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75. |
In this
Part, |
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"consolidated company" means the new company that results from the
consolidation of 2 or more constituent companies; |
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"consolidation" means the uniting of 2 or more constituent companies into a
new company; |
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"constituent company" means an existing company that is participating in a
merger or consolidation with one or more other existing companies; |
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"merger"
means the merging of 2 or more constituent companies into one of the
constituent companies; |
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"parent
company" means a company that owns at least 90 per cent of the outstanding
shares of each class and series of shares in another company; |
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"subsidiary company" means a company at least 90 per cent of whose
outstanding shares of each class and series of shares are owned by another
company; |
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"surviving
company" means the constituent company into which one or more other
constituent companies are merged. |
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76. |
(1) |
Two or
more companies incorporated under this Act may merge or consolidate in
accordance with subsections (3) to (5). |
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(2) |
One or
more companies incorporated under this Act may merge or consolidate with one
or more companies incorporated under the Companies Act in accordance with
subsections (3) to (5), if the surviving company or the consolidated company
will satisfy the requirements prescribed for an International Business
Company under section 5. |
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(3) |
The
directors of each constituent company that proposes to participate in merger
or consolidation must approve a written plan of merger or consolidation
containing, as the case requires, |
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(a) |
the name
of each constituent company and the name of the surviving company or the
consolidated company; |
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(b) |
in respect
to each constituent company, |
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(i) |
the
designation and number of outstanding shares of each class and series of
shares, specifying each such class and series entitled to vote on the merger
or consolidation, and |
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(ii) |
a
specification of each such class and series, if any, entitled to vote as a
class or series; |
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(c) |
the terms
and conditions of the proposed merger or consolidation, including the manner
and basis of converting shares in each constituent company into shares, debt
obligations or other securities in the surviving company or consolidated
company, or money or other property, or a combination thereof; |
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(d) |
in respect
of a merger, a statement of any amendment to the Memorandum or Articles of
the surviving company to be brought about by the merger; and |
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(e) |
in respect
of a consolidation, everything required to be included in the Memorandum and
Articles for a company incorporated under this Act, except statements as to
facts not available at the time the plan of consolidation is approved by the
directors. |
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(4) |
Some of
all shares of the same class or series of shares in each constituent company
may be converted into a particular or mixed kind of property and other
shares of the class or series, or all shares of other classes or series of
shares, may be converted into other property. |
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(5) |
The
following apply in respect of a merger or consolidation under this section: |
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(a) |
the plan
of merger or consolidation must be authorized by a resolution of members and
the outstanding shares of a class or series of shares are entitled to vote
on the merger or consolidation as a class or series if the Memorandum or
Articles so provide or if the plan of merger or consolidation contains any
provisions that, if contained in a proposed amendment to the Memorandum or
Articles, would entitle the class or series to vote on the proposed
amendment as a class or series; |
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(b) |
if a
meeting of members is to be held, notice of the meeting, accompanied by a
copy of the plan of merger or consolidation, must be given to each member,
whether or not entitled to vote on the merger or consolidation; |
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(c) |
if it is
proposed to obtain the written consent of members, a copy of the plan of
merger or consolidation must be given to each member, whether or not
entitled to consent to the plan of merger or consolidation; |
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(d) |
after
approval of the plan of merger or consolidation by the directors and members
of each constituent company, articles of merger or consolidation must be
executed by each company and must contain |
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(i) |
the plan
of merger or consolidation and, in the case of a consolidation, any
statement required to be included in the Memorandum and Articles for a
company incorporated under this Act; |
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(ii) |
the date
on which the Memorandum and Articles of each constituent company were
registered by the Registrar; |
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(iii) |
the manner
in which the merger or consolidation was authorized with respect to each
constituent company; |
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(e) |
the
articles of merger or consolidation must be submitted to the Registrar who
must retain and register them in the Register; and |
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(f) |
Upon the
registration of the articles of merger or consolidation, the Registrar shall
issue a certificate under his hand and seal certifying that the articles of
merger or consolidation have been registered. |
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(6) |
A
certificate of merger or consolidation issued by the Registrar is prima
facie evidence of compliance with all requirements of this Act in respect of
the merger or consolidation. |
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77. |
(1) |
A parent
company incorporated under this Act may merge with one or more subsidiary
companies incorporated under this Act or under the Companies Act, without
the authorization of the members of any company, in accordance with
subsections (2) to (6), if the surviving company is a company incorporated
under this Act and will satisfy the requirements prescribed for an
International Business Company under section 5. |
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(2) |
The
directors of the parent company must approve a written plan of merger
containing |
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(a) |
the name
of each constituent company and the name of the surviving company; |
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(b) |
in respect
to each constituent company, |
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(i) |
the
designation and number of outstanding shares of each class and series of
shares, and |
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(ii) |
the number
of shares of each class and series of shares in each subsidiary company
owned by the parent company; and |
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(c) |
the terms
and conditions of the proposed merger, including the manner and basis of
converting shares in each company to be merged into shares, debt obligations
or other securities in the surviving company, or money or other property, or
a combination thereof. |
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(3) |
Some or
all shares of the same class or series of shares in each company to be
merged may be converted into property of a particular or mixed kind and
other shares of the class or series, or all shares of other classes or
series of shares, may be converted into other property; but, if the parent
company is not the surviving company, shares of each class and series of
shares in the parent company may only be converted into similar shares of
the surviving company. |
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(4) |
A copy of
the plan of merger or an outline thereof must be given to every member of
each subsidiary company to be merged unless the giving of that copy or
outline has been waived by that member. |
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(5) |
Articles
of merger must be executed by the parent company and must contain |
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(a) |
the plan
of merger; |
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(b) |
the date
on which the Memorandum and Articles of each constituent company were
registered by the Registrar; and |
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(c) |
if the
parent company does not own all shares in each subsidiary company to be
merged, the date on which a copy of the plan of merger or an outline thereof
was made available to the members of each subsidiary company. |
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(6) |
The
articles of merger must be submitted to the Registrar who must retain and
register them in the Register. |
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(7) |
Upon the
registration of the articles of merger, the Registrar shall issue a
certificate under his hand and seal certifying that the articles of merger
have been registered. |
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(8) |
A
certificate of merger issued by the Registrar is prima facie evidence of
compliance with all requirements of this Act in respect of the merger.
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78. |
(1) |
A merger
or consolidation is effective on the date the articles of merger or
consolidation are registered by the Registrar or on such date subsequent
thereto, not exceeding 30 days, as is stated in the articles of merger or
consolidation. |
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(2) |
As soon as
a merger or consolidation becomes effective |
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(a) |
the
surviving company or the consolidated company in so far as is consistent
with its Memorandum and Articles, as amended or established by the articles
of merger or consolidation, has all rights, privileges, immunities, powers,
objects and purposes of each of the constituent companies; |
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(b) |
in the
case of a merger, the Memorandum and Articles of the surviving company are
automatically amended to the extent, if any, that changes in its Memorandum
and Articles are contained in the articles of merger; |
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(c) |
in the
case of a consolidation, the statements contained in the articles of
consolidation that are required or authorized to be contained in the
Memorandum and Articles of a company incorporated under this Act, are the
Memorandum and Articles of the consolidated company; |
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(d) |
property
of every description, including choses in action and the business of each of
the constituent companies, immediately vests in the surviving company or the
consolidated company; and |
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(e) |
the
surviving company or the consolidated company is liable for all claims,
debts, liabilities and obligations of each of the constituent companies. |
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(3) |
Where a
merger or consolidation occurs |
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(a) |
no
conviction, judgement, ruling, order, claim, debt, liability or obligation
due or to become due, and no cause existing, against a constituent company
or against any member, director, officer or agent thereof, is released or
impaired by the merger or consolidation; and |
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(b) |
no
proceedings, whether civil or criminal, pending at the time of a merger or
consolidation by or against a constituent company, or against any member,
director, officer or agent thereof, are abated or discontinued by the merger
or consolidation, but |
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(i) |
the
proceedings may be enforced, prosecuted, settled or compromised by or
against the surviving company or the consolidated company or against the
member, director, officer or agent thereof, as the case may be, or |
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(ii) |
the
surviving company or the consolidated company may be substituted in the
proceedings for a constituent company. |
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(4) |
The
Registrar shall strike off the Register |
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(a) |
a
constituent company that is not the surviving company in a merger; or |
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(b) |
a
constituent company that participates in a consolidation. |
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79. |
(1) |
One or
more companies incorporated under this Act may merge or consolidate with one
or more companies incorporated under the laws of jurisdictions outside the
British Virgin Islands in accordance with subsections (2) to (4), including
where one of the constituent companies is a parent company and the other
constituent companies are subsidiary companies, if the merger or
consolidation is permitted by the laws of the jurisdictions in which the
companies incorporated outside the British Virgin Islands are incorporated. |
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(2) |
The
following apply in respect of a merger or consolidation under this section: |
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(a) |
a company
incorporated under this Act shall comply with the provisions of this Act
with respect to the merger or consolidation, as the case may be, of
companies incorporated under this Act and a company incorporated under the
laws of a jurisdiction outside the British Virgin Islands shall comply with
the laws of that jurisdiction; and |
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(b) |
if the
surviving company or the consolidated company is to be incorporated under
the laws of a jurisdiction outside the British Virgin Islands, it must
submit to the Registrar |
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(i) |
an
agreement that a service of process may be effected on it in the British
Virgin Islands in respect of proceedings for the enforcement of any claim,
debt, liability or obligation of a constituent company incorporated under
this Act or in respect of proceedings for the enforcement of the rights of a
dissenting member of a constituent company incorporated under this Act
against the surviving company or the consolidated company; |
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(ii) |
an
irrevocable appointment of the Registrar as its agent to accept service of
process in proceedings referred to in subparagraph (i); |
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(iii) |
an
agreement that it will promptly pay to the dissenting members of a
constituent company incorporated under this Act the amount, if any, to which
they are entitled under this Act with respect to the rights of dissenting
members; and |
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(iv) |
a
certificate of merger or consolidation issued by the appropriate authority
of the foreign jurisdiction where it is incorporated; or, if no certificate
of merger is issued by the appropriate authority of the foreign
jurisdiction, then, such evidence of the merger or consolidation as the
Registrar considers acceptable. |
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(3) |
The effect
under this section of a merger or consolidation is the same as in the case
of a merger or consolidation under section 76 if the surviving company or
the consolidated company is incorporated under this Act, but if the
surviving company or the consolidated company is incorporated under the laws
of a jurisdiction outside the British Virgin Islands, the effect of the
merger or consolidation is the same as in the case of a merger or
consolidation under section 76 except in so far as the laws of the other
jurisdiction otherwise provide. |
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(4) |
If the
surviving company or the consolidated company is incorporated under this
Act, the merger or consolidation is effective on the date the articles of
merger or consolidation are registered by the Registrar or on such date
subsequent thereto, not exceeding 30 days, as is stated in the articles of
merger or consolidation; but if the surviving company or the consolidated
company is incorporated under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the British
Virgin Islands, the merger or consolidation is effective as provided by the
laws of that other jurisdiction. |
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80. |
Subject to
any limitations or provisions to the contrary in its Memorandum or Articles,
any sale, transfer, lease, exchange or other disposition, other than a
mortgage, charge or other encumbrance or the enforcement thereof, of more
than 50 per cent of the assets of a company incorporated under this Act,
other than a transfer pursuant to the power described in subsection (2) of
section 9, if not made in the usual or regular course of the business
carried on by the company, shall be made as follows: |
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(a) |
the
proposed sale, transfer, lease, exchange or other disposition must be
approved by the directors; |
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(b) |
upon
approval of the proposed sale, transfer, lease, exchange or other
disposition, the directors must submit the proposal to the members for it to
be authorized by a resolution of members; |
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(c) |
if a
meeting of members is to be held, notice of the meeting, accompanied by an
outline of the proposal, must be given to each member, whether or not he is
entitled to vote on the sale, transfer, lease, exchange or other
disposition; and |
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(d) |
if it is
proposed to obtain the written consent of members, an outline of the
proposal must be given to each member, whether or not he is entitled to
consent to the sale, transfer, lease, exchange or other disposition. |
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81. |
(1) |
Subject to
any limitations in the Memorandum or Articles, |
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(a) |
members
holding 90 per cent of the votes of the outstanding shares entitled to vote;
and |
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(b) |
members
holding 90 per cent of the votes of the outstanding shares of each class and
series of shares entitled to vote as a class or series, |
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on a
merger or consolidation under section 76, may give a written instruction to
a company incorporated under this Act directing the company to redeem the
shares held by the remaining members. |
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(2) |
Upon
receipt of the written instruction referred to in subsection (1), the
company shall redeem the shares specified in the written instruction
irrespective of whether or not the shares are by their terms redeemable. |
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(3) |
The
company must give written notice to each member whose shares are to redeemed
stating the redemption price and the manner in which the redemption is to be
effected.
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82. |
(1) |
In this
section, “arrangement” means |
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(a) |
an
amendment to the Memorandum or Articles; |
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(b) |
a
reorganization or reconstruction of a company incorporated under this Act; |
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(c) |
a merger
or consolidation of one or more companies incorporated under this Act with
one or more other companies, if the surviving company or the consolidated
company is a company incorporated under this Act; |
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(d) |
a
separation of two or more businesses carried on by a company incorporated
under this Act; |
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(e) |
any sale,
transfer, exchange or other disposition of any part of the property, assets
or business of a company incorporated under this Act to any person in
exchange for shares, debt obligations or other securities of that other
person, or money or other property, or a combination thereof; |
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(f) |
any sale,
transfer, exchange or other disposition of shares, debt obligations or other
securities in a company incorporated under this Act held by the holders
thereof for shares, debt obligations or other securities in the company or
money or other property, or a combination thereof; |
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(g) |
a
winding-up and dissolution of a company incorporated under this Act; and |
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(h) |
any
combination of any of the things specified in paragraph (a) to (g). |
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(2) |
If the
directors of a company incorporated under this Act determine that it is in
the best interests of the company or the creditors or members thereof, the
directors of the company may, by resolution of directors, approve a plan of
arrangement that contains details of the proposed arrangement, even though
the proposed arrangement may be authorized or permitted by any other
provision of this Act or otherwise permitted. |
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(3) |
Upon
approval of the plan of arrangement by the directors, the company must make
application to the court for approval of the proposed arrangement. |
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(4) |
The court
may, upon an application made to it under subsection (3), make an interim or
a final order that is not subject to an appeal unless a question of law is
involved and in which case notice of appeal must be given within the period
of 20 days immediately following the date of the order, and in making the
order the court may |
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(a) |
determine
what notice, if any, of the proposed arrangement is to be given to any
person; |
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(b) |
determine
whether approval of the proposed arrangement by any person should be
obtained and the manner of obtaining the approval; |
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(c) |
determine
whether any holder of shares, debt obligations or other securities in the
company may dissent from the proposed arrangement and receive payment of the
fair value of his shares, debt obligations or other securities under section
83; |
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(d) |
conduct a
hearing and permit any interested person to appear; and |
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(e) |
approve or
reject the plan of arrangement as proposed or with such amendments as it may
direct. |
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(5) |
Where the
court makes an order approving a plan of arrangement, the directors of the
company, if they are still desirous of executing the plan, shall confirm the
plan of arrangement as approved by the court whether or not the court has
directed any amendments to be made thereto. |
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(6) |
The
directors of the company, upon confirming the plan of arrangement, shall |
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(a) |
give
notice to the persons to whom the order of the court requires notice to be
given; and |
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(b) |
submit the
plan of arrangement to those persons for such approval, if any, as the order
of the court requires. |
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(7) |
After the
plan of arrangement has been approved by those persons by whom the order of
the court may require approval, articles of arrangement must be executed by
the company and must contain |
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(a) |
the plan
of arrangement; |
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(b) |
the order
of the court approving the plan of arrangement; and |
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(c) |
the manner
in which the plan of arrangement was approved, if approval was required by
the order of the court. |
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(8) |
The
articles of arrangement must be submitted to the Registrar who must retain
and register them in the Register. |
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(9) |
Upon the
registration of the articles of arrangement, the Registrar shall issue a
certificate under his hand and seal certifying that the articles of
arrangements have been registered. |
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(10) |
A
certificate of arrangement issued by the Registrar is prima facie evidence
of compliance with all requirements of this Act in respect of the
arrangement. |
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(11) |
An
arrangement is effective on the date the articles of arrangement are
registered by the Registrar or on such date subsequent thereto, not
exceeding 30 days, as is stated in the articles of arrangement. |
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83. |
(1) |
A member
of a company incorporated under this Act is entitled to payment of the fair
value of his shares upon dissenting from |
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(a) |
a merger,
if the company is a constituent company, unless the company is the surviving
company and the member continues to hold the same or similar shares; |
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(b) |
a
consolidation, if the company is a constituent company; |
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(c) |
any sale,
transfer, lease, exchange or other disposition of more than 50 per cent of
the assets or business of the company, if not made in the usual or regular
course of the business carried on by the company, but not including |
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(i) |
a
disposition pursuant to an order of the court having jurisdiction in the
matter; |
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(ii) |
a
disposition for money on terms requiring all or substantially all net
proceeds to be distributed to the members in accordance with their
respective interests within one year after the date of disposition; or |
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(iii) |
a transfer
pursuant to the power described in subsection (2) of section 9; |
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(d) |
a
redemption of his shares by the company pursuant to section 81; and |
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(e) |
an
arrangement, if permitted by the court. |
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(2) |
A member
who desires to exercise his entitlement under subsection (1) must give to
the company, before the meeting of members at which the action is submitted
to a vote, or at the meeting but before the vote, written objection to the
action; but an objection is not required from a member to whom the company
did not give notice of the meeting in accordance with this Act or where the
proposed action is authorized by written consent of members without a
meeting. |
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(3) |
An
objection under subsection (2) must include a statement that the member
proposes to demand payment for his shares if the action is taken. |
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(4) |
Within 20
days immediately following the date on which the vote of members authorizing
the action is taken, or the date on which written consent of members without
a meeting is obtained, the company must give written notice of the
authorization or consent to each member who gave written objection or from
whom written objection was not required, except those members who voted for,
or consented to in writing, the proposed action. |
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(5) |
A member
to whom the company was required to give notice who elects to dissent must,
within 20 days immediately following the date on which the notice referred
to in subsection (4) is given, give to the company a written notice of his
decision to elect to dissent, stating |
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(a) |
his name
and address; |
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(b) |
the number
and classes or series of shares in respect of which he dissents; and |
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(c) |
a demand
for payment of the fair value of his shares; |
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and a
member who elects to dissent from a merger under section 77 must give to the
company a written notice as his decision to elect to dissent within 20 days
immediately following the date on which the copy of the plan of merger or an
outline thereof is given to him in accordance with Section 77. |
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(6) |
A member
who dissents must do so in respect of all shares that he holds in the
company. |
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(7) |
Upon the
giving of a notice of election to dissent, the member to whom the notice
relates ceases to have any of the rights of a member except the right to be
paid the fair value of his shares. |
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(8) |
Within 7
days immediately following the date of the expiration of the period within
which members may give their notices of election to dissent, or within 7
days immediately following the date on which the proposed action is put into
effect, whichever is later, the company or, in the case of a merger or
consolidation, the surviving company or the consolidated company must make a
written offer to each dissenting member to purchase his shares at a
specified price that the company determines to be their fair value; and if,
within 30 days immediately following the date on which the offer is made,
the company making the offer and the dissenting member agree upon the price
to be paid for his shares, the company shall pay to the member the amount in
money upon the surrender of the certificates representing his shares. |
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(9) |
If the
company and a dissenting member fail, within the period of 30 days referred
to in subsection (8), to agree on the price to be paid for the shares owned
by the member, within 20 days immediately following the date on which the
period of 30 days expires, the following shall apply: |
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(a) |
the
company and the dissenting member shall each designate an appraiser; |
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(b) |
the 2
designated appraisers together shall designate an appraiser; |
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(c) |
the 3
appraisers shall fix the fair value of the shares owned by the dissenting
member as of the close of business on the day prior to the date on which the
vote of members authorizing the action was taken or the date on which
written consent of members without a meeting obtained, excluding any
appreciation or depreciation directly or indirectly induced by the action or
its proposal, and that value is binding on the company and the dissenting
member for all purposes; and |
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(d) |
the
company shall pay to the member the amount in money upon the surrender by
him of the certificates representing his shares. |
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(10) |
Shares
acquired by the company pursuant to subsection (8) or (9) shall be cancelled
but if the shares are shares of a surviving company, they shall be available
for reissue. |
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(11) |
The
enforcement by a member of his entitlement under this section excludes the
enforcement by the member of a right to which he might otherwise be entitled
by virtue of his holding shares, except that this section does not exclude
the right of the member to institute proceedings to obtain relief on the
ground that the action is illegal. |
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(12) |
Only
subsections (1) and (8) to (11) shall apply in the case of a redemption of
shares by a company pursuant to the provisions of section 81 and in such
case the written offer to be made to the dissenting member pursuant to
subsection (8) shall be made within 7 days immediately following the
direction given to a company pursuant to section 81 to redeem its shares.
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