chair, the persons present and entitled to vote on a poll shall elect one of their number to be chairman.

 

73. The chairman of the meeting may, with the consent of any 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 except business which might lawfully have been transacted at the meeting from which the adjournment took place. When a meeting is adjourned for three months or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting.

 

74. Save as expressly provided by these Bye-laws, it shall not be necessary to give any notice of an adjournment or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting.

VOTING

 

75. Any question proposed for consideration at any general meeting including any for the amalgamation or merger of the Company shall be decided on by a simple majority of votes cast, save where a greater majority is required by the Companies Act or these Bye-laws.

 

76. At any general meeting, a Resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands or by a count of votes received in the form of Electronic Records unless (before or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands or on the withdrawal of any other demand for a poll) a poll is demanded by:

 

  (a) the chairman of the meeting; or

 

  (b) at least three Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy; or

 

16


  (c) any Shareholder or Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy and holding between them not less than one tenth of the total voting rights of all the Shareholders having the right to vote at such meeting; or

 

  (d) a Shareholder or Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy holding shares conferring the right to vote at such meeting, being shares on which an aggregate sum has been paid up equal to not less than one tenth of the total sum paid up on all such shares conferring such right.

 

77. Unless a poll is so demanded and the demand is not withdrawn, a declaration by the chairman that a Resolution has, on a show of hands or on a count of votes received in the form of Electronic Records, been carried or carried unanimously or by a particular majority or not carried by a particular majority or lost shall be final and conclusive, and an entry to that effect in the minute book of the Company shall be conclusive evidence of the fact without proof of the number of votes recorded for or against such Resolution.

 

78. If a poll is duly demanded, the result of the poll shall be deemed to be the Resolution of the meeting at which the poll is demanded.

 

79. A poll demanded for the purposes of electing the chairman of the meeting, or on a question of adjournment, shall be taken forthwith. A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken in such manner and either forthwith or at such time at such meeting as the chairman shall direct. It shall not be necessary (unless the chairman otherwise directs) for notice to be given of a poll.

 

80. Where a vote is taken by poll, each person physically present and entitled to vote shall be furnished with a ballot paper on which such person shall record his vote in such manner as shall be determined at the meeting having regard to the nature of the question on which the vote is taken, and each ballot paper shall be signed or initialled or otherwise marked so as to identify the voter and the registered holder in the case of a proxy. Each person present by telephone, electronic or other communication facilities or means shall cast his vote in such manner as the chairman of the meeting shall direct. At the conclusion of the poll, the ballot papers and votes cast in accordance with such directions shall be examined and counted by a committee of not less than two Shareholders or proxy holders appointed by the chairman of the meeting for the purpose and the result of the poll shall be declared by the chairman of the meeting.

 

81. The demand for a poll shall not prevent the continuance of a meeting for the transaction of any business other than the question on which the poll has been demanded and it may be withdrawn at any time before the taking of the poll.

 

82. On a poll, votes may be cast either personally or by proxy.

 

83. A person entitled to more than one vote on a poll need not use all his votes or cast all the votes he uses in the same way.

 

17


84. In the case of an equality of votes at a general meeting, whether on a show of hands, a count of votes received in the form of Electronic Records or on a poll, the chairman of such meeting shall not be entitled to a second or casting vote.

 

85. In the case of joint holders of a share, the vote of the senior 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 for this purpose seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names stand in the Register in respect of the joint holding.

 

86. A Shareholder who is a patient for any purpose of any statute or applicable law relating to mental health or in respect of whom an order has been made by any Court having jurisdiction for the protection or management of the affairs of persons incapable of managing their own affairs may vote, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, by his receiver, committee, curator bonis or other person in the nature of a receiver, committee or curator bonis appointed by such Court and such receiver, committee, curator bonis or other person may vote on a poll by proxy, and may otherwise act and be treated as such Shareholder for the purpose of general meetings.
87. No Shareholder shall, unless the Board otherwise determines, be entitled to vote at any general meeting unless all calls or other sums presently payable by him in respect of shares in the Company have been paid.

 

88. If (i) any objection shall be raised to the qualification of any voter or (ii) any votes have been counted which ought not to have been counted or which might have been rejected or (iii) any votes are not counted which ought to have been counted, the objection or error shall not vitiate the decision of the meeting or adjourned meeting on any Resolution unless the same is raised or pointed out at the meeting or, as the case may be, the adjourned meeting at which the vote objected to is given or tendered or at which the error occurs. Any objection or error shall be referred to the chairman of the meeting and shall only vitiate the decision of the meeting on any Resolution if the chairman decides that the same may have affected the decision of the meeting. The decision of the chairman on such matters shall be final and conclusive.

PROXIES AND CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVES

 

89. The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing under the hand of the appointor or of his attorney authorised by him in writing or, if the appointor is a corporation, the instrument authorizing a representative shall be in writing either under its seal or under the hand of an officer, attorney or other person authorised to sign the same.

 

18


90. Any Shareholder may appoint a standing proxy or (if a corporation) representative by depositing at the Registered Office a proxy or (if a corporation) an authorisation and such proxy or authorisation shall be valid for all general meetings and adjournments thereof or, Resolutions in writing, as the case may be, until notice of revocation is received at the Registered Office which if permitted by the Companies Act may be in the form of an Electronic Record. Subject to Bye-law 95, where a standing proxy or authorisation exists, its operation shall be deemed to have been suspended at any general meeting or adjournment thereof at which the Shareholder is present or in respect to which the Shareholder has specially appointed a proxy or representative. The Board may from time to time require such evidence as it shall deem necessary as to the due execution and continuing validity of any such standing proxy or authorisation and the operation of any such standing proxy or authorisation shall be deemed to be suspended until such time as the Board determines that it has received the requested evidence or other evidence satisfactory to it.

 

91. Subject to Bye-law 95, the instrument appointing a proxy together with such other evidence as to its due execution as the Board may from time to time require, shall be delivered at the Registered Office and may be in the form of an Electronic Record (or at such place as may be specified in the notice convening the meeting or in any notice of any adjournment or, in either case or the case of a written Resolution, in any document sent therewith) prior to the holding of the relevant meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the instrument proposes to vote or, in the case of a poll taken subsequently to the date of a meeting or adjourned meeting, before the time appointed for the taking of the poll, or, in the case of a written Resolution, prior to the effective date of the written Resolution and in default the instrument of proxy shall not be treated as valid.

 

92. Instruments of proxy shall be in any common form or in such other form as the Board may approve and the Board may, if it thinks fit, send out with the notice of any meeting or any written Resolution forms of instruments of proxy for use at that meeting or in connection with that written Resolution. The instrument of proxy shall be deemed to confer authority to demand or join in demanding a poll and to vote on any amendment of a written Resolution or amendment of a Resolution put to the meeting for which it is given as the proxy thinks fit. The instrument of proxy shall unless the contrary is stated therein be valid as well for any adjournment of the meeting as for the meeting to which it relates.

 

93. A vote 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 instrument of proxy or of the authority under which it was executed, provided that no intimation in writing of such death, insanity or revocation shall have been received by the Company at the Registered Office which if permitted by the Companies Act may be in the form of an Electronic Record (or such other place as may be specified for the delivery of instruments of proxy in the notice convening the meeting or other documents sent therewith) one hour at least before the commencement of the meeting or adjourned meeting, or the taking of the poll, or the day before the effective date of any written Resolution at which the instrument of proxy is used.

 

19


94. Subject to the Companies Act, the Board may at its discretion waive any of the provisions of these Bye-laws related to proxies or authorisations and, in particular, may accept such verbal or other assurances as it thinks fit as to the right of any person to attend and vote on behalf of any Shareholder at general meetings or to sign written Resolutions.

 

95. Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bye-laws, any member may appoint an irrevocable proxy by depositing at the Registered Office an irrevocable proxy and such irrevocable proxy shall be valid for all general meetings and adjournments thereof, or Resolutions in writing, as the case may be, until terminated in accordance with its own terms, or until written notice of termination is received at the Registered Office signed by the proxy. The instrument creating the irrevocable proxy shall recite that it is constituted as such and shall confirm that it is granted with an interest. The operation of an irrevocable proxy shall not be suspended at any general meeting or adjournment thereof at which the member who has appointed such proxy is present and the member may not specially appoint another proxy or vote himself in respect of any shares which are the subject of the irrevocable proxy.

APPOINTMENT AND REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS

 

96. The Board shall be elected or appointed in the first place at the statutory meeting of the Company and thereafter, except in the case of a casual vacancy, at the annual general meeting or at any special general meeting called for that purpose.

 

97. The number of Directors shall be such number as the Company by Resolution may from time to time determine and, subject to the Companies Act and these Bye-laws, shall serve until re-elected or their successors are appointed at the next Annual General Meeting. A person may be elected or appointed as the sole Director of the Company, and the sole Director may be a Corporate Director. The Board shall at all times comprise a majority of Directors who are not resident in the United Kingdom.

 

98. Shareholders may by Resolution determine the minimum and the maximum number of Directors and may by Resolution determine that one or more vacancies in the Board shall be deemed casual vacancies for the purposes of these Bye-laws. Without prejudice to the power of the Shareholders by Resolution in pursuance of any of the provisions of these Bye-Laws to elect or appoint any person to be a Director, the Board, so long as a quorum of Directors remains in office, shall have power at any time and from time to time to appoint any person to be a Director so as to fill a casual vacancy.

 

99. The Company may in a Special General Meeting called for that purpose remove a Director provided notice of any such meeting shall be served upon the Director concerned not less than 14 days before the meeting and he shall be entitled to be heard at that meeting. Any vacancy created by the removal of a Director at a Special General Meeting may be filled at the Meeting by the election of another Director in his place or, in the absence of any such election, by the Board.

 

20


RESIGNATION AND DISQUALIFICATION OF DIRECTORS

 

100. The office of a Director shall be vacated upon the happening of any of the following events:

 

  (a) if he resigns his office by notice in writing delivered to the Registered Office or tendered at a meeting of the Board;

 

  (b) if he becomes of unsound mind or a patient for any purpose of any statute or applicable law relating to mental health and the Board resolves that his office is vacated;

 

  (c) if he becomes bankrupt or compounds with his creditors;

 

  (d) if he is prohibited by law from being a Director; or

 

  (e) if he ceases to be a Director by virtue of the Companies Act or is removed from office pursuant to these Bye-laws.

ALTERNATE DIRECTORS

 

101. The Company may by Resolution elect any person or persons to act as Directors in the alternative to any of the Directors or may authorise the Board to appoint such Alternate Directors and a Director may appoint and remove his own Alternate Director. Any appointment or removal of an Alternate Director by a Director shall be effected by depositing a notice of appointment or removal with the Secretary at the Registered Office which if permitted by the Companies Act may be in the form of an Electronic Record, signed by such Director, and such appointment or removal shall become effective on the date of receipt by the Secretary. Any Alternate Director may be removed by Resolution of the Company and, if appointed by the Board or a Director, may be removed by the Board or the Director respectively. Subject as aforesaid, the office of Alternate Director shall continue until the next annual election of Directors or, if earlier, the date on which the relevant Director ceases to be a Director. A Director may also be appointed to represent another Director and may act as represent more than one other Director.

 

102. An Alternate Director shall be entitled to receive notices of all meetings of Directors, to attend, be counted in the quorum and vote at any such meeting at which any Director to whom he is alternate is not personally present, and generally to perform all the functions of any Director to whom he is alternate in his absence.

 

21


103. Every person acting as an Alternate Director shall when performing the functions of the Director for whom he is appointed in the alternate (except as regards powers to appoint an alternate and remuneration) be subject in all respects to the provisions of these Bye-laws relating to Directors and shall alone be responsible to the Company for his acts and defaults and shall not be deemed to be the agent of or for any Director for whom he is alternate. An Alternate Director may be paid expenses and shall be entitled to be indemnified by the Company to the same extent mutatis mutandis as if he were a Director. Every Director representing another Director shall have one vote for each Director for whom he represents in addition to his own vote as a Director. The signature of an Alternate Director to any Resolution in writing of the Board or a committee of the Board shall, unless the terms of his appointment provides to the contrary, be as effective as the signature of the Director or Directors to whom he is alternate.

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES

 

104. The amount, if any, of Directors’ fees shall from time to time be determined by the Company by Resolution and in the absence of a determination to the contrary in general meeting, such fees shall be deemed to accrue from day to day. Each Director may be paid his reasonable travelling, hotel and incidental expenses in attending and returning from meetings of the Board or committees constituted pursuant to these Bye-laws or general meetings and shall be paid all expenses properly and reasonably incurred by him in the conduct of the Company’s business or in the discharge of his duties as a Director. Any Director who, by request, goes or resides abroad for any purposes of the Company or who performs services which in the opinion of the Board go beyond the ordinary duties of a Director may be paid such extra remuneration (whether by way of salary, commission, participation in profits or otherwise) as the Board may determine, and such extra remuneration shall be in addition to any remuneration provided for by or pursuant to any other Bye-law.

DEFECT OF APPOINTMENT

 

105. All acts done in good faith by the Board, any Director, a member of a committee appointed by the Board, any person to whom the Board may have delegated any of its powers, or any person acting as a Director shall, notwithstanding that it be afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any Director or person acting as aforesaid, or that he was, or any of them were, disqualified, be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed and was qualified to be a Director or act in the relevant capacity.

 

22


DIRECTORS’ INTERESTS

 

106. A Director may hold any other office or place of profit with the Company (except that of auditor) in conjunction with his office of Director for such period and upon such terms as the Board may determine, and may be paid such extra remuneration therefore (whether by way of salary, commission, participation in profits or otherwise) as the Board may determine, and such extra remuneration shall be in addition to any remuneration provided for by or pursuant to any other Bye-law.

 

107. A Director may act by himself or his firm in a professional capacity for the Company (otherwise than as auditor) and he or his firm shall be entitled to remuneration for professional services as if he were not a Director.

 

108. Subject to the Companies Act, a Director may notwithstanding his office be a party to, or otherwise interested in, any transaction or arrangement with the Company or in which the Company is otherwise interested; and be a Director or other officer of, or employed by, or a party to any transaction or arrangement with, or otherwise interested in, any body corporate promoted by the Company or in which the Company is interested. The Board may also cause the voting power conferred by the shares in any other company held or owned by the Company to be exercised in such manner in all respects as it thinks fit, including the exercise thereof in favour of any Resolution appointing the Directors or any of them to be directors or officers of such other company, or voting or providing for the payment of remuneration to the directors or officers of such other company.

 

109. So long as, where it is necessary, he declares the nature of his interest at the first opportunity at a meeting of the Board or by writing to the Directors as required by the Companies Act, a Director shall not by reason of his office be accountable to the Company for any benefit which he derives from any office or employment to which these Bye-laws allow him to be appointed or from any transaction or arrangement in which these Bye-laws allow him to be interested, and no such transaction or arrangement shall be liable to be avoided on the ground of any interest or benefit.

 

110. Subject to the Companies Act and any further disclosure required thereby, a general notice to the Directors by a Director or officer declaring that he is a director or officer who has an interest in a person and is to be regarded as interested in any transaction or arrangement made with that person, shall be a sufficient declaration of interest in relation to any transaction or arrangement so made.

 

23


111. A Director who has complied with the requirements of the foregoing Bye-laws (an “Interested Director”) may:

 

  (a) vote in respect of such transaction or arrangement or proposed transaction or arrangement; and/or

 

  (b) be counted in the quorum for the meeting at which the transaction or arrangement or proposed transaction or arrangement is to be voted on,

and no such transaction or arrangement or proposed transaction or arrangement shall be void or voidable by reason only that the Interested Director voted on it or was counted in the quorum of the relevant meeting.

POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD

 

112. Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act and these Bye-laws, the Board shall manage the business of the Company and may pay all expenses incurred in promoting and incorporating the Company and may exercise all the powers of the Company as are not, by the Companies Act or these Bye-laws, required to be exercised by the Company in general meeting. No alteration of these Bye-laws shall invalidate any prior act of the Board which would have been valid if that alteration had not been made. The powers given by this Bye-law shall not be limited by any special power given to the Board by these Bye-laws and a meeting of the Board at which a quorum is present shall be competent to exercise all the powers, authorities and discretions for the time being vested in or exercisable by the Board.

 

113. The Board may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge all or any part of the undertaking, property and assets (present and future) and uncalled capital of the Company and to issue debentures and other securities, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any other persons.

 

114. All cheques, promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange and other instruments, whether negotiable or transferable or not, and all receipts for money paid to the Company shall be signed, drawn, accepted, endorsed or otherwise executed, as the case may be, in such manner as the Board shall from time to time by resolution determine.

 

115. The Board on behalf of the Company may provide benefits, whether by the payment of gratuities or pensions or otherwise, for any person including any Director or former Director who has held any executive office or employment with the Company or with any body corporate which is or has been a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company or a predecessor in the business of the Company or of any such subsidiary or affiliate, and to any member of his family or any person who is or was dependent on him, and may contribute to any fund and pay premiums for the purchase or provision of any such gratuity, pension or other benefit, or for the insurance of any such person.

 

24


116. The Board may from time to time appoint one or more of its body to hold any other employment or executive office with the Company for such period and upon such terms as the Board may determine and may revoke or terminate any such appointments. Any such revocation or termination as aforesaid shall be without prejudice to any claim for damages that such Director may have against the Company or the Company may have against such Director for any breach of any contract of service between him and the Company which may be involved in such revocation or termination. Any person so appointed shall receive such remuneration (if any) (whether by way of salary, commission, participation in profits or otherwise) as the Board may determine, and either in addition to or in lieu of his remuneration as a Director.

DELEGATION OF THE BOARD’S POWERS

 

117. The Board may by power of attorney appoint any company, firm or person or any fluctuating body of persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Board, to be the attorney or attorneys of the Company for such purposes and with such powers, authorities and discretions (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the Board under these Bye-laws) and for such period and subject to such conditions as it may think fit, and any such power of attorney may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of persons dealing with any such attorney and of such attorney as the Board may think fit, and may also authorise any such attorney to sub-delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in him.

 

118. The Board may entrust to and confer upon any Director or officer any of the powers exercisable by it upon such terms and conditions with such restrictions as it thinks fit, and either collaterally with, or to the exclusion of, its own powers, and may from time to time revoke or vary all or any of such powers but no person dealing in good faith and without notice of such revocation or variation shall be affected thereby.

 

119. The Board may delegate any of its powers (including, without limitation, the power to sub-delegate), authorities and discretions to any person or to committees, consisting of such person or persons (whether a member or members of its body or not) as it thinks fit, provided that, where possible in accordance with these Bye-Laws, such committee shall not comprise of a person or a majority of persons who are resident in the United Kingdom. Any committee so formed shall, in the exercise of the powers, authorities and discretions so delegated, conform to any regulations which may be imposed upon it by the Board.

 

120. The Board may authorise any company, firm, person or body of persons to act on behalf of the Company for any specific purpose and in connection therewith to execute any deed, agreement, document or instrument on behalf of the Company.

 

25


PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD

 

121. The Board may meet for the dispatch of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate its meetings as it thinks fit, provided that:

 

  (a) any physical meeting of the Board shall not take place in Norway or the United Kingdom;

 

  (b) for the purposes of any meeting of the Board or any committee of the Board held by electronic means in accordance with Bye-Law 130, the majority of Directors participating in the meeting (including the Chairman) shall not be physically located in the United Kingdom; and

 

  (c) for the purpose of any meeting of the Board or any committee of the Board held by electronic means in accordance with Bye-Law 130, the Board shall use all reasonable endeavors to ensure that no such meeting is deemed to be held in Norway

 

122. Questions arising at any meeting shall be determined by a majority of votes. In the case of an equality of votes the motion shall be deemed to have been lost. A Director may, and the Secretary on the requisition of a Director shall, at any time summon a meeting of the Board.

 

123. Notice of a meeting of the Board shall be deemed to be duly given to a Director if it is given to him personally or by word of mouth or sent to him by post, cable, telex, telecopier, electronic means or other mode of representing or reproducing words in a legible and non-transitory form at his last known address or any other address given by him to the Company for this purpose.

 

124. The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business of the Board may be fixed by the Board and, unless so fixed at any other number, shall a majority of the Board present in person or by proxy, provided that a quorum shall not be present unless a majority of the Directors present are neither resident in Norway nor physically located in or resident in the United Kingdom. Any Director who ceases to be a Director at a meeting of the Board may continue to be present and to act as a Director and be counted in the quorum until the termination of the meeting if no other Director objects and if otherwise a quorum of Directors would not be present.

 

125. A Director who to his knowledge is in any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in a contract or proposed contract, transaction or arrangement with the Company and has complied with the provisions of the Companies Act and these Bye-laws with regard to disclosure of his interest shall be entitled to vote in respect of any contract, transaction or arrangement in which he is so interested and if he shall do so his vote shall be counted, and he shall be taken into account in ascertaining whether a quorum is present.

 

26


126. So long as a quorum of Directors remains in office, the continuing Directors may act notwithstanding any vacancy in the Board but, if no such quorum remains, the continuing Directors or a sole continuing Director may act only for the purpose of calling a general meeting.

 

127. The Chairman (if any) of the Board or, in his absence, the President (if any) or in his absence the Director who has been appointed as the head of the Board shall preside as chairman at every meeting of the Board. If there is no such Chairman, President or Director or if at any meeting the Chairman, President or Director is not present within five (5) minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, or is not willing to act as chairman, the Directors present may choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.

 

128. The meetings and proceedings of any committee consisting of two or more members shall be governed by the provisions contained in these Bye-laws for regulating the meetings and proceedings of the Board so far as the same are applicable and are not superseded by any regulations imposed by the Board.

 

129. A Resolution in writing signed by (or in the case of a Corporate Director, on behalf of) all the Directors for the time being entitled to receive notice of a meeting of the Board or by all the members of a committee for the time being, which may be in counterparts, shall be as valid and effectual as a resolution passed at a meeting of the Board or, as the case may be, of such committee duly called and constituted, provided that a written resolution signed by any Director or member of a committee who is present in the United Kingdom at the time at which the resolution is signed by him will be invalid. Such Resolution in writing shall be effective on the date on which the Resolution is signed by (or in the case of a Corporate Director, on behalf of) the last Director.

 

130. A meeting of the Board or a committee appointed by the Board may be held by means of such telephone, electronic or other communication facilities as permit all persons participating in the meeting to communicate with each other simultaneously and instantaneously and participation in such a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting. A meeting of the Board or committee appointed by the Board held in the foregoing manner shall be deemed to take place at the place where the largest group of participating Directors or committee members has assembled or, if no such group exists, at the place where the chairman of the meeting participates which place shall, so far as reasonably practicable, be at the Registered Office of the Company or at an office of one of the group of companies of which the Company is a part, located outside of the United Kingdom. In no event shall the place where the largest group of participating Directors or committee members has assembled or, if no such group exists, the place where the chairman of the meeting participates, be located in the United Kingdom. The Board or relevant committee shall use its best endeavours to ensure that any such meeting is not deemed to have been held in Norway, and the fact that one or more Directors may be present at such teleconference by virtue of his being physically in Norway shall not deem such meeting to have taken place in Norway.

 

27


131. All acts done by the Board or by any committee or by any person acting as a Director or member of a committee or any person duly authorised by the Board or any committee, shall, notwithstanding that it is afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any member of the Board or such committee or person acting as aforesaid or that they or any of them were disqualified or had vacated their office, be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed and was qualified and had continued to be a Director, member of such committee or person so authorised.

 

132. A Corporate Director may, by written instrument, authorise such person or persons as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting and any person so authorised shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the corporation which such person represents as that corporation could exercise if it were an individual Director, and that Director shall be deemed to be present in person at any such meeting attended by its authorised representative or representatives.

 

133. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the chairman of the meeting may accept such assurances as he thinks fit as to the right of any person to attend and vote at Board meetings on behalf of a Corporate Director.

OFFICERS

 

134. The Board may appoint any person whether or not he is a Director to hold such office as the Board may from time to time determine. Any person elected or appointed pursuant to this Bye-law shall hold office for such period and upon such terms as the Board may determine and the Board may revoke or terminate any such election or appointment. Any such revocation or termination shall be without prejudice to any claim for damages that such officer may have against the Company or the Company may have against such officer for any breach of any contract of service between him and the Company which may be involved in such revocation or termination. Save as provided in the Companies Act or these Bye-laws, the powers and duties of the officers of the Company shall be such (if any) as are determined from time to time by the Board.

MINUTES

 

135. The Directors shall cause minutes to be made and books kept for the purpose of recording:

 

  (a) all appointments of officers made by the Directors;

 

  (b) the names of the Directors and other persons (if any) present at each meeting of Directors and of any committee;

 

28


  (c) of all proceedings at meetings of the Company, of the holders of any class of shares in the Company, and of committees;

 

  (d) of all proceedings of managers (if any).

SECRETARY AND RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE

 

136. The Secretary and Resident Representative, if necessary, shall be appointed by the Board at such remuneration (if any) and upon such terms as it may think fit and any Secretary or Resident Representative so appointed may be removed by the Board.

 

137. The duties of the Secretary shall be those prescribed by the Companies Act together with such other duties as shall from time to time be prescribed by the Board.

 

138. A provision of the Companies Act or these Bye-laws requiring or authorising a thing to be done by or to a Director and the Secretary shall not be satisfied by it being done by or to the same person acting both as Director and as, or in the place of, the Secretary.

THE SEAL

 

139. The Company may, but need not, have a Seal and one or more duplicate Seals for use in any place in or outside Bermuda.

 

140. If the Company has a Seal it shall consist of a circular metal device with the name of the Company around the outer margin thereof and the country and year of incorporation across the centre thereof.

 

141. The Board shall provide for the custody of every Seal, if any. A Seal shall only be used by authority of the Board or of a committee constituted by the Board. Subject to these Bye-laws, any instrument to which a Seal is affixed shall be signed by at least one Director or the Secretary, or by any person (whether or not a Director or the Secretary), who has been authorised either generally or specifically to attest to the use of a Seal.

 

142. The Secretary, a Director or the Resident Representative may affix a Seal attested with his signature to certify the authenticity of any copies of documents.

DIVIDENDS AND OTHER PAYMENTS

 

143. The Board may from time to time declare dividends or distributions out of contributed surplus to be paid to the Shareholders according to their rights and interests including such interim dividends as appear to the Board to be justified by the position of the Company. The Board may also pay any fixed dividend which is payable on any shares of the Company half yearly or on such other dates, whenever the position of the Company, in the opinion of the Board, justifies such payment.

 

29


144. Except insofar as the rights attaching to, or the terms of issue of, any share otherwise provide:

 

  (a) all dividends or distributions out of contributed surplus may be paid according to the amounts paid up on the shares in respect of which the dividend or distribution is paid, and an amount paid up on a share in advance of calls may be treated for the purpose of this Bye-law as paid-up on the share;

 

  (b) dividends or distributions out of contributed surplus may be apportioned and paid pro rata according to the amounts paid-up on the shares during any portion or portions of the period in respect of which the dividend or distribution is paid.

 

145. The Board may deduct from any dividend, distribution or other moneys payable to a Shareholder by the Company on or in respect of any shares all sums of money (if any) presently payable by him to the Company on account of calls or otherwise in respect of shares of the Company.

 

146. No dividend, distribution or other moneys payable by the Company on or in respect of any share shall bear interest against the Company.

 

147. Any dividend, distribution, interest or other sum payable in cash to the holder of shares may be paid by cheque or warrant sent through the post addressed to the holder at his address in the Register or, in the case of joint holders, addressed to the holder whose name stands first in the Register in respect of the shares at his registered address as appearing in the Register or addressed to such person at such address as the holder or joint holders may in writing direct. Every such cheque or warrant shall, unless the holder or joint holders otherwise direct, be made payable to the order of the holder or, in the case of joint holders, to the order of the holder whose name stands first in the Register in respect of such shares, and shall be sent at his or their risk and payment of the cheque or warrant by the bank on which it is drawn shall constitute a good discharge to the Company. Any one of two or more joint holders may give effectual receipts for any dividends, distributions or other moneys payable or property distributable in respect of the shares held by such joint holders.

 

148. Any dividend or distribution out of contributed surplus unclaimed for a period of six years from the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Company and the payment by the Board of any unclaimed dividend, distribution, interest or other sum payable on or in respect of the share into a separate account shall not constitute the Company a trustee in respect thereof.

 

30


RESERVES

 

149. The Board may, before recommending or declaring any dividend or distribution out of contributed surplus, set aside such sums as it thinks proper as reserves which shall, at the discretion of the Board, be applicable for any purpose of the Company and pending such application may, also at such discretion, either be employed in the business of the Company or be invested in such investments as the Board may from time to time think fit. The Board may also without placing the same to reserve carry forward any sums which it may think it prudent not to distribute.

CAPITALISATION OF PROFITS

 

150. The Board may capitalise any amount for the time being standing to the credit of any of the Company’s share premium or other reserve accounts or to the credit of the profit and loss account or otherwise available for distribution by applying such amount in paying up unissued shares to be allotted as fully paid bonus shares pro rata to the Shareholders.

 

151. The Board may capitalise any amount for the time being standing to the credit of a reserve account or amounts otherwise available for dividend or distribution by applying such amounts in paying up in full, partly or nil paid shares of those Shareholders who would have been entitled to such amounts if they were distributed by way of dividend or distribution.

 

152. Where any difficulty arises in regard to any distribution under Bye-law [150], the Board may settle the same as it thinks expedient and, in particular, may authorise any person to sell and transfer any fractions or may resolve that the distribution should be as nearly as may be practicable in the correct proportion but not exactly so or may ignore fractions altogether, and may determine that cash payments should be made to any Shareholders in order to adjust the rights of all parties, as may seem expedient to the Board. The Board may appoint any person to sign on behalf of the persons entitled to participate in the distribution any contract necessary or desirable for giving effect thereto and such appointment shall be effective and binding upon the Shareholders.

RECORD DATES

 

153. Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Bye-laws, the Company may be Resolution or the Board may fix any date as the record date for any dividend, distribution, allotment or issue and for the purpose of identifying the persons entitled to receive notices of and entitled to attend and vote at general meetings. Any such record date may be on or at any time before or after any date on which such dividend, distribution, allotment or issue is declared, paid or made or such notice is despatched.

 

31


ACCOUNTING RECORDS

 

154. The Board shall cause to be kept accounting records sufficient to give a true and fair view of the state of the Company’s affairs and to show and explain its transactions, in accordance with the Companies Act.

 

155. The records of account shall be kept at the Registered Office or at such other place or places as the Board thinks fit, and shall at all times be open to inspection by the Directors: PROVIDED that if the records of account are kept at some place outside Bermuda, there shall be kept at an office of the Company in Bermuda such records as will enable the Directors to ascertain with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the Company at the end of each three month period. No Shareholder (other than an officer of the Company) shall have any right to inspect any accounting record or book or document of the Company except as conferred by law or authorised by the Board or by Resolution.

 

156. Save and to the extent that the same is waived in the manner permitted by the Companies Act, a copy of the financial statements which are to be laid before the Company in general meeting, together with a copy of the auditors’ report, shall be sent to each person entitled thereto in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act. The Board may delegate to the Finance Officer responsibility for the proper maintenance and safe keeping of all of the accounting records of the Company and (subject to the terms of any resolution from time to time passed by the Board relating to the extent of the duties of the Finance Officer) the Finance Officer shall have primary responsibility for (a) the preparation of proper management accounts of the Company (at such intervals as may be required) and (b) the periodic delivery of such management accounts to the Registered Office in accordance with the Companies Act.

AUDIT

 

157. Save and to the extent that an audit is waived in the manner permitted by the Companies Act, auditors shall be appointed and their duties regulated in accordance with the Companies Act, any other applicable law and such requirements not inconsistent with the Companies Act as the Board may from time to time determine.

 

32


ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

 

158. It shall be a term of issue of each share in the Company that each Shareholder shall provide the Secretary with an email address for electronic communications by and with the Company and any notice or other document shall be deemed to be duly given to a Shareholder if it is delivered to such Shareholder by means of an Electronic Record in accordance with Section 2A of the Companies Act. A Shareholder may change such Shareholder’s address for electronic communications by sending a notice to the Secretary.

 

159. The Company may establish an extranet or other similar facility (the “Company Website”) and publish on the Company Website the Company’s memorandum of association and Bye-laws, register of Shareholders, register of Directors and Officers, notices of Annual General Meeting and Special General Meeting, proxy and voting forms, Resolutions in writing proposed for execution by voting Shareholders, financial statements, prospectuses and circulars and any other documents of the Company required by the Companies Act to be provided to or accessible by Shareholders or which the Board wishes to make applicable to Shareholders.

 

160. An email sent to a Shareholder at the email address for such Shareholder provided to the Company pursuant to these Bye-laws above notifying the Shareholder that the Company has published a document on the Company Website and which is otherwise in compliance with the provisions of Section 2A of the Companies Act shall constitute notice of publication of the document and the Company shall be deemed to have delivered the documents referred in the email to the Shareholder.

SERVICE OF NOTICES AND OTHER DOCUMENTS

 

161. Any notice or other document (including a share certificate) may be served on or delivered to any Shareholder by the Company either personally or by sending it through the post (by airmail where applicable) in a pre-paid letter addressed to such Shareholder at his address as appearing in the Register or by delivering it to or leaving it at such registered address. In the case of joint holders of a share, service or delivery of any notice or other document on or to one of the joint holders shall for all purposes be deemed as sufficient service on or delivery to all the joint holders. Any notice or other document if sent by post shall be deemed to have been served or delivered seven days after it was put in the post, and in proving such service or delivery, it shall be sufficient to prove that the notice or document was properly addressed, stamped and put in the post.

 

162. Any notice of a general meeting of the Company shall be deemed to be duly given to a Shareholder if it is sent to him by cable, telex, telecopier or other mode of representing or reproducing words in a legible and non-transitory form at his address as appearing in the Register or any other address given by him to the Company for this purpose. Any such notice shall be deemed to have been served twenty-four hours after its despatch.

 

33


163. Any notice or other document shall be deemed to be duly given to a Shareholder if it is delivered to such Shareholder by means of an Electronic Record in accordance with Section 2A of the Companies Act.

 

164. Any notice or other document delivered, sent or given to a Shareholder in any manner permitted by these Bye-laws shall, notwithstanding that such Shareholder is then dead or bankrupt or that any other event has occurred, and whether or not the Company has notice of the death or bankruptcy or other event, be deemed to have been duly served or delivered in respect of any share registered in the name of such Shareholder as sole or joint holder unless his name shall, at the time of the service or delivery of the notice or document, have been removed from the Register as the holder of the share, and such service or delivery shall for all purposes be deemed as sufficient service or delivery of such notice or document on all persons interested (whether jointly with or as claiming through or under him) in the share.

WINDING UP

 

165. If the Company shall be wound up, the liquidator may, with the sanction of a Resolution of the Company and any other sanction required by the Companies Act, divide amongst the Shareholders in specie or 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 such purposes set such values as he deems fair upon any property to be divided as aforesaid and may determine how such division shall be carried out as between the Shareholders or different classes of Shareholders. The liquidator may, with the like sanction, vest the whole or any part of such assets in trustees upon such trust for the benefit of the contributories as the liquidator, with the like sanction, shall think fit, but so that no Shareholder shall be compelled to accept any shares or other assets upon which there is any liability.

INDEMNITY

 

166. Subject to the provisions of Bye-law 171, no Director, Alternate Director, Officer, person or member of a committee authorised under these Bye-laws, Resident Representative of the Company or his heirs, executors or administrators shall be liable for any acts, receipts, neglects, or defaults of them, of any other such person or of any person involved in the formation of the Company, or for any loss or expense incurred by the Company through the insufficiency or deficiency of title to any property acquired by the Company, or for the insufficiency of deficiency of any security in or upon which any of the monies of the Company shall be invested, or for any loss or damage arising from the bankruptcy, insolvency, or tortious act of any person with whom any monies, securities, or effects shall be deposited, or for any loss occasioned by any error of judgment, omission, default, or oversight on his part, or for any other loss, damage or misfortune whatever which shall happen in relation to the execution of his duties, or supposed duties, to the Company or otherwise in relation thereto.

 

34


167. Subject to the provisions of Bye-law 171, every Director, Alternate Director, Officer, person or member of a committee authorised under these Bye-laws, Resident Representative of the Company and their respective heirs, executors or administrators shall be indemnified and held harmless out of the funds of the Company to the fullest extent permitted by Bermuda law against all liabilities, loss, damage or expense (including but not limited to liabilities under contract, tort and statute or any applicable foreign law or regulation and all reasonable legal and other costs and expenses properly payable) incurred or suffered by him as such Director, Alternate Director, Officer, person or committee member or Resident Representative and the indemnity contained in this Bye-law shall extend to any person acting as such Director, Alternate Director, Officer, person or committee member or Resident Representative in the reasonable belief that he has been so appointed or elected notwithstanding any defect in such appointment or election.

 

168. Every Director, Alternate Director, Officer, person or member of a committee duly authorised under these Bye-laws, Resident Representative of the Company and their respective heirs, executors or administrators shall be indemnified out of the funds of the Company against all liabilities incurred by him as such Director, Alternate Director, Officer, person or committee member or Resident Representative in defending any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, in which judgment is given in his favour, or in which he is acquitted, or in connection with any application under the Companies Act in which relief from liability is granted to him by the court.

 

169. To the extent that any Director, Alternate Director, Officer, person or member of a committee duly authorised under these Bye-laws, Resident Representative of the Company or any of their respective heirs, executors or administrators is entitled to claim an indemnity pursuant to these Bye-laws in respect of amounts paid or discharged by him, the relative indemnity shall take effect as an obligation of the Company to reimburse the person making such payment or effecting such discharge.

 

170. The Board may arrange for the Company to be insured in respect of all or any part of its liability under the provision of these Bye-laws and may also purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any Directors, Alternate Directors, Officers, person or member of a committee authorised under these Bye-laws, employees or Resident Representatives of the Company in respect of any liability that may be incurred by them or any of them howsoever arising in connection with their respective duties or supposed duties to the Company. This Bye-law shall not be construed as limiting the powers of the Board to effect such other insurance on behalf of the Company as it may deem appropriate.

 

171. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Companies Act, the Company may advance moneys to an Officer or Director for the costs, charges and expenses incurred by the Officer or Director in defending any civil or criminal proceedings against them on the condition that the Director or Officer shall repay the advance if any allegation of fraud or dishonesty is proved against them.

 

35


172. Subject to the provisions of Bye-law 171, each Member agrees to waive any claim or right of action he might have, whether individually or by or in the right of the Company, against any Director, Alternate Director, Officer, person or member of a committee authorised under these Bye-laws119, Resident Representative of the Company or any of their respective heirs, executors or administrators on account of any action taken by any such person, or the failure of any such person to take any action in the performance of his duties, or supposed duties, to the Company or otherwise in relation thereto.

 

173. The restrictions on liability, indemnities and waivers provided for in these Bye-laws shall not extend to any matter which would render the same void pursuant to the Companies Act.

 

174. The restrictions on liability, indemnities and waivers contained in these Bye-laws shall be in addition to any rights which any person concerned may otherwise be entitled by contract or as a matter of applicable Bermuda law.

CONTINUATION

 

175. Subject to the Companies Act, the Company may with the approval of the Board by resolution adopted by a majority of Directors then in office, approve the discontinuation of the Company from Bermuda and the continuation of the Company in a jurisdiction outside Bermuda.

ALTERATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL DOCUMENTS

 

176. These Bye-laws may be amended from time to time in the manner provided for in the Companies Act.

 

36