AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
AMENDMENT
NO. 1 TO DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
AMENDMENT
NO. 1, dated
as
of September 21, 2007 (the “Amendment”), to the Deposit Agreement dated as of
November 21, 1986, as Amended and Restated as of October 31, 1997 and December
10, 1999 as Further Amended and Restated as of May 17, 2002 (as so amended
hereby, the "Deposit Agreement"), among BG
GROUP PLC,
a
company incorporated in England and Wales (the "Company"), JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as
depositary (the "Depositary"), and all Holders from time to time of American
Depositary Receipts issued thereunder ("Receipts")
evidencing American Depositary Shares ("ADSs")
representing deposited Shares.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS,
the Company and the Depositary executed the Deposit Agreement for the purposes
set forth therein; and
WHEREAS,
the Company has filed a Form 15F with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") in order to seek to terminate the registration
of
its securities under the United States Securities and Exchange Act of 1934,
as
amended (“Exchange Act”), and its obligation to file with the Commission, or
submit to the Commission, reports under Sections 13(a) and 15(d) of the Exchange
Act.
WHEREAS,
the Company desires to amend the Deposit Agreement and the Form of Receipt
annexed to the Deposit Agreement as Exhibit A to reflect such change;
and
WHEREAS,
pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Deposit Agreement, the Company and the Depositary
deem it necessary and desirable to amend the Deposit Agreement and the Form
of
Receipt annexed to the Deposit Agreement as Exhibit A for the purposes set
forth
herein;
NOW,
THEREFORE, for
good
and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the Company and the Depositary hereby agree to amend the Deposit
Agreement and form of Receipt as follows:
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ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION
1.01. Definitions.
Unless
otherwise defined in this Amendment, all capitalized terms used, but not
otherwise defined, herein shall have the meaning given to such terms in the
Deposit Agreement.
ARTICLE
II
AMENDMENTS
TO DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
SECTION
2.01. All
references in the Deposit Agreement to the terms "Deposit Agreement" and "form
of Receipt" shall, as of the Effective Date (as herein defined), refer to the
Deposit Agreement and form of Receipt as further amended by this
Amendment.
SECTION
2.02. All
references in the Deposit Agreement to the Depositary shall be references to
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A, a national banking association organized under the
laws of the United States.
SECTION
2.03. The
second paragraph of Section 4.09 of the Deposit Agreement is amended to read
as
follows:
Upon
effectiveness of the termination of the Company’s reporting requirements under
the Exchange Act, the Company shall publish on its website (xxx.xx-xxxxx.xxx)
on
an ongoing basis, or otherwise furnish the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") with, certain public reports and documents
required by foreign law or otherwise under Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Exchange
Act. To the extent furnished to the Commission, such reports and documents
may
be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the
Commission located at 000 X Xxxxxx, XX, Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000.
SECTION
2.04. The
address of the Depositary set forth in Section 7.05 of the Deposit Agreement
is
amended to read as follows:
JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A., 0 Xxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: ADR
Administration
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ARTICLE
III
AMENDMENTS
TO THE FORM OF RECEIPT
SECTION
3.01. All
references in the form of Receipt to the terms "Deposit Agreement" and "form
of
Receipt" shall, as of the Effective Date (as herein defined), refer to the
Deposit Agreement and form of Receipt as further amended by this
Amendment.
SECTION
3.02. The
first
two sentences of paragraph (7) of the reverse of the form of
Receipt are amended to read as follows:
Upon
effectiveness of the termination of the Company’s reporting requirements under
the Exchange Act, the Company shall publish on its website (xxx.xx-xxxxx.xxx)
on
an ongoing basis, or otherwise furnish the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") with, certain public reports and documents
required by foreign law or otherwise under Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Exchange
Act. To the extent furnished to the Commission, such reports and documents
may
be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the
Commission located at 000 X Xxxxxx, XX, Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000.
ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
SECTION
4.01. Representations
and Warranties.
The
Company represents and warrants
to, and agrees with, the Depositary and Holders, that:
(a)
This
Amendment, when executed and delivered by the Company, will be duly and validly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and it and the Deposit
Agreement as amended hereby constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations
of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their
respective terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors’ rights and to general equity principles; and
(b)
In
order to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility into
evidence of this Amendment or the Deposit Agreement as amended hereby, neither
of such agreements need to be filed or recorded with any court or other
authority in the United Kingdom, nor does any stamp or similar tax or
governmental charge need to be paid in the United Kingdom on or in respect
of
such agreements.
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ARTICLE
V
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION
5.01. Effective
Date.
This
Amendment is dated as of the date set forth above and shall be effective as
the
open of business New York time on September 21, 2007 (the “Effective
Date”).
SECTION
5.02. Outstanding
Receipts.
Receipts issued prior or subsequent to the Effective Date, which do not reflect
the changes to the form of Receipt effected hereby, do not need to be called
in
for exchange and may remain outstanding until such time as the Holders thereof
choose to surrender them for any reason under the Deposit Agreement. The
Depositary is authorized and directed to take any and all actions deemed
necessary to effect the foregoing. From and after the date hereof, the
amendments to the Deposit Agreement effected hereby shall be binding on all
Holders issued and outstanding as of the date hereof and on all Holders issued
after the date hereof. The form of Receipt as amended hereby is set forth in
Exhibit A hereto.
SECTION
5.03. Indemnification.
The
parties hereto shall be entitled to the benefits of the indemnification
provisions of Section 5.8 of the Deposit Agreement in connection with any and
all liability it or they may incur as a result of the terms of this Amendment
and the transactions contemplated herein.
SECTION
5.04. Counterparts.
This
Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall
be
deemed an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and
the
same instrument.
SECTION
5.05. Governing
Law. This
Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the
State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be wholly performed in
the
State of New York.
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
the
Company and the Depositary have caused this Amendment to be executed by
representatives thereunto duly authorized as of the date set forth
above.
By:
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Name: Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
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Title:
Chief Financial Officer and Director
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JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A.
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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5
EXHIBIT
A
ANNEXED
TO AND INCORPORATED
IN
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
A
[FORM
OF ADR]
Number
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CUSIP
NUMBER:
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HOLDERS
WHO HAVE FAILED TO COMPLY WITH THE COMPANY’S REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION OF THE
NATURE REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (11) OF THE FACE OF THIS RECEIPT MAY FORFEIT
THE
RIGHTS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH (5) OF THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS RECEIPT TO DIRECT
THE VOTING OF DEPOSITED SECURITIES UNDERLYING THEIR
RECEIPTS
EXHIBIT
A
TO
DEPOSIT
AGREEMENT
[FORM
OF
FACE OF RECEIPT]
AMERICAN
DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS
evidencing
AMERICAN
DEPOSITARY SHARES
representing
DEPOSITED
ORDINARY SHARES OF
(Incorporated
under the laws of England and Wales)
No. ________________
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A., a national banking association organized under the laws of
the
United States, as Depositary (the “Depositary”), hereby certifies that
________________ is the owner of ________________ American Depositary Shares
(“American Depositary Shares”), representing deposited Ordinary Shares (par
value 10 xxxxx each) (“Shares”) of BG Group plc, a company incorporated in
England and Wales (the “Company”). At the date hereof, each American Depositary
Share represents five (5) Shares (or evidence of rights to receive such Shares)
deposited under the Deposit Agreement thereinafter defined) with a Custodian
appointed under the Deposit Agreement (the “Custodian”).
(1) The Deposit Agreement. This American Depositary Receipt is one of an issue (the “Receipts”), all issued and to be issued upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Deposit Agreement dated as of November 21, 1986, as amended and restated as of October 31, 1997 and December 10, 1999, as further amended and restated as of May 17, 2002 (as hereinafter amended from time to time, the “Deposit Agreement”), by and among the Company, the Depositary and each person or the persons in whose name a Receipt is registered on the books of the Depositary maintained for such purpose (each, a “Holder”) from time to time of Receipts issued thereunder, each of whom by accepting a Receipt agrees to become a party thereto and becomes bound by all the terms and provisions thereof and hereof. The Deposit Agreement sets forth the rights of Holders of the Receipts and the rights and duties of the Depositary in respect of the Shares deposited thereunder and any and all other securities, property and cash from time to time received in respect of such Shares and held thereunder (such Shares, securities, property and cash are herein called the “Deposited Securities”). Copies of the Deposit Agreement and the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association are on file at the Depositary's Office and the office of the Custodian and at any other designated transfer offices. The statements made on the face and the reverse of this Receipt are summaries of certain provisions of the Deposit Agreement, as well as the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, and are qualified by and subject to the detailed provisions of the Deposit Agreement, to which reference is hereby made. The Depositary makes no representation or warranty as to the validity or worth of the Deposited Securities.
(2) Surrender
of Receipts and Withdrawal of Shares.
Upon
receipt at the Depositary's Office of a Holder's written order directing the
Depositary to cause the Deposited Securities represented by the American
Depositary Shares evidenced by a Receipt to be withdrawn and delivered to or
upon the written order of the person or persons designated in such order along
with a certificated Receipt (properly endorsed in blank or accompanied by proper
instruments of transfer in blank, to the extent required by the Depositary)
or,
in the case of a Direct Registration Receipt, proper instruments of transfer
in
blank, to the extent required by the Depositary, and upon payment of the fee
of
the Depositary for the surrender of Receipts as provided in Section 5.09 and
Paragraph 6 of this Receipt 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 the Deposit Agreement,
the Company’s Memorandum and Articles and the Deposited Securities, the
Depositary shall (i) cancel such certificated Receipt or make a notation on
the
Direct Registration System reflecting the cancellation of such Direct
Registration Receipts, as the case may be, and (ii) direct the Custodian to
deliver without unreasonable delay, subject to this Deposit Agreement and to
the
provisions of or governing Deposited Securities, to or upon the written order
of
the person or persons designated in such order, the Deposited Securities at
the
time represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt,
and the Custodian shall so deliver such Deposited Securities, at the office
of
the Custodian, except that the Depositary may, at the request, risk and expense
of the Holder make delivery of such Deposited Securities without unreasonable
delay to such person or persons at the Depositary's Office or at any other
place
specified by the Holder in such order. Directions shall be given by letter
or,
at the request, risk and expense of the Holder, by cable, telex or facsimile
transmission. Delivery of Deposited Securities may be made by the delivery
of
certificates, to the extent such Deposited Securities may be represented by
certificates, which, if required by law, shall be properly endorsed or
accompanied by a properly executed instrument or instruments of transfer, and
if
such certificates may be so registered, registered in the name of such Holder,
or as ordered by such Holder or properly endorsed or accompanied by proper
instruments of transfer. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Deposit
Agreement or the Receipts, the surrender of outstanding Receipts and withdrawal
of Deposited Securities may not be suspended, subject only to (i) temporary
delays caused by closing the transfer books of the Depositary or the Company
or
the deposit of Shares in connection with voting at a shareholders’ meeting, or
the payment of dividends, (ii) the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges,
and (iii) compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations
relating to the Receipts or to the withdrawal of the Deposited
Securities.
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(3)
Transfers,
Split ups and Combinations; Limitations. This Receipt is transferable on the
books of the Depositary by the Holder hereof in person or by duly authorized
attorney, upon surrender of this Receipt, without unreasonable delay, at any
designated transfer office properly endorsed or accompanied by proper
instruments of transfer and duly stamped as may be required by the laws of
the
State of New York and the United States of America, provided that the Depositary
may close the transfer books, at any time or from time to time, when deemed
necessary or advisable by it in connection with the performance of its duties
under the Deposit Agreement or at the request of the Company. This Receipt
may
be split into other Receipts or may be combined with other Receipts into one
Receipt, evidencing the same aggregate number of American Depositary Shares
as
the Receipt or Receipts surrendered. As a condition precedent to the execution
and delivery, registration of transfer, split-up, combination or surrender
of
any Receipt or transfer and withdrawal of any Deposited Securities, the
Depositary or the Custodian may require payment (or, with respect to any
applicable stamp taxes, evidence satisfactory to the Depositary that any such
amounts have been fully paid) from the presenter of the Receipt or the depositor
of Shares of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax, duty or other
governmental charge payable with respect thereto (including any such tax, duty
or charge with respect to Shares being deposited, to the Receipts being issued
or to Deposited Securities being withdrawn) and any stock transfer or
registration fees in effect for the registration of transfers of Shares
generally on the share register of the Company (or the appointed agent of the
Company for transfer and registration of Shares, which may but need not be
the
Share Registrar) 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 such
reasonable regulations, if any, as the Depositary may establish consistent
with
the provisions of the Deposit Agreement.
The
Depositary may refuse to execute and deliver Receipts, register the transfer
of
any Receipt, or make any distribution of, or related to, Deposited Securities
until it has received such proof of citizenship, residence, exchange control
approval, legal or beneficial ownership or other information as it may deem
necessary or proper or as the Company may require by written request to the
Depositary or the Custodian.
The
delivery of Receipts against deposits of Shares generally or against deposits
of
particular Shares may be suspended, or the transfer or surrender of Receipts
in
particular instances may be refused, or the transfer or surrender of outstanding
Receipts generally may be suspended, during any period when the transfer books
of the Depositary or the Company 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 Article 15 hereof.
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Without
limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary shall not knowingly accept for
deposit under the Deposit Agreement any Shares that (a) if sold by the holder
thereof in the United States or its territories, 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 (b) would thereby
infringe any provision of the Articles. The Depositary will use its reasonable
commercial efforts to comply with written instructions of the Company not to
accept for deposit under the Deposit Agreement any Shares identified in such
instructions at such times and under such circumstances as may be specified
in
such instructions in order to facilitate the Company’s compliance with the
securities laws of the United States.
(4) Liability
of Holder for Taxes.
Any
tax, duty or other governmental charge (including, without limitation, any
applicable stamp taxes) or expense payable by the Custodian, the Depositary
or
its nominee in respect of any Receipt or any Deposited Securities underlying
any
Receipt shall be payable by the Holder of such Receipt, who shall pay the amount
thereof and provide the Depositary with evidence satisfactory to the Depositary
that such amounts have been fully paid to the Depositary. The Depositary may
refuse to effect registration of transfer of such Receipt or any transfer and
withdrawal of Deposited Securities underlying such Receipt until such payment
is
made, and may withhold any, dividends or other cash distributions constituting
Deposited Securities underlying such Receipt, or may sell for the account of
the
Holder thereof any part or all of the other Deposited Securities underlying
such
Receipt, and may apply such cash or the proceeds of any such sale in payment
of
any such tax, duty or other governmental charge or expense (and any taxes and
expenses arising or incurred as a result of effecting such sale), the Holder
of
such Receipt remaining 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 are validly
issued and outstanding, fully paid, not a holding or part of a holding,
representing an interest of 15% (or such other percentage as may from time
to
time be provided in the Articles or more of the outstanding Shares liable to
disenfranchisement or disposal by the Company pursuant to the Articles and
that
the person making such deposit is duly authorized so to do and that such Shares
(A) are not "restricted securities" as such term is defined in Rule 144 under
the Securities Act of 1933 unless at the time of deposit they may be freely
transferred in accordance with Rule 144(k) and may otherwise be offered and
sold
freely in the United States or (B) have been registered under the Securities
Act
of 1933. Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit of Shares
and issuance of Receipts therefor.
(6) Charges
of Depositary.
Subject
to Section 3.02 of the Deposit, Agreement the Company agrees to pay the fees,
reasonable expenses and out-of-pocket charges of the Depositary and those of
any
Registrar only in accordance with agreements in writing entered into between
the
Depositary and the Company from time to time. The Depositary shall present
its
statement for such charges and expenses to the Company once every three months.
The charges and expenses of the Custodian are for the sole account of the
Depositary.
The
following charges shall be incurred by any party depositing or withdrawing
Shares or by any party surrendering Receipts or to whom Receipts are issued
(including, without limitation, issuance pursuant to a stock dividend or stock
split declared by the Company or an exchange of stock regarding the Receipts
or
Deposited Securities or a distribution of Receipts pursuant to Section 4.03
of
the Deposit Agreement), whichever may be applicable: (1) taxes and other
governmental charges, (2) such registration fees as may from time to time be
in
effect for the registration of transfers of Shares generally on the Share
Register of the Company or Foreign Registrar and applicable to transfers of
Shares to the name of the Depositary or its nominee or the Custodian or its
nominee on the making of deposits or withdrawals under the Deposit Agreement,
(3) such cable, telex and facsimile transmission expenses as are expressly
provided for 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 execution and delivery of Receipts pursuant to
Section 2.03, 4.03 or 4.04 of the Deposit Agreement, and the surrender of
Receipts 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, except for
distributions of cash dividends, and (7) a fee for, and deduction of such fee
from, 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 Holders.
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The
Depositary, subject to Section 2.09 of the Deposit Agreement, may own and deal
in any class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in
Receipts.
(7) Retention
of Depositary Documents.
The
Depositary is authorized to destroy those documents, records, bills and other
data compiled during the term of the Deposit Agreement at the times permitted
by
law 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.
(8) Pre-Release
of Receipts.
The
Depositary may issue Receipts against the delivery by the Company (or any agent
of the Company recording Share ownership) of rights to receive Shares from
the
Company (or any such agent). No such issue of Receipts will be deemed a
"Pre-Release" that is subject to the restrictions of the following
paragraph.
Unless
requested in writing by the Company to cease doing so, the Depositary may,
notwithstanding Section 2.03 of the Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver
Receipts prior to the receipt of Shares pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Deposit
Agreement ("Pre-Release"). The Depositary may, pursuant to Section 2.05 of
the
Deposit Agreement, deliver Shares upon the receipt and cancellation of Receipts
which have been Pre-Released, whether or not such cancellation is prior to
the
termination of such Pre-Release or the Depositary knows that such Receipt has
been Pre-Released. The Depositary may receive Receipts in lieu of Shares in
satisfaction of a Pre-Release. Each Pre-Release will be (a) preceded or
accompanied by a written representation and agreement from the person to whom
Receipts are to be delivered (the "Pre-Releasee") that the Pre-Releasee, or
its
customer, (i) owns the Shares or Receipts to be remitted, as the case may be,
(ii) assigns all beneficial rights, title and interest in such Shares or
Receipts, as the case may be, to the Depositary in its capacity as such and
for
the benefit of the Holders, and (iii) will not take any action with respect
to
such Shares or Receipts, as the case may be, that is inconsistent with the
transfer of beneficial ownership (including, without the consent of the
Depositary, disposing of such Shares or Receipts, as the case may be), other
than in satisfaction of such Pre-Release, (b) at all times fully collateralized
with cash or such other collateral as the Depositary determines, in good faith,
will provide substantially similar liquidity and security and, in connection
with the Pre-Release of Shares preceded or accompanied by an unconditional
guaranty by the Pre-Releasee to deliver Receipts for cancellation on the same
calendar on which Shares are delivered to the Pre-Releasee (or if such Receipts
are not so delivered, to return the Shares), (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 Shares not deposited but represented by American Depositary Shares
which are outstanding at any time as a result of Pre-Releases will not normally
exceed thirty percent (30%) of the Shares deposited under the Deposit Agreement;
provided,
however,
that
the Depositary reserves the right to disregard such limit from time to time
as
it deems reasonably appropriate, and may, with the prior written consent of
the
Company, change such limit for purposes of general application. The Depositary
will also set U.S. dollar limits with respect to Pre-Release transactions to
be
entered into under the Deposit Agreement with any particular Pre-Releasee on
a
case-by-case basis as the Depositary deems appropriate. For purposes of enabling
the Depositary to fulfill its obligations to the Owners under the Deposit
Agreement, the collateral referred to in clause (b) above shall be held by
the
Depositary as security for the performance of the Pre-Releasee's obligations
to
the Depositary in connection with a Pre-Release transaction, including the
Pre-Releasee's obligation to deliver Shares or Receipts upon termination of
a
Pre-Release transaction (and shall not, for the avoidance of doubt, constitute
Deposited Securities under the Deposit Agreement).
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The
Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received by it in
connection with the foregoing.
(9) Title
to Receipts.
It is a
condition of this Receipt, and every successive Holder hereof by accepting
or
holding the same consents and agrees, that title to this Receipt (and to the
American Depositary Shares evidenced hereby), when properly endorsed or
accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, is transferable by delivery
with
the same effect as in the case of a negotiable instrument; provided
that the
Depositary, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the person
in
whose name this Receipt is registered on the books of the Depositary as the
absolute owner hereof for the purpose of determining the person entitled to
distribution of dividends or other distributions or to any notice provided
for
in the Deposit Agreement, and for all other purposes.
(10) Restrictions
upon Ownership.
Notwithstanding any contrary provision of the Deposit Agreement, the Holder
hereof acknowledges and agrees (i) that each Receipt, and the terms upon which
it is held by such Holder, are subject to and governed by the Articles, (ii)
that (except as otherwise provided in the Articles) such Holder’s Receipts
represent an interest (as defined in the Articles) in the Shares underlying
such
Receipts, (iii) that so long as the Articles limit the interest (as defined
in
the Articles) which a person may have in shares of the Company which carry
the
right to cast votes on a poll to less than 15 per cent, (or such other
percentage as may from time to time be provided in the Articles) of the total
votes attaching to Relevant Share Capital (as defined in the Articles) of all
classes (taken as a whole) and capable of being cast on a poll (the
“Limitation”), such Holder and any other person having an interest in such
Receipts will be bound by the Limitation and the Company has a duty under the
Articles to take action to enforce the Limitation against such Holder under
the
Articles (including, without limitation, withdrawal of the right of such Holder
to direct the voting of the Shares underlying such Holder’s Receipts or the
forced sale of all or part of such Shares), and (iv) that such Holder will
provide information required by, and comply with requests from the Company
to
provide information made under, statutory provisions of English law or the
Articles, including, among other things, information as to the capacity in
which
such Holder owns Receipts and regarding the identity of any other person having
such an interest in such Receipts and the nature and extent of the interests
of
such Holder or other person.
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If
the
Depositary (or the Custodian or any nominee of the Custodian) receives a notice
from the Company calling for a Required Disposal (as defined in the Articles)
of
Shares (a “Limitation Enforcement Notice”) and if the Depositary also receives
from the Company a notice (a “Company Notice”) informing the Depositary that (i)
a specified Holder or Holders (a “Relevant Holder” or “Relevant, Holders”) are
believed or are deemed to be Relevant Persons (as defined in the Articles)
in
relation to any Shares specified in the Limitation Enforcement Notice and (ii)
the Company believes that each Relevant Holder is or is deemed to be interested
(as provided in the Articles) in a specified number of such Shares, the
Depositary will (x) refuse to register any transfer of a Relevant Receipt until
the Company has withdrawn the Company Notice in respect of that Relevant
Receipt, (y) deny the voting rights attaching to a Relevant Receipt to the
Relevant Holder thereof to the extent that the voting rights of the Shares
underlying that Relevant Receipt are denied to the Depositary as notified in
the
Limitation Enforcement Notice until the Company has withdrawn the Company Notice
in respect of that Relevant Receipt and (z) give notice to each Relevant Holder
specified therein of receipt by the Depositary of the Company Notice and of
certain other matters. If the Company Notice does not include the information
described in clause (ii), the Depositary shall assume for the foregoing purposes
that each Relevant Holder is or is deemed to be interested (as provided in
the
Articles) in that number of the Shares specified in the Limitation Enforcement
Notice that bears the same ratio to the total number of Shares specified in
such
Limitation Enforcement Notice as the number of such Relevant Holder’s American
Depositary Shares bears to the number of American Depositary Shares of all
Relevant Holders specified in such Limitation Enforcement Notice. If the
Depositary at any time receives a further notice from the Company referring
to a
Company Notice and modifying such Company Notice, the Depositary shall take
action in accordance with such modified Company Notice from and after the
receipt of such notice by the Depositary.
“Relevant
Receipt” means a Receipt evidencing the Shares in which a Relevant Holder is or
is deemed to be interested as described above.
If
any
Shares underlying any Relevant Receipt are sold pursuant to the Articles, such
Relevant Receipt shall thenceforth represent only the right to receive any
cash
received by the Depositary in respect thereof, less any expenses incurred or
paid by the Depositary in distributing such cash to the Relevant Holder thereof,
and any unsold Shares, and upon surrender of such Relevant Receipt, the Relevant
Holder thereof shall be entitled to withdraw such cash and such underlying
Shares in the manner set forth in paragraph (2) on the face of this
Receipt.
If
the
Depositary receives a Limitation Enforcement Notice but not a Company Notice
relating thereto, the Depositary will (i) apply any denial of voting rights
in
consequence thereof pro rata to all American Depositary Shares outstanding
from
time to time; and (ii) give notice to all Holders of receipt by the Depositary
of the Limitation Enforcement Notice and of the actions to be taken with respect
thereto, and treat any sale of Shares in consequence of the Limitation
Enforcement Notice as if it were a distribution in cash and a change in
Deposited Securities applicable to all Deposited Securities as provided in
paragraphs (1) and (4) on the reverse of this Receipt.
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Except
to
the extent (if at all) as is provided in the Articles, the Company shall be
under no obligation to give, to modify or to withdraw a Company Notice or a
Limitation Enforcement Notice or otherwise to give any information or
instructions to the Depositary in connection with any of the foregoing and
shall
have no liability whatsoever to any person in respect of any of the foregoing.
Nothing in the Deposit Agreement shall limit any right or remedy which the
Company may have under the Articles.
Any
resolution or determination of, or decision or exercise of any discretion or
power by, the Company or by the Depositary under or pursuant to the Articles
(with respect to the Limitation, a Required Disposal (as defined in the
Articles) or otherwise) or the provisions of the Deposit Agreement referred
to
in this paragraph (12) shall be final and conclusive and binding on any Holder
thereby affected and all other persons concerned and shall not be open to
challenge, whether as to its validity or otherwise, on any ground whatsoever,
and neither the Company nor the Depositary shall have any liability whatsoever
in respect thereof.
(11) 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 executed by the Depositary by the
manual signature of a duly authorized officer or, if a Receipt Registrar for
the
Receipts shall have been appointed, by the manual signature of a duly authorized
officer of such Registrar or any co-registrar.
Dated:
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A.
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as
Depositary
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By
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(Title)
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The
Depositary's Office is located at 0 Xxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx
00000.
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EXHIBIT
B
TO
DEPOSIT
AGREEMENT
[FORM
OF
REVERSE OF RECEIPT]
SUMMARY
OF CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
OF
THE
DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
(1) Dividends
and Distributions.
Whenever the Depositary shall receive any cash dividend or other cash
distribution on the Deposited Securities, the Depositary will, if at the time
of
receipt thereof amounts received in a foreign currency can in the judgment
of
the Depositary be converted on a reasonable basis into U.S. dollars transferable
to the United States and subject to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement,
convert such dividend or distribution into U.S. dollars (unless received in
U.S.
dollars) and distribute the amount thus received (net of the fees of the
Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement, if applicable)
to the Holders entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of American
Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by them,
respectively; provided
that the
amount distributed will be reduced by any amounts (i) required to be withheld
by
the Company or the Depositary on account of taxes or (ii) to be paid to or
retained by the Depositary as reimbursement for expenses incurred or paid by
the
Depositary in connection with such conversion. If in the judgment of the
Depositary amounts received in foreign currency may not be converted on a
reasonable basis into U.S. dollars transferable to the United States, or may
not
be so convertible for all of the Holders entitled thereto, the Depositary may
in
its discretion make such conversion, if any, and distribution in U.S. dollars
to
the extent permissible to the Holders entitled thereto and may distribute the
balance of the foreign currency received and not so convertible by the
Depositary to, or hold such balance for the account of, the Holders entitled
thereto for whom such conversion and distribution is not practicable. If in
the
opinion of the Depositary any distribution other than cash or Shares upon any
Deposited Securities cannot be made proportionately among the Holders 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
for the purpose of effecting such distribution, including the sale (at public
or
private sale) of the securities or property thus received, or any part thereof,
and the net proceeds of any such sale will be distributed by the Depositary
to
the Holders entitled thereto as in the case of a distribution received in cash.
If any distribution upon any Deposited Securities consists of a dividend in,
or
free distributions of, Shares the Depositary may, with the company’s approval,
and shall, if the Company shall so request, distribute to the Holders of
outstanding Receipts entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of American
Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by them,
respectively, additional Receipts for an aggregate number of American Depositary
Shares corresponding to the number of Shares received as such dividend or free
distribution, subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement
with
respect to the deposit of Shares and the issuance of American Depositary Shares
evidenced by Receipts, including the withholding of any tax or other
governmental charge as provided in Section 4.11 of the Deposit Agreement and
the
payment of fees of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 of the Deposit
Agreement. In lieu of delivering Receipts for fractional American Depositary
Shares in the case of any such distribution, the Depositary shall sell the
amount of Shares represented by the aggregate of such fractions and distribute
promptly the net proceeds, all in the manner and subject to the conditions
described in Section 4.01 of the Deposit Agreement. If additional Receipts
are
not so distributed, each American Depositary Share shall thenceforth also
represent the additional Shares distributed upon the Deposited Securities
represented thereby. In the event that the Company shall offer or cause to
be
offered to the holders of any Deposited Securities an option to elect to receive
dividends in fully paid Shares instead of cash, the Depositary and the Company
agree to consult to determine whether such option will be made available to
the
Holders and, if such option is to be made available to the Holders, the
procedures to be followed.
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(2) Rights.
In the
event that the Company shall offer or cause to be offered to the holders of
any
Deposited Securities any rights to subscribe for additional Shares or any rights
of any other nature, the Depositary, after consultation with the Company, shall
have discretion as to the procedure to be followed in making such rights
available to any Holder or in disposing of such rights on behalf of any Holders
and making the net proceeds available to such Holders 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 Holders or dispose of such rights and make the
net
proceeds available to such Holders, 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 Holders or to certain Holders but not to other Holders, the Depositary
may distribute to any Holder to whom it determines the distribution to be lawful
and feasible, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held
by
such Holder, warrants or other instruments therefor in such form as it deems
appropriate.
In
circumstances in which rights would otherwise not be distributed, if a Holder
of
Receipts requests the distribution of warrants or other instruments in order
to
exercise the rights allocable to the American Depositary Shares of such Holder
under the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary will make such rights available
to
such Holder 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 Holder 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 Holders, then upon instruction from such a Holder pursuant to such
warrants or other instruments to the Depositary from such Holder to exercise
such rights, upon payment by such Holder to the Depositary for the account
of
such Holder of an amount equal to the purchase price of the Shares to be
received upon the exercise of the rights, and upon payment of the fees of the
Depositary and any other charges as set forth in such warrants or other
instruments, the Depositary shall, on behalf of such Holder, 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 Holder. As agent for such
Holder, the Depositary will cause the Shares so purchased to be deposited
pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Deposit Agreement, and shall, pursuant to
Section 2.03 of the Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver Receipts to such
Holder. In the case of a distribution pursuant to the second paragraph of
Section 4.04 of the Deposit Agreement, such Receipts shall be legended in
accordance with applicable U.S. laws, and shall be subject to the appropriate
restrictions on sale, deposit, cancellation, and transfer under such
laws.
If
the
Depositary determines in its discretion that it is not lawful and feasible
to
make such rights available to all or certain Holders, it may, subject to legal
requirements, sell the rights, warrants or other instruments in proportion
to
the number of American Depositary Shares held by the Holders to whom it has
determined it may not lawfully or feasibly make such rights available, and
allocate the net proceeds of such sales (net of the fees of the Depositary
as
provided in Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement 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 Holders otherwise
entitled to such rights, warrants or other instruments, upon an averaged or
other practical basis without regard to any distinctions among such Holders
because of exchange restrictions or the date of delivery of any Receipt or
otherwise. No distribution of rights or the net proceeds of any sale of rights
to Holders shall be unreasonably delayed by any action of the Depositary or
any
of its agents.
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The
Depositary will not offer rights to Holders 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 Holders or are
registered under the provisions of such Act. If a Holder of Receipts requests
distribution of warrants or other instruments, notwithstanding that there has
been no such registration under such Act, 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 Holder is exempt from such registration. Neither the
Depositary, nor Holders nor third persons may compel the Company to register
under the Securities Act of 1933 or otherwise any right or security of the
Company or the issuance thereof by virtue of any of the terms of the Deposit
Agreement.
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.
(3) Conversion
of Foreign Currency.
Whenever the Depositary shall receive foreign currency, by way of dividends
or
other distributions or as 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 U.S. dollars and the resulting U.S. dollars transferred to the United
States, the Depositary shall convert, by sale or in any other manner that it
may
determine, such foreign currency into U.S. dollars, and such U.S. dollars shall
be distributed promptly to the Holders entitled thereto or, if the Depositary
shall have distributed any warrants or other instruments which entitle the
holders thereof to such U.S. dollars, then to the holders of such warrants
or
instruments, as applicable, upon surrender thereof for cancellation. Such
distribution may be made upon an averaged or other practicable basis without
regard to any distinctions among Holders on account of exchange restrictions,
the date of delivery or otherwise.
If
such
conversion or distribution can be effected only with the approval or license
of
any government or agency thereof, the Depositary shall file promptly such
application for approval or license, if any, as it may deem
desirable.
If
at any
time the Depositary shall determine that in its reasonable judgment any foreign
currency received by the Depositary is not, pursuant to applicable law,
convertible on a reasonable basis into U.S. 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 reasonable 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 proceeds for the respective accounts
of, the Holders entitled to receive the same.
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If
any
such conversion of foreign currency, in whole or in part, cannot be effected
for
distribution to some Holders entitled thereto, the Depositary may in its
discretion make such conversion and distribution in U.S. dollars to the extent
permissible to the Holders 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 Holders entitled thereto for whom such conversion and
distribution is not practicable.
(4) Record
Dates.
Whenever any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable
or
any distribution other than cash shall be made, or whenever rights shall be
issued with respect to the Deposited Securities, or whenever for any reason
the
Depositary causes a change in the number of Shares that are represented by
each
American Depositary Share, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice
of
any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, the Depositary
shall, after consultation with the Company, fix a record date, which date shall,
to the extent practicable, be the same as the date fixed by the Company (a)
for
the determination of the Holders who shall be (i) entitled to receive such
dividend, distribution or rights, or the net proceeds of the sale thereof,
or
(ii) entitled to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any
such
meeting, or (b) on or after which each American Depositary Share will represent
the changed number of Shares. Subject to the provisions of Sections 4.01 through
4.05 of the Deposit Agreement and to the other terms and conditions of the
Deposit Agreement.
(5) Voting
of Deposited Securities.
Upon
receipt of notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited
Securities, the Depositary shall, as soon as practicable thereafter and to
the
extent permitted by law, mail to the Holders a notice, which shall contain
(a) a
summary of such information as is contained in such notice of meeting, and
(b) a
statement that the Holders at the close of business on a specified record date
will be entitled, subject to any applicable provisions of English law and of
the
Memorandum and Articles of the Company and of the Deposited Securities, to
instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any,
pertaining to the amount of Deposited Securities underlying their respective
American Depositary Shares, and (c) a statement as to the manner in which such
instructions may be given, including an express indication that instructions
may
be given to the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated
by the Company. Upon the written request of a Holder on such record date,
received on or before the date established by the Depositary or such purpose,
the Depositary shall endeavor in so far as practicable to vote or cause to
be
voted the amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities underlying the American
Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt in accordance with any
non-discretionary instructions set forth in such request; provided,
however,
that
the Depositary, unless specifically instructed by the Holder, shall not demand
a
poll. The Depositary shall not vote the amount of Deposited Securities
underlying a Receipt except in accordance with written instructions from the
Holder of such Receipt. In accordance with the Articles of the Company and
English law, Holders who have failed to comply with the Company’s requests for
information of the nature referred to in Section 3.04(a)(iv) may forfeit the
rights described in Section 4.07 of the Deposit Agreement to direct the voting
of Deposited Securities underlying their Receipts.
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(6) Changes
Affecting Deposited Securities.
In
circumstances where the provisions of Section 4.03 of the Deposit Agreement
do
not apply, upon any change in par value, split-up, consolidation or any other
reclassification of Deposited Securities, or upon any recapitalization,
reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale of assets affecting the Company
or to which it is a party, any securities that shall be received by the
Depositary in exchange for or in conversion of or in respect of Deposited
Securities shall be treated as new Deposited Securities under the Deposit
Agreement, and the American Depositary Shares shall thenceforth represent 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 with the Company’s approval, and shall if the Company shall so
request, execute and deliver additional Receipts as in the case of a dividend
of
Shares, or call for the surrender of outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for
new Receipts.
(7) Reports;
Inspection of Transfer Books.
Upon
effectiveness of the termination of the Company’s reporting requirements under
the Exchange Act, the Company shall publish on its website (xxx.xx-xxxxx.xxx)
on
an ongoing basis, or otherwise furnish the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") with, certain public reports and documents
required by foreign law or otherwise under Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Exchange
Act. To the extent furnished to the Commission, such reports and documents
may
be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the
Commission located at 000 X Xxxxxx, XX, Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000. The Depositary
will make available for inspection by Holders at the Depositary's Office, at
the
office of the Custodian and at any other designated transfer offices, and shall
arrange for the mailing to all Holders of, any reports and communications,
including any proxy soliciting material, received from the Company that are
both
(a) received by the Depositary or its nominee or nominees as the holder of
the
Deposited Securities and (b) made generally available to the holders of such
Deposited Securities by the Company. The Depositary will also send to Holders
copies of such reports when furnished by the Company as provided in the Deposit
Agreement. The Depositary will keep books, at its transfer office for the
registration of Receipts and their transfer which at all reasonable times will
be open for inspection by the Holders and the Company; provided
that
such inspection shall not be for the purpose of communicating with Holders
in
the interest of a business or object other than the business of the Company
or a
matter related to the Deposit Agreement, the Receipts, the Shares, the
Memorandum of the Articles.
(8) Filing
Proofs, Certificates and Other Information.
Any
person presenting Shares for deposit or any Holder may be required from time
to
time to file with the Depositary or the Custodian such proof of citizenship,
residence, exchange control approval or such information relating to the
registration on the books of the Company (or the appointed agent of the Company
for transfer and registration of Shares, which may but need not be the Share
Registrar) of the Shares presented for deposit, and to execute and deliver
to
the Depositary or the Custodian such certificates, and to make such
representations and warranties, as the Depositary or the Company may deem
necessary or proper or as the Company may require by written request to the
Depositary or the Custodian. The Depositary may withhold the delivery or
registration of transfer of any Receipt or the distribution of any dividend
or
other distribution of rights or of the proceeds thereof or the delivery of
any
Deposited Securities underlying such Receipt until the foregoing is accomplished
to the Depositary’s satisfaction. Upon reasonable request, the Depositary shall
provide the Company in a timely manner with copies of all such proofs and
certificates and such written representations and warranties
provided.
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(9) Withholding.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Deposit Agreement, if the Depositary
determines that any distribution in property (including Shares or rights to
subscribe therefor) is subject to any tax or other governmental charge that
the
Depositary is obligated to withhold, the Depositary may dispose of all or a
portion of such property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor)
in
such amounts and in such manner as the Depositary deems necessary and
practicable to pay such taxes, by public or private sale, and the Depositary
shall distribute the net proceeds of any such sale after deduction of such
taxes
to the Holders entitled thereto.
(10) Liability
of the Company and Depositary.
Neither
the Depositary nor the Company and the Directors shall incur any liability
to
any Holder of this Receipt if, by reason of any provision of any present or
future law of any country or of any governmental authority, or by reason of
any
provision, present or future, of the Memorandum and Articles of the Company
or
the Deposited Securities, or by reason of any act of God or war or other
circumstance beyond its control, the Depositary or the Company will be prevented
or forbidden from doing or performing any act or thing which by the terms of
the
Deposit Agreement shall be done or performed. Neither the Company nor the
Depositary or the Directors assumes any obligation or shall be subject to any
liability under the Deposit Agreement to Holders, except that they shall use
reasonable endeavors exercised in good faith in the performance of such duties
as are specifically set forth in the Deposit Agreement. Neither the Depositary
nor the Company nor any Director will be under any obligation to appear on,
prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any
Deposited Securities or in respect of the Receipts that in its opinion may
involve it in expense and liability, unless indemnity satisfactory to it or
him
against all expense and liability be furnished as often as may be required,
and
the Custodian shall not be under any obligation whatsoever with respect to
such
proceedings, the responsibility of the Custodian being solely to the Depositary.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company nor any Director will be liable for
any
action or non-action by it or him in reliance upon the advice of or information
from legal counsel, accountants, any governmental authority, any person
presenting Shares for deposit, any Holder of a Receipt, or any other person
believed by it or him 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 will 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 effect of any such vote; provided that any such action or
non-action is in good faith. Subject to the Memorandum and Articles, the
Depositary may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its
affiliates and in Receipts. The Company agrees to indemnify the Depositary,
its
directors, employees, agents and affiliates and any Custodian against, and
hold
each of them harmless from, any liability or expense (including, but not limited
to, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) which may arise out of acts
performed or omitted, in accordance with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement
and of the Receipts, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from
time to time, (i) by either the Depositary or a Custodian or their respective
directors, employees, agents and affiliates, except for any liability or expense
arising out of the negligence or bad faith of either of them, or (ii) by the
Company or any of its directors, employees, agents and affiliates.
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(11) Resignation
and Removal of Depositary; Substitution of 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 appointment of a successor depositary and
its acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. The
Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by written notice of such
removal, effective upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its
acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. The
Depositary may at any time appoint a substitute custodian and the term
“Custodian” shall refer to such substitute.
(12) Amendment
of Deposit Agreement and Receipts.
The
Receipts and the Deposit Agreement may at any time and from time to time be
amended by agreement between the Company and the Depositary in any respect
which
they may deem necessary or desirable. Any amendment that shall impose or
increase any fees or charges (other than the fees of the Depositary for the
execution and delivery or the cancellation of Receipts and taxes, including,
without limitation, stamp taxes and other governmental charges), or which shall
otherwise prejudice any substantial existing right of Holders of Receipts,
shall, however, not become effective as to outstanding Receipts until the
expiration of thirty 30 days after notice of such amendment shall have been
given to the Holders thereof. Every Holder at the time any such amendment so
becomes effective, if such Holder shall have been given such notice, shall
be
deemed, by continuing to hold such Receipt, to consent and agree to such
amendment and to be bound by either the Deposit Agreement or the Receipt or
both
of them, as applicable, as amended thereby. In no event shall any amendment
impair the right of the Holder hereof to surrender this Receipt and receive
therefor the Deposited Securities represented hereby except in order to comply
with mandatory provisions of applicable law.
(13) Termination
of Deposit Agreement.
The
Depositary shall at any time, at the direction of the Company, terminate the
Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the Holders of all
Receipts then outstanding at least thirty (30) days prior to the date fixed
in
such notice for such termination. The Depositary may terminate the Deposit
Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the Company and the Holders
of Receipts then outstanding if at any time ninety (90) days shall have expired
after the Depositary shall have delivered to the Company a written notice of
its
election to resign and a successor depositary shall not have been appointed
and
accepted its appointment as provided in Section 5.04 of the Deposit Agreement.
On and after the date of termination, the Holder of a Receipt will, upon (a)
surrender of such Receipt at the Depositary's Office, (b) payment of the fee
of
the Depositary for the surrender of Receipts referred to in Section 2.05 of
the
Deposit Agreement, and (c) payment of any applicable taxes or governmental
charges, be entitled to delivery, to him or upon his order, of the amount of
Deposited Securities represented by American Depositary Shares evidenced by
such
Receipt. If any Receipts shall remain outstanding after the date of termination,
the Depositary thereafter shall discontinue the registration of transfers of
Receipts, shall suspend the distribution of dividends to the Holders thereof,
and shall not give any further notices or perform any further acts under the
Deposit Agreement, except that the Depositary shall continue to collect
dividends and other distributions pertaining to Deposited Securities, shall
sell
rights as provided in the Deposit Agreement, and shall continue to deliver
Deposited Securities, together with any dividends or other distributions
received with respect thereto and the net proceeds of the sale of any rights
or
other property, in exchange for Receipts surrendered to the Depositary (after
deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of a
Receipt, any expenses for the account of the Holder of such Receipt in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, and any
applicable taxes or governmental charges). At any time after the expiration
of
one year from the date of termination, the Depositary may sell the Deposited
Securities then held under the Deposit Agreement and may thereafter hold the
uninvested net proceeds of any such sale, together with any other cash then
held
by it under the Deposit Agreement, without liability for interest, for the
pro
rata benefit of Holders of Receipts that have not theretofore been surrendered
such Holders thereupon becoming general creditors of the Depositary with respect
to the 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 fees of the
Depositary for the surrender of a Receipt, any expenses for the amount of the
Holder of such Receipt in accordance with the terms and conditions of this
Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental charges, and except
for its obligations to the Company under Section 5.08 of the Deposit Agreement
and to the Holders under Section 6.02 of the Deposit Agreement, which
obligations shall survive the termination of the Deposit Agreement). Upon the
termination of the Deposit Agreement, the Company shall be discharged from
all
obligations under the Deposit Agreement except for its obligations to the
Depositary under Sections 5.08 and 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement and paragraph
6
of the Receipt.
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(14) Certain
Definitions.
Terms
used in this Receipt that are not otherwise defined shall have the respective
meanings ascribed to them in the Deposit Agreement.
(15) Headings.
Headings contained herein are included for convenience only and are not to
be
used in construing or interpreting any provision hereof.
(16) Compliance
with U.S. Securities Laws.
Notwithstanding anything in the Deposit Agreement to the contrary, the Company
and the Depositary each agrees that it will not exercise any rights it has
under
the Deposit Agreement to permit the withdrawal or delivery of Deposited
Securities in a manner which would violate the U.S. securities laws, including,
but not limited to, Section I.A.(1) of the General Instructions to the Form
F-6
Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, under the Securities
Act
of 1933.
(17) Governing
Law.
This
Receipt and the Deposit Agreement shall be interpreted, and all rights hereunder
and thereunder and all provisions hereof and thereof shall be governed, in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
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