Mesoblast Ltd F-3, filed Dec 20, 2022
Mesoblast Ltd (MESO)
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 20, 2022
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM F-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Mesoblast Limited
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Not Applicable
(Translation of registrant’s name into English)
| Australia | Not Applicable | |
| (State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Level 38, 55 Collins Street
Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Tel: +61 3 9639 6036
(Address and telephone number of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Mesoblast, Inc.
505 Fifth Avenue, Third Floor
New York, NY 10017
Tel: (212) 880 2060
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
Copies to:
Andrew Reilly
Rimôn Law
Level
10, 20 Martin Place
Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
Tel: +61 2 9055 6965
andrew.reilly@rimonlaw.com
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement as determined in light of market conditions.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.C. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.C. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933.
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We cannot sell these securities until the registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where their offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to Completion, dated December 20, 2022
Preliminary Prospectus
Mesoblast Limited
$125,000,000
American Depositary Shares representing Ordinary Shares
We may offer our ordinary shares in the form of American Depositary Shares, or ADSs, from time to time in one or more offerings in such amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined at or prior to the time of the offering. This prospectus describes the general manner in which the ADS may be offered using this prospectus. We will provide specific terms and offering prices of the ADSs in supplements to this prospectus. Any supplement to this prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplements carefully before you invest in the ADSs. Each ADS represents five ordinary shares.
We may offer the ADSs through underwriting syndicates managed or co-managed by one or more underwriters or dealers, through agents or directly to investors, on a continuous or delayed basis. The supplement to this prospectus for each offering of ADSs will describe in detail the plan of distribution for that offering. For general information about the distribution of the ADSs, you should refer to the section entitled “Plan of Distribution.” The net proceeds we expect to receive from such sale will also be set forth in a supplement to this prospectus.
In addition, from time to time, any selling shareholder named in a prospectus supplement may offer and sell our ordinary shares in the form of ADSs held by them. Any selling shareholder may sell such shares through public or private transactions at prevailing market prices or at privately negotiated prices. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of such shares by any selling shareholder.
The ADSs are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “MESO”. Our ordinary shares are listed on the Australian Securities Exchange under the symbol “MSB”.
Investing in our ADSs involves a high degree of risk. You should review carefully the risks referenced under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page 3 of this prospectus and under similar headings in any amendment or supplement to this prospectus or as updated by any subsequent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that is incorporated by reference herein.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any U.S. state or other securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is 2022
TABLE OF CONTENTS
You should rely only on the information provided by this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any information incorporated by reference. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different or additional information or to make any representations other than those contained in or incorporated by reference to this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.
We have not taken any action to permit a public offering of the ADSs outside the United States or to permit the possession or distribution of this prospectus outside the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must observe any restrictions relating to the offering of the ADSs and the distribution of this prospectus outside of the United States. This prospectus is not an offer to sell, or solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities in any circumstances under which the offer of solicitation is unlawful.
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This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC on Form F-3. This prospectus relates to the offer and sale from time to time of ordinary shares of Mesoblast Limited, represented by ADSs in one or more offerings up to a total aggregate of $125,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the ADSs that we may offer. Each time we sell any of the ADSs, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of the offering.
The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus, and may also contain information about any material federal income tax considerations relating to the ADSs. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with additional information described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information,” and “Information Incorporated by Reference” before deciding whether to invest in any of the ADSs being offered. This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For a more complete understanding of the offering of the ADSs, you should refer to the registration statement, including the exhibits. You may access the registration statement, exhibits and other reports we file with the SEC on the SEC’s website. More information regarding how you can access such documents is included under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” below.
The information in this prospectus is accurate as of the date on the front cover of this prospectus, and the information in any free writing prospectus that we may provide you in connection with this offering is accurate only as of the date of that free writing prospectus. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor the sale of any securities means that information contained in this prospectus is correct after the date of this prospectus or as of any other date. To the extent there is any conflict between the information contained in this prospectus and the prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement, provided that if any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date, the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement. Any information incorporated by reference is only accurate as of the date of the document incorporated by reference.
Unless otherwise indicated or the context implies otherwise:
| ● | “ADSs” refers to our American depositary shares, each of which represents five ordinary shares, and “ADRs” refers to the American depositary receipts that evidence our ADSs; |
| ● | “ASX” refers to the Australian Securities Exchange, where our ordinary shares are listed; |
| ● | “A$” or “Australian dollars” refers to the legal currency of Australia; |
| ● | “IFRS” refers to the International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IASB; and |
| ● | “Mesoblast,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to Mesoblast Limited, an Australian corporation (Australian Business Number 68 109 431 870), and its subsidiaries. |
All references to “$”, “US$” and “U.S. dollar” in this prospectus refer to United States dollars. Except as otherwise stated, all monetary amounts in this prospectus are presented in United States dollars. Unless otherwise indicated, the consolidated financial statements and related notes included, or incorporated by reference, in this prospectus have been prepared in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards and also comply with IFRS as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, which differs in certain significant respects from Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States. Our fiscal year ends on June 30 of each year. References to “fiscal 2022” means the 12-month period ended June 30, 2022 and other fiscal years are referred to in a corresponding manner.
We own or have rights to trademarks and trade names that we use in connection with the operation of our business, including our corporate name, logos, product names and website names. Other trademarks and trade names appearing in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference are the property of their respective owners. Solely for your convenience, some of the trademarks and trade names referred to in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference are listed without the ® and TM symbols, but we will assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights to our trademarks and trade names.
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, any free writing prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements relate to future events or our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.
Words such as, but not limited to, “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “targets,” “likely,” “will,” “would,” “could,” and similar expressions or phrases identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operation, business strategy and financial needs. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:
| ● | the initiation, timing, progress and results of our preclinical and clinical studies, and our research and development programs; |
| ● | our ability to advance product candidates into, enroll and successfully complete, clinical studies, including multi-national clinical trials; |
| ● | our ability to advance our manufacturing capabilities; |
| ● | the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals, manufacturing activities and product marketing activities, if any; |
| ● | the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic could have on our operations; |
| ● | the commercialization of our product candidates, if approved; |
| ● | regulatory or public perceptions and market acceptance surrounding the use of stem-cell based therapies; |
| ● | the potential for our product candidates, if they are approved, to be withdrawn from the market due to patient adverse events or deaths; |
| ● | the potential benefits of strategic collaboration agreements and our ability to enter into and maintain established strategic collaborations; |
| ● | our ability to establish and maintain intellectual property on our product candidates and our ability to successfully defend these in cases of alleged infringement; |
| ● | the scope of protection we are able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering our product candidates and technology; |
| ● | our ability to obtain additional financing; |
| ● | estimates of our expenses, future revenues, capital requirements and our needs for additional financing; |
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| ● | our financial performance; |
| ● | developments relating to our competitors and our industry; |
| ● | the pricing and reimbursement of our product candidates, if approved; and |
| ● | other risks and uncertainties, including those listed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Current Report on Form 6-K for the three months ended September 30, 2022, and our other reports and filings we make with the SEC from time to time. |
You should read thoroughly this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, any free writing prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from and/or worse than what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements. Other sections of this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference include additional factors which could adversely impact our business and financial performance. Moreover, we operate in an evolving environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for our management to predict all risk factors, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.
This prospectus and documents incorporated by reference may contain third-party data relating to the biopharmaceutical market that includes projections based on a number of assumptions. The biopharmaceutical market may not grow at the rates projected by market data, or at all. The failure of this market to grow at the projected rates may have a material adverse effect on our business and the market price of our ADSs. Furthermore, if any one or more of the assumptions underlying the market data turns out to be incorrect, actual results may differ from the projections based on these assumptions. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The forward-looking statements made in this prospectus relate only to events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this prospectus (or, in the case of a document incorporated by reference, the date on which the statements are made in such document). We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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This summary highlights selected information from this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and does not contain all information that you should consider in making your investment decision. You should carefully read the entire prospectus, including the risks of investing in our ADSs discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should also carefully read the information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, including our financial statements, and the exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Overview
Mesoblast has developed a range of late-stage product candidates derived from our first and second generation proprietary mesenchymal lineage cell therapy technology platforms.
Remestemcel-L is our first generation mesenchymal lineage stromal cell (“MSC”) product platform and is in late-stage development for treatment of systemic inflammatory diseases including:
| ● | pediatric steroid refractory acute Graft versus Host Disease (SR-aGVHD); |
| ● | acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS); and |
| ● | biologic refractory inflammatory bowel disease. |
Rexlemestrocel-L is our second generation mesenchymal lineage precursor cell product platform and is in late-stage development for treatment of:
| ● | advanced chronic heart failure (CHF); and |
| ● | chronic low back pain (CLBP) due to degenerative disc disease. |
Both platforms have life cycle management strategies with promising emerging pipelines.
Mesoblast’s proprietary manufacturing processes yield industrial-scale, cryopreserved, off-the-shelf, cellular medicines. These cell therapies, with defined pharmaceutical release criteria, are planned to be readily available to patients worldwide upon receiving marketing authorizations.
Mesoblast’s immuno-selected, culture expanded cellular medicines are based on mesenchymal precursor cells (“MPCs”) and their progeny, MSCs. These are rare cells (approximately 1:100,000 in bone marrow) found around blood vessels that are central to blood vessel maintenance, repair and regeneration. These cells have a unique immunological profile with immunomodulatory effects that reduce inflammation allowing healing and repair. This mechanism of action enables the targeting of multiple disease pathways across a wide spectrum of complex diseases with significant unmet medical needs.
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Mesenchymal lineage cells are collected from the bone marrow of healthy adult donors and proprietary processes are utilized to expand them to a uniform, well characterized, and highly reproducible cell population. This enables manufacturing at industrial scale for commercial purposes. Another key feature of Mesoblast’s cells is they can be administered to patients without the need for donor–recipient matching or recipient immune suppression.
Mesoblast’s approach to product development is to ensure rigorous scientific investigations are performed with well-characterized cell populations in order to understand mechanisms of action for each potential indication. Extensive preclinical translational studies guide clinical trials that are structured to meet stringent safety and efficacy criteria set by international regulatory agencies. All trials are conducted under the continuing review of independent Data Safety Monitoring Boards comprised of independent medical experts and statisticians. These safeguards are intended to ensure the integrity and reproducibility of results, and to ensure that outcomes observed are scientifically reliable.
Corporate Information
Mesoblast Limited was incorporated in June 2004 in Australia under the Australian Corporations Act. In December 2004 we completed an initial public offering of our ordinary shares in Australia and our shares have since been listed on the ASX under the symbol “MSB.” In November 2015 we completed an initial public offering of ADSs in the United States and our ADSs have since been listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, or NASDAQ, under the symbol “MESO”. JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. acts as the depositary for our ADSs, each of which represents five ordinary shares.
Our principal executive offices are located at Level 38, 55 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia. Our telephone number at this address is +61 3 9639 6036. Our website is www.mesoblast.com. Information contained on our website is not part of this prospectus. Our agent for service of process in the United States is our subsidiary Mesoblast, Inc., located at 505 Fifth Avenue, Third Floor, New York, NY 10017.
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Investing in the ADSs involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described under “Risk Factors” in our Current Report on Form 6-K for the three months ended September 30, 2022, filed with the SEC, and all other information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement or related free writing prospectus before deciding whether to purchase any of our ADSs. If any of those risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. In that event, the trading price of our ADSs could decline, and you may lose part or all of your investment.
Certain risks described under the “Risk Factors” section in our Current Report on Form 6-K for the three months ended September 30, 2022, are summarized below:
Risks Related to Our Financial Position and Capital Requirements
| ● | We have incurred operating losses since our inception and anticipate that we will continue to incur substantial operating losses for the foreseeable future. We may never achieve or sustain profitability. |
| ● | We have never generated revenue from product sales and may never be profitable. |
| ● | We require substantial additional financing to achieve our goals, and our failure to obtain this necessary capital or establish and maintain strategic partnerships to provide funding support for our development programs could force us to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our product development or commercialization efforts. |
| ● | The terms of our loan facilities with funds associated with Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. and NovaQuest Capital Management, L.L.C. could restrict our operations, particularly our ability to respond to changes in our business or to take specified actions. |
Risks Related to Clinical Development and Regulatory Review and Approval of Our Product Candidates
| ● | Our product candidates are based on our novel mesenchymal lineage cell technology, which makes it difficult to accurately and reliably predict the time and cost of product development and subsequently obtaining regulatory approval. At the moment, no industrially manufactured, non-hematopoietic, allogeneic cell products have been approved in the United States. |
| ● | We may fail to demonstrate safety and efficacy to the satisfaction of applicable regulatory agencies. |
| ● | We may encounter substantial delays in our clinical studies, including as a result of the COVID-19 or any future pandemic. |
| ● | Even if we obtain regulatory approval for our product candidates, our products will be subject to ongoing regulatory scrutiny. |
Risks Related to Collaborators
| ● | We rely on third parties to conduct our nonclinical and clinical studies and perform other tasks for us. If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties, meet expected deadlines, or comply with regulatory requirements, we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for or commercialize our product candidates in a timely and cost-effective manner or at all, and our business could be substantially harmed. |
Risks Related to Our Manufacturing and Supply Chain
| ● | We have no experience manufacturing our product candidates at a commercial scale. We may not be able to manufacture our product candidates in quantities sufficient for development and commercialization if our product candidates are approved, or for any future commercial demand for our product candidates. |
| ● | We rely on contract manufacturers to supply and manufacture our product candidates. Our business could be harmed if Lonza fails to provide us with sufficient quantities of these product candidates or fails to do so at acceptable quality levels or prices. |
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Risks Related to Commercialization of Our Product Candidates
| ● | Our future commercial success depends upon attaining significant market acceptance of our product candidates, if approved, among physicians, patients and healthcare payors. |
| ● | If, in the future, we are unable to establish our own commercial capabilities across sales, marketing and distribution, or enter into licensing or collaboration agreements for these purposes, we may not be successful in independently commercializing any future products. |
Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property
| ● | We may not be able to protect our proprietary technology in the marketplace. |
| ● | The patent positions of biopharmaceutical products are complex and uncertain. |
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
| ● | If we fail to attract and keep senior management and key scientific, commercial, regulatory affairs and other personnel, we may be unable to successfully develop our product candidates, conduct our clinical trials and commercialize our product candidates. |
| ● | Our employees, principal investigators, consultants and collaboration partners may engage in misconduct or other improper activities, including noncompliance with laws and regulatory standards and requirements and insider trading. |
Risks Related to Our Trading Markets
| ● | The market price and trading volume of our ordinary shares and ADSs may be volatile and may be affected by economic conditions beyond our control. Such volatility may lead to securities litigation. |
| ● | The dual listing of our ordinary shares and the ADSs may adversely affect the liquidity and value of these securities. |
Risks Related to Ownership of Our ADSs
| ● | An active trading market for the ADSs may not develop in the United States. |
| ● | We currently report our financial results under IFRS, which differs in certain significant respect from U.S. GAAP. |
| ● | As a foreign private issuer, we are permitted and expect to follow certain home country corporate governance practices in lieu of certain Nasdaq requirements applicable to domestic issuers and we are permitted to file less information with the Securities and Exchange Commission than a company that is not a foreign private issuer. This may afford less protection to holders of our ADSs; and |
| ● | U.S. investors may have difficulty enforcing civil liabilities against our company, our directors or members of our senior management. |
The summary above is not exhaustive. For a more detailed discussion, see the “Risk Factors” section in our Current Report on Form 6-K for the three months ended September 30, 2022. In addition, we may face additional risks that are presently unknown to us or that we believe to be immaterial as of the date of this prospectus. Known and unknown risks and uncertainties may significantly impact and impair our business operations.
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Unless otherwise indicated in an accompanying prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities under this prospectus for general corporate purposes. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to acquire or invest in businesses, products and technologies that we own or that are complementary to our own. Pending these uses, we intend to invest our net proceeds from this offering primarily in investment grade, interest-bearing instruments. As of the date of this prospectus, we cannot specify with certainty all of the particular uses for the net proceeds we may have upon completion of an offering or offerings. Accordingly, we will retain broad discretion over the use of these proceeds.
The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of September 30, 2022.
Investors should read this table in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
| (in thousands) | As of September 30, 2022 | |||
| (US$) | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 85,502 | ||
| Current borrowing | $ | 5,489 | ||
| Non-current borrowings | $ | 94,186 | ||
| Equity: | ||||
| Issued capital (737,121,218 ordinary shares outstanding as of September 30, 2022) | $ | 1,207,734 | ||
| Reserves | $ | 70,873 | ||
| Accumulated losses | $ | (755,800 | ) | |
| Total equity | $ | 522,807 | ||
| Total capitalization | $ | 622,482 | ||
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General
We are a public company limited by shares registered under the Corporations Act by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, or ASIC. Our corporate affairs are principally governed by our Constitution, the Corporations Act, the ASX Listing Rules and NASDAQ Marketplace Rules. Our ordinary shares trade on the ASX and our ADSs trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.
The Australian law applicable to our Constitution is not significantly different than a U.S. company’s charter documents except we do not have the concept of, or a limit on, our authorized share capital, the concept of par value is not recognized under Australian law and as further discussed under “—Our Constitution.”
Subject to restrictions on the issue of securities in our Constitution, the Corporations Act and the ASX Listing Rules and any other applicable law, we may at any time issue ordinary shares and grant options or warrants on any terms, with the rights and restrictions and for the consideration that our board of directors determines.
The rights and restrictions attaching to ordinary shares are derived through a combination of our Constitution, the common law applicable to Australia, the ASX Listing Rules, the Corporations Act and other applicable law. A general summary of some of the rights and restrictions attaching to our ordinary shares is set forth below. Each shareholder is entitled to receive notice of, and to be present, vote and speak at, general meetings.
Changes to Our Share Capital
As of September 30, 2022, we had (i) 737,121,218 fully paid ordinary shares outstanding and (ii) employee options outstanding to purchase 40,653,800 of our ordinary shares at a weighted average exercise price of A$2.24.
Since July 1, 2019, the following changes have been made to our ordinary share capital:
| ● | we granted share options to purchase an aggregate of 37,481,740 ordinary shares with a weighted-average exercise price of A$2.48 per share to employees, directors, officers and consultants. Options to purchase an aggregate of 10,630,501 ordinary have been exercised for aggregate consideration of approximately A$19,200,076; |
| ● | we granted incentive rights equivalent to an aggregate of 1,500,000 ordinary shares to employees, directors, officers and consultants. Incentive rights equivalent to 1,500,000 ordinary shares have been exercised for aggregate consideration of approximately A$3,300,000; |
| ● | in October 2019, we issued 37,500,000 ordinary shares to institutional investors in a private placement for total consideration of A$75 million; |
| ● | in May 2020, we issued 43,000,000 ordinary shares to institutional investors in a private placement for total consideration of A$138 million; |
| ● | in July 2020, we issued 74,924 ordinary shares to Kentgrove Capital for total consideration of A$275,000 as payment in connection with the terms of the Kentgrove Facility Agreement; |
| ● | in August 2020, we issued 212,244 ordinary shares to a third party for services provided in connection with the license of intellectual property rights, for total consideration of US$240,000; |
| ● | in March 2021, we issued 60,109,290 ordinary shares to accredited investors in a private placement for a total consideration of US$110 million as well as warrants to purchase up to 15,027,327 ordinary shares at an exercise price of A$2.88 per share; and |
| ● | in August 2022, we issued 86,666,667 ordinary shares to accredited investors in the United States and elsewhere in a private placement for a total consideration of approximately US$45 million. |
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Our Constitution
Our Constitution is similar in nature to the bylaws of a U.S. corporation. It does not provide for or prescribe any specific objectives or purposes of Mesoblast. Our Constitution is subject to the terms of the ASX Listing Rules and the Australian Corporations Act. It may be modified or repealed and replaced by special resolution passed at a meeting of shareholders, which resolution requires at least 75% of the votes cast by shareholders (including proxies and representatives of shareholders) entitled to vote on the resolution.
Under Australian law, a company has the legal capacity and powers of an individual both within and outside Australia. The material provisions of our Constitution are summarized below. This summary is not intended to be complete nor to constitute a definitive statement of the rights and liabilities of our shareholders, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of our Constitution, a copy of which is on file with the SEC.
Directors
Interested Directors
Except as permitted by the Corporations Act and the ASX Listing Rules, a director must not vote in respect of a matter that is being considered at a directors’ meeting in which the director has a material personal interest according to our Constitution. Such director must not be counted in a quorum, must not vote on the matter and must not be present at the meeting while the matter is being considered.
Pursuant to our Constitution, the fact that a director holds office as a director, and has fiduciary obligations arising out of that office will not require the director to account to us for any profit realized by or under any contract or arrangement entered into by or on behalf of Mesoblast and in which the director may have an interest.
Unless a relevant exception applies, the Corporations Act requires our directors to provide disclosure of certain interests and prohibits directors of companies listed on the ASX from voting on matters in which they have a material personal interest and from being present at the meeting while the matter is being considered. In addition, unless a relevant exception applies, the Corporations Act and the ASX Listing Rules require shareholder approval of any provision of financial benefits (including the issue by us of ordinary shares and other securities) to our directors, including entities controlled by them and certain members of their families.
Borrowing Powers Exercisable by Directors
Pursuant to our Constitution, our business is managed by our board of directors. Our board of directors has the power to raise or borrow money, and charge any of our property or business or all or any of our uncalled capital, and may issue debentures or give any other security for any of our debts, liabilities or obligations or of any other person, and may guarantee or become liable for the payment of money or the performance of any obligation by or of any other person.
Election, Removal and Retirement of Directors
We may appoint or remove any director by resolution passed in a general meeting of shareholders. Additionally, our directors are elected to serve three-year terms in a manner similar to a “staggered” board of directors under Delaware law. No director except the Managing Director (currently designated as our chief executive officer, Silviu Itescu) may hold office for a period in excess of three years, or beyond the third annual general meeting following the director’s last election, whichever is the longer, without submitting himself or herself for re-election.
A director who is appointed during the year by the other directors only holds office until the next annual general meeting at which time the director may stand for election by shareholders at that meeting.
In addition, provisions of the Corporations Act apply where at least 25% of the votes cast on a resolution to adopt our remuneration report (which resolution must be proposed each year at our annual general meeting) are against the adoption of the report at two successive annual general meetings. Where these provisions apply, a resolution must be put to a vote at the second annual general meeting to the effect that a further meeting, or a spill meeting, take place within 90 days. At the spill meeting, the directors in office when the remuneration report was considered at the second annual general meeting (other than the Managing Director) cease to hold office and resolutions to appoint directors (which may involve re-appointing the former directors) are put to a vote.
Voting restrictions apply in relation to the resolutions to adopt our remuneration report and to propose a spill meeting. These restrictions apply to our key management personnel and their closely related parties. See “Rights and Restrictions on Classes of Shares—Voting Rights” below.
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Pursuant to our Constitution, a person is eligible to be elected as a director at a general meeting if:
| ● | the person is in office as a director immediately before the meeting, in respect of an election of directors at a general meeting that is a spill meeting as provided in the Corporations Act; |
| ● | the person has been nominated by the directors before the meeting; |
| ● | where the person is a shareholder, the person has, at least 35 business days but no more than 90 business days before the meeting, given to us a notice signed by the person stating the person’s desire to be a candidate for election at the meeting; or |
| ● | where the person is not a shareholder, a shareholder intending to nominate the person for election at that meeting has, at least 35 business days but no more than 90 business days before the meeting, given to us a notice signed by the shareholder stating the shareholder’s intention to nominate the person for election, and a notice signed by the person stating the person’s consent to the nomination. |
Share Qualifications
There are currently no requirements for directors to own our ordinary shares in order to qualify as directors.
Rights and Restrictions on Classes of Shares
Subject to the Corporations Act and the ASX Listing Rules, the rights attaching to our ordinary shares are detailed in our Constitution. Our Constitution provides that any of our ordinary shares may be issued with preferential, deferred or special rights, privileges or conditions, with any restrictions in regard to dividends, voting, return of share capital or otherwise as our board of directors may determine from time to time. Subject to the Corporations Act, the ASX Listing Rules and any rights and restrictions attached to a class of shares, we may issue further ordinary shares on such terms and conditions as our board of directors may resolve. Currently, our outstanding ordinary share capital consists of only one class of ordinary shares.
Dividend Rights
Our board of directors may from time to time determine to pay or declare dividends to shareholders; however, no dividend is payable except in accordance with the thresholds set out in the Corporations Act.
Voting Rights
Under our Constitution, the general conduct and procedures of each general meeting of shareholders will be determined by the chairperson, including any procedures for casting or recording votes at the meeting whether on a show of hands or on a poll. For so long we are listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, a resolution put to the vote at a general meeting must be decided on a poll (and not a show of hands) if the notice of the general meeting set out an intention to propose the resolution and stated the resolution. In addition, a poll may be demanded by the chairperson of the meeting; by at least five shareholders present and having the right to vote on at the meeting; or any shareholder or shareholders representing at least 5% of the votes that may be cast on the resolution on a poll. On a show of hands, each shareholder entitled to vote at the meeting has one vote regardless of the number of ordinary shares held by such shareholder. If voting takes place on a poll, rather than a show of hands, each shareholder entitled to vote has one vote for each ordinary share held and a fractional vote for each ordinary share that is not fully paid, such fraction being equivalent to the proportion of the amount that has been paid (not credited) of the total amounts paid and payable, whether or not called (excluding amounts credited), to such date on that ordinary share.
Under Australian law, an ordinary resolution is passed on a show of hands if it is approved by a simple majority (more than 50%) of the votes cast by shareholders present (in person or by proxy) and entitled to vote. If a poll is required or demanded, an ordinary resolution is passed if it is approved by holders representing a simple majority of the total voting rights of shareholders present (in person or by proxy) who (being entitled to vote) vote on the resolution. Special resolutions require the affirmative vote of not less than 75% of the votes cast by shareholders present (in person or by proxy) and entitled to vote at the meeting.
Pursuant to our Constitution, each shareholder entitled to attend and vote at a meeting may attend and vote:
| ● | in person physically or, if the meeting is held including by using virtual meeting technology, by electronic means; |
| ● | by proxy, attorney or by representative; or |
| ● | other than in relation to any clause which specifies a quorum, a member who has duly lodged a valid vote delivered to us by post, fax or other electronic means approved by the directors in accordance with the Constitution. |
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Under Australian law, shareholders of a public listed company are generally not permitted to approve corporate matters by written consent. Our Constitution does not specifically provide for cumulative voting.
Note that ADS holders may not directly vote at a meeting of the shareholders but may instruct the depositary to vote the number of deposited ordinary shares their ADSs represent. Under voting by a show of hands, multiple “yes” votes by ADS holders will only count as one “yes” vote and will be negated by a single “no” vote, unless a poll is demanded.
There are a number of circumstances where the Corporations Act or the ASX Listing Rules prohibit or restrict certain shareholders or certain classes of shareholders from voting. For example, key management personnel whose remuneration details are included elsewhere in this prospectus are prohibited from voting on the resolution that must be proposed at each annual general meeting to adopt our remuneration report, as well as any resolution to propose a spill meeting. An exception applies to exercising a directed proxy which indicates how the proxy is to vote on the proposed resolution on behalf of someone other than the key management personnel or their closely related parties; or that person is chair of the meeting and votes an undirected proxy where the shareholder expressly authorizes the chair to exercise that power. Key management personnel and their closely related parties are also prohibited from voting undirected proxies on remuneration related resolutions. A similar exception to that described above applies if the proxy is the chair of the meeting.
Right to Share in Our Profits
Subject to the Corporations Act and pursuant to our Constitution, our shareholders are entitled to participate in our profits by payment of dividends. The directors may by resolution declare a dividend or determine a dividend is payable, and may fix the amount, the time for and method of payment.
Rights to Share in the Surplus in the Event of Winding Up
Our Constitution provides for the right of shareholders to participate in a surplus in the event of our winding up.
Redemption Provisions
Under our Constitution and subject to the Corporations Act, the directors have power to issue and allot shares with any preferential, deferred or special rights, privileges or conditions; with any restrictions in regard to the dividend, voting, return of capital or otherwise; and preference shares which are liable to be redeemed or converted.
Sinking Fund Provisions
Our Constitution allows our directors to set aside any amount available for distribution as a dividend such amounts by way of reserves as they think appropriate before declaring or determining to pay a dividend, and may apply the reserves for any purpose for which an amount available for distribution as a dividend may be properly applied. Pending application or appropriation of the reserves, the directors may invest or use the reserves in our business or in other investments as they think fit.
Liability for Further Capital Calls
According to our Constitution, our board of directors may make any calls from time to time upon shareholders in respect of all monies unpaid on partly paid shares respectively held by them, subject to the terms upon which any of the partly paid shares have been issued. Each shareholder is liable to pay the amount of each call in the manner, at the time and at the place specified by our board of directors. Calls may be made payable by instalment.
Provisions Discriminating Against Holders of a Substantial Number of Shares
There are no provisions under our Constitution discriminating against any existing or prospective holders of a substantial number of our ordinary shares.
Variation or Cancellation of Share Rights
The rights attached to shares in a class of shares may only be varied or cancelled by a special resolution of shareholders, together with either:
| ● | a special resolution passed at a separate meeting of members holding shares in the class; or |
| ● | the written consent of members with at least 75% of the votes in the class. |
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General Meetings of Shareholders
General meetings of shareholders may be called by our board of directors or, under the Corporations Act, by a single director. Except as permitted under the Corporations Act, shareholders may not convene a meeting. Under the Corporations Act, shareholders with at least 5% of the votes that may be cast at a general meeting may call and arrange to hold a general meeting. The Corporations Act requires the directors to call and arrange to hold a general meeting on the request of shareholders with at least 5% of the votes that may be cast at a general meeting. Notice of the proposed meeting of our shareholders is required at least 28 days prior to such meeting under the Corporations Act.
A general meeting may be held at one or more physical venues or at one or more physical venues and using virtual meeting technology.
No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business. Under our Constitution, the presence, in person or by proxy, attorney or representative, of two shareholders constitutes a quorum, or if we have less than two shareholders, then those shareholders constitute a quorum. If a quorum is not present within 30 minutes after the time appointed for the meeting, the meeting must be either dissolved if it was requested or called by shareholders or adjourned in any other case. A meeting adjourned for lack of a quorum is adjourned to the same day in the following week at the same time and place, unless otherwise decided by our directors. The reconvened meeting is dissolved if a quorum is not present within 30 minutes after the time appointed for the meeting.
Regulation of acquisition by foreign entities
Under Australian law, in certain circumstances foreign persons are prohibited from acquiring more than a limited percentage of the shares in an Australian company without approval from the Australian Treasurer. These limitations are set forth in the Australian Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 (Cth) (“FATA”), associated legislation and regulations. These limitations are in addition to the more general overarching Takeovers Prohibition of an acquisition of more than a 20% interest in a public company (in the absence of an applicable exception) under the takeover provisions of Australia’s Corporations Act by any person whether foreign or otherwise.
The Australian foreign investment regime applies differently to ‘foreign government investors’ and private foreign persons. Broadly, entities are considered as foreign persons if (i) a foreign holder (together with its associates) holds a direct or indirect interest of 20% or more in the entity or (ii) multiple foreign holders hold an aggregate interest (direct or indirect) of at least 40%.
Under the FATA, foreign persons are required to notify and obtain prior approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board for a range of acquisitions of an interest in an Australian entity on a mandatory basis, including:
| ● | acquisitions of a direct interest (generally 10% or more) by a foreign government investor in an Australian entity, irrespective of value; |
| ● | acquisitions by any foreign person of: |
| – | a ‘substantial interest’ (generally 20% or more) in an Australian entity valued above the relevant monetary threshold. This is generally A$289 million (indexed annually) or A$1,250 million in the case of U.S. investors, in each case calculated by the higher of the total asset value and the total value of the issued securities of the Australian entity; or |
| – | a direct interest in a ‘national security business’ or entity that carries on a national security business, or holds ‘national security land’, irrespective of value; and |
| ● | acquisitions of interests in Australian entities operating in sensitive industries (such as media, telecommunications, transport, defence and military related industries and activities, encryption and security technologies and communications systems, as well as the extraction of uranium and plutonium or the operation of nuclear facilities), land-rich Australian entities or agribusiness Australian entities. |
Each foreign person seeking to acquire holdings in excess of the above caps (including their associates) would need to complete an application form setting out the proposal and relevant particulars of the acquisition/shareholding and pay the relevant application fees. The Australian Treasurer then has 30 days to consider the application and make a decision. However, the Australian Treasurer may extend the period by up to a further 90 days by publishing an interim order. The Australian Foreign Investment Review Board, an Australian advisory board to the Australian Treasurer has published a number of guidance notes, including Guidance Note 1 titled Overview: Australia’s Foreign Investment Framework, which provides an outline of the policy. As for the risk associated with seeking approval, Guidance Note 2, Key Concepts provides, among other things, that the Treasurer may make an order which prohibits a proposed acquisition (among other things) if the Treasurer is satisfied that proceeding with the acquisition would be contrary to the national interest or national security (as applicable).
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If the necessary approvals are not obtained, the Treasurer has a range of enforcement powers, including the power to make an order requiring the acquirer to dispose of the shares it has acquired within a specified period of time. Once a foreign person (together with any associate) holds a direct interest or a substantial interest in an entity, any further acquisition of interests, including in the course of trading in the secondary market, would require a new FIRB approval unless an exemption applies.
Change of Control
Takeovers of listed Australian public companies, such as Mesoblast, are regulated by the Corporations Act, which prohibits the acquisition of a “relevant interest” in issued voting shares in a listed company if the acquisition will lead to that person’s or someone else’s voting power in Mesoblast increasing from 20% or below to more than 20% or increasing from a starting point that is above 20% and below 90% (“Takeovers Prohibition”), subject to a range of exceptions.
Generally, a person will have a relevant interest in securities if the person:
| ● | is the holder of the securities or the holder of an ADS over the shares; |
| ● | has power to exercise, or control the exercise of, a right to vote attached to the securities; or |
| ● | has the power to dispose of, or control the exercise of a power to dispose of, the securities (including any indirect or direct power or control) |
If, at a particular time:
| ● | a person has a relevant interest in issued securities; and |
| ● | the person has: |
| o | entered or enters into an agreement with another person with respect to the securities; |
| o | given or gives another person an enforceable right, or has been or is given an enforceable right by another person, in relation to the securities; or |
| o | granted or grants an option to, or has been or is granted an option by, another person with respect to the securities; and |
| ● | the other person would have a relevant interest in the securities if the agreement were performed, the right enforced or the option exercised, |
then, the other person is taken to already have a relevant interest in the securities.
There are a number of exceptions to the above Takeovers Prohibition on acquiring a relevant interest in issued voting shares above 20%. In general terms, some of the more significant exceptions include:
| ● | when the acquisition results from the acceptance of an offer under a formal takeover bid; |
| ● | when the acquisition is conducted on market by or on behalf of the bidder during the bid period for a full takeover bid that is unconditional or only conditional on certain ‘prescribed’ matters set out in the Corporations Act; |
| ● | when the acquisition has been previously approved by resolution passed at general meeting by shareholders of Mesoblast; |
| ● | an acquisition by a person if, throughout the six months before the acquisition, that person or any other person has had voting power in Mesoblast of at least 19% and, as a result of the acquisition, none of the relevant persons would have voting power in Mesoblast more than three percentage points higher than they had six months before the acquisition; |
| ● | when the acquisition results from the issue of securities under a pro rata rights issue to existing shareholders; |
| ● | when the acquisition results from the issue of securities under a dividend reinvestment plan or bonus share plan; |
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| ● | when the acquisition results from the issue of securities under certain underwriting arrangements; |
| ● | when the acquisition results from the issue of securities through a will or through operation of law; |
| ● | an acquisition that arises through the acquisition of a relevant interest in another company listed on the ASX or another Australian financial market or a foreign stock exchange approved in writing by ASIC; |
| ● | an acquisition arising from an auction of forfeited shares; or |
| ● | an acquisition arising through a compromise, arrangement, liquidation or buy-back. |
A formal takeover bid may either be a bid for all securities in the bid class or a fixed proportion of such securities, with each holder of bid class securities receiving a bid for that proportion of their holding. Under our Constitution, a proportionate takeover bid must first be approved by resolution of our shareholders in a general meeting before it may proceed.
Breaches of the takeovers provisions of the Corporations Act are criminal offenses. In addition, ASIC and, on application by ASIC or an interested party, such as a shareholder, the Australian Takeovers Panel have a wide range of powers relating to breaches of takeover provisions as well as, in the case of the Takeovers Panel circumstances that the Panel determines to be 'unacceptable' (whether or not there is a breach), including the ability to make orders cancelling contracts, freezing transfers of, and rights (including voting rights) attached to, securities, and forcing a party to dispose of securities including by vesting the securities in ASIC for sale. There are limited defenses to breaches of the takeover provisions provided in the Corporations Act.
Ownership Threshold
There are no provisions in our Constitution that require a shareholder to disclose ownership above a certain threshold. The Corporations Act, however, requires a substantial shareholder to notify us and the ASX once a 5% interest in our ordinary shares is obtained. Further, once a shareholder has (alone or together with associates) a 5% or greater interest in us, such shareholder must notify us and the ASX of that interest as well as of any increase or decrease of 1% or more in its interest in our ordinary shares. In addition, the Constitution requires a shareholder to provide information to Mesoblast in relation to its entry into any arrangement restricting the transfer or other disposal of shares, which are of the nature of arrangements that Mesoblast is required to disclose under the ASX Listing Rules. Following our initial public offering in the United States, our shareholders are also subject to disclosure requirements under U.S. securities laws.
Issues of Shares and Change in Capital
Subject to our Constitution, the Corporations Act, the ASX Listing Rules and any other applicable law, we may at any time grant options over unissued shares and issue shares on any terms, with any preferential, deferred or special rights, privileges or conditions; with any restrictions in regard to dividend, voting, return of capital or otherwise, and for the consideration and other terms that the directors determine. Our power to issue shares includes the power to issue bonus shares (for which no consideration is payable to Mesoblast), preference shares and partly paid shares.
Subject to the requirements of our Constitution, the Corporations Act, the ASX Listing Rules and any other applicable law, including relevant shareholder approvals, we may reduce our share capital (provided that the reduction is fair and reasonable to our shareholders as a whole, does not materially prejudice our ability to pay creditors and obtains the necessary shareholder approval) or buy back our ordinary shares including under an equal access buy-back or on a selective basis. Under the Constitution, the directors may do anything required to give effect to any resolution altering or approving the reduction of our share capital.
Access to and Inspection of Documents
Inspection of our records is governed by the Corporations Act. Any member of the public has the right to inspect or obtain copies of our share registers on the payment of a prescribed fee. Shareholders are not required to pay a fee for inspection of our share registers or minute books of the meetings of shareholders. Other corporate records, including minutes of directors’ meetings, financial records and other documents, are not open for inspection by shareholders. Where a shareholder is acting in good faith and an inspection is deemed to be made for a proper purpose, a shareholder may apply to the court to make an order for inspection of our books.
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DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
American Depositary Receipts
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as depositary, will register and deliver ADSs. Each ADS represents an ownership interest in five ordinary shares deposited with a custodian, as agent of the depositary, under the deposit agreement among ourselves, the depositary and ADS holders. Each ADS will also represent any securities, cash or other property deposited with the depositary but which they have not distributed directly to you. Unless certificated American Depositary Receipts, or ADRs, are specifically requested by you, all ADSs will be issued on the books of our depositary in book-entry form and periodic statements will be mailed to you which reflect your ownership interest in such ADSs. The depositary’s office is located at 4 New York Plaza, Floor 12, New York, New York, 10004.
You may hold ADSs either directly or indirectly through your broker or other financial institution. If you hold ADSs directly, by having an ADS registered in your name on the books of the depositary, you are an ADR holder. This description assumes you hold your ADSs directly. If you hold the ADSs through your broker or financial institution nominee, you must rely on the procedures of such broker or financial institution to assert the rights of an ADR holder described in this section. You should consult with your broker or financial institution to find out what those procedures are.
As an ADR holder, we will not treat you as a shareholder of ours and you will not have any shareholder rights. Australian law governs shareholder rights. Because the depositary or its nominee will be the shareholder of record for the ordinary shares represented by all outstanding ADSs, shareholder rights rest with such record holder. Your rights are those of an ADR holder. Such rights derive from the terms of the deposit agreement to be entered into among us, the depositary and all registered holders from time to time of ADSs issued under the deposit agreement. The obligations of the depositary and its agents are also set out in the deposit agreement. Because the depositary or its nominee will actually be the registered owner of the ordinary shares, you must rely on it to exercise the rights of a shareholder on your behalf. The deposit agreement and the ADSs are governed by New York law. Under the deposit agreement, as an ADR holder, you agree that any legal suit, action or proceeding against or involving us or the depositary, arising out of or based upon the deposit agreement or transactions contemplated thereby, may only be instituted in a state or federal court in New York, New York, and you irrevocably waive any objection which you may have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding and irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding.
The following is a summary of what we believe to be the material terms of the deposit agreement. Notwithstanding this, because it is a summary, it may not contain all the information that you may otherwise deem important. For more complete information, you should read the entire deposit agreement and the form of ADR which contains the terms of your ADSs. You can read a copy of the deposit agreement which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. You may also find the registration statement and the attached deposit agreement on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
Ordinary Share Dividends and Other Distributions
How will I receive dividends and other distributions on the ordinary shares underlying my ADSs?
We may make various types of distributions with respect to our securities. The depositary has agreed that, to the extent practicable, it will pay to you the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on ordinary shares or other deposited securities, after converting any cash received into U.S. dollars (if it determines such conversion may be made on a reasonable basis) and, in all cases, making any necessary deductions provided for in the deposit agreement. The depositary may utilize a division, branch or affiliate of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., to direct, manage and/or execute any public and/or private sale of securities under the deposit agreement. Such division, branch and/or affiliate may charge the depositary a fee in connection with such sales, which fee is considered an expense of the depositary. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of underlying securities that your ADSs represent.
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Except as stated below, the depositary will deliver such distributions to ADR holders in proportion to their interests in the following manner:
| ● | Cash. The depositary will distribute any U.S. dollars available to it resulting from a cash dividend or other cash distribution or the net proceeds of sales of any other distribution or portion thereof (to the extent applicable), on an averaged or other practicable basis, subject to (i) appropriate adjustments for taxes withheld, (ii) such distribution being impermissible or impracticable with respect to certain registered ADR holders, and (iii) deduction of the depositary’s and/or its agents’ expenses in (1) converting any foreign currency to U.S. dollars to the extent that it determines that such conversion may be made on a reasonable basis, (2) transferring foreign currency or U.S. dollars to the United States by such means as the depositary may determine to the extent that it determines that such transfer may be made on a reasonable basis, (3) obtaining any approval or license of any governmental authority required for such conversion or transfer, which is obtainable at a reasonable cost and within a reasonable time and (4) making any sale by public or private means in any commercially reasonable manner. If exchange rates fluctuate during a time when the depositary cannot convert a foreign currency, you may lose some or all of the value of the distribution. |
| ● | Ordinary shares. In the case of a distribution in ordinary shares, the depositary will issue additional ADRs to evidence the number of ADSs representing such ordinary shares. Only whole ADSs will be issued. Any ordinary shares which would result in fractional ADSs will be sold and the net proceeds will be distributed in the same manner as cash to the ADR holders entitled thereto. |
| ● | Rights to receive additional ordinary shares. In the case of a distribution of rights to subscribe for additional ordinary shares or other rights, if we timely provide evidence satisfactory to the depositary that it may lawfully distribute such rights, the depositary will distribute warrants or other instruments in the discretion of the depositary representing such rights. However, if we do not timely furnish such evidence, the depositary may: |
| o | sell such rights if practicable and distribute the net proceeds in the same manner as cash to the ADR holders entitled thereto; or |
| o | if it is not practicable to sell such rights by reason of the non-transferability of the rights, limited markets therefor, their short duration or otherwise, do nothing and allow such rights to lapse, in which case ADR holders will receive nothing and the rights may lapse. |
| ● | Other Distributions. In the case of a distribution of securities or property other than those described above, the depositary may either (i) distribute such securities or property in any manner it deems equitable and practicable or (ii) to the extent the depositary deems distribution of such securities or property not to be equitable and practicable, sell such securities or property and distribute any net proceeds in the same way it distributes cash. |
| ● | Elective Distributions. In the case of a dividend payable at the election of our shareholders in cash or in additional ordinary shares, we will notify the depositary at least 30 days prior to the proposed distribution stating whether or not we wish such elective distribution to be made available to ADR holders. The depositary shall make such elective distribution available to ADR holders only if (i) we shall have timely requested that the elective distribution is available to ADR holders, (ii) the depositary shall have determined that such distribution is reasonably practicable and (iii) the depositary shall have received satisfactory documentation and opinions within the terms of the deposit agreement. If the above conditions are not satisfied, the depositary shall, to the extent permitted by law, distribute to the ADR holders, on the basis of the same determination as is made in the local market in respect of the ordinary shares for which no election is made, either (i) cash or (ii) additional ADSs representing such additional ordinary shares. If the above conditions are satisfied, the depositary shall establish procedures to enable ADR holders to elect the receipt of the proposed dividend in cash or in additional ADSs. There can be no assurance that ADR holders generally, or any ADR holder in particular, will be given the opportunity to receive elective distributions on the same terms and conditions as the holders of ordinary shares. |
If the depositary determines in its discretion that any distribution described above is not practicable with respect to any specific registered ADR holder, the depositary may, after consultation with us if practicable, choose any method of distribution that it deems practicable for such ADR holder, including the distribution of foreign currency, securities or property, or it may retain such items, without paying interest on or investing them, on behalf of the ADR holder as deposited securities, in which case the ADSs will also represent the retained items.
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Any U.S. dollars will be distributed by checks drawn on a bank in the United States for whole dollars and cents. Fractional cents will be withheld without liability and dealt with by the depositary in accordance with its then current practices.
The depositary is not responsible if it decides that it is unlawful or not reasonably practicable to make a distribution available to any ADR holders. There can be no assurance that the depositary will be able to convert any currency at a specified exchange rate or sell any property, rights, ordinary shares or other securities at a specified price, nor that any of such transactions can be completed within a specified time period. For further information about the general sale and/or purchase of securities see https://www.adr.com.
Deposit, Withdrawal and Cancellation
How does the depositary issue ADSs?
The depositary will issue ADSs if you or your broker deposit ordinary shares or evidence of rights to receive ordinary shares with the custodian and pay the fees and expenses owing to the depositary in connection with such issuance. In the case of the ADSs to be issued under this prospectus, we will arrange with the underwriters named herein to deposit such ordinary shares.
Ordinary shares deposited in the future with the custodian must be accompanied by certain delivery documentation and shall, at the time of such deposit, be registered in the name of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as depositary for the benefit of holders of ADRs or in such other name as the depositary shall direct.
The custodian will hold all deposited ordinary shares (including those being deposited by or on our behalf in connection with the offering to which this prospectus relates) for the account of the depositary. ADR holders thus have no direct ownership interest in the ordinary shares and only have such rights as are contained in the deposit agreement. The custodian will also hold any additional securities, property and cash received on or in substitution for the deposited ordinary shares. The deposited ordinary shares and any such additional items are referred to as “deposited securities”.
Upon each deposit of ordinary shares, receipt of related delivery documentation and compliance with the other provisions of the deposit agreement, including the payment of the fees and charges of the depositary and any taxes or other fees or charges owing, the depositary will issue an ADR or ADRs in the name or upon the order of the person entitled thereto evidencing the number of ADSs to which such person is entitled. All of the ADSs issued will, unless specifically requested to the contrary, be part of the depositary’s direct registration system, and a registered holder will receive periodic statements from the depositary which will show the number of ADSs registered in such holder’s name. An ADR holder can request that the ADSs not be held through the depositary’s direct registration system and that a certificated ADR be issued.
How do ADR holders cancel an ADS and obtain deposited securities?
When you turn in your ADR certificate at the depositary’s office, or when you provide proper instructions and documentation in the case of direct registration ADSs, the depositary will, upon payment of certain applicable fees, charges and taxes, deliver the underlying ordinary shares to you or upon your written order. At your risk, expense and request, the depositary may deliver deposited securities at such other place as you may request.
The depositary may only restrict the withdrawal of deposited securities in connection with:
| ● | temporary delays caused by closing our transfer books or those of the depositary or the deposit of ordinary shares in connection with voting at a shareholders’ meeting, or the payment of dividends; |
| ● | the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges; or |
| ● | compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating to the ADRs or to the withdrawal of deposited securities. |
This right of withdrawal may not be limited by any other provision of the deposit agreement.
Record Dates
The depositary may, after consultation with us if practicable, fix record dates for the determination of the registered ADR holders who will be entitled (or obligated, as the case may be):
| ● | to receive any distribution on or in respect of ordinary shares; |
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| ● | to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at a meeting of holders of ordinary shares; |
| ● | to pay the fee assessed by the depositary for administration of the ADR program and for any expenses as provided for in the ADR; or |
| ● | to receive any notice or to act in respect of other matters, |
all subject to the provisions of the deposit agreement.
Voting Rights
How do I vote?
If you are an ADR holder and the depositary asks you to provide it with voting instructions, you may instruct the depositary how to exercise the voting rights for the ordinary shares which underlie your ADSs. As soon as practicable after receiving notice of any meeting or solicitation of consents or proxies from us, the depositary will distribute to the registered ADR holders a notice stating such information as is contained in the voting materials received by the depositary and describing how you may instruct the depositary to exercise the voting rights for the ordinary shares which underlie your ADSs, including instructions for giving a discretionary proxy to a person designated by us. For instructions to be valid, the depositary must receive them in the manner, and on or before the date specified. The depositary will try, as far as is practical, subject to the provisions of and governing the underlying ordinary shares or other deposited securities, to vote or to have its agents vote the ordinary shares or other deposited securities as you instruct. The depositary will only vote or attempt to vote as you instruct. Holders are strongly encouraged to forward their voting instructions to the depositary as soon as possible. Voting instructions will not be deemed to be received until such time as the ADR department responsible for proxies and voting has received such instructions notwithstanding that such instructions may have been physically received by the depositary prior to such time. The depositary will not itself exercise any voting discretion. Furthermore, neither the depositary nor its agents are responsible for any failure to carry out any voting instructions, for the manner in which any vote is cast or for the effect of any vote. Notwithstanding anything contained in the deposit agreement or any ADR, the depositary may, to the extent not prohibited by law or regulations, or by the requirements of the stock exchange on which the ADSs are listed, in lieu of distribution of the materials provided to the depositary in connection with any meeting of, or solicitation of consents or proxies from, holders of deposited securities, distribute to the registered holders of ADRs a notice that provides such holders with, or otherwise publicizes to such holders, instructions on how to retrieve such materials or receive such materials upon request (i.e., by reference to a website containing the materials for retrieval or a contact for requesting copies of the materials).
There is no guarantee that you will receive voting materials in time to instruct the depositary to vote and it is possible that you, or persons who hold their ADSs through brokers, dealers or other third parties, will not have the opportunity to exercise a right to vote.
Reports and Other Communications
Will ADR holders be able to view our reports?
The depositary will make available for inspection by ADR holders at the offices of the depositary and the custodian and a designated transfer office the deposit agreement, the provisions of or governing deposited securities, and any written communications from us which are both received by the custodian or its nominee as a holder of deposited securities and made generally available to the holders of deposited securities.
Additionally, if we make any written communications generally available to holders of our ordinary shares, and we furnish copies thereof (or English translations or summaries) to the depositary, it will distribute the same to registered ADR holders.
Fees and Expenses
What fees and expenses will I be responsible for paying?
The depositary may charge each person to whom ADSs are issued, including, without limitation, issuances against deposits of ordinary shares, issuances in respect of ordinary share distributions, rights and other distributions, issuances pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split declared by us or issuances pursuant to a merger, exchange of securities or any other transaction or event affecting the ADSs or deposited securities, and each person surrendering ADSs for withdrawal of deposited securities or whose ADRs are cancelled or reduced for any other reason, US$5.00 or less for each 100 ADSs (or any portion thereof) issued, delivered, reduced, cancelled or surrendered, as the case may be. The depositary may sell (by public or private sale) sufficient securities and property received in respect of an ordinary share distribution, rights and/or other distribution prior to such deposit to pay such charge.
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The following additional charges shall be incurred by the ADR holders, by any party depositing or withdrawing ordinary shares or by any party surrendering ADSs or to whom ADSs are issued (including, without limitation, issuance pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split declared by us or an exchange of stock regarding the ADSs or the deposited securities or a distribution of ADSs), whichever is applicable:
| ● | a fee of US$1.50 per ADR or ADRs for transfers of certificated or direct registration ADRs; | |
| ● | a fee of up to US$0.05 per ADS for any cash distribution made pursuant to the deposit agreement; | |
| ● | a fee of up to US$0.05 per ADS per calendar year (or portion thereof) for services performed by the depositary in administering the ADRs (which fee may be charged on a periodic basis during each calendar year and shall be assessed against holders of ADRs as of the record date or record dates set by the depositary during each calendar year and shall be payable in the manner described in the next succeeding provision); |
| ● | a fee for the reimbursement of such fees, charges and expenses as are incurred by the depositary and/or any of its agents (including, without limitation, the custodian and expenses incurred on behalf of holders in connection with compliance with foreign exchange control regulations or any law or regulation relating to foreign investment) in connection with the servicing of the ordinary shares or other deposited securities, the sale of securities (including, without limitation, deposited securities), the delivery of deposited securities or otherwise in connection with the depositary’s or its custodian’s compliance with applicable law, rule or regulation (which fees and charges shall be assessed on a proportionate basis against holders as of the record date or dates set by the depositary and shall be payable at the sole discretion of the depositary by billing such holders or by deducting such charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions); | |
| ● | a fee for the distribution of securities (or the sale of securities in connection with a distribution), such fee being in an amount equal to the US$0.05 per ADS issuance fee for the execution and delivery of ADSs which would have been charged as a result of the deposit of such securities (treating all such securities as if they were ordinary shares) but which securities or the net cash proceeds from the sale thereof are instead distributed by the depositary to those holders entitled thereto; | |
| ● | stock transfer or other taxes and other governmental charges; | |
| ● | cable, telex and facsimile transmission and delivery charges incurred at your request in connection with the deposit or delivery of ordinary shares; | |
| ● | transfer or registration fees for the registration of transfer of deposited securities on any applicable register in connection with the deposit or withdrawal of deposited securities; | |
| ● | in connection with the conversion of foreign currency into U.S. dollars, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. shall deduct out of such foreign currency the fees, expenses and other charges charged by it and/or its agent (which may be a division, branch or affiliate) so appointed in connection with such conversion; and | |
| ● | fees of any division, branch or affiliate of the depositary utilized by the depositary to direct, manage and/or execute any public and/or private sale of securities under the deposit agreement. |
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and/or its agent may act as principal for such conversion of foreign currency. For further details see https://www.adr.com.
We will pay all other charges and expenses of the depositary and any agent of the depositary (except the custodian) pursuant to agreements from time to time between us and the depositary. The charges described above may be amended from time to time by agreement between us and the depositary.
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Our depositary has agreed to reimburse us for certain expenses we incur that are related to establishment and maintenance of the ADR program upon such terms and conditions as we and the depositary may agree from time to time. The depositary may make available to us a set amount or a portion of the depositary fees charged in respect of the ADR program or otherwise upon such terms and conditions as we and the depositary may agree from time to time. The depositary collects its fees for issuance and cancellation of ADSs directly from investors depositing ordinary shares or surrendering ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal or from intermediaries acting for them. The depositary collects fees for making distributions to investors by deducting those fees from the amounts distributed or by selling a portion of distributable property to pay the fees. The depositary may collect its annual fee for depositary services by deduction from cash distributions, or by directly billing investors, or by charging the book-entry system accounts of participants acting for them. The depositary will generally set off the amounts owing from distributions made to holders of ADSs. If, however, no distribution exists and payment owing is not timely received by the depositary, the depositary may refuse to provide any further services to holders that have not paid those fees and expenses owing until such fees and expenses have been paid. At the discretion of the depositary, all fees and charges owing under the deposit agreement are due in advance and/or when declared owing by the depositary.
The fees and charges you may be required to pay may vary over time and may be changed by us and by the depositary. You will receive prior notice of the increase in any such fees and charges.
Payment of Taxes
ADR holders must pay any tax or other governmental charge payable by the custodian or the depositary on any ADS or ADR, deposited security or distribution. If an ADR holder owes any tax or other governmental charge, the depositary may (i) deduct the amount thereof from any cash distributions, or (ii) sell deposited securities (by public or private sale) and deduct the amount owing from the net proceeds of such sale. In either case the ADR holder remains liable for any shortfall. Additionally, if any taxes or other governmental charges (including any penalties and/or interest) shall become payable by or on behalf of the custodian or the depositary with respect to any ADR, any deposited securities represented by the ADSs evidenced thereby or any distribution thereon, such tax or other governmental charge shall be paid by the holder thereof to the depositary and by holding or having held an ADR the holder and all prior holders thereof, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify, defend and save harmless each of the depositary and its agents in respect thereof. If any tax or governmental charge is unpaid, the depositary may also refuse to effect any registration, registration of transfer, split-up or combination of deposited securities or withdrawal of deposited securities until such payment is made. If any tax or governmental charge is required to be withheld on any cash distribution, the depositary may deduct the amount required to be withheld from any cash distribution or, in the case of a non-cash distribution, sell the distributed property or securities (by public or private sale) to pay such taxes and distribute any remaining net proceeds or the balance of any such property after deduction of such taxes to the ADR holders entitled thereto.
By holding an ADR or an interest therein, you will be agreeing to indemnify us, the depositary, its custodian and any of our or their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and affiliates against, and hold each of them harmless from, any claims by any governmental authority with respect to taxes, additions to tax, penalties or interest arising out of any refund of taxes, reduced rate of withholding at source or other tax benefit obtained.
Reclassifications, Recapitalizations and Mergers
If we take certain actions that affect the deposited securities, including (i) split-up, consolidation, cancellation or other reclassification of deposited securities or (ii) any distributions of ordinary shares or other property not made to holders of ADRs or (iii) any recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, liquidation, receivership, bankruptcy or sale of all or substantially all of our assets, then the depositary may choose to, and shall if reasonably requested by us:
| ● | amend the form of ADR; |
| ● | distribute additional or amended ADRs; |
| ● | distribute cash, securities or other property it has received in connection with such actions; |
| ● | sell any securities or property received and distribute the proceeds as cash; or |
| ● | none of the above. |
If the depositary does not choose any of the above options, any of the cash, securities or other property it receives will constitute part of the deposited securities and each ADS will then represent a proportionate interest in such property.
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Amendment and Termination
How may the deposit agreement be amended?
We may agree with the depositary to amend the deposit agreement and the ADSs without your consent for any reason. ADR holders must be given at least 30 days notice of any amendment that imposes or increases any fees or charges (other than stock transfer or other taxes and other governmental charges, transfer or registration fees, cable, telex or facsimile transmission costs, delivery costs or other such expenses), or otherwise prejudices any substantial existing right of ADR holders. Such notice need not describe in detail the specific amendments effectuated thereby, but must identify to ADR holders a means to access the text of such amendment. If an ADR holder continues to hold an ADR or ADRs after being so notified, such ADR holder is deemed to agree to such amendment and to be bound by the deposit agreement as so amended. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any governmental body or regulatory body should adopt new laws, rules or regulations which would require amendment or supplement of the deposit agreement or the form of ADR to ensure compliance therewith, we and the depositary may amend or supplement the deposit agreement and the ADR at any time in accordance with such changed laws, rules or regulations, which amendment or supplement may take effect before a notice is given or within any other period of time as required for compliance. No amendment, however, will impair your right to surrender your ADSs and receive the underlying securities, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law.
How may the deposit agreement be terminated?
The depositary may, and shall at our written direction, terminate the deposit agreement and the ADRs by mailing notice of such termination to the registered holders of ADRs at least 30 days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination; provided, however, if the depositary shall have (i) resigned as depositary under the deposit agreement, notice of such termination by the depositary shall not be provided to registered holders unless a successor depositary shall not be operating under the deposit agreement within 45 days of the date of such resignation, and (ii) been removed as depositary under the deposit agreement, notice of such termination by the depositary shall not be provided to registered holders of ADRs unless a successor depositary shall not be operating under the deposit agreement on the 90th day after our notice of removal was first provided to the depositary. After termination, the depositary’s only responsibility will be (i) to deliver deposited securities to ADR holders who surrender their ADRs, and (ii) to hold or sell distributions received on deposited securities. As soon as practicable after the expiration of six months from the termination date, the depositary will sell the deposited securities which remain and hold the net proceeds of such sales (as long as it may lawfully do so), without liability for interest, in trust for the ADR holders who have not yet surrendered their ADRs. After making such sale, the depositary shall have no obligations except to account for such proceeds and other cash.
Limitations on Obligations and Liability to ADR holders
Limits on our obligations and the obligations of the depositary; limits on liability to ADR holders and holders of ADSs
Prior to the issue, registration, registration of transfer, split-up, combination, or cancellation of any ADRs, or the delivery of any distribution in respect thereof, and from time to time in the case of the production of proofs as described below, we or the depositary or its custodian may require:
| ● | payment with respect thereto of (i) any stock transfer or other tax or other governmental charge, (ii) any stock transfer or registration fees in effect for the registration of transfers of ordinary shares or other deposited securities upon any applicable register and (iii) any applicable fees and expenses described in the deposit agreement; |
| ● | the production of proof satisfactory to it of (i) the identity of any signatory and genuineness of any signature and (ii) such other information, including without limitation, information as to citizenship, residence, exchange control approval, beneficial ownership of any securities, compliance with applicable law, regulations, provisions of or governing deposited securities and terms of the deposit agreement and the ADRs, as it may deem necessary or proper; and | |
| ● | compliance with such regulations as the depositary may establish consistent with the deposit agreement. |
The issuance of ADRs, the acceptance of deposits of ordinary shares, the registration, registration of transfer, split-up or combination of ADRs or the withdrawal of ordinary shares, may be suspended, generally or in particular instances, when the ADR register or any register for deposited securities is closed or when any such action is deemed advisable by the depositary; provided that the ability to withdraw ordinary shares may only be limited under the following circumstances: (i) temporary delays caused by closing transfer books of the depositary or our transfer books or the deposit of ordinary shares in connection with voting at a shareholders’ meeting, or the payment of dividends, (ii) the payment of fees, taxes, and similar charges, and (iii) compliance with any laws or governmental regulations relating to ADRs or to the withdrawal of deposited securities.
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The deposit agreement expressly limits the obligations and liability of the depositary, ourselves and our respective agents, provided, however, that no such disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act is intended by any of the limitations of liabilities provisions of the deposit agreement. The deposit agreement it provides that neither we nor the depositary nor any such agent will be liable if:
| ● | any present or future law, rule, regulation, fiat, order or decree of the United States, Australia or any other country, or of any governmental or regulatory authority or securities exchange or market or automated quotation system, the provisions of or governing any deposited securities, any present or future provision of our charter, any act of God, war, terrorism, nationalization or other circumstance beyond our, the depositary’s or our respective agents’ control shall prevent or delay, or shall cause any of them to be subject to any civil or criminal penalty in connection with, any act which the deposit agreement or the ADRs provide shall be done or performed by us, the depositary or our respective agents (including, without limitation, voting); | |
| ● | it exercises or fails to exercise discretion under the deposit agreement or the ADR including, without limitation, any failure to determine that any distribution or action may be lawful or reasonably practicable; | |
| ● | it performs its obligations under the deposit agreement and ADRs without gross negligence or willful misconduct; | |
| ● | it takes any action or refrains from taking any action in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting ordinary shares for deposit, any registered holder of ADRs, or any other person believed by it to be competent to give such advice or information; or | |
| ● | it relies upon any written notice, request, direction, instruction or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, presented or given by the proper party or parties. |
Neither the depositary nor its agents have any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any deposited securities or the ADRs. We and our agents shall only be obligated to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any deposited securities or the ADRs, which in our opinion may involve us in expense or liability, if indemnity satisfactory to us against all expense (including fees and disbursements of counsel) and liability is furnished as often as may be required. The depositary and its agents may fully respond to any and all demands or requests for information maintained by or on its behalf in connection with the deposit agreement, any registered holder or holders of ADRs, any ADRs or otherwise related to the deposit agreement or ADRs to the extent such information is requested or required by or pursuant to any lawful authority, including without limitation laws, rules, regulations, administrative or judicial process, banking, securities or other regulators. The depositary shall not be liable for the acts or omissions made by, or the insolvency of, any securities depository, clearing agency or settlement system. Furthermore, the depositary shall not be responsible for, and shall incur no liability in connection with or arising from, the insolvency of any custodian that is not a branch or affiliate of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the deposit agreement or any ADRs, the depositary shall not be responsible for, and shall incur no liability in connection with or arising from, any act or omission to act on the part of the custodian except to the extent that the (i) custodian committed fraud or willful misconduct in the provision of custodial services to the depositary or (ii) failed to use reasonable care in the provision of custodial services to the depositary as determined in accordance with the standards prevailing in the jurisdiction in which the custodian is located. The depositary shall not have any liability for the price received in connection with any sale of securities, the timing thereof or any delay in action or omission to act nor shall it be responsible for any error or delay in action, omission to act, default or negligence on the part of the party so retained in connection with any such sale or proposed sale.
The depositary has no obligation to inform ADR holders or other holders of an interest in any ADSs about the requirements of Australian law, rules or regulations or any changes therein or thereto.
Additionally, none of us, the depositary or the custodian shall be liable for the failure by any registered holder of ADRs or beneficial owner therein to obtain the benefits of credits on the basis of non-U.S. tax paid against such holder’s or beneficial owner’s income tax liability. Neither we nor the depositary shall incur any liability for any tax consequences that may be incurred by holders or beneficial owners on account of their ownership of ADRs or ADSs.
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Neither the depositary nor its agents will be responsible for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any of the deposited securities, for the manner in which any such vote is cast or for the effect of any such vote. The depositary may rely upon instructions from us or its counsel in respect of any approval or license required for any currency conversion, transfer or distribution. The depositary shall not incur any liability for the content of any information submitted to it by us or on our behalf for distribution to ADR holders or for any inaccuracy of any translation thereof, for any investment risk associated with acquiring an interest in the deposited securities, for the validity or worth of the deposited securities, for the credit-worthiness of any third party, for allowing any rights to lapse upon the terms of the deposit agreement or for the failure or timeliness of any notice from us. The depositary shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by a successor depositary whether in connection with a previous act or omission of the depositary or in connection with any matter arising wholly after the removal or resignation of the depositary, provided that in connection with the issue out of which such potential liability arises the depositary performed its obligations without negligence while it acted as depositary. Neither us, nor the depositary nor any of their respective agents shall be liable to registered holders of ADRs or beneficial owners of interests in ADSs for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential damages or lost profits, in each case of any form incurred by any person or entity, whether or not foreseeable and regardless of the type of action in which such a claim may be brought.
In the deposit agreement each party thereto (including, for avoidance of doubt, each holder and beneficial owner and/or holder of interests in ADRs and/or ADSs) irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right it may have to a trial by jury in any suit, action or proceeding against the depositary and/or us directly or indirectly arising out of or relating to the ordinary shares or other deposited securities, the ADSs or the ADRs, the deposit agreement or any transaction contemplated therein, or the breach thereof (whether based on contract, tort, common law or any other theory).
The depositary and its agents may own and deal in any class of our securities and in ADSs.
Disclosure of Interest in ADSs
To the extent that the provisions of or governing any deposited securities may require disclosure of or impose limits on beneficial or other ownership of deposited securities, other ordinary shares and other securities and may provide for blocking transfer, voting or other rights to enforce such disclosure or limits, you agree to comply with all such disclosure requirements and ownership limitations and to comply with any reasonable instructions we may provide in respect thereof. We reserve the right to instruct you to deliver your ADSs for cancellation and withdrawal of the deposited securities so as to permit us to deal with you directly as a holder of ordinary shares and, by holding an ADS or an interest therein, you will be agreeing to comply with such instructions.
Books of Depositary
The depositary or its agent will maintain a register for the registration, registration of transfer, combination and split-up of ADRs, which register shall include the depositary’s direct registration system. Registered holders of ADRs may inspect such records at the depositary’s office at all reasonable times for the purpose of communicating with other holders in the interest of the business of our company or a matter relating to the deposit agreement. Such register may be closed from time to time, when deemed expedient by the depositary or, in the case of the issuance portion of the ADR Register, when reasonably requested by us to enable us to comply with applicable law.
The depositary will maintain facilities for the delivery and receipt of ADRs.
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Pre-release of ADSs
In its capacity as depositary, the depositary shall not lend ordinary shares or ADSs; provided, however, that the depositary may (i) issue ADSs prior to the receipt of ordinary shares and (ii) deliver ordinary shares prior to the receipt of ADSs for withdrawal of deposited securities, including ADSs which were issued under (i) above but for which ordinary shares may not have been received (each such transaction a “pre-release”). The depositary may receive ADSs in lieu of ordinary shares under (i) above (which ADSs will promptly be canceled by the depositary upon receipt by the depositary) and receive ordinary shares in lieu of ADSs under (ii) above. Each such pre-release will be subject to a written agreement whereby the person or entity (the “applicant”) to whom ADSs or ordinary shares are to be delivered (a) represents that at the time of the pre-release the applicant or its customer owns the ordinary shares or ADSs that are to be delivered by the applicant under such pre-release, (b) agrees to indicate the depositary as owner of such ordinary shares or ADSs in its records and to hold such ordinary shares or ADSs in trust for the depositary until such ordinary shares or ADSs are delivered to the depositary or the custodian, (c) unconditionally guarantees to deliver to the depositary or the custodian, as applicable, such ordinary shares or ADSs, and (d) agrees to any additional restrictions or requirements that the depositary deems appropriate. Each such pre-release will be at all times fully collateralized with cash, U.S. government securities or such other collateral as the depositary deems appropriate, terminable by the depositary on not more than five (5) business days’ notice and subject to such further indemnities and credit regulations as the depositary deems appropriate. The depositary will normally limit the number of ADSs and ordinary shares involved in such pre-release at any one time to thirty percent (30%) of the ADSs outstanding (without giving effect to ADSs outstanding under (i) above), provided, however, that the depositary reserves the right to change or disregard such limit from time to time as it deems appropriate. The depositary may also set limits with respect to the number of ADSs and ordinary shares involved in pre-release with any one person on a case-by-case basis as it deems appropriate. The depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received by it in conjunction with the foregoing. Collateral provided in connection with pre-release transactions, but not the earnings thereon, shall be held for the benefit of the ADR holders (other than the applicant).
Appointment
In the deposit agreement, each registered holder of ADRs and each person holding an interest in ADSs, upon acceptance of any ADSs (or any interest therein) issued in accordance with the terms and conditions of the deposit agreement will be deemed for all purposes to:
| ● | be a party to and bound by the terms of the deposit agreement and the applicable ADR or ADRs, and |
| ● | appoint the depositary its attorney-in-fact, with full power to delegate, to act on its behalf and to take any and all actions contemplated in the deposit agreement and the applicable ADR or ADRs, to adopt any and all procedures necessary to comply with applicable laws and to take such action as the depositary in its sole discretion may deem necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the deposit agreement and the applicable ADR and ADRs, the taking of such actions to be the conclusive determinant of the necessity and appropriateness thereof. |
Governing Law
The deposit agreement and the ADRs shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. In the deposit agreement, we have submitted to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York and appointed an agent for service of process on our behalf. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any action based on the deposit agreement may be instituted by the depositary in any competent court in Australia and/or the United States.
By holding an ADS or an interest therein, registered holders of ADRs and owners of ADSs each irrevocably agree that any legal suit, action or proceeding against or involving us or the depositary, arising out of or based upon the deposit agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby, may only be instituted in a state or federal court in New York, New York, and each irrevocably waives any objection which it may have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding, and irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding.
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We may sell the ADSs in any one or more of the following ways from time to time:
| ● | to or through underwriters; |
| ● | to or through dealers; |
| ● | to our shareholders under a rights entitlement offering; |
| ● | through agents; or |
| ● | directly to purchasers, including our affiliates. |
The prospectus supplement relating to a particular offering of the ADSs will set forth the terms of such offering, including:
| ● | the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents and the amounts of securities underwritten or purchased by each of them; |
| ● | the purchase price of the offered ADSs and the proceeds to us from such sale; |
| ● | any underwriting discounts and commissions or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation; |
| ● | the initial offering price; and |
| ● | any discounts or concessions to be allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers. |
Any initial offering prices, discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time. In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., or FINRA, the maximum commission or discount to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker dealer may not exceed 8% of the aggregate value of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus.
The distribution of the ADSs may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. All ADSs would be listed on Nasdaq.
If the ADS are sold by means of an underwritten offering, we will execute an underwriting agreement with an underwriter or underwriters, and the names of the specific managing underwriter or underwriters, as well as any other underwriters, and the terms of the transaction, including commissions, discounts and any other compensation of the underwriters and dealers, if any, will be set forth in the prospectus supplement which will be used by the underwriters to sell the securities. If underwriters are utilized in the sale of the ADSs, the ADSs will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at fixed public offering prices or at varying prices determined by the underwriters at the time of sale.
Our ADSs may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or directly by the managing underwriters. If any underwriter or underwriters are utilized in the sale of the securities, unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, the underwriting agreement will provide that the obligations of the underwriters are subject to conditions precedent and that the underwriters with respect to a sale of securities will be obligated to purchase all of those securities if they purchase any of those ADSs.
We may grant an option to the underwriters to purchase additional ADSs to cover over-allotments, if any, at the public offering price with additional underwriting discounts or commissions. If we grant any over-allotment option, the terms of any over-allotment option will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to those securities.
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If a dealer is utilized in the sale of ADSs in respect of which this prospectus is delivered, we will sell those ADSs to the dealer as principal. The dealer may then resell those securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale. Any reselling dealer may be deemed to be an underwriter, as the term is defined in the Securities Act of the securities so offered and sold. The name of the dealer and the terms of the transaction will be set forth in the related prospectus supplement.
Offers to purchase ADSs may be solicited by agents designated by us from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of the ADSs in respect of which this prospectus is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by us to the agent will be set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any agent will be acting on a reasonable best efforts basis for the period of its appointment. Any agent may be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the Securities Act of the ADSs so offered and sold.
Offers to purchase ADSs may be solicited directly by us and the sale of those ADSs may be made by us directly to institutional investors or others, who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resale of those ADSs. The terms of any sales of this type will be described in the related prospectus supplement.
If so indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will authorize underwriters or other persons acting as our agents to solicit offers by institutions to purchase ADSs from us pursuant to contracts providing for payments and delivery on a future date. Institutions with which contracts of this type may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and others, but in all cases those institutions must be approved by us. The obligations of any purchaser under any contract of this type will be subject to the condition that the purchase of the ADSs shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to which the purchaser is subject. The underwriters and other persons acting as our agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of those contracts.
One or more firms, referred to as “remarketing firms,” may also offer or sell the ADSs, if the prospectus supplement so indicates, in connection with a remarketing arrangement upon their purchase. Remarketing firms will act as principals for their own accounts or as our agents. These remarketing firms will offer or sell the ADSs in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to the terms of the ADSs. The prospectus supplement will identify any remarketing firm and the terms of its agreement, if any, with us or any of our subsidiaries and will describe the remarketing firm’s compensation. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters in connection with the ADSs they remarket.
Disclosure in the prospectus supplement of our use of delayed delivery contracts will include the commission that underwriters and agents soliciting purchases of the ADSs under delayed contracts will be entitled to receive in addition to the date when we will demand payment and delivery of the ADSs under the delayed delivery contracts. These delayed delivery contracts will be subject only to the conditions that we describe in the prospectus supplement.
In connection with the offering of ADSs, persons participating in the offering, such as any underwriters, may purchase and sell ADSs in the open market. These transactions may include over-allotment and stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover syndicate short positions created in connection with the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of bids or purchases for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the ADSs, and syndicate short positions involve the sale by underwriters of a greater number of ADSs than they are required to purchase from any issuer in the offering. Underwriters also may impose a penalty bid, whereby selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers in respect of the ADSs sold in the offering for their account may be reclaimed by the syndicate if the ADSs are repurchased by the syndicate in stabilizing or covering transactions. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the ADSs, which may be higher than the price that might prevail in the open market, and these activities, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
Underwriters, dealers, agents and remarketing firms may be entitled under relevant agreements entered into with us to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act that may arise from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in this prospectus, any supplement or amendment hereto, or in the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, or to contribution with respect to payments which the agents, underwriters or dealers may be required to make.
If ADSs are sold by means of a rights entitlement offering, the prospectus supplement will set forth the terms and conditions of any such rights entitlement offering, including the manner in which it will be conducted and details on how our shareholders can participate in any such offering. A rights entitlement offering conducted under applicable Australian rules and regulations is a pro rata offering of ordinary shares to all eligible shareholders, as at a specified record date. Under applicable ASX Listing Rules, shareholder approval is not required for a pro rata rights entitlement offering.
24
Set forth below is an itemization of the estimated expenses to be incurred in connection with the issuance and distribution of the ADSs registered under this registration statement. The amounts in the table below are estimates, with the exception of the SEC registration fee. These estimates do not include expenses related to offerings of particular securities. Each prospectus supplement describing an offering of ADSs will provide estimated expenses related to the ADSs offered under that prospectus supplement.
| SEC registration fee | $ | 13,224 | ||
| Legal fees and expenses | 25,000 | |||
| Accounting fees and expenses | 50,000 | |||
| Printing, publishing and filing expenses | 5,000 | |||
| Other miscellaneous fees and expenses | 1,000 | |||
| Total | $ | 94,224 |
The validity of the ADSs and certain other legal matters will be passed upon for us by Rimôn Law, our Australian counsel.
The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended June 30, 2022 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report (which contains an explanatory paragraph relating to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern as described in Note 1(i) to the financial statements) of PricewaterhouseCoopers, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. The offices of PricewaterhouseCoopers are located at 2 Riverside Quay, Southbank, Victoria, 3006, Australia.
ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
We are a public limited company incorporated under the laws of Australia. Certain of our directors are non-residents of the United States and all or substantially all of their assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it may not be possible for you to:
| ● | effect service of process within the United States upon our non-U.S. resident directors or on us; |
| ● | enforce in U.S. courts judgments obtained against our non-U.S. resident directors or us in the U.S. courts in any action, including actions under the civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws; |
| ● | enforce in U.S. courts judgments obtained against our non-U.S. resident directors or us in courts of jurisdictions outside the United States in any action, including actions under the civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws; or |
| ● | bring an original action in an Australian court to enforce liabilities against Mesoblast or our non-U.S. resident directors based solely upon U.S. securities laws. |
You may also have difficulties enforcing in courts outside the United States judgments that are obtained in U.S. courts against any of our non-U.S. resident directors or us, including actions under the civil liability provisions of the U.S. securities laws.
With that noted, there are no treaties between Australia and the United States that would affect the recognition or enforcement of foreign judgments in Australia. We also note that investors may be able to bring an original action in an Australian court against us to enforce liabilities based in part upon U.S. federal securities laws.
We have appointed Mesoblast, Inc., as our agent to receive service of process with respect to any action brought against us in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York under the federal securities laws of the United States or any action brought against us in the Supreme Court of the State of New York in the County of New York under the securities laws of the State of New York.
25
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information into this document prior to the completion of this offering. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document that we have filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered a part of this prospectus and you should read that information carefully. Certain information in this prospectus supersedes information incorporated by reference that we filed with the SEC prior to the date of this prospectus. Certain information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the information in this prospectus. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
We incorporate by reference into this prospectus and the registration statement of which it is a part the following documents, including any amendments to such filings:
| ● |
our Annual Report on Form 20-F for fiscal 2022, filed with the SEC on August 31, 2022;
| |
| ● | our Current Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on November 28, 2022, that contains our quarterly report for the three months ended on September 30, 2022 |
| ● | the descriptions of our ordinary shares and the American Depositary Shares representing the ordinary shares that are contained in Item 1 in our Form 8-A12B, filed on November 9, 2015; |
| ● | any annual report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC after the date of this prospectus; and |
| ● | any other report on Form 6-K submitted to the SEC after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of this offering of the ADSs, but only to the extent that the report expressly states that we incorporate such report by reference into this prospectus. |
We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with additional or different information to the information included in and incorporated by reference to this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. You should rely only on the information provided by and incorporated by reference to this prospectus and any prospectus supplement.
Upon written or oral request, we shall provide without charge to each person to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered a copy of any or all of the documents that are incorporated by reference to this prospectus but not delivered with this prospectus. You may request a copy of these filings by contacting us at Mesoblast Limited, Level 38, 55 Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Attention: Company Secretary; telephone +61 3 9639 6036.
26
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are subject to periodic reporting and other informational requirements of the Exchange Act as applicable to foreign private issuers. We also have a registration statement on Form F-3 filed with the SEC, including relevant exhibits, under the Securities Act with respect to the ADSs that may offered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement or the exhibits. As this prospectus does not contain all of the information contained in the registration statement, you should read the registration statement and its exhibits for further information with respect to us and our securities. All information we file with the SEC is available through the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system, which may be accessed through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. You can request copies of these documents upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC. Please visit the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov for further information on the SEC’s Public Reference Room.
Our Annual Report on Form 20-F for fiscal 2022 has been filed with the SEC and an Annual Report on Form-20-F for subsequent years will be due within four months following the fiscal year end.
We are not required to disclose certain other information that is required from U.S. domestic issuers. As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt under the Exchange Act from, among other things, the rules prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements, and our executive officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act and Regulation FD (Fair Disclosure), which was adopted to ensure that select groups of investors are not privy to specific information about an issuer before other investors.
We are, however, still subject to the anti-fraud and anti-manipulation rules of the SEC, such as Rule 10b-5. Since many of the disclosure obligations required of us as a foreign private issuer are different than those required by companies filing as a domestic issuer, our shareholders, potential shareholders and the investing public in general should not expect to receive information about us in the same amount and at the same time as information is received from, or provided by, companies filing as a domestic issuer. We are liable for violations of the rules and regulations of the SEC that apply to us as a foreign private issuer.
We will also be subject to the informational requirements of the ASX. Our public filings with the ASX are electronically available from the ASX website (www.asx.com.au).
Only the specific documents incorporated by reference above, or incorporated by reference in any prospectus supplement, are to be deemed incorporated by reference into this prospectus and the registration statement of which it is a part. No information available on or through our website, or any other website reference herein, shall be deemed incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
DISCLOSURE OF SEC’S POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION
FOR
SECURITIES ACT LIABILITY
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or controlling persons of Mesoblast, we have been advised that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
27
Mesoblast Limited
$125,000,000
American Depositary Shares representing Ordinary Shares
| Prospectus |
, 2022
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
Item 8. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Australian law. Australian law provides that a company or a related body corporate of the company may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent of any of the following liabilities incurred as an officer or director of the company:
| ● | a liability owed to the company or a related body corporate of the company; |
| ● | a liability for a pecuniary penalty order made under section 1317G or a compensation order under section 961M, 1317H, 1317HA or 1317HB of the Australian Corporations Act 2001 (“Corporations Act”); |
| ● | a liability that is owed to someone other than the company or a related body corporate of the company and did not arise out of conduct in good faith; or |
| ● | legal costs incurred in defending an action for a liability incurred as an officer or director of the company if the costs are incurred: |
| o | in defending or resisting proceedings in which the officer or director is found to have a liability for which they cannot be indemnified as set out above; |
| o | in defending or resisting criminal proceedings in which the officer or director is found guilty; |
| o | in defending or resisting proceedings brought by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission or a liquidator for a court order if the grounds for making the order are found by the court to have been established (except costs incurred in responding to actions taken by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission or a liquidator as part of an investigation before commencing proceedings for a court order); or |
| o | in connection with proceedings for relief to the officer or a director under the Corporations Act, in which the court denies the relief. |
Constitution. Our Constitution provides, except to the extent prohibited by the applicable law and the Corporations Act, for the indemnification of every person who is or has been an officer or a director of Mesoblast against any liability incurred by that person as an officer or director. To the extent permitted by law and subject to the restrictions in the Corporations Act and any other applicable law, the indemnity covers any liability incurred by that person in their capacity as an officer or director of a subsidiary of Mesoblast where Mesoblast requested the officer or director to accept that appointment. The indemnity also applies to the extent permitted by the Corporations Act and any other applicable law to reasonable legal costs incurred in defending an action for a liability incurred or allegedly incurred by that person as an officer or director of Mesoblast, including such legal costs incurred by such officer or director as an officer or director of a subsidiary of Mesoblast where Mesoblast requested the officer to accept that appointment.
Indemnification Agreements. Pursuant to Deeds of Access, Insurance and Indemnity, we have agreed to indemnify our directors against certain liabilities and expenses incurred by such persons in connection with claims made by reason of their being such a director.
SEC Position. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
Item 9. Exhibits.
The exhibits to this registration statement are listed in the Index to Exhibits below.
II-1
Item 10. Undertakings.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post- effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”) that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A. of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Act need not be furnished, provided that the registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (a)(4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Act or Item 8.A. of Form 20-F if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:
(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement.
(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such Securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
II-2
(6) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities , the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
II-3
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Melbourne, Australia, on December 20, 2022.
| Mesoblast Limited | ||
| By: | /s/ Silviu Itescu | |
| Silviu Itescu | ||
| Managing Director and | ||
| Chief Executive Officer | ||
II-4
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each individual whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Silviu Itescu, Peter Howard and Andrew Chaponnel, and each of them (with full power to act alone), as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, in connection with this registration statement, including to sign file in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as director or officer of the registrant any and all amendments or supplements (including any and all prospectus supplements, stickers and post effective amendments) to this registration statement, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission and any applicable securities exchange, securities self-regulatory body or other regulatory authority, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them (with full power to act alone), full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and things requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his, her or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
| Signature | Title | Date | ||
| Chairman of the Board of Directors | ||||
| /s/ Joseph Swedish | ||||
| Joseph Swedish | December 20, 2022 | |||
| /s/ Silviu Itescu | Managing
Director and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) |
|||
| Silviu Itescu | December 20, 2022 | |||
| /s/ Andrew Chaponnel | Interim
Chief Financial Officer (principal financial and accounting officer) |
|||
| Andrew Chaponnel | December 20, 2022 | |||
| /s/ William Burns | ||||
| William Burns | Director | December 20, 2022 | ||
| /s/ Philip Krause | ||||
| Philip Krause | Director | December 20, 2022 | ||
| /s/ Eric Rose | ||||
| Eric Rose | Director | December 20, 2022 | ||
| /s/ Jane Bell | ||||
| Jane Bell | Director | December 20, 2022 | ||
| /s/ Michael Spooner | ||||
| Michael Spooner | Director | December 20, 2022 | ||
| /s/ Philip J. Facchina | ||||
| Philip J. Facchina | Director | December 20, 2022 |
II-5
SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REGISTRANT
Pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Mesoblast Limited, has signed this registration statement in New York, New York on December 20, 2022.
| Authorized U.S. Representative | ||
| Mesoblast, Inc. | ||
| By: | /s/ Silviu Itescu | |
| Silviu Itescu | ||
| Director | ||
II-6
EXHIBIT INDEX
| * | To be filed as an amendment or as an exhibit to a report filed pursuant to the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference herein. |
II-7
Exhibit 3.1
Constitution
Mesoblast Limited ACN 109 431 870
This is the document tabled before the AGM of Mesoblast Limited held on 23 November 2022 and signed by me for the purposes of identification
……………………………………
Chair
23 November 2022
|
Level 23 Rialto Towers 525 Collins Street Melbourne Vic 3000 Australia DX 204 Melbourne T +61 3 8608 2000 F +61 3 8608 1000 minterellison.com |
 |
Constitution of Mesoblast Limited
| Preliminary | 1 | |
| 1. | Defined terms | 1 |
| 2. | Interpretation | 2 |
| 3. | Replaceable rules | 3 |
| 4. | Transitional provisions | 3 |
| Shares | 3 | |
| 5. | Currency | 3 |
| 6. | Issue of Shares | 3 |
| 7. | Commission and brokerage | 4 |
| 8. | Trusts not recognised | 4 |
| 9. | Joint holders | 4 |
| 10. | Share certificates | 5 |
| 11. | Variation of class rights | 5 |
| 12. | Non-marketable parcels | 5 |
| Calls | 7 | |
| 13. | General | 7 |
| 14. | Instalments and amounts which become payable | 7 |
| 15. | Interest and expenses | 8 |
| 16. | Recovery of amounts due | 8 |
| 17. | Differentiation | 8 |
| 18. | Payment of calls in advance | 8 |
| Lien and forfeiture | 9 | |
| 19. | Lien | 9 |
| 20. | Lien sale | 9 |
| 21. | Forfeiture notice | 10 |
| 22. | Forfeiture | 10 |
| 23. | Liability of former Member | 10 |
| 24. | Disposal of Shares | 11 |
| Transfer of Shares | 11 | |
| 25. | General | 11 |
| 26. | Transfer procedure | 12 |
| 27. | Right to refuse registration | 12 |
| 28. | Escrow restrictions | 13 |
| Transmission of Shares | 13 | |
| 29. | Title on death | 13 |
| 30. | Entitlement to transmission | 14 |
| 31. | Plebiscite to approve proportional takeover bids | 14 |
Page i
| Changes to Share capital | 15 | |
| 32. | Alteration of share capital | 15 |
| 33. | Reductions of capital | 15 |
| 34. | Ancillary powers | 16 |
| 35. | Buy-backs | 16 |
| Powers of attorney | 16 | |
| 36. | Powers of attorney | 16 |
| General meetings | 17 | |
| 37. | Calling and holding general meetings | 17 |
| 38. | Notice of general meetings | 17 |
| 39. | Business at general meetings | 18 |
| Proceedings at general meetings | 18 | |
| 40. | Member | 18 |
| 41. | Quorum | 18 |
| 42. | Chairperson of general meetings | 19 |
| 43. | General conduct | 19 |
| 44. | Postponement and Adjournment | 20 |
| 45. | Decisions at general meetings | 21 |
| 46. | Taking a poll | 21 |
| 47. | Casting vote of chairperson | 22 |
| 48. | Admission to general meetings | 22 |
| 49. | Auditor’s right to be heard | 23 |
| Votes of Members | 23 | |
| 50. | Entitlement to vote | 23 |
| 51. | Unpaid calls | 24 |
| 52. | Joint holders | 24 |
| 53. | Objections | 24 |
| 54. | Votes by proxy | 24 |
| 55. | Direct Votes | 25 |
| 56. | Document appointing proxy | 25 |
| 57. | Proxy in blank | 26 |
| 58. | Lodgement of proxy | 26 |
| 59. | Validity | 26 |
| 60. | Representatives of bodies corporate | 27 |
| Appointment and removal of Directors | 27 | |
| 61. | Number of Directors | 27 |
| 62. | Qualification | 27 |
| 63. | Power to remove and appoint | 27 |
| 64. | Additional and casual Directors | 28 |
| 65. | Retirement of Directors | 28 |
| 66. | Eligibility for election as Director | 28 |
| 67. | Vacation of office | 29 |
| Remuneration of Directors | 29 | |
| 68. | Remuneration of Non-Executive Directors | 29 |
| 69. | Remuneration of Executive Directors | 30 |
| 70. | Retirement benefits | 30 |
| Powers and duties of Directors | 30 | |
| 71. | Directors to manage Company | 30 |
Page ii
| Proceedings of Directors | 31 | |
| 72. | Directors’ meetings | 31 |
| 73. | Decisions | 32 |
| 74. | Directors’ interests | 32 |
| 75. | Alternate Directors | 33 |
| 76. | Remaining Directors | 33 |
| 77. | Chairperson of Directors’ meetings | 33 |
| 78. | Delegation | 34 |
| 79. | Written resolutions | 34 |
| 80. | Validity of acts of Directors | 35 |
| 81. | Minutes | 35 |
| Executive Directors | 35 | |
| 82. | Appointment | 35 |
| 83. | Powers of Executive Directors | 36 |
| Local management | 36 | |
| 84. | General | 36 |
| 85. | Appointment of attorneys and agents | 36 |
| Secretary | 37 | |
| 86. | Secretary | 37 |
| Seals | 37 | |
| 87. | Common Seal | 37 |
| 88. | Duplicate Seal | 38 |
| Inspection of records | 38 | |
| 89. | Times for inspection | 38 |
| Dividends and reserves | 38 | |
| 90. | Dividends | 38 |
| 91. | Amend resolution to pay dividend | 38 |
| 92. | No interest | 38 |
| 93. | Reserves | 38 |
| 94. | Dividend entitlement | 39 |
| 95. | Deductions from dividends | 39 |
| 96. | Distribution of assets | 40 |
| 97. | Payment | 40 |
| 98. | Election to reinvest dividend | 41 |
| 99. | Election to accept Shares in lieu of dividend | 41 |
| 100. | Capitalisation of amounts available for distribution | 42 |
| Notices | 42 | |
| 101. | Service of notices | 42 |
| 102. | Persons entitled to notice | 44 |
| Audit and financial records | 44 | |
| 103. | Company to keep financial records | 44 |
| Winding up | 44 | |
| 104. | Winding up | 44 |
| Indemnity | 44 | |
| 105. | Indemnity | 44 |
| 106. | Shareholder disclosure | 45 |
| ASX Listing Rules | 45 | |
| 107. | ASX Listing Rules | 45 |
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Preliminary
| 1. | Defined terms |
| 1.1 | In this Constitution: |
Adoption Date means the date on which this Constitution is adopted by the Company as its constitution.
Alternate Director means a person appointed as an alternate director under clause 75.
ASX means ASX Limited ABN 98 008 624 691 or the financial market known as the ‘Australian Securities Exchange’ that it operates, as the context requires.
ASX Listing Rules means the listing rules of ASX and any other rules of ASX applicable to the Company or the Shares while the Company is admitted to the Official List, each as amended or replaced from time to time, except to the extent of any express written waiver by ASX.
ASX Settlement means ASX Settlement Pty Limited ABN 49 008 504 532 or the clearing and settlement facility that it operates, as the context requires.
ASX Settlement Operating Rules means the operating rules of ASX Settlement as amended or replaced from time to time, except to the extent of any express written waiver by ASX Settlement.
Auditor means the Company’s auditor for the time being.
Business Day has the same meaning as in the ASX Listing Rules.
Certificated Holding has the same meaning as in the ASX Settlement Operating Rules.
CHESS Holding has the same meaning as in the ASX Settlement Operating Rules.
Company means Mesoblast Limited ACN 109 431 870.
Constitution means the constitution of the Company as amended from time to time.
Corporations Act means the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) as amended or replaced from time to time and includes any regulations made under that Act and any exemption or modification to that Act applying to the Company.
Director means a person appointed to the position of a director of the Company and where appropriate, includes an Alternate Director.
Directors means all or some of the Directors acting as a board.
Direct Vote, in relation to a resolution or a meeting, includes a vote delivered to the Company by post, fax or other electronic means approved by the Directors.
Dividend means a final dividend or an interim dividend.
Executive Director has the meaning given by clause 82.3.
Issuer Sponsored Holding has the same meaning as in the ASX Settlement Operating Rules.
Listed, in relation to the Company, means if the Company is included in the Official List of ASX.
Managing Director means a Director appointed as managing director under clause 82.1.
Marketable Parcel has the same meaning as in the ASX Settlement Operating Rules in force from time to time.
Member means a person who is a member of the Company under the Corporations Act.
Non-Executive Director means a Director who is not an Executive Director.
Non-Marketable Parcel means a parcel of securities that is less than a Marketable Parcel.
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Previous Constitution means the constitution of the Company in force immediately before the Adoption Date.
Proper ASTC transfer has the meaning given to it in the Corporations Regulations 2001(Cth).
Register means the register of Members of the Company.
Representative means a person appointed by a Member to act as its representative under clause 60.1.
Restricted Securities has the same meaning as in the ASX Listing Rules.
Seal means the Company’s common seal.
Secretary means any person appointed by the Directors to perform any of the duties of a secretary of the Company and if more than one person is appointed, any one or more of such persons.
Shares means shares in the share capital of the Company.
| 1.2 | In this Constitution, except where the context otherwise requires, an expression in a clause of this Constitution has the same meaning as in the Corporations Act. Where the expression has more than one meaning in the Corporations Act and a provision of the Corporations Act deals with the same matter as a clause of this Constitution, that expression has the same meaning as in that provision. |
| 2. | Interpretation |
| 2.1 | In this Constitution, except where the context otherwise requires: |
| (a) | the singular includes the plural and vice versa, and a gender includes other genders; |
| (b) | another grammatical form of a defined word or expression has a corresponding meaning; |
| (c) | a reference to a clause, paragraph, schedule or annexure is to a clause or paragraph of, or schedule or annexure to, this Constitution, and a reference to this Constitution includes any schedule or annexure; |
| (d) | a reference to a document or instrument includes the document or instrument as novated, altered, supplemented or replaced from time to time; |
| (e) | a reference to A$, $A, dollar or $ is to Australian currency; and |
| (f) | the meaning of general words is not limited by specific examples introduced by including, for example or similar expressions. |
| 2.2 | Headings are for ease of reference only and do not affect interpretation. |
| 2.3 | The Corporations Act prevails over any inconsistency with: |
| (a) | this Constitution; |
| (b) | the ASX Listing Rules; and |
| (c) | the ASX Settlement Operating Rules. |
| 2.4 | A reference in this Constitution to a Member being present at a meeting of Members is a reference to: |
| (a) | a Member present at the physical venue (or a physical venue) (if any) for the meeting or present by using the virtual meeting technology (if any) used for the meeting; or |
| (b) | a Member present by proxy, attorney or Representative (whether such proxy, attorney or Representative is present at the physical venue (or a physical venue) (if any) for the meeting or present by using the virtual meeting technology (if any) used for the meeting); or |
| (c) | other than in relation to any clause which specifies a quorum, a Member who has duly lodged a valid Direct Vote in relation to the general meeting in accordance with clause 55 of this Constitution. |
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| 3. | Replaceable rules |
The provisions of the Corporations Act that apply to certain companies as replaceable rules and any other rules or regulations in the legislation under which the Company was formed are in each case displaced by this Constitution in their entirety and do not apply to the Company.
| 4. | Transitional provisions |
This Constitution has the effect that:
| (a) | every Director, alternate director, senior manager and secretary in office as at the Adoption Date continues in office subject to, and is taken to have been appointed or elected under, this Constitution; |
| (b) | the Directors are taken, on and from the Adoption Date, to have decided under clause 61.3 a number which is equal to the number of the persons in office as Executive Directors and Non-executive Directors immediately after the Adoption Date; |
| (c) | any register maintained by the Company immediately before the Adoption Date is taken to be a register maintained under this Constitution; |
| (d) | any Seal adopted by the Company before the Adoption Date is taken to be the Seal until another Seal is adopted by the Company under this constitution; |
| (e) | for the purposes of clause 97.1(a) a cheque issued under a corresponding provision of the Previous Constitution is taken to have been issued under clause 97.1(a) any money held for a Member under the Previous Constitution is taken to be held in an account under clause 97.3 and any money held at the Adoption Date for a Member the Company regards as uncontactable is taken to be held in an account under clause 97.3; and |
| (f) | unless a contrary intention appears in this Constitution, all persons, things, agreements and circumstances appointed, approved, created or delegated by or under the Previous Constitution continue to have the same status, operation and effect as if they had occurred under this Constitution on and after the Adoption Date. |
Shares
| 5. | Currency |
| 5.1 | Any amount payable to the holder of a Share, whether in relation to dividends, return of capital, participation in surplus assets of the Company or otherwise may be paid in the currency of a country other than Australia. |
| 5.2 | The Directors may fix a time on or before the payment date as the time at which the applicable exchange rate will be determined for that purpose. |
| 5.3 | The Directors may differentiate between Members as to the currency in which any amount payable to a Member is paid and the applicable exchange rate that is used to determine any amount payable to a Member. |
| 6. | Issue of Shares |
| 6.1 | Subject to the Corporations Act, the ASX Listing Rules and this Constitution, the Directors may issue and allot, or dispose of, Shares: |
| (a) | on terms determined from time to time by the Directors; |
| (b) | at an issue price that the Directors determine from time to time; and |
| (c) | to Members whether in proportion to their existing shareholdings or otherwise, or to such other persons as the Directors may determine from time to time. |
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| 6.2 | The Directors’ power under clause 6.1 includes the power to: |
| (a) | grant options or rights over unissued Shares; and |
| (b) | issue and allot Shares: |
| (i) | with any preferential, deferred or special rights, privileges or conditions; |
| (ii) | with any restrictions in regard to dividend, voting, return of capital or otherwise; |
| (iii) | which are liable to be redeemed or converted; |
| (iv) | which are bonus Shares for whose issue no consideration is payable to the Company; or |
| (v) | which have any combination of the characteristics described in clauses 6.2(b)(i) to 6.2(b)(iv) inclusive. |
| 6.3 | The issue cap percentage for the purposes of section 1100V(2)(a) of the Corporations Act is 10%. |
| 7. | Commission and brokerage |
Any brokerage or commission which may be paid by the Company may be made in cash, by the issue and allotment of Shares, or the issue of debentures, or by a combination of any of those methods.
| 8. | Trusts not recognised |
| 8.1 | Except as required by law, the ASX Settlement Operating Rules or as otherwise provided by this Constitution, the Company will not recognise any person as holding a Share on trust and the Company will not be bound to recognise any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest or any other right in respect of a Share except the registered holder’s absolute right of ownership. |
| 8.2 | This clause 8 applies even if the Company has notice of the relevant trust, interest or right. |
| 9. | Joint holders |
| 9.1 | If two or more persons are registered as the holders of a Share, they are taken to hold the Share as joint tenants with benefit of survivorship and the person whose name appears first on the Register is the only joint holder entitled to receive notices from the Company. |
| 9.2 | Any one of the joint holders of a Share may give an effective receipt for any dividend or return of capital payable to the joint holders. |
| 9.3 | The Company is entitled to and in respect of CHESS Holdings, must: |
| (a) | record the names of only the first four joint holders of a Share on the Register; |
| (b) | regard the four joint holders of a Share appearing first on the Register as the registered holders of that Share to the exclusion of any other holders; and |
| (c) | disregard the entitlement of any person to be registered on the Register as a holder if the name of the person would appear on the Register after the first four holders for that Share. |
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| 10. | Share certificates |
| 10.1 | The Directors will not, unless they determine otherwise or the ASX Listing Rules require, issue a certificate to a Member for any Shares registered in the Member’s name or record any holding as held on a certificated sub-register. |
| 10.2 | Any certificate for Shares must be issued and despatched in accordance with the Corporations Act, the ASX Listing Rules and the ASX Settlement Operating Rules. |
| 10.3 | Subject to the ASX Listing Rules, the Directors may in their absolute discretion elect whether to maintain a certificated sub-register for any class of Shares. |
| 10.4 | Subject to the ASX Listing Rules and the ASX Settlement Operating Rules, Shares may be held on any sub-register maintained by or on behalf of the Company or on any branch register kept by the Company. |
| 10.5 | The Directors may order worn out or defaced certificates to be cancelled and, if necessary, replaced by new certificates. |
| 11. | Variation of class rights |
| 11.1 | The rights attached to any class of Shares may be varied in accordance with the Corporations Act. |
| 11.2 | The provisions of this Constitution relating to general meetings apply, with necessary changes, to a meeting of a class of Members holding Shares in that class as if it was a general meeting except that: |
| (a) | a quorum is two persons holding or representing by proxy whether or not the Member or Members they represent cast Direct Votes, attorney or Representative not less than 25% of the Shares of the class or, if there is one holder of Shares in the class, that holder or a proxy, attorney or representative of that holder; and |
| (b) | any holder of Shares of the class present in person or by proxy whether or not the Member the proxy represents cast Direct Votes, attorney or Representative may demand a poll. |
| 11.3 | The rights conferred on the holders of any class of Shares are taken as not having been varied by the creation or issue of further Shares ranking equally with them. |
| 12. | Non-marketable parcels |
| 12.1 | If one or more Members hold less than a Marketable Parcel of Shares, the Directors may invoke the procedure for the sale of Shares under this clause 12 (Procedure). |
| 12.2 | To invoke the Procedure, the Directors must give each Member (or each Member whose Shares are not held in a CHESS Holding) who holds less than a Marketable Parcel of Shares (Eligible Member) written notice (Notice of Divestiture) that complies with this clause 12. |
| 12.3 | A Notice of Divestiture given to a Member must: |
| (a) | state that the Shares referred to in the Notice of Divestiture are liable to be sold in accordance with the Procedure if the Member does not advise the Company before a specified date (Relevant Date) that the Member wishes to keep those Shares; and |
| (b) | if the Member holds Shares in a CHESS Holding, contain a statement to the effect that if those Shares remain in a CHESS Holding after the Relevant Date, the Company may, without further notice, move those Shares from the CHESS Holding to an Issuer Sponsored Holding or a Certificated Holding for the purposes of divestment by the Company in accordance with the Procedure. |
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| 12.4 | The Relevant Date must be six weeks or more after the date that the Notice of Divestiture is sent. |
| 12.5 | A copy of a Notice of Divestiture must be given to any other person required by the ASX Settlement Operating Rules. |
| 12.6 | If an Eligible Member on whom a Notice of Divestiture has been served, wants to keep the Shares referred to in the Notice of Divesture, the Eligible Member must give the Company written notice before the Relevant Date, advising the Company that the Member wants to keep those Shares or the member must increase their holding of Shares before the Relevant Date to a Marketable Parcel in each of which events the Company will not sell the Shares. |
| 12.7 | In addition to invoking the Procedure by giving a Notice of Divestiture under clause 12.2, the Directors may also initiate a sale of Shares held by a Member (also, Eligible Member) if the Eligible Member holds less than a Marketable Parcel of Shares and that holding was created by a transfer of a parcel of Shares effected on or after the Adoption Date that was less than a Marketable Parcel at the time that the transfer was initiated or, in the case of a paper-based transfer, the transfer document was lodged with the Company: |
| (a) | the Shares held by the Eligible Member may be sold as provided in clause 12.8; and |
| (b) | the Directors may remove or change the Eligible Member’s rights to vote or receive dividends in respect of those Shares. Any dividends withheld must be sent to the former holder after the sale when the former holder delivers to the Company such proof of title as the Directors accept. |
| 12.8 | If an Eligible Member on whom a Notice of Divestiture has been served does not give the Company written notice before the Relevant Date advising the Company that the Eligible Member wants to keep the Shares referred in the Notice of Divestiture or the Member has not increased their holding of Shares before the Relevant Date to a Marketable Parcel, or clause 12.7 applies to the Member the Company may: |
| (a) | if the Member holds those Shares in a CHESS Holding, move those Shares from the CHESS Holding to an Issuer Sponsored Holding or a Certificated Holding; and |
| (b) | in any case, sell those Shares in accordance with the Procedure. |
| 12.9 | Any Shares which may be sold under this clause 12 may be sold on the terms, in the manner (whether on-market, by private treaty, through a share sale facility established by, on behalf of, or at the request of the Company, or otherwise) and at the time or times determined by the Directors and, for the purposes of a sale under this clause 12, each Eligible Member: |
| (a) | appoints the Company as the Eligible Member’s agent for sale and to receive any disclosure document, including a financial services guide; |
| (b) | authorises the Company to effect on the Eligible Member’s behalf a transfer of the Shares sold and to deal with the proceeds of the sale of the Shares in accordance with clause 12.11; |
| (c) | appoints the Company, its Directors and Secretaries jointly and severally as the Eligible Member’s attorneys to execute any instrument or take other steps, in the Eligible Member’s name and on the Eligible Member’s behalf, as they or any of them may consider appropriate to transfer the Shares sold; and |
| (d) | authorises each of the attorneys appointed under clause 12.9(c) to appoint an agent to do a thing referred to in clause 12.9(c). |
| 12.10 | The title of the transferee to Shares acquired under this clause 12 is not affected by an irregularity or invalidity in connection with the sale of Shares to the Transferee. |
| 12.11 | The proceeds of any sale of Shares under this clause 12 less any unpaid calls and interest (Sale Consideration) will be paid to the relevant Member or as that Member may direct. |
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| 12.12 | The Company will hold the Sale Consideration in trust for the Member whose Shares are sold under this clause and will forthwith notify the Member in writing that the Sale Consideration in respect of the Member’s Shares has been received by the Company and is being held by the Company pending instructions from the Member as to how it is to be dealt with. If the Member has been issued with a share certificate or certificates, the Member’s instructions, to be effective, must be accompanied by the share certificate or certificates to which the Sale Consideration relates or, if the certificate or certificates has or have been lost or destroyed, by a statement and undertaking under subsection 1070D(5) of the Corporations Act. |
| 12.13 | Subject to the Corporations Act, the Company or the purchaser will bear all costs, including brokerage and stamp duty, associated with the sale of any Shares under this clause. |
| 12.14 | A Notice of Divestiture under clause 12.2 may only be given once in any 12 month period and may not be given during the offer period of a takeover bid for the Company. |
| 12.15 | If the Procedure has been invoked and there is an announcement of a takeover bid for Shares, no more sales of Shares may be made under this clause 12 until after the close of the offers made under the takeover. The Procedure may then be invoked again. |
| 12.16 | The Directors may, before a sale is effected under this clause 12, revoke a Notice of Divestiture or any step taken under clause 12.7 or suspend or terminate the Procedure, either generally or in specific cases. |
| 12.17 | If a Member is an Eligible Member in respect of more than one parcel of Shares, the Directors may treat the Member as a separate Eligible Member in respect of each of those parcels so that this clause 12 will operate as if each parcel was held by a different person. |
Calls
| 13. | General |
| 13.1 | Subject to the Corporations Act and the terms on which partly paid Shares are issued, the Directors may make calls on the holders of the Shares for any money unpaid on them. |
| 13.2 | A call is made when the resolution of the Directors authorising it is passed. |
| 13.3 | The Directors may revoke or postpone a call before its due date for payment. |
| 13.4 | The Directors may require a call to be paid by instalments. |
| 13.5 | The Company must comply with the Corporations Act and the ASX Listing Rules in relation to the dispatch and content of notices to Members on whom a call is made. |
| 13.6 | A Member to whom notice of a call is given in accordance with this clause 13 must pay to the Company the amount called in accordance with the notice. |
| 13.7 | Failure to send a notice of a call to any Member or the non-receipt of a notice by any Member does not invalidate the call. |
| 13.8 | Joint holders of Shares are jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect of their Shares. |
| 14. | Instalments and amounts which become payable |
If:
| (a) | the Directors require a call to be paid by instalments; or |
Page 7
| (b) | an amount becomes payable by the terms of issue of Shares on allotment, or at a time or in circumstances specified in the terms of issue, |
then:
| (c) | every instalment or the amount payable under the terms of issue is payable as if it were a call made by the Directors and as if they had given notice of it; and |
| (d) | the consequences of late payment or non-payment of an instalment or the amount payable under the terms of issue are the same as the consequences of late payment or non-payment of a call. |
| 15. | Interest and expenses |
If an amount called is not paid on or before the due date, the person liable to pay the amount must also pay:
| (a) | interest on the amount from the due date to the time of actual payment at a rate determined by the Directors (not exceeding 20% per annum); and |
| (b) | all expenses incurred by the Company as a consequence of the non-payment, but the Directors may waive payment of the interest and expenses in whole or in part. Interest accrues daily and may be capitalised monthly or at such other intervals as the Directors decide. |
| 16. | Recovery of amounts due |
On the hearing of any action for the recovery of money due for any call, proof that:
| (a) | the name of the person sued was, when the call was made, entered in the Register as a holder or the holder of Shares in respect of which the call was made; |
| (b) | the resolution making the call is duly recorded in the Directors’ minute book; and |
| (c) | notice of the call was given to the person sued, |
will be conclusive evidence of the debt.
| 17. | Differentiation |
The Directors may, on the issue of Shares, differentiate between the holders as to the amount of calls to be paid and the times of payment.
| 18. | Payment of calls in advance |
| 18.1 | The Directors may accept from a Member the whole or part of the amount unpaid on a Share before the amount accepted has been called. |
| 18.2 | The Company may: |
| (a) | pay interest on any amount accepted, until the amount is payable under a call and at a rate (not exceeding 20% per annum) agreed between the Member and the Directors; and |
| (b) | subject to any contract between the Company and the Member, repay all or any of the amount accepted in excess of the amount called on the Share. |
| 18.3 | Payment of an amount in advance of a call does not entitle the paying Member to any: |
| (a) | dividend, benefit or advantage, other than the payment of interest under this clause 18; or |
| (b) | voting right, to which the Member would not have been entitled if it had paid the amount when it became due. |
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Lien and forfeiture
| 19. | Lien |
| 19.1 | The Company has a first and paramount lien on every partly paid Share and dividends payable in respect of the Share for all money: |
| (a) | due and unpaid to the Company, in respect of the Share; |
| (b) | presently payable by a holder or the holder of the Share, or the holder’s estate, to the Company in respect of the Share; or |
| (c) | which the Company is required by law to pay (and has paid) in respect of the Share. |
| 19.2 | The lien extends to reasonable interest and expenses incurred because the amount is not paid. |
| 19.3 | If any law for the time being of any country, state or place imposes or purports to impose an immediate or contingent liability on the Company to make any payment or authorises a taxing authority or Government official to require the Company to make payment in respect of Shares or dividends or other moneys accruing due to the Member who holds the Shares: |
| (a) | the Member or, if the Member is deceased, the Member’s legal personal representative, indemnifies the Company in respect of any such payment or liability; and |
| (b) | the Company: |
| (i) | has a lien on the Shares and dividends and other moneys payable in respect of the Shares, whether the Shares are held by the Member solely or jointly with another person in respect of any payment made or liability incurred by the Company, together with reasonable expenses and interest on any payment made by the Company at a rate to be fixed by the Directors not exceeding 20% per annum from the date of payment by the Company to the date of repayment by the Member; |
| (ii) | may set off amounts so paid by the Company against amounts payable by the Company to the Member as dividends or otherwise; and |
| (iii) | may recover as a debt due from the Member or its legal personal representative the amount of all payments made by the Company together with reasonable expenses and interest at the rate and for the period referred to in clause 19.3(b)(i). |
| 19.4 | The Company may do all things which the Directors think necessary or appropriate to do under the ASX Listing Rules and the ASX Settlement Operating Rules to enforce or protect the Company’s lien. |
| 19.5 | Unless the Directors determine otherwise, the registration of a transfer of a Share operates as a waiver of the Company’s lien on the Share so far as it relates to amounts owing by the transferor or any predecessor in title. |
| 19.6 | The Directors may: |
| (a) | declare a Share to be wholly or partly exempt from a lien; or |
| (b) | waive or compromise all or part of any payment due to the Company. |
| 20. | Lien sale |
If:
| (a) | the Company has a lien on a Share for money presently payable; and |
| (b) | the Company has given the Member or the Member’s executors or administrators (as the case may be) holding the Share written notice demanding payment of the money; and |
| (c) | that Member fails to pay all of the money demanded, then 14 or more days after giving the notice, the Directors may sell the Share in any manner determined by them. |
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| 21. | Forfeiture notice |
| 21.1 | The Directors may at any time after a call or instalment becomes payable and remains unpaid by a Member, serve a notice on the Member requiring the Member to pay all or any of the following: |
| (a) | the unpaid amount; |
| (b) | any interest that has accrued; and |
| (c) | all expenses incurred by the Company as a consequence of the non-payment. |
| 21.2 | The notice under clause 21.1 must: |
| (a) | specify a day (not earlier than 14 days after the date of the notice) on or before which the payment required by the notice must be made; and |
| (b) | state that if a Member does not comply with the notice, the Shares in respect of which the call was made or instalment is payable will be liable to be forfeited. |
| 22. | Forfeiture |
| 22.1 | If a Member does not comply with a notice served under clause 21, then any or all of the Shares in respect of which the notice was given may be forfeited under a resolution of the Directors. |
| 22.2 | Unpaid dividends in respect of forfeited Shares will also be forfeited. |
| 22.3 | On forfeiture, Shares become the property of the Company and forfeited Shares must be: |
| (a) | sold, disposed of, or cancelled on terms determined by the Directors; or |
| (b) | offered by public auction. |
| 22.4 | The Directors may, at any time before a forfeited Share is sold, disposed of or cancelled, annul the forfeiture of the Share on conditions determined by them. |
| 22.5 | Promptly after a Share has been forfeited: |
| (a) | notice of the forfeiture must be given to the Member in whose name the Share was registered immediately before its forfeiture; and |
| (b) | the forfeiture and its date must be noted in the Register. |
| 22.6 | Omission or neglect to give notice of or to note the forfeiture as specified in clause 22.5 will not invalidate a forfeiture. |
| 23. | Liability of former Member |
| 23.1 | The interest of a person who held Shares which are forfeited is extinguished but, the former Member remains liable to pay: |
| (a) | all money (including interest and expenses) that was payable by the Member to the Company at the date of forfeiture in respect of the forfeited Shares; and |
| (b) | interest from the date of forfeiture until payment of the money referred to in clause 23.1(a), of this clause at a rate determined by the Directors (not exceeding 20% per annum). |
| 23.2 | A former Member’s liability to the Company ceases if and when the Company receives payment in full of all money (including interest and expenses) payable by the former Member in respect of the Shares. The liability may only be compromised, released or waived by the Directors. |
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| 24. | Disposal of Shares |
| 24.1 | The Company may: |
| (a) | receive the consideration (if any) given for a forfeited Share on any sale or disposition of the Share, or a Share sold under a lien sale; |
| (b) | effect a transfer of the Share or execute or appoint a person to execute, a transfer of the Share in favour of a person to whom the Share is sold or disposed of; and |
| (c) | register as the holder of the Share the person to whom the Share is sold. |
| 24.2 | The purchaser of the Share: |
| (a) | is not bound to check the regularity of the sale or the application of the purchase price; |
| (b) | obtains title to the Share despite any irregularity in the sale; and |
| (c) | will not be subject to complaint or remedy by the former holder of the Share in respect of the purchase. |
| 24.3 | A statement signed by a Director and a Secretary that the Share has been regularly forfeited and sold or reissued or regularly sold without forfeiture to enforce a lien, is conclusive evidence of the matters stated as against all persons claiming to be entitled to the Share. |
| 24.4 | Subject to the terms on which a Share is on issue, the net proceeds of any sale made to enforce a lien or on forfeiture must be applied by the Company in the following order: |
| (a) | in payment of the costs and expenses of the sale; |
| (b) | in payment of all amounts (if any) secured by the lien or all money (if any) that was payable in respect of the forfeited Share; and |
| (c) | where the Share was forfeited under clause 22.1, in payment of any surplus to the former Member whose Share was sold. |
Transfer of Shares
| 25. | General |
| 25.1 | Subject to this Constitution, a Member may transfer Shares held by that Member. |
| 25.2 | Subject to clause 25.3, Shares may be transferred by: |
| (a) | a written transfer instrument in any usual or common form; or |
| (b) | any other form approved by the Directors. |
| 25.3 | The Company may participate in any computerised or electronic system for market settlement, securities transfer and registration conducted in accordance with the Corporations Act, the ASX Listing Rules and the ASX Settlement Operating Rules, or corresponding laws or financial market rules in any other country. |
| 25.4 | If the Company participates in a system of the kind described in clause 25.3, then despite any other provision of this Constitution: |
| (a) | Shares may be transferred, and transfers may be registered, in any manner required or permitted by the ASX Listing Rules or the ASX Settlement Operating Rules (or corresponding laws or financial market rules in any other country) applying in relation to the system; |
| (b) | the Company must comply with and give effect to those rules; and |
| (c) | the Company may, in accordance with those rules, decline to issue certificates for holdings of Shares. |
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| 25.5 | A written transfer instrument must be: |
| (a) | executed by the transferor or (where the Corporations Act permits) stamped by the transferor’s broker; |
| (b) | unless the Directors decide otherwise in the case of a fully paid Share, executed by the transferee or (where the Corporations Act permits) stamped by the transferee’s broker; and |
| (c) | in the case of a transfer of partly paid Shares, endorsed or accompanied by an instrument executed by the transferee or by the transferee’s broker to the effect that the transferee agrees to accept the Shares subject to the terms and conditions on which the transferor held them, to become a Member and to be bound by the Constitution. |
Subject to the Corporation Act, the written transfer instrument may comprise more than one document.
| 25.6 | Except as required by the ASX Settlement Operating Rules: |
| (a) | a transferor of Shares remains the holder of the Shares transferred until the transfer is registered and the name of the transferee is entered in the Register in respect of the Shares; and |
| (b) | a transfer of Shares does not pass the right to any dividends on the Shares until such registration. |
| 26. | Transfer procedure |
| 26.1 | Except where the Directors determine (to comply with laws or financial market rules of a foreign country or the ASX Settlement Operating Rules), for a transfer of Shares that is not an ASX Settlement regulated transfer: |
| (a) | the written transfer instrument must be left at the Company’s registered office or another place acceptable to the Company; |
| (b) | the instrument must be accompanied by a certificate for the Shares dealt with in the transfer where a certificate has been issued, unless the Directors waive production of the certificate on receiving satisfactory evidence of the loss or destruction of the certificate; and |
| (c) | the Directors may require other evidence of the transferor’s right to transfer the Shares. |
| 26.2 | For a transfer of Shares that is an ASX Settlement regulated transfer, a Share transfer must be effected in accordance with the ASX Listing Rules and the ASX Settlement Operating Rules. |
| 26.3 | The Company may charge a fee for registering a transfer of Shares if: |
| (a) | the Company is not listed; or |
| (b) | the fee is not prohibited by the ASX Listing Rules. |
| 27. | Right to refuse registration |
| 27.1 | The Directors may in their absolute discretion refuse to register any transfer of Shares or other securities where the Shares or other securities are not quoted by ASX. Where the Shares or other securities are quoted by ASX, the Directors may in their absolute discretion refuse to register any transfer in any of the circumstances permitted by the ASX Listing Rules. |
| 27.2 | The Directors must: |
| (a) | except as permitted by ASX, refuse to register any transfer of Shares or other securities which are Restricted Securities if that transfer is or might be in breach of the ASX Listing Rules, any restriction agreement entered into by the Company under the ASX Listing Rules in relation to the Shares or a provision of this Constitution restricting disposal of those Restricted Securities; and |
| (b) | refuse to register any transfer where the Company is, or the Directors are, required to do so by the ASX Listing Rules. |
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| 27.3 | Despite clauses 27.1 and 27.2, the Company must not refuse or fail to register or give effect to, or delay or in any way interfere with, a proper ASTC transfer of Shares or other securities quoted by ASX. |
| 27.4 | If a person has lodged a transfer which the Directors have refused to register, the Company must, within five Business Days after the date of lodgment, give to the lodging person written notice of the refusal and the reasons for it. |
| 28. | Escrow restrictions |
| 28.1 | In this clause, ‘dispose’ has the extended meaning set out in ASX Listing Rule 19.12. |
| 28.2 | A holder of Restricted Securities must not dispose of, or agree or offer to dispose of, those Restricted Securities during the escrow period applicable to those Restricted Securities, except as permitted by the ASX Listing Rules or ASX. |
| 28.3 | A holder of Restricted Securities which are in a class of quoted securities, agrees to hold those Restricted Securities on the Company’s issuer-sponsored sub-register and agrees to have a holding lock applied for the duration of the escrow period applicable to those Restricted Securities. |
| 28.4 | The Company will refuse to acknowledge any disposal (including to register any transfer) of Restricted Securities during the escrow period applicable to those Restricted Securities except as permitted by the ASX Listing Rules or ASX. |
| 28.5 | A holder of Restricted Securities will not be entitled to participate in any return of capital on those Restricted Securities during the escrow period applicable to those Restricted Securities except as permitted by the ASX Listing Rules or ASX. |
| 28.6 | If a holder of Restricted Securities breaches a restriction deed or a provision of this Constitution restricting disposal of those Restricted Securities, the holder will not be entitled to any dividend or distribution, or to exercise any voting rights, in respect of those Restricted Securities for so long as the breach continues. |
Transmission of Shares
| 29. | Title on death |
| 29.1 | The legal personal representative of a deceased Member who was the sole holder of Shares is the only person whom the Company will recognise as having any title to the deceased Member’s Shares. |
| 29.2 | If a deceased Member was a joint holder of Shares, the other joint holder is the only person whom the Company will recognise as having any title to the deceased Member’s Shares. |
| 29.3 | The estate of the deceased Member will not be released from any liability to the Company in respect of the Shares. |
| 29.4 | The Company may register or give effect to a transfer to a transferee who dies before the transfer is registered. |
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| 30. | Entitlement to transmission |
| 30.1 | A person who becomes entitled to a Share in consequence of the death, mental incapacity or bankruptcy of a Member may, subject to clause 27 and to producing to the Company evidence of its entitlement which is satisfactory to the Directors, elect to: |
| (a) | be registered as the holder of the Share; or |
| (b) | transfer the Share to some other person nominated by it. |
| 30.2 | If the person who has become entitled to a Share: |
| (a) | elects to be registered as the holder, then the person must deliver or send to the Company a written notice of election signed by him or her; or |
| (b) | elects to transfer the Share, then the person must effect a transfer of the Share. |
| 30.3 | An election to be registered as a holder of a Share under clause 30.1(a) or a transfer of a Share from a Member or deceased Member under this clause 30 is subject to the same limitations, restrictions and provisions of this Constitution as would apply if the election were a transfer or the transfer were made by the Member or deceased Member himself or herself. |
| 30.4 | A person who: |
| (a) | has become entitled to a Share by operation of law; and |
| (b) | has produced evidence of that person’s entitlement which is satisfactory to the Directors, |
is entitled to the dividends and other rights of the registered holder of the Share.
| 30.5 | Where two or more persons are jointly entitled to any Share in consequence of the death of the registered holder, they will be considered to be joint holders of the Share. |
| 30.6 | Any person who is registered under this clause must indemnify the Company against all liabilities, costs, losses and expenses incurred by the Company as a result of registering the person. |
Proportional takeover bids
| 31. | Plebiscite to approve proportional takeover bids |
| 31.1 | In this clause 31: |
Approving Resolution in relation to a Proportional Takeover Bid means a resolution to approve the Proportional Takeover Bid passed in accordance with clause 31.3.
Approving Resolution Deadline in relation to a Proportional Takeover Bid means the day that is 14 days before the last day of the bid period, during which the offers under the Proportional Takeover Bid remain open or a later day allowed by ASIC.
Proportional Takeover Bid means a takeover bid that is made or purports to be made under section 618(1)(b) of the Corporations Act in respect of securities in a class of securities of the Company.
Relevant Class in relation to a Proportional Takeover Bid, means the class of securities in the Company in respect of which offers are made under the Proportional Takeover Bid.
| 31.2 | Despite clauses 27 and 107, a transfer giving effect to a contract resulting from the acceptance of an offer made under a Proportional Takeover Bid must not be registered unless an Approving Resolution to approve the Proportional Takeover Bid has been passed or is taken to have been passed in accordance with clauses 31.3 to 31.8 inclusive. |
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| 31.3 | Where offers have been made under a Proportional Takeover Bid, the Directors must: |
| (a) | call and arrange to hold a meeting of the persons entitled to vote on the Approving Resolution for the purpose of considering and, if thought fit, passing a resolution to approve the Proportional Takeover Bid; and |
| (b) | ensure that the resolution is voted on in accordance with clauses 31.4 to 31.8 inclusive, |
before the Approving Resolution Deadline.
| 31.4 | The provisions of this Constitution relating to general meetings apply, with necessary changes, to a meeting that is called under clause 31.3, as if that meeting were a general meeting of the Company, except that: |
| (a) | a meeting may be called and held on less than the notice period provided in the Corporations Act or this Constitution if the Board considers that should be done to ensure that the meeting is held before the Approving Resolution Deadline; and |
| (b) | the holder of a security that carries no right to vote at a general meeting of the Company has one vote for each security held at a meeting called and arranged to be held under this clause 31. |
| 31.5 | The bidder under a Proportional Takeover Bid and any Associates of the bidder are not entitled to vote on the Approving Resolution and, if they do, their votes must not be counted. |
| 31.6 | Subject to clause 31.5, a person who, as at the end of the day on which the first offer under the Proportional Takeover Bid was made, held securities of the Relevant Class, is entitled to vote on the Approving Resolution relating to the Proportional Takeover Bid. |
| 31.7 | An Approving Resolution that has been voted on is taken to have been passed if the proportion that the number of votes in favour of the Approving Resolution bears to the total number of votes on the resolution is greater than 50%, and otherwise is taken to have been rejected. |
| 31.8 | If an Approving Resolution has not been voted on in accordance with clauses 31.3 to 31.7 inclusive as at the end of the day before the Approving Resolution Deadline, an Approving Resolution will be taken to have been passed in accordance with those clauses on the Approving Resolution Deadline. |
Changes to Share capital
| 32. | Alteration of share capital |
The Directors may do anything required to give effect to any resolution altering or approving the reduction of the Company’s Share capital, including, where a Member becomes entitled to a fraction of a Share or other security on a conversion of some or all of the Shares into a larger or smaller number or on a reduction of capital:
| (a) | causing the Company to make cash payments; |
| (b) | determining that fractions may be disregarded to adjust the rights of all parties; |
| (c) | appointing a trustee to deal with any fractions on behalf of Members; and |
| (d) | rounding up each fractional entitlement to the nearest whole Share or security by capitalising any amount for capitalisation under clause 100 even though only some of the Members participate in the capitalisation. |
| 33. | Reductions of capital |
| 33.1 | Subject to the Corporations Act and the Listing Rules, the Company may reduce its share capital in any manner. |
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| 33.2 | Without limiting the generality of clause 33.1, the Company when reducing its share capital may resolve that such reduction be effected wholly or in part by the distribution of specific assets (whether held in the name of the Company or in the name of any wholly owned subsidiary of the Company) and in particular fully paid shares, debentures, debenture stock or other securities of any other corporation or in any one or more of such ways. |
| 33.3 | If a difficulty arises in making a distribution of specific assets or the Directors otherwise so determine, the Directors may do all or any one or more of the following: |
| (a) | deal with the difficulty as they think expedient; |
| (b) | fix the value of all or any part of the specific assets for the purposes of the distribution; |
| (c) | determine that cash will be paid to any Members on the basis of the fixed value in order to equitably adjust the rights of the Members; and |
| (d) | vest any specific assets in trustees as the Directors consider expedient. |
| 33.4 | If a distribution of specific assets to a particular Member or Members is in the Directors’ opinion contrary to any law, including any law applicable to the Member, or, in the Directors’ opinion, impractical, the Directors may make a cash payment to the Member or Members on the basis of the cash amount of the reduction in share capital instead of the distribution of specific assets. |
| 33.5 | Where the Company pursuant to a reduction of its share capital distributes to its Members shares in another corporation: |
| (a) | the Members will be deemed to have agreed to become members of that other corporation; and |
| (b) | each of the Members appoints the Company or any of the Directors as its agent to execute any transfer of shares or other document required to facilitate or effect the distribution of shares to that Member. |
| 34. | Ancillary powers |
If a distribution, transfer or issue of specific assets, shares or securities to a particular Member or Members is, in the Directors’ discretion, considered impracticable or would give rise to parcels of securities which do not constitute marketable parcels, the Directors may cause the Company to make a cash payment to those Members or allocate the assets, shares or securities to a trustee to be sold on behalf of, and for the benefit of, those Members, instead of making the distribution, transfer or issue to those Members.
| 35. | Buy-backs |
Subject to the Corporations Act and the Listing Rules, the Company may buy Shares on terms and at times determined from time to time by the Directors.
Powers of attorney
| 36. | Powers of attorney |
| 36.1 | If a Member executes or proposes to execute any document or do any act by or through an attorney which is relevant to the Company or the Member’s shareholding in the Company, that Member must deliver the instrument appointing the attorney to the Company for notation. |
| 36.2 | The Company may require the Member to lodge a certified copy of the instrument for retention by the Company, and ask for whatever evidence it thinks appropriate that the power of attorney is effective and continues to be in force. |
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| 36.3 | Any power of attorney granted by a Member will, as between the Company and the Member who granted the power of attorney: |
| (a) | continue in force; and |
| (b) | may be acted on, |
unless express notice in writing of its revocation or of the death of the Member who granted it is lodged with the Company.
| 36.4 | Where a Member proposes that an attorney represent the Member at a general meeting or adjourned meeting, the Member must comply with clause 58.1 of this Constitution. |
General meetings
| 37. | Calling and holding general meetings |
| 37.1 | A general meeting of Members (including of a class of Members) may be held: |
| (a) | at one or more physical venues; or |
| (b) | at one or more physical venues and using virtual meeting technology. |
| 37.2 | A Director may call a general meeting of Members. |
| 37.3 | The Directors must call annual general meetings in accordance with the Corporations Act, to be held by the Company at times to be determined by the Directors. |
| 37.4 | Members may also request or call and arrange to hold general meetings in accordance with the procedures and requirements set out in the Corporations Act. |
| 37.5 | The place at which a general meeting is held is taken to be:: |
| (a) | if the general meeting is held at only one physical venue (whether or not it is also held using virtual meeting technology), that physical venue; or |
| (b) | if the general meeting is held at more than one physical venue (whether or not it is also held using virtual meeting technology), the main physical venue of the meeting as set out in the notice of the meeting. |
| 37.6 | The time at which a general meeting is held is taken to be the time at the place at which the general meeting is taken to be held in accordance with clause 37.5. |
| 37.7 | If the Company holds a general meeting, it must give the Members entitled to attend the meeting, as a whole, a reasonable opportunity to participate in the general meeting. |
| 38. | Notice of general meetings |
| 38.1 | Notice of a general meeting must be given in accordance with the Corporations Act to the persons referred to in clause 102.1. |
| 38.2 | Except as permitted by the Corporations Act, general meetings must be called on at least the minimum number of days’ notice required by the Corporations Act (which at the Adoption Date is 28 days) and otherwise in accordance with the procedures set out in the Corporations Act. |
| 38.3 | Subject to the requirements of the Corporations Act, the content of a notice of general meeting called by the Directors must be decided by the Directors. |
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| 39. | Business at general meetings |
| 39.1 | Unless the Corporations Act provides otherwise: |
| (a) | no business may be transacted at a general meeting unless the general nature of the business is stated in the notice calling the meeting; and |
| (b) | except with the approval of the Directors or the chairperson, no person may move an amendment to a proposed resolution the terms of which are set out in the notice calling the meeting or to a document which relates to such a resolution and a copy of which has been made available to Members to inspect or copy. |
| 39.2 | An accidental omission to send a notice of a general meeting (including a proxy appointment form) or the postponement of a general meeting to any Member or the non-receipt of a notice (or form) by any Member does not invalidate the proceedings at or any resolution passed at the general meeting. |
| 39.3 | A person’s attendance at the general meeting waives any obligation the person may have to: |
| (a) | a failure to give notice, or the giving of a defective notice, of the meeting unless the person at the beginning of the meeting objects to the holding of the meeting; and |
| (b) | the consideration of a particular matter at the meeting which is not within the business referred to in the notice of meeting, unless the person objects to considering the matter when it is presented. |
Proceedings at general meetings
| 40. | Member |
In clauses 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 48 and 50, Member includes a Member present in person or by proxy (whether or not the Member or Members they represent cast Direct Votes), attorney or Representative.
| 41. | Quorum |
| 41.1 | No business may be transacted at a general meeting unless a quorum of Members is present at the commencement of business. |
| 41.2 | A quorum of Members is two Members unless there are less than two Members, in which event a quorum is those Members. |
| 41.3 | If a quorum is not present within 30 minutes after the time appointed for a general meeting: |
| (a) | the general meeting is automatically dissolved if it was requested or called by Members; or |
| (b) | in any other case: |
| (i) | it will stand adjourned and the Directors may, subject to and in accordance with clauses 37.5 and 37.7, determine the time, physical venue or physical venues (if any) and virtual meeting technology (if any) for the adjourned general meeting and, if the Directors do not make such a determination, the adjourned general meeting will be held: |
| (A) | at the same time and place seven days after the meeting, or to another day, time and place determined by the Directors; and |
| (B) | at the same physical venue or physical venues (if any), and using the same virtual meeting technology (if any), as originally appointed for the general meeting; and |
| (ii) | if at the adjourned general meeting a quorum is not present within 30 minutes after the time appointed for the general meeting the general meeting is automatically dissolved. |
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| 42. | Chairperson of general meetings |
| 42.1 | The chairperson, or in the chairperson’s absence the deputy chairperson, of Directors’ meetings will be the chairperson at every general meeting. |
| 42.2 | If: |
| (a) | there is no chairperson or deputy chairperson; or |
| (b) | neither the chairperson nor deputy chairperson is present within 15 minutes after the time appointed for holding the general meeting; or |
| (c) | the chairperson and deputy chairperson are unwilling to act as chairperson of the general meeting, |
the Directors present may elect a chairperson of the general meeting of the Members.
| 42.3 | If no chairperson is elected in accordance with clause 42.2, then: |
| (a) | the Members may elect one of the Directors present as chairperson; or |
| (b) | if no Director is present or is willing to take the chair, the Members who are present at the general meeting may elect one of the Members present as chairperson. |
| 42.4 | At any time during a general meeting and in respect of any specific item or items of business, the chairperson may elect to vacate the chair in favour of another person nominated by the chairperson (which person must be a Director unless no Director is present or is willing to act). That person is to be taken to be the chairperson and will have all the powers of the chairperson (other than the power to adjourn the meeting), during the consideration of that item of business or those items of business. |
| 42.5 | If there is a dispute at a general meeting about a question of procedure, the chairperson may determine the question. |
| 43. | General conduct |
| 43.1 | The general conduct of each general meeting of the Company and the procedures to be adopted at the meeting will be determined by the chairperson, including the procedure for the conduct of the election of Directors. |
| 43.2 | The chairperson may, at any time the chairperson considers it necessary or desirable for the proper and orderly conduct of the meeting: |
| (a) | impose a limit on the time that a person may speak on each motion or other item of business and terminate debate or discussion on any business, question, motion or resolution being considered at the meeting and require the business, questions, motion or resolution to be put to a vote of the Members present; and |
| (b) | adopt any procedures for casting or recording votes at the meeting whether on a show of hands or on a poll, including the appointment of scrutineers. |
| 43.3 | A decision by the chairperson under clause 43.1 or 43.2 is final. |
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| 44. | Postponement and Adjournment |
| 44.1 | The Directors may: |
| (a) | cancel or postpone to another time (on the same or another date) any general meeting (including any general meeting that has previously been postponed or adjourned) before it has started, other than a general meeting requested or called by Members under clause 37.4, which may only be cancelled or postponed with the prior written consent of the persons who requisitioned or called the general meeting; and |
| (b) | change the physical venue or physical venues (if any) and virtual meeting technology (if any) for any general meeting (including any general meeting that has previously been postponed or adjourned) before it has started. |
| 44.2 | The chairperson of a general meeting may postpone the meeting (including any general meeting that has previously been postponed or adjourned) before it has started, whether or not a quorum is present, if, at the time and place appointed for the meeting, he or she considers that: |
| (a) | there is not enough room at any physical venue for the meeting for the number of Members who wish to attend the meeting; or |
| (b) | a postponement is necessary in light of the behaviour of persons present or for any other reason so that the business of the meeting can be properly carried out. |
| 44.3 | The chairperson of a general meeting may at any time during the course of the meeting: |
| (a) | adjourn the meeting or any business, motion, question or resolution being considered or remaining to be considered by the meeting either to a later time at the same meeting or to an adjourned meeting; and |
| (b) | for the purpose of allowing any poll to be taken or determined, suspend the proceedings of the meeting for such period/s as he or she decides without effecting an adjournment. No business may be transacted and no discussion may take place during any suspension of proceedings unless the chairperson otherwise allows. |
| 44.4 | In relation to any general meeting that is postponed or adjourned by the chairperson of the general meeting under clause 44.2 or 44.3, the chairperson of the general meeting may, subject to and in accordance with clauses 37.1 and 37.7, determine the time, physical venue or physical venues (if any) and virtual meeting technology (if any) for the postponed or adjourned general meeting (as applicable) and, if the chairperson of the general meeting does not make such a determination, the postponed or adjourned general meeting (as applicable) will be held; |
| (a) | at the same time as, and on the day that is seven days after the day, originally appointed for the general meeting; and |
| (b) | at the same physical venue or physical venues (if any), and using the same virtual meeting technology (if any), as originally appointed for the general meeting. |
| 44.5 | The chairperson’s rights under clauses 44.1, 44.3 and 44.4 are exclusive and, unless the chairperson requires otherwise, no vote may be taken or demanded by the members present about any postponement, adjournment or suspension of proceedings of the general meeting. |
| 44.6 | Only unfinished business may be transacted at a meeting resumed after an adjournment. |
| 44.7 | Where a meeting is cancelled, postponed or adjourned under this clause 44, notice of the cancellation or of the postponed or adjourned meeting (as applicable) must be given to ASX, but except as provided by clause 44.9, need not be given to any other person. |
| 44.8 | Where a meeting is postponed or adjourned, the Directors may, by notice to ASX, postpone, cancel or change the place of the postponed or adjourned meeting. |
| 44.9 | Where a meeting is postponed or adjourned for 30 days or more, notice of the postponed or adjourned meeting must be given as in the case of the original meeting. |
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| 45. | Decisions at general meetings |
| 45.1 | Subject to the Corporations Act in relation to special resolutions, a resolution is carried if a majority of the votes cast on the resolution are in favour of the resolution. |
| 45.2 | A resolution put to the vote of a meeting is decided on a show of hands unless clause 45.2 applies or a poll is demanded by: |
| (a) | at least 5 Members entitled to vote on the resolution; or |
| (b) | Members with at least 5% of the votes that may be cast on the resolution on a poll; or |
| (c) | the chairperson. |
| 45.3 | For so long as the Company is Listed, a resolution put to the vote at a general meeting must be decided on a poll (and not a show of hands) if the notice of the general meeting set out an intention to propose the resolution and stated the resolution. |
| 45.4 | A poll: |
| (a) | may be demanded: |
| (i) | before a vote is taken; or |
| (ii) | in the case of a vote taken on a show of hands, immediately before or immediately after, the results of the vote are declared; and |
| (b) | must be demanded if: |
| (i) | a vote by show of hands is taken on the resolution; and |
| (ii) | appointments of proxies have been received specifying the way the proxies are to vote on the resolution (whether or not as a Direct Vote); and |
| (iii) | votes cast in accordance with the appointments of proxies referred to in clause 45.3(b)(ii) could change the outcome of the vote on the resolution. |
| 45.5 | Unless a poll is demanded: |
| (a) | a declaration by the chairperson that a resolution has been carried, carried by a specified majority, or lost; and |
| (b) | an entry to that effect in the minutes of the meeting, |
are conclusive evidence of the fact without proof of the number or proportion of the votes in favour of or against the resolution.
| 45.6 | The demand for a poll may be withdrawn. |
| 45.7 | A decision of a general meeting may not be impeached or invalidated on the ground that a person voting at the meeting was not entitled to do so. |
| 46. | Taking a poll |
| 46.1 | Subject to clause 46.5, a poll will be taken when and in the manner (including using technology) that the chairperson directs. No notice need be given of any poll. |
| 46.2 | The result of the poll will determine whether the resolution on which the poll was demanded is carried or lost. |
| 46.3 | The chairperson may determine any dispute about the admission or rejection of a vote, and such determination, if made in good faith, will be final and conclusive. |
| 46.4 | A poll cannot be demanded on any resolution concerning the election of the chairperson of a general meeting or the adjournment of the general meeting. |
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| 46.5 | A poll demanded by the chairperson on any resolution concerning the adjournment of a general meeting must be taken immediately. |
| 46.6 | After a poll has been demanded at a general meeting, the general meeting may continue for the transaction of business other than the question on which the poll was demanded. |
| 47. | Casting vote of chairperson |
The chairperson does not have a casting vote (in addition to the chairperson’s votes as a Member, proxy, attorney or Representative) on a show of hands or on a poll.
| 48. | Admission to general meetings |
| 48.1 | The chairperson of a general meeting may take any action he or she considers appropriate for the health and/or safety of any Members or other persons present at the general meeting and the orderly conduct of the general meeting. |
| 48.2 | Without limiting the generality of clause 48.1, the chairperson of a general meeting may do any one or more of the following: |
| (a) | refuse to admit a person to any physical venue at which the general meeting is being held; |
| (b) | require a person to leave and not return to, any physical venue at which the general meeting is being held; |
| (c) | refuse a person access to (or use of) any virtual meeting technology being used for the general meeting; and |
| (d) | require a person to cease accessing (or using) any virtual meeting technology being used for the general meeting, |
in each case, if the person:
| (e) | refuses to permit examination of any article in the person’s possession; or |
| (f) | is in possession of any: |
| (i) | electronic or recording device; |
| (ii) | placard or banner; or |
| (iii) | other article, |
which the chairperson considers to be dangerous, offensive or liable to cause disruption; or
| (g) | causes any disruption to the meeting including by refusal to comply with a request of the chairman to turn off a mobile telephone, personal communication device or similar device; or |
| (h) | poses a risk to the health and/or safety of other persons attending the meeting; or |
| (i) | who behaves or threatens to behave in a dangerous, offensive or disruptive way. |
| 48.3 | The chairperson may delegate the powers conferred by clauses 48.1 and 48.2 to any person he or she thinks fit. |
| 48.4 | A person, whether a Member or not, requested by the directors or the chairperson to attend a general meeting is entitled to be present and, at the request of the chairperson, to speak at the meeting. |
| 48.5 | If the chairperson of a general meeting considers that there is not enough room for the Members who wish to attend any physical venue for the meeting, he or she may arrange for any person whom he or she considers cannot be seated in the main meeting room of any physical venue for the general meeting to observe or attend the meeting in a separate room at that physical venue. Even if the Members present in the separate room are not able to participate in the conduct of the meeting, the meeting will nevertheless be treated as validly held. |
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| 48.6 | If, before or during the meeting, any technical difficulty occurs which materially impacts the participation of Members who are attending the general meeting by using virtual meeting technology, the chairperson may: |
| (a) | adjourn the meeting until the difficulty is remedied; or |
| (b) | continue to hold the meeting and transact business, and no Member may object to the meeting being held or continuing, provided that sufficient Members are able to participate in the general meeting as are required to constitute a quorum. |
| 48.7 | Nothing in this clause 48 is to be taken to limit the powers conferred on the chairperson of a general meeting by law. |
| 49. | Auditor’s right to be heard |
The Auditor is entitled to:
| (a) | attend any general meeting of the Company; |
| (b) | be heard at any general meeting of the Company on any part of the business of the meeting that concerns the Auditor in their capacity as auditor, even if: |
| (i) | the Auditor retires at the general meeting; or |
| (ii) | Members pass a resolution to remove the Auditor from office; and |
| (c) | authorise a person in writing to attend and speak at any general meeting as the Auditor’s representative. |
Votes of Members
| 50. | Entitlement to vote |
| 50.1 | Subject to this Constitution and to any rights or restrictions attaching to any class of Shares: |
| (a) | every Member may vote; |
| (b) | subject to clause 54.4 and the Corporations Act, on a show of hands every Member has one vote; and |
| (c) | on a poll every Member has: |
| (i) | for each fully paid Share held by the Member, one vote; and |
| (ii) | for each partly paid Share held by the Member, a fraction of a vote equivalent to the proportion which the amount paid (not credited) is of the total amounts paid and payable, whether or not called (excluding amounts credited), on the Share. Without limiting the generality of clause 18.3, an amount paid on a Share in advance of a call is not to be taken as paid for the purposes of this clause. |
| 50.2 | If a Member: |
| (a) | dies; or |
| (b) | through mental or physical infirmity, is incapable of managing the Member’s affairs, |
and a personal representative, trustee or other person is appointed under law to administer the Member’s estate or property, the personal representative, trustee or person so appointed may exercise any rights of the Member in relation to a general meeting as if the personal representative, trustee or person (as the case may be) was a Member.
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| 50.3 | If, under the Corporations Act or the Listing Rules, a notice calling a meeting and proposing a resolution specifies that: |
| (a) | a Member must not vote in favour of the resolution; |
| (b) | a Member must not vote on the resolution; or |
| (c) | a vote on the resolution by the Member will be disregarded, |
and the Member or a person acting as the Member’s proxy, attorney or representative does tender a vote, in the case of paragraph (a), in favour of, or in the case of paragraph (b) or (c), on, the resolution, their vote must not be counted.
| 50.4 | Where the Corporations Act or the Listing Rules prohibits a Member from voting in favour of a resolution, this does not prohibit the Member from voting against the resolution. |
| 51. | Unpaid calls |
A Member is entitled to:
| (a) | vote; or |
| (b) | be counted in a quorum, only in respect of Shares on which all calls due and payable have been paid. |
| 52. | Joint holders |
| 52.1 | If two or more joint holders purport to vote, the vote of the joint holder whose name appears first in the Register will be accepted, to the exclusion of the other joint holder or holders. |
| 52.2 | For the purposes of this clause 52, several executors or administrators of a deceased Member in whose sole name any Shares are registered will be taken to be joint holders of those Shares. |
| 53. | Objections |
| 53.1 | An objection to the qualification of a voter may only be raised at the general meeting or adjourned general meeting at which the voter tendered their vote. |
| 53.2 | An objection must be referred to the chairperson of the general meeting for decision, whose decision is final. |
| 53.3 | A vote which the chairperson does not disallow under an objection is valid for all purposes. |
| 54. | Votes by proxy |
| 54.1 | A Member who is entitled to vote at a general meeting of the Company may appoint not more than two proxies to attend and vote at the general meeting on that Member’s behalf. |
| 54.2 | A proxy need not be a Member. |
| 54.3 | If a Member appoints one proxy, that proxy may, subject to the Corporations Act, vote on a show of hands. |
| 54.4 | If a Member appoints two proxies and the appointment does not specify the proportion or number of the Member’s votes each proxy may exercise, each proxy may exercise half the votes. However, neither proxy may vote on a show of hands. |
| 54.5 | A proxy may demand or join in demanding a poll. |
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| 54.6 | Subject to the Corporations Act, a proxy may vote or abstain as he or she chooses. |
| 54.7 | If: |
| (a) | a Member nominates the chairperson of the meeting as the Member’s proxy; or |
| (b) | the chairperson is to act as proxy under clause 57 or otherwise under a default appointment according to the terms of the proxy form, |
then the person acting as chairperson in respect of an item of business at the meeting must act as proxy under the appointment in respect of that item of business.
| 54.8 | A proxy’s authority to speak and attend for a Member at a meeting is suspended while the Member is present in person or by representative at the meeting unless the Member otherwise decides and informs the Company in writing prior to the start of the meeting, in which event the Member’s authority to speak or vote at the meeting is suspended while the proxy is present at the meeting. |
| 55. | Direct Votes |
| 55.1 | The Directors may determine that at any meeting of Members or class meeting, a Member who is entitled to attend and vote on a resolution at that meeting is entitled to a Direct Vote in respect of that resolution. |
| 55.2 | The Directors may prescribe regulations, rules and procedures in relation to Direct Voting, including specifying the form, method and timing of giving a Direct Vote at a meeting in order for the vote to be valid. |
| 56. | Document appointing proxy |
| 56.1 | An appointment of a proxy is valid if it is signed by the Member making the appointment and contains the information required by subsection 250A(1) of the Corporations Act. |
| 56.2 | For the purposes of clause 56.1, an appointment received at an electronic address will be taken to be signed by the Member if: |
| (a) | a personal identification code allocated by the Company to the Member has been input into the appointment; or |
| (b) | the appointment has been verified in another manner approved by the Directors; or |
| (c) | the appointment is otherwise authenticated in accordance with the Corporations Act. |
| 56.3 | The Company may send a proxy appointment form to Members by means of an electronic communication in accordance with the Corporations Act or in a form which has been approved by the Directors or by the chairperson and the Managing Director. |
| 56.4 | A proxy’s appointment is valid at an adjourned or postponed general meeting. |
| 56.5 | A proxy or attorney may be appointed for all meetings or for any number of general meetings or for a particular purpose. |
| 56.6 | Unless otherwise provided for in the proxy’s appointment or in any instrument appointing an attorney, the appointment of the proxy or the attorney will be taken to confer authority: |
| (a) | to vote on: |
| (i) | any amendment moved to the proposed resolutions and on any motion that the proposed resolutions not be put or any similar motion; and |
| (ii) | any procedural motion, including any motion to elect the chairperson, to vacate the chair or to adjourn the general meeting, |
even though the appointment may specify the way the proxy or attorney is to vote on a particular resolution; and
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| (b) | to vote on any motion before the general meeting whether or not the motion is referred to in the appointment, |
except where any such vote, if cast, would constitute an offence under the Corporations Act.
| 57. | Proxy in blank |
If a proxy appointment is signed by the Member but does not name the proxy or proxies in whose favour it is given, the chairperson may either act as proxy or complete the proxy appointment by inserting the name or names of one or more Directors or a Secretary.
| 58. | Lodgement of proxy |
| 58.1 | Subject to clause 58.3, the appointment of a proxy or attorney must be received by the Company, at least 48 hours (unless reduced in the notice of meeting to which the appointment relates) before the general meeting (or the resumption of an adjourned general meeting) at which the appointee is to attend and vote. |
| 58.2 | If the appointment purports to be executed under a power of attorney or other authority, the original document or a certified copy of it must be received by the Company at least 48 hours (unless reduced in the notice of meeting to which the appointment relates) before the general meeting (or the resumption of an adjourned general meeting). |
| 58.3 | The Company receives an appointment of a proxy or attorney or other authority under which it was signed: |
| (a) | if they are given by means of an electronic communication in accordance with the Corporations Act, when they are received by the Company including when they become capable of being retrieved by the Company at an electronic address nominated by the Company; and |
| (b) | otherwise, when they are received at: |
| (i) | the Company’s registered office; or |
| (ii) | a place specified for that purpose in the notice of general meeting. |
| 59. | Validity |
| 59.1 | A vote cast in accordance with an appointment of proxy or power of attorney is valid even if before the vote was cast the appointor: |
| (a) | died; |
| (b) | became mentally incapacitated; |
| (c) | revoked the proxy or power; or |
| (d) | transferred the Shares in respect of which the vote was cast, |
unless the Company received written notification of the death, mental incapacity, revocation or transfer before the relevant general meeting or adjourned general meeting.
| 59.2 | Notwithstanding any other clause of this Constitution, a vote cast or purported to be cast by a person in circumstances which would constitute an offence under the Corporations Act is invalid and will not be counted by the Company on any vote, whether by proxy, in person, on a poll or by any other means. |
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| 60. | Representatives of bodies corporate |
| 60.1 | Any Member or proxy that is a body corporate may appoint an individual as its representative as provided by the Corporations Act. |
| 60.2 | The appointment of a Representative may set out restrictions on the Representative’s powers. |
| 60.3 | The original form of appointment of a Representative, a certified copy of the appointment, or a certificate of the body corporate evidencing the appointment of a Representative is prima facie evidence of a Representative having been appointed. |
| 60.4 | The chairperson of a general meeting may permit a person claiming to be a Representative to exercise the body’s powers even if he or she has not produced a certificate or other satisfactory evidence of his or her appointment. |
Appointment and removal of Directors
| 61. | Number of Directors |
| 61.1 | Subject to the Corporations Act, the Company may by resolution passed at a general meeting increase the minimum number of Directors or increase or reduce the maximum number of Directors. |
| 61.2 | Until the Company resolves otherwise in accordance with clause 61.1 there will be: |
| (a) | a minimum of three Directors; and |
| (b) | a maximum of 10 Directors. |
| 61.3 | Subject to any resolution of the Members determining the maximum and minimum numbers of Directors, the Directors may from time to time determine the respective numbers of Executive and Non-Executive Directors. |
| 62. | Qualification |
| 62.1 | Neither a Director nor an Alternate Director has to hold any Shares. |
| 62.2 | In addition to the circumstances which disqualify a person from managing a corporation according to the Corporations Act, no person who has been an insolvent under administration within the previous five years is eligible to become a Director. |
| 62.3 | A Director (and an Alternate Director when acting as a Director) is entitled to notice of all general meetings and meetings of the holders of any class of Shares. |
| 63. | Power to remove and appoint |
| 63.1 | Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Company may appoint a person as a Director by resolution passed in general meeting. |
| 63.2 | A Director appointed or elected at a general meeting is taken to have been appointed or elected with effect from immediately after the end of that general meeting unless the resolution by which the Director was appointed or elected specifies a different time. |
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| 63.3 | If the conduct or position of any Director is such that continuance in office appears to the majority of the Directors to be prejudicial to the interests of the Company, a majority of Directors at a meeting of the Directors specifically called for that purpose may suspend that Director. |
| 63.4 | A suspended Director may not take any part in the business or affairs of the Company until the suspension has been terminated. |
| 63.5 | Within 14 days of the suspension of a Director, the Directors must call a general meeting, at which the Members may consider a resolution to remove the Director from office. |
| 63.6 | If a resolution to remove a suspended Director from office is not carried at the general meeting called to consider the matter, the suspension of the Director is terminated and the Director is reinstated in his or her office. |
| 64. | Additional and casual Directors |
| 64.1 | Subject to clause 61, only the Directors may appoint any person as a Director to fill a casual vacancy or as an addition to the existing Directors. |
| 64.2 | Unless the Director is the Managing Director and the ASX Listing Rules do not require that Director to be subject to retirement as set out in this clause, a Director appointed under clause 64.1 will hold office until the end of the next annual general meeting of the Company, at which the Director may be re-elected. |
| 65. | Retirement of Directors |
| 65.1 | No Director, who is not the Managing Director, may hold office for a continuous period in excess of three years or until the third annual general meeting following the Director’s appointment or election, whichever is the longer, without submitting for re-election. If no such director would be required to submit for re-election but the ASX Listing Rules require an election of Directors to be held, the Director to retire will be the Director who has been longest in office since their last election, but, as between persons who became Directors on the same day, the one to retire will (unless they otherwise agree among themselves) be determined by lot. |
| 65.2 | A retiring Director remains in office until the end of the meeting at which the Director retires or vacates office, and will be eligible for re-election at the meeting. |
| 66. | Eligibility for election as Director |
| 66.1 | A person is eligible for election to the office of a Director at a general meeting only if: |
| (a) | the person is in office as a Director immediately before the meeting; |
| (b) | the person has been nominated by the Directors for election at that meeting; |
| (c) | where the person is a Member, the person has, at least 35 Business Days but no more than 90 Business Days before the meeting, given the Company a notice signed by the person stating the person’s desire to be a candidate for election at the meeting; or |
| (d) | where the person is not a Member, a Member intending to nominate the person for election at that meeting has, at least 35 Business Days but no more than 90 Business Days before the meeting, given the Company a notice signed by the Members stating the Member’s intention to nominate the person for election, and a notice signed by the person stating the person’s consent to the nomination. |
| 66.2 | Clause 66.1(a) applies to elections of Directors at a general meeting that is a spill meeting as defined in section 250V(1) of the Corporations Act, to the extent permitted by the Corporations Act. |
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| 67. | Vacation of office |
The office of a Director immediately becomes vacant if the Director:
| (a) | ceases to be a Director by virtue of the Corporations Act; |
| (b) | is prohibited by the Corporations Act from holding office or continuing as a Director; |
| (c) | is liable to pay a call but does not pay the call within 21 days after the date on which it is payable; |
| (d) | is prohibited from holding or is removed from the office of Director by an order made under the Corporations Act; |
| (e) | becomes bankrupt or makes any general arrangement or composition with his or her creditors; |
| (f) | cannot fully participate in the management of the Company because of his or her mental incapacity or is a person whose estate is liable to have a person appointed, under the law relating to the administration of estates of persons who through mental or physical infirmity are incapable of managing their affairs, to administer it, or becomes in the opinion of the Directors incapable of performing his or her duties; |
| (g) | resigns from his or her office of Director by notice in writing to the Company; or |
| (h) | is absent from Directors’ meetings for six consecutive months without leave of absence from the Directors. |
Remuneration of Directors
| 68. | Remuneration of Non-Executive Directors |
| 68.1 | Subject to the ASX Listing Rules, the Directors as a whole (other than Executive Directors) may be paid or provided remuneration for their services the total amount or value of which must not exceed each year an aggregate maximum approved for the purposes of clause 15.4(a) of the Previous Constitution or such higher maximum amount determined from time to time by the Company in general meeting. |
| 68.2 | When calculating a Director’s remuneration for the purposes of the aggregate maximum under clause 68.1, any amount paid by the Company or a related body corporate: |
| (a) | to a superannuation, retirement or pension fund for a Director so that the Company is not liable to pay the superannuation guarantee charge or similar statutory charge is to be included; and |
| (b) | for any insurance premium paid or agreed to be paid for a Director under clause 68.7 is to be excluded. |
| 68.3 | Subject to the ASX Listing Rules, the aggregate maximum sum will be divided among the Non-Executive Directors in such proportion and manner as the Directors agree and, in default of agreement, equally and shall be deemed to accrue from day to day. |
| 68.4 | Non-Executive Directors may not be paid a commission on or a percentage of profits or operating revenue. |
| 68.5 | If a Non-Executive Director is required to perform services for the Company which in the opinion of the Directors, are outside the scope of the ordinary duties of a Director, the Company may pay or provide the Director remuneration determined by the Directors which may be either in addition to or instead of the Director’s remuneration under clause 68.1. Any remuneration paid or provided under this clause 68.5 does not form part of the aggregate maximum sum of Directors’ remuneration permitted under clause 68.1. |
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| 68.6 | Non-Executive Directors may also be paid all travelling, hotel and other expenses properly incurred by them in attending and returning from meetings of the Directors or any committee of the Directors or general meetings of the Company or otherwise in connection with the Company’s business. |
| 68.7 | The Company may also pay a premium for a contract insuring a person who is or has been a Non-Executive Director against liability incurred by the person as a Director, except in circumstances prohibited by the Corporations Act. |
| 68.8 | Shares, options, rights and other share-based payments may be provided to Non-Executive Directors as part of their remuneration under clauses 68.3 and 68.4 according to the rules of any share plan for the remuneration of Non-Executive Directors that may be introduced by the Company, subject to the ASX Listing Rules and requirements of the Corporations Act. The value of any such Shares, options, rights and other share-based payments will not be included in the aggregate maximum under clause 68.1. |
| 69. | Remuneration of Executive Directors |
| 69.1 | The remuneration of an Executive Director may from time to time be fixed by the Directors. The remuneration may be by way of salary or commission or participation in profits or by all or any of these modes but may not be by commission on, or a percentage of, operating revenue. |
| 69.2 | The Company may reimburse an Executive Director for his or her expenses properly incurred as a Director or in the course of his or her office. |
| 69.3 | Except in circumstances prohibited by the Corporations Act, the Company may pay a premium for a contract insuring a person who is or has been an Executive Director against liability incurred by the person as a Director. |
| 70. | Retirement benefits |
| 70.1 | Subject to the Corporations Act, the Company may give a person a benefit in connection with a Director’s retirement from a managerial or executive office in the Company or a related body corporate of the Company. |
| 70.2 | Subject to the Corporations Act, the Company may enter into an agreement or contract with a person for the giving to the person or any other person of a benefit in connection with a Director’s retirement from a managerial or executive office in the Company or a related body corporate of the Company. |
Powers and duties of Directors
| 71. | Directors to manage Company |
| 71.1 | The business of the Company is managed by or under the direction of the Directors who may exercise all powers of the Company that this Constitution, the Corporations Act or the ASX Listing Rules do not require to be exercised by the Company in general meeting. |
| 71.2 | Without limiting the generality of clause 71.1, the Directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to: |
| (a) | borrow money; |
| (b) | charge any property or business of the Company or all or any of its uncalled capital; |
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| (c) | issue debentures or give any other security for a debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any other person; and |
| (d) | guarantee or to become liable for the payment of money or the performance of any obligation by or of any other person. |
Proceedings of Directors
| 72. | Directors’ meetings |
| 72.1 | Any Director may call a meeting of the Directors. |
| 72.2 | A Directors’ meeting must be called by giving not less than 48 hours’ notice of such meeting to each Director, unless the Directors attending the meeting unanimously agree otherwise. The notice may be in writing or given using any technology (including telephone, virtual meeting technology and other electronic means) consented to by all the Directors. The consent may be a standing one. |
| 72.3 | An omission (whether accidental or otherwise) to send a notice of a meeting of Directors to any Director or the non-receipt of such a notice by any Director does not invalidate the proceedings, or any resolution passed, at the meeting. |
| 72.4 | Subject to the Corporations Act, a Directors’ meeting may be held by the Directors communicating with each other by any technological means (including telephone, virtual meeting technology and other electronic means) consented to by all the Directors. The consent may be a standing one. |
| 72.5 | The Directors need not all be physically present in the same place for a Directors’ meeting to be held. |
| 72.6 | A Director who participates in a meeting held in accordance with clause 72.4 is taken to be present and entitled to vote at the meeting. |
| 72.7 | If, before or during a Directors’ meeting, any technical difficulty occurs where one or more Directors cease to participate, the chairperson of the meeting may adjourn the meeting until the difficulty is remedied or may, where a quorum of Directors remains present, continue with the meeting. |
| 72.8 | A Director can only withdraw his or her consent under clause 72.4 to the means of communication between Directors proposed for a Directors’ meeting if the Director does so at least 48 hours before the meeting. |
| 72.9 | Clause 72.4 applies to meetings of Directors’ committees as if all committee members were Directors. |
| 72.10 | The Directors may meet together, adjourn and regulate their meetings as they think fit. |
| 72.11 | A quorum for meetings of Directors may be fixed by the Directors and unless so fixed, is three Directors present. The quorum must be present at all times during the meeting. |
| 72.12 | Where a quorum cannot be established for the consideration of a particular matter at a meeting of Directors, one or more of the Directors may call a general meeting of Members to deal with the matter. |
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| 73. | Decisions |
| 73.1 | Questions arising at a meeting of Directors are to be decided by a majority of votes of the Directors present and voting and, subject to the Corporations Act, each Director has one vote. |
| 73.2 | Subject to the ASX Listing Rules, in the case of an equality of votes, the chairperson of a meeting does not have a casting vote in addition to his or her deliberative vote. |
| 73.3 | An Alternate Director has one vote for each Director for whom he or she is an alternate. If an Alternate Director is a Director, he or she also has a vote as a Director. |
| 74. | Directors’ interests |
| 74.1 | Where required by the Corporations Act, a Director must give the Directors notice of any material personal interest in a matter that relates to the affairs of the Company. |
| 74.2 | Subject to the provisions of this clause 74, a Director or a body or entity in which a Director has a direct or indirect interest may: |
| (a) | enter into any agreement or arrangement with the Company; |
| (b) | hold any office or place of profit other than as auditor in the Company; and |
| (c) | act in a professional capacity other than as auditor for the Company, and the Director or the body or entity can receive and keep beneficially any remuneration, profits or benefits under any agreement or arrangement with the Company or from holding an office or place of profit in or acting in a professional capacity with the Company. |
| 74.3 | The fact that a Director holds office as a director, and has fiduciary obligations arising out of that office: |
| (a) | will not void or render voidable a contract made by a Director with the Company; |
| (b) | will not void or render voidable a contract or arrangement entered into by or on behalf of the Company and in which the Director may have any interest; and |
| (c) | will not require the Director to account to the Company for any profit realised by or under any contract or arrangement entered into by or on behalf of the Company and in which the Director may have any interest. |
| 74.4 | A Director may be or become a director or other officer of, or otherwise be interested in: |
| (a) | any related body corporate of the company; or |
| (b) | any other body corporate promoted by the Company or in which the Company may be interested as a vendor, shareholder or otherwise, and is not accountable to the Company for any remuneration or other benefits received by the Director as a director or officer of, or from having an interest in, that body corporate. |
| 74.5 | A Director who has a material personal interest in a matter that is being considered at a Directors’ meeting must not: |
| (a) | be present while the matter is being considered at the meeting; or |
| (b) | vote on the matter,
unless permitted to do so by the Corporations Act, in which case the Director may: |
| (c) | be counted in determining whether or not a quorum is present at any meeting of Directors considering that contract or arrangement or proposed contract or arrangement; |
| (d) | sign or countersign any document relating to that contract or arrangement or proposed contract or arrangement; and |
| (e) | vote in respect of, or in respect of any matter arising out of, the contract or arrangement or proposed contract or arrangement. |
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| 74.6 | A Director must give to the Company such information about the Shares or other securities in the Company in which the Director has a relevant interest and at the times that the Secretary requires, to enable the Company to comply with any disclosure obligations it has under the Corporations Act or the ASX Listing Rules. |
| 75. | Alternate Directors |
| 75.1 | A Director may, with the approval of the Directors, appoint one or more persons as his or her alternate. |
| 75.2 | An Alternate Director is entitled to notice of Directors’ meetings while he or she is acting in that capacity and, if the appointor is not present at a meeting, is entitled to attend, be counted in a quorum and vote as a Director. |
| 75.3 | An Alternate Director is an officer of the Company and is not an agent of the appointor. |
| 75.4 | The provisions of this Constitution which apply to Directors also apply to Alternate Directors, except that Alternate Directors are not entitled in that capacity to any remuneration from the Company. |
| 75.5 | The appointment of an Alternate Director may be revoked at any time by the appointor or by the other Directors. |
| 75.6 | An Alternate Director’s appointment ends automatically when his or her appointor ceases to be a Director. |
| 75.7 | Any appointment or revocation under this clause must be effected by written notice delivered to the Secretary. |
| 75.8 | An Alternate Director does not have an interest in a contract or arrangement or a material personal interest in a matter by reason only of the fact that his or her appointor has such an interest. |
| 76. | Remaining Directors |
| 76.1 | The Directors may act even if there are vacancies on the board. |
| 76.2 | If the number of Directors is not sufficient to constitute a quorum at a Directors’ meeting, the Director or Directors may act only to: |
| (a) | appoint a Director or Directors; or |
| (b) | call a general meeting. |
| 77. | Chairperson of Directors’ meetings |
| 77.1 | The Directors may elect a Director as chairperson of Directors’ meetings and may determine the period for which the chairperson will hold office. |
| 77.2 | If no chairperson is elected or if the chairperson is not present at any Directors’ meeting within 10 minutes after the time appointed for the meeting to begin, the Directors present must elect a Director to be chairperson of the meeting. |
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| 77.3 | The Directors may elect a Director as deputy chairperson to act as chairperson in the chairperson’s absence. |
| 78. | Delegation |
| 78.1 | The Directors may delegate any of their powers, other than those which by law must be dealt with by the Directors as a board, to: |
| (a) | a committee or committees; |
| (b) | a Director or Directors; |
| (c) | an employee or employees of the Company; or |
| (d) | any other person. |
| 78.2 | The Directors may at any time revoke any delegation of power under clause 78.1. |
| 78.3 | A committee may be authorised by the Directors to sub-delegate all or any of the powers for the time being vested in it. |
| 78.4 | Meetings of any committee of Directors will be governed by the provisions of this Constitution which deal with Directors’ meetings so far as they are applicable and are not inconsistent with any directions of the Directors. The provisions apply as if each member was a Director. |
| 79. | Written resolutions |
| 79.1 | If: |
| (a) | all the Directors who are eligible to vote on a resolution (other than any Director on leave of absence approved by the Directors, any Director who disqualifies himself or herself from considering the resolution in question and any Director who would be prohibited by the Act from voting on the resolution in question) sign or consent to a resolution set out or identified in a document; and |
| (b) | the Directors who sign or consent to the resolution would have constituted a quorum at a meeting of Directors held to consider that resolution, |
then a resolution in those terms is taken to have been passed by the Directors without a meeting. The resolution is passed when the last Director signs or provides their consent.
| 79.2 | For the purposes of clause 79.1, separate copies of a document may be used for signing or the provision of consent by the Directors if the wording of the resolution is identical in each copy. |
| 79.3 | Any document referred to in this clause may be a document in the form of a facsimile transmission, electronic notification, or produced by other electronic or mechanical means. |
| 79.4 | A Director may consent to a resolution by: |
| (a) | signing the document containing the resolution (or a copy of the document): |
| (b) | sending the consent in any document produced under the name of the Director with the Director’s authority; |
| (c) | delivering to the Company’s registered office a written document addressed to the company secretary or the chairperson of Directors, signifying assent to the resolution and either setting out its terms or otherwise clearly identifying the resolution; |
| (d) | telephoning the secretary or the chairperson of Directors and signifying assent to the resolution and clearly identifying its terms; or |
| (e) | any other means approved from time to time by the Directors. |
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| 79.5 | If a resolution is taken to have been passed in accordance with this clause 79, the minutes must record that fact. |
| 79.6 | This clause 79 applies to meetings of Directors’ committees as if all members of the committee were Directors. |
| 79.7 | Any document referred to in this clause 79 must be sent to every Director who is entitled to vote on the resolution. |
| 80. | Validity of acts of Directors |
| 80.1 | An act done by a Director is effective even if their appointment, or the continuance of their appointment, is invalid because the Company or Director did not comply with this Constitution or any provision of the Corporations Act. |
| 80.2 | Clause 80.1 does not deal with the question whether an effective act by a director: |
| (a) | binds the company in its dealings with other people; or |
| (b) | makes the company liable to another person. |
| 81. | Minutes |
| 81.1 | The Directors must cause minutes to be made of: |
| (a) | the names of the Directors present at all Directors’ meetings and meetings of Directors’ committees; |
| (b) | all proceedings and resolutions of general meetings, Directors’ meetings and meetings of Directors’ committees; |
| (c) | all resolutions passed in accordance with clause 79; |
| (d) | appointments of officers, but only if the Directors resolve that a minute of the appointment should be made; and |
| (e) | all disclosures of interests made in accordance with the Corporations Act. |
| 81.2 | Minutes must be signed by the chairperson of the meeting or by the chairperson of a future meeting, and if so signed will be conclusive evidence of the matters stated in such minutes. |
Executive Directors
| 82. | Appointment |
| 82.1 | The Directors may appoint one Director to the office of Managing Director on such terms as they think fit. |
| 82.2 | The Directors may appoint one or more Directors to any other executive position in the Company on such terms as they think fit. |
| 82.3 | A Director appointed under clause 82.1 or 82.2, and a Director (however appointed) occupying for the time being an executive position in the Company or a related body corporate of the Company, is referred to in this Constitution as an Executive Director. |
| 82.4 | The Directors may, subject to the terms of the Executive Director’s employment contract, suspend, remove or dismiss him or her from executive office and appoint another Director in that place. |
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| 82.5 | If an Executive Director ceases to be a Director, his or her appointment as an Executive Director terminates automatically. |
| 82.6 | If an Executive Director ceases to hold an executive office in the Company, then, unless the Directors resolve otherwise, he or she also ceases to be a Director from the same date. |
| 82.7 | If an Executive Director is suspended from executive office of the Company or of a related body corporate of the Company, his or her duties and obligations as Director are suspended for the same period. |
| 82.8 | A Managing Director is not subject to retirement under clause 65 and is not to be taken into account in determining the rotation of retirement of Directors. Any other Executive Directors are subject to retirement under clause 65. |
| 83. | Powers of Executive Directors |
| 83.1 | The Directors may confer on an Executive Director any powers exercisable by the Directors, subject to any terms and restrictions determined by the Directors. |
| 83.2 | The Directors may authorise an Executive Director to sub-delegate all or any of the powers vested in him or her. |
| 83.3 | Any power conferred under this clause may be concurrent with but not to the exclusion of the Directors’ powers. |
| 83.4 | The Directors may at any time withdraw or vary any of the powers conferred on an Executive Director. |
Local management
| 84. | General |
| 84.1 | The Directors may provide for the management and transaction of the affairs of the Company in any place and in such manner as they think fit. |
| 84.2 | Without limiting clause 84.1, the Directors may: |
| (a) | establish local boards or agencies for managing any of the affairs of the Company in a specified place and appoint any persons to be members of those local boards or agencies; and |
| (b) | delegate to any person appointed under clause 84.2(a) any of the powers, authorities and discretions which may be exercised by the Directors under this Constitution, on any terms and subject to any conditions determined by the Directors. |
| 84.3 | The Directors may at any time revoke or vary any delegation under this clause 84. |
| 85. | Appointment of attorneys and agents |
| 85.1 | The Directors may from time to time by resolution or power of attorney appoint any person to be the attorney or agent of the Company: |
| (a) | for the purposes; |
| (b) | with the powers, authorities and discretions (not exceeding those exercisable by the Directors under this Constitution); |
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| (c) | for the period; and |
| (d) | subject to the conditions, |
determined by the Directors.
| 85.2 | An appointment by the Directors of an attorney or agent of the Company may be made in favour of: |
| (a) | any member of any local board established under this Constitution; |
| (b) | any company; |
| (c) | the members, directors, nominees or managers of any company or firm; or |
| (d) | any fluctuating body of persons whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Directors. |
| 85.3 | A power of attorney may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of persons dealing with an attorney as the Directors think fit. |
| 85.4 | An attorney or agent appointed under this clause 85 may be authorised by the Directors to sub-delegate all or any of the powers authorities and discretions for the time being vested in it. |
Secretary
| 86. | Secretary |
| 86.1 | There must be at least one Secretary of the Company appointed by the Directors on conditions determined by them. |
| 86.2 | The Secretary is entitled to attend all Directors’ and general meetings. |
| 86.3 | The Directors may, subject to the terms of the Secretary’s employment contract, suspend, remove or dismiss the Secretary. |
Seals
| 87. | Common Seal |
| 87.1 | If the Company has a Seal: |
| (a) | the Directors must provide for the safe custody of the Seal; |
| (b) | it must not be used except with the authority of the Directors or a Directors’ committee authorised to permit use of the Seal; |
| (c) | every document to which the Seal is affixed must be signed by a Director and be countersigned by another Director, the Secretary or another person appointed by the Directors to countersign the document; and |
| (d) | the Directors may determine by resolution either generally or in any particular case that the signature of any Director or the Secretary to a document to which the Seal or a duplicate seal or certificate seal is affixed may be a facsimile applied to the document by specified mechanical means. |
| 87.2 | Without limiting the generality of section 126 or 127 or Part 2B.1 or Part 2B.2 of the Corporations Act, the Company may execute a document if the Seal is fixed to the document and the fixing of the Seal is witnessed (including as provided in section 127(2A) of the Corporations Act) by any of the persons referred to in section 127(2)(a) or (b) of the Corporations Act. |
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| 88. | Duplicate Seal |
If the Company has a Seal, the Company may have one or more duplicate seals of the Seal each of which:
| (a) | must be a facsimile of the Seal with the addition on its face of the words Duplicate Seal; and |
| (b) | must only be used with the authority of the Directors or a Directors’ committee. |
Inspection of records
| 89. | Times for inspection |
| 89.1 | Except as otherwise required by the Corporations Act, the Directors may determine whether and to what extent, and at what times and places and under what conditions, the financial records and other documents of the Company or any of them will be open for inspection by Members other than Directors. |
| 89.2 | A Member other than a Director does not have the right to inspect any financial records or other documents of the Company unless the Member is authorised to do so by a court order or a resolution of the Directors. |
Dividends and reserves
| 90. | Dividends |
The Directors may by resolution either:
| (a) | declare a dividend and may fix the amount, the time for and method of payment; or |
| (b) | determine a dividend or interim dividend is payable and fix the amount and the time for and method of payment. |
| 91. | Amend resolution to pay dividend |
If the Directors determine that a dividend or interim dividend is payable under clause 90(b), they may amend or revoke the resolution to pay the dividend or interim dividend before the record date notified to ASX for determining entitlements to that dividend or interim dividend.
| 92. | No interest |
Interest is not payable by the Company on a dividend.
| 93. | Reserves |
| 93.1 | The Directors may set aside out of any amount available for distribution as a dividend such amounts by way of reserves as they think appropriate before declaring a dividend or determining to pay a dividend. |
| 93.2 | If the Directors resolve to declare a dividend or determine to pay a dividend, or state in the minutes of a meeting of Directors their intention to do so subject to the occurrence of a future event: |
| (a) | by such resolution or minutes the Directors will be taken to have set aside the amount available for distribution as a dividend as a reserve; and |
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| (b) | such amount will not be appropriated in the accounts of the Company against losses or appropriated or applied for any other purpose, except pursuant to a resolution approved by the Directors. |
| 93.3 | In any case other than that referred to in clause 93.1 or clause 93.2, any amount available for distribution, including retained earnings or profits, will not be taken to be appropriated or applied against losses or for any other purpose except pursuant to a resolution of the Directors. |
| 93.4 | The Directors may apply the reserves for any purpose for which an amount available for distribution as a dividend may be properly applied. |
| 93.5 | Pending any application or appropriation of the reserves, the Directors may invest or use the reserves in the business of the Company or in other investments as they think fit. |
| 93.6 | The Directors may carry forward any undistributed amount available for distribution as a dividend without transferring them to a reserve. |
| 94. | Dividend entitlement |
| 94.1 | Subject to the rights of persons (if any) entitled to Shares with special rights or subject to special restrictions as to dividends: |
| (a) | all fully paid Shares on which any dividend is declared or paid, are entitled to participate in that dividend equally; and |
| (b) | each partly paid Share is entitled to a fraction of the dividend declared or paid on a fully paid Share of the same class, equivalent to the proportion which the amount paid (not credited) on the Share bears to the total amounts paid and payable, whether or not called, (excluding amounts credited) on the Share. |
| 94.2 | An amount paid on a Share in advance of a call is not to be taken as paid for the purposes of clause 94.1. |
| 94.3 | Unless otherwise determined by the Directors, Shares rank for dividends from their date of allotment. |
| 94.4 | Subject to the ASX Settlement Operating Rules, the Directors may fix a record date for a dividend, with or without suspending the registration of transfers from that date. |
| 94.5 | Subject to the ASX Settlement Operating Rules, a dividend in respect of a Share must be paid to the person who is registered, or entitled to be registered, as the holder of the Share: |
| (a) | where the Directors have fixed a record date in respect of the dividend, on that date; or |
| (b) | where the Directors have not fixed a record date in respect of that dividend, on the date fixed for payment of the dividend, |
and a transfer of a Share that is not registered on or before that date is not effective, as against the Company, to pass any right to the dividend.
| 94.6 | Subject to the Corporations Act and the ASX Settlement Operating Rules, a transfer of Shares registered after the record date notified to ASX for determining entitlements to a dividend paid or payable in respect of the transferred Shares, does not pass the right to that dividend. |
| 95. | Deductions from dividends |
The Directors may deduct from a dividend payable to a Member all sums presently payable by the Member to the Company on account of calls or otherwise in relation to Shares in the Company.
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| 96. | Distribution of assets |
| 96.1 | The Directors may resolve that a dividend will be paid wholly or partly by the transfer or distribution of specific assets, including fully paid shares in, or debentures of, any other corporation. |
| 96.2 | If a difficulty arises in making a transfer or distribution of specific assets, the Directors may: |
| (a) | deal with the difficulty as they consider expedient; |
| (b) | fix the value of all or any part of the specific assets for the purposes of the distribution; |
| (c) | determine that cash will be paid to any Members on the basis of the fixed value in order to adjust the rights of all the Members; and |
| (d) | vest any such specific assets in trustees as the Directors consider expedient. |
| 96.3 | If a transfer or distribution of specific assets to a particular Member or Members is in the Directors opinion contrary to any law including any law applicable to the Member, or, in the Directors’ opinion, impracticable, the Directors may make a cash payment to the Member or Members on the basis of the cash amount of the dividend instead of the transfer or distribution of specific assets. |
| 96.4 | Where the Company pays a dividend (interim or final) by the transfer of shares in another corporation: |
| (a) | the Members receiving the dividend will be taken to have agreed to become members of that corporation; and |
| (b) | each of those Members appoints the Company or any of the Directors as its agent to execute any transfer of shares or other document required to facilitate or effect the distribution and transfer of the shares to the Member. |
| 97. | Payment |
| 97.1 | Any dividend or other money payable in respect of Shares may be paid: |
| (a) | by cheque sent through the mail directed to: |
| (i) | by the address of the Member shown in the Register or to the address of the joint holder of Shares shown first in the Register; or |
| (ii) | by an address which the Member has, or joint holders have, in writing notified the Company as the address to which dividends should be sent; |
| (b) | by electronic funds transfer to an account with a bank or other financial institution nominated by the Member and acceptable to the Company; or |
| (c) | by any other means determined by the Directors, |
and is at the risk of the Member who is (or joint holders one of whom is) the intended recipient as soon as it is given, posted or transferred, as applicable.
| 97.2 | Any joint holder may give an effectual receipt for any dividend or other money paid in respect of Shares held by holders jointly. |
| 97.3 | If the Directors decide that payments will be made by electronic transfer into an account (of a type approved by the Directors) nominated by a Member, but no such account is nominated by the Member or an electronic transfer into a nominated account is rejected or refunded, the Company may credit the amount payable to an account of the Company to be held until the Member nominates a valid account. |
| 97.4 | Where a Member does not have a registered address or the Company believes that a Member is not known at the Member’s registered address, the Company may credit an amount payable in respect of the Member’s Shares to an account of the Company to be held until the Member claims the amount payable or nominates an account into which a payment may be made. |
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| 97.5 | An amount credited to an account under clause 97.3 or 97.4 is to be treated as having been paid to the Member at the time it is credited to that account. The Company will not be a trustee of the money and no interest will accrue on the money. |
| 97.6 | If a cheque for an amount payable under clause 97.1 is not presented for payment for 11 calendar months after issue or an amount is held in an account under clause 97.3 or 97.4 for 11 calendar months, the Directors may reinvest the amount, after deducting reasonable expenses, into Shares on behalf of, and in the name of, the Member concerned and may stop payment on the cheque. The Shares may be acquired on market or by way of new issue at a price the Directors accept is market price at the time. Any residual sum which arises from the reinvestment may be carried forward or donated to charity on behalf of the Member, as the Directors decide. The Company’s liability to pay the relevant amount is discharged by an application under this clause 97.6. The Directors may do anything necessary or desirable (including executing any document) on behalf of the Member to effect the application of an amount under this clause 97.6. The Directors may determine other rules to regulate the operation of this clause 97.6 and may delegate their power under this clause 97.6 to any person. |
| 98. | Election to reinvest dividend |
The Directors may:
| (a) | establish a plan under which Members or any class of Members may elect to reinvest cash dividends paid or payable by the Company by acquiring by way of issue or transfer (or both) Shares or other securities; and |
| (b) | vary, suspend or terminate the arrangements established under clause 98(a). |
| 99. | Election to accept Shares in lieu of dividend |
| 99.1 | The Directors may resolve, in respect of any dividend which it is proposed to pay on any Shares, that holders of those Shares may elect to: |
| (a) | forego their right to share in the proposed dividend or part of the proposed dividend; and |
| (b) | instead receive an issue of Shares credited as fully paid or a transfer of fully paid Shares (or both). |
| 99.2 | If the Directors resolve to allow the election provided for in clause 99.1, each holder of Shares conferring a right to share in the proposed dividend may, by notice in writing to the Company given in such form and within such period as the Directors may decide, elect to: |
| (a) | forego the dividend which otherwise would have been paid to the holder on such of the holder’s Shares conferring a right to share in the proposed dividend as the holder specifies in the notice of election; and |
| (b) | receive instead Shares to be issued or transferred (or both) to the holder credited as fully paid, on and subject to such terms and conditions as the Directors may determine. |
| 99.3 | Following the receipt of duly completed notices of election under clause 99.1(b), the Directors must: |
| (a) | appropriate from any amount available for distribution to Members an amount equal to the aggregate issue price (if any) of the Shares to be issued credited as fully paid or transfer fully paid Shares to those holders of Shares who have given such notices of election; and |
| (b) | apply the amount (if any) in paying up in full the number of Shares required to be so issued, or paying the purchase price of Shares required to be so transferred. |
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| 99.4 | The Directors may rescind, vary or suspend a resolution of the Directors made under clause 99.1 and the arrangements implemented under the resolution. |
| 99.5 | The powers given to the Directors by this clause 99 are additional to the provisions for capitalisation of amounts available for distribution to Members provided for by this Constitution. If the Directors exercise their power to capitalise amounts available for distribution to Members under clause 100 then any Member who has elected to participate in arrangements established under this clause 99 is deemed, for the purpose of determining the Member’s entitlement to share in the capitalised sum, not to have so elected. |
| 100. | Capitalisation of amounts available for distribution |
| 100.1 | The Directors may resolve: |
| (a) | to capitalise any sum available for distribution to Members; and |
| (b) | that: |
| (i) | no Shares be issued and no amounts unpaid on Shares be paid up on capitalisation of the sum; or |
| (ii) | the sum be applied in any of the ways mentioned in clause 100.2 for the benefit of Members in the proportions in which the members would have been entitled if the sum had been distributed by way of Dividend. |
| 100.2 | The ways in which a sum may be applied for the benefit of Members under clause 100.1(b)(ii) are: |
| (a) | in paying up any amounts unpaid on Shares held or to be held by Members; |
| (b) | in paying up in full unissued Shares or debentures to be issued to Members as fully paid; or |
| (c) | partly as mentioned in clause 100.2(a) and partly as mentioned in clause 100.2(b). |
| 100.3 | To the extent necessary to adjust the rights of the Members among themselves, the Directors may: |
| (a) | make cash payments in cases where Shares or debentures become issuable in fractions; and |
| (b) | authorise any person to make, on behalf of all the Members entitled to a benefit on the capitalisation, an agreement with the Company providing for: |
| (i) | the issue to them, credited as fully paid up, of any such further Shares or debentures; or |
| (ii) | the payment by the Company on their behalf of the amount or any part of the amount remaining unpaid on their existing Shares by the application of their respective proportions of the sum resolved to be capitalised, |
and any agreement made under the authority of clause 100.3(b) is effective and binding on all the Members concerned.
Notices
| 101. | Service of notices |
| 101.1 | A Notice includes a notice, demand, consent, approval or communication under this Constitution and a reference in this Constitution to a written notice includes a notice given by electronic means. |
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| 101.2 | Subject to (and without limiting any other way in which a notice may be given, or is required to be given, under) this Constitution, the Corporations Act or the ASX Listing Rules, a Notice may be given by the Company to any person who is entitled to notice under this Constitution by: |
| (a) | sending the Notice in physical form by post, by hand or by courier to the Member’s address in the Register (or any other address the Member supplies to the Company for giving Notices); |
| (b) | sending the Member sufficient information in physical form by post, by hand or by courier to the Member’s address in the Register (or any other address the Member supplies to the Company for giving Notices) as to allow the Member to access the Notice electronically; |
| (c) | sending the Notice in electronic form by means of an electronic communication to the electronic address the Member has supplied to the Company for giving Notices; |
| (d) | sending the Member sufficient information in electronic form, by means of an electronic communication to the electronic address the Member has supplied to the Company for giving Notices, as to allow the Member to access the Notice electronically; or |
| (e) | if the Notice is a report mentioned in section 314 of the Corporations Act (annual financial reporting) or is in a class of documents specified in the Corporations Regulations for the purposes of section 110D(3)(b) of the Corporations Act, by making the Notice readily available in electronic form on a website. |
| 101.3 | A Notice given in accordance with clause 101.2 is taken to be served: |
| (a) | if the Notice is given in accordance with clause 101.2(a) or 101.2(b) and is sent by hand, on delivery; |
| (b) | if the Notice is given in accordance with clause 101.2(a) or 101.2(b) and is sent by post or by courier, on the day after the day on which it was posted or given to the courier for delivery; |
| (c) | if the Notice is given in accordance with clause 101.2(c) or 101.2(d), on the day on which the electronic communication is transmitted, except if transmitted after 5.00pm (in the place from which the electronic communication is transmitted) in which case, it is taken to be served on the next day; and |
| (d) | if the Notice is one that is referred to in clause 101.2(e) and is given in accordance with clause 101.2(e), on the day on which the Notice first appears on the relevant website, except if the Notice first appears on the relevant website after 5.00pm (in the place from which the Notice is uploaded to the relevant website) in which case, it is taken to be served on the next day. |
| 101.4 | A notice may be served by the Company on joint holders under clause 101.2 by giving the notice to the joint holder whose name appears first in the Register. |
| 101.5 | Every person who is entitled to a Share by operation of law and who is not registered as the holder of the Share is taken to receive any notice served in accordance with this clause by advertisement or on that person from whom the first person derives title. |
| 101.6 | A certificate in writing signed by a Director, Secretary or other officer of the Company, or by any person that the Company has engaged to maintain the Register, that a Notice was given to a Member in accordance with clause 101.2 on a particular day is conclusive evidence of that fact. |
| 101.7 | The signature to a Notice given by the Company may be written, printed or affixed (including by electronic means) in any other manner permitted by the Corporations Act. |
| 101.8 | A Notice that is given in accordance with clause 101.2 is deemed to have been served notwithstanding that the Member has died, whether or not the Company has notice of his or her death. |
| 101.9 | The provisions of this clause relating to Notices apply, to the extent that they can and with any necessary changes, to sending any document that is not a Notice. |
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| 102. | Persons entitled to notice |
| 102.1 | Notice of every general meeting must be given to: |
| (a) | every Member; |
| (b) | every Director and Alternate Director; |
| (c) | ASX; and |
| (d) | the Auditor. |
| 102.2 | No other person is entitled to receive notice of a general meeting. |
Audit and financial records
| 103. | Company to keep financial records |
| 103.1 | The Directors must cause the Company to keep written financial records and to prepare financial documents and reports in accordance with the requirements of the Corporations Act and the ASX Listing Rules. |
| 103.2 | The Directors must cause the financial records and financial documents of the Company to be audited in accordance with the requirements of the Corporations Act and the ASX Listing Rules. |
Winding up
| 104. | Winding up |
| 104.1 | Nothing in this clause prejudices the rights of the holders of Shares issued on special terms and conditions. |
| 104.2 | If the Company is wound up, the liquidator may, with the sanction of a special resolution of the Company: |
| (a) | divide among the Members in kind all or any of the Company’s assets; and |
| (b) | for that purpose, determine how he or she will carry out the division between the different classes of Members, |
but may not require a Member to accept any Shares or other securities in respect of which there is any liability.
| 104.3 | The liquidator may, with the sanction of a special resolution of the Company, vest all or any of the Company’s assets in a trustee on trusts determined by the liquidator for the benefit of the contributories. |
Indemnity
| 105. | Indemnity |
| 105.1 | To the extent permitted by law and subject to the restrictions in section 199A of the Corporations Act and any other applicable law, the Company indemnifies every person who is or has been an officer of the Company against any liability (other than for legal costs) incurred by that person as an officer of the Company (including liabilities incurred by the officer as a director or secretary of a subsidiary of the Company where the Company requested the officer to accept that appointment). |
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| 105.2 | To the extent permitted by law and subject to the restrictions in section 199A of the Corporations Act and any other applicable law, the Company indemnifies every person who is or has been an officer of the Company against reasonable legal costs incurred in defending an action for a liability incurred or allegedly incurred by that person as an officer of the Company (including such legal costs incurred by the officer as an officer of a subsidiary of the Company where the Company requested the officer to accept that appointment). |
| 105.3 | The amount of any indemnity payable under clause 105.1 or 105.2 will include an additional amount (GST Amount) equal to any GST payable by the officer being indemnified (Indemnified Officer) in connection with the indemnity (less the amount of any input tax credit claimable by the Indemnified Officer in connection with the indemnity). Payment of any indemnity which includes a GST Amount is conditional upon the Indemnified Officer providing the Company with a GST tax invoice for the GST Amount. |
| 105.4 | The Directors may agree to advance to an officer an amount which it might otherwise be liable to pay to the officer under clause 105.1 on such terms as the Directors’ think fit but which are consistent with this clause, pending the outcome of any findings of a relevant court or tribunal which would have a bearing on whether the Company is in fact liable to indemnify the officer under clause 105.1. If after the Company makes the advance, the Directors form the view that the Company is not liable to indemnify the officer, the Company may recover any advance from the officer as a debt due by the officer to the Company. |
| 105.5 | The Company may enter into a deed with any officer (including without limitation any officer or other person who is director or secretary of a subsidiary of the Company where the Company requested the officer or other person to accept that appointment) to give effect to the rights conferred by this clause 105 or the exercise of a discretion under this clause 105 on such terms as the Directors think fit which are not inconsistent with this clause 105. |
| 105.6 | For the purposes of this clause 105, officer means: |
| (a) | a Director; |
| (b) | a Secretary; |
| (c) | an officer as defined under the Corporations Act; or |
| (d) | an employee of the Company as determined by the Directors. |
| 106. | Shareholder disclosure |
If a Member has entered into any arrangement restricting the transfer or other disposal of Shares and those arrangements are of the nature of arrangements which the Company is required to disclose under the ASX Listing Rules, then the Member must provide to the Company such information that the Company requires and within the time that the Company requires, to comply with the Company’s disclosure obligations.
ASX Listing Rules
| 107. | ASX Listing Rules |
| 107.1 | If, and for such time only as, the Company is Listed, the following rules apply. |
| (a) | Notwithstanding anything contained in this Constitution, if the ASX Listing Rules prohibit an act being done, the act shall not be done. |
| (b) | Nothing contained in this Constitution prevents an act being done that the ASX Listing Rules require to be done. |
| (c) | If the ASX Listing Rules require an act to be done or not to be done, authority is given for that act to be done or not to be done (as the case may be). |
| (d) | If the ASX Listing Rules require this Constitution to contain a provision and it does not contain such a provision, this Constitution is deemed to contain that provision. |
| (e) | If the ASX Listing Rules require this Constitution not to contain a provision and it contains such a provision, this Constitution is deemed not to contain that provision. |
| (f) | If any provision of this Constitution is or becomes inconsistent with the ASX Listing Rules, this Constitution is deemed not to contain that provision to the extent of the inconsistency. |
| 107.2 | For the avoidance of doubt, the rules set out in clause 107.1 above have no operation or effect unless and until the Company is Listed and those rules will cease to have any operation or effect at such time, if any, as the Company is no longer Listed. |
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Exhibit 5.1
December 20, 2022
Mesoblast Limited
Level 38, 55 Collins Street
Melbourne, VIC 3000
Australia
| Re: | Registration Statement on Form F-3 of Mesoblast Limited |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as Australian counsel to Mesoblast Limited, an Australian corporation (the “Company”), in connection with its filing of a registration statement on Form F-3 (the “Registration Statement”) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”).
The Registration Statement relates to the proposed offer, issue and sale by the Company from time to time, pursuant to Rule 415 of the General Rules and Regulations promulgated under the Securities Act, of up to an aggregate amount of $125,000,000 of the Company’s American Depositary Shares (the “ADSs”), each representing 5 ordinary shares of the Company (the “Shares”), as evidenced by American Depositary Receipts.
For the purposes of this opinion, we have examined and relied upon copies of the following documents:
| (a) | the Registration Statement; |
| (b) | a draft of the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement; and |
| (c) | the Company’s Constitution. |
We have also examined and relied upon a certificate, dated the date hereof, of the Interim Chief Financial Officer of the Company certifying the accuracy and completeness of the Constitution of the Company and resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company relating to the Registration Statement. We have also examined such other documents and made such enquiries as to questions of law as we have deemed relevant and necessary in order to render the opinions set forth below.
In such examination, we have assumed (a) the genuineness of all signatures; (b) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals; (c) the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies (certified or otherwise); (d) the authenticity of the originals of such copies; (e) all information contained in all documents reviewed by us is true and correct; (f) that resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company that we have relied upon for the purposes of this letter opinion have not been and will not be varied or revoked after the date of this letter and that the meetings of the Board of Directors of the Company at which the resolutions were considered were properly convened, all Directors who attended and voted were entitled to do so, the resolutions were properly passed, and the Directors have performed their duties properly and all provisions relating to the declaration of Directors’ interests or the power of interested Directors were duly observed; (g) the accuracy of any searches obtained from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission in relation to the Company; (h) each natural person signing any document reviewed by us had the legal capacity to do so and to perform his or her obligations thereunder; and (i) each person signing in a representative capacity any document reviewed by us had authority to sign in such capacity.
Our opinion is subject to (i) the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto (including all necessary post-effective amendments), becoming effective under the Securities Act (and on the assumption that it will remain effective at the time of issuance of any ADSs thereunder); (ii) an appropriate prospectus supplement with respect to the offering of the ADSs (if applicable) being prepared, delivered and timely filed with the Commission in compliance with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder; (iii) the ADSs to be sold pursuant to the applicable prospectus supplement being duly authorized by each of the Board of Directors and, where applicable, the Company’s shareholders; (iv) the agreed upon consideration being received for the issue of the ADSs; (v) the aggregate offering price of all ADSs not exceeding $125,000,000; (vi) if in an underwritten offering, a definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement with respect to any ADSs will be duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; and (vii) the terms of the issuance and sale of the ADSs being in conformity with the Company’s Constitution, the Australian Corporations Act 2001 (the “Corporations Act”) and the listing rules of the Australian Securities Exchange, and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the applicable prospectus supplement, so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company, and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
| (a) | the Company is duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of the Australia in good standing (as such term is not defined under the Corporations Act, meaning solely that there are no current orders for the winding up of, or appointment of a receiver or liquidator for the Company or any notice of its proposed deregistration); |
| (b) | the issue of the Shares has been duly authorized; and |
| (c) | when issued and paid for as contemplated by the prospectus and any prospectus supplement, the Shares represented by ADSs will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable (for the purpose of this opinion, the term “non-assessable”, when used to describe the liability of a person as the registered holder of ordinary shares has no clear meaning under the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia, so we have assumed those words to mean that holders of such ordinary shares, having fully paid all amounts due on such ordinary shares, are under no personal liability to contribute to the assets and liabilities of the Company in their capacities purely as holders of such ordinary shares) |
The opinions expressed above are limited to the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia and we do not express any opinion as to the effect of any other laws, in particular as to whether an agreement which is governed by a law other than such laws is valid and binding. This opinion letter is limited to the matters stated herein; no opinion may be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated.
This opinion letter will be deemed to have been delivered as of the date of effectiveness of the Registration Statement and will speak as of such date.
We hereby consent to the use of our opinion as herein set forth as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the U.S. Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
Very truly yours,
| /s/ Rimôn Law Pty Ltd | |
| Rimôn Law Pty Ltd |
Exhibit 23.2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form F-3 of Mesoblast Limited of our report dated August 31, 2022 relating to the financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in Mesoblast Limited’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended June 30, 2022. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
| /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers | |
| Melbourne, Australia | |
| December 20, 2022 |