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TELE NORDESTE CELULAR PARTICIPACOES S.A.
AND
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
As Depositary
AND
OWNERS AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS
Deposit Agreement
Dated as of July 27, 1998
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
PARTIES............................................................ 1
RECITALS........................................................... 1
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01. American Depositary Shares.............. 1
SECTION 1.02. Beneficial Owner ....................... 2
SECTION 1.03. Business Day ........................... 2
SECTION 1.04. Commission ............................. 2
SECTION 1.05. Company ................................ 2
SECTION 1.06. Custodian .............................. 2
SECTION 1.07. Deposit Agreement ...................... 2
SECTION 1.08. Depositary; Corporate Trust
Office ................................ 2
SECTION 1.09. Deposited Securities ................... 2
SECTION 1.10. Dollars; Reais ......................... 3
SECTION 1.11. Foreign Currency ....................... 3
SECTION 1.12. Foreign Registrar ...................... 3
SECTION 1.13. Owner .................................. 3
SECTION 1.14. Pre-Release ............................ 3
SECTION 1.15. Receipts ............................... 3
SECTION 1.16. Registrar .............................. 3
SECTION 1.17. Regulation S ........................... 3
SECTION 1.18. Securities Act of 1933 ................. 3
SECTION 1.19. Shares ................................. 3
ARTICLE 2
FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF SHARES, EXECUTION AND
DELIVERY, TRANSFER AND SURRENDER OF RECEIPTS
SECTION 2.01. Form of Transferability of
Receipts .............................. 4
SECTION 2.02. Deposit of Shares ...................... 5
SECTION 2.03. Execution and Delivery of
Receipts .............................. 6
SECTION 2.04. Transfer of Receipts;
Combination and Split-up
of Receipts ........................... 7
SECTION 2.05. Surrender of Receipts and
Withdrawal of Shares .................. 7
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SECTION 2.06. Limitations on Execution and
Delivery, Transfer and
Surrender of Receipts ................. 9
SECTION 2.07. Lost Receipts, etc. .................... 10
SECTION 2.08. Cancellation and Destruction
of Surrendered Receipts ............... 10
SECTION 2.09. Pre-release of Receipts ................ 10
SECTION 2.10. Maintenance of Records ................. 11
ARTICLE 3
CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF OWNERS OF RECEIPTS
SECTION 3.01. Filing Proofs, Certificates
and Other Information ................. 12
SECTION 3.02. Liability of Owner or
Beneficial Owner for Taxes ............ 12
SECTION 3.03. Warranties on Deposit of
Shares ................................ 13
SECTION 3.04. Disclosure of Interests ................ 13
ARTICLE 4
THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES
SECTION 4.01. Cash Distributions ..................... 14
SECTION 4.02. Distributions Other Than
Cash, Shares or Rights ................ 15
SECTION 4.03. Distributions in Shares ................ 16
SECTION 4.04. Rights ................................. 16
SECTION 4.05. Conversion of Foreign
Currency .............................. 18
SECTION 4.06. Fixing of Record Date .................. 20
SECTION 4.07. Voting of Deposited
Securities ............................ 20
SECTION 4.08. Changes Affecting Deposited
Securities ............................ 22
SECTION 4.09. Reports ................................ 22
SECTION 4.10. Lists of Owners ........................ 23
SECTION 4.11. Withholding ............................ 23
ARTICLE 5
THE DEPOSITARY, THE CUSTODIANS AND THE COMPANY
SECTION 5.01. Maintenance of Office and
Transfer Books by the
Depositary ............................ 24
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SECTION 5.02. Prevention or Delay in
Performance by the
Depositary or the Company ............. 25
SECTION 5.03. Obligations of the Depositary,
the Custodian and the Company ......... 25
SECTION 5.04. Resignation and Removal of
the Depositary ........................ 27
SECTION 5.05. The Custodian .......................... 27
SECTION 5.06. Notices and Reports .................... 28
SECTION 5.07. Distribution of Additional
Shares, Rights, etc. .................. 29
SECTION 5.08. Indemnification ........................ 29
SECTION 5.09. Charges of Depositary .................. 30
SECTION 5.10. Exclusivity ............................ 31
ARTICLE 6
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
SECTION 6.01 Amendment .............................. 32
SECTION 6.02 Termination ............................ 32
ARTICLE 7
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 7.01. Counterparts ........................... 33
SECTION 7.02. No Third Party Beneficiaries ........... 34
SECTION 7.03. Severability ........................... 34
SECTION 7.04. Binding Effect on Owners
and Beneficial Owners ................. 34
SECTION 7.05. Notices ................................ 34
SECTION 7.06. Governing Law .......................... 35
SECTION 7.07. Headings ............................... 35
TESTIMONIUM ....................................................... 36
SIGNATURES ........................................................ 36
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF RECEIPT
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DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
DEPOSIT AGREEMENT, dated as of July 27, 1998, among TELE NORDESTE
CELULAR PARTICIPACOES S.A., a sociedade anonima de economia mista (a limited
liability company) organized under the laws of the Federative Republic of Brazil
(herein called the Company), THE BANK OF NEW YORK, a New York banking
corporation (herein called the Depositary), and all Owners and Beneficial Owners
from time to time of American Depositary Receipts issued hereunder.
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide, as hereinafter set forth in
this Deposit Agreement, for the deposit of Shares (as hereinafter defined) of
the Company 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 Deposit Agreement, for the creation of American Depositary Shares
representing the Shares 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 Deposit Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, it is agreed by
and between the parties hereto 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 3,000 Shares, 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 or otherwise with respect to which
additional Receipts are not executed and delivered, and thereafter American
Depositary Shares shall evidence the
amount of Shares or Deposited Securities specified in such Sections.
SECTION 1.02. Beneficial Owner. The term "Beneficial Owner" shall be
any person who has a beneficial interest in any American Depositary Share.
SECTION 1.03. Business Day. The term "Business Day" shall mean any
day on which both banks in Brazil and banks in New York, New York are not
required or authorized by law to close.
SECTION 1.04. 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 1.05. Company. The term "Company" shall mean Tele Nordeste
Celular Participacoes S.A., incorporated under the laws of Brazil, and its
successors.
SECTION 1.06. Custodian. The term "Custodian" shall mean the
principal Sao Paulo, Brazil office of Banco Itau, 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 1.07. Deposit Agreement. The term "Deposit Agreement" shall
mean this Deposit Agreement, including the Exhibits hereto, as the same may be
amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof.
SECTION 1.08. Depositary: Corporate Trust Office. The term
"Depositary" shall mean The Bank of New York, 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 Deposit Agreement is 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000.
SECTION 1.09. Deposited Securities. The term "Deposited Securities"
as of any time shall mean Shares at such time deposited or deemed to be
deposited (including as contemplated under Section 2.09) under this Deposit
Agreement and any and all other securities, property and cash received or deemed
to be received by the Depositary or the Custodian in respect or in lieu of such
deposited Shares
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and at such time held hereunder, subject as to cash to the provisions of
Section 4.05.
SECTION 1.10. Dollar; Reais. The term "Dollars" shall mean United
States dollars. The term "Reais" shall mean the lawful currency of Brazil.
SECTION 1.11. Foreign Currency. The term "Foreign Currency" shall
mean currency other than Dollars.
SECTION 1.12. Foreign Registrar. The term "Foreign Registrar" shall
mean the entity that presently carries out the duties of registrar for the
Shares or any successor as registrar for the Shares and any other appointed
agent of the Company for the transfer and registration of Shares.
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. Pre-Release. The term "Pre-Release" shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 2.09.
SECTION 1.15. Receipts. The term "Receipts" shall mean the American
Depositary Receipts issued hereunder evidencing American Depositary Shares, as
the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions
hereof.
SECTION 1.16. 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.
SECTION 1.17. Regulation S. The term "Regulation S" shall mean Rules
901 through 904, inclusive, under the Securities Act of 1933, as such Rules may
from time to time be amended.
SECTION 1.18. 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 1.19. Shares. The term "Shares" shall mean shares of the
Company's non-voting preferred stock, without par value, in registered form,
heretofore validly issued and outstanding and fully paid, nonassessable and free
of any pre-emptive rights of the holders of outstanding Shares or hereafter
validly issued, subscribed and
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outstanding and fully paid, nonassessable and free of any pre-emptive rights of
the holders of outstanding Shares or interim certificates representing such
Shares.
ARTICLE 2
FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF SHARES, EXECUTION AND
DELIVERY, TRANSFER AND SURRENDER OF RECEIPTS
SECTION 2.01. Form and Transferability of Receipts. Definitive
Receipts shall be engraved or printed or lithographed on steel-engraved borders
or such other form as may be acceptable to the New York Stock Exchange and 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 signature of a duly
authorized signatory of the Depositary; provided, however, that such signature
may be a facsimile if a Registrar for the Receipts shall have been appointed and
such Receipts are countersigned by the manual signature of a duly authorized
officer of the Registrar. Receipts may be issued in denominations of any whole
number of American Depositary Shares. 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
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 or with any provisions of the Company's
charter or Brazilian law as may be reasonably required by the Depositary in
order 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.
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Title to a Receipt (and to the American Depositary Shares evidenced
thereby), when properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of
transfer, shall be transferable by delivery with the same effect as in the case
of a negotiable instrument; provided, however, that the Depositary and the
Company, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the 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.
SECTION 2.02. Deposit of Shares. Subject to the terms and conditions
of this Deposit Agreement, Shares, or evidence of rights to receive Shares to
the extent permitted by Section 2.09, may be deposited by book-entry delivery
thereof to any Custodian hereunder, accompanied by any appropriate instrument or
instruments of transfer, or endorsement, in form satisfactory to the Custodian,
together with all such certifications as may be required by the Depositary, the
Custodian or the Company in accordance with the provision 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 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
or bodies in Brazil which is or are then regulating currency exchange. If
required by the Depositary, Shares presented for deposit at any time, whether or
not the transfer books of the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable,
are closed, shall also be accompanied by (i) an agreement or assignment, or
other instrument satisfactory to the Depositary, which will provide for the
prompt transfer to the Custodian of any dividend, or right to subscribe for
additional Shares or to receive other property which any person in whose name
the Shares are or have been recorded may thereafter receive upon or in respect
of such deposited Shares, or in lieu thereof, such agreement of indemnity or
other agreement as shall be satisfactory to the Depositary and (ii) if the
Shares are registered in the name of the person on whose behalf they are
presented for deposit, a proxy or proxies entitling the Custodian to vote such
deposited Shares for any and all purposes until the Shares are registered in the
name of the Custodian or its nominees.
At the request and risk and expense of any person proposing to
deposit Shares, and for the account of such
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person, the Depositary may receive certificates for Shares to be deposited,
together with the other instruments herein specified, for the purpose of
forwarding such Share certificates to the Custodian for deposit hereunder.
Upon each delivery to a Custodian of Shares to be deposited
hereunder, together with the other documents above specified, such Custodian
shall, as soon as transfer and recordation can be accomplished, present such
evidence of ownership to the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable,
for transfer and recordation of the Shares being deposited in the name of the
Depositary or its nominee or such Custodian or its nominee at the cost and
expense of the person making such deposit (or for whose benefit such deposit is
made) and shall obtain evidence satisfactory to it of such registration.
Deposited Securities shall be held by the Depositary or by a
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 Company or the Foreign Registrar, if
applicable, are open, the Depositary may in its sole discretion require a proper
acknowledgment or other evidence from the Company or the Foreign Registrar, as
the case may be, that any Deposited Securities have been recorded upon the books
of the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, in the name of the
Depositary or its nominee or such Custodian or its nominee), together with the
other documents required as above specified, such 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, telex or facsimile transmission. Upon receiving
such notice from such Custodian, or upon the receipt of Shares by the
Depositary, the Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit
Agreement, shall, as promptly as practicable, execute and deliver at its
Corporate Trust Office, to or upon the order of the person or persons entitled
thereto, 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
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Receipt or Receipts as provided in Section 5.09, and of all taxes and
governmental charges and fees, if any, payable in connection with such deposit
and the transfer of the Deposited Securities. The Depositary shall not issue
Receipts except in accordance with this Section 2.03 and Sections 2.04, 2.07,
2.09, 4.03, 4.04 and 4.08.
SECTION 2.04. Transfer of Receipts; Combination and Split-up of
Receipts. The Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit
Agreement, shall 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 proper 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.
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, upon at least 20 days' written notice to
the Company, one or more co-transfer agents, reasonably acceptable to the
Company, for the purpose of effecting transfers, combinations and split-ups of
Receipts at designated transfer offices on behalf of the Depositary. 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.
SECTION 2.05. Surrender of Receipts and Withdrawal of Shares. 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, if any, payable in connection with such
surrender and withdrawal of the Deposited Securities, and subject to the terms
and conditions of this Deposit Agreement and the Company's
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Charter, the Owner of such Receipt shall be entitled to delivery, to him or upon
his order, of the amount of Deposited Securities at the time represented by the
American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt. Delivery of such Deposited
Securities may be made by (a) (i) the delivery of certificates in the name of
such Owner or as ordered by him or certificates properly endorsed or accompanied
by proper instruments of transfer to such Owner or as ordered by him, or (ii)
book-entry transfer of the Shares represented by such Receipt to an account in
the name of such Owner or as ordered by him, and (b) delivery of 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 promptly as practicable, as hereinafter provided.
A Receipt surrendered for such purposes may be required by the
Depositary to be properly endorsed in blank or accompanied by proper 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, as promptly as practicable, direct the Custodian to deliver at
the Sao Paulo office of such Custodian, subject to Sections 2.06, 3.01 and 3.02
and to the other terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement and the
Company's Charter, 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 (other than rights) comprising,
and forward a certificate or certificates 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
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or, at the request, risk and expense of such Owner, by cable, telex or facsimile
transmission.
Neither the Depositary nor the Custodian shall deliver Shares, by
physical delivery, book entry or otherwise (other than to the Company or its
agent as contemplated by Section 4.08), or otherwise permit Shares to be
withdrawn from the facility created hereby, except upon the receipt and
cancellation of Receipts.
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, the
delivery of any distribution thereon, or withdrawal of any Deposited Securities,
the Company, Depositary, Custodian or Registrar may require payment from the
depositor of Shares or the 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, charge or fee
with respect to Shares being deposited or withdrawn) and payment of any fees of
the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09, 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 the Depositary may
establish consistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, including,
without limitation, this Section 2.06.
The delivery of Receipts against deposits of Shares generally or
against deposits of particular Shares may be suspended, or the transfer of
Receipts in particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer
of outstanding Receipts or the combination or split-up of Receipts generally may
be suspended, during any period when the transfer books of the Depositary 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 this Deposit Agreement, or for any other reason, subject to the
provisions of the following sentence. 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 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,
(iii) compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or
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governmental regulations relating to the Receipts or to the withdrawal of the
Deposited Securities, or (iv) any other reason that may at any time be specified
in paragraph 1(A) (1) of the General Instructions to Form F-6, as from time to
time in effect successor provision thereto. Without limitation of the
foregoing, the Depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under this
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 of the Company
that the Depositary shall not accept for deposit hereunder any Shares identified
in such instructions at such times and under such circumstances as may
reasonably be specified in such instructions in order to facilitate the
Company's compliance with the securities laws in the United States.
SECTION 2.07. Lost Receipts. etc. 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, subject to
Section 2.10.
SECTION 2.09. Pre-Release of Receipts. The Depositary may issue
Receipts against rights to receive Shares from the Company (or any agent of the
Company recording Share ownership). No such issue of Receipts will be deemed a
"Pre-Release" subject to the restrictions of the following paragraph.
Unless requested by the Company to cease doing so, the Depositary
may, notwithstanding Section 2.03 hereof, execute and deliver Receipts prior to
the receipt of Shares pursuant to Section 2.02 ("Pre-Release"). The Depositary
may, pursuant to Section 2.05, deliver Shares upon the
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receipt and cancellation of Receipts which have been Pre-Released, whether or
not such cancellation is prior to the termination of such Pre-Release or the
Depositary knows that such Receipt has been Pre-Released. The Depositary
may receive Receipts in lieu of Shares in satisfaction of a Pre-Release. Each
Pre-Release will be (a) preceded or accompanied by a written representation and
agreement from the person to whom Receipts are to be delivered (the
"Pre-Releasee") that the Pre-Releasee, or its customer, (i) owns the Shares or
Receipts to be remitted, as the case may be, (ii) assigns all beneficial right,
title and interest in such Shares or Receipts, as the case may be, to the
Depositary for the benefit of the Owners, and (iii) agrees in effect to hold
such Shares or Receipts, as the case may be, for the account of the Depositary
until delivery of the same upon the Depositary's request, (b) at all times fully
collateralized with cash or U.S. government securities, (c) terminable by the
Depositary on not more than five (5) business days notice, and (d) subject to
such further indemnities and credit regulations as the Depositary deems
appropriate. The number of American Depositary Shares which are outstanding at
any time as a result of Pre-Releases will not normally exceed thirty percent
(30%) of the American Depositary Shares outstanding (without giving effect to
American Depositary Shares evidenced by Receipts outstanding as a result of
Pre-Release); provided, however, that the Depositary reserves the right to
disregard such limit from time to time as it deems appropriate and may, with the
prior written consent of the Company, change such limit for purposes of general
application. The Depositary will also set limits with respect to the number of
Pre-Released Receipts involved in transactions to be done hereunder with any one
person on a case by case basis as it deems appropriate. The collateral referred
to in clause (b) above shall be held by the Depositary for the benefit of the
Owners as security for the performance of the obligations to deliver Shares or
Receipts set forth in clause (a) above (and shall not, for the avoidance of
doubt, constitute Deposited Securities hereunder).
The Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation
received by it in connection with the foregoing.
SECTION 2.10. Maintenance of Records. The Depositary agrees to
maintain or cause its agents to maintain records of all Receipts surrendered and
Deposited Securities withdrawn under Section 2.05, substitute Receipts delivered
under Section 2.07, and of canceled or destroyed Receipts under Section 2.08, in
keeping with procedures ordinarily followed by stock transfer agents located in
The
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City of New York or as required by the laws or regulations governing the
Depositary. Prior to destroying any such records, the Depositary will notify the
Company and will turn such records over to the Company upon its request.
ARTICLE 3
CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF OWNERS OF RECEIPTS
SECTION 3.01. Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information. Any
person presenting Shares for deposit or any Owner of a Receipt may be required
from time to time to file with the Depositary or the Custodian such proof of
citizenship or residence, exchange control approval, legal or beneficial
ownership of Receipts, Deposited Securities or other securities, compliance with
all applicable laws or regulations or terms of this Deposit Agreement or the
Receipts, 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 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. The
Depositary shall from time to time advise the Company of the availability of any
such proofs, certificates or other information and shall provide copies thereof
to the Company as promptly as practicable upon request by the Company, unless
such disclosure is prohibited by law.
SECTION 3.02. Liability of Owner or Beneficial Owner for Taxes. If
any tax or other governmental charge shall become payable by the Custodian or
the Depositary 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 or Beneficial Owner of such Receipt to the Depositary. The
Depositary may refuse to effect any transfer of such Receipt or any combination
or split-up thereof 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 or Beneficial 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
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such sale in payment of such tax or other governmental charge (and any taxes or
expenses arising out of such sale), and the Owner or Beneficial Owner of such
Receipt shall remain liable for any deficiency.
SECTION 3.03. Warranties on Deposit of Shares. Every person
depositing Shares under this Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to
represent and warrant that such Shares and each certificate therefor are validly
issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free of any preemptive rights of the
holders of outstanding Shares and that the person making such deposit is duly
authorized so to do. Every such person shall also be deemed to represent that
(i) the Shares presented for deposit are not, and the Receipts issuable upon
such deposit will not be, restricted securities within the meaning of Rule
144(a) (3) under the Securities Act of 1933, and (ii) the deposit of such Shares
and the sale of Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares representing such
Shares by that person are not otherwise restricted under the Securities Act of
1933. Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit of Shares
and issuance of Receipts.
SECTION 3.04. Disclosure of Interests. To the extent that provisions
of or governing any Deposited Securities (including the Company's Charter or
applicable law) may require the disclosure of beneficial or other ownership of
Deposited Securities, other Shares and other securities to the Company and may
provide for blocking transfer and voting or other rights to enforce such
disclosure or limit such ownership, the Depositary shall use its best efforts
that are reasonable under the circumstances to comply with Company instructions
as to Receipts in respect of any such enforcement or limitation, and Owners and
Beneficial Owners shall comply with all such disclosure requirements and
ownership limitations and shall cooperate with the Depositary's compliance with
such Company instructions.
The Depositary and the Company hereby confirm to each other that,
for as long as this Deposit Agreement is in effect, they shall furnish to the
Comissao de Valores Mobiliarios (the "CVM") and the Central Bank of Brazil any
information and documents related to the Receipts and the Depositary's
obligations hereunder as may be requested by such authorities from time to time,
whether such information and documents are requested from the Depositary or the
Company. 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
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reasonably determined by the Depositary, civil liabilities as a result of the
Company having failed to provide such information or documents reasonably
available only through the Company, the Depositary has the right to immediately
resign as Depositary and will not be subject to any liability hereunder for such
resignation or such determination, except that (i) the Depositary shall
promptly, but in no event later than three business days, if permitted by
applicable law, duly assign, transfer and deliver all right, title and interest
in and to the Deposited Securities held on account or on behalf of Owners to the
Company or its nominee and (ii) to the extent reasonably requested by the
Company and not prohibited by applicable law, the Depositary shall provide the
Company or any successor depositary hereunder with access, during normal
business hours, to such records as may be reasonably necessary to enable the
Company or such successor depositary to fulfill the obligations that the
Depositary would have had hereunder but for such resignation. Upon effectiveness
of such resignation the Depositary shall otherwise be discharged from all of its
obligations under this Deposit Agreement. In the event that the Depositary
resigns pursuant to this paragraph either (i) the Company will appoint a new
depositary, in which case the Company will assume the obligations stated as the
obligations of the Depositary under Section 5.04 herein or (ii) if the Company
fails to appoint a new depositary within 60 days of such resignation, this
Deposit Agreement shall be terminated in accordance with Section 6.02 herein and
the Company or its designated agent will assume the obligations stated as the
obligations of the Depositary in such section.
ARTICLE 4
THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES
SECTION 4.01. Cash Distributions. Whenever the Depositary, or on its
behalf, its agent, shall receive any cash dividend or other cash distribution on
any Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall, or shall cause its agent, as
promptly as practicable (and in any event within one Business Day) after its
receipt of such dividend or distribution (unless otherwise prohibited or
prevented by law), subject to the provisions of Section 4.05, to convert such
dividend or distribution into Dollars and shall, as promptly as practicable,
distribute the amount thus received (net of the expenses of the Depositary as
provided in Section 5.09) to the Owners entitled thereto, in proportion to the
number of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held
by them respectively;
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provided, however, that in the event that the Company 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, 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 amounts as can be distributed without distributing to any
Owner a fraction of one cent and any balance that is not so distributed shall be
held by the Depositary (without liability for the interest thereon) and shall be
added to and be part of the next sum received by the Depositary for distribution
to the Owners of Receipts then outstanding. The Company 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 Company or its agent in a
timely manner 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, and the Depositary or the Company or its agent may file
any such reports necessary to obtain benefits under the applicable tax treaties
for the Owners.
SECTION 4.02. Distributions Other Than Cash, Shares 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, as promptly as practicable, cause the
securities or property received by it 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 Owner's entitled thereto,
or if for any other reason (including, but not limited to, any requirement that
the Company 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) the
Depositary deems such distribution not to be feasible, the Depositary may, after
consultation with the Company, adopt such method as it may deem equitable and
practicable for the purpose of effecting such distribution, including, but not
limited to, the public or private sale of the securities or property thus
received, or any part thereof, and the net proceeds of any such sale (net of the
fees of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 and any expenses in
connection with such sale) shall be distributed by the Depositary to
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the Owners entitled thereto as in the case of a distribution received in cash
pursuant to Section 4.01; provided, however, no distribution to Owners pursuant
to this section 4.02 shall be unreasonably delayed by any action of the
Depositary or any of its agents.
SECTION 4.03. Distributions in Shares. If any distribution upon any
Deposited Securities consists of a dividend in, or free distribution of, Shares,
the Depositary may or shall, if the Company shall so request, distribute, as
promptly as practicable, 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
Shares received as such dividend or free distribution, subject to the terms and
conditions of the Deposit Agreement with respect to the deposit of Shares and
the issuance of American Depositary Shares evidenced by Receipts, including the
withholding of any tax or other governmental charge as provided in Section 4.11
and the payment of the fees of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09. In
lieu of delivering Receipts for fractional American Depositary Shares in any
such case, the Depositary shall 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 described in Section 4.01; provided, however, no
distribution to Owners pursuant to this Section 4.03 shall be unreasonably
delayed by any action of the Depositary or any of its agents. If additional
Receipts are not so distributed, each American Depositary Share shall
thenceforth also represent the additional Shares distributed upon the Deposited
Securities represented thereby. In addition, the Depositary may withhold any
distribution of Receipts under this Section 4.03 if it has not received
satisfactory assurances from the Company that such distribution does not require
registration under the Securities Act or is exempt from registration under the
provisions of such Act; provided that, in any such event, the Depositary may
sell the Shares distributed upon the Deposited Securities and distribute the net
proceeds, all in the manner and subject to the conditions described in Section
4.01.
SECTION 4.04. Rights. In the event that the Company shall offer or
cause to be offered to the holders of any Deposited Securities any rights to
subscribe for additional Shares or any rights of any other nature, the
Depositary, after consultation with the Company, shall have discretion as to the
procedure to be followed in making such rights available to any Owners or in
disposing of such
-16-
rights on behalf of any Owners and making the net proceeds available to such
Owners or, if by the terms of such rights offering or for any other reason it
would be unlawful for the Depositary either to make such rights available to any
Owners or dispose of such rights and make the net proceeds available to such
Owners, then the Depositary shall allow the rights to lapse. If at the time of
the offering of any rights the Depositary determines in its discretion that it
is lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all or certain Owners
but not to other Owners, the Depositary may, and at the request of the Company
shall, distribute to any Owner to whom it determines the distribution to be
lawful and feasible, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares
held by such Owner, warrants or other instruments therefor in such form as it
deems appropriate.
In circumstances in which rights would otherwise not be distributed,
if an Owner requests the distribution of warrants or other instruments in order
to exercise the rights allocable to the American Depositary Shares of such Owner
hereunder, the Depositary will promptly make such rights available to such Owner
upon written notice from the Company to the Depositary that (a) the Company has
elected in its sole discretion to permit such rights to be exercised and (b)
such Owner has executed such documents as the Company has determined in its sole
discretion are reasonably required under applicable law.
If the Depositary has distributed warrants or other instruments for
rights to all or certain Owners, then upon instruction from such an Owner
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 Shares to
be received upon the exercise of the rights, and upon payment of the fees of the
Depositary and any other charges as set forth in such warrants or other
instruments, the Depositary shall, on behalf of such Owner, exercise the rights
and purchase the Shares, and the Company shall cause the Shares so purchased to
be delivered to the Depositary on behalf of such Owner. As agent for such Owner,
the Depositary will cause the Shares so purchased to be deposited pursuant to
Section 2.02 of this Deposit Agreement, and shall, pursuant to Section 2.03 of
this Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver Receipts to such Owner. In the case
of a distribution pursuant to this paragraph, such 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.
-17-
If the Depositary determines that it is not lawful or feasible to
make such rights available to all or certain Owners, it may, and at the request
of the Company will use its best efforts that are reasonable under the
circumstances to, 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, any expenses in connection with such sale and all
taxes and governmental charges payable in connection with such rights and
subject to the terms and conditions of 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. Such proceeds shall be distributed as promptly as
practicable in accordance with Section 4.01 hereof.
If a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 is
required with respect to the securities to which any rights relate in order for
the Company to offer such rights to Owners and sell the securities represented
by such rights, the Depositary will not offer such rights to Owners having an
address in the United States (as defined in Regulation S) unless and until such
a registration statement is in effect, or unless the offering and sale of such
securities and such rights to such Owners are exempt from registration under the
provisions of such Act.
The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to determine
that it may be lawful or feasible to make such rights available to Owners in
general or any Owner in particular.
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, and if at the time of the receipt thereof the Foreign Currency so
received can, pursuant to applicable law, be converted on a reasonable basis
into Dollars and the resulting Dollars transferred to the United States, the
Depositary or the Custodian shall convert or cause to be converted as promptly
as practicable (and in any event within one Business Day of its or its agent's
receipt of such Foreign Currency), 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
-18-
conversion of such Foreign Currency into Dollars, such Dollars can, pursuant to
applicable law, be transferred outside of Brazil for distribution to Owners
entitled thereto, such Dollars shall be distributed as promptly as practicable
to the Owners entitled thereto or, if the Depositary shall have distributed any
rights, warrants or other instruments which entitle the holders thereof to such
Dollars, then to the holders of such rights, warrants and/or instruments upon
surrender thereof for cancellation. Such distribution or conversion may be made
upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions
among Owners on account of exchange restrictions, the date of delivery of any
Receipt or otherwise and shall be net of any expenses of conversion into Dollars
incurred by the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09.
If such conversion, transfer or distribution can be effected only
with the approval or license of any government or agency thereof, the Depositary
shall file as promptly as practicable 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 the
Custodian is not, pursuant to applicable law, convertible, in whole or in part,
into Dollars, or if any approval or license of any government or agency thereof
which is required for such conversion is denied or in the opinion of the
Depositary cannot be promptly obtained, the Depositary shall, (a) as to that
portion of the Foreign Currency that is convertible into Dollars, make such
conversion and, if permitted by applicable law, transfer such Dollars to the
United States for distribution to Owners in accordance with the first paragraph
of this Section 4.05 or, if such transfer is not so permitted, hold such Dollars
uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective
accounts of the Owners entitled to receive the same, and (b) as to the
nonconvertible balance, if any, (i) if requested in writing by an Owner,
distribute or cause the Custodian to distribute the Foreign Currency (or an
appropriate document evidencing the right to receive such Foreign Currency)
received by the Depositary or Custodian to such Owner and (ii) the Depositary
shall hold or shall cause the Custodian to hold any amounts of nonconvertible
Foreign Currency not distributed pursuant to the immediate preceding subclause
(i) uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective
accounts of the Owners entitled to receive the same.
-19-
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 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, or whenever the Depositary shall find it
necessary or convenient, the Depositary shall fix a record date, which date
shall, to the extent practicable, be either (x) the same date as the record date
fixed by the Company, or (y) if different from the record date fixed by the
Company, be fixed after consultation with the Company (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
Shares. 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 and to act in respect of any other such matter. The Company agrees
to provide the Depositary with 10 days' prior notice of any meeting of
shareholders or of the Board of Directors of the Company, the agenda for which
includes authorization for the declaration of a dividend; provided, however,
that if the date for any such meeting is fixed less than 10 days prior to such
meeting or the Company does not know, 10 days prior to such meeting, that a
dividend may be declared at any such meeting, then the Company shall give such
notice to the Depositary as promptly as practicable after such date is fixed or
the Company learns that a dividend may be declared.
SECTION 4.07. Voting of Deposited Securities. At any time that the
Depositary has the right to vote the Shares represented by the American
Depositary Shares, the Depositary will comply with the following provisions.
As soon as practicable after receipt of notice of any meeting or
solicitation of consents or proxies of holders of Shares or other Deposited
Securities, if requested in writing by the Company, the Depositary shall, as
soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the Owners a
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notice, the form of which notice shall be in the sole discretion of the
Depositary, which shall contain (a) such information as is contained in such
notice of meeting (or if requested by the Company a summary of such information
provided by the Company), (b) a statement that the Owners 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 Charter of the Company, to instruct the
Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the
amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by their respective
American Depositary Shares and (c) a statement as to the manner in which such
instructions may be given, including an express indication that instructions may
be given or deemed given in accordance with the last sentence of this paragraph
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 on
such record date, received on or before the date established by the Depositary
for such purpose, the Depositary shall endeavor, in so far 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 shall
not itself exercise any voting discretion over any Deposited Securities. If no
instructions are received by the Depositary from any Owner with respect to any
of the Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares
evidenced by such Owner's Receipts on or before the date established by the
Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall deem such Owner to have
instructed the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated
by the Company with respect to such Deposited Securities and the Depositary
shall give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company to vote
such Deposited Securities, provided that no such instruction shall be deemed
given and no such discretionary proxy shall be given with respect to any matter
as to which the Company 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 given, (y) substantial opposition exists or (z)
such matter materially and adversely affects the rights of holders of Shares.
Subject to the rules of any securities exchange on which American
Depositary Shares or the Deposited Securities represented thereby are listed,
the Depositary shall if requested by the Company deliver, at least two Business
Days prior to the date of such meeting, to the Company, to the attention of its
Secretary, copies of all instructions
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received from Owners in accordance with which the Depositary will vote, or cause
to be voted, the Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary
Shares evidenced by such Receipts at such meeting. Delivery of instructions will
be made at the expense of the Company (unless otherwise agreed in writing by the
Company and the Depositary) provided that payment of such expense shall not be a
condition precedent to the obligations of the Depositary under this Section.
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, change in par value, split-up, consolidation or any other
reclassification of Deposited Securities, or upon any recapitalization,
reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale of assets affecting the Company
or to which it is a party, any securities which shall 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, and shall if the Company shall so request, execute
and deliver additional Receipts as in the case of a dividend in Shares, or call
for the surrender of outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts
specifically describing such new Deposited Securities.
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
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 shall also send to the
Owners copies of such reports when furnished by the Company pursuant to Section
5.06. Any such reports and communications, including any such proxy soliciting
material, furnished to the Depositary by the Company shall be furnished in
English, to the extent such materials are required to be translated into English
pursuant to any regulations of the Commission. The Company agrees to provide to
the Depositary, at the Company's expense (unless otherwise agreed in writing by
the Company and the Depositary), all documents that it provides to the
Custodian.
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In the event the Receipts are listed or quoted on a national
securities exchange in the United States, the Company will promptly transmit to
the Custodian English language versions of any reports and other communications
that are made generally available by the Company to holders of its Shares or
other Deposited Securities and the Depositary will, at the Company's expense
(unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Company and the Depositary), arrange
for the prompt transmittal by the Custodian to the Depositary of such notices,
reports and other communications and arrange for the mailing, at the Company's
expense (unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Company and the Depositary),
of copies thereof (or if requested by the Company, a summary of any such notice
provided by the Company) to all Owners or, at the request of the Company, make
such notices, reports and other communications available to all Owners on a
basis similar to that for holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, or on
such other basis as the Company may advise the Depositary may be required by any
applicable law, regulation or stock exchange requirement. The Company has
delivered to the Depositary and the Custodian a copy of the provisions of or
governing the Shares and any other Deposited Securities issued by the Company or
any affiliate of the Company, and promptly upon any amendment thereto or change
therein, the Company shall deliver to the Depositary and the Custodian a copy of
such provisions as so amended or changed. The Depositary may rely upon such copy
for all purposes of this Deposit Agreement. The Depositary will, at the expense
of the Company (unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Company and the
Depositary), make such copy and such notices, reports and other communications
available for inspection by Owners at the Depositary's office, at the office of
the Custodian and at any other designated transfer offices.
SECTION 4.10. Lists of Owners. Promptly upon request by the Company,
the Depositary shall, at the expense of the Company (unless otherwise agreed in
writing by the Company and the Depositary), furnish to it a list, as of a recent
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 connection with any distribution to
Owners, the Company will remit to the appropriate governmental authority or
agency all amounts (if any) required to be withheld by the Company and owing to
such authority or agency by the Company; and the Depositary and the Custodian
will remit to the appropriate governmental authority or agency all amounts (if
any) required to be withheld and owing to such authority or agency by the
-23-
Depositary or the Custodian. In the event that the Depositary determines that
any distribution in property other than cash (including Shares and rights to
subscribe therefor) is subject to any tax or other governmental charge which the
Depositary is obligated to withhold, the Depositary may by public or private
sale dispose of all or a portion of such property (including Shares and rights
to subscribe therefor) in such amounts and in such manner as the Depositary
deems necessary and practicable to pay any such taxes or charges and the
Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds of any such sale after deduction of
such taxes or charges to the Owners entitled thereto in proportion to the number
of American Depositary Shares held by them respectively, all in accordance with
applicable provisions of this Deposit Agreement.
ARTICLE 5
THE DEPOSITARY, THE CUSTODIANS AND THE COMPANY
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, combinations and split-ups 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 for an object other than the business of the Company,
including without limitation a matter related to this Deposit Agreement or the
Receipts.
The Depositary may close the transfer books after consultation with
the Company to the extent practicable, at any time or from time to time, when
deemed expedient by it in connection with the performance of its duties
hereunder or at the request of the Company, provided that any such closing of
the transfer books shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2.06 which
limit the suspension of withdrawals of Shares.
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, with the written approval of the Company, appoint a
-24-
Registrar or one or more co-registrars for registry of such Receipts in
accordance with any requirements of such exchange or exchanges.
The Company shall have the right, upon reasonable request, to
inspect the transfer and registration records of the Depositary relating to the
Receipts, to take copies thereof and to require the Depositary and any
co-registrars to supply copies of such portions of such records as the Company
may request.
SECTION 5.02. Prevention or Delay in Performance by the Depositary
or the Company. Neither the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their
respective directors, employees, agents or affiliates shall incur any liability
to any Owner or Beneficial Owner, if by reason of any provision of any present
or future law or regulation of the United States or any other country, or of any
governmental or regulatory authority or stock exchange, or by reason of any
provision, present or future, of the Charter of the Company, or by reason of any
act of God or war or other circumstance beyond its control, the Depositary or
the Company shall be prevented or forbidden from, or be subject to any civil or
criminal penalty on account of, doing or performing any act or thing which by
the terms of this Deposit Agreement it is provided shall be done or performed;
nor shall the Depositary or the Company nor any of their respective directors,
employees, agents or affiliates incur any liability to any Owner or Beneficial
Owner 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, or by reason of any exercise of,
or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in this Deposit Agreement.
Where, by the terms of a distribution pursuant to Sections 4.01, 4.02, or 4.03
of the Deposit Agreement, or an offering or distribution pursuant to Section
4.04 of the Deposit Agreement, or for any other reason, the Depositary is
prevented or prohibited from making such distribution or offering available to
Owners, and the Depositary is prevented or prohibited from disposing of such
distribution or offering on behalf of such Owners and making the net proceeds
available to such Owners, then the Depositary, after consultation with the
Company, 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
Company. The Company assumes no obligation nor shall it be subject to any
liability under this Deposit Agreement to Owners or Beneficial Owners, except
-25-
that it agrees to perform its obligations specifically set forth in this Deposit
Agreement without negligence or bad faith.
The Depositary assumes no obligation nor shall it be subject to any
liability under this Deposit Agreement to any Owner or Beneficial Owner
(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 or bad
faith.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be under any obligation
to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in
respect of any Deposited Securities or in respect of the Receipts, which in its
opinion may involve it in expense or liability, unless indemnity satisfactory to
it against all expense and liability shall be furnished as often as may be
required, and the Custodian shall not be under any obligation whatsoever with
respect to such proceedings, the responsibility of the Custodian being solely to
the Depositary.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be liable for any
action or nonaction by it in reliance upon the advice of or information from
legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares for deposit, any Owner
or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such
advice or information.
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 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.
No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act of 1933 is
intended by any provision of this Deposit Agreement.
-26-
The Depositary, subject to Sections 2.05 and 2.09 hereof, may own
and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in
Receipts.
SECTION 5.04. Resignation and Removal of the Depositary. 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 hereinafter provided.
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 hereinafter provided.
In case at any time the Depositary acting hereunder shall resign or
be removed, the Company shall use its best efforts that are reasonable under the
circumstances 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.
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 Custodian shall be subject at all
times and in all respects to the directions of the Depositary and shall be
responsible solely to it and the Depositary shall be responsible for the
compliance by the Custodian with the applicable provisions of this Deposit
Agreement. Any Custodian may resign 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. If upon such
-27-
resignation there shall be no Custodian acting hereunder, the Depositary shall,
promptly after receiving such notice, appoint a substitute custodian or
custodians approved by the Company (such approval not to be unreasonably
withheld), each of which shall thereafter be a Custodian hereunder. The
Depositary may discharge any Custodian at any time upon notice to the Custodian
being discharged with the approval of the Company (such approval not to be
unreasonably withheld). Whenever the Depositary in its discretion determines
that it is in the best interest of the Owners to do so, it may appoint
substitute or additional custodian or custodians, which shall thereafter be one
of the Custodians hereunder. The Depositary shall notify the Company of the
appointment of a substitute or additional Custodian at least 30 days prior to
the date on which such appointment is to become effective. Upon demand of the
Depositary any Custodian shall deliver such of the Deposited Securities held by
it as are requested of it to any other Custodian or such substitute or
additional custodian or custodians. Each such substitute or additional custodian
shall deliver to the Depositary, forthwith upon its appointment, an acceptance
of such appointment satisfactory in form and substance to the Depositary.
Promptly after any such change, the Depositary shall give notice thereof in
writing to all Owners.
Upon the appointment of any successor depositary hereunder, each
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 each
Custodian hereunder; but the successor depositary so appointed shall,
nevertheless, on the written request of any Custodian, execute and deliver to
such Custodian all such instruments as may be proper to give to such 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 Company gives notice, by publication or otherwise, of any meeting of
holders of Shares 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 Company 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 or other Deposited Securities.
The Company will arrange for the translation into English, if not
already in English, to the extent required pursuant to any regulations of the
Commission, and the
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prompt transmittal by the Company to the Depositary and the Custodian of such
notices and any other reports and communications which are made generally
available by the Company to holders of its Shares. If requested in writing by
the Company, the Depositary will arrange for the mailing, as promptly as
practicable and at the Company's expense (unless otherwise agreed in writing by
the Company and the Depositary), of copies of such notices, reports and
communications to all Owners. The Company 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.
SECTION 5.07. Distribution of Additional Shares, Rights, etc. The
Company agrees that in the event of any issuance or distribution of (1)
additional Shares, (2) rights to subscribe for Shares, (3) securities
convertible into or exchangeable for Shares, or (4) rights to subscribe for such
securities, the Company will take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that
no violation by the Company or the Depositary of the Securities Act of 1933 will
result from such issuance or distribution.
The Company agrees with the Depositary that neither the Company nor
any company controlled by the Company will at any time deposit any Shares,
either originally issued or previously issued and reacquired by the Company or
any such affiliate, unless a Registration Statement is in effect as to such
Shares under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Company furnishes to the
Depositary a written opinion from U.S. counsel for the Company, which counsel
shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary, stating that the offer and
sale of the Receipts evidencing the American Depositary Shares representing such
Shares are exempt from registration under that Act. The Company will advise each
person who, to the best knowledge of the Company, controls, or is under common
control with, the Company that such person is subject to the same restrictions
on the deposit of Shares as the Company and persons controlled by the Company.
SECTION 5.08. Indemnification. The Company 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 acts performed or omitted, in accordance with the
provisions of this Deposit Agreement and of the Receipts, as the same may be
amended, modified or supplemented from time to time,
-29-
(i) by either the Depositary or a Custodian or their respective directors,
employees, agents and affiliates, except for any liability or expense arising
out of the negligence or bad faith of either of them, and except to the extent
that such liability or expense arises out of information relating to the
Depositary or the Custodian, as applicable, furnished in writing to the Company
by the Depositary or the Custodian, as applicable, expressly for use in any
registration statement, proxy statement, prospectus (or placement memorandum) or
preliminary prospectus (or preliminary placement memorandum) relating to the
Shares, or omissions from such information; or (ii) by the Company or any of its
directors, employees, agents and affiliates. The indemnities contained in this
paragraph shall not extend to any liability or expense which may arise out of
any Pre-Release.
The Depositary agrees to indemnify the Company, its directors,
employees, agents and affiliates and hold them harmless from any liability or
expense which may arise out of acts performed or omitted by the Depositary or
its Custodian or their respective directors, employees, agents and affiliates
due to their negligence or bad faith.
The obligations set forth in this Section 5.08 shall survive the
termination of this Deposit Agreement and the succession or substitution of any
indemnified person.
Any person seeking indemnification hereunder (an "Indemnified
Person") shall notify the person from whom it is seeking indemnification (the
"Indemnifying Person") of the 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 such action
or claim without the consent in writing of the Indemnifying Person.
SECTION 5.09. Charges of Depositary. The Company agrees to pay the
fees and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the Depositary and those of any
Registrar only in accordance with agreements in writing entered into between the
Depositary and the Company from time to time. The Depositary shall present
detailed statements for such expenses to the Company at least once every three
months. The charges and expenses of the Custodian are for the sole account of
the Depositary.
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The following charges (to the extent permitted by applicable law or
the rules of any securities exchange on which the American Depositary Shares are
admitted for trading) shall be incurred by any party depositing or withdrawing
Shares or by any party surrendering Receipts or to whom Receipts are issued
(including, without limitation, issuance pursuant to a stock dividend or stock
split declared by the Company or an exchange of stock regarding the Receipts or
Deposited Securities or a distribution of Receipts pursuant to Section 4.03),
whichever applicable: (1) taxes and other governmental charges, (2) such
registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the registration of
transfers of Shares generally on the Share register of the Company or Foreign
Registrar and applicable to transfers of Shares to the name of the Depositary or
its nominee or the Custodian or its nominee on the making of deposits or
withdrawals hereunder, (3) such cable, telex and facsimile transmission expenses
as are expressly provided in this Deposit Agreement, (4) such expenses as are
incurred by the Depositary in the conversion of foreign currency pursuant to
Section 4.05, (5) a fee not in excess of $5.00 or less per 100 American
Depositary Shares (or portion thereof) for the execution and delivery of
Receipts pursuant to Sections 2.03 or 4.03 and the surrender of Receipts
pursuant to Section 2.05 and (6) a fee for the distribution of proceeds of sales
of securities or rights pursuant to Section 4.02 or 4.04, respectively, such fee
(which may be deducted from such proceeds) being in an amount equal to the
lesser of (i) the fee for the issuance of American Depositary Shares referred to
above which would have been charged as a result of the deposit by Owners of
securities (for purposes of this clause 6 treating all such securities as if
they were Shares) or Shares received in exercise of rights distributed to them
pursuant to Section 4.02 or 4.04, respectively, but which securities or rights
are instead sold by the Depositary and the net proceeds distributed and (ii) the
amount of such proceeds.
SECTION 5.10. Exclusivity. The Company agrees not to appoint any
other depositary for issuance of American Depositary Receipts so long as The
Bank of New York is acting as Depositary hereunder, subject, however, to the
rights of the Company under Section 5.04.
-31-
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 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 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 Company, 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 this Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination
to the Company and the Owners of all Receipts then outstanding, such termination
to be effective on a date specified in such notice not less than 30 days after
the date thereof, if at any time 60 days shall have expired after the Depositary
shall have delivered to the Company a written notice of its election to resign
and a successor depositary shall not have been appointed and accepted its
appointment as provided in 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 the Owner
or upon the Owner's order, of the amount of Deposited Securities represented by
the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt. If any Receipts shall
remain outstanding after the date of termination, the Depositary thereafter
shall discontinue the registration of transfers
-32-
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
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) and except as provided in Section
5.08. Upon the termination of this Deposit Agreement, the Company shall be
discharged from all obligations under this Deposit Agreement except for its
obligations to the Depositary under Sections 5.08 and 5.09 hereof.
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 filed with the Depositary and the Custodian and
shall be open to inspection by any Owner during business hours.
-33-
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. Binding Effect on Owners and Beneficial Owners. The
Owners and Beneficial Owners shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions
of this Deposit Agreement and of the Receipts by acceptance thereof.
SECTION 7.05. Notices. Any and all notices to be given to the
Company 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
Tele Nordeste Celular Participacoes S.A.
SCN - Quadra CN2
Lote F - 2 Andar
Sala 000
Xxxxxxxx - XX, Xxxxxx
Attention: _______________
or any other place to which the Company 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, telex or facsimile transmission confirmed by letter, addressed to The
Bank of New York, 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention:
American Depositary Receipt Administration, 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
-34-
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 effective 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 deposited, postage prepaid, in a post-office
letter box; provided, however, that delivery of a notice to the Company or the
Depositary shall be deemed to be effective when actually received by the Company
or the Depositary, as the case may be. The Depositary or the Company 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 law of the State of New York.
SECTION 7.07. Headings. Headings contained herein are included for
convenience only and are not to be used in construing or interpreting any
provision hereof.
-35-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, TELE NORDESTE CELULAR PARTICIPACOES S.A. and THE
BANK OF NEW YORK 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.
TELE NORDESTE CELULAR PARTICIPACOES
S.A.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Cruzeiro
------------------------------------
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Cruzeiro
President and Director
of Investor Relations
By: /s/ Manoel de Deus Xxxxx
------------------------------------
Manoel de Deus Xxxxx
Vice President
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as Depositary
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Vice President
-36-
EXHIBIT A
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
(Each American Depositary
Share represents ___
deposited Shares)
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
FOR NON-VOTING PREFERRED STOCK
WITHOUT PAR VALUE OF
TELE NORDESTE CELULAR PARTICIPACOES S.A.
(ORGANIZED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE FEDERATIVE REPUBLIC OF BRAZIL)
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 non-voting preferred stock (herein called "Shares") of
Tele Nordeste Celular Participacoes S.A., a sociedade anonima de economia mista
(a limited liability company) organized under the laws of The Federative
Republic of Brazil (herein called the "Company"). At the date hereof, each
American Depositary Share represents ___ Shares deposited or subject to deposit
under the Deposit Agreement (as such term is hereinafter defined) at the Sao
Paulo office of Banco Itau (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 00 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 deposit agreement, dated as of ____________ __, 1998 (herein called the
"Deposit Agreement"), by and among the Company,
A-1
the Depositary, and all Owners and Beneficial Owners from time to time of
Receipts issued thereunder, each of whom by accepting a Receipt agrees to become
a party thereto and become bound by all the terms and conditions thereof. The
Deposit Agreement sets forth the rights of Owners and Beneficial Owners of the
Receipts and the rights and duties of the Depositary in respect of the Shares
deposited thereunder and any and all other securities, property and cash from
time to time received in respect of such Shares and held thereunder (such
Shares, securities, property, and cash are herein called "Deposited
Securities"). Copies of the Deposit Agreement are on file at the Depositary's
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 at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary of
this Receipt for the purpose of withdrawal of the Deposited Securities
represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced hereby, and upon payment
of the fee of the Depositary provided in this Receipt, and subject to the terms
and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, the Owner hereof is entitled to
delivery, to him or upon his order, of the Deposited Securities at the time
represented by the American Depositary Shares for which this Receipt is issued.
Delivery of such Deposited Securities may be made by (a) (i) the delivery of
certificates in the name of the Owner hereof or as ordered by him or
certificates properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer
to such Owner or as ordered by him, or (ii) book-entry transfer of the Shares
represented by this Receipt to an account in the name of such Owner or as
ordered by him, and (b) delivery of any other securities, property and cash to
which such Owner is then entitled in respect of this Receipt to such Owner or as
ordered by him. Such delivery will be made at the option of the Owner hereof,
either at the office of the Custodian or at the Corporate Trust Office of the
Depositary, as provided in the Deposit Agreement; provided that the forwarding
of certificates for Shares or other Deposited Securities for such delivery at
the Corporate
A-2
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, upon surrender of this Receipt properly endorsed for
transfer or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer and funds sufficient
to pay any applicable transfer taxes and the expenses of the Depositary and upon
compliance with such regulations, if any, as the Depositary may establish for
such purpose. This Receipt may be split into other such Receipts, or may be
combined with other such receipts into one Receipt, evidencing the same
aggregate number of American Depositary Shares as the Receipt or Receipts
surrendered. As a condition precedent to the execution and delivery,
registration of transfer, split-up, combination, or surrender of any Receipt,
the delivery of any distribution thereon, or withdrawal of any Deposited
Securities, the Company, the Depositary, the Custodian, or Registrar may require
payment from the depositor of the Shares or the presentor of the Receipt of a
sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or other governmental charge and any
stock transfer or registration fee with respect thereto (including any such tax
or charge and fee with respect to Shares being deposited or withdrawn) and
payment of any applicable fees as provided in this Receipt, may require the
production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any
signature and may also require compliance with such reasonable regulations the
Depositary may establish consistent with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement
or this Receipt, including, without limitation, this Article 3.
The delivery of Receipts against deposits of Shares generally or
against deposits of particular Shares may be suspended, or the transfer of
Receipts in particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer
of outstanding Receipts, or the combination or split-up of Receipts generally
may be suspended, during any period when the transfer books of the Depositary
are closed, or if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the
Depositary or the Company at any time or from time to time because of any
requirement of law or of any government or governmental body or commission, or
under any provision of the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, or for any other
reason, subject to the provisions of the following sentence. Notwithstanding any
other provision of the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, the surrender of
outstanding Receipts and
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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 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, or
(iv) any other reason that may at any time be specified in paragraph I(A)(1) of
the General Instructions to Form F-6, as from time to time in effect, or any
successor provision thereto. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary
shall not knowingly accept for deposit under the Deposit Agreement any Shares
required to be registered under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933,
unless a registration statement is in effect as to such Shares.
4. LIABILITY OF OWNER OR BENEFICIAL OWNER FOR TAXES.
If any tax or other governmental charge shall become payable by the
Custodian or the Depositary with respect to any Receipt or any Deposited
Securities represented hereby, such tax or other governmental charge shall be
payable by the Owner or Beneficial Owner hereof to the Depositary. The
Depositary may refuse to effect any transfer of this Receipt or any combination
or split-up hereof or any withdrawal of Deposited Securities represented by
American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt until such payment is made,
and may withhold any dividends or other distributions, or may sell for the
account of the Owner or Beneficial Owner hereof any part or all of the Deposited
Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by this
Receipt, and may apply such dividends or other distributions or the proceeds of
any such sale in payment of such tax or other governmental charge (and any taxes
or expenses arising out of such sale), and the Owner or Beneficial Owner hereof
shall remain liable for any deficiency.
5. WARRANTIES OF DEPOSITORS.
Every person depositing Shares hereunder and under the Deposit
Agreement shall be deemed thereby to represent and warrant that such Shares and
each certificate therefor are validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable, and
free of any preemptive rights of the holders of outstanding Shares and that the
person making such deposit is duly authorized so to do. Every such person shall
also be deemed to represent that (i) the Shares presented for deposit are not,
and the Receipts issuable upon such deposit will not be,
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restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144(a) (3) under the Securities
Act of 1933, and (ii) the deposit of such Shares and the sale of Receipts
evidencing American Depositary Shares representing such Shares by that person
are not otherwise restricted under the Securities Act of 1933. Such
representations and warranties shall survive the deposit of Shares and issuance
of Receipts.
6. FILING PROOFS, CERTIFICATES, AND OTHER INFORMATION.
Any person presenting Shares for deposit or any Owner of a Receipt
may be required from time to time to file with the Depositary or the Custodian
such proof of citizenship or residence, exchange control approval, legal or
beneficial ownership of Receipts, Deposited Securities or other securities,
compliance with all applicable laws or regulations or terms of the Deposit
Agreement or such Receipt, or such information relating to the registration on
the books of the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, to execute
such certificates and to make such representations and warranties, as the
Depositary may deem necessary or proper. 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. The Depositary shall from time to time advise the Company of the
availability of any such proofs, certificates or other information and shall
provide copies thereof to the Company as promptly as practicable upon request by
the Company, unless such disclosure is prohibited by law.
7. CHARGES OF DEPOSITARY.
The Company agrees to pay the fees and reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses of the Depositary and those of any Registrar only in accordance with
agreements in writing entered into between the Depositary and the Company from
time to time. The Depositary shall present detailed statement for such expenses
to the Company at least once every three months. The charges and expenses of the
Custodian are for the sole account of the Depositary.
The following charges (to the extent permitted by applicable law or
the rules of any securities exchange on which the American Depositary Shares are
admitted for trading) shall be incurred by any party depositing or withdrawing
Shares or by any party surrendering Receipts or to
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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)
taxes and other governmental charges, (2) such registration fees as may from
time to time be in effect for the registration of transfers of Shares generally
on the Share register of the Company or Foreign Registrar and applicable to
transfers of Shares to the name of the Depositary or its nominee or the
Custodian or its nominee on the making of deposits or withdrawals under the
terms of the Deposit Agreement, (3) such cable, telex and facsimile transmission
expenses as are expressly provided in the Deposit Agreement, (4) such expenses
as are incurred by the Depositary in the conversion of foreign currency pursuant
to Section 4.05 of the Deposit Agreement, (5) a fee not in excess of $5.00 or
less per 100 American Depositary Shares (or portion thereof) for the execution
and delivery of Receipts pursuant to Sections 2.03 or 4.03 of the Deposit
Agreement and the surrender of Receipts pursuant to Section 2.05 of the Deposit
Agreement and (6) a fee for the distribution of proceeds of sales of securities
or rights pursuant to Sections 4.02 or 4.04, respectively, of the Deposit
Agreement, such fee (which may be deducted from such proceeds) being in an
amount equal to the lesser of (i) the fee for the issuance of American
Depositary Shares referred to above which would have been charged as a result of
the deposit by Owners of securities (for purposes of this clause 6 treating all
such securities as if they were Shares) or Shares received in exercise of rights
distributed to them pursuant to Sections 4.02 or 4.04, respectively, but which
securities or rights are instead sold by the Depositary and the net proceeds
distributed and (ii) the amount of such proceeds.
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. PRE-RELEASE OF RECEIPTS.
Neither the Depositary nor the Custodian shall deliver Shares, by
physical delivery, book entry or otherwise (other than to the Company or its
agent as contemplated by Section 4.08 of the Deposit Agreement), or otherwise
permit Shares to be withdrawn from the facility created hereby, except upon the
receipt and cancellation of Receipts.
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The Depositary may issue Receipts against rights to receive Shares
from the Company (or any agent of the Company recording Share ownership). No
such issue of Receipts will be deemed a "Pre-Release" subject to the
restrictions of the following paragraph.
In its capacity as Depositary, the Depositary will not deliver
Shares held under the Deposit Agreement prior to the receipt and cancellation by
the Depositary of Receipts. The Depositary may execute and deliver Receipts
prior to the receipt of Shares pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Deposit Agreement
("Pre-Release"). The Depositary may, pursuant to Section 2.05 of the Deposit
Agreement, deliver Shares upon the receipt and cancellation of Receipts which
have been Pre-Released, whether or not such cancellation is prior to the
termination of such Pre-Release or the Depositary knows that such Receipt has
been Pre-Released. The Depositary may receive Receipts in lieu of Shares in
satisfaction of a Pre-Release. Each Pre-Release will be (a) preceded or
accompanied by a written representation and agreement from the person to whom
Receipts or Shares are to be delivered (the "Pre-Releasee") that the
Pre-Releasee, or its customer, (i) owns the Shares or Receipts to be remitted,
as the case may be, (ii) assigns all beneficial right, title and interest in
such Shares or Receipts, as the case may be, to the Depositary for the benefit
of the Owners, and (iii) agrees in effect to hold such Shares or Receipts, as
the case may be, for the account of the Depositary until delivery of the same
upon the Depositary's request, (b) at all times fully collateralized with cash
or U.S. government securities, (c) terminable by the Depositary on not more than
five (5) business days notice, and (d) subject to such further indemnities and
credit regulations as the Depositary deems appropriate. The number of American
Depositary Shares which are outstanding at any time as a result of Pre-Releases
will not normally exceed thirty percent (30%) of the American Depositary Shares
outstanding (without giving effect to American Depositary Shares evidenced by
Receipts outstanding as a result of Pre-Releases); provided, however, that the
Depositary reserves the right to disregard such limit from time to time as it
deems appropriate and may, with the prior written consent of the Company, change
such limit for purposes of general application. The Depositary will also set
limits with respect to the number of Pre-Released Receipts involved in
transactions to be done hereunder with any one person on a case by case basis as
it deems appropriate. The collateral referred to in clause (b) above shall be
held by the Depositary for the benefit of the Owners as security for the
performance of the obligations to deliver Shares or Receipts set forth in clause
(a) above
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(and shall not, for the avoidance of doubt, constitute Deposited Securities
hereunder).
The Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation
received by it in connection with the foregoing.
9. TITLE TO RECEIPTS.
It is a condition of this Receipt, and every successive holder and
Owner of this Receipt by accepting or holding the same consents and agrees, that
title to this Receipt when properly endorsed or accompanied by proper
instruments of transfer, is transferable by delivery with the same effect as in
the case of a negotiable instrument, provided, however, that the Depositary and
the Company, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the person in
whose name this Receipt is registered on the books of the Depositary as the
absolute owner hereof for the purpose of determining the person entitled to
distribution of dividends or other distributions or to any notice provided for
in the Deposit Agreement or for all other purposes.
10. VALIDITY OF RECEIPT.
This Receipt shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Deposit
Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless this Receipt shall
have been executed by the Depositary by the manual signature of a duly
authorized signatory of the Depositary; provided, however, that such signature
may be a facsimile if a Registrar for the Receipts shall have been appointed and
such Receipts are counter-signed by the manual signature of a duly authorized
officer of the Registrar.
11. REPORTS; INSPECTION OF TRANSFER BOOKS.
The Company currently furnishes the Securities and Exchange
Commission (hereinafter called the "Commission") with certain public reports and
documents required by foreign law or otherwise under Rule 12g3-2(b) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such reports and communications will be
available for inspection and copying by Beneficial Owners and Owners at the
public reference facilities maintained by the Commission located at 000 Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, X.X., Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000.
The Depositary will make available for inspection by Owners of
Receipts at its Corporate Trust Office any reports and communications, including
any proxy soliciting
A-8
material, 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 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 furnished in English to the extent such
materials are required to be translated into English pursuant to any regulations
of the Commission. The Company agrees to provide to the Depositary, at the
Company's expense (unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Company and the
Depositary), all documents that it provides to the Custodian.
In the event the Receipts are listed or quoted on a national
securities exchange in the United States, the Company will promptly transmit to
the Custodian English language versions of any reports and other communications
that are made generally available by the Company to holders of its Shares or
other Deposited Securities and the Depositary will, at the Company's expense
(unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Company and the Depositary), arrange
for the prompt transmittal by the Custodian to the Depositary of such notices,
reports and other communications and arrange for the mailing, at the Company's
expense (unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Company and the Depositary),
of copies thereof (or if requested by the Company, a summary of any such notice
provided by the Company) to all Owners or, at the request of the Company, make
such notices, reports and other communications available to all Owners on a
basis similar to that for holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, or on
such other basis as the Company may advise the Depositary may be required by any
applicable law, regulation or stock exchange requirement. The Company has
delivered to the Depositary and the Custodian a copy of the provisions of or
governing the Shares and any other Deposited Securities issued by the Company or
any affiliate of the Company, and promptly upon any amendment thereto or change
therein, the Company shall deliver to the Depositary and the Custodian a copy of
such provisions as so amended or changed. The Depositary may rely upon such copy
for all purposes of this Deposit Agreement. The Depositary will, at the expense
of the Company (unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Company and the
Depositary), make such copy and such notices, reports and other communications
available for inspection by Owners at the Depositary's office, at the office of
the Custodian and at any other designated transfer offices.
A-9
The Depositary will keep books for the registration of Receipts and
transfers of Receipts which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection
by the Owners of Receipts provided that such inspection shall not be for the
purpose of communicating with Owners of Receipts for an object other than the
business of the Company, including, without limitation, a matter related to the
Deposit Agreement or the Receipts.
The Depositary may close the transfer books after consultation with
the Company to the extent practicable, at any time or from time to time, when
deemed expedient by it in connection with the performance of its duties under
the Deposit Agreement or at the request of the Company, provided that any such
closing of the transfer books shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2.06
of the Deposit Agreement which limit the suspension of withdrawals of Shares.
12. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS.
Whenever the Depositary or on its behalf, its agent, receives any
cash dividend or other cash distribution on any Deposited Securities, the
Depositary will, if at the time of receipt thereof any amounts received in a
foreign currency can in the judgment of the Depositary be converted on a
reasonable basis into United States dollars transferable to the United States,
and subject to the Deposit Agreement, convert or will cause its agent to
convert, as promptly as practicable (and in any event within one Business Day)
after its receipt of such dividend or distribution (unless otherwise prohibited
or prevented by law), such dividend or distribution into dollars and will, as
promptly as practicable, distribute the amount thus received (net of the
expenses of the Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and Section 5.09 of
the Deposit Agreement) to the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto, provided,
however, that in the event that the Company or the Depositary is required to
withhold and does withhold from such cash dividend or other cash distribution in
respect of any Deposited Securities an amount on account of taxes, the amount
distributed to the Owners of the Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares
representing such Deposited Securities shall be reduced accordingly.
Subject to the provisions of Section 4.11 and 5.09 of the Deposit
Agreement, whenever the Depositary receives any distribution other than a
distribution described in Sections 4.01, 4.03 or 4.04 of the Deposit Agreement,
the Depositary will, as promptly as practicable, cause the securities or
property received by it to be distributed to the Owners of Receipts entitled
thereto, in any manner that
A-10
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, after consultation with the
Company, adopt such method as it may deem equitable and practicable for the
purpose of effecting such distribution, including, but not limited to, the
public or private sale of the securities or property thus received, or any part
thereof, and the net proceeds of any such sale (net of the fees of the
Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and Section 5.09 of the Deposit
Agreement and any expenses in connection with such sale) shall be distributed by
the Depositary to the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto as in the case of a
distribution received in cash, all in the manner and subject to the conditions
set forth in the Deposit Agreement.
If any distribution consists of a dividend in, or free distribution
of, Shares, the Depositary may or shall, if the Company shall so request,
distribute, as promptly as practicable, to the Owners of outstanding Receipts
entitled thereto, additional Receipts evidencing an aggregate number of American
Depositary Shares representing the amount of Shares received as such dividend or
free distribution subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement
with respect to the deposit of Shares and the issuance of American Depositary
Shares evidenced by Receipts, including the withholding of any tax or other
governmental charge as provided in Section 4.11 of the Deposit Agreement and the
payment of the fees of the Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and
Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement. In lieu of delivering Receipts for
fractional American Depositary Shares in any such case, the Depositary will sell
the amount of Shares represented by the aggregate of such fractions and
distribute the net proceeds, all in the manner and subject to the conditions set
forth in the Deposit Agreement. 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
addition, the Depositary may withhold any distribution of Receipts under this
paragraph and Section 4.03 of the Deposit Agreement if it has not received
satisfactory assurances from the Company that such distribution does not require
registration under the Securities Act or is exempt from registration under the
provisions of such Act; provided that, in any such event, the Depositary may
sell the Shares distributed upon the Deposited Securities and distribute the net
proceeds, all in
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the manner and subject to the conditions described in this Article and Section
4.01 of the Deposit Agreement.
In the event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in
property other than cash (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) is
subject to any tax or other governmental charge which the Depositary is
obligated to withhold, the Depositary may by public or private sale dispose of
all or a portion of such property (including Shares and rights to subscribe
therefor) in such amounts and in such manner as the Depositary deems necessary
and practicable to pay any such taxes or charges, and the Depositary shall
distribute the net proceeds of any such sale after deduction of such taxes or
charges to the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto.
13. RIGHTS.
In the event that the Company shall offer or cause to be offered to
the holders of any Deposited Securities any rights to subscribe for additional
Shares or any rights of any other nature, the Depositary, after consultation
with the Company, shall have discretion as to the procedure to be followed in
making such rights available to any Owners or in disposing of such rights on
behalf of any Owners and making the net proceeds available to such Owners or, if
by the terms of such rights offering or for any other reason it would be
unlawful for the Depositary either to make such rights available to any Owners
or to dispose of such rights and make the net proceeds available to such Owners,
then the Depositary shall allow the rights to lapse. If at the time of the
offering of any rights the Depositary determines in its discretion that it is
lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all or certain Owners but
not to other Owners, the Depositary may, and at the request of the Company
shall, distribute to any Owner to whom it determines the distribution to be
lawful and feasible, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares
held by such Owner, warrants or other instruments therefor in such form as it
deems appropriate.
In circumstances in which rights would otherwise not be distributed,
if an Owner requests the distribution of warrants or other instruments in order
to exercise the rights allocable to the American Depositary Shares of such Owner
hereunder, the Depositary will promptly make such rights available to such Owner
upon written notice from the Company to the Depositary that (a) the Company has
elected in its sole discretion to permit such rights to be exercised and (b)
such Owner has executed such documents as the
A-12
Company has determined in its sole discretion are reasonably required under
applicable law.
If the Depositary has distributed warrants or other instruments for
rights to all or certain Owners, then upon instruction from such an Owner
pursuant to such warrants or other instruments to the Depositary from such
Owners 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 Shares
to be received upon the exercise of the rights, and upon payment of the fees of
the Depositary and any other charges as set forth in such warrants or other
instruments, the Depositary shall, on behalf of such Owner, exercise the rights
and purchase the Shares, and the Company shall cause the Shares so purchased to
be delivered to the Depositary on behalf of such Owner. As agent for such Owner,
the Depositary will cause the Shares so purchased to be deposited pursuant to
Section 2.02 of the Deposit Agreement, and shall, pursuant to Section 2.03 of
the Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver Receipts to such Owner. In the case
of a distribution pursuant to this paragraph, such 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.
If the Depositary determines that it is not lawful or feasible to
make such rights available to all or certain Owners, it may, and at the request
of the Company will use its best efforts that are reasonable under the
circumstances to, 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 of the Deposit Agreement, any expenses in connection
with such sale and all taxes and governmental charges payable in connection with
such rights and subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement)
for the account of such Owners otherwise entitled to such rights, warrants or
other instruments, upon an averaged or other practical basis without regard to
any distinctions among such Owners because of exchange restrictions or the date
of delivery of any Receipt or otherwise. Such proceeds shall be distributed as
promptly as practicable in accordance with Section 4.01 of the Deposit
Agreement.
If a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 is
required with respect to the securities to which any rights relate in order for
the Company to offer
A-13
such rights to Owners and sell the securities represented by such rights, the
Depositary will not offer such rights to Owners having an address in the United
States (as defined in Regulation S) unless and until such a registration
statement is in effect, or unless the offering and sale of such securities and
such rights to such Owners are exempt from registration under the provisions of
such Act.
The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to determine
that it may be lawful or feasible to make such rights available to Owners in
general or any Owner in particular.
14. CONVERSION OF FOREIGN CURRENCY.
Whenever the Depositary 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, and if at the time of the receipt
thereof the foreign currency so received can, pursuant to applicable law, be
converted on a reasonable basis into Dollars and the resulting Dollars
transferred to the United States, the Depositary or the Custodian shall convert
or cause to be converted as promptly as practicable (and in any event within one
Business Day of its or its agent's receipt of such Foreign Currency), 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 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 such conversion, transfer or distribution can be effected only
with the approval or license of any government or agency thereof, the Depositary
shall file as promptly as practicable such application for approval or license;
however, the Depositary shall be entitled to rely
A-14
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 the
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 cannot be promptly obtained, the Depositary
shall, (a) as to that portion of the foreign currency that is convertible into
Dollars, make such conversion and, if permitted by applicable law, transfer such
Dollars to the United States for distribution to Owners in accordance with the
first paragraph of this Article 13 or, if such transfer is not so permitted,
hold such Dollars uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the
respective accounts of the Owners entitled to receive the same, and (b) as to
the nonconvertible balance, if any, (i) if requested in writing by an Owner,
distribute or cause the Custodian to distribute the foreign currency (or an
appropriate document evidencing the right to receive such foreign currency)
received by the Depositary or Custodian to such Owner and (ii) the Depositary
shall hold or shall cause the Custodian to hold any amounts of nonconvertible
foreign currency not distributed pursuant to the immediate preceding subclause
(i) uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective
accounts of the Owners entitled to receive the same.
15. RECORD DATES.
Whenever any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become
payable or any distribution other than cash shall be made, or whenever rights
shall be issued with respect to the Deposited Securities, or whenever for any
reason the Depositary causes a change in the number of Shares that are
represented by each American Depositary Share, or whenever the Depositary shall
receive notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited
Securities, or whenever the Depositary shall find it necessary or convenient,
the Depositary shall fix a record date, which date shall, to the extent
practicable, be either (x) the same date as the record date fixed by the
Company, or (y) if different from the record date fixed by the Company, be fixed
after consultation with the Company (a) for the determination of the Owners of
Receipts who shall be (i) entitled to receive such dividend, distribution or
rights or the net proceeds of the sale thereof or (ii) entitled to give
instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting, or (b) on or
after which
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each American Depositary Share will represent the changed number of Shares,
subject to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement.
16. VOTING OF DEPOSITED SECURITIES.
At any time that the Depositary has the right to vote the Shares
represented by the American Depositary Shares, the Depositary will comply with
the following provisions.
As soon as practicable after receipt of notice of any meeting or
solicitation of consents or proxies of holders of Shares or other Deposited
Securities, if requested in writing by the Company, the Depositary shall, as
soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the Owners of Receipts a notice, the
form of which notice shall be in the sole discretion of the Depositary, which
shall contain (a) such information as is contained in such notice of meeting,
(or, if requested by the Company a summary of such information provided by the
Company), (b) a statement that the Owners of Receipts as of the close of
business on a specified record date will be entitled, subject to any applicable
provision of Brazilian law and of the Charter of the Company, to instruct the
Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the
amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by their respective
American Depositary Shares and (c) a statement as to the manner in which such
instructions may be given, including an express indication that instructions may
be given or deemed given in accordance with the last sentence of this paragraph
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 to vote or cause to be voted the amount of Shares or other Deposited
Securities represented by such American Depositary Shares evidenced by such
Receipt in accordance with the instructions set forth in such request. The
Depositary shall not itself exercise any voting discretion over any Deposited
Securities. If no instructions are received by the Depositary from any Owner
with respect to any of the Deposited Securities represented by the American
Depositary Shares evidenced by such Owner's Receipts on or before the date
established by the Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall deem such
Owner to have instructed the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a
person designated by the Company with respect to such Deposited Securities and
the Depositary shall give a
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discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company to vote such Deposited
Securities, provided that no such instruction shall be deemed given and no
such discretionary proxy shall be given with respect to any matter as to which
the Company 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 given, (y) substantial Opposition exists or (z) such matter
materially and adversely affects the rights of holders of Shares.
Subject to the rules of any securities exchange on which American
Depositary Shares or the Deposited Securities represented thereby are listed,
the Depositary shall if requested by the Company deliver, at least two Business
Days prior to the date of such meeting, to the Company, to the attention of its
Secretary, copies of all instructions received from Owners in accordance with
which the Depositary will vote, or cause to be voted, the Deposited Securities
represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipts at such
meeting. Delivery of instructions will be made at the expense of the Company
(unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Company and the Depositary)
17. CHANGES AFFECTING DEPOSITED SECURITIES.
In circumstances where the provisions of Section 4.03 of the Deposit
Agreement do not apply, upon any change in nominal value, change in par value,
split-up, consolidation, or any other reclassification of Deposited Securities,
or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or sale
of assets affecting the Company or to which it is a party, any securities which
shall be received by the Depositary or a Custodian in exchange for or in
conversion of or in respect of Deposited Securities shall be treated as new
Deposited Securities under the Deposit Agreement, and American Depositary Shares
shall thenceforth represent the new Deposited Securities so received in exchange
or conversion, unless additional Receipts are delivered pursuant to the
following sentence. In any such case the Depositary may, and shall if the
Company shall so request, execute and deliver additional Receipts as in the case
of a dividend in Shares, or call for the surrender of outstanding Receipts to be
exchanged for new Receipts specifically describing such new Deposited
Securities.
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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 Beneficial Owner, if by reason of any provision of any present or
future law or regulation of the United States or any other country, or of any
other governmental or regulatory authority, or by reason of any provision,
present or future, of the Charter of the Company, or by reason of any act of God
or war or other circumstances beyond its control, the Depositary or the Company
shall be prevented or forbidden from or be subject to any civil or criminal
penalty on account of doing or performing any act or thing which by the terms of
the Deposit Agreement it is provided shall be done or performed; nor shall the
Depositary or the Company nor any of their respective directors, employees,
agents or affiliates incur any liability to any Owner or Beneficial Owner of a
Receipt by reason of any non-performance or delay, caused as aforesaid, in the
performance of any act or thing which by the terms of the Deposit Agreement it
is provided shall or may be done or performed, or by reason of any exercise of,
or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in the Deposit Agreement.
Where, by the terms of a distribution pursuant to Sections 4.01, 4.02 or 4.03 of
the Deposit Agreement, or an offering or distribution pursuant to Section 4.04
of the Deposit Agreement, such distribution or offering may not be made
available to Owners of Receipts, and the Depositary may not dispose of such
distribution or offering on behalf of such Owners and make the net proceeds
available to such Owners, then the Depositary shall not make such distribution
or offering, and shall allow any rights, if applicable, to lapse. Neither the
Company nor the Depositary assumes any obligation or shall be subject to any
liability under the Deposit Agreement to Owners or Beneficial Owners of
Receipts, except that they agree to perform their obligations specifically set
forth in the Deposit Agreement without negligence or bad faith. The Depositary
shall not be subject to any liability with respect to the validity or worth of
the Deposited Securities. Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be under
any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit, or other
proceeding in respect of any Deposited Securities or in respect of the Receipts,
which in its opinion may involve it in expense or liability, unless indemnity
satisfactory to it against all expenses and liability shall be furnished as
often as may be required, and the Custodian shall not be under any obligation
whatsoever with respect to such proceedings, the responsibility of the Custodian
being solely to the Depositary. Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be
liable for any
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action or nonaction by it in reliance upon the advice of or information from
legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares for deposit, any Owner
or Beneficial Owner of a Receipt, or any other person believed by it in good
faith to be competent to give such advice or information. The Depositary shall
not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any of
the Deposited Securities, or for the manner in which any such vote is cast or
the effect of any such vote, provided that any such action or nonaction is in
good faith. The Depositary shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by
a successor depositary whether in connection with a previous act or omission of
the Depositary or in connection with a matter arising wholly after the removal
or resignation of the Depositary, provided that in connection with the issue out
of which such potential liability arises, the Depositary performed its
obligations without negligence or bad faith while it acted as Depositary.
The Company agrees to indemnify the Depositary, 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 acts performed
or omitted, in accordance with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement and of
the Receipts, as the same may be amended, modified, or supplemented from time to
time, (i) by either the Depositary or a Custodian or their respective directors,
employees, agents and affiliates, except for any liability or expense arising
out of the negligence or bad faith of either of them, and except to the extent
that such liability or expense arises out of information relating to the
Depositary or the Custodian, as applicable, furnished in writing to the Company
by the Depositary or the Custodian, as applicable, expressly for use in any
registration statement, proxy statement, prospectus (or placement memorandum) or
preliminary prospectus (or preliminary placement memorandum) relating to the
Shares, or omissions from such information; or (ii) by the Company or any of its
directors, employees, agents and affiliates. The indemnities contained in this
paragraph shall not extend to any liability or expense which may arise out of
any Pre-Release.
No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act of 1933 is
intended by any provisions of the Deposit Agreement.
The Depositary, subject to Sections 2.05 and 2.09 of the Deposit
Agreement, may own and deal in any class of
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securities of the Company and its affiliates and in Receipts.
19. RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF THE DEPOSITARY; APPOINTMENT OF
SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN.
The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary hereunder by
written notice of its election so to do delivered to the Company, such
resignation to take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and
its acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. The
Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by written notice of such
removal, effective upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its
acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. Whenever
the Depositary in its discretion determines that it is in the best interest of
the Owners of Receipts to do so, it may appoint a substitute or additional
custodian or custodians.
20. AMENDMENT.
The form of the Receipts and any provisions of the Deposit Agreement
may at any time and from time to time be amended by agreement between the
Company and the Depositary in any respect which they may deem necessary or
desirable. Any amendment which shall impose or increase any fees or charges
(other than taxes and other governmental charges, registration fees and cable,
telex or facsimile transmission costs, delivery costs or other such expenses),
or which shall otherwise prejudice any substantial existing right of Owners of
Receipts, shall, however, not become effective as to outstanding Receipts until
the expiration of thirty days after notice of such amendment shall have been
given to the Owners of outstanding Receipts. Every Owner 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 at any time, at the direction of the Company, shall
terminate the Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the
Owners of all Receipts then outstanding at least 30 days prior to the date fixed
in such notice for such termination. The Depositary may like-
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wise terminate the Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to
the Company and the Owners of all Receipts then outstanding, such termination to
be effective on a date specified in such notice not less than 30 days
after the date thereof, if at any time 60 days shall have expired after the
Depositary shall have delivered to the Company a written notice of its election
to resign and a successor depositary shall not have been appointed and accepted
its appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. On and after the date of
termination, the Owner of a Receipt will, upon (a) surrender of such Receipt at
the 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 the Owner or upon the Owner's order, of the
amount of Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares
evidenced by such Receipt. If any Receipts shall remain outstanding after the
date of termination, the Depositary thereafter shall discontinue the
registration of transfers of Receipts, shall suspend the distribution of
dividends to the Owners thereof, and shall not give any further notices or
perform any further acts under the Deposit Agreement, except that the Depositary
shall continue to collect dividends and other distributions pertaining to
Deposited Securities, shall sell rights as provided in the Deposit Agreement,
and shall continue to deliver Deposited Securities, together with any dividends
or other distributions received with respect thereto and the net proceeds of the
sale of any rights or other property, in exchange for Receipts surrendered to
the Depositary (after deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the
surrender of a Receipt, any expenses for the account of the Owner of such
Receipt in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement,
and any applicable taxes or governmental charges). At any time after the
expiration of one year from the date of termination, the Depositary may sell the
Deposited Securities then held under the Deposit Agreement and may thereafter
hold uninvested the net proceeds of any such sale, together with any other cash
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
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and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or
governmental charges) and except as provided in Section 5.08 of the Deposit
Agreement. Upon the termination of the Deposit Agreement, the Company shall be
discharged from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement except for its
obligations to the Depositary with respect to indemnification, charges, and
expenses.
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