EX-2.3 2 f20f2021ex2-3_mdxhealthsa.htm DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES REGISTERED UNDER SECTION 12 OF THE EXCHANGE ACT

Exhibit 2.3

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO  

SECTION 12 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

The following description of the ordinary shares, the American Depositary Shares and the articles of association of MDxHealth SA (“MDxHealth”, the “Company” or “we,” “our,” or “us”) is a summary and does not purport to be complete. This summary is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the complete text of the Company’s articles of association, which is incorporated by reference as Exhibit 1.1 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F, to which this description is also an exhibit.

 

As of December 31, 2021, MDxHealth had the following series of securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act:

 

Title of Each Class   Trading Symbol   Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered

Ordinary shares, no nominal value per share*

  *   The Nasdaq Capital Market
American Depositary Shares, each representing 10 ordinary shares, no nominal value per share   MDXH   The Nasdaq Capital Market

 

*Not for trading, but only in connection with the registration of American Depositary Shares.

 

I. ORDINARY SHARES

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

 

Form and Transferability of Our Shares

 

The shares underlying the ADSs are all ordinary shares, are fully paid, and rank pari passu in all respects with all other existing and outstanding shares of the Company.

 

All of our shares belong to the same class of securities and are in registered form or in dematerialized form. All of our outstanding shares are fully paid-up and freely transferable, subject to any contractual restrictions.

 

Belgian company law and our articles of association entitle shareholders to request, in writing and at their expense, the conversion of their dematerialized shares into registered shares and vice versa. Any costs incurred as a result of the conversion of shares into another form will be borne by the shareholder. For shareholders who opt for registered shares, the shares will be recorded in our shareholder register.

 

Currency

 

Our share capital, which is represented by our outstanding ordinary shares, is denominated in Euros. The shares underlying the ADSs do not have a nominal value, but each reflect the same fraction of our share capital.

 

Changes to the share capital decided by the shareholders

 

In principle, changes to our share capital are decided by our shareholders. Our general shareholders’ meeting may at any time decide to increase or reduce the share capital of the Company. Such resolution must satisfy the quorum and majority requirements that apply to an amendment of the articles of association, as described below under “— Right to attend and vote at general shareholders’ meetings” and “— Quorum and majorities.

 

 

 

 

Capital increases decided by the board of directors

 

Subject to the quorum and majority requirements described as described below under subsection “— Right to attend and vote at general shareholders’ meetings” and subsection “— Quorum and majorities”, the general shareholders’ meeting may authorize our board of directors, within certain limits, to increase our share capital without any further approval of our shareholders. This is the so-called authorized capital. This authorization needs to be limited in time (i.e. it can only be granted for a renewable period of maximum five years) and scope (i.e. the authorized capital may not exceed the amount of the registered capital at the time of the authorization).

 

By virtue of the resolution of the extraordinary general shareholders’ meeting of the Company held on May 27, 2021, as published by excerpt in the Annexes to the Belgian Official Gazette (Belgisch Staatsblad/Moniteur belge) on June 1, 2021 under number 21333389, which entered into force on June 1, 2021, the board of directors of the Company has been granted certain powers to increase our share capital in the framework of the authorized capital. The powers under the authorized capital have been set out in article 6 of the Company’s articles of association.

 

Pursuant to the authorization granted by the extraordinary general shareholders’ meeting, the board of directors is authorized to increase the share capital of the Company on one or several occasions by a maximum aggregate amount of €90,132,067.69 (excluding issue premium, as the case may be).

 

The board of directors may increase the share capital by contributions in cash or in kind, by capitalization of reserves, whether available or unavailable for distribution, and capitalization of issue premiums, with or without the issuance of new shares, with or without voting rights, that will have the rights as will be determined by the board of directors. The board of directors is also authorized to use this authorization for the issuance of convertible bonds or subscription rights, bonds with subscription rights or other securities.

 

In the event of a capital increase decided by the board of directors within the framework of the authorized capital, all issue premiums booked, if any, will be accounted for in accordance with the provisions of these articles of association.

 

The board of directors is authorized, when exercising its powers within the framework of the authorized capital, to restrict or cancel, in the interest of the company, the preferential subscription rights of the shareholders. This restriction or cancellation of the preferential subscription rights can also be done in favor of members of the personnel of the Company or of its subsidiaries, or in favor of one or more persons other than members of the personnel of the Company or of its subsidiaries.

 

The board of directors is authorized, with the right of substitution, to amend the articles of association, after each capital increase that has occurred within the framework of the authorized capital, in order to bring them in conformity with the new situation of the share capital and the shares.

 

The board of directors has not yet used its powers under the authorized capital. As a result, the board of directors therefore still has the authority under the authorized capital to increase our share capital with an aggregate amount of €90,132,067.69 (excluding issue premium, as the case may be).

 

Preferential Subscription Rights

 

In the event of a capital increase for cash with the issue of new shares, or in the event of an issue of convertible bonds or subscription rights, the existing shareholders have a preferential right to subscribe, pro rata, to the new shares, convertible bonds or subscription rights. These preferential subscription rights are transferable during the subscription period.

 

Our general shareholders’ meeting may decide to limit or cancel this preferential subscription right, subject to special reporting requirements. Such decision by the general shareholders’ meeting needs to satisfy the same quorum and majority requirements as the decision to increase our share capital.

 

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The shareholders may also decide to authorize our board of directors to limit or cancel the preferential subscription right within the framework of the authorized capital, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Belgian Companies and Associations Code. As mentioned above, our board of directors of the Company has been granted certain powers to increase our share capital in the framework of the authorized capital and to cancel the statutory preferential subscription rights of the shareholders (within the meaning of articles 7:191 and 7:193 of the Belgian Companies and Associations Code). The powers under the authorized capital have been set out in article 6 of the Company’s articles of association.

 

Generally, unless expressly authorized in advance by the general shareholders’ meeting, the authorization of the board of directors to increase our share capital through contributions in cash with cancellation or limitation of the preferential subscription right of the existing shareholders is suspended as of the notification to us by the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority, or the FSMA, of a public takeover bid on our financial instruments. Our general shareholders’ meeting did not grant such express authorization to our board of directors. See also “— Capital increases decided by the board of directors” above.

 

Under the DGCL, shareholders of a Delaware corporation have no pre-emptive rights to subscribe for additional issues of stock or to any security convertible into such stock unless, and to the extent that, such rights are expressly provided for in the corporation’s certificate of incorporation.

 

Acquisition and Sale of own Shares

 

We may acquire, pledge and dispose of our own shares, profit certificates or associated certificates at the conditions provided for by articles 7:215 and following of the Belgian Companies and Associations Code. These conditions include a prior special shareholders’ resolution approved by at least 75% of the votes validly cast at a general shareholders’ meeting (whereby abstentions are not included in the numerator nor in the denominator) where at least 50% of the share capital and at least 50% of the profit certificates, if any, are present or represented.

 

Furthermore, shares can only be acquired with funds that would otherwise be available for distribution as a dividend to the shareholders and the transaction must relate to fully paid-up shares or associated certificates. Furthermore, an offer to purchase shares must be made by way of an offer to all shareholders under the same conditions. Shares can also be acquired by us without offer to all shareholders under the same conditions, provided that the acquisition of the shares is effected in the central order book of the regulated market of Euronext Brussels or, if the transaction is not effected via the central order book, provided that the price offered for the shares is lower than or equal to the highest independent bid price in the central order book of the regulated market of Euronext Brussels at that time.

 

Generally, the general shareholders’ meeting or the articles of association determine the amount of shares, profit certificates or certificates that can be acquired, the duration of such an authorization which cannot exceed five years as from the publication of the proposed resolution as well as the minimum and maximum price that the board of directors can pay for the shares. The prior approval by the shareholders is not required if we purchase the shares to offer them to our personnel, in which case the shares must be transferred within a period of 12 months as from their acquisition.

 

We may, without prior authorization by the general shareholders’ meeting, dispose of the Company’s own shares, profit certificates or associated certificates in the limited number of situations set out in article 7:218 of the Belgian Companies and Associations Code.

 

Under the DGCL, a Delaware corporation may purchase or redeem its own shares, unless the capital of the corporation is impaired or the purchase or redemption would cause an impairment of the capital of the corporation.

 

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Description of the Rights and Benefits Attached to Our Shares

 

Right to attend and vote at general shareholders’ meetings

 

Annual meetings of shareholders

 

Our annual general shareholders’ meeting is held at the registered office of our Company (in Belgium) or at the place determined in the notice convening the general shareholders’ meeting. The meeting is held every year on the last Thursday of May at 10:00 a.m. (Belgian time). If this day would be a Belgian public holiday, the annual general shareholders’ meeting shall be held on the previous business day. At our annual general shareholders’ meeting, the board of directors submits to the shareholders the audited non-consolidated and consolidated annual financial statements and the reports of the board of directors and of the statutory auditor with respect thereto.

 

The general shareholders’ meeting then decides on the approval of the statutory annual financial statements, the proposed allocation of the Company’s profit or loss, the release from liability of the directors and the statutory auditor, the approval of the remuneration report included in the annual report of the board of directors (it being understood that the vote on the remuneration report is only an advisory vote and that the Company must explain in the remuneration report of the subsequent financial year how it took into account the advisory vote of the general shareholders’ meeting of the previous financial year), of the remuneration policy (as the case may be), and, when applicable, the (re-)appointment or dismissal of the statutory auditor and/or of all or certain directors. In addition, as relevant, the general shareholders’ meeting must also decide on the approval of the remuneration of the directors and statutory auditor for the exercise of their mandate, and on the approval of provisions of service agreements to be entered into with executive directors, members of the executive management and other executives providing (as the case may be) for severance payments exceeding twelve months’ remuneration (or, subject to a motivated opinion by the remuneration and nomination committee, 18 months’ remuneration) (see also “— Voting rights attached to the Shares” below).

 

Special and extraordinary general shareholders’ meetings

 

Our board of directors or the statutory auditor (or the liquidators, if appropriate) may, whenever the interest of our Company so requires, convene a special or extraordinary general shareholders’ meeting. Pursuant to article 7:126 of the Belgian Companies and Associations Code, such general shareholders’ meeting must also be convened every time one or more shareholders holding, alone or together, at least 10% of our company’s share capital so request. Shareholders that do not hold at least 10% of our share capital do not have the right to have the general shareholders’ meeting convened.

 

Under the DGCL, special meetings of the shareholders of a Delaware corporation may be called by such person or persons as may be authorized by the certificate of incorporation or by the bylaws of the corporation, or if not so designated, as determined by the board of directors. Shareholders generally do not have the right to call meetings of shareholders, unless that right is granted in the certificate of incorporation or the bylaws.

 

Right to put items on the agenda of the general shareholders’ meeting and to table draft resolutions

 

Shareholders who hold alone or together with other shareholders at least 3% of our share capital have the right to put additional items on the agenda of a general shareholders’ meeting that has been convened and to table draft resolutions in relation to items that have been or are to be included in the agenda. This right does not apply to general shareholders’ meetings that are being convened on the grounds that the quorum was not met at the first duly convened meeting (see “— Quorum and majorities” below). Shareholders wishing to exercise this right must prove on the date of their request that they own at least 3% of the outstanding share capital. The ownership must be based, for dematerialized shares, on a certificate issued by the applicable settlement institution for the shares concerned, or by a certified account holder, confirming the number of shares that have been registered in the name of the relevant shareholders and, for registered shares, on a certificate of registration of the relevant shares in the share register book of the Company. In addition, the shareholder concerned must register for the meeting concerned with at least 3% of the outstanding share capital (see also “— Formalities to attend the general shareholders’ meeting” below). A request to put additional items on the agenda and/or to table draft resolutions must be submitted in writing, and must contain, in the event of an additional agenda item, the text of the agenda item concerned and, in the event of a new draft resolution, the text of the draft resolution. The request must reach the Company at the latest on the twenty-second calendar day preceding the date of the general shareholders’ meeting concerned. If the Company receives a request, it will have to publish at the latest on the fifteenth calendar day preceding the general shareholders’ meeting an update of the agenda of the meeting with the additional agenda items and draft resolutions.

 

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Notices convening the general shareholders’ meeting

 

The notice convening the general shareholders’ meeting must state the place, date and hour of the meeting and must include an agenda indicating the items to be discussed and the proposed resolutions. The notice must, as the case may be, include the proposal of the audit committee to nominate a statutory auditor responsible for auditing the consolidated financial statements. The notice also needs to contain a description of the formalities that security holders must fulfil in order to be admitted to the general shareholders’ meeting and (as the case may be) exercise their voting right, information on the manner in which shareholders can put additional items on the agenda and table draft resolutions, information on the manner in which security holders can ask questions during the general shareholders’ meeting and prior to the meeting via the Company’s email address or a specific email address mentioned in this notice, information on the procedure to participate to the general shareholders’ meeting by means of a proxy or to vote by means of a remote vote, and, as applicable, the registration date for the general shareholders’ meeting. The notice must also mention where shareholders can obtain a copy of the documentation that will be submitted to the general shareholders’ meeting, the agenda with the proposed resolutions or, if no resolutions are proposed, a commentary by the board of directors, updates of the agenda if shareholders have put additional items or draft resolutions on the agenda, the forms to vote by proxy or by means of a remote vote, and the address of the webpage on which the documentation and information relating to the general shareholders’ meeting will be made available. This documentation and information, together with the notice and the total number of outstanding voting rights, must also be made available on our company’s website at the same time as the publication of the notice convening the meeting, for a period of five years after the relevant general shareholders’ meeting.

 

The notice convening the general shareholders’ meeting has to be published at least 30 calendar days prior to the general shareholders’ meeting in the Belgian Official Gazette (Belgisch Staatsblad/Moniteur Belge), in a newspaper that is published nation-wide in Belgium, in paper or electronically, in media that can be reasonably relied upon for the dissemination of information within the EEA in a manner ensuring fast access to such information on a non-discriminatory basis, and on our company’s website. A publication in a nation-wide newspaper is not needed for annual general shareholders’ meetings taking place on the date, hour and place indicated in the articles of association of the Company if the agenda is limited to the treatment and approval of the financial statements, the annual report of the board of directors, the report of the statutory auditor, the remuneration report, the severance pay for executive directors, and the discharge from liability of the directors and statutory auditor. See also “— Voting Rights attached to the Shares” below. In addition to this publication, the notice has to be distributed at least 30 calendar days prior to the meeting via the normal publication means that the Company uses for the publication of press releases and regulated information. The term of 30 calendar days prior to the general shareholders’ meeting for the publication and distribution of the convening notice can be reduced to 17 calendar days for a second meeting if, as the case may be, the applicable quorum for the meeting is not reached at the first meeting, the date of the second meeting was mentioned in the notice for the first meeting and no new item is put on the agenda of the second meeting. See also further below under “— Quorum and majorities.

 

At the same time as its publication, the convening notice must also be sent to the holders of registered shares, holders of registered convertible bonds, holders of registered subscription rights, holders of registered certificates issued with the co-operation of the Company (if any), and, as the case may be, to the directors and statutory auditor of the Company. This communication needs to be made by e-mail unless the addressee has informed the Company that it wishes to receive the relevant documentation by another equivalent means of communication. If the relevant addressee does not have an e-mail address or if it did not inform the Company thereof, the relevant documentation will be sent by ordinary mail.

 

Under the DGCL, unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or bylaws, written notice of any meeting of the shareholders of a Delaware corporation must be given to each shareholder entitled to vote at the meeting not less than ten nor more than sixty days before the date of the meeting and shall specify the place, date, hour and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose of the meeting.

 

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Formalities to attend the general shareholders’ meeting

 

All holders of shares, warrants, profit-sharing certificates, non-voting shares, convertible bonds, subscription rights or other securities issued by our company, as the case may be, and all holders of certificates issued with the co-operation of our company (if any) can attend the general shareholders’ meetings insofar as the law or the articles of association entitles them to do so and, as the case may be, gives them the right to participate in voting.

 

In order to be able to attend a general shareholders’ meeting, a holder of securities issued by our company must satisfy two criteria: being registered as holder of securities on the registration date for the meeting, and notify our company:

 

  Firstly, the right to attend general shareholders’ meetings applies only to persons who are registered as owning securities on the fourteenth calendar day prior to the general shareholders’ meeting at midnight (Belgian time) via registration, in the applicable register book for the securities concerned (for registered securities) or in the accounts of a certified account holder or relevant settlement institution for the securities concerned (for dematerialized securities or securities in book-entry form).
     
  Secondly, in order to be admitted to the general shareholders’ meeting, securities holders must notify our Company at the latest on the sixth calendar day prior to the general shareholders’ meeting whether they intend to attend the meeting and indicate the number of shares in respect of which they intend to do so. For the holders of dematerialized securities or securities in book-entry form, the notice should include a certificate confirming the number of securities that have been registered in their name on the record date. The certificate can be obtained by the holder of the dematerialized securities or securities in book-entry form with the certified account holder or the applicable settlement institution for the securities concerned.

 

The formalities for the registration of securities holders, and the notification of our company must be further described in the notice convening the general shareholders’ meeting.

 

Electronic participation

 

Our board of directors has the possibility to organize the general shareholders’ meeting by means of electronic communication which must (i) allow the Company to verify the capacity and identity of the shareholders using it; (ii) at least enable (a) the securities holders to directly, simultaneously and continuously follow the discussions during the meeting and (b) the shareholders to exercise their voting rights on all points on which the general shareholders’ meeting is required to take a decision; and (iii) allow the securities holders to actively participate to the deliberations and to ask questions during the meeting.

 

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Voting by proxy or remote voting

 

Each shareholder has, subject to compliance with the requirements set forth above under “— Formalities to attend the general shareholders’ meeting”, the right to attend a general shareholders’ meeting and to vote at the general shareholders’ meeting in person or through a proxy holder, who need not be a shareholder. A shareholder may designate, for a given meeting, only one person as proxy holder, except in circumstances where Belgian law allows the designation of multiple proxy holders. The appointment of a proxy holder may take place in paper form or electronically (in which case the form shall be signed by means of an electronic signature in accordance with applicable Belgian law), through a form which shall be made available by our Company. The signed original paper (handwritten) or electronic form must be received by our Company at the latest on the sixth calendar day preceding the meeting. The appointment a proxy holder must be made in accordance with the applicable rules of Belgian law, including in relation to conflicts of interest and the keeping of a register.

 

The notice convening the meeting may allow shareholders to vote remotely in relation to the general shareholders’ meeting, by sending a paper form or, if specifically allowed in the notice convening the meeting, by sending a form electronically (in which case the form shall be signed by means of an electronic signature in accordance with applicable Belgian law). These forms shall be made available by our company. The original signed paper form must be received by our company at the latest on the sixth calendar day preceding the date of the meeting. Voting through the signed electronic form may occur until the last calendar day before the meeting.

 

Our company may also organize a remote vote in relation to the general shareholders’ meeting through other electronic communication methods, such as, among others, through one or several websites. Our company shall specify the practical terms of any such remote vote in the convening notice.

 

When votes are cast electronically, an electronic confirmation of receipt of the votes is sent to the relevant shareholders that cast the vote. After the general shareholders’ meeting, shareholders can obtain, at least upon request (which must be made no later than three months after the vote), the confirmation that their votes have been validly recorded and taken into account by the Company, unless that information is already available to them. If an intermediary receives such confirmation, it must transmit it without delay to the shareholder.

 

Holders of securities who wish to be represented by proxy or vote remotely must, in any case comply with the formalities to attend the meeting, as explained under “— Formalities to attend the general shareholders’ meeting.” Holders of shares without voting rights, profit-sharing certificates without voting rights, convertible bonds, warrants or certificates issued with the cooperation of our company may attend the general shareholders’ meeting but only with an advisory vote.

 

Voting rights attached to the Shares

 

Each shareholder of the Company is entitled to one vote per Share. Shareholders may vote by proxy, subject to the rules described below in “— Right to attend and vote at general shareholders’ meetings” and “— Voting by proxy or remote voting.

 

Voting rights can be mainly suspended in relation to shares:

 

  which are not fully paid up, notwithstanding the request thereto of the board of directors of the Company;
     
  to which more than one person is entitled or on which more than one person has rights in rem (zakelijke rechten/droits réels) on, except in the event a single representative is appointed for the exercise of the voting right vis-à-vis the Company;
     
  which entitle their holder to voting rights above the threshold of 3%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and any further multiple of 5% of the total number of voting rights attached to the outstanding financial instruments of our company on the date of the relevant general shareholders’ meeting, in the event that the relevant shareholder has not notified us and the FSMA at least 20 calendar days prior to the date of the general shareholders’ meeting in accordance with the applicable rules on disclosure of major shareholdings; and
     
  of which the voting right was suspended by a competent court or the FSMA.

 

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Pursuant to the Belgian Companies and Associations Code, the voting rights attached to shares owned by the Company, or a person acting in its own name but on behalf of the Company, or acquired by a subsidiary of the Company, as the case may be, are suspended. Generally, the general shareholders’ meeting has sole authority with respect to:

 

  the approval of the annual financial statements of the Company;
     
  the distribution of profits (except interim dividends (see “— Dividends” below));
     
  the appointment (at the proposal of the board of directors and upon recommendation by the remuneration and nomination committee) and dismissal of directors of the Company;
     
  the appointment (at the proposal of the board of directors and upon recommendation by the audit committee) and dismissal of the statutory auditor of the Company;
     
  the granting of release from liability to the directors and the statutory auditor of the Company;
     
  the determination of the remuneration of the directors and of the statutory auditor for the exercise of their mandate;
     
  the advisory vote on the remuneration report included in the annual report of the board of directors, upon every material change to the remuneration policy and in any case at least every four years, and the determination of the following features of the remuneration or compensation of directors, members of the executive management and certain other executives (as the case may be): (i) in relation to the remuneration of executive and non-executive directors, members of the executive management and other executives, an exemption from the rule that share based awards can only vest after a period of at least three years as of the grant of the awards, (ii) in relation to the remuneration of executive directors, members of the executive management and other executives, an exemption from the rule that (unless the variable remuneration is less than a quarter of the annual remuneration) at least one quarter of the variable remuneration must be based on performance criteria that have been determined in advance and that can be measured objectively over a period of at least two years and that at least another quarter of the variable remuneration must be based on performance criteria that have been determined in advance and that can be measured objectively over a period of at least three years, (iii) in relation to the remuneration of non-executive directors, any variable part of the remuneration (provided, however that no variable remuneration can be granted to independent non-executive directors), and (iv) any service agreements to be entered into with executive directors, members of the executive management and other executives providing for severance payments exceeding twelve months’ remuneration (or, subject to a motivated opinion by the remuneration and nomination committee, eighteen (18) months’ remuneration);
     
  the filing of a claim for liability against directors;
     
  the decisions relating to the dissolution, merger and certain other reorganizations of the Company; and
     
  the approval of amendments to the articles of association.

 

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Quorum and majorities

 

In general, there is no attendance quorum requirement for a general shareholders’ meeting and decisions are generally passed with a simple majority of the votes of the shares present or represented. However, capital increases (other than those decided by the board of directors pursuant to the authorized capital), decisions with respect to the Company’s dissolution, mergers, de-mergers and certain other reorganizations of the Company, amendments to the articles of association (other than an amendment of the corporate purpose), and certain other matters referred to in the Belgian Companies and Associations Code do not only require the presence or representation of at least 50% of the share capital of our Company but also a majority of at least 75% of the votes cast (whereby abstentions are not included in the numerator nor in the denominator). An amendment of our company’s corporate purpose requires the approval of at least 80% of the votes cast at a general shareholders’ meeting (whereby abstentions are not included in the numerator nor in the denominator), which can only validly pass such resolution if at least 50% of the share capital of the Company and at least 50% of the profit certificates, if any, are present or represented. In the event where the required quorum is not present or represented at the first meeting, a second meeting needs to be convened through a new notice. The second general shareholders’ meeting may validly deliberate and decide regardless of the number of shares present or represented. The special majority requirements, however, remain applicable.

 

Under the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of a Delaware corporation may specify the number of shares required to constitute a quorum but in no event shall a quorum consist of less than one-third of shares entitled to vote at a meeting. In the absence of such specifications, a majority of shares entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum.

 

Right to ask questions

 

Within the limits of article 7:139 of the Belgian Companies and Associations Code, security holders have a right to ask questions to the directors in connection with the report of the board of directors or the items on the agenda of such general shareholders’ meeting. However, directors may, in the interest of the Company, refuse to answer questions when the communication of certain information or facts could cause prejudice to the Company or is contrary to the obligations of confidentiality entered into by them or by the Company.

 

Shareholders can also ask questions to the statutory auditor in connection with its report. Such questions can be submitted in writing prior to the meeting or can be asked at the meeting. Written questions to the statutory auditor must be submitted to the Company at the same time. The statutory auditor may, in the interest of the Company, refuse to answer questions when the communication of certain information or facts could cause any or is contrary to its professional secrecy or to obligations of confidentiality entered into by the Company. The statutory auditor has the right to speak at the general meeting in connection with the performance of its duties.

 

Written and oral questions will be answered during the meeting concerned in accordance with applicable law. In addition, in order for written questions to be considered, the shareholders who submitted the written questions concerned must comply with the formalities to attend the meeting, as explained under “— Formalities to attend the general shareholders’ meeting.

 

Dividends

 

All shares participate equally in the Company’s profits (if any). Pursuant to the Belgian Companies and Associations Code, the shareholders can in principle decide on the distribution of profits with a simple majority vote at the occasion of the annual general shareholders’ meeting, based on the most recent statutory audited financial statements, prepared in accordance with Belgian GAAP and based on a (non-binding) proposal of the Company’s board of directors. The Belgian Companies and Associations Code and the Company’s articles of association also authorize the board of directors to declare interim dividends without shareholder approval. The right to pay such interim dividends is, however, subject to certain legal restrictions.

 

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Our company’s ability to distribute dividends is subject to availability of sufficient distributable profits as defined under Belgian law on the basis of our stand-alone statutory accounts prepared in accordance with Belgian GAAP. In particular, dividends can only be distributed if following the declaration and issuance of the dividends the amount of our net assets on the date of the closing of the last financial year as follows from the statutory non-consolidated financial statements (i.e. summarized, the amount of the assets as shown in the balance sheet, decreased with provisions and liabilities, all in accordance with Belgian accounting rules), decreased with, except in exceptional circumstances, to be disclosed and justified in the notes to the annual accounts, the non-amortized costs of incorporation and extension and non-amortized costs for research and development, does not fall below the amount of the paid-up capital (or, if higher, the issued capital), increased with the amount of non-distributable reserves.

 

In addition, pursuant to Belgian law and our articles of association, the Company must allocate an amount of 5% of our Belgian GAAP annual net profit (nettowinst/bénéfices nets) to a legal reserve in its stand-alone statutory accounts, until the legal reserve amounts to 10% of our share capital. Our legal reserve currently does not meet this requirement nor will it meet the requirement at the time of the closing of this offering. Accordingly, 5% of its Belgian GAAP annual net profit during future years will need to be allocated to the legal reserve, limiting our ability to pay out dividends to its shareholders.

 

Under the senior secured loan agreement entered into between with Kreos Capital and the Company on November 1, 2019 and amended on October 19, 2020 and April 19, 2021, no distributions can be declared or made without the consent of the Kreos Capital.

 

In addition, further financial restrictions and other limitations may be contained in future credit agreements.

 

The right to payment of dividends expires five years after the board of directors declared the dividend payable.

 

Under the DGCL, a Delaware corporation may pay dividends out of its surplus (the excess of net assets over capital), or in case there is no surplus, out of its net profits for either or both of the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and the preceding fiscal year (provided that the amount of the capital of the corporation is not less than the aggregate amount of the capital represented by the issued and outstanding stock of all classes having a preference upon the distribution of assets). Dividends may be paid in the form of shares, property or cash.

 

Appointment of Directors

 

Pursuant to the Belgian Companies and Associations Code and the articles of association, the board of directors must consist of at least three directors. Our Company’s Corporate Governance Charter provides that the board of directors should have a composition appropriate to the Company’s purpose, its operations, phase of development, structure of ownership and other specifics. Pursuant to the Belgian Companies and Associations Code and the articles of association of the company, the board of directors should be composed of at least three directors. In accordance with the Belgian Corporate Governance Code, the composition of the board of directors should be determined so as to gather sufficient expertise in the company’s areas of activity as well as sufficient diversity of skills, background, age and gender. Pursuant to the Belgian Corporate Governance Code, a majority of the directors must be non-executive directors, and the board of directors should consist of an appropriate number of independent directors. At least three directors should qualify as independent directors in accordance with the criteria described in the Belgian Corporate Governance Code. At least one third of the members of the board of directors must be of the opposite gender.

 

Liquidation Rights

 

Our company can only be voluntarily dissolved by a shareholders’ resolution passed with a majority of at least 75% of the votes cast at a meeting of shareholders where at least 50% of the share capital is present or represented. In the event the required quorum is not present or represented at the first meeting, a second meeting needs to be convened through a new notice. The second meeting of shareholders can validly deliberate and decide regardless of the number of shares present or represented.

 

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Under the DGCL, unless the board of directors approves the proposal to dissolve, dissolution of a Delaware corporation must be approved by shareholders holding 100% of the total voting power of the corporation. Only if the dissolution is initiated by the board of directors may it be approved by a simple majority of the corporation’s outstanding shares. The DGCL allows a Delaware corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a supermajority voting requirement in connection with dissolutions initiated by the board.

 

In the event of the dissolution and liquidation of our company, the assets remaining after payment of all debts and liquidation expenses will be distributed to the holders of our shares, each receiving a sum on a pro rata basis.

 

Pursuant to article 7:228 of the Belgian Companies and Associations Code, if, as a result of losses incurred, the ratio of our company’s net assets (determined in accordance with Belgian legal and accounting rules for non-consolidated financial statements) to share capital is less than 50%, the board of directors must convene an extraordinary general shareholders’ meeting within two months as of the date upon which the board of directors discovered or should have discovered this undercapitalization. At this general shareholders’ meeting the board of directors needs to propose either the dissolution of the Company or the continuation of the Company, in which case the board of directors must propose measures to ensure the Company’s continuity. The board of directors must justify its proposals in a special report to the shareholders. Shareholders representing at least 75% of the votes validly cast at this meeting have the right to dissolve the Company, provided that at least 50% of our share capital is present or represented at the meeting.

 

If, as a result of losses incurred, the ratio of the Company’s net assets to share capital is less than 25%, the same procedure must be followed, it being understood, however, that in that event shareholders representing 25% of the votes validly cast at the meeting can decide to dissolve the Company.

 

Pursuant to article 7:229 of the Belgian Companies and Associations Code, if the amount of the Company’s net assets has dropped below €61,500 (the minimum amount of share capital of a corporation with limited liability organised under the laws of Belgium (naamloze vennootschap/société anonyme)), any interested party is entitled to request the competent court to dissolve the Company. The court can order the dissolution of the Company or grant a grace period within which the Company is to remedy the situation.

 

If the Company is dissolved for any reason, the liquidation must be carried out by one or more liquidators appointed by the general shareholders’ meeting and whose appointment has been ratified by the enterprise court. Any balance remaining after discharging all debts, liabilities and liquidation costs must first be applied to reimburse, in cash or in kind, the paid-up capital of the shares not yet reimbursed. Any remaining balance shall be equally distributed amongst all the shareholders.

 

When the Company’s net equity is positive, the Company does not fall within the scope of the articles 7:228 and 7:229 of the Belgian Companies and Associations Code.

 

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Belgian Legislation and jurisdiction

 

Notification of significant shareholdings

 

Pursuant to the Belgian act of 2 May 2007 on the disclosure of significant shareholdings in issuers whose securities are admitted to trading on a regulated market and containing various provisions, as amended from time to time, or the Belgian Transparency Act, a notification to the Company and to the FSMA is required by all natural persons and legal entities (i.e. legal person, enterprise without legal personality, or trust), in the following circumstances:

 

  an acquisition or disposal of voting securities, voting rights or financial instruments that are treated as voting securities;
     
  the reaching of a threshold by persons or legal entities acting in concert;
     
  the conclusion, modification or termination of an agreement to act in concert;
     
  the downward reaching of the lowest threshold;
     
  the passive reaching of a threshold;
     
  the holding of voting securities in the Company upon first admission thereof to trading on a regulated market;
     
  where a previous notification concerning the financial instruments treated as equivalent to voting securities is updated;
     
  the acquisition or disposal of the control of an entity that holds voting securities in the Company; and
     
  where the Company introduces additional notification thresholds in the articles of association,

 

in each case where the percentage of voting rights attached to the securities held by such persons reaches, exceeds or falls below the legal threshold, set at 5% of the total voting rights, and 10%, 15%, 20% and so on in increments of 5% or, as the case may be, the additional thresholds provided in the articles of association. The Company has provided for an additional threshold of 3% in its articles of association.

 

The notification must be made promptly and at the latest within four trading days following the moment on which the person who is subject to the notification obligation received knowledge or could be deemed to have received knowledge of the acquisition or disposal of the voting rights triggering the reaching of the threshold. Where the Company receives a notification of information regarding the reaching of a threshold, it has to publish such information within three trading days following receipt of the notification. Subject to certain exceptions, no shareholder may, pursuant to article 25/1 of the Belgian Transparency Act, cast a greater number of votes at a general shareholders’ meeting of the Company than those attached to the rights and securities that it has notified in accordance with the aforementioned disclosure rules at least 20 calendar days prior to the date of the general shareholders’ meeting.

 

The forms on which such notifications must be made, as well as further explanations, can be found on the website of the FSMA (www.fsma.be). Violation of the disclosure requirements may result in the suspension of voting rights, a court order to sell the securities to a third party and/or criminal liability. The FSMA may also impose administrative sanctions. The Company is required to publicly disclose any notifications received regarding increases or decreases in a shareholder’s ownership of the Company’s securities, and must mention these notifications in the notes to its financial statements.

 

The obligation to disclose significant shareholdings as well as certain other provisions of Belgian law (e.g., merger control, authorized capital and the requirement to have certain change of control clauses approved by an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting) that may apply to the Company, may make an unsolicited tender offer, merger, change in management or other change in control, more difficult. Such provisions could discourage potential takeover attempts that third parties may consider and that other shareholders may consider to be in their best interest and could adversely affect the market price of the shares. These provisions may also deprive shareholders of the opportunity to sell their shares at a premium (which is typically offered in the context of a takeover bid).

 

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In accordance with U.S. federal securities laws, holders of our ordinary shares and holders of ADSs will be required to comply with disclosure requirements relating to their ownership of our securities. Any person that, after acquiring beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares or ADSs, is the beneficial owners of more than 5% of our outstanding ordinary shares or ordinary shares underlying ADSs must file with the SEC a Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G, as applicable, disclosing the information required by such schedules, including the number of our ordinary shares or ordinary shares underlying ADSs that such person has acquired (whether alone or jointly with one or more other persons). In addition, if any material change occurs in the facts set forth in the report filed on Schedule 13D (including a more than 1% increase or decrease in the percentage of the total shares beneficially owned), the beneficial owner must promptly file an amendment disclosing such change.

 

Disclosure of Net Short Positions

 

Pursuant to the Regulation (EU) No. 236/2012 of the European Parliament and the Council on short selling and certain aspects of credit default swaps, any person that acquires or disposes of a net short position relating to our issued share capital, whether by a transaction in shares or ADSs, or by a transaction creating or relating to any financial instrument where the effect or one of the effects of the transaction is to confer a financial advantage on the person entering into that transaction in the event of a decrease in the price of such shares or ADSs is required to notify the FSMA if, as a result of which acquisition or disposal his net short position reaches, exceeds or falls below 0.2% of our issued share capital and each 0.1% above that. If the net short position reaches 0.5%, and also at every 0.1% above that, the FSMA will disclose the net short position to the public.

 

Public Takeover Bids

 

Public takeover bids for the Company’s shares and other securities giving access to voting rights (such as subscription rights or convertible bonds, if any) are subject to supervision by the FSMA. Any public takeover bid must be extended to all of the Company’s voting securities, as well as all other securities giving access to voting rights. Prior to making a bid, a bidder must publish a prospectus which has been approved by the FSMA prior to publication.

 

Belgium has implemented the Thirteenth Company Law Directive (European Directive 2004/25/EC of 21 April 2004) by the Belgian Act of 1 April 2007 on public takeover bids, as amended, or the Belgian Takeover Act, and the Belgian Royal Decree of 27 April 2007 on public takeover bids, as amended, or the Belgian Takeover Decree. The Belgian Takeover Act provides that a mandatory bid must be launched if a person, as a result of its own acquisition or the acquisition by persons acting in concert with it or by persons acting for their account, directly or indirectly holds more than 30% of the voting securities in a company having its registered office in Belgium and of which at least part of the voting securities are traded on a regulated market or on a multilateral trading facility designated by the Belgian Takeover Decree. The mere fact of exceeding the relevant threshold through the acquisition of shares will give rise to a mandatory bid, irrespective of whether the price paid in the relevant transaction exceeds the current market price. The duty to launch a mandatory bid does not apply in certain cases set out in the Belgian Takeover Decree such as (i) in case of an acquisition if it can be shown that a third party exercises control over the company or that such party holds a larger stake than the person holding 30% of the voting securities or (ii) in case of a capital increase with preferential subscription rights decided by the Company’s general shareholders’ meeting.

 

There are several provisions of Belgian company law and certain other provisions of Belgian law, such as the obligation to disclose significant shareholdings (see “— Notification of significant shareholdings” above) and merger control, that may apply towards the Company and which may create hurdles to an unsolicited tender offer, merger, change in management or other change in control. These provisions could discourage potential takeover attempts that other shareholders may consider to be in their best interest and could adversely affect the market price of the shares of the Company. These provisions may also have the effect of depriving the shareholders of the opportunity to sell their shares at a premium.

 

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In addition, pursuant to Belgian company law, the board of directors of Belgian companies may in certain circumstances, and subject to prior authorization by the shareholders, deter or frustrate public takeover bids through dilutive issuances of equity securities (pursuant to the “authorized capital”) or through share buy-backs (i.e. purchase of own shares). In principle, the authorization of the board of directors to increase the share capital of the Company through contributions in kind or in cash with cancellation or limitation of the preferential subscription right of the existing shareholders is suspended as of the notification to the Company by the FSMA of a public takeover bid on the securities of the Company. The general shareholders’ meeting can, however, under certain conditions, expressly authorize the board of directors to increase the capital of the Company in such case by issuing shares in an amount of not more than 10% of the existing shares at the time of such a public takeover bid. (see also “— Rights attached to the Shares”, “— Changes to the share capital” and “— Capital increases decided by the board of directors”).

 

The Company’s articles of association do not provide for any specific protective mechanisms against public takeover bids.

 

Squeeze-out

 

Pursuant to article 7:82 of the Belgian Companies and Associations Code or the regulations promulgated thereunder, a person or legal entity, or different persons or legal entities acting alone or in concert, who own, together with the company, at least 95% of the securities with voting rights in a public company are entitled to acquire the totality of the securities with voting rights in that company following a squeeze-out offer. The securities that are not voluntarily tendered in response to such an offer are deemed to be automatically transferred to the bidder at the end of the procedure. At the end of the squeeze-out procedure, the company is no longer deemed a public company, unless convertible bonds issued by the company are still spread among the public. The consideration for the securities must be in cash and must represent the fair value (verified by an independent expert) as to safeguard the interests of the transferring shareholders.

 

A squeeze-out offer is also possible upon completion of a public takeover bid, provided that the bidder holds at least 95% of the voting capital and 95% of the voting securities of the public company. In such a case, the bidder may require that all remaining shareholders sell their securities to the bidder at the offer price of the takeover bid, provided that, in case of a voluntary takeover offer, the bidder has also acquired 90% of the voting capital to which the offer relates. The shares that are not voluntarily tendered in response to any such offer are deemed to be automatically transferred to the bidder at the end of the procedure.

 

The DGCL provides for shareholders appraisal rights, or the right to demand payment in cash of the judicially determined fair value of the shareholder’s shares, in connection with certain mergers and consolidations.

 

Sell-out right

 

Within three months after the end of an acceptance period related to a public takeover bid, holders of voting securities or of securities giving access to voting rights may require the offeror, acting alone or in concert, who owns at least 95% of the voting capital and 95% of the voting securities in a public company following a takeover bid, to buy their securities from them at the price of the bid, on the condition that, in case of a voluntary takeover offer, the offeror has acquired, through the acceptance of the bid, securities representing at least 90% of the voting capital subject to the takeover bid.

 

Limitations on the Right to Own Securities

 

Neither Belgian law nor our articles of association impose any general limitation on the right of non-residents or foreign persons to hold our securities or exercise voting rights on our securities other than those limitations that would generally apply to all shareholders.

 

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Exchange Controls and Limitations Affecting Shareholders

 

There are no Belgian exchange control regulations that impose limitations on our ability to make, or the amount of, cash payments to residents of the United States.

 

We are in principle under an obligation to report to the National Bank of Belgium certain cross-border payments, transfers of funds, investments and other transactions in accordance with applicable balance-of-payments statistical reporting obligations. Where a cross-border transaction is carried out by a Belgian credit institution on our behalf, the credit institution will in certain circumstances be responsible for the reporting obligations.

 

Securities Exercisable for Ordinary Shares (Equity Incentives)

 

See “Management — Compensation of Our Directors and Executives — Warrant Plans” for a description of securities granted by our board of directors to our directors, members of the executive management team, employees and other service providers.

 

Listing

 

Our ADSs are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “MDXH.” Our ordinary shares are listed on Euronext Brussels under the symbol “MDXH.BR.” 

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for the ADSs is The Bank of New York Mellon.

 

II. AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES

 

Dividends and Distributions

 

The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary, registers and delivers American Depositary Shares, or ADSs. Each ADS represents ten ordinary shares (or a right to receive ten ordinary shares) deposited with ING Belgium SA/NV as custodian for the depositary in Belgium. Each ADS may also represent any other securities, cash or other property that may be held by the depositary. The deposited ordinary shares together with any other securities, cash or other property held by the depositary are referred to as the deposited securities. The depositary’s office at which the ADSs are administered and its principal executive office are located at 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286.

 

You may hold ADSs either (A) directly (i) by having an American Depositary Receipt, or an ADR, which is a certificate evidencing a specific number of ADSs, registered in your name, or (ii) by having uncertificated ADSs registered in your name, or (B) indirectly by holding a security entitlement in ADSs through your broker or other financial institution that is a direct or indirect participant in The Depository Trust Company, or DTC. If you hold ADSs directly, you are a registered ADS holder, or an ADS holder. This description assumes you are an ADS holder. If you hold the ADSs indirectly, you must rely on the procedures of your broker or other financial institution to assert the rights of ADS holders described in this section. You should consult with your broker or financial institution to find out what those procedures are.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Ordinary Shares.    The depositary may distribute additional ADSs representing any ordinary shares we distribute as a dividend or free distribution.

 

The depositary will only distribute whole ADSs. It will sell ordinary shares which would require it to deliver a fraction of an ADS (or ADSs representing those ordinary shares) and distribute the net proceeds in the same way as it does with cash. If the depositary does not distribute additional ADSs, the outstanding ADSs will also represent the new ordinary shares. The depositary may sell a portion of the distributed ordinary shares (or ADSs representing those ordinary shares) sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in connection with that distribution.

 

Rights to purchase additional ordinary shares. If we offer holders of our securities any rights to subscribe for additional ordinary shares or any other rights, the depositary may (i) exercise those rights on behalf of ADS holders, (ii) distribute those rights to ADS holders or (iii) sell those rights and distribute the net proceeds to ADS holders, in each case after deduction or upon payment of its fees and expenses. To the extent the depositary does not do any of those things, it will allow the rights to lapse. In that case, you will receive no value for them. The depositary will exercise or distribute rights only if we ask it to and provide satisfactory assurances to the depositary that it is legal to do so. If the depositary will exercise rights, it will purchase the securities to which the rights relate and distribute those securities or, in the case of ordinary shares, new ADSs representing the new ordinary shares, to subscribing ADS holders, but only if ADS holders have paid the exercise price to the depositary. U.S. securities laws may restrict the ability of the depositary to distribute rights or ADSs or other securities issued on exercise of rights to all or certain ADS holders, and the securities distributed may be subject to restrictions on transfer.

 

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

 

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

 

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Deposit, Withdrawal and Cancellation

 

How are ADSs issued?

 

The depositary will deliver ADSs if you or your broker deposits ordinary shares or evidence of rights to receive ordinary shares with the custodian.

 

Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees, the depositary will register the appropriate number of ADSs in the names you request and will deliver the ADSs to or upon the order of the person or persons that made the deposit.

 

How can ADS holders withdraw the deposited securities?

 

You may surrender your ADSs to the depositary for the purpose of withdrawal. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees, the depositary will deliver the ordinary shares and any other deposited securities underlying the ADSs to the ADS holder or a person the ADS holder designates at the office of the custodian. Or, at your request, risk and expense, the depositary will deliver the deposited securities at its office, if feasible. However, the depositary is not required to accept surrender of ADSs to the extent it would require delivery of a fraction of a deposited ordinary share or other security. The depositary may charge you a fee and its expenses for instructing the custodian regarding delivery of deposited securities.

 

As long as the ordinary shares underlying the ADSs have not yet been admitted to listing and trading on Euronext Brussels, the relevant ADSs can only be cancelled and withdrawn and exchanged into ordinary shares in registered form that are not yet admitted to listing and trading on Euronext Brussels. We committed to use best efforts to have the ordinary shares underlying the ADSs listed as soon as practicably possible on Euronext Brussels after their issuance.

 

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

 

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

 

Voting Rights

 

How do you vote?

 

ADS holders may instruct the depositary how to vote the number of deposited ordinary shares their ADSs represent. If we request the depositary to solicit your voting instructions (and we are not required to do so), the depositary will notify you of a shareholders’ meeting and send or make voting materials available to you. Those materials will describe the matters to be voted on and explain how ADS holders may instruct the depositary how to vote. For instructions to be valid, they must reach the depositary by a date set by the depositary. The depositary will try, as far as practical, subject to the laws of Belgium and the provisions of our articles of association or similar documents, to vote or to have its agents vote the ordinary shares or other deposited securities as instructed by ADS holders. If we do not request the depositary to solicit your voting instructions, you can still send voting instructions, and, in that case, the depositary may try to vote as you instruct, but it is not required to do so.

 

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Except by instructing the depositary as described above, you won’t be able to exercise voting rights unless you surrender your ADSs and withdraw the shares. However, you may not know about the meeting enough in advance to withdraw the shares. In any event, the depositary will not exercise any discretion in voting deposited securities and it will only vote or attempt to vote as instructed.

 

We cannot assure you that you will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that you can instruct the depositary to vote your ordinary shares.

 

In addition, the depositary and its agents are not responsible for failing to carry out voting instructions or for the manner of carrying out voting instructions. This means that you may not be able to exercise voting rights and there may be nothing you can do if your ordinary shares are not voted as you requested.

 

In order to give you a reasonable opportunity to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of voting rights relating to deposited securities, if we request the Depositary to act, we agree to give the depositary notice of any such meeting and details concerning the matters to be voted upon at least 30 days in advance of the meeting date.

 

Fees and Expenses

 

Persons depositing or withdrawing ordinary shares or
ADS holders must pay:
  For:
$5.00 (or less) per 100 ADSs (or portion of 100 ADSs)   Issuance of ADSs, including issuances resulting from a distribution of ordinary shares or rights or other property
    Cancellation of ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal, including if the deposit agreement terminates
       
$.05 (or less) per ADS   Any cash distribution to ADS holders
       
A fee equivalent to the fee that would be payable if securities distributed to you had been ordinary shares and the ordinary shares had been deposited for issuance of ADSs   Distribution of securities distributed to holders of deposited securities (including rights) that are distributed by the depositary to ADS holders
       
$.05 (or less) per ADS per calendar year   Depositary services
       
Registration or transfer fees   Transfer and registration of ordinary shares on our share register to or from the name of the depositary or its agent when you deposit or withdraw ordinary shares
       
Expenses of the depositary   Cable (including SWIFT) and facsimile transmissions (when expressly provided in the deposit agreement)
       
    Converting foreign currency to U.S. dollars
       
Taxes and other governmental charges the depositary or the custodian has to pay on any ADSs or ordinary shares underlying ADSs, such as stock transfer taxes, stamp duty or withholding taxes   As necessary
       
Any charges incurred by the depositary or its agents for servicing the deposited securities   As necessary

  

The depositary collects its fees for delivery and surrender 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 may collect any of its fees by deduction from any cash distribution payable (or by selling a portion of securities or other property distributable) to ADS holders that are obligated to pay those fees. The depositary may generally refuse to provide fee attracting services until its fees for those services are paid.

 

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From time to time, the depositary may make payments to us to reimburse us for costs and expenses generally arising out of establishment and maintenance of the ADS program, waive fees and expenses for services provided to us by the depositary or share revenue from the fees collected from ADS holders. In performing its duties under the deposit agreement, the depositary may use brokers, dealers, foreign currency dealers or other service providers that are owned by or affiliated with the depositary and that may earn or share fees, spreads or commissions.

 

The depositary may convert currency itself or through any of its affiliates, or the custodian or we may convert currency and pay U.S. dollars to the depositary. Where the depositary converts currency itself or through any of its affiliates, the depositary acts as principal for its own account and not as agent, advisor, broker or fiduciary on behalf of any other person and earns revenue, including, without limitation, transaction spreads, that it will retain for its own account. The revenue is based on, among other things, the difference between the exchange rate assigned to the currency conversion made under the deposit agreement and the rate that the depositary or its affiliate receives when buying or selling foreign currency for its own account. The depositary makes no representation that the exchange rate used or obtained by it or its affiliate in any currency conversion under the deposit agreement will be the most favorable rate that could be obtained at the time or that the method by which that rate will be determined will be the most favorable to ADS holders, subject to the depositary’s obligation to act without negligence or bad faith. The methodology used to determine exchange rates used in currency conversions made by the depositary is available upon request. Where the custodian converts currency, the custodian has no obligation to obtain the most favorable rate that could be obtained at the time or to ensure that the method by which that rate will be determined will be the most favorable to ADS holders, and the depositary makes no representation that the rate is the most favorable rate and will not be liable for any direct or indirect losses associated with the rate. In certain instances, the depositary may receive dividends or other distributions from us in U.S. dollars that represent the proceeds of a conversion of foreign currency or translation from foreign currency at a rate that was obtained or determined by us and, in such cases, the depositary will not engage in, or be responsible for, any foreign currency transactions and neither it nor we make any representation that the rate obtained or determined by us is the most favorable rate and neither it nor we will be liable for any direct or indirect losses associated with the rate.

 

Payment of Taxes

 

You will be responsible for any taxes or other governmental charges payable on your ADSs or on the deposited securities represented by any of your ADSs. The depositary may refuse to register any transfer of your ADSs or allow you to withdraw the deposited securities represented by your ADSs until those taxes or other charges are paid. It may apply payments owed to you or sell deposited securities represented by your ADSs to pay any taxes owed and you will remain liable for any deficiency. If the depositary sells deposited securities, it will, if appropriate, reduce the number of ADSs to reflect the sale and pay to ADS holders any proceeds, or send to ADS holders any property, remaining after it has paid the taxes.

 

Tender and Exchange Offers; Redemption, Replacement or Cancellation of Deposited Securities

 

The depositary will not tender deposited securities in any voluntary tender or exchange offer unless instructed to do so by an ADS holder surrendering ADSs and subject to any conditions or procedures the depositary may establish.

 

If deposited securities are redeemed for cash in a transaction that is mandatory for the depositary as a holder of deposited securities, the depositary will call for surrender of a corresponding number of ADSs and distribute the net redemption money to the holders of called ADSs upon surrender of those ADSs.

 

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If there is any change in the deposited securities such as a sub-division, combination or other reclassification, or any merger, consolidation, recapitalization or reorganization affecting the issuer of deposited securities in which the depositary receives new securities in exchange for or in lieu of the old deposited securities, the depositary will hold those replacement securities as deposited securities under the deposit agreement.

 

However, if the depositary decides it would not be lawful and practical to hold the replacement securities because those securities could not be distributed to ADS holders or for any other reason, the depositary may instead sell the replacement securities and distribute the net proceeds upon surrender of the ADSs.

 

If there is a replacement of the deposited securities and the depositary will continue to hold the replacement securities, the depositary may distribute new ADSs representing the new deposited securities or ask you to surrender your outstanding ADSs in exchange for new ADSs identifying the new deposited securities.

 

If there are no deposited securities underlying ADSs, including if the deposited securities are cancelled, or if the deposited securities underlying ADSs have become apparently worthless, the depositary may call for surrender of those ADSs or cancel those ADSs upon notice to the ADS holders.

 

Amendment and Termination

 

How may the deposit agreement be amended?

 

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

 

How may the deposit agreement be terminated?

 

The depositary will initiate termination of the deposit agreement if we instruct it to do so. The depositary may initiate termination of the deposit agreement if

 

  60 days have passed since the depositary told us it wants to resign but a successor depositary has not been appointed and accepted its appointment;
     
  we delist the ADSs from an exchange in the United States on which they were listed and do not list the ADSs on another exchange in the United States or make arrangements for trading of ADSs on the U.S. over-the-counter market;
     
  we delist our ordinary shares from an exchange outside the United States on which they were listed and do not list the ordinary shares on another exchange outside the United States;
     
  the depositary has reason to believe the ADSs have become, or will become, ineligible for registration on Form F-6 under the Securities Act of 1933;
     
  we appear to be insolvent or enter insolvency proceedings;
     
  all or substantially all the value of the deposited securities has been distributed either in cash or in the form of securities;
     
  there are no deposited securities underlying the ADSs or the underlying deposited securities have become apparently worthless; or
     
  there has been a replacement of deposited securities.

 

If the deposit agreement will terminate, the depositary will notify ADS holders at least 90 days before the termination date. At any time after the termination date, the depositary may sell the deposited securities. After that, the depositary will hold the money it received on the sale, as well as any other cash it is holding under the deposit agreement, unsegregated and without liability for interest, for the pro rata benefit of the ADS holders that have not surrendered their ADSs. Normally, the depositary will sell as soon as practicable after the termination date.

 

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After the termination date and before the depositary sells, ADS holders can still surrender their ADSs and receive delivery of deposited securities, except that the depositary may refuse to accept a surrender for the purpose of withdrawing deposited securities or reverse previously accepted surrenders of that kind that have not settled if it would interfere with the selling process. The depositary may refuse to accept a surrender for the purpose of withdrawing sale proceeds until all the deposited securities have been sold. The depositary will continue to collect distributions on deposited securities, but, after the termination date, the depositary is not required to register any transfer of ADSs or distribute any dividends or other distributions on deposited securities to the ADSs holder (until they surrender their ADSs) or give any notices or perform any other duties under the deposit agreement except as described in this paragraph.

 

Limitations on Obligations and Liability

 

Limits on our Obligations and the Obligations of the Depositary; Limits on Liability to Holders of ADSs

 

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

 

  are only obligated to take the actions specifically set forth in the deposit agreement without negligence or bad faith, and the depositary will not be a fiduciary or have any fiduciary duty to holders of ADSs;
     
  are not liable if we are or it is prevented or delayed by law or by events or circumstances beyond our or its ability to prevent or counteract with reasonable care or effort from performing our or its obligations under the deposit agreement;
     
  are not liable if we exercise or it exercises discretion permitted under the deposit agreement;
     
  are not liable for the inability of any holder of ADSs to benefit from any distribution on deposited securities that is not made available to holders of ADSs under the terms of the deposit agreement, or for any special, consequential or punitive damages for any breach of the terms of the deposit agreement;
     
  have no obligation to become involved in a lawsuit or other proceeding related to the ADSs or the deposit agreement on your behalf or on behalf of any other person;
     
  may rely upon any documents we believe or it believes in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person;
     
  are not liable for the acts or omissions of any securities depository, clearing agency or settlement system; and
     
  the depositary has no duty to make any determination or provide any information as to our tax status, or any liability for any tax consequences that may be incurred by ADS holders as a result of owning or holding ADSs or be liable for the inability or failure of an ADS holder to obtain the benefit of a foreign tax credit, reduced rate of withholding or refund of amounts withheld in respect of tax or any other tax benefit.

 

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

 

Requirements for Depositary Actions

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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Right to Receive the Ordinary Shares Underlying your ADSs

 

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

 

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

 

when you owe money to pay fees, taxes and similar charges; or

 

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

 

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

 

As long as the ordinary shares underlying the ADSs have not yet been admitted to listing and trading on Euronext Brussels, the relevant ADSs can only be cancelled and withdrawn and exchanged into ordinary shares in registered form that are not yet admitted to listing and trading on Euronext Brussels. We committed to use best efforts to have the ordinary shares underlying the ADSs listed as soon as practicably possible on Euronext Brussels after their issuance.

 

Direct Registration System

 

In the deposit agreement, all parties to the deposit agreement acknowledge that the Direct Registration System, also referred to as DRS, and Profile Modification System, also referred to as Profile, applies to the ADSs. DRS is a system administered by DTC that facilitates interchange between registered holding of uncertificated ADSs and holding of security entitlements in ADSs through DTC and a DTC participant. Profile is a feature of DRS that allows a DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf of a registered holder of uncertificated ADSs, to direct the depositary to register a transfer of those ADSs to DTC or its nominee and to deliver those ADSs to the DTC account of that DTC participant without receipt by the depositary of prior authorization from the ADS holder to register that transfer.

 

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

 

Shareholder Communications; Inspection of Register of Holders of ADSs

 

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

 

Jury Trial Waiver

 

The deposit agreement provides that, to the extent permitted by law, ADS holders waive the right to a jury trial of any claim they may have against us or the depositary arising out of or relating to our ordinary shares, the ADSs or the deposit agreement, including any claim under the U.S. federal securities laws. If we or the depositary opposed a jury trial demand based on the waiver, the court would determine whether the waiver was enforceable in the facts and circumstances of that case in accordance with applicable case law.

 

You will not, by agreeing to the terms of the deposit agreement, be deemed to have waived our or the depositary’s compliance with U.S. federal securities laws and the rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

 

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