FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE AG & CO. KGaA AND THE BANK OF NEW YORK As Depositary AND OWNERS AND HOLDERS OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement (For Ordinary Bearer Shares) Dated as of February 26, 2007
Exhibit 2.1
FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE AG & CO. KGaA
AND
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
As Depositary
AND
OWNERS AND HOLDERS OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement
(For Ordinary Bearer Shares)
Dated as of February 26, 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS
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SECTION 1.01 American Depositary Shares
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SECTION 1.02 Commission
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SECTION 1.03 Company
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SECTION 1.04 Custodian
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SECTION 1.05 Deliver; Surrender
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SECTION 1.06 Deposit Agreement
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SECTION 1.07 Depositary; Corporate Trust Office
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SECTION 1.08 Deposited Securities
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SECTION 1.09 Dollars
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SECTION 1.10 Foreign Xxxxxxxxx
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SECTION 1.11 Owner
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SECTION 1.12 Receipts
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SECTION 1.13 Xxxxxxxxx
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SECTION 1.14 Restricted Securities
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SECTION 1.15 Securities Act of 1933
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SECTION 1.16 Shares
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ARTICLE 2. FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF SHARES, DELIVERY,
TRANSFER AND SURRENDER OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
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SECTION 2.01 Form of Receipts; Registration and
Transferability of American Depositary Shares
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SECTION 2.02 Deposit of Shares
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SECTION 2.03 Delivery of American Depositary Shares
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SECTION 2.04 Registration of Transfer of American
Depositary Shares; Combination and Split-up of Receipts;
Interchange of Certificated and Uncertificated American
Depositary Shares
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SECTION 2.05 Surrender of American Depositary Shares and
Withdrawal of Deposited Securities
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SECTION 2.06 Limitations on Delivery, Transfer and
Surrender of American Depositary Shares
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SECTION 2.07 Lost Receipts, etc
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SECTION 2.08 Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered
Receipts
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SECTION 2.09 Pre-Release of American Depositary Shares
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SECTION 2.10 DTC Direct Registration System and Profile
Modification System
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ARTICLE 3. CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF OWNERS AND HOLDERS OF
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
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SECTION 3.01 Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other
Information
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SECTION 3.02 Liability of Owner for Taxes
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SECTION 3.03 Warranties on Deposit of Shares
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ARTICLE 4. THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES
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SECTION 4.01 Cash Distributions
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SECTION 4.02 Distributions Other Than Cash, Shares or Rights
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SECTION 4.03 Distributions in Shares
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SECTION 4.04 Rights
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SECTION 4.05 Conversion of Foreign Currency
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SECTION 4.06 Fixing of Record Date
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SECTION 4.07 Voting of Deposited Securities
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SECTION 4.08 Changes Affecting Deposited Securities
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SECTION 4.09 Reports
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SECTION 4.10 Lists of Owners
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SECTION 4.11 Withholding
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ARTICLE 5. THE DEPOSITARY, THE CUSTODIANS AND THE COMPANY
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SECTION 5.01 Maintenance of Office and Transfer Books by
the Depositary
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SECTION 5.02 Prevention or Delay in Performance by the
Depositary or the Company
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SECTION 5.03 Obligations of the Depositary, the Custodian
and the Company
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SECTION 5.04 Resignation and Removal of the Depositary
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SECTION 5.05 The Custodians
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SECTION 5.06 Notices and Reports
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SECTION 5.07 Distribution of Additional Shares, Rights,
etc.
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SECTION 5.08 Indemnification
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SECTION 5.09 Charges of Depositary
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SECTION 5.10 Retention of Depositary Documents
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SECTION 5.11 Exclusivity
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SECTION 5.12 List of Restricted Securities Owners
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ARTICLE 6. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
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SECTION 6.01 Amendment
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SECTION 6.02 Termination
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ARTICLE 7. MISCELLANEOUS
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SECTION 7.01 Counterparts
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SECTION 7.02 No Third Party Beneficiaries
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SECTION 7.03 Severability
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SECTION 7.04 Owners and Holders as Parties; Binding Effect
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SECTION 7.05 Notices
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SECTION 7.06 Submission to Jurisdiction; Appointment of
Agent for Service of Process; Jury Trial Waiver
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SECTION 7.07 Waiver of Immunities
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SECTION 7.08 Governing Law
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ii
AMENDED AND RESTATED DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
AMENDED AND RESTATED DEPOSIT AGREEMENT dated as of
February 26, 2007, among Fresenius Medical Care AG &
Co. KGaA, a partnership limited by shares
(Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien) organized under the
laws of the Federal Republic of Germany and registered with the
commercial register of the local court (Amtsgericht) of
Hof an der Saale, Germany under the registration number HRB 4019
(herein called the Company), THE BANK OF NEW YORK, a New York
banking corporation (herein called the Depositary), and all
Owners and holders from time to time of American Depositary
Shares issued hereunder.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and all holders
from time to time of American Depositary Receipts entered into a
deposit agreement for ordinary bearer shares dated as of
February 10, 2006 (the “Old Deposit Agreement”).
WHEREAS, THE Company has removed JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as
depositary under the Old Deposit Agreement pursuant to
Section 13 of the Old Deposit Agreement and has appointed
the Depositary as successor depositary under the Old Deposit
Agreement and the Depositary has accepted that appointment;
WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide, as hereinafter set
forth in this Amended and Restated 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 Amended and Restated 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 Amended and Restated Deposit
Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, it is agreed
by and between the parties hereto that the Old Deposit Agreement
is hereby amended and restated as follows:
ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS
The following definitions shall for all purposes, unless
otherwise clearly indicated, apply to the respective terms used
in this Deposit Agreement:
SECTION 1.01 American Depositary Shares.
The term “American Depositary Shares” shall mean the
securities created under this Deposit Agreement representing
rights with respect to the Deposited Securities. American
Depositary Shares may be certificated securities evidenced by
Receipts or uncertificated securities but, unless otherwise
requested by a person entitled to delivery of American
Depositary Shares or an Owner thereof, shall be uncertificated
securities. The form of Receipt annexed as Exhibit A to
this Deposit Agreement shall be the prospectus required under
the Securities Act of 1933 for sales of both certificated and
uncertificated American Depositary Shares. Except for those
provisions of this Deposit Agreement that refer specifically to
Receipts, all the provisions of this Deposit Agreement shall
apply to both certificated and uncertificated American
Depositary Shares. Each American Depositary Share shall
represent the number of Shares specified in Exhibit A to
this Deposit Agreement, until there shall occur a distribution
upon Deposited Securities covered by Section 4.03 or a
change in Deposited Securities covered by Section 4.08 with
respect to which additional American Depositary Shares are not
delivered, and thereafter American Depositary Shares shall
represent the amount of Shares or Deposited Securities specified
in such Sections.
2
SECTION 1.02 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 1.03 Company.
The term “Company” shall mean Fresenius Medical Care
AG & Co. KGaA, a partnership limited by shares
(Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien), organized under the
laws of Federal Republic of Germany, and its successors.
SECTION 1.04 Custodian.
The term “Custodian” shall mean the principal
Frankfurt office of BHF Bank AG, as agent of the Depositary for
the purposes of this Deposit Agreement, and any other firm or
corporation which may hereafter be appointed by the Depositary
pursuant to the terms of Section 5.05, as substitute or
additional custodian or custodians hereunder, as the context
shall require and shall also mean all of them collectively.
SECTION 1.05 Deliver; Surrender.
(a) The term “deliver”, or its noun
form, when used with respect to Shares or Deposited Securities,
shall mean effecting one or more entries in an account or
accounts maintained by an institution authorized under
applicable law to effect transfers of such securities in the
name of the person entitled to that delivery.
(b) The term “deliver”, or its noun
form, when used with respect to American Depositary Shares,
shall mean (i) if requested by the person entitled to that
delivery, one or more book-entry transfers of American
Depositary Shares to an account or accounts at The Depository
Trust Company (“DTC”) designated by the person
entitled to that delivery, (ii) if requested by the person
entitled to that delivery, delivery at the Corporate Trust
Office of the Depositary to the person entitled to that delivery
of one or more Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares
registered in the name requested by that person or
(iii) registration of American Depositary Shares not
evidenced by a Receipt on the books of the Depositary in the
name requested by the person entitled to that delivery and
whereupon mailing will be made to that person of a statement
confirming that registration.
(c) The term “surrender”, when used
with respect to American Depositary Shares, shall mean
(i) one or more book-entry transfers of American Depositary
Shares to the DTC account of the Depositary, (ii) surrender
to the Depositary at its Corporate Trust Office of one or more
Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares or
(iii) delivery to the Depositary at its Corporate Trust
Office of an instruction to surrender American Depositary Shares
not evidenced by a Receipt.
SECTION 1.06 Deposit Agreement.
The term “Deposit Agreement” shall mean this amended
and restated Agreement, as the same may be amended from time to
time in accordance with the provisions hereof.
SECTION 1.07 Depositary; Corporate Trust
Office.
The term “Depositary” shall mean The Bank of New York,
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 1.08 Deposited Securities.
The term “Deposited Securities” as of any time shall
mean Shares at such time deposited or deemed to be deposited
under this Deposit Agreement, including without limitation
Shares that have not been successfully withdrawn or delivered
upon surrender of American Depositary Shares or Receipts, and
any and all other
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securities, property and cash received by the Depositary or the
Custodian in respect thereof and at such time held hereunder,
subject as to cash to the provisions of Section 4.05.
SECTION 1.09 Dollars.
The term “Dollars” shall mean United States dollars.
SECTION 1.10 Foreign 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 agent of the Company for the transfer and registration of
Shares, including without limitation any securities depository
for the Shares.
SECTION 1.11 Owner.
The term “Owner” shall mean the person in whose name
American Depositary Shares are registered on the books of the
Depositary maintained for such purpose.
SECTION 1.12 Receipts.
The term “Receipts” shall mean the American Depositary
Receipts issued hereunder evidencing certificated American
Depositary Shares, as the same may be amended from time to time
in accordance with the provisions hereof.
SECTION 1.13 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 American
Depositary Shares and transfers of American Depositary Shares as
herein provided.
SECTION 1.14 Restricted Securities.
The term “Restricted Securities” shall mean Shares, or
American Depositary Shares representing Shares, that are
acquired directly or indirectly from the Company or its
affiliates (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act
of 1933) in a transaction or chain of transactions not involving
any public offering, or which are subject to resale limitations
under Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933 or
both, or which are held by an officer, director (or persons
performing similar functions) or other affiliate of the Company,
or which would require registration under the Securities Act of
1933 in connection with the offer and sale thereof in the United
States, or which are subject to other restrictions on sale or
deposit under the laws of the United States or the Federal
Republic of Germany, or under a shareholder agreement or the
Articles of Association (Satzung) of the Company.
SECTION 1.15 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 1.16 Shares.
The term “Shares” shall mean ordinary bearer shares of
the Company, 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 and
outstanding and fully paid, nonassessable and free of any
pre-emptive rights of the holders of outstanding Shares or
interim certificates representing such Shares; provided,
however, that, if there shall occur any change in nominal
value, a split-up or consolidation or any other reclassification
or, upon the occurrence of an event described in
Section 4.08, an exchange or conversion in respect of the
Shares of the Company, the term “Shares” shall
thereafter also mean the successor securities resulting from
such change in nominal value, split-up or consolidation or such
other reclassification or such exchange or conversion.
4
ARTICLE 2. | FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF SHARES, DELIVERY, TRANSFER AND SURRENDER OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES |
SECTION 2.01 Form of Receipts; Registration and
Transferability of American Depositary Shares.
Definitive Receipts shall be substantially in the form set forth
in Exhibit A annexed to this Deposit Agreement, with
appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as
hereinafter provided. No Receipt shall be entitled to any
benefits under this Deposit Agreement or be valid or obligatory
for any purpose, unless such Receipt shall have been executed by
the Depositary by the manual 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. The Depositary shall maintain books on
which (i) each Receipt so executed and delivered as
hereinafter provided and the transfer of each such Receipt shall
be registered and (ii) all American Depositary Shares
delivered as hereinafter provided and all registrations of
transfer of American Depositary Shares shall be registered.
Receipts bearing the manual or facsimile signature of a duly
authorized signatory of the Depositary who was at any time a
proper signatory of the Depositary shall bind the Depositary,
notwithstanding that such signatory has ceased to hold such
office prior to the execution and delivery of such Receipts by
the Registrar or did not hold such office on the date of
issuance of such Receipts.
The Receipts may be endorsed with or have incorporated in the
text thereof such legends or recitals or modifications not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement as
may be required by the Depositary or required to comply with any
applicable law or regulations thereunder or with the rules and
regulations of any securities exchange upon which American
Depositary Shares may be listed or to conform with any usage
with respect thereto, or to indicate any special limitations or
restrictions to which any particular Receipts are subject by
reason of the date of issuance of the underlying Deposited
Securities or otherwise.
American Depositary Shares evidenced by a Receipt, when properly
endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, shall
be transferable as certificated registered securities under the
laws of New York. American Depositary Shares not evidenced by
Receipts shall be transferable as uncertificated registered
securities under the laws of New York. The Depositary,
notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the Owner
of American Depositary Shares as the absolute owner thereof for
the purpose of determining the person entitled to distribution
of dividends or other distributions or to any notice provided
for in this Deposit Agreement and for all other purposes, and
neither the Depositary nor the Company shall have any obligation
or be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement to
any holder of a Receipt unless such holder is the Owner thereof.
SECTION 2.02 Deposit of Shares.
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement,
Shares or evidence of rights to receive Shares may be deposited
by delivery thereof to any Custodian hereunder, accompanied by
any appropriate instruments or instructions for transfer, or
endorsement, in form satisfactory to the Custodian, together
with all such certifications as may be required by the
Depositary or the Custodian in accordance with the provisions of
this Deposit Agreement, and, if the Depositary requires,
together with a written order directing the Depositary to
deliver to, or upon the written order of, the person or persons
stated in such order, 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 any governmental body in the
Federal Republic of Germany which is then performing the
function of the regulation of 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 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.
5
At the request and risk and expense of any person proposing to
deposit Shares, and for the account of such person, if the
Shares to be deposited are certificated, the Depositary may
receive such 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 a certificate or
certificates for Shares to be deposited hereunder, together with
the other documents specified above, such Custodian shall, as
soon as transfer and recordation can be accomplished, present
such certificate or certificates 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.
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 Delivery of American Depositary
Shares.
Upon receipt by any Custodian of any deposit pursuant to
Section 2.02 hereunder, together with the other documents
required as specified above, such Custodian shall notify the
Depositary of such deposit and the person or persons to whom or
upon whose written order American Depositary Shares are
deliverable in respect thereof and the number of American
Depositary Shares to be so delivered. 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 (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 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). Upon receiving such notice from such
Custodian, or upon the receipt of Shares or evidence of the
right to receive Shares by the Depositary, the Depositary,
subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement,
shall deliver, to or upon the order of the person or persons
entitled thereto, the number of American Depositary Shares
issuable in respect of that deposit, but only upon payment to
the Depositary of the fees and expenses of the Depositary for
the delivery of such American Depositary Shares as provided in
Section 5.09, and of all taxes and governmental charges and
fees payable in connection with such deposit and the transfer of
the Deposited Securities.
SECTION 2.04 | Registration of Transfer of American Depositary Shares; Combination and Split-up of Receipts; Interchange of Certificated and Uncertificated American Depositary Shares. |
The Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this
Deposit Agreement, shall register transfers of American
Depositary Shares on its transfer books from time to time, upon
any surrender of American Depositary Shares, by the Owner in
person or by a duly authorized attorney, properly endorsed or
accompanied by proper instruments of transfer or pursuant to a
proper instruction (including, for the avoidance of doubt,
instructions through DRS and Profile as provided in
Section 2.10), as the case may be, 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 deliver
the number of American Depositary Shares surrendered 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, upon surrender of a Receipt for the purpose of
exchanging for uncertificated American Depositary Shares, shall
cancel that Receipt and send the Owner a statement confirming
that the Owner is the owner of uncertificated American
Depositary Shares. The Depositary, upon receipt of a proper
instruction (including, for the avoidance of doubt, instructions
through DRS and Profile as provided in Section 2.10) from
the Owner of uncertificated American Depositary Shares for the
purpose of exchanging for certificated American Depositary
Shares, shall execute and deliver to the Owner a Receipt
evidencing those American Depositary Shares.
6
The Depositary, may appoint one or more co-transfer agents for
the purpose of effecting registration of transfers of American
Depositary Shares and 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 American
Depositary Shares and will be entitled to protection and
indemnity to the same extent as the Depositary.
SECTION 2.05 Surrender of American Depositary Shares
and Withdrawal of Deposited Securities.
Upon surrender at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary
of American Depositary Shares for the purpose of withdrawal of
the Deposited Securities represented thereby, and upon payment
of the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of American
Depositary Shares as provided in Section 5.09 and payment
of all taxes and governmental charges payable in connection with
such surrender and withdrawal of the Deposited Securities, and
subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement,
the Owner of those American Depositary Shares shall be entitled
to delivery, to him or as instructed, of the amount of Deposited
Securities at the time represented by those American Depositary
Shares. Delivery of such Deposited Securities may be made by the
delivery of (a) certificates or account transfer in the
name of such Owner or as ordered by him, with proper endorsement
or accompanied by proper instruments or instructions of transfer
to such Owner or pursuant to proper delivery instructions and
(b) any other securities, property and cash to which such
Owner is then entitled in respect of those American Depositary
Shares to such Owner or such person or persons as instructed.
Such delivery shall be made, as hereinafter provided, without
unreasonable delay.
A Receipt surrendered for such purposes may be required by the
Depositary to be properly endorsed in blank or accompanied by
proper instruments of transfer in blank. The Depositary may
require the surrendering Owner to 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 in the manner provided in the preceding paragraph.
Thereupon the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to deliver
at the 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, 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 surrendered American Depositary Shares, 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 those American Depositary Shares, 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
American Depositary Shares, 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, if applicable, and other proper
documents of title for, the Deposited Securities represented by
the American Depositary Shares (evidenced by such Receipt, if
applicable) to the Depositary for delivery at the Corporate
Trust Office of the Depositary. Such direction shall be given by
letter or, at the request, risk and expense of such Owner, by
cable, telex or facsimile transmission.
SECTION 2.06 Limitations on Delivery, Transfer and
Surrender of American Depositary Shares.
As a condition precedent to the delivery, registration of
transfer, or surrender of any American Depositary Shares or
split-up or combination of any Receipt or withdrawal of any
Deposited Securities, the Depositary, Custodian or Registrar may
require payment from the depositor of Shares or the presenter of
the Receipt or instruction for registration of transfer or
surrender of American Depositary Shares not evidenced by a
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 herein provided, may require the
production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and
genuineness of any signature and may also require compliance
with any regulations the Depositary may establish consistent
with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, including,
without limitation, this Section 2.06.
7
The delivery of American Depositary Shares against deposit of
Shares generally or against deposit of particular Shares may be
suspended, or the transfer of American Depositary Shares in
particular instances may be refused, or the registration of
transfer of outstanding American Depositary Shares 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 anything to the contrary in this Deposit
Agreement, the surrender of outstanding American Depositary
Shares and withdrawal of Deposited Securities may not be
suspended subject only to (i) temporary delays caused by
closing the transfer books of the Depositary or the Company or
the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, 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
American Depositary Shares or to the withdrawal of the Deposited
Securities. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary
shall not knowingly accept for deposit under this Deposit
Agreement any Shares which would be required to be registered
under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, unless a
registration statement is in effect as to such Shares or such
Shares are exempt from registration thereunder.
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.
SECTION 2.09 Pre-Release of American Depositary
Shares.
Notwithstanding Section 2.03 hereof, the Depositary may
deliver American Depositary Shares prior to the receipt of
Shares pursuant to Section 2.02 (a
“Pre-Release”). The Depositary may, pursuant to
Section 2.05, deliver Shares upon the surrender of American
Depositary Shares that have been Pre-Released, whether or not
such cancellation is prior to the termination of such
Pre-Release or the Depositary knows that such American
Depositary Shares have been Pre-Released. The Depositary may
receive American Depositary Shares in lieu of Shares in
satisfaction of a Pre-Release. Each Pre-Release will be
(a) preceded or accompanied by a written representation
from the person to whom American Depositary Shares or Shares are
to be delivered, that such person, or its customer, owns the
Shares or American Depositary Shares to be remitted, as the case
may be, (b) at all times fully collateralized with cash or
such other collateral as the Depositary deems appropriate (but
such collateral shall not constitute “Deposited
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-Release will not normally exceed thirty percent
(30%) of the Shares deposited hereunder; provided, however, that
the Depositary reserves the right to change or disregard such
limit from time to time as it deems appropriate.
The Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation
received by it in connection with the foregoing.
8
SECTION 2.10 DTC Direct Registration System and
Profile Modification System.
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of
Section 2.04, the parties acknowledge that the Direct
Registration System (“DRS”) and Profile Modification
System (“Profile”) shall apply to uncertificated
American Depositary Shares upon acceptance thereof to DRS by
DTC. DRS is the system administered by DTC pursuant to which the
Depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated American
Depositary Shares, which ownership shall be evidenced by
periodic statements issued by the Depositary to the Owners
entitled thereto. Profile is a required feature of DRS which
allows a DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf of an Owner,
to direct the Depositary to register a transfer of those
American Depositary Shares to DTC or its nominee and to deliver
those American Depositary Shares to the DTC account of that DTC
participant without receipt by the Depositary of prior
authorization from the Owner to register such transfer.
(b) In connection with and in accordance with
the arrangements and procedures relating to DRS/ Profile, the
parties understand that the Depositary will not verify,
determine or otherwise ascertain that the DTC participant which
is claiming to be acting on behalf of an Owner in requesting
registration of transfer and delivery described in subsection
(a) has the actual authority to act on behalf of the Owner
(notwithstanding any requirements under the Uniform Commercial
Code). For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of
Sections 5.03 and 5.08 shall apply to the matters arising
from the use of the DRS. The parties agree that the
Depositary’s reliance on and compliance with instructions
received by the Depositary through the DRS/ Profile System and
in accordance with this Deposit Agreement, shall not constitute
negligence or bad faith on the part of the Depositary.
ARTICLE 3. | CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF OWNERS AND HOLDERS OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES |
SECTION 3.01 Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other
Information.
Any person presenting Shares for deposit or any Owner or holder
may be required from time to time to file with the Depositary or
the Custodian such proof of citizenship or residence, exchange
control approval, 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 American Depositary
Shares 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.
SECTION 3.02 Liability of Owner for Taxes.
If any tax or other governmental charge shall become payable by
the Custodian or the Depositary with respect to any American
Depositary Shares or any Deposited Securities represented by any
American Depositary Shares, such tax or other governmental
charge shall be payable by the Owner of such American Depositary
Shares to the Depositary. The Depositary may refuse to register
any transfer of those American Depositary Shares or any
withdrawal of Deposited Securities represented by those American
Depositary Shares until such payment is made, and may withhold
any dividends or other distributions, or may sell for the
account of the Owner thereof any part or all of the Deposited
Securities represented by those American Depositary Shares, and
may apply such dividends or other distributions or the proceeds
of any such sale in payment of such tax or other governmental
charge and the Owner of such American Depositary Shares 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, if applicable, 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 the deposit of
such Shares and the sale of American Depositary Shares
representing such Shares by that person are not restricted under
the
9
Securities Act of 1933. Such representations and warranties
shall survive the deposit of Shares and delivery of American
Depositary Shares.
SECTION 3.04 Disclosure of Interests
Each Owner of American Depositary Shares and all persons owning
beneficial interests in American Depositary Shares agree to
comply with all applicable provisions of German law and the
Company’s Articles of Association regarding the
notification of such person’s interest in the Shares, which
provisions at the date of the Deposit Agreement include
Sections 21 and 22 of the Securities Trading Act
(Wertpapierhandelsgesetz). At the date of this Deposit
Agreement, (i) the statutory notification obligations of
the Securities Trading Act apply to anyone whose holding, either
directly or by way of imputation pursuant to the provisions of
Section 22 of the Securities Trading Act, of voting rights
in the Company reaches or exceeds 5%, 10%, 25%, 50% or 75% or,
after having reached or exceeded any such threshold, falls below
that threshold. Effective as of January 20, 2007, the
relevant thresholds will be 3%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 50%
and 75% and the notification obligations will also apply to
option agreements (excluding the 3% threshold). Each beneficial
owner of American Depositary Shares acknowledges that failure to
provide on a timely basis any required notification of an
interest in Shares may result in withholding of certain rights,
including voting and dividend rights, in respect of the Shares
in which such beneficial owner of American Depositary Shares has
an interest. In connection therewith, the Company reserves the
right to instruct Owners to surrender their American Depositary
Shares for the purpose of the withdrawal of the Deposited
Securities so as to permit the Company to deal directly with the
Owner thereof as an owner of Shares. The Depositary agrees to
cooperate with the Company in its efforts to inform Owners of
the Company’s exercise of its rights under this Section and
agrees to consult with, and provide reasonable assistance
without risk, liability or expense on the part of the
Depositary, to the Company on the manner or manners in which it
may enforce such rights with respect to any Owner.
ARTICLE 4. THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES
SECTION 4.01 Cash Distributions.
Whenever the Depositary shall receive any cash dividend or other
cash distribution on any Deposited Securities, the Depositary
shall, subject to the provisions of Section 4.05, convert
such dividend or distribution into Dollars and shall distribute
the amount thus received (net of the fees and 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; 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 or other
governmental charges, the amount distributed to the Owner of the
American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited
Securities shall be reduced accordingly. The Depositary shall
distribute only such amount, however, as can be distributed
without attributing to any Owner a fraction of one cent. Any
such fractional amounts shall be rounded to the nearest whole
cent and so distributed to Owners entitled thereto. The Company
or its agent will remit to the appropriate governmental agency
in the Federal Republic of Germany all amounts withheld and
owing to such agency. The Depositary will forward to the Company
or its agent such information from its records as the Company
may reasonably request to enable the Company or its agent to
file necessary reports with governmental agencies, 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. The Depositary shall also cooperate with the
Company in the establishment and maintenance of arrangements
with the relevant tax authorities that assist Owners, at their
expense, in claiming tax refunds, tax credits or other tax
benefits (pursuant to treaties or otherwise) relating to
distributions on the American Depositary Shares.
SECTION 4.02 Distributions Other Than Cash, Shares or
Rights.
Subject to the provisions of Sections 4.11 and 5.09,
whenever the Depositary shall receive any distribution other
than a distribution described in Section 4.01, 4.03 or
4.04, the Depositary shall cause the securities or property
received by it to be distributed to the Owners entitled thereto,
after deduction or upon payment of any fees and expenses of the
Depositary or any taxes or other governmental charges, in
proportion to the number of
10
American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited
Securities held by them respectively, in any manner that the
Depositary may deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing
such distribution; provided, however, that if in the opinion of
the Depositary such distribution cannot be made proportionately
among the Owners entitled thereto, or if for any other reason
(including, but not limited to, any requirement that the 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 or holders) the Depositary deems such
distribution not to be feasible, the Depositary may adopt such
method as it may deem equitable and practicable for the purpose
of effecting such distribution, including, but not limited to,
the public or private sale of the securities or property thus
received, or any part thereof, and the net proceeds of any such
sale (net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided
in Section 5.09) shall be distributed by the Depositary to
the Owners entitled thereto, all in the manner and subject to
the conditions described in Section 4.01. The Depositary
may sell, by public or private sale, an amount of securities or
other property it would otherwise distribute under this
Section 4.02 that is sufficient to pay it fees and expenses
in respect of that distribution.
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
deliver to the Owners entitled thereto, in proportion to the
number of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited
Securities held by them respectively, 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 after deduction or upon issuance of
American Depositary Shares, including the withholding of any tax
or other governmental charge as provided in Section 4.11
and the payment of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as
provided in Section 5.09 (and the Depositary may sell, by
public or private sale, an amount of the Shares received
sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in respect of that
distribution). The Depositary may withhold any such delivery of
American Depositary Shares if it has not received satisfactory
assurances from the Company that such distribution does not
require registration under the Securities Act of 1933 or is
exempt from registration under the provisions of such Act. In
lieu of delivering 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. If additional
American Depositary Shares are not so delivered, each American
Depositary Share shall thenceforth also represent the additional
Shares distributed upon the Deposited Securities represented
thereby.
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 shall have discretion as to the procedure
to be followed in making such rights available to any Owners or
in disposing of such rights on behalf of any Owners and making
the net proceeds available to such Owners or, if by the terms of
such rights offering or for any other reason, the Depositary may
not either make such rights available to any Owners or dispose
of such rights and make the net proceeds available to such
Owners, then the Depositary shall allow the rights to lapse. 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 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 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.
11
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 and expenses 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, deliver American Depositary Shares to
such Owner. In the case of a distribution pursuant to the second
paragraph of this Section, such deposit shall be made, and
Deposited Securities shall be delivered, under depositary
arrangements which provide for issuance of Deposited Securities
subject to the appropriate restrictions on sale, deposit,
cancellation, and transfer under applicable United States laws.
If the Depositary determines in its discretion that it is not
lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all or
certain Owners, it may sell the rights, warrants or other
instruments in proportion to the number of American Depositary
Shares held by the Owners to whom it has determined it may not
lawfully or feasibly make such rights available, and allocate
the net proceeds of such sales (net of the fees and expenses of
the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 and all taxes
and governmental charges payable in connection with such rights
and subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit
Agreement) for the account of such Owners otherwise entitled to
such rights, warrants or other instruments, upon an averaged or
other practical basis without regard to any distinctions among
such Owners because of exchange restrictions or the date of
delivery of any American Depositary Shares or otherwise.
The Depositary will not offer rights to Owners unless both the
rights and the securities to which such rights relate are each
either exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933
with respect to a distribution to all Owners or are registered
under the provisions of such Act; provided, that nothing
in this Deposit Agreement shall create any obligation on the
part of the Company to file a registration statement with
respect to such rights or underlying securities or to endeavor
to have such a registration statement declared effective. If an
Owner requests the distribution of warrants or other
instruments, notwithstanding that there has been no such
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, the Depositary
shall not effect such distribution unless it has received an
opinion from recognized counsel in the United States for the
Company upon which the Depositary may rely that such
distribution to such Owner is exempt from such registration.
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 in the judgment of the Depositary be converted on a
reasonable basis into Dollars and the resulting Dollars
transferred to the United States, the Depositary shall convert
or cause to be converted by sale or in any other manner that it
may determine such foreign currency into Dollars, and such
Dollars shall be distributed to the Owners entitled thereto or,
if the Depositary shall have distributed any warrants or other
instruments which entitle the holders thereof to such Dollars,
then to the holders of such warrants and/or instruments upon
surrender thereof for cancellation. Such distribution may be
made upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard
to any distinctions among Owners on account of exchange
restrictions, the date of delivery of any American Depositary
Shares 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 or distribution can be effected only with the
approval or license of any government or agency thereof, the
Depositary shall file such application for approval or license,
if any, as it may deem desirable.
If at any time the Depositary shall determine that in its
judgment any foreign currency received by the Depositary or the
Custodian is not convertible on a reasonable basis into Dollars
transferable to the United States,
12
or if any approval or license of any government or agency
thereof which is required for such conversion is denied or in
the opinion of the Depositary is not obtainable, or if any such
approval or license is not obtained within a reasonable period
as determined by the Depositary, the Depositary may distribute
the foreign currency (or an appropriate document evidencing the
right to receive such foreign currency) received by the
Depositary to, or in its discretion may hold such foreign
currency uninvested and without liability for interest thereon
for the respective accounts of, the Owners entitled to receive
the same.
If any such conversion of foreign currency, in whole or in part,
cannot be effected for distribution to some of the Owners
entitled thereto, the Depositary may in its discretion make such
conversion and distribution in Dollars to the extent permissible
to the Owners entitled thereto and may distribute the balance of
the foreign currency received by the Depositary to, or hold such
balance uninvested and without liability for interest thereon
for the respective accounts of, the Owners entitled thereto.
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 the Depositary shall receive
notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other 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 find
it necessary or convenient, the Depositary shall fix a record
date (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,
(ii) entitled to give instructions for the exercise of
voting rights at any such meeting or (iii) responsible for
any fee assessed by the Depositary pursuant to this Deposit
Agreement, 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.
SECTION 4.07 Voting of Deposited Securities.
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting 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 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 received by the Depositary from 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 the Federal Republic of Germany law and
of the Articles of Association (Satzung) 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, if the
Depositary has received a Recommendation (as defined below), an
express indication that, if no specific voting instruction is
received from an Owner prior to the date set by the Depositary
for that purpose (the “Instruction Date”), that
Owner shall be deemed to have instructed the Depositary to give
a proxy to the Custodian, which will act as a proxy bank in
accordance with Sections 128 and 135 of the German Stock
Corporation Act (Aktiengesetz) (the “Proxy
Bank”), to vote in accordance with its recommendation with
regard to voting of the Shares pursuant to Section 128
(2) of the German Stock Corporation Act (the
“Recommendation”) as to any matter concerning which
the notice from the Company indicates that a vote is to be taken
by holders of Shares and (d) containing any Recommendation.
Upon the written request of an Owner of a number of American
Depositary Shares on such record date, received on or before the
Instruction Date, 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 that number
of American Depositary Shares in accordance with the
instructions set forth in such request. The Depositary shall not
vote or attempt to exercise the right to vote that attaches to
the Shares or other Deposited Securities, other than in
accordance with such instructions or as provided below.
13
In order to give Owners a reasonable opportunity to instruct the
Depositary as to the exercise of voting rights relating to
Deposited Securities, if the Company will request the Depositary
to act under this Section 4.07, the Company shall notify
the Depositary of a meeting of holders of Deposited Securities
and of details concerning the matters to be voted upon not less
than 45 days prior to the meeting date.
Subject to the following paragraph of this Section 4.07, if
(i) the Company requested the Depositary to act under this
Section 4.07 and complied with the immediately preceding
paragraph, (ii) the Depositary received a Recommendation
before it mailed a notice to Owners under this Section 4.07
and (iii) no specific voting instructions are received by
the Depositary from an Owner (to whom a notice was sent by the
Depositary) with respect to an amount of Deposited Securities
represented by that Owner’s American Depositary Shares,
such Owner shall be deemed, and the Depositary shall deem such
Owner, to have instructed the Depositary to give a proxy to the
Proxy Bank to vote that amount of Deposited Securities in
accordance with Section 135 of the German Stock Corporation
Act, except that no such deemed instruction shall
be deemed given and no 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
promptly in writing, if applicable) that (x) the Company
does not wish such proxy given, (y) substantial opposition
exists or (z) the matter would materially affect the rights
of holders of Shares.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in
the event that the Proxy Bank shall fail or decline to supply
the Recommendation to the Depositary before the Depositary mails
a notice to Owners under this Section 4.07, the Depositary
shall deliver the above-referenced notice (which shall not
contain the Recommendation or the indication concerning the
proxy to be given to the Proxy Bank) to the Owners as
hereinabove provided, and, thereafter, in any case in which no
specific voting instructions are received by the Depositary from
a Owner on or before the Instruction Date with respect to a
number of Deposited Securities, no votes shall be cast at such
meeting with respect to that number of Deposited Securities.
There can be no assurance that Owners generally or any Owner in
particular will receive the notice described in the preceding
paragraph sufficiently prior to the instruction date to ensure
that the Depositary will vote the Shares or Deposited Securities
in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4.07.
SECTION 4.08 Changes Affecting Deposited
Securities.
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, or upon the redemption or cancellation by
the Company of the Deposited Securities, any securities, cash or
property which shall be received by the Depositary or a
Custodian in exchange for, in conversion of, in lieu 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, in addition to
the existing Deposited Securities, the right to receive the new
Deposited Securities so received, unless additional Receipts are
delivered pursuant to the following sentence. In any such case
the Depositary may, 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 solicitation 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, upon written request
by the Company, 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.
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SECTION 4.10 Lists of Owners.
Promptly upon request by the Company, the Depositary shall, at
the expense of the Company, 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 American
Depositary Shares are registered on the books of the Depositary.
SECTION 4.11 Withholding.
In the event that the Depositary determines that any
distribution in property (including 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 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.
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 and
surrender of Receipts in accordance with the provisions of this
Deposit Agreement.
The Depositary shall keep books, at its Corporate Trust Office,
for the registration of American Depositary Shares and transfers
of American Depositary Shares which at all reasonable times
shall be open for inspection by the Owners, provided that such
inspection shall not be for the purpose of communicating with
Owners in the interest of a business or object other than the
business of the Company or a matter related to this Deposit
Agreement or the American Depositary Shares.
The Depositary may close the transfer books, at any time or from
time to time, when deemed expedient by it in connection with the
performance of its duties hereunder.
If any American Depositary Shares are listed on one or more
stock exchanges in the United States, the Depositary shall act
as Registrar or appoint a Registrar or one or more co-registrars
for registry of such American Depositary Shares in accordance
with any requirements of such exchange or exchanges.
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 holder (i) 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 Articles of Association
(Satzung) of the Company, or by reason of any provision
of any securities issued or distributed by the Company, or any
offering or distribution thereof, or by reason of any act of God
or war or terrorism or other circumstances beyond its control,
the Depositary or the Company shall be prevented, delayed or
forbidden from, or be subject to any civil or criminal penalty
on account of, doing or performing any act or thing which by the
terms of this Deposit Agreement or Deposited Securities it is
provided shall be done or performed, (ii) 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, (iii) by
reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any
discretion provided for in this Deposit Agreement, (iv) for
the inability of any Owner or holder to benefit from any
distribution, offering, right or other benefit which is made
available to holders of Deposited Securities but is not, under
the terms of this Deposit Agreement, made available to Owners or
holders, or (v) for any special, consequential or punitive
damages for any breach of the terms of this Deposit Agreement.
Where, by the terms of a distribution pursuant to
Section 4.01, 4.02, or 4.03 of the Deposit Agreement, or an
offering or distribution pursuant to Section 4.04 of the
Deposit Agreement, or for any other reason, such distribution or
offering may not be made available to Owners, and the Depositary
may not dispose of such distribution or
15
offering on behalf of such Owners and make the net proceeds
available to such Owners, then the Depositary shall not make
such distribution or offering, and shall allow any rights, if
applicable, to lapse.
SECTION 5.03 Obligations of the Depositary, the
Custodian and the Company.
The Company assumes no obligation nor shall it be subject to any
liability under this Deposit Agreement to any Owner or holder,
except that the Company 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
holder (including, without limitation, liability with respect to
the validity or worth of the Deposited Securities), except that
the Depositary 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 American Depositary Shares on behalf of any Owner
or holder or any person.
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.
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 earlier of
(i) the appointment of a successor depositary and its
acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided or
(ii) termination by the Depositary pursuant to
Section 6.02 of the Deposit Agreement.
The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by
120 days prior written notice of such removal, to become
effective upon the later of (i) the 120th day after
delivery of the notice to the Depositary and (ii) 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 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.
16
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 Custodians.
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. Any Custodian may resign and be discharged from
its duties hereunder by notice of such resignation delivered to
the Depositary at least 30 days prior to the date on which
such resignation is to become effective. If upon such
resignation there shall be no Custodian acting hereunder, the
Depositary shall, promptly after receiving such notice, appoint
a substitute custodian or custodians, each of which shall
thereafter be a Custodian hereunder. The Depositary in its
discretion may appoint a substitute or additional custodian or
custodians, each of which shall thereafter be one of the
Custodians hereunder. 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. The Depositary shall notify the Company as promptly
as practicable of any change in Custodians.
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 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, at the Company’s expense, 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
Shares, or (4) rights to subscribe for such securities
(each a “Distribution”), the Company will promptly
furnish to the Depositary, a written opinion from U.S. counsel
for the Company which counsel shall be satisfactory to the
Depositary, stating whether or not the Distribution requires a
Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933 to be in
effect prior to making such Distribution available to Owners
entitled thereto. If in the opinion of such counsel a
Registration Statement is required, such counsel shall furnish
to the Depositary a written opinion as to whether or not there
is a Registration Statement in effect which will cover such
Distribution.
The Company agrees with the Depositary that neither the Company
nor any company controlled by, controlling or under common
control with 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 delivers to the Depositary an
17
opinion of United States counsel, satisfactory to the
Depositary, to the effect that the issuance of such Shares is
exempt from registration requirement of the Securities Act of
1933.
SECTION 5.08 Indemnification.
The Company agrees to indemnify (i) 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 any fees and expenses
incurred in seeking, enforcing or collecting such indemnity and
the fees and expenses of counsel) (“Losses”) which may
arise out of or in connection with (a) any registration
with the Commission of American Depositary Shares or Deposited
Securities or the offer or sale thereof in the United States
(other than any such liability or expense arising out of or
incurred as a result of the inclusion in the registration
statement or prospectus for such registration of any information
supplied in writing by the Depositary specifically for inclusion
therein containing an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitting to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements contained therein, under the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading) or (b) out of acts
performed or omitted, pursuant to the provisions of this Deposit
Agreement and of the Receipts, as the same may be amended,
modified or supplemented from time to time, (i) by 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, or (ii) by the Company or any of its directors,
employees, agents and affiliates.
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.
SECTION 5.09 Charges of Depositary.
The Company agrees to pay the fees, reasonable expenses and out
of pocket charges of the Depositary and those of any Registrar
only in accordance with agreements in writing entered into
between the Depositary and the Company from time to time.
The following charges shall be incurred by any party depositing
or withdrawing Shares or by any party surrendering American
Depositary Shares or to whom American Depositary Shares 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 American Depositary Shares or
Deposited Securities or a delivery of American Depositary Shares
pursuant to Section 4.03), or by Owners, as 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 or from 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 of $5.00 or less per 100
American Depositary Shares (or portion thereof) for the delivery
of American Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 2.03,
4.03 or 4.04 and the surrender of American Depositary Shares
pursuant to Section 2.05 or 6.02, (6) a fee of $.02 or
less per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) for any
cash distribution made pursuant to this Deposit Agreement,
including, but not limited to Sections 4.01 through 4.04
hereof, (7) a fee for the distribution of securities
pursuant to Section 4.02, such fee being in an amount equal
to the fee for the execution and delivery of American Depositary
Shares referred to above which would have been charged as a
result of the deposit of such securities (for purposes of this
clause 7 treating all such securities as if they were Shares)
but which securities are instead distributed by the Depositary
to Owners, (8) in addition to any fee charged under clause
(6), a fee of $.02 or less per American Depositary Share (or
portion thereof) for depositary services, which will accrue on
the last day of each calendar year and which will be payable as
provided in clause (9) below and (9) any other charges
payable by the Depositary, any of the Depositary’s agents,
including the Custodian, or the agents of the Depositary’s
agents in connection with the servicing of Shares or other
Deposited Securities (which charge shall be assessed against
Owners as of the date or dates set by the Depositary in
accordance with Section 4.06 and shall be payable at the
sole discretion of the
18
Depositary by billing such Owners for such charge or by
deducting such charge from one or more cash dividends or other
cash distributions).
The Depositary, subject to Section 2.09 hereof and
applicable law, may own and deal in any class of securities of
the Company and its affiliates and in American Depositary Shares.
SECTION 5.10 Retention of Depositary
Documents.
The Depositary is authorized to destroy those documents,
records, bills and other data compiled during the term of this
Deposit Agreement at the times permitted by the laws or
regulations governing the Depositary unless the Company requests
that such papers be retained for a longer period or turned over
to the Company or to a successor depositary.
SECTION 5.11 Exclusivity.
Without prejudice to the Company’s rights under
Section 5.04, the Company agrees not to appoint any other
depositary for issuance of American or global depositary shares
or receipts so long as The Bank of New York is acting as
Depositary hereunder.
SECTION 5.12 List of Restricted Securities
Owners.
From time to time, the Company shall provide to the Depositary a
list setting forth, to the actual knowledge of the Company,
those persons or entities who beneficially own Restricted
Securities and the Company shall update that list on a regular
basis. The Company agrees to advise in writing each of the
persons or entities so listed that such Restricted Securities
are ineligible for deposit hereunder. The Depositary may rely on
such a list or update but shall not be liable for any action or
omission made in reliance thereon.
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 without the
consent of Owners or holders 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 American Depositary Shares until the
expiration of 30 days after notice of such amendment shall
have been given to the Owners of outstanding American Depositary
Shares. Every Owner and holder, at the time any amendment so
becomes effective, shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such
American Depositary Shares or any interest therein, 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 to surrender American Depositary
Shares and receive therefor the Deposited Securities represented
thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of
applicable law.
SECTION 6.02 Termination.
The Company may at any time terminate this Deposit Agreement by
instructing the Depositary to mail a notice of termination to
the Owners of all American Depositary Shares then outstanding at
least 30 days prior to the termination date included in
such notice. The Depositary may likewise terminate this Deposit
Agreement if at any time 60 days shall have expired after
the Depositary delivered to the Company a written resignation
notice and if a successor depositary shall not have been
appointed and accepted its appointment as provided in
Section 5.04; in such case the Depositary shall mail a
notice of termination to the Owners of all American Depositary
Shares then outstanding at least 30 days prior to the
termination date. On and after the date of termination, the
Owner of American Depositary Shares will, upon
(a) surrender of such American Depositary Shares,
(b) payment of the fee of the Depositary for the surrender
of American Depositary Shares referred to in
19
Section 2.05, and (c) payment of any applicable taxes
or governmental charges, be entitled to delivery, to him or upon
his order, of the amount of Deposited Securities represented by
those American Depositary Shares. If any American Depositary
Shares shall remain outstanding after the date of termination,
the Depositary thereafter shall discontinue the registration of
transfers of American Depositary Shares, 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 and other property 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, upon
surrender of American Depositary Shares (after deducting, in
each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of
American Depositary Shares, any expenses for the account of the
Owner of such American Depositary Shares 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 four months 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 American
Depositary Shares that 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 American Depositary Shares, any
expenses for the account of the Owner of such American
Depositary Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of
this Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental
charges. Upon the termination of this Deposit Agreement, the
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 Custodians and shall be open to
inspection by any Owner or holder during business hours.
SECTION 7.02 No Third Party Beneficiaries.
This Deposit Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the
parties hereto and shall not be deemed to give any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim whatsoever to any other person.
SECTION 7.03 Severability.
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this
Deposit Agreement or in the Receipts should be or become
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions
contained herein or therein shall in no way be affected,
prejudiced or disturbed thereby.
SECTION 7.04 Owners and Holders as Parties; Binding
Effect.
The Owners and holders from time to time shall be parties to
this Deposit Agreement and shall be bound by all of the terms
and conditions hereof and of the Receipts by acceptance thereof.
SECTION 7.05 Notices.
Any and all notices to be given to the 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 Fresenius
20
Medical Care AG & Co. XXxX, Xxxx-Xxxxxx-Xxxxxxx 0,
00000 Xxx Xxxxxxx v.D.H., Germany, Attention: Investor Relations
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 American Depositary Shares of
the Depositary, or, if such Owner shall have filed with the
Depositary a written request that notices intended for such
Owner be mailed to some other address, at the address designated
in such request.
Delivery of a notice sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile
transmission shall be deemed to be effected at the time when a
duly addressed letter containing the same (or a confirmation
thereof in the case of a cable, telex or facsimile transmission)
is deposited, postage prepaid, in a post-office letter box. 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 | Submission to Jurisdiction; Appointment of Agent for Service of Process; Jury Trial Waiver. |
The Company hereby (i) irrevocably designates and appoints
Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc., 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000, Attn: General Counsel, as the
Company’s authorized agent upon which process may be served
in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to the
Shares or Deposited Securities, the American Depositary Shares,
the Receipts or this Agreement, (ii) consents and submits
to the jurisdiction of any state or federal court in the State
of New York in which any such suit or proceeding may be
instituted, and (iii) agrees that service of process upon
said authorized agent shall be deemed in every respect effective
service of process upon the Company in any such suit or
proceeding. The Company agrees to deliver, upon the execution
and delivery of this Deposit Agreement, a written acceptance by
such agent of its appointment as such agent. The Company further
agrees to take any and all action, including the filing of any
and all such documents and instruments, as may be necessary to
continue such designation and appointment in full force and
effect for so long as any American Depositary Shares or Receipts
remain outstanding or this Agreement remains in force. In the
event the Company fails to continue such designation and
appointment in
full force and effect, the Company hereby waives personal
service of process upon it and consents that any such service of
process may be made by certified or registered mail, return
receipt requested, directed to the Company at its address last
specified for notices hereunder, and service so made shall be
deemed completed five (5) days after the same shall have been so
mailed.
EACH PARTY TO THIS DEPOSIT AGREEMENT (INCLUDING, FOR AVOIDANCE
OF DOUBT, EACH OWNER AND HOLDER) HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO
THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY
HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING
AGAINST THE COMPANY AND/ OR THE DEPOSITARY DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SHARES OR OTHER
DEPOSITED SECURITIES, THE AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES OR THE
RECEIPTS, THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED
HEREIN OR THEREIN, OR THE BREACH HEREOF OR THEREOF, INCLUDING
WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY QUESTION REGARDING EXISTENCE, VALIDITY OR
TERMINATION (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER
THEORY).
21
SECTION 7.07 Waiver of Immunities.
To the extent that the Company or any of its properties, assets
or revenues may have or may hereafter become entitled to, or
have attributed to it, any right of immunity, on the grounds of
sovereignty or otherwise, from any legal action, suit or
proceeding, from the giving of any relief in any respect
thereof, from setoff or counterclaim, from the jurisdiction of
any court, from service of process, from attachment upon or
prior to judgment, from attachment in aid of execution or
judgment, or from execution of judgment, or other legal process
or proceeding for the giving of any relief or for the
enforcement of any judgment, in any jurisdiction in which
proceedings may at any time be commenced, with respect to its
obligations, liabilities or any other matter under or arising
out of or in connection with the Shares or Deposited Securities,
the American Depositary Shares, the Receipts or this Agreement,
the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, hereby
irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to plead
or claim, any such immunity and consents to such relief and
enforcement.
SECTION 7.08 Governing Law.
This Deposit Agreement and the Receipts shall be interpreted and
all rights hereunder and thereunder and provisions hereof and
thereof shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York,
except with respect to its authorization and execution by the
Company, which shall be governed by the laws of the Federal
Republic of Germany.
22
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA and
THE BANK OF NEW YORK have duly executed this Deposit Agreement
as of the day and year first set forth above and all Owners
shall become parties hereto upon acceptance by them of American
Depositary Shares issued in accordance with the terms hereof.
FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE AG & CO. KGaA, | |
a partnership limited by | |
shares represented by | |
FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE MANAGEMENT AG, | |
its general partner |
By: |
Name: | |
Title: |
By: |
Name: | |
Title: | |
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, | |
as Depositary |
By: |
Name: | |
Title: |
23
EXHIBIT A
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES | |
(Each American Depositary Share | |
represents | |
one-third of one deposited Share) |
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
FOR ORDINARY BEARER SHARES OF
FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE AG & CO. KGaA
(ORGANIZED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY)
The Bank of New York, as depositary (hereinafter called the
Depositary), hereby certifies that
,
or registered assigns IS THE OWNER OF
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
representing deposited ordinary bearer shares (herein called
Shares) of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA, a
partnership limited by shares (Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien)
organized under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany
(herein called the Company). At the date hereof, each American
Depositary Share represents one-third of one Share deposited or
subject to deposit under the Deposit Agreement (as such term is
hereinafter defined) at the principal Frankfurt office of BHF
Bank AG (herein called the Custodian). The Depositary’s
Corporate Trust Office is located at a different address than
its principal executive office. Its Corporate Trust Office is
located at 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, X.X. 00000, and its
principal executive office is located at Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx
Xxxx, X.X. 00000.
THE DEPOSITARY’S CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE ADDRESS IS
000 XXXXXXX XXXXXX, XXX XXXX, X.X. 00000
1. | THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT. |
This American Depositary Receipt is one of an issue (herein
called Receipts), all issued and to be issued upon the terms and
conditions set forth in the deposit agreement, dated as of
February 26, 2007 (the “Deposit Agreement”), by
and among the Company, the Depositary, and all Owners and
holders from time to time of American Depositary Shares issued
thereunder, each of whom by accepting American Depositary Shares
agrees to become a party thereto and become bound by all the
terms and conditions thereof. The Deposit Agreement sets forth
the rights of Owners and holders 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 American Depositary Shares, 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 of
those American Depositary Shares is entitled to delivery, to him
or as instructed, of the amount of Deposited Securities at the
time represented by those American Depositary Shares. Delivery
of such Deposited Securities may be made by the delivery of
(a) certificates or account transfer in the name of the
Owner hereof or as ordered by him, with proper endorsement or
accompanied by proper instruments or instructions of transfer
and (b) any other securities, property and cash to which
such Owner is then entitled in respect of this Receipt. Such
delivery will be made at the option of the Owner hereof, either
at the office of the Custodian or at the Corporate Trust Office
of the Depositary, provided that the forwarding of certificates
for Shares or other Deposited Securities for such delivery at
the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary shall be at the
risk and expense of the Owner hereof.
3. | TRANSFERS, SPLIT-UPS, AND COMBINATIONS OF RECEIPTS. |
Transfers of American Depositary Shares may be registered on the
books of the Depositary by the Owner in person or by a duly
authorized attorney, upon surrender of those American Depositary
Shares properly endorsed for transfer or accompanied by proper
instruments of transfer, in the case of a Receipt, or pursuant
to a proper instruction (including, for the avoidance of doubt,
instructions through DRS and Profile as provided
in Section 2.10 of the Deposit Agreement), in the case of
uncertificated American Depositary Shares, 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. The Depositary, upon surrender of a Receipt for the
purpose of exchanging for uncertificated American Depositary
Shares, shall cancel that Receipt and send the Owner a statement
confirming that the Owner is the Owner of uncertificated
American Depositary Shares. The Depositary, upon receipt of a
proper instruction (including, for the avoidance of doubt,
instructions through DRS and Profile as provided in
Section 2.10 of the Deposit Agreement) from the Owner of
uncertificated American Depositary Shares for the purpose of
exchanging for certificated American Depositary Shares, shall
execute and deliver to the Owner a Receipt evidencing those
American Depositary Shares. As a condition precedent to the
delivery, registration of transfer, or surrender of any American
Depositary Shares or split-up or combination of any Receipt or
withdrawal of any Deposited Securities, the Depositary, the
Custodian, or Registrar may require payment from the depositor
of the Shares or the presenter of the Receipt or instruction for
registration of transfer or surrender of American Depositary
Shares not evidenced by a Receipt of a sum sufficient to
reimburse it for any tax or other governmental charge and any
stock transfer or registration fee with
2
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 the Deposit Agreement, may
require the production of proof satisfactory to it as to the
identity and genuineness of any signature and may also require
compliance with any regulations the Depositary may establish
consistent with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement.
The delivery of American Depositary Shares against deposit of
Shares generally or against deposit of particular Shares may be
suspended, or the transfer of American Depositary Shares in
particular instances may be refused, or the registration of
transfer of outstanding American Depositary Shares generally may
be suspended, during any period when the transfer books of the
Depositary are closed, or if any such action is deemed necessary
or advisable by the Depositary or the Company at any time or
from time to time because of any requirement of law or of any
government or governmental body or commission, or under any
provision of the Deposit Agreement, or for any other reason,
subject to the provisions of the following sentence.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Deposit
Agreement or this Receipt, the surrender of outstanding American
Depositary Shares and withdrawal of Deposited Securities may not
be suspended subject only to (i) temporary delays caused by
closing the transfer books of the Depositary or the Company or
the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, 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
American Depositary Shares or to the withdrawal of the Deposited
Securities. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary
shall not knowingly accept for deposit under the Deposit
Agreement any Shares which would be required to be registered
under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, unless a
registration statement is in effect as to such Shares or such
Shares are exempt from registration thereunder.
4. | LIABILITY OF OWNER FOR TAXES. |
If any tax or other governmental charge shall become payable
with respect to any American Depositary Shares or any Deposited
Securities represented by any American Depositary Shares, such
tax or other governmental charge shall be payable by the Owner
to the Depositary. The Depositary may refuse to register any
transfer of those American Depositary Shares or any withdrawal
of Deposited Securities represented by those American Depositary
Shares until such payment is made, and may withhold any
dividends or other distributions, or may sell for the account of
the Owner any part or all of the Deposited Securities
represented by those American Depositary Shares, and may apply
such dividends or other distributions or the proceeds of any
such sale in payment of such tax or other governmental charge
and the Owner shall remain liable for any deficiency.
5. | WARRANTIES ON DEPOSIT OF SHARES. |
Every person depositing Shares under the Deposit Agreement shall
be deemed thereby to represent and warrant, that such Shares and
each certificate therefor, if applicable, 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 the deposit of such
Shares and the sale of American Depositary Shares representing
such Shares by that person are not restricted under the
Securities Act of 1933. Such representations and warranties
shall survive the deposit of Shares and delivery of American
Depositary Shares.
6. | FILING PROOFS, CERTIFICATES, AND OTHER INFORMATION. |
Any person presenting Shares for deposit or any Owner or holder
may be required from time to time to file with the Depositary or
the Custodian such proof of citizenship or residence, exchange
control approval, 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 American Depositary
Shares 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. No Share shall be accepted
for deposit unless accompanied by evidence
3
satisfactory to the Depositary that any necessary approval has
been granted by any governmental body in the Federal Republic of
Germany, which is then performing the function of the regulation
of currency exchange.
7. | CHARGES OF DEPOSITARY. |
The following charges shall be incurred by any party depositing
or withdrawing Shares or by any party surrendering American
Depositary Shares or to whom American Depositary Shares 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 American Depositary Shares or
Deposited Securities or a delivery of American Depositary Shares
pursuant to Section 4.03 of the Deposit Agreement), or by
Owners, as 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 or from 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 of
$5.00 or less per 100 American Depositary Shares (or portion
thereof) for the delivery of American Depositary Shares pursuant
to Section 2.03, 4.03 or 4.04 of the Deposit Agreement and
the surrender of American Depositary Shares pursuant to
Section 2.05 or 6.02 of the Deposit Agreement, (6) a
fee of $.02 or less per American Depositary Share (or portion
thereof) for any cash distribution made pursuant to the Deposit
Agreement, including, but not limited to Sections 4.01
through 4.04 of the Deposit Agreement, (7) a fee for the
distribution of securities pursuant to Section 4.02 of the
Deposit Agreement, such fee being in an amount equal to the fee
for the execution and delivery of American Depositary Shares
referred to above which would have been charged as a result of
the deposit of such securities (for purposes of this clause 7
treating all such securities as if they were Shares) but which
securities are instead distributed by the Depositary to Owners,
(8) in addition to any fee charged under clause (6),
a fee of $.02 or less per American Depositary Share (or
portion thereof) for depositary services, which will accrue on
the last day of each calendar year and which will be payable as
provided in clause (9) below and (9) any other charges
payable by the Depositary, any of the Depositary’s agents,
including the Custodian, or the agents of the Depositary’s
agents in connection with the servicing of Shares or other
Deposited Securities (which charge shall be assessed against
Owners as of the date or dates set by the Depositary in
accordance with Section 4.06 of the Deposit Agreement and
shall be payable at the sole discretion of the Depositary by
billing such Owners for such charge or by deducting such charge
from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions).
The Depositary, subject to Article 8 hereof, may own and
deal in any class of securities of the Company and its
affiliates and in American Depositary Shares.
8. | PRE-RELEASE OF RECEIPTS. |
Notwithstanding Section 2.03 of the Deposit Agreement, the
Depositary may deliver American Depositary Shares prior to the
receipt of Shares pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Deposit
Agreement (a “Pre-Release”). The Depositary may,
pursuant to Section 2.05 of the Deposit Agreement, deliver
Shares upon the surrender of American Depositary Shares that
have been Pre-Released, whether or not such cancellation is
prior to the termination of such Pre-Release or the Depositary
knows that such American Depositary Shares have been
Pre-Released. The Depositary may receive American Depositary
Shares in lieu of Shares in satisfaction of a Pre-Release. Each
Pre-Release will be (a) preceded or accompanied by a
written representation from the person to whom American
Depositary Shares or Shares are to be delivered, that such
person, or its customer, owns the Shares or American Depositary
Shares to be remitted, as the case may be, (b) at all times
fully collateralized with cash or such other collateral as the
Depositary deems appropriate (but such collateral shall not
constitute “Deposited 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-Release
will not normally exceed thirty percent (30%) of the Shares
deposited under the Deposit Agreement; provided, however, that
the Depositary reserves the right to change or disregard such
limit from time to time as it deems appropriate.
4
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 Owner and
holder of this Receipt by accepting or holding the same consents
and agrees that when properly endorsed or accompanied by proper
instruments of transfer, shall be transferable as certificated
registered securities under the laws of New York. American
Depositary Shares not evidenced by Receipts shall be
transferable as uncertificated registered securities under the
laws of New York. The Depositary, notwithstanding any notice to
the contrary, may treat the Owner of American Depositary Shares
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 the Deposit
Agreement and for all other purposes, and neither the Depositary
nor the Company shall have any obligation or be subject to any
liability under the Deposit Agreement to any holder of a Receipt
unless such holder is the Owner thereof.
10. | VALIDITY OF RECEIPT. |
This Receipt shall not be entitled to any benefits under the
Deposit Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose,
unless this Receipt shall have been executed by the Depositary
by the manual signature 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.
11. | REPORTS; INSPECTION OF TRANSFER BOOKS. |
The Company is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and, accordingly, files
certain reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Such reports and communications will be available for inspection
and copying at the public reference facilities maintained by the
Commission located at 000 X Xxxxxx, X.X., Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000
and, so long as the Company files such reports electronically,
on the World Wide Website of the Commission at
xxxx://xxx.xxx.xxx.
The Depositary will make available for inspection by Owners at
its Corporate Trust Office any reports, notices and other
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 will also,
upon written request by the Company, send to Owners 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 Depositary will keep books, at its Corporate Trust Office,
for the registration of American Depositary Shares and transfers
of American Depositary Shares which at all reasonable times
shall be open for inspection by the Owners, provided that such
inspection shall not be for the purpose of communicating with
Owners in the interest of a business or object other than the
business of the Company or a matter related to the Deposit
Agreement or the American Depositary Shares.
12. | DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. |
Whenever the Depositary 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 such dividend or distribution into dollars
and will distribute the amount thus received (net of the fees
and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Article 7
hereof and Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement) to the
Owners entitled thereto; provided, however, that
in the event that the Company or the Depositary is required to
withhold and does withhold from any cash dividend or other cash
distribution in respect of any Deposited Securities an amount on
account of taxes or other governmental
5
charges, the amount distributed to the Owners of the 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
Section 4.01, 4.03 or 4.04 of the Deposit Agreement, the
Depositary will cause the securities or property received by it
to be distributed to the Owners entitled thereto, in any manner
that the Depositary may deem equitable and practicable for
accomplishing such distribution; provided,
however, that if in the opinion of the Depositary such
distribution cannot be made proportionately among the Owners of
Receipts entitled thereto, or if for any other reason the
Depositary deems such distribution not to be feasible, the
Depositary may adopt such method as it may deem equitable and
practicable for the purpose of effecting such distribution,
including, but not limited to, the public or private sale of the
securities or property thus received, or any part thereof, and
the net proceeds of any such sale (net of the fees and expenses
of the Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and
Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement) will be distributed
by the Depositary to the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto all
in the manner and subject to the conditions described in
Section 4.01 of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary may
sell, by public or private sale, an amount of securities or
other property it would otherwise distribute under this Article
that is sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in respect of
that distribution.
If any distribution consists of a dividend in, or free
distribution of, Shares, the Depositary may deliver to the
Owners entitled thereto, 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 after deduction or upon issuance of American
Depositary Shares, 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 and expenses of
the Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and
Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement (and the Depositary
may sell, by public or private sale, an amount of Shares
received sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in respect of
that distribution. In lieu of delivering 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 described in Section 4.01of the Deposit
Agreement. If additional American Depositary Shares are not so
delivered, each American Depositary Share shall thenceforth also
represent the additional Shares distributed upon the Deposited
Securities represented thereby.
In the event that the Depositary determines that any
distribution in property (including Shares and rights to
subscribe therefor) is subject to any tax 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 shall have discretion as to the procedure
to be followed in making such rights available to any Owners or
in disposing of such rights on behalf of any Owners and making
the net proceeds available to such Owners or, if by the terms of
such rights offering or for any other reason, the Depositary may
not either make such rights available to any Owners or dispose
of such rights and make the net proceeds available to such
Owners, then the Depositary shall allow the rights to lapse. 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 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
6
Owner under the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary will make such
rights available to such Owner upon written notice from the
Company to the Depositary that (a) the Company has elected
in its sole discretion to permit such rights to be exercised and
(b) such Owner has executed such documents as the Company
has determined in its sole discretion are 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 and expenses 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, deliver American Depositary Shares to
such Owner. In the case of a distribution pursuant to the second
paragraph of this Article 13, such deposit shall be made,
and Deposited Securities shall be delivered, under depositary
arrangements which provide for issuance of Deposited Securities
subject to the appropriate restrictions on sale, deposit,
cancellation, and transfer under applicable United States laws.
If the Depositary determines in its discretion that it is not
lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all or
certain Owners, it may sell the rights, warrants or other
instruments in proportion to the number of American Depositary
Shares held by the Owners to whom it has determined it may not
lawfully or feasibly make such rights available, and allocate
the net proceeds of such sales (net of the fees and expenses of
the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 of the Deposit
Agreement 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 American Depositary
Shares or otherwise.
The Depositary will not offer rights to Owners unless both the
rights and the securities to which such rights relate are either
exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 with
respect to a distribution to all Owners or are registered under
the provisions of such Act; provided, that nothing in the
Deposit Agreement shall create any obligation on the part of the
Company to file a registration statement with respect to such
rights or underlying securities or to endeavor to have such a
registration statement declared effective. If an Owner requests
the distribution of warrants or other instruments,
notwithstanding that there has been no such registration under
the Securities Act of 1933, the Depositary shall not effect such
distribution unless it has received an opinion from recognized
counsel in the United States for the Company upon which the
Depositary may rely that such distribution to such Owner is
exempt from such registration.
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 in the judgment of the Depositary be converted on a
reasonable basis into Dollars and the resulting Dollars
transferred to the United States, the Depositary shall convert
or cause to be converted by sale or in any other manner that it
may determine, such foreign currency into Dollars, and such
Dollars shall be distributed to the Owners entitled thereto or,
if the Depositary shall have distributed any warrants or other
instruments which entitle the holders thereof to such Dollars,
then to the holders of such warrants and/or instruments upon
surrender thereof for cancellation. Such distribution may be
made upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard
to any distinctions among Owners on account of exchange
restrictions, the date of delivery of any American Depositary
Shares 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.
7
If such conversion or distribution can be effected only with the
approval or license of any government or agency thereof, the
Depositary shall file such application for approval or license,
if any, as it may deem desirable.
If at any time the Depositary shall determine that in its
judgment any foreign currency received by the Depositary or the
Custodian is not convertible on a reasonable basis into Dollars
transferable to the United States, or if any approval or license
of any government or agency thereof which is required for such
conversion is denied or in the opinion of the Depositary is not
obtainable, or if any such approval or license is not obtained
within a reasonable period as determined by the Depositary, the
Depositary may distribute the foreign currency (or an
appropriate document evidencing the right to receive such
foreign currency) received by the Depositary to, or in its
discretion may hold such foreign currency uninvested and without
liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of,
the Owners entitled to receive the same.
If any such conversion of foreign currency, in whole or in part,
cannot be effected for distribution to some of the Owners
entitled thereto, the Depositary may in its discretion make such
conversion and distribution in Dollars to the extent permissible
to the Owners entitled thereto and may distribute the balance of
the foreign currency received by the Depositary to, or hold such
balance uninvested and without liability for interest thereon
for the respective accounts of, the Owners entitled thereto.
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 the Depositary shall receive
notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other 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 find
it necessary or convenient, the Depositary shall fix a record
date (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,
(ii) entitled to give instructions for the exercise of
voting rights at any such meeting or (iii) responsible for
any fee assessed by the Depositary pursuant to the Deposit
Agreement, or (b) on or after which each American
Depositary Share will represent the changed number of Shares,
subject to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement.
16. | VOTING OF DEPOSITED SECURITIES. |
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting 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 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 received by the Depositary from 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 the Federal Republic of Germany law and
of the Articles of Association (Satzung) 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, if the
Depositary has received a Recommendation (as defined below), an
express indication that, if no specific voting instruction is
received from an Owner prior to the date set by the Depositary
for that purpose (the “Instruction Date”), that
Owner shall be deemed to have instructed the Depositary to give
a proxy to the Custodian, which will act as a proxy bank in
accordance with Sections 128 and 135 of the German Stock
Corporation Act (Aktiengesetz) (the “Proxy
Bank”), to vote in accordance with its recommendation with
regard to voting of the Shares pursuant to Section 128
(2) of the German Stock Corporation Act (the
“Recommendation”) as to any matter concerning which
the notice from the Company indicates that a vote is to be taken
by holders of Shares and (d) containing any Recommendation.
Upon the written request of an Owner of a number of American
Depositary Shares on such record date, received on or before the
Instruction Date, 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 that number of
American Depositary Shares in accordance with the instructions
set forth in such request. The Depositary shall not vote or
attempt to exercise the right to vote that attaches to the
Shares or other Deposited Securities, other than in accordance
with such instructions or as provided below.
8
In order to give Owners a reasonable opportunity to instruct the
Depositary as to the exercise of voting rights relating to
Deposited Securities, if the Company will request the Depositary
to act under Section 4.07 of the Deposit Agreement, the
Company shall notify the Depositary of a meeting of holders of
Deposited Securities and of details concerning the matters to be
voted upon not less than 45 days prior to the meeting date.
Subject to the following paragraph, if (i) the Company
requested the Depositary to act under Section 4.07 of the
Deposit Agreement and complied with the immediately preceding
paragraph, (ii) the Depositary received a Recommendation
before it mailed a notice to Owners under that Section 4.07
and (iii) no specific voting instructions are received by
the Depositary from an Owner (to whom a notice was sent by the
Depositary) with respect to an amount of Deposited Securities
represented by that Owner’s American Depositary Shares,
such Owner shall be deemed, and the Depositary shall deem such
Owner, to have instructed the Depositary to give a proxy to the
Proxy Bank to vote that amount of Deposited Securities in
accordance with Section 135 of the German Stock Corporation
Act, except that no such deemed instruction shall
be deemed given and no 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
promptly in writing, if applicable) that (x) the Company
does not wish such proxy given, (y) substantial opposition
exists or (z) the matter would materially affect the rights
of holders of Shares.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in
the event that the Proxy Bank shall fail or decline to supply
the Recommendation to the Depositary before the Depositary mails
a notice to Owners under Section 4.07 of the Deposit
Agreement, the Depositary shall deliver the above-referenced
notice (which shall not contain the Recommendation or the
indication concerning the proxy to be given to the Proxy Bank)
to the Owners as hereinabove provided, and, thereafter, in any
case in which no specific voting instructions are received by
the Depositary from a Owner on or before the Instruction Date
with respect to a number of Deposited Securities, no votes shall
be cast at such meeting with respect to that number of Deposited
Securities.
There can be no assurance that Owners generally or any Owner in
particular will receive the notice described in the preceding
paragraph sufficiently prior to the instruction date to ensure
that the Depositary will vote the Shares or Deposited Securities
in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.07 of the
Deposit Agreement.
17. | CHANGES AFFECTING DEPOSITED SECURITIES. |
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, or upon the redemption or cancellation by
the Company of the Deposited Securities, any securities, cash or
property which shall be received by the Depositary or a
Custodian in exchange for, in conversion of, in lieu of or in
respect of Deposited Securities shall be treated as new
Deposited Securities under the Deposit Agreement, and American
Depositary Shares shall thenceforth represent, in addition to
the existing Deposited Securities, the right to receive the new
Deposited Securities so received, unless additional Receipts are
delivered pursuant to the following sentence. In any such case
the Depositary may 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.
18. | LIABILITY OF THE COMPANY AND DEPOSITARY. |
Neither the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their
respective directors, employees, agents or affiliates shall
incur any liability to any Owner or holder, (i) 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 by reason of any
provision, present or future, of the Articles of Association
(Satzung) of the Company, or by reason of any provision
of any securities issued or distributed by the Company, or any
offering or distribution thereof, or by reason of any act of God
or war or terrorism or other circumstances beyond its control,
the Depositary or the Company shall be prevented, delayed or
forbidden from or be subject to any civil or criminal penalty on
account of doing or performing any act or thing which by the
terms of the Deposit Agreement or Deposited Securities it is
provided shall be done or performed, (ii) by reason of any
non-performance or delay, caused as aforesaid, in the
9
performance of any act or thing which by the terms of the
Deposit Agreement it is provided shall or may be done or
performed, (iii) by reason of any exercise of, or failure
to exercise, any discretion provided for in the Deposit
Agreement, (iv) for the inability of any Owner or holder to
benefit from any distribution, offering, right or other benefit
which is made available to holders of Deposited Securities but
is not, under the terms of the Deposit Agreement, made available
to Owners or holders, or (v) for any special, consequential
or punitive damages for any breach of the terms of the Deposit
Agreement. Where, by the terms of a distribution pursuant to
Section 4.01, 4.02 or 4.03 of the Deposit Agreement, or an
offering or distribution pursuant to Section 4.04 of 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 holders, 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 American Depositary
Shares, on behalf of any Owner or holder or other person.
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 holder, 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. No
disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act of 1933 is
intended by any provision of the Deposit Agreement.
19. | RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF THE DEPOSITARY; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN. |
The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary under the
Deposit Agreement by written notice of its election so to do
delivered to the Company, such resignation to take effect upon
the earlier of (i) the appointment of a successor
depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as provided in
the Deposit Agreement or (ii) termination by the Depositary
pursuant to Section 6.02 of the Deposit Agreement. The
Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by
120 days prior written notice of such removal, to become
effective upon the later of (i) the 120th day after
delivery of the notice to the Depositary and (ii) the
appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such
appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary
in its discretion 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 without the
consent of Owners or holders 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 American Depositary Shares until the
expiration of 30 days after notice of such amendment shall
have been given to the Owners of outstanding American Depositary
Shares. Every Owner and holder of American Depositary Shares, at
the time any amendment so becomes effective, shall be deemed, by
continuing to hold such American Depositary Shares or any
interest therein, 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 to
surrender American
10
Depositary Shares 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 Company may terminate the Deposit Agreement by instructing
the Depositary to mail notice of termination to the Owners of
all American Depositary Shares then outstanding at least
30 days prior to the termination date included in such
notice. The Depositary may likewise terminate the Deposit
Agreement, if at any time 60 days shall have expired after
the Depositary delivered to the Company a written resignation
notice and if a successor depositary shall not have been
appointed and accepted its appointment as provided in the
Deposit Agreement; in such case the Depositary shall mail a
notice of termination to the Owners of all American Depositary
Shares then outstanding at least 30 days prior to the
termination date. On and after the date of termination, the
Owner of American Depositary Shares will, upon
(a) surrender of such American Depositary Shares,
(b) payment of the fee of the Depositary for the surrender
of American Depositary Shares referred to in Section 2.05,
and (c) payment of any applicable taxes or governmental
charges, be entitled to delivery, to him or upon his order, of
the amount of Deposited Securities represented by those American
Depositary Shares. If any American Depositary Shares shall
remain outstanding after the date of termination, the Depositary
thereafter shall discontinue the registration of transfers of
American Depositary Shares, 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 and other property 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, upon surrender of American Depositary Shares
(after deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for
the surrender of American Depositary Shares, any expenses for
the account of the Owner of such American Depositary Shares 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 four months 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 American Depositary Shares that 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 American
Depositary Shares, any expenses for the account of the Owner of
such American Depositary Shares in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or
governmental charges). Upon the termination of the Deposit
Agreement, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations
under the Deposit Agreement except for its obligations to the
Depositary with respect to indemnification, charges, and
expenses.
22. DTC DIRECT REGISTRATION SYSTEM AND PROFILE
MODIFICATION SYSTEM.
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of
Section 2.04 of the Deposit Agreement, the parties
acknowledge that the Direct Registration System
(“DRS”) and Profile Modification System
(“Profile”) shall apply to uncertificated American
Depositary Shares upon acceptance thereof to DRS by DTC. DRS is
the system administered by DTC pursuant to which the Depositary
may register the ownership of uncertificated American Depositary
Shares, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic
statements issued by the Depositary to the Owners entitled
thereto. Profile is a required feature of DRS which allows a DTC
participant, claiming to act on behalf of an Owner, to direct
the Depositary to register a transfer of those American
Depositary Shares to DTC or its nominee and to deliver those
American Depositary Shares to the DTC account of that DTC
participant without receipt by the Depositary of prior
authorization from the Owner to register such transfer.
(b) In connection with and in accordance with
the arrangements and procedures relating to DRS/ Profile, the
parties understand that the Depositary will not verify,
determine or otherwise ascertain that the DTC participant which
is claiming to be acting on behalf of an Owner in requesting
registration of transfer and delivery
11
described in subsection (a) has the actual authority to act
on behalf of the Owner (notwithstanding any requirements under
the Uniform Commercial Code). For the avoidance of doubt, the
provisions of Sections 5.03 and 5.08 of the Deposit
Agreement shall apply to the matters arising from the use of the
DRS. The parties agree that the Depositary’s reliance on
and compliance with instructions received by the Depositary
through the DRS/ Profile System and in accordance with the
Deposit Agreement, shall not constitute negligence or bad faith
on the part of the Depositary.
23. SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; JURY TRIAL WAIVER; WAIVER
OF IMMUNITIES.
In the Deposit Agreement, the Company has (i) appointed,
Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc., 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000, Attn: General Counsel, as the
Company’s authorized agent upon which process may be served
in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to the
Shares or Deposited Securities, the American Depositary Shares,
the Receipts or this Agreement, (ii) consented and
submitted to the jurisdiction of any state or federal court in
the State of New York in which any such suit or proceeding may
be instituted, and (iii) agreed that service of process
upon said authorized agent shall be deemed in every respect
effective service of process upon the Company in any such suit
or proceeding.
EACH PARTY TO THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT (INCLUDING, FOR AVOIDANCE OF
DOUBT, EACH OWNER AND HOLDER) HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE
FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY
HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING
AGAINST THE COMPANY AND/ OR THE DEPOSITARY DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SHARES OR OTHER
DEPOSITED SECURITIES, THE AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES OR THE
RECEIPTS, THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED
HEREIN OR THEREIN, OR THE BREACH HEREOF OR THEREOF, INCLUDING
WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY QUESTION REGARDING EXISTENCE, VALIDITY OR
TERMINATION (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER
THEORY).
To the extent that the Company or any of its properties, assets
or revenues may have or hereafter become entitled to, or have
attributed to it, any right of immunity, on the grounds of
sovereignty or otherwise, from any legal action, suit or
proceeding, from the giving of any relief in any respect
thereof, from setoff or counterclaim, from the jurisdiction of
any court, from service of process, from attachment upon or
prior to judgment, from attachment in aid of execution or
judgment, or other legal process or proceeding for the giving of
any relief or for the enforcement of any judgment, in any
jurisdiction in which proceedings may at any time be commenced,
with respect to its obligations, liabilities or any other matter
under or arising out of or in connection with the Shares or
Deposited Securities, the American Depositary Shares, the
Receipts or the Deposit Agreement, the Company, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
waives, and agrees not to plead or claim, any such immunity and
consents to such relief and enforcement.
24. DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS
Each Owner of American Depositary Shares and all persons owning
beneficial interests in American Depositary Shares agree to
comply with all applicable provisions of German law and the
Company’s Articles of Association regarding the
notification of such person’s interest in the Shares, which
provisions at the date of the Deposit Agreement include
Sections 21 and 22 of the Securities Trading Act
(Wertpapierhandelsgesetz). At the date of the Deposit
Agreement, (i) the statutory notification obligations of
the Securities Trading Act apply to anyone whose holding, either
directly or by way of imputation pursuant to the provisions of
Section 22 of the Securities Trading Act, of voting rights
in the Company reaches or exceeds 5%, 10%, 25%, 50% or 75% or,
after having reached or exceeded any such threshold, falls below
that threshold. Effective as of January 20, 2007, the
relevant thresholds will be 3%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 50%
and 75% and the notification obligations will also apply to
option agreements (excluding the 3% threshold). Each beneficial
owner of American Depositary Shares acknowledges that failure to
provide on a timely basis any required notification of an
interest in Shares may result in withholding of certain rights,
including voting and dividend rights, in respect of the Shares
in which such beneficial owner of American Depositary Shares has
an interest. In connection therewith, the Company reserves the
right to instruct Owners to surrender their American Depositary
Shares for the purpose of withdrawal of the Deposited Securities
so as to permit the Company to deal directly with the Owner
thereof as
12
an owner of Shares. The Depositary agrees to cooperate with the
Company in its efforts to inform Owners of the Company’s
exercise of its rights under this Section 3.04 of the
Deposit Agreement and agrees to consult with, and provide
reasonable assistance without risk, liability or expense on the
part of the Depositary, to the Company on the manner or manners
in which it may enforce such rights with respect to any Owner.
13