AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO AMENDED AND RESTATED DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
AMENDMENT
NO. 1 TO AMENDED AND RESTATED DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
AMENDMENT NO. 1, dated as
of November 19, 2009 (the "Amendment"), to the Amended and Restated
Deposit Agreement dated as of May 21, 2004, (as further amended
hereby, the "Deposit Agreement"), among KOREA ELECTRIC POWER CORPORATION, a
statutory juridical corporation organized under the Korea Electric Power
Corporation Act of 1980, as amended, in the Republic of Korea (the “Company”),
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as depositary (the "Depositary"), and all Owners 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,
pursuant to Section 6.01 of 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 AND FORM OF ADR
SECTION 2.01. All
references in the Deposit Agreement to the term "Deposit Agreement" shall, as of
the Effective Date (as herein defined), refer to the Deposit Agreement, dated as
of May 21, 2004, as further amended by this Amendment.
SECTION
2.02. Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement is amended to
read as
follows:
Charges of
Depositary. The Company agrees to pay the fees and reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses of the Depositary and those of any Registrar only in
accordance with agreements in writing entered into between the Depositary and
the Company from time to time. The Depositary shall present detailed
statements for such expenses to the Company at least once every three
months. The charges and expenses of the Custodian are for the sole
account of the Depositary.
The
following charges (to the extent permitted by applicable law and the rules of
any stock exchange on which the American Depositary Shares are admitted for
trading) shall be incurred by any Owner, any party depositing or withdrawing
Shares or by any party surrendering Receipts or to whom Receipts 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 Receipts or
Deposited Securities or a distribution of Receipts pursuant to Section 4.03),
whichever applicable: (1) taxes and other governmental charges, (2) a fee of
$1.50 or less per American Depositary Share for the registration of transfers of
Shares generally on the shareholders' register of the Company, a CSD or Foreign
Registrar and applicable to transfers of Shares to the name of the Depositary or
its nominee on the making of deposits or withdrawals hereunder, (3) such cable,
telex and facsimile transmission expenses as are expressly provided in this
Deposit Agreement, (4) such expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in the
conversion of foreign currency pursuant to Section 4.05, (5) a fee of $0.05 or
less per American Depositary Share for the execution and delivery of
Receipts pursuant to Section 2.03, 2.11, 4.03 or 4.04 and the surrender of
Receipts pursuant to Section 2.05 or 6.02, (6) a fee of $0.02 or less per
American Depositary Share for any cash distribution made pursuant to Section
4.01, (7) a fee for the distribution of proceeds of sales of securities or
rights pursuant to Section 4.02, 4.03 or 4.04, respectively, such fee (which may
be deducted from such proceeds) being in all amount equal to the lesser of (i)
the fee for the execution and delivery of Receipts referred to above which would
have been charged as a result of the deposit by Owners of securities (for
purposes of this clause 6 treating all Such securities as if they were Shares)
or Shares received in exercise of rights distributed to them pursuant to Section
4.02, 4.03 and/or 4.04, respectively, but which securities or rights are instead
sold by the Depositary and the net proceeds distributed and (ii) the amount of
such proceeds, or (8) to the extent permitted under applicable laws and
regulations, a fee of US$0.02 or less per American Depositary Share (or portion
thereof) per calendar year for the services performed by the Depositary in
administering the Receipts (which fee shall be assessed against Owners as of the
record date or dates determined pursuant to Section 4.06 and shall be payable at
the sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such Owners or by deducting
such charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash
distributions).
SECTION
2.03. Article 7 of the form of ADR is amended to read as
follows:
The
Company agrees to pay the fees and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the
Depositary and those of any Registrar only in accordance with agreements in
writing entered into between the Depositary and the Company from time to
time. The Depositary shall present detailed statements for such
expenses to the Company at least once every three months. The charges
and expenses of the Custodian are for the sole account of the
Depositary.
The
following charges (to the extent permitted by applicable law and the rules of
any stock exchange on which the American Depositary Shares are admitted for
trading) shall be incurred by any Owner, any party depositing or withdrawing
Shares or by any party surrendering Receipts or to whom Receipts 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 Receipts or
Deposited Securities or a distribution of Receipts pursuant to Section 4.03),
whichever applicable: (1) taxes and other governmental charges, (2) a fee
of $1.50 or less per American Depositary Share for the registration of transfers
of Shares generally on the shareholders' register of the Company, a CSD or
Foreign Registrar and applicable to transfers of Shares to the name of the
Depositary or its nominee on the making of deposits or withdrawals hereunder,
(3) such cable, telex and facsimile transmission expenses as are expressly
provided in this Deposit Agreement, (4) such expenses as are incurred by the
Depositary in the conversion of foreign currency pursuant to Section 4.05, (5) a
fee of $0.05 or less per American Depositary Share for the execution and
delivery of Receipts pursuant to Section 2.03, 2.11, 4.03 or 4.04 and the
surrender of Receipts pursuant to Section 2.05 or 6.02, (6) a fee of $0.02 or
less per American Depositary Share for any cash distribution made pursuant to
Section 4.01, (7) a fee for the distribution of proceeds of sales of securities
or rights pursuant to Section 4.02, 4.03 or 4.04, respectively, such fee (which
may be deducted from such proceeds) being in all amount equal to the lesser of
(i) the fee for the execution and delivery of Receipts referred to above which
would have been charged as a result of the deposit by Owners of securities (for
purposes of this clause 6 treating all Such securities as if they were Shares)
or Shares received in exercise of rights distributed to them pursuant to Section
4.02, 4.03 and/or 4.04, respectively, but which securities or rights are instead
sold by the Depositary and the net proceeds distributed and (ii) the amount of
such proceeds or (8) to the extent permitted under applicable laws and
regulations, a fee of US$0.02 or less per American Depositary Share (or portion
thereof) per calendar year for the services performed by the Depositary in
administering the Receipts (which fee shall be assessed against Owners as of the
record date or dates determined pursuant to Section 4.06 and shall be payable at
the sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such Owners or by deducting
such charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash
distributions).
SECTION 2.05. The
form of ADR, reflecting the amendments set forth in this Article II, is
amended and restated to read as set forth as Exhibit A hereto.
ARTICLE
III
REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES
SECTION 3.01. Representations
and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants
to, and agrees with, the Depositary and the Owners, 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 Deposit
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 Deposit Agreement as amended hereby, neither
of such agreements need to be filed or recorded with any court or other
authority in the Republic of Korea, nor does any stamp or similar tax or
governmental charge need to be paid in the Republic of Korea on or in respect of
such agreements.
ARTICLE
IV
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 4.01. Effective
Date. This Amendment is dated as of the date set forth above
and shall be effective thirty days after notice hereof has been provided to
Owners (the “Effective Date”).
SECTION 4.02. 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 Owners thereof choose to surrender them for any reason under the Deposit
Agreement. The Depositary is authorized and directed to take any and
all actions deemed necessary to effect the foregoing.
SECTION
4.03. Indemnification. The
parties hereto shall be entitled to the benefits of the indemnification
provisions of Section 5.08 of the Deposit 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 4.04. 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.
KOREA
ELECTRIC POWER
CORPORATION
By:_____________________
Name:
|
Title:
|
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A.
By:_____________________
Name:
|
Title:
|
EXHIBIT
A
ANNEXED
TO AND INCORPORATED
IN AMENDMENT TO DEPOSIT
AGREEMENT
IN
ACCORDANCE WITH KOREAN LAW AND THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF THE COMPANY, THE
RIGHT TO INSTRUCT THE DEPOSITARY WITH RESPECT TO VOTING MAY BE
RESTRICTED. SEE ARTICLE 16 HEREOF.
AMERICAN
DEPOSITARY SHARES
(Each
American Depositary Share represents one-half of one deposited
Share)
|
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK
AMERICAN
DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
FOR
SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF
PAR VALUE
OF WON 5,000 EACH OF
KOREA
ELECTRIC POWER CORPORATION
(ORGANIZED
UNDER THE LAWS OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA)
JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A., as depositary (hereinafter called the “Depositary”), hereby
certifies that _________________________________, or registered assigns IS THE
OWNER OF _______________________________
AMERICAN
DEPOSITARY SHARES
representing
deposited shares of Common Stock of par value Won 5,000 each (herein called
“Shares”) of Korea Electric Power Corporation, a statutory juridical corporation
organized under the Korea Electric Power Corporation Act of 1980, as amended, in
The Republic of Korea (herein called the “Company”). At the date
hereof, each American Depositary Share represents one-half of one Share
deposited or subject to deposit under the Deposit Agreement (as such term is
hereinafter defined) at the principal Seoul, Korea office of Korea Securities
Depository (herein called the “Custodian”). THE DEPOSITARY’S
PRINCIPAL OFFICE IS 0 Xxx Xxxx Xxxxx, XXX XXXX, X.X. 00000
1. THE
DEPOSIT AGREEMENT.
This
American Depositary Receipt is one of an issue (herein called “Receipts”), all
issued and to be issued upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Amended
and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of May 21, 2004 (herein called the
“Deposit Agreement”), by and among the Company, the Depositary, and all Owners
and Beneficial Owners from time to time of Receipts issued thereunder, each of
whom by accepting a Receipt agrees to become a party thereto and become bound by
all the terms and conditions thereof. The Deposit Agreement sets
forth the rights of Owners and Beneficial Owners of the Receipts and the rights
and duties of the Depositary in respect of the Shares deposited thereunder and
any and all other securities, property and cash from time to time received in
respect of such Shares and held thereunder (such Shares, securities, property,
and cash are herein called “Deposited Securities”). Copies of the
Deposit Agreement are on file at the Depositary’s Principal Office in New York
City and at the office of the Custodian.
The
statements made on the face and reverse of this Receipt are summaries of certain
provisions of the Deposit Agreement and are qualified by and subject to the
detailed provisions of the Deposit Agreement, to which reference is hereby made.
Capitalized terms defined in the Deposit Agreement and not defined herein shall
have the meanings set forth in the Deposit Agreement.
2. SURRENDER
OF RECEIPTS AND WITHDRAWAL OF SHARES.
Upon
surrender of (i) this Receipt or (ii) proper instructions and documentation in
the case of a Direct Registration Receipt, in each case at the Principal Office
of the Depositary, for the purpose of withdrawal of the Deposited Securities
represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced hereby, and upon payment
of the fee of the Depositary provided in this Receipt, and subject to the terms
and conditions of the Deposit Agreement and the Company’s Articles of
Incorporation and applicable laws, the Owner hereof is entitled to delivery, to
him or upon his order, of the Deposited Securities at the time represented by
the American Depositary Shares for which this Receipt is
issued. Delivery of such Deposited Securities may be made by the
delivery of (a) certificates, if any, in the name of the Owner hereof or as
ordered by him or certificates properly endorsed or accompanied by proper
instruments of transfer, or other documents of title, to such Owner or as
ordered by him and (b) any other securities, property and cash to which
such Owner is then entitled in respect of this Receipt to such Owner or as
ordered by him. Such delivery will be made at the option of the Owner
hereof, either at the office of the Custodian or at the Principal Office of the
Depositary, as provided in the Deposit Agreement; provided that the
forwarding of certificates, if any, or other documents of title, for Shares or
other Deposited Securities for such delivery at the Principal Office of the
Depositary shall be at the risk and expense of the Owner hereof. The
Depositary shall not accept for surrender a Receipt evidencing fewer than two
American Depositary Shares. In the case of surrender of a Receipt
evidencing a number of American Depositary Shares not evenly divisible by two,
the Depositary shall make delivery as provided in Section 2.05 of the Deposit
Agreement of the appropriate whole number of Shares and other Deposited
Securities represented by such American Depositary Shares and shall execute and
deliver to the Owner surrendering such Receipt a new Receipt evidencing American
Depositary Shares representing any remaining fractional Share.
3. TRANSFERS,
SPLIT-UPS, AND COMBINATIONS OF RECEIPTS.
The
transfer of this Receipt is registrable on the books of the Depositary at its
Principal Office by the Owner hereof in person or by a duly authorized attorney,
upon surrender of this Receipt properly endorsed for transfer or accompanied by
proper instruments of transfer and funds sufficient to pay any applicable
transfer taxes and the expenses of the Depositary and upon compliance with such
regulations, if any, as the Depositary may establish for such purpose; provided,
however, that the Depositary shall refuse to register any transfer of American
Depositary Shares evidenced by Receipts if such registration would result in a
violation of the ownership restrictions referred to in Article 22 of this
receipt. This Receipt may be split into other such Receipts, or may
be combined with other such receipts into one Receipt, evidencing the same
aggregate number of American Depositary Shares as the Receipt or Receipts
surrendered. As a condition precedent to the execution and delivery,
registration of transfer, split-up, combination, or surrender of any Receipt,
the delivery of any distribution thereon, or withdrawal of any Deposited
Securities, the Company, the Depositary, the Custodian, or the Registrar may
require payment from the depositor of the Shares or the presentor of the Receipt
of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or other governmental charge and
any stock transfer or registration fee with respect thereto (including any such
tax or charge and fee with respect to Shares being deposited or withdrawn) and
payment of any applicable fees as provided in this Receipt, may require the
production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any
signature and may also require compliance with such reasonable regulations as
the Depositary may establish consistent with the provisions of the Deposit
Agreement or this Receipt, including, without limitation, this Article
3.
2
The
delivery of Receipts against deposits of Shares generally or against deposits of
particular Shares may be suspended, or the transfer of Receipts in particular
instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer of outstanding
Receipts, or the combination or split-up of Receipts generally may be suspended,
during any period when the transfer books of the Depositary or the Foreign
Registrar are closed, or if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by
the Depositary or the Company at any time or from time to time because of any
requirement of law or of any government or governmental body or commission, or
under any provision of the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, or for any other
reason, subject to the provisions of the following
sentence. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Deposit
Agreement or this Receipt, the surrender of outstanding Receipts and withdrawal
of Deposited Securities may be suspended only for the reasons that may at any
time be specified in paragraph I(A)(1) of the General Instructions to Form F-6,
as from time to time in effect, or any successor provision
thereto. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary shall
not knowingly accept for deposit under the Deposit Agreement any Shares required
to be registered under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, unless a
registration statement is in effect as to such Shares.
4. LIABILITY
OF OWNER FOR TAXES.
If any
tax or other governmental charge shall become payable with respect to any
Receipt or any Deposited Securities represented hereby, such tax or other
governmental charge shall be payable by the Owner hereof. The
Depositary may refuse to effect any transfer of this Receipt or any combination
or split-up hereof or any withdrawal of Deposited Securities represented by
American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt until such payment is made,
and may withhold any dividends or other distributions, or may sell for the
account of the Owner hereof any part or all of the Deposited Securities
represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by this Receipt, and may
apply such dividends or other distributions or the proceeds of any such sale in
payment of such tax or other governmental charge (and any taxes or expenses
arising out of such sale), and the Owner hereof shall remain liable for any
deficiency.
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5. WARRANTIES
OF DEPOSITORS.
Every
person depositing Shares hereunder and under the Deposit Agreement shall be
deemed thereby to represent and warrant that such Shares and each certificate,
if any, or other documents of title, therefor are validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable and that the person making such deposit is duly authorized so to
do. Every such person shall also be deemed to represent that
(i) the Shares presented for deposit are not, and the Receipts issuable
upon such deposit will not be, restricted securities within the meaning of Rule
144(a)(3) under the Securities Act of 1933, and (ii) the deposit of such
Shares and the sale of Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares
representing such Shares by that person are not otherwise restricted under the
Securities Act of 1933. Such representations and warranties shall
survive the deposit of Shares and issuance of Receipts.
6. FILING
PROOFS, CERTIFICATES, AND OTHER INFORMATION.
Any
person presenting Shares for deposit or any Owner of a Receipt may be required
from time to time to file with the Depositary or the Custodian such proof of
citizenship or residence, exchange control approval, payment of applicable
Korean or other taxes or other governmental charges, legal or beneficial
ownership of Receipts, Deposited Securities or other securities, compliance with
all applicable laws or regulations or terms of the Deposit Agreement or such
Receipt, or such information relating to the registration on the shareholders’
register of the Company, a CSD or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, to
execute such certificates and to make such representations and warranties, as
the Depositary may deem necessary or proper or as the Company may require by
written request to the Depositary. The Depositary may withhold the
delivery or registration of transfer of any Receipt or the distribution of any
dividend or sale or distribution of rights or of the proceeds thereof or the
delivery of any Deposited Securities until such proof or other information is
filed or such certificates are executed or such representations and warranties
are made. The Depositary shall from time to time advise the Company
of the availability of any such proofs, information, certificates or other
representations and warranties and shall provide copies thereof to the Company
as promptly as practicable upon request by the Company, unless such disclosure
is prohibited by law.
7. CHARGES
OF DEPOSITARY.
The
Company agrees to pay the fees and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the
Depositary and those of any Registrar only in accordance with agreements in
writing entered into between the Depositary and the Company from time to
time. The Depositary shall present detailed statements for such
expenses to the Company at least once every three months. The charges
and expenses of the Custodian are for the sole account of the
Depositary.
4
The
following charges (to the extent permitted by applicable law and the rules of
any stock exchange on which the American Depositary Shares are admitted for
trading) shall be incurred by any Owner, any party depositing or withdrawing
Shares or by any party surrendering Receipts or to whom Receipts 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 Receipts or
Deposited Securities or a distribution of Receipts pursuant to Section 4.03),
whichever applicable: (1) taxes and other governmental charges, (2) a fee of
$1.50 or less per American Depositary Share for the registration of transfers of
Shares generally on the shareholders' register of the Company, a CSD or Foreign
Registrar and applicable to transfers of Shares to the name of the Depositary or
its nominee on the making of deposits or withdrawals hereunder, (3) such cable,
telex and facsimile transmission expenses as are expressly provided in this
Deposit Agreement, (4) such expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in the
conversion of foreign currency pursuant to Section 4.05, (5) a fee of $0.05 or
less per American Depositary Share for the execution and delivery of
Receipts pursuant to Section 2.03, 2.11, 4.03 or 4.04 and the surrender of
Receipts pursuant to Section 2.05 or 6.02, (6) a fee of $0.02 or less per
American Depositary Share for any cash distribution made pursuant to Section
4.01, (7) a fee for the distribution of proceeds of sales of securities or
rights pursuant to Section 4.02, 4.03 or 4.04, respectively, such fee (which may
be deducted from such proceeds) being in all amount equal to the lesser of (i)
the fee for the execution and delivery of Receipts referred to above which would
have been charged as a result of the deposit by Owners of securities (for
purposes of this clause 6 treating all Such securities as if they were Shares)
or Shares received in exercise of rights distributed to them pursuant to Section
4.02, 4.03 and/or 4.04, respectively, but which securities or rights are instead
sold by the Depositary and the net proceeds distributed and (ii) the amount of
such proceeds, or (8) to the extent permitted under applicable laws and
regulations, a fee of US$0.02 or less per American Depositary Share (or portion
thereof) per calendar year for the services performed by the Depositary in
administering the Receipts (which fee shall be assessed against Owners as of the
record date or dates determined pursuant to Section 4.06 and shall be payable at
the sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such Owners or by deducting
such charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash
distributions).
8. PRE-RELEASE
OF RECEIPTS.
Neither
the Depositary nor the Custodian shall deliver Shares, by physical delivery,
book entry or otherwise (other than to the Company or its agent as contemplated
by Section 4.08 of the Deposit Agreement), or otherwise permit shares to be
withdrawn from the facility created hereby, except upon the receipt and
cancellation of Receipts.
The
Depositary may issue Receipts against rights to receive Shares from the Company
(or any agent of the Company recording Share ownership). No such
issue of Receipts will be deemed a “Pre-Release” subject to the restrictions of
the following paragraph.
5
Unless
requested by the Company to cease doing so, the Depositary may, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, execute and deliver Receipts prior to the receipt
of Shares pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Deposit Agreement
(“Pre-Release”). The Depositary may, pursuant to Section 2.05 of the
Deposit Agreement, deliver Shares upon the receipt and cancellation of Receipts
which have been Pre-Released, whether or not such cancellation is prior to the
termination of such Pre-Release or the Depositary knows that such Receipt has
been Pre-Released. The Depositary may receive Receipts in lieu of
Shares in satisfaction of a Pre Release. Each Pre-Release will be
(a) preceded or accompanied by a written representation and agreement from
the person to whom Receipts or Shares are to be delivered that such person, or
its customer, (i) owns the Shares or Receipts to be remitted, as the case
may be, (ii) assigns all beneficial right, title and interest in such
Shares or Receipts, as the case may be, to the Depositary in its capacity as
such and for the benefit of the Owners, and (iii) agrees in effect to hold
such Shares or Receipts, as the case may be, for the account of the Depositary
until delivery of the same upon the Depositary’s request, (b) at all times
fully collateralized (such collateral marked to market daily) with cash or U.S.
government securities, (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 American Depositary Shares which are outstanding at any time as a
result of Pre-Releases will not normally exceed thirty percent (30%) of the
American Depositary Shares outstanding (without giving effect to American
Depositary Shares evidenced by Receipts outstanding as a result of
Pre-Releases); provided, however, that the Depositary reserves the right to
disregard such limit from time to time as it deems appropriate and may, with the
prior written consent of the Company, change such limit for purposes of general
application. The Depositary will also set limits with respect to the
number of Pre-Released Receipts involved in transactions to be done hereunder
with any one person on a case by case basis as it deems
appropriate. The collateral referred to in clause (b) above shall be
held by the Depositary for the benefit of the Owners as security for the
performance of the obligations to deliver Shares or Receipts, as the case may
be, set forth in clause (a) above (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.
9. TITLE
TO RECEIPTS.
It is a
condition of this Receipt, and every successive holder and Owner of this Receipt
by accepting or holding the same consents and agrees, that title to this Receipt
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, provided, however, that the Depositary and the Company,
notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the person in whose name
this Receipt is registered on the books of the Depositary as the absolute owner
hereof for the purpose of determining the person entitled to distribution of
dividends or other distributions or to any notice provided for in the Deposit
Agreement or for all other purposes.
10. VALIDITY
OF RECEIPT.
This
Receipt shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Deposit Agreement or be
valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless this Receipt shall have been
executed by the Depositary by the manual signature of a duly authorized
signatory of the Depositary; provided, however, that such signature may be a
facsimile if a Registrar for the Receipts shall have been appointed and such
Receipts are countersigned by the manual signature of a duly authorized officer
of the Registrar.
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11. REPORTS;
INSPECTION OF TRANSFER BOOKS.
The
Company is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and accordingly files certain reports and information with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (hereinafter called the
“Commission”). Such reports and information are available for
inspection and copying by Beneficial Owners and Owners at the public reference
facilities maintained by the Commission located at 000 X Xxxxxx, X.X.,
Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000.
The
Depositary shall make available for inspection by Owners of Receipts at its
Principal Office any reports, notices and other communications, including any
proxy soliciting material, received from the Company which are both
(a) received by the Depositary or its nominee as the holder of the
Deposited Securities and (b) generally transmitted to the holders of such
Deposited Securities by the Company. The Depositary shall also make
available for inspection by Owners of Receipts at its Principal Office copies of
reports, notices and communications furnished by the Company pursuant to the
following paragraph.
The
Company will promptly transmit to the Custodian English language versions of any
reports, notices and other communications that are generally transmitted by the
Company to holders of its Shares or other Deposited Securities, as well as
English language versions of the Company’s annual reports (including a
description of operations and annual audited consolidated financial statements
prepared in conformity with Korean generally accepted accounting principles
(“Korean GAAP”), together with, if prepared pursuant to the United States
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, a reconciliation of net earnings
and shareholders’ equity to United States generally accepted accounting
principles) and unaudited non-consolidated semi-annual financial statements
prepared in conformity with Korean GAAP. The Depositary will, at the
Company’s expense (unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Company and the
Depositary), arrange for the prompt transmittal by the Custodian to the
Depositary of such notices, reports and other communications and arrange for the
mailing, at the Company’s expense (unless otherwise agreed in writing by the
Company and the Depositary), of copies thereof (or if requested by the Company,
a summary of any such notice provided by the Company) to all Owners or, at the
request of the Company, make such notices, reports (other than the annual
reports and semi-annual financial statements described in the preceding
sentence) and other communications available to all Owners on a basis similar to
that for holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, or on such other basis
as the Company may advise the Depositary may be required by any applicable law,
regulation or stock exchange requirement. The Company will timely
provide the Depositary with the quantity of such notices, reports and other
communications, as requested by the Depositary from time to time, in order for
the Depositary to effect such mailings.
The
Company has delivered to the Depositary and the Custodian a copy of the
provisions of or governing the Shares and any other Deposited Securities issued
by the Company or any affiliate of the Company, and promptly upon any amendment
thereto or change therein, the Company shall deliver to the Depositary and the
Custodian a copy of such provisions as so amended or changed. The
Depositary may rely upon such copy for all purposes of this Deposit
Agreement. The Depositary will, at the expense of the Company (unless
otherwise agreed in writing by the Company and the Depositary), make such copy
and such notices, reports and other communications available for inspection by
Owners at the Depositary’s office, at the office of the Custodian and at any
other designated transfer offices.
7
The
Depositary will keep books for the registration of Receipts and transfers of
Receipts which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the
Owners of Receipts provided that such inspection shall not be for the purpose of
communicating with Owners of Receipts for an object other than the business of
the Company, including, without limitation, a matter related to the Deposit
Agreement or the Receipts.
The
Depositary may close the transfer books after consultation with the Company to
the extent practicable, at any time or from time to time, when deemed expedient
by it in connection with the performance of its duties under the Deposit
Agreement or at the request of the Company, provided that any such closing of
the transfer books shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2.06 of the
Deposit Agreement which limit the suspension of withdrawals of
Shares.
12. DIVIDENDS
AND DISTRIBUTIONS.
Whenever
the Depositary or on its behalf, its agent, receives any cash dividend or other
cash distribution on any Deposited Securities, the Depositary will, if at the
time of receipt thereof any amounts received in a foreign currency can in the
judgment of the Depositary be converted on a reasonable basis into United States
dollars transferable to the United States, and subject to the Deposit Agreement,
or will cause its agent, as promptly as practicable after its receipt of such
dividend or distribution (unless otherwise prohibited or prevented by law),
subject to the provisions of Section 4.05 of the Deposit Agreement, to convert
such dividend or distribution into dollars and will, as promptly as practicable,
distribute the amount thus received (net of the expenses of the Depositary as
provided in Article 7 hereof and Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement) to
the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto, provided, however, that in the event
that the Company or an agent of the Company, the Depositary or the Custodian is
required to withhold and does withhold from such cash dividend or other cash
distribution in respect of any Deposited Securities an amount on account of
taxes or other governmental charges, the amount distributed to the Owners of the
Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited
Securities shall be reduced accordingly.
Subject
to the provisions of Section 4.11 and 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement, whenever
the Depositary receives any distribution other than a distribution described in
Sections 4.01, 4.03 or 4.04 of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary will, as
promptly as practicable, cause the securities or property received by it to be
distributed to the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto, in any manner that the
Depositary may deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing such
distribution, subject to applicable law; provided, however, that if in
the opinion of the Depositary such distribution cannot be made proportionately
among the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto, or if for any other reason
(including, but not limited to, any requirement that the Company or an agent of
the Company, the Depositary or the Custodian withhold an amount on account of
taxes or other governmental charges or that such securities be registered under
the Securities Act of 1933 in order to be distributed to Owners) the Depositary
deems such distribution not to be feasible, the Depositary may, after
consultation with the Company, adopt such method as it may deem equitable and
practicable for the purpose of effecting such distribution, including, but not
limited to, the public or private sale of the securities or property thus
received, or any part thereof, and the net proceeds of any such sale (net of the
fees of the Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and Section 5.09 of the
Deposit Agreement and any expenses in connection with such sale) shall be
distributed by the Depositary to the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto as in
the case of a distribution received in cash, all in the manner and subject to
the conditions set forth in the Deposit Agreement; provided, further, that no
distribution to Owners pursuant to this Section 4.02 shall be unreasonably
delayed by any action of the Depositary or any of its agents.
8
If any
distribution consists of a dividend in, or free distribution of, Shares, the
Depositary may, and shall if the Company shall so request, distribute, as
promptly as practicable, to the Owners of Outstanding Receipts entitled thereto,
additional Receipts evidencing an aggregate number of American Depositary Shares
representing the amount of Shares received as such dividend or free distribution
subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement with respect to the
deposit of Shares and the issuance of American Depositary Shares evidenced by
Receipts, including the withholding of any tax or other governmental charge as
provided in Section 4.11 of the Deposit Agreement and the payment of the fees of
the Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and Section 5.09 of the Deposit
Agreement. In lieu of delivering Receipts for fractional American
Depositary Shares in any such case, the Depositary will sell the amount of
Shares represented by the aggregate of such fractions and distribute the net
proceeds, all in the manner and subject to the conditions set forth in the
Deposit Agreement; provided, however, that no distribution to Owners pursuant to
this Article 12 and Section 4.03 of the Deposit Agreement shall be unreasonably
delayed by any action of the Depositary or any of its agents. If
additional Receipts are not so distributed, each American Depositary Share shall
thenceforth also represent the additional Shares distributed upon the Deposited
Securities represented thereby.
In the
event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in property other
than cash (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) is subject to any
tax or other governmental charge which the Depositary is obligated to withhold,
the Depositary may by public or private sale dispose of all or a portion of such
property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) in such amounts and
in such manner as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay any such
taxes or charges, and the Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds of any
such sale after deduction of such taxes or charges to the Owners of Receipts
entitled thereto.
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Receipt or the Deposit Agreement, before making any
distribution or other payment on any Deposited Securities, the Company shall
make such deductions (if any) which, by the laws of Korea, the Company is
required to make in respect of any income, capital gains or other taxes and the
Company may also deduct the amount of any tax or governmental charges payable by
the Company or for which the Company might be made liable in respect of such
distribution or other payment or any document signed in connection therewith, in
making such deductions, the Company shall have no obligation to any Owner or
Beneficial Owner to apply a rate under any treaty or other arrangement between
Korea and the country within which the Owner or Beneficial Owner is resident
unless such Owner or Beneficial Owner has timely provided to the Company
evidence of the residency of such Owner or Beneficial Owner that is satisfactory
to the relevant tax authorities of Korea.
9
When
requested by the Company prior to the distribution of dividends by the Company
or in connection with a termination of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary
shall send to all Owners entitled to receive such dividend or the proceeds of
such sale of Shares, as the case may be, a notice in a form which the Company
shall provide requesting evidence of each such Owner’s country of tax
residence. The Depositary shall forward to the Company any such
evidence received by it in order to establish such Owner’s country of tax
residence. The Depositary shall have no obligations or liability to
any person if any Owner fails to provide such evidence or if such evidence does
not reach relevant tax authorities in time for any Owner to obtain the benefit
of any tax treaty.
13. RIGHTS.
In the
event that the Company shall offer or cause to be offered to the holders of any
Deposited Securities any rights to subscribe for additional Shares or any rights
of any other nature, the Depositary, after consultation with the Company, shall
have discretion as to the procedure to be followed in making such rights
available to any Owners or in disposing of such rights on behalf of any Owners
and making the net proceeds available to such Owners or, if by the terms of such
rights offering or for any other reason it would be unlawful for the Depositary
either to make such rights available to any Owners or to dispose of such rights
and make the net proceeds available to such Owners, then the Depositary shall
allow the rights to lapse. If at the time of the offering of any
rights the Depositary determines that it is lawful and feasible to make such
rights available to all or certain Owners but not to other Owners, the
Depositary may, and at the request of the Company shall, distribute to any Owner
to whom it determines the distribution to be lawful and feasible, in proportion
to the number of American Depositary Shares held by such Owner, warrants or
other instruments therefor in such form as it deems appropriate.
In
circumstances in which rights would otherwise not be distributed, if an Owner
requests the distribution of warrants or other instruments in order to exercise
the rights allocable to the American Depositary Shares of such Owner hereunder,
the Depositary will promptly make such rights available to such Owner upon
written notice from the Company to the Depositary that (a) the Company has
elected in its sole discretion to permit such rights to be exercised and (b)
such Owner has executed such documents as the Company has determined in its sole
discretion are reasonably required under applicable law.
If the
Depositary has distributed warrants or other instruments for rights to all or
certain Owners, then upon instruction from such an Owner to the Depositary to
exercise such rights, pursuant to such warrants or other instruments, upon
payment by such Owner to the Depositary for the account of such Owner of an
amount equal to the purchase price of the Shares to be received upon the
exercise of the rights, and upon payment of the fees of the Depositary and any
other charges as set forth in such warrants or other instruments, the Depositary
shall, on behalf of such Owner, exercise the rights and purchase the Shares, and
the Company shall cause the Shares so purchased to be delivered to the
Depositary on behalf of such Owner. As agent for such Owner, the
Depositary will cause the Shares so purchased to be deposited pursuant to
Section 2.02 of the Deposit Agreement, and shall, pursuant to Section 2.03 of
the Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver Receipts to such Owner.
10
No single
Owner or Beneficial Owner shall be entitled to any rights to subscribe for
additional Shares if and to the extent the total number of Shares represented by
American Depositary Shares beneficially owned by such Owner or Beneficial Owner,
when aggregated with all other Shares beneficially owned by such Owner or
Beneficial Owner (including Shares beneficially owned by Affiliated Owners of
such Owner or Beneficial Owner), exceeds one (1) percent of the aggregate number
of Shares of the Company issued and outstanding.
If the
Depositary determines that it is not lawful or feasible to make such rights
available to all or certain Owners, the Depositary may, and at the request of
the Company shall, use its best efforts that are reasonable under the
circumstances to (in either case, only to the extent lawfully permitted to do
so), sell the rights, warrants or other instruments in proportion to the number
of American Depositary Shares held by the Owners to whom it has determined it
may not lawfully or feasibly make such rights available. The
Depositary shall allocate any net proceeds of such sales (net of the fees of the
Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement, any other
expenses in connection with such sale and all taxes and governmental charges
payable in connection with such rights and subject to the terms and conditions
of the Deposit Agreement) for the account of such Owners otherwise entitled to
such rights, warrants or other instruments, upon an averaged or other practical
basis without regard to any distinctions among such Owners because of exchange
restrictions or the date of delivery of any Receipt or
otherwise. Such proceeds shall be distributed as promptly as
practicable in accordance with Section 4.01 of the Deposit
Agreement. If such sale can be effected only with the approval or
license of the Korean government or any agency thereof, the Depositary shall
file as promptly as practicable an application for such approval or license;
provided, however, that the
Depositary shall be entitled to rely upon Korean local counsel in such matters,
which counsel shall be instructed to act as promptly as possible.
If a
registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 is required with respect
to the securities to which any rights relate in order for the Company to offer
such rights to Owners and to sell the securities represented by such rights, the
Depositary will not offer such rights to Owners having an address in the United
States (as defined in Regulation S) unless and until such a registration
statement is in effect, or unless the offering and sale of such securities and
such rights to such Owners are exempt from registration under the provisions of
such Act.
The
Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to determine that it may be
lawful or feasible to make such rights available to Owners in general or any
Owner in particular.
14. CONVERSION
OF FOREIGN CURRENCY.
Whenever
the Depositary shall receive foreign currency, by way of dividends or other
distributions or the net proceeds from the sale of securities, property or
rights, and if at the time of the receipt thereof the foreign currency so
received can, pursuant to applicable law, be converted on a reasonable basis
into Dollars and the resulting Dollars transferred to the United States, the
Depositary shall convert or cause to be converted as promptly as practicable, by
sale or in any other manner that it may determine in accordance with applicable
law, such Foreign Currency into Dollars. If, at the time of
conversion of such Foreign Currency into Dollars, such Dollars can, pursuant to
applicable law, be transferred outside of Korea for distribution to Owners
entitled thereto, such Dollars shall be distributed as promptly as practicable
to the Owners entitled thereto or, if the Depositary shall have distributed any
rights, warrants or other instruments which entitle the holders thereof to such
Dollars, then to the holders of such rights, warrants and/or instruments upon
surrender thereof for cancellation. Such distribution or conversion
may be made upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any
distinctions among Owners on account of exchange restrictions, the date of
delivery of any Receipt or otherwise and shall be net of any expenses of
conversion into Dollars incurred by the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09
of the Deposit Agreement.
11
If such
conversion or distribution can be effected only with the approval or license of
any government or agency thereof, the Depositary shall file as promptly as
practicable an application for such approval or license; provided, however, that the
Depositary shall be entitled to rely upon Korean counsel in such matters, which
counsel shall be instructed to act as promptly as possible.
If at any
time foreign currency received by the Depositary is not, pursuant to applicable
law, convertible, in whole or in part, into Dollars transferable to the United
States, or if any approval or license of any government or agency thereof which
is required for such conversion is denied or in the opinion of the Depositary
cannot be promptly obtained, the Depositary shall, (a) as to that portion
of the foreign currency that is convertible into Dollars, make such conversion
and, if permitted by applicable law, transfer such Dollars to the United States
for distribution to Owners in accordance with the first paragraph of this
Article 14 and (b) as to the nonconvertible balance, if any, (i) if
requested in writing by an Owner, distribute or cause the Custodian to
distribute the foreign currency (or an appropriate document evidencing the right
to receive such foreign currency) received by the Depositary or Custodian to
such Owner and (ii) the Depositary shall hold or shall cause the Custodian
to hold any amounts of nonconvertible foreign currency not distributed pursuant
to the immediate preceding subclause (i) uninvested and without liability
for interest thereon for the respective accounts of the Owners entitled to
receive the same.
15. RECORD
DATES.
Whenever
any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable or any
distribution other than cash shall be made, or whenever rights shall be issued
with respect to the Deposited Securities, or whenever for any reason the
Depositary causes a change in the number of Shares that are represented by each
American Depositary Share, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of
any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, the Depositary
shall fix a record date, which date shall, to the extent practicable, either
(x) be the same date as the record date fixed by the Company, or
(y) if different from the record date fixed by the Company, be as near as
is practicable to such record date and be fixed after consultation with the
Company (a) for the determination of the Owners of Receipts who shall be
(i) entitled to receive such dividend, distribution or rights or the net
proceeds of the sale thereof or (ii) entitled to give instructions for the
exercise of voting rights at, and to attend (without voting or speaking), any
such meeting, or (b) on or after the date on which each American Depositary
Share will represent the changed number of Shares, subject to the provisions of
the Deposit Agreement.
12
16. VOTING
OF DEPOSITED SECURITIES AND ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS.
As soon
as practicable after receipt of notice of any meeting or solicitation of proxies
of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, if requested in writing by
the Company, the Depositary shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, mail to
the Owners of Receipts a notice, the form of which notice shall be in the sole
discretion of the Depositary, which shall contain (a) such information as
is contained in such notice of meeting, (or, if requested by the Company a
summary of such information provided by the Company), (b) a statement that
the Owners of Receipts as of the close of business on a specified record date
will be entitled, subject to any applicable provisions of Korean law and of the
Articles of Incorporation of the Company (which provisions, if any, shall be
summarized in such notice to the extent that such provisions are material), to
instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any,
pertaining to the amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by
their respective American Depositary Shares and (c) a statement as to the
manner in which such instructions may be given. Upon the written
request of an Owner of a Receipt on the record date, received on or before the
date established by the Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall
endeavor insofar as practicable to vote or cause to be voted the amount of
Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by such American Depositary
Shares evidenced by such Receipt in accordance with the instructions set forth
in such request. The Depositary shall not itself exercise any voting
discretion over any Deposited Securities. An Owner acting on its own
behalf or on behalf of a Beneficial Owner shall not be entitled to give any
instructions with respect to voting rights associated with American Depositary
Shares evidenced by Receipts held by such Owner or Beneficial Owner if and to
the extent the total number of Shares represented by American Depositary Shares
beneficially owned by such Owner or Beneficial Owner, when aggregated with all
other Shares beneficially owned by such Owner or Beneficial Owner (including
Shares beneficially owned by Affiliated Owners of such Owner or Beneficial
Owner), exceeds one (1) percent of the aggregate number of Shares of the Company
issued and outstanding, or any other limit under the Company’s Articles of
Incorporation or applicable law with respect to which the Company may, from time
to time, notify the Depositary. The Company and the Depositary may
take any and all action necessary or desirable to enforce the restrictions on
the exercise of voting rights set forth in the preceding sentence.
Subject
to the rules of any securities exchange on which American Depositary Shares or
the Deposited Securities represented thereby are listed, the Depositary shall if
requested by the Company deliver, at least three Business Days prior to the date
of such meeting, to the Company, copies of all instructions received from Owners
in accordance with which the Depositary will vote, or cause to be voted, the
Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by
such Receipts at such meeting. Voting rights, if any, may be
exercised as set forth in Section 4.07 of the Deposit Agreement only in respect
of two American Depositary Shares or multiples thereof.
13
17. CHANGES
AFFECTING DEPOSITED SECURITIES.
In
circumstances where the provisions of Section 4.03 of the Deposit Agreement do
not apply, upon any change in nominal value, change in par value, split up,
consolidation, or any other reclassification of Deposited Securities, or upon
any recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or sale of assets
affecting the Company or to which it is a party, any securities which shall,
subject to the terms of the Deposit Agreement and applicable laws and
regulations (including any registration requirement under the Securities Act of
1933), be received by the Depositary or a Custodian in exchange for or in
conversion of or in respect of Deposited Securities shall be treated as new
Deposited Securities under the Deposit Agreement, and American Depositary Shares
shall thenceforth represent the new Deposited Securities so received in exchange
or conversion, unless additional Receipts are delivered pursuant to the
following sentence. In any such case the Depositary may, and shall if
the Company shall so request, execute and deliver additional Receipts as in the
case of a dividend in Shares, or call for the surrender of outstanding Receipts
to be exchanged for new Receipts specifically describing such new Deposited
Securities. Immediately upon the occurrence of any such change,
conversion or exchange covered by Section 4.08 of the Deposit Agreement in
respect of the Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall give notice thereof in
writing to all Owners of Receipts.
18. LIABILITY
OF THE COMPANY AND DEPOSITARY.
Neither
the Depositary nor the Company shall incur any liability to any Owner or
Beneficial Owner, if by reason of any provision of any present or future law or
regulation of the United States or any other country, or of any other
governmental or regulatory authority, or by reason of any provision, present or
future, of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, or by reason of any act
of God or war or other circumstances beyond its control, the Depositary or the
Company shall be prevented or forbidden from or be subject to any civil or
criminal penalty on account of doing or performing any act or thing which by the
terms of the Deposit Agreement it is provided shall be done or performed; nor
shall the Depositary or the Company incur any liability to any Owner or
Beneficial Owner of a Receipt by reason of any non-performance or delay, caused
as aforesaid, in the performance of any act or thing which by the terms of the
Deposit Agreement it is provided shall or may be done or performed, or by reason
of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in the
Deposit Agreement. Where, by the terms of a distribution pursuant to
Sections 4.01, 4.02 or 4.03 of the Deposit Agreement, or an offering or
distribution pursuant to Section 4.04 of the Deposit Agreement, such
distribution or offering may not be made available to Owners of Receipts, and
the Depositary may not dispose of such distribution or offering on behalf of
such Owners and make the net proceeds available to such Owners, then the
Depositary shall not make such distribution or offering, and shall allow any
rights, if applicable, to lapse. Neither the Company nor the
Depositary assumes any obligation or shall be subject to any liability under the
Deposit Agreement to Owners or Beneficial Owners of Receipts, except that they
agree to perform their obligations specifically set forth in the Deposit
Agreement without negligence or bad faith. The Depositary shall not
be subject to any liability with respect to the validity or worth of the
Deposited Securities. Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be
under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit, or
other proceeding in respect of any Deposited Securities or in respect of the
Receipts, which in its opinion may involve it in expense or liability, unless
indemnity satisfactory to it against all expenses and liability shall be
furnished as often as may be required, and the Custodian shall not be under any
obligation whatsoever with respect to such proceedings, the responsibility of
the Custodian being solely to the Depositary. Neither the Depositary
nor the Company shall be liable for any action or nonaction by it in reliance
upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person
presenting Shares for deposit, any Owner or Beneficial Owner of a Receipt, or
any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such
advice or information. The Depositary shall not be responsible for
any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any of the Deposited
Securities, or for the manner in which any such vote is cast or the effect of
any such vote, provided that any such action or nonaction is in good
faith. The Depositary shall not be liable for any acts or omissions
made by a successor depositary whether in connection with a previous act or
omission of the Depositary or in connection with a matter arising wholly after
the removal or resignation of the Depositary, provided that in connection with
the issue out of which such potential liability arises, the Depositary performed
its obligations without negligence or bad faith while it acted as
Depositary. The Company agrees to indemnify the Depositary and its
agents and their respective directors, employees, agents and affiliates and any
Custodian against, and hold each of them harmless from, any liability or expense
(including, but not limited to, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel)
which may arise out of acts performed or omitted, in accordance with the
provisions of the Deposit Agreement and of the Receipts, as the same may be
amended, modified, or supplemented from time to time, (i) by either the
Depositary or a Custodian or their respective directors, employees, agents and
affiliates, except for any liability or expense arising out of the negligence or
bad faith of any of them, and except to the extent that such liability or
expense arises out of information relating to the Depositary or the Custodian,
as applicable, furnished in writing to the Company by the Depositary or the
Custodian, as applicable, expressly for use in any registration statement, proxy
statement, prospectus (or placement memorandum) or preliminary prospectus (or
preliminary placement memorandum) relating to the Shares, or omissions from such
information; or (ii) by the Company or any of its directors, employees,
agents and affiliates.
14
The
indemnities contained in the preceding paragraph shall not extend to any
liability or expense which may arise out of any Pre-Release (as defined in
Section 2.09 of the Deposit Agreement) to the extent that any such liability or
expense arises in connection with (a) any United States federal, state or
local income tax laws or (b) the failure of the Depositary to deliver
Deposited Securities when required under the terms of Section 2.05 of the
Deposit Agreement. However, the indemnities contained in the
preceding paragraph shall apply to any liability or expense which may arise out
of any misstatement or alleged misstatement or omission or alleged omission in
any registration statement, proxy statement, prospectus (or placement
memorandum) or preliminary prospectus (or preliminary placement memorandum)
relating to the offer or sale of American Depositary Shares, except to the
extent any such liability arises out of (i) information relating to the
Depositary or any Custodian, as applicable, furnished in writing to the Company
by the Depositary or any Custodian, as applicable, expressly for use in any of
the foregoing documents, or, (ii) material omissions from such information
furnished by the Depositary or any Custodian.
No
disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act of 1933 is intended by any
provisions of the Deposit Agreement.
15
The
Depositary, subject to Sections 2.05 and 2.09 of the Deposit Agreement, may own
and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in
Receipts.
19. RESIGNATION
AND REMOVAL OF THE DEPOSITARY; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN.
The
Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary hereunder by written notice of
its election so to do delivered to the Company, such resignation to take effect
upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such
appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary may
at any time be removed by the Company by written notice of such removal,
effective upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of
such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. Whenever the
Depositary in its discretion determines that it is in the best interest of the
Owners of Receipts to do so, it may, after consultation with the Company,
appoint a substitute or additional custodian or custodians.
20. AMENDMENT.
The form
of the Receipts and any provisions of the Deposit Agreement may at any time and
from time to time be amended by agreement between the Company and the Depositary
in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable. Any
amendment which shall impose or increase any fees or charges (other than taxes
and other governmental charges, registration fees and cable, telex or facsimile
transmission costs, delivery costs or other such expenses), or which shall
otherwise prejudice any substantial existing right of Owners of Receipts, shall,
however, not become effective as to outstanding Receipts until the expiration of
thirty days after notice of such amendment shall have been given to the Owners
of outstanding Receipts. Every Owner and Beneficial Owner of a
Receipt at the time any amendment so becomes effective shall be deemed, by
continuing to hold such Receipt, to consent and agree to such amendment and to
be bound by the Deposit Agreement as amended thereby. In no event
shall any amendment impair the right of the Owner of any Receipt to surrender
such Receipt and receive therefor the Deposited Securities represented thereby
except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable
law.
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21. TERMINATION
OF DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
The
Depositary at any time, at the direction of the Company, shall terminate the
Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the Owners of all
Receipts then outstanding at least 30 days prior to the date fixed in such
notice for such termination. The Depositary may likewise terminate
the Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the Company and
the Owners of all Receipts then outstanding, such termination to be effective on
a date specified in such notice not less than 30 days after the date thereof, if
at any time 60 days shall have expired after the Depositary shall have delivered
to the Company a written notice of its election to resign and a successor
depositary shall not have been appointed and accepted its appointment as
provided in the Deposit Agreement. On and after the date of
termination, the Owner of a Receipt will, upon (a) surrender of such
Receipt at the Principal Office of the Depositary, (b) payment of the fee
of the Depositary for the surrender of Receipts referred to in Section 2.05 of
the Deposit Agreement, and (c) payment of any applicable taxes or
governmental charges, be entitled to delivery, to the Owner or upon the Owner’s
order, of the amount of Deposited Securities represented by the American
Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt. If any Receipts shall
remain outstanding after the date of termination, the Depositary thereafter
shall discontinue the registration of transfers of Receipts, shall suspend the
distribution of dividends to the Owners thereof, and shall not give any further
notices or perform any further acts under the Deposit Agreement, except that the
Depositary shall continue to collect dividends and other distributions
pertaining to Deposited Securities, shall sell rights as provided in the Deposit
Agreement, and shall continue to deliver Deposited Securities, together with any
dividends or other distributions received with respect thereto and the net
proceeds of the sale of any rights or other property, in exchange for Receipts
surrendered to the Depositary (after deducting, in each case, the fee of the
Depositary for the surrender of a Receipt, any expenses for the account of the
Owner of such Receipt in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deposit
Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental charges). At any
time after the expiration of one year from the date of termination, the
Depositary may sell the Deposited Securities then held under the Deposit
Agreement and may thereafter hold uninvested the net proceeds of any such sale,
together with any other cash or property then held by it thereunder,
unsegregated and without liability for interest, for the pro rata benefit of the
Owners of Receipts which have not theretofore been surrendered, such Owners
thereupon becoming general creditors of the Depositary with respect to such net
proceeds. After making such sale, the Depositary shall be discharged
from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement, except to account for such net
proceeds and other cash (after deducting, in each case, the fee of the
Depositary for the surrender of a Receipt, any expenses for the account of the
Owner of such Receipt in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deposit
Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental charges) and except as
provided in Section 5.08 of the Deposit Agreement. Upon the
termination of the Deposit Agreement, the Company shall be discharged from all
obligations under the Deposit Agreement except for its obligations to the
Depositary with respect to indemnification, charges, and expenses.
22. DISCLOSURE
OF INTERESTS; OWNERSHIP RESTRICTIONS
The
Company may from time to time request Owners or Beneficial Owners or former
Owners or Beneficial Owners to provide information as to the capacity in which
they hold or held Receipts and regarding the identity of any other persons then
or previously interested in such Receipts and the nature of such interest and
various other matters. Each such Owner or Beneficial Owner agrees to
provide any such information reasonably requested by the Company or the
Depositary pursuant to Section 3.04 of the Deposit Agreement whether or not
still Owner or Beneficial Owner at the time of such request. The
Depositary agrees to use its reasonable efforts to comply with written
instructions received from the Company requesting that the Depositary forward
any such requests to such Owners or Beneficial Owners and to the last known
address, if any, of such former Owners or Beneficial Owners 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 and expense, to assist the
Company in obtaining such information with respect to the American Depositary
Shares, 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 Owners or Beneficial Owners or former Owners or Beneficial
Owners.
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The
Company may restrict transfers of the Shares where such transfer might result in
ownership of Shares exceeding the limits under the Company’s Articles of
Incorporation of the Company or applicable law. The Company may also
restrict, in such manner as it deems appropriate, transfers of the American
Depositary Shares where such transfer may cause the total number of Shares
represented by the American Depositary Shares beneficially owned by a single
Owner or Beneficial Owner, when aggregated with all other Shares beneficially
owned by such Owner or Beneficial Owner (including Shares beneficially owned by
Affiliated Owners of such Owner or Beneficial Owner), to exceed one (1) percent
of the aggregate number of Shares of the Company issued and outstanding, or any
other limits under the Company’s Articles of Incorporation of the Company and
applicable law with respect to which the Company may, from time to time, notify
the Depositary. The Company, may, in its sole discretion, instruct
the Depositary to take action with respect to the beneficial ownership of any
Owner or Beneficial Owner in excess of the limitation set forth in the preceding
sentence, including but not limited to a mandatory sale or disposition on behalf
of an Owner or Beneficial Owner of the Shares represented by the American
Depositary Shares held by such Owner or Beneficial Owner in excess of such
limitations, if and to the extent such disposition is permitted by applicable
law.
Notwithstanding
anything in the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt to the contrary, under no
circumstances shall the restrictions on ownership set forth in this Article 22
or Section 3.05 of the Deposit Agreement authorize or require the Depositary or
the Company to seek to void, nullify or rescind any sale or transfer of American
Depositary Shares effected over the New York Stock Exchange.
23. PARTIAL
DIVIDEND SHARES.
In the
event that any Shares deposited hereunder entitle holders of record thereof
(“recordholders”) as of the next dividend record date to receive a per-Share
dividend in an amount different from that payable to recordholders of Shares
outstanding on the immediately preceding dividend record date, the following
provisions shall apply:
(a) The
term “Full Dividend Shares” shall mean those Shares which will entitle
recordholders as of the next dividend record date to receive a per-Share
dividend in an amount equal to that payable to recordholders of Shares
outstanding on the immediately preceding dividend record date. The
term “Partial Dividend Shares” shall mean those Shares which entitle
recordholders as of the next dividend record date to receive a per-Share
dividend in an amount different from that payable to recordholders of Full
Dividend Shares.
(b) Partial
Dividend Shares deposited hereunder shall be held by the Depositary or Custodian
in one or more segregated accounts different from the account in which Full
Dividend Shares deposited hereunder are held.
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(c) Partial
Dividend Shares shall be represented by one or more classes of American
Depositary Shares (“Partial Dividend ADSs”) different from those representing
Full Dividend Shares (“Full Dividend ADSs”), and such Partial Dividend ADSs
shall be evidenced by one or more classes of Receipts (“Partial Dividend ADRs”)
different from those evidencing Full Dividend ADSs (“Full Dividend ADRs”) and
shall bear a legend with respect to their status as Partial Dividend
ADSs.
(d) Whenever
Partial Dividend Shares become Full Dividend Shares (which is expected to be
January 1 of the year next following the year in which such Partial Dividend
Shares were issued), the Depositary shall cause the Custodian to transfer such
Partial Dividend Shares into the account in which other Full Dividend Shares are
held, the Partial Dividend ADSs representing such Partial Dividend Shares shall
automatically convert into Full Dividend ADSs and the Depositary shall take such
action as may be necessary to effect such conversion.
(e) Owners
and Beneficial Owners of Full Dividend ADSs shall be entitled to receive only
dividends and other distributions made in respect of Full Dividend
Shares. Owners and Beneficial Owners of Partial Dividend ADSs shall
be entitled to receive only dividends and other distributions made in respect of
the corresponding Partial Dividend Shares.
(f) All
other provisions of this Deposit Agreement shall apply to Partial Dividend
Shares and Partial Dividend ADSs, subject to Section 2.11 of the Deposit
Agreement.
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