UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of December 2025
Commission File Number: 001-41425
金太阳科技集团有限公司
(Translation of registrant’s name into English)
Golden Sun Technology Group Limited
Room 503, Building C2, No. 1599
Xinjinqiao Road, Pudong New Area
Shanghai, China
(Address of principal executive office)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F ☒ Form 40-F ☐
INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS FORM 6-K REPORT
Adoption of the Golden Sun Technology Group Limited 2025 Equity Incentive Plan
On December 10, 2025, the board of directors (the “Board”) of Golden Sun Technology Group Limited (“Golden Sun,” or the “Company”) approved the adoption of the Golden Sun Technology Group Limited 2025 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2025 Plan”) and forms of award agreements (the “Award Agreements”) to be used to grant awards under the 2025 Plan, effective on December 10, 2025 (“Effective Date”).
The 2025 Plan provides for the grant of awards representing the right to acquire, or based on the value of, Golden Sun’s Class A ordinary shares (“Class A Shares”), and includes option awards, stock appreciation rights awards, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards, performance awards, dividend equivalent awards and other share or cash based awards (each, and “Award”, collectively, the “Awards”) to eligible participants of the 2025 Plan or any related entity, as defined in the 2025 Plan.
The maximum number of Class A Shares that may be issued under the 2025 Plan is 1,309,330 Class A Shares, equivalent to 15% of the total number of ordinary shares (“Ordinary Shares”) of the Company (including both Class A Shares and Class B ordinary shares) issued and outstanding as of the Effective Date. Beginning on January 1, 2027, and continuing annually on each anniversary thereof through and including January 1, 2035, the number of Class A Shares available for issuance under the 2025 Plan shall be increased by a number of shares equal to the lesser of (i) 5% of the total number of Ordinary Shares of the Company issued and outstanding on the last day of the immediately preceding calendar year and (ii) such smaller number of Class A Shares as determined by the Board or the compensation committee of the Board (“Compensation Committee”).
The 2025 Plan will be administered by the Board, or the Compensation Committee of the Board to which authority under the 2025 Plan has been delegated, or any officer to whom the Board or such committee has delegated authority (the “Plan Administrator”). The Plan administrator is authorized, subject to the 2025 Plan, to designate the participants who are eligible to receive the Awards, to determine the type and number of Awards to be granted, and the terms and conditions of each Award grant, among other authorities described in the 2025Plan.
The Board may amend, alter, suspend or terminate the 2025 Plan at any time, subject to certain limitations described in the 2025 Plan.
The foregoing descriptions and summaries of the 2025 Plan do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the 2025 Plan, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1.
Adoption of an Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association
As previously reported in the Current Report on Form 6-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on September 30, 2025, the Company conducted a 2025 annual general meeting of all shareholders (the “AGM”) on September 25, 2025.
At the AGM, the Company’s shareholders, among other items, approved and adopted an Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (the “Amended M&A”) to reflect the approval of certain proposed amendments to the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association as further described in the Company’s Notice and Proxy Statement for the AGM, which was mailed to all shareholders and filed with the SEC in a Current Report on Form 6-K on August 15, 2025 (the “AGM Proxy Statement”).
The Amended M&A became effective on September 25, 2025.
The foregoing descriptions and summaries contained in the Amended M&A do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Amended M&A, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1.
Adoption of Home Country Exemption
As a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands and listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”), the Company is subject to the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards. Under the Nasdaq Rule 5600 Series (“Nasdaq Rules”), a foreign private issuer may generally follow its home country corporate governance practices in lieu of certain Nasdaq corporate governance requirements. Pursuant to the home country practice exemption under the Nasdaq Rules, which permits (with certain exceptions not relevant to the conclusions expressed herein) a foreign private issuer to follow its home country practices in place of applicable Nasdaq requirements, the Company has elected to rely on the following exemptions:
| (i) | Nasdaq Rule 5635(c) provides (with certain exceptions not relevant to the conclusions expressed herein) that each company listed on NASDAQ is required to obtain shareholder approval prior to the issuance of securities when a stock option or purchase plan or other equity compensation arrangement is established or materially amended. |
| (ii) | Nasdaq Rule 5620(a) provides (with certain exceptions not relevant to the conclusions expressed herein) that each company listing common stock or voting preferred stock, and/or their equivalents, must hold an annual meeting of shareholders no later than one year after the end of the company’s fiscal year. |
| (iii) | Nasdaq 5605(b)(2) provides (with certain exceptions not relevant to the conclusions expressed herein) that the independent directors must have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present. |
A copy of the home country rule exemption letter issued by the Company’s legal counsel, Ogier (Cayman) LLP, is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
Except as described above, there are no significant differences between the Company’s corporate governance practices and the corporate governance requirements applicable to domestic U.S. companies under the Nasdaq Rules.
EXHIBIT INDEX
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| Golden Sun Technology Group Limited | |||
| By: | /s/ Xueyuan Weng | ||
| Name: | Xueyuan Weng | ||
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | ||
Date: December 10, 2025
Exhibit 3.1
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Companies Act (Revised)
Company Limited by Shares
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AMENDED AND RESTATED MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION OF GOLDEN SUN TECHNOLOGY GROUP LIMITED 金太阳科技集团有限公司
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| Adopted by special resolution on September 25, 2025 | ||

Companies Act (Revised)
Company Limited by Shares
Amended and Restated
Memorandum of Association
of
Golden Sun Technology Group Limited
金太阳科技集团有限公司
Adopted by special resolution on September 25,2025
| 1 | The name of the Company is Golden Sun Technology Group Limited. |
| 2 | The dual foreign name of the Company is 金太阳科技集团有限公司. |
| 3 | The Company’s registered office will be situated at the office of Vistra (Cayman) Limited, P.O. Box 31119, Grand Pavilion, Hibiscus Way, 802 West Bay Road, Grand Cayman KY1-1205, Cayman Islands or at such other place in the Cayman Islands as the directors may at any time decide. |
| 4 | The Company’s objects are unrestricted. As provided by section 7(4) of the Companies Act (Revised), the Company has full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by any law of the Cayman Islands. |
| 5 | The Company has unrestricted corporate capacity. Without limitation to the foregoing, as provided by section 27(2) of the Companies Act (Revised), the Company has and is capable of exercising all the functions of a natural person of full capacity irrespective of any question of corporate benefit. |
| 6 | Nothing in any of the preceding paragraphs permits the Company to carry on any of the following businesses without being duly licensed, namely: |
| (a) | the business of a bank or trust company without being licensed in that behalf under the Banks and Trust Companies Act (Revised); or |
| (b) | insurance business from within the Cayman Islands or the business of an insurance manager, agent, sub-agent or broker without being licensed in that behalf under the Insurance Act (Revised); or |
| (c) | the business of company management without being licensed in that behalf under the Companies Management Act (Revised). |
| 7 | The Company will not trade in the Cayman Islands with any person, firm or corporation except in furtherance of its business carried on outside the Cayman Islands. Despite this, the Company may effect and conclude contracts in the Cayman Islands and exercise in the Cayman Islands any of its powers necessary for the carrying on of its business outside the Cayman Islands. |
| 8 | The Company is a company limited by shares and accordingly the liability of each member is limited to the amount (if any) unpaid on that member’s shares. |
| 9 | The share capital of the Company is US$1,000,000 divided into 180,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares with a par value of US$0.005 each and 20,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares with a par value of US$0.005 each. Other than as set out in the preceding sentence, there is no limit on the number of shares of any class which the Company is authorised to issue. However, subject to the Companies Act (Revised) and the Company’s articles of association, the Company has power to do any one or more of the following: |
| (a) | redeem or repurchase any of its shares; |
| (b) | increase or reduce its capital; |
| (c) | issue any part of its capital (whether original, redeemed, increased or reduced): |
| (i) | with or without any preferential, deferred, qualified or special rights, privileges or conditions; or |
| (ii) | subject to any limitations or restrictions |
and unless the condition of issue expressly declares otherwise, every issue of shares (whether declared to be ordinary, preference or otherwise) is subject to this power; and
| (d) | alter any of those rights, privileges, conditions, limitations or restrictions. |
| 10 | The Company has power to register by way of continuation as a body corporate limited by shares under the laws of any jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands and to be deregistered in the Cayman Islands. |
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Companies Act (Revised)
Company Limited By Shares
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AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF GOLDEN SUN TECHNOLOGY GROUP LIMITED 金太阳科技集团有限公司
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(Adopted by special resolution passed on September 25, 2025) |
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CONTENTS
| 1 | Definitions, interpretation and exclusion of Table A | 1 |
| Definitions | 1 | |
| Interpretation | 4 | |
| Exclusion of Table A Articles | 5 | |
| 2 | Shares | 5 |
| Power to issue Shares and options, with or without special rights | 5 | |
| Power to pay commissions and brokerage fees | 5 | |
| Trusts not recognised | 6 | |
| Security interests | 6 | |
| Power to vary class rights | 6 | |
| Effect of new Share issue on existing class rights | 7 | |
| No bearer Shares or warrants | 7 | |
| Treasury Shares | 7 | |
| Rights attaching to Treasury Shares and related matters | 7 | |
| Register of Members | 8 | |
| Annual Return | 8 | |
| 3 | Share certificates | 8 |
| Issue of share certificates | 8 | |
| Renewal of lost or damaged share certificates | 9 | |
| 4 | Lien on Shares | 9 |
| Nature and scope of lien | 9 | |
| Company may sell Shares to satisfy lien | 9 | |
| Authority to execute instrument of transfer | 10 | |
| Consequences of sale of Shares to satisfy lien | 10 | |
| Application of proceeds of sale | 10 | |
| 5 | Calls on Shares and forfeiture | 11 |
| Power to make calls and effect of calls | 11 | |
| Time when call made | 11 | |
| Liability of joint holders | 11 | |
| Interest on unpaid calls | 11 | |
| Deemed calls | 12 | |
| Power to accept early payment | 12 | |
| Power to make different arrangements at time of issue of Shares | 12 | |
| Notice of default | 12 | |
| Forfeiture or surrender of Shares | 12 | |
| Disposal of forfeited or surrendered Share and power to cancel forfeiture or surrender | 13 | |
| Effect of forfeiture or surrender on former Member | 13 | |
| Evidence of forfeiture or surrender | 13 | |
| Sale of forfeited or surrendered Shares | 14 | |
| 6 | Transfer of Shares | 14 |
| Right to transfer | 14 | |
| Suspension of transfers | 15 | |
| Company may retain instrument of transfer | 15 | |
| Notice of refusal to register | 15 | |
| 7 | Transmission of Shares | 15 |
| Persons entitled on death of a Member | 15 | |
| Registration of transfer of a Share following death or bankruptcy | 15 | |
| Indemnity | 16 | |
| Rights of person entitled to a Share following death or bankruptcy | 16 | |
| 8 | Alteration of capital | 16 |
| Increasing, consolidating, converting, dividing and cancelling share capital | 16 | |
| Dealing with fractions resulting from consolidation of Shares | 17 | |
| Reducing share capital | 17 | |
| 9 | Conversion, redemption and purchase of own Shares | 17 |
| Power to issue redeemable Shares and to purchase own Shares | 17 | |
| Power to pay for redemption or purchase in cash or in specie | 18 | |
| Effect of redemption or purchase of a Share | 18 | |
| Conversion Rights | 19 | |
| Share Conversions | 19 | |
| 10 | Meetings of Members | 19 |
| Annual and extraordinary general meetings | 19 | |
| Power to call meetings | 19 | |
| Content of notice | 20 | |
| Period of notice | 21 | |
| Persons entitled to receive notice | 21 | |
| Accidental omission to give notice or non-receipt of notice | 21 | |
| 11 | Proceedings at meetings of Members | 22 |
| Quorum | 22 | |
| Lack of quorum | 22 | |
| Chairman | 22 | |
| Right of a Director to attend and speak | 22 | |
| Accommodation of Members at meeting | 22 | |
| Security | 23 | |
| Adjournment | 23 | |
| Method of voting | 23 | |
| Outcome of vote by show of hands | 24 | |
| Withdrawal of demand for a poll | 24 | |
| Taking of a poll | 24 | |
| Chairman’s casting vote | 24 | |
| Written resolutions | 24 | |
| Sole-Member Company | 25 | |
| 12 | Voting rights of Members | 25 |
| Right to vote | 25 | |
| Voting Rights | 25 | |
| Rights of joint holders | 26 | |
| Representation of corporate Members | 26 | |
| Member with mental disorder | 26 | |
| Objections to admissibility of votes | 27 | |
| Form of proxy | 27 | |
| How and when proxy is to be delivered | 28 | |
| Voting by proxy | 29 | |
| 13 | Number of Directors | 29 |
| 14 | Appointment, disqualification and removal of Directors | 30 |
| First Directors | 30 | |
| No age limit | 30 | |
| Corporate Directors | 30 | |
| No shareholding qualification | 30 | |
| Appointment of Directors | 30 | |
| Board’s power to appoint Directors | 30 | |
| Eligibility | 31 | |
| Appointment at annual general meeting | 31 | |
| Removal of Directors | 31 | |
| Resignation of Directors | 31 | |
| Termination of the office of Director | 31 | |
| 15 | Alternate Directors | 32 |
| Appointment and removal | 32 | |
| Notices | 33 | |
| Rights of alternate Director | 33 | |
| Appointment ceases when the appointor ceases to be a Director | 33 | |
| Status of alternate Director | 33 | |
| Status of the Director making the appointment | 34 | |
| 16 | Powers of Directors | 34 |
| Powers of Directors | 34 | |
| Directors below the minimum number | 34 | |
| Appointments to office | 34 | |
| Provisions for employees | 35 | |
| Exercise of voting rights | 35 | |
| Remuneration | 35 | |
| Disclosure of information | 36 | |
| 17 | Delegation of powers | 36 |
| Power to delegate any of the Directors’ powers to a committee | 36 | |
| Local boards | 37 | |
| Power to appoint an agent of the Company | 37 | |
| Power to appoint an attorney or authorised signatory of the Company | 37 | |
| Borrowing Powers | 38 | |
| Corporate Governance | 38 | |
| 18 | Meetings of Directors | 38 |
| Regulation of Directors’ meetings | 38 | |
| Calling meetings | 38 | |
| Notice of meetings | 39 | |
| Use of technology | 39 | |
| Quorum | 39 | |
| Chairman or deputy to preside | 39 | |
| Voting | 39 | |
| Recording of dissent | 39 | |
| Written resolutions | 40 | |
| Validity of acts of Directors in spite of formal defect | 40 | |
| 19 | Permissible Directors’ interests and disclosure | 40 |
| 20 | Minutes | 41 |
| 21 | Accounts and audit | 42 |
| Auditors | 42 | |
| 22 | Record dates | 42 |
| 23 | Dividends | 43 |
| Source of dividends | 43 | |
| Declaration of dividends by Members | 43 | |
| Payment of interim dividends and declaration of final dividends by Directors | 43 | |
| Apportionment of dividends | 44 | |
| Right of set off | 44 | |
| Power to pay other than in cash | 44 | |
| How payments may be made | 45 | |
| Dividends or other monies not to bear interest in absence of special rights | 45 | |
| Dividends unable to be paid or unclaimed | 45 | |
| 24 | Capitalisation of profits | 46 |
| Capitalisation of profits or of any share premium account or capital redemption reserve; | 46 | |
| Applying an amount for the benefit of Members | 46 | |
| 25 | Share Premium Account | 46 |
| Directors to maintain share premium account | 46 | |
| Debits to share premium account | 46 | |
| 26 | Seal | 47 |
| Company seal | 47 | |
| Duplicate seal | 47 | |
| When and how seal is to be used | 47 | |
| If no seal is adopted or used | 47 | |
| Power to allow non-manual signatures and facsimile printing of seal | 47 | |
| Validity of execution | 48 | |
| 27 | Indemnity | 48 |
| Release | 49 | |
| Insurance | 49 | |
| 28 | Notices | 49 |
| Form of notices | 49 | |
| Electronic communications | 49 | |
| Persons entitled to notices | 51 | |
| Persons authorised to give notices | 51 | |
| Delivery of written notices | 51 | |
| Joint holders | 51 | |
| Signatures | 51 | |
| Giving notice to a deceased or bankrupt Member | 52 | |
| Date of giving notices | 52 | |
| Saving provision | 52 | |
| 29 | Authentication of Electronic Records | 53 |
| Application of Articles | 53 | |
| Authentication of documents sent by Members by Electronic means | 53 | |
| Authentication of document sent by the Secretary or Officers of the Company by Electronic means | 53 | |
| Manner of signing | 54 | |
| Saving provision | 54 | |
| 30 | Transfer by way of continuation | 54 |
| 31 | Winding up | 55 |
| Distribution of assets in specie | 55 | |
| No obligation to accept liability | 55 | |
| 32 | Amendment of Memorandum and Articles | 55 |
| Power to change name or amend Memorandum | 55 | |
| Power to amend these Articles | 55 | |
Companies Act (Revised)
Company Limited by Shares
Third Amended and Restated
Articles of Association
of
Golden Sun Technology Group Limited
金太阳科技集团有限公司
(Adopted by special resolution passed on September 25, 2025)
| 1 | Definitions, interpretation and exclusion of Table A |
Definitions
| 1.1 | In these Articles, the following definitions apply: |
ADS means an American depository share representing an Ordinary Share;
Articles means, as appropriate:
| (a) | these articles of association as amended from time to time: or |
| (b) | two or more particular articles of these Articles; |
and Article refers to a particular article of these Articles;
Auditors means the auditor or auditors for the time being of the Company;
Board means the board of Directors from time to time;
Business Day means a day when banks in Grand Cayman, the Cayman Islands are open for the transaction of normal banking business and for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday in the Cayman Islands;
Cayman Islands means the British Overseas Territory of the Cayman Islands;
Class A Ordinary Share means an Ordinary Share designated by the directors as a Class A Ordinary Share;
Class B Ordinary Share means an Ordinary Share designated by the directors as a Class B Ordinary Share;
Clear Days, in relation to a period of notice, means that period excluding:
| (a) | the day when the notice is given or deemed to be given; and |
| (b) | the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect; |
Commission means Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States of America or other federal agency for the time being administering the U.S. Securities Act;
Company means the above-named company;
Default Rate means ten per cent per annum;
Designated Stock Exchanges means the Nasdaq Stock Market in the United States of America for so long as the Company’s Shares or ADSs are there listed and any other stock exchange on which the Company’s Shares or ADSs are listed for trading;
Designated Stock Exchange Rules means the relevant code, rules and regulations, as amended, from time to time, applicable as a result of the original and continued listing of any Shares or ADSs on the Designated Stock Exchanges;
Directors means the directors for the time being of the Company and the expression Director shall be construed accordingly;
Electronic has the meaning given to that term in the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands;
Electronic Record has the meaning given to that term in the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands;
Electronic Signature has the meaning given to that term in the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands;
Fully Paid Up means:
| (a) | in relation to a Share with par value, means that the par value for that Share and any premium payable in respect of the issue of that Share, has been fully paid or credited as paid in money or money’s worth; and |
| (b) | in relation to a Share without par value, means that the agreed issue price for that Share has been fully paid or credited as paid in money or money’s worth; |
General Meeting means a general meeting of the Company duly constituted in accordance with the Articles;
Independent Director means a Director who is an independent director as defined in the Designated Stock Exchange Rules as determined by the Board;
Law means the Companies Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands, including any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force;
Member means any person or persons entered on the register of Members from time to time as the holder of a Share;
Memorandum means the memorandum of association of the Company as amended from time to time;
month means a calendar month;
Officer means a person appointed to hold an office in the Company including a Director, alternate Director or liquidator and excluding the Secretary;
Ordinary Resolution means a resolution of a General Meeting passed by a simple majority of Members who (being entitled to do so) vote in person or by proxy at that meeting. The expression includes a unanimous written resolution;
Ordinary Share means an ordinary share in the capital of the Company having the rights set out in these Articles and issued as either a Class A Ordinary Share or as a Class B Ordinary Share. In these Articles the term Ordinary Share shall embrace all classes of Ordinary Share except where reference is made to a specific class;
Partly Paid Up means:
| (a) | in relation to a Share with par value, that the par value for that Share and any premium payable in respect of the issue of that Share, has not been fully paid or credited as paid in money or money’s worth; and |
| (b) | in relation to a Share without par value, means that the agreed issue price for that Share has not been fully paid or credited as paid in money or money’s worth; |
Register of Members means the register of Members maintained in accordance with the Law and includes (except where otherwise stated) any branch or duplicate register of the Members;
Secretary means a person appointed to perform the duties of the secretary of the Company, including a joint, assistant or deputy secretary;
Share means a share in the capital of the Company (including a Class AB Share and an Ordinary Share) and the expression:
| (a) | includes stock (except where a distinction between shares and stock is expressed or implied); and |
| (b) | where the context permits, also includes a fraction of a Share; |
Special Resolution means a resolution of a General Meeting or a resolution of a meeting of the holders of any class of Shares in a class meeting duly constituted in accordance with the Articles in each case passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of Members who (being entitled to do so) vote in person or by proxy at that meeting. The expression includes a unanimous written resolution;
Treasury Shares means Shares held in treasury pursuant to the Law and Article 2.13; and
U.S. Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933 of the United States of America, as amended, or any similar federal statute and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.
Interpretation
| 1.2 | In the interpretation of these Articles, the following provisions apply unless the context otherwise requires: |
| (a) | A reference in these Articles to a statute is a reference to a statute of the Cayman Islands as known by its short title, and includes: |
| (i) | any statutory modification, amendment or re-enactment; and |
| (ii) | any subordinate legislation or regulations issued under that statute. |
Without limitation to the preceding sentence, a reference to a revised Law of the Cayman Islands is taken to be a reference to the revision of that Law in force from time to time as amended from time to time.
| (b) | Headings are inserted for convenience only and do not affect the interpretation of these Articles, unless there is ambiguity. |
| (c) | If a day on which any act, matter or thing is to be done under these Articles is not a Business Day, the act, matter or thing must be done on the next Business Day. |
| (d) | A word which denotes the singular also denotes the plural, a word which denotes the plural also denotes the singular, and a reference to any gender also denotes the other genders. |
| (e) | A reference to a person includes, as appropriate, a company, trust, partnership, joint venture, association, body corporate or government agency. |
| (f) | Where a word or phrase is given a defined meaning another part of speech or grammatical form in respect to that word or phrase has a corresponding meaning. |
| (g) | All references to time are to be calculated by reference to time in the place where the Company’s registered office is located. |
| (h) | The words written and in writing include all modes of representing or reproducing words in a visible form, but do not include an Electronic Record where the distinction between a document in writing and an Electronic Record is expressed or implied. |
| (i) | The words including, include and in particular or any similar expression are to be construed without limitation. |
| 1.3 | The headings in these Articles are intended for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of these Articles. |
Exclusion of Table A Articles
| 1.4 | The regulations contained in Table A in the First Schedule of the Law and any other regulations contained in any statute or subordinate legislation are expressly excluded and do not apply to the Company. |
| 2 | Shares |
Power to issue Shares and options, with or without special rights
| 2.1 | Subject to the provisions of the Law and these Articles about the redemption and purchase of the Shares, the Directors have general and unconditional authority to allot (with or without confirming rights of renunciation), grant options over or otherwise deal with any unissued Shares to such persons, at such times and on such terms and conditions as they may decide. No Share may be issued at a discount except in accordance with the provisions of the Law. |
| 2.2 | Without limitation to the preceding Article, the Directors may so deal with the unissued Shares: |
| (a) | either at a premium or at par; or |
| (b) | with or without preferred, deferred or other special rights or restrictions, whether in regard to dividend, voting, return of capital or otherwise. |
| 2.3 | Without limitation to the two preceding Articles, the Directors may refuse to accept any application for Shares, and may accept any application in whole or in part, for any reason or for no reason. |
Power to pay commissions and brokerage fees
| 2.4 | The Company may pay a commission to any person in consideration of that person: |
| (a) | subscribing or agreeing to subscribe, whether absolutely or conditionally; or |
| (b) | procuring or agreeing to procure subscriptions, whether absolute or conditional, |
for any Shares. That commission may be satisfied by the payment of cash or the allotment of Fully Paid Up or Partly Paid Up Shares or partly in one way and partly in another.
| 2.5 | The Company may employ a broker in the issue of its capital and pay him any proper commission or brokerage. |
Trusts not recognised
| 2.6 | Except as required by Law: |
| (a) | no person shall be recognised by the Company as holding any Share on any trust; and |
| (b) | no person other than the Member shall be recognised by the Company as having any right in a Share. |
Security interests
| 2.7 | Notwithstanding the preceding Article, the Company may (but shall not be obliged to) recognise a security interest of which it has actual notice over shares. The Company shall not be treated as having recognised any such security interest unless it has so agreed in writing with the secured party. |
Power to vary class rights
| 2.8 | If the share capital is divided into different classes of Shares then, unless the terms on which a class of Shares was issued state otherwise, the rights attaching to a class of Shares may only be varied if one of the following applies: |
| (a) | the Members holding not less than two-thirds of the issued Shares of that class consent in writing to the variation; or |
| (b) | the variation is made with the sanction of a Special Resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the Members holding the issued Shares of that class. |
| 2.9 | For the purpose of Article 2.8(b), all the provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings apply, mutatis mutandis, to every such separate meeting except that: |
| (a) | the necessary quorum shall be one or more persons holding, or representing by proxy, not less than one third of the issued Shares of the class; and |
| (b) | any Member holding issued Shares of the class, present in person or by proxy or, in the case of a corporate Member, by its duly authorised representative, may demand a poll. |
| 2.10 | For the purposes of a separate class meeting, the Directors may treat two or more or all the classes of Shares as forming one class of Shares if the Directors consider that such classes of Shares would be affected in the same way by the proposals under consideration, but in any other case shall treat them as separate classes of Shares. |
Effect of new Share issue on existing class rights
| 2.11 | Unless the terms on which a class of Shares was issued state otherwise, the rights conferred on the Member holding Shares of any class shall not be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further Shares ranking pari passu with the existing Shares of that class. |
No bearer Shares or warrants
| 2.12 | The Company shall not issue Shares or warrants to bearers. |
Treasury Shares
| 2.13 | Shares that the Company purchases, redeems or acquires by way of surrender in accordance with the Law shall be held as Treasury Shares and not treated as cancelled if: |
| (a) | the Directors so determine prior to the purchase, redemption or surrender of those shares; and |
| (b) | the relevant provisions of the Memorandum and Articles and the Law are otherwise complied with. |
Rights attaching to Treasury Shares and related matters
| 2.14 | No dividend may be declared or paid, and no other distribution (whether in cash or otherwise) of the Company’s assets (including any distribution of assets to Members on a winding up) may be made to the Company in respect of a Treasury Share. |
| 2.15 | The Company shall be entered in the register of Members as the holder of the Treasury Shares. However: |
| (a) | the Company shall not be treated as a Member for any purpose and shall not exercise any right in respect of the Treasury Shares, and any purported exercise of such a right shall be void; and |
| (b) | a Treasury Share shall not be voted, directly or indirectly, at any meeting of the Company and shall not be counted in determining the total number of issued shares at any given time, whether for the purposes of these Articles or the Law. |
| 2.16 | Nothing in Article 2.15 prevents an allotment of Shares as Fully Paid Up bonus shares in respect of a Treasury Share and Shares allotted as Fully Paid Up bonus shares in respect of a Treasury Share shall be treated as Treasury Shares. |
| 2.17 | Treasury Shares may be disposed of by the Company in accordance with the Law and otherwise on such terms and conditions as the Directors determine. |
Register of Members
| 2.18 | The Directors shall keep or cause to be kept a register of Members as required by the Law and may cause the Company to maintain one or more branch registers as contemplated by the Law, provided that where the Company is maintaining one or more branch registers, the Directors shall ensure that a duplicate of each branch register is kept with the Company’s principal register of Members and updated within such number of days of any amendment having been made to such branch register as may be required by the Law. |
Annual Return
| 2.19 | The Directors in each calendar year shall prepare or cause to be prepared an annual return and declaration setting forth the particulars required by the Law and shall deliver a copy thereof to the registrar of companies for the Cayman Islands. |
| 3 | Share certificates |
Issue of share certificates
| 3.1 | A Member shall only be entitled to a share certificate if the Directors resolve that share certificates shall be issued. Share certificates representing Shares, if any, shall be in such form as the Directors may determine. If the Directors resolve that share certificates shall be issued, upon being entered in the register of Members as the holder of a Share, the Directors may issue to any Member: |
| (a) | without payment, one certificate for all the Shares of each class held by that Member (and, upon transferring a part of the Member’s holding of Shares of any class, to a certificate for the balance of that holding); and |
| (b) | upon payment of such reasonable sum as the Directors may determine for every certificate after the first, several certificates each for one or more of that Member’s Shares. |
| 3.2 | Every certificate shall specify the number, class and distinguishing numbers (if any) of the Shares to which it relates and whether they are Fully Paid Up or Partly Paid Up. A certificate may be executed under seal or executed in such other manner as the Directors determine. |
| 3.3 | Every certificate shall bear legends required under the applicable laws, including the U.S. Securities Act. |
| 3.4 | The Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate for Shares held jointly by several persons and delivery of a certificate for a Share to one joint holder shall be a sufficient delivery to all of them. |
Renewal of lost or damaged share certificates
| 3.5 | If a share certificate is defaced, worn-out, lost or destroyed, it may be renewed on such terms (if any) as to: |
| (a) | evidence; |
| (b) | indemnity; |
| (c) | payment of the expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in investigating the evidence; and |
| (d) | payment of a reasonable fee, if any for issuing a replacement share certificate, |
as the Directors may determine, and (in the case of defacement or wearing-out) on delivery to the Company of the old certificate.
| 4 | Lien on Shares |
Nature and scope of lien
| 4.1 | The Company has a first and paramount lien on all Shares (whether Fully Paid Up or not) registered in the name of a Member (whether solely or jointly with others). The lien is for all monies payable to the Company by the Member or the Member’s estate: |
| (a) | either alone or jointly with any other person, whether or not that other person is a Member; and |
| (b) | whether or not those monies are presently payable. |
| 4.2 | At any time the Board may declare any Share to be wholly or partly exempt from the provisions of this Article. |
Company may sell Shares to satisfy lien
| 4.3 | The Company may sell any Shares over which it has a lien if all of the following conditions are met: |
| (a) | the sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable; |
| (b) | the Company gives notice to the Member holding the Share (or to the person entitled to it in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of that Member) demanding payment and stating that if the notice is not complied with the Shares may be sold; and |
| (c) | that sum is not paid within fourteen Clear Days after that notice is deemed to be given under these Articles, |
and Shares to which this Article 4.3 applies shall be referred to as Lien Default Shares.
| 4.4 | The Lien Default Shares may be sold in such manner as the Board determines. |
| 4.5 | To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Directors shall incur no personal liability to the Member concerned in respect of the sale. |
Authority to execute instrument of transfer
| 4.6 | To give effect to a sale, the Directors may authorise any person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Lien Default Shares sold to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. |
| 4.7 | The title of the transferee of the Lien Default Shares shall not be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in respect of the sale. |
Consequences of sale of Shares to satisfy lien
| 4.8 | On a sale pursuant to the preceding Articles: |
| (a) | the name of the Member concerned shall be removed from the register of Members as the holder of those Lien Default Shares; and |
| (b) | that person shall deliver to the Company for cancellation the certificate (if any) for those Lien Default Shares. |
| 4.9 | Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 4.8, such person shall remain liable to the Company for all monies which, at the date of sale, were presently payable by him to the Company in respect of those Lien Default Shares. That person shall also be liable to pay interest on those monies from the date of sale until payment at the rate at which interest was payable before that sale or, failing that, at the Default Rate. The Board may waive payment wholly or in part or enforce payment without any allowance for the value of the Lien Default Shares at the time of sale or for any consideration received on their disposal. |
Application of proceeds of sale
| 4.10 | The net proceeds of the sale, after payment of the costs, shall be applied in payment of so much of the sum for which the lien exists as is presently payable. Any residue shall be paid to the person whose Lien Default Shares have been sold: |
| (a) | if no certificate for the Lien Default Shares was issued, at the date of the sale; or |
| (b) | if a certificate for the Lien Default Shares was issued, upon surrender to the Company of that certificate for cancellation |
but, in either case, subject to the Company retaining a like lien for all sums not presently payable as existed on the Lien Default Shares before the sale.
| 5 | Calls on Shares and forfeiture |
Power to make calls and effect of calls
| 5.1 | Subject to the terms of allotment, the Board may make calls on the Members in respect of any monies unpaid on their Shares including any premium. The call may provide for payment to be by instalments. Subject to receiving at least 14 Clear Days’ notice specifying when and where payment is to be made, each Member shall pay to the Company the amount called on his Shares as required by the notice. |
| 5.2 | Before receipt by the Company of any sum due under a call, that call may be revoked in whole or in part and payment of a call may be postponed in whole or in part. Where a call is to be paid in instalments, the Company may revoke the call in respect of all or any remaining instalments in whole or in part and may postpone payment of all or any of the remaining instalments in whole or in part. |
| 5.3 | A Member on whom a call is made shall remain liable for that call notwithstanding the subsequent transfer of the Shares in respect of which the call was made. He shall not be liable for calls made after he is no longer registered as Member in respect of those Shares. |
Time when call made
| 5.4 | A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the Directors authorising the call was passed. |
Liability of joint holders
| 5.5 | Members registered as the joint holders of a Share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect of the Share. |
Interest on unpaid calls
| 5.6 | If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the person from whom it is due and payable shall pay interest on the amount unpaid from the day it became due and payable until it is paid: |
| (a) | at the rate fixed by the terms of allotment of the Share or in the notice of the call; or |
| (b) | if no rate is fixed, at the Default Rate. |
The Directors may waive payment of the interest wholly or in part.
Deemed calls
| 5.7 | Any amount payable in respect of a Share, whether on allotment or on a fixed date or otherwise, shall be deemed to be payable as a call. If the amount is not paid when due the provisions of these Articles shall apply as if the amount had become due and payable by virtue of a call. |
Power to accept early payment
| 5.8 | The Company may accept from a Member the whole or a part of the amount remaining unpaid on Shares held by him although no part of that amount has been called up. |
Power to make different arrangements at time of issue of Shares
| 5.9 | Subject to the terms of allotment, the Directors may make arrangements on the issue of Shares to distinguish between Members in the amounts and times of payment of calls on their Shares. |
Notice of default
| 5.10 | If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the Directors may give to the person from whom it is due not less than 14 Clear Days’ notice requiring payment of: |
| (a) | the amount unpaid; |
| (b) | any interest which may have accrued; |
| (c) | any expenses which have been incurred by the Company due to that person’s default. |
| 5.11 | The notice shall state the following: |
| (a) | the place where payment is to be made; and |
| (b) | a warning that if the notice is not complied with the Shares in respect of which the call is made will be liable to be forfeited. |
Forfeiture or surrender of Shares
| 5.12 | If the notice given pursuant to Article 5.10 is not complied with, the Directors may, before the payment required by the notice has been received, resolve that any Share the subject of that notice be forfeited. The forfeiture shall include all dividends or other monies payable in respect of the forfeited Share and not paid before the forfeiture. Despite the foregoing, the Board may determine that any Share the subject of that notice be accepted by the Company as surrendered by the Member holding that Share in lieu of forfeiture. |
Disposal of forfeited or surrendered Share and power to cancel forfeiture or surrender
| 5.13 | A forfeited or surrendered Share may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the Board determine either to the former Member who held that Share or to any other person. The forfeiture or surrender may be cancelled on such terms as the Directors think fit at any time before a sale, re-allotment or other disposition. Where, for the purposes of its disposal, a forfeited or surrendered Share is to be transferred to any person, the Directors may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Share to the transferee. |
Effect of forfeiture or surrender on former Member
| 5.14 | On forfeiture or surrender: |
| (a) | the name of the Member concerned shall be removed from the register of Members as the holder of those Shares and that person shall cease to be a Member in respect of those Shares; and |
| (b) | that person shall surrender to the Company for cancellation the certificate (if any) for the forfeited or surrendered Shares. |
| 5.15 | Despite the forfeiture or surrender of his Shares, that person shall remain liable to the Company for all monies which at the date of forfeiture or surrender were presently payable by him to the Company in respect of those Shares together with: |
| (a) | all expenses; and |
| (b) | interest from the date of forfeiture or surrender until payment: |
| (i) | at the rate of which interest was payable on those monies before forfeiture; or |
| (ii) | if no interest was so payable, at the Default Rate. |
The Directors, however, may waive payment wholly or in part.
Evidence of forfeiture or surrender
| 5.16 | A declaration, whether statutory or under oath, made by a Director or the Secretary shall be conclusive evidence of the following matters stated in it as against all persons claiming to be entitled to forfeited Shares: |
| (a) | that the person making the declaration is a Director or Secretary of the Company, and |
| (b) | that the particular Shares have been forfeited or surrendered on a particular date. |
Subject to the execution of an instrument of transfer, if necessary, the declaration shall constitute good title to the Shares.
Sale of forfeited or surrendered Shares
| 5.17 | Any person to whom the forfeited or surrendered Shares are disposed of shall not be bound to see to the application of the consideration, if any, of those Shares nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity in, or invalidity of the proceedings in respect of, the forfeiture, surrender or disposal of those Shares. |
| 6 | Transfer of Shares |
Right to transfer
| 6.1 | The instrument of transfer of any Share shall be in writing and in any usual or common form or such other form as the Directors may, in their absolute discretion, approve and be executed by or on behalf of the transferor and if in respect of a nil or Partly Paid Up Share, or if so required by the Directors, shall also be executed on behalf of the transferee and shall be accompanied by the certificate (if any) of the Shares to which it relates and such other evidence as the Directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer. The transferor shall be deemed to remain a Member until the name of the transferee is entered in the register of Members in respect of the relevant Shares. |
| 6.2 | The Directors may in their absolute discretion decline to register any transfer of Shares which is not Fully Paid Up or on which the Company has a lien. |
| 6.3 | The Directors may also, but are not required to, decline to register any transfer of any Share unless: |
| (a) | the instrument of transfer is lodged with the Company, accompanied by the certificate (if any) for the Shares to which it relates and such other evidence as the Board may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer; |
| (b) | the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of Shares; |
| (c) | the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required; |
| (d) | in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to whom the Share is to be transferred does not exceed four; |
| (e) | the Shares transferred are Fully Paid Up and free of any lien in favour of the Company; and |
| (f) | any applicable fee of such maximum sum as the Designated Stock Exchanges may determine to be payable, or such lesser sum as the Board may from time to time require, related to the transfer is paid to the Company. |
Suspension of transfers
| 6.4 | The registration of transfers may, on 14 days’ notice being given by advertisement in such one or more newspapers or by electronic means, be suspended and the register of Members closed at such times and for such periods as the Directors may, in their absolute discretion, from time to time determine, provided always that such registration of transfer shall not be suspended nor the register of Members closed for more than 30 days in any year. |
Company may retain instrument of transfer
| 6.5 | All instruments of transfer that are registered shall be retained by the Company. |
Notice of refusal to register
| 6.6 | If the Directors refuse to register a transfer of any Shares, they shall within three months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged with the Company send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of the refusal. |
| 7 | Transmission of Shares |
Persons entitled on death of a Member
| 7.1 | If a Member dies, the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to the deceased Members’ interest are the following: |
| (a) | where the deceased Member was a joint holder, the survivor or survivors; and |
| (b) | where the deceased Member was a sole holder, that Member’s personal representative or representatives. |
| 7.2 | Nothing in these Articles shall release the deceased Member’s estate from any liability in respect of any Share, whether the deceased was a sole holder or a joint holder. |
Registration of transfer of a Share following death or bankruptcy
| 7.3 | A person becoming entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member may elect to do either of the following: |
| (a) | to become the holder of the Share; or |
| (b) | to transfer the Share to another person. |
| 7.4 | That person must produce such evidence of his entitlement as the Directors may properly require. |
| 7.5 | If the person elects to become the holder of the Share, he must give notice to the Company to that effect. For the purposes of these Articles, that notice shall be treated as though it were an executed instrument of transfer. |
| 7.6 | If the person elects to transfer the Share to another person then: |
| (a) | if the Share is Fully Paid Up, the transferor must execute an instrument of transfer; and |
| (b) | if the Share is nil or Partly Paid Up, the transferor and the transferee must execute an instrument of transfer. |
| 7.7 | All the Articles relating to the transfer of Shares shall apply to the notice or, as appropriate, the instrument of transfer. |
Indemnity
| 7.8 | A person registered as a Member by reason of the death or bankruptcy of another Member shall indemnify the Company and the Directors against any loss or damage suffered by the Company or the Directors as a result of that registration. |
Rights of person entitled to a Share following death or bankruptcy
| 7.9 | A person becoming entitled to a Share by reason of the death or bankruptcy of a Member shall have the rights to which he would be entitled if he were registered as the holder of the Share. But, until he is registered as Member in respect of the Share, he shall not be entitled to attend or vote at any meeting of the Company or at any separate meeting of the holders of that class of Shares. |
| 8 | Alteration of capital |
Increasing, consolidating, converting, dividing and cancelling share capital
| 8.1 | To the fullest extent permitted by the Law, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution do any of the following and amend its Memorandum for that purpose: |
| (a) | increase its share capital by new Shares of the amount fixed by that Ordinary Resolution and with the attached rights, priorities and privileges set out in that Ordinary Resolution; |
| (b) | consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into Shares of larger amount than its existing Shares; |
| (c) | convert all or any of its Paid Up Shares into stock, and reconvert that stock into Paid Up Shares of any denomination; |
| (d) | sub-divide its Shares or any of them into Shares of an amount smaller than that fixed by the Memorandum, so, however, that in the sub-division, the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced Share shall be the same as it was in case of the Share from which the reduced Share is derived; and |
| (e) | cancel Shares which, at the date of the passing of that Ordinary Resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person, and diminish the amount of its share capital by the amount of the Shares so cancelled or, in the case of Shares without nominal par value, diminish the number of Shares into which its capital is divided. |
Dealing with fractions resulting from consolidation of Shares
| 8.2 | Whenever, as a result of a consolidation of Shares, any Members would become entitled to fractions of a Share the Directors may on behalf of those Members deal with the fractions as it thinks fit, including (without limitation): |
| (a) | either round up or down the fraction to the nearest whole number, such rounding to be determined by the Directors acting in their sole discretion; or |
| (b) | sell the Shares representing the fractions for the best price reasonably obtainable to any person (including, subject to the provisions of the Law, the Company); and |
| (c) | distribute the net proceeds in due proportion among those Members. |
| 8.3 | For the purposes of Article 8.2, the Directors may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Shares to, 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 the transferee’s title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity in, or invalidity of, the proceedings in respect of the sale. |
Reducing share capital
| 8.4 | Subject to the Law and to any rights for the time being conferred on the Members holding a particular class of Shares, the Company may, by Special Resolution, reduce its share capital in any way. |
| 9 | Conversion, redemption and purchase of own Shares |
Power to issue redeemable Shares and to purchase own Shares
| 9.1 | Subject to the Law and to any rights for the time being conferred on the Members holding a particular class of Shares, the Company may by its Directors: |
| (a) | issue Shares that are to be redeemed or liable to be redeemed, at the option of the Company or the Member holding those redeemable Shares, on the terms and in the manner its Directors determine before the issue of those Shares; |
| (b) | with the consent by Special Resolution of the Members holding Shares of a particular class, vary the rights attaching to that class of Shares so as to provide that those Shares are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Company on the terms and in the manner which the Directors determine at the time of such variation; and |
| (c) | purchase all or any of its own Shares of any class including any redeemable Shares on the terms and in the manner which the Directors determine at the time of such purchase. |
The Company may make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own Shares in any manner authorised by the Law, including out of any combination of the following: capital, its profits and the proceeds of a fresh issue of Shares.
Power to pay for redemption or purchase in cash or in specie
| 9.2 | When making a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of Shares, the Directors may make the payment in cash or in specie (or partly in one and partly in the other) if so authorised by the terms of the allotment of those Shares or by the terms applying to those Shares in accordance with Article 9.1, or otherwise by agreement with the Member holding those Shares. |
Effect of redemption or purchase of a Share
| 9.3 | Upon the date of redemption or purchase of a Share: |
| (a) | the Member holding that Share shall cease to be entitled to any rights in respect of the Share other than the right to receive: |
| (i) | the price for the Share; and |
| (ii) | any dividend declared in respect of the Share prior to the date of redemption or purchase; |
| (b) | the Member’s name shall be removed from the register of Members with respect to the Share; and |
| (c) | the Share shall be cancelled or held as a Treasury Share, as the Directors may determine. |
| 9.4 | For the purpose of Article 9.3, the date of redemption or purchase is the date when the Member’s name is removed from the register of Members with respect to the Shares the subject of the redemption or purchase. |
Conversion Rights
| 9.5 | Each Class B Ordinary Share shall be convertible, at the option of the holder thereof, at any time after the date of issuance of such Share, at the office of the Company or any transfer agent for such Shares, into one fully paid and non-assessable Class A Ordinary Share. |
| 9.6 | The Directors shall at all times reserve and keep available out of the Company’s authorised but unissued Class A Ordinary Shares, solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the Class B Ordinary Shares, such number of its Class A Ordinary Shares as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding Class B Ordinary Shares; and if at any time the number of authorised but unissued Class A Ordinary Shares shall not be sufficient to effect the conversion of all then outstanding Class B Ordinary Shares, in addition to such other remedies as shall be available to the holders of such Class B Ordinary Shares, the Directors will take such action as may be necessary to increase its authorised but unissued Class A Ordinary Shares to such number of Shares as shall be sufficient for such purposes. |
Share Conversions
| 9.7 | All conversions of Class B Ordinary Shares to Class A Ordinary Shares shall be effected by way of redemption or repurchase by the Company of the relevant Class B Ordinary Shares and the simultaneous issue of Class A Ordinary Shares in consideration for such redemption or repurchase. The Members and the Company will procure that any and all necessary corporate actions are taken to effect such conversion. |
| 10 | Meetings of Members |
Annual and extraordinary general meetings
| 10.1 | The Company may, but shall not (unless required by the Designated Stock Exchange Rules) be obligated to, in each year hold a general meeting as an annual general meeting, which, if held, shall be convened by the Board, in accordance with these Articles. |
| 10.2 | All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings. |
Power to call meetings
| 10.3 | The Directors may call a general meeting at any time. |
| 10.4 | If there are insufficient Directors to constitute a quorum and the remaining Directors are unable to agree on the appointment of additional Directors, the Directors must call a general meeting for the purpose of appointing additional Directors. |
| 10.5 | The Directors must also call a general meeting if requisitioned in the manner set out in the next two Articles. |
| 10.6 | The requisition must be in writing and given by one or more Members who together hold at least ten per cent of the rights to vote at such general meeting. |
| 10.7 | The requisition must also: |
| (a) | specify the purpose of the meeting. |
| (b) | be signed by or on behalf of each requisitioner (and for this purpose each joint holder shall be obliged to sign). The requisition may consist of several documents in like form signed by one or more of the requisitioners; and |
| (c) | be delivered in accordance with the notice provisions. |
| 10.8 | Should the Directors fail to call a general meeting within 21 Clear Days’ from the date of receipt of a requisition, the requisitioners or any of them may call a general meeting within three months after the end of that period. |
| 10.9 | Without limitation to the foregoing, if there are insufficient Directors to constitute a quorum and the remaining Directors are unable to agree on the appointment of additional Directors, any one or more Members who together hold at least five per cent of the rights to vote at a general meeting may call a general meeting for the purpose of considering the business specified in the notice of meeting which shall include as an item of business the appointment of additional Directors. |
| 10.10 | If the Members call a meeting under the above provisions, the Company shall reimburse their reasonable expenses. |
Content of notice
| 10.11 | Notice of a general meeting shall specify each of the following: |
| (a) | the place, the date and the hour of the meeting; |
| (b) | if the meeting is to be held in two or more places, the technology that will be used to facilitate the meeting; |
| (c) | subject to paragraph (d) and the requirements of (to the extent applicable) the Designated Stock Exchange Rules, the general nature of the business to be transacted; and |
| (d) | if a resolution is proposed as a Special Resolution, the text of that resolution. |
| 10.12 | In each notice there shall appear with reasonable prominence the following statements: |
| (a) | that a Member who is entitled to attend and vote is entitled to appoint one or more proxies to attend and vote instead of that Member; and |
| (b) | that a proxyholder need not be a Member. |
Period of notice
| 10.13 | At least twenty-one Clear Days’ notice of an annual general meeting must be given to Members. For any other general meeting, at least fourteen Clear Days’ notice must be given to Members. |
| 10.14 | Subject to the Law, a meeting may be convened on shorter notice, subject to the Law with the consent of the Member or Members who, individually or collectively, hold at least ninety per cent of the voting rights of all those who have a right to vote at that meeting. |
Persons entitled to receive notice
| 10.15 | Subject to the provisions of these Articles and to any restrictions imposed on any Shares, the notice shall be given to the following people: |
| (a) | the Members |
| (b) | persons entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member; |
| (c) | the Directors; and |
| (d) | the Auditors. |
| 10.16 | The Board may determine that the Members entitled to receive notice of a meeting are those persons entered on the register of Members at the close of business on a day determined by the Board. |
Accidental omission to give notice or non-receipt of notice
| 10.17 | Proceedings at a meeting shall not be invalidated by the following: |
| (a) | an accidental failure to give notice of the meeting to any person entitled to notice; or |
| (b) | non-receipt of notice of the meeting by any person entitled to notice. |
| 10.18 | In addition, where a notice of meeting is published on a website proceedings at the meeting shall not be invalidated merely because it is accidentally published: |
| (a) | in a different place on the website; or |
| (b) | for part only of the period from the date of the notification until the conclusion of the meeting to which the notice relates. |
| 11 | Proceedings at meetings of Members |
Quorum
| 11.1 | Save as provided in the following Article, no business shall be transacted at any meeting unless a quorum is present in person or by proxy. A quorum is as follows: |
| (a) | if the Company has only one Member: that Member; |
| (b) | if the Company has more than one Member: one or more Members holding Shares that represent not less than one-third of the outstanding Shares carrying the right to vote at such general meeting. |
Lack of quorum
| 11.2 | If a quorum is not present within fifteen minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, or if at any time during the meeting it becomes inquorate, then the following provisions apply: |
| (a) | If the meeting was requisitioned by Members, it shall be cancelled. |
| (b) | In any other case, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same time and place seven days hence, or to such other time or place as is determined by the Directors. If a quorum is not present within fifteen minutes of the time appointed for the adjourned meeting, then the Members present in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum. |
Chairman
| 11.3 | The chairman of a general meeting shall be the chairman of the Board or such other Director as the Directors have nominated to chair Board meetings in the absence of the chairman of the Board. Absent any such person being present within fifteen minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, the Directors present shall elect one of their number to chair the meeting. |
| 11.4 | If no Director is present within fifteen minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, or if no Director is willing to act as chairman, the Members present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall choose one of their number to chair the meeting. |
Right of a Director to attend and speak
| 11.5 | Even if a Director is not a Member, he shall be entitled to attend and speak at any general meeting and at any separate meeting of Members holding a particular class of Shares. |
Accommodation of Members at meeting
| 11.6 | lf it appears to the chairman of the meeting that the meeting place specified in the notice convening the meeting is inadequate to accommodate all Members entitled and wishing to attend, the meeting will be duly constituted and its proceedings valid if the chairman is satisfied that adequate facilities are available to ensure that a Member who is unable to be accommodated is able (whether at the meeting place or elsewhere): |
| (a) | to participate in the business for which the meeting has been convened; |
| (b) | to hear and see all persons present who speak (whether by the use of microphones, loud-speakers, audio-visual communications equipment or otherwise); and |
| (c) | to be heard and seen by all other persons present in the same way. |
Security
| 11.7 | In addition to any measures which the Board may be required to take due to the location or venue of the meeting, the Board may make any arrangement and impose any restriction it considers appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances to ensure the security of a meeting including, without limitation, the searching of any person attending the meeting and the imposing of restrictions on the items of personal property that may be taken into the meeting place. The Board may refuse entry to, or eject from, a meeting a person who refuses to comply with any such arrangements or restrictions. |
Adjournment
| 11.8 | The chairman may at any time adjourn a meeting with the consent of the Members constituting a quorum. The chairman must adjourn the meeting if so directed by the meeting. No business, however, can be transacted at an adjourned meeting other than business which might properly have been transacted at the original meeting. |
| 11.9 | Should a meeting be adjourned for more than 7 Clear Days, whether because of a lack of quorum or otherwise, Members shall be given at least seven Clear Days’ notice of the date, time and place of the adjourned meeting and the general nature of the business to be transacted. Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any notice of the adjournment. |
Method of voting
| 11.10 | A resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands unless before, or on, the declaration of the result of the show of hands, a poll is duly demanded. Subject to the Law, a poll may be demanded: |
| (a) | by the chairman of the meeting; |
| (b) | by at least two Members having the right to vote on the resolutions; |
| (c) | by any Member or Members present who, individually or collectively, hold at least ten per cent of the voting rights of all those who have a right to vote on the resolution. |
Outcome of vote by show of hands
| 11.11 | Unless a poll is duly demanded, a declaration by the chairman as to the result of a resolution and an entry to that effect in the minutes of the meeting shall be conclusive evidence of the outcome of a show of hands without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against the resolution. |
Withdrawal of demand for a poll
| 11.12 | The demand for a poll may be withdrawn before the poll is taken, but only with the consent of the chairman. The chairman shall announce any such withdrawal to the meeting and, unless another person forthwith demands a poll, any earlier show of hands on that resolution shall be treated as the vote on that resolution; if there has been no earlier show of hands, then the resolution shall be put to the vote of the meeting. |
Taking of a poll
| 11.13 | A poll demanded on the question of adjournment shall be taken immediately. |
| 11.14 | A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken either immediately or at an adjourned meeting at such time and place as the chairman directs, not being more than thirty Clear Days after the poll was demanded. |
| 11.15 | The demand for a poll shall not prevent the meeting continuing to transact any business other than the question on which the poll was demanded. |
| 11.16 | A poll shall be taken in such manner as the chairman directs. He may appoint scrutineers (who need not be Members) and fix a place and time for declaring the result of the poll. If, through the aid of technology, the meeting is held in more than place, the chairman may appoint scrutineers in more than place; but if he considers that the poll cannot be effectively monitored at that meeting, the chairman shall adjourn the holding of the poll to a date, place and time when that can occur. |
Chairman’s casting vote
| 11.17 | 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 be entitled to a second or casting vote. |
Written resolutions
| 11.18 | Members may pass a resolution in writing without holding a meeting if the following conditions are met: |
| (a) | all Members entitled to vote are given notice of the resolution as if the same were being proposed at a meeting of Members; |
| (b) | all Members entitled so to vote; |
| (i) | sign a document; or |
| (ii) | sign several documents in the like form each signed by one or more of those Members; and |
| (c) | the signed document or documents is or are delivered to the Company, including, if the Company so nominates, by delivery of an Electronic Record by Electronic means to the address specified for that purpose. |
| (d) | Such written resolution shall be as effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Members entitled to vote duly convened and held. |
| 11.19 | If a written resolution is described as a Special Resolution or as an Ordinary Resolution, it has effect accordingly. |
| 11.20 | The Directors may determine the manner in which written resolutions shall be put to Members. In particular, they may provide, in the form of any written resolution, for each Member to indicate, out of the number of votes the Member would have been entitled to cast at a meeting to consider the resolution, how many votes he wishes to cast in favour of the resolution and how many against the resolution or to be treated as abstentions. The result of any such written resolution shall be determined on the same basis as on a poll. |
Sole-Member Company
| 11.21 | If the Company has only one Member, and the Member records in writing his decision on a question, that record shall constitute both the passing of a resolution and the minute of it. |
| 12 | Voting rights of Members |
Right to vote
| 12.1 | Subject to the following, unless their Shares carry no right to vote, or unless a call or other amount presently payable has not been paid, all Members are entitled to vote at a general meeting, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, and all Members holding Shares of a particular class of Shares are entitled to vote at a meeting of the holders of that class of Shares. |
Voting Rights
| 12.2 | The holder of an Ordinary Share shall (in respect of such Ordinary Share) have the right to receive notice of, attend at and vote as a Member at any general meeting of the Company. |
| 12.3 | Each holder of Ordinary Shares shall, on a poll, be entitled to one vote for each Share he or she holds save that each holder of Class B Ordinary Shares shall, on a poll, be entitled to exercise fifty (50) votes for each Class B Ordinary Share he or she holds on any and all matters. |
| 12.4 | Members may vote in person or by proxy. |
| 12.5 | On a show of hands, every Member shall have one vote. For the avoidance of doubt, an individual who represents two or more Members, including a Member in that individual’s own right, that individual shall be entitled to a separate vote for each Member. |
| 12.6 | No Member is bound to vote on his Shares or any of them; nor is he bound to vote each of his Shares in the same way. |
Rights of joint holders
| 12.7 | If Shares are held jointly, only one of the joint holders may vote. If more than one of the joint holders tenders a vote, the vote of the holder whose name in respect of those Shares appears first in the register of Members shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holder. |
Representation of corporate Members
| 12.8 | Save where otherwise provided, a corporate Member must act by a duly authorised representative. |
| 12.9 | A corporate Member wishing to act by a duly authorised representative must identify that person to the Company by notice in writing. |
| 12.10 | The authorisation may be for any period of time, and must be delivered to the Company before the commencement of the meeting at which it is first used. |
| 12.11 | The Directors of the Company may require the production of any evidence which they consider necessary to determine the validity of the notice. |
| 12.12 | Where a duly authorised representative is present at a meeting that Member is deemed to be present in person; and the acts of the duly authorised representative are personal acts of that Member. |
| 12.13 | A corporate Member may revoke the appointment of a duly authorised representative at any time by notice to the Company; but such revocation will not affect the validity of any acts carried out by the duly authorised representative before the Directors of the Company had actual notice of the revocation. |
Member with mental disorder
| 12.14 | A Member in respect of whom an order has been made by any court having jurisdiction (whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere) in matters concerning mental disorder may vote, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, by that Member’s receiver, curator bonis or other person authorised in that behalf appointed by that court. |
| 12.15 | For the purpose of the preceding Article, evidence to the satisfaction of the Directors of the authority of the person claiming to exercise the right to vote must be received not less than 24 hours before holding the relevant meeting or the adjourned meeting in any manner specified for the delivery of forms of appointment of a proxy, whether in writing or by Electronic means. In default, the right to vote shall not be exercisable. |
Objections to admissibility of votes
| 12.16 | An objection to the validity of a person’s vote may only be raised at the meeting or at the adjourned meeting at which the vote is sought to be tendered. Any objection duly made shall be referred to the chairman whose decision shall be final and conclusive. |
Form of proxy
| 12.17 | An instrument appointing a proxy shall be in any common form or in any other form approved by the Directors. |
| 12.18 | The instrument must be in writing and signed in one of the following ways: |
| (a) | by the Member; or |
| (b) | by the Member’s authorised attorney; or |
| (c) | if the Member is a corporation or other body corporate, under seal or signed by an authorised officer, secretary or attorney. |
If the Directors so resolve, the Company may accept an Electronic Record of that instrument delivered in the manner specified below and otherwise satisfying the Articles about authentication of Electronic Records.
| 12.19 | The Directors may require the production of any evidence which they consider necessary to determine the validity of any appointment of a proxy. |
| 12.20 | A Member may revoke the appointment of a proxy at any time by notice to the Company duly signed in accordance with Article 12.18. |
| 12.21 | No revocation by a Member of the appointment of a proxy made in accordance with Article 12.20 will affect the validity of any acts carried out by the relevant proxy before the Directors of the Company had actual notice of the revocation. |
How and when proxy is to be delivered
| 12.22 | Subject to the following Articles, the Directors may, in the notice convening any meeting or adjourned meeting, or in an instrument of proxy sent out by the Company, specify the manner by which the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited and the place and the time (being not later than the time appointed for the commencement of the meeting or adjourned meeting to which the proxy relates) at which the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited. In the absence of any such direction from the Directors in the notice convening any meeting or adjourned meeting or in an instrument of proxy sent out by the Company, the form of appointment of a proxy and any authority under which it is signed (or a copy of the authority certified notarially or in any other way approved by the Directors) must be delivered so that it is received by the Company before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the form of appointment of proxy proposes to vote. They must be delivered in either of the following ways: |
| (a) | In the case of an instrument in writing, it must be left at or sent by post: |
| (i) | to the registered office of the Company; or |
| (ii) | to such other place within the Cayman Islands specified in the notice convening the meeting or in any form of appointment of proxy sent out by the Company in relation to the meeting. |
| (b) | If, pursuant to the notice provisions, a notice may be given to the Company in an Electronic Record, an Electronic Record of an appointment of a proxy must be sent to the address specified pursuant to those provisions unless another address for that purpose is specified: |
| (i) | in the notice convening the meeting; or |
| (ii) | in any form of appointment of a proxy sent out by the Company in relation to the meeting; or |
| (iii) | in any invitation to appoint a proxy issued by the Company in relation to the meeting. |
| (c) | Notwithstanding Article 12.22(a) and Article 12.22(b), the chairman of the Company may, in any event at his discretion, direct that an instrument of proxy shall be deemed to have been duly deposited. |
| 12.23 | Where a poll is taken: |
| (a) | if it is taken more than seven Clear Days after it is demanded, the form of appointment of a proxy and any accompanying authority (or an Electronic Record of the same) must be delivered in accordance with Article 12.22 before the time appointed for the taking of the poll; |
| (b) | if it to be taken within seven Clear Days after it was demanded, the form of appointment of a proxy and any accompanying authority (or an Electronic Record of the same) must be delivered in accordance with Article 12.22 before the time appointed for the taking of the poll. |
| 12.24 | If the form of appointment of proxy is not delivered on time, it is invalid. |
| 12.25 | When two or more valid but differing appointments of proxy are delivered or received in respect of the same Share for use at the same meeting and in respect of the same matter, the one which is last validly delivered or received (regardless of its date or of the date of its execution) shall be treated as replacing and revoking the other or others as regards that Share. lf the Company is unable to determine which appointment was last validly delivered or received, none of them shall be treated as valid in respect of that Share. |
| 12.26 | The Board may at the expense of the Company send forms of appointment of proxy to the Members by post (that is to say, pre-paying and posting a letter), or by Electronic communication or otherwise (with or without provision for their return by pre-paid post) for use at any general meeting or at any separate meeting of the holders of any class of Shares, either blank or nominating as proxy in the alternative any one or more of the Directors or any other person. lf for the purpose of any meeting invitations to appoint as proxy a person or one of a number of persons specified in the invitations are issued at the Company’s expense, they shall be issued to all (and not to some only) of the Members entitled to be sent notice of the meeting and to vote at it. The accidental omission to send such a form of appointment or to give such an invitation to, or the non-receipt of such form of appointment by, any Member entitled to attend and vote at a meeting shall not invalidate the proceedings at that meeting |
Voting by proxy
| 12.27 | A proxy shall have the same voting rights at a meeting or adjourned meeting as the Member would have had except to the extent that the instrument appointing him limits those rights. Notwithstanding the appointment of a proxy, a Member may attend and vote at a meeting or adjourned meeting. If a Member votes on any resolution a vote by his proxy on the same resolution, unless in respect of different Shares, shall be invalid. |
| 12.28 | The instrument appointing a proxy to vote at a meeting shall be deemed also to confer authority to demand or join in demanding a poll and, for the purposes of Article 11.11, a demand by a person as proxy for a Member shall be the same as a demand by a Member. Such appointment shall not confer any further right to speak at the meeting, except with the permission of the chairman of the meeting. |
| 13 | Number of Directors |
| 13.1 | There shall be a Board consisting of not less than one person provided however that the Company may by Ordinary Resolution increase or reduce the limits in the number of Directors. Unless fixed by Ordinary Resolution, the maximum number of Directors shall be unlimited. |
| 14 | Appointment, disqualification and removal of Directors |
First Directors
| 14.1 | The first Directors shall be appointed in writing by the subscriber or subscribers to the Memorandum, or a majority of them. |
No age limit
| 14.2 | There is no age limit for Directors save that they must be at least eighteen years of age. |
Corporate Directors
| 14.3 | Unless prohibited by law, a body corporate may be a Director. If a body corporate is a Director, the Articles about representation of corporate Members at general meetings apply, mutatis mutandis, to the Articles about Directors’ meetings. |
No shareholding qualification
| 14.4 | Unless a shareholding qualification for Directors is fixed by Ordinary Resolution, no Director shall be required to own Shares as a condition of his appointment. |
Appointment of Directors
| 14.5 | A Director may be appointed by Ordinary Resolution or by the Directors. Any appointment may be to fill a vacancy or as an additional Director. |
| 14.6 | A remaining Director may appoint a Director even though there is not a quorum of Directors. |
| 14.7 | No appointment can cause the number of Directors to exceed the maximum (if one is set); and any such appointment shall be invalid. |
| 14.8 | For so long as Shares or ADSs are listed on a Designated Stock Exchange, the Directors shall include at least such number of Independent Directors as applicable law, rules or regulations or the Designated Stock Exchange Rules require as determined by the Board. |
Board’s power to appoint Directors
| 14.9 | Without prejudice to the Company’s power to appoint a person to be a Director pursuant to these Articles, the Board shall have power at any time to appoint any person who is willing to act as a Director, either to fill a vacancy or as an addition to the existing Board, subject to the total number of Directors not exceeding any maximum number fixed by or in accordance with these Articles. |
| 14.10 | Any Director so appointed shall, if still a Director, retire at the next annual general meeting after his appointment and be eligible to stand for election as a Director at such meeting. |
Eligibility
| 14.11 | No person (other than a Director retiring in accordance with these Articles) shall be appointed or re-appointed a Director at any general meeting unless: |
| (a) | he is recommended by the Board; or |
| (b) | not less than seven nor more than forty-two Clear Days before the date appointed for the meeting, a Member (other than the person to be proposed) entitled to vote at the meeting has given to the Company notice of his intention to propose a resolution for the appointment of that person, stating the particulars which would, if he were so appointed, be required to be included in the Company’s register of Directors and a notice executed by that person of his willingness to be appointed. |
Appointment at annual general meeting
| 14.12 | Unless re-appointed pursuant to the provisions of Article 14.5 or removed from office pursuant to the provisions of Article 14.13, each Director shall be appointed for a term expiring at the next-following annual general meeting of the Company. At any such annual general meeting, Directors will be elected by Ordinary Resolution. At each annual general meeting of the Company, each Director elected at such meeting shall be elected to hold office for a one-year term and until the election of their respective successors in office or removal pursuant to Articles 14.5 and 14.13. |
Removal of Directors
| 14.13 | A Director may be removed by Ordinary Resolution. |
Resignation of Directors
| 14.14 | A Director may at any time resign office by giving to the Company notice in writing or, if permitted pursuant to the notice provisions, in an Electronic Record delivered in either case in accordance with those provisions. |
| 14.15 | Unless the notice specifies a different date, the Director shall be deemed to have resigned on the date that the notice is delivered to the Company. |
Termination of the office of Director
| 14.16 | A Director may retire from office as a Director by giving notice in writing to that effect to the Company at the registered office, which notice shall be effective upon such date as may be specified in the notice, failing which upon delivery to the registered office. |
| 14.17 | Without prejudice to the provisions in these Articles for retirement (by rotation or otherwise), a Director’s office shall be terminated forthwith if: |
| (a) | he is prohibited by the law of the Cayman Islands from acting as a Director; or |
| (b) | he is made bankrupt or makes an arrangement or composition with his creditors generally; or |
| (c) | he resigns his office by notice to the Company; or |
| (d) | he only held office as a Director for a fixed term and such term expires; or |
| (e) | in the opinion of a registered medical practitioner by whom he is being treated he becomes physically or mentally incapable of acting as a Director; or |
| (f) | he is given notice by the majority of the other Directors (not being less than two in number) to vacate office (without prejudice to any claim for damages for breach of any agreement relating to the provision of the services of such Director); or |
| (g) | he is made subject to any law relating to mental health or incompetence, whether by court order or otherwise; or |
| (h) | without the consent of the other Directors, he is absent from meetings of Directors for a continuous period of six months. |
| 15 | Alternate Directors |
Appointment and removal
| 15.1 | Any Director may appoint any other person, including another Director, to act in his place as an alternate Director. No appointment shall take effect until the Director has given notice of the appointment to the Board. |
| 15.2 | A Director may revoke his appointment of an alternate at any time. No revocation shall take effect until the Director has given notice of the revocation to the Board. |
| 15.3 | A notice of appointment or removal of an alternate Director shall be effective only if given to the Company by one or more of the following methods: |
| (a) | by notice in writing in accordance with the notice provisions contained in these Articles; |
| (b) | if the Company has a facsimile address for the time being, by sending by facsimile transmission to that facsimile address a facsimile copy or, otherwise, by sending by facsimile transmission to the facsimile address of the Company’s registered office a facsimile copy (in either case, the facsimile copy being deemed to be the notice unless Article 29.7 applies), in which event notice shall be taken to be given on the date of an error-free transmission report from the sender’s fax machine; |
| (c) | if the Company has an email address for the time being, by emailing to that email address a scanned copy of the notice as a PDF attachment or, otherwise, by emailing to the email address provided by the Company’s registered office a scanned copy of the notice as a PDF attachment (in either case, the PDF version being deemed to be the notice unless Article 29.7 applies), in which event notice shall be taken to be given on the date of receipt by the Company or the Company’s registered office (as appropriate) in readable form; or |
| (d) | if permitted pursuant to the notice provisions, in some other form of approved Electronic Record delivered in accordance with those provisions in writing. |
Notices
| 15.4 | All notices of meetings of Directors shall continue to be given to the appointing Director and not to the alternate. |
Rights of alternate Director
| 15.5 | An alternate Director shall be entitled to attend and vote at any Board meeting or meeting of a committee of the Directors at which the appointing Director is not personally present, and generally to perform all the functions of the appointing Director in his absence. An alternate Director, however, is not entitled to receive any remuneration from the Company for services rendered as an alternate Director. |
Appointment ceases when the appointor ceases to be a Director
| 15.6 | An alternate Director shall cease to be an alternate Director if: |
| (a) | the Director who appointed him ceases to be a Director; or |
| (b) | the Director who appointed him revokes his appointment by notice delivered to the Board or to the registered office of the Company or in any other manner approved by the Board; or |
| (c) | in any event happens in relation to him which, if he were a Director of the Company, would cause his office as Director to be vacated. |
Status of alternate Director
| 15.7 | An alternate Director shall carry out all functions of the Director who made the appointment. |
| 15.8 | Save where otherwise expressed, an alternate Director shall be treated as a Director under these Articles. |
| 15.9 | An alternate Director is not the agent of the Director appointing him. |
| 15.10 | An alternate Director is not entitled to any remuneration for acting as alternate Director. |
Status of the Director making the appointment
| 15.11 | A Director who has appointed an alternate is not thereby relieved from the duties which he owes the Company. |
| 16 | Powers of Directors |
Powers of Directors
| 16.1 | Subject to the provisions of the Law, the Memorandum and these Articles the business of the Company shall be managed by the Directors who may for that purpose exercise all the powers of the Company. |
| 16.2 | No prior act of the Directors shall be invalidated by any subsequent alteration of the Memorandum or these Articles. However, to the extent allowed by the Law, Members may, by Special Resolution, validate any prior or future act of the Directors which would otherwise be in breach of their duties. |
Directors below the minimum number
| 16.3 | lf the number of Directors is less than the minimum prescribed in accordance with these Articles, the remaining Director or Directors shall act only for the purposes of appointing an additional Director or Directors to make up such minimum or of convening a general meeting of the Company for the purpose of making such appointment. lf there are no Director or Directors able or willing to act, any two Members may summon a general meeting for the purpose of appointing Directors. Any additional Director so appointed shall hold office (subject to these Articles) only until the dissolution of the annual general meeting next following such appointment unless he is re-elected during such meeting. |
Appointments to office
| 16.4 | The Directors may appoint a Director: |
| (a) | as chairman of the Board; |
| (b) | as managing Director; |
| (c) | to any other executive office, |
for such period, and on such terms, including as to remuneration as they think fit.
| 16.5 | The appointee must consent in writing to holding that office. |
| 16.6 | Where a chairman is appointed he shall, unless unable to do so, preside at every meeting of Directors. |
| 16.7 | If there is no chairman, or if the chairman is unable to preside at a meeting, that meeting may select its own chairman; or the Directors may nominate one of their number to act in place of the chairman should he ever not be available. |
| 16.8 | Subject to the provisions of the Law, the Directors may also appoint and remove any person, who need not be a Director: |
| (a) | as Secretary; and |
| (b) | to any office that may be required |
for such period and on such terms, including as to remuneration, as they think fit. In the case of an Officer, that Officer may be given any title the Directors decide.
| 16.9 | The Secretary or Officer must consent in writing to holding that office. |
| 16.10 | A Director, Secretary or other Officer of the Company may not the hold the office, or perform the services, of auditor. |
Provisions for employees
| 16.11 | The Board may make provision for the benefit of any persons employed or formerly employed by the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings (or any member of his family or any person who is dependent on him) in connection with the cessation or the transfer to any person of the whole or part of the undertaking of the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings. |
Exercise of voting rights
| 16.12 | The Board may exercise the voting power conferred by the Shares in any body corporate held or owned by the Company in such manner in all respects as it thinks fit (including, without limitation, the exercise of that power in favour of any resolution appointing any Director as a Director of such body corporate, or voting or providing for the payment of remuneration to the Directors of such body corporate). |
Remuneration
| 16.13 | Every Director may be remunerated by the Company for the services he provides for the benefit of the Company, whether as Director, employee or otherwise, and shall be entitled to be paid for the expenses incurred in the Company’s business including attendance at Directors’ meetings. |
| 16.14 | Until otherwise determined by the Company by Ordinary Resolution, the Directors (other than alternate Directors) shall be entitled to such remuneration by way of fees for their services in the office of Director as the Directors may determine. |
| 16.15 | Remuneration may take any form and may include arrangements to pay pensions, health insurance, death or sickness benefits, whether to the Director or to any other person connected to or related to him. |
| 16.16 | Unless his fellow Directors determine otherwise, a Director is not accountable to the Company for remuneration or other benefits received from any other company which is in the same group as the Company or which has common shareholdings. |
Disclosure of information
| 16.17 | The Directors may release or disclose to a third party any information regarding the affairs of the Company, including any information contained in the register of Members relating to a Member, (and they may authorise any Director, Officer or other authorised agent of the Company to release or disclose to a third party any such information in his possession) if: |
| (a) | the Company or that person, as the case may be, is lawfully required to do so under the laws of any jurisdiction to which the Company is subject; or |
| (b) | such disclosure is in compliance with the Designated Stock Exchange Rules; or |
| (c) | such disclosure is in accordance with any contract entered into by the Company; or |
| (d) | the Directors are of the opinion such disclosure would assist or facilitate the Company’s operations. |
| 17 | Delegation of powers |
Power to delegate any of the Directors’ powers to a committee
| 17.1 | The Directors may delegate any of their powers to any committee consisting of one or more persons who need not be Members. Persons on the committee may include non-Directors so long as the majority of those persons are Directors. Any such committee shall be made up of such number of Independent Directors as required from time to time by the Designated Stock Exchange Rules or otherwise required by applicable law. |
| 17.2 | The delegation may be collateral with, or to the exclusion of, the Directors’ own powers. |
| 17.3 | The delegation may be on such terms as the Directors think fit, including provision for the committee itself to delegate to a sub-committee; save that any delegation must be capable of being revoked or altered by the Directors at will. |
| 17.4 | Unless otherwise permitted by the Directors, a committee must follow the procedures prescribed for the taking of decisions by Directors. |
| 17.5 | The Board shall establish an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee. Each of these committees shall be empowered to do all things necessary to exercise the rights of such committee set forth in these Articles. Each of the audit committee, compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee shall consist of at least three Directors (or such larger minimum number as may be required from time to time by the Designated Stock Exchange Rules). The majority of the committee members on each of the compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee shall be Independent Directors. The audit committee shall be made up of such number of Independent Directors as required from time to time by the Designated Stock Exchange Rules or otherwise required by applicable law. |
Local boards
| 17.6 | The Board may establish any local or divisional board or agency for managing any of the affairs of the Company whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere and may appoint any persons to be members of a local or divisional Board, or to be managers or agents, and may fix their remuneration. |
| 17.7 | The Board may delegate to any local or divisional board, manager or agent any of its powers and authorities (with power to sub-delegate) and may authorise the members of any local or divisional board or any of them to fill any vacancies and to act notwithstanding vacancies. |
| 17.8 | Any appointment or delegation under this Article 17.8 may be made on such terms and subject to such conditions as the Board thinks fit and the Board may remove any person so appointed, and may revoke or vary any delegation. |
Power to appoint an agent of the Company
| 17.9 | The Directors may appoint any person, either generally or in respect of any specific matter, to be the agent of the Company with or without authority for that person to delegate all or any of that person’s powers. The Directors may make that appointment: |
| (a) | by causing the Company to enter into a power of attorney or agreement; or |
| (b) | in any other manner they determine. |
Power to appoint an attorney or authorised signatory of the Company
| 17.10 | The Directors may appoint any person, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Directors, to be the attorney or the authorised signatory of the Company. The appointment may be: |
| (a) | for any purpose; |
| (b) | with the powers, authorities and discretions; |
| (c) | for the period; and |
| (d) | subject to such conditions |
as they think fit. The powers, authorities and discretions, however, must not exceed those vested in, or exercisable, by the Directors under these Articles. The Directors may do so by power of attorney or any other manner they think fit.
| 17.11 | Any power of attorney or other appointment may contain such provision for the protection and convenience for persons dealing with the attorney or authorised signatory as the Directors think fit. Any power of attorney or other appointment may also authorise the attorney or authorised signatory to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in that person. |
| 17.12 | The Board may remove any person appointed under Article 17.10 and may revoke or vary the delegation. |
Borrowing Powers
| 17.13 | The Directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and assets both present and future and uncalled capital, or any part thereof, and to issue debentures and other securities, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or its parent undertaking (if any) or any subsidiary undertaking of the Company or of any third party. |
Corporate Governance
| 17.14 | The Board may, from time to time, and except as required by applicable law or the Designated Stock Exchange Rules, adopt, institute, amend, modify or revoke the corporate governance policies or initiatives of the Company, which shall be intended to set forth the guiding principles and policies of the Company and the Board on various corporate governance related matters as the Board shall determine by resolution from time to time. |
| 18 | Meetings of Directors |
Regulation of Directors’ meetings
| 18.1 | Subject to the provisions of these Articles, the Directors may regulate their proceedings as they think fit. |
Calling meetings
| 18.2 | Any Director may call a meeting of Directors at any time. The Secretary must call a meeting of the Directors if requested to do so by a Director. |
Notice of meetings
| 18.3 | Notice of a Board meeting may be given to a Director personally or by word of mouth or given in writing or by Electronic communications at such address as he may from time to time specify for this purpose (or, if he does not specify an address, at his last known address). A Director may waive his right to receive notice of any meeting either prospectively or retrospectively. |
Use of technology
| 18.4 | A Director may participate in a meeting of Directors through the medium of conference telephone, video or any other form of communications equipment providing all persons participating in the meeting are able to hear and speak to each other throughout the meeting. |
| 18.5 | A Director participating in this way is deemed to be present in person at the meeting. |
Quorum
| 18.6 | The quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of Directors shall be two unless the Directors fix some other number. |
Chairman or deputy to preside
| 18.7 | The Board may appoint a chairman and one or more deputy chairman or chairmen and may at any time revoke any such appointment. |
| 18.8 | The chairman, or failing him any deputy chairman (the longest in office taking precedence if more than one is present), shall preside at all Board meetings. If no chairman or deputy chairman has been appointed, or if he is not present within five minutes after the time fixed for holding the meeting, or is unwilling to act as chairman of the meeting, the Directors present shall choose one of their number to act as chairman of the meeting. |
Voting
| 18.9 | A question which arises at a Board meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. If votes are equal the chairman may, if he wishes, exercise a casting vote. |
Recording of dissent
| 18.10 | A Director present at a meeting of Directors shall be presumed to have assented to any action taken at that meeting unless: |
| (a) | his dissent is entered in the minutes of the meeting; or |
| (b) | he has filed with the meeting before it is concluded signed dissent from that action; or |
| (c) | he has forwarded to the Company as soon as practical following the conclusion of that meeting signed dissent. |
A Director who votes in favour of an action is not entitled to record his dissent to it.
Written resolutions
| 18.11 | The Directors may pass a resolution in writing without holding a meeting if all Directors sign a document or sign several documents in the like form each signed by one or more of those Directors. |
| 18.12 | A written resolution signed by a validly appointed alternate Director need not also be signed by the appointing Director. |
| 18.13 | A written resolution signed personally by the appointing Director need not also be signed by his alternate. |
| 18.14 | A resolution in writing passed pursuant to Article 18.11, Article 18.12 and/or Article 18.13 shall be as effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Directors duly convened and held; and it shall be treated as having been passed on the day and at the time that the last Director signs (and for the avoidance of doubt, such day may or may not be a Business Day). |
Validity of acts of Directors in spite of formal defect
| 18.15 | All acts done by a meeting of the Board, or of a committee of the Board, or by any person acting as a Director or an alternate Director, shall, notwithstanding that it is afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any Director or alternate Director or member of the committee, or that any of them 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 qualified and had continued to be a Director or alternate Director and had been entitled to vote. |
| 19 | Permissible Directors’ interests and disclosure |
| 19.1 | A Director shall not, as a Director, vote in respect of any contract, transaction, arrangement or proposal in which he has an interest which (together with any interest of any person connected with him) is a material interest (otherwise then by virtue of his interests, direct or indirect, in Shares or debentures or other securities of, or otherwise in or through, the Company) and if he shall do so his vote shall not be counted, nor in relation thereto shall he be counted in the quorum present at the meeting, but (in the absence of some other material interest than is mentioned below) none of these prohibitions shall apply to: |
| (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 for the benefit of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or |
| (ii) | a debt or obligation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries for which the Director himself has assumed responsibility in whole or in part and whether alone or jointly with others under a guarantee or indemnity or by the giving of security; |
| (b) | where the Company or any of its subsidiaries is offering securities in which offer the Director is or may be entitled to participate as a holder of securities or in the underwriting or sub-underwriting of which the Director is to or may participate; |
| (c) | any contract, transaction, arrangement or proposal affecting any other body corporate in which he is interested, directly or indirectly and whether as an officer, shareholder, creditor or otherwise howsoever, provided that he (together with persons connected with him) does not to his knowledge hold an interest representing one per cent or more of any class of the equity share capital of such body corporate (or of any third body corporate 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 purposes of this Article 19.1 to be a material interest in all circumstances); |
| (d) | any act or thing done or to be done in respect of any arrangement for the benefit of the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries under which he is not accorded as a Director any privilege or advantage not generally accorded to the employees to whom such arrangement relates; or |
| (e) | any matter connected with the purchase or maintenance for any Director of insurance against any liability or (to the extent permitted by the Law) indemnities in favour of Directors, the funding of expenditure by one or more Directors in defending proceedings against him or them or the doing of any thing to enable such Director or Directors to avoid incurring such expenditure. |
| 19.2 | A Director may, as a Director, vote (and be counted in the quorum) in respect of any contract, transaction, arrangement or proposal in which he has an interest which is not a material interest or which falls within Article 19.1. |
| 20 | Minutes |
| 20.1 | The Company shall cause minutes to be made in books of: |
| (a) | all appointments of Officers and committees made by the Board and of any such Officer’s remuneration; and |
| (b) | the names of Directors present at every meeting of the Directors, a committee of the Board, the Company or the holders of any class of shares or debentures, and all orders, resolutions and proceedings of such meetings. |
| 20.2 | Any such minutes, if purporting to be signed by the chairman of the meeting at which the proceedings were held or by the chairman of the next succeeding meeting or the Secretary, shall be prima facie evidence of the matters stated in them. |
| 21 | Accounts and audit |
| 21.1 | The Directors must ensure that proper accounting and other records are kept, and that accounts and associated reports are distributed in accordance with the requirements of the Law. |
| 21.2 | The books of account shall be kept at the registered office of the Company and shall always be open to inspection by the Directors. No Member (other than a Director) shall have any right of inspecting any account or book or document of the Company except as conferred by the Law or as authorised by the Directors or by Ordinary Resolution. |
| 21.3 | Unless the Directors otherwise prescribe, the financial year of the Company shall end on 30 September in each year and begin on 1 October in each year. |
Auditors
| 21.4 | The Directors may appoint an Auditor of the Company who shall hold office on such terms as the Directors determine. |
| 21.5 | At any general meeting convened and held at any time in accordance with these Articles, the Members may, by Ordinary Resolution, remove the Auditor before the expiration of his term of office. If they do so, the Members shall, by Ordinary Resolution, at that meeting appoint another Auditor in his stead for the remainder of his term. |
| 21.6 | The Auditors shall examine such books, accounts and vouchers; as may be necessary for the performance of their duties. |
| 21.7 | The Auditors shall, if so requested by the Directors, make a report on the accounts of the Company during their tenure of office at the next annual general meeting following their appointment, and at any time during their term of office, upon request of the Directors or any general meeting of the Company. |
| 22 | Record dates |
| 22.1 | Except to the extent of any conflicting rights attached to Shares, the resolution declaring a dividend on Shares of any class, whether it be an Ordinary Resolution of the Members or a Director’s resolution, may specify that the dividend is payable or distributable to the persons registered as the holders of those Shares at the close of business on a particular date, notwithstanding that the date may be a date prior to that on which the resolution is passed. |
| 22.2 | If the resolution does so specify, the dividend shall be payable or distributable to the persons registered as the holders of those Shares at the close of business on the specified date in accordance with their respective holdings so registered, but without prejudice to the rights inter se in respect of the dividend of transferors and transferees of any of those Shares. |
| 22.3 | The provisions of this Article apply, mutatis mutandis, to bonuses, capitalisation issues, distributions of realised capital profits or offers or grants made by the Company to the Members. |
| 23 | Dividends |
Source of dividends
| 23.1 | Dividends may be declared and paid out of any funds of the Company lawfully available for distribution. |
| 23.2 | Subject to the requirements of the Law regarding the application of a company’s Share premium account and with the sanction of an Ordinary Resolution, dividends may also be declared and paid out of any share premium account. |
Declaration of dividends by Members
| 23.3 | Subject to the provisions of the Law, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution declare dividends in accordance with the respective rights of the Members but no dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the Directors. |
Payment of interim dividends and declaration of final dividends by Directors
| 23.4 | The Directors may declare and pay interim dividends or recommend final dividends in accordance with the respective rights of the Members if it appears to them that they are justified by the financial position of the Company and that such dividends may lawfully be paid. |
| 23.5 | Subject to the provisions of the Law, in relation to the distinction between interim dividends and final dividends, the following applies: |
| (a) | Upon determination to pay a dividend or dividends described as interim by the Directors in the dividend resolution, no debt shall be created by the declaration until such time as payment is made. |
| (b) | Upon declaration of a dividend or dividends described as final by the Directors in the dividend resolution, a debt shall be created immediately following the declaration, the due date to be the date the dividend is stated to be payable in the resolution. |
If the resolution fails to specify whether a dividend is final or interim, it shall be assumed to be interim.
| 23.6 | In relation to Shares carrying differing rights to dividends or rights to dividends at a fixed rate, the following applies: |
| (a) | If the share capital is divided into different classes, the Directors may pay dividends on Shares which confer deferred or non-preferred rights with regard to dividends as well as on Shares which confer preferential rights with regard to dividends but no dividend shall be paid on Shares carrying deferred or non-preferred rights if, at the time of payment, any preferential dividend is in arrears. |
| (b) | The Directors may also pay, at intervals settled by them, any dividend payable at a fixed rate if it appears to them that there are sufficient funds of the Company lawfully available for distribution to justify the payment. |
| (c) | If the Directors act in good faith, they shall not incur any liability to the Members holding Shares conferring preferred rights for any loss those Members may suffer by the lawful payment of the dividend on any Shares having deferred or non-preferred rights. |
Apportionment of dividends
| 23.7 | Except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to Shares all dividends shall be declared and paid according to the amounts Paid Up on the Shares on which the dividend is paid. All dividends shall be apportioned and paid proportionately to the amount Paid Up on the Shares during the time or part of the time in respect of which the dividend is paid. But if a Share is issued on terms providing that it shall rank for dividend as from a particular date, that Share shall rank for dividend accordingly. |
Right of set off
| 23.8 | The Directors may deduct from a dividend or any other amount payable to a person in respect of a Share any amount due by that person to the Company on a call or otherwise in relation to a Share. |
Power to pay other than in cash
| 23.9 | If the Directors so determine, any resolution declaring a dividend may direct that it shall be satisfied wholly or partly by the distribution of assets. If a difficulty arises in relation to the distribution, the Directors may settle that difficulty in any way they consider appropriate. For example, they may do any one or more of the following: |
| (a) | issue fractional Shares; |
| (b) | fix the value of assets for distribution and make cash payments to some Members on the footing of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of Members; and |
| (c) | vest some assets in trustees. |
How payments may be made
| 23.10 | A dividend or other monies payable on or in respect of a Share may be paid in any of the following ways: |
| (a) | if the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to that Share nominates a bank account for that purpose - by wire transfer to that bank account; or |
| (b) | by cheque or warrant sent by post to the registered address of the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to that Share. |
| 23.11 | For the purposes of Article 23.10(a), the nomination may be in writing or in an Electronic Record and the bank account nominated may be the bank account of another person. For the purposes of Article 23.10(b), subject to any applicable law or regulation, the cheque or warrant shall be made to the order of the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to the Share or to his nominee, whether nominated in writing or in an Electronic Record, and payment of the cheque or warrant shall be a good discharge to the Company. |
| 23.12 | If two or more persons are registered as the holders of the Share or are jointly entitled to it by reason of the death or bankruptcy of the registered holder (Joint Holders), a dividend (or other amount) payable on or in respect of that Share may be paid as follows: |
| (a) | to the registered address of the Joint Holder of the Share who is named first on the register of Members or to the registered address of the deceased or bankrupt holder, as the case may be; or |
| (b) | to the address or bank account of another person nominated by the Joint Holders, whether that nomination is in writing or in an Electronic Record. |
| 23.13 | Any Joint Holder of a Share may give a valid receipt for a dividend (or other amount) payable in respect of that Share. |
Dividends or other monies not to bear interest in absence of special rights
| 23.14 | Unless provided for by the rights attached to a Share, no dividend or other monies payable by the Company in respect of a Share shall bear interest. |
Dividends unable to be paid or unclaimed
| 23.15 | If a dividend cannot be paid to a Member or remains unclaimed within six weeks after it was declared or both, the Directors may pay it into a separate account in the Company’s name. If a dividend is paid into a separate account, the Company shall not be constituted trustee in respect of that account and the dividend shall remain a debt due to the Member. |
| 23.16 | A dividend that remains unclaimed for a period of six years after it became due for payment shall be forfeited to, and shall cease to remain owing by, the Company. |
| 24 | Capitalisation of profits |
Capitalisation of profits or of any share premium account or capital redemption reserve;
| 24.1 | The Directors may resolve to capitalise: |
| (a) | any part of the Company’s profits not required for paying any preferential dividend (whether or not those profits are available for distribution); or |
| (b) | any sum standing to the credit of the Company’s share premium account or capital redemption reserve, if any. |
| 24.2 | The amount resolved to be capitalised must be appropriated to the Members who would have been entitled to it had it been distributed by way of dividend and in the same proportions. The benefit to each Member so entitled must be given in either or both of the following ways:: |
| (a) | by paying up the amounts unpaid on that Member’s Shares; |
| (b) | by issuing Fully Paid Up Shares, debentures or other securities of the Company to that Member or as that Member directs. The Directors may resolve that any Shares issued to the Member in respect of Partly Paid Up Shares (Original Shares) rank for dividend only to the extent that the Original Shares rank for dividend while those Original Shares remain Partly Paid Up. |
Applying an amount for the benefit of Members
| 24.3 | The amount capitalised must be applied to the benefit of Members in the proportions to which the Members would have been entitled to dividends if the amount capitalised had been distributed as a dividend. |
| 24.4 | Subject to the Law, if a fraction of a Share, a debenture or other security is allocated to a Member, the Directors may issue a fractional certificate to that Member or pay him the cash equivalent of the fraction. |
| 25 | Share Premium Account |
Directors to maintain share premium account
| 25.1 | The Directors shall establish a share premium account in accordance with the Law. They shall carry to the credit of that account from time to time an amount equal to the amount or value of the premium paid on the issue of any Share or capital contributed or such other amounts required by the Law. |
Debits to share premium account
| 25.2 | The following amounts shall be debited to any share premium account: |
| (a) | on the redemption or purchase of a Share, the difference between the nominal value of that Share and the redemption or purchase price; and |
| (b) | any other amount paid out of a share premium account as permitted by the Law. |
| 25.3 | Notwithstanding the preceding Article, on the redemption or purchase of a Share, the Directors may pay the difference between the nominal value of that Share and the redemption purchase price out of the profits of the Company or, as permitted by the Law, out of capital. |
| 26 | Seal |
Company seal
| 26.1 | The Company may have a seal if the Directors so determine. |
Duplicate seal
| 26.2 | Subject to the provisions of the Law, the Company may also have a duplicate seal or seals for use in any place or places outside the Cayman Islands. Each duplicate seal shall be a facsimile of the original seal of the Company. However, if the Directors so determine, a duplicate seal shall have added on its face the name of the place where it is to be used. |
When and how seal is to be used
| 26.3 | A seal may only be used by the authority of the Directors. Unless the Directors otherwise determine, a document to which a seal is affixed must be signed in one of the following ways: |
| (a) | by a Director (or his alternate) and the Secretary; or |
| (b) | by a single Director (or his alternate). |
If no seal is adopted or used
| 26.4 | If the Directors do not adopt a seal, or a seal is not used, a document may be executed in the following manner: |
| (a) | by a Director (or his alternate) and the Secretary; or |
| (b) | by a single Director (or his alternate); or |
| (c) | in any other manner permitted by the Law. |
Power to allow non-manual signatures and facsimile printing of seal
| 26.5 | The Directors may determine that either or both of the following applies: |
| (a) | that the seal or a duplicate seal need not be affixed manually but may be affixed by some other method or system of reproduction; |
| (b) | that a signature required by these Articles need not be manual but may be a mechanical or Electronic Signature. |
Validity of execution
| 26.6 | If a document is duly executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Company, it shall not be regarded as invalid merely because, at the date of the delivery, the Secretary, or the Director, or other Officer or person who signed the document or affixed the seal for and on behalf of the Company ceased to be the Secretary or hold that office and authority on behalf of the Company. |
| 27 | Indemnity |
| 27.1 | To the extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify each existing or former Director (including alternate Director), Secretary and other Officer of the Company (including an investment adviser or an administrator or liquidator) and their personal representatives against: |
| (a) | all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by the existing or former Director (including alternate Director), Secretary or Officer in or about the conduct of the Company’s business or affairs or in the execution or discharge of the existing or former Director’s (including alternate Director’s), Secretary’s or Officer’s duties, powers, authorities or discretions; and |
| (b) | without limitation to paragraph (a), all costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by the existing or former Director (including alternate Director), Secretary or Officer in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative proceedings (whether threatened, pending or completed) concerning the Company or its affairs in any court or tribunal, whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere. |
No such existing or former Director (including alternate Director), Secretary or Officer, however, shall be indemnified in respect of any matter arising out of his own dishonesty.
| 27.2 | To the extent permitted by Law, the Company may make a payment, or agree to make a payment, whether by way of advance, loan or otherwise, for any legal costs incurred by an existing or former Director (including alternate Director), Secretary or Officer of the Company in respect of any matter identified in Article 27.1 on condition that the Director (including alternate Director), Secretary or Officer must repay the amount paid by the Company to the extent that it is ultimately found not liable to indemnify the Director (including alternate Director), Secretary or that Officer for those legal costs. |
Release
| 27.3 | To the extent permitted by Law, the Company may by Special Resolution release any existing or former Director (including alternate Director), Secretary or other Officer of the Company from liability for any loss or damage or right to compensation which may arise out of or in connection with the execution or discharge of the duties, powers, authorities or discretions of his office; but there may be no release from liability arising out of or in connection with that person’s own dishonesty. |
Insurance
| 27.4 | To the extent permitted by Law, the Company may pay, or agree to pay, a premium in respect of a contract insuring each of the following persons against risks determined by the Directors, other than liability arising out of that person’s own dishonesty: |
| (a) | an existing or former Director (including alternate Director), Secretary or Officer or auditor of: |
| (i) | the Company; |
| (ii) | a company which is or was a subsidiary of the Company; |
| (iii) | a company in which the Company has or had an interest (whether direct or indirect); and |
| (b) | a trustee of an employee or retirement benefits scheme or other trust in which any of the persons referred to in paragraph (a) is or was interested. |
| 28 | Notices |
Form of notices
| 28.1 | Save where these Articles provide otherwise, and subject to the Designated Stock Exchange Rules, any notice to be given to or by any person pursuant to these Articles shall be: |
| (a) | in writing signed by or on behalf of the giver in the manner set out below for written notices; or |
| (b) | subject to the next Article, in an Electronic Record signed by or on behalf of the giver by Electronic Signature and authenticated in accordance with Articles about authentication of Electronic Records; or |
| (c) | where these Articles expressly permit, by the Company by means of a website. |
Electronic communications
| 28.2 | A notice may only be given to the Company in an Electronic Record if: |
| (a) | the Directors so resolve; |
| (b) | the resolution states how an Electronic Record may be given and, if applicable, specifies an email address for the Company; and |
| (c) | the terms of that resolution are notified to the Members for the time being and, if applicable, to those Directors who were absent from the meeting at which the resolution was passed. |
If the resolution is revoked or varied, the revocation or variation shall only become effective when its terms have been similarly notified.
| 28.3 | A notice may not be given by Electronic Record to a person other than the Company unless the recipient has notified the giver of an Electronic address to which notice may be sent. |
| 28.4 | Subject to the Law, the Designated Stock Exchange Rules and to any other rules which the Company is bound to follow, the Company may also send any notice or other document pursuant to these Articles to a Member by publishing that notice or other document on a website where: |
| (a) | the Company and the Member have agreed to his having access to the notice or document on a website (instead of it being sent to him); |
| (b) | the notice or document is one to which that agreement applies; |
| (c) | the Member is notified (in accordance with any requirements laid down by the Law and, in a manner for the time being agreed between him and the Company for the purpose) of: |
| (i) | the publication of the notice or document on a website; |
| (ii) | the address of that website; and |
| (iii) | the place on that website where the notice or document may be accessed, and how it may be accessed; and |
| (d) | the notice or document is published on that website throughout the publication period, provided that, if the notice or document is published on that website for a part, but not all of, the publication period, the notice or document shall be treated as being published throughout that period if the failure to publish that notice of document throughout that period is wholly attributable to circumstances which it would not be reasonable to have expected the Company to prevent or avoid. For the purposes of this Article 28.4 “publication period” means a period of not less than twenty-one days, beginning on the day on which the notification referred to in Article 28.4(c) is deemed sent. |
Persons entitled to notices
| 28.5 | Any notice or other document to be given to a Member may be given by reference to the register of Members as it stands at any time within the period of twenty-one days before the day that the notice is given or (where and as applicable) within any other period permitted by, or in accordance with the requirements of, (to the extent applicable) the Designated Stock Exchange Rules and/or the Designated Stock Exchanges. No change in the register of Members after that time shall invalidate the giving of such notice or document or require the Company to give such item to any other person. |
Persons authorised to give notices
| 28.6 | A notice by either the Company or a Member pursuant to these Articles may be given on behalf of the Company or a Member by a Director or company secretary of the Company or a Member. |
Delivery of written notices
| 28.7 | Save where these Articles provide otherwise, a notice in writing may be given personally to the recipient, or left at (as appropriate) the Member’s or Director’s registered address or the Company’s registered office, or posted to that registered address or registered office. |
Joint holders
| 28.8 | Where Members are joint holders of a Share, all notices shall be given to the Member whose name first appears in the register of Members. |
Signatures
| 28.9 | A written notice shall be signed when it is autographed by or on behalf of the giver, or is marked in such a way as to indicate its execution or adoption by the giver. |
| 28.10 | An Electronic Record may be signed by an Electronic Signature. |
Evidence of transmission
| 28.11 | A notice given by Electronic Record shall be deemed sent if an Electronic Record is kept demonstrating the time, date and content of the transmission, and if no notification of failure to transmit is received by the giver. |
| 28.12 | A notice given in writing shall be deemed sent if the giver can provide proof that the envelope containing the notice was properly addressed, pre-paid and posted, or that the written notice was otherwise properly transmitted to the recipient. |
| 28.13 | A Member present, either in person or by proxy, at any meeting of the Company or of the holders of any class of Shares shall be deemed to have received due notice of the meeting and, where requisite, of the purposes for which it was called. |
Giving notice to a deceased or bankrupt Member
| 28.14 | A notice may be given by the Company to the persons entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member by sending or delivering it, in any manner authorised by these Articles for the giving of notice to a Member, addressed to them by name, or by the title of representatives of the deceased, or trustee of the bankrupt or by any like description, at the address, if any, supplied for that purpose by the persons claiming to be so entitled. |
| 28.15 | Until such an address has been supplied, a notice may be given in any manner in which it might have been given if the death or bankruptcy had not occurred. |
Date of giving notices
| 28.16 | A notice is given on the date identified in the following table |
|
Method for giving notices |
When taken to be given |
| (A) Personally | At the time and date of delivery |
| (B) By leaving it at the Member’s registered address | At the time and date it was left |
| (C) By posting it by prepaid post to the street or postal address of that recipient | 48 hours after the date it was posted |
| (D) By Electronic Record (other than publication on a website), to recipient’s Electronic address | 48 hours after the date it was sent |
| (E) By publication on a website | 24 hours after the date on which the Member is deemed to have been notified of the publication of the notice or document on the website |
Saving provision
| 28.17 | None of the preceding notice provisions shall derogate from the Articles about the delivery of written resolutions of Directors and written resolutions of Members. |
| 29 | Authentication of Electronic Records |
Application of Articles
| 29.1 | Without limitation to any other provision of these Articles, any notice, written resolution or other document under these Articles that is sent by Electronic means by a Member, or by the Secretary, or by a Director or other Officer of the Company, shall be deemed to be authentic if either Article 29.2 or Article 29.4 applies. |
Authentication of documents sent by Members by Electronic means
| 29.2 | An Electronic Record of a notice, written resolution or other document sent by Electronic means by or on behalf of one or more Members shall be deemed to be authentic if the following conditions are satisfied: |
| (a) | the Member or each Member, as the case may be, signed the original document, and for this purpose Original Document includes several documents in like form signed by one or more of those Members; and |
| (b) | the Electronic Record of the Original Document was sent by Electronic means by, or at the direction of, that Member to an address specified in accordance with these Articles for the purpose for which it was sent; and |
| (c) | Article 29.7 does not apply. |
| 29.3 | For example, where a sole Member signs a resolution and sends the Electronic Record of the original resolution, or causes it to be sent, by facsimile transmission to the address in these Articles specified for that purpose, the facsimile copy shall be deemed to be the written resolution of that Member unless Article 28.7 applies. |
Authentication of document sent by the Secretary or Officers of the Company by Electronic means
| 29.4 | An Electronic Record of a notice, written resolution or other document sent by or on behalf of the Secretary or an Officer or Officers of the Company shall be deemed to be authentic if the following conditions are satisfied: |
| (a) | the Secretary or the Officer or each Officer, as the case may be, signed the original document, and for this purpose Original Document includes several documents in like form signed by the Secretary or one or more of those Officers; and |
| (b) | the Electronic Record of the Original Document was sent by Electronic means by, or at the direction of, the Secretary or that Officer to an address specified in accordance with these Articles for the purpose for which it was sent; and |
| (c) | Article 29.7 does not apply. |
This Article 29.4 applies whether the document is sent by or on behalf of the Secretary or Officer in his own right or as a representative of the Company.
| 29.5 | For example, where a sole Director signs a resolution and scans the resolution, or causes it to be scanned, as a PDF version which is attached to an email sent to the address in these Articles specified for that purpose, the PDF version shall be deemed to be the written resolution of that Director unless Article 29.7 applies. |
Manner of signing
| 29.6 | For the purposes of these Articles about the authentication of Electronic Records, a document will be taken to be signed if it is signed manually or in any other manner permitted by these Articles. |
Saving provision
| 29.7 | A notice, written resolution or other document under these Articles will not be deemed to be authentic if the recipient, acting reasonably: |
| (a) | believes that the signature of the signatory has been altered after the signatory had signed the original document; or |
| (b) | believes that the original document, or the Electronic Record of it, was altered, without the approval of the signatory, after the signatory signed the original document; or |
| (c) | otherwise doubts the authenticity of the Electronic Record of the document |
and the recipient promptly gives notice to the sender setting the grounds of its objection. If the recipient invokes this Article, the sender may seek to establish the authenticity of the Electronic Record in any way the sender thinks fit.
| 30 | Transfer by way of continuation |
| 30.1 | The Company may, by Special Resolution, resolve to be registered by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside: |
| (a) | the Cayman Islands; or |
| (b) | such other jurisdiction in which it is, for the time being, incorporated, registered or existing. |
| 30.2 | To give effect to any resolution made pursuant to the preceding Article, the Directors may cause the following: |
| (a) | an application be made to the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands to deregister the Company in the Cayman Islands or in the other jurisdiction in which it is for the time being incorporated, registered or existing; and |
| (b) | all such further steps as they consider appropriate to be taken to effect the transfer by way of continuation of the Company. |
| 31 | Winding up |
Distribution of assets in specie
| 31.1 | If the Company is wound up the Members may, subject to these Articles and any other sanction required by the Law, pass a Special Resolution allowing the liquidator to do either or both of the following: |
| (a) | to divide in specie among the Members the whole or any part of the assets of the Company and, for that purpose, to value any assets and to determine how the division shall be carried out as between the Members or different classes of Members; and/or |
| (b) | to vest the whole or any part of the assets in trustees for the benefit of Members and those liable to contribute to the winding up. |
No obligation to accept liability
| 31.2 | No Member shall be compelled to accept any assets if an obligation attaches to them. |
| 31.3 | The Directors are authorised to present a winding up petition |
| 31.4 | The Directors have the authority to present a petition for the winding up of the Company to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands on behalf of the Company without the sanction of a resolution passed at a general meeting. |
| 32 | Amendment of Memorandum and Articles |
Power to change name or amend Memorandum
| 32.1 | Subject to the Law, the Company may, by Special Resolution: |
| (a) | change its name; or |
| (b) | change the provisions of its Memorandum with respect to its objects, powers or any other matter specified in the Memorandum. |
Power to amend these Articles
| 32.2 | Subject to the Law and as provided in these Articles, the Company may, by Special Resolution, amend these Articles in whole or in part. |
Exhibit 10.1
GOLDEN SUN TECHNOLOGY GROUP LIMITED
2025 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
| 1. | Purpose |
The Plan’s purpose is to attract, retain, and motivate persons who make important contributions to the Company by providing these individuals with the opportunity to acquire Shares. Additionally, the Plan is intended to align the interests of these individuals to those of the Company’s other shareholders.
| 2. | Definitions |
| 2.1. | Administrator means the Board or a Committee to the extent the Board’s powers and authorities under the Plan have been delegated to a Committee. “Administrator” also includes any officer that has been delegated authority pursuant to Section 4.2 for such time as such delegation is in effect. |
| 2.2. | Affiliate means (i) any person or entity that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Company and/or (ii) to the extent provided by the Board or a Committee, any person or entity in which the Company has a significant interest as determined by the Board or a Committee in its discretion. The term “control” (including, with correlative meaning, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as applied to any person or entity, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such person or entity, whether through the ownership of voting or other securities, by contract or otherwise. |
| 2.3. | Applicable Law means any applicable law, including without limitation: (i) provisions of the Code, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and any rules or regulations thereunder, (ii) corporate, securities, tax or other laws, statutes, rules, requirements, or regulations, whether federal, state, local, or foreign, and (iii) rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Class A Ordinary Shares are listed, quoted, or traded. |
| 2.4. | Award means an Option award, Stock Appreciation Right award, Restricted Stock award, Restricted Stock Unit award, Performance Award, Dividend Equivalents award, or Other Stock or Cash Based Award granted to a Participant under the Plan. |
| 2.5. | Award Agreement means an agreement (written or electronic) made and delivered in accordance with Section 12.3 of this Plan, evidencing the grant of an Award hereunder. |
| 2.6. | Board means the Board of Directors of the Company. |
| 2.7. | Cause means, in the case of a particular Award, unless the applicable Award Agreement states otherwise, (i) the Company or an Affiliate having “cause” to terminate a Participant’s employment or service, as defined in any employment or consulting agreement or similar document or policy between the Participant and the Company or an Affiliate in effect at the time of such termination or (ii) in the absence of any such employment or consulting agreement, document or policy (or the absence of any definition of “Cause” contained therein), (A) a continuing material breach or material default (including, without limitation, any material dereliction of duty) by Participant of any agreement between the Participant and the Company, except for any such breach or default which is caused by the Participant’s Disability, or a continuing failure by the Participant to follow the direction of a duly authorized representative of the Company; (B) gross negligence, willful misfeasance or breach of fiduciary duty to the Company or Affiliate by the Participant; (C) the commission by the Participant of an act of fraud, embezzlement or any felony or other crime of dishonesty in connection with the Participant’s duties to the Company or Affiliate; or (D) the Participant’s conviction of, or plea of nolo contendere to, a felony or any other crime that would materially and adversely affect: (i) the business reputation of the Company or Affiliate or (ii) the performance of the Participant’s duties to the Company or an Affiliate. Any determination of whether Cause exists shall be made by the Administrator in its sole discretion. |
| 2.8. | Change in Control shall, in the case of a particular Award, unless the applicable Award Agreement provides otherwise or contains a different definition of “Change in Control” be deemed to occur upon: |
| 2.8.1. | A tender offer (or series of related offers) which is made and consummated for the ownership of 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the Company, unless as a result of such tender offer more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the surviving or resulting corporation or entity are owned in the aggregate by (A) the shareholders of the Company (as of the time immediately prior to the commencement of such offer), or (B) any employee benefit plan of the Company or its Subsidiaries, and their Affiliates; |
| 2.8.2. | The consummation of the Company’s merger or consolidation with another corporation, unless as a result of such merger or consolidation, more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the surviving or resulting corporation or entity shall be owned in the aggregate by (A) the shareholders of the Company (as of the time immediately prior to such transaction); provided, that a merger or consolidation of the Company with another company which is controlled by persons owning more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Company shall constitute a Change in Control unless the Administrator, in its discretion, determine otherwise, or (B) any employee benefit plan of the Company or its Subsidiaries, and their Affiliates; |
| 2.8.3. | The consummation of the Company’s sale of substantially all of its assets to another entity that is not wholly owned by the Company, unless as a result of such sale more than 50% of such assets shall be owned in the aggregate by (A) the shareholders of the Company (as of the time immediately prior to such transaction), or (B) any employee benefit plan of the Company or its Subsidiaries, and their Affiliates; |
| 2.8.4. | The consummation of a transaction, or series of transactions, in which a Person acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the Company (whether directly, indirectly, beneficially or of record), unless as a result of such acquisition more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the surviving or resulting corporation or entity shall be owned in the aggregate by (A) the shareholders of the Company (as of the time immediately prior to the first acquisition of such securities by such Person), or (B) any employee benefit plan of the Company or its Subsidiaries, and their Affiliates; or |
| 2.8.5. | The Incumbent Directors cease to constitute a majority of the Board for any reason. |
For purposes of this Section 2.8, ownership of voting securities shall take into account and shall include ownership as determined by applying the provisions of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) (as in effect on the date hereof) under the Exchange Act.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any Award or portion thereof that provides for the deferral of compensation that is subject to Section 409A, then to the extent required to avoid the imposition of additional taxes under Section 409A, the transaction or event described above in this Section 2.8 with respect to such Award or portion thereof shall only constitute a Change in Control for purposes of the payment timing of such Award if such transaction also constitutes a “change in control event,” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5).
The Administrator shall have the authority, in its sole discretion, to determine whether a Change in Control has occurred, the effective date of such Change in Control, and any incidental matters relating thereto; provided that any exercise of authority in conjunction with a determination of whether a Change in Control is a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) shall be consistent with such regulation.
| 2.9. | Class A Ordinary Shares or Shares means Class A ordinary shares of par value US$0.005 each in the capital of the Company. |
| 2.10. | Class B Ordinary Shares means Class B ordinary shares of par value US$0.005 each in the capital of the Company. |
| 2.11. | Clawback Policies means any policy of the Company regarding the reduction, recoupment, clawback or recovery of compensation, as such policies may be amended from time to time. “Clawback Policies” includes the Company’s policies to comply with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, or other Applicable Law, as well as any implementing regulations and/or listing standards. |
| 2.12. | Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor thereto. References in this Plan to any section of the Code shall be deemed to include any regulations or other interpretative guidance issued by any governmental authority under such section, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, regulations or guidance. |
| 2.13. | Committee means one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board, which shall be comprised, unless otherwise determined by the Board, solely of not less than two members who shall be (i) Non-Employee Directors, and (ii) “Non-Employee Directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3. |
| 2.14. | Company means Golden Sun Technology Group Limited, an exempted company incorporated and registered in the Cayman Islands. |
| 2.15. | Consultant means any person, including any adviser, engaged by the Company or an Affiliate to render services to such entity if the consultant or adviser: (i) renders bona fide services to the Company or an Affiliate (ii) renders services not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and does not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities, and (iii) who qualifies as a consultant or advisor under Instruction A.1.(a)(1) of Form S-8 under the Securities Act. |
| 2.16. | Designated Beneficiary means, if permitted by the Company, the beneficiary or beneficiaries the Participant designates, in a manner the Company determines, to receive amounts due or exercise the Participant’s rights if the Participant dies. If a Participant does not make an effective designation, then the “Designated Beneficiary” will mean the Participant’s estate or legal heirs. |
| 2.17. | Director means a Board member. |
| 2.18. | Disability means a permanent and total disability under Code Section 22(e)(3). |
| 2.19. | Dividend Equivalents means a right granted to a Participant to receive the equivalent value (in cash or Shares) of dividends paid on a specified number of Shares. Such Dividend Equivalents shall be converted to cash or additional Shares, or a combination of cash and Shares, by such formula and at such time and subject to such limitations as may be determined by the Administrator. |
| 2.20. | Effective Date has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 21. |
| 2.21. | Employee means any employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates. |
| 2.22. | ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. |
| 2.23. | Exchange Act means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and all regulations, guidance, and other interpretive authority issued thereunder. |
| 2.24. | Fair Market Value means unless otherwise provided by the Administrator in accordance with Applicable Law, on a given date, (i) if the Shares are listed on a national securities exchange, the closing sales price on the principal exchange of the Shares on such date, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or another source the Administrator deems reliable, or, in the absence of reported sales on such date, the closing sales price on the immediately preceding date on which sales were reported, or (ii) if the Shares are not listed on a national securities exchange, the mean between the bid and offered prices as quoted by any nationally recognized interdealer quotation system for such date, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or another source the Administrator deems reliable, provided that if the Shares are not quoted on an interdealer quotation system or it is determined that the fair market value is not properly reflected by such quotations, Fair Market Value will be determined by such other method as the Administrator determines in good faith to be reasonable and in compliance with Section 409A. |
| 2.25. | GAAP means United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. |
| 2.26. | Greater Than 10% Shareholder means an individual then owning (within the meaning of Code Section 424(d)) more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary. |
| 2.27. | Incentive Stock Option means an Option that meets the requirements to qualify as an “incentive stock option” as defined in Code Section 422. |
| 2.28. | Incumbent Directors means, for any period of 12 consecutive months, individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board together with any new Director(s) (other than a Director designated by a person who shall have entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in clause 2.8.1 or 2.8.3 of the Change in Control definition) whose election or nomination for election to the Board was approved by a vote of at least a majority (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for Director without objection to such nomination) of the Directors then still in office who either were Directors at the beginning of the 12-month period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved. No individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to Directors or as a result of any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of any person other than the Board shall be an Incumbent Director. |
| 2.29. | Non-Employee Director means a Director who is not an Employee. |
| 2.30. | Nonqualified Option means an Option that by its terms, or in operation, does not qualify or is not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. |
| 2.31. | Option means an Award granted pursuant to Section 6 hereof (excepting Stock Appreciation Rights) to purchase a specified number of Shares at a specified price per Share during a specified time period, each as specified in an Award Agreement. An Option may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Option. |
| 2.32. | Ordinary Shares means the total of the Company’s (i) the Class A Ordinary Shares and (ii) the Class B Ordinary Shares. |
| 2.33. | Other Stock or Cash Based Awards means cash awards, awards of Shares, and other awards valued by reference to or based on, Shares or other property. |
| 2.34. | Parent means a “parent corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined by Code Section 424(e). |
| 2.35. | Participant means a Service Provider who has been granted an Award. |
| 2.36. | Performance Award means an Award granted hereunder that vests or is earned based at least in part upon the attainment of performance criteria established by the Administrator. |
| 2.37. | Period of Restriction means the period during which the transfer of Restricted Stock is subject to restrictions and a substantial risk of forfeiture. Such restrictions may be based on the passage of time, the achievement of certain performance criteria, or the occurrence of other events as determined by the Administrator. |
| 2.38. | Person means as defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof; however, a Person shall not include (A) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (B) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (C) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities; or (D) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of stock of the Company. |
| 2.39. | Plan means this Golden Sun Technology Group Limited 2025 Equity Incentive Plan. |
| 2.40. | Restricted Stock means Shares, subject to a Period of Restriction or certain other specified restrictions (including, without limitation, a requirement that the Participant remain continuously employed or provide continuous service for a specified period of time), granted under Section 7 or issued pursuant to the early exercise of an Option. |
| 2.41. | Restricted Stock Unit or RSU means an unfunded and unsecured promise to deliver Shares, cash, other securities, or other property, subject to certain restrictions (including, without limitation, a requirement that the Participant remain continuously employed or provide continuous service for a specified period of time), granted under Section 8. |
| 2.42. | Restrictive Covenant means any non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality, non-disparagement, non-disclosure, or similar agreement between a Participant and the Company or an Affiliate. |
| 2.43. | Rule 16b-3 means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, as amended. |
| 2.44. | Securities Act means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all regulations, guidance, and other interpretive authority issued thereunder. |
| 2.45. | Section 409A means Code Section 409A and the regulations and other guidance promulgated thereunder by the United States Treasury Department, as amended. |
| 2.46. | Service Provider means an Employee, Consultant, or a Director. |
| 2.47. | Share Limit has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.1. |
| 2.48. | Stock Appreciation Right or SAR means a right granted under Section 6 hereof to receive a payment equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a specified number of Shares on the date the right is exercised over the exercise price set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. |
| 2.49. | Subsidiary means a “subsidiary corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined by Code Section 424(f). |
| 2.50. | Substitute Awards means Awards granted or Shares issued by the Company in assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, awards previously granted, or the right or obligation to make future awards, in each case by a company or other entity acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or any Subsidiary combines. |
| 2.51. | Tax Obligations means any United States and non-United States federal, state, and/or local taxes, including income tax, social insurance contributions, fringe benefit tax, employment tax, stamp tax, and any employer tax liability which has been transferred to a Participant, for which a Participant is liable in connection with Awards and/or Shares. |
| 2.52. | Termination of Service means the time at which a Participant has terminated from all service with the Company and its Affiliates, for any reason. A Termination of Service shall occur when a Participant is no longer a Consultant, Employee, or Non-Employee Director. The Company, in its sole discretion, shall make all determinations regarding whether a Termination of Service has occurred. |
| 3. | Eligibility |
Service Providers are eligible to receive Awards pursuant to the Plan, subject to the Plan’s conditions and limitations. No Service Provider shall have any right to be granted an Award pursuant to the Plan, and neither the Company nor the Administrator is obligated to treat Service Providers, Participants, or other persons uniformly.
| 4. | Administration |
| 4.1. | Generally. The Plan will be administered by the Administrator. The Administrator is authorized, subject to the provisions of the Plan, to establish such rules and regulations as it deems necessary for the proper administration of the Plan and to make such determinations and interpretations, and to take such action in connection with the Plan and any benefits granted hereunder as it deems necessary or advisable. Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrator shall have the sole discretion to (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to a Participant; (iii) determine the number of Shares to be covered by, or with respect to which payments, rights, or other matters are to be calculated in connection with, Awards; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award; (v) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be settled or exercised in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or canceled, forfeited, or suspended, and the method or methods by which Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, forfeited, or suspended; (vi) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances the delivery of cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award shall be made; (vii) interpret, administer, reconcile any inconsistency in, settle any controversy regarding, correct any defect in and/or complete any omission in this Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award granted under, this Plan; (viii) establish, amend, suspend, or waive any rules and regulations and appoint such agents as the Administrator shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of this Plan; (ix) accelerate the vesting or exercisability of, payment for or lapse of restrictions on, Awards; (x) to reprice existing Awards or to grant Awards in connection with or in consideration of the cancellation of an outstanding Award with a higher price; and (xi) make any other determination and take any other action that the Administrator deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. All determinations and interpretations made by the Administrator shall be binding and conclusive on all Participants and their legal representatives. |
| 4.2. | Delegation. The Board or a Committee may delegate its powers and authorities to one or more Committees or officers of the Company, provided, however, that no officer of the Company or any Subsidiary may be delegated authority to grant, amend, modify, make any administrative determination to, or cancel any Awards held by either (A) any person subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act or (B) an officer who has been delegated any authority under the Plan. All delegations shall be subject to terms and conditions determined by the Board or a Committee. Any delegation of authority under the Plan may be revoked at any time. Regardless of any delegation, the Board or a Committee may act as the Administrator at any time in accordance with Applicable Law. |
| 4.3. | Liability. Neither the Administrator nor any employee of the Company shall be liable for any act or failure to act hereunder, except in circumstances involving his or her bad faith, gross negligence, or willful misconduct, or for any act or failure to act hereunder by any other member or employee or by any agent to whom duties in connection with the administration of this Plan have been delegated. The Company shall indemnify members of the Administrator and any agent of the Administrator who is an employee of the Company, a Subsidiary, or an Affiliate against any and all liabilities or expenses to which they may be subjected by reason of any act or failure to act with respect to their duties on behalf of the Plan, except in circumstances involving such person’s bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct. |
| 4.4. | Administrative Delegation and Reliance. The Administrator may delegate to one or more of its members, or to one or more agents, such administrative duties as it may deem advisable, and the Administrator, or any person to whom it has delegated duties as aforesaid, may employ one or more persons to render advice with respect to any responsibility the Administrator or such person may have under the Plan. The Administrator may employ such legal or other counsel, consultants, and agents as it may deem desirable for the administration of the Plan and may rely upon any opinion or computation received from any such counsel, consultant, or agent. |
| 5. | Plan Limits |
| 5.1. | Number of Shares Available for Issuance. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 and the Company having sufficient authorized share capital, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan shall be the sum of (A) 15% of the total number of Ordinary Shares outstanding as of the Effective Date, plus (B) an increase commencing on January 1, 2027 and continuing annually on each anniversary thereof through and including January 1, 2035, equal to the lesser of (i) 5% of the total number of Ordinary Shares outstanding on the last day of the immediately preceding calendar year and (ii) such smaller number of Shares as determined by the Board or the Committee (the “Share Limit”). The Shares subject to the Plan may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired shares. |
| 5.2. | Share Recycling. Upon payment in Shares pursuant to the exercise or settlement of an Award, the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced only by the number of Shares actually issued in such payment. If a Participant pays the exercise price (or purchase price, if applicable) of an Award through the tender of Shares, or if the Shares are tendered or withheld to satisfy any tax withholding obligations, the number of Shares so tendered or withheld shall again be available for issuance pursuant to future Awards under the Plan, although such Shares shall not again become available for issuance as Incentive Stock Options. Shares shall not be deemed to have been issued pursuant to the Plan with respect to any portion of an Award that is settled in cash. If any outstanding Award expires or is terminated or canceled without having been exercised or settled in full, or if the Shares acquired pursuant to an Award subject to forfeiture or repurchase are forfeited or repurchased by the Company, the Shares allocable to the terminated portion of such Award or such forfeited or repurchased Shares shall again be available for grant under the Plan. |
| 5.3. | Incentive Stock Option Limit. No more than 1,000,000 Shares (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 11) may be issued under the Plan upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options. |
| 5.4. | Substitute Awards. Substitute Awards shall not be counted against the Share Limit; provided, however, that Substitute Awards issued in connection with the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding Options intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options shall be counted against the Incentive Stock Option limit in Section 5.3. Additionally, Shares subject to Substitute Awards shall not be added to the Shares available for Awards under the Plan pursuant to Section 5.2. If the Company or any Subsidiary acquires or combines with a company that has shares available under an equity plan approved by shareholders and in place prior to such acquisition or combination (and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination), the available shares under the acquired or combined entity’s plan (as appropriately adjusted to reflect the transaction) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not count against the Share Limit (and Shares subject to such Awards may again become available for Awards under the Plan as provided in Section 5.2). Awards made from the available shares of an acquired or combined entity’s plan shall not be made after the date awards or grants could not be under the terms of the acquired or combined entity’s plan prior to the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not Service Providers prior to such acquisition or combination. Substitute Awards may be granted on such terms and conditions as the Administrator deems appropriate. |
| 5.5. | Non-Employee Director Award Limit. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Plan or in any policy of the Company regarding Non-Employee Director compensation, the sum of the grant date fair value (determined as of the grant date in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, or any successor thereto) of all equity-based Awards and the maximum amount that may become payable pursuant to all cash-based Awards that may be granted to a Service Provider as compensation for services as a Non-Employee Director during any calendar year shall not exceed $1,000,000 for such Service Provider’s first year of service as a Non-Employee Director and $750,000 for each year thereafter. |
| 5.6. | Issue price. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Plan, no Shares may be issued at a price less than the par value of such Class A Ordinary Shares. |
| 6. | Options and Stock Appreciation Rights |
| 6.1. | General. The Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant Options or Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan to Service Providers, provided, however, to the extent required to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A, a Service Provider may only be granted an Option or Stock Appreciation Right if the Company is an “eligible issuer of service recipient stock” within the meaning of Section 409A, with respect to such Service Provider. Each Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be subject to such terms and conditions consistent with the Plan as the Administrator may impose from time to time, subject to the limitations in this Section 6. Any Option or Stock Appreciation Rights granted hereunder will be exercisable according to the terms of the Plan and at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Award Agreement. Exercising an Option or Stock Appreciation Right in any manner will decrease the number of Shares thereafter available for purchase under the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, by the number of Shares as to which the Option or Stock Appreciation Right is exercised. |
| 6.2. | Exercise Price. The per share exercise price for Shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right will be determined by the Administrator; provided, however, that to avoid the imposition of taxes under Section 409A, the exercise price per Share shall be no less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant, subject to Section 5.4. In the case of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right that is a Substitute Award, the exercise price for Shares subject to such Option or Stock Appreciation Right may be less than the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant; provided that the exercise price of any Substitute Award shall be determined in accordance with the applicable requirements of Code Sections 424 and 409A. |
| 6.3. | Exercise Period. Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Administrator; provided, however, that no Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable later than ten (10) years after the date it is granted. No portion of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right which is unexercisable at a Participant’s Termination of Service shall thereafter become exercisable and the portion of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right which is unexercisable at a Participant’s Termination of Service shall automatically expire on the date of such Termination of Service. Options and Stock Appreciation Rights granted to an Employee who is a non-exempt employee for purposes of overtime pay under the United States Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 shall not become exercisable earlier than six months after its date of grant. Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall terminate at such earlier times and upon such conditions or circumstances as the Administrator shall in its discretion set forth in such Award Agreement at the date of grant; provided, however, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, later waive any such condition. If, prior an Option’s or Stock Appreciation Right’s exercise and prior to its termination, a Participant commits an act of Cause (to be determined by the Administrator), or violates a Restrictive Covenant, the Administrator may terminate the Participant’s right to exercise the Option or Stock Appreciation Right when it reasonably believes that the Participant may have participated in such act or violation. |
| 6.4. | Exercise. Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised by delivering to the Company (or such other person or entity designated by the Administrator) a notice of exercise, in a form and manner the Company approves, which may be written or electronic, signed or authenticated by the person authorized to exercise the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, together with, as applicable, (a) payment in full of the exercise price for the number of Shares for which the Option is exercised in a manner consistent with Section 6.5 and (b) satisfaction in full of any withholding obligations for Tax Obligations in a manner specified in Section 12.5. The Administrator may, in its discretion, require that any partial exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right be with respect to a minimum number of Shares. |
| 6.5. | Payment Upon Exercise. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Participant may pay the Option exercise price by cash, wire transfer, or check and, if approved by the Administrator, as determined in its sole discretion, by the following methods: |
| 6.5.1. | surrender of other Class A Ordinary Shares that meet the conditions established by the Administrator to avoid adverse accounting consequences to the Company (as determined by the Administrator); |
| 6.5.2. | by a broker-assisted cashless exercise in accordance with procedures approved by the Administrator, whereby payment of the exercise price may be satisfied, in whole or in part, with Shares subject to the Option by delivery of an irrevocable direction to a securities broker (on a form prescribed by the Administrator) to sell Shares and to deliver all or part of the sale proceeds to the Company in payment of the aggregate exercise price; |
| 6.5.3. | for a Nonqualified Option, by delivery of a notice of “net exercise” to the Company, pursuant to which the Participant shall surrender Shares then issuable upon the Nonqualified Option’s exercise valued at their Fair Market Value on the exercise date; |
| 6.5.4. | such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Shares to the extent permitted by Applicable Law; |
| 6.5.5. | any combination of the foregoing methods of payment. |
| 6.6. | Incentive Stock Options. |
| 6.6.1. | Each Option will be designated in the Award Agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Option. However, notwithstanding such designation, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by the Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company, its Parent, or any Subsidiary) exceeds $100,000 (or such other limit established in the Code), such Options will be treated as Nonqualified Options. For purposes of this Section 6.6.1, Incentive Stock Options will be taken into account in the order in which they were granted. The Fair Market Value of the Shares will be determined as of the time the Option is granted. |
| 6.6.2. | In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the exercise price will be determined by the Administrator, but shall be no less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. The term of any Incentive Stock Option will be ten (10) years from the date of grant or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement. Moreover, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Greater Than 10% Shareholder, the term of the Incentive Stock Option will be five (5) years from the date of grant or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement and the exercise price shall not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. |
| 6.6.3. | No Option shall be treated as an Incentive Stock Option unless this Plan has been approved by the shareholders of the Company in a manner intended to comply with the shareholder approval requirements of Code Section 422(b)(1), provided that any Option intended to be an Incentive Stock Option shall not fail to be effective solely on account of a failure to obtain such approval, but rather such Option shall be treated as a Nonqualified Option unless and until such approval is obtained. |
| 6.6.4. | In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the terms and conditions of such grant shall be subject to and comply with such rules as may be prescribed by Code Section 422. If for any reason an Option intended to be an Incentive Stock Option (or any portion thereof) shall not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, then, to the extent of such nonqualification, such Option or portion thereof shall be regarded as a Nonqualified Option appropriately granted under this Plan. |
| 6.6.5. | By accepting an Incentive Stock Option, the Participant agrees to give prompt notice to the Company of dispositions or other transfers (other than in connection with a Change in Control) of Shares acquired under the Option made within the later of (a) two years from the grant date of the Option or (b) one year after the transfer of such Shares to the Participant, specifying the date of the disposition or other transfer and the amount the Participant realized, in cash, other property, or other consideration, in such disposition or transfer. Neither the Company nor the Administrator will be liable to a Participant, or any other party, if an Incentive Stock Option fails or ceases to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Code Section 422. Any Incentive Stock Option or portion thereof that fails to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Code Section 422 for any reason, will be a Nonqualified Option. |
| 7. | Restricted Stock |
| 7.1. | Generally. The Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant Restricted Stock to Service Providers in such amounts as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine, subject to the limitations of this Section 7. Each Award of Restricted Stock will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the Period of Restriction and the applicable restrictions, the number of Shares granted, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine. Restricted Stock may be awarded in consideration for (i) cash, check, bank draft or money order payable to the Company, (ii) past service, or (iii) any other form of legal consideration (including future Service) that may be acceptable to the Administrator, in its sole discretion, and permissible under Applicable Laws. |
| 7.2. | Restrictions; Voting Rights; Transferability. Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, Restricted Stock will be held by the Company as escrow agent until the restrictions on such Restricted Stock have lapsed. The Administrator, in its discretion, may accelerate the time at which any restrictions will lapse or be removed. During the Period of Restriction, a Participant holding Restricted Stock may exercise the voting rights applicable to those shares of Restricted Stock, unless the Administrator determines otherwise. Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the end of the applicable Period of Restriction. |
| 7.3. | Dividends and Other Distributions. Except as provided in the Award Agreement, during the Period of Restriction, a Participant holding Restricted Stock will be entitled to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such Restricted Stock. If any such dividends or distributions are paid in Class A Ordinary Shares, such Class A Ordinary Shares will be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid. |
| 7.4. | Return of Restricted Stock to the Company. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, the Restricted Stock for which restrictions have not lapsed will be forfeited and will revert to the Company and again will become available for grant under the Plan. |
| 7.5. | Section 83(b) Election. If a Participant makes an election under Code Section 83(b) to be taxed with respect to the Restricted Stock as of the date of transfer of the Restricted Stock rather than as of the date or dates upon which such Participant would otherwise be taxable under Code Section 83(a), such Participant shall be required to deliver a copy of such election to the Company promptly after filing such election with the Internal Revenue Service along with proof of the timely filing thereof. |
| 8. | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) |
| 8.1. | Generally. The Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant RSUs under the Plan to Service Providers. Each RSU shall be subject to such terms and conditions as are consistent with the Plan and as the Administrator may impose from time to time, subject to this Section 8. Each Award of RSUs will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the terms, conditions, and restrictions related to the grant, including the number of RSUs and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine. A Participant holding RSUs will have only the rights of a general unsecured creditor of the Company until delivery of Shares, cash, other securities, other property, or a combination of the foregoing. |
| 8.2. | Vesting and Other Terms. The Administrator will set vesting criteria in its discretion, which, depending on the extent to which the criteria are met, will determine the number of RSUs that will be paid out to the Participant. Upon meeting the applicable vesting criteria, the Participant will be entitled to receive a payout as determined by the Administrator. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time after the grant of RSUs, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any vesting criteria that must be met to receive a payout. |
| 8.3. | Form and Timing of Payment. Payment of earned RSUs will be made as soon as practicable after the date(s) determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Award Agreement. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may settle earned RSUs in Shares, cash, other securities, other property, or a combination of the foregoing. If a cash payment is made in lieu of delivering Shares, the amount of such payment shall be equal to the fair market value of the Shares as of the date on which the restricted period lapsed with respect to such RSUs, less an amount equal to any taxes required to be withheld or paid. The Administrator may provide that RSUs will be deferred, on a mandatory basis or at the Participant’s election, subject to compliance with Applicable Law. |
| 8.4. | Voting. The holders of RSUs shall have no voting rights as the Company’s shareholders. |
| 9. | Performance Awards |
| 9.1. | Generally. The Administrator shall have the authority to designate any Award described in Sections 6 through 8 of the Plan as a Performance Award. Additionally, the Administrator shall have the authority to make an award of a cash bonus to any Participant and designate such Award as a Performance Award. |
| 9.2. | Discretion of Administrator. The Administrator shall have the discretion to establish the terms, conditions, and restrictions of any Performance Award. For each performance period, the Administrator shall have the sole authority to select the length of such performance period, the types of Performance Awards to be granted, the performance criteria that will be used to establish the performance goals, and the level(s) of performance which shall result in a Performance Award being earned. |
| 9.3. | Performance Criteria. The Administrator may establish performance-based conditions for an Award as specified in the Award Agreement, which may be based on the attainment of specific levels of performance of the Company (and/or one or more Subsidiaries, divisions, business segments or operational units, or any combination of the foregoing) and may include, without limitation, any of the following: (i) net earnings or net income (before or after taxes); (ii) basic or diluted earnings per share (before or after taxes); (iii) revenue or revenue growth (measured on a net or gross basis); (iv) gross profit or gross profit growth; (v) operating profit (before or after taxes); (vi) return measures (including, but not limited to, return on assets, capital, invested capital, equity, or sales); (vii) cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow, net cash provided by operations and cash flow return on capital); (viii) financing and other capital raising transactions (including, but not limited to, sales of the Company’s equity or debt securities); (ix) earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation and/or amortization; (x) gross or operating margins; (xi) productivity ratios; (xii) share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total shareholder return); (xiii) expense targets; (xiv) margins; (xv) productivity and operating efficiencies; (xvi) customer satisfaction; (xvii) customer growth; (xviii) working capital targets; (xix) measures of economic value added; (xx) inventory control; (xxi) enterprise value; (xxii) sales; (xxiii) debt levels and net debt; (xxiv) combined ratio; (xxv) timely launch of new facilities; (xxvi) client retention; (xxvii) employee retention; (xxviii) timely completion of new product rollouts; (xxix) cost targets; (xxx) reductions and savings; (xxxi) productivity and efficiencies; (xxxii) strategic partnerships or transactions; and (xxxiii) personal targets, goals or completion of projects. Any one or more of the performance criteria may be used on an absolute or relative basis to measure the performance of the Company and/or one or more Subsidiaries as a whole or any business unit(s) of the Company and/or one or more Subsidiaries or any combination thereof, as the Administrator may deem appropriate, or any of the above performance criteria may be compared to the performance of a selected group of comparison or peer companies, or a published or special index that the Administrator, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate, or as compared to various stock market indices. The Administrator also has the authority to provide for accelerated vesting of any Award based on the achievement of performance criteria specified in this paragraph. Any performance criteria that are financial metrics, may be determined in accordance with GAAP or may be adjusted when established to include or exclude any items otherwise includable or excludable under GAAP. |
| 9.4. | Modification of Performance Goals. At any time, the Administrator may adjust or modify the calculation of a performance goal for a performance period, to appropriately reflect any circumstance or event that occurs during a performance period and that in the Administrator’s sole discretion, warrants adjustment or modification. Adjustments the Administrator may make include but are not limited to the following: (i) asset write-downs; (ii) litigation or claim judgments or settlements; (iii) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, or other laws or regulatory rules affecting reported results; (iv) any reorganization and restructuring programs; (v) unusual and/or infrequently occurring items; (vi) acquisitions or divestitures; (vii) discontinued operations; (viii) any other specific unusual or infrequently occurring or non-recurring events, or objectively determinable category thereof; (ix) foreign exchange gains and losses; and (x) a change in the Company’s fiscal year. |
| 9.5. | Terms and Conditions to Payment. Except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, a Participant must be employed by the Company on the last day of a performance period to be eligible to vest and receive Shares, cash, or other consideration in respect of a Performance Award for such performance period. A Participant shall be eligible to receive payment in respect of a Performance Award only to the extent that the performance goals for such period are achieved and any other vesting conditions specified in the Participant’s Award Agreement are satisfied. Following the completion of a performance period, the Administrator shall determine whether, and to what extent, the performance goals for the performance period have been achieved and determine the number of Shares, cash or other consideration that will be settled pursuant to Performance Awards. |
| 9.6. | Timing of Award Payments. Except as provided in an Award agreement, Performance Awards granted for a performance period shall be paid to Participants as soon as administratively practicable following the Administrator’s determination in accordance with Section 9.5. |
| 10. | Other Awards |
| 10.1. | General. The Administrator may grant Dividend Equivalents or Other Stock or Cash Based Awards, to one or more Service Providers, in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as are consistent with the Plan. |
| 10.2. | Dividend Equivalents. The Administrator may provide that any Award, other than an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, may provide a Participant with the right to receive Dividend Equivalents. Dividend Equivalents may be paid currently or credited to an account for the Participant, settled in cash or Shares and subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Award with respect to which the Dividend Equivalents are granted. The payment of Dividend Equivalents shall be specified in the applicable Award Agreement and shall in all cases be subject to Applicable Law. |
| 10.3. | Other Stock or Cash Based Awards. Other Stock-Based Awards may be granted either alone, in addition to, or in tandem with, other Awards granted under the Plan and/or cash awards made outside of the Plan. The Administrator shall have authority to determine the Service Providers to whom and the time or times at which Other Stock-Based Awards shall be made, the amount of such Other Stock-Based Awards, and all other conditions of the Other Stock-Based Awards including any dividend and/or voting rights. The Administrator may grant Cash Awards in such amounts and subject to such performance or other vesting criteria and terms and conditions as the Administrator may determine. Cash Awards shall be evidenced in such form as the Administrator may determine. |
| 11. | Adjustments; Change in Control |
| 11.1. | Adjustments. In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Class A Ordinary Shares, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, share split, reverse share split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or exchange of Class A Ordinary Shares or other securities of the Company, or other change in the corporate structure of the Company affecting the Class A Ordinary Shares occurs such that an adjustment is determined by the Administrator (in its sole discretion) to be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, then the Administrator shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust (i) the number and class of Shares which may be delivered under the Plan (or number and kind of other securities or other property); (ii) the number, class and price (including the exercise or strike price of Options and SARs) of Shares subject to outstanding Awards, (iii) any applicable performance criteria, performance period, and other terms and conditions of outstanding Performance Awards, and (iv) the numerical limits in Section 5. Notwithstanding the preceding, the number of Shares subject to any Award always shall be a whole number. |
| 11.2. | Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Administrator will notify each Participant as soon as practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction. The Administrator in its discretion may provide for a Participant to have the right to exercise an Award, to the extent applicable, until ten (10) days prior to such transaction as to all of the Shares covered thereby, including Shares as to which the Award would not be vested or otherwise be exercisable. In addition, the Administrator may provide that any Company repurchase option or forfeiture rights applicable to any Award shall lapse one hundred percent (100%), and that any Award vesting shall accelerate one hundred percent (100%), provided the proposed dissolution or liquidation takes place at the time and in the manner contemplated. To the extent it has not been previously vested and, if applicable, exercised, an Award will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action. |
| 11.3. | Change in Control. In the event of a Change in Control, any outstanding Award shall be treated in accordance with the applicable Award Agreement. If the applicable Award Agreement does not specify the treatment of the Award in a Change in Control, the Award shall be treated as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, and the Administrator shall not be obligated to treat all outstanding Awards similarly. |
| 12. | Provisions Applicable to Awards |
| 12.1. | Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares. Shares will not be issued pursuant to an Award unless the exercise of such Award and the issuance and delivery of such Shares will comply with Applicable Law and will be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance. As a condition to the exercise or receipt of an Award, the Company may require the person exercising or receiving such Award to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise or receipt that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required or desirable. |
| 12.2. | Transferability. No Award may be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Each Participant may file with the Administrator a written designation of one or more persons as the beneficiary(ies) who shall be entitled to receive the amounts payable with respect to an Award, if any, due under this Plan upon his or her death. A Participant may, from time to time, revoke or change his or her beneficiary designation without the consent of any prior beneficiary by filing a new designation with the Administrator. The last such designation filed with the Administrator shall be controlling; provided, however, that no designation, or change or revocation thereof, shall be effective unless received by the Administrator prior to the Participant’s death, and in no event shall it be effective as of a date prior to such receipt. If no beneficiary designation is filed by a Participant, the beneficiary shall be deemed to be his or her spouse or, if the Participant is unmarried at the time of death, his or her estate. Upon the occurrence of a Participant’s divorce (as evidenced by a final order or decree of divorce), any spousal designation previously given by such Participant shall automatically terminate. |
| 12.3. | Documentation. All Awards made under the Plan shall be made pursuant to an Award Agreement. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, determine the terms and conditions set forth in each Award Agreement, provided that all such terms and conditions are consistent with the Plan. |
| 12.4. | Discretion. All Awards made pursuant to the Plan may be made alone or in addition to or in conjunction with any other Award. The terms of each Award are not required to be identical, and the Administrator does not have to treat Participants or Awards uniformly. |
| 12.5. | Withholding. A Participant shall be required to pay to the Company or any Affiliate, or the Company or any Affiliate shall have the right and is hereby authorized to withhold, from any cash, Shares, other securities or other property deliverable under any Award or from any compensation or other amounts owing to a Participant, the amount (in cash, Shares, other securities or other property) of any required withholding taxes, including any Tax Obligations, in respect of an Award, its exercise, or any payment or transfer under an Award or under this Plan and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Administrator or the Company to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such withholding and taxes. In addition, the Administrator, in its discretion, may make arrangements mutually agreeable with a Participant who is not an employee of the Company or an Affiliate to facilitate the payment of applicable income and self-employment taxes. Without limitation, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, permit a Participant to satisfy, in whole or in part, the foregoing withholding liability by (A) the delivery of Shares (which are not subject to any pledge or other security interest) owned by the Participant having a fair market value equal to such withholding liability, (B) having the Company withhold from the number of Shares otherwise issuable or deliverable pursuant to the exercise or settlement of the Award a number of shares with a fair market value equal to such withholding liability, (C) deducting an amount sufficient to satisfy such withholding obligation from any payment of any kind otherwise due to a Participant, (D) accepting a payment from the Participant in cash, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, or by check made payable to the order of the Company, or (E) if there is a public market for Class A Ordinary Shares at the time the withholding obligation for Tax Obligations is to be satisfied, selling Shares issued pursuant to the Award creating the withholding obligation. The amount withheld pursuant to any of the foregoing payment forms shall be determined by the Company and may be up to (but not in excess of) the aggregate amount of such obligations based on the maximum statutory withholding rates in the Participant’s jurisdiction for all Tax Obligations that are applicable to such taxable income. |
| 12.6. | Award Modification; Repricing. The Administrator may at any time, and from time to time, amend the terms of any one or more Awards without the consent of any Participant; provided, however, that the Administrator may not make any amendment which would otherwise constitute an impairment of the material rights under any Award unless the Participant consents to such impairment in writing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 4 and except for an adjustment pursuant to Section 11 or a repricing approved by shareholders, in no case may the Administrator (i) amend an outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right to reduce the exercise price of the Award, (ii) cancel, exchange, or surrender an outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right in exchange for cash or other awards for the purpose of repricing the Award, or (iii) cancel, exchange, or surrender an outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right in exchange for an Option or Stock Appreciation Right with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original Award. |
| 12.7. | Acceleration. The Administrator may at any time provide that any Award will become immediately vested and fully or partially exercisable, free of some or all restrictions or conditions, or otherwise fully or partially realizable, in each case, subject to Applicable Law. |
| 12.8. | Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan. The Administrator shall determine whether cash, additional Awards, or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of fractional Shares or whether any fractional Shares should be rounded, forfeited, or otherwise eliminated. |
| 13. | Section 409A |
| 13.1. | General. The Plan is intended to comply with Section 409A to the extent subject thereto, and shall be interpreted and administered to be in compliance therewith. Any payments described in the Plan that are due within the “short-term deferral period” (as defined in Section 409A) shall not be treated as deferred compensation unless Applicable Law requires otherwise. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, the Administrator may, without a Participant’s consent, amend this Plan or any Award, adopt policies and procedures, make corrective filings, or take any other actions (including amendments and retroactive actions) as are necessary or appropriate to preserve the intended tax treatment of Awards, including exempting the Plan and Awards from Section 409A or complying with 409A. |
| 13.2. | Payments to Specified Employees. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, any payment or settlement made pursuant to an Award to a “specified employee” (as defined by Section 409A and as determined by the Administrator) due to such Participant’s “separation from service” (as defined by Section 409A) will, to the extent necessary to avoid adverse tax consequences to the Participant, be delayed for the six-month period immediately following such “separation from service (or, if earlier, on the “specified employee’s” death) and will instead be paid on the day immediately following such six-month period or as soon as practicable thereafter. Any delayed payment under this Section 13.2 shall not accrue interest during the delay. All payments of “nonqualified deferred compensation” (as defined by Section 409A) that are scheduled to be paid more than six months following a “specified employee’s” termination, shall be made on their regular schedule. |
| 13.3. | Change in Control. If any Award is or becomes subject to Code Section 409A and if payment of such Award would be accelerated or otherwise triggered under a Change in Control, then the definition of Change in Control shall be deemed modified, only to the extent necessary to avoid the imposition of an excise tax under Code Section 409A, to mean a “change in control event” as such term is defined for purposes of Code Section 409A. |
| 14. | Amendment of the Plan |
The Board may at any time amend, alter, suspend, or terminate the Plan. The Company may obtain shareholder approval of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary or, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, desirable to comply with Applicable Law, including any amendment that (i) increases the Share Limit or (ii) changes the persons or class of persons eligible to receive Awards. No amendment, alteration, suspension, or termination of the Plan will materially impair the rights of any Participant with respect to outstanding Awards, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Participant and the Administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Participant and the Company. Termination of the Plan will not affect the Administrator’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it hereunder with respect to Awards granted under the Plan prior to the date of such termination.
| 15. | Foreign Participants |
The Administrator may from time to time establish sub-plans under the Plan for purposes of satisfying securities, tax, or other laws of various jurisdictions in which the Company intends to grant Awards. Any sub-plans shall contain such limitations and other terms and conditions as the Administrator determines are necessary or desirable. All sub-plans shall be deemed a part of the Plan, but each sub-plan shall apply only to the Participants in the jurisdiction for which the sub-plan was designed.
| 16. | Clawbacks |
Notwithstanding any other provisions in the Plan, the Administrator may cancel any Award, require reimbursement of any Award, and effect any other right of recoupment of equity or other compensation provided under the Plan in accordance with Company policies, including the Company’s Clawback Policies. A Participant may be required to repay to the Company previously paid compensation, whether provided pursuant to the Plan or an Award Agreement, in accordance with the Clawback Policies. By accepting an Award, the Participant agrees to be bound by the Clawback Policies and to adhere to the Clawback Policies to the extent required by Applicable Law.
| 17. | No Right to Continued Service |
Nothing in the Plan or any instrument executed or Award granted pursuant thereto shall confer upon any Participant any right to continue to serve the Company or an Affiliate in the capacity in effect at the time the Award was granted or shall affect the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate (i) a Participant’s employment with or without notice and with or without Cause, or (ii) a Participant’s service as a Consultant or Director.
| 18. | No Rights as a Shareholder |
Except as provided in the Plan or an Award Agreement, no Participant shall be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any Shares subject to such Award unless and until such Participant has satisfied all requirements for exercise of the Award pursuant to its terms and no adjustment shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash, securities, or other property) or distributions of other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such Share certificates are issued, except as provided in Section 11.
| 19. | Miscellaneous |
| 19.1. | Limitations on Liability. Neither the Company, nor its Parent, nor any Subsidiary, nor any person serving as Administrator shall have any liability to a Participant in the event an Award held by the Participant fails to achieve its intended characterization under the tax, securities, or other applicable laws and regulations. |
| 19.2. | Inability to Obtain Authority. The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, will relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority will not have been obtained. |
| 19.3. | Severability. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement, if any one or more of the provisions (or any part thereof) of this Plan or an Award Agreement shall be held invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect, such provision shall be modified so as to make it valid, legal, and enforceable, and the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions (or any part thereof) of the Plan or Award Agreement, as applicable, shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. |
| 19.4. | Governing Documents. The Plan and each Award Agreement evidencing an Award are intended to be read together, and together, set forth the complete terms and conditions of each Award. To the extent of any contradiction between the Plan and any Award Agreement or other written agreement between a Participant and the Company, the Plan will govern unless the Award Agreement or other written agreement was approved by the Administrator and expressly provides that a specific provision of the Plan will not apply. |
| 19.5. | Governing Law. The Plan will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to any choice of law principles. |
| 19.6. | Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTICIPANT WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION BASED ON, ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE PLAN. |
| 19.7. | Waiver of Claims. Each Participant of an Award recognizes and agrees that before being selected by the Administrator to receive an Award, the Participant has no right to any benefits under the Plan. Accordingly, in consideration of the Participant’s receipt of any Award hereunder, the Participant expressly waives any right to contest the amount of any Award, the terms of any Award Agreement, any determination, action, or omission hereunder or under any Award Agreement by the Administrator, the Company, or the Board, or any amendment to the Plan or any Award Agreement (other than an amendment to the Plan or an Award Agreement to which his or her consent is expressly required). Nothing contained in this Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, will create or be construed to create a trust of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Participant. The Plan is not intended to be subject to ERISA. |
| 19.8. | No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except as expressly provided in an Award Agreement, neither the Plan nor any Award Agreement will confer on any person other than the Company and the Participant of any Award any rights or remedies thereunder. The provisions of Section 4.3 will inure to the benefit of the estate, beneficiaries, and legatees of any member of the Administrator and the Board, and any person to whom the Administrator or the Board delegates its powers, responsibilities, or duties in writing. |
| 19.9. | Data Privacy. As a condition for receiving any Award, each Participant explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use, and transfer, in any form, of personal data as described in this section by and among the Company and its Subsidiaries, Affiliates, and their agents exclusively for implementing, administering, and managing the Participant’s participation in the Plan. The Company, its Subsidiaries, and Affiliates may hold certain personal information about a Participant, including the Participant’s name, address, telephone number, birthday, social security or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title(s), any Ordinary Shares held in the Company, its Subsidiaries, and Affiliates, and Award details to implement, manage, and administer the Plan and Awards (the “Data”). The Company, its Subsidiaries, and Affiliates may transfer the Data amongst themselves as necessary to implement, administer, and manage a Participant’s participation in the Plan, and the Company, its Subsidiaries, and Affiliates may transfer the Data to third parties assisting the Company with Plan implementation, administration, and management. These third-party recipients may be located in the United States or elsewhere, and the applicable location may be subject to different data privacy laws than the Participant’s home country. By accepting an Award, each Participant authorizes each recipient to receive, possess, use, retain, and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, to implement, administer, and manage the Participant’s participation in the Plan, including any required Data transfer to a broker or other thirty party with whom the Company or the Participant may elect to deposit any Shares. The Data related to a Participant will be held only as long as necessary to implement, administer, and manage the Participant’s participation in the Plan. A Participant may, at any time, view the Data that the Company holds regarding such Participant, request additional information about the storage and processing of the Data regarding such Participant, recommend any necessary corrections to the Data regarding the Participant, or refuse or withdraw the consents in this section in writing, without cost, by contacting the local human resources representative. The Company may cancel the Participant’s ability to participate in the Plan and, in the Administrator’s discretion, the Participant may forfeit any outstanding Awards if the Participant refuses or withdraws the consents in this section. |
| 19.10. | Titles and Headings. The titles and headings in the Plan are for purposes of convenience only and are not intended to define or limit the construction of the provisions hereof. |
| 19.11. | Intended to Comply with Applicable Law. The Plan and all Awards granted hereunder are intended to fully comply with Applicable Law. All administrative actions, determinations, and exercises of discretion by the Administrator shall comply with Applicable Law. |
| 19.12. | Relationship to Other Benefits. No payment pursuant to the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare, or other benefit plan of the Company or any Affiliate except to the extent otherwise expressly provided in writing in such other plan or agreement thereunder. |
| 20. | Shareholder Approval |
The Plan will not be subject to approval by the shareholders of the Company. However, no Incentive Stock Options may be granted unless and until such approval is obtained.
| 21. | Effective Date |
The Plan was adopted by the Board and became effective on December 10, 2025 (the “Effective Date”).
Unless terminated earlier under Section 14, this Plan shall terminate on December 9, 2035, ten (10) years after the Effective Date.
Exhibit 10.2
GOLDEN SUN TECHNOLOGY GROUP LIMITED 2025 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT
I. NOTICE OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD
Participant Name: ________________________________
Address: _______________________________________
Golden Sun Technology Group Limited, an exempted company incorporated and registered in the Cayman Islands (the “Company”) hereby grants the undersigned Participant (the “Participant”) Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”) covering Class A ordinary shares in the capital of the Company (the “Shares”), subject to the terms and conditions of the Golden Sun Technology Group Limited 2025 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and this Award Agreement (the “Award Agreement”), as follows:
| Grant Date: | ||
| Total Number of RSUs Granted: | ||
| Vesting Commencement Date: | ||
| Vesting Schedule: |
II. AGREEMENT
1. Grant of RSUs.
(a) The Company hereby grants to the Participant named in the Notice of Restricted Stock Unit Award (the “Award”) in Part I of this Agreement the RSUs set forth in the Notice of Restricted Stock Unit Award as of the Grant Date set forth above. Each RSU represents the right to receive one Share, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Award Agreement and the Plan. The Participant will have no right to the distribution of any Shares until the time (if ever) the RSUs have vested.
(b) The RSUs are subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Award Agreement and the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference. In the event of any inconsistency between the Plan and this Award Agreement, the terms of the Plan will control. Any capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Plan.
(c) The RSUs will at all times prior to settlement represent an unsecured Company obligation payable only from the Company’s general assets.
2. Vesting. The RSUs will vest according to the Vesting Schedule above, except that any fraction of an RSU that would otherwise be vested will be accumulated and will vest only when a whole RSU has accumulated. Once vested, RSUs become “Vested Units” and shall be settled as provided in Section 3 below. When a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider, at any time before the RSUs have vested, the Participant’s unvested RSUs shall be automatically forfeited upon such cessation, and the Company shall not have any further obligations to the Participant with respect to such RSUs that have been so forfeited under this Award Agreement.
3. Settlement of Vested Units.
(a) As soon as practicable and generally within sixty (60) days following the vesting date (and in any event no later than March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which such vesting occurs if settlement of the RSUs cannot be settled within said sixty- (60) day period for reasons outside the reasonable control of the Company), the Company shall, (i) issue and deliver to the Participant the number of Shares equal to the number of Vested Units; and (ii) enter the Participant’s name on the books of the Company as the shareholder of record with respect to the Shares delivered to the Participant.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may delay any payment under this Award Agreement that the Company reasonably determines would violate Applicable Law until the earliest date the Company reasonably determines the making of the payment will not cause such violation (in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(7)(ii)); provided the Company reasonably believes the delay will not result in the imposition of excise taxes under Section 409A.
4. Rights as Shareholder; Dividend Equivalents.
(a) The Participant shall not have any rights of a shareholder with respect to the Shares underlying the RSUs unless and until the RSUs vest and are settled by the issuance of such Shares.
(b) Upon and following the settlement of the RSUs, the Participant shall be the record owner of the Shares underlying the RSUs unless and until such Shares are sold or otherwise disposed of, and as record owner shall be entitled to all rights of a shareholder of the Company (including voting rights).
(c) The Participant shall not be entitled to any dividend equivalents with respect to the RSUs to reflect any dividends payable on Shares.
5. Restrictions. Until such time as the RSUs are settled in accordance with Section 3 above, the RSUs or the rights relating thereto may not be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold, or otherwise transferred or encumbered by the Participant, unless determined otherwise by the Administrator. Any attempt to assign, alienate, pledge, attach, sell, or otherwise transfer or encumber the RSUs or the rights relating thereto in violation of this Award Agreement or the Plan shall be wholly ineffective.
6. Adjustments. The Participant acknowledges that the RSUs and the Shares subject to the RSUs are subject to adjustment, modification, and termination in certain events as provided in this Award Agreement and the Plan.
7. Compliance. No Shares shall be issued pursuant to the settlement of Vested Units unless such issuance complies with Applicable Law. The Participant acknowledges that the Plan and this Award Agreement are intended to conform to the extent necessary with Applicable Law and, to the extent Applicable Law permits, will be deemed amended as necessary to conform to Applicable Law.
8. Participant’s Representations. The Participant represents to the Company that the Participant has reviewed with the Participant’s own tax advisors the tax consequences of receiving this Award Agreement. The Participant is relying solely on such advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its agents. The Participant further agrees and represents that no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from forfeiture of the RSUs or recoupment of any Shares acquired under the Plan or proceeds therefrom resulting from (i) the application of a clawback policy described in Section 10 hereof or required by Applicable Laws, or (ii) the Participant ceasing to be a Service Provider. Additionally, the Participant acknowledges, understands and agrees that: (a) the Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, it is discretionary in nature and it may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time, to the extent permitted by the Plan, (b) the grant of the Award is voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future Awards or benefits in lieu of future Awards, (c) the Participant is voluntarily participating in the Plan, (d) the Award and any income recognized therefrom is not part of normal or expected compensation or salary for any purpose, including, without limitation, calculating any severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, dismissal, end-of-service payments, holiday pay, bonuses, long-service awards, leave-related payments, pension or retirement or welfare benefits or similar payments, and (e) the future value of the underlying Shares is unknown, indeterminable and cannot be predicted with certainty, and the value of such Shares acquired under the Plan may increase or decrease in the future.
9. Tax Obligations.
(a) The Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Participant is ultimately liable for all federal, state, local, and non-U.S. income taxes, social insurance, payroll tax, fringe benefits tax, and payments on account or other tax-related items related to the Participant’s participation in the Plan (collectively, “Tax Items”). The Participant acknowledges that the Company (i) makes no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax Item in connection with any aspect of the Award, and (ii) does not commit to and is under no obligation to structure the terms of the grant or any aspect of the Award to reduce or eliminate the Participant’s liability for Tax Items or achieve a particular result. Furthermore, if the Participant becomes subject to Tax Items in more than one jurisdiction, the Participant acknowledges that the Company may be required to withhold or account for Tax Items in more than one jurisdiction. The Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Company may refuse to deliver the Shares if withholding amounts for Tax Items are not satisfied.
(b) Prior to the applicable taxable or tax withholding event, as applicable, the Participant shall pay or make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company to satisfy all Tax Items.
(i) If the RSUs are paid to the Participant in Shares and the Participant is not subject to the short-swing profit rules of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the Participant authorizes the Company or its agents, at their discretion, to (A) withhold from the Participant’s wages or other cash compensation paid to the Participant by the Company, (B) arrange for the sale of Shares to be issued upon the settlement of the Award (on the Participant’s behalf and at the Participant’s direction pursuant to this authorization or such other authorization the Participant may be required to provide to the Company or its designated broker in order for such sale to be effectuated) and withhold from the proceeds of such sale, (C) withhold in Shares otherwise issuable to the Participant pursuant to this Award, and/or (D) apply any other method of withholding determined by the Company and, to the extent required by Applicable Law or the Plan, approved by the Administrator.
(ii) If the RSUs are paid to the Participant and the Participant is subject to the short-swing profit rules of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the Participant may satisfy the liabilities with respect to the Tax Items by one of the following, as determined by the Participant or the Administrator: (A) cash or check, (B) in whole or in part by delivery of Shares, including Shares delivered by attestation and Shares retained from the Award creating the Tax Item liability, valued at their fair market value on the date of delivery, or (C) in whole or in part by the Company withholding Shares otherwise vesting or issuable under this Award.
(c) Depending on the withholding method, the Company may withhold or account for Tax Items by considering applicable statutory or other withholding rates, including minimum or maximum rates in the jurisdiction(s) applicable to the Participant. If liability for Tax Items is satisfied by withholding Shares, for tax purposes, the Participant will be deemed to have been issued the full number of Shares to which the Participant is entitled pursuant to this Award, notwithstanding that a number of Shares are withheld to satisfy Tax Item liabilities.
(d) Section 409A. This Restricted Stock Unit Award is intended to be exempt from Section 409A, and it shall be administered and interpreted in a manner that is consistent with such intent.
10. Compensation Recovery.
(a) The Participant agrees that this Award and any Shares or other benefits or proceeds therefrom that the Participant may receive hereunder shall be subject to forfeiture and/or repayment to the Company pursuant to any recovery, recoupment, “clawback” or similar policy of the Company, as may be amended from time to time, and with the provisions of any such Company policy deemed incorporated into this Award Agreement without the Participant’s additional or separate consent.
(b) At any time during the three years following the date on which Shares subject to this Award vest, the Company reserves the right to and, in the appropriate cases, will seek restitution of all or part of any Shares that have been issued or cash that has been paid pursuant to this Award Agreement if: (A) (i) the number of Shares or the amount of cash payment was calculated based, directly or indirectly, upon the achievement of financial results that were subsequently the subject of a restatement of all or a portion of the Company’s financial statements, (ii) the Participant engaged in intentional misconduct that caused or partially caused the need for such a restatement, and (iii) the number of Shares or the amount of cash payment that would have been issued or paid to the Participant had the financial results been properly reported would have been lower than the number of Shares actually issued or the amount of cash actually paid, or (B) the Participant has been determined to have committed a material violation of law or Company policy or to have failed to properly manage or monitor the conduct of a Service Provider who has committed a material violation of law or Company policy whereby, in either case, such misconduct causes significant harm to the Company.
(c) In the event the number of Shares issued or cash paid pursuant to this Award is determined to have been based on materially inaccurate financial statements or other Company performance measures or on calculation errors (without any misconduct on the part of the Participant), the Company reserves the right to and, in appropriate cases, will (i) seek restitution of the Shares or cash paid pursuant to this Award to the extent that the number of Shares issued or the amount paid exceeded the number of Shares that would have been issued or the amount that would have been paid had the inaccuracy or error not occurred, or (ii) issue additional Shares or make additional payment to the extent that the number of Shares issued or the amount paid was less than the correct amount.
(d) For purposes of the foregoing, the Participant expressly and explicitly authorizes the Company to issue instructions on the Participant’s behalf, to any brokerage firm and/or third-party administrator engaged by the Company to hold any Shares and other amounts acquired pursuant to this Award to re-convey, transfer or otherwise return such Shares and/or other amounts to the Company upon the Company’s enforcement of its rights under this Section 10. By accepting this Award, the Participant agrees and acknowledges the Participant is obligated to cooperate with and provide any and all assistance requested by the Company in its efforts to recover or recoup Shares or the proceeds received therefrom pursuant to this Award, which may include, but shall not be limited to, executing, completing and submitting any documentation necessary to facilitate the Company’s efforts to recover or recoup Shares or the proceeds received therefrom pursuant to this Award. Additionally, by accepting this Award, the Participant acknowledges and agrees that no recovery or recoupment action pursuant to this Section 10, any Company clawback policy or otherwise will constitute an event that triggers or contributes to any right of the Participant to resign for “good reason” or “constructive termination” (or similar term) under any agreement with the Company.
(e) This Section 10 is not intended to limit the Company’s power to take such action as it deems necessary to remedy any misconduct, prevent its reoccurrence and, if appropriate, based on all relevant facts and circumstances, punish the wrongdoer in a manner it deems appropriate.
11. Data Privacy Consent. In order to administer the Plan and this Agreement and to implement or structure future equity grants, the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates and certain agents thereof (together, the “Relevant Companies”) may process any and all personal or professional data, including but not limited to Social Security or other identification number, home address and telephone number, date of birth and other information that is necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan and/or this Agreement (the “Relevant Information”). By entering into this Agreement, the Participant (i) authorizes each Relevant Company to collect, process, register and transfer to each other Relevant Company all Relevant Information; (ii) waives any privacy rights the Participant may have with respect to the Relevant Information; (iii) authorizes the Relevant Companies to store and transmit such information in electronic form; and (iv) authorizes the transfer of the Relevant Information to any jurisdiction which a Relevant Company considers appropriate. The Participant shall have access to, and the right to change, the Relevant Information. Relevant Information will only be used in accordance with Applicable Law.
12. Notices. Any notice to be given under this Award Agreement to the Company must be in writing and addressed to the Company in care of the Company’s General Counsel at the Company’s principal office or the General Counsel’s then-current email address. Any notice to be given under the terms of this Award Agreement to the Participant must be in writing and addressed to the Participant at the Participant’s last known mailing address or email address in the Company’s personnel files. By a notice given pursuant to this Section 12, either party may designate a different address for notices to be given to the party. Any notice will be deemed duly given when actually received, when sent by email, when sent by certified mail (return receipt requested) and deposited with postage prepaid in a post office, or when delivered by a nationally recognized express shipping company.
13. Entire Agreement; Governing Law. The Plan and this Award Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Participant with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Award Agreement may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Administrator or the Board; provided, however, that except as may otherwise be provided by the Plan, no amendment, modification, suspension or termination of this Award Agreement shall materially and adversely affect the Participant’s interest without the prior written consent of the Participant. This Award Agreement is governed by the internal substantive laws, but not the choice of law rules, of the State of Delaware.
14. Award Agreement Severable. In the event that any provision of this Award Agreement is held illegal or invalid, the provision will be severable from, and the illegality or invalidity of the provision will not be construed to have any effect on, the remaining provisions of this Award Agreement.
15. Counterparts. This Award Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. The execution of this Award Agreement may be by actual or facsimile signature.
16. Limitation on Participant’s Rights. Participation in the Plan confers no rights or interests other than as herein provided. This Agreement creates only a contractual obligation on the part of the Company as to amounts payable and may not be construed as creating a trust. Neither the Plan nor any underlying program, in and of itself, has any assets. The Participant will have only the rights of a general unsecured creditor of the Company with respect to amounts credited and benefits payable, if any, with respect to the RSUs, and rights no greater than the right to receive cash or the Shares as a general unsecured creditor with respect to the RSUs, as and when settled pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
17. Language. Participant acknowledges that the Participant is proficient in the English language, or has consulted with an advisor who is sufficiently proficient in English, to allow the Participant to understand the terms and conditions of this Award Agreement. If the Participant received this Award Agreement or any other document related to this Award and/or the Plan translated into a language other than English, and if the translated version is different that the English version, the English version will control, unless otherwise required by Applicable Law.
18. No Guarantee of Continued Service. PARTICIPANT ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE VESTING OF THE RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS PURSUANT TO THE VESTING SCHEDULE HEREOF IS EARNED ONLY BY CONTINUING AS A SERVICE PROVIDER AND NOT THROUGH THE ACT OF BEING GRANTED THIS AWARD OR ACQUIRING SHARES HEREUNDER. PARTICIPANT FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THIS AWARD AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREUNDER, AND THE VESTING SCHEDULE SET FORTH HEREIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESS OR IMPLIED PROMISE OF CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT AS A SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THE VESTING PERIOD, FOR ANY PERIOD, OR AT ALL, AND SHALL NOT INTERFERE IN ANY WAY WITH PARTICIPANT’S RIGHT OR THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY (OR THE PARENT OR SUBSIDIARY EMPLOYING OR RETAINING PARTICIPANT) TO TERMINATE PARTICIPANT’S RELATIONSHIP AS A SERVICE PROVIDER AT ANY TIME, WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE.
Participant acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and represents that Participant is familiar with the terms and provisions thereof, and hereby accepts this Restricted Stock Unit Award, subject to all of the terms and provisions of the Plan and this Award Agreement. Participant has reviewed the Plan and this Award Agreement in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Award Agreement, and fully understands all provisions of the Award. Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive, and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions arising under the Plan, this Award, or this Award Agreement. The Participant further agrees to notify the Company upon any change in the residence address indicated below.
Signature Page Follows
| PARTICIPANT | GOLDEN SUN TECHNOLOGY GROUP LTD. | |
| Signature | By | |
| Print Name | Print Name | |
| Print Title | ||
| Residence Address |
Exhibit 10.3
GOLDEN SUN TECHNOLOGY GROUP LIMITED 2025 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN STOCK OPTION GRANT AGREEMENT
I. NOTICE OF OPTION GRANT
Grantee Name: __________________________________
Address: _______________________________________
Golden Sun Technology Group Limited, an exempted company incorporated and registered in the Cayman Islands (the “Company”) hereby grants the undersigned Grantee (the “Grantee”) a stock option (the “Option”) Class A ordinary shares in the capital of the Company (the “Shares”), subject to the terms and conditions of the Golden Sun Technology Group Limited 2025 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and this Stock Option Grant Agreement (the “Grant Agreement”), as follows:
| Grant Date: | _______________________________ | |
| Vesting Commencement Date: | _______________________________ | |
| Exercise Price per Share: | $ ______________________________ | |
| Total Number of Shares Granted: | _______________________________ | |
| Total Exercise Price: | US$ ___________________________ | |
| Type of Option: | ☐ Incentive Stock Option | |
| ☐ Nonqualified Stock Option | ||
| Term/Expiration Date: | _______________________________ | |
| Vesting Schedule: | _______________________________ |
Exercise Period: To the extent vested, this Option shall be exercisable for three (3) months after the Grantee ceases to be a Service Provider, except this period shall be twelve (12) months if the Grantee ceases to be a Service Provider on account of Disability and this Option shall remain exercisable until the Option’s Term/Expiration Date if the Grantee ceases to be a Service Provider on account of the Grantee’s death. If the Grantee ceases to be a Service Provider, at any time before all of the Option has vested, the Grantee’s unvested portion of the Option shall be automatically forfeited upon such cessation, and the Company shall not have any further obligations to the Grantee with respect to the Option or portion thereof that has been so forfeited under this Grant Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, in no event may this Option be exercised after the Term/Expiration Date as provided above, and if a Grantee’s status as a Service Provider is terminated for Cause, the Grantee’s Option (whether vested or unvested) shall terminate as of the date of the misconduct.
II. GRANT AGREEMENT
1. Grant of Option.
(a) Pursuant to the terms of the Plan, the Company hereby grants to the Grantee named in the Notice of Option Grant in Part I of this Grant Agreement, an Option to purchase the number of Shares set forth in the Notice of Option Grant, at the exercise price per Share set forth in the Notice of Option Grant (the “Exercise Price”). In the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Grant Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Plan shall prevail. Any capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Plan.
(b) If designated in the Notice of Option Grant as an Incentive Stock Option (“ISO”), this Option is intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” as defined in Code Section 422. Nevertheless, to the extent that it exceeds the $100,000 rule of Code Section 422(d), this Option shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option (“NSO”). Further, if for any reason this Option (or portion thereof) shall not qualify as an ISO, then, to the extent of such nonqualification, such Option (or portion thereof) shall be regarded as an NSO. In no event shall the Company or any affiliate or any of their respective employees or directors have any liability to the Grantee (or any other person) due to the failure of the Option to qualify for any reason as an ISO.
2. Exercise of Stock Option. This Option shall be exercisable during its term as follows:
(a) Right to Exercise. This Option shall be exercisable cumulatively according to the vesting schedule set forth in the Notice of Option Grant, but the Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.
(b) Method of Exercise. This Option shall be exercisable by delivery of an exercise notice in the form attached as Exhibit A (the “Exercise Notice”) or in a manner and pursuant to such procedures as the Administrator may determine, which shall state the election to exercise the Option (to the extent then vested), the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised (the “Exercised Shares”), and such other representations and agreements as may be required by the Company. The Exercise Notice shall be accompanied by payment of the aggregate Exercise Price as to all Exercised Shares, together with any applicable withholding taxes. This Option shall be deemed to be exercised upon receipt by the Company of such fully executed Exercise Notice accompanied by the aggregate Exercise Price, together with any applicable withholding taxes.
(c) Compliance. No Shares shall be issued pursuant to the exercise of the Option unless such issuance and such exercise comply with Applicable Law. Assuming such compliance, for income tax purposes, the Shares shall be considered transferred to the Grantee on the date on which the Option is exercised with respect to such Shares. The Shares shall be unregistered unless the Company voluntarily files a registration statement covering such Shares with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
3. Method of Payment. Payment of the aggregate Exercise Price shall be by any of the following, or a combination thereof, at the election of the Grantee:
| (a) | cash; |
| (b) | delivery of Shares that the Grantee has owned for at least six months (valued at Fair Market Value on the date of exercise); |
| (c) | by a broker-assisted cashless exercise in accordance with procedures approved by the Administrator, whereby payment of the Exercise Price may be satisfied, in whole or in part, with Shares subject to the Option by delivery of an irrevocable direction to a securities broker (on a form prescribed by the Administrator) to sell Shares and to deliver all or part of the sale proceeds to the Company in payment of the aggregate Exercise Price; |
| (d) | for a NSO only and only if approved by the Administrator, as determined in its sole discretion, by delivery of a notice of “net exercise” to the Company, pursuant to which the Grantee shall receive the number of Shares underlying the Option so exercised reduced by the number of Shares equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Option divided by the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise; |
| (e) | if approved by the Administrator, such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Shares to the extent permitted by Applicable Law; or |
| (f) | any combination of the foregoing methods of payment. |
4. Restrictions on Exercise. This Option may not be exercised if the issuance of such Shares upon such exercise or the method of payment of consideration for such Shares would constitute a violation of Applicable Law.
5. Nontransferability of Option. This Option may not be transferred in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised during the lifetime of the Grantee only by the Grantee. The terms of this Grant Agreement shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs, successors, and assigns of the Grantee.
6. Term of Option. This Option may be exercised only within the term set out in the Notice of Option Grant and may be exercised during such term only in accordance with the terms of this Grant Agreement and the Plan.
7. Tax Obligations.
(a) Applicable Withholding Taxes. The Grantee agrees to make appropriate arrangements with the Company (or the affiliate employing or retaining the Grantee) for the satisfaction of all applicable withholding taxes applicable to the Option exercise. The Grantee acknowledges and agrees that the Company may refuse to honor the exercise and refuse to deliver the Shares if such applicable withholding taxes are not delivered at the time of exercise.
(b) Notice of Disqualifying Disposition of ISO Shares. If the Option granted to the Grantee herein is an ISO, and if the Grantee sells or otherwise disposes of any of the Shares acquired pursuant to the ISO on or before the later of (i) the date two (2) years after the Grant Date, or (ii) the date one (1) year after the date of exercise, the Grantee shall immediately notify the Company in writing of such disposition.
(c) Section 409A. The Option is intended to be exempt from Section 409A, and it shall be administered and interpreted in a manner that is consistent with such intent.
8. Entire Agreement; Governing Law. This Grant Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and the Grantee with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified in a manner materially adverse to the Grantee’s interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and the Grantee. This Grant Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to any choice of law principles.
9. Notices. Any notice to be given under this Grant Agreement to the Company must be in writing and addressed to the Company in care of the Company’s Secretary at the Company’s principal office or the Secretary’s then-current email address. Any notice to be given under the terms of this Grant Agreement to the Grantee must be in writing and addressed to the Grantee at the Grantee’s last known mailing address or email address in the Company’s personnel files. By a notice given pursuant to this Section 9, either party may designate a different address for notices to be given to the party. Any notice will be deemed duly given when actually received, when sent by email, when sent by certified mail (return receipt requested) and deposited with postage prepaid in a post office, or when delivered by a nationally recognized express shipping company.
10. Compensation Recovery.
(a) The Grantee agrees that this Option and any Shares or other benefits or proceeds therefrom that the Grantee may receive hereunder shall be subject to forfeiture and/or repayment to the Company pursuant to any recovery, recoupment, “clawback” or similar policy of the Company, as may be amended from time to time, and with the provisions of any such Company policy deemed incorporated into this Grant Agreement without the Grantee’s additional or separate consent.
(b) At any time during the three years following the date(s) on which this Option vests, the Company reserves the right to and, in the appropriate cases, will seek restitution of all or part of any Shares that have been issued pursuant to this Grant Agreement if the Grantee engaged in intentional misconduct that caused or partially caused the need for such a restatement, or the Grantee has been determined to have committed a material violation of law or Company policy or to have failed to properly manage or monitor the conduct of a Service Provider who has committed a material violation of law or Company policy whereby, in either case, such misconduct causes significant harm to the Company.
(c) In the event the number of Shares issued pursuant to this Option is determined to have been based on materially inaccurate financial statements or other Company performance measures or on calculation errors (without any misconduct on the part of the Grantee) at any time during the three years following the date(s) on which this Option vests, the Company reserves the right to and, in appropriate cases, will seek restitution of the Shares received pursuant to this Grant to the extent that the number of Shares received exceeded the number of Shares that would have been exercised and issued had the inaccuracy or error not occurred.
(d) For purposes of the foregoing, the Grantee expressly and explicitly authorizes the Company to issue instructions on the Grantee’s behalf, to any brokerage firm and/or third-party administrator engaged by the Company to hold any Shares and other amounts acquired pursuant to this Option to re-convey, transfer or otherwise return such Shares to the Company upon the Company’s enforcement of its rights under this Section 10. By accepting this Grant, the Grantee agrees and acknowledges the Grantee is obligated to cooperate with and provide any and all assistance requested by the Company in its efforts to recover or recoup Shares or the proceeds received therefrom pursuant to this Grant, which may include, but shall not be limited to, executing, completing and submitting any documentation necessary to facilitate the Company’s efforts to recover or recoup Shares or the proceeds received therefrom pursuant to this Grant. Additionally, by accepting this Grant, the Grantee acknowledges and agrees that no recovery or recoupment action pursuant to this Section 10, any Company clawback policy or otherwise will constitute an event that triggers or contributes to any right of the Grantee to resign for “good reason” or “constructive termination” (or similar term) under any agreement with the Company.
(e) This Section 10 is not intended to limit the Company’s power to take such action as it deems necessary to remedy any misconduct, prevent its reoccurrence and, if appropriate, based on all relevant facts and circumstances, punish the wrongdoer in a manner it deems appropriate.
11. Grantee’s Representations. The Grantee represents to the Company that the Grantee has reviewed with the Grantee’s own tax advisors the tax consequences of receiving this Grant Agreement. The Grantee is relying solely on such advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its agents. The Grantee further agrees and represents that no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from forfeiture of the Option or recoupment of any Shares acquired under the Plan or proceeds therefrom resulting from (i) the application of a clawback policy described in Section 10 hereof or required by Applicable Law, or (ii) the Grantee ceasing to be a Service Provider. Additionally, the Grantee acknowledges, understands and agrees that: (a) the Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, it is discretionary in nature and it may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time, to the extent permitted by the Plan, (b) the grant of the Award is voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future Awards or benefits in lieu of future Awards, (c) the Grantee is voluntarily participating in the Plan, (d) the Award and any income recognized therefrom is not part of normal or expected compensation or salary for any purpose, including, without limitation, calculating any severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, dismissal, end-of-service payments, holiday pay, bonuses, long-service awards, leave-related payments, pension or retirement or welfare benefits or similar payments, and (e) the future value of the underlying Shares is unknown, indeterminable and cannot be predicted with certainty, and the value of such Shares acquired under the Plan may increase or decrease in the future.
12. Data Privacy Consent. In order to administer the Plan and this Grant Agreement and to implement or structure future equity grants, the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates and certain agents thereof (together, the “Relevant Companies”) may process any and all personal or professional data, including but not limited to Social Security or other identification number, home address and telephone number, date of birth and other information that is necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan and/or this Grant Agreement (the “Relevant Information”). By entering into this Grant Agreement, the Grantee (i) authorizes each Relevant Company to collect, process, register and transfer to each other Relevant Company all Relevant Information; (ii) waives any privacy rights the Grantee may have with respect to the Relevant Information; (iii) authorizes the Relevant Companies to store and transmit such information in electronic form; and (iv) authorizes the transfer of the Relevant Information to any jurisdiction which a Relevant Company considers appropriate. The Grantee shall have access to, and the right to change, the Relevant Information. Relevant Information will only be used in accordance with Applicable Law.
13. Counterparts. This Grant Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. The execution of this Grant Agreement may be by actual or facsimile signature.
14. Language. The Grantee acknowledges that the Grantee is proficient in the English language, or has consulted with an advisor who is sufficiently proficient in English, to allow the Grantee to understand the terms and conditions of this Grant Agreement. If the Participant received this Grant Agreement or any other document related to this Award and/or the Plan translated into a language other than English, and if the translated version is different that the English version, the English version will control, unless otherwise required by Applicable Law.
15. No Guarantee of Continued Service. THE GRANTEE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE VESTING OF THE OPTION PURSUANT TO THE VESTING SCHEDULE HEREOF IS EARNED ONLY BY CONTINUING AS A SERVICE PROVIDER AT THE WILL OF THE COMPANY (OR THE AFFILIATE EMPLOYING OR RETAINING GRANTEE) AND NOT THROUGH THE ACT OF BEING HIRED, BEING GRANTED THIS OPTION, OR ACQUIRING SHARES HEREUNDER. THE GRANTEE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THIS GRANT AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREUNDER, AND THE VESTING SCHEDULE SET FORTH HEREIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESS OR IMPLIED PROMISE OF CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT AS A SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THE VESTING PERIOD, FOR ANY PERIOD, OR AT ALL, AND SHALL NOT INTERFERE IN ANY WAY WITH THE GRANTEE’S RIGHT OR THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY (OR THE AFFILIATE EMPLOYING OR RETAINING GRANTEE) TO TERMINATE GRANTEE’S RELATIONSHIP AS A SERVICE PROVIDER AT ANY TIME, WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE.
The Grantee represents that the Grantee is familiar with the terms and provisions thereof, and hereby accepts this Option subject to all of the terms and provisions thereof. The Grantee has reviewed the Plan and this Option in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Grant Agreement, and fully understands all provisions of the Option. The Grantee hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive, and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions arising under this Option or this Grant Agreement. The Grantee further agrees to notify the Company upon any change in the residence address indicated below.
Signature Page Follows
| GRANTEE | GOLDEN SUN TECHNOLOGY GROUP LTD. | |
| Signature | By | |
| Print Name | Print Name | |
| Print Title | ||
| Residence Address |
EXHIBIT A
EXERCISE NOTICE
Golden Sun Technology Group Limited
Address Line 1
Address Line 2
City, State ZIP
Attention: ______________
1. Exercise of Option. Effective as of today, ________________, ____, the undersigned (the “Grantee”) hereby elects to exercise the Grantee’s stock option (the “Option”) to purchase ________________ Class A ordinary shares (the “Shares”) in the capital of Golden Sun Technology Group Limited (the “Company”) under and pursuant to the Golden Sun Technology Group Limited 2025 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and the Stock Option Grant Agreement, dated ______________, _____, by and between the Company and the Grantee (the “Grant Agreement”).
2. Delivery of Payment. The Grantee herewith delivers to the Company the full purchase price of the Shares, as set forth in the Grant Agreement, and any and all withholding taxes due in connection with the exercise of the Option.
3. Rights as Shareholder. Until the issuance of the Shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a shareholder shall exist with respect to the Shares subject to the Option, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Shares shall be issued to the Grantee as soon as practicable after the Option is exercised in accordance with the Grant Agreement. No adjustment shall be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date of issuance.
4. Tax Consultation. The Grantee understands that the Grantee may suffer adverse tax consequences as a result of the Grantee’s purchase or disposition of the Shares. The Grantee represents that the Grantee has consulted with any tax consultants the Grantee deems advisable in connection with the purchase or disposition of the Shares and that the Grantee is not relying on the Company for any tax advice.
5. Interpretation. Any dispute regarding the interpretation of this Exercise Notice shall be submitted by the Grantee or by the Company forthwith to the Administrator, which shall review such dispute at its next regular meeting. The resolution of such a dispute by the Administrator shall be final and binding on all parties.
6. Governing Law; Severability. This Exercise Notice will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to any choice of law principles. In the event that any provision hereof becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable or void, this Exercise Notice shall continue in full force and effect.
A-
7. Entire Agreement. The Grant Agreement and Plan are incorporated herein by reference. This Exercise Notice and the Grant Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and the Grantee with respect to the subject matter hereof.
| Submitted by: | Accepted by: | |
| GRANTEE | GOLDEN SUN TECHNOLOGY GROUP LTD. | |
| Signature | By | |
| Print Name | Print Name | |
| Print Title | ||
| Address: | ||
| Date Received |
A-
Exhibit 99.1

| The NASDAQ Capital Market | D +1 345 815 1877 | |
| E bradley.kruger@ogier.com | ||
| Reference: 427449.00001 | ||
| December 8, 2025 |
Golden Sun Technology Group Limited (the Company)
We act as legal counsel to the Company for matters of Cayman Islands law only.
We understand that:
| ● | the Company is trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market under terms of the NASDAQ Listing Rules (the Listing Rules and each a Listing Rule); |
| ● | subject to certain exceptions, Listing Rule 5615(a)(3) allows a Foreign Private Issuer (as defined in the Listing Rules) to follow its home country practices; |
| ● | the Company has elected to follow practices that may be adopted: (a) by exempted companies incorporated under the Companies Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands (the Companies Act); and (b) pursuant to the Memorandum and Articles (each as defined in in Schedule 1), in lieu of certain requirements of the Rule 5600 Series (as defined in the Listing Rules) listed and described in Schedule 2 (the Relevant Practices); |
| ● | the Relevant Practices shall be set out in the home country practice statement in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F (the Form 20-F) to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the Home Country Practice Statement) in lieu of the requirements of Listing Rule 5600 Series with the exception of those Listing Rules which are required to be followed pursuant to the provisions of Listing Rule 5615(a)(3); and |
| ● | the Company is obligated to, and will disclose in its Annual Report on Form 20-F the requirements of Listing Rule 5600 Series that it does not follow, which we understand are those rules listed and described in Schedule 2, and the Company will be required to describe the practice acceptable under the Companies Act in lieu of such requirements of the relevant Listing Rules. |
Golden Sun Technology Group Limited
December 8, 2025
Unless a contrary intention appears, all capitalised terms used in this opinion have the respective meanings set forth in the documents listed in Schedule 1 (the Documents). A reference to a Schedule is a reference to a schedule to this opinion and the headings herein are for convenience only and do not affect the construction of this opinion.
| 1 | Documents examined |
For the purposes of giving this opinion, we have examined originals, copies, or drafts of the Documents. We have not made any searches or enquiries concerning, and have not examined any documents entered into by or affecting, the Company or any other person, save for the examinations expressly referred to in Schedule 1.
| 2 | Assumptions |
In giving this opinion we have relied upon the assumptions set forth in Schedule 3 without having carried out any independent investigation or verification in respect of those assumptions.
| 3 | Opinion |
On the basis of the examinations referred to above and subject to the assumptions set forth in Schedule 3, the qualifications set forth in Schedule 4 and the limitations set forth below, we are of the opinion that the Relevant Practices are not prohibited by:
| (a) | the terms of the Memorandum and Articles; or |
| (b) | the laws of the Cayman Islands as they apply to the Company. |
| 4 | Matters not covered |
We offer no opinion as to any laws other than the laws of the Cayman Islands, and we have not, for the purposes of this opinion, made any investigation of the laws of any other jurisdiction. Specifically, we have made no independent investigation of the laws of the United States of America or the Listing Rules.
We express no opinion as to the meaning, validity, or effect of references in the Documents to statutes, rules, regulations, codes or judicial authority of any jurisdiction other than the Cayman Islands.
| 5 | Governing law of this opinion |
| 5.1 | This opinion is: |
| (a) | governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, the laws of the Cayman Islands; |
| (b) | limited to the matters expressly stated in it; and |
| (c) | confined to, and given on the basis of, the laws and practice in the Cayman Islands at the date of this opinion. |
Golden Sun Technology Group Limited
December 8, 2025
| 5.2 | Unless otherwise indicated, a reference to any specific Cayman Islands legislation is a reference to that legislation as amended to, and as in force at, the date of this opinion. |
| 6 | Who can rely on this opinion |
This opinion is given for your benefit and with the exception of your professional advisers (acting only in that capacity), it may not be disclosed to or relied upon by any person or used for any other purpose or referred to or made public in any way without our prior written consent.
Yours faithfully
/s/ Ogier (Cayman) LLP
Ogier (Cayman) LLP
Golden Sun Technology Group Limited
December 8, 2025
SCHEDULE 1
Documents examined
| 1 | The certificate of incorporation of the Company dated 20 September 2018 issued by the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies (the Certificate of Incorporation). |
| 2 | The amended and restated memorandum of association of the Company adopted by special resolution passed on 25 September 2025 (the Memorandum). |
| 3 | The amended and restated articles of association of the Company adopted by special resolution passed on 25 September 2025 (the Articles). |
Golden Sun Technology Group Limited
December 8, 2025
SCHEDULE 2
We are instructed that the Company has elected to follow the Relevant Practices in lieu of the following requirements of the Rule 5600 Series. The summaries of each Listing Rule below have been provided to us by the Company.
| 1. | Listing Rule 5635(c), pursuant to which companies listed on NASDAQ are required to obtain shareholder approval prior to the issuance of securities when a stock option or purchase plan or other equity compensation arrangement is established or materially amended. |
| 2. | Listing Rule 5620(a), pursuant to which each Company listing common stock or voting preferred stock, and/or their equivalents, must hold an annual meeting of shareholders no later than one year after the end of the issuer’s fiscal year. |
| 3. | Listing Rule 5605(b)(2), pursuant to which the Independent Directors must have regularly scheduled meetings at which only Independent Directors are present. |
Golden Sun Technology Group Limited
December 8, 2025
SCHEDULE 3
Assumptions
| 1 | All original documents examined by us are authentic and complete. |
| 2 | All copy documents examined by us (whether in facsimile, electronic or other form) conform to the originals and those originals are authentic and complete. |
| 3 | All signatures, seals, dates, stamps and markings (whether on original or copy documents) are genuine. |
| 4 | Each of the Certificate of Incorporation and the Memorandum and Articles is accurate and complete as at the date of this opinion. |
| 5 | The Memorandum and Articles are in full force and effect and have not been amended, varied, supplemented or revoked in any respect. |
| 6 | The powers and authority of the directors set out in the Memorandum and Articles have not been varied or restricted in any way by resolution or direction of the shareholders of the Company. |
| 7 | The Relevant Practices have each been duly approved by the Company, including in accordance with the requirements of the Listing Rules. |
| 8 | The Relevant Practices comply with the Listing Rules. |
| 9 | In authorising the approval of the Relevant Practices each director of the Company has acted or will act in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Company and has exercised or will exercise the standard of care, diligence and skill that is required of him or her. |
| 10 | None of the opinions expressed herein will be adversely affected by the laws or public policies of any jurisdiction other than the Cayman Islands. In particular, but without limitation to the previous sentence, the laws or public policies of any jurisdiction other than the Cayman Islands will not adversely affect the capacity or authority of the Company. |
| 11 | There is nothing under any law (other than the laws of the Cayman Islands) that would or might affect the opinions herein. |
| 12 | There are no resolutions, agreements, documents or arrangements which affect, amend or vary the actions envisaged in, or the Company’s ability to approve and adopt the Relevant Practices. |
| 13 | The Company has obtained all consents, licences, approvals and authorisations of any governmental or regulatory authority or agency or of any other person that it is required to obtain pursuant to the laws of all relevant jurisdictions (other than those of the Cayman Islands) to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability, proper performance and admissibility in evidence of the Relevant Practices. Any conditions to which such consents, licences, approvals and authorisations are subject have been, and will continue to be, satisfied or waived by the parties entitled to the benefit of them. |
| 14 | The matters we have been informed of in respect of the Listing Rules as referred to in this opinion (including the application of the same to the Company and the descriptions of the Listing Rules in Schedule 2) and the Company’s obligations and practices adopted in regard to the same are true and accurate in all respects. |
| 15 | The Listing Rules are governed by a law other than the laws of the Cayman Islands. |
Golden Sun Technology Group Limited
December 8, 2025
SCHEDULE 4
Qualifications
| 1 | We render no opinion on the Listing Rules themselves, the interpretation thereof or the compliance by the Company of its obligations thereunder. |
| 2 | The laws of the Cayman Islands do not prescribe the Relevant Practices with respect to exempted companies incorporated under the Companies Act such as the Company. |