Sponsoring
Organization’s Proposal
I SPONSORING
ORGANIZATION’S STRUCTURE
C1 GENERAL
DESCRIPTION OF STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION
Telnic submits a Sponsoring Organization Proposal and
Application to operate and manage a new generic top-level domain called .TEL
that is dedicated to communications-over-the-Internet.
The vision of .TEL, a fundamental new
communications domain-addressing platform that will enrich the Internet, was
conceived in the mid-90’s, as was its parent Telnic (the .Tel Network
Information Center).
From these early beginnings Telnic has taken a
long-term view on the development of the .TEL concept, primarily because: (a)
technology and perception has had to catch-up with the idea, and most
importantly (b) the need to adopt .TEL into the DNS as part of the then IANA,
and now ICANN new gTLD initiatives.
Telnic was created to make .TEL happen.
Therefore the process of structuring and building the Telnic Organisation has
and will be ongoing and evolutionary. This is plainly because Telnic and .TEL
are contingent in many respects on the sanctioning of new gTLDs, and the
parameters and requirements that go with it.
As a result, Telnic is currently a limited operation focused and ready on the sole objective of making .TEL a reality. Most elements to achieve this aim are in place, including: an extremely high-level business plan; human-resources in place and in-waiting who are experienced and qualified in all necessary fields; and importantly sufficient financial resources and commitment ready to ensure that the new Telnic Registry will be unequalled to fulfil the requisite responsibilities to launch the project, and execute the proposal described in this application.
Telnic is therefore in the category of “Sponsoring Organization
Proposing to be Formed”. Details of
Telnic’s current staffing level and resources, including funding, are given in
the appropriate sections of this proposal.
We are presently a UK centric organization,
with plans on becoming acknowledged and accepted as a universal organization
and registry for .TEL, servicing the whole Internet community - be it in
developed countries or developing countries.
As part of our long-term planning and
development Telnic has considered the many and varied pivotal issues that will
have a bearing on the long-term development and stability of a new namespace
for .TEL. We have considered and planned for all legal aspects, all technical
aspects, all policy formulation aspects, and importantly all intellectual
property aspects that could restrict or hinder the implementation of the .TEL
namespace. In this respect Telnic has comprehensively protected the integrity
of .TEL.
C1.1 The Basic Principle of the Telnic .TEL gTLD
Telnic propose the creation of a new .TEL gTLD that will be task-related specific to Voice-Video-Data.
Like most good
ideas, the .TEL concept is simple. We propose a .TEL top-level domain - that
will eventually have relating subdomains - that will be universally recognised
and used as a DNS addressing system for people to “dial” and communicate using
any Internet enabled device with speech capability. Proof of working concept
have been undertaken with .TEL, including a defining practical demonstration
with Ericsson, using their broadband
next-generation UMTS platform. Please
refer to the confirmation of this in
the letter from Ericsson contained in the Appendix
It will
represent the next-generation of point-to-point addressing for
voice-video-data. By voice-video-data we mean that as the world enters an all
Internet Protocol (IP) environment when voice (voice-telephony) will become
just another data element, it will then be possible to combine this voice data
will other data such as video, imagery, and/or messaging to provide creative
Internet solutions and services that go far beyond conventional communication
services.
These new
exciting developments are being driven by the Internet, and in particular the
emerging mobile-Internet, and in parallel with these advances and convergences
we are seeing the emergence of a whole new-generation of devices that will
transform how we use and interface with the Internet. These devices, in their
many forms - whether personal communicators, wearable-devices, PDA types
devices, desk-top terminals – demand a new dedicated domain-name addressing
system such as .TEL.
The use of .TEL as a communications
addressing scheme opens up new frontiers in the use and application of
communications devices and networks. It will positively compliment and grow DNS
for virtually all Internet end-users, service providers, application
developers, even hardware producers.
.TEL has the potential of fulfilling most national, regional, and global Internet addressing specific to communications – that is Internet communications in the broadest sense. It will be a simple, universal, flexible, scaleable, versatile, intuitive, and user-friendly addressing structure.
· It will enhance DNS and enable the development and deployment of a wide range of new Internet applications, products and services.
· .TEL will be user-friendly and allow the flexibility to use more or less any characters: letters, digits, phrases, or a mixture of letters and digits to form domain name addresses – or “Telnames”.
· .TEL will allow a sub-addressing structure of country based two-character sub-domain names, ccSLDs, (e.g., us.tel or uk.tel) which will mirror to an extent traditional telephone country and area codes for over 200 countries.
· .TEL will create corporate addressing solutions below each corporate .TEL domain name to enable individual company departments to be contacted via simple and flexible communication architecture.
· .TEL will extend the methodology of the corporate .TEL solution to domestic homes, whereby any member of a family and any Internet enabled appliance can be contacted through the specific .TEL address mapped to that home.
As can be seen from the above, .TEL has the power to become a truly worldwide and universal platform that provides an uncomplicated IP-based telephone addressing system between any two or more Internet enabled devices, or between two or more devices where at least one is Internet enabled.
This means that .TEL lends radical new capabilities to how people will “dial” and communicate in the future, and could accelerate VoIP, mobile-computing, UMTS, and many other Internet related advances.
C2 ORGANIZATION
INFORMATION
The .TEL proposal is managed by Telnic, a private limited company registered in England and Wales under company registration number 03555437, operating out of the UK.
C2.1 Telnic Limited
· Telnic was incorporated under the name of Ixtel Limited, formed on 22 April 1998. The company changed its name to Telnic Limited in 1999.
· Telnic’s registered office address is at 211 Piccadilly, London W1V 9LD, England.
· Telnic’s bankers are National Westminster Bank plc of 169 Victoria Street, London SW1E 5BT, England.
· Telnic’s primary legal counsel is Squire, Sanders & Dempsey. Squire, Sanders & Dempsey is a global law firm, with 700 attorneys worldwide, with a leading telecoms and Internet law practice, based in its London office at Royex House, Aldermanbury Square, London EC2V 7HR, England.
· Telnic’s tax advisers are Simmons & Simmons of 21 Wilson Street, London EC2M 2TX, England.
· Telnic’s financial advisers are The CHART Group LP (“CHART”), of New York and Paris. Further information on CHART is set out in paragraph C.2.2 below.
· Telnic is an ordinary for-profit company, based in London, and is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
· Telnic’s Articles of Association are attached to this Sponsoring Organization’s Proposal.
C2.2 Role of CHART and the Funding of Telnic
CHART is a private investment company, based in New York, Paris and Dublin, with a shareholder base of approximately 50 influential families from over 20 different countries, in the Americas, Europe and Asia.
CHART has acted as incubator for the past nine months, in close relationship with its British investors, who have already spent four years developing the .TEL architecture. CHART has transformed the .TEL vision into a workable business plan, supported by substantial investment. CHART has also provided logistical support, and initiated a .TEL proof of concept with Ericsson UMTS Department. CHART’s partner in charge is Mr. Fabien Chalandon, who is also the nominated CHART director to sit on the Telnic Board of Directors.
CHART initiated the fundraising for Telnic in early July 2000, to support Telnic’s application for the launch of a new gTLD. The Telnic share offering is structured to focus on a two-stage fundraising process with both stages committed at the same time. The first round of finance is to fund the application, with the second round of finance to develop and launch the .TEL registration operation.
The fundraising is expected to close within the first two weeks of October 2000. Based on confirmed indications of interest, Telnic is anticipating first round financing of US$1.5 million to fund the application process. The second round of financing of US$12 million is contingent upon ICANN granting to Telnic the exclusive licence to operate the .TEL domain name. If ICANN grants a licence to Telnic, the Board may decide to approach investors for additional funding. Should the need arise, CHART is confident that it can raise further funds from both existing and new investors.
C3 ORGANIZATION
STRUCTURE
Since the announcement by ICANN, in July 2000, of its intention to consider applications for new gTLDs, Telnic has strengthened its organization by recruiting additional executives to assist with the gTLD application.
Board of Directors
q Christopher Kemball, Non-Executive Chairman.
q Ray Pierce, Chief Executive Officer of Telnic
q Alan Price, Founding Director, and Senior Executive.
q Cathy Horton, partner of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey.
q Fabien Chalandon, Managing Director of CHART.
q William Holman, Managing Director of Thomson Financial.
Management Team
q Ray Pierce, Chief Executive Officer
q Alan Price, Senior Company Executive
q Martin Augier, Chief Financial Officer and Director of Operations
Curriculum vitaes in respect of the above-named individuals are attached hereto.
In addition, candidates have been identified for positions as Chief Technology Advisor and Head of Legal Operations. These individuals, and other key identified personel, are available to join Telnic in the event that the application to ICANN is successful.
Telnic will also establish a Policy
Advisory Board (PAB), to act as an interface with ICANN and the Internet
community, and to ensure that Telnic’s policies are fair and reasonable in
respect of all Internet interest groups.
C4 ORGANIZATION
PURPOSE
The sole purpose of Telnic is to develop, launch, manage, and operate the new gTLD called .TEL. (Please refer to ‘Policies’ section).
Telnic envisages the launch of .TEL
to be a carefully controlled roll-out.
Telnic’s initial management team has considerable experience of start-up
business operations, and of building high-quality customer service operations
at extreme speed.
Telnic proposes to work with an
established Registry Operator, but Telnic is prepared to open the registration
process to ICANN Accredited Registrars. This process will be designed to ensure
that many Registrars can be appointed to operate the .TEL space to cope with
the expected rapid growth of demand.
Country-Code Registries will be appointed at national levels to operate
each ccSLD, and will be expected to appoint and manage an appropriate
resellers’ programme.
C5 Appropriateness to community
Telnic proposes to implement a unique and innovative domain name addressing system dedicated to voice-video-data delivery. This is a new communication addressing tool, which responds to the converging environment of the Internet and personal communications.
Therefore, Telnic considers that .TEL is a concept that possesses universal value to the Internet community, both present and future.
To develop the market for .TEL, three factors must be considered:
1. The rapid emergence of a wide range of devices. Internet enabled devices which provide mixed voice-video-data capabilities which are likely to converge with traditional telephone systems will need to be addressed.
2. The rapid growth of VoIP. Some forecasts say that the development of VOIP could represent as
much as 30% of telecom traffic by 2003.
3. The need for at least one .TEL address per VoIP Internet enabled device: as the Internet reaches the last mile, need for static IP addresses will dramatically increase as:
(a) any person or company worldwide that has Internet enabled devices capable of sending and receiving communications will need an IP address;
(b) every new Internet enabled device will need a dedicated new address, such as .TEL.; and
(c) an increasing number of electronic devices in the office and the home will become Internet enabled, and therefore require an IP address.
In summary, the .TEL concept when taken to its logical conclusion embraces the entire Internet community, it being the right time in the Internet’s evolution for this proposed new gTLD.
C6 Representation
C6.1 General Representation
Telnic’s business proposal is relevant to the global Internet community. To ensure that a wide range of interests within that community are taken into account in the formulation of Telnic’s commercial and technical policies, Telnic proposes to create a Policy Advisory Board, to advise Telnic’s Executive Management Committee and the Board of Directors.
Telnic is seeking an industry leader to chair its Policy Advisory Board. Cathy Horton, a leading Internet advisor and partner of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey has agreed to serve on the Policy Advisory Board.
The Policy Advisory Board will
operate separately from Telnic’s management structure, and will be able to set
its own terms of reference, in consultation with ICANN. Cathy Horton will be responsible for ensuring
that the members of the Board represent as wide as possible a range of interest
groups within the Internet community. The attached chart (Fig. C-1) shows how the
relationship between Telnic, the Policy Advisory Board, ICANN and the Internet
communities will be structured.
Internet communities will be represented on a local level within each territory by the creation of user groups, and an overall international user group, comprised of territorial representatives, will provide input on policy issues to the Policy Advisory Board.
C6.2 Telnic Foundation
Telnic is aware that predatory pricing in relation to domain names and the development of domain name space generally could affect the development of the Internet. Whilst Telnic has a responsibility to its investors, Telnic proposes to develop pricing policies, particularly for private individuals, which keep costs of domain name registration and maintenance as low as possible.
Telnic intends to
operate a fair pricing policy. Telnic
will also ensure that its business partners and suppliers are able to supply
Telnic services to a verified service level.
Nevertheless,
Telnic’s Board of Directors is aware that additional issues relating to
Telnic’s proposed services and fee structure will need to be considered in more
detail in the future. Telnic is also aware of the example of CORE, which has
introduced a policy of voluntarily donations to ICANN by way of “giving
something back” to the Internet community.
The financial performance of Telnic is subject to uncertainty at this stage. If ICANN grants a licence to Telnic, it will still be difficult to assess the full development potential of the .TEL domain name space, as this will depend on a number of factors, including the terms of any such licence, and the acceptability of the concept by the Internet community once launched. The financial projections which have been provided herein must be treated as largely illustrative until the terms of any licence granted becomes known.
In view of this uncertainty, Telnic proposes the following approach to the issue. Should any licence be granted to Telnic by ICANN, Telnic would agree to establish “The Telnic Foundation”. This would be a charitable body, funded by donations from Telnic. The initial remit of this body could, for example, be research based into open systems to ensure the continued development of the Internet for the benefit of the Internet community as a whole. However, a full remit would be agreed with ICANN at the appropriate time.
Both Telnic and ICANN could nominate independent trustees for The Telnic Foundation. It would be the responsibility of the trustees to establish detailed policies for The Telnic Foundation, and to administer its finances in an agreed manner to benefit the Internet community. The funding of The Telnic Foundation could be based on a registration volume formula, or a share of Telnic’s profits, once Telnic has satisfactorily recouped start-up costs.
C7 Openness & Transparency
Telnic believes that it will be in the interest of the Internet community at large if it conducts its activities with complete openness and transparency. Use of the Telnic.org website will be central to this openness.
As a company regulated by English company law, Telnic is obliged by law to publish its Annual Report and Company Accounts at Companies House. These financial records will be available for public inspection.
The creation of a Policy Advisory Board, and a system of user groups will ensure that the operation of the system is subject to wide scrutiny. The proceedings of these various bodies would be published on the Internet, to ensure a wide consultation process as issues emerge and are identified for decision-making.
C8 Initial Directors and Staff
The details of the initial Board of Directors of Telnic and staff are all detailed in section C3 above. However, for the sake of clarity the initial Directors will be:
q Christopher Kemball, Non-Executive Chairman
q Ray Pierce, Chief Executive Officer of Telnic
q Alan Price, Founding Director, and Senior Executive
q Cathy Horton, partner of Squire Sanders & Dempsey
q Fabien Chalandon, Managing Director of CHART
q William Holman, Managing Director of Thomson Financial
Please refer to appendix for CVs.
C9 Selection of Directors
This section C9 is covered in detail in sections 16 to 20 of the *Proposed Articles of Association attached to this document. All references below are to the Proposed Articles of Association.
* The appendix includes both the existing Articles of Association
and the Proposed Articles of Association.
The latter will be approved by the Telnic Board at the next Board
Meeting scheduled to take place on October 12th 2000.
C9.1 Initial Selection
The initial Directors were selected by a process of a combination of:
1. individuals who have been involved with the process since the inception of the project, and
2. individuals
who have specific skills particular to the success of the operation.
C9.2 Number
C9.3 Disqualification of
Directors
C9.3.1 Retirement
C9.3.2 Vacation
of Office
C9.4.2 Removal
C10 Policy Making Procedure
This section, including Powers of
Directors, Interest in Contracts etc., is dealt with in detail in Sections 16
to 20 in the Articles of Association which is appended to this document. We are
proposing full policy and guidelines in further
sections.
In addition to the provisions of its Articles of Association, Telnic recognizes that there are wider Internet-related policy issues which must be addressed on a continuous basis if Telnic is to operate in this name-space. For this reason, Telnic proposes the establishment of a Policy Advisory Board. The Policy Advisory Board is independent of Telnic, and the Board will be responsible for identifying policy issues, creating dialogue with the Internet community, liaising with ICANN, and advising Telnic in respect of the policy formation.
C11 Meetings and Communication
The policy making procedures of the Company relating to the Directors, and including the proceedings of the Directors, i.e., quorum, alternates, casting votes, telephone meetings etc., are dealt with in Section 18 of the Articles of Association which is appended to this document. Please refer to the Policies section of this proposal.
C12 Fiscal Information
(this information is considered commercially sensitive and we have requested
that all of section C12 be kept confidential)
For the purposes of Telnic’s application, funding has been arranged in the sum of US$1.5 million, with further funding of US$12 million agreed on a second round. CHART has been responsible for organizing this fundraising. (See separate letter from Chart). Investors in Telnic will come from the international Internet community.
Basis of Fees
The whole basis of this proposal is that we see the .TEL space as a way to streamline the method, and simultaneously reduce the costs, of communication throughout the world. To this extent, we have attempted to price the service accordingly, more as a public service rather than an expensive and exclusive facility. Therefore, we have built in assumptions - in an open and deliberately nurtured competitive .TEL market place - which will leave very small margins for the operators of the service, including Sponsors, Registry Operators, and possibly Registrars and Resellers.
Also, we have assumed that the Registry Operator will only deal with Accredited Registrars and not directly with the public, thereby providing, as soon as is practicable, a high degree of competition and a virtual open playing field immediately.
The level of fees in the first years are set at the level of US$10 and US$8 in order to offset the investment required in a start-up operation.
Key Details:
Details |
Yr.1 |
Yr.2 |
Yr.3 |
Yr.4 |
Yr.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fee Level to Registrars (US$) |
$10 |
$8 |
$6.5 |
$5.5 |
$5.25 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
No. of New Domains |
1,090k |
1,625k |
3,500k |
6,120k |
9,780k |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cumulative no. of Domains at Year End |
1,090k |
2,715k |
5,942k |
11,452k |
19,899k |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Headcount |
35 |
62 |
80 |
108 |
108 |
For the purposes of this proposal we have assumed that fees would be payable in two year instalments.
Five Year
Financial Projections
|
YEAR 1 |
YEAR 2 |
YEAR 3 |
YEAR 4 |
YEAR 5 |
TOTAL INCOME |
$39,055,200 |
$35,308,000 |
$73,171,800 |
$100,304,325 |
$118,736,888 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL COST OF REVENUES |
$31,886,820 |
$13,924,190 |
$40,106,985 |
$49,826,649 |
$59,056,487 |
GROSS PROFIT |
$7,168,380 |
$21,383,810 |
$33,064,815 |
$50,477,676 |
$59,680,401 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL COST OF SALES |
$4,632,312 |
$3,288,480 |
$6,028,308 |
$7,431,980 |
$8,664,563 |
TOTAL MARKETING |
$2,489,600 |
$3,313,006 |
$3,989,943 |
$4,637,623 |
$4,637,623 |
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT |
$115,200 |
$138,240 |
$172,800 |
$211,200 |
$259,200 |
TOTAL G&A |
$6,484,240 |
$6,953,301 |
$8,472,617 |
$10,822,072 |
$11,106,235 |
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES |
$13,721,352 |
$13,693,026 |
$18,663,668 |
$23,102,874 |
$24,667,621 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS |
-$6,552,972 |
$7,690,784 |
$14,401,147 |
$27,374,802 |
$35,012,780 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TAX |
$0 |
$2,307,235 |
$4,320,344 |
$8,212,441 |
$10,503,834 |
NET PROFIT |
-$6,552,972 |
$5,383,549 |
$10,080,803 |
$19,162,361 |
$24,508,946 |
CUMULATIVE NET PROFIT |
-$6,552,972 |
-$1,169,423 |
$8,911,379 |
$28,073,741 |
$52,582,687 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH FLOW |
$12,677,628 |
$3,809,949 |
$25,186,803 |
$30,025,721 |
$30,176,786 |
CHANGE IN WORKING CAPITAL REQUIREMENT |
$8,396,640 |
-$2,837,531 |
$4,354,067 |
$2,926,936 |
$1,810,900 |
NET CASH GENERATED |
$4,280,988 |
$6,647,480 |
$20,832,736 |
$27,098,785 |
$28,365,886 |
CUMULATIVE NET CASH |
$4,280,988 |
$10,928,468 |
$31,761,203 |
$58,859,989 |
$87,225,875 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
YEAR 1 |
YEAR 2 |
YEAR 3 |
YEAR 4 |
YEAR 5 |
GROSS MARGIN |
18.35% |
60.56% |
45.19% |
50.32% |
50.26% |
OPERATING MARGIN |
-16.78% |
21.78% |
19.68% |
27.29% |
29.49% |
NET MARGIN |
-16.78% |
15.25% |
13.78% |
19.10% |
20.64% |
FREE CASH GENERATED |
10.96% |
18.83% |
28.47% |
27.02% |
23.89% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Customer base |
YEAR 1 |
YEAR 2 |
YEAR 3 |
YEAR 4 |
YEAR 5 |
New in the Year |
1,090,000 |
1,625,000 |
3,500,000 |
6,120,000 |
9,780,000 |
2 Years+ Old renewed (1) |
0 |
0 |
817,500 |
1,831,875 |
3,998,906 |
1 Year Old prepaid |
0 |
1,090,000 |
1,625,000 |
3,500,000 |
6,120,000 |
Total Year end Domains |
1,090,000 |
2,715,000 |
5,942,500 |
11,451,875 |
19,898,906 |
Attrition |
0 |
0 |
272,500 |
610,625 |
1,332,969 |
(1) net of attrition |
|
|
|
|
|
New+Renewals sold in the year |
1,090,000 |
1,625,000 |
4,317,500 |
7,951,875 |
13,778,906 |
The company is not yet operational, consequently there are no historical records with respect to audits, annual reports or annual statements. The summary above is however the culmination of an extremely complex spreadsheet model which includes a detailed P&L by Month, Cash Flow statements, Balance Sheets and a variety of Accounting statistics. This model is available to ICANN should it be required and we are happy to respond to detailed questions.
C13 Liability
C13.1 Indemnity
C13.2 Insurance
Both these subjects are dealt
with in Article 23 of the Articles of Association (as attached).
C14 Amendment of Articles of Incorporation
Amendments to the Articles of Association is governed by English company law, which, in brief, states that the Articles of Association can only be amended by way of passing a special resolution of the members of the company. Once the members pass the special resolution, the amended Articles of Associations will require approval of the Board of Directors. Changes of this nature to the company’s constitutional documents require filing at Companies House.
C15 Reconsideration and Review
As an English company, certain
company documents will have to be filed at Companies House therefore, Telnic’s
affairs will be the subject of public scrutiny. The result is that the affairs of Telnic will always be capable
of assessment by ICANN and other interested parties. Should issues emerge that require adaptation of Telnic policies,
these can be discussed, particularly within the remit of the Policy Advisory
Board. Telnic will need to take account
of this advice in formulating its ongoing policies.
II Proposed extent of Policy-Formulation
Authority
C16 DELEGATION OF
POLICY-FORMULATION AUTHORITY
C16.1 Scope of authority sought
Our organization seeks a very basic
management and development remit for .TEL. It is a necessary authority that is
a consequence and result, and a natural evolution to creating the namespace.
Telnic will sit firmly within present Internet constitutions and governing frameworks – such as the ICANN Disputes Policy, or Accredited Registrar Policies. However there are mitigating circumstances, as we explain further in this document, applicable to .TEL that dictate the forming of a small focused policy-formulation structure that would be accountable to ICANN - and probably involve ICANN.
The scope of authority required by Telnic to fully develop and implement .TEL is comprised of and is limited to:
1. the consensus led development and implementation of all subdomains below the gTLD of .TEL; and
2. the development of policy guidelines and structures regarding country codes, and other possible future sub-level domains. This would be confined to the following issues and remits:
Deciding
all subdomains
q determining whether subdomains will be restricted or unrestricted; and
q ensuring that all sub-addressing is implemented in a stable, equitable and consistent manner.
In addition to the above policy terms of reference, Telnic and its management would be honoured to be chosen as guardian of the .TEL gTLD - accountable to ICANN and the Internet community and would act as:
q a coordinating body for related technical and other integral matters;
q a body that strives to protect the integrity of .TEL; and
q a registry and focal point to co-ordinate and liaise with ICANN and other Internet bodies on a cross-section of applicable matters.
In the fast moving and changing environment of especially the mobile-Internet, it is believed that there may be a need to determine additional policy that could arise in due course within the .TEL domain. It may therefore be necessary to establish a periodical review system with ICANN to keep abreast of such changes.
C16.2 Reasons/justifications for seeking authority
With any new gTLD, there is demand to introduce subdomains and to demarcate these along restricted or unrestricted lines, taking into account the many parameters and issues. .TEL is no exception to this.
Telnic believes therefore, that a dedicated and transparent managing entity is essential to develop and coordinate the special needs of .TEL.
With respect to country code SLDs under .TEL, it is Telnic’s opinion that these should be developed and organized on the basis of being a public service that takes into account national circumstances within the respective country. Towards this goal, Telnic understands the importance of organizing and developing structures that facilitate (a) all guidelines and narrow policies to develop these specific subdomains; and (b) systems for the selection and management of country code SLDs within respective countries.
This work and development will be consensus led, transparent and equitable, working within, and subject to, established Internet policies and principles as enshrined by ICANN.
C16.3. Method of guaranteeing
that your organization will administer the policy in the interest of the
Internet at large: and
Telnic will put in place a representative system to assist and guide the development of any “small-footprint” guidelines and policies (see section C16.1). Central to this will be the adoption of a fixed Policy Advisory Board, made-up of various experienced and qualified people who are knowledgeable and representative in fields appropriate to .TEL.
Telnic believes that the
representation and participation by ICANN on its Policy Advisory Board would be
both beneficial and productive. This will be on the basis of the following
organizational chart. (Please see Fig. C-1 in the following pages).
As stated above, Telnic will ensure that all decision-making will be
transparent and open to the public at the Telnic.org web site. With full
history and access to decisions and all relevant publications and related
matters.
Overall, this is a broad subject that will need to be discussed and shaped in detail with ICANN.
C16.4. Whether variation from
existing ICANN policies is intended at the opening of the new TLD
As stated in C16.4 above, Telnic does not wish to deviate from the key principles established by ICANN. Telnic’s objective is to adopt mainly existing structures to meet the special requirements of the .TEL namespace. Telnic propose a two-phase rollout for .TEL to create a stable and measured environment for its introduction. This strategy should also allow sufficient time to develop Telnic’s consensus-led guidelines for its various subdomains.
‘Phase 1’ of rollout will be only for second-level registrations. ‘Phase 2’ will be for agreed subdomains. It is in this ‘Phase 2’ that Telnic wishes to over-lay various narrow guidelines and principles. (Please see Fig. C-2 in the following pages).
(Fig. C-1)
* 'Phase 1' will be approx 12-18 months
duration, thereafter 'Phase 2' will be implemented. CcSLDs will be implemented
in ‘Phase 2’. ** A temporary quarantine will apply in ‘Phase
1’ to ensure that the proper structuring and implementation of .TEL, with all
essential subdomain, is done in a stable and coordinated way, considering all
factors. C17 Identification of
Registry Operator The details of the Registry Operator
are:- CentralNic www.centralnic.com 163
New King’s Road London SW6 4SN United
Kingdom Email:
info@centralnic.com Tel: +44(0)20 7751 9000 Fax: +44(0)20 7736 9253 C18 CONTRACT WITH REGISTRY OPERATOR C18.2 Proposed Terms of Contract The proposed terms of a contract
between CentralNic and Telnic are contained in an agreement signed by both
parties and included in the Appendix.
APPENDIX
TO SPONSORING ORGANIZATION’s PROPOSAL
C
Vs FOR TELNIC DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT CHRISTOPHER KEMBALL CHAIRMAN, TELNIC LIMITED Christopher Kemball, 53, is an experienced
senior executive, with a background in Corporate Finance and Capital Markets.
In recent years his capital markets experience has been focussed particularly
on telecommunications and related sectors. From 1992 to 1999 he worked for Baring
Bros, later ING Barings in several capacities. From 1994 to 1997 he was Global
Head of Emerging Markets for Corporate Finance. After ING acquired Barings in
1997 he became Regional Head of Corporate Finance for EMEA in the combined
firm, responsible for 500 staff in 11 international offices. Finally, in 1999
he became a member of the European Management Committee in ING Barings Limited,
with responsibility for major client relationships and transactions in the
region. In this role he he was rsponsible for teams carrying out major
transactions in Poland, and capital raisings in the cellular telephone sector
in Russia, Romania and Slovakia. From 1986 to 1992 he was Managing Director
and Partner in Dillon Read & Co Inc initially based in New York, and
subsequently Co-Head of Europe, based in London. In this role he was
responsible for developing the successful joint venture in London between
Dillon read and Societe Generale de Belgique. He conceived and executed the
firm’s strategy in corporate finance, European equity research and brokerage,
and asset management, particularly development capital. He acquired extensive
experience in the development capital sphere, raising 5 private equity funds in
UK, France and Spain, the largest of which raised £200 mn. In 1992. The
partners of Dillon Read bought the business from the owners, Travelers Insurance
Company of the US. At that time Barings bought a 40% equity stake, conditional
on Dillon Read transferring its European operations to Barings. This resulted
in Mr Kemball transferring with the business to the Barings organization. From 1975 to 1986 Mr Kemball was Director,
Corporate Finance for Kleinwort Benson Limited. From 1984 to 1986 he was based
in New York, focusing on US/UK mergers and capital raising. Prior to 1984 he
was based in the UK corporate finance department in London, where he worked on
a wide range of UK IPOs, equity capital issues, and mergers and acquisitions
for publicly quoted companies. This included work on a number of UK
privatisations of government owned corporations, requiring close liaison with
the UK Treasury and other government departments. From 1968 to 1975, Mr Kemball served in the
British Army, achieving the rank of Acting Major. He served in Germany, and saw
active service in Northern Ireland and the Sultanate of Oman. He was awarded
the MBE (Gallantry) and the Sultan’s Distinguished Service Medal for Gallantry. At the end of 1999 Mr Kemball left ING
Barings at his own request to pursue a Non-Executive and advisory career. He is
currently a Non-Executive at BPT Plc, The Davis Services Group Plc, and Control
Risks Group Limited. Mr Kemball has a degree in law from
Cambridge University. FABIEN CHALANDON NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TELNIC LIMITED Fabien Chalandon , 47, is a French
national, and is a senior banker for CHART in Europe. He has extensive
experience in corporate finance, and from 1992 until recently was a private
banker to one of the wealthiest families in France, running their investment
company and their personal finances. He has been involved in the Telnic project
since the end of 1999, as acting-Chief Executive Officer, and has been
responsible for structuring the initial fund-raising to launch the project. Mr Chalandon started his business career
with Lazard Freres et Cie in Paris (1977), where he was active in the field of
corporate finance in France, as well as business developments in Brazil. He
remained with Lazards until 1983, with a one-year interruption, in 1979, when
he was Commercial Attache at the French Embassy in Brazil. Between 1883 and 1986, Mr Chalandon ran his
own advisory firm, based in London, specialising n the oil-refining and
distribution sectors. From 1986 to 1988, Mr Chalandon was a main board director
of Parafrance, a French media group, where he carried out a restructuring. From 1988 to 1992 Mr Chalandon was a senior
corporate finance executive with the US investment bank Dillon Read, based in
its London office, and focussed on extending its French business activities in
mergers and acquisitions, private equity investment, and debt financing. Mr Chalandon has extensive business experience
in Europe, Brazil, Venezuela, India the Far East, and USA in mergers and
acquisitions, private equity, wealth management, and in operating companies in
France. Mr Chalandon sits on the boards of four private equity funds, Hibernia
Capital Partners in Ireland, Access Capital Partners, Three Cities Research
Europe, and Banexi Ventures II in France, is a co-gerant of the Paris based
oil-exploration company Madison/CHART
Energy and a board member of
Sogeres, the third largest catering group in France, and of Teraillon
Ltd., a world leader in scales. Mr Chalandon is an occasional writer on
political topics in several major French daily newspapers, is a graduate
of HEC and a Chevalier de la Legion
d’Honneur, the top French honour granted to him for his contribution to french
financial and political affairs, at the personal request of the French
President, Mr J Chirac. RAYMOND F PIERCE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, TELNIC. Ray Pierce, 54, is a seasoned senior
executive, with experience at the highest level in general management, business
development and marketing. He has been involved in the launch and development
of three major businesses – Guardian Direct (a subsidiary of Guardian Royal
Exchange (GRE) Plc), The Mortgage Corporation (a subsidiary of Salomon Inc),
and American Express Financial Services. His senior management career
culminated in his appointment in 1997 to the Main Board of GRE, then one of the
top-100 companies on the UK Stock Exchange From 1993 to 1999 he worked for GRE,
joining the company initially to establish Guardian Direct, a direct insurance
underwriter. Guardian Direct grew rapidly, and within 3 years was the third
largest direct writer in the UK market for motor, home and health insurance,
employing some 1000 staff in a virtual call-centre system. In 1997, Guardian
Direct was named winner of the “European Call Centre of the Year” award, for
outstanding customer service. During his GRE career, Pierce was also
appointed Managing Director for all UK General Insurance, in January 1997,
responsible for three major business units and over 5000 staff. He was also
responsible for rolling out the Guardian Direct business in other territories,
specifically South Africa and Ireland. Finally, in 1997 he was appointed to the
GRE Main Board, with worldwide responsibility for Marketing. From 1992 to 1993 he was Chief Executive of
Robson Rhodes, Chartered Accountants and Management Consultants. Prior to that
period, from 1986 to 1991 he was a founding director of The Mortgage
Corporation, a subsidiary of Salomon Inc, based in the UK. Pierce was initially
Director of Marketing and Sales, and in 1990 became Chief Executive. From 1982
to 1986 he was a Vice-President with American Express with responsibilities
covering the UK and Ireland. He was initially responsible for Strategic
Planning and Business Development, and in 1984 became responsible for Consumer
Marketing for all Amex Card, Travellers Cheques and Travel products. Pierce has a first degree in Economics and
Philosophy from the University of East Anglia, and a post-graduate
qualification in Operational Research from Brunel University. He is Chairman of
the Council of SPARKS (Medical Research) Charity, and a Trustee of the National
Motor Museum in the UK. He is currently Chairman of Dragons Plc, a
small quoted UK company in the Health and Fitness sector, and Chairman of
Homeowners Friendly Society Limited, a mutual financial organisation. From 1996 to 1999 he worked for Guardian Royal
Exchange (GRE) initially as the
individual in charge of the integration of the RAC Insurance Service acquisition
with Guardian Direct. This required the
consolidation of the acquired operation, the closure of 5 different offices and
the assimilation of the remainder into the Guardian Direct Operation. This created a virtual Telephone Service
operation in 4 sites with over 1000 people linked. After this he was asked to direct the Y2k project for GRE
the parent company in the UK. This £50m
project was swiftly brought under control and GRE suffered no mishaps on the change of Millennium. During this period he was made Executive
Operations Director for GRE in the UK with a specific remit to restructure the
entire operational base of the Company.
In the process of this project the Company was acquired by AXA and
Martin elected to accept the termination package to pursue other business
ventures. Between 1992 &1996 Martin worked as an Internal
Consultant to Hill Samuel Bank a subsidiary of TSB who were going through a
very difficult time. His role consisted
mainly of managing the closure, sale or restructuring of a number of operating
units of the Bank. Eventually after the
merger of Lloyds & TSB it was decided to close the Bank. During 1989 and 1990 Martin was the Executive Operations
Director for the Household Finance Corporation which was going through a major
changes and rationalisation. Martin was
responsible in the time he was there for Opening a New Operating Centre for the
Bank to handle all the Back Office functions previously handled in the
Branches. This was a £20m project which
resulted in the sustained reduction of 150 back office jobs. Prior to this Martin spent 15 years at American Express
where he started as an Internal Auditor and ended as Vice president of
Operations for the UK. It was in this
job that Martin gained the experience which has served him so well. He was responsible for all the customer
service activities for the American Express Card Operation. He introduced the EFTPOS programme for
American Express in Europe and was responsible for many innovations while he
was VP of Operations and Finance Controller for the UK. Prior to working at American Express Martin was an
articled clerk at a small firm of Chartered Accountants in London, he qualified
at his first attempt and one of the youngest ever to qualify as a Chartered
Accountant at the age of 21. Currently Martin is currently involved
property development and 3 New Car Franchises in Sussex and also undertakes
occasional consulting assignments. CATHY BOSWORTH HORTON DIRECTOR AND PARTNER OF SQUIRE, SANDERS
& DEMPSEY FULL DETAILS ARE INCLUDED IN THE REGISTRY
OPERATOR’S PROPOSAL
ALAN PRICE FOUNDER, AND SENIOR EXECUTIVE OF TELNIC LIMITED Alan Price is 45, a UK national, and founding director
of Telnic Limited. Mr Price is a telecommunications and Internet expert,
with extensive and in-depth knowledge and experience of the technological,
business and legal issues raised in this revolutionary medium. Alan Price has a
long experience in television and multimedia, this being prior to his work in
telecommunications and the Internet. This included a career at Independent Television
in the UK, and VideoPitchUK, a multimedia production company providing services
to the advertising industry. Since the early 1990's, Mr Price has been an advisor
and consultant providing specialist advice and development on multimedia,
telecommunications, numbering, interactive and Internet projects. Clients
include: British Airways, Daily Mail, RAC, Save & Prosper, Freepages-Scoot,
and the establishing of the UK National Lottery. He is also founder and a
director of Dial It Communications Limited, a leader in the field of interactive
directory and information systems, and the company is also a Telecommunication
Service License holder. Mr Price is also an advisor to various groups,
including Oftel (the UK telecommunications regulator), and he has been involved
on several working and development groups for Oftel including: Developing
Numbering Administration, and Provision of Directory Information. Mr Price was a founding member of the Internet Council
of Registrars (CORE) when it was originally formed. This was with Networks of
the UK, who are now not part of CORE. He developed and led this project with
Networks. He is also the founder and developer of NET TVÔ in
the UK, a new interactive platform for the converged Internet-television
environment. WILLIAM G HOLMAN NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TELNIC LIMITED William Holman has extensive international
experience in financial and operational management. His current executive
position is as Managing Director, Latin America for Thomson Financial, based in
New York. He is responsible for regional development and management of all
activities for this $1.4 bn. financial information company. The business is
active in local market client development, joint ventures in e-publishing and
local Internet information distribution. From 1993 to 1996, Mr Holman held senior
positions with ING/Barings in New York, first as President and Chief Executive
Office of Baring Brothers and Co., a managed NYSE firm with revenues of $140,
involved in research, underwriting and sales of international securities from
28 markets to North American institutional investors. He then became a senior
Managing Director in ING/Barings (US) Securities Holdings, where he managed the
firm’s equity division, and was a member of the ING Regional Management
Committee. From 1988 to 1993 he was with The Thomson
Corporation in Stamford Connecticut, where he was a Director of First Call
Corporation, a global fixed-income research distribution service for
institutions, and prior to that he held the position of Chief Financial Officer
of Thomson Financial Services, which was at that time a $500 mn. financial
information services group. From 1982 to 1988 he held positions in Shearson
Lehman Brothers and British and
Commonwealth Holdings. Mr Holman has degrees from the University
of Pennsylvania, New York University and an MBA from Columbia University. He
also has a Graduate Diploma from Oxford University, and worked in the fine arts
world before entering the financial community. THE COMPANIES ACT 1985 PRIVATE COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION (adopted by Special Resolution passed on ·
September 2000) OF TELNIC LIMITED Registered Number
3555437 Incorporated 28
April 1998 CONTENTS 5. Redeemable Shares and purchase of own shares 6. Annual Accounts and Annual General Meetings 12. Restricted and Permitted Transfers 17. Disqualification of Directors
THE COMPANIES ACT 1985 COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF TELNIC LIMITED adopted by Special Resolution passed on ·
September 2000)
1.1
The regulations contained or incorporated in Table A in the
Schedule to the Companies (Tables A to F) Regulations 1985 as amended as at the
date of adoption of these Articles (“Table A”) shall, except where the
same are excluded or varied by or are inconsistent with these Articles, apply
to the Company. 1.2
The regulations numbered 3, 40, 41, 50, 53, 54, 64 to 68
(inclusive), 73 to 78 (inclusive), 81, 87, 89, 93 to 98 (inclusive) and 112 of
Table A shall not apply to the Company and in lieu thereof and in addition to
the remaining regulations of Table A (subject to the modifications hereinafter
expressed) the Articles hereinafter contained shall constitute the regulations
of the Company. 1.3
No other regulations set out in any statute or statutory
instrument concerning companies shall apply as regulations of the Company. 2.1
Definitions In these Articles unless the
context otherwise requires: “Accounts” shall have the meaning given to such term in
Article 6.1. “Act” means the Companies Act 1985. “Allocation Notice” shall have the meaning given in Article 13.9. “Annual Business Plan” means the annual business plan of the
Company current in respect of each financial year of the Company prepared in
accordance with clause 6.4 of the Subscription and Shareholders’ Agreement. “’A’ Ordinary Shares” means the preferred ‘A’ ordinary shares
of £0.02 each in the capital of the Company, the rights and restrictions
attaching to which are set out in these Articles. “Applicant” shall have the meaning given in Article 13.9. “Appropriate Offer” shall bear the meaning given to such
term in Article 14.2. “Completion Articles” means these articles of association in
their present form or as amended from time to time and the expressions “this Article” and “Article” shall be construed
accordingly. “Board” means the board of directors of the Company from
time to time or any duly authorised committee thereof. “Chart Director” means the Director appointed by Chart in
accordance with clause 7.4 of the Subscription and Shareholders’ Agreement from
time to time. “Chief Executive Officer” means the Director appointed
pursuant to clause 7.6 of the Subscription and Shareholders’ Agreement from
time to time. “Companies Acts” means every statute concerning companies
and all orders, regulations and other subordinate legislation made under each
of them from time to time in force insofar as the same applies to the Company (whether
or not called a Companies Act or within the statutory citation of the Act). “connected person” means a person connected with
another within the meaning of Section 839 of the Income and Corporation Taxes
Act 1988 and the term “connected with”
shall be construed accordingly. “Controlling Interest” means an interest (within the meaning
of Section 324, and Part I of Schedule 13 of the Act) in shares in a company
conferring, in aggregate, 50 per cent. or more of the total voting rights
conferred by all the issued shares in such company. “Conversion Date” means the earlier of a Sale Date, a
Listing Date or the first date after the date upon which these Articles are
adopted by the Company upon which the Company pays any dividend in respect of
any of the Shares (whether such dividend is satisfied by the payment of money
by the Company or by the transfer of any of the Company’s assets), if any. “Convertible Deferred Non-Voting Ordinary Shares” means the
convertible deferred non-voting ordinary shares of £0.02 each in the capital of
the Company. “Deed of Adherence” means a deed supplemental to the
Subscription and Shareholders’ Agreement substantially in the form set out in
schedule 6 thereof whereby a person who acquires Shares may be bound by, and be
entitled to the benefit of, certain provisions of, the Subscription and
Shareholders’ Agreement. “Directors” means the directors of the Company from time to
time. “Employee” means a director or employee of any Group
Company. “Excess Shares” shall have the meaning given in Article 13.9. “Family Transfer” shall have the meaning given in Article 12.4. “Family Trust” means, in relation to any Shareholder or his
Privileged Relations, a trust whether arising under: (A) a settlement inter vivos; or (B) a testamentary disposition; or (C) on an intestacy in respect of which Shares are
held and under which no beneficial interest in the Shares in question is for
the time being vested in any person other than the Shareholder or a Privileged
Relation of such Shareholder and no power of control over the voting rights
conferred by such Shares is for the time being exercisable by or subject to the
consent of any person other than the trustees of the Family Trust concerned or
the Shareholder concerned or his Privileged Relations. “Financial Period” means an accounting period in respect of
which the Company prepares its accounts in accordance with the Companies Acts. “First Share Option Scheme” means the unapproved share option
scheme in respect of ·
Ordinary Shares to be adopted on or about · September 2000, exercisable in accordance with the
terms thereof at £· per
Ordinary Share. “Founders” means the persons whose names are set out in part
1 of schedule 1 of the Subscription and Shareholders’ Agreement and “Founder” includes any of them. “Group” means the Company and all the other companies which
are subsidiaries of the Company and the expression “Group Company” shall be construed accordingly. “Investment Fund” shall have the meaning given in Article 12.7(B). “Investment Manager” shall have the meaning given in Article
12.7(A). “Investor Group” shall have the meaning given in Article
14.2. “Investors” means the persons whose names are set out in
part 2 of schedule 1 of the Subscription and Shareholders’ Agreement plus any
person who has acceded to the Subscription and Shareholders’ Agreement as an
Investor, and “Investor”
includes any of them. “Investor
Majority” means the holders from time to time of at least 50 per cent.
(in nominal value) of the ‘A’ Ordinary Shares held by the Investors from time
to time. “Issue Price” means, in respect of a Share, the
aggregate of the amount paid up or credited as paid up in respect of the
nominal value thereof and any share premium thereon. “Listing” means the admission of any part of the equity
share capital of the Company to the Official List of the UK Listing Authority
and admission to trading on the Stock Exchange or the grant of permission to
deal in the same on any other Recognised Investment Exchange. “Listing Date” means the date upon which a Listing becomes
effective. “London Stock Exchange” means The London Stock Exchange
Limited. “Ordinary Shares” means
the ordinary shares of £0.02 each in the capital of the Company, the rights and
restrictions attached to which are set out in these Articles. “Original Transferor” shall have the meaning given in
Article 12.5. “Privileged Relation” means the wife or husband (or common
law wife or husband) or adult child or adult grandchild (including any adopted
adult child or adopted adult grandchild) of a Shareholder. “Proportionate Entitlement” shall have the meaning given in
Article 13.9. “Recognised Investment Exchange” means a recognised
investment exchange within the meaning of Section 207 of the Financial Services
Act 1986 or Section 285 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. “Relevant Shares” means (to the extent the same remain for
the time being held by a transferee of Shares acquired by means of a transfer
permitted by Article 12) the Shares originally transferred to such person and
any additional Shares issued to such person by way of capitalisation or
acquired by such person in exercise of any right or option granted or arising
by virtue of the holding of such Shares or any of them or the membership
thereby conferred. “Sale Date” means the date upon which an acquisition of
Shares is completed and, as a result, any person (or persons acting in concert
with him) acquire a number of equity shares in the capital of the Company as,
when aggregated with any such equity shares, if any, held by such person or
persons on that date result in such person or persons acquiring a Controlling
Interest (and the term “Sale”
shall be construed accordingly). “Sale Price” shall have the meaning given to such term in
Article 13.1. “Sale
Shares” shall have the meaning given in Article 13.1. “Second Share Option Scheme” means the unapproved share
option scheme in respect of ·
Ordinary Shares to be adopted on or about · September 2000, exercisable in accordance with the
terms thereof at £· per
Ordinary Share. “Senior
Employee” means an employee of
any Group Company whose basic salary exceeds £125,000 per annum. “Settlor” shall have the meaning given to such term in
Articles 12.3 and 13.3. “Shares” means the “A” Ordinary
Shares, the Ordinary Shares and the Convertible Deferred Non-Voting Ordinary
Shares or any of them as the context so requires, and the expression “Shareholder” shall be construed
accordingly. “Stock Exchange” means The London Stock Exchange Limited. “Subscription and Shareholders’ Agreement” means the
Agreement dated ·
September 2000 between (1) the Company, (2) the Founders, (3) Chart and (4) the
Investors as amended from time to time. “Termination Date” means the
date on which a person ceases to be a director or employee of any Group Company
and does not continue to be a director or employee of any Group Company. “Total Transfer Condition” shall have the meaning given in
Article 13.6. “Transfer Notice” shall have the meaning given to such term
in Article 13.1 save that, where the context admits, such term shall
also include a Transfer Notice deemed to have been served pursuant to any other
regulation of these Articles. “Transferor” shall have the meaning given in Article 13.1. “Transferor Group Company” shall have the meaning given in
Article 12.5. “Trust Transfer” shall have the meaning given in Article 12.3. “UK Listing Authority” means the competent authority for the
time being for the purposes of Part IV of the Financial Services Act 1986 or
Part VI of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. (A)
Any words or expressions defined in the Companies Acts shall
bear the same meaning in these Articles. (B)
References to statutory provisions shall be construed as
references to those provisions as amended or re-enacted or as their application
is modified by other provisions from time to time and shall include references
to any provisions of which they are re-enactments (whether with or without
modification). (C)
The headings, sub-headings and any contents pages are inserted
for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of these Articles. (D)
References to a “person”
include any individual, company, body corporate, corporation sole or aggregate,
government, state or agency of a state, firm, partnership, joint venture,
association, organisation or trust (in each case whether or not having separate
legal personality and irrespective of the jurisdiction in or under the law of
which it was incorporated or exists) and a reference to any of them shall
include a reference to the others. (E)
Where for any purpose an ordinary resolution of the Company is
required, a special or extraordinary resolution shall also be effective, and
where an extraordinary resolution is required a special resolution shall also
be effective. 3.1
Authorised Share
Capital The share capital of the Company
as at the date of the adoption of these Articles is £· divided into · ‘A’
Ordinary Shares, ·
Ordinary Shares and 8,960 Convertible Deferred Non-Voting Ordinary Shares. 3.2
Rights and Restrictions The special rights and
restrictions attached to and imposed on each class of Shares are as set out in
these Articles. Subject to the provisions of,
respectively, the Companies Acts, these Articles, the Subscription and
Shareholders’ Agreement and to any direction to the contrary which may be given
by ordinary or other resolution of the Company, any unissued Shares (whether
forming part of the original or any increased capital) shall be at the disposal
of the Directors who may offer, allot, grant options over or grant any right or
rights to subscribe for such Shares or any right or rights to convert any
security into such Shares or otherwise dispose of them to such persons, at such
times, for such consideration and upon such terms and conditions as the
Directors may determine. For the purposes of Section 80 of
the Act and save as hereinafter provided, the Directors are generally and
unconditionally authorised to exercise all powers of the Company to allot
relevant securities (as defined in the said Section) up to an aggregate nominal
amount of £·
PROVIDED ALWAYS THAT no relevant securities shall be allotted other than in
accordance with the terms of these Articles, the Subscription and Shareholders’
Agreement, the rules of the First Share
Option Scheme and of the Second Share Option Scheme and such authority shall
expire at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company. 4.3
Pre-emption Section 89(1) of the Act shall not
apply to the Company. 5.1
Issue, purchase and
payment Subject to the provisions of the
Companies Acts and these Articles the Company may: (A)
issue Shares on terms that they are (or are at the option of
the Company or the members concerned) liable to be redeemed; (B)
purchase shares (including any redeemable shares); and (C)
make payment in respect of the redemption or purchase
(pursuant to Sections 159 and 160 or, as the case may be, Section 162 of the
Act and the relevant powers above) of any of its own shares otherwise than out
of distributable profits of the Company or the proceeds of a fresh issue of
shares to the extent permitted by Sections 171 and 172 of the Act. Within 3 months of the end of each
Financial Period, the Directors shall cause to be prepared and, so far as
within their power, audited, in accordance with the provisions of the Companies
Acts: (A)
a balance sheet of the Company, and, if the Company then has any subsidiaries, a consolidated
balance sheet of the Company and such subsidiaries as at the end of such
Financial Period; (B)
a profit and loss account of the Company, and, if the Company
then has any subsidiaries, a consolidated profit and loss account of the
Company and such subsidiaries for such Financial Period; and (C)
a statement setting out the source and use of the Company’s
funds in such Financial Period and, if the Company then has any subsidiaries, a
consolidated statement of the source and use of the Company and its
subsidiaries’ funds in such Financial Period including, in each such case, the
notes thereto and the directors’ report and auditors’ report thereon (which
said balance sheet and profit and loss account, notes and reports are
collectively referred to herein as the “Accounts”). An annual general meeting of the
Company shall be held within 4 months of the end of each Financial Period, at
such time and place as the Directors shall determine, and the Directors shall
cause to be laid before each such annual general meeting the Accounts for the
immediately preceding Financial Period together with the respective reports
thereon of the Directors and of the Auditors, such reports complying with the
provisions of the Companies Acts. In the event of a winding-up of
the Company or other return of capital the assets of the Company available for
distribution to shareholders remaining after payment of all other debts and
liabilities of the Company and of the costs, charges and expenses of any such
winding-up shall be applied in the following manner and order of priority: (A)
first, in paying to the holders of the ‘A’ Ordinary Shares (in
proportion to the numbers of ‘A’ Ordinary Shares held by each of them) all
unpaid accruals of any dividends declared but not paid at such date in respect
thereof; and (B)
second, in paying to the holders of the Ordinary Shares (in
proportion to the numbers of Ordinary Shares held by each of them) all unpaid
accruals of any dividends declared but not paid at such date in respect
thereof; (C)
third, in paying to the holders of the ‘A’ Ordinary Shares (in
proportion to the number of ‘A’ Ordinary Shares held by each of them) the Issue
Price of such “A” Ordinary Shares; and (D)
fourth, in paying to the holders of Ordinary Shares (in
proportion to the number of Ordinary Shares held by each of them) the Issue Price
of such Ordinary Shares; and (E)
last, in distributing the balance amongst the holders of the
‘A’ Ordinary Shares and the Ordinary Shares pari
passu as if they were all shares of the same class. Subject to any special rights or
restrictions as to voting attached to any Shares by or in accordance with these
Articles, on a show of hands, every holder of Ordinary Shares and/or of “A”
Ordinary Shares who (being an individual) is present in person or by proxy or
(being a corporation) is present by a representative not being himself a holder
of Ordinary Shares and/or of “A” Ordinary Shares shall have one vote and on a
poll every holder of Ordinary Shares and/or of “A” Ordinary Shares who is
present in person or by proxy or (being a corporation) is present by a
representative or by proxy shall (except as hereinafter provided) have one vote
for every Ordinary Share and one vote for every “A” Ordinary Share of which, in
each case, he is or represents the holder.
The holders of Convertible Deferred Non-Voting Ordinary Shares shall
have no rights to vote in respect of such Convertible Deferred Non-Voting
Ordinary Shares, either on a show of hands or on a poll. 8.2
Written Resolutions Subject to the provisions of the
Companies Acts, a resolution in writing signed by all the members of the
Company who would be entitled to receive notice of and to attend and vote at a
general meeting of the Company, or by their duly appointed attorneys, shall be
as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a general meeting of the
Company duly convened and held. Any
such resolution may be contained in one document or in several documents in the
same terms each signed by one or more of the members or their duly appointed
attorneys and signature, in the case of a body corporate which is a member,
shall be sufficient if made by a director or the secretary thereof or by its
duly authorised representative. 9.1
Listing and Sale On a Conversion Date, each of the
Convertible Deferred Non-Voting Ordinary Shares then in issue shall
automatically convert into one Ordinary Share.
Each Ordinary Share arising on conversion shall be credited as paid up
as to the same extent as that to which the Convertible Deferred Non-Voting
Ordinary Share which was converted was paid up or credited as paid up. Any
conversion pursuant to this Article 9.1 shall be made on the following terms: (A)
it shall be effected at no cost to the holders of the
Convertible Deferred Non-Voting Ordinary Shares concerned; (B)
on the Conversion Date the Company shall issue to the persons
entitled thereto certificates for the Ordinary Shares resulting from the
conversion and the certificates for the Convertible Deferred Non-Voting
Ordinary Shares falling to be converted shall be deemed invalid for all
purposes and the holders thereof shall be bound to deliver their Convertible
Deferred Non-Voting Ordinary Share certificates (or such indemnity in lieu
thereof as the Company may reasonably require) to the Company forthwith for
cancellation; and (C)
the Ordinary Shares arising on conversion of any Convertible
Deferred Non-Voting Ordinary Shares shall in all respects rank as one class of
shares with the existing Ordinary Shares then in issue. Subject to the provisions of the
Companies Acts and to the provisions of these Articles the Company may by
ordinary resolution from time to time declare dividends to be paid to the
members according to their respective rights and priorities and interests in
the profits available for distribution. No dividend shall be declared in
excess of the amount recommended by the Board and the determination of the
Board as to the amount of the profits available for dividends shall be
conclusive. The Company may, upon the
recommendation of the Board, by ordinary resolution direct payment of a
dividend in whole or in part by the distribution of specific assets (and in
particular of paid up shares or debentures of any Group Company) and the Board
shall give effect to such resolution. Every dividend shall be apportioned and paid to the
appropriate shareholders proportionately according to the amounts of nominal
value paid up or credited as paid up on the Shares of the relevant class held
by them respectively during any portion or portions of the period in respect of
which the dividend is payable and shall accrue on a daily basis and, for the
purpose of such apportionment, the Shares shall be treated as if they comprised
a single class. The special rights attached to any
class of Shares may (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the
Shares of that class) be varied or abrogated, whether or not the Company is
being wound up, either with the consent in writing of the holders of 75 per
cent. (in nominal value) of the issued Shares of that class or with the
sanction of an extraordinary resolution passed at a separate general meeting of
such holders, but not otherwise. All
the provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings of the Company
shall apply mutatis mutandis to every
such separate meeting, except that: (A)
the necessary quorum shall
be two persons present in person or by proxy or by a duly authorised
representative of a member which is a corporation, together holding not less
than one half (in nominal value) of the issued Shares of the class or, at any
adjourned meeting of such holders, one person so present holding not less than
one-quarter (in nominal value) of the issued Shares of the relevant class; and (B)
any holder of shares of the class present in person or by proxy
or by a duly authorised representative of a member which is a corporation may
demand a poll. (A)
Convertible Deferred Non-Voting Ordinary Shares may not be
transferred, and references in Article 12 and Article 13 to “Shares” shall,
accordingly, be read as references to all Shares other than Convertible
Deferred Non-Voting Ordinary Shares. Any Shares may be transferred
pursuant to an Appropriate Offer. A transfer of any Shares held by a
Shareholder or a Privileged Relation of a Shareholder (the “Settlor”) may be made to
trustees upon a Family Trust and, on a change of trustees, by such trustees to
the new trustees of the same Family Trust without restrictions as to price or
otherwise (a “Trust Transfer”)
PROVIDED THAT: (A)
the Company will not incur any costs in connection with the
setting up or administration of the Family Trust concerned; and (B)
before a Trust Transfer is effected, the trustees of such
Family Trust shall give a written notice to the Company (in a form reasonably
acceptable to the Company) that there is no provision under the terms of the
Family Trust which would expressly prohibit the trustees thereof from (a)
giving, on a Sale or Listing, such warranties and indemnities (subject only to
reasonable limits upon such trustees’ liability) as trustees of such Family
Trust to enable such Sale or Listing to be effected and (b) observing any
restrictions (whether relating to the disposal of any Relevant Shares comprised
in the assets of such Family Trust or otherwise) pursuant to the arrangements
relating to the Sale or Listing. Such
notice shall also include an acknowledgement from the trustees that they may be
asked to give warranties and indemnities in connection with a Sale or a Listing
and may be asked to restrict distributions in respect of any Relevant Shares to
the beneficiaries under such Family Trust during any period in which there are
outstanding contingent liabilities under such warranties and indemnities. A Shareholder may transfer all or
any of his holding of Shares or any beneficial interest therein for whatever
consideration to his Privileged Relations (a "Family Transfer") and a Privileged Relation or the
trustees of a Family Trust of a Shareholder may transfer all or any of his (or
its) Relevant Shares or any beneficial interest therein to another Privileged
Relation of that Shareholder or to that Shareholder (also a "Family Transfer") PROVIDED
THAT: (A)
before a Family Transfer is effected, the transferee shall
give a written acknowledgement to the Company (in a form reasonably acceptable
to the Company) that, in the event of a Sale or Listing, such transferee may be
asked to give warranties and indemnities (subject only to reasonable limits on
liability) to enable such Sale or Listing to be effected and that such
transferee will observe any restrictions upon him (whether relating to the
disposal of any Relevant Shares (if any) held by him immediately after such
Sale or Listing or otherwise) pursuant to the arrangements relating to the Sale
or Listing; and (B)
subject as provided below any person who acquires, whether
directly or indirectly, any shares or any beneficial interest therein pursuant
to this Article 12.4 shall serve forthwith, (or if he does not he shall be
deemed to have served, a Transfer Notice in respect of the Relevant Shares) if the
person is a spouse of a Shareholder and she ceases to be the spouse of that
Shareholder PROVIDED ALWAYS THAT if the Shareholder remains a Shareholder at
that time and the Shareholder so notifies his former spouse within 14 days of
the shareholder ceasing to be the spouse of the Shareholder concerned, the
former spouse of that Shareholder shall be obliged to offer the Relevant Shares
in question to that Shareholder or to a Privileged Relation of that Shareholder
or to the trustees of a Family Trust of that Shareholder for a consideration
equivalent to the consideration originally paid by such spouse, if any, and the
proposed transferee shall have 7 days to accept such offer before the
provisions of Article 11 shall apply to those Shares, but in default of such
transfer and if the former spouse does not serve a Transfer Notice, such spouse
shall be deemed to have served a Transfer Notice and the provisions of Article 13 shall apply accordingly. A transfer of any shares (or any
beneficial interest therein) in the Company held by any Shareholder (an “Original Transferor”) may be
made between the Original Transferor and any subsidiary company of the Original
Transferor or any holding company of the Original Transferor or another
subsidiary of such holding company or between one subsidiary of such holding
company and such holding company or any other such subsidiary (any such body
corporate being referred to, for the purposes of this Article 12.5, as an “Transferor
Group Company”) without restriction as to price or otherwise PROVIDED
THAT if subsequently the transferee ceases to be an Transferor Group Company,
such transferee shall: (A)
forthwith notify the Company in writing that such event has
occurred; and A transfer of any shares in the
Company held by a Shareholder as a nominee or on trust for one or more beneficial
owners may be made between that Shareholder and any other nominee or trustee of
any such beneficial owner for the time being or any such beneficial owner
without restriction as to price or otherwise. 12.7
Investment Funds and
Investment Managers A transfer of any Shares (or any
beneficial interest therein) held by a Shareholder (or a nominee of a
Shareholder) who is: (C)
a nominee of an Investment Manager or an Investment Fund may be made without restriction as
to price or otherwise between such Shareholder (or its nominee) and: (1)
where the Shareholder (or his (or its) nominee) is an
Investment Manager or a nominee of an Investment Manager, (a) any participant
or partner in or member of any Investment Fund in respect of which the Shares
are held, (b) any other Investment Fund whose business is managed by the
Shareholder (or whose nominee is the Shareholder) or (c) any other Investment
Manager who manages the business of the Investment Fund in respect of which the
Shares are held; or (2)
where the Shareholder is an Investment Fund or a partner or
trustee of an Investment Fund being a partnership or trust or a nominee of an
Investment Fund (a) any participant or partner in or member of the Investment
Fund which is or whose nominee is the Shareholder or of which the Shareholder
is a partner or trustee, (b) any other Investment Fund whose business is
managed by the same Investment Manager as the Investment Fund which is or whose
nominee is the Shareholder or of which the Shareholder is a partner or trustee
or (c) the Investment Manager who manages the business of the Investment Fund
which is or whose nominee is the Shareholder or of which the Shareholder is a
partner or trustee (or a nominee on behalf thereof). Subject to the overriding duty of
a trustee to act in the best interest of the trust of which he is a trustee,
any member of the Company who is the trustee of a Family Trust shall procure
that there is no change of trustees of any Family Trust of which he is a
trustee which holds Shares or to the powers of the trustees of such a trust or
of the beneficiaries of such a trust or the allocation of benefits between such
beneficiaries without in each case the prior consent of the Company. Without prejudice to any other consequences
of failure to comply with this Article 12.8, while there is any default under this Article 12.8 any Shares held by any Shareholder who is so in default
shall not be capable of being transferred and if the Company gives notice in
writing to the defaulting member requiring such default to be remedied within 7
days of the date of such notice and such 7 days notice expires without either
the default being remedied or the defaulting member making proposals in respect
of such default, being proposals accepted by the Company, then no dividends or
other distributions shall be payable in respect of and no votes shall attach to
any such shares while the default continues. Other than in the case of a
transfer permitted by Article 12, any member of the Company (a “Transferor”) wishing to dispose of any of his shares in the
Company or any legal or beneficial interest therein (“Sale Shares”) shall give notice in writing (a “Transfer Notice”) to the Company
that he wishes to dispose of one or more of his Sale Shares. If the capital of the Company is divided
into separate classes of shares a separate Transfer Notice shall be given for
each class of Sale Shares proposed to be sold.
Every Transfer Notice shall: (B)
specify the number and class of Sale Shares; (D)
be accompanied by the certificates for the Sale Shares (or
such indemnity in lieu thereof as the Company may reasonably require); and (E)
not be revocable except with the consent of the Directors. Any Employee who ceases to be an
employee or director of any Group Company and does not continue to be an
employee or director of any Group Company shall, within 14 days of the
Termination Date, serve a Transfer Notice (and if no such Transfer Notice has
been served within such period, then the required Transfer Notice shall be
deemed to have been served) in respect of all the Shares held by him at the
Termination Date. If any Employee is
required to serve a Transfer Notice pursuant to this Article 13.2 or would be so required if he held Shares, then any
Privileged Relation of such Employee shall also serve a Transfer Notice in
respect of the Shares held by such Privileged Relation in relation to which the
relevant Employee would be required to serve a Transfer Notice pursuant to this
Article 13.2 if he held those Shares and such Transfer Notice
shall be given within 14 days of the Termination Date, or if no such Transfer
Notice has been served within such period then the required Transfer Notice
shall be deemed to have been served. In
these Articles any reference to any Employee ceasing to be an employee or
director of a Group Company or any reference in equivalent terms shall be
deemed to include a reference to the termination of any agreement between the
Group Company and any other company or entity for the provision by such company
or entity of the services of the relevant Employee to the Group Company. A person entitled to Shares in consequence
of the death or bankruptcy of an Employee or one of his Privileged Relations
shall be bound to give a Transfer Notice in respect of all such Shares unless
such person be (or shall within 14 days of becoming so entitled transfer such
shares to) a person to whom they may be transferred pursuant to Articles 12.3 or 12.4 and regulations 29 to 31 inclusive of Table A shall
take effect accordingly and, in default thereof, the required Transfer Notice
shall be deemed to have been served. If any Employee or Privileged
Relation would be required to serve a Transfer Notice pursuant to Article 13.2 if he held shares in the Company and such Employee or
Privileged Relation has made a Trust Transfer (also a “Settlor”), then the trustees of such Family Trust shall
serve a Transfer Notice in respect of the shares in the Company held by the
trustees of such Family Trust in relation to which the Settlor would have been
required to serve a Transfer Notice pursuant to Article 13.2 if he held those shares. Such Transfer Notice shall be given within 14 days of the
Termination Date of the Employee concerned and if no such Transfer Notice has
been served within such period then the required Transfer Notice shall be
deemed to have been served. 13.4
Shares Transferred For
the purposes of this Article 13 the words "Sale
Shares" shall include Shares comprised in a Transfer Notice served
or deemed to have been served pursuant to Article 12.5(B), Article 13.2, Article 13.3, Article 13.5 or Article 13.14 and the word “Transferor”
shall include any person who is required to give or is deemed to have given a
Transfer Notice pursuant to such provisions. A Transfer Notice shall also be
deemed to have been served by any Transferor who purports to transfer Sale
Shares other than in accordance with Article 12 or this Article 13 without serving a Transfer Notice (including, without
limitation, if the Directors declare that a Transfer Notice has been deemed to
have been served pursuant to Article 13.14) and, in those circumstances, the Transfer Notice
shall: (A)
constitute the Company the agent of the Transferor, in
accordance with Article 13.1(A); (B)
be deemed to apply to the number and class of Sale Shares
purported to have been transferred; (C)
entitle the Company to require the details referred to in
Article 13.1(B) and 13.1(C); (D)
entitle the Company to require delivery to it of the
certificate for the Sale Shares (or such indemnity as the Company may
reasonably require)[; and (E)
be deemed not to include a Total Transfer Condition.] A Transfer Notice, other than a
Transfer Notice served or deemed to have been served pursuant to Articles 12.4(B), 12.5(B) 13.2, 13.3, 13.5 or 13.14 may provide that, unless all the Sale Shares referred
to therein and in such other Transfer Notice served by the same member at the
same time are sold to the persons offered the same or purchased by the Company
pursuant to Article 13.12, none shall be sold (a “Total Transfer Condition”). For the purposes of determining
the Shareholders to whom Sale Shares comprised in a Transfer Notice should be
offered, the Transferor in respect of the relevant Transfer Notice(s) shall be
deemed not to be a member of the Company. The Company shall, as soon as
reasonably practicable, give notice in writing to each of the Shareholders
informing them that the Sale Shares are available for transfer and of the
Transfer Price and shall invite each member to state in writing within 10 days
from the date of the said notice (which date shall be specified therein) whether
he is willing to purchase any and, if so, how many of the Sale Shares. Sale Shares of the class specified in column
(1) below shall be treated as offered in the first instance to shareholders
holding shares set out in the corresponding line of Column (2) below in
priority to all other classes of shareholder and in so far as such offer shall
not be accepted by such persons shall be treated as having been declined by
them and as having been offered to all of the shareholders holding the classes
of shares shown in Columns (3), (4) and (5) below in that order of priority as regards acceptances: (1) Sale Shares (2) Offered firstly to (3) Offered secondly to Ordinary Shares Ordinary Shares “A” Ordinary Shares ‘A’ Ordinary Shares ‘A’ Ordinary Shares Ordinary Shares The Sale Shares shall be offered to each class of
shareholder on terms that, in the event of competition, the Sale Shares offered
shall be sold to the members accepting the offer in proportion (as nearly as
may be) to their existing holdings of shares of the class to which the offer is
made (their “Proportionate
Entitlement”). Each member may
specify whether he is willing to purchase Sale Shares in excess of his
Proportionate Entitlement (“Excess
Shares”) and if he does so he shall state the number of Excess
Shares. After the expiry of the offers
made pursuant to Article 13.8 or sooner if all the Sale Shares offered shall have
been accepted, the Board shall, in respect of each offer made to the holders of
the categories of shares referred to in Columns (2) to (5) (inclusive) of
Article 13.8, allocate the Sale Shares within 7 days in the
following manner: (A)
if the total number of shares applied for is equal to or less
than the available number of Sale Shares, the Company shall allocate the Sale
Shares applied for in accordance with the applications received; or (B)
if the total number of shares applied for is more than the
available number of Sale Shares, each member shall be allocated his
Proportionate Entitlement or such lesser number of Sale Shares for which he may
have applied and applications for Excess Shares shall be allocated in
accordance with the applications received or, in the event of competition, as
nearly as may be to each member who has applied for Excess Shares in the
proportion which shares of the relevant class held by such member bears to the
total number of shares of that class held by all such members applying for
Excess Shares PROVIDED ALWAYS THAT no member shall be allocated more shares
than he shall have stated himself willing to take and in either case the Company
shall forthwith give notice of each such allocation (an “Allocation Notice”) to the Transferor and each of the
persons to whom Sale Shares have been allocated (an “Applicant”) and shall specify in the Allocation Notice the
place and time (being not later than [14] days after the date of the Allocation
Notice) at which the sale of the Sale Shares shall be completed PROVIDED ALWAYS
THAT the transfer and completion of the sale of the Sale Shares shall not be
sanctioned or effected by the Board if such transfer would, when completed,
constitute a Sale unless an Appropriate Offer has been made and completed in
accordance with Article 14. 13.10
Allocations Subject to Article 13.11, upon such allocations being made as aforesaid, the
Transferor shall be bound, on payment of the Transfer Price, to transfer the
Sale Shares comprised in the Allocation Notice to the Applicant(s) named
therein at the time and place specified therein. If the Transferor defaults in so doing the chairman for the time
being of the Board or, failing him, one of the other Directors or some other
person duly nominated by a resolution of the Board for that purpose, shall
forthwith be deemed to be the duly appointed attorney of the Transferor with
full power to execute, complete and deliver in the name and on behalf of the
Transferor a transfer or transfers of the relevant Sale Shares to the
Applicant(s) and any Director may receive and give a good discharge for the
purchase money on behalf of the Transferor and (subject to the transfer(s)
being duly stamped) enter the name of the Applicant(s) in the register of
members as the holder(s) of the shares so purchased. The Company shall forthwith pay the purchase money into a
separate bank account in the Company’s name and shall hold such money on trust
(without interest) for the Transferor until the Transferor shall deliver up to
the Company his certificate(s) (or such indemnity in lieu thereof as the
Company may reasonably require) for the relevant shares when the Transferor
shall thereupon be paid the purchase money. If the Transferor shall have
validly included a Total Transfer Condition in the Transfer Notice and if the
total number of shares applied for by Applicants is less than the aggregate
number of Sale Shares, then any Allocation Notices shall refer to the Total
Transfer Condition and shall contain a further invitation open for 14 days to
the Applicants to apply for further Sale Shares and completion of the sale of
the Sale Shares in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Article 13 shall be conditional upon the Total Transfer
Condition being complied with. If the Company shall not find a
transferee for any or, if the Transfer Notice validly contains a Total Transfer
Condition, all of the Sale Shares in accordance with the foregoing provisions
of this Article 13, the Company may, subject to the provisions of the
Companies Acts exercise its power to purchase any of the shares comprised in
the Transfer Notice for which a transferee has not been found. 13.13
Exhaustion of Pre-emption
Provisions In the event of all the Sale
Shares not being sold or purchased by the Company under the foregoing
provisions of this Article 13, the Transferor may at any time within 3 calendar
months after receiving notice from the Company that the pre-emption provisions
of this Article 13 have been exhausted transfer any Sale Shares not sold
to any person or persons at any price not less than the Transfer Price PROVIDED
ALWAYS THAT: (A)
the Board shall be entitled to refuse registration of the
proposed transferee if the proposed transferee is or is believed to be a person
or a nominee for a person reasonably considered by the Board to be a competitor
(or connected with a competitor) of the business of the Group PROVIDED ALWAYS
THAT the Board shall not be so entitled to refuse registration if the effect of
such transfer would, when completed, constitute a Sale and an Appropriate Offer
has been made and would, on the completion of the transfer, be completed in
accordance with Article 14; (B)
if the Transferor validly included a Total Transfer Condition
in the Transfer Notice, the Transferor shall not be entitled, save with the
written consent of all the other members of the Company, to sell only some of
the Sale Shares comprised in the Transfer Notice to such person or persons; (C)
any such sale shall be a bona
fide sale and the Board may require to be satisfied in such manner as it
may reasonably require that the Sale Shares are being sold in pursuance of a bona fide sale for not less than the
Transfer Price without any deduction, rebate or allowance whatsoever to the
purchaser and, if not so satisfied, may refuse to register the instrument of
transfer; and (D)
the Board shall refuse registration of the proposed transferee
if such transfer would, when completed, constitute a Sale until such time as an
Appropriate Offer has been made and completed in accordance with Article 14. For the purpose of ensuring that a
transfer of Shares is duly authorised hereunder and that no circumstances have
arisen whereby a Transfer Notice is required to be served hereunder the
Directors may from time to time require any member or past member or the
personal representatives or trustee in bankruptcy, receiver or liquidator of
any member or any person named as transferee in any instrument of transfer
lodged for registration to furnish to the Company such information and evidence
as the Directors may reasonably think fit regarding any matter which they may
deem relevant for the purpose of this Article 13.14. Failing such
information or evidence being furnished to the reasonable satisfaction of the
Directors within a reasonable time after request, the Directors shall be
entitled to refuse to register the transfer in question or, if no transfer is
in question, to declare by notice in writing that a Transfer Notice shall have
been deemed to have been served in respect of the Shares concerned. If such information or evidence discloses
that, in the reasonable opinion of the Directors, a Transfer Notice ought to
have been served in respect of any shares the Directors may also by notice in
writing declare that a Transfer Notice has been deemed to have been served in
respect of the Shares concerned. Save
as provided in Article 12, no sale or transfer of the legal or beneficial
interests in any Shares may be made or validly registered unless and until all
the conditions set out in Article 14.2 and, if appropriate, Article 14.3 are (and each
continues to be) satisfied. The conditions referred to in
Article 14.1 are: (B)
the offer referred to in 14.2(A), being in writing, has been open for acceptance in
England for at least 21 days with adequate security as to the performance of
the obligations of the Offeror; and (C)
the Offeror completes the purchase of all the Shares in
respect of which the offer referred to in paragraph (B) are accepted at the
same time; and, for the purposes of these
Articles, an offer which complies with the conditions set out in this Article 14.2 shall be known as an “Appropriate Offer”. In the event that a Controlling
Interest would be obtained in the Company on the registration of a transfer and
the conditions set out in Article 14.2 have been fulfilled, the Company shall give notice
thereof to all the Shareholders who have not tendered acceptances who shall be
bound upon payment of the Transfer Price to sell or transfer their entire legal
or beneficial interest (as the case may be) in such Shares (and to execute
transfers and pre-emption waivers in respect of the same) to the Offeror and if
any shareholder, after having become bound to transfer his legal or beneficial
interests (as the case may be) as aforesaid, defaults in respect of his
obligations under this Article the Company may receive the purchase money
tendered by the Offeror and the relevant shareholder shall be deemed to have
appointed any one Director as his agent to execute a transfer of the Shares
which are the subject of the offers concerned to the Offeror and any
pre-emption waivers in respect of the same and, upon the execution of such
documents and receipt of the purchase monies from the Offeror, the Company
shall pay the purchase money into a separate bank account in the Company’s name
and hold such money on trust (without interest) for such shareholder until he
shall deliver up to the Company his certificate(s) for the relevant Shares (or
such indemnity in lieu thereof as the Company may reasonably require) when he
shall thereupon be paid the purchase money.
The receipt of the Company for the purchase money shall be a good
discharge to the Offeror and after the Offeror's name has been entered on the
register of members in exercise of the power conferred by this Article 14.3, the validity of the proceedings shall not be
questioned by any person. All other regulations of the
Company relating to the transfer of Shares or any interests and the right to
registration of transfers shall be read subject to the provisions of this
Article 14. 15.1
Quorum No business shall be transacted at any general meeting
unless a quorum is present. A quorum
shall consist of two persons entitled to vote upon the business to be
transacted, each being a Shareholder or a proxy for a member or a duly
authorised representative of a Shareholder corporation together holding or
being entitled to vote in respect of not less than 50 per cent. (in nominal
value) of the Shares PROVIDED THAT if a quorum
is not present within thirty minutes after the time appointed for the
meeting, the meeting shall be adjourned until two days later at the same time
and place or at such other time or place as the Directors may determine and at
such adjourned meeting a quorum shall
consist of any two persons entitled to vote on the business to be resolved,
each being a Shareholder or a proxy for such Shareholder or a duly authorised
representative of a Shareholder corporation, together holding or being entitled
to vote in respect of not less than 25 per cent. (in nominal value) of the
Shares. 15.2
Polls One Shareholder present in person
or by proxy or by their duly authorised representative (if a Shareholder
corporation) or the chairman of the Board may demand a poll and regulation 46
of Table A shall be deemed to be varied accordingly. 16.1
Number Unless and until the Company in
general meeting shall otherwise determine, the number of Directors shall not be
less than 8. Subject to and to clause 8
of the Subscription and Shareholders’ Agreement the Company may by ordinary
resolution appoint a person who is willing to act to be a Director either to
fill a vacancy or as an additional Director. Subject to clause 14
(Confidentiality) of the Subscription and Shareholders’ Agreement any person
appointed as a Chart Director or his alternate shall be entitled to pass to the
Investors any information concerning the Group which may come into his (or its)
possession through his (or its) position as a Chart Director or as an alternate
Chart Director. Subject to clause 16 of the Subscription and Shareholders’ Agreement, each
Investor (which for the purpose of this Article 16.2 shall include any employee, officer or professional
adviser of an Investor) or any member of the Investor Group of any of the
Investors shall be entitled to share with any other Investor any information
concerning the Group which may come into its possession as shareholder or agent
for a shareholder or by reason of the terms of these Articles or the
Subscription and Shareholders’ Agreement.
For the purpose of this Article 16.2, the “Investor
Group” in relation to an Investor shall mean those persons to which an
Investor is entitled to transfer Shares without restriction under Article 12.5. 17.1
Retirement No Director shall vacate his
office or be ineligible for appointment or re-appointment as a Director by
reason only of his having attained any particular age, nor shall special notice
be required of any resolution appointing or approving the appointment of such a
Director or any notice be required to state the age of the person to whom such
resolution relates. 17.2
Vacation of Office The office of a Director shall be
vacated if: (A)
he is prohibited from being a director by an order made under
any of Sections 1 to 5 (inclusive) of the Company Directors Disqualification
Act 1986 or any act replacing such act; (B)
he becomes bankrupt or a receiving order is made against him
or he makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors generally; (C)
he becomes incapable, by reason of mental disorder, illness or
injury, of managing and administering his property and affairs; (D)
by notice in writing to the Company he resigns his office; or (E)
he ceases to be a Director by virtue of section 293 of the
Act. 18.1
Quorum (A)
The quorum for the
transaction of the business of the Directors shall be one-half, in number, of
the Directors at the material time.
PROVIDED THAT one such Director shall be the Independent Non-Executive
Chairman and two such Directors shall be Non-Executive Directors (which, for
these purposes, shall include the Chart Director, the Investor Director and the
Independent non-Executive Directors, as those respective terms are defined in
the Subscription and Shareholders’ Agreement). (B)
If a quorum is not
present within thirty minutes after the time appointed for the meeting, the
meeting shall be adjourned until 2 days later at the same time and place or at
such other time or place as the Directors may determine and at such adjourned meeting
a quorum shall consist of any 3
Directors PROVIDED THAT one of the Directors shall be either the Independent
Non-Executive Chairman or a Non-Executive Director. 18.2
Alternates A person who holds office only as
an alternate director shall, if his appointer is not present, be counted in the
quorum. 18.3
Table A In regulation 79 of Table A the
second and third sentences thereof shall be deemed to be deleted and in
regulation 84 of Table A the last sentence thereof shall be deemed to be
deleted. 18.4
Casting Vote The Independent Non-Executive
Chairman of the Board shall have a second or casting vote and regulation 88 of
Table A shall be varied accordingly. It
shall be necessary to give notice of a meeting of the Board to the Special
Director notwithstanding that he is absent from the United Kingdom and
regulation 88 of Table A shall be varied accordingly. 18.5
Written Resolutions A resolution in writing signed or
approved by letter, facsimile or telex by all the Directors for the time being
entitled to receive notice of such a meeting shall be as effective as a
resolution passed at a meeting of the Directors duly convened and held and may
consist of several documents in the same terms each signed or approved by one
or more of the Directors. 18.6
Telephone Meetings etc Meetings of the Directors may be
held by telephone or audio-visual communication (whereby all persons
participating in the meeting can hear and speak to each other simultaneously)
PROVIDED ALWAYS THAT the number of Directors participating in such
communication is not less than the quorum
stipulated by these Articles and such meetings shall, subject to notice
thereof having been given in accordance with these Articles, be as effective as
if the Directors had met in person. A
resolution made by a majority of the said Directors in pursuance of this
Article shall be as valid as it would have been if made by them at a meeting
duly convened and held in person. 19.1
Interests in Contracts Subject to compliance with the
provisions of Section 317 of the Act, a Director shall be entitled to vote in
respect of any contract or arrangement or proposed contract or arrangement in
which he is interested and if he shall do so his vote shall be counted and he
may be taken into account in ascertaining whether a quorum is present. Any decision by the Company on any of the following matters
shall require the approval of the Board at a duly convened meeting thereof and,
accordingly, cannot be delegated to, nor decided upon by, any individual
Director or committee of Directors: (A)
the purchase by the Company of any or assets (of whatsoever
nature) in respect of which the aggregate price to be paid by the Company
exceeds £500,000; (B)
the borrowing by the Company of any sum in excess, alone or in
aggregate, of £500,000; (C)
the entering into by the Company of any contract or
arrangement under which the aggregate amount payable or receivable by the
Company thereunder exceeds £500,000; (D)
employing, dismissing or changing the terms of employment of
any Director or Senior Employee; (E)
the taking of any steps by or on behalf of the Company which
would or might result in any Listing or Sale becoming unconditional or
completed; (F)
the sale, assignment, transfer or disposal of the entire
undertaking, business or assets of the Company or any substantial part of such
undertakings, businesses or (except in the ordinary course of business) assets; (G)
the sale, assignment, transfer or disposal of any part of the
Company’s interest in any share capital or loan capital in any company; (H)
the acquisition by the Company of the whole or part of either
(a) the issued share or loan capital of any company or other body corporate
which is not a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company or (b) the assets,
business or undertaking of any body corporate, partnership, firm or
unincorporated association; (I)
the application (a) by way of capitalisation of any sum in or
towards paying up any shares, debenture or debenture stock (whether secured or
unsecured) of the Company or (b) of any amount standing to the credit of the share
premium account or capital redemption reserve of the Company for any purpose; (J)
the calling of a meeting of the Company for the purpose of
considering, or the passing of, a resolution for the winding-up of the Company
(except in case of insolvency); (K)
the calling of a meeting of the Company for the purpose of
considering, or the passing of, a resolution to approve a contract by the
Company to purchase any of the Company’s shares; (L)
the calling of a meeting of the Company for the purpose of
considering, or the passing of, a resolution to amend the memorandum of
association of the Company or these Articles; (M)
any alteration to the size of the Board; (N)
any alteration (including cessation) to the nature of the
business of the Company such as to constitute a material alteration to its
business; (O)
the creation of any mortgage, charge or other encumbrance over
any of the assets of the Company (other than any other encumbrance arising by
operation of law in the ordinary course of business or by way of lien or
retention of title); (P)
any change to the accounting reference date of the Company or
any change to the accounting principles, policies or methods of the Company or
any subsidiary except to the extent required by the Act or by any accounting
standard; (Q)
the appointment or removal of the Company’s auditors; (R)
the establishment by the Company of any bonus, incentive,
profit sharing or share option scheme or the provision, in accordance with any
such share option scheme, by the Company of money for the acquisition of
shares; (S)
the giving by the Company of any guarantee, bond or indemnity
in respect of or to secure the liabilities or obligations of any person (other
than a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company); (T)
the making or execution of any arrangements, contracts or
transaction which are of an unusual or onerous or long term nature, or outside
the normal course of the business of the Company as its business is then
presently carried on, or otherwise than on arms’ length terms or incurring any
liability of such nature; (U)
the Company selling, transferring, leasing, licensing or
otherwise acquiring or disposing of any of its assets other than at full market
value (except for disposals of stock at a discount in the ordinary course of
business); or (V)
the payment of any dividend by the Company. Each Director shall have power, by
notice in writing under his hand addressed to the secretary of the Company
(which shall take effect on the service thereof at the registered office of the
Company), to nominate any other Director or any person to act as his alternate
and at his discretion to remove such alternate director. On such appointment being made the alternate
director shall be for all purposes counted as a Director and, except as regards
remuneration and the power to appoint an alternate, shall, while so acting, be
entitled to exercise and discharge all the functions, powers and duties of the
Director whom he represents. Any person
acting as alternate shall in the absence of his appointor have a vote for each
Director for whom he acts as alternate in addition, where such person is a
Director, to his own vote but shall not be considered as more than one Director
for the purpose of making a quorum of
Directors. 20.2
Removal An alternate director shall cease
to be an alternate director if his appointor ceases for any reason to be a
Director or on the happening of any event which if the alternate were a
Director would cause him to vacate such office. An alternate director shall, during his appointment, be an
officer of the Company and shall not be deemed to be an agent of his
appointor. An appointment of an
alternate shall not prejudice the right of the appointor to receive notice of
and to attend and vote at meetings of the Board. An alternate director shall not be entitled to any remuneration
from the Company. 21.1
Subject to clause 6.1(H)(3) of the Subscription and
Shareholders’ Agreement and as otherwise provided herein, the Directors may
exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or
charge its undertaking property and uncalled capital, or any part thereof, and,
subject also to the provisions of the Companies Acts and any resolutions of the
Company in general meeting passed pursuant thereto, to issue debentures,
debenture stock and other securities, whether outright or as security for any
debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party. 22.1
A notice may be given by the Company to any member either
personally or by sending it by prepaid first class post, airmail or facsimile
to his registered address or to any other address supplied by him to the
Company for the giving of notice to him.
In the case of notice of a meeting, a properly addressed and prepaid
notice sent by post shall be deemed to have been served, at an address within
the United Kingdom, at the expiry of 48 hours after the notice is posted and,
at an address outside the United Kingdom, at the expiry of 72 hours after the
notice is posted. Where a notice is
given by facsimile, service of the same shall be deemed to be effected upon
receipt of telephone or other confirmation of its receipt. 23.1
Indemnity In addition to the indemnity
contained in regulation 118 of Table A and subject to the provisions of Section
310 of the Act, every Director, agent, secretary and other officer of the
Company shall be entitled to be indemnified out of the assets of the Company
against all losses or liabilities properly incurred by him in or about the
execution and discharge of the duties of his office and, in regulation 118 of
Table A, the words “or auditor” shall be omitted. Without prejudice to the
provisions of regulation 118 of Table A and subject to the provisions of
Section 310 of the Act, the Directors shall have power to purchase and maintain
insurance for or for the benefit of any persons who are or were at any time
Directors, officers or employees of any Group Company or who are or were at any
time, following the date of adoption of these Articles, trustees of any pension
fund in which any employees of any Group Company are interested including
(without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) insurance against any
liability incurred by such persons in respect of any act or omission in the
actual or purported execution and/or discharge of their duties and/or in the
exercise or purported exercise of their powers and/or otherwise in relation to
their duties, powers or offices in respect of any Group Company or any such
pension fund.
Phased Rollout Overview (Fig. C-2)
MARTIN K AUGIER
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Martin Augier, 49, is an experienced finance and operational executive who
has held senior positions in a number of major companies.
1.
Table A
2.
Interpretation
2.2
Construction
3.
Shares
4.
Unissued Share Capital
5.
Redeemable Shares and purchase of own shares
6.
Annual Accounts and Annual General Meetings
7.
Capital
8.
Voting
9.
Conversion
9.2
Mechanics
10.
Dividends
10.1
General
10.2
Board
10.3
Dividend in
specie
10.4
Apportionment
11.
Class Rights
12.
Restricted and Permitted Transfers
12.1
General Restriction
(B)
Prior to the earlier
of a Listing Date and a Sale Date and, save as provided in Articles 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6 and 12.7 and in respect of any Shares which are the subject of
a Transfer Notice served (or deemed to have been served) under Articles 12.4(B) 12.5(B), 13.2, 13.3, 13.5 or 13.7, no Shares and no beneficial interest therein may be
transferred. Prior to the earlier of a
Listing Date or a Sale Date, no transfer of Shares by any Shareholder may be
registered unless the transferee shall have delivered to the Company a duly
executed Deed of Adherence.
13.
Pre-emption Rights
13.9
Proportionate entitlements
14.
Change of Control
14.4
Supremacy
15.
General Meetings
16.
Directors
17.
Disqualification of Directors
18.
Proceedings of Directors
19.
Powers of Directors
19.2
Reserved Matters
20.
Alternate Directors
21.
Borrowing Powers
22.
Notices to Members
23.
Indemnity and Insurance
23.2
Insurance