EX-1.2 3 a2105049zex-1_2.htm EX-1.2
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Exhibit 1.2
Company Number: 2298887


THE COMPANIES ACT 1985

PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

Adopted on 18 April 2000 and
amended by special resolution on 5 November 2002

of

BOOKHAM TECHNOLOGY PLC

PRELIMINARY

1. Table A not to apply

 

The regulations in Table A in the Companies (Tables A to F) Regulations 1985 shall not apply to the Company.

2.

Interpretation

 

In these Articles (if not inconsistent with the subject or the context) the words and expressions set out in the first column below shall bear the meanings set opposite to them respectively:

 

the
"Act"

 

The Companies Act 1985

 

"ADSs"

 

American Depositary Shares, each representing 1 share.

 

"Approved Depositary"

 

A custodian or other person (or a nominee for such custodian or other person) appointed under contractual arrangements with the Company or other arrangements approved by the board whereby such custodian or other person or nominee holds or is interested in shares of the Company or rights or interests in shares of the Company and issues securities or other documents of title or otherwise evidencing the entitlement of the holder thereof to or to receive such shares, rights or interests, provided and to the extent that such arrangements have been approved by the board for the purposes of these presents and shall include, where approved by the such) of any employees' share scheme established board, the trustees (acting in their capacity as by the Company or any other scheme or arrangements principally for the benefit of employees of the Company and/or its subsidiaries which have been approved by the Company in general meeting.

 

"these Articles"

 

These Articles of Association as from time to time altered.

 

the
"CREST Regulations"

 

The Uncertificated Securities Regulations 1995.

 

 

 

 

 

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the
"Group"

 

The Company, its subsidiary undertakings and any other body corporate, legal entity, partnership or unincorporated joint venture in which the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings holds a participating interest.

 

"in writing"

 

Written or produced by any substitute for writing or partly one and partly another.

 

the
"London Stock Exchange"

 

London Stock Exchange Limited.

 

"month"

 

Calendar month.

 

"NASD"

 

The National Association of Securities Dealers Inc.

 

"NASDAQ"

 

The National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System operated by the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.

 

"Nortel"

 

Nortel Networks Corporation.

 

"Nortel Group"

 

means Nortel and: (i) any subsidiary undertaking of Nortel from time to time; or (ii) any other person of which Nortel from time to time is able to exercise management control or is otherwise interested from time to time other than the Company or any other member of the Group, and
"Nortel Group Member" shall be construed—accordingly.

 

"Office"

 

The registered office of the Company for the time being.

 

"Operator"

 

CRESTCo Limited or such other person as may for the time being be approved by H.M. Treasury as Operator under the CREST Regulations.

 

"Operator-instruction"

 

A properly authenticated dematerialised instruction attributable to the Operator.

 

"paid"

 

Paid or credited as paid.

 

"participating security"

 

A security title to units of which is permitted by the Operator to be transferred by means of a relevant system.

 

"relevant system"

 

A computer-based system, and procedures, which enable title to units of a security to be evidenced and transferred without a written instrument pursuant to the CREST Regulations.

 

"Seal"

 

The Common Seal of the Company.

 

"Securities Seal"

 

An official seal kept by the Company by virtue of Section 40 of the Act.

 

the
"Statutes"

 

The Act, the CREST Regulations and every other statute for the time being in force concerning companies and affecting the Company.

 

 

 

 

 

2



 

"Transfer Office"

 

The place where the Register is situate for the time being.

 

the
"United Kingdom"

 

Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

 

"year"

 

Calendar year.

 

The expressions "
debenture" and "debenture holder" shall respectively include "debenture stock" and "debenture stockholder".

 

The expressions "
recognised clearing house" and "recognised investment exchange" shall mean any clearing house or investment exchange (as the case may be) granted recognition under the Financial Service Act 1986.

 

The expression "
Secretary" shall include any person appointed by the Directors to perform any of the duties of the Company Secretary including, but not limited to, a joint, assistant or deputy Company Secretary.

 

The expression "
parent undertaking", "subsidiary undertaking" and "participating interest" bear the same respective meanings as defined by the Companies Act 1985.

 

The expression "
officer" shall include a Director, manager and the Secretary, but shall not include an external auditor.

 

The expression "
shareholders' meeting" shall include both a general meeting and a meeting of the holders of any class of shares of the Company.

 

The expression "
electronic mail" shall include any electronic transmission in any form through any medium (including, without limitation, publication on the internet).

 

All such of the provisions of these Articles as are applicable to paid-up shares shall apply to stock, and the words "
share" and "shareholder" shall be construed accordingly.

 

Words denoting the singular shall include the plural and vice versa. Words denoting one gender shall include each other gender. Words denoting persons shall include bodies corporate and unincorporated associations.

 

References to any statute or statutory provision shall be construed as relating to any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force (whether coming into force before or after the adoption of these Articles).

 

Subject as aforesaid any words or expressions defined in the Act or the CREST Regulations shall (if not inconsistent with the subject or context) bear the same meanings in these Articles.

 

A Special or Extraordinary Resolution shall be effective for any purpose for which an Ordinary Resolution is expressed to be required under any provision of these Articles.

 

References to a share (or to a holding of shares) being in certificated or uncertificated form are references, respectively, to that share being a certificated or an uncertificated unit of a security for the purposes of the CREST Regulations.


SHARE CAPITAL

3. Amount of share capital    

 

The share capital of the Company at the date of the adoption of these Articles is £535,000 divided into 160,500,000 Ordinary Shares of 1/3p each.

 

 

 

 

 

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4.

Increase of share capital

 

The Company may from time to time by Ordinary Resolution increase its capital by such sum to be divided into shares of such amounts as the resolution shall prescribe. All new shares shall be subject to the provisions of the Statutes and of these Articles with reference to allotment, payment of calls, lien, transfer, transmission, forfeiture and otherwise.

5.

Consolidation, subdivision and cancellation

5.1

The Company may by Ordinary Resolution:

 

(a)

consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into shares of larger amount than its existing shares;

 

(b)

cancel any shares which, at the date of the passing of the resolution, have not been taken, or agreed to be taken, by any person and diminish the amount of its capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled;

 

(c)

subdivide its shares, or any of them, into shares of smaller amount than is fixed by the Memorandum of Association (subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the Statutes), and so that the resolution whereby any share is subdivided may determine that, as between the holders of the shares resulting from such subdivision, one or more of the shares may, as compared with the others, have any such preferred, deferred or other special rights, or be subject to any such restrictions, as the Company has power to attach to unissued or new shares.

5.2

Whenever as a result of a consolidation or subdivision of shares any members would become entitled to fractions of a share, the Directors may, on behalf of those members, sell the shares representing the fractions for the best price reasonably obtainable to any person (including, subject to the provisions of the Act, the Company) and distribute the net proceeds of sale in due proportion among those members, and the Directors may authorise some person to transfer the shares to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The transferee shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money nor shall his title to the shares be affected by any irregularity in or invalidity of the proceedings in reference to the sale. So far as the Statutes allow, the Directors may treat shares of a member in certificated form and in uncertificated form as separate holdings in giving effect to subdivisions and/or consolidations and may cause any shares arising on consolidation or subdivision and representing fractional entitlements to be entered in the Register as shares in certificated form where this is desirable to facilitate the sale thereof.

6.

Purchase of own shares

 

 

 

Subject to the provisions of the Statutes, the Company may purchase, or may enter into a contract under which it will or may purchase, any of its own shares of any class (including any redeemable shares) but so that if there shall be in issue any shares convertible into equity share capital of the Company of the class proposed to be purchased, then the Company shall not purchase, or enter into a contract under which it will or may purchase, such equity shares unless either:

 

(a)

the terms of issue of such convertible shares include provisions permitting the Company to purchase its own equity shares or providing for adjustment to the conversion terms upon such a purchase; or

 

(b)

the purchase, or the contract, has first been approved by an Extraordinary Resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of such convertible shares.

 

 

 

 

 

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7.

Reduction of capital

 

 

 

Subject to the provisions of the Act, the Company may by Special Resolution reduce its share capital or any capital redemption reserve, share premium account or other undistributable reserve in any way.


SHARES

8. Rights attaching to shares on issue

 

Without prejudice to any special rights previously conferred on the holders of any shares or class of shares for the time being issued, any share in the Company may be issued with such preferred, deferred or other special rights, or subject to such restrictions, whether as regards dividend, return of capital, voting or otherwise, as the Company may from time to time by Ordinary Resolution determine (or, in the absence of any such determination, as the Directors may determine) and subject to the provisions of the Statutes the Company may issue any shares which are, or at the option of the Company or the holder are liable, to be redeemed.

9.

Directors' power to allot

 

Subject to the provisions of the Statutes relating to authority, pre-emption rights and otherwise and of any resolution of the Company in General Meeting passed pursuant thereto, all unissued shares shall be at the disposal of the Directors and they may allot (with or without conferring a right of renunciation), grant options over or otherwise dispose of them to such persons, at such times and on such terms as they think proper.

10.

Commissions on issue of shares

 

The Company may exercise the powers of paying commissions conferred by the Statutes to the full extent thereby permitted. The Company may also on any issue of shares pay such brokerage as may be lawful.

11.

Renunciation of allotment

 

The Directors may at any time after the allotment of any share but before any person has been entered in the Register as the holder:

 

(a)

recognise a renunciation thereof by the allottee in favour of some other person and accord to any allottee of a share a right to effect such renunciation; and/or

 

(b)

allow the rights represented thereby to be one or more participating securities;

 

in each case upon and subject to such terms and conditions as the Directors may think fit to impose.

12.

Trust etc. interests not recognised

 

Except as required by law, no person shall be recognised by the Company as holding any share upon any trust, and the Company shall not be bound by or compelled in any way to recognise any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any share, or any interest in any fractional part of a share, or (except only as by these Articles or by law otherwise provided) any other right in respect of any share, except an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the holder.

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SHARE CERTIFICATES

13. Issue of share certificates

 

Every person (except a person to whom the Company is not required by law to issue a certificate) whose name is entered in the Register in respect of shares in certificated form shall upon the issue or transfer to him of such shares be entitled without payment to a certificate therefor (in the case of issue) within one month (or such longer period as the terms of issue shall provide) after allotment or (in the case of a transfer of fully-paid shares) within five business days after lodgement of the transfer or (in the case of a transfer of partly-paid shares) within two months after lodgement of the transfer.

14.

Form of share certificate

 

Every share certificate shall be executed by the Company in such manner as the Directors may decide (which may include use of the Seal or the Securities Seal (or, in the case of shares on a branch register, an official seal for use in the relevant territory) and/or manual or facsimile signatures by one or more Directors) and shall specify the number and class of shares to which it relates and the amount paid up thereon. No certificate shall be issued representing shares of more than one class.

15.

Joint holders

 

In the case of a share held jointly by several persons in certificated form the Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate therefor and delivery of a certificate to one of the joint holders shall be sufficient delivery to all.

16.

Replacement of share certificates

16.1

Any two or more certificates representing shares of any one class held by any member may at his request be cancelled and a single new certificate for such shares issued in lieu without charge.

16.2

If any member shall surrender for cancellation a share certificate representing shares held by him and request the Company to issue in lieu two or more share certificates representing such shares in such proportions as he may specify, the Directors may, if they think fit, comply with such request.

16.3

If a share certificate shall be damaged or defaced or alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, a new certificate representing the same shares may be issued to the holder upon request subject to delivery up of the old certificate or (if alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed) compliance with such conditions as to evidence and indemnity and the payment of any exceptional out-of-pocket expenses of the Company in connection with the request as the Directors may think fit.

16.4

In the case of shares held jointly by several persons any such request may be made by any one of the joint holders.

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CALLS ON SHARES

17. Power to make calls

 

The Directors may from time to time make calls upon the members in respect of any moneys unpaid on their shares (whether on account of the nominal value of the shares or, when permitted, by way of premium) but subject always to the terms of allotment of such shares. A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the Directors authorising the call was passed and may be made payable by instalments.

18.

Liability for calls

 

Each member shall (subject to receiving at least 14 days' notice specifying the time or times and place of payment) pay to the Company at the time or times and place so specified the amount called on his shares. The joint holders of a share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect thereof. A call may be wholly or partly revoked or postponed as the Directors may determine.

19.

Interest on overdue amounts

 

If a sum called in respect of a share is not paid before or on the day appointed for payment thereof, the person from whom the sum is due shall pay interest on the sum from the day appointed for payment thereof to the time of actual payment at such rate (not exceeding 15 per cent per annum) as the Directors determine but the Directors shall be at liberty in any case or cases to waive payment of such interest wholly or in part.

20.

Other sums due on shares

 

Any sum (whether on account of the nominal value of the share or by way of premium) which by the terms of allotment of a share becomes payable upon allotment or at any fixed date shall for all the purposes of these Articles be deemed to be a call duly made and payable on the date on which by the terms of allotment the same becomes payable. In case of non-payment all the relevant provisions of these Articles as to payment of interest and expenses, forfeiture or otherwise shall apply as if such sum had become payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified.

21.

Power to differentiate between holders

 

The Directors may on the allotment of shares differentiate between the holders as to the amount of calls to be paid and the times of payment.

22.

Payment of calls in advance

 

The Directors may if they think fit receive from any member willing to advance the same all or any part of the moneys (whether on account of the nominal value of the shares or by way of premium) uncalled and unpaid upon the shares held by him and such payment in advance of calls shall extinguish pro tanto the liability upon the shares in respect of which it is made and upon the money so received (until and to the extent that the same would but for such advance become payable) the Company may pay interest at such rate as the member paying such sum and the Directors may agree.

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FORFEITURE AND LIEN

23. Notice on failure to pay a call

23.1

If a member fails to pay in full any call or instalment of a call on or before the due date for payment thereof, the Directors may at any time thereafter serve a notice on him requiring payment of so much of the call or instalment as is unpaid together with any interest which may have accrued thereon and any expenses incurred by the Company by reason of such non-payment.

23.2

The notice shall name a further day (not being less than seven days from the date of service of the notice) on or before which and the place where the payment required by the notice is to be made, and shall state that in the event of non-payment in accordance therewith the shares on which the call has been made will be liable to be forfeited.

24.

Forfeiture for non-compliance

 

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

25.

Disposal of forfeited shares

 

A share so forfeited or surrendered shall become the property of the Company and may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of either to the person who was before such forfeiture or surrender the holder thereof or entitled thereto or any other person upon such terms and in such manner as the Directors shall think fit and at any time before a sale, re-allotment or disposal the forfeiture or surrender may be cancelled on such terms as the Directors think fit. The Directors may, if necessary, authorise some person to transfer a forfeited or surrendered share to any such other person as aforesaid.

26.

Holder to remain liable despite forfeiture

 

A member whose shares have been forfeited or surrendered shall cease to be a member in respect of the shares (and shall, in the case of shares held in certificated form, surrender to the Company for cancellation the certificate for such shares) but shall notwithstanding the forfeiture or surrender remain liable to pay to the Company all moneys which at the date of forfeiture or surrender were presently payable by him to the Company in respect of the shares with interest thereon at 15 per cent per annum (or such lower rate as the Directors may determine) from the date of forfeiture or surrender until payment and the Directors may at their absolute discretion enforce payment without any allowance for the value of the shares at the time of forfeiture or surrender or for any consideration received on their disposal or waive payment in whole or in part.

27.

Lien on partly-paid shares

 

The Company shall have a first and paramount lien on every share (not being a fully-paid share) for all moneys (whether presently payable or not) called or payable at a fixed time in respect of such share and the Directors may waive any lien which has arisen and may resolve that any share shall for some limited period be exempt wholly or partially from the provisions of this Article.

 

 

 

 

 

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28.

Sale of shares subject to lien

 

The Company may sell in such manner as the Directors think fit any share on which the Company has a lien, but no sale shall be made unless some sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable nor until the expiration of 14 days after a notice in writing demanding payment of the sum presently payable and giving notice of intention to sell the share in default of payment shall have been given to the holder for the time being of the share or the person entitled thereto by reason of his death or bankruptcy or otherwise by operation of law.

29.

Proceeds of sale of shares subject to lien

 

The net proceeds of such sale after payment of the costs of such sale shall be applied in or towards payment or satisfaction of the amount in respect whereof the lien exists so far as the same is then payable and any residue shall, upon surrender (in the case of shares held in certificated form) to the Company for cancellation of the certificate for the shares sold and subject to a like lien for sums not presently payable as existed upon the shares prior to the sale, be paid to the person entitled to the shares at the time of the sale. For the purpose of giving effect to any such sale the Directors may authorise some person to transfer the shares sold to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser.

30.

Evidence of forfeiture

 

A statutory declaration in writing that the declarant is a Director or the Secretary and that a share has been duly forfeited or surrendered or sold to satisfy a lien of the Company on a date stated in the declaration shall be conclusive evidence of the facts therein stated as against all persons claiming to be entitled to the share. Such declaration shall (subject to the relevant share transfer being made, if the same be required) constitute a good title to the share and the person to whom the share is sold, re-allotted or disposed of shall not be bound to see to the application of the consideration (if any) nor shall his title to the share be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings relating to the forfeiture, surrender, sale, re-allotment or disposal of the share.


VARIATION OF RIGHTS

31. Manner of variation of rights

31.1

Whenever the share capital of the Company is divided into different classes of shares, the special rights attached to any class may, subject to the provisions of the Statutes, be varied or abrogated either with the consent in writing of the holders of three-quarters in nominal value of the issued shares of the class or with the sanction of an Extraordinary Resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the share of the class (but not otherwise) and may be so varied or abrogated either whilst the Company is a going concern or during or in contemplation of a winding-up.

31.2

To every such separate meeting all the provisions of these Articles relating to General Meetings and to the proceedings thereat shall mutatis mutandis apply, except that the necessary quorum shall be two persons at least holding or representing by proxy at least one third in nominal value of the issued shares of the class (but so that at any adjourned meeting any holder of shares of the class present in person or by proxy shall be a quorum) and that any holder of shares of the class present in person or by proxy may demand a poll and that every such holder shall on a poll have one vote for every share of the class held by him.

31.3

The foregoing provisions of this Article shall apply to the variation or abrogation of the special rights attached to some only of the shares of any class as if each group of shares of the class differently treated formed a separate class the special rights whereof are to be varied.

 

 

 

 

 

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32.

Matters not constituting variation of rights

 

The special rights attached to any class of shares having preferential rights shall not unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue thereof be deemed to be varied by (a) the creation or issue of further shares ranking as regards participation in the profits or assets of the Company in some or all respects
pari passu therewith but in no respect in priority thereto or (b) the purchase by the Company of any of its own shares.


TRANSFER OF SHARES

33. Form of transfer

33.1

All transfers of shares which are in certificated form may be effected by transfer in writing in any usual or common form or in any other form acceptable to the Directors and may be under hand only. The instrument of transfer shall be signed by or on behalf of the transferor and (except in the case of fully-paid shares) by or on behalf of the transferee. The transferor shall remain the holder of the shares concerned until the name of the transferee is entered in the Register in respect thereof. All instruments of transfer which are registered may be retained by the Company.

33.2

All transfers of shares which are in uncertificated form may be effected by means of a relevant system.

34.

Balance certificate

 

Where some only of the shares comprised in a share certificate are transferred the old certificate shall be cancelled and, to the extent that the balance is to be held in certificated form, a new certificate for the balance of such shares issued in lieu without charge.

35.

Right to refuse registration

35.1

The Directors may decline to recognise any instrument of transfer relating to shares in certificated form unless it is in respect of only one class of share and is lodged (duly stamped if required) at the Transfer Office accompanied by the relevant share certificate(s) and such other evidence as the Directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer (and, if the instrument of transfer is executed by some other person on his behalf, the authority of that person so to do). In the case of a transfer of shares in certificated form by a recognised clearing house or a nominee of a recognised clearing house or of a recognised investment exchange the lodgement of share certificates will only be necessary if and to the extent that certificates have been issued in respect of the shares in question.

35.2

The Directors may, in the case of shares in certificated form, in their absolute discretion and without assigning any reason therefor refuse to register any transfer of shares (not being fully-paid shares) provided that, where any such shares are admitted to the Official List of the London Stock Exchange, such discretion may not be exercised in such a way as to prevent dealings in the shares of that class from taking place on an open and proper basis.

35.3

The Directors may also refuse to register an allotment or transfer of shares (whether fully-paid or not) in favour of more than four persons jointly.

35.4

If the Directors refuse to register an allotment or transfer of shares they shall within two months after the date on which:

 

(a)

the letter of allotment or instrument of transfer was lodged with the Company (in the case of shares held in certificated form); or

 

 

 

 

 

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(b)

the Operator-instruction was received by the Company (in the case of shares held in uncertificated form);

 

send to the allottee or transferee notice of the refusal.

36.

No fee on registration

 

No fee will be charged by the Company in respect of the registration of any transfer or other document relating to or affecting the title to any shares or otherwise for making any entry in the Register affecting the title to any shares.

37.

Closure of Register

 

The registration of transfers may be suspended at such times and for such periods (not exceeding 30 days in any year) as the Directors may from time to time determine and either generally or in respect of any class of shares, except that, in respect of any shares which are participating securities, the Register shall not be closed without the consent of the Operator.

38.

Branch Register

 

Subject to and to the extent permitted by the Statutes, the Company, or the Directors on behalf of the Company, may cause to be kept in any territory a branch register of members resident in such territory, and the Directors may make and vary such regulations as they may think fit respecting the keeping of any such register.

39.

Further provisions on shares in uncertificated form

39.1

Subject to the Statutes and the rules (as defined in the CREST Regulations), the Directors may determine that any class of shares may be held in uncertificated form and that title to such shares may be transferred by means of a relevant system or that shares of any class should cease to be held and transferred as aforesaid.

39.2

The provisions of these Articles shall not apply to shares of any class which are in uncertificated form to the extent that such Articles are inconsistent with:

 

(a)

the holding of shares of that class in uncertificated form;

 

(b)

the transfer of title to shares of that class by means of a relevant system; or

 

(c)

any provision of the CREST Regulations.


TRANSMISSION OF SHARES

40. Persons entitled on death

 

In case of the death of a member, the survivors or survivor where the deceased was a joint holder, and the executors or administrators of the deceased where he was a sole or only surviving holder, shall be the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to his interest in the shares, but nothing in this Article shall release the estate of a deceased member (whether sole or joint) from any liability in respect of any share held by him.

 

 

 

 

 

11



41.

Election by persons entitled by transmission

 

A person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a member or otherwise by operation of law may (subject as hereinafter provided) upon supplying to the Company such evidence as the Directors may reasonably require to show his title to the share either be registered himself as a holder of the share upon giving to the Company notice in writing to that effect or transfer such share to some other person. All the limitations, restrictions and provisions of these Articles relating to the right to transfer and the registration of transfers of shares shall be applicable to any such notice or transfer as aforesaid as if the notice or transfer were a transfer made by the member registered as the holder of any such share.

42.

Rights of persons entitled by transmission

 

Save as otherwise provided by or in accordance with these Articles, a person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a member or otherwise by operation of law (upon supplying to the Company such evidence as the Directors may reasonably require to show his title to the share) shall be entitled to the same dividends and other advantages as those to which he would be entitled if he were the registered holder of the share except that he shall not be entitled in respect thereof (except with the authority of the Directors) to exercise any right conferred by membership in relation to shareholders' meetings until he shall have been registered as a member in respect of the share.


UNTRACED SHAREHOLDERS

43. Untraced shareholders

43.1

The Company shall be entitled to sell at the best price reasonably obtainable at the time of sale the shares of a member or the shares to which a person is entitled by virtue of transmission on death or bankruptcy or otherwise by operation of law if and provided that:

 

(a)

during the period of 12 years prior to the date of the publication of the advertisements referred to in paragraph 43.1(b) below (or, if published on different dates, the first thereof) at least three dividends in respect of the shares have become payable and no dividend in respect of those shares has been claimed; and

 

(b)

the Company shall on expiry of such period of 12 years have inserted advertisements in both a national newspaper and in a newspaper circulating in the area in which the last known address of the member or the address at which service of notices may be effected under these Articles is located giving notice of its intention to sell the said shares; and

 

(c)

during the period of three months following the publication of such advertisements the Company shall have received no communication from such member or person; and

 

(d)

notice shall have been given to the London Stock Exchange of its intention to make such sale.

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43.2 To give effect to any such sale the Company may appoint any person to transfer, as transferor, the said shares and such transfer shall be as effective as if it had been carried out by the registered holder of or person entitled by transmission to such shares and the title of the transferee shall not be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings relating thereto. The net proceeds of sale shall belong to the Company which shall be obliged to account to the former member or other person previously entitled as aforesaid for an amount equal to such proceeds and shall enter the name of such former member or other person in the books of the Company as a creditor for such amount which shall be a permanent debt of the Company. No trust shall be created in respect of the debt, no interest shall be payable in respect of the same and the Company shall not be required to account for any money earned on the net proceeds, which may be employed in the business of the Company or invested in such investments (other than shares of the Company or its holding company if any) as the Directors may from time to time think fit.

43.3

In the case of shares in uncertificated form, the foregoing provisions of this Article are subject to any restrictions applicable under the CREST Regulations.


GENERAL MEETINGS

44. Annual and Extraordinary General Meetings

 

An Annual General Meeting shall be held once in every year, at such time (within a period of not more than 15 months after the holding of the last preceding Annual General Meeting) and place as may be determined by the Directors. All other General Meetings shall be called Extraordinary General Meetings.

45.

Convening of General Meetings

 

The Directors may whenever they think fit, and shall on requisition in accordance with the Statutes, proceed with proper expedition to convene an Extraordinary General Meeting.


NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS

46. Notice of General Meetings

 

An Annual General Meeting and any Extraordinary General Meeting at which it is proposed to pass a Special Resolution or (save as provided by the Statutes) a resolution of which special notice has been given to the Company, shall be called by 21 days' notice in writing (or in such other form as the Act may allow) at the least and any other Extraordinary General Meeting by 14 days' notice in writing (or in such other form as the Act may allow) at the least. The period of notice shall in each case be exclusive of the day on which it is served or deemed to be served and of the day on which the meeting is to be held and shall be given in manner hereinafter mentioned to all members other than such as are not under the provisions of these Articles entitled to receive such notices from the Company Provided that the Company may determine that only those persons entered on the Register at the close of business on a day determined by the Company, such day being no more than 21 days before the day that notice of the meeting is sent, shall be entitled to receive such a notice and Provided also that a General Meeting notwithstanding that it has been called by a shorter notice than that specified above shall be deemed to have been duly called if it is so agreed:

 

(a)

in the case of an Annual General Meeting by all the members entitled to attend and vote thereat; and

 

 

 

 

 

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(b)

in the case of an Extraordinary General Meeting by a majority in number of the members having a right to attend and vote thereat, being a majority together holding not less than 95 per cent in nominal value of the shares giving that right.

47.

Contents of notice of General Meetings

47.1

Every notice calling a General Meeting shall specify the place and the day and hour of the meeting, and there shall appear with reasonable prominence in every such notice a statement that a member entitled to attend and vote is entitled to appoint a proxy or proxies to attend and, on a poll, vote instead of him and that a proxy need not be a member of the Company.

47.2

The notice shall specify the general nature of the business to be transacted at the meeting; and if any resolution is to be proposed as an Extraordinary Resolution or as a Special Resolution, the notice shall contain a statement to that effect.

47.3

In the case of an Annual General Meeting, the notice shall also specify the meeting as such.

47.4

For the purposes of determining which persons are entitled to attend or vote at a meeting and how many votes such person may cast, the Company may specify in the notice of the meeting a time, not more than 48 hours before the time fixed for the meeting, by which a person must be entered on the Register in order to have the right to attend or vote at the meeting.


PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS

48. Chairman

 

The Chairman of the Directors, failing whom a Deputy Chairman, shall preside as chairman at a General Meeting. If there is no such Chairman or Deputy Chairman, or if at any meeting neither is present within five minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting and willing to act, the Directors present shall choose one of their number (or, if no Director is present or if all the Directors present decline to take the chair, the members present and entitled to vote shall choose one of their number) to be chairman of the meeting.

49.

Quorum

 

No business other than the appointment of a chairman shall be transacted at any General Meeting unless a quorum is present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business. Two members present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall be a quorum for all purposes.

50.

Lack of quorum

 

If within five minutes from the time appointed for a General Meeting (or such longer interval as the chairman of the meeting may think fit to allow) a quorum is not present, or if during the meeting a quorum ceases to be present, the meeting, if convened on the requisition of members, shall be dissolved. In any other case it shall stand adjourned to such day, time and place as may have been specified for the purpose in the notice convening the meeting or (if not so specified) as the chairman of the meeting may determine.

 

 

 

 

 

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51.

Adjournment

 

The chairman of any General Meeting at which a quorum is present may with the consent of the meeting (and shall if so directed by the meeting) adjourn the meeting from time to time (or sine die) and from place to place, but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting except business which might lawfully have been transacted at the meeting from which the adjournment took place. Where a meeting is adjourned sine die, the time and place for the adjourned meeting shall be fixed by the Directors. When a meeting is adjourned for 30 days or more or sine die, not less than seven days' notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given in like manner as in the case of the original meeting.

52.

Notice of adjourned meeting

 

Save as hereinbefore expressly provided, it shall not be necessary to give any notice of an adjournment or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting.

53.

Amendments to resolutions

 

If an amendment shall be proposed to any resolution under consideration but shall in good faith be ruled out of order by the chairman of the meeting the proceedings on the substantive resolution shall not be invalidated by any error in such ruling. In the case of a resolution duly proposed as a Special or Extraordinary Resolution, no amendment thereto (other than a mere clerical amendment to correct a patent error) may in any event be considered or voted upon.


POLLS

54. Demand for poll

54.1

At any General Meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands unless a poll is (before, or on the declaration of the result of, the show of hands) demanded by:

 

(a)

the chairman of the meeting; or

 

(b)

not less than three members present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote; or

 

(c)

a member or members present in person or by proxy and representing not less than one-tenth of the total voting rights of all the members having the right to vote at the meeting; or

 

(d)

a member or members present in person or by proxy and holding shares in the Company conferring a right to vote at the meeting being shares on which an aggregate sum has been paid up equal to not less than one-tenth of the total sum paid up on all the shares conferring that right.

54.2

A demand for a poll may, before the poll is taken, be withdrawn but only with the consent of the chairman. A demand so withdrawn shall not be taken to have invalidated the result of a show of hands declared before the demand was made.

55.

Procedure on a poll

 

A poll shall be taken in such manner (including the use of ballot or voting papers or tickets) as the chairman of the meeting may direct, and the result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded. The chairman of the meeting may (and if so directed by the meeting shall) appoint scrutineers (who need not be members) and may adjourn the meeting to some place and time fixed by him for the purpose of declaring the result of the poll.

 

 

 

 

 

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56.

Voting on a poll

 

On a poll votes may be given either personally or by proxy and a person entitled to more than one vote need not use all his votes or cast all the votes he uses in the same way.

57.

Timing of the poll

 

A poll demanded on the choice of a chairman or on a question of adjournment shall be taken forthwith. A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken either immediately or at such subsequent time (not being more than 30 days from the date of the meeting) and place as the chairman may direct. No notice need be given of a poll not taken immediately. The demand for a poll shall not prevent the continuance of the meeting for the transaction of any business other than the question on which the poll has been demanded.


VOTES OF MEMBERS

58. Votes attaching to shares    

 

Subject to paragraph 47.4 and to any special rights or restrictions as to voting attached by or in accordance with these Articles to any class of shares, on a show of hands every member who is present in person shall have one vote and on a poll every member who is present in person or by proxy shall have one vote for every share of which he is the holder. Each corporate representative appointed in accordance with Article 69 by a company holding shares as nominee for any other person shall be entitled to one vote on a show of hands and on a poll shall have one vote for every share in respect of which he is the corporate representative.

58A

For so long as Nortel or Nortel Group Members or associates individually or collectively, hold more than 5 per cent. or more of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company from time to time, if either Nortel or any Nortel Group Members or associates thereof exercise their voting rights in relation to the Ordinary Shares the Chairman in his absolute discretion shall determine that: (i) on a show of hands such votes shall be counted as having abstained and therefore not counted in determining the result of the vote; or (ii) on a poll such votes shall be counted in the same proportions as the other shareholders voting on the poll shall have voted, regardless of how Nortel or the relevant Nortel Group Member or associates thereof shall have actually exercised their voting rights provided that, notwithstanding the provisions of this article 58A, Nortel, Nortel Group Members or associates thereof who hold Ordinary Shares shall be entitled to vote on any proposed resolution the effect of which would, if passed, be to vary or suspend any rights attaching to the Ordinary Shares it holds or as a result of which the rights attaching to the Ordinary Shares held by such shareholder would become different in any respect from the rights attaching to the Ordinary Shares held by any other shareholder.

59.

Votes of joint holders

 

In the case of joint holders of a share the vote of the senior who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy, shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders and for this purpose seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names stand in the Register in respect of the share.

60.

No casting vote for Chairman

 

In the case of an equality of votes, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, the chairman of the meeting at which the show of hands takes place or at which the poll is demanded shall not be entitled to a casting vote.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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61.

Restriction on voting in particular circumstances

61.1

No member shall, unless the Directors otherwise determine, be entitled in respect of any share held by him to vote either personally or by proxy at a shareholders' meeting or to exercise any other right conferred by membership in relation to shareholders' meetings if any call or other sum presently payable by him to the Company in respect of that share remains unpaid.

61.2

If any member, or any other person appearing to be interested in shares held by such member, has been duly served with a notice under Section 212 of the Act and is in default for a period of 14 days in supplying to the Company the information thereby required, then (unless the Directors otherwise determine) in respect of:

 

(a)

the shares comprising the shareholding account in the Register which comprises or includes the shares in relation to which the default occurred (all or the relevant number as appropriate of such shares being the "default shares", which expression shall include any further shares which are issued in respect of such shares); and

 

(b)

any other shares held by the member;

 

the member shall not (for so long as the default continues) nor shall any transferee to whom any of such shares are transferred (other than pursuant to an approved transfer or pursuant to paragraph 61.3(b) below) be entitled to attend or vote either personally or by proxy at a shareholders' meeting or to exercise any other right conferred by membership in relation to shareholders' meetings.

61.3

Where the default shares represent 0.25 per cent or more of the issued shares of the class in question, the Directors may in their absolute discretion by notice (a "direction notice") to such member direct that:

 

(a)

any dividend or part thereof or other money which would otherwise be payable in respect of the default shares shall be retained by the Company without any liability to pay interest thereon when such dividend or other money is finally paid to the member and the member shall not be entitled to elect to receive shares in lieu of dividend; and/or

 

(b)

no transfer of any of the shares held by such member shall be registered unless the transfer is an approved transfer or:

 

 

(i)

the member is not himself in default as regards supplying the information required; and

 

 

(ii)

the transfer is of part only of the members' holding and, when presented for registration, is accompanied by a certificate by the member in a form satisfactory to the Directors to the effect that after due and careful enquiry the member is satisfied that none of the shares the subject of the transfer are default shares;

 

 

provided that, in the case of shares in uncertificated form, the Directors may only exercise their discretion not to register a transfer if permitted to do so by the CREST Regulations.

 

Any direction notice may treat shares of a member in certificated and uncertificated form as separate holdings and either apply only to the former or to the latter or make different provision for the former and the latter.

 

Upon the giving of a direction notice its terms shall apply accordingly.

61.4

The Company shall send to each other person appearing to be interested in the shares the subject of any direction notice a copy of the notice, but the failure or omission by the Company to do so shall not invalidate such notice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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61.5

Save as herein provided any direction notice shall have effect in accordance with its terms for so long as the default in respect of which the direction notice was issued continues and shall cease to have effect thereafter upon the Directors so determining (such determination to be made within a period of one week of the default being duly remedied with written notice thereof being given forthwith to the member).

61.6

Any direction notice shall cease to have effect in relation to any shares which are transferred by such member by means of an approved transfer or in accordance with paragraph 61.3(b) above.

61.7

(a)

Where any person appearing to be interested in shares has been duly served with a notice under Section 212 of the Act and the shares in which he appears to be interested are held by an Approved Depositary, the provisions of this Article shall be treated as applying only to those shares held by the Approved Depositary in which such person appears to be interested and not (insofar as such person's apparent interest is concerned) to any other shares held by the Approved Depositary.

 

(b)

Where the member on which a notice under Section 212 of the Act is duly served is an Approved Depositary acting in capacity as such, the obligations of the Approved Depositary as a member of the Company shall be limited to disclosing to the Company such information relating to any person appearing to be interested in the shares held by it as has been recorded by it pursuant to the arrangement entered into by the Company or approved by the Directors pursuant to which it was appointed as an Approved Depositary.

61.8

For the purposes of this Article:

 

(a)

a person shall be treated as appearing to be interested in any shares if the member holding such shares has been served with a notice under the said Section 212 and either (i) the member has named such person as being so interested or (ii) (after taking into account the response of the member to the said notice and any other relevant information) the Company knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the person in question is or may be interested in the shares; and

 

(b)

a transfer of shares is an approved transfer if:

 

 

(i)

it is a transfer of shares to an offeror by way or in pursuance of acceptance of a takeover offer (as defined in Section 428 of the Act); or

 

 

(ii)

the Directors are satisfied that the transfer is made pursuant to a
bona fide sale of the whole of the beneficial ownership of the shares to a party unconnected with the member or with any person appearing to be interested in such shares including any such sale made through the London Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange outside the United Kingdom on which the Company's shares are normally traded. For the purposes of this sub-paragraph any associate (as that term is defined in Section 435 of the Insolvency Act 1986) shall be included amongst the persons who are connected with the member or any person appearing to be interested in such shares.

61.9

The provisions of this Article are in addition and without prejudice to the provisions of the Act.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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62.

Voting by guardian

 

Where in England or elsewhere a guardian, receiver or other person (by whatever name called) has been appointed by any court claiming jurisdiction in that behalf to exercise powers with respect to the property or affairs of any member on the ground (however formulated) of mental disorder, the Directors may in their absolute discretion, upon or subject to production of such evidence of the appointment as the Directors may require, permit such guardian, receiver or other person on behalf of such member to vote in person or by proxy at any shareholders' meeting or to exercise any other right conferred by membership in relation to shareholders' meetings.

63.

Validity and result of vote

63.1

No objection shall be raised as to the admissibility of any vote except at the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the vote objected to is or may be given or tendered and every vote not disallowed at such meeting shall be valid for all purposes. Any such objection shall be referred to the chairman of the meeting whose decision shall be final and conclusive.

63.2

Unless a poll is taken a declaration by the chairman of the meeting that a resolution has been carried, or carried unanimously, or by a particular majority, or lost, and an entry to that effect in the minute book, shall be conclusive evidence of that fact without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded for or against such resolution.


PROXIES AND CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVES

64. Proxy need not be a member

 

A proxy need not be a member of the Company.

65.

Form of proxy

 

An instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing in any usual or common form or in any other form which the Directors may approve and:

 

(a)

in the case of an individual shall be signed by the appointor or his attorney; and

 

(b)

in the case of a corporation shall be either given under its common seal or signed on its behalf by an attorney or a duly authorised officer of the corporation.

 

The signature on such instrument need not be witnessed. Where an instrument appointing a proxy is signed on behalf of the appontor by an attorney, the letter or power of attorney or a duly certified copy thereof must (failing previous registration with the Company) be lodged with the instrument of proxy pursuant to the next following Article, failing which the instrument may be treated as invalid.

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66. Deposit of form of proxy

66.1

An instrument appointing a proxy must be left at such place or one of such places (if any) as may be specified for that purpose in or by way of note to or in any document accompanying the notice convening the meeting (or, if no place is so specified, at the Transfer Office) not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the holding of the meeting or adjourned meeting or (in the case of a poll taken otherwise than at or on the same day as the meeting or adjourned meeting) for the taking of the poll at which it is to be used, and in default shall not be treated as valid. The instrument shall, unless the contrary is stated thereon, be valid as well for any adjournment of the meeting as for the meeting to which it relates. An instrument of proxy relating to more than one meeting (including any adjournment thereof) having once been so delivered for the purposes of any meeting shall not require again to be delivered for the purposes of any subsequent meeting to which it relates.

66.2

Subject to the Statutes, the Directors may allow a proxy to be appointed in electronic form or by other data transmission process, subject to any limitations, conditions or restrictions that they decide. Such appointment shall be delivered to the Company in a manner specified by the Directors. If, and to the extent that, they decide to allow appointments to be made in this way, provisions of the Articles which are inconsistent with this method of appointment shall be of no effect in relation to those appointments. The Directors may require any evidence they think appropriate to satisfy themselves that the electronic appointment is genuine. A proxy sent electronically or by some other data transmission process shall be treated as delivered at the time of receipt at the Transfer Office (or at such other place in the United Kingdom as may be specified for the receipt of proxies in the notice convening the meeting or, in either case, in any accompanying document).

67.

Rights of proxy

 

An instrument appointing a proxy shall be deemed to include the right to demand or join in demanding a poll but shall not confer any further right to speak at the meeting, except with the permission of the chairman of the meeting.

68.

Revocation of proxy

 

A vote cast or demand for a poll made by proxy shall not be invalidated by the previous death or insanity of the member or by the revocation of the appointment of the proxy or of the authority under which the appointment was made unless written notice of such death, insanity or revocation shall have been received by the Company at the Transfer Office at least one hour before the commencement of the meeting or adjourned meeting or (in the case of a poll taken otherwise than at or on the same day as the meeting or adjourned meeting) the time appointed for the taking of the poll at which the vote is cast.

69.

Corporations acting by representatives

69.1

Any corporation which is a member of the Company may by resolution of its directors or other governing body authorise such person as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any shareholder's meeting. The person so authorised shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of such corporation as the corporation could exercise if it were an individual member of the Company and such corporation shall for the purposes of these Articles be deemed to be present in person at any such meeting if a person so authorised is present thereat. For such time as any company or corporation holds shares as nominee for any other persons, such company or corporation may appoint any or all of those persons as its corporate representatives and each person so appointed shall be able to act as corporate representative in respect of the number of shares which are held for him as nominee by that company.

 

 

 

 

 

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69.2

The Directors can require evidence of the authority of a representative of a corporation.

69.3

Any vote cast by a representative of a corporation, any demand by him for a poll, shall be valid notwithstanding the fact that he may for any reason no longer be authorised to represent the corporation unless written notice of the fact that he is no longer so authorised has been received by the Company at the Transfer Office by the time specified in Article 68.


DIRECTORS

70. Number of Directors

 

Subject as hereinafter provided the Directors shall not be less than 3 nor more than 15 in number. The Company may by Ordinary Resolution from time to time vary the minimum number and/or maximum number of Directors.

71.

Share qualification

 

A Director shall not be required to hold any shares of the Company by way of qualification. A Director who is not a member of the Company shall nevertheless be entitled to attend and speak at shareholders' meetings.

72.

Directors' fees

 

The fees of the Directors shall from time to time be determined by the Directors except that such fees shall not exceed £400,000 per annum in aggregate or such higher amount as may from time to time be determined by Ordinary Resolution of the Company and shall, unless such resolution otherwise provides, be divisible among the Directors as they may agree, or, failing agreement, equally, except that any Director who shall hold office for part only of the period in respect of which such remuneration is payable shall be entitled only to rank in such division for a proportion of remuneration related to the period during which he has held office.

73.

Other remuneration of Directors

 

Any Director who holds any executive office (including for this purpose the office of Chairman or Deputy Chairman whether or not such office is held in an executive capacity), or who serves on any committee of the Directors, or who otherwise performs services which in the opinion of the Directors are outside the scope of the ordinary duties of a Director, may be paid such extra remuneration by way of salary, commission or otherwise or may receive such other benefits as the Directors may determine.

74.

Directors' expenses

 

The Directors may repay to any Director all such reasonable expenses as he may incur in attending and returning from meetings of the Directors or of any committee of the Directors or shareholders' meetings or otherwise in connection with the business of the Company.

75.

Directors' pensions and other benefits

 

The Directors shall have power to pay and agree to pay gratuities, pensions or other retirement, superannuation, death or disability benefits to (or to any person in respect of) any Director or ex-Director and for the purpose of providing any such gratuities, pensions or other benefits to contribute to any scheme or fund or to pay premiums.

 

 

 

 

 

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76.

Appointment of executive Directors

76.1

The Directors may from time to time appoint one or more of their body to be the holder of any executive office (including, where considered appropriate, the office of Chairman or Deputy Chairman) on such terms and for such period as they may (subject to the provisions of the Statutes) determine and, without prejudice to the terms of any contract entered into in any particular case, may at any time revoke or vary the terms of any such appointment.

76.2

The appointment of any Director to the office of Chairman or Deputy Chairman or Managing or Joint Managing or Deputy Assistant Managing Director shall automatically determine if he ceases to be a Director but without prejudice to any claim for damages for breach of any contract of service between him and the Company.

76.3

The appointment of any Director to any other executive office shall not automatically determine if he ceases from any cause to be a Director, unless the contract or resolution under which he holds office shall expressly state otherwise, in which event such determination shall be without prejudice to any claim for damages for breach of any contract of service between him and the Company.

77.

Powers of executive Directors

 

The Directors may entrust to and confer upon any Director holding any executive office any of the powers exercisable by them as Directors upon such terms and conditions and with such restrictions as they think fit, and either collaterally with or to the exclusion of their own powers, and may from time to time revoke, withdraw, alter or vary all or any of such powers.


APPOINTMENT AND RETIREMENT OF DIRECTORS

78. Age limit

 

Any provision of the Statutes which, subject to the provisions of these Articles, would have the effect of rendering any person ineligible for appointment or election as a Director or liable to vacate office as a Director on account of his having reached any specified age or of requiring special notice or any other special formality in connection with the appointment or election of any Director over a specified age, shall not apply to the Company.

79.

Retirement by Rotation

 

At each Annual General Meeting all those Directors who were elected or last re-elected at or before the Annual General Meeting held in the third calendar year before shall retire from office by rotation. A retiring Director shall be eligible for re-election.

80.

Re-election of retiring Director

 

The Company at the meeting at which a Director retires under any provision of these Articles may by Ordinary Resolution fill the office being vacated by electing thereto the retiring Director or some other person eligible for election. In default the retiring Director shall be deemed to have been re-elected except in any of the following cases:

 

(a)

where at such meeting it is expressly resolved not to fill such office or a resolution for the re-election of such Director is put to the meeting and lost;

 

(b)

where such Director has given notice in writing to the Company that he is unwilling to be re-elected; or

 

 

 

 

 

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(c)

where the default is due to the moving of a resolution in contravention of the next following Article; or

 

(d)

where such Director has attained any retiring age applicable to him as Director.

 

The retirement shall not have effect until the conclusion of the meeting except where a resolution is passed to elect some other person in the place of the retiring Director or a resolution for his re-election is put to the meeting and lost and accordingly a retiring Director who is re-elected or deemed to have been re-elected will continue in office without a break.

81.

Election of two or more Directors

 

A resolution for the election of two or more persons as Directors by a single resolution shall not be moved at any General Meeting unless a resolution that it shall be so moved has first been agreed to by the meeting without any vote being given against it; and any resolution moved in contravention of this provision shall be void.

82.

Nomination of Director for election

 

No person other than a Director retiring at the meeting shall, unless recommended by the Directors for election, be eligible for election as a director at any General Meeting unless not less than seven nor more than 42 days (inclusive of the date on which the notice is given) before the date appointed for the meeting there shall have been lodged at the Office notice in writing signed by some member (other than the person to be proposed) duly qualified to attend and vote at the meeting for which such notice is given of his intention to propose such person for election and also notice in writing signed by the person to be proposed of his willingness to be elected.

83.

Election or appointment of additional Director

 

The Company may by Ordinary Resolution elect, and without prejudice thereto the Directors shall have power at any time to appoint, any person to be a Director either to fill a casual vacancy or as an additional Director, but so that the total number of Directors shall not thereby exceed the maximum number (if any) fixed by or in accordance with these Articles. Any person so appointed by the Directors shall hold office only until the next Annual General Meeting and shall then be eligible for election.

84.

Vacation of office

 

The office of a Director shall be vacated in any of the following events, namely:

 

(a)

if he shall become prohibited by law from acting as a Director;

 

(b)

if he shall resign by writing under his hand left at the Office or if he shall in writing offer to resign and the Directors shall resolve to accept such offer;

 

(c)

if he shall have a bankruptcy order made against him or shall compound with his creditors generally or shall apply to the court for an interim order under Section 253 of the Insolvency Act 1986 in connection with a voluntary arrangement under that Act;

 

(d)

if in England or elsewhere an order shall be made by any court claiming jurisdiction in that behalf on the ground (however formulated) of mental disorder for his detention or for the appointment of a guardian or for the appointment of a receiver or other person (by whatever name called) to exercise powers with respect to his property or affairs; or

 

(e)

if he shall be absent from meetings of the Directors for six months without leave and the Directors shall resolve that his office be vacated.

 

 

 

 

 

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85.

Removal of Director

 

The Company may in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Statutes by Ordinary Resolution of which special notice has been given remove any Director from office (notwithstanding any provision of these Articles or of any agreement between the Company and such Director, but without prejudice to any claim he may have for damages for breach of any such agreement) and elect another person in place of a Director so removed from office and any person so elected shall be treated for the purpose of determining the time at which he is to retire by rotation as if he had become a Director on the day on which the Director in whose place he is elected was last elected a Director. In default of such election the vacancy arising upon the removal of a Director from office may be filled as a casual vacancy.


MEETINGS AND PROCEEDINGS OF DIRECTORS

86. Convening of meetings of Directors

86.1

Subject to the provisions of these Articles the Directors may meet together for the despatch of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate their proceedings as they think fit. At any time any Director may, and the Secretary at the request of a Director shall, summon a meeting of Directors. It shall not be necessary to give notice of a meeting of Directors to any Director for the time being absent from the United Kingdom. Any Director may waive notice of any meeting and any such waiver may be retroactive.

86.2

The Directors and any committee of the Directors, shall be deemed to meet together if, being in separate locations, they are nonetheless linked by conference telephone, conference video link or other communication equipment which allows those participating to hear and speak to each other, and a quorum in that event shall be the number of persons required for a quorum under Article 87 and who are so linked. Such a meeting shall be deemed to take place where the largest group of those participating is assembled or, if there is no such group, where the chairman of the meeting then is.

87.

Quorum

 

The quorum necessary for the transaction of business of the Directors may be fixed from time to time by the Directors and unless so fixed at any other number shall be two. A meeting of Directors at which a quorum is present shall be competent to exercise all powers and discretions for the time being exercisable by the Directors.

88.

Chairman

88.1

The Directors may elect from their number a Chairman and a Deputy Chairman (or two or more Deputy Chairmen) and determine the period for which each is to hold office. If no Chairman or Deputy Chairman shall have been appointed or if at any meeting of the Directors no Chairman or Deputy Chairman shall be present within five minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, the Directors present may choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.

88.2

If at any time there is more than one Deputy Chairman the right in the absence of the Chairman to preside at a meeting of the Directors or of the Company shall be determined as between the Deputy Chairmen present (if more than one) by seniority in length of appointment or otherwise as resolved by the Directors.

 

 

 

 

 

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89.

Casting vote

 

Questions arising at any meeting of the Directors shall be determined by a majority of votes. In the case of an equality of votes, the chairman of the meeting shall not have a second or casting vote.

90.

Number of Directors below minimum

 

The continuing Directors may act notwithstanding any vacancies, but if and so long as the number of Directors is reduced below the minimum number fixed by or in accordance with these Articles the continuing Directors or Director may act for the purpose of filling such vacancies or of summoning General Meetings, but not for any other purpose. If there be no Directors or Director able or willing to act, then any two members may summon a General Meeting for the purpose of appointing Directors.

91.

Written resolutions

 

A resolution in writing signed by all the Directors entitled to vote thereon shall be as valid and effectual as a resolution duly passed at a meeting of the Directors and may consist of several documents in the like form each signed by one or more Directors.

92.

Validity of proceedings

 

All acts done by any meeting of Directors, or of any committee or sub-committee of the Directors, or by any person acting as a Director or as a member of any such committee or sub-committee, shall notwithstanding that there was some defect in the appointment of any of the persons acting as aforesaid, or that any such persons were disqualified or had vacated office, or were not entitled to vote, be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed and was qualified and had continued to be a Director or member of the committee or sub-committee and had been entitled to vote.


DIRECTORS' INTERESTS

93. Directors may have interests

 

Subject to the provisions of the Statutes, and provided that he has disclosed to the Directors the nature and extent of any interest of his, a Director notwithstanding his office:

 

(a)

may be a party to, or otherwise interested in, any contract, transaction or arrangement with the Company or in which the Company is otherwise interested;

 

(b)

may be a director or other officer of, or employed by, or a party to any contract, transaction or arrangement with, or otherwise interested in, any body corporate promoted by the Company or in which the Company is otherwise interested;

 

(c)

may (or any firm of which he is a partner, employee or member may) act in a professional capacity for the Company (other than as Auditor) and be remunerated therefor; and

 

(d)

shall not, save as otherwise agreed by him, be accountable to the Company for any benefit which he derives from any such contract, transaction or arrangement or from any such office or employment or from any interest in any such body corporate or for such remuneration and no such contract, transaction or arrangement shall be liable to be avoided on the grounds of any such interest or benefit.

 

 

 

 

 

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94.

Restriction on voting

94.1

Save as herein provided, a Director shall not vote in respect of any contract or arrangement or any other proposal whatsoever in which he has any material interest otherwise than by virtue of interests in shares or debentures or other securities of, or otherwise in or through, the Company. A Director shall not be counted in the quorum at a meeting in relation to any resolution on which he is not entitled to vote.

94.2

Subject to the provisions of the Statutes, a Director shall (in the absence of some other material interest than is indicated below) be entitled to vote (and be counted in the quorum) in respect of any resolution concerning any of the following matters, namely:

 

(a)

the giving of any security, guarantee or indemnity in respect of (i) money lent or obligations incurred by him or by any other person at the request of or for the benefit of the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings or (ii) a debt or other obligation of the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings for which he himself has assumed responsibility in whole or in part under a guarantee or indemnity or by the giving of security;

 

(b)

any proposal concerning an offer of shares or debentures or other securities of or by the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings in which offer he is or may be entitled to participate as a holder of securities or in the underwriting or sub-underwriting of which he is to participate;

 

(c)

any proposal concerning any other body corporate in which he is interested, directly or indirectly and whether as an officer or shareholder or otherwise, provided that he (together with persons connected with him within the meaning of Section 346 of the Act) does not have an interest (as that term is used in Section 198 to 211 of the Act) in one per cent or more of the issued equity share capital of any class of such body corporate (or of any third company through which his interest is derived) or of the voting rights available to members of the relevant body corporate (any such interest being deemed for the purpose of this Article to be a material interest in all circumstances);

 

(d)

any proposal relating to an arrangement for the benefit of the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings which does not award him any privilege or benefit not generally awarded to the employees to whom such arrangement relates; and

 

(e)

any proposal concerning insurance which the Company proposes to maintain or purchase for the benefit of Directors or for the benefit of persons who include Directors.

94.3

Where proposals are under consideration concerning the appointment (including fixing or varying the terms of appointment) of two or more Directors to offices or employments with the Company or any body corporate in which the Company is interested, the proposals may be divided and considered in relation to each Director separately and in such case each of the Directors concerned (if not debarred from voting under paragraph 94.2(c) above) shall be entitled to vote (and be counted in the quorum) in respect of each resolution except that concerning his own appointment.

94.4

If a question arises at any time as to the materiality of a Director's interest or as to his entitlement to vote and such question is not resolved by his voluntarily agreeing to abstain from voting, such question shall be referred to the chairman of the meeting and his ruling in relation to any Director other than himself shall be final and conclusive except in a case where the nature or extent of the interest of such Director has not been fairly disclosed.

 

 

 

 

 

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95.

Directors' interests—general

 

For the purposes of the two preceding Articles:

 

(a)

a general notice given to the Directors that a Director is to be regarded as having an interest of the nature and extent specified in the notice in any contract, transaction or arrangement in which a specified person or class of persons is interested shall be deemed to be a disclosure that the Director has an interest in any such contract, transaction or arrangement of the nature and extent so specified;

 

(b)

an interest of a person who is connected (within the meaning of Section 346 of the Act) with a Director shall be treated as an interest of Director; and

 

(c)

an interest (whether of his or of such a connected person) of which a Director has no knowledge and of which it is unreasonable to expect him to have knowledge shall not be treated as an interest of his.


COMMITTEES OF THE DIRECTORS

96. Appointment and constitution of committees

 

The Directors may delegate any of their powers or discretions (including without prejudice to the generality of the forgoing all powers and discretions whose exercise involves or may involve the payment of remuneration to or the conferring of any other benefit on all or any of the Directors) to committees. Any such committee shall, unless the Directors otherwise resolve, have power to sub-delegate to sub-committees any of the powers or discretions delegated to it. Any such committee or sub-committee shall consist of one or more Directors and (if thought fit) one or more other named person or persons to be co-opted as hereinafter proved. Insofar as any such power or discretion is delegated to a committee or sub-committee, any reference in these Articles to the exercise by the Directors of the power of discretion so delegated shall be read and construed as if it were a reference to the exercise thereof by such committee or sub-committee. Any committee or sub-committee so formed shall in the exercise of the powers so delegated conform to any regulations which may from time to time be imposed by the Directors. Any such regulations may provide for or authorise the co-option to the committee or sub-committee of persons other than Directors and may provide for members who are not Directors to have voting rights as members of the committee or sub-committee but so that (a) the number of members who are not Directors shall be less than one-half of the total number of members of the committee or sub-committee and (b) no resolution of the committee or sub-committee shall be effective unless a majority of the members of the committee or sub-committee present throughout the meeting are Directors.

97.

Proceedings of committee meetings

 

The meetings and proceedings of any such committee or sub-committee consisting of two or more persons shall be governed
mutatis mutandis by the provisions of these Articles regulating the meetings and proceedings of the Directors, so far as the same are not superseded by any regulations made by the Directors under the last preceding Article.

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POWERS OF DIRECTORS

98. General powers

 

The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by the Directors, who may exercise all such powers of the Company as are not by the Statutes or by these Articles required to be exercised by the Company in General Meeting subject nevertheless to any regulations of these Articles, to the provisions of the Statutes and to such regulations as may be prescribed by Special Resolution of the Company, but no regulation so made by the Company shall invalidate any prior act of the Directors which would have been valid if such regulation had not been made. The general powers given by this Article shall not be limited or restricted by any special authority or power given to the Directors by any other Article.

99.

Local boards

 

The Directors may establish any local boards or agencies for managing any of the affairs of the Company, either in the United Kingdom or elsewhere, and may appoint any persons to be members of such local boards, or any managers or agents, and my fix their remuneration, and may delegate to any local board, manager or agent any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in the Directors, with power to sub-delegate, and may authorise the members of any local boards, or any of them, to fill any vacancies therein, and to act notwithstanding vacancies, and any such appointment or delegation may be made upon such terms and subject to such conditions as the Directors may think fit, and the Directors may remove any person so appointed, and may annul or vary any such delegation, but no person dealing in good faith and without notice of any such annulment or variation shall be affected thereby.

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100. Appointment of attorney

 

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

101.

President

 

The Directors may from time to time elect a President of the Company and may determine the period for which he shall hold office. Such President may be either honorary or paid such remuneration as the Directors in their discretion shall think fit, and need not be a Director but shall, if not a Director, be entitled to receive notice of and attend and speak, but not to vote, at all meetings of the Board of Directors.

102.

Signature on cheques etc.

 

All cheques, promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange, and other negotiable or transferable instruments, and all receipts for moneys paid to the Company, shall be signed, drawn, accepted, endorsed, or otherwise executed, as the case may be, in such manner as the Directors shall from time to time by resolution determine.

103.

Borrowing Powers

103.1

Subject as hereinafter provided and to the provisions of the Statutes, the Directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge its business, assets, undertaking, property and uncalled capital or any part or parts thereof and to issue debentures and other securities and give security, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party.

 

 

 

 

 

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103.2

Restrictions on Borrowing

 

The Directors shall restrict the borrowings of the Company and exercise all voting and other rights or powers of control exercisable by the Company in relation to its subsidiaries (if any) from time to time so as to ensure (as regards subsidiaries so far as by such exercise they can ensure) that the aggregate amount for the time being remaining undischarged of all monies (exclusive of intra-Group borrowings) borrowed by the Group (which for the purposes of this Article shall mean the Company and its subsidiaries from time to time) shall not at any time without the prior sanction of an Ordinary Resolution of the Company exceed a sum equal to £300 million; provided that no such sanction shall be required for the borrowing of any monies intended to be applied and actually applied within six months of the date of borrowing, in the repayment (with or without premium) of any monies then already borrowed and remaining undischarged notwithstanding that the same may result in the said limit being temporarily exceeded provided further that in calculating the aggregate amount for the time being remaining undischarged of all monies borrowed by the Group as aforesaid, there shall be disregarded any monies borrowed by any subsidiary of the Company which is incorporated outside the United Kingdom or any associated limited partnership outside the United Kingdom where such borrowings are not guaranteed by the Company or by any of its subsidiaries registered in the United Kingdom. For the purposes of the said limit the issue of debentures shall be deemed to constitute borrowing notwithstanding that the same may be issued in whole or in part for a consideration other than cash.


ALTERNATE DIRECTORS

104. Alternate Directors

104.1

Any Director may at any time by writing under his hand and deposited at the Office, or delivered at a meeting of the Directors, appoint any person (including another Director) to be his alternate Director and may in like manner at any time terminate such appointment. Such appointment, unless previously approved by the Directors or unless the appointee is another Director, shall have effect only upon and subject to being so approved.

104.2

The appointment of an alternate Director shall determine on the happening of any event which if he were a Director would cause him to vacate such office or if his appointor ceases to be a Director, otherwise than by retirement at a General Meeting at which he is re-elected.

104.3

An alternate Director shall (except when absent from the United Kingdom) be entitled to receive notices of meetings of the Directors and shall be entitled to attend and vote as a Director at any such meeting at which the Director appointing him is not personally present and generally at such meeting to perform all functions of his appointor as a Director and for the purposes of the proceedings at such meeting the provisions of these Articles shall apply as if he (instead of his appointor) were a Director. If he shall be himself a Director or shall attend any such meeting as an alternate for more than one Director, his voting rights shall be cumulative but he shall not be counted more than once for the purposes of the quorum. His signature to any resolution in writing of the Directors shall be as effective as the signature of his appointor. To such extent as the Directors may from time to time determine in relation to any committees of the Directors the foregoing provisions of this paragraph shall also apply
mutatis mutandis to any meeting of any such committee of which his appointor is a member. An alternate Director shall not (save as aforesaid) have power to act as a Director, nor shall he be deemed to be a Director for the purposes of these Articles, nor shall he be deemed to be the agent of his appointor.

 

 

 

 

 

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104.4

An alternate Director shall be entitled to contract and be interested in and benefit from contracts or arrangements or transactions and to be repaid expenses and to be indemnified to the same extent
mutatis mutandis as if he were a Director but he shall not be entitled to receive from the Company in respect of his appointment as alternate Director any remuneration except only such part (if any) of the remuneration otherwise payable to his appointor as such appointor may by notice in writing to the Company from time to time direct.


SECRETARY

105. Secretary

 

The Secretary shall be appointed by the Directors on such terms and for such period as they may think fit. Any Secretary so appointed may at any time be removed from office by the Directors, but without prejudice to any claim for damages for breach of any contract of service between him and the Company. If thought fit two or more persons may be appointed as Joint Secretaries. The Directors may also appoint from time to time on such terms as they may think fit one or more Deputy and/or Assistant Secretaries.


THE SEAL

106. The Seal

106.1

The Directors shall provide for the safe custody of the Seal and any Securities Seal and neither shall be used without the authority of the Directors or of a committee authorised by the Directors in that behalf. The Securities Seal shall be used only for sealing securities issued by the Company and documents creating or evidencing securities so issued.

106.2

Every instrument to which the Seal or the Securities Seal shall be affixed (other than a certificate for or evidencing shares, debentures or other securities (including options) issued by the Company) shall be signed autographically by one Director and the Secretary or by two Directors save that as regards any certificates for shares or deliveries or other securities of the Company the Directors may be resolution determine that such signatures or either of them shall be dispensed with or affixed by some method or system of mechanical signature.

106.3

The Company may exercise the powers conferred by the Statutes with regard to having an official seal for use abroad and such powers shall be vested in the Directors.

106.4

Any instrument signed by one Director and the Secretary or by two Directors and expressed to be executed by the Company shall have the same effect as if executed under the Seal, provided that no instrument which makes it clear on its face that it is intended to have effect as a deed shall be so signed without the authority of the Directors or of a committee authorised by the Directors in that behalf.

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AUTHENTICATION OF DOCUMENTS

107. Authentication of documents

 

Any Director or the Secretary or any person appointed by the Directors for the purpose shall have power to authenticate any document affecting the constitution of the Company and any resolution passed at a shareholders' meeting or at a meeting of the Directors or any committee, and any book, record, document or account relating to the business of the Company, and to certify copies thereof or extracts therefrom as true copies or extracts; and where any book, record, document or account is elsewhere than at the Office the local manager or other officer of the Company having the custody thereof shall be deemed to be a person appointed by the Directors as aforesaid. A document purporting to be a copy of any such resolution, or an extract from the minutes of any such meeting, which is certified as aforesaid shall be conclusive evidence in favour of all persons dealing with the Company upon the faith thereof that such resolution has been duly passed or, as the case may be, that any minute so extracted is a true and accurate record of proceedings at a duly constituted meeting.


RESERVES

108. Establishment of reserves

 

The Directors may from time to time set aside out of the profits of the Company and carry to reserve such sums as they think proper which, at the discretion of the Directors, shall be applicable for any purpose to which the profits of the Company may properly be applied and pending such application may either be employed in the business of the Company or be invested. The Directors may divide the reserve into such special funds as they think fit and may consolidate into one fund any special funds or any parts of any special funds into which the reserve may have been divided. The Directors may also without placing the same to reserve carry forward any profits. In carrying sums to reserve and in applying the same the Directors shall comply with the provisions of the Statutes.

109.

Business bought as from past date

 

Subject to the provisions of the Statutes, where any asset, business or property is bought by the Company as from a past date (whether such date be before or after the incorporation of the Company) the profits and losses thereof as from such date may at the discretion of the Directors in whole or in part be carried to revenue account and treated for all purposes as profits or losses of the Company. Subject as aforesaid, if any shares or securities are purchased cum dividend or interest, such dividend or interest may at the discretion of the Directors be treated as revenue, and it shall not be obligatory to capitalise the same or any part thereof. In each case the Directors may exercise their discretion only after taking into account such requirements as may from time to time be laid down by the Act, financial reporting standards, generally accepted accounting principles and such other regulations by which the Company may be governed.


DIVIDENDS

110. Final dividends

 

The Company may by Ordinary Resolution declare dividends but no such dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the Directors.

 

 

 

 

 

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111.

Fixed and interim dividends

 

If and so far as in the opinion of the Directors the profits of the Company justify such payments, the Directors may pay the fixed dividends on any class of shares carrying a fixed dividend expressed to be payable on fixed dates on the half-yearly or other dates prescribed for the payment thereof and may also from time to time pay interim dividends on shares of any class of such amounts and on such dates and in respect of such periods as they think fit. Provided the Directors act in good faith they shall not incur any liability to the holders of any shares for any loss they may suffer by the lawful payment, on any other class of shares having rights ranking after or
pari passu with those shares, of any such fixed or interim dividend as aforesaid.

112.

Distribution in specie

 

The Company may upon the recommendation of the Directors by Ordinary Resolution direct payment of a dividend in whole or in part by the distribution of specific assets (and in particular of paid-up shares or debentures of any other company) and the Directors shall give effect to such resolution. Where any difficulty arises in regard to such distribution, the Directors may settle the same as they think expedient and in particular may issue fractional certificates, may fix the value for distribution of such specific assets or any part thereof, may determine that cash shall be paid to any member upon the footing of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of members and may vest any assets in trustees.

113.

No dividend except out of profits

 

No dividend shall be paid otherwise that out of profits available for distribution under the provisions of the Statutes.

114.

Ranking of shares for dividend

 

Unless and to the extent that the rights attached to any shares or the terms of issue thereof otherwise provide, all dividends shall (as regards any shares not fully paid throughout the period in respect of which the dividend is paid) be apportioned and paid pro rata according to the amounts paid on the shares during any portion or portions of the period in respect of which the dividend is paid. For the purposes of this Article no amount paid on a share in advance of calls shall be treated as paid on the share.

115.

Manner of payment of dividends

115.1

Any dividend or other moneys payable on or in respect of a share shall be paid to the member or to such other person as the member (or, in the case of joint holders of a share, all of them) may in writing direct. Such dividend or other moneys may be paid (i) by cheque sent by post to the payee or, where there is more than one payee, to any one of them, or (ii) by inter-bank transfer to such account as the payee or payees shall in writing direct, or (iii) using the facilities of a relevant system, or (iv) by such other method of payment as the member (or in the case of joint holders of a share, all of them) may agree to. Every such cheque shall be sent at the risk of the person or persons entitled to the money represented thereby, and payment of a cheque by the banker upon whom it is drawn, and any transfer or payment within (ii) or (iii) above, shall be a good discharge to the Company.

115.2

Subject to the provisions of these Articles and to the rights attaching to any shares, any dividend or other moneys payable on or in respect of a share may be paid in such currency as the Directors may determine, using such exchange rate for currency conversions as the Directors may select.

 

 

 

 

 

33



115.3

The Company may cease to send any cheque, warrant or order by post for any dividend on any shares which is normally paid in that manner if in respect of at least two consecutive dividends payable on those shares the cheque, warrant or order has been returned undelivered or remains uncashed but, subject to the provisions of these Articles, shall recommence sending cheques, warrants or orders in respect of the dividends payable on those shares if the holder or person entitled by transmission claims the arrears of dividend and does not instruct the Company to pay future dividends in some other way.

116.

Joint holders

 

If two or more persons are registered as joint holders of any share, or are entitled jointly to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of the holder or otherwise by operation of law, any one of them may give effectual receipts for any dividend or other moneys payable or property distributable on or in respect of the share.

117.

Record date for dividends

 

Any resolution for the declaration or payment of a dividend on shares of any class, whether a resolution of the Company in General Meeting or a resolution of the Directors, may specify that the same shall be payable to the persons registered as the holders of such shares at the close of business on a particular date, notwithstanding that it may be a date prior to that on which the resolution is passed, and thereupon the dividend shall be payable to them in accordance with their respective holdings so registered, but without prejudice to the rights
inter se in respect of such dividend of transferors and tranferees of any such shares.

118.

No interest on dividends

 

No dividend or other moneys payable on or in respect of a share shall bear interest as against the Company.

119.

Retention of dividends

119.1

The Directors may retain any dividend or other moneys payable on or in respect of a share on which the Company has a lien and a sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable and may apply such dividends or other moneys in or towards satisfaction of the moneys payable to the Company in respect of that share.

119.2

The Directors may retain the dividends payable upon shares in respect of which any person is under the provisions as to the transmission of shares hereinbefore contained entitled to become a member, or which any person is under those provisions entitled to transfer, until such person shall become a member in respect of such shares or shall transfer the same.

120.

Unclaimed dividend

 

The payment by the Directors of any unclaimed dividend or other moneys payable on or in respect of a share into a separate account shall not constitute the Company a trustee in respect thereof and any dividend unclaimed after a period of 12 years from the date on which such dividend was declared or became due for payment shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Company.

121.

Waiver of dividend

 

The waiver in whole or in part of any dividend on any share by any document (whether or not executed as a deed) shall be effective only if such document is signed by the shareholder (or the person entitled to the share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of the holder or otherwise by operation of law) and delivered to the Company and if or to the extent that the same is accepted as such or acted upon by the Company.

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CAPITALISATION OF PROFITS AND RESERVES

122. Capitalisation of profits and reserves

122.1

The Directors may, with the sanction of an Ordinary Resolution of the Company, capitalise any sum standing to the credit of any of the Company's reserve accounts (including any share premium account, capital redemption reserve or other undistributable reserve) or any sum standing to the credit of profit and loss account.

122.2

Such capitalisation shall be effected by appropriating such sum to the holders of Ordinary Shares on the Register at the close of business on the date of the resolution (or such other date as may be specified therein or determined as therein provided) in proportion to their then holdings of Ordinary Shares and applying such sum on their behalf in paying up in full unissued Ordinary Shares (or, subject to any special rights previously conferred on any shares or class of shares for the time being issued, unissued shares of any other class) for allotment and distribution credited as fully paid up to and amongst them as bonus shares in the proportion aforesaid.

122.3

The Directors may do all acts and things considered necessary or expedient to give effect to any such capitalisation, with full power to the Directors to make such provisions as they think fit for any fractional entitlements which would arise on the basis aforesaid (including provisions whereby fractional entitlements are disregarded or the benefit thereof accrues to the Company rather than to the members concerned). The Directors may authorise any person to enter on behalf of all the members interested into an agreement with the Company providing for any such capitalisation and matters incidental thereto and any agreement made under such authority shall be effective and binding on all concerned.


SCRIP DIVIDENDS

123. Scrip Dividends

123.1

Subject as hereinafter provided, the Directors may offer to ordinary shareholders the right to receive, in lieu of dividend (or part thereof), allotment of new Ordinary Shares credited as fully paid.

123.2

The Directors shall not make such an offer unless so authorised by an Ordinary Resolution passed at any General Meeting, which authority may extend to dividends declared or paid prior to the fifth Annual General Meeting of the Company occurring thereafter.

35


123.3 The Directors may either offer such rights of election in respect of the next dividend (or part thereof) proposed to be paid; or may offer such rights of election in respect of that dividend and all subsequent dividends, until such time as the election is revoked; or may allow shareholders to make an election in either form.

123.4

The basis of allotment on each occasion shall be determined by the Directors so that, as nearly as may be considered convenient, the value of the Ordinary Shares to be allotted in lieu of any amount of dividend shall equal such amount. For such purpose the value of an Ordinary Share shall be the average of the middle market quotations of an Ordinary Share on the London Stock Exchange, as derived from the Daily Official List, on each of the first five business days on which the Ordinary Shares are quoted "ex" the relevant dividend.

123.5

If the Directors determine to offer such right of election on any occasion they shall give notice in writing to the ordinary shareholders of such right and shall issue forms of election and shall specify the procedures to be followed in order to exercise such right. Provided that they need not give such notice to a shareholder who has previously made, and has not revoked, an earlier election to receive Ordinary Shares in lieu of all future dividends, but instead shall send him a reminder that he has made such an election, indicating how that election may be revoked in time for the next dividend proposed to be paid.

123.6

On each occasion the dividend (or that part of the dividend in respect of which a right of election has been accorded) shall not be payable on Ordinary Shares in respect whereof the share election has been duly exercised and has not been revoked (the "elected Ordinary Shares"), and in lieu thereof additional shares (but not any fraction of a share) shall be allotted to the holders of the elected Ordinary Shares on the basis of allotment determined as aforesaid. For such purpose the Directors shall capitalise, out of such of the sums standing to the credit of reserves (including any share premium account or capital redemption reserve) or profit and loss account as the Directors may determine, a sum equal to the aggregate nominal amount of additional Ordinary Shares to be allotted on that occasion on such basis and shall apply the same in paying up in full the appropriate number of unissued Ordinary Shares on such basis.

123.7

The additional Ordinary Shares so allotted on any occasion shall rank pari passu in all respects with the fully-paid Ordinary Shares in issue on the record date for the relevant dividend save only as regards participation in the relevant dividend.

123.8

Article 122 shall apply (
mutatis mutandis) to any capitalisation made pursuant to this Article.

123.9

No fraction of an Ordinary Share shall be allotted. The Directors may make such provision as they think fit for any factional entitlements including, without limitation, provision whereby, in whole or in part, the benefit thereof accrues to the Company and/or fractional entitlements are accrued and/or retained and in either case accumulated on behalf of any ordinary shareholder.

123.10

The Directors may on any occasion determine that rights of election shall not be made available to any ordinary shareholders with registered addresses in any territory where in the absence of a registration statement or other special formalities the circulation of an offer of rights of election would or might be unlawful, and in such event the provisions aforesaid shall be read and construed subject to such determination.

123.11

In relation to any particular proposed dividend the Directors may in their absolute discretion decide (i) that shareholders shall not be entitled to make any election in respect thereof and that any election previously made shall not extend to such dividend or (ii) at any time prior to the allotment of the Ordinary Shares which would otherwise be allotted in lieu thereof, that all elections to take shares in lieu of such dividend shall be treated as not applying to that dividend, and if so the dividend shall be paid in cash as if no elections had been made in respect of it.

36



ACCOUNTS

124. Accounting records

 

Accounting records sufficient to show and explain the Company's transactions and otherwise complying with the Statutes shall be kept at the Office, or at such other place as the Directors think fit, and shall always be open to inspection by the officers of the Company. Subject as aforesaid no member of the Company or other person shall have any right of inspecting any account or book or document of the Company except as conferred by statute or ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction or authorised by the Directors.

125.

Copies of accounts for members

125.1

A copy of every balance sheet and profit and loss account which is to be laid before a General Meeting of the Company (including every document required by law to be comprised therein or attached or annexed thereto) shall not less than 21 days before the date of the meeting be sent to every member of, and every holder of debentures of, the Company and to every other person who is entitled to receive notices of meetings from the Company under the provisions of the Statutes or of these Articles. Provided that this Article shall not require a copy of these documents to be sent to any member to whom a summary financial statement is sent in accordance with the Statutes nor to more than one of joint holders nor to any person of whose address the Company is not aware, but any member or holder of debentures to whom a copy of these documents has not been sent shall be entitled to receive a copy free of charge on application at the Office. The Company will send as many copies of the summary financial statement and the full report and accounts to the NASDAQ Stock Market as required by the regulations or practice of the NASDAQ Stock Market.

125.2

To the extent permitted by the Statutes, documents referred to in Article 125.1 can be sent by electronic mail or facsimile.


AUDITORS

126. Validity of Auditor's acts

 

Subject to the provisions of the Statutes, all acts done by any person acting as an Auditor shall, as regards all persons dealing in good faith with the Company, be valid, notwithstanding that there was some defect in his appointment or that he was at the time of his appointment not qualified for appointment or subsequently became disqualified.

127.

Auditor's right to attend General Meetings

 

An Auditor shall be entitled to attend any General Meeting and to receive all notices of and other communications relating to any General Meeting which any member is entitled to receive and to be heard at any General Meeting on any part of the business of the meeting which concerns him as Auditor.

37



NOTICES

128. Service of notices

128.1

Any notice or document (including a share certificate) may be served on or delivered to any member by the Company personally or be sending it by post in a pre-paid cover addressed to such member at his registered address, or (if he has no registered address within the United Kingdom) to the address, if any, within the United Kingdom supplied by him to the Company as his address for the service of notices, or by delivering it to such address addressed as aforesaid. In the case of a member registered on a branch register any such notice or document may be posted either in the United Kingdom or in the territory in which such branch register is maintained.

128.2

Where a notice or other document is served or sent by post, service or delivery shall be deemed to be effected at the expiration of 24 hours (or, where second-class mail is employed, 48 hours) after the time when the cover containing the same is posted and in proving such service or delivery it shall be sufficient to prove that such cover was properly addressed, stamped and posted.

128.3

In addition to the methods of service set out in paragraph 128.1, notice or document may be served and or delivered to any member of the Company by such electronic means (including, without limitation, electronic mail or facsimile) as the Act may allow from time to time to an address notified by the member in writing or by electronic mail or facsimile or other such electronic means.

128.4

Subject to any governing provision of the Act, where a notice or other document is served or sent in accordance with paragraph 128.3, service or delivery shall be deemed to be effected at 9.00 am on the day following on which the electronic method of service or delivery was implemented by or on behalf of the Company.

128.5

The accidental failure to send, or the non-receipt by any person entitled to, any notice of or other document relating to any meeting or other proceeding shall not invalidate the relevant meeting or other proceeding.

129.

Joint holders

 

Any notice given to that one of the joint holders of a share whose name stands first in the Register in respect of the share shall be sufficient notice to all the joint holders in their capacity as such. For such purpose a joint holder having no registered address in the United Kingdom and not having supplied an address within the United Kingdom for the service of notices shall be disregarded.

 

 

 

 

 

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130.

Deceased and bankrupt members

 

A person entitled to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a member or otherwise by operation of law upon supplying to the Company such evidence as the Directors may reasonably require to show his title to the share, and upon supplying also an address within the United Kingdom for the service of notices, shall be entitled to have served upon or delivered to him at such address any notice or document to which the said member would have been entitled, and such service or delivery shall for all purposes be deemed a sufficient service or delivery of such notice or document on all persons interested (whether jointly with or as claiming through or under him) in the share. Save as aforesaid any notice or document delivered or sent by post to or left at the address of any member in pursuance of these Articles shall, notwithstanding that such member be then dead or bankrupt or in liquidation, and whether or not the Company has notice of his death or bankruptcy or liquidation, be deemed to have been duly served or delivered in respect of any share registered in the name of such member as sole or fist-named joint holder.

131.

Overseas members

 

A member who (having no registered address within the United Kingdom) has not supplied to the Company an address within the United Kingdom for the service of notices shall not be entitled to receive notices from the Company.

132.

Suspension of postal services

 

If at any time by reason of suspension or curtailment of postal services within the United Kingdom the Company is unable effectively to convene a shareholders' meeting by notices sent through the post, such meeting may be convened by a notice advertised in at least one national newspaper and such notice shall be deemed to have been duly served on all members entitled thereto on the day when the advertisement appears (or first appears). In any such case the Company shall send confirmation copies of the notice by post if at least seven days prior to the meeting the posting of notices to addresses throughout the United Kingdom again becomes practicable.

133.

Statutory requirements as to notices

 

Nothing in any of the preceding five Articles shall affect any requirement of the Statutes that any particular offer, notice or other document be served in any particular manner.


WINDING UP

134. Directors' power to petition

 

The Directors shall have power in the name and on behalf of the Company to present a petition to the Court for the Company to be wound up.

 

 

 

 

 

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135.

Distribution of assets in specie

 

If the Company shall be wound up (whether the liquidation is voluntary, under supervision, or by the Court) the liquidator may, with the authority of an Extraordinary Resolution, divide among the members
in specie or kind the whole or any part of the assets of the Company and whether or not the assets shall consist of property of one kind or shall consist of properties of different kinds, and may for such purpose set such value as he deems fair upon any one or more class or classes of property and may determine how such division shall be carried out as between the members or different classes of members. The liquidator may, with the like authority, vest any part of the assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of members as the liquidator with the like authority shall think fit, and the liquidation of the Company may be closed and the Company dissolved, but so that no contributory shall be compelled to accept any shares or other property in respect of which there is a liability.


DESTRUCTION OF DOCUMENTS

136. Destruction of documents

 

Subject to compliance with the rules (as defined in the CREST Regulations) applicable to shares of the Company in uncertificated form, the Company shall be entitled to destroy all instruments of transfer or other documents which have been registered or on the basis of which registration was made at any time after the expiration of six years from the date of registration thereof and all dividend mandates and notifications of change of address at any time after the expiration of two years from the date of recording thereof and all share certificates which have been cancelled at any time after the expiration of one year from the date of the cancellation thereof and it shall conclusively be presumed in favour of the Company that every entry in the Register purporting to have been made on the basis of an instrument of transfer or other document so destroyed was duly and properly made and every instrument of transfer so destroyed was a valid and effective instrument duly and properly registered and every share certificate so destroyed was a valid and effective certificate duly and properly cancelled and every other document hereinbefore mentioned so destroyed was a valid and effective document in accordance with the recorded particulars thereof in the books or records of the Company. Provided always that:

 

(a)

the provisions aforesaid shall apply only to the destruction of a document in good faith and without notice of any claim (regardless of the parties thereto) to which the document might be relevant;

 

(b)

nothing herein contained shall be construed as imposing upon the Company any liability in respect of the destruction of any such document earlier than as aforesaid or in any other circumstances which would not attach to the Company in the absence of this Article;

 

(c)

references herein to the destruction of any document include references to the disposal thereof in any manner.

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INDEMNITY

137. Indemnity

137.1

Subject to the provisions of and so far as may be consistent with the Statutes, every Director, Secretary or other officer of the Company shall be indemnified by the Company out of its own funds against and/or exempted by the Company from all costs, charges, losses, expenses and liabilities incurred by him in the actual or purported execution and/or discharge of his duties and/or the exercise or purported exercise of his power and/or otherwise in relation to or in connection with his duties, powers or office including (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) any liability incurred by him in defending any proceedings, civil or criminal, which relate to anything done or omitted or alleged to have been done or omitted by him as an officer or employee of the Company and in which judgement is given in his favour (or the proceedings are otherwise disposed of without any finding or admission of any material breach of duty on his part) or in which he is acquitted or in connection with any application under any statute for relief from liability in respect of any such act or omission in which relief is granted to him by the Court.

137.2

Without prejudice to paragraph 137.1 above the Directors shall have powers to purchase and maintain insurance for or for the benefit of any person who is or was at any time a Director or officer of any Relevant Company (as defined in paragraph 137.4 below) or who is or was at any time a trustee of any pension fund or employees' shares scheme in which employees of any Relevant Company are interested, including (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) insurance against any liability incurred by him in respect of any act or omission in the actual or purported execution and/or discharged of his duties and/or exercise or purported exercise of his powers and/or otherwise in relation to his duties, powers or offices in relation to any Relevant Company, or any such pension fund or employees' share scheme.

137.3

The Directors may take independent professional advice at the Company's expense in relation to their duties as directors of any Relevant Company.

137.4

For the purpose of paragraphs 137.2 and 137.3 above "
Relevant Company" shall mean the Company, any holding company of the Company or any other body, whether or not incorporated, in which the Company or such holding company or any of the predecessors of the Company or of such holding company has or had any interest whether direct or indirect or which is in any way allied to or associated with the Company, or any subsidiary undertaking of the Company or of such other body.


NASD REQUIREMENTS

138. NASD requirements

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Articles, from the time when the Ordinary Shares of the Company (or American Depositary Shares representing Ordinary Shares) are traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market, the Directors shall ensure that the Company complies in all respects with its obligations under the NASD By Laws, provided that such obligations (and actions taken or not taken in pursuance of such obligations) are not prohibited by the Statutes and provided that where there is a conflict between the provisions of the Listing Rules of the London Stock Exchange and the NASD By Laws, the Listing Rules shall prevail

 

 

 

 

 

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Contents

1.   Table A not to apply   1
2.   Interpretation   1
3.   Amount of share capital   3
4.   Increase of share capital   4
5.   Consolidation, subdivision and cancellation   4
6.   Purchase of own shares   4
7.   Reduction of capital   5
8.   Rights attaching to shares on issue   5
9.   Directors' power to allot   5
10.   Commissions on issue of shares   5
11.   Renunciation of allotment   5
12.   Trust etc. interests not recognised   5
13.   Issue of share certificates   6
14.   Form of share certificate   6
15.   Joint holders   6
16.   Replacement of share certificates   6
17.   Power to make calls   7
18.   Liability for calls   7
19.   Interest on overdue amounts   7
20.   Other sums due on shares   7
21.   Power to differentiate between holders   7
22.   Payment of calls in advance   7
23.   Notice on failure to pay a call   8
24.   Forfeiture for non-compliance   8
25.   Disposal of forfeited shares   8
26.   Holder to remain liable despite forfeiture   8
27.   Lien on partly-paid shares   8
28.   Sale of shares subject to lien   9
29.   Proceeds of sale of shares subject to lien   9
30.   Evidence of forfeiture   9
31.   Manner of variation of rights   9
32.   Matters not constituting variation of rights   10
33.   Form of transfer   10
34.   Balance certificate   10
35.   Right to refuse registration   10
36.   No fee on registration   11
37.   Closure of Register   11
38.   Branch Register   11
39.   Further provisions on shares in uncertificated form   11
40.   Persons entitled on death   11
41.   Election by persons entitled by transmission   12
42.   Rights of persons entitled by transmission   12
43.   Untraced shareholders   12
44.   Annual and Extraordinary General Meetings   13
45.   Convening of General Meetings   13
46.   Notice of General Meetings   13
47.   Contents of notice of General Meetings   14
48.   Chairman   14
49.   Quorum   14

42


50.   Lack of quorum   14
51.   Adjournment   15
52.   Notice of adjourned meeting   15
53.   Amendments to resolutions   15
54.   Demand for poll   15
55.   Procedure on a poll   15
56.   Voting on a poll   16
57.   Timing of the poll   16
58.   Votes attaching to shares   16
59.   Votes of joint holders   16
60.   No casting vote for Chairman   16
61.   Restriction on voting in particular circumstances   17
62.   Voting by guardian   19
63.   Validity and result of vote   19
64.   Proxy need not be a member   19
65.   Form of proxy   19
66.   Deposit of form of proxy   20
67.   Rights of proxy   20
68.   Revocation of proxy   20
69.   Corporations acting by representatives   20
70.   Number of Directors   21
71.   Share qualification   21
72.   Directors' fees   21
73.   Other remuneration of Directors   21
74.   Directors' expenses   21
75.   Directors' pensions and other benefits   21
76.   Appointment of executive Directors   22
77.   Powers of executive Directors   22
78.   Age limit   22
79.   Retirement by Rotation   22
80.   Re-election of retiring Director   22
81.   Election of two or more Directors   23
82.   Nomination of Director for election   23
83.   Election or appointment of additional Director   23
84.   Vacation of office   23
85.   Removal of Director   24
86.   Convening of meetings of Directors   24
87.   Quorum   24
88.   Chairman   24
89.   Casting Vote   25
90.   Number of Directors below minimum   25
91.   Written resolutions   25
92.   Validity of proceedings   25
93.   Directors may have interests   25
94.   Restrictions on voting   26
95.   Directors' interests—general   27
96.   Appointment and constitution of committees   27
97.   Proceedings of committee meetings   27
98.   General powers   28
99.   Local boards   28
100.   Appointment of attorney   29

43


101.   President   29
102.   Signature on cheques etc.   29
103.   Borrowing Powers   29
104.   Alternate Directors   30
105.   Secretary   31
106.   The Seal   31
107.   Authentication of documents   32
108.   Establishment of reserves   32
109.   Business bought as from past date   32
110.   Final dividends   32
111.   Fixed and interim dividends   33
112.   Distribution in specie   33
113.   No dividend except out of profits   33
114.   Ranking of shares for dividend   33
115.   Manner of payment of dividends   33
116.   Joint holders   34
117.   Record date for dividends   34
118.   No interest on dividends   34
119.   Retention of dividends   34
120.   Unclaimed dividend   34
121.   Waiver of dividend   34
122.   Capitalisation of profits and reserves   35
123.   Scrip dividends   35
124.   Accounting records   37
125.   Copies of accounts for members   37
126.   Validity of Auditor's acts   37
127.   Auditor's right to attend General Meeting   37
128.   Service of notice   38
129.   Joint holders   38
130.   Deceased and bankrupt members   39
131.   Overseas members   39
132.   Suspension of postal services   39
133.   Statutory requirements as to notices   39
134.   Directors' power to petition   39
135.   Distribution of assets in specie   40
136.   Destruction of documents   40
137.   Indemnity   41
138.   NASD requirements   41

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QuickLinks

THE COMPANIES ACT 1985 PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION Adopted on 18 April 2000 and amended by special resolution on 5 November 2002 of BOOKHAM TECHNOLOGY PLC PRELIMINARY
SHARE CAPITAL
SHARES
SHARE CERTIFICATES
CALLS ON SHARES
FORFEITURE AND LIEN
VARIATION OF RIGHTS
TRANSFER OF SHARES
TRANSMISSION OF SHARES
UNTRACED SHAREHOLDERS
GENERAL MEETINGS
NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS
PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS
POLLS
VOTES OF MEMBERS
PROXIES AND CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVES
DIRECTORS
APPOINTMENT AND RETIREMENT OF DIRECTORS
MEETINGS AND PROCEEDINGS OF DIRECTORS
DIRECTORS' INTERESTS
COMMITTEES OF THE DIRECTORS
POWERS OF DIRECTORS
ALTERNATE DIRECTORS
SECRETARY
THE SEAL
AUTHENTICATION OF DOCUMENTS
RESERVES
DIVIDENDS
CAPITALISATION OF PROFITS AND RESERVES
SCRIP DIVIDENDS
ACCOUNTS
AUDITORS
NOTICES
WINDING UP
DESTRUCTION OF DOCUMENTS
INDEMNITY
NASD REQUIREMENTS
Contents