THE RIGHTS OF OWNERS OF RECEIPTS TO DIRECT THE VOTING OF SHARES MAY BE RESTRICTED AS DESCRIBED IN ARTICLES 16 AND 23 BELOW Exhibit A to Deposit Agreement
THE RIGHTS OF OWNERS OF RECEIPTS TO DIRECT THE VOTING OF SHARES MAY BE RESTRICTED AS DESCRIBED IN ARTICLES 16 AND 23 BELOW
Exhibit A to Deposit Agreement
No.
________________________________
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
(Each American Depositary Share
represents fortytwo (2) Deposited Shares)
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
REPRESENTING ORDINARY SHARES OF
5p NOMINAL VALUE PER SHARE
OF BRITISH BIOTECH plc
OF VERNALIS PLC
(AN ENGLISH PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY)
The Bank of New York as depositary (hereinafter called the "Depositary"), hereby certifies that ____________________________________________________ _____________________________________, or registered assigns IS THE OWNER OF ____________________________________ AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES representing deposited Ordinary Shares of 5p nominal value per share (herein called "Shares") of British Biotech plcVernalis PLC, an English public limited company (herein called the "Company"). At the date hereof, each American Depositary Share represents fortytwo (2) Shares deposited or subject to deposit under the deposit agreement at the London office of The Bank of New York, as custodian (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.
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 July 7, 1992, amended and restated as of August 5, 1996, and as amended and restated as of December 16, 2002 2002, and as further amended and restated as of June 4, 2007 (herein called the "Deposit Agreement"), by and among the Company, the Depositary, and all owners and holders from time to time of Receipts issued thereunder, each of whom by accepting a Receipt agrees to become a party thereto and become bound by all the terms and conditions thereof. The Deposit Agreement sets forth the rights of Owners and holders of the Receipts and the rights and duties of the Depositary in respect of the Shares deposited thereunder and any and all other securities, property and cash from time to time received in respect of such Shares and held thereunder (such Shares, securities, property, and cash are herein called "Deposited Securities") Copies of the Deposit Agreement are on file at the Depositary's 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 not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Deposit Agreement.
2.
SURRENDER OF RECEIPTS AND WITHDRAWAL OF SHARES.
Upon surrender at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary of this Receipt, and upon payment of the fee of the Depositary for the cancellation of this Receipt, and subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company and the Deposited Securities, the Owner hereof is entitled to delivery, to him or upon his order, of the number of Deposited Securities at the time represented by the American Depositary Shares for which this Receipt is issued. Delivery of such Deposited Securities may be made by the delivery of certificates to such Owner hereof or as ordered by him or by the delivery of other proper documents of title endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer. 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 Shares or other Deposited Securities for such delivery at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary shall be at the request, 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 duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Receipt properly endorsed for transfer or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, and duly stamped as may be required by applicable law. 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 or the Custodian may require payment from the depositor of Shares or presenter of the Receipt of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or other governmental charge and any stock transfer or registration fee with respect thereto (including any such tax or charge and fee with respect to Shares being deposited or withdrawn or Receipts being issued) and payment of any applicable fees as provided in this Receipt, may require the production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature and may also require compliance with such reasonable regulations, if any, as the Depositary may establish consistent with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, including, without limitation Article 22 of this Receipt.
The delivery of Receipts against deposits of Shares generally or against deposits of particular Shares may be suspended, or the transfer of Receipts in particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer of outstanding Receipts generally may be suspended, during any period when the transfer books of the Depositary 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 for any other reason subject to Article 22 hereof. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, the surrender of outstanding Receipts and withdrawal of Deposited Securities may not be suspended subject only to (i) temporary delays caused by closing the transfer books of the Depositary or the Company or the deposit of Shares 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 Shares required to be registered under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, unless a registration statement is in effect as to such Shares. The Depositary will comply with written instructions from the Company requesting that the Depositary not accept for deposit hereunder any Shares identified in such instructions in order to facilitate the Company's compliance with the U.S. securities laws.
4.
If any tax or other governmental charge shall become payable by the Custodian or Depositary with respect to any Receipt, American Depositary Shares or any Deposited Securities represented by any American Depositary Shares evidenced 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 evidenced hereby 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 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, the Owner hereof remaining liable for any deficiency.
5.
Every person depositing Shares hereunder shall be deemed thereby to represent and warrant that such Shares and each certificate therefor are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and that the person making such deposit is duly authorized so to do. Every such person shall also be deemed to represent that the deposit of Shares or sale of Receipts by that person is not restricted under the Securities Act of 1933. Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit of Shares and issuance of Receipts.
6.
FILING PROOFS, CERTIFICATES, AND OTHER INFORMATION.
Any person presenting Shares for deposit or any Owner of a Receipt may be required from time to time to file with the Depositary or the Custodian such proof of citizenship, residence, exchange control approval, legal or beneficial ownership or such information relating to the registration on the books of the Company (or the appointed agent of the Company for transfer and registration of Shares) of the Shares presented for deposit, or other information, and to execute and deliver to the Depositary or the Custodian such certificates, including such representations and warranties, as the Depositary may deem necessary or proper or as the Company may require by written request to the Depositary or the Custodian. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.6 of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may withhold the delivery or registration of transfer of any Receipt or the distribution or sale of any dividend or other distribution or rights or of the proceeds thereof or the delivery of any Deposited Securities pertaining to such Receipt until such proof or other information is filed or such certificates are executed. Upon the Company's reasonable request, the Depositary shall provide the Company, in a timely manner, with copies of any such proofs of citizenship or residence, exchange control approval, legal or beneficial ownership which it receives. No Share shall be accepted for deposit unless accompanied by evidence satisfactory to the Depositary that any necessary approval has been granted by the governmental body in the United Kingdom, if any, which is then performing the function of the regulation of currency exchange.
7.
The Company agrees to pay the fees, reasonable expenses and out-of-pocket charges 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 Depositary, subject to Article 8 hereof, may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in Receipts.
8.
LOANS AND PRE-RELEASE OF SHARES AND RECEIPTS.
In its capacity as Depositary, the Depositary will lend neither the Shares held under the Deposit Agreement nor the Receipts; provided, however, that the Depositary reserves the right to (i) issue Receipts prior to the receipt of Shares pursuant to Section 2.2 of the Deposit Agreement and (ii) deliver Shares prior to the receipt and cancellation of Receipts pursuant to Section 2.5 of the Deposit Agreement, including Receipts which were issued under (i) above but for which Shares may not have been received. The Depositary may receive Receipts in lieu of Shares under (i) above and receive Shares in lieu of Receipts under (ii) above. Each such transaction will be (a) accompanied by a written representation from the person to whom Receipts or Shares are to be delivered that such person, or its customer, owns the Shares 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 normally limit the number of American Depositary Shares and Shares involved in such transactions at any one time to thirty percent (30%) of the number of American Depositary Shares outstanding (without giving effect to American Depositary Shares evidenced by Receipts outstanding under (i) above), or Shares 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 American Depositary Shares and Shares 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. The Company will have no liability whatsoever to the Depositary or any Owner with respect to any representations, actions or omissions by the Depositary or any Owner pursuant to this Article 8.
9.
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 (and to the American Depositary Shares evidenced hereby), when properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, is transferable by delivery with the same effect as in the case of a negotiable instrument; provided, however, that, until a Receipt shall have been transferred on the books of the Depositary as provided in Section 2.4 of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the owner hereof as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of determining the person entitled to distribution of dividends or other distributions or to any notice provided for in the Deposit Agreement or for all other purposes.
10.
This Receipt shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Deposit Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless this Receipt shall have been executed by the Depositary by the manual signature of a duly authorized signatory or, if a Registrar shall have been appointed, by the manual signature of a duly authorized officer of the Registrar, and such execution of any Receipt by manual signature shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Receipt has been duly executed and delivered hereunder.
11.
REPORTS; INSPECTION OF TRANSFER BOOKS.
TheUpon effectiveness of the termination of the Company is subject to the periodic's reporting requirements ofunder the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and, accordingly, files certain reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (hereinafter called the "Commission") Such reports and communications are available for inspection and copying at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission located at 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X., Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000.0000, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), the Company shall make available certain public reports and documents required by foreign law or otherwise under Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Exchange Act at the Company's internet web site or through an electronic information delivery system.
The Depositary will make available for inspection by Owners at its Corporate Trust Office and at the office of the Custodian any reports and communications, including any proxy soliciting material and any information required to be filed in connection with an election by an Owner to treat the Company as a qualified electing fund for purposes of United States Federal income taxation, received from the Company which are both (a) received by the Depositary 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 copies of such reports when furnished by the Company pursuant to the Deposit Agreement.
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, 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 Company or a matter related to the Deposit Agreement, the Receipts, the Shares, or the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company.
12.
Whenever the Depositary receives any cash dividend or other cash distribution on any Deposited Securities, the Depositary will, subject to the Deposit Agreement, convert such dividend or distribution into dollars and will distribute the amount thus received (net of expenses, taxes and fees as provided in Sections 4.5, 4.11 and 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement) to the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto. 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, the amount distributed to the Owners for American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities shall be reduced accordingly.
Whenever the Depositary receives any distribution other than cash or Shares upon any Deposited Securities, the Depositary will cause the securities or property received by it to be distributed to the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto, in any manner that the Depositary may deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing such distribution; provided, however, that if in the opinion of the Depositary such distribution cannot be made proportionately among the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto, or if for any other reason (including any requirement that the Company or the Depositary withhold an amount on account of taxes) the Depositary, after consultation with the Company, 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, if permitted, and subject to applicable law, the sale (at public or private sale) of the securities or property thus received, or any part thereof, and the net proceeds of any such sale shall be distributed by the Depositary to the Owners entitled thereto as in the case of a distribution received in cash.
If any distribution upon any Deposited Securities consists of a dividend in, or free distribution of, Shares, the Depositary may, upon prior consultation with and approval of the Company, 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 Shares received as such dividend or free distribution. In lieu of delivering Receipts for fractional American Depositary Shares in any such case, the Depositary will sell the amount of Shares represented by the aggregate of such fractions and distribute the net proceeds, all in the manner and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.1 of the Deposit Agreement. If additional Receipts are not so distributed, each American Depositary Share shall thenceforth also represent the additional Shares distributed upon the Deposited Securities represented thereby.
In the event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) is subject to any tax which the Depositary is obligated to withhold, the Depositary may dispose of all or a portion of such property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) in such amounts and in such manner as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay any such taxes, by public or private sale, if permitted, and subject to applicable law, and the Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds of any such sale after deduction of such taxes to the Owners entitled thereto.
13.
CONVERSION OF FOREIGN CURRENCY.
Whenever the Depositary shall receive Foreign Currency, by way of dividends or other distributions or the net proceeds from the sale of securities, property or rights, and if at the time of the receipt thereof the Foreign Currency so received can in the judgment of the Depositary be converted on a reasonable basis into Dollars and the resulting Dollars transferred to the United States, the Depositary shall convert or cause to be converted, by sale or in any other manner that it may determine, such Foreign Currency into Dollars, and such Dollars (net of any conversion expenses of the Depositary) shall be distributed to the Owners entitled thereto or, if the Depositary shall have distributed any warrants or other instruments which entitle the holders thereof to such Dollars, then to the holders of such warrants and/or instruments upon surrender thereof for cancellation. Such distribution may be made upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among Owners on account of exchange restrictions or otherwise.
If such conversion or distribution can be effected only with the approval or license of any government or agency thereof, the Depositary shall file such application for approval or license, if any, as it may deem desirable, provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to make any such filings.
If at any time the Depositary shall determine that in its judgment any Foreign Currency received by the Depositary is not convertible on a reasonable basis 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 is not obtainable, or if any such approval or license is not obtained within a reasonable period as determined by the Depositary, the Depositary may distribute the Foreign Currency (or an appropriate document evidencing the right to receive such Foreign Currency) received by the Depositary to, or in its discretion may hold such Foreign Currency uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of, the Owners entitled to receive the same.
If any such conversion of Foreign Currency, in whole or in part, cannot be effected for distribution to some of the owners entitled thereto, the Depositary may in its discretion make such conversion and distribution in Dollars to the extent permissible to the Owners entitled thereto and may distribute the balance of the Foreign Currency received by the Depositary to, or hold such balance uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of, the Owners entitled thereto. If the Depositary holds such balance for the accounts of the Owners it will distribute to such Owners appropriate warrants or other instruments evidencing their rights to receive such balance.
14.
In the event that the Company shall offer or cause to be offered to the holders of any Deposited Securities any rights to subscribe for additional Shares or any rights of any other nature, the Depositary shall, after consultation with the Company, have discretion as to the procedure to be followed in making such rights available to the Owners of Receipts or in disposing of such rights on behalf of such Owners and making the net proceeds (net of expenses, taxes and fees as provided in Sections 4.5, 4.11 and 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement) 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, that the Depositary will, if requested by the Company, take action as follows:
(i)
if at the time of the offering of any rights the Depositary determines that it is lawful and feasible to make such rights available to Owners by means of warrants or otherwise, the Depositary shall distribute warrants or other instruments therefor in such form as it may determine, in proportion of the number of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by them, respectively, or employ such other method as it may deem feasible in order to facilitate the exercise, sale or transfer of rights by such Owners; or
(ii)
if at the time of the offering of any rights the Depositary determines that it is not lawful and feasible to make such rights available to Owners by means of warrants or otherwise, or if the rights represented by such warrants or such other instruments are not exercised and appear to be about to lapse, the Depositary in its discretion may sell such rights or such warrants or other instruments at public or private sale, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem proper, and may allocate the proceeds of such sales (net of expenses, taxes and fees as provided in Sections 4.5, 4.11 and 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement) for account of the Owners otherwise entitled to such rights, warrants or other instruments, upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among such Owners because of exchange restrictions, the date of delivery of any Receipt or Receipts or otherwise.
The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to determine properly that it is:
(i)
feasible to make such rights available to Owners, provided that it makes such determination in good faith and without negligence; or
(ii)
lawful to make such rights available to Owners, provided that if the Issuer furnishes the Depositary with an opinion of United States counsel, which counsel is reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary, as to the lawfulness of making such rights available to Owners, the Depositary shall be entitled to and shall make such determination in accordance with such opinion.
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 represented by such rights, the Company and the Depositary will not be required to offer such rights to the Owners under any circumstances. The Depositary will not offer any such rights to Owners in the United States or to any U.S. person (each as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933), 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. Nothing in this Article 14 or in the Deposit Agreement shall create any obligation on the part of the Company to file a registration statement or endeavor to have such a registration statement declared effective so as to allow rights to be made available to Owners of the Receipts.
15.
Whenever any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable or any distribution other than cash shall be made, or whenever rights shall be issued with respect to the Deposited Securities, or whenever for any reason the Depositary causes a change in the number of Shares that are represented by each American Depositary Share or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, the Depositary will, after consultation with the Company, fix a record date which shall, insofar as is practicable, be the same date as the record date established by the Company in respect of the Shares for the determination of the Owners who will be entitled to receive such dividend, distribution or rights, or the net proceeds of the sale thereof, or to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting, or for fixing the date on or after which each American Depositary Share will represent the changed number of Shares.
16.
VOTING OF DEPOSITED SECURITIES.
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall, as soon as practicable after the fixing of a record date, mail to the Owners a notice, the form of which notice shall be in the sole discretion of the Depositary, which shall contain (a) such information as is contained in such notice of meeting and (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 law and of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company and the Deposited Securities, to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by their respective American Depositary Shares. 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 to vote or cause to be voted the amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt in accordance with the instructions set forth in such request. The Depositary will not vote or attempt to exercise the right to vote that attaches to the Shares or other Deposited Securities, other than in accordance with such instructions. The Company shall be under no obligation to verify instructions received from Owners and voted upon by the Depositary.
Such voting is subject to the provisions of Article 23.
17.
CHANGES AFFECTING DEPOSITED SECURITIES.
Upon any change in nominal value, par value, split-up, consolidation or any other reclassification of Deposited Securities, or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale of assets affecting the Company or to which it is a party, any securities which shall be received by the Depositary or the 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, in addition to existing Deposited Securities, 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 Company's approval, and shall if the Company shall so request, execute and deliver additional Receipts as in the case of a dividend on the Shares, or call for the surrender of outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts specifically evidencing and referring to such new Deposited Securities.
18.
LIABILITY OF THE COMPANY AND DEPOSITARY.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their directors, employees, agents or controlling persons (as defined under the Securities Act of 1933) shall incur any liability to any Owner or holder of any Receipt, if by reason of any provision of any present or future law of the United States, the United Kingdom or any other country, or of any other governmental authority, or by reason of any provision, present or future, of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company or the Deposited Securities, or by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstances beyond its control, the Depositary or the Company or any of their directors, employees, agents or controlling persons, shall be prevented or forbidden from doing or performing any act or thing which by the terms of the Deposit Agreement or the Deposited Securities it is provided shall be done or performed, nor shall the Depositary or the Company be obligated to do or perform any act or thing which obligation is inconsistent with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement; nor shall the Depositary or the Company or any of their directors, employees, agents or controlling persons, incur any liability to any Owner or holder of a Receipt by reason of any non-performance or delay, caused as aforesaid, in the performance of any act or thing which by the terms of the Deposit Agreement it is provided shall or may be done or performed, or by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in the Deposit Agreement or the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company. Where, by the terms of a distribution pursuant to Section 4.1, 4.2, or 4.3 of the Deposit Agreement, or an offering or distribution pursuant to Section 4.4 of the Deposit 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 nor any of their directors, employees, agents or controlling persons (as defined under the Securities Act of 1933), assumes any obligation or shall be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement to Owners or holders of Receipts, except that they shall act in good faith and use their best judgement in performing their obligations specifically set forth in the Deposit Agreement. Other than such obligation to act in good faith and use its best judgment, 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 nor any of their directors, employees, agents or controlling persons (as defined under the Securities Act of 1933) shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit, or other proceeding in respect of any Deposited Securities, or any American Depositary Shares or in respect of the Receipts, which in its opinion may involve it in expense or liability, unless indemnity satisfactory to it against all expense and liability be furnished as often as may reasonably be required, and the Custodians shall not be under any obligation whatsoever with respect to such proceedings, the responsibility of the Custodians being solely to the Depositary. Neither the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their directors, employees, agents or controlling persons (as defined under the Securities Act of 1933) shall be liable for any action or nonaction by it in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares for deposit, any Owner or holder of a Receipt, or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information. The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any of the Deposited Securities, or for the manner in which any such vote is cast or the effect of any such vote, provided that any such action or nonaction is in good faith and in accordance with the terms of the Deposit Agreement. 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 the Depositary exercised its best judgment and good faith while it acted as Depositary. The Company has agreed to indemnify the Depositary and the Custodian against, and hold each of them harmless from, any liability or expense which may arise out of acts performed or omitted, in accordance with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement and of the Receipts, as the same may be amended, modified, or supplemented from time to time, (i) by either the Depositary or the Custodian, except for any liability or expense arising out of the negligence or bad faith of either of them, or (ii) by the Company or any of its agents. Any person seeking indemnification under the above provision shall notify the Company of the commencement of any indemnifiable action or claim promptly after such person becomes aware of such commencement and shall consult in good faith with the Company as to the conduct of the defense of such action or claim, including the compromise or settlement thereof. No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act of 1933 is intended by any provision of the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt. The Depositary has agreed to indemnify the Company and hold it harmless from any liability or expense (including fees and expenses of counsel) which may arise out of acts performed or omitted by the Depositary or the Custodian due to their negligence or bad faith.
20.
RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF THE DEPOSITARY; APPOINTMENT OF SUBSTITUTE OR ADDITIONAL CUSTODIANS.
The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary hereunder by written notice of its election so to do delivered to the Company, such resignation to take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by written notice of such removal, effective upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. Whenever the Depositary in its discretion determines that it is in the best interest of the Owners to do so, it may appoint a substitute or additional custodian approved by the Company (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld).
19.
The form of the Receipts and any provisions of the Deposit Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended by agreement between the Company and the Depositary in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable. Any amendment which shall impose or increase any fees or charges (other than taxes and other governmental charges, registration fees, cable, telex or facsimile transmission costs, delivery costs or other such expenses), or which shall otherwise prejudice any substantial existing right of Owners shall, however, not become effective as to outstanding Receipts until the expiration of 30 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 evidenced thereby except as required by law.
20.
TERMINATION OF DEPOSIT AGREEMENT.
The Depositary will 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 termination to the Company and the Owners of all Receipts then outstanding at least 30 days prior to the date fixed for such termination 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 5.4 of the Deposit Agreement. If any Receipts shall remain outstanding after the date of termination, the Depositary thereafter shall discontinue the registration of transfers of Receipts, shall suspend the distribution of dividends to the Owners thereof, and shall not give any further notices or perform any further acts under the Deposit Agreement, except that the Depositary shall continue to collect dividends and other distributions pertaining to Deposited Securities, shall sell rights as provided in the Deposit Agreement, and shall continue to deliver Deposited Securities, together with any dividends or other distributions received with respect thereto and the net proceeds of the sale of any rights or other property, in exchange for Receipts surrendered to the Depositary (after deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of a Receipt, any expenses for the account of the Owner of such Receipt in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental charges). At any time after the expiration of two years 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 and except for its obligations to the Company with respect to indemnification. 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.
21.
COMPLIANCE WITH U.S. SECURITIES LAWS.
Notwithstanding any provisions in 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 this 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.
22.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Deposit Agreement, and without prejudice to the disclosure obligations in respect of Shares contained in the Articles and the Companies Xxx 0000 of Great Britain (the "Companies Act") and the remedies of the Company under the Articles and the Companies Act for noncompliance therewith, each Owner agrees to comply with requests from the Company or the Depositary made under the Articles or the Companies Act as it currently exists at the date of the Deposit Agreement or as the same may be amended or modified or under any similar law as may be enacted, to provide information as to the capacity in which such Owner owns Receipts and regarding the identity of any other person interested (as defined in the Companies Act) in such Receipts and the nature of such interest. Each Owner acknowledges that failure to comply with such a request may result, inter alia, in the withdrawal of the voting rights attaching to the Shares underlying such Owner's Receipts and, if such Shares represent 0.25 percent or more of the issued Shares, the imposition of restrictions on the rights to transfer, or to receive distributions relating to, the Shares underlying such Receipts. The Depositary agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to forward any such requests from the Company to the Owner or to take any other reasonable actions specified by the Company to obtain such information.
In addition, any holder of a Receipt who is or becomes directly or indirectly interested (within the meaning of the Companies Act) in 3% or more (or such other amount as may be required by the Companies Act) of the outstanding Shares, or is aware that another person for whom it holds such Receipt is so interested, shall within two business days (or such other time as may be required by the Companies Act) after becoming so interested or so aware, and thereafter upon certain changes in such interest, notify the Company as required by the Companies Act.