AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
AMENDMENT
NO. 2 TO DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
AMENDMENT
NO. 2, dated
as
of February __, 2006 (the “Amendment”), to the Deposit Agreement dated as of
October 7, 1997, as amended as of March 11, 2005 (as so amended and as further
amended hereby, the “Deposit Agreement” or the "Agreement"), among E.ON AG
(formerly known as VEBA Aktiengesellschaft),
incorporated under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany (the “Company”),
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (fka Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York),
as
depositary (the “Depositary”), and all Holders and Beneficial Owners from time
to time of American depositary receipts (“ADRs”) issued thereunder.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS,
the Company and the Depositary executed the Deposit Agreement for the purposes
set forth therein; and
WHEREAS,
the Company desires to modify the ratio of ADSs per Share; and
WHEREAS,
pursuant to paragraph (16) of the form of ADR contained in the Deposit
Agreement, the Company and the Depositary desire to amend the terms of the
Deposit Agreement and ADRs.
NOW,
THEREFORE, for
good
and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the Company and the Depositary hereby agree to amend the Deposit
Agreement as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION
1.01. Definitions.
Unless
otherwise defined in this Amendment, all capitalized terms used, but not
otherwise defined, herein shall have the meaning given to such terms in the
Deposit Agreement.
ARTICLE
II
AMENDMENTS
TO DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
All
references in the Deposit Agreement to the term “Deposit Agreement” or the
"Agreement" shall, as of the Effective Date (as herein defined), refer to the
Deposit Agreement, dated as of October 7, 1997 as amended as of March 11, 2005
and as further amended by this Amendment.
ARTICLE
III
AMENDMENTS
TO THE FORM OF ADR
SECTION
3.01. Paragraph
(8) of the Form of ADR is amended to read as follows:
Each
Holder and each Beneficial Owner agrees to comply with all applicable provisions
of German law and the Company's Articles of Association regarding the
notification of such person's interest in Shares, which provisions at the date
of the Agreement include Sections 21 and 22 of the Securities Trading Act
(Wertpapierhandelsgesetz).
At the
date of the Agreement, (i) the statutory notification obligations of the
Securities Trading Act apply to anyone whose holding, either directly or by
way
of imputation pursuant to the provisions of Section 22 of the Securities Trading
Act, of voting rights in the Company reaches or exceeds 5%, 10%, 25%, 50% or
75%
or, after having reached or exceeded any such threshold, falls below that
threshold. Each Holder and each Beneficial Owner acknowledges that failure
to
provide on a timely basis any required notification of an interest in Shares
may
result in withholding of certain rights, including voting and dividend rights,
in respect of the Shares in which such Holder or Beneficial Owner has an
interest. In order to enforce such legal sanctions for failure to notify, the
Company reserves the right to instruct Holders and Beneficial Owners, and
Holders and Beneficial Owners hereby agree, to deliver their ADSs for
cancellation and withdrawal of the Deposited Securities so as to permit the
Company to deal directly with the Holder or Beneficial Owner thereof as a holder
of Shares.
The
Company and the Depositary may from time to time request Holders and Beneficial
Owners to provide information as to the capacity in which they hold ADRs and
regarding the identity of any other persons then or previously interested in
such ADRs and various other related matters. Each Holder and each Beneficial
Owner agrees to provide any such information reasonably requested by the Company
or the Depositary pursuant to this paragraph and such agreement shall survive
any disposition of such Holder's or Beneficial Owner's interest in Shares or
ADRs. The Depositary agrees to use reasonable efforts to forward any such
requests to the Holders and to forward to the Company any responses to such
requests received by the Depositary and to use its reasonable efforts, at the
Company’s request, to assist the Company in obtaining such information with
respect to the ADRs, provided that nothing herein shall be interpreted as
obligating the Depositary to provide or obtain any such information not provided
to the Depositary by such Holders.
SECTION
3.02. Paragraph
(9) of the Form of ADR is amended to read as follows:
The
Depositary may charge each person to whom ADSs are issued against deposits
of
Shares, including deposits in respect of Share Distributions, Rights and Other
Distributions (as such terms are defined in paragraph (10)), and each person
surrendering ADSs for withdrawal of Deposited Securities, U.S. $5.00 for each
100 ADSs (or portion thereof) delivered or surrendered. The Depositary may
sell
(by public or private sale) sufficient securities and property received in
respect of Share Distributions, Rights and Other Distributions prior to such
deposit to pay such charge. The following additional charges shall be incurred
by the Holders, by any party depositing or withdrawing Shares or by any party
surrendering ADRs or to whom ADRs are issued (including, without limitation,
issuance pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split declared by the Company
or
an exchange of stock regarding the ADRs or the Deposited Securities or a
distribution of ADRs pursuant to paragraph (10)), whichever is applicable (i)
to
the extent not prohibited by the rules of the primary stock exchange upon which
the ADSs are listed, a fee of $.02 or less per ADS (or portion thereof) for
any
Cash distribution made pursuant to the Agreement, (ii) to the extent not
prohibited by the rules of the primary stock exchange upon which the ADSs are
listed, a fee of $1.50 per ADR or ADRs for transfers made pursuant to paragraph
(3) hereof, (iii) a fee for the distribution or sale of securities pursuant
to
paragraph (10) hereof, such fee being in an amount equal to the fee for the
execution and delivery of ADSs referred to above which would have been charged
as a result of the deposit of such securities (for purposes of this paragraph
(7) treating all such securities as if they were Shares) but which securities
or
the net cash proceeds from the sale thereof are instead distributed by the
Depositary to Holders entitled thereto, (iv)
to
the extent not prohibited by the rules of the primary stock exchange upon which
the ADSs are listed, a fee of US$0.02 per ADS (or portion thereof) per year
for
the services performed by the Depositary in administering the ADRs (which fee
shall be assessed against Holders as of the record date or dates set by the
Depositary not more than once each calendar year and shall be payable at the
sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such Holders or by deducting such
charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions), and (v)
such fees and expenses as are incurred by the Depositary (including without
limitation expenses incurred on behalf of Holders in connection with compliance
with foreign exchange control regulations or any law or regulation relating
to
foreign investment) in delivery of Deposited Securities or otherwise in
connection with the Depositary's or its Custodian's compliance with applicable
law, rule or regulation. The Company will pay all other charges and expenses
of
the Depositary and any agent of the Depositary (except the Custodian) pursuant
to agreements from time to time between the Company and the Depositary, except
(i) stock transfer or other taxes and other governmental charges (which are
payable by Holders or persons depositing Shares), (ii) cable, telex and
facsimile transmission and delivery charges incurred at the request of persons
depositing, or Holders delivering Shares, ADRs or Deposited Securities (which
are payable by such persons or Holders), (iii) transfer or registration fees
for
the registration or transfer of Deposited Securities on any applicable register
in connection with the deposit or withdrawal of Deposited Securities (which
are
payable by persons depositing Shares or Holders withdrawing Deposited
Securities; there are no such fees in respect of the Shares as of the date
of
the Agreement), (iv) expenses of the Depositary in connection with the
conversion of foreign currency into U.S. dollars (which are paid out of such
foreign currency), and (v) any other charge payable by any of the Depositary,
any of the Depositary's agents, including, without limitation, the custodian,
or
the agents of the Depositary's agents in connection with the servicing of the
Shares or other Deposited Securities (which charge shall be assessed against
Holders as of the record date or dates set by the depositary and shall be
payable at the sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such Holders or
by
deducting such charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash
distributions). Such charges may at any time and from time to time be changed
by
agreement between the Company and the Depositary.
SECTION
3.03. Paragraph
(13) of the Form of ADR is amended to read as follows:
As
promptly as practicable after receipt from the Company of notice of any meeting
or solicitation of consents or proxies of holders of Shares or other Deposited
Securities, the Depositary shall, subject to applicable law and the Company's
Articles of Association, mail to Holders a notice (a) containing such
information as is contained in such notice and any solicitation materials,
(b)
stating that each Holder on the record date set by the Depositary therefor
will
be entitled to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights,
if any, pertaining to the whole number of Deposited Securities underlying such
Holder's ADRs, and (c) specifying how and when such instructions may be given,
including an express indication that, if no specific voting instruction is
received prior to the record date set by the Depositary therefor, then the
Holders shall in each case be deemed to have instructed the Depositary to give
a
proxy to the Custodian, which will act as a proxy bank in accordance with
Sections 128 and 135 of the German Stock Corporation Act (Aktiengesetz) (the
"Proxy Bank"), to vote in accordance with its recommendation with regard to
voting of the Shares pursuant to Section 128 (2) of the German Stock Corporation
Act (the "Recommendation") as to any matter concerning which the notice from
the
Company indicates that a vote is to be taken by holders of Shares, and a copy
of
the Recommendation and an English translation thereof, each as provided by
the
Company. Each Holder who desires to exercise or to give instructions for the
exercise of voting rights shall execute and return to the Depositary on or
before the date established by the Depositary for such purpose, a document
provided by the Depositary that instructs the Depositary as to how the number
of
Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by such Holder's ADRs are
to be
voted. Upon receipt of instructions of a Holder on such record date in the
manner and on or before the date established by the Depositary for such purpose,
the Depositary shall endeavor, insofar as practicable and permitted under
applicable law, the Company's Articles of Association and the provisions of
or
governing Deposited Securities, to vote or cause to be voted the Deposited
Securities underlying such Holder's ADRs in accordance with such instructions.
The Depositary shall not vote or attempt to exercise the right to vote that
attaches to the Deposited Securities, other than in accordance with instructions
received from the Holders (or deemed to have been so received as set forth
in
the next paragraph), as of such record date.
Subject
to the following paragraph of this paragraph (13), if no specific voting
instructions are received by the Depositary from any Holder (to whom a notice
and the Recommendation were sent by the Depositary) with respect to the
Deposited Securities on or before the date set by the Depositary for such
purpose, such Holder shall be deemed, and the Depositary shall deem such Holder,
to have instructed the Depositary to give a proxy to the Proxy Bank to vote
such
Deposited Securities in accordance with Section 135 of the German Stock
Corporation Act. The Depositary shall not itself exercise any discretion over
any Deposited Securities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, the Depositary shall not be obligated to give any such deemed
instruction with respect to any such meeting unless and until the Depositary
has
been provided with an opinion of counsel to the Company, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Depositary. If after the date such opinion is delivered
to
the Depositary, the Company is advised by counsel that there has occurred a
change in German law such that the foregoing opinion could no longer be rendered
favorably in whole or in part, the Company shall promptly notify the Depositary
of such change and the Holders shall thereafter not be deemed to have given
any
such instruction.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, in the event that the Proxy Bank
shall fail or decline to supply the Recommendation to the Depositary at least
thirty (30) calendar days prior to any meeting of holders of Shares or other
Deposited Securities with respect to which the Depositary has received notice
from the Company, the Depositary shall mail the above-referenced notice (which
shall not contain the Recommendation or the indication concerning the proxy
to
be given to the Proxy Bank) to the Holders as hereinabove provided, and,
thereafter, in any case in which no specific voting instructions are received
by
the Depositary from a Holder with respect to the Deposited Securities on or
before the date set by the Depositary for such purpose, no votes shall be cast
or caused to be cast by the Depositary at such meeting with respect to such
Deposited Securities.
The
Depositary will endeavor to ensure that on any date on which it votes or causes
to be voted Deposited Securities pursuant to this Paragraph (13), it will have
on deposit under the Agreement the number of Deposited Securities with respect
to which it has received voting instructions or deemed voting instructions
from
Holders. If on any such meeting record date, the number of Deposited Securities
on deposit under the Agreement is less than the number of Deposited Securities
with respect to which the Depositary has received voting instructions or deemed
voting instructions, the Depositary shall vote or cause to be voted such
Deposited Securities in accordance with such instructions or deemed instructions
adjusting the number of Deposited Securities voted on a pro-rated
basis.
SECTION
3.07. The
Form
of ADR, reflecting the amendments set forth in Section 3.01
hereof,
is amended and restated to read as set forth as Exhibit A hereto.
ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
SECTION
4.01. Representations
and Warranties.
The
Company represents and
warrants
to, and agrees with, the Depositary and the Holders, that:
(a)
This
Amendment, when executed and delivered by the Company, will be duly and validly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and it and the Agreement
as
amended hereby constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the
Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective
terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, moratorium and
similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights
and to general equity principles; and
(b)
In
order to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility into
evidence of this Amendment or the Agreement as amended hereby, neither of such
agreements need to be filed or recorded with any court or other authority in
the
Federal Republic of Germany, nor does any stamp or similar tax or governmental
charge need to be paid in the Federal Republic of Germany on or in respect
of
such agreements.
ARTICLE
V
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION
5.01. Effective
Date.
This
Amendment is dated as of the date set forth above and shall be effective 60
days
after notice of such change has been given to Holders (the “Effective
Date”).
SECTION
5.02. Outstanding
ADRs.
ADRs
issued prior or subsequent to the date hereof, which do not reflect the changes
to the form of ADR effected hereby, do not need to be called in for exchange
and
may remain outstanding until such time as the Holders thereof choose to
surrender them for any reason under the Agreement. The Depositary is authorized
and directed to take any and all actions deemed necessary to effect the
foregoing.
SECTION
5.03. Indemnification.
The
parties hereto shall be entitled to the benefits of the indemnification
provisions of Section 16 of the Agreement in connection with any and all
liability it or they may incur as a result of the terms of this Amendment and
the transactions contemplated herein.
SECTION
5.04. Counterparts.
This
Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall
be
deemed an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one
instrument.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
the
Company and the Depositary have caused this Amendment to be executed by
representatives thereunto duly authorized as of the date set forth
above.
E.ON AG | ||
By:_____________________
|
||
Name: | ||
Title:
|
By:_____________________
|
||
Name: | ||
Title:
|
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. | ||
By:_____________________
|
||
Name: | ||
Title:
|
EXHIBIT
A
ANNEXED
TO AND INCORPORATED
IN
AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
[FORM
OF
FACE OF ADR]
CERTAIN
RIGHTS OF THE HOLDER OF THIS AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPT MAY BE WITHHELD IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH (8) HEREOF, INCLUDING, WITHOUT
LIMITATION, VOTING RIGHTS AND THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE DIVIDENDS AND OTHER
DISTRIBUTIONS.
_____________ | No. of ADSs: | ||
Number | __________________ | ||
Each ADS represents | |||
One-Third of One Share | |||
CUSIP: |
AMERICAN
DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
evidencing
AMERICAN
DEPOSITARY SHARES
representing
ORDINARY
SHARES
of
E.ON
AG
(Incorporated
under the
laws
of
the Federal Republic of Germany)
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A., a national banking association organized under the laws of
the
United States of America, as depositary hereunder (the "Depositary"),
hereby certifies that ____________ is the registered owner (a "Holder")
of
this American Depositary Receipt ("ADR"),
evidencing ________American Depositary Shares ("ADSs"), each (subject to
Paragraphs (11) and (14)) representing one-third of one Share with no par value,
including, subject to Paragraph (5) below, rights to receive Shares (together
"Shares"
and,
together with any additional securities or cash from time to time held by the
Depositary or the Custodian referred to below in respect or in lieu thereof,
the
"Deposited Securities"),
of
E.ON AG, a corporation incorporated under the laws of the Federal Republic
of
Germany and having its legal seats in Düsseldorf (Commercial register No. HRB
22315) (the "Company")
deposited at the office of Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, as custodian
(subject to Section 7 of the Agreement referred to below, the "Custodian")
or any
successor Custodian hereinafter appointed. This ADR is issued pursuant to the
Deposit Agreement dated as of October 7, 1997 (as amended from time to time,
the
"Agreement")
among
the Company, the Depositary and all Holders and Beneficial Owners from time
to
time of ADSs evidenced by ADRs, each of whom by accepting an ADS agrees to
become a party thereto and to be bound by all of the terms and conditions
thereof and hereof. Copies of the Agreement are on file at the Depositary's
Office referred to below and at the office of the Custodian. This ADR (which
includes the provisions set forth on the reverse hereof) shall be governed
by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. The terms,
conditions, and definitions of the Agreement are hereby incorporated by
reference.
(1) Withdrawal
of Deposited Securities.
Subject
to Paragraphs (4), (7) and (9), upon surrender of this ADR in form satisfactory
to the Depositary accompanied by such instruments of transfer as the Depositary
may require at the Depositary's Office referred to below, the Holder hereof
is
entitled to delivery, as promptly as practicable, (i) in the case of Shares
and
other Deposited Securities that are eligible for deposit with Clearstream
Banking AG ("CSB"),
to an
account designated by such Holder with CSB and (ii) in the case of Deposited
Securities that are not eligible for deposit with CSB, at the office of the
Custodian, in each case of the whole number of Shares and other Deposited
Securities at the time underlying this ADR. If, at the time of surrender, the
number of Shares and other Deposited Securities underlying this ADR is other
than a whole number, the Holder hereof will be entitled to delivery, as provided
above, of the whole number of Shares and other Deposited Securities underlying
this ADR, together with a new ADR evidencing any fractional Shares or Deposited
Securities not withdrawn.
(2) Register.
The
Depositary shall keep, at the office of the Depositary in the City of New York
at which at any particular time its depositary receipt business is administered,
which at the date of the Agreement is 0 Xxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
(the
"Depositary's
Office"),
(a) a
register (the "Register")
for
the registration, registration of transfer, combination and split-up of ADRs,
which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by Holders solely
for
the purpose of communicating with Holders relating to their interests as Holders
and (b) facilities for the delivery and receipt of ADRs. The Register shall
be
established and maintained by the Depositary for registration of such ADRs
in
accordance with any applicable law, regulation or requirement of the New York
Stock Exchange, Inc. ("NYSE")
or any
applicable rule or regulation of any other securities exchange or market upon
which the ADSs may be listed or traded. Subject to the foregoing and Paragraph
(4), the Depositary may close the Register at any time or from time to time
when
reasonably deemed expedient by it after consultation with the Company or when
requested by the Company.
(3) Title
to ADRs; Validity.
Title
to this ADR, when properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of
transfer, is transferable by delivery with the same effect as in the case of
a
negotiable instrument under the laws of the State of New York; provided
that the
Depositary, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the person
in
whose name this ADR is registered on the Register as the absolute owner hereof
for all purposes.
(4) Certain
Limitations.
As a
condition precedent to the issue or registration of any ADR (including upon
a
transfer, split-up or combination), any distribution in respect thereof or
the
withdrawal or any Deposited Securities, the Company, the Depositary or the
Custodian may require: (a) payment with respect thereto of (i) any stock
transfer or other tax or other governmental charge and (ii) any transfer or
registration fees charged by third parties for the transfer of any Deposited
Securities, (b) the production of (i) proof satisfactory to it of the identity
and genuineness of any signature and (ii) such other information as it may
deem
necessary or proper consistent with the Agreement; and (c) compliance with
such
regulations as the Depositary may establish consistent with the Agreement.
From
time to time, the Company, the Depositary or the Custodian may also require
such
information as it may deem necessary or proper consistent with the Agreement.
The Depositary shall notify the Company of any procedures established pursuant
to clauses (b) or (c) above. The issuance of ADRs, the acceptance of deposits
of
Shares, the registration of transfers of ADRs or the withdrawal of Deposited
Securities may be suspended, generally or in particular instances, when the
Register or CSB is closed or when any such action is reasonably deemed expedient
by the Depositary after consultation with the Company. Registrations of
transfers of ADRs and withdrawals of Deposited Securities shall also be
suspended when requested by the Company, including for the purpose of
facilitating orderly voting of the Deposited Securities. Notwithstanding any
other provision of the Agreement or this ADR, the withdrawal of Deposited
Securities may be restricted only for the reasons set forth in General
Instruction I.A. (1) of Form F-6 under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities
Act")
and no
amendment shall impair such requirements.
(5) Pre-release.
Unless
requested in writing by the Company to cease doing so, the Depositary may,
notwithstanding Section 4 of the Agreement, execute and deliver ADRs prior
to
the receipt of Shares pursuant to Section 3 of the Agreement. The Depositary
may
receive Shares or ADRs in lieu of Shares in satisfaction of a Pre-release.
Each
Pre-release shall be (a) accompanied by or subject to a written agreement from
the person to whom ADRs are to be issued (the "Applicant")
that
the Applicant or its customer, (i) owns the Shares to be remitted, (ii) agrees
to indicated the Depositary as owner of such Shares in its records and to hold
such Shares in trust for the Depositary until such Shares are delivered to
the
Depositary or the Custodian, (iii) unconditionally guarantees to deliver to
the
Depositary or the Custodian, as applicable, such Shares and (iv) agrees to
any
additional restrictions or requirements that the Depositary deems appropriate,
(b) at all times fully collateralized (marked to market daily) with cash, U.S.
government securities or such other collateral of comparable safety and
liquidity as the Depositary deems appropriate, (c) terminable by the Depositary
on not more than five (5) business days notice, and (d) subject to such further
indemnities and credit regulations as the depositary deems appropriate. The
number of Shares not deposited but represented by ADSs outstanding at any time
as a result of Pre-releases will not normally exceed twenty percent (20%) of
the
Shares deposited hereunder; provided,
however,
that
the Depositary, with the prior written consent of the Company, may (i) disregard
such limit from time to time as it deems reasonably appropriate, or (ii) change
such limit for purposes of general application; provided,
further,
that the
Company shall have the right to request in writing that the Depositary reduce
the Pre-releases to not less than five percent (5%) of the Shares deposited
thereunder and the Depositary shall be required to act upon such a request
only
with respect to proposed deposits made two business days following the request
by the Company. For purposes of enabling the Depositary to fulfill its
obligations to the Holders under the Agreement, the collateral referred to
in
clause (b) above shall be held by the Depositary as security for the performance
of the Pre-releasee's obligations to the Depositary in connection with a
Pre-release transaction, including the Pre-releasee's obligation to deliver
Shares upon termination of a Pre-release transaction (and shall not, for the
avoidance of doubt, constitute Deposited Securities hereunder). The Depositary
may retain for its own account any compensation received by it in connection
with the foregoing, including without limitation, earnings on the collateral
provided by the Applicant.
(6) Representations
and Warranties.
. Every
person depositing Shares under the Agreement is deemed to represent and warrant
that such Shares are validly issued and outstanding, fully paid, nonassessable,
free and clear of any lien, encumbrance, security interest, charge, pledge
or
restriction of transfer and were not acquired in violation of any pre-emptive
rights, that the person making such deposit is duly authorized to do so and
that
such Shares are not subject to any other restriction on sale, transfer or
deposit under the laws of the United States or of the Federal Republic of
Germany, or under a shareholders' agreement or the Company's Articles of
Association or any applicable regulations of any securities exchange. Such
representations and warranties shall survive the deposit of Shares and the
issuance and cancellation of this ADR. If any such representations and
warranties are incorrect in any respect, the Company and the Depositary shall
be
authorized, at the cost and expense of the person depositing such Shares, to
take any and all actions necessary to correct the consequences thereof, whether
or not the person who deposited the Shares is at the time of such action the
Holder or a Beneficial Owner of the ADSs representing such Shares.
(7) Information
and Taxes.
The
Holders and Beneficial Owners may be required from time to time to file such
proof of taxpayer status or residence, including executing certifications
thereof, or to provide any information that the Depositary, Custodian or the
Company may request with respect to such status. If any tax or other
governmental charge shall become payable by or on behalf of the Custodian or
the
Depositary with respect to this ADR, any ADSs evidenced by this ADR, any
Deposited Securities underlying this ADR or any distribution on any of the
foregoing, such tax or other governmental charge shall be paid by the Holder
hereof to the Depositary. The Depositary may refuse to effect delivery of ADRs,
any registration of this ADR, distribution of cash or other property or any
withdrawal of the underlying Deposited Securities until proof of such payment
is
available to the Depositary. The Depositary may also deduct from any
distributions on or in respect of Deposited Securities, or may sell by public
or
private sale for the account of the Holder hereof all or any part of such
Deposited Securities (after attempting by reasonable means to notify the Holder
hereof prior to such sale), and may apply such deduction or the proceeds of
any
such sale in payment of such tax or other governmental charge. The Holder hereof
shall remain liable for any deficiency. Upon any such sale, the Depositary
shall, if appropriate, reduce the number of ADSs evidenced hereby to reflect
any
such sale and shall distribute the net proceeds of any such sale or the balance
of any such property after deduction of such tax or other governmental charge
to
the Holder hereof.
In
the
event that the Depositary undertakes efforts to assist the Holders and
Beneficial Owners in obtaining a refund of withholding tax pursuant to the
tax
treaty between the United States and the Federal Republic of Germany, the
Holders will indemnify and hold harmless the Depositary, its officers,
employees, agents and affiliated companies against all taxes, interest,
penalties, and/or additions to tax arising out of claims filed by the Depositary
on behalf of the Holders seeking a refund of taxes withheld or any other tax
benefit obtained by the Depositary, Custodian or the Company for the
Holders.
(8) Disclosure
of Interests.
Each
Holder and each Beneficial Owner agrees to comply with all applicable provisions
of German law and the Company's Articles of Association regarding the
notification of such person's interest in Shares, which provisions at the date
of the Agreement include Sections 21 and 22 of the Securities Trading Act
(Wertpapierhandelsgesetz).
At the
date of the Agreement, (i) the statutory notification obligations of the
Securities Trading Act apply to anyone whose holding, either directly or by
way
of imputation pursuant to the provisions of Section 22 of the Securities Trading
Act, of voting rights in the Company reaches or exceeds 5%, 10%, 25%, 50% or
75%
or, after having reached or exceeded any such threshold, falls below that
threshold. Each Holder and each Beneficial Owner acknowledges that failure
to
provide on a timely basis any required notification of an interest in Shares
may
result in withholding of certain rights, including voting and dividend rights,
in respect of the Shares in which such Holder or Beneficial Owner has an
interest. In order to enforce such legal sanctions for failure to notify, the
Company reserves the right to instruct Holders and Beneficial Owners, and
Holders and Beneficial Owners hereby agree, to deliver their ADSs for
cancellation and withdrawal of the Deposited Securities so as to permit the
Company to deal directly with the Holder or Beneficial Owner thereof as a holder
of Shares.
The
Company and the Depositary may from time to time request Holders and Beneficial
Owners to provide information as to the capacity in which they hold ADRs and
regarding the identity of any other persons then or previously interested in
such ADRs and various other related matters. Each Holder and each Beneficial
Owner agrees to provide any such information reasonably requested by the Company
or the Depositary pursuant to this paragraph and such agreement shall survive
any disposition of such Holder's or Beneficial Owner's interest in Shares or
ADRs. The Depositary agrees to use reasonable efforts to forward any such
requests to the Holders and to forward to the Company any responses to such
requests received by the Depositary and to use its reasonable efforts, at the
Company’s request, to assist the Company in obtaining such information with
respect to the ADRs, provided that nothing herein shall be interpreted as
obligating the Depositary to provide or obtain any such information not provided
to the Depositary by such Holders.
(9) Charges
of Depositary.
The
Depositary may charge each person to whom ADSs are issued against deposits
of
Shares, including deposits in respect of Share Distributions, Rights and Other
Distributions (as such terms are defined in paragraph (10)), and each person
surrendering ADSs for withdrawal of Deposited Securities, U.S. $5.00 for each
100 ADSs (or portion thereof) delivered or surrendered. The Depositary may
sell
(by public or private sale) sufficient securities and property received in
respect of Share Distributions, Rights and Other Distributions prior to such
deposit to pay such charge. The following additional charges shall be incurred
by the Holders, by any party depositing or withdrawing Shares or by any party
surrendering ADRs or to whom ADRs are issued (including, without limitation,
issuance pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split declared by the Company
or
an exchange of stock regarding the ADRs or the Deposited Securities or a
distribution of ADRs pursuant to paragraph (10)), whichever is applicable (i)
to
the extent not prohibited by the rules of the primary stock exchange upon which
the ADSs are listed, a fee of $.02 or less per ADS (or portion thereof) for
any
Cash distribution made pursuant to the Agreement, (ii) to the extent not
prohibited by the rules of the primary stock exchange upon which the ADSs are
listed, a fee of $1.50 per ADR or ADRs for transfers made pursuant to paragraph
(3) hereof, (iii) a fee for the distribution or sale of securities pursuant
to
paragraph (10) hereof, such fee being in an amount equal to the fee for the
execution and delivery of ADSs referred to above which would have been charged
as a result of the deposit of such securities (for purposes of this paragraph
(7) treating all such securities as if they were Shares) but which securities
or
the net cash proceeds from the sale thereof are instead distributed by the
Depositary to Holders entitled thereto, (iv)
to
the extent not prohibited by the rules of the primary stock exchange upon which
the ADSs are listed, a fee of US$0.02 per ADS (or portion thereof) per year
for
the services performed by the Depositary in administering the ADRs (which fee
shall be assessed against Holders as of the record date or dates set by the
Depositary not more than once each calendar year and shall be payable at the
sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such Holders or by deducting such
charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions), and (v)
such fees and expenses as are incurred by the Depositary (including without
limitation expenses incurred on behalf of Holders in connection with compliance
with foreign exchange control regulations or any law or regulation relating
to
foreign investment) in delivery of Deposited Securities or otherwise in
connection with the Depositary's or its Custodian's compliance with applicable
law, rule or regulation. The Company will pay all other charges and expenses
of
the Depositary and any agent of the Depositary (except the Custodian) pursuant
to agreements from time to time between the Company and the Depositary, except
(i) stock transfer or other taxes and other governmental charges (which are
payable by Holders or persons depositing Shares), (ii) cable, telex and
facsimile transmission and delivery charges incurred at the request of persons
depositing, or Holders delivering Shares, ADRs or Deposited Securities (which
are payable by such persons or Holders), (iii) transfer or registration fees
for
the registration or transfer of Deposited Securities on any applicable register
in connection with the deposit or withdrawal of Deposited Securities (which
are
payable by persons depositing Shares or Holders withdrawing Deposited
Securities; there are no such fees in respect of the Shares as of the date
of
the Agreement), (iv) expenses of the Depositary in connection with the
conversion of foreign currency into U.S. dollars (which are paid out of such
foreign currency), and (v) any other charge payable by any of the Depositary,
any of the Depositary's agents, including, without limitation, the custodian,
or
the agents of the Depositary's agents in connection with the servicing of the
Shares or other Deposited Securities (which charge shall be assessed against
Holders as of the record date or dates set by the depositary and shall be
payable at the sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such Holders or
by
deducting such charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash
distributions). Such charges may at any time and from time to time be changed
by
agreement between the Company and the Depositary.
The
charges and expenses of any Custodian hereunder are for the sole account of
the
Depositary.
(10) Available
Information.
The
Company is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and, accordingly, files certain reports with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").
Such
reports are available for inspection and copying by Holders and Beneficial
Owners at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission located
at 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx X.X., Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000. The Depositary shall make
available for inspection by Holders at the Depositary's Office and at the
principal office of the Custodian copies of the Agreement, the Company's
Articles of Association and any notices, reports and communications, including
any proxy soliciting materials, received from the Company, which are both (a)
received by the Depositary or the Custodian or the nominee of either as the
holder of the Deposited Securities and (b) made generally available to the
holders of such Deposited Securities by the Company. To the extent lawful and
practicable, the Depositary shall also send to Holders copies of such notices,
reports and communications when furnished by the Company to the Depositary
pursuant to the Agreement. Any such reports and communications, including any
such proxy soliciting material, furnished to the Depositary by the Company
shall
be furnished in English to the extent, if any, required by the rules and
regulations of the Commission or the rules and regulations of the NYSE or any
other securities exchange or market upon which the ADSs may be listed or
traded.
Execution.
This
ADR shall not be valid for any purpose unless executed by the Depositary by
the
manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer of the
Depositary.
Dated: | JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. | |
By________________________ | ||
Authorized
Signatory
|
The
Depositary's Office is located at 0 Xxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx
00000.
[FORM
OF
REVERSE OF RECEIPT]
(11) Distributions
on Deposited Securities.
Upon
receipt by the Depositary or the Custodian of any distribution on Deposited
Securities, and subject to Section 6 of the Agreement and to the Paragraphs
(4),
(7) and (9), the Depositary shall as promptly as practicable distribute to
each
Holder entitled thereto on the record date set by the Depositary therefore,
in
proportion to the number (including any fractional number) of Deposited
Securities (on which the following distributions are received by the Custodian)
underlying such Holder's ADRs:
(a) Cash.
Any
U.S. dollars available to the Depositary resulting from a cash dividend or
other
cash distributions or the net proceeds of sales of any other distribution or
portion thereof authorized in this Paragraph (11) ("Cash"),
subject to appropriate adjustments for (i) taxes or other governmental charges
withheld, (ii) such distribution being unlawful or impracticable with respect
to
certain Holders, and (iii) deduction of the Depositary's expenses in (1)
converting any foreign currency into U.S. dollars and (2) making any sale by
public or private means in any commercially reasonable manner. The Company
may
elect, but is not obligated, to convert any such dividend or distribution into
U.S. dollars on behalf of the Holders, either (x) through distribution of U.S.
dollars rather than Euro to the Depositary or (y) upon reasonable notice to
the
Depositary given in advance of any such dividend or distribution, through
payment to the Depositary of the number of U.S. dollars equivalent to (as
reasonably determined by the Company on the basis of market rates prevailing
on
the date of the distribution) the number of Euro received by the Depositary
pursuant to such dividend or distribution, in exchange for such Euro (such
U.S.
dollar amounts to then be distributed by the Depositary pursuant to this
Paragraph 11). Only whole U.S. dollars and cents will be distributed to a Holder
(any fractional cents being withheld without liability for interest and added
to
future Cash distributions).
(b) Shares.
(i)
Additional ADRs evidencing whole ADSs representing any Shares available to
the
Depositary resulting from a dividend or free distribution on Deposited
Securities consisting of Shares (a "Share
Distribution"),
subject to appropriate adjustments for (A) such distribution being unlawful
or
impracticable with respect to certain Holders, and (B) deductions of the
Depositary's fees and expenses set forth in Paragraph 9 hereof and (ii) U.S.
dollars available to it resulting from the net proceeds of sales of Shares
received in a Share Distribution, which Shares would give rise to fractional
ADSs if additional ADRs were issued therefor, as in the case of Cash. The
Depositary, with the prior written consent of the Company, may change or cause
to be changed, as of the record date set in accordance with Paragraph 12 hereof
, the ratio of ADSs to Shares to reflect the additional Shares so distributed
and deposited.
(c) Rights.
(i) To
the extent the Company so instructs and timely furnishes to the Depositary
evidence (the Company having no obligation to so furnish such evidence)
satisfactory to the Depositary that the Depositary may lawfully distribute
the
same, warrants or other instruments representing rights to acquire additional
ADRs in respect of any rights to subscribe for additional Shares or rights
of
any nature available to the Depositary as a result of a distribution on
Deposited Securities ("Rights"),
or
(ii) to the extent the Company does not furnish such evidence or does not so
instruct the Depositary and sales of Rights are practicable as determined by
the
Depositary after consultation with the Company (which sales shall be effected
promptly and, to the extent practicable, on the principal German stock exchange
on which the Shares are traded), any U.S. dollars available to the Depositary
constituting the net proceeds of sales of Rights, as in the case of Cash, or
(iii) failing either (i) or (ii), nothing (and any Rights may
lapse).
(d) Other
Distributions.
(i)
Securities available to the Depositary resulting from any distribution on
Deposited Securities other than Cash, Share Distributions and Rights
("Other
Distributions"),
by
any means that the Depositary may deem, after consultation with the Company,
lawful, equitable and practicable, or (ii) to the extent the Depositary deems
after consultation with the Company distribution of such securities not to
be
lawful, equitable or practicable, any U.S. dollars available to the Depositary
constituting the net proceeds of the sale of Other Distributions, as in the
case
of Cash.
To
the
extent that the Depositary determines, after consultation with the Company,
that
any distribution is not lawful or practicable with respect to any Holder, the
Depositary may make such distribution as it deems lawful and practicable,
including the distribution of foreign currency or securities (or appropriate
documents evidencing the right to receive foreign currency or securities),
or
retain the same as Deposited Securities with respect to such Holder's ADRs
(without liability for interest thereon or the investment thereof).
Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall have no obligation to either
(i) register any ADRs, Shares, Rights or other securities described in this
Paragraph (11) under the Securities Act or (ii) take other actions to permit
the
distribution of such ADRs, Shares, Rights or other securities in accordance
with
applicable U.S. securities laws (except that the Company shall cooperate with
the Depositary to register additional ADSs on Form F-6 if deemed desirable
by
the Depositary).
(12) Record
Dates.
The
Depositary shall fix a record date (which date shall (a) in the case of a
distribution, unless otherwise agreed by the Company, be the same date as the
distribution dated fixed by the Company, and (b) in all other circumstances,
be
fixed after consultation with the Company to the extent practicable, in each
case subject to the requirements of applicable law and the NYSE) (a) for the
determination of the Holders who shall be entitled (i) to receive any
distribution on or in respect of Deposited Securities, (ii) to give instructions
for the exercise of any voting rights, to receive any notice or to act in
respect of other matters, or (b) on or after which each ADS will represent
the
changed number of Shares as set forth in Paragraph 11(b) hereof, and only
Holders of record at the close of business on such date shall be so
entitled.
(13) Voting
of Deposited Securities.
As
promptly as practicable after receipt from the Company of notice of any meeting
or solicitation of consents or proxies of holders of Shares or other Deposited
Securities, the Depositary shall, subject to applicable law and the Company's
Articles of Association, mail to Holders a notice (a) containing such
information as is contained in such notice and any solicitation materials,
(b)
stating that each Holder on the record date set by the Depositary therefor
will
be entitled to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights,
if any, pertaining to the whole number of Deposited Securities underlying such
Holder's ADRs, and (c) specifying how and when such instructions may be given,
including an express indication that, if no specific voting instruction is
received prior to the record date set by the Depositary therefor, then the
Holders shall in each case be deemed to have instructed the Depositary to give
a
proxy to the Custodian, which will act as a proxy bank in accordance with
Sections 128 and 135 of the German Stock Corporation Act (Aktiengesetz) (the
"Proxy Bank"), to vote in accordance with its recommendation with regard to
voting of the Shares pursuant to Section 128 (2) of the German Stock Corporation
Act (the "Recommendation") as to any matter concerning which the notice from
the
Company indicates that a vote is to be taken by holders of Shares, and a copy
of
the Recommendation and an English translation thereof, each as provided by
the
Company. Each Holder who desires to exercise or to give instructions for the
exercise of voting rights shall execute and return to the Depositary on or
before the date established by the Depositary for such purpose, a document
provided by the Depositary that instructs the Depositary as to how the number
of
Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by such Holder's ADRs are
to be
voted. Upon receipt of instructions of a Holder on such record date in the
manner and on or before the date established by the Depositary for such purpose,
the Depositary shall endeavor, insofar as practicable and permitted under
applicable law, the Company's Articles of Association and the provisions of
or
governing Deposited Securities, to vote or cause to be voted the Deposited
Securities underlying such Holder's ADRs in accordance with such instructions.
The Depositary shall not vote or attempt to exercise the right to vote that
attaches to the Deposited Securities, other than in accordance with instructions
received from the Holders (or deemed to have been so received as set forth
in
the next paragraph), as of such record date.
Subject
to the following paragraph of this paragraph (13), if no specific voting
instructions are received by the Depositary from any Holder (to whom a notice
and the Recommendation were sent by the Depositary) with respect to the
Deposited Securities on or before the date set by the Depositary for such
purpose, such Holder shall be deemed, and the Depositary shall deem such Holder,
to have instructed the Depositary to give a proxy to the Proxy Bank to vote
such
Deposited Securities in accordance with Section 135 of the German Stock
Corporation Act. The Depositary shall not itself exercise any discretion over
any Deposited Securities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, the Depositary shall not be obligated to give any such deemed
instruction with respect to any such meeting unless and until the Depositary
has
been provided with an opinion of counsel to the Company, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Depositary. If after the date such opinion is delivered
to
the Depositary, the Company is advised by counsel that there has occurred a
change in German law such that the foregoing opinion could no longer be rendered
favorably in whole or in part, the Company shall promptly notify the Depositary
of such change and the Holders shall thereafter not be deemed to have given
any
such instruction.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, in the event that the Proxy Bank
shall fail or decline to supply the Recommendation to the Depositary at least
thirty (30) calendar days prior to any meeting of holders of Shares or other
Deposited Securities with respect to which the Depositary has received notice
from the Company, the Depositary shall mail the above-referenced notice (which
shall not contain the Recommendation or the indication concerning the proxy
to
be given to the Proxy Bank) to the Holders as hereinabove provided, and,
thereafter, in any case in which no specific voting instructions are received
by
the Depositary from a Holder with respect to the Deposited Securities on or
before the date set by the Depositary for such purpose, no votes shall be cast
or caused to be cast by the Depositary at such meeting with respect to such
Deposited Securities.
The
Depositary will endeavor to ensure that on any date on which it votes or causes
to be voted Deposited Securities pursuant to this Paragraph (13), it will have
on deposit under the Agreement the number of Deposited Securities with respect
to which it has received voting instructions or deemed voting instructions
from
Holders. If on any such meeting record date, the number of Deposited Securities
on deposit under the Agreement is less than the number of Deposited Securities
with respect to which the Depositary has received voting instructions or deemed
voting instructions, the Depositary shall vote or cause to be voted such
Deposited Securities in accordance with such instructions or deemed instructions
adjusting the number of Deposited Securities voted on a pro-rated
basis.
(14) Changes
Affecting Deposited Securities.
Subject
to Paragraphs (4), (7) and (9), upon any change in nominal or par value,
split-up or consolidation or other reclassification of Deposited Securities,
any
Share Distribution or Other Distribution not distributed to Holders in
accordance with Paragraph (11), or any recapitalization, reorganization, merger,
liquidation or similar corporate event or sale of all or substantially all
the
assets of the Company, any cash or securities received by the Depositary in
respect of any Deposited Securities shall constitute Deposited Securities
hereunder, and each ADS evidenced by this ADR shall automatically represent
its
pro rata interest in the Deposited Securities as then constituted. In any such
case, the Depositary may, and shall if the Company so requests, distribute
any
part of the cash or securities so received or execute and deliver additional
ADRs or call for the surrender of outstanding ADRs to be exchanged for new
ADRs
describing the new Deposited Securities.
(15) Exoneration.
The
Depositary, the Company, their respective officers, directors, employees, agents
or affiliates and each of them shall: (a) incur no liability to any Holder
or
Beneficial Owner (i) if any law, regulation, the provisions of or governing
any
Deposited Security, act of God, war or other circumstance beyond its control
shall prevent, delay or subject to any civil or criminal penalty any act that
the Agreement or this ADR provides shall be done or performed by it, or (ii)
by
reason of any exercise or failure to exercise any discretion given it in the
Agreement or this ADR; (b) assume no obligation or be subject to no liability
under the Agreement to Holders or Beneficial Owners except to perform their
respective obligations to the extent they are specifically set forth in this
ADR
and the Agreement without negligence or bad faith; (c) be under no obligation
to
appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect
of any Deposited Securities or this ADR which in its opinion may involve expense
or liability; (d) not be liable for any action or inaction by it in reliance
upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person
presenting Shares for deposit, any Holder, Beneficial Owner or any other person
in each case believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice
or
information; or (e) incur no liability for the creditworthiness of any third
party. The Depositary, the Company and each of their respective agents may
rely
and shall be protected in acting upon any written notice, request, direction
or
other document believed by them in good faith to be genuine and to have been
signed or presented by the proper party or parties. The Depositary and its
agents (when the Company deals directly with such agents) may rely upon
instructions from the Company in respect of any approval or license of the
government of Germany or any agency thereof required for any currency
conversion, transfer of distribution. The Depositary and its agents shall not
be
responsible for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any of the
Deposited Securities, for the manner in which any such vote is cast or for
the
effect of any such vote. The Depositary and its agents may own and deal in
any
class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in ADRs. In the
Agreement, the Company has agreed to indemnify the Depositary under certain
circumstances and the Depositary has agreed to indemnify the Company under
certain circumstances. No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act
is
intended by any provision hereof or of the Agreement.
(16) Amendment.
Subject
to the last sentence of Paragraph (4), the ADRs and the Agreement may be amended
by the Company and the Depositary without consent of the Holders or Beneficial
Owners, provided
that
any
amendment that imposes or increases any fees or charges (other than those listed
in clauses (ii) through (v) of Paragraph (9)), or that shall otherwise prejudice
any substantial existing right of Holders or Beneficial Owners, shall become
effective 60 days after notice of such amendment shall have been given to the
Holders. Every Holder and Beneficial Owner, at the time any amendment so becomes
effective, shall be deemed, by continuing to hold an ADR, to consent and agree
to such amendment and to be bound by the ADRs and the Agreement as amended
thereby.
(17) Termination.
The
Depositary shall, at the written direction of the Company, terminate the
Agreement and this ADR by mailing notice of such termination to the Holders
at
least 30 days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination.
The
Depositary may terminate the Agreement, after giving notice to the Holders
as
set forth in the preceding sentence of this Paragraph (17) at any time 45 days
or more after the Depositary shall have delivered to the Company its written
resignation or after the Company shall have removed the Depositary, provided
that no successor depositary shall have been appointed and accepted its
appointment as provided in Section 10 of the Agreement before the end of such
45
days. After the date so fixed for termination, the Depositary shall be required
to perform no further acts under the Agreement and this ADR, except to advise
Holders of such termination, receive and hold (or sell) distributions on
Deposited Securities and deliver Deposited Securities being withdrawn together
with any such distributions on Deposited Securities (without liability for
interest) and any net proceeds of the sale of any Rights (without liability
for
interest) as the Depositary may reasonably effect. As soon as practicable after
the expiration of sixty days from the date so fixed for termination, the
Depositary shall, to the extent practicable, sell the Deposited Securities
and
shall thereafter (as long as it may lawfully do so) hold the net proceeds of
such sales, together with any other cash then held by it under the Agreement,
without liability for interest, for the pro rata benefit of the Holders of
ADRs
not theretofore surrendered. After making such sale, the Depositary shall be
discharged from all obligations in respect of the Agreement and this ADR, except
to account for such net proceeds and other cash and its indemnification
obligations to the Company. After the date so fixed for termination, the Company
shall be discharged from all obligations under the Agreement except for its
indemnification and payment obligations to the Depositary.