SUPPLEMENT AND AMENDMENT TO DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
SUPPLEMENT
AND AMENDMENT TO DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
SUPPLEMENT AND
AMENDMENT TO DEPOSIT AGREEMENT,
dated
as of September , 2007 (this "Agreement"),
to
the Deposit Agreement dated as of May 22, 1998 among Ladbrokes plc (the
"Company"), Deutsche Bank Trust Company of New York, an indirect wholly owned
subsidiary of Deutsche Bank AG, in its capacity as the successor depositary
(the
"Depositary"),
and
all Owners and holders from time to time of American Depositary Receipts
issued
thereunder.
WITNESSETHTHAT:
WHEREAS,
the Company and The Bank of New York (the "Predecessor
Depositary")
entered into the Deposit Agreement for the purposes set forth
therein;
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS, the Company has removed The Bank of New York as depositary under
the
Deposit Agreement and has appointed Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
as
successor depositary under the Deposit Agreement;
WHEREAS,
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas has accepted its appointment as successor
depositary under the Deposit Agreement;
WHEREAS,
the Company desires to provide for the continued deposit of Shares of the
Company with the Depositary or the Custodian as agent for the Depositary
and for
the execution and delivery of Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares
representing beneficial interests in the Shares so deposited; and
WHEREAS,
the Company and the Depositary desire to amend and supplement the terms of
the
Deposit Agreement and form of Receipts inter alia to reflect the removal
by the
Company of the Predecessor Depositary, and the appointment of the Depositary,
in
its capacity as the successor depositary in accordance with Section 5.4 of
the
Deposit Agreement.
NOW,
THEREFORE, the Company and the Depositary hereby amend and supplement the
Receipts and the Deposit Agreement, effective as of the Effective Date set
forth
in Section 5.01 hereof, as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
Section
1.01 Definitions
Generally.
Unless
otherwise defined in this Agreement, 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 Bank of New York" or the
"Depositary" shall be references to "Deutsche Bank Trust Company
Americas".
Section
2.02 All
references in the Deposit Agreement to the "Deposit Agreement" shall hereby
mean
the Deposit Agreement, dated as of May 22, 1998 as amended and supplemented
by
this Agreement and as further amended and supplemented from time to
time.
Section
2.03 Section
1.6 of the Deposit Agreement is amended by replacing "The Bank of New York"
with
"Deutsche Bank AG" and all references in the Deposit Agreement to the
"Custodian" shall be to State Street Bank & Trust Company.
2
Section
2.04 Section
1.8 of the Deposit Agreement is amended to read as follows:
The
term
"Depositary" shall mean Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas and any successor
as depositary hereunder. The term "Corporate Trust Office", when used with
respect to the Depositary, shall mean the corporate trust office of the
Depositary which at the date of this Deposit Agreement is 00 Xxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000.
Section
2.05 Section
1.14 of the Deposit Agreement is amended to read as follows:
The
term
"Receipts" shall mean the American Depositary Receipts issued hereunder.
Receipts
may be
either in physical certificated form or Direct Registration Receipts.
The
term
"Receipts" shall also include a book-entry notation on the direct registration
system (as modified by the Profile Modification System) utilized by the
Depositary, which notation shall be evidenced from time to time by periodic
statements issued by the Depositary to the Owners entitled thereto. To the
extent that a Receipt is a book-entry Receipt, all references to deliver",
"execute",
"issue",
"register",
"surrender",
"transfer"
or
"cancel",
when
used with respect to such book-entry Receipts, shall refer to an entry or
entries or an electronic transfer or transfers in such direct registration
system and, additionally in the case of "surrender" any instruments required
to
effectuate such transfer.
Section
2.06 Section
2.3 of the Deposit Agreement is hereby amended and supplemented by inclusion
of
the following at the conclusion thereof:
Notwithstanding
anything in this Deposit Agreement to the contrary, to the extent the Depositary
so desires, American Depositary Shares shall be evidenced by Receipts reflected
on the direct registration system unless certificated Receipts are specifically
requested by the Owner.
Section
2.07 Section
2.5 of the Deposit Agreement is hereby amended and supplemented by the inclusion
of the following at the conclusion thereof:
Notwithstanding
any other provision of the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, the surrender
of
outstanding Receipts and withdrawal of Deposited Securities may be
suspended only for (i) temporary delays caused by closing the transfer
books of the Depositary or the Company or the deposit of Shares in connection
with voting at a shareholders' meeting, or the payment of dividends, (ii)
the
payment of fees, taxes and similar charges, 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.
3
Section
2.08 The
address for notices to the Depositary set forth in Section 7.5 of the Deposit
Agreement is amended to read as follows:
"60
Xxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: ADR Department."
Section
2.08. All
references in the Deposit Agreement to "deliver",
"deposit",
"surrender",
"transfer",
or
"withdraw",
when
used with respect to the Shares refer, where the context requires, to an
entry
or entries or an electronic transfer or transfers, as well as to the physical
transfer of certificates representing the Shares.
ARTICLE
III
AMENDMENTS
TO FORM OF RECEIPT
Section
3.01 The
form
of Receipt attached as Exhibit A to the Deposit Agreement (the "Form
of Receipt")
is
amended and restated in its entirety to read as Exhibit A attached
hereto.
Section
3.02 All
references in the form of Receipt to "deliver",
"deposit",
"surrender",
"transfer",
or
"withdraw",
when
used with respect to the Shares refer, where the context requires, to any
entry
or entries or an electronic transfer or transfers as well as to the physical
transfer of certificates representing the Shares. To the extent that a Receipt
is a book-entry Receipt, all references in the form of Receipt to "deliver",
"execute",
"issue",
"register",
"surrender",
"transfer"
or
"cancel",
when
used with respect to such book-entry Receipts, shall refer to an entry or
entries in the Depositary's book entry system or an electronic transfer or
transfers in the direct registration system and, additionally in the case
of
"surrender" any instruments required to effectuate such transfer.
4
ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
Section
4.01 Representations
and Warranties of the Company.
Representations
and Warranties.
The
Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Depositary and the
Holders, that:
(a)
This
Agreement, when executed and delivered by the Company and the Form F-6Pos
as
executed and delivered by the Company in connection herewith, will be, and
the
Deposit Agreement previously entered into has been, respectively, duly and
validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and each constitutes
the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against
the
Company in accordance with their respective terms, subject to applicable
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 Agreement or the Deposit Agreement as amended hereby, and
any
other document furnished hereunder or thereunder in England and Wales, neither
of such agreements need to be filed or recorded with any court or other
authority in England or Wales, nor does any stamp or similar tax need to
be paid
in England or Wales on or in respect of such agreements; and
5
(c)
All
of the information provided to the Depositary by the Company in connection
with
this Amendment is true, accurate and correct.
Section
4.02 Representations
and Warranties of the Depositary.
The
Depositary represents and warrants to each of the Company and the Owners,
that
this Agreement, when executed and delivered by Depositary, and the Deposit
Agreement, as amended and supplemented by this Agreement and all other
documentation executed and delivered by the Depositary in connection therewith
will be duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Depositary,
and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Depositary,
enforceable against the Depositary 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.
ARTICLE
V
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
5.01 Effective
Date.
This
Agreement is dated as of the date set forth above and shall be effective
as of
the time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement on Form F-6 to be
filed
by the Depositary on behalf of the legal entity created by the Deposit
Agreement, as amended and supplemented by this Agreement, in connection with
its
appointment as successor depositary, the removal of the Predecessor Depositary
to be effective simultaneously therewith (the "Effective
Date").
From
and after the Effective Date, all references in the Deposit Agreement and
the
Form of Receipt shall be deemed to be references to the Deposit Agreement
and
Form of Receipt, as amended and supplemented by this Agreement.
6
Section
5.02 Outstanding
Receipts.
Receipts issued prior to the date hereof, which do not reflect the changes
to
the Receipts effected hereby, do not need to be called in for exchange and
may
remain outstanding until such time as the Owners thereof choose to surrender
them for any reason under the Deposit Agreement, as amended and supplemented
by
this Agreement. The Depositary is authorized and directed to take any and
all
actions deemed necessary to effect the foregoing.
Owners
and holders of Receipts issued pursuant to the Deposit Agreement issued prior
to
the date hereof and outstanding as of the date hereof, shall, from and after
the
date hereof, be deemed Owners and holders of Receipts issued pursuant and
be
subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, as amended
and supplemented by this Agreement, in all respects.
Section
5.03 Undertaking
of Depositary.
The
Depositary hereby undertakes to promptly mail notice of its
appointment as Depositary under the Deposit Agreement, as amended and
supplemented by this Agreement, to the Owners of Receipts in the manner required
by the Deposit Agreement.
Section
5.04 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 Agreement
and the transactions contemplated herein. Nothing herein shall obligate Deutsche
Bank Trust Company Americas to indemnify or hold harmless the Company, or
any of
its directors, employees, agents and affiliates for any liability or expense
arising out of acts performed or omitted by the Predecessor Depositary, the
Custodian, or their respective directors, employees, agents and affiliates.
7
Section
5.05 Governing
Law.
THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL
BE
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK.
Section
5.06 Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the
Company and the Depositary have caused this Agreement to be executed by
representatives hereunto duly authorized as of the date set forth
above.
Ladbrokes
plc
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By:__________________________________
Name:
Title:
Authorized Signatory
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DEUTSCHE
BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as the Depositary
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By:__________________________________
Name:
Title: Director,
Depositary Receipts
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8
By:__________________________________
Name:
Title: Vice
President, Depositary Receipts
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9
Exhibit
A
to
Supplement
and Amendment to Deposit Agreement
AMERICAN
DEPOSITARY SHARES
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(Each
American Depositary Share
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represents
one deposited Share)
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DEUTSCHE
BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
AMERICAN
DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
FOR
ORDINARY SHARES OF
LADBROKES
PLC
(INCORPORATED
UNDER THE LAWS OF ENGLAND AND WALES)
Deutsche
Bank Trust Company Americas, as depositary (herein called the
"Depositary"),
hereby
certifies that ,
or
registered assigns IS THE OWNER OF
AMERICAN
DEPOSITARY SHARES
representing
deposited Ordinary Shares (herein called "Shares") of LADBROKES PLC,
incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (herein called the "Issuer").
At the date hereof, each American Depositary Share represents one Share
which are either deposited or subject to deposit under the deposit agreement
at
the London, England office of State Street Bank & Trust Company (herein
called the "Custodian").
THE
DEPOSITARY’S CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE ADDRESS IS
00
XXXX 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 May
22,
1998 as supplemented and amended as of September , 2007
(as so
supplemented and amended the "Deposit Agreement"), by and among the Issuer,
the
Depositary, and all Owners and holders from time to time of Receipts issued
thereunder, each of whom by accepting a Receipt agrees to become a party
thereto
and become bound by all the terms and conditions thereof. The Deposit
Agreement sets forth the rights of Owners and holders of the Receipts and
the
rights and duties of the Depositary in respect of the Shares deposited
thereunder and any and all other securities, property and cash from time
to time
received in respect of such Shares and held thereunder (such Shares,
securities, property, and cash are herein called "Deposited Securities").
Copies of the Deposit Agreement are on file at the Depositary's Corporate
Trust Office in New York City and at the office of the Custodian.
1
The
statements made on the face and reverse of this Receipt are summaries of
certain
provisions of the Deposit Agreement and are qualified by and subject to the
detailed provisions of the Deposit Agreement, to which reference is hereby
made.
Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in
the
Deposit Agreement.
2.
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SURRENDER
OF RECEIPTS AND WITHDRAWAL OF SHARES.
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Upon
surrender at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary of this Receipt,
and
upon payment of the fee of the Depositary provided in this Receipt, and subject
to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, the Owner hereof is
entitled to delivery, to him or upon his order, of the Deposited Securities
at
the time represented by the American Depositary Shares for which this Receipt
is
issued. Delivery of such Deposited Securities may be made by the delivery
of (a) certificates in the name of the Owner hereof or as ordered by him
or by
the delivery of certificates properly endorsed or accompanied by proper
instruments 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. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Deposit Agreement
or this Receipt, the surrender of outstanding Receipts and withdrawal of
Deposited Securities may be suspended only for (i) temporary delays
caused by closing the transfer books of the Depositary or the Issuer 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.
3.
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TRANSFERS,
SPLIT-UPS, AND COMBINATIONS OF RECEIPTS.
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The
transfer of this Receipt is registrable on the books of the Depositary at
its
Corporate Trust Office by the Owner hereof in person or by a duly authorized
attorney, upon surrender of this Receipt properly endorsed for transfer or
accompanied by proper instruments of transfer and funds sufficient to pay
any
applicable transfer taxes and the expenses of the Depositary and upon compliance
with such regulations, if any, as the Depositary may establish for such purpose.
This Receipt may be split into other such Receipts, or may be combined
with other such Receipts into one Receipt, evidencing the same aggregate
number
of American Depositary Shares as the Receipt or Receipts surrendered. As a
condition precedent to the execution and delivery, registration of transfer,
split-up, combination, or surrender of any Receipt or withdrawal of any
Deposited Securities, the Depositary, the Custodian, or Registrar may require
payment from the presentor of the Receipt of a sum sufficient to reimburse
it
for any tax or other governmental charge (including, without limitation,
amounts
in respect of any applicable Stamp Taxes) and any stock transfer or registration
fee with respect thereto (including any such tax or charge and fee with respect
to Shares being deposited or withdrawn) and payment of any applicable fees
as
provided in this Receipt, may require the production of proof satisfactory
to it
as to the identity and genuineness of any signature and may also require
compliance with any regulations the Depositary or the Issuer may establish
consistent with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement or this
Receipt.
2
The
delivery of Receipts against deposits of Shares generally or against deposits
of
particular Shares may be suspended, or the transfer of Receipts in particular
instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer of outstanding
Receipts generally may be suspended, during any period when the transfer
books
of the Depositary are closed, or if any such action is deemed necessary or
advisable by the Depositary or the Issuer at any time or from time to time
because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body
or
commission, or under any provision of the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt,
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 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 Issuer or the deposit
of
Shares in connection with voting at a shareholders’ meeting, or the payment of
dividends, (ii) the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges, and (iii)
compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating
to
the Receipts or to the withdrawal of the Deposited Securities. Without
limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary shall not knowingly accept for
deposit under the Deposit Agreement any Shares required to be registered
under
the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, unless a registration statement
is
in effect as to such Shares. The Depositary shall comply with written
instructions of the Issuer not to accept for deposit under the Deposit Agreement
any Shares identified in such instructions at such times and under such
circumstances as may reasonably be specified in such instructions in order
to
facilitate the Issuer’s compliance with the securities laws of the United
States.
4.
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LIABILITY
OF OWNER OR BENEFICIAL OWNER FOR TAXES.
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If
any
tax or other governmental charge (including, without limitation, amounts
in
respect of any applicable Stamp Taxes) shall become payable with respect
to any
Receipt or any Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary
Shares evidenced hereby, such tax or other governmental charge shall be payable
by the Owner or Beneficial Owner hereof to the Depositary. The Depositary
may refuse to effect any transfer of this Receipt or any withdrawal of Deposited
Securities represented by American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt
until such payment is made, and may withhold any dividends or other
distributions, or may sell for the account of the Owner hereof any part or
all
of the Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares
evidenced by this Receipt, and may apply such dividends or other distributions
or the proceeds of any such sale in payment of such tax or other governmental
charge and the Owner hereof shall remain liable for any deficiency.
3
5.
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WARRANTIES
OF DEPOSITORS.
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Every
person depositing Shares under the Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby
to
represent and warrant that such Shares and each certificate therefor are
(i)
validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable, and free of any pre-emptive rights
of
the holders of outstanding Shares; and (ii) 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 Receipts evidencing
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 issuance of
Receipts.
6.
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FILING
PROOFS, CERTIFICATES, AND OTHER INFORMATION.
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Any
person presenting Shares for deposit or any Owner or Beneficial Owner of
a
Receipt may be required from time to time to file with the Depositary or
the
Custodian such proof of citizenship or residence, exchange control approval,
or
such information relating to the registration on the books of the Issuer
or
the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, to execute such certificates and to
make such representations and warranties, as the Depositary may deem necessary
or proper or as the Issuer may reasonably require by written request to the
Depositary. The Depositary agrees to comply with reasonable written
instructions received from the Issuer requesting that the Depositary forward
any
such requests to the Owners. The Depositary may, and if requested by the
Issuer
shall, withhold the delivery or registration of transfer of any Receipt or
the
distribution of any dividend or sale or distribution of rights or of the
proceeds thereof or the delivery of any Deposited Securities until such proof
or
other information is filed or such certificates are executed or such
representations and warranties made. The Depositary shall provide the
Issuer, upon request, in a timely manner, with copies of any such proofs
and
certificates and such written representations and warranties provided as
aforesaid unless such disclosure is prohibited by law. 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 England and Wales which is then performing the function of the regulation
of
currency exchange.
7.
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CHARGES
OF DEPOSITARY.
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The
Issuer 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 Issuer from time to time.
The Depositary shall present its statement for such charges and expenses
to the Issuer once every three months. The charges and expenses of the
Custodian are for the sole account of the Depositary.
4
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 Issuer or an exchange of stock regarding the Receipts
or
Deposited Securities or a distribution of Receipts pursuant to Section 4.3
of
the Deposit Agreement), whichever applicable: (1) taxes and other governmental
charges, (2) such registration fees as may from time to time be in effect
for
the registration of transfers of Shares generally on the Share register of
the
Issuer 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 in the Deposit
Agreement, (4) such expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in the conversion
of foreign currency pursuant to Section 4.5 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 2.3, 4.3 or 4.4, and
the
surrender of Receipts pursuant to Section 2.5 or 6.2 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 4.1 through 4.4 thereof and (7) a fee for the distribution
of securities pursuant to Section 4.2 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.
The
Depositary, subject to Article (8) hereof and applicable law, may own and
deal
in any class of securities of the Issuer and its affiliates and in
Receipts.
8.
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PRE-RELEASE
OF SHARES AND RECEIPTS.
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Unless
requested in writing by the Issuer to cease doing so, the Depositary may,
notwithstanding Section 2.3 of the Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver
Receipts prior to the receipt of Shares pursuant to Section 2.2 of the
Deposit Agreement ("Pre-Release"). The Depositary may, pursuant to Section
2.5
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 from the person to whom
Receipts are to be delivered that such person, 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
Owners 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 of such Shares or Receipts, as the case may be, other
than
in satisfaction of such Pre-Release, (b) at all times fully collateralized
(such
collateral marked to market daily) with cash, U.S. government securities
or such
other collateral as the Depositary determines, in good faith, will provide
substantially similar liquidity and security, (c) terminable by the Depositary
on not more than five (5) business days notice, and (d) subject to such further
indemnities and credit regulations as the Depositary deems appropriate.
The Depositary will normally limit the number of American Depositary
Shares which are outstanding at any one time as a result of Pre-Releases
to
thirty percent (30%) of the total number of American Depositary Shares
outstanding; provided,
however,
that
the Depositary (A) reserves the right to disregard such limit from time to
time
as it deems appropriate and (B) may, with the prior written consent of the
Issuer, change such limit for purposes of general application. The Depositary
will also set 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
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).
5
The
Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received by it
in
connection with the foregoing.
9.
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TITLE
TO RECEIPTS.
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It
is a
condition of this Receipt and every successive holder and Owner of this Receipt
by accepting or holding the same consents and agrees, that title to this
Receipt
when properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer,
is
transferable by delivery with the same effect as in the case of a negotiable
instrument, provided, however, that the Depositary, notwithstanding any notice
to the contrary, may treat the person in whose name this Receipt is registered
on the books of the Depositary as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose
of
determining the person entitled to distribution of dividends or other
distributions or to any notice provided for in the Deposit Agreement or for
all
other purposes.
10.
|
VALIDITY
OF RECEIPT.
|
This
Receipt shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Deposit Agreement
or be
valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless this Receipt shall have been
executed by the Depositary by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly
authorized signatory of the Depositary and, if a Registrar for the Receipts
shall have been appointed, countersigned by the manual or facsimile signature
of
a duly authorized officer of the Registrar.
11.
|
REPORTS;
INSPECTION OF TRANSFER BOOKS.
|
The
Issuer currently furnishes the Securities and Exchange Commission (hereinafter
called the “Commission”) with certain public reports and documents required by
foreign law or otherwise under Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange
Act
of 1934. Such reports and communications will be available for inspection
and
copying by holders and Owners at the public reference facilities maintained
by
the Commission located at 000 X Xxxxxx, XX, Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000.
6
The
Depositary will make available for inspection by Owners of Receipts at its
Corporate Trust Office any reports, notices or other communications, including
any proxy soliciting material, received from the Issuer 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
Issuer. The Depositary will also send to Owners of Receipts copies of such
reports, notices or other communications when furnished by the Issuer pursuant
to the Deposit Agreement.
The
Depositary will keep books at its Corporate Trust Office for the registration
of
Receipts and transfers of Receipts which at all reasonable times shall be
open
for inspection by the Owners of Receipts provided that such inspection shall
not
be for the purpose of communicating with Owners of Receipts in the interest
of a
business or object other than the business of the Issuer or a matter related
to
the Deposit Agreement or the Receipts.
12.
|
DIVIDENDS
AND DISTRIBUTIONS.
|
Whenever
the Depositary or the Custodian receives any cash dividend or other cash
distribution on any Deposited Securities, the Depositary 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, as promptly as practicable, such dividend or distribution into Dollars
and will distribute, as promptly as practicable, the amount thus received
to the
Owners of Receipts entitled thereto, provided,
however,
that in
the event that the Issuer or the Depositary is required to withhold and does
withhold from any cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of
any
Deposited Securities an amount on account of taxes or other governmental
charges
(including, without limitation, amounts in respect of any applicable Stamp
Taxes), the amount distributed to the Owners of the Receipts evidencing American
Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities shall be reduced
accordingly.
Subject
to the provisions of Section 4.11 and 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement, whenever
the
Depositary receives any distribution other than a distribution described
in
Sections 4.1, 4.3 or 4.4 of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary will cause
the
securities or property received by it to be distributed,
as
promptly as practicable, to
the
Owners of Receipts entitled thereto, in any manner that the Depositary may
deem
equitable and practicable for accomplishing such distribution; provided,
however,
that if
in the opinion of the Depositary such distribution cannot be made
proportionately among the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto, or if for
any
other reason the Depositary deems such distribution not to be feasible, the
Depositary may adopt such method as it may deem equitable and practicable
for
the purpose of effecting such distribution, including, but not limited to,
the
public or private sale of the securities or property thus received, or any
part
thereof, and the net proceeds of any such sale (net of the fees of the
Depositary as provided in Section 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement) shall be
distributed by the Depositary to the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto
as in
the case of a distribution received in cash. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
no
such distribution to Owners shall be unreasonably delayed by any action of
the
Depositary or any of its agents.
7
If
any
distribution consists of a dividend in, or free distribution of, Shares,
the
Depositary may and shall if the Issuer shall so request, distribute, as promptly
as practicable, to the Owners of outstanding Receipts entitled thereto,
additional Receipts evidencing an aggregate number of American Depositary
Shares
representing the amount of Shares received as such dividend or free distribution
subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement with respect
to the
deposit of Shares and the issuance of American Depositary Shares evidenced
by
Receipts, including the withholding of any tax or other governmental charge
as
provided in Section 4.11 of the Deposit Agreement and the payment of the
fees of
the Depositary as provided in Section 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement. In
lieu of delivering Receipts for fractional American Depositary Shares in
any
such case, the Depositary will sell the amount of Shares represented by the
aggregate of such fractions and distribute the net proceeds, all in the manner
and subject to the conditions set forth in the Deposit Agreement, provided,
however,
no
distribution to Owners pursuant to Section 4.3 of the Deposit Agreement and
this
paragraph shall be unreasonably delayed by any action of the Depositary or
the
Custodian. If additional Receipts are not so distributed, each American
Depositary Share shall thenceforth also represent the additional Shares
distributed upon the Deposited Securities represented thereby.
In
the
event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in property
(including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) is subject to any tax
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.
Notwithstanding
any other provision of the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, before making
any
distribution or other payment on any Deposited Securities, the Issuer shall
make
such deductions (if any) which, under applicable law, the Issuer is required
to
make in respect of any income, capital gains or other taxes and the Issuer
may
also deduct the amount of any tax or governmental charges payable by the
Issuer
or for which the Issuer might be made liable in respect of such distribution
or
other payment or any document signed in connection therewith.
13.
|
CONVERSION
OF FOREIGN CURRENCY.
|
Whenever
the Depositary shall receive foreign currency, by way of dividends or other
distributions or the net proceeds from the sale of securities, property or
rights, and if at the time of the receipt thereof the foreign currency so
received can pursuant to applicable law 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, in accordance with applicable law, such foreign
currency into Dollars, and such Dollars shall be distributed, as promptly
as
practicable, 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 Receipt
or otherwise and shall be net of any expenses of conversion into Dollars
incurred by the Depositary as provided in Section 5.9 of the Deposit
Agreement.
8
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 may be required.
If
at any
time foreign currency received by the Depositary is not, pursuant to applicable
law, convertible on a reasonable basis, in whole or in part, into Dollars
transferable to the United States, or if any approval or license of any
government or agency thereof which is required for such conversion is denied
or
in the opinion of the Depositary cannot be promptly obtained, the Depositary
shall, (a) as to that portion of the foreign currency that is convertible
into
Dollars, make such conversion and, if permitted by applicable law, transfer
such
Dollars to the United States for distribution to Owners in accordance with
the
first paragraph of Section 4.5 of the Deposit Agreement and this Article
13 and
(b) as to the non-convertible balance, if any, (i) if requested in writing
by an
Owner, distribute or cause the Custodian to distribute the foreign currency
(or
an appropriate document evidencing the right to receive such foreign currency)
received by the Depositary or Custodian to such Owner and (ii) the Depositary
shall hold or shall cause the Custodian to hold any amounts of non-convertible
foreign currency not distributed pursuant to the immediately preceding subclause
(i) uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective
accounts of, the Owners entitled to receive the same.
14.
|
RIGHTS.
|
In
the
event that the Issuer 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 Issuer,
shall
have discretion as to the procedure to be followed in making such rights
available to any Owners or in disposing of such rights on behalf of any Owners
and making the net proceeds available in Dollars to such Owners or, if by
the
terms of such rights offering or, for any other reason, it would be unlawful
or
not feasible for the Depositary to 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 Owners
or to
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.
If
the Depositary determines in its discretion that it is not lawful and feasible
to make such rights available to certain Owners, it may sell the rights or
warrants or other instruments in proportion to the number of American Depositary
Shares held by the Owners to whom it has determined it may not lawfully or
feasibly make such rights available, and allocate the net proceeds of such
sales
(net of the fees of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.9 of the Deposit
Agreement) for the account of such Owners otherwise entitled to such rights,
warrants or other instruments, upon an averaged or other practical basis
without
regard to any distinctions among such Owners because of exchange restrictions
or
the date of delivery of any Receipt or otherwise. 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.
9
In
circumstances in which rights would otherwise not be distributed, if an Owner
of
Receipts requests the distribution of warrants or other instruments in order
to
exercise the rights allocable to the American Depositary Shares of such Owner
under the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary will make such rights available
to
such Owner upon written notice from the Issuer to the Depositary that (a)
the
Issuer has elected in its sole discretion to permit such rights to be exercised
and (b) such Owner has executed such documents as the Issuer has determined
in
its sole discretion are reasonably required under applicable law.
If
the
Depositary has distributed warrants or other instruments for rights to all
or
certain Owners, then upon instruction from such an Owner pursuant to such
warrants or other instruments to the Depositary from such Owner to exercise
such
rights, upon payment by such Owner to the Depositary for the account of such
Owner of an amount equal to the purchase price of the Shares to be received
upon
the exercise of the rights, and upon payment of the fees of the Depositary
and
any other charges as set forth in such warrants or other instruments, the
Depositary shall, on behalf of such Owner, exercise the rights and purchase
the
Shares, and the Issuer 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 2.2 of the Deposit Agreement, and shall, pursuant to Section 2.3
of the
Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver Receipts to such Owner. In the case
of a distribution pursuant to the second paragraph of this Article, 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 or as provided in the Deposit Agreement.
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 of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.9 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 Receipt or otherwise. The Depositary shall distribute such
proceeds to such Owners in the manner and subject to the conditions described
in
Section 4.1 of the Deposit Agreement
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 Owners or are
registered under the provisions of such Act, provided,
that
nothing in this Receipt or the Deposit Agreement shall create any obligation
on
the part of the Issuer to file a Registration Statement with respect to such
right or underlying securities or to endeavor to have such a Registration
Statement declared effective. If an Owner 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 Issuer upon which the Depositary may rely that such
distribution to such Owner is exempt from such registration.
10
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.
15.
|
RECORD
DATES.
|
Whenever
any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable or any
distribution other than cash shall be made, or whenever rights shall be issued
with respect to the Deposited Securities, or whenever for any reason the
Depositary causes a change in the number of Shares that are represented by
each
American Depositary Share, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice
of
any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, the Depositary
shall fix a record date which shall be the record date applicable to the
Deposited Securities (or a date as close in time as practicable and fixed
after
consultation with the Issuer) (a) for the determination of the Owners of
Receipts who shall be entitled (i) to receive such dividend, distribution
or
rights or the net proceeds of the sale thereof or (ii) 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 the Deposit Agreement.
16.
|
VOTING
OF DEPOSITED SECURITIES.
|
Upon
receipt of notice of any meeting of holders of Shares, if requested in writing
by the Issuer, the Depositary shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, mail
to
the Owners as of the close of business on the record date for such purpose
set
by the Depositary pursuant to Section 4.6 of the Deposit Agreement (the “Voting
Record Date Owners”) a notice (the “Notice”), the form of which shall be subject
to the approval of the Issuer, which shall contain (a) such information as
is
contained in such notice of meeting, (b) a statement that the Voting Record
Date
Owners will be entitled, subject to any applicable provision of the laws
of
England and Wales and of the Articles, to instruct the Depositary as to the
exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the amount of Shares
represented by their respective American Depositary Shares , (c) a brief
statement as to the manner in which such instructions may be given and (d),
if
the Issuer has timely notified the Depositary as set forth in clauses (i)
(ii)
and (iii) below, a statement that, if no instruction with respect to some
or all
of an Owner’s American Depositary Shares is received on or before the date
established by the Depositary as the latest date by which such instructions
must
be received by the Depositary (the “Instruction Due Date”), such instructions
will be deemed given to the Depositary to provide a discretionary proxy to
the
Chairman of the Meeting. Pursuant to the instructions of a Voting Record
Date
Owner received on or before the Instruction Due Date, the Depositary shall
endeavor insofar as practicable to vote or cause to be voted the amount of
Shares represented by such Owner’s American Depositary Shares in accordance with
such instructions. If no instructions are received by the Depositary from
a Voting Record Date Owner with respect to any of the Shares represented
by such
Voting Record Date Owner’s American Depositary Shares on or before the
Instruction Due Date, the Depositary shall deem such Voting Record Date Owner
to
have instructed the Depositary to provide a discretionary proxy to the Chairman
of the Meeting with respect to such Shares and the Depositary shall provide
a
discretionary proxy to such person with respect to such Shares; provided,
that no
such instruction shall be deemed given and no such discretionary proxy shall
be
provided with respect to any matter unless the Issuer
11
(i)
has
given the Depositary written notice of the meeting of the holders of
Shares;
(ii)
has
requested in writing that the Depositary send the Notice to the
Owners;
(iii)
with respect to such matter, has notified the Depositary in writing) that
(x)
the Issuer wishes such proxy given, (y) substantial opposition does not exist
and (z) such matter does not materially and adversely affect the rights of
holders of Shares and/or the Owners and/or Beneficial Owners enough in advance
of the meeting to give the Depositary, in the sole discretion of the Depositary,
adequate time to give the Notice to the Voting Record Date Owners in order
to
give the Voting Record Date Owners’ adequate time to provide the Depositary with
the Voting Record Date Owners voting instructions on or before the Instruction
Due Date.
There
can
be no assurance that any Owner will receive the Notice from the Depositary
sufficiently prior to the Instruction Due Date to ensure that such Owner
will be
able to deliver its instructions to the Depositary on or before the Instruction
Due Date.
If
voting
instructions from a Voting Record Date Owner are received by the Depositary
on
or before the Instruction Due Date and the voting instructions are signed
by
such Voting Record Date Owner but do not indicate with respect to any matter
how
the Shares represented by such Voting Record Date Owner’s American Depositary
Shares are to be voted, then the Depositary shall deem such Voting Record
Date
Owner to have instructed the Depositary to provide a discretionary proxy
with
respect to such matter to the Chairman of the Meeting. 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
deemed instructions.
17.
|
CHANGES
AFFECTING DEPOSITED SECURITIES.
|
In
circumstances where the provisions of Section 4.3 of the Deposit Agreement
do
not apply, upon any change in nominal value, change in par value, split-up,
consolidation, or any other reclassification of Deposited Securities, or
upon
any recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or sale of
assets
affecting the Issuer or to which it is a party, any securities which shall
be
received by the Depositary or a Custodian in exchange for or in conversion
of or
in respect of Deposited Securities shall be treated as new Deposited Securities
under the Deposit Agreement, and American Depositary Shares shall thenceforth
represent the new Deposited Securities so received in exchange or conversion,
unless additional Receipts are delivered pursuant to the following sentence.
In any such case the Depositary may with the Issuer’s approval, and shall
if the Issuer shall so request, execute and deliver additional Receipts as
in
the case of a dividend on the Shares, or call for the surrender of outstanding
Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts specifically describing such new
Deposited Securities.
12
18.
|
LIABILITY
OF THE ISSUER AND DEPOSITARY.
|
Neither
the Depositary nor the Issuer nor any of their respective directors, employees,
agents or affiliates shall incur any liability to any Owners or holders of
Receipts, if by reason of any provision of any present or future law,
regulation, order, decree, moratorium or fiat of the United States or any
other
country, or of any other governmental or regulatory authority or stock exchange,
including NASDAQ, or by reason of any provision, present or future, of the
Articles, or of the Deposited Securities, or by reason of any act of God
or war
or other circumstances beyond its control, the Depositary or the Issuer or
any
of their respective directors, employees, agents or affiliates shall be
prevented, delayed or forbidden from or be subject to any civil or criminal
penalty or restraint on account of doing or performing any act or thing which
by
the terms of the Deposit Agreement it is provided shall be done or performed;
nor shall the Depositary or the Issuer or any of their respective directors,
employees, agents or affiliates incur any liability to any Owner or Beneficial
Owner of Receipts by reason of any non-performance or delay, caused as
aforesaid, in the performance of any act or thing which by the terms of the
Deposit Agreement it is provided shall or may be done or performed, or by
reason
of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in
the
Deposit Agreement or the Articles. Where, by the terms of a distribution
pursuant to Sections 4.1, 4.2, or 4.3 of the Deposit Agreement, or an offering
or distribution pursuant to Section 4.4 of the Deposit Agreement, 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 subject to the aforementioned provisions
of the
Deposit Agreement. Neither the Issuer nor the Depositary nor any of their
respective directors, employees, agents or affiliates assumes any obligation
or
shall be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement to Owners or
holders of Receipts or other persons, except with respect to the Issuer and
Depositary that they agree to perform their obligations specifically set
forth
and undertaken by each of them to perform 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 Issuer nor any of their respective
directors, employees, agents or affiliates shall be (a) under any obligation
to
appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit, or other proceeding in respect
of any Deposited Securities or in respect of the Receipts, which in its opinion
may involve it in expense or liability, unless indemnity satisfactory to
it
in
its
sole discretion against
all expense (including legal fees and disbursements of counsel) and liability
shall be furnished as often as may be required, and the Custodian shall not
be
under any obligation whatsoever with respect to such proceedings, the
responsibility of the Custodian being solely to the Depositary or (b) 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. Each of the Depositary, its directors, officers,
employees, agents and affiliates and the Issuer and its directors, officers,
employees, agents and affiliates may rely and shall be protected in acting
upon
any written notice, request, direction or other document believed by it to
be
genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to carry out any
instructions to vote any of the Deposited Securities, or for the manner in
which
any such vote is cast or the effect of any such vote, provided that any such
action or nonaction is in good faith. The Depositary shall not be liable
for any acts or omissions made by a successor depositary whether in connection
with a previous act or omission of the Depositary or in connection with a
matter
arising wholly after the removal or resignation of the Depositary, provided
that
in connection with the issue out of which such potential liability arises
the
Depositary performed its obligations without negligence or bad faith while
it
acted as Depositary.
13
The
Issuer agrees to indemnify the Depositary, its directors, employees, agents
and
affiliates and any Custodian against, and hold each of them harmless from,
any
liability or expense (including, but not limited to, the 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 the Depositary,
its
directors, employees, agents or affiliates or any Custodian, except for any
liability or expense arising out of the negligence or bad faith of any of
them,
or (ii) by the Issuer or any of its directors, employees, agents and affiliates.
The Depositary agrees to indemnify the Issuer, its directors, employees,
agents and affiliates and hold them harmless from any liability or expense
(including, but not limited to, the fees and expenses of counsel) 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. Any person or party seeking indemnity under the
Deposit
Agreement (an “Indemnified Person”) shall notify the person from whom it is
seeking indemnification (the “Indemnifying Person”) of the commencement of any
indemnifiable action or claim promptly after such Indemnified Person becomes
aware of such commencement (provided that the failure to make such notification
shall not affect any such Indemnified Person’s rights under Section 5.8 of the
Deposit Agreement) and shall consult in good faith with the Indemnifying
Person
as to the conduct of the defense of such action or claim, which shall be
reasonable in the circumstances. No Indemnified Person shall compromise or
settle any action or claim without the consent in writing of the Indemnifying
Person, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
The
obligations set forth in this Article and Section 5.8 of the Deposit Agreement
shall survive the cancellation of this Receipt and the termination of the
Deposit Agreement and the succession or substitution of any person indemnified
hereby.
No
disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act of 1933 is intended by any
provision of the Deposit Agreement.
14
19.
|
RESIGNATION
AND REMOVAL OF THE DEPOSITARY.
|
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 Issuer, 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 Issuer by written notice
of such removal, effective upon the appointment of a successor depositary
and
its acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement.
Whenever the Depositary in its discretion determines that it is in the
best interest of the Owners of Receipts to do so, it may appoint a substitute
or
additional custodian or custodians.
20.
|
AMENDMENT.
|
The
form
of the Receipts and any provisions of the Deposit Agreement may at any time
and
from time to time be amended without the consent of the Owners or Beneficial
Owners by agreement between the Issuer and the Depositary in any respect
which
they may deem necessary or desirable. Any amendment which shall impose or
increase any fees or charges (other than taxes and other governmental charges,
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 of Receipts, shall, however, not become effective
as to
outstanding Receipts until the expiration of thirty days after notice of
such
amendment shall have been given to the Owners of outstanding Receipts.
Every Owner of a Receipt at the time any amendment so becomes effective
shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such Receipt, to consent and agree
to
such amendment and to be bound by the Deposit Agreement and Receipts as amended
thereby. In no event shall any amendment impair the right of the Owner of
any Receipt to surrender such Receipt and receive therefor the Deposited
Securities represented thereby except in order to comply with mandatory
provisions of applicable law.
21.
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TERMINATION
OF DEPOSIT AGREEMENT.
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The
Depositary shall at any time at the direction of the Issuer terminate the
Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the Owners of
all
Receipts then outstanding at least 90 days prior to the date fixed in such
notice for such termination. The Depositary may likewise terminate the
Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the Issuer and
the
Owners of all Receipts then outstanding if at any time 90 days shall have
expired after the Depositary shall have delivered to the Issuer a written
notice
of its election to resign and a successor depositary shall not have been
appointed and accepted its appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement.
On and after the date of termination, the Owner of a Receipt, will upon
(a) surrender of such Receipt at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary,
(b) payment of the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of Receipts referred
to in Section 2.5 of the Deposit Agreement, and (c) payment of any applicable
taxes or governmental charges, will be entitled to delivery, to him or upon
his
order, of the amount of Deposited Securities represented by the American
Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt. If any Receipts shall remain
outstanding after the date of termination, the Depositary thereafter shall
discontinue the registration of transfers of Receipts, shall suspend the
distribution of dividends to the Owners thereof, and shall not give any further
notices or perform any further acts under the Deposit Agreement, except that
the
Depositary shall continue to collect dividends and other distributions
pertaining to Deposited Securities, shall sell rights as provided in the
Deposit
Agreement, and shall continue to deliver Deposited Securities, together with
any
dividends or other distributions received with respect thereto and the net
proceeds of the sale of any rights or other property, in exchange for Receipts
surrendered to the Depositary (after deducting, in each case, the fee of
the
Depositary for the surrender of a Receipt, any expenses for the account of
the
Owner of such Receipt in accordance with the terms and conditions of the
Deposit
Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental charges). At any time
after the expiration of one year from the date of termination, the Depositary
may sell the Deposited Securities then held under the Deposit Agreement and
may
thereafter hold uninvested the net proceeds of any such sale, together with
any
other cash then held by it thereunder, unsegregated and without liability
for
interest, for the pro rata benefit of the Owners of Receipts which have not
theretofore been surrendered, such Owners thereupon becoming general creditors
of the Depositary with respect to such net proceeds. After making such
sale, the Depositary shall be discharged from all obligations under the Deposit
Agreement, except to account for such net proceeds and other cash (after
deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of a
Receipt, any expenses for the account of the Owner of such Receipt in accordance
with the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, and any applicable
taxes
or governmental charges). Upon the termination of the Deposit Agreement,
the Issuer shall be discharged from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement
except for its obligations to the Depositary with respect to indemnification,
charges, and expenses. The Depositary shall be discharged from all its
obligations under the Deposit Agreement and any Receipt except for its
obligations to the Issuer under Article 18 of this Receipt.
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22.
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DISCLOSURE
OF INTERESTS.
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Notwithstanding
any other provision of the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, each Owner
and
Beneficial Owner agrees to be bound by and subject to the Articles and any
applicable laws and regulations with respect to the disclosure requirements
regarding ownership of Shares and ownership restrictions, all as if such
American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipts were, to the extent
practicable, the Shares represented thereby. As of the date of this Agreement,
such disclosure requirements and ownership restrictions are as
follows:
Each
Owner and Beneficial Owner agrees to provide such information within the
prescribed period as the Issuer may request in a disclosure notice (a
“Disclosure Notice”) given pursuant to any applicable provision of English law
or the Articles. Each Owner and Beneficial Owner further acknowledges that
failure by such Owner or Beneficial Owner to provide in a timely fashion
the
information requested in any Disclosure Notice may, in the Issuer’s sole
discretion, result in the withholding of certain rights in respect of such
Owner
or Beneficial Owner’s American Depositary Shares, including, without limitation,
voting rights, the right to receive dividends or other payments and rights
of
free transferability in respect of the Shares represented by such American
Depositary Shares, to the extent that such rights may be withheld from only
the
Beneficial Owner or Beneficial Owners who failed to provide such information.
The Depositary agrees to use its reasonable efforts, at the Issuer’s expense, to
comply with any written, specific, instructions received from the Issuer
requesting that Depositary take the actions specified therein to obtain such
information.
16
In
addition, any Owner or Beneficial Owner who is or becomes directly or indirectly
interested (within the meaning of the Companies Act of 1985, as amended from
time to time (the “Companies Act”)), in the issued ordinary share capital of the
Issuer equal to or in excess of the then “notifiable percentage” (at the date
hereof, three percent (3%)) or such other amount as may be required by the
Companies Act, or is aware that another person for whom it holds such Receipts
is so interested, must within two (2) business days (or such other period
as may
be required by the Companies Act) after becoming so interested or so aware,
and
thereafter upon any change in the percentage level of its interest, notify
the
Issuer as required by the Companies Act.
Each
Owner and Beneficial Owner further acknowledges that pursuant to the Articles,
if the Issuer determines that a regulatory problem (a “Shareholder Regulatory
Event,” as set forth in the Articles) has arisen in connection with a Gaming
Regulatory Authority, as set forth in the Articles, it may, in its absolute
discretion and at any time, by notice in writing to an Owner or Beneficial
Owner
to whom the Shareholder Regulatory Event relates (or to whom the Issuer
reasonably believes it relates) or to a person named therein as interested
in
(or reasonably believed to be interested in) the American Depositary Shares
of
the Issuer held by the recipient of the notice (an “Interested Person”), to the
extent that the following sanctions shall apply to only such Owner or Beneficial
Owner or such Interested Person.
(1) suspend
with immediate effect (or with effect from such date as the notice may specify)
all or some of the following rights attaching to all or some of the American
Depositary Shares held by that Owner or Beneficial Owner;
(a) the
right
to attend and to speak at meetings and to vote and to demand a poll exercisable
in respect of the American Depositary Shares;
(b) the
right
to receive any payment (whether by way of dividend or otherwise);
and
(c) the
right
to the issue of further American Depositary Shares or other securities in
respect of the Shares.
(2) require
the recipient of the notice or any Interested Person to dispose of all or
some
of the American Depositary Shares held by the recipient of the notice or
the
interest held by any Interested Person named in the notice and for evidence
in a
form satisfactory to the Issuer that such disposal shall have been effected
to
be supplied to the Issuer within 14 days from the date of such notice or
within
such other period as the Issuer, in its absolute discretion, considers
reasonable.
17
In
the
event that an Owner, Beneficial Owner or Interested Person fails to comply
with
the requirements set forth in the preceding paragraph, the Issuer shall in
its
absolute discretion be entitled, in accordance with English law, the Articles,
and the rules of the London Stock Exchange, to dispose of the American
Depositary Shares and the Shares represented by such American Depositary
Shares,
to the extent that such disposal shall be of the American Depositary Shares
of
only the Beneficial Owner or Beneficial Owners to whom the Shareholder
Regulatory Event relates (or to whom the Issuer reasonably believes it relates)
or of the Interested Person or Interested Persons.
18