AMENDED AND RESTATED DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
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XXXXXX X.X.
AND
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
As Depositary
AND
OWNERS AND HOLDERS OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement
(For Units)
Dated as of ________, 2014
AMENDED AND RESTATED DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
AMENDED AND RESTATED DEPOSIT AGREEMENT dated as of _________, 2014 among XXXXXX X.X. (formerly known as IKPC - Indústrias Klabin de Papel E Celulose, S.A.), a company incorporated under the laws of Brazil (herein called the Issuer), THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON (formerly known as The Bank of New York), a New York banking corporation (herein called the Depositary), and all Owners (as hereinafter defined) and holders from time to time of American Depositary Shares issued hereunder.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Issuer and the Depositary entered into a deposit agreement for the Company’s preferred shares dated as of August 5, 1994 (the “Prior Deposit Agreement”) for the purposes stated in that agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Issuer has established a share deposit certificates program in Brazil pursuant to which the Issuer’s shareholders may exchange their common and preferred shares for certificates (herein called Units), each consisting of one common share and four preferred shares (herein called Unit Multiples), and has offered to exchange preferred shares for common shares and vice versa to aid in creation of Unit Multiples; and
WHEREAS, the Issuer and the Depositary now wish to amend the Prior Deposit Agreement to, among other things, (i) provide that the Depositary will exchange deposited preferred shares for common shares to the extent necessary to create Unit Multiples and deposit the Unit Multiples for creation of Units so that all American Depositary Shares will represent Units, (ii) provide that, thereafter, only Units may be deposited and (iii) change the fees of the Depositary; and
WHEREAS, the Issuer desires to provide, as hereinafter set forth in this Deposit Agreement, for the deposit of Units from time to time with the Depositary or with the Custodian (as hereinafter defined) as agent of the Depositary for the purposes set forth in this Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, for the creation of American Depositary Shares representing the Units so deposited and for the execution and delivery of American Depositary Receipts evidencing the American Depositary Shares; and
WHEREAS, the American Depositary Receipts are to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A annexed hereto, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided in this Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, it is agreed by and between the parties hereto that the Prior Deposit Agreement is hereby amended and restated as follows:
ARTICLE | 1. DEFINITIONS. |
The following definitions shall for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated, apply to the respective terms used in this Deposit Agreement:
SECTION | 1.01 American Depositary Shares. |
The term “American Depositary Shares” shall mean the securities representing the interests in the Deposited Securities and evidenced by the Receipts issued hereunder. Each American Depositary Share shall represent the number of Units specified in Exhibit A to this Deposit Agreement, until there shall occur a distribution upon Deposited Securities covered by Section 4.03 or a change in Deposited Securities covered by Section 4.08 with respect to which additional Receipts are not executed and delivered, and thereafter American Depositary Shares shall evidence the amount of Units or other Deposited Securities specified in such Sections.
SECTION | 1.02 Central Bank. |
The term “Central Bank” shall mean the Banco Central do Brasil or any successor governmental agency in Brazil.
SECTION | 1.03 Commission. |
The term “Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States or any successor governmental agency in the United States.
SECTION | 1.04 Custodian. |
The term “Custodian” shall mean the principal São Paulo, Brazil, office of Itaú Unibanco S.A., as agent of the Depositary for the purposes of this Deposit Agreement, and any other firm or corporation which may hereafter be appointed by the Depositary pursuant to the terms of Section 5.05, as substitute or additional custodian or custodians hereunder, as the context shall require and shall also mean all of them collectively.
SECTION | 1.05 CVM. |
The term “CVM” shall mean the Comissão de Valores Mobiliários, the Brazilian National Securities Commission, or any successor governmental agency in Brazil.
SECTION | 1.06 Deposit Agreement. |
The term “Deposit Agreement” shall mean this Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof.
SECTION | 1.07 Depositary; Corporate Trust Office. |
The term “Depositary” shall mean The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York banking corporation and any successor as depositary hereunder. The term “Corporate Trust Office”, when used with respect to the Depositary, shall mean the office of the Depositary which at the date of this Agreement is 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx, 00000. If the address of the Corporate Trust Office changes after the date of this Deposit Agreement, notice shall be given 30 days prior to such change by the Depositary to the Issuer of such new address. During such 30 day notification period, the Issuer shall send all communications to the Depositary’s previous address.
SECTION | 1.08 Deposited Securities. |
The term “Deposited Securities” as of any time shall mean Units at such time deposited or deemed to be deposited under this Deposit Agreement and any and all other securities, property and cash received by the Depositary or the Custodian in respect thereof and at such time held hereunder, subject as to cash to the provisions of Section 4.05.
SECTION | 1.09 Dollars. |
The term “Dollars” shall mean United States dollars.
SECTION | 1.10 Foreign Currency. |
The term “Foreign Currency” shall mean currency other than Dollars.
SECTION | 1.11 Foreign Registrar. |
The term “Foreign Registrar” shall mean the entity that presently carries out the duties of registrar for the Units of the Issuer or any successor as registrar for the Units of the Issuer and any other appointed agent of the Issuer for the transfer and registration of Units.
SECTION | 1.12 Issuer. |
The term “Issuer” shall mean Xxxxxx X.X., a company incorporated under the laws of Brazil, and its successors.
SECTION | 1.13 Owner. |
The term “Owner” shall mean the person in whose name a Receipt is registered on the books of the Depositary maintained for such purpose.
SECTION | 1.14 Receipts. |
The term “Receipts” shall mean the American Depositary Receipts issued hereunder evidencing American Depositary Shares.
SECTION | 1.15 Registrar. |
The term “Registrar” shall mean any bank or trust company having an office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, which shall be appointed to register Receipts and transfers of Receipts as herein provided and shall include any co-registrar appointed by the Depositary after consultation with the Issuer.
SECTION | 1.16 Restricted Receipts. |
The term “Restricted Receipts” shall mean any Receipts issued pursuant to Section 4.04 hereunder in connection with the issuance of rights by the Issuer as set forth in such Section. Any such Restricted Receipts shall be legended in accordance with applicable U.S. laws, and shall be subject to the appropriate restrictions on sale, deposit, cancellation, and transfer under such laws.
SECTION | 1.17 Securities Act of 1933. |
The term “Securities Act of 1933” shall mean the United States Securities Act of 1933, as from time to time amended.
SECTION | 1.18 Shares. |
The term “Shares” shall mean the securities represented by the Units. As of the date of this Deposit Agreement, each Unit represents one common share and four preferred shares of the Issuer.
SECTION | 1.19 Units; Unit Depositary. |
The term “Units” shall mean units issued under the Contract for Unit Issuance and Registration Services and Custody of Linked Shares dated December 3, 2013, as amended April 24, 2014 between the Issuer and Itaú Unibanco S.A., as unit depositary (the “Unit Depositary”), as that agreement may be amended and supplemented from time to time, that are validly issued and outstanding; provided, however, that, if there shall occur any change, exchange or conversion in respect of the Units, the term “Units” shall thereafter also mean the successor securities resulting from such change, exchange or conversion.
ARTICLE 2. | FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF UNITS, EXECUTION AND DELIVERY, TRANSFER AND SURRENDER OF RECEIPTS. |
SECTION | 2.01 Form and Transferability of Receipts. |
Definitive Receipts shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A annexed to this Deposit Agreement, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided. No Receipt shall be entitled to any benefits under this Deposit Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless such Receipt shall have been executed by the Depositary by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary and, if a Registrar for the Receipts shall have been appointed, countersigned by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer of the Registrar. The Depositary shall maintain books on which each Receipt so executed and delivered as hereinafter provided and the transfer of each such Receipt shall be registered. Receipts bearing the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary who was at any time a proper signatory of the Depositary shall bind the Depositary, notwithstanding that such signatory has ceased to hold such office prior to the execution and delivery of such Receipts by the Registrar or did not hold such office on the date of issuance of such Receipts.
The Receipts may be endorsed with or have incorporated in the text thereof such legends or recitals or modifications not inconsistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement as may be required by the Depositary or required to comply with any applicable law or regulations thereunder or with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange upon which American Depositary Shares may be listed or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Receipts are subject by reason of the date of issuance of the underlying Deposited Securities or otherwise.
Title to a Receipt (and to the American Depositary Shares evidenced thereby), when properly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument or instruments of transfer, shall be transferable by delivery with the same effect as in the case of a negotiable instrument under the laws of New York State; provided, however, that the Issuer and the Depositary, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the Owner thereof as the absolute owner thereof for the purpose of determining the person entitled to distribution of dividends or other distributions or to any notice provided for in this Deposit Agreement, and for all other purposes, and neither the Depositary nor the Issuer shall have any obligation or be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement to any holder of a Receipt unless such holder is the Owner thereof.
SECTION | 2.02 Deposit of Units. |
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, Units or evidence of rights to receive Units may be deposited by delivery thereof to the Custodian hereunder, accompanied by any appropriate instrument or instruments of transfer, or endorsement, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Custodian, together with all such certifications as may be required from the person depositing the underlying Units or any governmental agency, stock exchange, etc., by the Depositary or the Custodian in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, and, if the Depositary requires, together with a written order directing the Depositary to execute and deliver to, or upon the written order of, the person or persons stated in such order, a Receipt or Receipts for the number of American Depositary Shares representing such deposit. No Unit shall be accepted for deposit unless accompanied by evidence, if any is required by the Depositary, that is reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary that all conditions to such deposit have been satisfied by the person depositing such Units under Brazilian laws and regulations and any necessary approval has been granted by any governmental body in Brazil, if any, which is then performing the function of the regulation of currency exchange. If required by the Depositary, Units presented for deposit at any time, whether or not the transfer books of the Issuer or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, are closed, shall also be accompanied by an agreement or assignment, or other instrument satisfactory to the Depositary, which will provide for the prompt transfer to a Custodian of any dividend, or right to subscribe for additional Units or to receive other property which any person in whose name the Units are or have been recorded may thereafter receive upon or in respect of such deposited Units, or in lieu thereof, such agreement of indemnity or other agreement as shall be satisfactory to the Depositary.
At the request and risk and expense of any person proposing to deposit Units, and for the account of such person, the Depositary may receive certificates or evidence of ownership of title to shares to be deposited, together with the other instruments herein specified, for the purpose of forwarding such Units to the Custodian for deposit hereunder.
Upon each delivery to the Custodian of a certificate or certificates or evidence of ownership and title to Units to be deposited hereunder, together with the other documents above specified, the Custodian shall, as soon as transfer and recordation can be accomplished, present such certificate or certificates or evidence of ownership and title to the Unit Depositary or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, for transfer and recordation of the Units being deposited in the name of the Depositary or its nominee or the Custodian or its nominee.
Deposited Securities shall be held by the Depositary or by the Custodian for the account and to the order of the Depositary or at such other place or places as the Depositary shall determine.
SECTION | 2.03 Execution and Delivery of Receipts. |
Upon receipt by any Custodian of any deposit pursuant to Section 2.02 hereunder (and in addition, if the transfer books of the Issuer or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, are open, the Depositary may in its sole discretion require a proper acknowledgment or other evidence from the Issuer that any Deposited Securities have been recorded upon the books of the Unit Depositary or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, in the name of the Depositary or its nominee or the Custodian or its nominee), together with the other documents required as above specified, the Custodian shall notify the Depositary of such deposit and the person or persons to whom or upon whose written order a Receipt or Receipts are deliverable in respect thereof and the number of American Depositary Shares to be evidenced thereby. Such notification shall be made by letter or, at the request, risk and expense of the person making the deposit, by cable or facsimile transmission. Upon receiving such notice from the Custodian, or upon the receipt of Units by the Depositary, the Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall execute and deliver at its Corporate Trust Office, to or upon the order of the person or persons named in the notice delivered to the Depositary, a Receipt or Receipts, registered in the name or names and evidencing any authorized number of American Depositary Shares requested by such person or persons, but only upon payment to the Depositary of the fees of the Depositary for the execution and delivery of such Receipt or Receipts as provided in Section 5.09, and of all taxes and governmental charges and fees payable in connection with such deposit and the transfer of the Deposited Securities.
SECTION | 2.04 Transfer of Receipts; Combination and Split-up of Receipts. |
The Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement including payment of the fees of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09, shall, without unreasonable delay, register transfers of Receipts on its transfer books from time to time, upon any surrender of a Receipt, by the Owner in person or by a duly authorized attorney, properly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument or instruments of transfer, and duly stamped as may be required by the laws of the State of New York and of the United States of America. Thereupon the Depositary shall execute a new Receipt or Receipts and deliver the same to or upon the order of the person entitled thereto but only upon payment to the Depositary of the fees of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09.
The Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall upon surrender of a Receipt or Receipts for the purpose of effecting a split-up or combination of such Receipt or Receipts, execute and deliver a new Receipt or Receipts for any authorized number of American Depositary Shares requested, evidencing the same aggregate number of American Depositary Shares as the Receipt or Receipts surrendered.
The Depositary may appoint one or more co-transfer agents for the purpose of effecting transfers, combinations and split-ups of Receipts at designated transfer offices on behalf of the Depositary. Each co-transfer agent appointed under this Section 2.04 shall give notice in writing to the Depositary accepting such appointment and agreeing to be bound by the applicable terms of this Deposit Agreement. In carrying out its functions, a co-transfer agent may require evidence of authority and compliance with applicable laws and other requirements by Owners or persons entitled to Receipts and will be entitled to protection and indemnity to the same extent as the Depositary. Such co-transfer agents may be removed and substitutes appointed by the Depositary. The Depositary may close the register at any time or from time to time, when deemed expedient by it in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder or at the request of the Issuer.
SECTION | 2.05 Surrender of Receipts and Withdrawal of Units. |
Upon surrender at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary of a Receipt for the purpose of withdrawal of the Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt, and upon payment of the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of Receipts as provided in Section 5.09 and payment of all taxes and governmental charges payable in connection with such surrender and withdrawal of the Deposited Securities, and subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Owner of such Receipt shall be entitled to delivery, to him or upon his order, of the amount of Deposited Securities or evidence of ownership of and title to such Deposited Securities at the time represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt. Delivery of such Deposited Securities or evidence of ownership of and title to such Deposited Securities may be made by the delivery of (a) certificates in the name of such Owner or as ordered by him or certificates properly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument or instruments of transfer 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 such Receipts to such Owner or as ordered by him. Such delivery shall be made, as hereinafter provided, without unreasonable delay.
A Receipt surrendered for such purposes may be required by the Depositary to be properly endorsed in blank or accompanied by a proper instrument or instruments of transfer in blank, and if the Depositary so requires, the Owner thereof shall execute and deliver to the Depositary a written order directing the Depositary to cause the Deposited Securities being withdrawn to be delivered to or upon the written order of a person or persons designated in such order. Thereupon the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to deliver at the São Paulo, office of the Custodian, subject to Sections 2.06, 3.01 and 3.02 and to the other terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, to or upon the written order of the person or persons designated in the order delivered to the Depositary as above provided, the amount of Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt, except that the Depositary may make delivery to such person or persons at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary of any dividends or distributions with respect to the Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt, or of any proceeds of sale of any dividends, distributions or rights, which may at the time be held by the Depositary.
At the request, risk and expense of any Owner so surrendering a Receipt, and for the account of such Owner, the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to forward any cash or other property comprising, and forward a certificate or certificates or such documents evidencing ownership of and title to such Deposited Securities and other proper documents of title for, the Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt to the Depositary for delivery at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary. Such direction shall be given by letter or, at the request, risk and expense of such Owner, by cable or facsimile transmission.
SECTION | 2.06 Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer and Surrender of Receipts. |
As a condition precedent to the execution and delivery, registration of transfer, split-up, combination or surrender of any Receipt or withdrawal of any Deposited Securities, the Depositary, Custodian or Registrar may require (a) payment from the depositor of Units 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 or fee with respect to the Units being deposited or withdrawn) and payment of any applicable fees as herein provided, (b) the production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature and (c) compliance with any regulations the Depositary may establish consistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, including, without limitation, Section 7.07.
The delivery of Receipts against deposits of Units generally or against deposits of particular Units may be suspended, or the transfer of Receipts in particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer of outstanding Receipts generally may be suspended, during any period when the transfer books of the Depositary or the Issuer or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, are closed, or if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary, the Unit Depositary or the Issuer 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 this Deposit Agreement, or for any other reason, subject to Section 7.07 of this Deposit Agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Deposit Agreement or the Receipts, the surrender of outstanding Receipts and withdrawal of Deposited Securities may be suspended only for (i) temporary delays caused by closing the transfer books of the Depositary, the Unit Depositary or the Issuer or the deposit of Units in connection with voting at a shareholders’ meeting, or the payment of dividends, (ii) the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges, and (iii) compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating to the Receipts or to the withdrawal of the Deposited Securities. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under this Deposit Agreement any Units required to be registered under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, unless a registration statement is in effect as to such Units or such registration is not required. For purposes of the foregoing sentence the Depositary shall be entitled to rely upon representations and warranties deemed made pursuant to Section 3.03 of this Deposit Agreement and shall not be required to make any further investigation.
In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary shall not, and it shall instruct the Custodian not to knowingly (i) accept for deposit Units where such Units have been withdrawn from a restricted depositary receipt facility in respect of Units established or maintained by a depositary bank, including any such facility established or maintained by the Depositary (hereinafter, a “restricted facility”), or permit such Units to be used to satisfy any person’s pre-release obligation, unless such Units have been acquired in a transaction (a) registered under the Securities Act of 1933, (b) in compliance with Regulation S or (c) in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, and the Depositary may, as a condition to accepting the deposit of such Units hereunder, require the person depositing such Units to provide the Depositary with a certificate in writing to the foregoing effect; or (ii) accept for (w) deposit, (x) transfer or exchange, (y) cancellation or (z) delivery in satisfaction of any person’s pre-release obligation, depositary receipts representing Units issued pursuant to a restricted facility.
SECTION | 2.07 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Receipts. |
In case any Receipt shall be mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen, the Depositary shall execute and deliver a new Receipt of like tenor in exchange and substitution for such mutilated Receipt upon cancellation thereof, or in lieu of and in substitution for such destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt. Before the Depositary shall execute and deliver a new Receipt in substitution for a destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt, the Owner thereof shall have (a) filed with the Depositary (i) a request for such execution and delivery before the Depositary has notice that the Receipt has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser and (ii) a sufficient indemnity bond and (b) satisfied any other reasonable requirements imposed by the Depositary.
SECTION | 2.08 Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts. |
All Receipts surrendered to the Depositary shall be cancelled by the Depositary. The Depositary is authorized to destroy Receipts so cancelled.
SECTION | 2.09 Loans and Pre-Release of Units and Receipts. |
In its capacity as Depositary, the Depositary will lend neither the Units held hereunder nor the Receipts; provided, however, that, unless requested in writing by the Issuer to cease doing so, the Depositary reserves the right to (i) execute and deliver Receipts prior to the receipt of Units pursuant to Section 2.02 and (ii) deliver Units prior to the receipt and cancellation of Receipts pursuant to Section 2.05, including Receipts which were issued under (i) above but for which Units may not have been received. The Depositary may receive Receipts in lieu of Units under (i) above and receive Units in lieu of Receipts under (ii) above. Each such transaction will be (a) preceded or accompanied by a written representation from the person to whom Receipts or Units are to be delivered that such person, or its customer, owns the Units or Receipts to be remitted, as the case may be, (b) at all times fully collateralized with cash or such other collateral 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 Depositary will limit the number of Receipts and Units involved in such transactions at any one time to thirty percent (30%) of the American Depositary Shares outstanding (without giving effect to American Depositary Shares evidenced by Receipts outstanding under (i) above), or Units held hereunder, respectively; provided, however, that the Depositary reserves the right to change or disregard such limit from time to time as it deems appropriate. The Depositary will also set limits with respect to the number of Receipts and Units involved in transactions to be done hereunder with any one person on a case by case basis as it deems appropriate.
The Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received by it in connection with the foregoing.
SECTION | 2.10 Maintenance of Records. |
The Depositary agrees to maintain records of all Receipts surrendered and Deposited Securities withdrawn under Section 2.05, substitute Receipts delivered under Section 2.07, and cancelled or destroyed Receipts under Section 2.08, in keeping with procedures ordinarily followed by stock transfer agents located in the United States.
SECTION | 2.11 Uncertificated American Depositary Shares; Direct Registration System. |
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Deposit Agreement:
(a) American Depositary Shares may be certificated securities evidenced by Receipts or uncertificated securities. The form of Receipt annexed as Exhibit A to this Deposit Agreement describes the terms and conditions of, and will be the prospectus required under the Securities Act of 1933 for, both certificated and uncertificated American Depositary Shares. Except for those provisions of this Deposit Agreement that by their nature do not apply to uncertificated American Depositary Shares, all the provisions of this Deposit Agreement shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to uncertificated American Depositary Shares as well as to certificated American Depositary Shares, and to Owners and holders of uncertificated American Depositary Shares as well as to Owners and holders of Receipts.
(b) (i) The term “deliver”, or its noun form, when used with respect to Receipts, shall mean (A) book-entry transfer of American Depositary Shares to an account at The Depository Trust Company, or its successor (“DTC”), designated by the person entitled to such delivery, (B) registration of American Depositary Shares not evidenced by a Receipt on the books of the Depositary in the name requested by the person entitled to such delivery and mailing to that person of a statement confirming that registration or (C) if requested by the person entitled to such delivery, delivery at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary to the person entitled to such delivery of one or more Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares registered in the name requested by that person.
(ii) The term “surrender”, when used with respect to Receipts, shall mean (A) one or more book-entry transfers of American Depositary Shares to the DTC account of the Depositary, (B) delivery to the Depositary at its Corporate Trust Office of an instruction to surrender American Depositary Shares not evidenced by a Receipt or (C) surrender to the Depositary at its Corporate Trust Office of one or more Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares.
(c) American Depositary Shares not evidenced by Receipts shall be transferable as uncertificated registered securities under the laws of the State of New York.
(d) The Depositary shall have a duty to register a transfer in the case of uncertificated American Depositary Shares, upon receipt from the Owner of a proper instruction (including, for the avoidance of doubt, instructions through DRS and Profile as provided in subsection (f) below). The Depositary, upon surrender of a Receipt for the purpose of exchanging for uncertificated American Depositary Shares, shall cancel that Receipt and send the Owner a statement confirming that the Owner is the owner of the same number of uncertificated American Depositary Shares that the surrendered Receipt evidenced. The Depositary, upon receipt of a proper instruction (including, for the avoidance of doubt, instructions through DRS and Profile as provided in subsection (f) below) from the Owner of uncertificated American Depositary Shares for the purpose of exchanging for certificated American Depositary Shares, shall execute and deliver to the Owner a Receipt evidencing the same number of certificated American Depositary Shares.
(e) Upon satisfaction of the conditions for replacement of a Receipt that is mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen, the Depositary shall deliver to the Owner the American Depositary Shares evidenced by that Receipt in uncertificated form unless otherwise requested by the Owner.
(f) (i) The parties acknowledge that the Direct Registration System (“DRS”) and Profile Modification System (“Profile”) shall apply to uncertificated American Depositary Shares upon acceptance thereof to DRS by DTC. DRS is the system administered by DTC pursuant to which the Depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated American Depositary Shares, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic statements issued by the Depositary to the Owners entitled thereto. Profile is a required feature of DRS which allows a DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf of an Owner of American Depositary Shares, to direct the Depositary to register a transfer of those American Depositary Shares to DTC or its nominee and to deliver those American Depositary Shares to the DTC account of that DTC participant without receipt by the Depositary of prior authorization from the Owner to register such transfer.
(ii) In connection with and in accordance with the arrangements and procedures relating to DRS/Profile, the parties understand that the Depositary will not verify, determine or otherwise ascertain that the DTC participant which is claiming to be acting on behalf of an Owner in requesting a registration of transfer and delivery as described in clause (i) above has the actual authority to act on behalf of the Owner (notwithstanding any requirements under the Uniform Commercial Code). For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Sections 5.03 and 5.08 shall apply to the matters arising from the use of the DRS. The parties agree that the Depositary’s reliance on and compliance with instructions received by the Depositary through the DRS/Profile System and in accordance with this Deposit Agreement shall not constitute negligence or bad faith on the part of the Depositary.
ARTICLE | 3. CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF OWNERS OF RECEIPTS. |
SECTION | 3.01 Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information. |
Any person presenting Units 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, proof of the identity of any person legally or beneficially interested in the Receipt and the nature of such interest or such information relating to the registration on the books of the Issuer or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, to execute such certificates and to make such representations and warranties, as the Depositary or the Issuer may deem necessary or proper. 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 of any Deposited Securities until such proof or other information is filed or such certificates are executed or such representations and warranties made. Upon the request of the Issuer, the Depositary shall provide the Issuer with copies of all such certificates and such written representations and warranties provided to the Depositary under this Section 3.01. The Issuer may from time to time request Owners to provide information as to the capacity in which such Owners own or owned 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 Owner agrees to provide any information requested by the Issuer or the Depositary pursuant to this paragraph.
SECTION | 3.02 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 by any Receipt, such tax or other governmental charge shall be payable by the Owner of such Receipt to the Depositary. The Depositary may refuse to effect any transfer of such Receipt 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 thereof any part or all of the Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such 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 the Owner of such Receipt shall remain liable for any deficiency.
SECTION | 3.03 Warranties on Deposit of Units. |
Every person depositing Units under this Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to represent and warrant that such Units and each certificate therefor and the Shares represented thereby are validly issued, fully paid and not subject to any claim in respect of pre-emptive rights of the holders of outstanding Units and that the person making such deposit is duly authorized to do so. Every such person shall also be deemed to represent that the deposit of such Units or sale of Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares representing such Units by that person is not restricted under the Securities Act of 1933. Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit of such Units and delivery of Receipts.
SECTION | 3.04 Information Requests. |
The Issuer may from time to time request Owners of Receipts to provide information as to the capacity in which such Owners own or owned Receipts and regarding the identity of any other persons then or previously interested in such Receipts as to the nature of such interest and various other matters. The Depositary agrees to use reasonable efforts to comply with written instructions received from the Issuer requesting that the Depositary forward any such requests to the Owner and to forward to the Issuer any responses to such requests received by the Depositary.
Each of the Depositary and the Issuer hereby confirms to the other that for as long as this Deposit Agreement is in effect, it shall furnish the CVM and the Central Bank, at any time and within the period that may be determined, with any information and documents related to the American Depositary Shares program and the Receipts issued hereunder. In the event that the Depositary or the Custodian shall be advised in writing by reputable independent Brazilian counsel that the Depositary or Custodian reasonably could be subject to criminal, or material, as determined by the Depositary, civil, liabilities as a result of the Issuer or the Unit Depositary having failed to provide such information or documents reasonably available only through the Issuer or the Unit Depositary, as the case may be, the Depositary shall have the right to terminate this Deposit Agreement, upon at least 15 days’ prior notice to the Owners and the Issuer, and the Depositary shall not be subject to any liability hereunder on account of such termination or such determination. The effect of any such termination of this Deposit Agreement shall be as provided in Section 6.02.
ARTICLE | 4. THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES. |
SECTION | 4.01 Cash Distributions. |
Whenever the Depositary or the Custodian shall receive any cash dividend or other cash distribution on any Deposited Securities, the Depositary or the Custodian shall, in accordance with applicable law and subject to the provisions of Section 4.05, convert or cause to be converted, as promptly as practicable, and the Depositary shall, as promptly as practicable, distribute the amount thus received (net of the fees of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09) by check drawn on a bank in The City of New York, to the Owners entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by them respectively; provided, however, that in the event that the Issuer or the Depositary shall be required to withhold and does withhold from such cash dividend or such other cash distribution an amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges, the amount distributed to the Owner of the Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities shall be reduced accordingly. The Depositary shall distribute only such amount, however, as can be distributed without attributing to any Owner a fraction of one cent. Any such fractional amounts shall be rounded to the nearest whole cent and so distributed to Owners entitled thereto. The Issuer or its agent will remit to the appropriate governmental agency in Brazil all amounts withheld and owing to such agency. The Depositary will forward to the Issuer or its agent such information from its records as the Issuer may reasonably request to enable the Issuer or its agent to file necessary reports with governmental agencies.
SECTION | 4.02 Distributions other than Cash, Units or Rights. |
Subject to the provisions of Section 4.11 and 5.09, whenever the Depositary shall receive any distribution other than a distribution described in Sections 4.01, 4.03 or 4.04, the Depositary shall, upon consultation with the Issuer, cause the securities or property received by it or the Custodian to be distributed to the Owners entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by them respectively, in any manner that the Depositary may deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing such distribution; provided, however, that if in the opinion of the Depositary such distribution cannot be made proportionately among the Owners entitled thereto, or if for any other reason (including, but not limited to, any requirement that the Issuer or the Depositary withhold an amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges or that such securities must be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 in order to be distributed to Owners or holders) the Depositary deems such distribution not to be feasible, the Depositary may 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 Section 5.09) shall be distributed by the Depositary to the Owners entitled thereto as in the case of a distribution received in cash, provided that any unsold balance of such securities or property may be distributed by the Depositary to the Owners entitled thereto in accordance with such equitable and practicable method as the Depositary shall have adopted. The Depositary may withhold any distribution of securities under this Section 4.02 if it has not received satisfactory assurances from the Issuer that the distribution does not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933. The Depositary may sell, by public or private sale, an amount of securities or other property it would otherwise distribute under this Section 4.02 that is sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in respect of that distribution.
SECTION | 4.03 Distributions in Units. |
If the Issuer makes a dividend in, or free distribution of Shares that results in a distribution of additional Units in respect of Deposited Securities, the Depositary may, and shall if the Issuer shall so request, distribute to the Owners of outstanding Receipts entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by them respectively, additional Receipts evidencing an aggregate number of American Depositary Shares representing the amount of Units received as a result of such dividend or free distribution, subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement with respect to the deposit of Units 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 and the payment of the fees of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 09 (and the Depositary may sell, by public or private sale, an amount of the Shares received sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in respect of that distribution). In lieu of delivering Receipts for fractional American Depositary Shares in any such case, the Depositary shall sell the amount of Units represented by the aggregate of such fractions and distribute the net proceeds, all in the manner and subject to the conditions described in Section 4.01. If additional Receipts are not so distributed, each American Depositary Share shall thenceforth also represent the additional Units distributed upon the Deposited Securities represented thereby.
SECTION | 4.04 Rights. |
In the event that the Issuer shall offer or cause to be offered any rights to subscribe for additional Shares and as a result holders of Deposited Securities are offered rights to subscribe for additional Units, the Depositary, after consultation with the Issuer, 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, the Depositary may not either make such rights available to any Owners or dispose of such rights and make the net proceeds available to such Owners, then the Depositary shall allow the rights to lapse; provided, however, if at the time of the offering of any rights the Depositary determines in its discretion, after consultation with the Issuer, that it is lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all Owners or to certain Owners but not to other Owners, the Depositary, after consultation with the Issuer, may 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. If the Depositary determines in its discretion, after consultation with the Issuer, that it is not lawful and feasible to make such rights available to certain Owners, it may 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, and allocate the net proceeds of such sales (net of the fees of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 and all taxes and governmental charges payable in connection with such rights and subject to the terms and conditions of this 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. Neither the Depositary nor the Issuer shall 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.
If an Owner of Receipts 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 make such rights available to such Owner upon written notice from the Issuer to the Depositary that (a) the Issuer has elected in its sole discretion to permit such rights to be exercised and (b) such Owner has executed such documents as the Issuer has determined in its sole discretion are required under applicable law. Upon instruction pursuant to such warrants or other instruments to the Depositary from such Owner to exercise such rights, upon payment by such Owner to the Depositary for the account of such Owner of an amount equal to the purchase price of the Units to be received upon the exercise of the rights, and upon payment of the fees of the Depositary as set forth in such warrants or other instruments, the Depositary shall, on behalf of such Owner, exercise the rights and purchase the Units, and the Issuer shall cause the Units so purchased to be delivered to the Depositary on behalf of such Owner. As agent for such Owner, the Depositary will cause the Units so purchased to be deposited pursuant to Section 2.02 of this Deposit Agreement, and shall, pursuant to Section 2.03 of this Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver to such Owner Restricted Receipts.
If registration under the Securities Act of 1933 of the securities to which any rights relate is required in order for the Issuer to offer such rights to Owners and sell the securities upon the exercise of such rights to Owners, the Depositary will not offer such rights to the Owners unless and until such a registration statement is in effect, or unless the offering and sale of such securities to the Owners of such Receipts are exempt from registration under the provisions of such Act. The Issuer shall have no obligation to register such rights or such securities under the Securities Act of 1933.
SECTION | 4.05 Conversion of Foreign Currency. |
Whenever the depositary or the Custodian shall receive Foreign Currency, by way of dividends or other distributions or the net proceeds from the sale of securities, property or rights in respect of such Receipts, and if at the time of the receipt thereof the Foreign Currency so received can, pursuant to applicable law, be converted into Dollars, 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 Brazil for distribution to the 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.
If conversion of Foreign Currency into Dollars or distribution of Dollars or non-convertible Foreign Currency can be effected only with the approval or license of any government or agency thereof, the Depositary shall file as promptly as practicable such application for approval or license; however, the Depositary shall be entitled to rely upon Brazilian local 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 or Custodian is not, pursuant to applicable law, convertible, in whole or in part, into Dollars transferable to 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 obtained within a reasonable time, the Depositary shall, (a) as to that portion of the Foreign Currency that is convertible into Dollars, make such conversion and (i) if permitted pursuant to applicable law, transfer such Dollars to the United States and distribute to Owners in accordance with the first paragraph of this Section 4.05 or (ii) to the extent transfer of such Dollars to the United States is not permitted pursuant to applicable law, hold such Dollars as may not be transferred for the benefit of the Owners entitled thereto, and (b) as the non-convertible 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 immediately preceding subclause (b)(i) uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of the Owners entitled to receive the same.
SECTION | 4.06 Fixing of Record Date. |
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 Units that are represented by each American Depositary Share, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting of holders of Units or other Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall fix a record date, which shall be the same as, or as near as practicable to, any record date applicable to the Deposited Securities, (a) for the determination of the Owners 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 any such meeting, or (b) on or after which each American Depositary Share will represent the changed number of Units. Subject to the provisions of Sections 4.01 through 4.05 and to the other terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Owners on such record date shall be entitled, as the case may be, to receive the amount distributable by the Depositary with respect to such dividend or other distribution or such rights or the net proceeds of sale thereof in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by them respectively and to give voting instructions, to exercise the rights of Owners hereunder with respect to such changed number of Units and to act in respect of any other such matter.
SECTION | 4.07 Voting of Deposited Securities. |
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting of holders of Units or Shares or other Deposited Securities, if requested in writing by the Issuer, the Depositary shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the Owners a notice, the form of which notice shall be subject to the reasonable discretion of the Depositary, which shall contain (a) such information as is contained in such notice of meeting received by the Depositary from the Issuer, (b) a statement that the Owners as of the close of business on a specified record date will be entitled, subject to any applicable provision of Brazilian law and of the Articles of Association of the Issuer and the provisions of the Deposited Securities, to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the amount of Units 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, including, when applicable, an express indication that instructions may be given (or, if applicable, deemed given in accordance with the second paragraph of this Section 4.07 if no instruction is received) to the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Issuer. Upon the written request of an Owner on such record date, received on or before the date established by the Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall endeavor, insofar as practicable and permitted under applicable laws and the provisions of the Articles of Association of the Issuer and the provisions of the Deposited Securities, to vote or cause to be voted the amount of Units or other Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt in accordance with any non-discretionary instructions set forth in such request, including their instruction to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Issuer. The Depositary shall not, and the Depositary shall ensure that each Custodian or any of its nominees shall not, exercise any voting discretion over any Deposited Securities.
If the Issuer requested the Depositary to act under the preceding paragraph and gave the Depositary notice of the meeting and details of the matters to be voted upon at least 30 days prior to the meeting date, but the Depositary does not receive instructions from the Owner of American Depositary Shares on or before the date established by the Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall give a discretionary proxy for the amount of Units represented by those American Depositary Shares to a person designated by the Issuer, provided, that no such proxy shall be given with respect to any matter as to which the Issuer informs the Depositary (and the Issuer agrees to provide such information as promptly as practicable in writing) that (x) the Issuer does not wish such proxy to be given, (y) substantial opposition exists or (z) such matter materially and adversely affects the rights of holders of Shares.
SECTION | 4.08 Changes Affecting Deposited Securities. |
In circumstances where the provisions of Section 4.03 do not apply, upon any change in nominal 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 Issuer or to which it is a party, any securities which shall 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 this 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, with the approval of the Issuer, and shall, if the Issuer shall so request, execute and deliver additional Receipts as in the case of a dividend in Units, or call for the surrender of outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts specifically describing such new Deposited Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any security so received may not be lawfully distributed to some or all Owners, the Depositary may, with the Issuer’s approval, and shall if the Issuer requests, sell such securities at public or private sale, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem proper, and may allocate the net proceeds (without liability for interest) of such sales for the account of the Owners otherwise entitled to such securities upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among such Owners and distribute the net proceeds so allocated to the extent practicable as in the case of a distribution received in cash.
Immediately upon the occurrence of any such change, conversion or exchange covered by this Section in respect of the Deposited Securities that affects holdings of American Depositary Shares, the Depositary shall give notice thereof in writing to all Owners.
SECTION | 4.09 Reports. |
The Depositary shall make available for inspection by Owners at its Corporate Trust Office any reports and communications, including any proxy soliciting material, received from the Issuer 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 Issuer. The Depositary shall also send to the Owners copies of such reports when furnished by the Issuer pursuant to Section 5.06. Any such reports and communications, including any such proxy soliciting material, furnished to the Depositary by the Issuer shall be furnished in English.
SECTION | 4.10 Lists of Owners. |
Promptly upon request by the Issuer, the Depositary shall, at the expense of the Issuer, furnish to it a list, as of the most recent practicable date, of the names, addresses and holdings of American Depositary Shares by all persons in whose names Receipts are registered on the books of the Depositary.
SECTION | 4.11 Withholding. |
In the event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in property (including Units 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 Units 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 entitled thereto in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by them respectively, and the Depositary shall distribute any unsold balance of such property in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement. The Issuer or its agent shall remit to appropriate governmental authorities and agencies in Brazil all amounts, if any, withheld and owing to such authorities and agencies by the Issuer. The Depositary or its agent shall remit to appropriate governmental authorities and agencies in the United States all amounts, if any, withheld and owing to such authorities and agencies by the Depositary.
The Depositary shall forward to the Issuer or its agent such information from its records as the Issuer may reasonably request to enable the Issuer or its agent to file necessary reports with governmental agencies.
SECTION | 4.12 Exchange of Deposited Shares for Units. |
On or as soon as practicable after the later of (i) the date of the Deposit Agreement and (ii) 30 days after Owners of American Depositary Shares issued under the Prior Deposit Agreement have been notified of the provisions of this Section, the Depositary shall accept an offer that the Issuer shall make to exchange one fifth of the deposited preferred shares for common shares and deposit all the deposited shares, including the common shares received in that exchange, with the Unit Depositary in exchange for Units, which Units shall then be the Deposited Securities.
ARTICLE | 5. THE DEPOSITARY, THE CUSTODIAN AND THE ISSUER. |
SECTION | 5.01 Maintenance of Office and Transfer Books by the Depositary. |
Until termination of this Deposit Agreement in accordance with its terms, the Depositary shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, facilities for the execution and delivery, registration, registration of transfers and surrender of Receipts in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement.
The Depositary shall keep books for the registration of Receipts and transfers of Receipts which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Owners, provided that such inspection shall not be for the purpose of communicating with Owners in the interest of a business or object other than the business of the Issuer or a matter related to this Deposit Agreement or the Receipts.
The Depositary may close the transfer books, at any time or from time to time, when deemed expedient by it in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder or at the written request of the Issuer.
If any Receipts or the American Depositary Shares evidenced thereby are listed on one or more stock exchanges in the United States, the Depositary shall act as Registrar or appoint a Registrar or one or more co-registrars for registry of such Receipts in accordance with any requirements of such exchange or exchanges. Each Registrar and co-registrar appointed under this Section 5.01 shall give notice in writing to the Depositary accepting such appointment and agreeing to be bound by the applicable terms of this Deposit Agreement.
The Issuer shall have the right, at all reasonable times, to inspect transfer and registration records of the Depositary, the Registrar and any co-transfer agents or co-registrars and to require such parties to supply copies of such portions of their records as the Issuer may reasonably request.
SECTION | 5.02 Prevention or Delay in Performance by the Depositary or the Issuer. |
Neither the Depositary nor the Issuer nor any of their respective directors, employees, agents or affiliates shall incur any liability to any Owner or holder of a Receipt if, by reason of any provision of any present or future law or regulation of the United States, Brazil or any other country, or of any governmental or regulatory authority or stock exchange, or by reason of any provision, present or future, of the Estatuto Social of the Issuer or by reason of any provision of any securities issued or distributed by the Issuer, or any offering or distribution thereof, or by reason of any act of God or war or terrorism or other circumstances beyond its control, the Depositary or the Issuer or any of their respective directors, employees, agents or affiliates shall be prevented, delayed 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 this Deposit Agreement or Deposited Securities it is provided shall be done or performed; nor shall the Depositary or the Issuer or any of their respective directors, employees, agents or affiliates incur any liability to any Owner or holder of any Receipt (i) by reason of any nonperformance or delay, caused as aforesaid, in the performance of any act or thing which by the terms of this Deposit Agreement it is provided shall or may be done or performed, (ii) by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in this Deposit Agreement, (iii) for the inability of any Owner or holder to benefit from any distribution, offering, right or other benefit which is made available to holders of Deposited Securities but is not, pursuant to the terms of this Deposit Agreement, made available to Owners or holders, or (iv) for any special, consequential or punitive damages for any breach of the terms of this Deposit Agreement. Where, by the terms of a distribution pursuant to Section 4.01, 4.02, or 4.03, or an offering or distribution pursuant to Section 4.04, or for any other reason, such distribution or offering may not be made available to Owners, 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.
SECTION | 5.03 Obligations of the Depositary, the Custodian and the Issuer. |
The Issuer assumes no obligation nor shall it be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement or the Receipts to Owners or holders of Receipts, except that it agrees to perform its obligations specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement without negligence and to act in good faith in the performance of such duties.
The Depositary assumes no obligation nor shall it be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement or the Receipts to any Owner or holder of any Receipt (including, without limitation, liability with respect to the validity or worth of the Deposited Securities), except that it agrees to perform its obligations specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement without negligence and to act in good faith in the performance of such duties.
Neither the Depositary nor the Issuer 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 on behalf of any Owner, holder or other person, 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 Issuer 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 Units for deposit, any Owner or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information including, but not limited to, any such action or nonaction based upon any written notice, request, direction or other document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
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 any 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 Depositary and the Issuer may rely and shall be protected in acting upon any written notice, request, direction or other documents believed by them to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any of the Deposited Securities or Shares represented thereby, 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 the acts or omissions of any securities depository, clearing agency or settlement system in connection with or arising out of book-entry settlement of Deposited Securities or otherwise.
No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act of 1933 is intended by any provision of this Deposit Agreement.
SECTION | 5.04 Resignation and Removal of the Depositary. |
The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary hereunder by 60 days’ written notice of its election so to do (or a lesser amount of notice if satisfactory to the Issuer) delivered to the Issuer effective upon the appointment of a successor depositary satisfactory to the Issuer and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided, which appointment shall be on terms satisfactory to the Issuer in its sole discretion.
The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Issuer by 60 days’ written notice of such removal effective upon the appointment of a successor depositary satisfactory to the Issuer and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided, which appointment shall be on terms satisfactory to the Issuer in its sole discretion.
In case at any time the Depositary acting hereunder shall resign or be removed, the Issuer shall use its best efforts to appoint a successor depositary, which shall be a bank or trust company having an office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York. Every successor depositary shall execute and deliver to its predecessor and to the Issuer an instrument in writing accepting its appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor depositary, without any further act or deed, shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor; but such predecessor, nevertheless, upon payment of all sums due it and on the written request of the Issuer, shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor all rights and powers of such predecessor hereunder, shall duly assign, transfer and deliver all right, title and interest in the Deposited Securities to such successor, and shall deliver to such successor a list of the Owners of all outstanding Receipts. Any such successor depositary shall promptly mail notice of its appointment to the Owners.
Any corporation into or with which the Depositary may be merged or consolidated shall be the successor of the Depositary without the execution or filing of any document or any further act.
SECTION | 5.05 The Custodian. |
The Depositary will appoint an agent, as permitted by Brazilian law and any other applicable laws or regulations, to act for it as Custodian hereunder. The Custodian shall be subject at all times and in all respects to the directions of the Depositary and shall be responsible solely to it. The Custodian may resign and be discharged from its duties hereunder by notice of such resignation delivered to the Depositary at least 30 days prior to the date on which such resignation is to become effective. Tthe Depositary shall, promptly after receiving such notice, appoint a substitute custodian, which shall thereafter be the Custodian hereunder. The Depositary in its discretion may appoint a substitute custodian, which shall thereafter be the Custodian hereunder. Upon demand of the Depositary the Custodian shall deliver the Deposited Securities or evidence of ownership and title of the Deposited Securities held by it to such substitute custodian. A substitute custodian shall deliver to the Depositary, forthwith upon its appointment, an acceptance of such appointment satisfactory in form and substance to the Depositary.
Upon the appointment of any successor depositary hereunder, the Custodian then acting hereunder shall forthwith become, without any further act or writing, the agent hereunder of such successor depositary and the appointment of such successor depositary shall in no way impair the authority of the Custodian hereunder; but the successor depositary so appointed shall, nevertheless, on the written request of the Custodian, execute and deliver to the Custodian all such instruments as may be proper to give to the Custodian full and complete power and authority as agent hereunder of such successor depositary.
SECTION | 5.06 Notices and Reports. |
On or before the first date on which the Issuer gives notice, by publication or otherwise, of any meeting of holders of Shares underlying Units or other Deposited Securities, or of any adjourned meeting of such holders, or of the taking of any action in respect of any cash or other distributions or the offering of any rights, the Issuer agrees to transmit to the Depositary and the Custodian a copy of the notice thereof in the form given or to be given to holders of Shares underlying Units or other Deposited Securities.
The Issuer will arrange for the translation into English and the prompt transmittal by the Issuer to the Depositary and the Custodian of such notices and any other reports and communications which are made generally available by the Issuer to holders of its Units. If requested in writing by the Issuer, the Depositary will arrange for the mailing, at the Issuer’s expense, of copies of such notices, reports and communications to all Owners. The Issuer will timely provide the Depositary with the quantity of such notices, reports, and communications, as requested by the Depositary from time to time, in order for the Depositary to effect such mailings.
The Issuer represents that as of the date of this Deposit Agreement, the statements in Article 11 of the Receipt with respect to the exemption from registration under Rule 12g3-2(b) under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are true and correct. The Issuer agrees to promptly notify the Depositary upon becoming aware of any change in the truth of any such statements.
SECTION | 5.07 Distribution of Additional Units, Rights, etc. |
The Issuer agrees that in the event of any distribution of (1) additional Shares or Units, (2) rights to subscribe for Shares or Units, (3) securities convertible into or exchangeable for Shares or Units, or (4) rights to subscribe for any such securities (each a “Distribution”), the Issuer will promptly furnish to the Depositary a written opinion from U.S. counsel for the Issuer, which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary, stating whether or not the Distribution requires a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 to be in effect prior to making such Distribution available to Owners entitled thereto. If in the opinion of such counsel a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 is required, such counsel shall furnish to the Depositary a written opinion as to whether or not there is a registration statement in effect which will cover such Distribution.
In the event that such registration under the Securities Act of 1933 would be required in connection with any such Distribution, the Issuer shall have no obligation to effect such registration.
In the event of any issuance of additional securities, the Issuer shall have no obligation to register such additional securities under the Securities Act of 1933 and, to the extent the Issuer in its discretion deems it necessary or advisable in order to avoid any requirement to register such additional securities under the Securities Act of 1933, may prevent Owners in the United States from purchasing any such additional securities (whether pursuant to pre-emptive rights or otherwise) and direct the Depositary not to accept any Units for deposit for such period of time following the issuance of such additional securities and to adopt such other specific measures as the Issuer may reasonably request in writing.
The Issuer agrees with the Depositary that neither the Issuer nor any company controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Issuer will at any time deposit any Units, either originally issued or previously issued and reacquired by the Issuer or by any company under its control, unless (i) a registration statement is in effect as to such Units under the Securities Act of 1933 or (ii) such deposit, and the issuance of Receipts in respect thereof, is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 as confirmed by a written opinion from counsel for the Issuer in the United States, which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary. The Depositary will comply with the written instructions of the Issuer not to accept knowingly for deposit hereunder any Units identified in such instructions at such times and under such circumstances as may be specified in such instructions in order to facilitate the Issuer’s compliance with the securities laws of the United States.
SECTION | 5.08 Indemnification. |
The Issuer agrees to indemnify the Depositary, its 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 or in connection with acts performed or omitted pursuant to the provisions of or in connection with this 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 any Custodian or their respective directors, employees, agents and affiliates, except for any liability or expense arising out of the negligence of any of them or the failure of any of them to act in good faith, or (ii) by the Issuer or any of its directors, employees, agents and affiliates.
The Issuer shall not indemnify the Depositary or any Custodian against any liability or expense arising out of information relating to the Depositary or any Custodian, as the case may be, furnished in writing to the Issuer and executed by the Depositary or the Custodian expressly for the use in any registration statement, prospectus (or placement memorandum) or preliminary prospectus (or preliminary placement memorandum) relating to the Units evidenced by the American Depositary Shares.
The Depositary agrees to indemnify the Issuer, its directors, employees, agents and affiliates 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 by the Depositary or any Custodian or their respective directors, employees, agents and affiliates due to their negligence or failure to act in good faith.
Any person seeking indemnification hereunder (an “indemnified person”) shall notify the person from whom it is seeking indemnification (the “indemnifying person”) of a commencement of any indemnifiable action or claim promptly after such indemnified person becomes aware of such commencement and shall consult in good faith with the indemnifying person as to the conduct of the defense of such action or claim, which defense shall be reasonable under the circumstances. No indemnified person shall compromise or settle any action or claim without the consent of the indemnifying person.
SECTION | 5.09 Charges of Depositary. |
The Issuer agrees to pay the fees and reasonable expenses of the Depositary and those of any Registrar only in accordance with agreements in writing entered into between the Depositary and the Issuer from time to time. The Depositary shall present its statement for such charges and expenses to the Issuer at least once every three months. Except as specifically provided in the following paragraph, the charges and expenses of the Custodian are for the sole account of the Depositary.
The following charges shall be incurred by any party depositing or withdrawing Units 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 Issuer or an exchange of stock regarding the Receipts or Deposited Securities or a distribution of Receipts pursuant to Section 4.03 hereof), whichever applicable: (1) a fee not in excess of U.S.$5.00 per 100 American Depositary Shares (or portion thereof) for the execution and delivery of Receipts pursuant to Section 2.03, the execution and delivery of Receipts pursuant to Section 4.03, and the surrender of Receipts pursuant to Section 2.05, (2) taxes and other governmental charges, (3) such registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the registration of transfers of Units generally on the Unit register of the Issuer or Foreign Registrar and applicable to transfers of Units to the name of the Depositary or its nominee or the Custodian or its nominee on the making of deposits or withdrawals hereunder, (4) such cable, telex and facsimile transmission expenses as are expressly provided in this Deposit Agreement, (5) such expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in the conversion of foreign currency pursuant to Section 4.05, (6) a fee not in excess of U.S.$.02 per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) for any cash distribution made pursuant to the Deposit Agreement including, but not limited to, Sections 4.01 through 4.04 hereof, (7) a fee of $.02 or less per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) per annum for depositary services, which will be payable as provided in clause 8 below, and (8) any other charges payable by the Depositary, any of the Depositary’s agents, including the Custodian, or the agents of the Depositary’s agents in connection with the servicing of Units or other Deposited Securities (which charge shall be assessed against Owners as of the date or dates set by the Depositary in accordance with Section 4.06 and shall be collected at the sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such Owners for such charge or by deducting such charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions).
The Depositary may collect any of its fees by deduction from any cash distribution payable to Owners that are obligated to pay those fees.
The Depositary, subject to Section 2.09 hereof, may own and deal in any class of securities of the Issuer and its affiliates and in Receipts.
SECTION | 5.10 Retention of Depositary Documents. |
Except as otherwise explicitly provided herein, the Depositary is authorized to destroy those documents, records, bills and other data compiled during the term of this Deposit Agreement at the times permitted by the laws or regulations governing the Depositary unless the Issuer requests that such papers be retained for a different period or turned over to the Issuer or to a successor depositary.
ARTICLE | 6. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION. |
SECTION | 6.01 Amendment. |
The form of the Receipts and any provisions of this Deposit Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended by agreement between the Issuer 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), or which shall otherwise prejudice any substantial existing right of Owners, 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 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.
SECTION | 6.02 Termination. |
The Depositary shall at any time at the direction of the Issuer terminate this 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 Issuer and the Owners of all Receipts then outstanding if at any time 60 days shall have expired after the Depositary shall have delivered to the Issuer a written notice of its election to resign and a successor depositary shall not have been appointed and accepted its appointment as provided in Section 5.04. On and after the date of termination, the Owner of a Receipt will, upon (a) surrender of such Receipt at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary, (b) payment of the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of Receipts referred to in Section 2.05, and (c) payment of any applicable taxes or governmental charges, be entitled to delivery, to him or upon his 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 this Deposit Agreement, except that the Depositary shall continue to collect dividends and other distributions pertaining to Deposited Securities, shall sell property and rights as provided in this 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 this 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 hereunder and may thereafter hold uninvested the net proceeds of any such sale, together with any other cash then held by it hereunder, 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 this 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 this Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental charges). Upon the termination of this Deposit Agreement, the Issuer shall be discharged from all obligations under this Deposit Agreement except for its obligations to the Depositary under Sections 5.08 and 5.09. The obligations of the Depositary under Section 5.08 shall survive the termination of this Deposit Agreement.
ARTICLE | 7. MISCELLANEOUS. |
SECTION | 7.01 Counterparts. |
This Deposit Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of such counterparts shall constitute one and the same instrument. Copies of this Deposit Agreement shall be retained by the Depositary and filed with the Depositary and the Custodians and shall be open to inspection by any holder or Owner of a Receipt at the Corporate Trust office of the Depositary and the principal corporate office of the Custodian designated by the Custodian during business hours.
SECTION | 7.02 No Third Party Beneficiaries. |
This Deposit Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and shall not be deemed to give any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim whatsoever to any other person.
SECTION | 7.03 Severability. |
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Deposit Agreement or in the Receipts should be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein or therein shall in no way be affected, prejudiced or disturbed thereby.
SECTION | 7.04 Holders and Owners as Parties; Binding Effect. |
The holders and Owners of Receipts from time to time shall be parties to this Deposit Agreement and shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions hereof and of the Receipts by acceptance thereof.
SECTION | 7.05 Notices. |
Any and all notices to be given to the Issuer shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile transmission confirmed by registered mail, addressed to Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx, 0000, 3rd, 4th and 5th Floors, 04538-132 São Paulo SP, Brazil, or any other place to which the Issuer may have transferred its principal office.
Any and all notices to be given to the Depositary shall be deemed to have been duly given if in English and personally delivered or sent by mail or cable, or facsimile transmission confirmed by letter, addressed to The Bank of New York Mellon, 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: ADR Administration, telecopy number (000) 000-0000, or any other place to which the Depositary may have transferred its Corporate Trust Office.
Any and all notices to be given to any Owner shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile transmission confirmed by letter, addressed to such Owner at the address of such Owner as it appears on the transfer books for Receipts of the Depositary, or, if such Owner shall have filed with the Depositary a written request that notices intended for such Owner be mailed to some other address, at the address designated in such request.
Delivery of a notice sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile transmission shall be deemed to be effected at the time when a duly addressed letter containing the same (or a confirmation thereof in the case of a cable, telex or facsimile transmission) is received. The Depositary or the Issuer may, however, act upon any cable, telex or facsimile transmission received by it, notwithstanding that such cable, telex or facsimile transmission shall not subsequently be confirmed by letter as aforesaid.
SECTION | 7.06 Governing Law. |
This Deposit Agreement and the Receipts shall be interpreted and all rights hereunder and thereunder and provisions hereof and thereof shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
SECTION | 7.07 Compliance With U.S. Securities Laws. |
Notwithstanding any terms of this Deposit Agreement to the contrary, the Issuer and the Depositary each agrees that it will not exercise any rights it has under the Deposit Agreement to prevent the withdrawal or delivery of Deposited Securities in a manner which would violate the United States securities laws, including, but not limited to, Section I A(1) of the General Instructions to the Form F-6 Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, under the Securities Act of 1933.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, XXXXXX X.X. and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON have duly executed this agreement as of the day and year first set forth above and all Owners shall become parties hereto upon acceptance by them of Receipts issued in accordance with the terms hereof.
XXXXXX X.X.
By: _________________________
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx
Title: Chief Executive Officer
By: _________________________
Name: Antonio Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Chief Financial Officer
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,
as Depositary
By:_________________________
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT A
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
(Each American Depositary Share represents two deposited Units)
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
FOR UNITS, EACH CONSISTING OF ONE COMMON SHARE AND FOUR PREFERRED SHARES
OF
XXXXXX X.X.
(INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF BRAZIL)
The Bank of New York Mellon as depositary (hereinafter called the “Depositary”), hereby certifies that __________________________________________, or registered assigns IS THE OWNER OF ____________________________________
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
representing deposited units (herein called “Units”), each representing one common share and four preferred shares (herein together called “Shares”) of Xxxxxx X.X., a company incorporated under the laws of Brazil (herein called the “Company”). At the date hereof, each American Depositary Share represents two Units deposited or subject to deposit under the deposit agreement at the Sãu Paulo, Brazil, office of Itaú Unibanco S.A. (herein called the “Custodian”). The Depositary’s Corporate Trust Office is located at a different address than its principal executive office. Its Corporate Trust Office is located at 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, X.X. 00000, and its principal executive office is located at Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, X.X. 00000.
THE DEPOSITARY’S CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE ADDRESS IS
000 XXXXXXX XXXXXX, 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 ________, 2014 (herein called the “Deposit Agreement”) among the Company, the Depositary, and all Owners and holders from time to time of American Depositary Shares issued thereunder, each of whom by accepting American Depositary Shares 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 holders of the Receipts and the rights and duties of the Depositary in respect of the Units deposited thereunder and any and all other securities, property and cash from time to time received in respect of such Units and held thereunder (such Units, securities, property, and cash are herein called “Deposited Securities”). Copies of the Deposit Agreement are on file at the Depositary’s Corporate Trust 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 this Receipt at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary, and upon payment of the fee of the Depositary provided in this Receipt, and subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, the Owner hereof is entitled to delivery, to him or upon his order, of the Deposited Securities or evidence of ownership of and title to such Deposited Securities at the time represented by the American Depositary Shares for which this Receipt is issued. Delivery of such Deposited Securities or evidence of ownership of and title to such Deposited Securities may be made by the delivery of (a) certificates in the name of the Owner hereof or as ordered by him or the delivery of certificates properly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument or instruments of transfer 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. Such delivery will be made at the option of the Owner hereof, either at the office of the Custodian or at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary, provided that the forwarding of certificates for Units or other Deposited Securities or such documents evidencing ownership of and title to such Deposited Securities for such delivery at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary shall be at the risk and expense of the Owner hereof.
3. | TRANSFERS, SPLIT-UPS, AND COMBINATIONS OF RECEIPTS. |
The transfer of this Receipt is registrable on the books of the Depositary at its Corporate Trust Office by the Owner hereof in person or by a duly authorized attorney, without unreasonable delay, upon surrender of this Receipt properly endorsed for transfer or accompanied by a proper instrument or instruments of transfer and funds sufficient to pay any applicable transfer taxes and the fees and expenses of the Depositary and upon compliance with such regulations, if any, as the Depositary may establish for such purpose. 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 or withdrawal of any Deposited Securities, the Depositary, the Custodian, or Registrar may require (a) payment from the depositor of Units 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 or fee with respect to the Units being deposited or withdrawn) and payment of any applicable fees as provided in the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, (b) the production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature and (c) compliance with any regulations the Depositary may establish consistent with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, including, without limitation, paragraph (22) hereof.
The delivery of Receipts against deposits of Units generally or against deposits of particular Units may be suspended, or the transfer of Receipts in particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer of outstanding Receipts generally may be suspended, during any period when the transfer books of the Depositary or the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, 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 paragraph (22) hereof. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Deposit Agreement or the Receipts, the surrender of outstanding Receipts and withdrawal of Deposited Securities may be suspended only for (i) temporary delays caused by closing the transfer books of the Depositary or the Company or the deposit of Units in connection with voting at a shareholders’ meeting, or the payment of dividends, (ii) the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges, and (iii) compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating to the Receipts or to the withdrawal of the Deposited Securities. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under the Deposit Agreement any Units required to be registered under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, unless a registration statement is in effect as to such Units or such registration is not required. For purposes of the foregoing sentence the Depositary shall be entitled to rely upon representations and warranties deemed made pursuant to Section 3.03 of the Deposit Agreement and paragraph (5) hereof and shall not be required to make any further investigation.
In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary shall not, and it shall instruct the Custodian not to knowingly (i) accept for deposit Units where such Units have been withdrawn from a restricted depositary receipt facility in respect of Units established or maintained by a depositary bank, including any such facility established or maintained by the Depositary (hereinafter, a “restricted facility”), or permit such Units to be used to satisfy any person’s pre-release obligation, unless such Units have been acquired in a transaction (a) registered under the Securities Act of 1933, (b) in compliance with Regulation S or (c) in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, and the Depositary may, as a condition to accepting the deposit of such Units hereunder, require the person depositing such Units to provide the Depositary with a certificate in writing to the foregoing effect; or (ii) accept for (w) deposit, (x) transfer or exchange, (y) cancellation or (z) delivery in satisfaction of any person’s pre-release obligation, depositary receipts representing Units issued pursuant to a restricted facility.
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 to the Depositary. The Depositary may refuse to effect any transfer of this Receipt 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 the Owner hereof shall remain liable for any deficiency.
5. | WARRANTIES OF DEPOSITORS. |
Every person depositing Units hereunder and under the Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to represent and warrant that such Units and each certificate therefor are validly issued, fully paid, and not subject to any claim in respect of pre-emptive rights of the holders of outstanding Units and that the person making such deposit is duly authorized to do so. Every such person shall also be deemed to represent that the deposit of Units or sale of Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares representing such Units by that person is not restricted under the Securities Act of 1933. Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit of such Units and issuance of Receipts.
6. | FILING PROOFS, CERTIFICATES, AND OTHER INFORMATION. |
Any person presenting Units 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, proof of the identity of any person legally or beneficially interested in the Receipt and the nature of such interest or such information relating to the registration on the books of the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, to execute such certificates and to make such representations and warranties, as the Depositary or the Company may deem necessary or proper. 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 made. Upon the request of the Company, the Depositary shall provide the Company with copies of all such certificates and such written representations and warranties provided to the Depositary under this Article 6 and Section 3.01 of the Deposit Agreement. The Company may from time to time request Owners to provide information as to the capacity in which such Owners own or owned 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 Owner agrees to provide any information requested by the Company or the Depositary pursuant to this paragraph. No Unit shall be accepted for deposit unless accompanied by evidence, if any is required by the Depositary, that is reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary that all conditions to such deposit have been satisfied by the person depositing such Units under Brazilian laws and regulations and any necessary approval has been granted by any governmental body in Brazil, if any, which is then performing the function of the regulation of currency exchange.
7. | CHARGES OF DEPOSITARY. |
The Company agrees to pay the fees and reasonable 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 its statement for such charges and expenses to the Company once every three months. The charges and expenses of the Custodian are for the sole account of the Depositary.
The following charges shall be incurred by any party depositing or withdrawing Units 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 of the Deposit Agreement), whichever applicable: (1) a fee not in excess of U.S.$5.00 per 100 American Depositary Shares (or portion thereof) for the execution and delivery of Receipts pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Deposit Agreement, the execution and delivery of Receipts pursuant to Section 4.03 of the Deposit Agreement, and the surrender of Receipts pursuant to Section 2.05 of the Deposit Agreement, (2) taxes and other governmental charges, (3) such registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the registration of transfers of Units generally on the Unit register of the Company or Foreign Registrar and applicable to transfers of Units to the name of the Depositary or its nominee or the Custodian or its nominee on the making of deposits or withdrawals hereunder, (4) such cable, telex and facsimile transmission expenses as are expressly provided in the Deposit Agreement, (5) such expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in the conversion of foreign currency pursuant to Section 4.05 of the Deposit Agreement, (6) a fee not in excess of U.S.$.02 or less per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) for any cash distribution made pursuant to the Deposit Agreement including, but not limited to Sections 4.01 through 4.04 thereof, (7) a fee of $.02 or less per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) per annum for depositary services, which will be payable as provided in clause 8 below, and (8) any other charges payable by the Depositary, any of the Depositary’s agents, including the Custodian, or the agents of the Depositary’s agents in connection with the servicing of Units or other Deposited Securities (which charge shall be assessed against Owners as of the date or dates set by the Depositary in accordance with Section 4.06 and shall be collected at the sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such Owners for such charge or by deducting such charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions).
The Depositary may collect any of its fees by deduction from any cash distribution payable to Owners that are obligated to pay those fees.
The Depositary, subject to Article 8 hereof, may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in American Depositary Shares.
From time to time, the Depositary may make payments to the Company to reimburse and / or share revenue from the fees collected from Owners or Holders, or waive fees and expenses for services provided, generally relating to costs and expenses arising out of establishment and maintenance of the American Depositary Shares program. In performing its duties under the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may use brokers, dealers or other service providers that are affiliates of the Depositary and that may earn or share fees or commissions.
8. | LOANS AND PRE-RELEASE OF SHARES AND RECEIPTS. |
In its capacity as Depositary, the Depositary will lend neither the Units held under the Deposit Agreement nor the Receipts; provided, however, that, unless requested in writing by the Issuer to cease doing so, the Depositary reserves the right to (i) execute and deliver Receipts prior to the receipt of Units pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Deposit Agreement and (ii) deliver Units prior to the receipt and cancellation of Receipts pursuant to Section 2.05 of the Deposit Agreement, including Receipts which were issued under (i) above but for which Units may not have been received. The Depositary may receive Receipts in lieu of Units under (i) above and receive Units in lieu of Receipts under (ii) above. Each such transaction will be (a) preceded or accompanied by a written representation from the person to whom Receipts or Units are to be delivered that such person, or its customer, owns the Units or Receipts to be remitted, as the case may be, (b) at all times fully collateralized with cash or such other collateral 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 Depositary will limit the number of Receipts and Units involved in such transactions at any one time to thirty percent (30%) of the American Depositary Shares outstanding (without giving effect to American Depositary Shares evidenced by Receipts outstanding under (i) above), or Units held under the Deposit Agreement, respectively; provided, however, that the Depositary reserves the right to change or disregard such limit from time to time as it deems appropriate. The Depositary will also set limits with respect to the number of Receipts and Units involved in transactions to be done under the Deposit Agreement with any one person on a case by case basis as it deems appropriate.
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 a proper instrument or instruments of transfer, is transferable by delivery with the same effect as in the case of a negotiable instrument under the laws of New York State, provided, however, that the Company and the Depositary, 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 and neither the Depositary nor the Company shall have any obligation or be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement to any holder of a Receipt unless such holder is the Owner thereof.
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 or facsimile of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary and if a Registrar for the Receipts shall have been appointed, countersigned by the manual signature or facsimile of a duly authorized officer of the Registrar.
11. | REPORTS; INSPECTION OF TRANSFER BOOKS. |
The Company publishes information in English required to maintain the exemption from registration under Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, on its Internet web site or through an electronic information delivery system generally available to the public in its primary trading market. The Company’s Internet web site address is xxx.xxxxxx.xxx.xx.
The Depositary will make available for inspection by Owners of Receipts at its Corporate Trust Office any reports and communications, including any proxy soliciting material, 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. The Depositary will also send to Owners of Receipts copies of such reports when furnished by the Company pursuant to the Deposit Agreement. Any such reports and communications, including any such proxy soliciting material, furnished to the Depositary by the Company shall be translated into English.
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 in the interest of a business or object other than the business of the Company or a matter related to the Deposit Agreement or the Receipts.
12. | DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. |
Whenever the Depositary or the Custodian receives any cash dividend or other cash distribution on any Deposited Securities, the Depositary or the Custodian, in accordance with applicable law and subject to the provisions of Section 4.05 of the Deposit Agreement, will convert or cause to be converted, as promptly as practicable, 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, such dividend or distribution into Dollars and the Depositary will as promptly as practicable distribute the amount thus received (net of the fees of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement) by check drawn in a bank in the City of New York, to the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto, provided, however, that in the event that the Company or the Depositary is required to withhold and does withhold from any 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, upon consultation with the Company, cause the securities or property received by it or the Custodian 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; 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 the Depositary deems such distribution not to be feasible, the Depositary may 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 Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement) shall be distributed by the Depositary to the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto as in the case of a distribution received in cash, provided that any unsold balance of such securities or property may be distributed by the Depositary to the Owners entitled thereto in accordance with such equitable and practicable method as the Depositary shall have adopted. The Depositary may withhold any distribution of securities under Section 4.02 of the Deposit Agreement if it has not received satisfactory assurances from the Company that the distribution does not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933. The Depositary may sell, by public or private sale, an amount of securities or other property it would otherwise distribute under Section 4.02 of the Deposit Agreement that is sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in respect of that distribution.
If any distribution consists of a dividend in, or free distribution of, Units, the Depositary may and shall if the Company shall so request, distribute to the Owners of outstanding Receipts entitled thereto, additional Receipts evidencing an aggregate number of American Depositary Shares representing the amount of Units received as such dividend or free distribution subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement with respect to the deposit of Units 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 Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement (and the Depositary may sell, by public or private sale, an amount of the Shares received sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in respect of that distribution). In lieu of delivering Receipts for fractional American Depositary Shares in any such case, the Depositary will sell the amount of Units 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. If additional Receipts are not so distributed, each American Depositary Share shall thenceforth also represent the additional Units distributed upon the Deposited Securities represented thereby.
In the event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in property (including Units 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 Units 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 and the Depositary shall distribute any unsold balance of such property in accordance with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement. The Company or its agent shall remit to appropriate governmental authorities and agencies in Brazil all amounts, if any, withheld and owing to such authorities and agencies by the Company. The Depositary or its agent shall remit to appropriate governmental authorities and agencies in the United States all amounts, if any, withheld and owing to such authorities and agencies by the Depositary.
The Depositary shall forward to the Company or its agent such information from its records as the Company may reasonably request to enable the Company or its agent to file necessary reports with governmental agencies.
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 Units 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 in Dollars to such Owners or, if by the terms of such rights offering or, for any other reason, the Depositary may not either make such rights available to any Owners or dispose of such rights and make the net proceeds available to such Owners, then the Depositary shall allow the rights to lapse; provided, however, if at the time of the offering of any rights the Depositary determines in its discretion, after consultation with the Company, that it is lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all Owners or to certain Owners but not to other Owners, the Depositary, after consultation with the Company, may 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. If the Depositary determines in its discretion, after consultation with the Company, that it is not lawful and feasible to make such rights available to certain Owners, it may sell the rights or 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, and allocate the net proceeds of such sales (net of the fees of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 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. Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall 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.
If an Owner of Receipts 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 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 required under applicable law. Upon instruction pursuant to such warrants or other instruments to the Depositary from such Owner to exercise such rights, upon payment by such Owner to the Depositary for the account of such Owner of an amount equal to the purchase price of the Units to be received upon the exercise of the rights, and upon payment of the fees of the Depositary as set forth in such warrants or other instruments, the Depositary shall, on behalf of such Owner, exercise the rights and purchase the Units, and the Company shall cause the Units so purchased to be delivered to the Depositary on behalf of such Owner. As agent for such Owner, the Depositary will cause the Units 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 to such Owner Restricted Receipts.
If registration under the Securities Act of 1933 of the securities to which any rights relate is required in order for the Company to offer such rights to Owners and sell the securities upon the exercise of such rights, the Depositary will not offer such rights to the Owners unless and until such a registration statement is in effect, or unless the offering and sale of such securities to the Owners of such Receipts are exempt from registration under the provisions of such Act. The Company shall have no obligation to register such rights or such securities under the Securities Act of 1933.
14. | CONVERSION OF FOREIGN CURRENCY. |
Whenever the Depositary or the Custodian shall receive Foreign Currency, by way of dividends or other distributions or the net proceeds from the sale of securities, property or rights in respect of such Receipts, and if at the time of the receipt thereof the Foreign Currency so received can, pursuant to applicable law, be converted into Dollars, 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 can, pursuant to applicable law, be transferred outside of Brazil for distribution to the 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.
If conversion of Foreign Currency into Dollars or distribution of Dollars or non-convertible Foreign Currency can be effected only with the approval or license of any government or agency thereof, the Depositary shall file as promptly as practicable such application for approval or license; however, the Depositary shall be entitled to rely upon Brazilian local 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 or Custodian 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 can not be obtained within a reasonable time, the Depositary shall, (a) as to that portion of the Foreign Currency that is convertible into Dollars, make such conversion and (i) if permitted pursuant to applicable law, transfer such Dollars to the United States and distribute to Owners in accordance with the first paragraph of this Section 4.05 or (ii) to the extent transfer of such Dollars to the United States is not permitted pursuant to applicable law, hold such Dollars as may not be transferred for the benefit of the Owners entitled thereto, and (b) as the non-convertible 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 non-convertible Foreign Currency not distributed pursuant to the immediately preceding subclause (b)(i) uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of the Owners entitled to receive the same.
15. | FIXING OF 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 Units that are represented by each American Depositary Share, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting of holders of Units or other Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall fix a record date, which shall be the same as, or as near as practicable to, any record date applicable to the Deposited Securities, (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 any such meeting, or (b) on or after which each American Depositary Share will represent the changed number of Units, subject to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement. The Owners on such record date shall be entitled as the case may be, to receive the amount distributable by the Depositary with respect to such dividend or other distribution or such rights or the net proceeds or sale thereof in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by them respectively, and to give voting instructions to exercise the rights of Owners hereunder with respect to such changed number of Units and to act in respect of any other such matter.
16. | VOTING OF DEPOSITED SECURITIES. |
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting of holders of Units 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 subject to the reasonable discretion of the Depositary, which shall contain (a) such information as is contained in such notice of meeting received by the Depositary from 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 provision of Brazilian law and of the Articles of Association of the Company and the provisions of the Deposited Securities, to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the amount of Units 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, including, when applicable, an express indication that instructions may be given (or, if applicable, deemed given in accordance with the second paragraph of Section 4.07 of the Deposit Agreement if no instruction is received) to the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company. Upon the written request of an Owner of a Receipt on such record date, received on or before the date established by the Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall endeavor insofar as practicable and permitted under applicable laws and the provisions of the Articles of Association of the Company and the provisions of the Deposited Securities to vote or cause to be voted the amount of Units or other Deposited Securities represented by such American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt in accordance with any nondiscretionary instructions set forth in such request including their instruction to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company and the Depositary shall not, and the Depositary shall ensure that each Custodian or any of its nominees shall not, exercise any voting discretion over any Deposited Securities.
If the Company requested the Depositary to act under the preceding paragraph and gave the Depositary notice of the meeting and details of the matters to be voted upon at least 30 days prior to the meeting date, but the Depositary does not receive instructions from the Owner of American Depositary Shares on or before the date established by the Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall give a discretionary proxy for the amount of Units represented by those American Depositary Shares to a person designated by the Company, provided, that no such proxy shall be given with respect to any matter as to which the Issuer informs the Depositary (and the Company agrees to provide such information as promptly as practicable in writing) that (x) the Company does not wish such proxy to be given, (y) substantial opposition exists or (z) such matter materially and adversely affects the rights of holders of Shares.
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, 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 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, with the approval of the Company, and shall, if the Company shall so request, execute and deliver additional Receipts as in the case of a dividend in Units, or call for the surrender of outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts specifically describing such new Deposited Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any security so received may not be lawfully distributed to some or all Owners, the Depositary may, with the Company’s approval, and shall if the Company requests, sell such securities at public or private sale, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem proper, and may allocate the net proceeds (without liability for interest) of such sales for the account of the Owners otherwise entitled to such securities upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among such Owners and distribute the net proceeds so allocated to the extent practicable as in the case of a distribution received in cash.
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 that affects holdings of American Depositary Shares, the Depositary shall give notice thereof in writing to all Owners.
18. | LIABILITY OF THE COMPANY AND DEPOSITARY. |
Neither the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their respective directors, employees, agents or affiliates shall incur any liability to any Owner or holder of a Receipt if, by reason of any provision of any present or future law or regulation of the United States, Brazil or any other country, or of any governmental or regulatory authority or stock exchange, or by reason of any provision, present or future, of the Estatuto Social of the Issuer or by reason of any provision of any securities issued or distributed by the Issuer, or any offering or distribution thereof, or by reason of any act of God or war or terrorism or other circumstances beyond its control, the Depositary or the Company or any of their respective directors, employees, agents or affiliates shall be prevented, delayed 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 or Deposited Securities it is provided shall be done or performed; nor shall the Depositary or the Company or any of their respective directors, employees, agents or affiliates incur any liability to any Owner or holder of any Receipt (i) by reason of any nonperformance 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, (ii) by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in the Deposit Agreement, (iii) for the inability of any Owner or holder to benefit from any distribution, offering, right or other benefit which is made available to holders of Deposited Securities but is not, pursuant to the terms of the Deposit Agreement, made available to Owners or holders, or (iv) for any special, consequential or punitive damages for any breach of the terms of the Deposit Agreement. Where, by the terms of a distribution pursuant to Section 4.01, 4.02, or 4.03 of the Deposit Agreement, or an offering or distribution pursuant to Section 4.04 of that Agreement, or for any other reason, such distribution or offering may not be made available to Owners, 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 or this Receipt to Owners or holders of Receipts; except that they agree to perform their obligations specifically set forth in the Deposit Agreement without negligence and to act in good faith in the performance of such duties. 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 on behalf of any Owner, holder or other person, 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 Units for deposit, any Owner or holder of a Receipt, or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information including, but not limited to, any such action or nonaction based upon any written notice, request, direction or other document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties. 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 Depositary and the Company may rely on and shall be protected in acting upon any written notice, request, direction or other documents believed by them to be genuine and to have been signed by the proper party or parties. The Depositary shall not be liable for the acts or omissions of any securities depository, clearing agency or settlement system in connection with or arising out of book-entry settlement of Deposited Securities or otherwise. No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act of 1933 is intended by any provision of the Deposit Agreement
19. | RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF THE DEPOSITARY; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN. |
The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary hereunder by 60 days’ written notice of its election so to do (or a lesser amount of notice if satisfactory to the Company) delivered to the Company effective upon the appointment of a successor depositary satisfactory to the Company and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided, which appointment shall be on terms satisfactory to the Company in its sole discretion. The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by 60 days’ written notice of such removal effective upon the appointment of a successor depositary satisfactory to the Company and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided, which appointment shall be on terms satisfactory to the Company in its sole discretion. In case at any time the Depositary shall resign or be removed, the Company shall use its best efforts to appoint a successor depositary, which shall be a bank or trust company having an office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York. Every successor depositary shall execute and deliver to its predecessor and to the Company an instrument in writing accepting its appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor depositary, without any further act or deed, shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor; but such predecessor, nevertheless, upon payment of all sums due it and on the written request of the Company, shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor all rights and powers of such predecessor hereunder, shall duly assign, transfer and deliver all right, title and interest in the Deposited Securities to such successor, and shall deliver to such successor a list of the Owners of all outstanding Receipts. Any such successor depositary shall promptly mail notice of its appointment to the Owners. The Depositary in its discretion may appoint a substitute custodian.
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), 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 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.
21. | TERMINATION OF DEPOSIT AGREEMENT. |
The Depositary shall at any time at the direction of the Company 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 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 Section 5.04 of the Deposit Agreement. On and after the date of termination, the Owner of a Receipt will, upon (a) surrender of such Receipt at the Corporate Trust 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 him or upon his 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 property and 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 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). 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. The obligations of the Depositary under Section 5.08 of the Deposit Agreement shall survive the termination of the Deposit Agreement.
22. | COMPLIANCE WITH U.S. SECURITIES LAWS. |
Notwithstanding any terms of this Receipt or the Deposit Agreement to the contrary, the Company and the Depositary have each agreed that it will not exercise any rights it has under the Deposit Agreement or the Receipt to prevent the withdrawal or delivery of Deposited Securities in a manner which would violate the United States securities laws, including, but not limited to Section I A(1) of the General Instructions to the Form F-6 Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, under the Securities Act of 1933.
23. | INFORMATION REQUESTS. |
The Company may from time to time request Owners of Receipts to provide information as to the capacity in which such Owners own or owned 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. The Depositary agrees to use reasonable efforts to comply with reasonable written instructions received from the Company requesting that the Depositary forward any such requests to the Owner and to forward to the Company any such responses to such requests received by the Depositary.
Each of the Depositary and the Company hereby confirms to the other that for as long as the Deposit Agreement is in effect, it shall furnish the CVM and the Central Bank, at any time and within the period that may be determined, with any information and documents related to the American Depositary Shares program and the Receipts issued hereunder. In the event that the Depositary or the Custodian shall be advised in writing by reputable independent Brazilian counsel that the Depositary or Custodian reasonably could be subject to criminal, or material, as determined by the Depositary, civil, liabilities as a result of the Company or the Unit Depositary having failed to provide such information or documents reasonably available only through the Issuer or the Unit Depositary, as the case may be, the Depositary shall have the right to terminate the Deposit Agreement, upon at least 15 days’ prior notice to the Owners and the Company, and the Depositary shall not be subject to any liability hereunder on account of such termination or such determination. The effect of any such termination of the Deposit Agreement shall be as provided in Section 6.02 of that Agreement.
24. | UNCERTIFICATED AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES; DIRECT REGISTRATION SYSTEM. |
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Deposit Agreement:
(a) American Depositary Shares may be certificated securities evidenced by Receipts or uncertificated securities. The form of Receipt annexed as Exhibit A to the Deposit Agreement describes the terms and conditions of, and will be the prospectus required under the Securities Act of 1933 for, both certificated and uncertificated American Depositary Shares. Except for those provisions of the Deposit Agreement that by their nature do not apply to uncertificated American Depositary Shares, all the provisions of the Deposit Agreement shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to uncertificated American Depositary Shares as well as to certificated American Depositary Shares, and to Owners and holders of uncertificated American Depositary Shares as well as to Owners and holders of Receipts.
(b) (i) The term “deliver”, or its noun form, when used with respect to Receipts, shall mean (A) book-entry transfer of American Depositary Shares to an account at The Depository Trust Company, or its successor (“DTC”), designated by the person entitled to such delivery, (B) registration of American Depositary Shares not evidenced by a Receipt on the books of the Depositary in the name requested by the person entitled to such delivery and mailing to that person of a statement confirming that registration or (C) if requested by the person entitled to such delivery, delivery at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary to the person entitled to such delivery of one or more Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares registered in the name requested by that person.
(ii) The term “surrender”, when used with respect to Receipts, shall mean (A) one or more book-entry transfers of American Depositary Shares to the DTC account of the Depositary, (B) delivery to the Depositary at its Corporate Trust Office of an instruction to surrender American Depositary Shares not evidenced by a Receipt or (C) surrender to the Depositary at its Corporate Trust Office of one or more Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares.
(c) American Depositary Shares not evidenced by Receipts shall be transferable as uncertificated registered securities under the laws of the State of New York.
(d) The Depositary shall have a duty to register a transfer in the case of uncertificated American Depositary Shares, upon receipt from the Owner of a proper instruction (including, for the avoidance of doubt, instructions through DRS and Profile as provided in subsection (f) below). The Depositary, upon surrender of a Receipt for the purpose of exchanging for uncertificated American Depositary Shares, shall cancel that Receipt and send the Owner a statement confirming that the Owner is the owner of the same number of uncertificated American Depositary Shares that the surrendered Receipt evidenced. The Depositary, upon receipt of a proper instruction (including, for the avoidance of doubt, instructions through DRS and Profile as provided in subsection (f) below) from the Owner of uncertificated American Depositary Shares for the purpose of exchanging for certificated American Depositary Shares, shall execute and deliver to the Owner a Receipt evidencing the same number of certificated American Depositary Shares.
(e) Upon satisfaction of the conditions for replacement of a Receipt that is mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen, the Depositary shall deliver to the Owner the American Depositary Shares evidenced by that Receipt in uncertificated form unless otherwise requested by the Owner.
(f) (i) The parties to the Deposit Agreement acknowledge that the Direct Registration System (“DRS”) and Profile Modification System (“Profile”) shall apply to uncertificated American Depositary Shares upon acceptance thereof to DRS by DTC. DRS is the system administered by DTC pursuant to which the Depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated American Depositary Shares, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic statements issued by the Depositary to the Owners entitled thereto. Profile is a required feature of DRS which allows a DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf of an Owner of American Depositary Shares, to direct the Depositary to register a transfer of those American Depositary Shares to DTC or its nominee and to deliver those American Depositary Shares to the DTC account of that DTC participant without receipt by the Depositary of prior authorization from the Owner to register such transfer.
(ii) In connection with and in accordance with the arrangements and procedures relating to DRS/Profile, the parties to the Deposit Agreement understand that the Depositary will not verify, determine or otherwise ascertain that the DTC participant which is claiming to be acting on behalf of an Owner in requesting a registration of transfer and delivery as described in clause (i) above has the actual authority to act on behalf of the Owner (notwithstanding any requirements under the Uniform Commercial Code). For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Sections 5.03 and 5.08 of the Deposit Agreement shall apply to the matters arising from the use of the DRS. The parties to the Deposit Agreement agree that the Depositary’s reliance on and compliance with instructions received by the Depositary through the DRS/Profile System and in accordance with the Deposit Agreement shall not constitute negligence or bad faith on the part of the Depositary.
25. | EXCHANGE OF DEPOSITED SHARES FOR UNITS. |
On or as soon as practicable after the later of (i) the date of the Deposit Agreement and (ii) 30 days after Owners of American Depositary Shares issued under the Prior Deposit Agreement have been notified of the provisions of this Article, the Depositary shall accept an offer that the Company shall make to exchange one fifth of the deposited preferred shares for common shares and deposit all the deposited shares, including the common shares received in that exchange, with the Unit Depositary in exchange for Units, which Units shall then be the Deposited Securities.