Exhibit 1
[EXECUTION COPY]
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XXX XXXX XX XXX XXXX
As Depositary
AND
OWNERS AND HOLDERS OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS
Deposit Agreement
Dated as of August 4, 2004
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS.....................................................................................1
SECTION 1.01 AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES...................................................................1
SECTION 1.02 COMMISSION...................................................................................1
SECTION 1.03 COMPANY......................................................................................1
SECTION 1.04 CUSTODIAN....................................................................................2
SECTION 1.05 DEPOSIT AGREEMENT............................................................................2
SECTION 1.06 DEPOSIT, DELIVER, EXECUTE, ISSUE, REGISTER, SURRENDER, TRANSFER, WITHDRAW OR CANCEL..........2
SECTION 1.07 DEPOSITARY; CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE...........................................................2
SECTION 1.08 DEPOSITED SECURITIES.........................................................................2
SECTION 1.09 DOLLARS; GBP.................................................................................2
SECTION 1.10 FOREIGN REGISTRAR............................................................................2
SECTION 1.11 OWNER........................................................................................2
SECTION 1.12 RECEIPTS.....................................................................................3
SECTION 1.13 REGISTRAR....................................................................................3
SECTION 1.14 RESTRICTED SECURITIES........................................................................3
SECTION 1.15 SECTION; ARTICLE.............................................................................3
SECTION 1.16 SECURITIES ACT OF 1933.......................................................................3
SECTION 1.17 SHARES.......................................................................................3
ARTICLE 2. FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF SHARES, EXECUTION AND DELIVERY,
TRANSFER AND SURRENDER OF RECEIPTS ...............................................................................3
SECTION 2.01 FORM AND TRANSFERABILITY OF RECEIPTS.........................................................3
SECTION 2.02 DEPOSIT OF SHARES............................................................................4
SECTION 2.03 EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF RECEIPTS...........................................................5
SECTION 2.04 TRANSFER OF RECEIPTS; COMBINATION AND SPLIT-UP OF RECEIPTS...................................6
SECTION 2.05 SURRENDER OF RECEIPTS AND WITHDRAWAL OF SHARES...............................................6
SECTION 2.06 LIMITATIONS ON EXECUTION AND DELIVERY, TRANSFER AND SURRENDER OF RECEIPTS....................7
SECTION 2.07 LOST RECEIPTS, ETC...........................................................................8
SECTION 2.08 CANCELLATION AND DESTRUCTION OF SURRENDERED RECEIPTS.........................................8
SECTION 2.09 PRE-RELEASE OF RECEIPTS......................................................................8
SECTION 2.10 MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS.......................................................................9
ARTICLE 3. CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF OWNERS AND HOLDERS OF RECEIPTS...........................................9
SECTION 3.01 FILING PROOFS, CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION............................................9
SECTION 3.02 LIABILITY OF OWNER FOR TAXES.................................................................9
SECTION 3.03 WARRANTIES ON DEPOSIT OF SHARES..............................................................9
ARTICLE 4. THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES.......................................................................10
SECTION 4.01 CASH DISTRIBUTIONS..........................................................................10
SECTION 4.02 DISTRIBUTIONS OTHER THAN CASH, SHARES OR RIGHTS.............................................10
SECTION 4.03 DISTRIBUTIONS IN SHARES.....................................................................10
SECTION 4.04 RIGHTS......................................................................................11
SECTION 4.05 CONVERSION OF FOREIGN CURRENCY..............................................................12
SECTION 4.06 FIXING OF RECORD DATE.......................................................................13
SECTION 4.07 VOTING OF DEPOSITED SECURITIES..............................................................14
SECTION 4.08 CHANGES AFFECTING DEPOSITED SECURITIES......................................................14
SECTION 4.09 REPORTS.....................................................................................14
SECTION 4.10 LISTS OF OWNERS.............................................................................15
SECTION 4.11 WITHHOLDING.................................................................................15
ARTICLE 5. THE DEPOSITARY, THE CUSTODIANS AND THE COMPANY.................................................15
SECTION 5.01 MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE AND TRANSFER BOOKS BY THE DEPOSITARY..................................15
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SECTION 5.02 PREVENTION OR DELAY IN PERFORMANCE BY THE DEPOSITARY OR THE COMPANY.........................16
SECTION 5.03 OBLIGATIONS OF THE DEPOSITARY, THE CUSTODIAN AND THE COMPANY................................16
SECTION 5.04 RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF THE DEPOSITARY...................................................17
SECTION 5.05 THE CUSTODIANS..............................................................................18
SECTION 5.06 NOTICES AND REPORTS.........................................................................18
SECTION 5.07 DISTRIBUTION OF ADDITIONAL SHARES, RIGHTS, ETC..............................................19
SECTION 5.08 INDEMNIFICATION.............................................................................19
SECTION 5.09 CHARGES OF DEPOSITARY.......................................................................20
SECTION 5.10 RETENTION OF DEPOSITARY DOCUMENTS...........................................................20
SECTION 5.11 EXCLUSIVITY.................................................................................21
SECTION 5.12 LIST OF RESTRICTED SECURITIES OWNERS........................................................21
ARTICLE 6. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION......................................................................21
SECTION 6.01 AMENDMENT...................................................................................21
SECTION 6.02 TERMINATION.................................................................................21
ARTICLE 7. MISCELLANEOUS..................................................................................22
SECTION 7.01 COUNTERPARTS................................................................................22
SECTION 7.02 NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES................................................................22
SECTION 7.03 SEVERABILITY................................................................................23
SECTION 7.04 OWNERS AND HOLDERS AS PARTIES; BINDING EFFECT...............................................23
SECTION 7.05 NOTICES.....................................................................................23
SECTION 7.06 SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; APPOINTMENT OF AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS.....................23
SECTION 7.07 WAIVER OF IMMUNITIES........................................................................24
SECTION 7.08 GOVERNING LAW...............................................................................24
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DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
DEPOSIT AGREEMENT dated as of August 4, 2004, among Phytopharm plc,
incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (herein called the Company),
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, a New York banking corporation (herein called the
Depositary), and all Owners and holders from time to time of American Depositary
Receipts issued hereunder.
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide, as hereinafter set forth in
this Deposit Agreement, for the deposit of Shares (as hereinafter defined) of
the Company from time to time with the Depositary or with the Custodian (as
hereinafter defined) as agent of the Depositary for the purposes set forth in
this Deposit Agreement, for the creation of American Depositary Shares
representing the Shares so deposited and for the execution and delivery of
American Depositary Receipts evidencing the American Depositary Shares; and
WHEREAS, the American Depositary Receipts are to be substantially in the
form of Exhibit A annexed hereto, with appropriate insertions, modifications and
omissions, as hereinafter provided in this Deposit Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, it is agreed by and
between the parties hereto as follows:
ARTICLE 1.
DEFINITIONS
The following definitions shall for all purposes, unless otherwise
clearly indicated, apply to the respective terms used in this Deposit Agreement:
SECTION 1.01. American Depositary Shares.
The term "American Depositary Shares" shall mean the securities
representing the interests in the Deposited Securities and evidenced by the
Receipts issued hereunder. Each American Depositary Share shall represent the
number of Shares specified in Exhibit A annexed hereto, until there shall occur
a distribution upon Deposited Securities covered by Section 4.03 or a change in
Deposited Securities covered by Section 4.08 with respect to which additional
Receipts are not executed and delivered, and thereafter American Depositary
Shares shall evidence the amount of Shares or Deposited Securities specified in
such Sections.
SECTION 1.02 Commission.
The term "Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange
Commission of the United States or any successor governmental agency in the
United States.
SECTION 1.03 Company.
The term "Company" shall mean Phytopharm plc, incorporated under the
laws of England and Wales, and its successors.
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SECTION 1.04 Custodian.
The term "Custodian" shall mean the London office of The Bank of New
York, as agent of the Depositary for the purposes of this Deposit Agreement, and
any other firm or corporation which may hereafter be appointed by the Depositary
pursuant to the terms of Section 5.05, as substitute or additional custodian or
custodians hereunder, as the context shall require and shall also mean all of
them collectively.
SECTION 1.05 Deposit Agreement.
The term "Deposit Agreement" shall mean this Agreement, as the same
may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof.
SECTION 1.06 deposit, deliver, execute, issue, register, surrender,
transfer, withdraw or cancel.
The terms "deposit", "deliver", "execute", "issue", "register",
"surrender", "transfer", "withdraw" or "cancel", when used with respect to
Shares, shall refer, where the context requires, to an entry or entries or an
electronic transfer or transfers in an account or accounts maintained by
institutions authorized under the laws of England and Wales to effect transfers
of securities and not to the physical transfer of certificates representing the
Shares.
SECTION 1.07 Depositary; Corporate Trust Office.
The term "Depositary" shall mean The Bank of New York, a New York
banking corporation, and any successor as depositary hereunder. The term
"Corporate Trust Office", when used with respect to the Depositary, shall mean
the office of the Depositary which at the date of this Agreement is 000 Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000.
SECTION 1.08 Deposited Securities.
The term "Deposited Securities" as of any time shall mean Shares at
such time deposited or deemed to be deposited under this Deposit Agreement and
any and all other securities, property and cash received by the Depositary or
the Custodian in respect thereof and at such time held hereunder, subject as to
cash to the provisions of Section 4.05.
SECTION 1.09 Dollars; GBP.
The term "Dollars" shall mean United States dollars. The term "GBP"
shall mean Great British Pounds
SECTION 1.10 Foreign Registrar.
The term "Foreign Registrar" shall mean the entity that presently
carries out the duties of registrar for the Shares or any successor as registrar
for the Shares and any other appointed agent of the Company for the transfer and
registration of Shares.
SECTION 1.11 Owner.
The term "Owner" shall mean the person or persons in whose name a
Receipt is registered on the books of the Depositary maintained for such
purpose.
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SECTION 1.12 Receipts.
The term "Receipts" shall mean the American Depositary Receipts
issued hereunder evidencing American Depositary Shares.
SECTION 1.13 Registrar.
The term "Registrar" shall mean any bank or trust company having an
office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, which shall be
appointed to register Receipts and transfers of Receipts as herein provided.
SECTION 1.14 Restricted Securities.
The term "Restricted Securities shall mean Shares, or American
Depositary Shares representing Shares, that are acquired directly or indirectly
from the Company or its affiliates (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities
Act of 1933) in a transaction or chain of transactions not involving any public
offering, or which are subject to resale limitations under Regulation D under
that Act or both, or which are held by an officer, director (or persons
performing similar functions) or other affiliate of the Company, or which would
require registration under the Securities Act in connection with the offer and
sale thereof in the United States, or which are subject to other restrictions on
sale or deposit under the laws of the United States or England and Wales, or
under a shareholder agreement or the Memorandum or Articles of Association of
the Company.
SECTION 1.15 Section; Article.
Wherever references are made in this Deposit Agreement to a
"Section" or "Sections" or to an "Article" or "Articles", such references shall
mean a section or sections or an article or articles of this Deposit Agreement,
unless the context otherwise requires.
SECTION 1.16 Securities Act of 1933.
The term "Securities Act of 1933" shall mean the United States
Securities Act of 1933, as from time to time amended.
SECTION 1.17 Shares.
The term "Shares" shall mean ordinary shares in registered form of
the Company, heretofore validly issued and outstanding and fully paid,
nonassessable and free of any pre-emptive rights of the holders of outstanding
Shares or hereafter validly issued and outstanding and fully paid, nonassessable
and free of any pre-emptive rights of the holders of outstanding Shares or
interim certificates representing such Shares.
ARTICLE 2.
FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF SHARES, EXECUTION AND
DELIVERY, TRANSFER AND SURRENDER OF RECEIPTS
SECTION 2.01 Form and Transferability of Receipts.
Definitive Receipts shall be substantially in the form set forth in
Exhibit A annexed to this Deposit Agreement, with appropriate insertions,
modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided. No Receipt shall be
entitled to any benefits under this Deposit Agreement
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or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless such Receipt shall have been
executed by the Depositary by the manual signature of a duly authorized
signatory of the Depositary; provided, however, that such signature may be a
facsimile if a Registrar for the Receipts shall have been appointed and such
Receipts are countersigned by the manual signature of a duly authorized officer
of the Registrar. The Depositary shall maintain books on which each Receipt so
executed and delivered as hereinafter provided and the transfer of each such
Receipt shall be registered. Receipts bearing the manual or facsimile signature
of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary who was at any time a proper
signatory of the Depositary shall bind the Depositary, notwithstanding that such
signatory has ceased to hold such office prior to the execution and delivery of
such Receipts by the Registrar or did not hold such office on the date of
issuance of such Receipts.
The Receipts may be endorsed with or have incorporated in the text
thereof such legends or recitals or modifications not inconsistent with the
provisions of this Deposit Agreement as may be required by the Depositary or
required to comply with any applicable law or regulations thereunder or with the
rules and regulations of any securities exchange upon which American Depositary
Shares may be listed or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, or to
indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular
Receipts are subject by reason of the date of issuance of the underlying
Deposited Securities or otherwise.
Title to a Receipt (and to the American Depositary Shares evidenced
thereby), when properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of
transfer, shall be transferable by delivery with the same effect as in the case
of a negotiable instrument under the laws of New York; provided, however, that
the Depositary and the Company, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may
treat the Owner thereof as the absolute owner thereof for the purpose of
determining the person entitled to distribution of dividends or other
distributions or to any notice provided for in this Deposit Agreement and for
all other purposes, and neither the Depositary nor the Company shall have any
obligation or be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement to any
holder of a Receipt unless such holder is the Owner thereof.
SECTION 2.02 Deposit of Shares.
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement,
Shares or evidence of rights to receive Shares may be deposited by delivery
thereof to any Custodian hereunder, accompanied by any appropriate instrument or
instruments of transfer, or endorsement, in form satisfactory to the Custodian,
together with all such certifications as may be required by the Depositary or
the Custodian in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, and,
if the Depositary requires, together with a written order directing the
Depositary to execute and deliver to, or upon the written order of, the person
or persons stated in such order, a Receipt or Receipts for the number of
American Depositary Shares representing such deposit.
No Share shall be accepted for deposit unless accompanied by
evidence satisfactory to the Depositary that any necessary approval has been
granted by any governmental body in England and Wales which is then performing
the function of the regulation of currency exchange. If required by the
Depositary, Shares presented for deposit at any time, whether or not the
transfer books of the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, are
closed, shall also
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be accompanied by an agreement or assignment, or other instrument satisfactory
to the Depositary, which will provide for the prompt transfer to the Custodian
of any dividend, or right to subscribe for additional Shares or to receive other
property which any person in whose name the Shares are or have been recorded may
thereafter receive upon or in respect of such deposited Shares, or in lieu
thereof, such agreement of indemnity or other agreement as shall be satisfactory
to the Depositary.
At the request, risk and expense of any person proposing to deposit
Shares, and for the account of such person, the Depositary may receive
certificates for Shares to be deposited, together with the other instruments
herein specified, for the purpose of forwarding such Share certificates to the
Custodian for deposit hereunder.
Upon each delivery to a Custodian of a certificate or certificates
for Shares to be deposited hereunder, together with the other documents
specified above, such Custodian shall, as soon as transfer and recordation can
be accomplished, present such certificate or certificates to the Company or the
Foreign Registrar, if applicable, for transfer and recordation of the Shares
being deposited in the name of the Depositary or its nominee or such Custodian
or its nominee.
Deposited Securities shall be held by the Depositary or by a
Custodian for the account and to the order of the Depositary or at such other
place or places as the Depositary shall determine.
SECTION 2.03 Execution and Delivery of Receipts.
Upon receipt by any Custodian of any deposit pursuant to Section
2.02 hereunder (and in addition, if the transfer books of the Company or the
Foreign Registrar, if applicable, are open, the Depositary may in its sole
discretion require a proper acknowledgment or other evidence from the Company
that any Deposited Securities have been recorded upon the books of the Company
or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, in the name of the Depositary or its
nominee or such Custodian or its nominee), together with the other documents
required as specified above, such Custodian shall notify the Depositary of such
deposit and the person or persons to whom or upon whose written order a Receipt
or Receipts are deliverable in respect thereof and the number of American
Depositary Shares to be evidenced thereby. Such notification shall be made by
letter or, at the request, risk and expense of the person making the deposit, by
cable, telex or facsimile transmission. Upon receiving such notice from such
Custodian, or upon the receipt of Shares by the Depositary, the Depositary,
subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall execute and
deliver at its Corporate Trust Office, to or upon the order of the person or
persons entitled thereto, a Receipt or Receipts, registered in the name or names
and evidencing any authorized number of American Depositary Shares requested by
such person or persons, but only upon payment to the Depositary of the fees and
expenses of the Depositary for the execution and delivery of such Receipt or
Receipts as provided in Section 5.09, and of all taxes and governmental charges
and fees payable in connection with such deposit and the transfer of the
Deposited Securities.
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SECTION 2.04 Transfer of Receipts; Combination and Split-up of Receipts.
The Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit
Agreement, shall register transfers of Receipts on its transfer books from time
to time, upon any surrender of a Receipt, by the Owner in person or by a duly
authorized attorney, properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of
transfer, and duly stamped as may be required by the laws of the State of New
York and of the United States of America. Thereupon the Depositary shall execute
a new Receipt or Receipts evidencing the same aggregate number of American
Depositary Shares as were evidenced by the Receipts surrendered and deliver the
same to or upon the order of the person entitled thereto subject to receipt of
any certifications and agreements by such person as the Depositary and the
Company may require in order to comply with applicable laws.
The Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit
Agreement, shall upon surrender of a Receipt or Receipts for the purpose of
effecting a split-up or combination of such Receipt or Receipts, execute and
deliver a new Receipt or Receipts for any authorized number of American
Depositary Shares requested, evidencing the same aggregate number of American
Depositary Shares as the Receipt or Receipts surrendered.
The Depositary may appoint one or more co-transfer agents for the
purpose of effecting transfers, combinations and split-ups of Receipts at
designated transfer offices on behalf of the Depositary. In carrying out its
functions, a co-transfer agent may require evidence of authority and compliance
with applicable laws and other requirements by Owners or persons entitled to
Receipts and will be entitled to protection and indemnity to the same extent as
the Depositary.
SECTION 2.05 Surrender of Receipts and Withdrawal of Shares.
Upon surrender at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary of a
Receipt for the purpose of withdrawal of the Deposited Securities represented by
the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt, and upon payment of
the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of Receipts as provided in Section
5.09 and payment of all taxes and governmental charges payable in connection
with such surrender and withdrawal of the Deposited Securities, and subject to
the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Owner of such Receipt
shall be entitled to delivery, to him or upon his order, of the amount of
Deposited Securities at the time represented by the American Depositary Shares
evidenced by such Receipt. Delivery of such Deposited Securities may be made by
the delivery of (a) certificates in the name of such Owner or as ordered by him
or certificates properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of
transfer to such Owner or as ordered by him and (b) any other securities,
property and cash to which such Owner is then entitled in respect of such
Receipts to such Owner or as ordered by him. Such delivery shall be made, as
hereinafter provided, without unreasonable delay.
A Receipt surrendered for such purposes may be required by the
Depositary to be properly endorsed in blank or accompanied by proper instruments
of transfer in blank, and if the Depositary so requires, the Owner thereof shall
execute and deliver to the Depositary a written order directing the Depositary
to cause the Deposited Securities being withdrawn to be delivered to or upon the
written order of a person or persons designated in such order. Thereupon the
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Depositary shall direct the Custodian to deliver at the office of such
Custodian, subject to Sections 2.06, 3.01 and 3.02 and to the other terms and
conditions of this Deposit Agreement, to or upon the written order of the person
or persons designated in the order delivered to the Depositary as above
provided, the amount of Deposited Securities represented by the American
Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt, except that the Depositary may make
delivery to such person or persons at the Corporate Trust Office of the
Depositary of any dividends or distributions with respect to the Deposited
Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such
Receipt, or of any proceeds of sale of any dividends, distributions or rights,
which may at the time be held by the Depositary.
At the request, risk and expense of any Owner so surrendering a
Receipt, and for the account of such Owner, the Depositary shall direct the
Custodian to forward any cash or other property (other than rights) comprising,
and forward a certificate or certificates, if applicable, and other proper
documents of title for, the Deposited Securities represented by the American
Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt to the Depositary for delivery at
the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary. Such direction shall be given by
letter or, at the request, risk and expense of such Owner, by cable, telex or
facsimile transmission.
SECTION 2.06 Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer and Surrender
of Receipts.
As a condition precedent to the execution and delivery, registration
of transfer, split-up, combination or surrender of any Receipt or withdrawal of
any Deposited Securities, the Depositary, Custodian or Registrar may require
payment from the depositor of Shares or the presenter of the Receipt of a sum
sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or other governmental charge and any
stock transfer or registration fee with respect thereto (including any such tax
or charge and fee with respect to Shares being deposited or withdrawn) and
payment of any applicable fees as herein provided, may require (a) the
production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any
signature, (b) compliance with any laws or regulations, relating to depositary
receipts in general or to the withdrawal or sale of Deposited Securities, (c)
delivery of such certificates as the Company may from time to time specify in
writing to the Depositary to assure compliance with the Securities Act of 1933
and rules and regulations thereunder and (d) compliance with such reasonable
procedures, if any, as the Depositary may establish consistent with the
provisions of this Deposit Agreement, including, without limitation, this
Section 2.06.
The delivery of Receipts against deposit of Shares generally or
against deposit of particular Shares may be suspended, or the transfer of
Receipts in particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer
of outstanding Receipts generally may be suspended, during any period when the
transfer books of the Depositary are closed, or if any such action is deemed
necessary or advisable by the Depositary or the Company at any time or from time
to time because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental
body or commission, or under any provision of this Deposit Agreement, or for any
other reason, subject to the provisions of the following sentence.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Deposit Agreement 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
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closing the transfer books of the Depositary or the Company or the deposit of
Shares in connection with voting at a shareholders' meeting, or the payment of
dividends, (ii) the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges, and (iii)
compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating to
the Receipts or to the withdrawal of the Deposited Securities. Without
limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary shall not knowingly accept for
deposit under this Deposit Agreement any Shares required to be registered under
the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, unless a registration statement is
in effect as to such Shares.
SECTION 2.07 Lost Receipts, etc.
In case any Receipt shall be mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen,
the Depositary shall execute and deliver a new Receipt of like tenor in exchange
and substitution for such mutilated Receipt upon cancellation thereof, or in
lieu of and in substitution for such destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt. Before
the Depositary shall execute and deliver a new Receipt in substitution for a
destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt, the Owner thereof shall have (a) filed with
the Depositary (i) a request for such execution and delivery before the
Depositary has notice that the Receipt has been acquired by a bona fide
purchaser and (ii) a sufficient indemnity bond and (b) satisfied any other
reasonable requirements imposed by the Depositary.
SECTION 2.08 Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts.
All Receipts surrendered to the Depositary shall be cancelled by the
Depositary. Cancelled Receipts shall not be entitled to any benefits under this
Deposit Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. The Depositary is
authorized to destroy Receipts so cancelled.
SECTION 2.09 Pre-Release of Receipts.
Notwithstanding Section 2.03 hereof, the Depositary may execute and
deliver Receipts prior to the receipt of Shares pursuant to Section 2.02 (a
"Pre-Release"). The Depositary may, pursuant to Section 2.05, deliver Shares
upon the 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 or Shares are to be delivered, that such person, or
its customer, owns the Shares or Receipts to be remitted, as the case may be,
(b) at all times fully collateralized with cash or such other collateral as the
Depositary deems appropriate, (c) terminable by the Depositary on not more than
five (5) business days notice, and (d) subject to such further indemnities and
credit regulations as the Depositary deems appropriate. The number of American
Depositary Shares which are outstanding at any time as a result of Pre-Release
will not normally exceed thirty percent (30%) of the Shares deposited hereunder;
provided, however, that the Depositary reserves the right to change or disregard
such limit from time to time as it deems appropriate.
The Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation
received by it in connection with the foregoing.
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SECTION 2.10 Maintenance of Records.
The Depositary agrees to maintain records of all Receipts
surrendered and Deposited Securities withdrawn under Section 2.05, substitute
Receipts delivered under Section 2.07, and cancelled or destroyed Receipts under
Section 2.08, in keeping with procedures ordinarily followed by stock transfer
agents located in The City of New York.
ARTICLE 3
CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF OWNERS AND HOLDERS OF RECEIPTS
SECTION 3.01 Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information.
Any person presenting Shares for deposit or any Owner or holder 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 Company or the
Foreign Registrar, if applicable, to execute such certificates and to make such
representations and warranties, as the Depositary may deem necessary or proper.
The Depositary may withhold the delivery or registration of transfer of any
Receipt or the distribution of any dividend or sale or distribution of rights or
of the proceeds thereof or the delivery of any Deposited Securities until such
proof or other information is filed or such certificates are executed or such
representations and warranties made.
SECTION 3.02 Liability of Owner for Taxes.
If any tax or other governmental charge shall become payable by the
Custodian or the Depositary with respect to any Receipt, any American Depositary
Share or any Deposited Securities represented by any Receipt, such tax or other
governmental charge shall be payable by the Owner of such Receipt to the
Depositary. The Depositary may refuse to effect any transfer of such 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
thereof any part or all of the Deposited Securities represented by the American
Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt, and may apply such dividends or
other distributions or the proceeds of any such sale in payment of such tax or
other governmental charge and the Owner of such Receipt shall remain liable for
any deficiency.
SECTION 3.03 Warranties on Deposit of Shares.
Every person depositing Shares under this Deposit Agreement shall be
deemed thereby to represent and warrant that such Shares and each certificate
therefor, if applicable, are validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free
of any preemptive rights of the holders of outstanding Shares and that the
person making such deposit is duly authorized so to do. Every such person shall
also be deemed to represent that the deposit of such Shares and the sale of
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.
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ARTICLE 4
THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES
SECTION 4.01 Cash Distributions.
Whenever the Depositary shall receive any cash dividend or other
cash distribution on any Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall, subject to
the provisions of Section 4.05, convert such dividend or distribution into
Dollars and shall distribute the amount thus received (net of the fees and
expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09) to the Owners entitled
thereto, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing
such Deposited Securities held by them respectively; provided, however, that in
the event that the Company or the Depositary shall be required to withhold and
does withhold from such cash dividend or such other cash distribution an amount
on account of taxes, the amount distributed to the Owner of the Receipts
evidencing American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities
shall be reduced accordingly. The Depositary shall distribute only such amount,
however, as can be distributed without attributing to any Owner a fraction of
one cent. Any such fractional amounts shall be rounded to the nearest whole cent
and so distributed to Owners entitled thereto. The Company or its agent will
remit to the appropriate governmental agency in England and Wales all amounts
withheld and owing to such agency. The Depositary will forward to the Company or
its agent such information from its records as the Company may reasonably
request to enable the Company or its agent to file necessary reports with
governmental agencies, and the Depositary or the Company or its agent may file
any such reports necessary to obtain benefits under the applicable tax treaties
for the Owners of Receipts.
SECTION 4.02 Distributions Other Than Cash, Shares or Rights.
Subject to the provisions of Sections 4.11 and 5.09, whenever the
Depositary shall receive any distribution other than a distribution described in
Section 4.01, 4.03 or 4.04, the Depositary shall cause the securities or
property received by it to be distributed to the Owners entitled thereto, after
deduction or upon payment of any fees and expenses of the Depositary or any
taxes or other governmental charges, in proportion to the number of American
Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by them
respectively, in any manner that the Depositary may deem equitable and
practicable for accomplishing such distribution; provided, however, that if in
the opinion of the Depositary such distribution cannot be made proportionately
among the Owners entitled thereto, or if for any other reason (including, but
not limited to, any requirement that the Company or the Depositary withhold an
amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges or that such securities
must be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 in order to be distributed
to Owners or holders) the Depositary deems such distribution not to be feasible,
the Depositary may adopt such method as it may deem equitable and practicable
for the purpose of effecting such distribution, including, but not limited to,
the public or private sale of the securities or property thus received, or any
part thereof, and the net proceeds of any such sale (net of the fees and
expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09) shall be distributed by
the Depositary to the Owners entitled thereto, all in the manner and subject to
the conditions described in Section 4.01.
SECTION 4.03 Distributions in Shares.
If any distribution upon any Deposited Securities consists of a
dividend in, or free distribution of, Shares, the Depositary may distribute to
the Owners of outstanding Receipts entitled thereto, in proportion to the number
of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by
them respectively, additional Receipts evidencing an aggregate
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number of American Depositary Shares representing the amount of Shares received
as such dividend or free distribution, subject to the terms and conditions of
the Deposit Agreement with respect to the deposit of Shares and the issuance of
American Depositary Shares evidenced by Receipts, including the withholding of
any tax or other governmental charge as provided in Section 4.11 and the payment
of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09. The
Depositary may withhold any such distribution of Receipts if it has not received
satisfactory assurances from the Company that such distribution does not require
registration under the Securities Act of 1933 or is exempt from registration
under the provisions of such Act. In lieu of delivering Receipts for fractional
American Depositary Shares in any such case, the Depositary shall sell the
amount of Shares represented by the aggregate of such fractions and distribute
the net proceeds, all in the manner and subject to the conditions described in
Section 4.01. 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.
SECTION 4.04 Rights.
In the event that the Company shall offer or cause to be offered to
the holders of any Deposited Securities any rights to subscribe for additional
Shares or any rights of any other nature, the Depositary shall have discretion
as to the procedure to be followed in making such rights available to any Owners
or in disposing of such rights on behalf of any Owners and making the net
proceeds available to such Owners or, if by the terms of such rights offering or
for any other reason, the Depositary may not either make such rights available
to any Owners or dispose of such rights and make the net proceeds available to
such Owners, then the Depositary shall allow the rights to lapse. If at the time
of the offering of any rights the Depositary determines in its discretion that
it is lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all 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.
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 hereunder, the Depositary will make such rights available
to such Owner upon written notice from the Company to the Depositary that (a)
the Company has elected in its sole discretion to permit such rights to be
exercised and (b) such Owner has executed such documents as the Company has
determined in its sole discretion are reasonably required under applicable law.
If the Depositary has distributed warrants or other instruments for
rights to all or certain Owners, then upon instruction from such an Owner
pursuant to such warrants or other instruments to the Depositary from such Owner
to exercise such rights, upon payment by such Owner to the Depositary for the
account of such Owner of an amount equal to the purchase price of the Shares to
be received upon the exercise of the rights, and upon payment of the fees and
expenses of the Depositary and any other charges as set forth in such warrants
or other instruments, the Depositary shall, on behalf of such Owner, exercise
the rights and purchase the
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Shares, and the Company shall cause the Shares so purchased to be delivered to
the Depositary on behalf of such Owner. As agent for such Owner, the Depositary
will cause the Shares so purchased to be deposited pursuant to Section 2.02 of
this Deposit Agreement, and shall, pursuant to Section 2.03 of this Deposit
Agreement, execute and deliver Receipts to such Owner. In the case of a
distribution pursuant to the second paragraph of this section, 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 Owners, it may sell
the rights, warrants or other instruments in proportion to the number of
American Depositary Shares held by the Owners to whom it has determined it may
not lawfully or feasibly make such rights available, and allocate the net
proceeds of such sales (net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as
provided in Section 5.09 and all taxes and governmental charges payable in
connection with such rights and subject to the terms and conditions of this
Deposit Agreement) for the account of such Owners otherwise entitled to such
rights, warrants or other instruments, upon an averaged or other practical basis
without regard to any distinctions among such Owners because of exchange
restrictions or the date of delivery of any Receipt or otherwise.
The Depositary will not offer rights to Owners unless both the
rights and the securities to which such rights relate are either exempt from
registration under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to a distribution to
all Owners or are registered under the provisions of such Act; provided, that
nothing in this Deposit Agreement shall create any obligation on the part of the
Company to file a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 with
respect to such rights or underlying securities or to endeavor to have such a
registration statement declared effective or otherwise to register such rights
or securities under any other applicable laws for any purpose. If an Owner of
Receipts requests the distribution of warrants or other instruments,
notwithstanding that there has been no such registration under the Securities
Act of 1933, the Depositary shall not effect such distribution unless it has
received an opinion from recognized counsel in the United States for the Company
upon which the Depositary may rely that such distribution to such Owner is
exempt from such registration.
The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to determine
that it may be lawful or feasible to make such rights available to Owners in
general or any Owner in particular.
SECTION 4.05 Conversion of Foreign Currency.
Whenever the Depositary or the Custodian shall receive foreign
currency, by way of dividends or other distributions or the net proceeds from
the sale of securities, property or rights, and if at the time of the receipt
thereof the foreign currency so received can in the judgment of the Depositary
be converted on a reasonable basis into Dollars and the resulting Dollars
transferred to the United States, the Depositary shall convert or cause to be
converted, by sale or in any other manner that it may determine, such foreign
currency into Dollars, and such Dollars shall be distributed to the Owners
entitled thereto or, if the Depositary shall have distributed any warrants or
other instruments which entitle the holders thereof to such Dollars, then to the
holders of such warrants and/or instruments upon surrender thereof for
cancellation. Such
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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 5.09.
If such conversion or distribution can be effected only with the
approval or license of any government or agency thereof, the Depositary shall
file such application for approval or license, if any, as it may deem desirable.
If at any time the Depositary shall determine that in its judgment
any foreign currency received by the Depositary or the Custodian is not
convertible on a reasonable basis into Dollars transferable to the United
States, or if any approval or license of any government or agency thereof which
is required for such conversion is denied or in the opinion of the Depositary is
not obtainable, or if any such approval or license is not obtained within a
reasonable period as determined by the Depositary, the Depositary may distribute
the foreign currency (or an appropriate document evidencing the right to receive
such foreign currency) received by the Depositary to, or in its discretion may
hold such foreign currency uninvested and without liability for interest thereon
for the respective accounts of, the Owners entitled to receive the same.
If any such conversion of foreign currency, in whole or in part,
cannot be effected for distribution to some of the Owners entitled thereto, the
Depositary may in its discretion make such conversion and distribution in
Dollars to the extent permissible to the Owners entitled thereto and may
distribute the balance of the foreign currency received by the Depositary to, or
hold such balance uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the
respective accounts of, the Owners entitled thereto.
SECTION 4.06 Fixing of Record Date.
Whenever any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become
payable or any distribution other than cash shall be made, or whenever rights
shall be issued with respect to the Deposited Securities, or whenever the
Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other
Deposited Securities, or whenever for any reason the Depositary causes a change
in the number of Shares that are represented by each American Depositary Share,
or whenever the Depositary shall find it necessary or convenient, the Depositary
shall fix a record date (a) for the determination of the Owners who shall be (i)
entitled to receive such dividend, distribution or rights or the net proceeds of
the sale thereof, (ii) entitled to give instructions for the exercise of voting
rights at any such meeting or (iii) responsible for any fee assessed by the
Depositary pursuant to this Deposit Agreement, or (b) on or after which each
American Depositary Share will represent the changed number of Shares. Subject
to the provisions of Sections 4.01 through 4.05 and to the other terms and
conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Owners on such record date shall be
entitled, as the case may be, to receive the amount distributable by the
Depositary with respect to such dividend or other distribution or such rights or
the net proceeds of sale thereof in proportion to the number of American
Depositary Shares held by them respectively and to give voting instructions and
to act in respect of any other such matter.
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SECTION 4.07 Voting of Deposited Securities.
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other
Deposited Securities, if requested in writing by the Company, the Depositary
shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the Owners a notice, the form
of which notice shall be in the sole discretion of the Depositary, which shall
contain (a) such information as is contained in such notice of meeting received
by the Depositary from the Company, (b) a statement that the Owners as of the
close of business on a specified record date will be entitled, subject to any
applicable provision of English law and of the Memorandum or Articles of
Association of the Company, to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the
voting rights, if any, pertaining to the amount of Shares or other Deposited
Securities represented by their respective American Depositary Shares and (c) a
statement as to the manner in which such instructions may be given. Upon the
written request of an Owner on such record date, received on or before the date
established by the Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall endeavor,
in so far as practicable, to vote or cause to be voted the amount of Shares or
other Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares
evidenced by such Receipt in accordance with the instructions set forth in such
request. The Depositary shall not 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.
There can be no assurance that Owners generally or any Owner in
particular will receive the notice described in the preceding paragraph
sufficiently prior to the instruction date to ensure that the Depositary will
vote the Shares or Deposited Securities in accordance with the provisions set
forth in the preceding paragraph.
SECTION 4.08 Changes Affecting Deposited Securities.
In circumstances where the provisions of Section 4.03 do not apply,
upon any change in nominal value, change in par value, split-up, consolidation
or any other reclassification of Deposited Securities, or upon any
recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale of assets
affecting the Company or to which it is a party, or upon the redemption or
cancellation by the Company of the Deposited Securities, any securities, cash or
property which shall be received by the Depositary or a Custodian in exchange
for, in conversion of, in lieu of or in respect of Deposited Securities, shall
be treated as new Deposited Securities under this Deposit Agreement, and
American Depositary Shares shall thenceforth represent, in addition to the
existing Deposited Securities, the right to receive the new Deposited Securities
so received in exchange or conversion, unless additional Receipts are delivered
pursuant to the following sentence. In any such case the Depositary may execute
and deliver additional Receipts as in the case of a dividend in Shares, or call
for the surrender of outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts
specifically describing such new Deposited Securities.
SECTION 4.09 Reports.
The Depositary shall make available for inspection by Owners at its
Corporate Trust Office any reports and communications, including any proxy
soliciting material, received from the Company which are both (a) received by
the Depositary as the holder of the Deposited Securities and (b) made generally
available to the holders of such Deposited Securities by the Company. The
Depositary shall also, upon written request, send to the Owners copies of such
reports when furnished by the Company pursuant to Section 5.06.
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SECTION 4.10 Lists of Owners.
Promptly upon request by the Company, the Depositary shall, at the
expense of the Company, furnish to it a list, as of a recent date, of the names,
addresses and holdings of American Depositary Shares by all persons in whose
names Receipts are registered on the books of the Depositary.
SECTION 4.11 Withholding.
In the event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in
property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) is subject to any
tax or other governmental charge which the Depositary is obligated to withhold,
the Depositary may by public or private sale dispose of all or a portion of such
property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) in such amounts and
in such manner as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay such
taxes or charges and the Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds of any
such sale after deduction of such taxes or charges to the Owners entitled
thereto in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by them
respectively.
ARTICLE 5
THE DEPOSITARY, THE CUSTODIANS AND THE COMPANY
SECTION 5.01 Maintenance of Office and Transfer Books by the Depositary.
Until termination of this Deposit Agreement in accordance with its
terms, the Depositary shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of
New York, facilities for the execution and delivery, registration, registration
of transfers and surrender of Receipts in accordance with the provisions of this
Deposit Agreement.
The Depositary shall keep books, at its Corporate Trust Office, for
the registration of Receipts and transfers of Receipts which at all reasonable
times shall be open for inspection by the Owners, provided that such inspection
shall not be for the purpose of communicating with Owners in the interest of a
business or object other than the business of the Company or a matter related to
this Deposit Agreement or the Receipts.
The Depositary may close the transfer books, at any time or from
time to time, when deemed expedient by it in connection with the performance of
its duties hereunder.
If any Receipts or the American Depositary Shares evidenced thereby
are listed on one or more stock exchanges in the United States, the Depositary
shall act as Registrar or appoint a Registrar or one or more co-registrars for
registry of such Receipts in accordance with any requirements of such exchange
or exchanges.
The Company shall have the right, at all reasonable times, to
inspect transfer and registration records of the Depositary, the Registrar and
any co-transfer agents or co-registrars and to require such parties to supply
copies of such portions of their records relating thereto as the Company may
reasonably request.
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SECTION 5.02 Prevention or Delay in Performance by the Depositary or the
Company.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their respective
directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates shall incur any liability
to any Owner or holder of any Receipt, (i) if by reason of any provision of any
present or future law or regulation of the United States or any other country,
or of any governmental or regulatory authority or stock exchange, or by reason
of any provision, present or future, of the Memorandum or Articles of
Association of the Company, or by reason of any provision of any securities
issued or distributed by the Company, or any offering or distribution thereof,
or by reason of any act of God or war or terrorism or other circumstances beyond
its control, the Depositary or the Company or any of their respective directors,
officers, employees, agents or affiliates shall be prevented, delayed or
forbidden from, or be subject to any civil or criminal penalty on account of,
doing or performing any act or thing which by the terms of this Deposit
Agreement or Deposited Securities it is provided shall be done or performed,
(ii) by reason of any nonperformance or delay, caused as aforesaid, in the
performance of any act or thing which by the terms of this Deposit Agreement it
is provided shall or may be done or performed, (iii) by reason of any exercise
of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in this Deposit
Agreement, (iv) for the inability of any Owner or holder to benefit from any
distribution, offering, right or other benefit which is made available to
holders of Deposited Securities but is not, under the terms of this Deposit
Agreement, made available to Owners or holders, or (v) for any special,
consequential or punitive damages for any breach of the terms of this Deposit
Agreement. Where, by the terms of a distribution pursuant to Section 4.01, 4.02,
or 4.03 of the Deposit Agreement, or an offering or distribution pursuant to
Section 4.04 of the Deposit Agreement, or for any other reason, such
distribution or offering may not be made available to Owners, and the Depositary
may not dispose of such distribution or offering on behalf of such Owners and
make the net proceeds available to such Owners, then the Depositary shall not
make such distribution or offering, and shall allow any rights, if applicable,
to lapse.
SECTION 5.03 Obligations of the Depositary, the Custodian and the Company.
The Company, its directors, officers, employees, agents and
affiliates assume no obligation nor shall any of them be subject to any
liability under this Deposit Agreement to Owners or holders, except that the
Company agrees to perform its obligations specifically set forth in this Deposit
Agreement without negligence or bad faith.
The Depositary, its directors, officers, employees, agents and
affiliates assume assumes no obligation nor shall any of them be subject to any
liability under this Deposit Agreement to any Owner or holder (including,
without limitation, liability with respect to the validity or worth of the
Deposited Securities), except that the Depositary agrees to perform its
obligations specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement without negligence
or bad faith.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their respective
directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates shall be under any
obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other
proceeding in respect of any Deposited Securities or in respect of the Receipts
on behalf of any Owner or holder or any person.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company nor the Company nor any of
their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates shall be
liable for any action or
-16-
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, the Company and their directors, officers,
employees, agents and controlling persons may rely and shall be protected in
acting upon any written notice, request, direction or other document believed by
such person to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper
party or parties.
The Depositary shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by
a successor depositary whether in connection with a previous act or omission of
the Depositary or in connection with any matter arising wholly after the removal
or resignation of the Depositary, provided that in connection with the issue out
of which such potential liability arises the Depositary performed its
obligations without negligence or bad faith while it acted as Depositary.
The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to carry out
any instructions to vote any of the Deposited Securities, or for the manner in
which any such vote is cast or the effect of any such vote, provided that any
such action or nonaction is in good faith.
No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act of 1933 is
intended by any provision of this Deposit Agreement.
SECTION 5.04 Resignation and Removal of the Depositary.
The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary hereunder by
written notice of its election so to do delivered to the Company, such
resignation to take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and
its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided.
The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by 120 days
prior written notice of such removal, to become effective upon the later of (i)
the 120th day after delivery of the notice to the Depositary and (ii) the
appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as
hereinafter provided.
In case at any time the Depositary acting hereunder shall resign or
be removed, the Company shall use its best efforts to appoint a successor
depositary, which shall be a bank or trust company having an office in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York. Every successor depositary shall
execute and deliver to its predecessor and to the Company an instrument in
writing accepting its appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor
depositary, without any further act or deed, shall become fully vested with all
the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor; but such
predecessor, nevertheless, upon payment of all sums due it and on the written
request of the Company shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to
such successor all rights and powers of such predecessor hereunder, shall duly
assign, transfer and deliver all right, title and interest in the Deposited
Securities to such successor, and shall deliver to such successor a list of the
Owners of all outstanding Receipts. Any such successor depositary shall promptly
mail notice of its appointment to the Owners.
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Any corporation into or with which the Depositary may be
merged or consolidated shall be the successor of the Depositary without the
execution or filing of any document or any further act.
SECTION 5.05 The Custodians.
The Custodian shall be subject at all times and in all respects to
the directions of the Depositary and shall be responsible solely to it. Any
Custodian may resign and be discharged from its duties hereunder by notice of
such resignation delivered to the Depositary at least 30 days prior to the date
on which such resignation is to become effective. If upon such resignation there
shall be no Custodian acting hereunder, the Depositary shall, promptly after
receiving such notice, appoint a substitute custodian or custodians, each of
which shall thereafter be a Custodian hereunder. Whenever the Depositary in its
discretion determines that it is in the best interest of the Owners to do so, it
may appoint a substitute or additional custodian or custodians, each of which
shall thereafter be one of the Custodians hereunder. Upon demand of the
Depositary any Custodian shall deliver such of the Deposited Securities held by
it as are requested of it to any other Custodian or such substitute or
additional custodian or custodians. Each such substitute or additional custodian
shall deliver to the Depositary, forthwith upon its appointment, an acceptance
of such appointment satisfactory in form and substance to the Depositary.
Upon the appointment of any successor depositary hereunder, each
Custodian then acting hereunder shall forthwith become, without any further act
or writing, the agent hereunder of such successor depositary and the appointment
of such successor depositary shall in no way impair the authority of each
Custodian hereunder; but the successor depositary so appointed shall,
nevertheless, on the written request of any Custodian, execute and deliver to
such Custodian all such instruments as may be proper to give to such Custodian
full and complete power and authority as agent hereunder of such successor
depositary.
SECTION 5.06 Notices and Reports.
On or before the first date on which the Company gives notice, by
publication or otherwise, of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited
Securities, or of any adjourned meeting of such holders, or of the taking of any
action in respect of any cash or other distributions or the offering of any
rights, the Company agrees to transmit to the Depositary and the Custodian a
copy of the notice thereof in the form given or to be given to holders of Shares
or other Deposited Securities.
The Company will arrange for the prompt transmittal by the Company
to the Depositary and the Custodian of such notices and any other reports and
communications which are made generally available by the Company to holders of
its Shares. If requested in writing by the Company, the Depositary will arrange
for the mailing, at the Company's expense, of copies of such notices, reports
and communications to all Owners. The Company will timely provide the Depositary
with the quantity of such notices, reports, and communications, as requested by
the Depositary from time to time, in order for the Depositary to effect such
mailings.
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SECTION 5.07 Distribution of Additional Shares, Rights, etc.
The Company agrees that in the event of any issuance or distribution
of (1) additional Shares, (2) rights to subscribe for Shares, (3) securities
convertible into or exchangeable for Shares, or (4) rights to subscribe for such
securities (each a "Distribution"), the Company will promptly furnish to the
Depositary a written opinion from U.S. counsel for the Company, which counsel
shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary, stating whether or not the
Distribution requires a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933
to be in effect prior to making such Distribution available to Owners entitled
thereto. If in the opinion of such counsel a Registration Statement is required,
such counsel shall furnish to the Depositary a written opinion as to whether or
not there is a Registration Statement in effect which will cover such
Distribution.
Nothing in this Section 5.07 or elsewhere in this Deposit Agreement
shall create any obligation on the part of the Company or the Depositary to file
a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 in respect of any such
securities or rights.
The Company agrees with the Depositary that neither the Company nor
any person controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Company
will at any time deposit any Shares, either originally issued or previously
issued and reacquired by the Company or any such affiliate, unless a
Registration Statement is in effect as to such Shares under the Securities Act
of 1933 or an exemption is provided by the Securities Act of 1933.
The Depositary will comply with the written instructions of the
Company not to accept knowingly for deposit hereunder 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.
SECTION 5.08 Indemnification.
The Company agrees to indemnify the Depositary, its directors,
officers, 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 any registration
with the Commission of Receipts, American Depositary Shares or Deposited
Securities or the offer or sale thereof in the United States or out of acts
performed or omitted, in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit
Agreement and of the Receipts, as the same may be amended, modified or
supplemented from time to time, (i) by either the Depositary or a Custodian or
their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and affiliates, except
for any liability or expense arising out of the negligence or bad faith of any
of them, or (ii) by the Company or any of its directors, officers, employees,
agents and affiliates.
The Depositary agrees to indemnify the Company, its directors,
officers, employees, agents and affiliates and hold them harmless from any
liability or expense which may arise out of acts performed or omitted by the
Depositary or its Custodian or their respective directors, officers, employees,
agents and affiliates due to their negligence or bad faith.
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SECTION 5.09 Charges of Depositary.
The Company agrees to pay the fees, reasonable expenses and
out-of-pocket charges of the Depositary and those of any Registrar only in
accordance with agreements in writing entered into between the Depositary and
the Company from time to time. The Depositary shall present its statement for
such charges and expenses to the Company at least once every three months. The
charges and expenses of the Custodian are for the sole account of the
Depositary.
The following charges 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), or by Owners, as applicable: (1) taxes and other governmental
charges, (2) such registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for
the registration of transfers of Shares generally on the Share register of the
Company or Foreign Registrar and applicable to transfers of Shares to or from
the name of the Depositary or its nominee or the Custodian or its nominee on the
making of deposits or withdrawals hereunder, (3) such cable, telex and facsimile
transmission expenses as are expressly provided in this Deposit Agreement, (4)
such expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in the conversion of foreign
currency pursuant to Section 4.05, (5) a fee of $5.00 or less per 100 American
Depositary Shares (or portion thereof) for the execution and delivery of
Receipts pursuant to Section 2.03, 4.03 or 4.04 and the surrender of Receipts
pursuant to Section 2.05 or 6.02, (6) a fee of $.02 or less per American
Depositary Share (or portion thereof) for any cash distribution made pursuant to
the Deposit Agreement, including, but not limited to Sections 4.01 through 4.04
hereof, (7) a fee for the distribution of securities pursuant to Section 4.02,
such fee being in an amount equal to the fee for the execution and delivery of
American Depositary Shares referred to above which would have been charged as a
result of the deposit of such securities (for purposes of this clause 7 treating
all such securities as if they were Shares) but which securities are instead
distributed by the Depositary to Owners, (8) a fee of $.02 or less per American
Depositary Share (or portion thereof) for depositary services, which will accrue
on the last day of each calendar year and which will be payable as provided in
clause (9) below; provided, however, that no fee will be assessed under this
clause (8) to the extent a fee of $.02 was charged pursuant to clause (6) above
during that calendar year and (9) any other charge payable by the Depositary,
any of the Depositary's agents, including the Custodian, or the agents of the
Depositary's agents in connection with the servicing of Shares or other
Deposited Securities (which charge shall be assessed against Owners as of the
date or dates set by the Depositary in accordance with Section 4.06 and shall be
payable at the sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such Owners for such
charge or by deducting such charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash
distributions).
The Depositary, subject to Section 2.09 hereof, may own and deal in
any class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in Receipts.
SECTION 5.10 Retention of Depositary Documents.
The Depositary is authorized to destroy those documents, records,
bills and other data compiled during the term of this Deposit Agreement at the
times permitted by the laws or
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regulations governing the Depositary unless the Company requests that such
papers be retained for a longer period or turned over to the Company or to a
successor depositary.
SECTION 5.11 Exclusivity.
The Company agrees not to appoint any other depositary for issuance
of American Depositary Receipts so long as The Bank of New York is acting as
Depositary hereunder, other than a successor depositary as provided in Section
5.04 hereof.
SECTION 5.12 List of Restricted Securities Owners.
From time to time, the Company shall provide to the Depositary a
list setting forth, to the actual knowledge of the Company, those persons or
entities who beneficially own Restricted Securities and the Company shall update
that list on a regular basis. The Company agrees to advise in writing each of
the persons or entities so listed that such Restricted Securities are ineligible
for deposit hereunder. The Depositary may rely on such a list or update but
shall not be liable for any action or omission made in reliance thereon.
ARTICLE 6
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
SECTION 6.01 Amendment.
The form of the Receipts and any provisions of this Deposit
Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended by agreement between
the Company and the Depositary without the consent of Owners or holders of
Receipts in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable. Any
amendment which shall impose or increase any fees or charges (other than taxes
and other governmental charges, registration fees, cable, telex or facsimile
transmission costs, delivery costs or other such expenses), or which shall
otherwise prejudice any substantial existing right of Owners, shall, however,
not become effective as to outstanding Receipts until the expiration of thirty
days after notice of such amendment shall have been given to the Owners of
outstanding Receipts. Every Owner, at the time any amendment so becomes
effective, shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such Receipt, to consent and
agree to such amendment and to be bound by the Deposit Agreement as amended
thereby. In no event shall any amendment impair the right of the Owner of any
Receipt to surrender such Receipt and receive therefor the Deposited Securities
represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of
applicable law.
SECTION 6.02 Termination.
The Depositary shall, at any time at the direction of the Company,
terminate this Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the
Owners of all Receipts then outstanding at least 60 days prior to the date fixed
in such notice for such termination. The Depositary may likewise terminate this
Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the Company and the
Owners of all Receipts then outstanding at least 30 days prior to the date of
termination, if at any time 30 days shall have expired after the Depositary
shall have delivered to the Company a written notice of its election to resign
and a successor depositary shall not have been appointed and accepted its
appointment as provided in Section 5.04. On and after the date of termination,
the Owner of a Receipt will, upon (a) surrender of such Receipt at the Corporate
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Trust Office of the Depositary, (b) payment of the fee of the Depositary for the
surrender of Receipts referred to in Section 2.05, and (c) payment of any
applicable taxes or governmental charges, be entitled to delivery, to 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, shall not accept deposits of
Shares (and shall so instruct each Custodian) and shall not give any further
notices or perform any further acts under this Deposit Agreement, except that
the Depositary shall continue to collect dividends and other distributions
pertaining to Deposited Securities, shall sell rights and other property as
provided in this Deposit Agreement, and shall continue to deliver Deposited
Securities, together with any dividends or other distributions received with
respect thereto and the net proceeds of the sale of any rights or other
property, in exchange for Receipts surrendered to the Depositary (after
deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of a
Receipt, any expenses for the account of the Owner of such Receipt in accordance
with the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, and any applicable
taxes or governmental charges). At any time after the expiration of four months
from the date of termination, the Depositary may sell the Deposited Securities
then held hereunder and may thereafter hold uninvested the net proceeds of any
such sale, together with any other cash then held by it hereunder, unsegregated
and without liability for interest, for the pro rata benefit of the Owners of
Receipts which have not theretofore been surrendered, such Owners thereupon
becoming general creditors of the Depositary with respect to such net proceeds.
After making such sale, the Depositary shall be discharged from all obligations
under this Deposit Agreement, except to account for such net proceeds and other
cash (after deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender
of a Receipt, any expenses for the account of the Owner of such Receipt in
accordance with the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, and any
applicable taxes or governmental charges) and except for its obligations to the
Company under Section 5.08 hereof. Upon the termination of this Deposit
Agreement, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations under this
Deposit Agreement except for its obligations to the Depositary under Sections
5.08 and 5.09 hereof.
ARTICLE 7
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 7.01 Counterparts.
This Deposit Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of such
counterparts shall constitute one and the same instrument. Copies of this
Deposit Agreement shall be filed with the Depositary and the Custodians and
shall be open to inspection by any Owner or holder of a Receipt during business
hours.
SECTION 7.02 No Third Party Beneficiaries.
This Deposit Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the parties
hereto and shall not be deemed to give any legal or equitable right, remedy or
claim whatsoever to any other person.
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SECTION 7.03 Severability.
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Deposit
Agreement or in the Receipts should be or become invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions contained herein or therein shall in no way be affected,
prejudiced or disturbed thereby.
SECTION 7.04 Owners and Holders as Parties; Binding Effect.
The Owners and holders of Receipts from time to time shall be
parties to this Deposit Agreement and shall be bound by all of the terms and
conditions hereof and of the Receipts by acceptance thereof.
SECTION 7.05 Notices.
Any and all notices to be given to the Company shall be deemed to
have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail or cable, telex or
facsimile transmission confirmed by letter, addressed to Phytopharm plc, Corpus
Christi House, 0 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx XX00 0XX, Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Attention: Company Secretary or any other place to which the Company
may have transferred its principal office.
Any and all notices to be given to the Depositary shall be deemed to
have been duly given if in English and personally delivered or sent by mail or
cable, telex or facsimile transmission confirmed by letter, addressed to The
Bank of New York, 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention:
American Depositary Receipt Administration, or any other place to which the
Depositary may have transferred its Corporate Trust Office.
Any and all notices to be given to any Owner shall be deemed to have
been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail or cable, telex or
facsimile transmission confirmed by letter, addressed to such Owner at the
address of such Owner as it appears on the transfer books for Receipts of the
Depositary, or, if such Owner shall have filed with the Depositary a written
request that notices intended for such Owner be mailed to some other address, at
the address designated in such request.
Delivery of a notice sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile
transmission shall be deemed to be effected at the time when a duly addressed
letter containing the same (or a confirmation thereof in the case of a cable,
telex or facsimile transmission) is deposited, postage prepaid, in a post-office
letter box. The Depositary or the Company may, however, act upon any cable,
telex or facsimile transmission received by it, notwithstanding that such cable,
telex or facsimile transmission shall not subsequently be confirmed by letter as
aforesaid.
SECTION 7.06 Submission to Jurisdiction; Appointment of Agent for Service
of Process.
The Company hereby (i) irrevocably designates and appoints National
Registered Agents, 875 Avenue of the Americas, Xxxxx 000, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx
00000, as the Company's authorized agent upon which process may be served in any
suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Shares or Deposited
Securities, the American Depositary Shares, the Receipts or this Agreement, (ii)
consents and submits to the jurisdiction of any state or federal court in the
State of New York in which any such suit or proceeding may be instituted, and
(iii) agrees that
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service of process upon said authorized agent shall be deemed in every respect
effective service of process upon the Company in any such suit or proceeding.
The Company agrees to deliver, upon the execution and delivery of this Deposit
Agreement, a written acceptance by such agent of its appointment as such agent.
The Company further agrees to take any and all action, including the filing of
any and all such documents and instruments, as may be necessary to continue such
designation and appointment in full force and effect for so long as any American
Depositary Shares or Receipts remain outstanding or this Deposit Agreement
remains in force. In the event the Company fails to continue such designation
and appointment in full force and effect, the Company hereby waives personal
service of process upon it and consents that any such service of process may be
made by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, directed to the
Company at its address last specified for notices hereunder, and service so made
shall be deemed completed five (5) days after the same shall have been so
mailed.
SECTION 7.07 Waiver of Immunities.
To the extent that the Company or any of its properties, assets or
revenues may have or may hereafter become entitled to, or have attributed to it,
any right of immunity, on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise, from any
legal action, suit or proceeding, from the giving of any relief in any respect
thereof, from setoff or counterclaim, from the jurisdiction of any court, from
service of process, from attachment upon or prior to judgment, from attachment
in aid of execution or judgment, or from execution of judgment, or other legal
process or proceeding for the giving of any relief or for the enforcement of any
judgment, in any jurisdiction in which proceedings may at any time be commenced,
with respect to its obligations, liabilities or any other matter under or
arising out of or in connection with the Shares or Deposited Securities, the
American Depositary Shares, the Receipts or this Agreement, the Company, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives,
and agrees not to plead or claim, any such immunity and consents to such relief
and enforcement.
SECTION 7.08 Governing Law.
This Deposit Agreement and the Receipts shall be interpreted and all
rights hereunder and thereunder and provisions hereof and thereof shall be
governed by the laws of the State of New York, except with respect to its
authorization and execution by the Company, which shall be governed by the laws
of England and Wales.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, PHYTOPHARM PLC and THE BANK OF NEW YORK have
duly executed this Deposit Agreement as of the day and year first set forth
above and all Owners shall become parties hereto upon acceptance by them of
Receipts issued in accordance with the terms hereof.
PHYTOPHARM PLC
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Chief Executive Officer
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as Depositary
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Managing Director
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EXHIBIT A
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
(Each American Depositary Share represents
two deposited Shares)
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
FOR ORDINARY SHARES OF
THE PAR VALUE OF GBP 1 EACH OF
PHYTOPHARM PLC
(INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF ENGLAND AND WALES)
The Bank of New York, as depositary (hereinafter called the
"Depositary"), hereby certifies that___________ _______________________________,
or registered assigns IS THE OWNER OF _____________________________
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
representing deposited ordinary shares (herein called "Shares") of Phytopharm
plc, incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (herein called the
"Company"). At the date hereof, each American Depositary Share represents one
Share deposited or subject to deposit under the Deposit Agreement (as such term
is hereinafter defined) at the London office of The Bank of New York (herein
called the "Custodian"). The Depositary's Corporate Trust Office is located at a
different address than its principal executive office. Its Corporate Trust
Office is located at 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, X.X. 00000, and its principal
executive office is located at Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, X.X. 00000.
THE DEPOSITARY'S CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE ADDRESS IS
000 XXXXXXX XXXXXX, XXX XXXX, X.X. 00000
1. THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT.
This American Depositary Receipt is one of an issue (herein called
"Receipts"), all issued and to be issued upon the terms and conditions set forth
in the deposit agreement, dated as of August 4, 2004 (herein called the "Deposit
Agreement"), by and among the Company, the Depositary, and all Owners and
holders from time to time of Receipts issued thereunder, each of whom by
accepting a Receipt agrees to become a party thereto and become bound by all the
terms and conditions thereof. The Deposit Agreement sets forth the rights of
Owners and holders of the Receipts and the rights and duties of the Depositary
in respect of the Shares deposited thereunder and any and all other securities,
property and cash from time to time received in respect of such Shares and held
thereunder (such Shares, securities, property, and cash are herein called
"Deposited Securities"). Copies of the Deposit Agreement are on file at the
Depositary's Corporate Trust Office in New York City and at the office of the
Custodian.
The statements made on the face and reverse of this Receipt are
summaries of certain provisions of the Deposit Agreement and are qualified by
and subject to the detailed provisions of the Deposit Agreement, to which
reference is hereby made. Capitalized terms defined in the Deposit Agreement and
not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Deposit Agreement.
2. SURRENDER OF RECEIPTS AND WITHDRAWAL OF SHARES.
Upon surrender at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary of
this Receipt, 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 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.
3. TRANSFERS, SPLIT-UPS, AND COMBINATIONS OF RECEIPTS.
The transfer of this Receipt is registrable on the books of the
Depositary at its Corporate Trust Office by the Owner hereof in person or by a
duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Receipt properly endorsed for
transfer or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer and funds sufficient
to pay any applicable transfer taxes and the expenses of the Depositary and upon
compliance with such regulations, if any, as the Depositary may establish for
such purpose. This Receipt may be split into other such Receipts, or may be
combined with other such Receipts into one Receipt, evidencing the same
aggregate number of American Depositary Shares as the Receipt or Receipts
surrendered. As a condition precedent to the execution and delivery,
registration of transfer, split-up, combination, or surrender of any Receipt or
withdrawal of any Deposited Securities, the Depositary, the Custodian, or
Registrar may
1
require payment from the depositor of the Shares or the presentor of the Receipt
of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or other governmental charge and
any stock transfer or registration fee with respect thereto (including any such
tax or charge and fee with respect to Shares being deposited or withdrawn) and
payment of any applicable fees as provided in this Receipt, may require (a) the
production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any
signature, (b) compliance with any laws or regulations, relating to depositary
receipts in general or to the withdrawal or sale of Deposited Securities, (c)
delivery of such certificates as the Company may from time to time specify in
writing to the Depositary to assure compliance with the Securities Act of 1933
and the rules and regulations thereunder and (d) compliance with such reasonable
procedures, if any, as the Depositary may establish consistent with the
provisions of the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, including, without
limitation, this Article 3.
The delivery of Receipts against deposit of Shares generally or
against deposit of particular Shares may be suspended, or the transfer of
Receipts in particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer
of outstanding Receipts generally may be suspended, during any period when the
transfer books of the Depositary are closed, or if any such action is deemed
necessary or advisable by the Depositary or the Company at any time or from time
to time because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental
body or commission, or under any provision of the Deposit Agreement or 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 Company or the deposit of
Shares in connection with voting at a shareholders' meeting, or the payment of
dividends, (ii) the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges, and (iii)
compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating to
the Receipts or to the withdrawal of the Deposited Securities. Without
limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary shall not knowingly accept for
deposit under the Deposit Agreement any Shares required to be registered under
the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, unless a registration statement is
in effect as to such Shares.
4. LIABILITY OF OWNER FOR TAXES.
If any tax or other governmental charge shall become payable with
respect to any Receipt, any American Depositary Share or any Deposited
Securities represented hereby, such tax or other governmental charge shall be
payable by the Owner hereof to the Depositary. The Depositary may refuse to
effect any transfer of this Receipt or any withdrawal of Deposited Securities
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.
2
5. WARRANTIES ON DEPOSIT OF SHARES.
Every person depositing Shares under the Deposit Agreement shall be
deemed thereby to represent and warrant that such Shares and each certificate
therefor, if applicable, are validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable, and
free of any preemptive rights of the holders of outstanding Shares and that the
person making such deposit is duly authorized so to do. Every such person shall
also be deemed to represent that 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. FILING PROOFS, CERTIFICATES, AND OTHER INFORMATION.
Any person presenting Shares for deposit or any Owner or holder 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 Company or the
Foreign Registrar, if applicable, to execute such certificates and to make such
representations and warranties, as the Depositary may deem necessary or proper.
The Depositary may withhold the delivery or registration of transfer of any
Receipt or the distribution of any dividend or sale or distribution of rights or
of the proceeds thereof or the delivery of any Deposited Securities until such
proof or other information is filed or such certificates are executed or such
representations and warranties made. 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. CHARGES OF DEPOSITARY.
The Company agrees to pay the fees, reasonable expenses and
out-of-pocket charges of the Depositary and those of any Registrar only in
accordance with agreements in writing entered into between the Depositary and
the Company from time to time. The Depositary shall present its statement for
such charges and expenses to the Company at least once every three months. The
charges and expenses of the Custodian are for the sole account of the
Depositary.
The following charges 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), or by Owners, as applicable: (1) taxes
and other governmental charges, (2) such registration fees as may from time to
time be in effect for the registration of transfers of Shares generally on the
Share register of the Company or Foreign Registrar and applicable to transfers
of Shares to or from the name of the Depositary or its nominee or the Custodian
or its nominee on the making of deposits or withdrawals under the terms of the
Deposit Agreement, (3) such cable, telex and facsimile transmission expenses as
are expressly provided in the Deposit Agreement, (4) such expenses as are
incurred by the Depositary in the conversion of foreign currency pursuant to
Section 4.05 of the Deposit
3
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 Sections 4.01 through 4.04 of the Deposit
Agreement, (7) a fee for the distribution of securities pursuant to Section 4.02
of the Deposit Agreement, such fee being in an amount equal to the fee for the
execution and delivery of American Depositary Shares referred to above which
would have been charged as a result of the deposit of such securities (for
purposes of this clause 7 treating all such securities as if they were Shares),
but which securities are instead distributed by the Depositary to Owners, (8) a
fee of $.02 or less per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) for
depositary services, which will accrue on the last day of each calendar year and
which will be payable as provided in clause (9) below; provided, however, that
no fee will be assessed under this clause (8) to the extent a fee of $.02 was
charged pursuant to clause (6) above during that calendar year and (9) any other
charge payable by the Depositary, any of the Depositary's agents, including the
Custodian, or the agents of the Depositary's agents in connection with the
servicing of Shares or other Deposited Securities (which charge shall be
assessed against Owners as of the date or dates set by the Depositary in
accordance with Section 4.06 of the Deposit Agreement and shall be payable at
the sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such Owners for such charge or
by deducting such charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash
distributions).
The Depositary, subject to Article 8 hereof, may own and deal in any
class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in Receipts.
8. PRE-RELEASE OF RECEIPTS.
Notwithstanding Section 2.03 of the Deposit Agreement, the
Depositary may execute and deliver Receipts prior to the receipt of Shares
pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Deposit Agreement (a "Pre-Release"). The
Depositary may, pursuant to Section 2.05 of the Deposit Agreement, deliver
Shares upon the 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 or
Shares are to be delivered that such person, or its customer, owns the Shares or
Receipts to be remitted, as the case may be, (b) at all times fully
collateralized with cash or such other collateral as the Depositary deems
appropriate, (c) terminable by the Depositary on not more than five (5) business
days notice, and (d) subject to such further indemnities and credit regulations
as the Depositary deems appropriate. The number of American Depositary Shares
which are outstanding at any time as a result of Pre-Releases will not normally
exceed thirty percent (30%) of the Shares deposited under the Deposit Agreement;
provided, however, that the Depositary reserves the right to change or disregard
such limit from time to time as it deems appropriate.
The Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation
received by it in connection with the foregoing.
4
9. TITLE TO RECEIPTS.
It is a condition of this Receipt and every successive Owner and
holder of this Receipt by accepting or holding the same consents and agrees,
that 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 under the laws of New York; provided,
however, that the Depositary and the Company, notwithstanding any notice to the
contrary, may treat the person in whose name this Receipt is registered on the
books of the Depositary as the absolute Owner hereof for the purpose of
determining the person entitled to distribution of dividends or other
distributions or to any notice provided for in the Deposit Agreement or for all
other purposes, and neither the Depositary nor the Company shall have any
obligation or be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement to any
holder of a Receipt unless such holder is the Owner thereof.
10. VALIDITY OF RECEIPT.
This Receipt shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Deposit
Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless this Receipt shall
have been executed by the Depositary by the manual signature of a duly
authorized signatory of the Depositary; provided, however that such signature
may be a facsimile if a Registrar for the Receipts shall have been appointed and
such Receipts are countersigned by the manual signature of a duly authorized
officer of the Registrar.
11. REPORTS; INSPECTION OF TRANSFER BOOKS.
The Company 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 at the public reference facilities
maintained by the Commission located at 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X., Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X.
00000.
The Depositary will make available for inspection by Owners of
Receipts at its Corporate Trust Office any reports and communications, including
any proxy soliciting material, received from the Company which are both (a)
received by the Depositary as the holder of the Deposited Securities and (b)
made generally available to the holders of such Deposited Securities by the
Company. The Depositary will also, upon written request, send to Owners of
Receipts copies of such reports when furnished by the Company 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 Company
or a matter related to the Deposit Agreement or the Receipts.
12. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS.
Whenever the Depositary receives any cash dividend or other cash
distribution on
5
any Deposited Securities, the Depositary will, if at the time of receipt thereof
any amounts received in a foreign currency can in the judgment of the Depositary
be converted on a reasonable basis into United States dollars transferable to
the United States, and subject to the Deposit Agreement, convert such dividend
or distribution into dollars and will distribute the amount thus received (net
of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and
Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement) to the Owners of Receipts entitled
thereto; provided, however, that in the event that the Company or the Depositary
is required to withhold and does withhold from any cash dividend or other cash
distribution in respect of any Deposited Securities an amount on account of
taxes, the amount distributed to the Owners of the Receipts evidencing American
Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities shall be reduced
accordingly.
Subject to the provisions of Section 4.11 and 5.09 of the Deposit
Agreement, whenever the Depositary receives any distribution other than a
distribution described in Section 4.01, 4.03 or 4.04 of the Deposit Agreement,
the Depositary will cause the securities or property received by it to be
distributed to the Owners entitled thereto, in any manner that the Depositary
may deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing such distribution;
provided, however, that if in the opinion of the Depositary such distribution
cannot be made proportionately among the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto, or
if for any other reason the Depositary deems such distribution not to be
feasible, the Depositary may adopt such method as it may deem equitable and
practicable for the purpose of effecting such distribution, including, but not
limited to, the public or private sale of the securities or property thus
received, or any part thereof, and the net proceeds of any such sale (net of the
fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and Section
5.09 of the Deposit Agreement) will be distributed by the Depositary to the
Owners of Receipts entitled thereto all in the manner and subject to the
conditions described in Section 4.01 of the Deposit Agreement.
If any distribution consists of a dividend in, or free distribution
of, Shares, the Depositary may distribute to the Owners of outstanding Receipts
entitled thereto, additional Receipts evidencing an aggregate number of American
Depositary Shares representing the amount of Shares received as such dividend or
free distribution 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 and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Article 7
hereof and Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement. In lieu of delivering Receipts
for fractional American Depositary Shares in any such case, the Depositary will
sell the amount of Shares represented by the aggregate of such fractions and
distribute the net proceeds, all in the manner and subject to the conditions
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 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
6
sale dispose of all or a portion of such property (including Shares and rights
to subscribe therefor) in such amounts and in such manner as the Depositary
deems necessary and practicable to pay any such taxes or charges, and the
Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds of any such sale after deduction of
such taxes or charges to the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto.
13. RIGHTS.
In the event that the Company shall offer or cause to be offered to
the holders of any Deposited Securities any rights to subscribe for additional
Shares or any rights of any other nature, the Depositary shall have discretion
as to the procedure to be followed in making such rights available to any Owners
or in disposing of such rights on behalf of any Owners and making the net
proceeds available to such Owners or, if by the terms of such rights offering or
for any other reason, the Depositary may not either make such rights available
to any Owners or dispose of such rights and make the net proceeds available to
such Owners, then the Depositary shall allow the rights to lapse. If at the time
of the offering of any rights the Depositary determines in its discretion that
it is lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all 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.
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 Company to the
Depositary that (a) the Company has elected in its sole discretion to permit
such rights to be exercised and (b) such Owner has executed such documents as
the Company has determined in its sole discretion are reasonably required under
applicable law.
If the Depositary has distributed warrants or other instruments for
rights to all or certain Owners, then upon instruction from such an Owner
pursuant to such warrants or other instruments to the Depositary from such Owner
to exercise such rights, upon payment by such Owner to the Depositary for the
account of such Owner of an amount equal to the purchase price of the Shares to
be received upon the exercise of the rights, and upon payment of the fees and
expenses of the Depositary and any other charges as set forth in such warrants
or other instruments, the Depositary shall, on behalf of such Owner, exercise
the rights and purchase the Shares, and the Company shall cause the Shares so
purchased to be delivered to the Depositary on behalf of such Owner. As agent
for such Owner, the Depositary will cause the Shares so purchased to be
deposited pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Deposit Agreement, and shall, pursuant
to Section 2.03 of the Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver Receipts to such
Owner. In the case of a distribution pursuant to the second paragraph of this
Article 13, 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 Owners, it may sell
the rights, warrants or other
7
instruments in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by
the Owners to whom it has determined it may not lawfully or feasibly make such
rights available, and allocate the net proceeds of such sales (net of the fees
and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 of the Deposit
Agreement and all taxes and governmental charges payable in connection with such
rights and subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement) for the
account of such Owners otherwise entitled to such rights, warrants or other
instruments, upon an averaged or other practical basis without regard to any
distinctions among such Owners because of exchange restrictions or the date of
delivery of any Receipt or otherwise.
The Depositary will not offer rights to Owners unless both the
rights and the securities to which such rights relate are either exempt from
registration under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to a distribution to
all Owners or are registered under the provisions of such Act; provided, that
nothing in the Deposit Agreement shall create, any obligation on the part of the
Company to file a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 with
respect to such rights or underlying securities or to endeavor to have such a
registration statement declared effective or otherwise to register such rights
or securities under any other applicable laws for any purpose. If an Owner of
Receipts requests the distribution of warrants or other instruments,
notwithstanding that there has been no such registration under the Securities
Act of 1933, the Depositary shall not effect such distribution unless it has
received an opinion from recognized counsel in the United States for the Company
upon which the Depositary may rely that such distribution to such Owner is
exempt from such registration.
The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to determine
that it may be lawful or feasible to make such rights available to Owners in
general or any Owner in particular.
14. CONVERSION OF FOREIGN CURRENCY.
Whenever the Depositary or the Custodian shall receive foreign
currency, by way of dividends or other distributions or the net proceeds from
the sale of securities, property or rights, and if at the time of the receipt
thereof the foreign currency so received can in the judgment of the Depositary
be converted on a reasonable basis into Dollars and the resulting Dollars
transferred to the United States, the Depositary shall convert or cause to be
converted, by sale or in any other manner that it may determine, such foreign
currency into Dollars, and such Dollars shall be distributed to the Owners
entitled thereto or, if the Depositary shall have distributed any warrants or
other instruments which entitle the holders thereof to such Dollars, then to the
holders of such warrants and/or instruments upon surrender thereof for
cancellation. Such distribution may be made upon an averaged or other
practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among Owners on account of
exchange restrictions, the date of delivery of any Receipt or otherwise and
shall be net of any expenses of conversion into Dollars incurred by the
Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement.
If such conversion or distribution can be effected only with the
approval or license of any government or agency thereof, the Depositary shall
file such application for approval or license, if any, as it may deem desirable.
If at any time the Depositary shall determine that in its judgment
any foreign
8
currency received by the Depositary or the Custodian is not convertible on a
reasonable basis into Dollars transferable to the United States, or if any
approval or license of any government or agency thereof which is required for
such conversion is denied or in the opinion of the Depositary is not obtainable,
or if any such approval or license is not obtained within a reasonable period as
determined by the Depositary, the Depositary may distribute the foreign currency
(or an appropriate document evidencing the right to receive such foreign
currency) received by the Depositary to, or in its discretion may hold such
foreign currency uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the
respective accounts of, the Owners entitled to receive the same.
If any such conversion of foreign currency, in whole or in part,
cannot be effected for distribution to some of the Owners entitled thereto, the
Depositary may in its discretion make such conversion and distribution in
Dollars to the extent permissible to the Owners entitled thereto and may
distribute the balance of the foreign currency received by the Depositary to, or
hold such balance uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the
respective accounts of, the Owners entitled thereto.
15. RECORD DATES.
Whenever any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become
payable or any distribution other than cash shall be made, or whenever rights
shall be issued with respect to the Deposited Securities, or whenever the
Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other
Deposited Securities, or whenever for any reason the Depositary causes a change
in the number of Shares that are represented by each American Depositary Share,
or whenever the Depositary shall find it necessary or convenient, the Depositary
shall fix a record date (a) for the determination of the Owners of Receipts who
shall be (i) entitled to receive such dividend, distribution or rights or the
net proceeds of the sale thereof, (ii) entitled to give instructions for the
exercise of voting rights at any such meeting or (iii) responsible for any fee
assessed by the Depositary pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, or (b) on or after
which each American Depositary Share will represent the changed number of
Shares, subject to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement.
16. VOTING OF DEPOSITED SECURITIES.
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other
Deposited Securities, if requested in writing by the Company, the Depositary
shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the Owners of Receipts a
notice, the form of which notice shall be in the sole discretion of the
Depositary, which shall contain (a) such information as is contained in such
notice of meeting received by the Depositary from the Company, (b) a statement
that the Owners of Receipts as of the close of business on a specified record
date will be entitled, subject to any applicable provision of English law and of
the Memorandum or Articles of Association of the Company, to instruct the
Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the
amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by their respective
American Depositary Shares and (c) a statement as to the manner in which such
instructions may be given. Upon the written request of an Owner of a Receipt on
such record date, received on or before the date established by the Depositary
for such purpose, the Depositary shall endeavor insofar as
9
practicable to vote or cause to be voted the amount of Shares or other Deposited
Securities represented by such American Depositary Shares evidenced by such
Receipt in accordance with the instructions set forth in such request. The
Depositary shall not 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.
There can be no assurance that Owners generally or any Owner in
particular will receive the notice described in the preceding paragraph
sufficiently prior to the instruction date to ensure that the Depositary will
vote the Shares or Deposited Securities in accordance with the provisions set
forth in the preceding paragraph.
17. CHANGES AFFECTING DEPOSITED SECURITIES.
In circumstances where the provisions of Section 4.03 of the Deposit
Agreement do not apply, upon any change in nominal value, change in par value,
split-up, consolidation, or any other reclassification of Deposited Securities,
or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or sale
of assets affecting the Company or to which it is a party, or upon the
redemption or cancellation by the Company of the Deposited Securities, any
securities, cash or property which shall be received by the Depositary or a
Custodian in exchange for, in conversion of, in lieu of or in respect of
Deposited Securities shall be treated as new Deposited Securities under the
Deposit Agreement, and American Depositary Shares shall thenceforth represent,
in addition to the existing Deposited Securities, the right to receive the new
Deposited Securities so received in exchange or conversion, unless additional
Receipts are delivered pursuant to the following sentence. In any such case the
Depositary may execute and deliver additional Receipts as in the case of a
dividend in Shares, or call for the surrender of outstanding Receipts to be
exchanged for new Receipts specifically describing such new Deposited
Securities.
18. LIABILITY OF THE COMPANY AND DEPOSITARY.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their respective
directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates shall incur any liability
to any Owner or holder of any Receipt, (i) if by reason of any provision of any
present or future law or regulation of the United States or any other country,
or of any other governmental or regulatory authority, or by reason of any
provision, present or future, of the Memorandum or Articles of Association of
the Company, or by reason of any provision of any securities issued or
distributed by the Company, or any offering or distribution thereof, or by
reason of any act of God or war or terrorism or other circumstances beyond its
control, the Depositary or the Company or any of their respective directors,
officers, employees, agents or affiliates shall be prevented, delayed or
forbidden from or be subject to any civil or criminal penalty on account of
doing or performing any act or thing which by the terms of the Deposit Agreement
or Deposited Securities it is provided shall be done or performed, (ii) by
reason of any non-performance or delay, caused as aforesaid, in the performance
of any act or thing which by the terms of the Deposit Agreement it is provided
shall or may be done or performed, (iii) by reason of any exercise of, or
failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in the Deposit Agreement, (iv)
for the inability of any Owner or holder to benefit from any distribution,
offering, right or other benefit which is made available to holders
10
of Deposited Securities but is not, under the terms of the Deposit Agreement,
made available to Owners or holders, or (v) for any special, consequential or
punitive damages for any breach of the terms of the Deposit Agreement. Where, by
the terms of a distribution pursuant to Section 4.01, 4.02 or 4.03 of the
Deposit Agreement, or an offering or distribution pursuant to Section 4.04 of
the Deposit Agreement, such distribution or offering may not be made available
to Owners of Receipts, and the Depositary may not dispose of such distribution
or offering on behalf of such Owners and make the net proceeds available to such
Owners, then the Depositary shall not make such distribution or offering, and
shall allow any rights, if applicable, to lapse. Neither the Company nor the
Depositary nor any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or
affiliates assumes any obligation or shall be subject to any liability under the
Deposit Agreement to Owners or holders of Receipts, except that they agree to
perform their obligations specifically set forth in the Deposit Agreement
without negligence or bad faith. The Depositary shall not be subject to any
liability with respect to the validity or worth of the Deposited Securities.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their respective directors,
officers, employees, agents or affiliates shall be under any obligation to
appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit, or other proceeding in respect
of any Deposited Securities or in respect of the Receipts, on behalf of any
Owner or holder or other person. Neither the Depositary nor the Company nor any
of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates shall
be liable for any action or nonaction by it in reliance upon the advice of or
information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares for
deposit, any Owner or holder of a Receipt, or any other person believed by it in
good faith to be competent to give such advice or information. Each of the
Depositary, the Company and their directors, officers, employees, agents and
controlling persons may rely and shall be protected in acting upon any written
notice, request, direction or other document believed by such person 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. The Company agrees to indemnify the Depositary, its
directors, officers, 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 expenses of counsel) which may arise out of any registration
with the Commission of Receipts, American Depositary Shares or Deposited
Securities or the offer or sale thereof in the United States or 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, officers, employees, agents and affiliates, except for any liability
or expense arising out of the negligence or bad faith of any of them, or (ii) by
the Company or any of its directors, officers, employees, agents and affiliates.
No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act of 1933 is intended by any
provision of the Deposit Agreement.
11
19. RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF THE DEPOSITARY;
APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN.
The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary under the
Deposit Agreement by written notice of its election so to do delivered to the
Company, such resignation to take effect upon the 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 120 days
prior written notice of such removal, to become effective upon the later of (i)
the 120th day after delivery of the notice to the Depositary and (ii) the
appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as
provided in the Deposit Agreement. Whenever the Depositary in its discretion
determines that it is in the best interest of the Owners of Receipts to do so,
it may appoint a substitute or additional custodian or custodians.
20. AMENDMENT.
The form of the Receipts and any provisions of the Deposit Agreement
may at any time and from time to time be amended by agreement between the
Company and the Depositary without the consent of Owners or holders of Receipts
in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable. Any amendment which
shall impose or increase any fees or charges (other than taxes and other
governmental charges, registration fees and cable, telex or facsimile
transmission costs, delivery costs or other such expenses), or which shall
otherwise prejudice any substantial existing right of Owners of Receipts, shall,
however, not become effective as to outstanding Receipts until the expiration of
thirty days after notice of such amendment shall have been given to the Owners
of outstanding Receipts. Every Owner of a Receipt at the time any amendment so
becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such Receipt, to
consent and agree to such amendment and to be bound by the Deposit Agreement as
amended thereby. In no event shall any amendment impair the right of the Owner
of any Receipt to surrender such Receipt and receive therefor the Deposited
Securities represented thereby except in order to comply with mandatory
provisions of applicable law.
21. TERMINATION OF DEPOSIT AGREEMENT.
The Depositary at any time at the direction of the Company, shall
terminate the Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the
Owners of all Receipts then outstanding at least 60 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 Company and the
Owners of all Receipts then outstanding at least 30 days prior to the date of
termination, if at any time 30 days shall have expired after the Depositary
shall have delivered to the Company a written notice of its election to resign
and a successor depositary shall not have been appointed and accepted its
appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. On and after the date of
termination, the Owner of a Receipt will, upon (a) surrender of such Receipt at
the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary, (b) payment of the fee of the
Depositary for the surrender of Receipts referred to in Section 2.05 of the
Deposit Agreement, and (c) payment of any applicable taxes or governmental
charges, be entitled to delivery, to 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
12
distribution of dividends to the Owners thereof, shall not accept deposits of
Shares (and shall so instruct each Custodian) and shall not give any further
notices or perform any further acts under the Deposit Agreement, except that the
Depositary shall continue to collect dividends and other distributions
pertaining to Deposited Securities, shall sell rights and other property as
provided in the Deposit Agreement, and shall continue to deliver Deposited
Securities, together with any dividends or other distributions received with
respect thereto and the net proceeds of the sale of any rights or other
property, 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 four months from
the date of termination, the Depositary may sell the Deposited Securities then
held under the Deposit Agreement and may thereafter hold uninvested the net
proceeds of any such sale, together with any other cash then held by it
thereunder, unsegregated and without liability for interest, for the pro rata
benefit of the Owners of 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) and except for its
obligations to the Company under Section 5.08 of the Deposit Agreement. Upon the
termination of the Deposit Agreement, the Company shall be discharged from all
obligations under the Deposit Agreement except for its obligations to the
Depositary with respect to indemnification, charges, and expenses.
22. SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF IMMUNITIES.
In the Deposit Agreement, the Company has (i) appointed National
Registered Agents, 875 Avenue of the Americas, Xxxxx 000, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx
00000, as the Company's authorized agent upon which process may be served in any
suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Shares or Deposited
Securities, the American Depositary Shares, the Receipts or this Agreement, (ii)
consented and submitted to the jurisdiction of any state or federal court in the
State of New York in which any such suit or proceeding may be instituted, and
(iii) agreed that service of process upon said authorized agent shall be deemed
in every respect effective service of process upon the Company in any such suit
or proceeding.
To the extent that the Company or any of its properties, assets or
revenues may have or hereafter become entitled to, or have attributed to it, any
right of immunity, on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise, from any legal
action, suit or proceeding, from the giving of any relief in any respect
thereof, from setoff or counterclaim, from the jurisdiction of any court, from
service of process, from attachment upon or prior to judgment, from attachment
in aid of execution or judgment, or other legal process or proceeding for the
giving of any relief or for the enforcement of any judgment, in any jurisdiction
in which proceedings may at any time be commenced, with respect to its
obligations, liabilities or any other matter under or arising out of or in
connection with the Shares or Deposited Securities, the American Depositary
Shares, the Receipts or the Deposit Agreement, the Company, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, hereby
13
irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to plead or claim, any
such immunity and consents to such relief and enforcement.
14
