EX-2.1 2 tm2014261d1_ex2-1.htm EXHIBIT 2.1

Exhibit 2.1

Description of Rights of Each Class of Securities Registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act

As of December 31, 2019 Globus Maritime Limited (the “Company,” “Globus,” “we,” “us” or “our”) had the following securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Act:

Title of each class |  | Trading symbols |  | Name of each exchange on which registered
Shares of common stock, par value $0.004 per share |  | GLBS |  | Nasdaq Capital Market

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings given to them in our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 (the “Annual report”).

The following is a description that includes, among other things, the material terms of our articles of incorporation and bylaws. The description does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the articles of incorporation and bylaws. Because the following is only a summary, it does not contain all information that you may find important.

AUTHORIZED CAPITAL

The authorized number of shares of us consist of (1) 500,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.004 per share, (2) 100,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.001 per share, which we refer to as the Class B shares, and (3) 100,000,000 preferred shares, par value $0.001 per share, which we refer to as the preferred shares. No Class B shares have been issued. One class of preferred shares has been designated, but no such shares remain outstanding. There is no limitation on the right to own securities or the rights of non-resident shareholders to hold or exercise voting rights on our securities under Marshall Islands law or our articles of incorporation or bylaws. All of our shares are in registered form. Our articles of incorporation do not permit the issuance of bearer shares. We currently have outstanding 6,416,666 common shares, and no other shares.

We have financed our operations through funds raised in public and private placements of common shares and through debt. We also issued shares to our officers and employees.

PURPOSE

Our objects and purposes, as provided in Section 1.3 of our articles of incorporation, are to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may now or hereafter be organized under the Marshall Islands Business Corporations Act or BCA.

COMMON SHARES AND CLASS B SHARES

Generally, Marshall Islands law provides that the holders of a class of stock of a Marshall Islands corporation are entitled to a separate class vote on any proposed amendment to the relevant articles of incorporation that would change the aggregate number of authorized shares or the par value of that class of shares or alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of that class so as to affect the class adversely. Except as described below, holders of our common shares and Class B shares will have equivalent economic rights, but holders of our common shares are entitled to one vote per share and holders of our Class B shares are entitled to 20 votes per share. Each holder of Class B shares (not including the Company and the Company’s subsidiaries) may convert, at its option, any or all of the Class B shares held by such holder into an equal number of common shares. Our common shares and Class B shares are nonassessable.

Except as otherwise provided by the BCA, holders of our common shares and Class B shares will vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders, including the election of directors.

The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of our shares are subject to the rights of the holders of any preferred shares which we may issue in the future.

Holders of our common shares do not have conversion, redemption or pre-emptive rights to subscribe to any of our securities.

Common shares that have been entered into the DTC book-entry system will be registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC and transfers of beneficial ownership of shares held through DTC will be effected by electronic transfer made by DTC participants.

Transfers of shares held outside of DTC or another direct registration system maintained by Computershare, our transfer agent, and not represented by certificates are effected by a stock transfer instrument.

Transfer of registered certificates is effected by presenting and surrendering the certificates to us or our transfer agent. A valid transfer requires the registered certificates to be properly endorsed for transfer as provided for in the certificates and accompanied by proper instruments of transfer.

Our articles of incorporation, bylaws and the BCA do not contain transfer restrictions on our common shares.

PREFERRED SHARES

Our articles of incorporation authorize our board of directors to establish and issue up to 100 million preferred shares and to determine, with respect to any series of preferred shares, the rights and preferences of that series, including:

| » | the designation of the series;

| » | the number of preferred shares in the series;

| » | the preferences and relative participating option or other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such series; and

| » | the voting rights, if any, of the holders of the series (subject to terms set forth below with regard to the policy of our board of directors regarding preferred shares).

Our board of directors may issue preferred shares on terms calculated to discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of us or the removal of management.

LIQUIDATION

In the event of our dissolution, liquidation or winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary, after payment in full of the amounts, if any, required to be paid to our creditors and the holders of preferred shares, our remaining assets and funds shall be distributed pro rata (based on number of shares held) to the holders of our common shares and Class B shares, and the holders of common shares and the holders of Class B shares shall be entitled to receive the same amount per share in respect thereof.

DIVIDENDS

Declaration and payment of any dividend is subject to the discretion of our board of directors. The timing and amount of dividend payments to holders of our shares will depend on a series of factors and risks described under “Risk Factors,” and includes risks relating to earnings, financial condition, cash requirements and availability, restrictions in our current and future loan arrangements, the provisions of the Marshall Islands law affecting the payment of dividends and other factors. The BCA generally prohibits the payment of dividends other than from surplus or while we are insolvent or if we would be rendered insolvent upon paying the dividend.

Subject to preferences that may apply to any shares of preferred stock outstanding at the time, the holders of our common shares and Class B shares will be entitled to share equally (pro rata based on the number of shares held) in any dividends that our board of directors may declare from time to time out of funds legally available for dividends.

CONVERSION

Our common shares are not convertible into any other shares of our capital stock. Each holder of Class B shares (not including the Company and the Company’s subsidiaries) may convert, at its option, any or all of the Class B shares held by such holder into an equal number of common shares. All conversions will be effected on a one-for-one basis. We will not reissue or resell any Class B shares that shall have been converted into common shares.

DIRECTORS

Our directors are elected by the vote of the plurality of the votes cast by holders with voting power of our voting shares. Our articles of incorporation provide that our board of directors must consist of at least three members. Shareholders may change the number of directors only by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the total voting power of our outstanding capital stock (subject to the rights of any holders of preferred shares). The board of directors may change the number of directors by a majority vote of the entire board of directors.

No contract or transaction between us and one or more of our directors or officers will be void or voidable solely for the following reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of our board of directors or committee thereof which authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because his or her or their votes are counted for such purpose, if (1) the material facts as to such director’s interest in such contract or transaction and as to any such common directorship, officership or financial interest are disclosed in good faith or known to the board of directors or committee, and the board of directors or committee approves such contract or transaction by a vote sufficient for such purpose without counting the vote of such interested director, or, if the votes of the disinterested directors are insufficient to constitute an act of the board, by unanimous vote of the disinterested directors; or (2) the material facts as to such director’s interest in such contract or transaction and as to any such common directorship, officership or financial interest are disclosed in good faith or known to the shareholders entitled to vote thereon, and such contract or transaction is approved by vote of such shareholders.

CLASSIFIED BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Our articles of incorporation provide for a board of directors serving staggered, three-year terms. Approximately one-third of our board of directors are elected each year.

REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS; VACANCIES

Our articles of incorporation provide that directors may be removed with or without cause upon the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the total voting power of our outstanding capital stock. Our bylaws require parties to provide advance written notice of nominations for the election of directors other than the board of directors and shareholders holding 30% or more of the voting power of the aggregate number of our shares issued and outstanding and entitled to vote.

NO CUMULATIVE VOTING

The BCA provides that shareholders are not entitled to the right to cumulative voting in the election of directors unless our articles of incorporation provide otherwise. Our articles of incorporation prohibit cumulative voting.

SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS

Under our bylaws, annual shareholder meetings will be held at a time and place selected by our board of directors. The meetings may be held in or outside of the Marshall Islands. Special meetings may be called by the chairman of our board of directors, by resolution of our board of directors or by holders of 30% or more of the voting power of the aggregate number of our shares issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at such meeting. Our board of directors may set a record date between 15 and 60 days before the date of any meeting to determine the shareholders that will be eligible to receive notice and vote at the meeting.

DISSENTERS’ RIGHTS OF APPRAISAL AND PAYMENT

Under the BCA, our shareholders have the right to dissent from various corporate actions, including certain amendments to our articles of incorporation and certain mergers or consolidations or the sale or exchange of all or substantially all of our assets not made in the usual course of our business, and receive payment of the fair value of their shares, subject to exceptions. For example, the right of a dissenting shareholder to receive payment of the fair value of his shares is not available if for the shares of any class or series of stock, which shares at the record date fixed to determine the shareholders entitled to receive notice of and vote at the meeting of shareholders to act upon the agreement of merger or consolidation or any sale or exchange of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the corporation not made in the usual course of its business, were either (1) listed on a securities exchange or admitted for trading on an interdealer quotation system or (2) held of record by more than 2,000 holders. In the event of any further amendment of our articles of incorporation, a shareholder also has the right to dissent and receive payment for his or her shares if the amendment alters certain rights in respect of those shares. The dissenting shareholder must follow the procedures set forth in the BCA to receive payment. In the event that we and any dissenting shareholder fail to agree on a price for the shares, the BCA procedures involve, among other things, the institution of proceedings in the high court of the Republic of the Marshall Islands or in any appropriate court in any jurisdiction in which our shares are primarily traded on a local or national securities exchange to fix the value of the shares.

SHAREHOLDERS’ DERIVATIVE ACTIONS

Under the BCA, any of our shareholders may bring an action in our name to procure a judgment in our favor, also known as a derivative action, provided that the shareholder bringing the action is a holder of common shares or a beneficial interest therein both at the time the derivative action is commenced and at the time of the transaction to which the action relates or that the shares devolved upon the shareholder by operation of law.

AMENDMENT OF OUR ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

Except as otherwise provided by law, any provision in our articles of incorporation requiring a vote of shareholders may only be amended by such a vote. Further, certain sections may only be amended by affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the voting shares.

ANTI-TAKEOVER EFFECTS OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF OUR ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS

Certain provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws, which are summarized in the following paragraphs, may have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, defer or prevent a takeover attempt or hostile change of control that a shareholder may consider in its best interest, including those attempts that may result in a premium over the market price for our common shares held by shareholders.

Two Classes of Shares

As discussed above, our Class B shares have 20 votes per share, while our common shares have one vote per share. Our board of directors also has authority under our articles of incorporation to issue blank check preferred shares. Because of this share structure, any issuance of Class B shares or preferred shares may cause such holders to be able to significantly influence matters submitted to our shareholders for approval even if such holders and their affiliates come to own significantly less than 50% of the aggregate number of outstanding common shares, Class B shares and preferred shares. This control over shareholder voting could discourage others from initiating any potential merger, takeover or other change of control transaction that other shareholders may view as beneficial and which would require shareholder approval.

Blank Check Preferred Shares

Under the terms of our articles of incorporation, our board of directors has authority, without any further vote or action by our shareholders, to issue up to 100 million shares of blank check preferred shares.

Classified Board of Directors

Our articles of incorporation provide for a board of directors serving staggered, three-year terms. Approximately one-third of our board of directors will be elected each year. This classified board of directors provision could discourage a third party from making a tender offer for our shares or attempting to obtain control of us. It could also delay shareholders who do not agree with the policies of the board of directors from removing a majority of the board of directors for two years.

No Cumulative Voting

The BCA provides that shareholders are not entitled to the right to cumulate votes in the election of directors unless our articles of incorporation provide otherwise. Our articles of incorporation prohibit cumulative voting.

Calling of Special Meetings of Shareholders

Our bylaws provide that special meetings of our shareholders may be called only by the chairman of our board of directors, by resolution of our board of directors or by holders of 30% or more of the voting power of the aggregate number of our shares issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at such meeting.

Advance Notice Requirements for Shareholder Proposals and Director Nominations

Our bylaws provide that, with a few exceptions, shareholders seeking to nominate candidates for election as directors or to bring business before an annual meeting of shareholders must provide timely notice of their proposal in writing to the corporate secretary.

Generally, to be timely, a shareholder’s notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 150 days nor more than 180 days prior to the first anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of shareholders. Our bylaws also specify requirements as to the form and content of a shareholder’s notice. These provisions may impede shareholders’ ability to bring matters before an annual meeting of shareholders or make nominations for directors at an annual meeting of shareholders.

BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

Although the BCA does not contain specific provisions regarding “business combinations” between corporations incorporated under or redomiciled pursuant to the laws of the Marshall Islands and “interested shareholders,” these provisions are contained in our articles of incorporation. Specifically, our articles of incorporation contain provisions that prohibit us from engaging in a business combination with an interested shareholder for a period of three years following the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested shareholder, unless, in addition to any other approval that may be required by applicable law:

| » | prior to the date of the transaction that resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, our board of directors approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder;

| » | upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, the interested shareholder owned at least 85.0% of our voting shares outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding those shares owned by (1) persons who are directors and officers and (2) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

| » | at or after the date of the transaction that resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, the business combination is approved by our board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of shareholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66-2/3% of the voting power of the voting shares that are not owned by the interested shareholder.

Among other transactions, a “business combination” includes any merger or consolidation of us or any directly or indirectly majority-owned subsidiary of ours with (1) the interested shareholder or any of its affiliates or (2) with any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity if the merger or consolidation is caused by the interested shareholder. Generally, an “interested shareholder” is any person or entity (other than us and any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of ours) that:

| » | owns 15.0% or more of our outstanding voting shares;

| » | is an affiliate or associate of ours and was the owner of 15.0% or more of our outstanding voting shares at any time within the three-year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such person is an interested shareholder; or

| » | is an affiliate or associate of any person listed in the first two bullets, except that any person who owns 15.0% or more of our outstanding voting shares, as a result of action taken solely by us will not be an interested shareholder unless such person acquires additional voting shares, except as a result of further action by us and not caused, directly or indirectly, by such person.

Additionally, the restrictions regarding business combinations do not apply to persons that became interested shareholders prior to the effectiveness of our articles of incorporation.

LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

The BCA authorizes corporations to limit or eliminate the personal liability of directors to corporations and their shareholders for monetary damages for breaches of certain directors’ fiduciary duties. Our articles of incorporation include a provision that eliminates the personal liability of directors for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director to the fullest extent permitted by law (i.e., other than breach of duty of loyalty, acts not taken in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law or transactions for which the director derived an improper personal benefit) and provides that we must indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by law. We are also expressly authorized to advance certain expenses to our directors and officers and expect to carry directors’ and officers’ insurance providing indemnification for our directors and officers for some liabilities. We believe that these indemnification provisions and the directors’ and officers’ insurance are useful to attract and retain qualified directors and executive officers.

The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in our articles of incorporation may discourage shareholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions may also have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, may otherwise benefit us and our shareholders. In addition, an investor in our common shares may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.

TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR

Computershare, Inc. is the transfer agent and registrar for our common shares.

MARSHALL ISLANDS COMPANY CONSIDERATIONS

Our corporate affairs are governed by our articles of incorporation and bylaws and by the BCA. The provisions of the BCA resemble provisions of the corporation laws of a number of states in the United States. While the BCA also provides that, for non-resident entities like us, it is to be interpreted according to the laws of the State of Delaware and other states with substantially similar legislative provisions, there have been few, court cases interpreting the BCA in the Republic of the Marshall Islands and we cannot predict whether Marshall Islands courts would reach the same conclusions as courts in the United States. Thus, you may have more difficulty in protecting your interests in the face of actions by the management, directors or controlling shareholders than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a United States jurisdiction which has developed a substantial body of case law. The following table provides a comparison between the statutory provisions of the BCA and the Delaware General Corporation Law relating to shareholders’ rights.

Marshall Islands | Delaware
Shareholder Meetings |
Held at a time and place as designated in the bylaws. | May be held at such time or place as designated in the certificate of incorporation or the bylaws, or if not so designated, as determined by the board of directors.
Special meetings of the shareholders may be called by the board of directors or by such person or persons as may be authorized by the articles of incorporation or by the bylaws. | Special meetings of the shareholders may be called by the board of directors or by such person or persons as may be authorized by the certificate of incorporation or by the bylaws.
May be held within or without the Marshall Islands. | May be held within or without Delaware.
Notice: Whenever shareholders are required to take any action at a meeting, written notice of the meeting shall be given which shall state the place, date and hour of the meeting and, unless it is an annual meeting, indicate that it is being issued by or at the direction of the person calling the meeting. A copy of the notice of any meeting shall be given personally or sent by mail or electronically not less than 15 nor more than 60 days before the meeting. | Notice: Whenever shareholders are required to take any action at a meeting, a written notice of the meeting shall be given which shall state the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, and the means of remote communication, if any. Written notice shall be given not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the meeting.
Shareholders’ Voting Rights |
Unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation, any action required by the BCA to be taken at a meeting of shareholders may be taken without a meeting if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all the shareholders entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof, or if the articles of incorporation so provide, by the holders of outstanding shares having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. | Any action required to be taken at a meeting of shareholders may be taken without a meeting if a consent for such action is in writing and is signed by shareholders having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.
Any shareholder authorized to vote may authorize another person to act for him by proxy. | Any person authorized to vote may authorize another person or persons to act for him by proxy.
Unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation or the bylaws, a majority of shares entitled to vote constitutes a quorum. In no event shall a quorum consist of fewer than one-third of the shares entitled to vote at a meeting. | For stock corporations, the certificate of incorporation or bylaws may specify the number of shares required to constitute a quorum but in no event shall a quorum consist of less than one-third of shares entitled to vote at a meeting. In the absence of such specifications, a majority of shares entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum.

When a quorum is once present to organize a meeting, it is not broken by the subsequent withdrawal of any shareholders. | When a quorum is once present to organize a meeting, it is not broken by the subsequent withdrawal of any shareholders.
The articles of incorporation may provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors. | The certificate of incorporation may provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors.
Merger or Consolidation |
Any two or more domestic corporations may merge into a single corporation if approved by the boards of the participating corporations and if authorized by a majority vote of the holders of outstanding shares at a shareholder meeting of each constituent corporation. | Any two or more corporations existing under the laws of the state may merge into a single corporation pursuant to a board resolution and upon the majority vote by shareholders of each constituent corporation at an annual or special meeting.
Any sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all the assets of a corporation, if not made in the corporation’s usual or regular course of business, once approved by the board, shall be authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the shares of those entitled to vote at a shareholder meeting. | Every corporation may at any meeting of the board sell, lease or exchange all or substantially all of its property and assets as its board deems expedient and for the best interests of the corporation when so authorized by a resolution adopted by the holders of a majority of the outstanding stock of the corporation entitled to vote.
Any domestic corporation owning at least 90% of the outstanding shares of each class of another domestic corporation may merge such other corporation into itself without the authorization of the shareholders of any corporation. | Any corporation owning at least 90% of the outstanding shares of each class of another corporation may merge the other corporation into itself and assume all of its obligations without the vote or consent of shareholders; however, in case the parent corporation is not the surviving corporation, the proposed merger shall be approved by a majority of the outstanding stock of the parent corporation entitled to vote at a duly called shareholder meeting.
Any mortgage, pledge of or creation of a security interest in all or any part of the corporate property may be authorized without the vote or consent of the shareholders, unless otherwise provided for in the articles of incorporation. | Any mortgage or pledge of a corporation’s property and assets may be authorized without the vote or consent of shareholders, except to the extent that the certificate of incorporation otherwise provides.
Directors |
The board of directors must consist of at least one member. | The board of directors must consist of at least one member.
The number of board members may be changed by an amendment to the bylaws, by the shareholders, or by action of the board under the specific provisions of a bylaw. | The number of board members shall be fixed by, or in a manner provided by, the bylaws, unless the certificate of incorporation fixes the number of directors, in which case a change in the number shall be made only by an amendment to the certificate of incorporation.
If the board is authorized to change the number of directors, it can only do so by a majority of the entire board and so long as no decrease in the number shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. | If the number of directors is fixed by the certificate of incorporation, a change in the number shall be made only by an amendment of the certificate.
Removal: | Removal:

Any or all of the directors may be removed for cause by vote of the shareholders. The articles of incorporation or the specific provisions of a bylaw may provide for such removal by action of the board, except in the case of any director elected by cumulative voting, or by the holders of the shares of any class or series when so entitled by the provisions of the articles of incorporation. | Any or all of the directors may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote unless the certificate of incorporation otherwise provides.
If the articles of incorporation or the bylaws so provide, any or all of the directors may be removed without cause by vote of the shareholders. | In the case of a classified board, shareholders may effect removal of any or all directors only for cause.
Dissenters’ Rights of Appraisal |
Shareholders have a right to dissent from any plan of merger, consolidation or sale or exchange of all or substantially all assets not made in the usual and regular course of business, and receive payment of the fair value of their shares. However, the right of a dissenting shareholder under the BCA to receive payment of the fair value of his shares is not available for the shares of any class or series of stock, which shares or depository receipts in respect thereof, at the record date fixed to determine the shareholders entitled to receive notice of and vote at the meeting of shareholders to act upon the agreement of merger or consolidation or any sale or exchange of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the corporation not made in the usual course of its business, were either (i) listed on a securities exchange or admitted for trading on an interdealer quotation system or (ii) held of record by more than 2,000 holders. The right of a dissenting shareholder to receive payment of the fair value of his or her shares shall not be available for any shares of stock of the constituent corporation surviving a merger if the merger did not require for its approval the vote of the shareholders of the surviving corporation. | Appraisal rights shall be available for the shares of any class or series of stock of a corporation in a merger or consolidation, subject to limited exceptions, such as a merger or consolidation of corporations listed on a national securities exchange in which listed stock is offered for consideration is (i) listed on a national securities exchange or (ii) held of record by more than 2,000 holders.
A holder of any adversely affected shares who does not vote on or consent in writing to an amendment to the articles of incorporation has the right to dissent and to receive payment for such shares if the amendment: |
• Alters or abolishes any preferential right of any outstanding shares having preferences; or |
• Creates, alters, or abolishes any provision or right in respect to the redemption of any outstanding shares; or |
• Alters or abolishes any preemptive right of such holder to acquire shares or other securities; or |
• Excludes or limits the right of such holder to vote on any matter, except as such right may be limited by the voting rights given to new shares then being authorized of any existing or new class. |

Shareholder’s Derivative Actions |
An action may be brought in the right of a corporation to procure a judgment in its favor, by a holder of shares or of voting trust certificates or of a beneficial interest in such shares or certificates. It shall be made to appear that the plaintiff is such a holder at the time of bringing the action and that he was such a holder at the time of the transaction of which he complains, or that his shares or his interest therein devolved upon him by operation of law. | In any derivative suit instituted by a shareholder of a corporation, it shall be averred in the complaint that the plaintiff was a shareholder of the corporation at the time of the transaction of which he complains or that such shareholder’s stock thereafter devolved upon such shareholder by operation of law.
A complaint shall set forth with particularity the efforts of the plaintiff to secure the initiation of such action by the board or the reasons for not making such effort. | Other requirements regarding derivative suits have been created by judicial decision, including that a shareholder may not bring a derivative suit unless he or she first demands that the corporation sue on its own behalf and that demand is refused (unless it is shown that such demand would have been futile).
Such action shall not be discontinued, compromised or settled, without the approval of the High Court of the Republic of The Marshall Islands. |
Reasonable expenses including attorney’s fees may be awarded if the action is successful. |
A corporation may require a plaintiff bringing a derivative suit to give security for reasonable expenses if the plaintiff owns less than 5% of any class of stock and the shares have a value of $50,000 or less. |