AMENDED AND RESTATED DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
EXECUTION
VERSION
AMENDED AND RESTATED DEPOSIT
AGREEMENT
by and
among
UltraTech
Cement Limited
AND
Citibank,
N.A.,
as
Depositary
AND
The
Holders and Beneficial Owners of
Global
Depositary Shares
Issued
Hereunder
Dated as
of [date],
2010
Page | ||
ARTICLE
I
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||
DEFINITIONS
|
1
|
|
SECTION
1.01.
|
Affiliate
|
1
|
SECTION
1.02.
|
Agreement
|
2
|
SECTION
1.03.
|
Beneficial
Owner
|
2
|
SECTION
1.04.
|
Commission
|
2
|
SECTION
1.05.
|
Company
|
2
|
SECTION
1.06.
|
Custodian
|
2
|
SECTION
1.07.
|
Deliver
and Delivery
|
2
|
SECTION
1.08.
|
Depositary
|
3
|
SECTION
1.09.
|
Deposited
Securities
|
3
|
SECTION
1.10.
|
Dollars
|
3
|
SECTION
1.11.
|
DTC
|
3
|
SECTION
1.12.
|
DTC
Participant
|
3
|
SECTION
1.13.
|
Exchange
Act
|
3
|
SECTION
1.14.
|
Global
Depositary Receipt(s) and GDR(s)
|
3
|
SECTION
1.15.
|
Global
Depositary Share(s) and GDS(s)
|
4
|
SECTION
1.16.
|
Holder
|
4
|
SECTION
1.17.
|
Indian
Central Depository System
|
4
|
SECTION
1.18.
|
Indian
Legend
|
4
|
SECTION
1.19.
|
Indian
Stock Exchanges
|
5
|
SECTION
1.20.
|
Merger
Deposit
|
5
|
SECTION
1.21.
|
Nominee
|
5
|
SECTION
1.22.
|
Partial
Entitlement Legend
|
5
|
SECTION
1.23.
|
Principal
Office
|
6
|
SECTION
1.24.
|
Registrar
|
6
|
SECTION
1.25.
|
Restricted
Securities
|
6
|
SECTION
1.26.
|
Rs
|
6
|
SECTION
1.27.
|
Securities
Act
|
6
|
SECTION
1.28.
|
Share
Xxxxxxxxx
|
0
|
SECTION
1.29.
|
Shares
|
7
|
SECTION
1.30.
|
United
States
|
7
|
ARTICLE
II
|
||
APPOINTMENT
OF DEPOSITARY, BOOK-ENTRY SYSTEM, FORM OF GDRs, DEPOSIT OF SHARES,
EXECUTION AND DELIVERY, TRANSFER AND SURRENDER OF GDRs
|
7
|
|
SECTION
2.01.
|
Appointment
of Depositary
|
7
|
SECTION
2.02.
|
Form
and Transferability of GDSs
|
7
|
SECTION
2.03.
|
Deposit
of Shares
|
9
|
SECTION
2.04.
|
Issuance
and Delivery of GDSs
|
11
|
SECTION
2.05.
|
Transfer,
Combination and Split-up of GDRs
|
12
|
i
Page | ||
SECTION
2.06.
|
Surrender
of GDSs and Withdrawal of Securities
|
12
|
SECTION
2.07.
|
Limitations
on Execution and Delivery, Transfer, etc. of GDSs; Suspension of Delivery,
Transfer, etc.
|
14
|
SECTION
2.08.
|
Lost
GDRs, etc.
|
15
|
SECTION
2.09.
|
Cancellation
and Destruction of Surrendered GDRs
|
16
|
SECTION
2.10.
|
Maintenance
of Records
|
16
|
SECTION
2.11.
|
Escheatment
|
16
|
SECTION
2.12.
|
Partial
Entitlement GDSs
|
16
|
SECTION
2.13.
|
Certificated/Uncertificated
GDSs
|
17
|
SECTION
2.14.
|
Restricted
GDSs
|
18
|
ARTICLE
III
|
||
CERTAIN
OBLIGATIONS OF HOLDERS OF GDRs
|
20
|
|
SECTION
3.01.
|
Filing
Proofs, Certificates and Other Information
|
20
|
SECTION
3.02.
|
Liability
of Holders and Beneficial Owners for Taxes and Other
Charges
|
20
|
SECTION
3.03.
|
Representations
and Warranties on Deposit, Transfer and Surrender and Withdrawal of Shares
or GDRs
|
21
|
SECTION
3.04.
|
Compliance
With Information Requests.
|
21
|
SECTION
3.05.
|
Ownership
Restrictions.
|
21
|
SECTION
3.06.
|
Reporting
Obligations and Regulatory Approvals.
|
22
|
ARTICLE
IV
|
||
RIGHTS
RELATING TO THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES; CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF THE
DEPOSITARY
|
22
|
|
SECTION
4.01.
|
Power
of Attorney
|
22
|
SECTION
4.02.
|
Cash
Distributions, Withholding
|
22
|
SECTION
4.03.
|
Distributions
in Shares
|
23
|
SECTION
4.04.
|
Elective
Distributions in Cash or Shares
|
24
|
SECTION
4.05.
|
Rights
|
24
|
SECTION
4.06.
|
Distributions
Other than Cash, Shares or Rights
|
25
|
SECTION
4.07.
|
Conversion
of Foreign Currency
|
26
|
SECTION
4.08.
|
Fixing
of Record Date
|
27
|
SECTION
4.09.
|
Voting
of Deposited Securities
|
27
|
SECTION
4.10.
|
Changes
Affecting Deposited Securities
|
28
|
SECTION
4.11.
|
Available
Information
|
29
|
SECTION
4.12.
|
Transmittal
by the Depositary of Company Notices, Reports and
Communications
|
29
|
SECTION
4.13.
|
Withholding
|
29
|
ii
Page | ||
ARTICLE
V
|
||
THE
DEPOSITARY, THE CUSTODIAN AND THE COMPANY
|
31
|
|
SECTION
5.01.
|
Maintenance
of Office and Transfer Books by the Depositary
|
31
|
SECTION
5.02.
|
Lists
of Holders
|
32
|
SECTION
5.03.
|
Obligations
of the Depositary, the Custodian and the Company
|
32
|
SECTION
5.04.
|
Prevention
or Delay in Performance by the Depositary or the Company
|
33
|
SECTION
5.05.
|
Resignation
and Removal of the Depositary; Appointment of Successor
Depositary
|
34
|
SECTION
5.06.
|
Fees
and Charges of Depositary
|
34
|
SECTION
5.07.
|
The
Custodian
|
35
|
SECTION
5.08.
|
Notices,
Reports and Communications
|
36
|
SECTION
5.09.
|
Issuance
of Additional Shares, GDSs etc.
|
37
|
SECTION
5.10.
|
Indemnification
|
38
|
SECTION
5.11.
|
Certain
Rights of the Depositary; Limitations
|
38
|
ARTICLE
VI
|
||
AMENDMENT
AND TERMINATION
|
39
|
|
SECTION
6.01.
|
Amendment/Supplement
|
39
|
SECTION
6.02.
|
Termination
|
40
|
ARTICLE
VII
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||
MISCELLANEOUS
|
41
|
|
SECTION
7.01.
|
Counterparts
|
41
|
SECTION
7.02.
|
No
Third-Party Beneficiaries
|
41
|
SECTION
7.03.
|
Severability
|
42
|
SECTION
7.04.
|
Holders
and Beneficial Owners as Parties; Binding Effect
|
42
|
SECTION
7.05.
|
Notices
|
42
|
SECTION
7.06.
|
Governing
Law
|
43
|
SECTION
7.07.
|
Indian
Law References
|
44
|
SECTION
7.08.
|
Prohibition
of Assignment
|
45
|
SECTION
7.09.
|
Compliance
with U.S. Securities Laws
|
45
|
SECTION
7.10.
|
Amendment
and Restatement
|
45
|
EXHIBIT A | FORM OF GLOBAL DEPOSITARY RECEIPT | X-0 |
XXXXXXX X | XXX XXXXXXXX | X-0 |
iii
AMENDED
AND RESTATED DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
AMENDED AND RESTATED DEPOSIT
AGREEMENT dated as of _______________, 2010, among UltraTech Cement
Limited, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the Republic of
India as a public company (the “Company”), Citibank, N.A., a national banking
association organized under the laws of the United States of America, as
depositary hereunder and any successor as depositary hereunder (the
“Depositary”), and all Holders (as hereinafter defined) and Beneficial Owners
(as hereinafter defined) of Global Depositary Shares (“GDSs”) issued
hereunder.
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Company and
Citibank, N.A. previously entered into an International Deposit Agreement, dated
as of May 27, 2004 (the “Original Deposit Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, in connection with
the merger of Samruddhi Cement Limited with the Company (the “Merger”) pursuant
to the Scheme of Amalgamation among the Company and Samruddhi Cement Limited,
approved by the Hon’ble High Court of Judicature at Bombay on June 11, 2010 and the Hon’ble High Court
of Gujarat on July
1, 2010 (the “Scheme of Amalgamation”), the Company desires to amend and restate
the Original Deposit Agreement to provide for, among other things, the issuance
of GDSs to persons in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires
to provide for (i) deposits of Shares (as hereinafter defined) in connection
with the Merger and from time to time thereafter, with the Depositary or the
Custodian (as hereinafter defined), which at the date hereof is Citibank, N.A.,
Mumbai Branch, as agent of the Depositary, for the purposes set forth in this
Agreement, (ii) the creation of GDSs representing the Shares so deposited and
(iii) if applicable, the execution and delivery of GDRs evidencing the
GDSs.
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein, the parties agree
as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
The
following definitions shall for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly
indicated, apply to the respective terms used in this Agreement:
SECTION
1.01. Affiliate. The term
“Affiliate” shall have the meaning assigned to such term by the Commission (as
hereinafter defined) under Regulation C promulgated under the Securities Act (as
hereinafter defined), or under any successor regulation thereto.
SECTION
1.02. Agreement. The term
“Agreement” shall mean this Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement and all
exhibits hereto, as they may from time to time be amended and supplemented in
accordance with the terms hereof.
SECTION
1.03. Beneficial
Owner. The term
“Beneficial Owner” shall mean, as to any GDS, any person or entity having a
beneficial interest deriving from the ownership of such GDS. A
Beneficial Owner of GDSs may or may not be the Holder of such GDSs. A
Beneficial Owner shall be able to exercise any right or receive any benefit
hereunder solely through the person who is the Holder of the GDSs owned by such
Beneficial Owner. Unless otherwise identified to the Depositary, a
Holder shall be deemed to be the Beneficial Owner of all the GDSs issued
hereunder and registered in his/her/its name. Persons who own beneficial
interests in the global depositary shares issued under the terms of the Original
Deposit Agreement and outstanding as of the date hereof shall, from and after
the date hereof, be treated as Beneficial Owners of GDSs under the terms
hereof.
SECTION
1.04. Commission. The term
“Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United
States or any successor governmental agency in the United States.
SECTION
1.05. Company. The term
“Company” shall mean UltraTech Cement Limited, a limited liability company
organized under the laws of the Republic of India as a public company, and
having its principal office at B-Wing, Ahura Centre, 2nd
Floor, Mahakali Caves Road, Andheri (E), Mumbai – 400093, Maharashtra, India,
and its successors.
SECTION
1.06. Custodian. The term
“Custodian” shall mean, as of the date hereof, Citibank, N.A., Mumbai and its
successors, as agent of the Depositary for the purposes of this Agreement, and
any other firm or corporation which may be appointed by the Depositary pursuant
to the terms of Section 5.07, as a substitute or additional custodian hereunder,
and the term “Custodian” shall mean any custodian individually or all of them,
collectively, as the context shall require, except for any such person whose
appointment has expired or otherwise terminated.
SECTION
1.07. Deliver
and Delivery. The terms
“Deliver” and “Delivery” shall mean, when used in respect of GDSs, GDRs,
Deposited Securities and Shares, the physical delivery of the certificate
representing such security, or the electronic delivery of such security by means
of book-entry transfer, if available.
SECTION
1.08. Depositary. The term
“Depositary” shall mean Citibank, N.A., a national banking association organized
under the laws of the United States of America, and any successor as depositary
hereunder.
SECTION
1.09. Deposited
Securities. The term
“Deposited Securities” as of any time shall mean the Shares at such time
deposited under this Agreement and any and all other Shares, securities,
property and cash received by the Depositary or the Custodian in respect of such
Shares and other Shares and at such time held hereunder, subject in the case of
cash to the provisions of Section 4.06.
SECTION
1.10. Dollars. The term
“dollars” shall mean United States dollars.
2
SECTION
1.11. DTC. The term “DTC”
shall mean The Depository Trust Company and any successor thereto.
SECTION
1.12. DTC
Participant. The term “DTC
Participant” shall mean any financial institution (or any nominee of such
institution) having one or more participant accounts with DTC for receiving,
holding and delivering the securities and cash held in DTC. A DTC
Participant may or may not be a Beneficial Owner. If a DTC
Participant is not the Beneficial Owner of the GDSs credited to its account at
DTC, or of the GDSs in respect of which the DTC Participant is otherwise acting,
such DTC Participant shall be deemed, for all purposes hereunder, to have all
requisite authority to act on behalf of the Beneficial Owner(s) of the GDSs
credited to its account at DTC or in respect of which the DTC Participant is so
acting.
SECTION
1.13. Exchange
Act. The term
“Exchange Act” shall mean the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
from time to time amended.
SECTION
1.14. Global
Depositary Receipt(s) and GDR(s). The terms “Global
Depositary Receipt(s)” and “GDR(s)” shall mean the certificate(s) issued by the
Depositary to evidence the Global Depositary Shares issued under the terms of
this Agreement in the form of Certificated GDS(s) (as hereinafter defined), as
such GDRs may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions of
this Agreement. A GDR may evidence any number of GDSs and may, in the
case of GDSs held through a central depository such as DTC, be in the form of a
“Balance Certificate.”
SECTION
1.15. Global
Depositary Share(s) and GDS(s). The terms “Global
Depositary Share(s)” and “GDS(s)” shall mean the rights and interests in the
Deposited Securities (as hereinafter defined) granted to the Holders and
Beneficial Owners pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and, if
issued as Certificated GDS(s) (as hereinafter defined), the GDR(s) issued to
evidence such GDSs. GDS(s) may be issued under the terms of this
Agreement in the form of (a) Certificated GDS(s) (as hereinafter defined),
in which case the GDS(s) are evidenced by GDR(s), or (b) Uncertificated
GDS(s) (as hereinafter defined), in which case the GDS(s) are not evidenced by
GDR(s) but are reflected on the direct registration system maintained by the
Depositary for such purposes under the terms of Section 2.13. Unless otherwise
specified in this Agreement or in any GDR, or unless the context otherwise
requires, any reference to GDS(s) shall include Certificated GDS(s) and
Uncertificated GDS(s), individually or collectively, as the context may
require. Each GDS shall represent the right to receive, subject to
the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the applicable GDR (if issued as
a Certificated GDS), two (2) Shares until there shall occur a distribution upon
Deposited Securities referred to in Section 4.03 or a change in Deposited
Securities referred to in Section 4.10 with respect to which additional GDSs are
not issued, and thereafter each GDS shall represent the right to receive,
subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the applicable GDR (if
issued as a Certificated GDS), the Deposited Securities determined in accordance
with the terms of such Sections.
SECTION
1.16. Holder. The term “Holder”
shall mean the person in whose name the GDSs are registered in the register of
the Depositary maintained for such purpose. If a Holder is not the
Beneficial Owner of the GDSs registered in its name, such person shall be
deemed, for all purposes hereunder, to have all requisite authority to act on
behalf of the Beneficial Owners of the GDSs registered in its
name. The “Holders” or “Owners” (as defined in the Original Deposit
Agreement) of global depositary shares issued under the terms of the Original
Deposit Agreement and outstanding as of the date hereof shall from and after the
date hereof, become Holders under the terms of this Agreement.
3
SECTION
1.17. Indian
Central Depository System. The term “Indian
Central Depository System” shall mean The National Securities Depository Limited
and the Central Depository Services (India) Limited, which provide the
book-entry settlement for equity securities in India, or any successor
thereto.
SECTION
1.18. Indian
Legend. The term “Indian
Legend” shall mean the following statement:
THE
HOLDER HEREOF, BY PURCHASING THIS SECURITY, AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ISSUER
THAT THIS SECURITY AND THE GLOBAL DEPOSITARY SHARES EVIDENCED HEREBY MAY NOT AT
ANY TIME BE OFFERED OR SOLD DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY TO ANY PERSON IN INDIA OR TO,
OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, A RESIDENT OF INDIA, EXCEPT TO INDIAN MUTUAL
FUNDS REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA.
THE
SHARES REPRESENTED BY THE GDSs EVIDENCED HEREBY WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR
WITHDRAWAL UNLESS AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO SUCH SHARES ON DEPOSIT WITH THE CUSTODIAN
HAS BEEN BOTH LISTED FOR TRADING ON THE INDIAN STOCK EXCHANGES AND
DE-MATERIALIZED.
SECTION
1.19. Indian
Stock Exchanges. The term “Indian
Stock Exchanges” shall mean The Bombay Stock Exchange Limited, Xxxxx Street,
Mumbai – 400 001, India and National Stock Exchange of India Limited, Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxx, 0xx
Xxxxx, Xxxx Xx. X/0, X Xxxxx, Xxxxxx-Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx (East) Mumbai – 400
051, India, and any other stock exchange(s) in India on which the Deposited
Securities may be listed from time to time.
SECTION
1.20. Merger
Deposit. The term “Merger
Deposit” shall mean the deposit of Shares by the Company in connection with the
Merger.
SECTION
1.21. Nominee. The term
“Nominee” when used with respect to the Depositary shall mean such nominee or
nominees of the Depositary as it shall appoint from time to time to act on its
behalf in connection with the performance of its duties and obligations under
this Agreement. The Nominee shall perform in whatever capacity and to
whatever extent under this Agreement as the Depositary designates in its
appointment of the Nominee. Such appointment may be evidenced by
written agreement, letter, telegram, telex or facsimile transmission or orally
with subsequent confirming agreement, letter, telegram, telex or facsimile
transmission.
SECTION
1.22. Partial
Entitlement Legend. The term “Partial
Entitlement Legend” shall mean the following statement:
4
THIS GDR
EVIDENCES GLOBAL DEPOSITARY SHARES REPRESENTING "PARTIAL ENTITLEMENT" EQUITY
SHARES OF ULTRATECH CEMENT LIMITED AND AS SUCH DO NOT ENTITLE THE HOLDERS
THEREOF TO THE SAME PER SHARE ENTITLEMENT AS OTHER EQUITY SHARES (WHICH ARE
"FULL ENTITLEMENT" EQUITY SHARES) ISSUED AND OUSTANDING AT SUCH TIME AS THIS
RECEIPT IS ISSUED. THE GLOBAL DEPOSITARY SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS GDR SHALL
ENTITLE HOLDERS TO DISTRIBUTIONS AND ENTITLEMENTS IDENTICAL TO OTHER GLOBAL
DEPOSITARY SHARES WHEN THE EQUITY SHARES REPRESENTED BY SUCH GLOBAL DEPOSITARY
SHARES BECOME "FULL ENTITLEMENT" EQUITY SHARES.
SECTION
1.23. Principal
Office. The term
“Principal Office”, when used with respect to the Depositary, shall be the
principal office of the Depositary in The City of New York at which at any
particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which, at
the date of this Agreement, is located at 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx
Xxxx 00000.
SECTION
1.24. Registrar. The term
“Registrar” shall mean the Depositary or any other bank or trust company having
an office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, appointed by the
Depositary to register GDSs and transfers of GDSs as herein provided, and shall
include any co-registrar appointed by the Depositary for such
purposes.
SECTION
1.25. Restricted
Securities. The term
“Restricted Securities” shall mean Shares, Deposited Securities or GDSs which
(i) have been acquired directly or indirectly from the Company or any of
its Affiliates in a transaction or chain of transactions not involving any
public offering and are subject to resale limitations under the Securities Act
or the rules issued thereunder, or (ii) are held by an officer or director
(or persons performing similar functions) or other Affiliate of the Company, or
(iii) are subject to other restrictions on sale or deposit under the laws
of the United States, India, or under a shareholder agreement or the Memorandum
and Articles of Association of the Company or under the regulations of an
applicable securities exchange unless, in each case, such Shares, Deposited
Securities or GDSs are being transferred or sold to persons other than an
Affiliate of the Company in a transaction (a) covered by an effective
resale registration statement, or (b) exempt from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act (as hereinafter defined), and the Shares,
Deposited Securities or GDSs are not, when held by such person(s), Restricted
Securities.
SECTION
1.26. Rs. The term “Rs.”
Shall mean Rupees, the lawful currency of the Republic of India.
SECTION
1.27. Securities
Act. The term
“Securities Act” shall mean the United States Securities Act of 1933, as from
time to time amended.
SECTION
1.28. Share
Registrar. The term “Share
Registrar” shall mean Sharepro Services India (Private) Limited or any other
institution organized under the laws of India appointed by the Company to carry
out the duties of registrar for the Shares, and any successor
thereto.
5
SECTION
1.29. Shares. The term “Shares”
shall mean the equity shares of the Company, par value Rs. 10 per share, and
shall include evidence of the right to receive Shares. If there shall
occur any change in par value, a split-up or consolidation or any other
reclassification or, upon the occurrence of an event described in Section 4.10,
an exchange or conversion in respect of the Shares, the term “Shares” shall
thereafter represent the successor securities resulting from such change in par
value, split-up or consolidation or such other reclassification or such exchange
or conversion.
XXXXXXX
0.00. Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx. The term “United
States” shall mean the United States of America, its territories and
possessions, any State of the United States, and the District of
Columbia.
ARTICLE
II
APPOINTMENT
OF DEPOSITARY, BOOK-ENTRY SYSTEM, FORM OF GDRs,
DEPOSIT
OF SHARES, EXECUTION AND DELIVERY,
TRANSFER AND SURRENDER OF
GDRs
SECTION
2.01. Appointment
of Depositary. The Company
hereby confirms its prior appointment of the Depositary as depositary for the
Deposited Securities and hereby authorizes and directs the Depositary to act in
accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the
Agreement. Each Holder and each Beneficial Owner, upon acceptance of
any GDSs (or any interest therein) issued in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Agreement or by continuing to hold, from and after the date
hereof any GDSs issued and outstanding under the Original Deposit Agreement,
shall be deemed for all purposes to (a) be a party to and bound by the terms of
the Agreement and the applicable GDR(s), and (b) appoint the Depositary its
attorney-in-fact, with full power to delegate, to act on its behalf and to take
any and all actions contemplated in the Agreement and the applicable GDR(s), to
adopt any and all procedures necessary to comply with applicable law and to take
such action as the Depositary in its sole discretion may deem necessary or
appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Agreement and the applicable
GDR(s), the taking of such actions to be the conclusive determinant of the
necessity and appropriateness thereof.
SECTION
2.02. Form and
Transferability of GDSs.
(a) Form. Certificated GDSs shall be evidenced
by definitive GDRs which shall be engraved, printed, lithographed or produced in
such other manner as may be agreed upon by the Company and the
Depositary. GDRs may be issued under this Agreement in denominations
of any whole number of GDSs. The GDRs shall be substantially in the
form set forth in Exhibit A to
this Agreement, with any appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, in
each case as otherwise contemplated in this Agreement or required by
law. GDRs shall be (i) dated, (ii) signed by the manual or
facsimile signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary,
(iii) countersigned by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly
authorized signatory of the Registrar, and (iv) registered in the books
maintained by the Registrar for the registration of issuances and transfers of
GDSs. No GDR and no Certificated GDS evidenced thereby
shall be entitled to any benefits under this Agreement or be valid or
enforceable for any purpose against the Depositary or the Company, unless such
GDR shall have been so dated, signed, countersigned and registered. GDRs bearing the
facsimile signature of a duly-authorized signatory of the Depositary or the
Registrar, who at the time of signature was a duly-authorized signatory of the
Depositary or the Registrar, as the case may be, shall bind the Depositary,
notwithstanding the fact that such signatory has ceased to be so authorized
prior to the delivery of such GDR by the Depositary. The GDRs shall
bear a CUSIP number that is different from any CUSIP number that was, is or may
be assigned to any depositary receipts previously or subsequently issued
pursuant to any other arrangement between the Depositary (or any other
depositary) and the Company and which are not GDRs outstanding
hereunder.
6
(b) Legends. The GDRs may be
endorsed with, or have incorporated in the text thereof, the Indian Legend, the
Partial Entitlement Legend (if required by Section 2.12) and such other legends
or recitals not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement as
(i) may be necessary to enable the Depositary and the Company to perform
their respective obligations hereunder, (ii) may be required to comply with
any applicable laws or regulations, or with the rules and regulations of any
securities exchange or market upon which GDSs may be traded, listed or quoted,
or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, (iii) may be necessary
to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular GDRs
or GDSs are subject by reason of the date of issuance of the Deposited
Securities or otherwise, or (iv) may be required by any book-entry system
in which the GDSs are held. Holders and Beneficial Owners shall be
deemed, for all purposes, to have notice of, and to be bound by, the terms and
conditions of the legends set forth, (x) in the case of Certificated GDSs, on
the GDR registered in the name of the applicable Holder or on the GDR
representing the GDSs owned by such Beneficial Owner, as applicable, or (y) in
the case of Uncertificated GDSs, on the form of GDR attached hereto as Exhibit
A.
(c) Title. Subject to the
limitations contained herein and in the GDR, title to a GDR (and to each
Certificated GDS
evidenced thereby) shall be transferable upon the same terms as a certificated
security under the laws of the State of New York, provided that, in the case of
Certificated GDSs, such GDR has been properly endorsed or is accompanied by
proper instruments of transfer. Notwithstanding any notice to the
contrary, the Depositary and the Company may deem and treat the Holder of a GDS
(that is, the person in whose name a GDS is registered on the books of the
Depositary) as the absolute owner thereof for all purposes. Neither
the Depositary nor the Company shall have any obligation nor be subject to any
liability under this Agreement or any GDR to any holder or any Beneficial Owner
unless, in the case of a holder of GDSs, such holder is the Holder
registered on the books of the Depositary or, in the case of a Beneficial Owner,
such Beneficial Owner, or the Beneficial Owner’s representative, is the Holder
registered on the books of the Depositary.
(d) Book-Entry
Systems. The Depositary
shall make arrangements for the acceptance of the GDSs into DTC. All
GDSs held through DTC will be registered in the name of the nominee for DTC
(currently “Cede & Co.”). As such, the nominee for DTC will be
the only “Holder” of all GDSs held through DTC. Unless issued by the
Depositary as Uncertificated GDSs, the GDSs registered in the name of Cede &
Co. will be evidenced by one or more GDR(s) in the form of a “Balance
Certificate,” which will provide that it represents the aggregate number of GDSs
from time to time indicated in the records of the Depositary as being issued
hereunder and that the aggregate number of GDSs represented thereby may from
time to time be increased or decreased by making adjustments on such records of
the Depositary and of DTC or its nominee as hereinafter
provided. Citibank, N.A. (or such other entity as is appointed by DTC
or its nominee) may hold the “Balance Certificate” as custodian for
DTC. Each Beneficial Owner of GDSs held through DTC must rely upon
the procedures of DTC and the DTC Participants to exercise or be entitled to any
rights attributable to such GDSs. The DTC Participants shall for all
purposes be deemed to have all requisite power and authority to act on behalf of
the Beneficial Owners of the GDSs held in the DTC Participants’ respective
accounts in DTC and the Depositary shall for all purposes be authorized to rely
upon any instructions and information given to it by DTC
Participants. So long as GDSs are held through DTC or unless
otherwise required by law, ownership of beneficial interests in the GDSs
registered in the name of the nominee for DTC will be shown on, and transfers of
such ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by (i) DTC or
its nominee (with respect to the interests of DTC Participants), or (ii) DTC
Participants or their nominees (with respect to the interests of clients of DTC
Participants). If DTC ceases to make its book-entry settlement
systems available for GDSs, the Depositary shall make Uncertificated GDSs
available to the Beneficial Owners of such GDSs.
7
SECTION
2.03. Deposit
of Shares.
The Company or any other person acting
on behalf of the Company will, upon the Scheme of Amalgamation becoming
effective, make the Merger Deposit by Delivery to the Custodian, simultaneously
with the issue of equity shares of the Company to the shareholders of Samruddhi
Cement Limited, of Shares registered in the name of the Depositary or its
nominee (as directed by the Depositary), who will be the holder of record of all
such Shares. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement
and applicable law, Shares or evidence of rights to receive Shares (other than
Restricted Securities) may be deposited by any person (including the Depositary
in its individual capacity but subject, however, in the case of the Company or
any Affiliate of the Company, to Section 5.09) at any time, whether or not the
transfer books of the Company or the Share Registrar, if any, are closed, by
Delivery of the Shares to the Custodian. Every deposit of Shares
shall be accompanied by the following: (A) (i) in the case of Shares represented by
certificates issued in registered form, appropriate instruments of
transfer or endorsement, in a form satisfactory to the Custodian,
(ii) in the case of
Shares represented by certificates in bearer form. the requisite coupons
and talons pertaining thereto, and (iii) in the case of Shares delivered by
book-entry transfer and recordation, confirmation of such book-entry
transfer and recordation in the books of the Share Registrar or of the Indian
Central Depository System, as applicable, to the Custodian or that irrevocable
instructions have been given to cause such Shares to be so transferred and
recorded, (B) such certifications and payments (including, without
limitation, the Depositary’s fees and related charges) and evidence of such
payments (including, without limitation, stamping or otherwise marking such
Shares by way of receipt) as may be required by the Depositary or the Custodian
in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and applicable law,
(C) if the Depositary so requires, a written order directing the Depositary
to issue and deliver to, or upon the written order of, the person(s) stated in
such order the number of GDSs representing the Shares so deposited,
(D) evidence satisfactory to the Depositary (which may be an opinion of
counsel) that all necessary approvals have been granted by, or there has been
compliance with the rules and regulations of, any applicable governmental agency
in India, and (E) if the Depositary so requires, (i) an agreement,
assignment or instrument satisfactory to the Depositary or the Custodian which
provides for the prompt transfer by any person in whose name the Shares are or
have been recorded to the Custodian of any distribution, or right to subscribe
for additional Shares or to receive other property in respect of any such
deposited Shares or, in lieu thereof, such indemnity or other agreement as shall
be satisfactory to the Depositary or the Custodian and (ii) if the Shares
are registered in the name of the person on whose behalf they are presented for
deposit, a proxy or proxies entitling the Custodian to exercise voting rights in
respect of the Shares for any and all purposes until the Shares so deposited are
registered in the name of the Depositary, the Custodian or any
nominee. The Depositary and the Custodian shall refuse to accept
Shares for deposit whenever notified, as hereafter provided, that such deposit
would result in a violation of applicable laws or the Company has restricted
transfer of such Shares to comply with any ownership restrictions referred to in
Section 3.05 or under applicable laws.
8
Without
limiting any other provision of this Agreement, the Depositary shall instruct
the Custodian not to, and the Depositary shall not knowingly, accept for deposit
(a) any Restricted Securities (except as contemplated by Section 2.14) nor
(b) any fractional Shares or fractional Deposited Securities nor (c) a
number of Shares or Deposited Securities which upon application of the GDS to
Shares ratio would give rise to fractional GDSs. No Shares shall be
accepted for deposit unless accompanied by evidence, if any is required by the
Depositary, that is reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary or the Custodian
that all conditions to such deposit have been satisfied by the person depositing
such Shares under the laws and regulations of India and any necessary approval
has been granted by any applicable governmental body in India, if
any. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the Depositary agrees to comply, and will cause the Custodian to
comply, with the numerical limitations and other applicable conditions set forth
in the Operative Guidelines for the Limited Two-Way Fungibility of GDRs under
the “Issue of Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds and Ordinary Shares (Through
Depository Receipt Mechanism) Scheme, 1993," as amended, issued by the Indian
Ministry of Finance. At the direction of the Company, the Depositary
may issue GDSs against evidence of rights to receive Shares from the Company,
any agent of the Company or any custodian, registrar, transfer agent, clearing
agency or other entity involved in ownership or transaction records in respect
of the Shares. Such evidence of rights shall consist of written
blanket or specific guarantees of ownership of Shares furnished by the Company
or any such custodian, registrar, transfer agent, clearing agency or other
entity involved in ownership or transaction records in respect of the
Shares.
Without
limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary shall not knowingly accept for
deposit under this Agreement (A) any Shares or other securities required to
be registered under the provisions of the Securities Act, unless (i) a
registration statement is in effect as to such Shares or other securities or
(ii) the deposit is made upon terms contemplated in Section 2.14, or
(B) any Shares or other securities the deposit of which would violate any
provisions of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the
Company. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the Depositary shall
be entitled to rely upon representations and warranties made or deemed made
pursuant to this Agreement and shall not be required to make any further
investigation. The Depositary will comply with written instructions
of the Company (received by the Depositary reasonably in advance) not to accept
for deposit hereunder any Shares identified in such instructions at such times
and under such circumstances as may reasonably be specified in such instructions
in order to facilitate the Company's compliance with the ownership restrictions
under Section 3.05 and compliance with any applicable laws, including, without
limitation, the securities laws of the United States.
9
The
Depositary shall not accept for deposit Shares or other securities in a manner
or place other than as specified in this Agreement without the consent of the
Company.
The
Depositary agrees to instruct the Custodian to place all Shares and any other
securities that are Deposited Securities accepted for deposit under this
Agreement into an account or accounts that are segregated and separate from the
account in which any Shares and such other securities of the Company may be held
by such Custodian under any other depositary receipt facility pursuant to which
depositary receipts evidencing depositary shares representing Shares are
issued.
SECTION
2.04. Issuance
and Delivery of GDSs. The Depositary
has made arrangements with the Custodian for the Custodian to confirm to the
Depositary upon receipt of a deposit of Shares (i) that a deposit of Shares
has been made pursuant to Section 2.03, (ii) that such Deposited Securities
have been recorded in the name of the Depositary, the Custodian or a nominee of
either on the shareholders’ register maintained by or on behalf of the Company
by the Share Registrar if registered Shares have been deposited or, if deposit
is made by book-entry transfer, confirmation of such transfer in the books of
the Indian Central Depository System, (iii) that all required documents
have been received, and (iv) the person(s) to whom or upon whose order GDSs
are deliverable in respect thereof and the number of GDSs to be so
delivered. Such notification may be made by letter, cable, telex,
SWIFT message or, at the risk and expense of the person making the deposit, by
facsimile or other means of electronic transmission. Upon receiving
such notice from the Custodian, the Depositary, subject to the terms and
conditions of the Agreement and applicable law, shall issue the GDSs
representing the Shares so deposited to or upon the order of the person(s) named
in the notice delivered to the Depositary and, if applicable, shall execute and
deliver at its Principal Office GDR(s) registered in the name(s) requested by
such person(s) and evidencing the aggregate number of GDSs to which such
person(s) are entitled, but, in each case, only upon payment to the Depositary
of the charges of the Depositary for accepting a deposit, issuing GDSs (as set
forth in Section 5.06) and all taxes and governmental charges and fees
payable in connection with such deposit and the transfer of the Shares and the
issuance of the GDS(s). The Depositary shall only issue GDSs in whole
numbers and deliver, if applicable, GDR(s) evidencing whole numbers of
GDSs. Nothing herein shall prohibit any Pre-Release Transaction (as
defined in Section 5.11) upon the terms set forth in the Agreement.
In
connection with any corporate action requiring the transfer or exchange of any
GDSs, the Company and the Depositary may agree to require holders to execute and
deliver such certificates or endorsements as may be deemed reasonably
necessary.
SECTION
2.05. Transfer,
Combination
and Split-up of GDRs. The Registrar,
subject to applicable law and the terms and conditions of this Agreement, shall
register transfers of any GDR (and of the GDSs represented thereby) on its
transfer books if each of the following conditions has been
satisfied: (i) Delivery of any GDR by the Holder thereof in person or
by duly authorized attorney to the Depositary at its Principal Office for the
purpose of effecting a transfer thereof, (ii) the surrendered GDRs have been
properly endorsed or are accompanied by proper instruments of transfer
(including signature guarantees in accordance with standard industry practice),
(iii) the surrendered GDRs have been duly stamped as may be required by any
applicable law, (iv) all applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred
by, the Depositary and all applicable taxes and governmental charges (as are set
forth in Section 5.06) have been paid, subject, however, in each case, to the
terms and conditions of the applicable GDRs, of the Agreement and of applicable
law, in each case as in effect at the time thereof. Thereupon,
the Depositary shall execute a new GDR or GDRs and deliver the same to or upon
the order of the person entitled thereto.
10
The
Registrar, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and applicable
law, shall upon Delivery to the Depositary at its Principal Office of a GDR or
GDRs for the purpose of effecting a split-up or combination of such GDR or GDRs,
and payment of all applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the
Depositary and all applicable taxes and governmental charges (as are set forth
in Section 5.06) execute and Deliver a new GDR or GDRs in the name of the same
Holder for any authorized number of GDSs requested, evidencing the same
aggregate number of GDSs as the GDR or GDRs surrendered. In
connection with any split-up or combination pursuant to this paragraph, the
Depositary shall not be obligated to obtain any certification or endorsement
otherwise required by the terms of this Agreement.
The
Depositary, after consultation with the Company, may appoint one or more
co-transfer agents for the purpose of effecting transfers, combinations and
split-ups of GDRs at designated offices on behalf of the
Depositary. Such co-transfer agents may be removed and substitutes
appointed by the Depositary, after consultation with the
Company. Each co-transfer agent appointed under this Section 2.05
shall give notice in writing to the Company and the Depositary accepting such
appointment and agreeing to be bound by the applicable terms of this
Agreement. In carrying out its functions, a co-transfer agent may, in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, require evidence of authority and
compliance with applicable laws and other requirements by Holders or Beneficial
Owners or persons entitled to GDRs and will be entitled to protection and
indemnity to the same extent as the Depositary.
SECTION
2.06. Surrender
of GDSs and Withdrawal of Securities. Subject to the
receipt by the Depositary and/or Custodian (as the case may be) of written
confirmation from the Company of the dematerialization of the Shares and the
receipt of listing and trading approvals from the Indian Stock Exchanges,
the Holder of GDSs
shall be entitled to Delivery (at the Custodian’s designated office) of the
Deposited Securities at the time represented by the GDSs upon satisfaction of
each of the following conditions: (i) the Holder (or a duly-authorized
attorney of the Holder) has duly Delivered GDSs to the Depositary at its
Principal Office (and if applicable, the GDRs evidencing such GDSs) for the
purpose of withdrawal of the Deposited Securities represented thereby,
(ii) if applicable and so required by the
Depositary, the GDRs Delivered to the Depositary for such purpose have been
properly endorsed in blank or are accompanied by proper instruments of transfer
in blank (including signature guarantees in accordance with standard securities
industry practice), (iii) if so required by the Depositary, the Holder of
the GDSs has executed and delivered 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 the person(s) designated in such order, and (iv)
all applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and
all applicable taxes and governmental charges (as are set forth in
Section 5.06 and Exhibit B) have been
paid, subject, however, in
each case, to the terms and conditions of the GDRs evidencing the
surrendered GDSs, of this Agreement, of the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of
Association and of any applicable laws and the rules of Indian Central
Depository System, and to any provisions of or governing the Deposited
Securities, in each case as in effect at the time thereof. Such
delivery of Deposited Securities shall be made without unreasonable
delay.
11
The
Depositary shall restrict the withdrawal of designated Deposited Securities
whenever it is notified in writing by the Company that such withdrawal would
result in a breach of ownership restrictions under applicable Indian law,
subject, however, to Section 2.07 of this Agreement. Certificates for
withdrawn Deposited Securities may contain such legends, and the withdrawn
Deposited Securities may be subject to such transfer restrictions or
certifications, as the Company or the Depositary may from time to time determine
to be necessary for compliance with applicable laws.
The
Company has informed the Depositary that, under Indian laws, practices and
procedures as in effect as of the date hereof, no Shares may be withdrawn upon
presentation of GDSs (and if applicable, the GDRs evidencing such GDSs) for
cancellation under this Section 2.06 until (i) the Company has delivered written
confirmation that the number of Shares requested for withdrawal have been listed
for trading on the Indian Stock Exchanges (such Shares, the “Listed Shares”) to
the Custodian, (ii) the Listed Shares have been de-materialized (such Shares,
the “De-Materialized
Shares,” and Shares that are both Listed Shares and De-Materialized
Shares, hereinafter referred to as the “Final Shares”), and
(iii) an equivalent number of Final Shares are available at the facilities of
the Custodian. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that
(a) the Depositary will deliver Shares represented by GDSs (and if applicable,
the GDRs representing such GDSs) presented for cancellation pursuant to this
Section 2.06 only to the extent of the number of Final Shares then on deposit
with the Custodian, (b) the Depositary will process presentations of GDSs for
withdrawal of Final Shares under this Section 2.06 on a first come, first served
basis, (c) the Depositary will complete requests for cancellation of GDSs and
withdrawal of the Shares represented thereby only to the extent of the number of
Final Shares at such time on deposit with the Custodian, (d) the Depositary will
refuse to complete a request for cancellation of GDSs and withdrawal of Shares
to the extent the number of Shares requested for withdrawal exceeds the number
of Final Shares at such time deposited with the Custodian, and (e) the
Depositary reserves the right to suspend withdrawals of Shares under this
Section 2.06 until such time as the requisite number of Final Shares are
deposited with the Custodian. The Company agrees to deliver to the
Depositary and/or the Custodian, as applicable, written confirmation of the
number of Listed Shares deposited with the Custodian under this Agreement
promptly upon the receipt of confirmation of listing from the Indian Stock
Exchanges of such Shares. The Depositary will instruct the Custodian
to deliver to the Depositary confirmation of the satisfaction of all the
requirements for the de-materialization of the Listed Shares as soon as
practicable upon the de-materialization of such Listed Shares.
Upon
satisfaction of each of the conditions specified above, the Depositary
(i) shall cancel the GDSs Delivered to it (and, if applicable, the GDRs
evidencing the GDSs so Delivered), (ii) shall direct the Registrar to
record the cancellation of the GDSs so Delivered on the books maintained for
such purpose, and (iii) shall direct the Custodian to Deliver, or cause the
Delivery of, in each case, without unreasonable delay, the Deposited Securities
represented by the GDSs so canceled together with any certificate or other
document of title for the Deposited Securities, or evidence of the electronic
transfer thereof (if available), as the case may be, to or upon the written
order of the person(s) designated in the order delivered to the Depositary for
such purpose, subject however,
in each case, to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, of the GDRs
evidencing the GDSs so cancelled, of the Memorandum and Articles of Association
of the Company, of any applicable laws and of the rules of the Indian Central
Depository System, and to the terms and conditions of or governing the Deposited
Securities, in each case as in effect at the time thereof.
12
The
Depositary shall not accept surrender of GDSs or written instructions for the
purpose of withdrawal of less than one Share. In addition, the
Depositary shall only honor requests for withdrawal of whole numbers of
Shares. In the case of surrender of GDSs representing
other than a whole number of Shares, the Depositary shall cause delivery of the
appropriate whole number of Shares as hereinabove provided, and shall, at the
discretion of the Depositary, either (i) return to the person surrendering such
GDSs the number of GDSs representing any remaining fractional Shares or (ii)
sell or cause to be sold the fractional Shares represented by the GDSs so
surrendered and remit the proceeds of such sale (net of (a) applicable fees and
charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes withheld) to
the person surrendering the GDSs.
Notwithstanding
anything else contained in any GDR or this Agreement, the Depositary may make
delivery at the Principal Office of the Depositary of (i) any cash
dividends or cash distributions, or (ii) any proceeds from the sale of any
distributions of shares or rights, which are at the time held by the Depositary
in respect of the Deposited Securities represented by the GDSs surrendered for
cancellation and withdrawal. At the request, risk and expense of any
Holder so surrendering GDSs, and for the account of such Holder, the Depositary
shall direct the Custodian to forward (to the extent permitted by law) any cash
or other property (other than securities) held by the Custodian in respect of
the Deposited Securities represented by such GDSs to the Depositary for delivery
at the Principal Office of the Depositary. Such direction shall be
given by letter or, at the request, risk and expense of such Holder, by cable,
telex or facsimile transmission.
SECTION
2.07. Limitations
on Execution and Delivery, Transfer, etc. of GDSs; Suspension of Delivery,
Transfer, etc. As a condition
precedent to the execution and delivery, registration of issuance, transfer,
split-up, combination or surrender of any GDSs for the purpose of withdrawal of
any Deposited Securities, the delivery of any distribution thereon or adjustment
to the Depositary's records in order to reflect deposit of Shares or such
transfer, surrender or withdrawal, the Depositary or the Custodian, or the
Company by written instructions to the Depositary, may require (i) payment from
the Holder, depositor of Shares or the presenter of GDSs of a sum sufficient to
reimburse it for any tax or other governmental charge and any stock transfer,
custody 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, (ii) production of proof satisfactory
to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature appearing on any form,
certification or other document delivered to the Depositary in connection with
this Agreement, including but not limited to, in the case of GDRs, a signature
guarantee in accordance with industry practice, (iii) compliance with any laws
or governmental regulations relating to depositary receipts in general or to the
withdrawal and sale of Deposited Securities, (iv) 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 and rules and regulations thereunder
and (v) compliance with such other restrictions, if any, as the Depositary and
the Company may establish consistent with the provisions of this
Agreement.
Upon
notice to the Company, the issuance of GDSs against, or adjustments in the
records of the Depositary to reflect, deposits of Shares generally or of
particular Shares may be suspended or withheld, or the registration of transfer
of GDSs in particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfers
of GDSs generally may be suspended, or the surrender of outstanding GDSs for the
purpose of withdrawal of Deposited Securities may be suspended, during any
period when the transfer books of the Depositary or the Company (or the
appointed agent of the Company for the transfer and registration of Shares) are
closed, or if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Company or
the Depositary, in good faith, at any time or from time to time because of any
requirement of law or of any government or governmental authority, body or
commission or any securities exchange on which the GDSs or Shares are listed, or
under any provision of this Agreement or the representative GDR(s), if
applicable, or under any provision of, or governing, the Deposited Securities,
or because of a meeting of shareholders of the Company or for any other reason,
subject, in all cases, to Section 7.09.
13
Notwithstanding
any provision of this Agreement or any GDR(s) to the contrary, Holders are
entitled to surrender outstanding GDSs to withdraw the Deposited Securities
associated herewith at any time 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, (iii) compliance
with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating to the GDSs
or to the withdrawal of the Deposited Securities, and (iv) other circumstances
specifically contemplated by Instruction I.A.(1) of the General Instructions to
Form F-6 (as such General Instructions may be amended from time to
time).
SECTION
2.08. Lost
GDRs, etc. In
case any GDR shall be mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen, the Depositary shall
execute and deliver a new GDR of like tenor and registered in the same name, in
exchange and substitution for such mutilated GDR upon cancellation thereof, or
in lieu of and in substitution for such destroyed, lost or stolen GDR, upon the
filing by the Holder thereof with the Depositary of (a) a written request for
such exchange, execution and delivery before the Depositary has notice that the
GDR has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser and (b) an indemnity bond for the
benefit of the Company and the Depositary reasonably satisfactory to the Company
and the Depositary, and upon satisfying any other reasonable requirements
imposed by the Depositary and by the Company upon notice to the Depositary
including, without limitation, evidence satisfactory to the Depositary of such
destruction, loss or theft of such GDR, the authenticity thereof and the
Holder's ownership thereof.
SECTION
2.09. Cancellation
and Destruction of Surrendered GDRs. All GDRs
surrendered to the Depositary shall be canceled by the Depositary. Canceled GDRs
shall not be entitled to any benefits under this Agreement or be valid or
enforceable for any purpose. The Depositary is authorized to destroy
surrendered GDRs so canceled, provided the Depositary maintains a record of all
destroyed GDRs. Any GDSs held in book-entry form (i.e., through accounts at
DTC) shall be deemed canceled when the Depositary causes the number of GDSs
evidenced by the Balance Certificate to be reduced by the number of GDSs
surrendered (without the need to physically destroy the Balance
Certificate).
SECTION
2.10. Maintenance
of Records. The Depositary
shall maintain records of all GDSs surrendered and Deposited Securities
withdrawn under Section 2.06, of substitute GDRs delivered under Section 2.08
and of GDRs canceled or destroyed under Section 2.09 in keeping with procedures
ordinarily followed by stock transfer agents located in The City of New
York.
14
SECTION
2.11. Escheatment. In the event any
unclaimed property relating to the GDSs, for any reason, is in the possession of
Depositary and has not been claimed by the Holder thereof or cannot be delivered
to the Holder thereof through usual channels, the Depositary shall, upon
expiration of any applicable statutory period relating to abandoned property
laws, escheat such unclaimed property to the relevant authorities in accordance
with the laws of each of the relevant States of the United States.
SECTION
2.12. Partial
Entitlement GDSs. In the event any
Shares are deposited which (i) entitle the holders thereof to receive a
per-share distribution or other entitlement in an amount different from the
Shares then on deposit or (ii) are not fully fungible (including, without
limitation, as to settlement or trading) with the Shares then on deposit (the
Shares then on deposit collectively, “Full Entitlement
Shares” and the Shares with different entitlement, “Partial Entitlement
Shares”), the Depositary shall (i) cause the Custodian to hold
Partial Entitlement Shares separate and distinct from Full Entitlement Shares,
and (ii) subject to the terms of this Agreement, issue GDSs representing
Partial Entitlement Shares which are separate and distinct from the GDSs
representing Full Entitlement Shares, by means of separate CUSIP numbering and
legending (if necessary) and, if applicable, by issuing GDRs evidencing such
GDSs with applicable notations thereon (“Partial Entitlement
GDSs/GDRs” and “Full Entitlement
GDSs/GDRs”, respectively). If and when Partial Entitlement
Shares become Full Entitlement Shares, the Depositary shall (a) give notice
thereof to Holders of Partial Entitlement GDSs and give Holders of Partial
Entitlement GDRs the opportunity to exchange such Partial Entitlement GDRs for
Full Entitlement GDRs, (b) cause the Custodian to transfer the Partial
Entitlement Shares into the account of the Full Entitlement Shares, and
(c) take such actions as are necessary to remove the distinctions between
(i) the Partial Entitlement GDRs and GDSs, on the one hand, and
(ii) the Full Entitlement GDRs and GDSs on the other. Holders
and Beneficial Owners of Partial Entitlement GDSs shall only be entitled to the
entitlements of Partial Entitlement Shares. Holders and Beneficial
Owners of Full Entitlement GDSs shall be entitled only to the entitlements of
Full Entitlement Shares. All provisions and conditions of this
Agreement shall apply to Partial Entitlement GDRs and GDSs to the same extent as
Full Entitlement GDRs and GDSs, except as contemplated by this
Section 2.12. The Depositary is authorized to take any and all
other actions as may be necessary (including, without limitation, making the
necessary notations on GDRs) to give effect to the terms of this
Section 2.12. The Company agrees to give timely written notice
to the Depositary if any Shares issued or to be issued are Partial Entitlement
Shares and shall assist the Depositary with the establishment of procedures
enabling the identification of Partial Entitlement Shares upon Delivery to the
Custodian. All GDRs representing Partial Entitlement GDSs shall bear,
in addition to other legends required by this Agreement, the Partial Entitlement
Legend.
15
SECTION
2.13. Certificated/Uncertificated
GDSs. Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, the Depositary may, at any time and from
time to time, issue GDSs that are not evidenced by GDRs (such GDSs, the “Uncertificated
GDS(s)” and the GDS(s) evidenced by GDR(s), the “Certificated
GDS(s)”). When issuing and maintaining Uncertificated GDS(s)
under this Agreement, the Depositary shall at all times be subject to
(i) the standards applicable to registrars and transfer agents maintaining
direct registration systems for equity securities in New York and issuing
uncertificated securities under New York law, and (ii) the terms of New
York law applicable to uncertificated equity
securities. Uncertificated GDSs shall not be represented by any
instruments but shall be evidenced by registration in the books of the
Depositary maintained for such purpose. Holders of Uncertificated
GDSs, that are not subject to any registered pledges, liens, restrictions or
adverse claims of which the Depositary has notice at such time, shall at all
times have the right to exchange the Uncertificated GDS(s) for Certificated
GDS(s) of the same type and class, subject in each case to applicable laws and
any rules and regulations the Depositary may have established in respect of the
Uncertificated GDSs. Holders of Certificated GDSs shall, if the
Depositary maintains a direct registration system for the GDSs, have the right
to exchange the Certificated GDSs for Uncertificated GDSs upon (i) the due
surrender of the Certificated GDS(s) to the Depositary for such purpose and (ii)
the presentation of a written request to that effect to the Depositary, subject
in each case to (a) all liens and restrictions noted on the GDR evidencing the
Certificated GDS(s) and all adverse claims of which the Depositary then has
notice, (b) the terms of this Agreement and the rules and regulations that the
Depositary may establish for such purposes hereunder, (c) applicable law,
and (d) payment of the Depositary fees and expenses applicable to such
exchange of Certificated GDS(s) for Uncertificated
GDS(s). Uncertificated GDSs shall in all respects be identical to
Certificated GDS(s) of the same type and class, except that (i) no GDR(s)
shall be, or shall need to be, issued to evidence Uncertificated GDS(s),
(ii) Uncertificated GDS(s) shall, subject to the terms of this Agreement,
be transferable upon the same terms and conditions as uncertificated securities
under New York law, (iii) the ownership of Uncertificated GDS(s) shall be
recorded on the books of the Depositary maintained for such purpose and evidence
of such ownership shall be reflected in periodic statements provided by the
Depositary to the Holder(s) in accordance with applicable New York law,
(iv) the Depositary may from time to time, upon notice to the Holders of
Uncertificated GDSs affected thereby, establish rules and regulations, and amend
or supplement existing rules and regulations, as may be deemed reasonably
necessary to maintain Uncertificated GDS(s) on behalf of Holders, provided that
(a) such rules and regulations do not conflict with the terms of this
Agreement and applicable law, and (b) the terms of such rules and
regulations are readily available to Holders upon request, (v) the
Uncertificated GDS(s) shall not be entitled to any benefits under this Agreement
or be valid or enforceable for any purpose against the Depositary or the Company
unless such Uncertificated GDS(s) is/are registered on the books of the
Depositary maintained for such purpose, (vi) the Depositary may, in
connection with any deposit of Shares resulting in the issuance of
Uncertificated GDSs and with any transfer, pledge, release and cancellation of
Uncertificated GDSs, require the prior receipt of such documentation as the
Depositary may deem reasonably appropriate, and (vii) upon termination of
this Agreement, the Depositary shall not require Holders of Uncertificated GDSs
to affirmatively instruct the Depositary before remitting proceeds from the sale
of the Deposited Securities represented by such Holders' Uncertificated GDSs
under the terms of Section 6.02 of this Agreement. When issuing GDSs
under the terms of this Agreement, including, without limitation, issuances
pursuant to Sections 2.04, 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06 and 4.10, the Depositary may
in its discretion determine to issue Uncertificated GDSs rather than
Certificated GDSs, unless otherwise specifically instructed by the applicable
Holder to issue Certificated GDSs. All provisions and conditions of
this Agreement shall apply to Uncertificated GDSs to the same extent as to
Certificated GDSs, except as contemplated by this Section 2.13. The
Depositary is authorized and directed to take any and all actions and establish
any and all procedures deemed reasonably necessary to give effect to the terms
of this Section 2.13. Any references in this Agreement or any GDR(s)
to the terms “Global Depositary Share(s)” or “GDS(s)” shall, unless the context
otherwise requires, include Certificated GDS(s) and Uncertificated
GDS(s). Except as set forth in this Section 2.13 and except as
required by applicable law, the Uncertificated GDSs shall be treated as GDSs
issued and outstanding under the terms of this Agreement. In the
event that, in determining the rights and obligations of parties hereto with
respect to any Uncertificated GDSs, any conflict arises between (a) the terms of
this Agreement (other than this Section 2.13) and (b) the terms of this Section
2.13, the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 2.13 shall be
controlling and shall govern the rights and obligations of the parties to this
Agreement pertaining to the Uncertificated GDSs.
16
SECTION
2.14. Restricted
GDSs. The Depositary
shall, at the request and expense of the Company, establish procedures enabling
the deposit hereunder of Shares that are Restricted Securities in order to
enable the holder of such Shares to hold its ownership interests in such
Restricted Shares in the form of GDSs issued under the terms hereof (such
Shares, “Restricted
Shares”). Upon receipt of a written request from the Company
to accept Restricted Shares for deposit hereunder, the Depositary agrees to
establish procedures permitting the deposit of such Restricted Shares and the
issuance of GDSs representing the right to receive, subject to the terms of this
Agreement and the applicable GDR (if issued as a Certificated GDS), such
deposited Restricted Shares (such GDSs, the “Restricted GDSs,” and
the GDRs evidencing such Restricted GDSs, the “Restricted
GDRs”). Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section
2.14, the Depositary and the Company may, to the extent not prohibited by law,
agree to issue the Restricted GDSs in uncertificated form (“Uncertificated Restricted
GDSs”) upon such terms and conditions as the Company and the Depositary
may deem necessary and appropriate. The Company shall assist the
Depositary in the establishment of such procedures and agrees that it shall take
all steps necessary and satisfactory to the Depositary to insure that the
establishment of such procedures does not violate the provisions of the
Securities Act or any other applicable laws. The depositors of such
Restricted Shares and the Holders of the Restricted GDSs may be required prior
to the deposit of such Restricted Shares, the transfer of the Restricted GDRs
and Restricted GDSs or the withdrawal of the Restricted Shares represented by
Restricted GDSs to provide such written certifications or agreements as the
Depositary or the Company may require. The Company shall provide to
the Depositary in writing the legend(s) to be affixed to the Restricted GDRs (if
the Restricted GDSs are to be issued as Certificated GDSs), or to be included in
the statements issued from time to time to Holders of Uncertificated GDSs (if
issued as Uncertificated Restricted GDSs), which legends shall (i) be in a form
reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary and (ii) contain the specific
circumstances under which the Restricted GDSs, and, if applicable, the
Restricted GDRs evidencing the Restricted GDSs, may be transferred or the
Restricted Shares withdrawn. The Restricted GDSs issued upon the
deposit of Restricted Shares shall be separately identified on the books of the
Depositary and the Restricted Shares so deposited shall, to the extent required
by law, be held separate and distinct from the other Deposited Securities held
hereunder. The Restricted Shares and the Restricted GDSs shall not be
eligible for Pre-Release Transactions. The Restricted GDSs shall not
be eligible for inclusion in any book-entry settlement system, including,
without limitation, DTC, and shall not in any way be fungible with the GDSs
issued under the terms hereof that are not Restricted GDSs. The
Restricted GDSs, and, if applicable, the Restricted GDRs evidencing the
Restricted GDSs, shall be transferable only by the Holder thereof upon delivery
to the Depositary of (i) all documentation otherwise contemplated by this
Agreement and (ii) an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Depositary setting
forth, inter alia, the
conditions upon which the Restricted GDSs presented, and, if applicable, the
Restricted GDRs evidencing the Restricted GDSs, are transferable by the Holder
thereof under applicable securities laws and the transfer restrictions contained
in the legend applicable to the Restricted GDSs presented for
transfer. Except as set forth in this Section 2.14 and except as
required by applicable law, the Restricted GDSs and the Restricted GDRs
evidencing Restricted GDSs shall be treated as GDSs and GDRs issued and
outstanding under the terms of this Agreement. In the event that, in
determining the rights and obligations of parties hereto with respect to any
Restricted GDSs, any conflict arises between (a) the terms of this Agreement
(other than this Section 2.14) and (b) the terms of (i) this Section 2.14 or
(ii) the applicable Restricted GDR, the terms and conditions set forth in this
Section 2.14 and of the Restricted GDR shall be controlling and shall govern the
rights and obligations of the parties to this Agreement pertaining to the
deposited Restricted Shares, the Restricted GDSs and Restricted
GDRs.
17
If the
Restricted GDRs, the Restricted GDSs and the Restricted Shares cease to be
Restricted Securities, the Depositary, upon receipt of (x) an opinion of counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary and the Company setting forth, inter alia, that the
Restricted GDRs, the Restricted GDSs and the Restricted Shares are not as of
such time Restricted Securities, and (y) instructions from the Company to remove
the restrictions applicable to the Restricted GDRs, the Restricted GDSs and the
Restricted Shares, shall (i) eliminate the distinctions and separations
that may have been established between the applicable Restricted Shares held on
deposit under this Section 2.14 and the other Shares held on deposit under the
terms of this Agreement that are not Restricted Shares, (ii) treat the
newly unrestricted GDRs and GDSs on the same terms as, and fully fungible with,
the other GDRs and GDSs issued and outstanding under the terms of this Agreement
that are not Restricted GDRs or Restricted GDSs, (iii) take all actions
necessary to remove any distinctions, limitations and restrictions previously
existing under this Section 2.14 between the applicable Restricted GDRs and
Restricted GDSs, respectively, on the one hand, and the other GDRs and GDSs that
are not Restricted GDRs or Restricted GDSs, respectively, on the other hand,
including, without limitation, by making the newly-unrestricted GDSs eligible
for Pre-Release Transactions and for inclusion in the applicable book-entry
settlement systems.
ARTICLE
III
CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF
HOLDERS OF GDRs
SECTION
3.01. Filing
Proofs, Certificates and Other Information. Any person
depositing Shares, any Holder or any Beneficial Owner may be required from time
to time to file with the Depositary or the Custodian such proof of citizenship,
residence, exchange control approval, taxpayer status, payment of applicable
taxes or governmental charges, or legal or beneficial ownership of the GDSs and
Deposited Securities and the nature of such interest, compliance with all
applicable laws and the terms of the Agreement, to provide information relating
to the registration on the books of the Company (or the appointed agent of the
Company for the transfer and registration of Shares) of the Shares presented for
deposit or other information, to execute and deliver such certificates and to
make such representations and warranties as the Depositary, the Custodian or the
Company may deem necessary or proper. The Depositary and the
Registrar, as applicable, may withhold the execution or delivery or registration
of transfer of all or part of any GDS or the distribution or sale of any
dividend or other distribution of rights or of the proceeds thereof or, to the
extent not limited by the terms of Section 7.09, the withdrawal of any Deposited
Securities until such proof or other information is filed or such certificates
are executed and delivered or such representations and warranties are
made. The Depositary shall provide the Company, in a timely manner,
with copies or originals if necessary and appropriate of (i) any such proofs of
citizenship or residence, taxpayer status, or exchange control approval or
copies of written representations and warranties which it receives from Holders
and Beneficial Owners, and (ii) any other information or documents which the
Company may reasonably request and which the Depositary shall request and
receive from any Holder or Beneficial Owner or any person presenting Shares for
deposit or GDSs for cancellation, transfer or withdrawal. Nothing
herein shall obligate the Depositary to (i) obtain any information for the
Company if not provided by the Holders or Beneficial Owners, or (ii) verify or
vouch for the accuracy of the information so provided by the Holders or
Beneficial Owners.
18
SECTION
3.02. Liability
of Holders and Beneficial Owners for Taxes and Other Charges. If any tax or governmental
charge shall become payable with respect to any Deposited Securities, GDSs or
GDRs, such tax or other governmental charge shall be payable by the Holders and
Beneficial Owners to the Depositary. The Depositary may (and at the
request of the Company shall) refuse, and the Company shall be under no
obligation, to issue GDSs, deliver GDSs, register the transfer of all or part of
any GDSs, register the split-up or combination of GDRs and (subject to Section
7.09) the withdrawal of Deposited Securities until such payment is made, and may
withhold any dividends or other distributions, or may sell for the account of
the Holder thereof any part or all of the Deposited Securities represented by
the GDSs, and may apply such dividends or other distributions or the proceeds of
any such sale in payment of such tax or other governmental charge, the Holder
and the Beneficial Owners of such GDSs remaining liable for any
deficiency.
SECTION
3.03. Representations
and Warranties on Deposit, Transfer and Surrender and Withdrawal of Shares or
GDRs. Each person
depositing Shares under this Agreement shall be deemed thereby to represent and
warrant that such Shares and each certificate therefor are duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free of any preemptive (or
similar) rights, that the person making such deposit is duly authorized so to
do, and that the Shares presented for deposit are free and clear of any lien,
encumbrance, security interest, charge, mortgage or adverse claim and that the
Shares presented for deposit have not been stripped of any rights or
entitlements and are not, and the GDSs will not be Restricted Securities (except
as contemplated in Section 2.14) and the deposit of the Shares will not violate
the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Such
representations and warranties shall survive the deposit and withdrawal of
Shares and the issuance and cancellation of GDSs or adjustments in the
Depositary's records in respect thereof. Every such person shall also
be deemed to represent and warrant that such person is not and shall not become
at any time while such person holds GDRs or any beneficial interest therein an
Affiliate of the Company. If any such representations or warranties
are false in any way, the Company and the Depositary shall be authorized, at the
cost and expense of the person depositing Shares, to take any and all actions
necessary to correct the consequences thereof.
SECTION
3.04. Compliance
With Information Requests. Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement or any GDR(s), each Holder and Beneficial
Owner agrees to comply with requests from the Company pursuant to applicable
law, the rules and requirements of the Indian Stock Exchanges, and any other
stock exchange on which the Shares or GDSs are, or will be, registered, traded
or listed or the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, which
are made to provide information, inter alia, as to the
capacity in which such Holder or Beneficial Owner owns GDSs (and Shares, as the
case may be) and regarding the identity of any other person(s) interested in
such GDSs and the nature of such interest and various other matters, whether or
not they are Holders and/or Beneficial Owners at the time of such
request. The Depositary agrees to use its reasonable efforts to
forward, upon the request of the Company and at the Company’s expense, any such
request from the Company to the Holders and to forward to the Company any such
responses to such requests received by the Depositary.
19
SECTION
3.05. Ownership
Restrictions. Notwithstanding
any other provision in this Agreement, the Company may restrict transfers of the
Shares where such transfer might result in ownership of Shares exceeding the
limits under applicable law or under the Memorandum and Articles of Association
of the Company. The Company may also restrict, in such manner as it
deems appropriate, transfers of the GDSs where such transfer may result in the
total number of Shares represented by the GDSs owned by a single Holder or
Beneficial Owner to exceed any such limits. The Company may, in its
sole discretion but subject to applicable law, instruct the Depositary to take
action with respect to the ownership interest of any Holder or Beneficial Owner
in excess of the limits set forth in the preceding sentence, including but not
limited to, the imposition of restrictions on the transfer of GDSs, the removal
or limitation, of voting rights or the mandatory sale or disposition on behalf
of a Holder or Beneficial Owner of the Shares represented by the GDSs held by
such Holder or Beneficial Owner in excess of such limitations, if and to the
extent such disposition is permitted by applicable law and the Memorandum and
Articles of Association of the Company.
SECTION
3.06. Reporting
Obligations and Regulatory Approvals. Applicable laws
and regulations may require holders and beneficial owners of Shares, including
the Holders and Beneficial Owners of GDSs, to satisfy reporting requirements and
obtain regulatory approvals in certain circumstances. Holders and
Beneficial Owners of GDSs are solely responsible for determining and complying
with such reporting requirements and obtaining such approvals. Each
Holder and each Beneficial Owner hereby agrees to make such determination, file
such reports, and obtain such approvals to the extent and in the form required
by applicable laws and regulations in effect from time to
time. Neither the Depositary, the Custodian, the Company or any of
their respective agents or affiliates shall be required to take any actions
whatsoever on behalf of Holders or Beneficial Owners to determine or satisfy
such reporting requirements or obtain such regulatory approvals under applicable
laws and regulations.
ARTICLE
IV
RIGHTS
RELATING TO THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES;
CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF THE
DEPOSITARY
SECTION
4.01. Power of
Attorney. Each Holder and
Beneficial Owner, upon acceptance of GDSs issued in accordance with the terms
hereof or any beneficial interest therein, thereby appoints the Depositary its
attorney-in-fact, with full power to delegate, to act on its behalf and to take
any and all steps or action provided for or contemplated herein with respect to
the Deposited Securities, including but not limited to those set forth in this
Article IV, and to take such further steps or action as the Depositary in its
sole discretion may deem necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of
this Agreement.
20
SECTION
4.02. Cash
Distributions, Withholding. Whenever the
Company intends to make a distribution of a cash dividend or other cash
distribution, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Depositary at least
fifteen (15) days prior to the proposed distribution, specifying, inter
alia,
the record date applicable for determining the holders of Deposited Securities
entitled to receive such distribution. Upon the timely receipt of
such notice, the Depositary shall establish the GDS Record Date upon the terms
described in Section 4.08. Upon receipt of confirmation from the
Custodian of the receipt of any cash dividend or other cash distribution in
respect of any Deposited Securities, or upon receipt of proceeds from the sale
of any Deposited Securities or any other entitlements held in respect of
Deposited Securities under the terms hereof, subject to the provisions of
Section 4.07 and if in the judgment of the Custodian or Depositary, such
dividend or distribution or proceeds received in foreign currency may be
converted on a practicable basis into dollars which can, at the time of receipt
thereof be transferred to the United States and distributed to the Holders
entitled thereto, then the Custodian or Depositary shall convert or cause to be
converted as promptly as practicable such foreign currency into dollars and
distribute the amount thus received (without liability for interest and less any
reasonable and customary expenses incurred by the Custodian or Depositary in
converting such foreign currency) to the Holders entitled thereto as of the GDS
Record Date in proportion to the number of GDSs representing such Deposited
Securities held by them respectively, after deduction or upon payment of the
fees and expenses of the Depositary in accordance with Section 5.06; provided, however, that in the
event that the Company, the Custodian or the Depositary shall be required to
withhold and does withhold from any cash dividend or other cash distribution in
respect of any Deposited Securities an amount on account of taxes or other
governmental charges, the amount distributed to the Holders in respect of the
GDSs representing such Deposited Securities shall be reduced
accordingly. If at any time in the judgment of the Depositary the
amounts received in foreign currency may not be converted on a reasonable basis
into dollars distributable to the Holders entitled thereto, or may not be so
convertible for all of the Holders entitled thereto, the Depositary may in its
discretion make such conversion, if any, and distribution in dollars to the
extent permissible to the Holders entitled thereto and may distribute the
balance of the foreign currency received and not so convertible by the
Depositary to, or hold such balance for the respective accounts of, the Holders
entitled thereto. The Custodian or the Depositary shall distribute
only such amount, however, as can be distributed without attributing to any
Holder a fraction of one cent, and any balance not so distributable shall be
held by the Depositary (without liability for interest thereon) and shall be
added to and become part of the net sum received by the Depositary for
distribution to Holders of GDSs. The Company or its agent, or the
Depositary or its agent, as appropriate, will remit to the appropriate
governmental authority or agency all amounts withheld and owing to such
authority or 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 authorities or agencies. The Depositary, the Custodian,
the Company or its agent may, but shall not be obligated to, take all reasonable
steps to file or cause to be filed any such reports necessary to obtain benefits
under any applicable taxation treaties for the Holders or Beneficial Owners of
GDSs.
21
SECTION
4.03. Distributions
in Shares. Whenever the
Company intends to make a free distribution of, Shares, the Company shall give
notice thereof to the Depositary at least fifteen (15) days prior to the
proposed distribution, specifying, inter
alia,
the record date applicable for determining the holders of Deposited Securities
entitled to receive such distribution. Upon the timely receipt of
such notice, the Depositary shall establish the GDS Record Date upon the terms
described in Section 4.08. Upon receipt of confirmation from the
Custodian of the receipt of the Shares so distributed by the Company, the
Depositary may, and shall, if the Company so requests, either (i) distribute to
the Holders as of the GDS Record Date, in proportion to the number of GDSs
representing such Deposited Securities held by them respectively, additional
GDSs for an aggregate number of GDSs representing the number of Shares received
as such dividend or free distribution or (ii) if additional GDSs are not so
distributed, take all actions necessary so that each GDS issued and outstanding
after the GDS Record Date shall, to the extent permissible by law, thenceforth
also represent rights and interests in the additional integral number of Shares
distributed upon the Deposited Securities represented thereby, in either case
after deduction or upon payment of the fees and expenses of the Depositary in
accordance with Section 5.06; provided, however, that if for
any reason (including any requirement that the Company or the Depositary
withhold an amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges or that
such Shares must be registered under the Securities Act in order to be
distributed to Holders as to which question the Depositary intends to rely on a
legal opinion provided in accordance with Section 5.09) the Depositary deems
such distribution not to be practicable, the Depositary may (i) adopt such
method as it may deem practicable for the purpose of effecting such
distribution, including the public or private sale of the Shares thus received,
or any part thereof, and the prompt distribution of the net proceeds of any such
sale to the Holders entitled thereto as in the case of a distribution received
in cash or (ii) refrain from effecting such distribution
altogether. In lieu of issuing fractional GDSs in any such case, the
Depositary shall sell the number of Shares represented by the aggregate of such
fractions and distribute the net proceeds in dollars, all in the manner and
subject to the conditions described in Section 4.02.
SECTION
4.04. Elective
Distributions in Cash or Shares. Whenever the
Company intends to make a distribution payable at the election of the holders of
Shares in cash or in additional Shares, the Company shall give notice thereof to
the Depositary at least forty-five (45) days prior to the proposed distribution
specifying, inter alia,
the record date applicable to holders of Deposited Securities entitled to
receive such elective distribution and whether or not it wishes such elective
distribution to be made available to Holders of GDSs. Upon the timely
receipt of a notice indicating that the Company wishes such elective
distribution to be made available to Holders of GDSs, the Depositary shall
consult with the Company to determine, and the Company shall assist the
Depositary in its determination, whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable
to make such elective distribution available to the Holders of
GDSs. The Depositary shall make such elective distribution available
to Holders only if (i) the Company shall have timely requested that the elective
distribution be made available to Holders, (ii) the Depositary shall have
determined that such distribution is reasonably practicable, and (iii) the
Depositary shall have received satisfactory documentation within the terms of
Section 5.09. If the above conditions are not satisfied, the
Depositary shall establish a GDS Record Date (as defined in Section 4.08) on the
terms described in Section 4.08 and, to the extent permitted by law, distribute
to the Holders, on the basis of the same determination as is made in India in
respect of the Shares for which no election is made, either (X) cash upon the
terms described in Section 4.02 or (Y) additional GDSs representing such
additional Shares upon the terms described in Section 4.03. If the
above conditions are satisfied, the Depositary shall establish a GDS Record Date
(as defined in Section 4.08)) on the terms described in Section 4.08 and
establish procedures to enable Holders to elect the receipt of the proposed
distribution in cash or in additional GDSs. The Company shall assist
the Depositary in establishing such procedures to the extent
necessary. If a Holder elects to receive the proposed distribution
(X) in cash, the distribution shall be made upon the terms described in Section
4.02, or (Y) in GDSs, the distribution shall be made upon the terms
described in Section 4.03. Nothing herein shall obligate the
Depositary to make available to Holders a method to receive the elective
distribution in Shares (rather than GDSs). There can be no assurance
that Holders generally, or any Holder in particular, will be given the
opportunity to receive elective distributions on the same terms and conditions
as the holders of Shares.
22
SECTION
4.05. Rights. In the event that
the Company offers or causes 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 the Holders entitled thereto,
subject to Section 5.09, or in disposing of such rights on behalf of such
Holders and making the net proceeds available in cash to such Holders or, if by
the terms of such rights offering or by reason of applicable law, the Depositary
may neither make such rights available to such Holders nor dispose of such
rights and make the net proceeds available to such Holders, then the Depositary
shall allow the rights to lapse; provided, however, that the
Depositary will, if requested by the Company, take action as
follows:
(i) if at the
time of the offering of any rights the Depositary determines that it is lawful
and practicable to make such rights available to all or certain Holders or
Beneficial Owners by means of warrants or otherwise, the Depositary shall, after
deduction or upon payment of the fees and expenses of the Depositary, distribute
warrants or other instruments therefor in such form as it may determine to such
Holders entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of GDSs representing such
Deposited Securities held by them respectively, or employ such other method as
it may deem practicable in order to facilitate the exercise, sale or transfer of
rights by such Holders, if lawful and practicable; or
(ii) if at the
time of the offering of any rights the Depositary determines that it is not
lawful or not practicable to make such rights available to certain Holders or
Beneficial Owners by means of warrants or otherwise, or if the rights
represented by such warrants or such other instruments are not exercised and
appear to be about to lapse, the Depositary shall use its reasonable efforts to
sell such rights or such warrants or other instruments, if a market therefor is
available, at public or private sale, at such place or places and upon such
terms as it may deem proper, and, after deduction or upon payment of the fees
and expenses of the Depositary, allocate the net proceeds of such sales for the
accounts of the Holders otherwise entitled to such rights, warrants or other
instruments upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any
distinctions among such Holders because of exchange restrictions or the date of
delivery of any GDS or GDSs, or otherwise, and distribute the net proceeds so
allocated to the extent practicable as in the case of a distribution pursuant to
Section 4.02 herein.
The
Depositary will not offer any rights to the Holders or Beneficial Owners unless
and until a registration statement under the Securities Act is in effect, or
unless the offering and sale of such rights or securities to the Holders or
Beneficial Owners are in the opinion of United States counsel satisfactory to
the Depositary exempt from registration under the provisions of such
Act.
23
There can
be no assurance that Holders generally, or any Holder in particular, will be
given the opportunity to receive or exercise rights on the same terms and
conditions as the holders of Shares or be able to exercise such
rights. The Company shall have no obligation to register such rights
or such securities under the Securities Act or other applicable
law.
SECTION
4.06. Distributions
Other than Cash, Shares or Rights. Whenever the
Custodian or the Depositary shall receive any distribution other than cash,
Shares or rights upon any Deposited Securities, the Custodian or the Depositary
shall, as promptly as practicable, cause the securities or property so received
to be distributed to the Holders entitled thereto, after deduction or upon
payment of the fees and expenses of the Depositary in accordance with Section
5.06, in proportion to the number of GDSs representing such Deposited Securities
held by them respectively, in any manner that the Depositary may deem
practicable for accomplishing such distribution; provided, however, that if in
the opinion of the Depositary such securities or property, in whole or in part,
cannot be distributed or such distribution cannot be made proportionately among
the Holders entitled thereto, or if for any other reason (including any
requirement that the Company, the Custodian 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 in order to be distributed to Holders as
to which question the Depositary intends to rely on a legal opinion provided in
accordance with Section 5.09) the Depositary deems such distribution not to be
practicable, the Depositary may adopt such method as it may deem practicable for
the purpose of effecting such distribution, including the public or private sale
of the securities or property thus received, or any part thereof, and the net
proceeds of any such sale shall be distributed to the Holders entitled thereto
as in the case of a distribution received in cash.
SECTION
4.07. Conversion
of Foreign Currency. Whenever the
Depositary or Custodian receives currency other than dollars (in this Section
referred to as “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 practicable basis into dollars
which can, at the time of receipt thereof be transferred to the United States
and distributed to the Holders entitled thereto, the Depositary or Custodian
shall convert or cause to be converted, as promptly as practicable, by sale or
in any other manner that it may determine, such foreign currency into dollars,
and such dollars (less any reasonable and customary expenses incurred by the
Depositary in the conversion of the foreign currency) shall be promptly
distributed to the Holders 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 shall be made
upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions
among Holders on account of any application of exchange restrictions or
otherwise.
If such
conversion with regard to a particular Holder or distribution can be effected
only with the approval or license of any government or agency thereof, the
Depositary or Custodian shall have the authority to file such application for
approval or license, if any, as it may deem desirable. In no event,
however, shall the Depositary be obligated to make such a filing.
24
If at any
time the Depositary determines that in its judgment any foreign currency
received by it or the Custodian is not convertible on a practicable basis into
dollars distributable to the Holders entitled thereto, or if any approval or
license of any government or authority 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 any appropriate document evidencing the right to receive such foreign
currency) received by it or the Custodian to, or in its discretion may hold such
foreign currency (without liability for interest) for the respective accounts
of, the Holders entitled to receive the same.
If any
such conversion of foreign currency, in whole or in part, cannot be effected for
distribution to some Holders entitled thereto, the Depositary may in its
discretion make such conversion and distribution in dollars to the extent
permissible to the Holders for whom such conversion and distribution is
practicable and may, subject to all applicable currency and exchange
regulations, distribute the balance of the foreign currency received by the
Depositary to, or hold such balance for the respective accounts of, the Holders
for whom such conversion and distribution is not practicable.
SECTION
4.08. Fixing of
Record Date. Whenever any cash
dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable or any distribution
other than cash shall be made, or whenever rights shall be issued, with respect
to the Deposited Securities, or whenever, for any reason, the Depositary causes
a change in the number of Shares that are represented by each GDS or whenever
the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting of or solicitation of
consents or proxy of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities or whenever
the Depositary finds it necessary or convenient in respect of any matter, the
Depositary shall fix a record date (the “GDS Record Date”)
after consultation with the Company (which shall be as near as practicable to
the corresponding record date for such distribution or meeting set by the
Company) (a) for the determination of the Holders who shall be entitled to
receive such dividend, distribution or rights or the net proceeds of the sale
thereof or to receive notice as to such meeting, (b) for fixing the date on or
after which each GDS will represent the changed number of Shares, or (c) in
respect of other matters. Subject to applicable law and the
provisions of Sections 4.02 through 4.07, 4.09, 4.10 and to the other terms and
conditions of this Agreement, only the Holders of GDSs at the close of business
in New York on such GDS Record Date shall be entitled to receive the amount
distributable by the Depositary with respect to such dividend or other
distribution or such rights or the net proceeds of the sale thereof and to
exercise the rights of Holders hereunder with respect to such changed number of
Shares represented by each GDS, in proportion to the number of GDSs held by them
respectively.
SECTION
4.09. Voting of
Deposited Securities. Holders and
Beneficial Owners will have no voting rights with respect to the Deposited
Securities. The Depositary will not exercise any voting rights in
respect of the Deposited Securities unless it is required to do so by the law of
the Republic of India.
As soon
as practicable after receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of
Deposited Securities are entitled to vote, or of solicitation of consents or
proxies from holders of Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall, if requested
in writing by the Company, fix the GDS Record Date for determining the Holders
entitled to receive information as to such meeting or solicitation of consent or
proxy in accordance with Section 4.08 and shall distribute to the Holders as of
the GDS Record Date: (a) such notice of meeting or solicitation of consent or
proxy, and (b) a statement that the Holders of GDSs do not have the right to
instruct the Depositary to vote the Shares or other Deposited Securities
represented by their GDSs.
25
Notwithstanding
anything contained in this Agreement or any GDR, the Depositary may, to the
extent not prohibited by law or regulations, or by the requirements of any stock
exchange on which the GDSs are listed, in lieu of distribution of the materials
provided to the Depositary in connection with any meeting of, or solicitation of
consents or proxies from, holders of Deposited Securities, distribute to the
Holders a notice that provides Holders with, or otherwise publicize to Holders,
instructions on how to retrieve such materials or receive such materials upon
request (i.e., by
reference to a website containing the materials for retrieval or a contact for
requesting copies of the materials.)
If the
Depositary is required by Indian law to exercise any voting rights in respect of
the Deposited Securities, the Depositary will, subject to receipt of an opinion
of the Company’s Indian counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary that
it is required so to do and such action is in conformity with all applicable
laws of the Republic of India, vote the Shares then held on deposit in the same
manner and in the same proportion as the other shareholders of the Company
exercising voting rights in favor of or against any resolution under
consideration before the meeting of the shareholders of the Company. Except as
provided in the foregoing sentence, the Depositary shall not exercise any voting
rights with respect to the Shares and shall have no liability to the Company or
any Holder or Beneficial Owner for any action taken or not taken, as the case
may be, pursuant to Section 4.09 of this Agreement. By holding or
continuing to hold GDSs, Holders are deemed to consent to the foregoing voting
provisions.
Shares
which have been withdrawn pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and
transferred on the Company's register of shareholders to a person other than the
Depositary or its nominee may be voted by such person.
SECTION
4.10. Changes
Affecting Deposited Securities. Upon any change
in nominal or par value, split-up, consolidation, cancellation or any other
reclassification of Deposited Securities, or upon any recapitalization,
reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company or sale of assets
affecting the Company or to which it is a party, any shares, other securities or
other property which shall be received by the Depositary or the Custodian in
exchange for or in conversion, replacement or otherwise in respect of Deposited
Securities of the Company shall, to the extent permitted by law, be treated as
new Deposited Securities, and the GDSs shall thenceforth represent the right to
receive the new Deposited Securities so received in exchange or conversion,
unless additional or new GDSs are delivered pursuant to the following
sentence. In any such case the Depositary may, with the Company's
approval, and shall, at the Company's request, subject to receipt of an opinion
of counsel satisfactory to the Depositary that such distributions are not in
violation of applicable laws and regulations, (i) issue and deliver additional
GDSs or make appropriate adjustments in its records, as in the case of a stock
dividend on the Shares, (ii) amend this Agreement and the applicable GDRs, (iii)
amend the applicable Registration Statement(s) on Form F-6 as filed with the
Commission in respect of the GDSs, (iv) call for the surrender of outstanding
GDRs to be exchanged for new GDRs, and (v) take such other actions as are
appropriate to reflect the transaction with respect to the GDSs. The
Company agrees to, jointly with the Depositary, amend the Registration Statement
on Form F-6 as filed with the Commission to permit the issuance of such new form
of GDSs. In lieu of delivering fractional GDSs, the Depositary shall
sell the number of Shares or GDSs, as the case may be, represented by the
aggregate of such fractions and distribute the net proceeds upon the terms
described in Section 4.02. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Depositary
determines that any such adjustment, delivery or exchange is not lawful or
practicable, the Depositary may, and shall, if the Company so requests, subject
to receipt of an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Depositary that such
action is not in violation of applicable laws and regulations, sell such
securities or property at public or private sale and distribute the net proceeds
to the Holders entitled thereto as in the case of a distribution pursuant to
Section 4.02 herein. The Depositary shall not be responsible for (i)
any failure to determine that it is lawful or practicable to make such
securities available to Holders in general or to any Holder in particular, (ii)
any foreign exchange exposure or loss incurred in connection with such sale, or
(iii) any liability to the purchaser of such securities.
26
Immediately
upon the occurrence of any such change, conversion or exchange covered by this
Section in respect of the Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall give notice
thereof in writing to all Holders.
SECTION
4.11. Available
Information. The Company
publishes the information contemplated in Rule 12g3-2(b)(2)(i) under the
Exchange Act on its internet website or through an electronic information
delivery system generally available to the public in the Company's primary
trading market. As of the date hereof the Company’s internet website
is xxx.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx. The information so published by the
Company may not be in English, except that the Company is required, in order to
maintain its exemption from the Exchange Act reporting obligations pursuant to
Rule 12g3-2(b), to translate such information into English to the extent
contemplated in the instructions to Rule 12g3-2(b). The information
so published by the Company cannot be retrieved from the Commission's internet
website, and cannot be inspected or copied at the public reference facilities
maintained by the Commission located (as of the date of this Agreement) at 000 X
Xxxxxx, X.X., Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000.
SECTION
4.12. Transmittal
by the Depositary of Company Notices, Reports and Communications. The Depositary
shall make available for inspection by Holders at its Principal Office and at
the principal office of each Custodian copies of this Agreement, any notices,
reports or communications, including any proxy soliciting materials, received
from the Company which are both (a) received by the Depositary or a Custodian or
the nominee of either, 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, if so requested by the Company, also
deliver to Holders copies of such notices, reports and communications when
furnished by the Company to the Depositary pursuant to Section
5.08. The furnishing of copies of such notices, reports and
communications by the Company to the Depositary for transmittal to the Holders
shall not constitute a recognition by the Company that any such persons have
rights as legal owners of Shares or that notification to such persons is
necessary under Indian law prior to the Company taking any corporate action or
shareholder vote.
SECTION
4.13. Withholding. Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, in the event that the Depositary
determines that any distribution of property (including Shares, rights to
subscribe therefor and other securities) is subject to any tax or governmental
charges which the Depositary is obligated to withhold, the Depositary may
dispose of all or a portion of such property (including Shares, rights to
subscribe therefor and other securities) in such amounts and in such manner as
the Depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay such taxes or governmental
charges including by public or private sale, and the Depositary shall distribute
the net proceeds of any such sale or the balance of any such property after
deduction of such taxes or governmental charges to the Holders entitled thereto
in proportion to the number of GDSs held by them respectively and the Depositary
shall, if feasible without withholding for or on account of taxes or other
governmental charges, without registration of such Shares or other securities
under the Securities Act and otherwise in compliance with applicable law,
distribute any unsold balance of such property in accordance with the provisions
of this Agreement.
27
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.
The
Depositary, the Custodian or the Company and its agents may file such reports as
are necessary to reduce or eliminate applicable taxes on dividends and on other
distributions in respect of Deposited Securities under applicable tax treaties
or laws for the Holders and Beneficial Owners. In accordance with
instructions from the Company and to the extent practicable, the Depositary or
the Custodian will take reasonable administrative actions to obtain tax refunds,
reduced withholding of tax at source on dividends and other benefits under
applicable tax treaties or laws with respect to dividends and other
distributions on the Deposited Securities. As a condition to
receiving such benefits, Holders and Beneficial Owners of GDSs may be required
from time to time, and in a timely manner, to file such proof of taxpayer
status, residence and beneficial ownership (as applicable), to execute such
certificates and to make such representations and warranties, or to provide any
other information or documents, as the Depositary or the Custodian may deem
necessary or proper to fulfill the Depositary's or the Custodian's obligations
under applicable law. The Holders and Beneficial Owners may be
required to indemnify the Depositary, the Company, the Custodian and any of
their respective directors, employees, agents and affiliates against, and hold
each of them harmless from, any claims by any governmental authority with
respect to taxes, additions to tax, penalties or interest arising out of any
refund of taxes, reduced rate of withholding at source or other tax benefit
obtained.
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, before making any distribution or other
payment on any Deposited Securities, the Company shall make such deductions (if
any) which, under applicable law, the Company is required to make in respect of
any income, capital gains or other taxes and the Company may also deduct the
amount of any tax or governmental charges payable by the Company or for which
the Company might be made liable in respect of such distribution or other
payment or any document signed in connection therewith. In making
such deductions, the Company shall have no obligation to any Holder to apply a
rate under any treaty or other arrangement between the Republic of India and the
country within which such Holder is resident unless such Holder has timely
provided to the Company evidence of the residency of such Holder that is
satisfactory to the relevant tax authorities of the Republic of
India.
When
requested by the Company prior to the distribution of dividends by the Company
or pursuant to a termination of this Agreement, the Depositary shall send to all
Holders entitled to receive such dividend or as to which property is being sold
as aforesaid, as the case may be, a notice in a form which the Company shall
provide requesting evidence of each such Holder's tax residence. The
Depositary shall forward any such evidence received by it to the Company, in the
case of dividends, or to the relevant purchaser or securities company, in the
case of sales of property, in order to establish any such Holder's country of
tax residence. The Depositary shall have no obligation or liability
to any person if any Holder fails to provide such evidence or if such evidence
does not reach relevant tax authorities in time for any Holder to obtain the
benefit of any tax treaty.
28
If the
Company (or any of its agents) withholds from any distribution any amount on
account of taxes or governmental charges, or pays any other tax in respect of
such distribution (i.e. stamp duty tax, capital gains or other similar tax), the
Company shall (and shall cause such agent to) remit promptly to the Depositary
information about such taxes or governmental charges withheld or paid, and, if
so requested, the tax receipt (or other proof of payment to the applicable
governmental authority) therefor, in each case, in a form satisfactory to the
Depositary. The Depositary shall, to the extent required by U.S. law,
report to Holders any taxes withheld by it or the Custodian, and, if such
information is provided to it by the Company, any taxes withheld by the
Company. The Depositary and the Custodian shall not be required to
provide the Holders with any evidence of the remittance by the Company (or its
agents) of any taxes withheld, or of the payment of taxes by the Company, except
to the extent the evidence is provided by the Company to the
Depositary. Neither the Depositary nor the Custodian shall be liable
for the failure by any Holder or Beneficial Owner to obtain the benefits of
credits on the basis non-U.S. tax paid against such Holder's or Beneficial
Owner's income tax liability.
The
Depositary is under no obligation to provide the Holders and Beneficial Owners
with any information about the tax status of the Company. The
Depositary shall not incur any liability for any tax consequences that may be
incurred by Holders and Beneficial Owners on account of their ownership of the
GDSs, including without limitation, tax consequences resulting from the Company
(or any of its subsidiaries) being treated as a “Passive Foreign Investment
Company” (in each case as defined in the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and the
regulations issued thereunder) or otherwise.
ARTICLE
V
THE DEPOSITARY, THE
CUSTODIAN AND THE COMPANY
SECTION
5.01. Maintenance
of Office and Transfer Books by the Depositary. Until termination
of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, the Depositary shall maintain in
the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, facilities for the issuance and
delivery of GDSs, the acceptance for surrender of GDS(s) for the purpose of
withdrawal of Deposited Securities, the registration of issuances,
cancellations, transfers, combinations and split-up of GDR(s) and, if
applicable, to countersign GDRs evidencing the GDSs so issued, transferred,
combined or split-up, in each case in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement.
The
Depositary shall keep books at its Principal Office for the registration of GDRs
and transfers of GDRs which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection
by Holders and the Company, provided that such inspection shall not to the
Depositary's knowledge be for the purpose of communicating with Holders in the
interest of a business or object other than the business of the Company or a
matter related to this Agreement, the GDSs or the GDRs.
29
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, or when reasonably requested by the Company subject, in all cases, to
Section 7.09.
If any
GDSs are listed on one or more stock exchanges or automated quotation systems in
the United States or outside the United States, the Depositary shall act as
Registrar or appoint a Registrar or one or more co-registrars for registration
of issuances, cancellations, transfers, combinations and split-ups of GDSs and,
if applicable, to countersign GDRs evidencing the GDSs so issued, transferred,
combined or split-up, in accordance with any requirements of such exchange(s) or
system(s). Such Registrar or co-registrars may be removed and a
substitute or substitutes appointed by the Depositary. The Depositary
may appoint one or more co-transfer agents for the purpose of effecting
transfers, combinations and split-ups of GDRs at designated transfer offices on
behalf of the Depositary. Such co-transfer agents may be removed and
substitutes may be appointed by the Depositary.
SECTION
5.02. Lists of
Holders. Upon request by
the Company, the Depositary shall furnish to it a list, as of a recent date, of
the names, addresses and holdings of GDSs by all persons in whose names GDSs are
registered on the books of the Depositary. Any other records
maintained by the Depositary, the Registrar, any co-registrar or any co-transfer
agent under this Agreement shall be made available to the Company upon
reasonable request.
SECTION
5.03. Obligations
of the Depositary, the Custodian and the Company. The Company and
its directors, employees, agents and affiliates assume no obligation nor shall
they be subject to any liability under this Agreement (or the GDRs) to Holders,
Beneficial Owners or other persons, except that each of them agrees to act in
good faith and without negligence in the performance of its obligations set
forth in this Agreement.
The
Depositary and its directors, employees, agents and affiliates assume no
obligation nor shall they be subject to any liability under this Agreement to
Holders, Beneficial Owners or other persons (including, without limitation,
liability with respect to the validity or worth of the Deposited Securities),
except that the Depositary agrees to act in good faith and without negligence in
the performance of its duties set forth in this Agreement. The
Depositary will not enforce the rights, if any, of Holders or Beneficial Owners
as beneficial owners of Shares, nor will it enforce, on behalf of Holders or
Beneficial Owners, its rights as legal owner of the underlying
Shares. The legal relationship created between the Depositary and the
Holders and the Beneficial Owners is not a trust and the Depositary will not be
acting as a trustee for the Holders or the Beneficial Owners.
The
Depositary and the Company undertake to perform such duties and only such duties
as are specifically set forth in this Agreement, and no implied covenants or
obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Depositary or the
Company or their respective agents.
Neither
the Depositary nor the Company nor any director, employee, agent or affiliate of
the Depositary or the Company shall be under any obligation to appear in,
prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any
Deposited Securities or in respect of the GDSs, which in its opinion may involve
it in expense or liability, unless indemnity satisfactory to it against all
expense and liability be furnished as often as may be required, and no Custodian
or agent of the Custodian shall be under any obligation whatsoever with respect
to such proceedings, the responsibility of the Custodian being solely to the
Depositary.
30
Neither
the Depositary nor the Company nor any director, employee, agent or affiliate of
the Depositary or the Company shall be liable for any action or inaction by it
in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants,
any person presenting Shares for deposit, any Holder or Beneficial Owner, or any
other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or
information. Each of the Depositary and its agents and the Company
and its agents may rely and shall be protected in acting upon any written
notice, request, direction or other document believed by it to be genuine and to
have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
The
Depositary shall not incur any liability for any failure to determine that any
distribution or action may be lawful or reasonably practicable, for the content
of any information submitted to it by the Company for distribution to the
Holders and Beneficial Owners or for any inaccuracy of any translation thereof,
for any investment risk associated with acquiring an interest in the Deposited
Securities, for the validity or worth of the Deposited Securities, for the
credit-worthiness of any third party, or for any tax consequences that may
result from the ownership of GDSs, Shares or Deposited Securities, for allowing
any rights to lapse upon the terms of this Agreement or for the failure or
timeliness of any notice from the Company.
SECTION
5.04. Prevention
or Delay in Performance by the Depositary or the Company. Neither the
Depositary nor the Company nor any of their respective directors, employees,
agents or affiliates shall incur any liability to any Holder, Beneficial Owner
or other person, if by reason of any provision of any present or future law or
regulation of the United States, the Republic of India or any other country or
jurisdiction, or of any other governmental authority or stock exchange, or by
reason of any act of God, terrorism or war or other circumstances beyond its
control, or, in the case of the Depositary, by reason of any provision, present
or future, of the Company's Memorandum or Articles of Association, or of any
securities issued or distributed by the Company, or any offering or distribution
thereof, the Depositary or the Company or any of their respective directors,
employees, agents or affiliates is prevented, delayed or forbidden from, or is
subject to any civil or criminal penalty on account of, doing or performing any
act or thing which by the terms of this Agreement or the Deposited Securities it
is provided shall be done or performed nor shall the Depositary, the Company or
any of their directors, employees, agents or affiliates incur any liability to
any Holder, Beneficial Owner or other person by reason of any nonperformance or
delay, caused by any of the aforesaid, in performance of any act or thing which
by the terms of this Agreement it is provided shall or may be done or performed,
or by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided
for in this Agreement or the Company's Memorandum or Articles of Association
including, without limitation, any loss occasioned by sale of
Shares. Where, by the terms of a distribution pursuant to Section
4.02, 4.03, 4.04 or 4.06 of this Agreement, a distribution in connection with an
event described in Section 4.10 of this Agreement, or an offering or
distribution pursuant to Section 4.05 of this Agreement, or because of
applicable law, such distribution or offering may not be made available to
Holders, and the Depositary may not dispose of such distribution or offering on
behalf of such Holders and make the net proceeds available to such Holders, then
the Depositary may, without liability to Holders and Beneficial Owners, make no
such distribution or offering, and may allow any rights, if applicable, to
lapse. The Depositary and the Company shall have no liability for any
exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in this
Agreement or in the Memorandum or Articles of Association of the Company or
provisions of or governing Deposited Securities or for any consequential or
punitive damages for any breach of the terms of this Agreement.
31
SECTION
5.05. Resignation
and Removal of the Depositary; Appointment of Successor Depositary. The Depositary may at any
time resign as Depositary hereunder by 30 days' prior written notice of its
election so to do delivered to the Company, such resignation to take effect upon
the appointment of a qualified successor depositary and its acceptance of such
appointment as hereinafter provided.
The
Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by 60 days' prior written
notice of such removal, which shall become effective upon the appointment of a
qualified 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 (other than
as contemplated in Sections 5.06 and 5.10), 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 Holders of all
outstanding GDSs and such other books and records maintained by such predecessor
with respect to its function as Depositary hereunder. Any such
successor depositary shall at its own cost promptly provide notice of its
appointment to the Holders.
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
5.06. Fees and
Charges of Depositary. The Company, the
Holders, the Beneficial Owners, and persons depositing Shares or surrendering
GDSs for cancellation and withdrawal of Deposited Securities shall be required
to pay to the Depositary the Depositary’s fees and related charges identified as
payable by them respectively in the Fee Schedule attached hereto as Exhibit
B. All fees and charges so payable may, at any time and from
time to time, be changed by agreement between the Depositary and the Company,
but, in the case of fees and charges payable by Holders and Beneficial Owners,
only in the manner contemplated in Section 6.01. The Depositary shall
provide, without charge, a copy of its latest fee schedule to anyone upon
request.
32
Depositary
Fees payable upon (i) deposit of Shares against issuance of GDSs and
(ii) surrender of GDSs for cancellation and withdrawal of Deposited
Securities will be charged by the Depositary to the person to whom the GDSs so
issued are delivered (in the case of GDS issuances) and to the person who
delivers the GDSs for cancellation to the Depositary (in the case of GDS
cancellations). In the case of GDSs issued by the Depositary into DTC
or presented to the Depositary via DTC, the GDS issuance and cancellation fees
will be payable to the Depositary by the DTC Participant(s) receiving the GDSs
from the Depositary or the DTC Participant(s) surrendering the GDSs to the
Depositary for cancellation, as the case may be, on behalf of the Beneficial
Owner(s) and will be charged by the DTC Participant(s) to the account(s) of the
applicable Beneficial Owner(s) in accordance with the procedures and practices
of the DTC participant(s) as in effect at the time. Depositary fees
in respect of distributions and the Depositary services fee are payable to the
Depositary by Holders as of the applicable GDS Record Date established by the
Depositary. In the case of distributions of cash, the amount of the
applicable Depositary fees is deducted by the Depositary from the funds being
distributed. In the case of distributions other than cash and the
Depositary service fee, the Depositary will invoice the applicable Holders as of
the GDS Record Date established by the Depositary. For GDSs held
through DTC, the Depositary fees for distributions other than cash and the
Depositary service fee are charged by the Depositary to the DTC Participants in
accordance with the procedures and practices prescribed by DTC from time to time
and the DTC Participants in turn charge the amount of such fees to the
Beneficial Owners for whom they hold GDSs.
The
Depositary may reimburse the Company for certain expenses incurred by the
Company in respect of the GDR program established pursuant to this Agreement
upon such terms and conditions as the Company and the Depositary may agree in
writing from time to time. The Company shall pay
to the Depositary such fees and charges and reimburse the Depositary for such
out-of-pocket expenses as the Depositary and the Company may agree in writing
from time to time. Responsibility for payment of such charges and
reimbursements may from time to time be changed by agreement between the Company
and the Depositary. Unless otherwise agreed, the Depositary shall
present its statement for such expenses and fees or charges to the Company once
every three months. The charges and expenses of the Custodian are for
the sole account of the Depositary.
The right
of the Depositary to receive payment of fees, charges and expenses as provided
above shall survive the termination of this Agreement. As to any
Depositary, upon the resignation or removal of such Depositary as described in
Section 5.05, such right shall extend for those fees, charges and expenses
incurred prior to the effectiveness of such resignation or removal.
SECTION
5.07. The
Custodian. The Depositary
has appointed Citibank, N.A., Mumbai Branch as Custodian for the purpose of this
Agreement. The Custodian in acting hereunder shall be subject at all
times and in all respects to the direction of the Depositary and shall be
responsible solely to it. The Custodian may resign and be discharged from its
duties hereunder by 30 days' prior written notice of its election to do so
delivered to the Depositary; such resignation to take effect upon the
appointment of a successor Custodian and its acceptance of such appointment as
hereinafter provided. If upon the delivery of such notice of
resignation there shall be no Custodian acting hereunder other than the
Custodian delivering the notice, the Depositary shall, promptly after receiving
such notice and after consultation with the Company, appoint a substitute
custodian which shall thereafter be the Custodian hereunder. The
Depositary, after consultation with the Company, when it reasonably appears to
be in the best interest of the Holders to do so, may appoint a substitute or an
additional custodian, which shall thereafter be a Custodian
hereunder. Forthwith upon its appointment, each such substitute or
additional custodian shall deliver to the Depositary an acceptance of such
appointment satisfactory in form and substance to the Depositary and to the
Company. Immediately upon any change, the Depositary shall at its own
expense give notice thereof in writing to all Holders. If the
Depositary appoints an additional or substitute custodian (as contemplated
above) which is not a branch or subsidiary of Citibank, N.A., the Depositary
agrees that (i) it shall obtain the consent of the Company prior to such
appointment and (ii) it shall cooperate in good faith and shall use reasonable
efforts to assist the Company in obtaining an agreement by such additional or
substitute custodian to directly indemnify the Company for loss resulting from
acts performed or omitted by the Custodian with substantially the same terms and
conditions as the indemnity provided in Section 5.10. Upon demand of
the Depositary, any Custodian shall deliver such of the Deposited Securities as
are requested of it to any other Custodian together with all records maintained
by it as Custodian with respect to such Deposited Securities.
33
Upon the
appointment of any successor depositary hereunder, any 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 to act on the direction of such successor depositary.
SECTION
5.08. Notices,
Reports and Communications. On or before the
first date on which the Company gives notice, by publication or otherwise, of
any meeting of, or solicitation of consents or proxies from, holders of Shares
or of other Deposited Securities or any such meeting at which such holders are
entitled to vote, or of any adjourned meeting of such holders, or of the taking
of any action by such holders other than at a meeting, or of the taking of any
action in respect of any cash or other distributions or the offering of any
rights in respect of Deposited Securities, the Company shall transmit to the
Depositary and the Custodian a copy of the notice thereof in the English
language but otherwise in the form given or to be given to holders of Shares or
of other Deposited Securities. The Company shall also furnish to the
Custodian and the Depositary a summary, in English, of any applicable provisions
or proposed provisions of the Articles of Association of the Company that may be
relevant or pertain to such notice of meeting or be the subject of a vote
thereat.
The
Company will also transmit to the Depositary English-language versions of the
other notices, reports and communications which are made generally available by
the Company to holders of its Shares or other Deposited
Securities. The Depositary shall arrange, if so requested by the
Company and at the Company's expense, for prompt provision of copies thereof to
all Holders, or, at the reasonable request of the Company, shall also make such
notices, reports and communications available to all Holders in the same manner
as the Company makes them generally available to holders of Shares or on such
other basis as the Company may advise the Depositary as being required by any
law or regulation or any requirement of any stock exchange to which the Company
may be subject, subject to any limitations imposed by United States
law.
The
Depositary will, at the expense of the Company, make available a copy of any
such notices, reports or other communications issued by the Company and
delivered to the Depositary for inspection by the Holders of the GDSs at the
Depositary's Principal Office, at the office of the Custodian and at any other
designated transfer office.
34
SECTION
5.09. Issuance
of Additional Shares, GDSs etc. The Company agrees that in the
event it or any of its Affiliates proposes (i) an issuance, sale or distribution
of additional Shares, (ii) an offering of rights to subscribe for Shares or
other Deposited Securities, (iii) an issuance or assumption of securities
convertible into or exchangeable for Shares, (iv) an issuance of rights to
subscribe for securities convertible into or exchangeable for Shares, (v) an
elective dividend of cash or Shares, (vi) a redemption of Deposited Securities,
(vii) a meeting of holders of Deposited Securities, or solicitation of consents
or proxies, relating to any reclassification of securities, merger or
consolidation or transfer of assets, (viii) any assumption, reclassification,
recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale of assets which
affects the Deposited Securities, or (ix) a distribution of securities other
than Shares, it will obtain U.S. legal advice and take all steps necessary to
ensure that the proposed transaction does not violate the registration
provisions of the Securities Act, or any other applicable laws (including,
without limitation, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Exchange
Act and the securities laws of the states of the U.S.). In support of
the foregoing, the Company will furnish to the Depositary (a) a written opinion
of U.S. counsel (reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary) stating whether such
transaction (1) requires a registration statement under the Securities Act
to be in effect or (2) is exempt from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act and (b) an opinion of Indian counsel stating that (1) making the
transaction available to Holders and Beneficial Owners does not violate the laws
or regulations of India and (2) all requisite regulatory consents and approvals
have been obtained in India. If the filing of a registration
statement is required, the Depositary shall not have any obligation to proceed
with the transaction unless it shall have received evidence reasonably
satisfactory to it that such registration statement has been declared
effective. If, being advised by counsel, the Company determines that
a transaction is required to be registered under the Securities Act, the Company
will either (i) register such transaction to the extent necessary, (ii) alter
the terms of the transaction to avoid the registration requirements of the
Securities Act or (iii) direct the Depositary to take specific measures, in each
case as contemplated in this Agreement, to prevent such transaction from
violating the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The
Company agrees with the Depositary that neither the Company nor any of its
Affiliates will at any time (i) deposit any Shares or other Deposited
Securities, either upon original issuance or upon a sale of Shares or other
Deposited Securities previously issued and reacquired by the Company or by any
such Affiliate, or (ii) issue additional Shares, rights to subscribe for such
Shares, securities convertible into or exchangeable for Shares or rights to
subscribe for such securities or distribute securities other than Shares, unless
such transaction and the securities issuable in such transaction do not violate
the registration provisions of the Securities Act, or any other applicable laws
(including, without limitation, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,
the Exchange Act and the securities laws of the states of the
U.S.).
Notwithstanding
anything else contained in this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement shall be
deemed to obligate the Company to file any registration statement in respect of
any proposed transaction.
SECTION
5.10. Indemnification. The Company
agrees to indemnify the Depositary, each Custodian and their officers, directors
and employees against, and hold each of them harmless from, any direct liability
or expense which may arise in connection with the offer, issuance, sale, resale,
withdrawal or transfer of GDSs, GDRs or Shares and any offering documents
relating thereto or which may arise out of acts performed or omitted, including
but not limited to any delivery by the Depositary on behalf of the Company of
information regarding the Company or the exercise of voting rights or giving a
proxy or power of attorney to vote the Shares in accordance with the provisions
of Section 4.09 hereof, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and
of the GDRs, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to
time, in any such case, (i) by either the Depositary or any Custodian or any of
their respective agents, except for any liability or expense arising out of the
negligence or bad faith of either of them, or (ii) by the Company or any of its
agents, except to the extent that such liability or expense arises out of
information or the omission of information relating to the Depositary or to the
Custodian, as the case may be, furnished in writing to the Company by the
Depositary or the Custodian expressly for use in any document relating to the
GDSs.
35
The
Depositary agrees to indemnify the Company and its officers, directors and
employees and hold them harmless from any direct liability or expense which may
arise out of acts performed or omitted by the Depositary or Citibank, N.A.
Mumbai in its capacity as custodian due to the negligence or bad faith of the
Depositary or Citibank, N.A. Mumbai in its capacity as Custodian.
Any
person seeking indemnification hereunder (an “indemnified person”) shall notify
the person from whom it is seeking indemnification (the “indemnifying person”)
of the commencement of any indemnifiable action or claim promptly after such
indemnified person becomes aware of such commencement and shall consult in good
faith with the indemnifying person as to the conduct of the defense of such
action or claim, which defense shall be reasonable under the
circumstances. No indemnified person shall compromise or settle any
action or claim without the consent of the indemnifying person.
The
obligations set forth in this Section 5.10 shall survive the termination of this
Agreement and the succession or substitution of any person indemnified
hereby.
SECTION
5.11. Certain
Rights of the Depositary; Limitations. The Depositary,
its agents and its Affiliates on their own behalf may own and deal in any class
of securities of the Company and their Affiliates and in GDSs. At the
direction of the Company, the Depositary may cause the issuance of GDSs against
rights to receive Shares from the Company, or any custodian, registrar, transfer
agent, clearing agency or other entity involved in ownership or transaction
records on behalf of the Company in respect of the Shares. Such
evidence of rights shall consist of written blanket or specific guarantees of
ownership of Shares furnished on behalf of the holder
thereof. Neither the Depositary nor the Custodian, in their
respective capacities as such, shall lend Shares or GDSs; provided, however, that the
Depositary may (i) issue GDSs prior to the receipt of Shares pursuant to Section
2.03 and (ii) deliver Shares prior to the receipt and cancellation of GDSs
pursuant to Section 2.06, including GDSs which were issued under (i) above but
for which Shares may not have been received (each such transaction a
“Pre-Release Transaction”). The Depositary may receive GDSs in lieu
of Shares under (i) above and receive Shares in lieu of GDSs under (ii)
above. Each such Pre-Release Transaction will be (a) subject to
a written agreement whereby the person or entity (the “Applicant”) to whom GDSs
or Shares are to be delivered (w) represents that at the time of the Pre-Release
Transaction the Applicant or its customer owns the Shares or GDSs that are to be
delivered by the Applicant under such Pre-Release Transaction, (x) agrees to
indicate the Depositary as owner of such Shares or GDSs in its records and to
hold such Shares or GDSs in trust for the Depositary until such Shares or GDSs
are delivered to the Depositary or the Custodian, (y) unconditionally guarantees
to deliver to the Depositary or the Custodian, as applicable, such Shares or
GDSs, and (z) agrees to any additional restrictions or requirements that the
Depositary deems appropriate, (b) at all times fully collateralized with cash,
U.S. government securities 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 Depositary will normally
limit the number of GDSs and Shares involved in such Pre-Release Transactions at
any one time to thirty percent (30%) of the GDSs outstanding (without giving
effect to GDSs outstanding under (i) above), 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 also set limits with
respect to the number of GDSs and Shares involved in Pre-Release Transactions
with any one person on a case by case basis as it deems
appropriate.
36
The
Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received by it in
connection with the foregoing. Collateral provided pursuant to (b)
above, but not the earnings thereon, shall be held for the benefit of the
Holders (other than the Applicant).
ARTICLE
VI
AMENDMENT AND
TERMINATION
SECTION
6.01. Amendment/Supplement. The GDRs
outstanding at any time, the provisions of this Agreement and the form of GDR
attached hereto and to be issued under the terms hereof may at any time and from
time to time be amended or supplemented by agreement between the Company and the
Depositary in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable without the
prior consent of Holders and Beneficial Owners. Any amendment or
supplement which shall impose or increase any fees, charges or expenses (other
than charges in connection with foreign exchange control regulations, taxes, or
other governmental charges, delivery and other such expenses), or which shall
otherwise materially prejudice any substantial existing right of Holders or
Beneficial Owners, shall not, however, become effective as to outstanding GDSs
until the expiration of 30 days after notice of such amendment or supplement
shall have been given to the Holders of outstanding GDSs. Notice of
any amendment to this Agreement or any GDR shall not need to describe in detail
the specific amendments effectuated thereby, and failure to describe the
specific amendments in any such notice shall not render such notice invalid,
provided, however, that, in each such case, the notice given to the Holders
identifies a means for Holders and Beneficial Owners to retrieve or receive the
text of such amendment (i.e., upon retrieval from the Commission's, the
Depositary's or the Company's website or upon request from the
Depositary). The parties hereto agree that any amendments or
supplements which (i) are reasonably necessary (as agreed by the Company and the
Depositary) in order for (a) the GDSs to be registered on Form F-6 under the
Securities Act or (b) the GDSs to be settled solely in electronic book-entry
form and (ii) do not in either such case impose or increase any fees or charges
to be borne by Holders, shall be deemed not to materially prejudice any
substantial rights of Holders or Beneficial Owners. Every Holder and
Beneficial Owner at the time any amendment or supplement so becomes effective
shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such GDSs, to consent and agree to such
amendment or supplement and to be bound by this Agreement as amended
thereby. In no event may any amendment impair the right of any Holder
to surrender such Holder's GDS and receive the Deposited Securities represented
thereby, except to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable
law.
37
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if any governmental body should adopt new laws, rules or
regulations which would require an amendment or supplement of the Agreement, the
GDRs or the form of GDR attached hereto to ensure compliance therewith, the
Company and the Depositary may amend or supplement the Agreement, the form of
GDR and any GDRs outstanding, at any time in accordance with such changed laws,
rules or regulations. Such amendment or supplement to the Agreement,
the form of GDR and any GDRs in such circumstances may become effective before a
notice of such amendment or supplement is given to Holders or within any other
period of time as required for compliance with such laws, rules or
regulations.
SECTION
6.02. Termination. The Depositary
shall at any time at the direction of the Company, terminate this Agreement by
providing notice of such termination to the Holders of all GDSs then outstanding
at least 30 days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination. If
90 days shall have expired after (i) the Depositary shall have delivered to the
Company a written notice of its election to resign, or (ii) the Company shall
have delivered to the Depositary a written notice of the removal of the
Depositary, and, in either case, a successor depositary shall not have been
appointed and accepted its appointment as provided in Section 5.05 of this
Agreement, the Depositary may terminate this Agreement by distributing notice of
such termination to the Holders of all GDSs then outstanding at least 30 days
prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination. On and
after the date of termination of this Agreement, the Holder of a GDS will, upon
surrender of such GDS at the Principal Office of the Depositary, upon the
payment of the charges of the Depositary for the surrender of GDSs referred to
in Section 2.06 hereto and subject to the conditions and restrictions therein
set forth, and upon payment of any applicable taxes or governmental charges, be
entitled to Delivery, to him/her or upon his/her order, of the amount of
Deposited Securities represented by such GDS. If any GDSs shall
remain outstanding after the date of termination, the Depositary thereafter
shall discontinue the registration of transfers of GDSs, shall suspend the
distribution of dividends to the Holders thereof, shall not accept deposits of
Shares (and shall instruct each Custodian to act accordingly), and shall not
give any further notices or perform any further acts under this Agreement,
except that the Depositary shall continue to collect dividends and other
distributions pertaining to Deposited Securities, shall sell property and rights
and convert Deposited Securities into cash as provided in this Agreement, and
shall continue to deliver Deposited Securities or the proceeds thereof, as
permitted by applicable law, together with any dividends or other distributions
received with respect thereto and the net proceeds of the sale of any Shares,
rights or other property, in all such cases, without liability for interest, in
exchange for GDSs surrendered to the Depositary after deducting or charging, as
the case may be in each case the charges of the Depositary, any expense for the
account of the Holders in accordance with this Agreement and any applicable
taxes or governmental charges or assessments. At any time after the
expiration of six months from the date of termination, the Depositary may sell
the Deposited Securities then held hereunder and hold the net proceeds of any
such sale, together with any other cash then held by it hereunder, without
liability for interest, for the pro rata benefit of the
Holders of GDSs which have not theretofore been surrendered. After
making such sale, the Depositary shall be discharged from all obligations under
this Agreement, except to account for such net proceeds and other
cash. Upon the termination of this Agreement, the Company shall be
discharged from all obligations under this Agreement except for its obligations
to the Depositary under Sections 5.06, 5.10 and 7.06 hereof. The
obligations of the Depositary under Section 5.10 hereof shall survive the
termination of this Agreement. The obligations under the terms of
this Agreement of Holders and Beneficial Owners of GDSs outstanding as of the
date of termination shall survive such termination and shall be discharged only
when the applicable GDSs are presented by their Holders to the Depositary for
cancellation under the terms of this Agreement.
38
ARTICLE
VII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION
7.01. Counterparts. This 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 Agreement shall be filed with the Depositary and each
Custodian and shall be open to inspection by any Holder at the Principal Office
of the Depositary and the principal office of any Custodian during business
hours.
SECTION
7.02. No
Third-Party Beneficiaries. This 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. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to give rise to a
partnership or joint venture among the parties nor establish a fiduciary or
similar relationship among the parties. The parties hereto
acknowledge and agree that (i) the Depositary and its Affiliates may at any time
have multiple banking relationships with the Company and its Affiliates, (ii)
the Depositary and its Affiliates may be engaged at any time in transactions in
which parties adverse to the Company or the Holders or Beneficial Owners may
have interests and (iii) nothing contained in this Agreement shall (a) preclude
the Depositary or any of its Affiliates from engaging in such transactions or
establishing or maintaining such relationships, and (b) obligate the Depositary
or any of its Affiliates to disclose such transactions or relationships or to
account for any profit made or payment received in such transactions or
relationships.
SECTION
7.03. Severability. In case any one
or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement or in the GDRs 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. Holders
and Beneficial Owners as Parties; Binding Effect. The Holders and
the Beneficial Owners will be parties to this Agreement and will be bound by all
of the terms and conditions hereof and of any GDR evidencing their GDSs by
acceptance thereof or by acquisition of any beneficial interest
therein.
SECTION
7.05. Notices. Any and all
notices to be given to the Company shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been duly given if personally delivered, or sent by mail (if domestic,
first class, if overseas, first class airmail) or air courier, or by cable,
telex or facsimile transmission confirmed by letter sent by mail or air courier,
addressed to the Company at its principal office located at B-Wing, Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, 0xx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxx (X), Xxxxxx – 400093, Maharashtra, India,
Attention: Xx. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Company Secretary, UltraTech Cement
Limited, or to any other address which the Company may specify in
writing.
39
Any and
all notices to be given to the Depositary shall be in writing and shall be
deemed go have been duly given if personally delivered, or sent by mail (if
domestic, first class, if overseas, first class airmail) or air courier, or by
cable, telex or facsimile transmission confirmed by letter sent by mail or air
courier, addressed to Citibank, N.A., 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx
00000, Attention: ADR Department or to any other address which the
Depositary may specify by notice.
Any and
all notices to be given to the Custodian shall be deemed to have been duly given
if personally delivered or sent by mail (if domestic, first class, if overseas,
first class airmail) or air courier, or by cable, telex or facsimile
transmission confirmed by letter sent by mail or air courier, addressed to
Citibank, N.A., Mumbai Branch, 81 Xx. Xxxxx Xxxxxx Road, Worli, Mumbai 400 018,
or to any other address which the Custodian may specify in writing to the
Company. Any and all notices to be given to any Holder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a) personally delivered,
or sent by mail (if domestic, first class, if overseas, first class airmail) or
air courier, or by cable, telex or facsimile transmission confirmed by letter
sent by mail or air courier, addressed to such Holder at the address of such
Holder as it appears on the transfer books of the Depositary, or, if such Holder
shall have filed with the Depositary a written request that notices intended for
such Holder be mailed to some other address, at the address specified in such
request or (b) if a Holder shall have designated such means of notification as
an acceptable means of notification under the terms of this Agreement, by means
of electronic messaging addressed for delivery to the e-mail address designated
by the Holder for such purpose. Notice to Holders shall be deemed to
be notice to Beneficial Owners for all purposes of this
Agreement. Failure to notify a Holder or any defect in the
notification to a Holder shall not affect the sufficiency of notification to
other Holders or to the Beneficial Owners of GDSs held by such other
Holders.
Delivery
of a notice sent by mail or air courier shall be deemed to be effective three
days (in the case of domestic mail or air courier) or seven days (in the case of
overseas mail) after dispatch, and any notice sent by cable, telex or facsimile
transmission as provided in this Section shall be deemed to be effective 24
hours after dispatch. The Depositary or the Company may, however, act
upon any cable, telex or facsimile transmission received by it from the other or
from any Holder, notwithstanding that such cable, telex or facsimile
transmission shall not subsequently be confirmed by letter as
aforesaid.
Delivery
of a notice by means of electronic messaging shall be deemed to be effective at
the time of the initiation of the transmission by the sender (as shown on the
sender’s records), notwithstanding that the intended recipient retrieves the
message at a later date, fails to retrieve such message, or fails to receive
such notice on account of its failure to maintain the designated e-mail address,
its failure to designate a substitute e-mail address or for any other
reason.
SECTION
7.06. Governing
Law. This Agreement
and the GDRs shall be interpreted in accordance with, and all rights hereunder
and thereunder and provisions hereof and thereof shall be governed by, the laws
of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be wholly performed
in that State. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement,
any GDR or any present or future provisions of the laws of the State of New
York, the rights of holders of Shares and of any other Deposited Securities and
the obligations and duties of the Company in respect of the holders of Shares
and other Deposited Securities, as such, shall be governed by the
laws of India (or, if applicable, such other laws as may govern the Deposited
Securities).
40
Except as
set forth in the following paragraph of this Section 7.06, the Company and the
Depositary agree that the federal or state courts in the City of New York shall
have jurisdiction to hear and determine any suit, action or proceeding and to
settle any dispute between them that may arise out of or in connection with this
Agreement and, for such purposes, each irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive
jurisdiction of such courts.
The
Company hereby irrevocably designates, appoints and empowers for a period of one
year CT Corporation System (the “Agent”) now at 000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, as its authorized agent to receive on its
behalf service by mail of any and all legal process, summons, notices and
documents that may be served in any suit, action or proceeding brought against
the Company in any federal or state court as described in the preceding sentence
or in the next paragraph of this Section 7.06, and the Company agrees to renew
such appointment as necessary to maintain such appointment throughout the term
of this Agreement. If for any reason the Agent shall cease to be
available to act as such, the Company agrees to designate a new agent in New
York on the terms and for the purposes of this Section 7.06 reasonably
satisfactory to the Depositary. The Company further hereby irrevocably consents
and agrees to the service of any and all legal process, summons, notices and
documents in any suit, action or proceeding against the Company, by service by
mail of a copy thereof upon the Agent (whether or not the appointment of such
Agent shall for any reason prove to be ineffective or such Agent shall fail to
accept or acknowledge such service), with a copy mailed to the Company by
registered or certified air mail, postage prepaid, to its address provided in
Section 7.05 hereof. The Company agrees that the failure of the Agent
to give any notice of such service to it shall not impair or affect in any way
the validity of such service or any judgment rendered in any action or
proceeding based thereon.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Depositary and the Company unconditionally agree that in the
event that a Holder or Beneficial Owner brings a suit, action or proceeding
against (a) the Company, (b) the Depositary in its capacity as Depositary
under this Agreement or (c) against both the Company and the Depositary, in any
such case, in any state or federal court of the U.S., and the Depositary or the
Company have any claim, for indemnification or otherwise, against each other
arising out of the subject matter of such suit, action or proceeding, then the
Company and the Depositary may pursue such claim against each other in the state
or federal court in the U.S. in which such suit, action, or proceeding is
pending and, for such purposes, the Company and the Depositary irrevocably
submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts. The Company
agrees that service of process upon the Agent in the manner set forth in the
preceding paragraph shall be effective service upon it for any suit, action or
proceeding brought against it as described in this paragraph.
The
Company irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted
by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue
of any actions, suits or proceedings brought in any court as provided in this
Section 7.06, and hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, and agrees not to plead or claim in any such
court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in any such court has
been brought in an inconvenient forum.
41
The
Company irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted
by law, and agrees not to plead or claim, any right of immunity from legal
action, suit or proceeding, 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, from execution of
judgment, or from any other legal process or proceeding for the giving of any
relief or for the enforcement of any judgment, and consents to such relief and
enforcement against it, its assets and its revenues in any jurisdiction, in each
case with respect to any matter arising out of, or in connection with, this
Agreement, any GDR or the Deposited Securities.
No
disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act is intended by any provision of
this Agreement. The provisions of this Section 7.06 shall survive any
termination of this Agreement, in whole or in part and the succession or
substitution of any party hereto.
SECTION
7.07. Indian
Law References. Any summary of
Indian laws and regulations and of the terms of the Company's Memorandum and
Articles of Association set forth in this Agreement have been provided by the
Company solely for the convenience of Holders, Beneficial Owners and the
Depositary. While such summaries are believed by the Company to be
accurate as of the date of this Agreement, (i) they are summaries and as
such may not include all aspects of the materials summarized applicable to a
Holder or Beneficial Owner, and (ii) these laws and regulations and the
Company's Memorandum and Articles of Association may change after the date of
this Agreement. Neither the Depositary nor the Company has any
obligation under the terms of this Agreement to update any such
summaries.
SECTION
7.08. Prohibition
of Assignment. Neither the
Company nor the Depositary may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or
obligations hereunder, except as otherwise provided herein, including without
limitation, Section 5.05 hereof.
SECTION
7.09. Compliance
with U.S. Securities Laws. Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement or the GDRs, the withdrawal or delivery of
Deposited Securities will not be suspended by the Company or the Depositary
except as would be permitted by Instruction I.A.(1) of the General Instructions
to Form F-6 Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, under the
Securities Act.
SECTION
7.10. Amendment
and Restatement. The Depositary
shall arrange to have new GDRs printed that reflect the form of GDR attached to
this Agreement. All GDRs issued hereunder after the date hereof,
whether upon the deposit of Shares or other Deposited Securities or upon the
transfer, combination or split-up of existing GDRs, shall be substantially in
the form of the specimen GDR attached as Exhibit A
hereto. However, Global depositary receipts issued prior to the date
hereof under the terms of the Original Deposit Agreement and outstanding as of
the date hereof, which do not reflect the form of GDR attached hereto as Exhibit A, do not
need to be called in for exchange and may remain outstanding until such time as
the Holders thereof choose to surrender them for any reason under this
Agreement. The Depositary is authorized and directed to take any and
all actions deemed necessary to effect the foregoing.
The
Company hereby instructs the Depositary to (i) promptly send notice of the
execution of this Agreement to all holders of global depositary
shares outstanding under the Original Deposit Agreement as of the date hereof
and (ii) inform holders of global depositary shares issued as “certificated
global depositary shares” and outstanding under the Original Deposit Agreement
as of the date hereof that they have the opportunity, but are not required, to
exchange their Global depositary receipts for one or more GDR(s) issued pursuant
to this Agreement.
42
Holders
and Beneficial Owners of global depositary shares issued pursuant to the
Original Deposit Agreement and outstanding as of the date hereof, shall, from
and after the date hereof, be deemed Holders and Beneficial Owners of GDSs
issued pursuant and be subject to all of the terms and conditions of this
Agreement in all respects, provided, however, that any term of this Agreement
that prejudices any substantial existing right of holders or beneficial owners
of global depositary shares issued under the Original Deposit Agreement shall
not become effective as to Holders and Beneficial Owners until thirty (30) days
after notice of the amendments effectuated by this Agreement shall have been
given to holders of GDSs outstanding as of the date hereof.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed this Agreement as of the day
and year first above set forth and all Holders and Beneficial Owners shall
become parties hereto upon acceptance by them of GDSs issued in accordance with
the terms hereof or upon acquisition of any beneficial interest
therein.
ULTRATECH
CEMENT LIMITED
By:
Name:
Title:
CITIBANK,
N.A.
By:
Name:
Title:
43
EXHIBIT
A
[FORM
OF GDR]
Number___________
|
CUSIP
Number________
|
||
Global
Depositary Shares (each Global Depositary Share representing the right to
receive two (2) Fully Paid equity
shares)
|
GLOBAL
DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
FOR
GLOBAL
DEPOSITARY SHARES
representing
DEPOSITED
EQUITY SHARES
of
UltraTech
Cement Limited
(Incorporated
in the Republic of India as a
public
company with limited liability)
THE
HOLDER HEREOF, BY PURCHASING THIS SECURITY, AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ISSUER
THAT THIS SECURITY AND THE GLOBAL DEPOSITARY SHARES EVIDENCED HEREBY MAY NOT AT
ANY TIME BE OFFERED OR SOLD DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY TO ANY PERSON IN INDIA OR TO,
OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, A RESIDENT OF INDIA, EXCEPT TO INDIAN MUTUAL
FUNDS REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA.
THE
SHARES REPRESENTED BY THE GDSs EVIDENCED HEREBY WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR
WITHDRAWAL UNLESS AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO SUCH SHARES ON DEPOSIT WITH THE CUSTODIAN
HAS BEEN BOTH LISTED FOR TRADING ON THE INDIAN STOCK EXCHANGES AND
DE-MATERIALIZED.
A-1
CITIBANK,
N.A., a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of
the United States of America, as Depositary (the “Depositary”), hereby certifies
that __________ is the owner of _____________ Global Depositary Shares
(hereinafter “GDS”) representing deposited equity shares, including evidence of
rights to receive such equity shares (the “Shares”), of UltraTech Cement
Limited, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the Republic of
India as a public company (the “Company”). As of the date of the Deposit
Agreement (as hereinafter defined), each GDS represents two (2) Shares deposited
under the Deposit Agreement with the Custodian, which at the date of execution
of the Deposit Agreement is Citibank, N.A., Mumbai Branch (the
“Custodian”). The GDS(s)-to-Share(s) ratio is subject to amendment as
provided in Articles IV and VI of the Deposit Agreement. The
Depositary’s Principal Office is located at 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx
Xxxx 00000, X.X.X.
(1) The
Deposit Agreement. This Global
Depositary Receipt is one of an issue of Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”),
all issued and to be issued upon the terms and conditions set forth in the
Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of [DATE], 2010 (as amended and
supplemented from time to time, the “Deposit Agreement”), by and among the
Company, the Depositary and all Holders and Beneficial Owners from time to time
of GDSs issued thereunder, which amended and restated the International Deposit
Agreement, dated as of May 27, 2007. The Deposit Agreement sets forth
the rights and obligations of Holders and Beneficial Owners of GDSs 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 Principal Office of the Depositary
and with the Custodian. Each Holder and each Beneficial Owner, upon
acceptance of any GDSs (or any interest therein) issued in accordance with the
terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, shall be deemed for all purposes
to (a) be a party to and bound by the terms of the Deposit Agreement and the
applicable GDR(s), and (b) appoint the Depositary its attorney-in-fact, with
full power to delegate, to act on its behalf and to take any and all actions
contemplated in the Deposit Agreement and the applicable GDR(s), to adopt any
and all procedures necessary to comply with applicable law and to take such
action as the Depositary in its sole discretion may deem necessary or
appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Deposit Agreement and the
applicable GDR(s), the taking of such actions to be the conclusive determinant
of the necessity and appropriateness thereof.
The
statements made on the face and reverse of this GDR 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.
All capitalized terms used herein which are not otherwise defined herein shall
have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Deposit Agreement. The
Depositary has made arrangements for the acceptance of the GDSs into
DTC. Each Beneficial Owner of GDSs held through DTC must rely on the
procedures of DTC and the DTC Participants to exercise and be entitled to any
rights attributable to such GDSs. The Depositary may issue
Uncertificated GDSs subject, however, to the terms and conditions of Section
2.13 of the Deposit Agreement.
A-2
(2) Surrender
of GDSs and Withdrawal of Deposited Securities. Subject to the
receipt by the Depositary and/or Custodian (as the case may be) of written
confirmation from the Company of the dematerialization of the Shares and the
receipt of listing and trading approvals from the Indian Stock Exchanges,
the Holder of this
GDR (and of the GDSs evidenced hereby) shall be entitled to Delivery (at the
Custodian’s designated office) of the Deposited Securities at the time
represented by the GDSs upon satisfaction of each of the following conditions:
(i) the Holder (or a duly-authorized attorney of the Holder) has duly
Delivered to the Depositary at its Principal Office the GDSs evidenced hereby
(and, if applicable, this GDR) for the purpose of withdrawal of the Deposited
Securities represented thereby, (ii) if applicable and so required by the
Depositary, this GDR Delivered to the Depositary for such purpose has been
properly endorsed in blank or is accompanied by proper instruments of transfer
in blank (including signature guarantees in accordance with standard securities
industry practice), (iii) if so required by the Depositary, the Holder of
the GDSs has executed and delivered 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 the person(s) designated in such order, and (iv)
all applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and
all applicable taxes and governmental charges (as are set forth in
Section 5.06 of, and Exhibit B to, the
Deposit Agreement) have been paid, subject, however, in each
case, to the terms and conditions of this GDR evidencing the surrendered
GDSs, of the Deposit Agreement, of the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of
Association and of any applicable laws and the rules of the Indian Central
Depository System, and to any provisions of or governing the Deposited
Securities, in each case as in effect at the time thereof. Such
delivery of Deposited Securities shall be made without unreasonable
delay. The Depositary shall restrict the withdrawal of designated
Deposited Securities whenever it is notified in writing by the Company that such
withdrawal would result in a breach of ownership restrictions under applicable
Indian law, subject, however, to Section 2.07 of the Deposit
Agreement. Certificates for withdrawn Deposited Securities may
contain such legends, and the withdrawn Deposited Securities may be subject to
such transfer restrictions or certifications, as the Company or the Depositary
may from time to time determine to be necessary for compliance with applicable
laws.
The
Company has informed the Depositary that, under Indian laws, practices and
procedures as in effect as of the date hereof, no Shares may be withdrawn upon
presentation of GDSs (and if applicable, the GDRs evidencing such GDSs) for
cancellation under Section 2.06 of the Deposit Agreement until (i) the Company
has delivered written confirmation that the number of Shares requested for
withdrawal have been listed for trading on the Indian Stock Exchanges (such
Shares, the “Listed
Shares”) to the Custodian, (ii) the Listed Shares have been
de-materialized (such Shares, the “De-Materialized
Shares,” and Shares that are both Listed Shares and De-Materialized
Shares, hereinafter referred to as the “Final Shares”), and
(iii) an equivalent number of Final Shares are available at the facilities of
the Custodian. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that
(a) the Depositary will deliver Shares represented by GDSs (and if applicable,
the GDRs representing such GDSs) presented for cancellation pursuant to Section
2.06 of the Deposit Agreement only to the extent of the number of Final Shares
then on deposit with the Custodian, (b) the Depositary will process
presentations of GDSs for withdrawal of Final Shares under Section 2.06 of the
Deposit Agreement on a first come, first served basis, (c) the Depositary will
complete requests for cancellation of GDSs and withdrawal of the Shares
represented thereby only to the extent of the number of Final Shares at such
time on deposit with the Custodian, (d) the Depositary will refuse to complete a
request for cancellation of GDSs and withdrawal of Shares to the extent the
number of Shares requested for withdrawal exceeds the number of Final Shares at
such time deposited with the Custodian, and (e) the Depositary reserves the
right to suspend withdrawals of Shares under Section 2.06 of the Deposit
Agreement until such time as the requisite number of Final Shares are deposited
with the Custodian. The Company agrees to deliver to the Depositary
and/or the Custodian, as applicable, written confirmation of the number of
Listed Shares deposited with the Custodian under the Deposit Agreement promptly
upon the receipt of confirmation of listing from the Indian Stock Exchanges of
such Shares. The Depositary will instruct the Custodian to deliver to
the Depositary confirmation of the satisfaction of all the requirements for the
de-materialization of the Listed Shares as soon as practicable upon the
de-materialization of such Listed Shares.
A-3
Upon
satisfaction of each of the conditions specified above, the Depositary
(i) shall cancel the GDSs Delivered to it (and, if applicable, the GDRs
evidencing the GDSs so Delivered), (ii) shall direct the Registrar to
record the cancellation of the GDSs so Delivered on the books maintained for
such purpose, and (iii) shall direct the Custodian to Deliver, or cause the
Delivery of, in each case, without unreasonable delay, the Deposited Securities
represented by the GDSs so canceled together with any certificate or other
document of title for the Deposited Securities, or evidence of the electronic
transfer thereof (if available), as the case may be, to or upon the written
order of the person(s) designated in the order delivered to the Depositary for
such purpose, subject however,
in each case, to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, of
this GDR evidencing the GDSs so cancelled, of the Memorandum and Articles of
Association of the Company, of any applicable laws and of the rules of the
Indian Central Depository System, and to the terms and conditions of or
governing the Deposited Securities, in each case as in effect at the time
thereof.
The
Depositary shall not accept surrender of GDSs or written instructions for the
purpose of withdrawal of less than one Share. In addition, the
Depositary shall only honor requests for withdrawal of whole numbers of
Shares. In the case of surrender of GDSs representing
other than a whole number of Shares, the Depositary shall cause delivery of the
appropriate whole number of Shares as hereinabove provided, and shall, at the
discretion of the Depositary, either (i) return to the person surrendering such
GDSs the number of GDSs representing any remaining fractional Shares or (ii)
sell or cause to be sold the fractional Shares represented by the GDSs so
surrendered and remit the proceeds of such sale (net of (a) applicable fees and
charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes withheld) to
the person surrendering the GDSs. Notwithstanding anything else
contained in this GDR or the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may make delivery
at the Principal Office of the Depositary of (i) any cash dividends or cash
distributions, or (ii) any proceeds from the sale of any distributions of
shares or rights, which are at the time held by the Depositary in respect of the
Deposited Securities represented by the GDSs surrendered for cancellation and
withdrawal. At the request, risk and expense of any Holder so
surrendering GDSs represented by the GDR, and for the account of such Holder,
the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to forward (to the extent permitted by
law) any cash or other property (other than securities) held by the Custodian in
respect of the Deposited Securities represented by such GDSs to the Depositary
for delivery at the Principal Office of the Depositary. Such
direction shall be given by letter or, at the request, risk and expense of such
Holder, by cable, telex or facsimile transmission.
A-4
(3) Transfers,
Split-ups and Combinations. Subject to
applicable law and the limitations stated herein and in the Deposit Agreement,
and in this GDR, the Registrar shall register transfers of any GDR (and of the
GDSs represented thereby) on its transfer books if each of the following
conditions has been satisfied: (i) Delivery of any GDR by the Holder thereof in
person or by duly authorized attorney to the Depositary at its Principal Office
for the purpose of effecting a transfer thereof, (ii) the surrendered GDRs have
been properly endorsed or are accompanied by proper instruments of transfer
(including signature guarantees in accordance with standard industry practice),
(iii) the surrendered GDRs have been duly stamped as may be required by any
applicable law, and (iv) all applicable fees and charges of, and expenses
incurred by, the Depositary and all applicable taxes and governmental charges
(as are set forth in the Deposit Agreement) have been
paid. Thereupon, the Depositary shall execute a new GDR or GDRs and
deliver the same to or upon the order of the person entitled
thereto. 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 under the Deposit Agreement.
The
Registrar, subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement and
applicable law, shall upon Delivery to the Depositary at its Principal Office of
this GDR for the purpose of effecting a split-up or combination of such
GDR, and payment of all applicable fees and charges of, and expenses
incurred by, the Depositary and all applicable taxes and governmental charges
(as are set forth in Section 5.06 of the Deposit Agreement) execute and Deliver
a new GDR or GDRs in the name of the same Holder for any authorized number of
GDSs requested, evidencing the same aggregate number of GDSs as the GDR or GDRs
surrendered.
(4) Pre-Conditions
to Registration, Transfer, Etc. As a condition precedent to
the execution and delivery, registration of issuance, transfer, split-up,
combination or surrender of any GDSs for the purpose of withdrawal of any
Deposited Securities, the delivery of any distribution thereon or adjustment to
the Depositary's records in order to reflect deposit of Shares or such transfer
or surrender for withdrawal, the Depositary or the Custodian or the Company by
written instructions to the Depositary may require (i) payment from the Holder,
depositor of Shares or the presenter of GDSs or the presenter of written
instructions of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or other
governmental charge and any stock transfer, custody or registration fee with
respect thereto and payment of any applicable fees as provided in paragraph (10)
of this GDR, (ii) production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and
genuineness of any signature appearing on any form, certification or other
document delivered to the Depositary in connection with the Deposit Agreement,
including but not limited to a signature guarantee in accordance with industry
practice, (iii) compliance with any laws or governmental regulations relating to
depositary receipts in general or to the withdrawal and sale of Deposited
Securities, (iv) 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 and rules and regulations thereunder, and (v) compliance with
such other restrictions, if any, as the Depositary and the Company may establish
consistent with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement.
A-5
Upon
notice to the Company, the issuance of GDSs against, or adjustments in the
records of the Depositary to reflect, deposits of Shares generally or of
particular Shares may be suspended or withheld, or the registration of transfer
of GDSs in particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfers
of GDSs generally may be suspended, or the surrender of outstanding GDSs for the
purpose of withdrawal of Deposited Securities may be suspended, during any
period when the transfer books of the Depositary or the Company (or the
appointed agent of the Company for the transfer and registration of Shares) are
closed, or if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Company or
the Depositary, in good faith at any time or from time to time because of any
requirement of law or of any government or governmental authority, body or
commission or any securities exchange on which the GDSs or Shares are listed, or
under any provision of the Deposit Agreement or the representative GDR(s), if
applicable, or under any provision of, or governing, the Deposited Securities,
or because of a meeting of shareholders of the Company or for any other reason,
subject, in all cases, to paragraph (23). Notwithstanding any
provision of the Deposit Agreement or this GDR to the contrary, Holders are
entitled to surrender outstanding GDSs to withdraw the Deposited Securities
associated herewith at any time 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, (iii) compliance
with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating to the GDSs
or to the withdrawal of the Deposited Securities, and (iv) other circumstances
specifically contemplated by Instruction I.A.(1) of the General Instructions to
Form F-6 (as such General Instructions may be amended from time to
time).
(5) Compliance
With Information Requests. Notwithstanding
any other provision of the Deposit Agreement or this GDR, each Holder and
Beneficial Owner agrees to comply with requests from the Company pursuant to
applicable law, the rules and requirements of the Indian Stock Exchanges, and
any other stock exchange on which the Shares or GDSs are, or will be,
registered, traded or listed or the Memorandum and Articles of Association of
the Company, which are made to provide information, inter alia, as to the
capacity in which such Holder or Beneficial Owner owns GDSs (and Shares, as the
case may be) and regarding the identity of any other person(s) interested in
such GDSs and the nature of such interest and various other matters, whether or
not they are Holders and/or Beneficial Owners at the time of such
request.
A-6
(6) Ownership
Restrictions. Notwithstanding
any other provision of this GDR or the Deposit Agreement, the Company may
restrict transfers of the Shares where such transfer might result in ownership
of Shares exceeding the limits under applicable law or under the Memorandum and
Articles of Association of the Company. The Company may also
restrict, in such manner as it deems appropriate, transfers of the GDSs where
such transfer may result in the total number of Shares represented by the GDSs
owned by a single Holder or Beneficial Owner to exceed any such
limits. The Company may, in its sole discretion but subject to
applicable law, instruct the Depositary to take action with respect to the
ownership interest of any Holder or Beneficial Owner in excess of the limits set
forth in the preceding sentence, including but not limited to, the imposition of
restrictions on the transfer of GDSs, the removal or limitation, of voting
rights or the mandatory sale or disposition on behalf of a Holder or Beneficial
Owner of the Shares represented by the GDSs held by such Holder or Beneficial
Owner in excess of such limitations, if and to the extent such disposition is
permitted by applicable law and the Memorandum and Articles of Association of
the Company.
Applicable
laws and regulations may require holders and beneficial owners of Shares,
including the Holders and Beneficial Owners of GDSs, to satisfy reporting
requirements and obtain regulatory approvals in certain
circumstances. Holders and Beneficial Owners of GDSs are solely
responsible for determining and complying with such reporting requirements and
obtaining such approvals. Each Holder and each Beneficial Owner
hereby agrees to make such determination, file such reports, and obtain such
approvals to the extent and in the form required by applicable laws and
regulations in effect from time to time. Neither the Depositary, the
Custodian, the Company or any of their respective agents or affiliates shall be
required to take any actions whatsoever on behalf of Holders or Beneficial
Owners to determine or satisfy such reporting requirements or obtain such
regulatory approvals under applicable laws and regulations.
(7) Liability
of Holder For Taxes and Other Charges. If any tax or
other governmental charge shall become payable with respect hereto or to any
GDSs or any Deposited Securities represented by the GDSs evidenced hereby, such
tax or other governmental charge shall be payable by the Holder and Beneficial
Owner hereof to the Depositary. The Depositary may (and at the
request of the Company shall) refuse, and the Company shall be under no
obligation, to issue GDSs, deliver GDSs, register the transfer of all or part of
any GDSs, register the split-up or combination of GDRs and (subject to Section
7.09 of the Deposit Agreement) the withdrawal of Deposited Securities until such
payment is made, and may withhold any dividends or other distributions, or may
sell for the account of the Holder hereof any part or all of the Deposited
Securities represented by the GDSs evidenced hereby, and may apply such
dividends or other distributions or the proceeds of any such sale in payment of
such tax or other governmental charge, the Holder and the Beneficial Owners
hereof remaining liable for any deficiency.
A-7
(8) Representations
and Warranties of Depositors. Each person
depositing Shares under the Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to
represent and warrant that such Shares and each certificate therefor are duly
authorized, are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free of any
preemptive (or similar) rights, and that the person making such deposit is duly
authorized so to do, and the Shares presented for deposit are free and clear of
any lien, encumbrance, security interest, charge, mortgage or adverse claim and
that the Shares presented for deposit have not been stripped of any rights or
entitlements and are not, and the GDSs will not be Restricted Securities (except
as contemplated in Section 2.14 of the Deposit Agreement) and the deposit of the
Shares will not violate the registration requirements of the Securities
Act. Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit
and withdrawal of Shares and issuance and cancellation of GDSs or adjustments in
the Depositary's records. Every such person shall also be deemed to represent
and warrant that such person is not and shall not become at any time while such
person holds GDRs or any beneficial interest therein an Affiliate of the
Company. If any such representations or warranties are false in any
way, the Company and the Depositary shall be authorized, at the cost and expense
of the person depositing Shares, to take any and all actions necessary to
correct the consequences thereof.
(9) Filing
Proofs, Certificates and Other Information. Any person
depositing Shares, any Holder or any Beneficial Owner may be required from time
to time to file with the Depositary or the Custodian such proof of citizenship,
residence, exchange control approval, taxpayer status, payment of applicable
taxes or governmental charges, or legal or beneficial ownership of the GDSs and
Deposited Securities and the nature of such interest, compliance with all
applicable laws and the terms of the Deposit Agreement, to provide information
relating to the registration on the books of the Company (or the appointed agent
of the Company for the transfer and registration of Shares) of the Shares
presented for deposit or other information, to execute and deliver such
certificates and to make such representations and warranties as the Depositary,
the Custodian or the Company may deem necessary or proper. The
Depositary and the Registrar, as applicable, may withhold the execution or
delivery or registration of transfer of all or part of any GDS or the
distribution or sale of any dividend or other distribution of rights or of the
proceeds thereof or, to the extent not limited by paragraph (23), the withdrawal
of any Deposited Securities until such proof or other information is filed or
such certificates are executed and delivered or such representations and
warranties are made.
(10) Charges
of Depositary. The Depositary
shall charge the following fees:
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(i)
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Issuance
Fee: to any person depositing Shares or to whom GDSs are
issued upon the deposit of Shares (excluding issuances as a result of
distributions described in paragraph (iv) below), a fee not in excess of
U.S. $5.00 per 100 GDSs (or fraction thereof) so issued under the terms of
the Deposit Agreement;
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(ii)
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Cancellation
Fee: to any person surrendering GDSs for cancellation
and withdrawal of Deposited Securities or to any person to whom Deposited
Securities are delivered, a fee not in excess of U.S. $5.00 per 100 GDSs
(or fraction thereof) surrendered;
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A-8
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(iii)
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Cash Distribution
Fee: to any Holder of GDSs, a fee not in excess of U.S.
$5.00 per 100 GDSs (or fraction thereof) held for the distribution of cash
dividends or other cash distributions (i.e., sale of rights
and other entitlements);
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(iv)
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Stock Distribution
/Rights Exercise Fee: to any Holder of GDS(s), a fee not
in excess of U.S. $5.00 per 100 GDSs (or fraction thereof) held for
(a) the distribution of stock dividends or other free stock
distributions or (b) the exercise of rights to purchase additional
GDSs;
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(v)
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Other Distribution
Fee: to any Holder of GDS(s), a fee not in excess of
U.S. $5.00 per 100 GDSs (or fraction thereof) held for the distribution of
securities other than GDSs or rights to purchase additional GDSs;
and
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(vi)
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Depositary Services
Fee: to any Holder of GDS(s), a fee not in excess of
U.S. $5.00 per 100 GDSs (or fraction thereof) held on the applicable
record date(s) established by the
Depositary.
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In
addition, Holders, Beneficial Owners, persons depositing Shares and persons
surrendering GDSs for cancellation and for the purpose of withdrawing Deposited
Securities shall be responsible for the following charges:
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(a)
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taxes
(including applicable interest and penalties) and other governmental
charges;
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(b)
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such
registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the
registration of Shares or other Deposited Securities on the share register
and applicable to transfers of Shares or other Deposited Securities to or
from the name of the Custodian, the Depositary or any nominees upon the
making of deposits and withdrawals,
respectively;
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(c)
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such
cable, telex and facsimile transmission and delivery expenses as are
expressly provided in the Deposit Agreement to be at the expense of the
person depositing or withdrawing Shares or Holders and Beneficial Owners
of GDSs;
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(d)
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the
expenses and charges incurred by the Depositary in the conversion of
foreign currency;
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A-9
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(e)
|
such
fees and expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in connection with
compliance with exchange control regulations and other regulatory
requirements applicable to Shares, Deposited Securities, GDSs and GDRs;
and
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(f)
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the
fees and expenses incurred by the Depositary, the Custodian, or any
nominee in connection with the delivery or servicing of Deposited
Securities.
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All such
fees and charges may, at any time and from time to time, be changed by agreement
between the Depositary and the Company, but, in the case of fees and charged
payable by Holders and Beneficial Owners, only in the manner contemplated by
paragraph (21) of this GDR and as contemplated in the Deposit
Agreement. The Depositary will provide, without charge, a copy of its
latest fee schedule to anyone upon request.
Depositary
Fees payable upon (i) deposit of Shares against issuance of GDSs and
(ii) surrender of GDSs for cancellation and withdrawal of Deposited
Securities will be charged by the Depositary to the person to whom the GDSs so
issued are delivered (in the case of GDS issuances) and to the person who
delivers the GDSs for cancellation to the Depositary (in the case of GDS
cancellations). In the case of GDSs issued by the Depositary into DTC
or presented to the Depositary via DTC, the GDS issuance and cancellation fees
will be payable to the Depositary by the DTC Participant(s) receiving the GDSs
from the Depositary or the DTC Participant(s) surrendering the GDSs to the
Depositary for cancellation, as the case may be, on behalf of the Beneficial
Owner(s) and will be charged by the DTC Participant(s) to the account(s) of the
applicable Beneficial Owner(s) in accordance with the procedures and practices
of the DTC participant(s) as in effect at the time. Depositary fees
in respect of distributions and the Depositary services fee are payable to the
Depositary by Holders as of the applicable GDS Record Date established by the
Depositary. In the case of distributions of cash, the amount of the
applicable Depositary fees is deducted by the Depositary from the funds being
distributed. In the case of distributions other than cash and the
Depositary service fee, the Depositary will invoice the applicable Holders as of
the GDS Record Date established by the Depositary. For GDSs held
through DTC, the Depositary fees for distributions other than cash and the
Depositary service fee are charged by the Depositary to the DTC Participants in
accordance with the procedures and practices prescribed by DTC from time to time
and the DTC Participants in turn charge the amount of such fees to the
Beneficial Owners for whom they hold GDSs.
The
Depositary may reimburse the Company for certain expenses incurred by the
Company in respect of the GDR program established pursuant to the Deposit
Agreement upon such terms and conditions as the Company and the Depositary may
agree in writing from time to time. The Company shall pay to
the Depositary such fees and charges and reimburse the Depositary for such
out-of-pocket expenses as the Depositary and the Company may agree in writing
from time to time. Responsibility for payment of such charges and
reimbursements may from time to time be changed by agreement between the Company
and the Depositary. Unless otherwise agreed, the Depositary shall
present its statement for such expenses and fees or charges to the Company once
every three months. The charges and expenses of the Custodian are for
the sole account of the Depositary.
A-10
The right
of the Depositary to receive payment of fees, charges and expenses as provided
above shall survive the termination of the Deposit Agreement. As to
any Depositary, upon the resignation or removal of such Depositary as described
in Section 5.05 of the Deposit Agreement, such right shall extend for those
fees, charges and expenses incurred prior to the effectiveness of such
resignation or removal.
(11) Title to
GDRs. It is a condition
of this GDR, and every successive Holder of this GDR by accepting or holding the
same consents and agrees, that title to this GDR (and to each GDS evidenced
hereby) shall be transferable upon the same terms as a certificated security
under the laws of the State of New York, provided that, in the case of
Certificated GDSs, such GDR has been properly endorsed or is accompanied by
proper instruments of transfer. Notwithstanding any notice to the
contrary, the Depositary and the Company may deem and treat the Holder of this
GDR (that is, the person in whose name this GDR is registered on the books of
the Depositary) as the absolute owner hereof for all
purposes. Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall have any
obligation nor be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement or this
GDR to any holder of this GDR or any Beneficial Owner unless, in the case of a
holder of GDSs, such holder is the Holder of this GDR registered on the books of
the Depositary or, in the case of a Beneficial Owner, such Beneficial Owner or
the Beneficial Owner’s representative is the Holder registered on the books of
the Depositary.
(12) Validity
of GDR. The Holder(s) of
this GDR (and the GDSs represented hereby) shall not be entitled to any benefits
under the Deposit Agreement nor shall this GDR (or the GDSs represented hereby)
be valid or enforceable for any purpose against the Depositary or the Company
unless this GDR has been (i) dated, (ii) signed by the manual or facsimile
signature of a duly-authorized signatory of the Depositary, (iii) countersigned
by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly-authorized signatory of the
Registrar, and (iv) registered in the books maintained by the Registrar for the
registration of issuances and transfers of GDRs. A GDR bearing the
facsimile signature of a duly-authorized signatory of the Depositary or the
Registrar, who at the time of signature was a duly authorized signatory of the
Depositary or the Registrar, as the case may be, shall bind the Depositary,
notwithstanding the fact that such signatory has ceased to be so authorized
prior to the delivery of such GDR by the Depositary.
(13) Available
Information; Reports; Inspection of Transfer Books. The Company
publishes the information contemplated in Rule 12g3-2(b)(2)(i) under the
Exchange Act on its internet website or through an electronic information
delivery system generally available to the public in the Company’s primary
trading market. As of the date hereof the Company's internet website
is xxx.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx. The information so published by the
Company may not be in English, except that the Company is required, in order to
maintain its exemption from the Exchange Act reporting obligations pursuant to
Rule 12g3-2(b), to translate such information into English to the extent
contemplated in the instructions to Rule 12g3-2(b). The information
so published by the Company cannot be retrieved from the Commission's internet
website, and cannot be inspected or copied at the public reference facilities
maintained by the Commission located (as of the date of the Deposit Agreement)
at 000 X Xxxxxx, X.X., Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000.
A-11
The
Depositary shall make available for inspection by Holders at its Principal
Office and at the principal office of each Custodian copies of the Deposit
Agreement, any notices, reports or communications, including any proxy
soliciting materials, received from the Company which are both (a) received by
the Depositary or a Custodian or the nominee of either, 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, if so
requested by the Company, also deliver to Holders copies of such notices,
reports and communications when furnished by the Company to the Depositary
pursuant to Section 5.08 of the Deposit Agreement. The furnishing of
copies of such notices, reports and communications by the Company to the
Depositary for transmittal to the Holders shall not constitute a recognition by
the Company that any such persons have rights as legal owners of Shares or that
notification to such persons is necessary under Indian law prior to the Company
taking any corporate action or shareholder vote.
The
Depositary shall keep books at its Principal Office for the registration of GDRs
and transfers of GDRs which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection
by Holders and the Company, provided that such inspection shall not to the
Depositary's knowledge be for the purpose of communicating with Holders in the
interest of a business or object other than the business of the Company or a
matter related to the Deposit Agreement, the GDSs or the GDRs.
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, or when reasonably requested by the Company subject, in all cases, to
paragraph (23).
Dated:
CITIBANK,
N.A.
Transfer
Agent and Registrar
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CITIBANK,
N.A.,
as Depositary
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By
Authorized
Signatory
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By
Vice
President
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The
address of the Principal Office of the Depositary is 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, X.X.X.
A-12
[FORM
OF REVERSE OF GDR]
SUMMARY
OF CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
OF THE
DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
(14) Dividends
and Distributions; Rights. Whenever the
Company intends to make a distribution of a cash dividend or other cash
distribution, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Depositary at least
fifteen (15) days prior to the proposed distribution, specifying, inter
alia,
the record date applicable for determining the holders of Deposited Securities
entitled to receive such distribution. Upon the timely receipt of
such notice, the Depositary shall establish the GDS Record Date upon the terms
described in Section 4.08 of the Deposit Agreement. Upon receipt of
confirmation from the Custodian of the receipt of any cash dividend or other
cash distribution in respect of any Deposited Securities, or upon receipt of
proceeds from the sale of any Deposited Securities or any other entitlements
held in respect of Deposited Securities under the terms hereof, subject to the
provisions of Section 4.07 of the Deposit Agreement, and if in the judgment of
the Custodian or Depositary, such dividend or distribution or proceeds received
in foreign currency may be converted on a practicable basis into dollars which
can, at the time of receipt thereof be transferred to the United States and
distributed to the Holders entitled thereto, then the Custodian or Depositary
shall convert or cause to be converted as promptly as practicable such foreign
currency into dollars and distribute the amount thus received (without liability
for interest and less any reasonable and customary expenses incurred by the
Custodian or Depositary in converting such foreign currency) to the Holders
entitled thereto as of the GDS Record Date in proportion to the number of GDSs
representing such Deposited Securities held by them respectively, after
deduction or upon payment of the fees and expenses of the Depositary in
accordance with Section 5.06 of the Deposit Agreement; provided, however, that in the
event that the Company, the Custodian or the Depositary shall be required to
withhold and does withhold from any cash dividend or other cash distribution in
respect of any Deposited Securities an amount on account of taxes or other
governmental charges, the amount distributed to the Holders in respect of the
GDSs representing such Deposited Securities shall be reduced
accordingly. If at any time in the judgment of the Depositary the
amounts received in foreign currency may not be converted on a reasonable basis
into dollars distributable to the Holders entitled thereto, or may not be so
convertible for all of the Holders entitled thereto, the Depositary may in its
discretion make such conversion, if any, and distribution in dollars to the
extent permissible to the Holders entitled thereto and may distribute the
balance of the foreign currency received and not so convertible by the
Depositary to, or hold such balance for the respective accounts of, the Holders
entitled thereto.
A-13
Whenever
the Company intends to make a free distribution of Shares, the Company shall
give notice thereof to the Depositary at least fifteen (15) days prior to the
proposed distribution, specifying, inter
alia,
the record date applicable for determining the holders of Deposited Securities
entitled to receive such distribution. Upon the timely receipt of
such notice, the Depositary shall establish the GDS Record Date upon the terms
described in Section 4.08 of the Deposit Agreement. Upon receipt of
confirmation from the Custodian of the receipt of the Shares so distributed by
the Company, the Depositary may, and shall, if the Company so requests, either
(i) distribute to the Holders entitled thereto as of the GDS Record Date, in
proportion to the number of GDSs representing such Deposited Securities held by
them respectively, additional GDSs for an aggregate number of GDSs representing
the number of Shares received as such dividend or free distribution or (ii) if
additional GDSs are not so distributed, take all actions necessary so that each
GDS issued and outstanding after the GDS Record Date shall, to the extent
permissible by law, thenceforth also represent rights and interests in the
additional integral number of Shares distributed upon the Deposited Securities
represented thereby, in either case after deduction or upon payment of the fees
and expenses of the Depositary in accordance with Section 5.06 of the Deposit
Agreement; provided, however, that if for
any reason (including any requirement that the Company or the Depositary
withhold an amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges or that
such Shares must be registered under the Securities Act in order to be
distributed to Holders as to which question the Depositary intends to rely on a
legal opinion provided in accordance with Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement)
the Depositary deems such distribution not to be practicable, the Depositary may
(i) adopt such method as it may deem practicable for the purpose of effecting
such distribution, including the public or private sale of the Shares thus
received, or any part thereof, and the prompt distribution of the net proceeds
of any such sale to the Holders entitled thereto as in the case of a
distribution received in cash or (ii) refrain from effecting such distribution
altogether. In lieu of issuing fractional GDSs in any such case, the
Depositary shall sell the number of Shares represented by the aggregate of such
fractions and distribute the net proceeds in dollars, all in the manner and
subject to the conditions described in Section 4.02 of the Deposit
Agreement.
Whenever
the Company intends to make a distribution payable at the election of the
holders of Shares in cash or in additional Shares, the Company shall give notice
thereof to the Depositary at least forty-five (45) days prior to the proposed
distribution specifying, inter alia,
the record date applicable to holders of Deposited Securities entitled to
receive such elective distribution and whether or not it wishes such elective
distribution to be made available to Holders of GDSs. Upon the timely
receipt of a notice indicating that the Company wishes such elective
distribution to be made available to Holders of GDSs, the Depositary shall
consult with the Company to determine, and the Company shall assist the
Depositary in its determination, whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable
to make such elective distribution available to the Holders of
GDSs. The Depositary shall make such elective distribution available
to Holders only if (i) the Company shall have timely requested that the elective
distribution be made available to Holders, (ii) the Depositary shall have
determined that such distribution is reasonably practicable, and (iii) the
Depositary shall have received satisfactory documentation within the terms of
Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement. If the above conditions are
not satisfied, the Depositary shall establish a GDS Record Date on the terms
described in Section 4.08 of the Deposit Agreement and, to the extent permitted
by law, distribute to the Holders, on the basis of the same determination as is
made in India in respect of the Shares for which no election is made, either (X)
cash or (Y) additional GDSs representing such additional Shares, in each case
upon the terms described in the Deposit Agreement. If the above
conditions are satisfied, the Depositary shall establish a GDS Record Date on
the terms described in Section 4.08 of the Deposit Agreement and establish
procedures to enable Holders to elect the receipt of the proposed distribution
in cash or in additional GDSs. Such distribution of cash or
additional GDSs shall be made, in each case, upon the terms described in the
Deposit Agreement. Nothing herein shall obligate the Depositary to
make available to Holders a method to receive the elective distribution in
Shares (rather than GDSs). There can be no assurance that Holders
generally, or any Holder in particular, will be given the opportunity to receive
elective distributions on the same terms and conditions as the holders of
Shares.
A-14
In the
event that the Company offers or causes 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 the Holders entitled thereto,
subject to Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement, or in disposing of such rights
on behalf of such Holders and making the net proceeds available in cash to such
Holders or, if by the terms of such rights offering or by reason of applicable
law, the Depositary may neither make such rights available to such Holders nor
dispose of such rights and make the net proceeds available to such Holders, then
the Depositary shall allow the rights to lapse; provided, however, that the
Depositary will, if requested by the Company, either (a) if it is lawful and
practicable, after deduction or upon payment of the fees and expenses of the
Depositary, make such rights available to all or certain Holders or Beneficial
Owners by means of warrants or instruments in proportion to the number of GDSs
representing such Deposited Securities held by them respectively, or employ such
other method as it may deem practicable in order to facilitate the exercise,
sale or transfer of rights by such Holders if lawful and practicable, or (b) if
making such rights available to certain Holders or Beneficial Owners is not
lawful or not practicable, or if the rights represented by such warrants or
other instruments are not exercised and appear to be about to lapse, make
reasonable efforts to sell such rights or warrants or other instruments, if a
market therefor is available, at public or private sale, at such place or places
and upon such terms as the Depositary may deem proper, and, after deduction or
upon payment of the fees and expenses of the Depositary, allocate the net
proceeds of such sales for the accounts of the Holders otherwise entitled
thereto upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any
distinctions among such Holders because of exchange restrictions or the date of
delivery of any GDR or GDRs, or otherwise, and distribute the net proceeds
allocated to the extent practical as in the case of a distribution pursuant to
Section 4.02 of the Deposit Agreement.
The
Depositary will not offer any rights to the Holders or Beneficial Owners unless
and until a registration statement under the Securities Act is in effect, or
unless the offering and sale of such rights or securities to the Holders and
Beneficial Owners are in the opinion of United States counsel satisfactory to
the Depositary exempt from registration under the provisions of such
Act. There can be no assurance that Holders generally, or any Holder
in particular, will be given the opportunity to receive or exercise rights on
the same terms and conditions as the holders of Shares or be able to exercise
such rights. The Company shall have no obligation to register such
rights or such securities under the Securities Act or other applicable
law.
A-15
Whenever
the Custodian or the Depositary receives any distribution other than cash,
Shares or rights upon any Deposited Securities, the Custodian or the Depositary
shall, as promptly as practicable, cause the securities or property so received
to be distributed to the Holders entitled thereto, after deduction or upon
payment of the fees and expenses of the Depositary in accordance with the terms
of the Deposit Agreement, in proportion to the number of GDSs representing such
Deposited Securities held by them respectively, in any manner that the
Depositary may deem practicable for accomplishing such distribution. If in the
opinion of the Depositary any distribution other than cash, Shares or rights
upon any Deposited Securities, in whole or in part, cannot be made
proportionately among the Holders entitled thereto, or if for any other reason
the Depositary deems such distribution not to be practicable, the Depositary may
adopt such method as it may deem practicable for the purpose of effecting such
distribution, including the public or private sale of the securities or property
thus received, or any part thereof, and the net proceeds of any such sale will
be distributed to the Holders entitled thereto as in the case of a distribution
received in cash.
(15) Fixing of
GDS Record Date. Whenever any cash
dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable or any distribution
other than cash shall be made, or whenever rights shall be issued, with respect
to the Deposited Securities, or whenever, for any reason, the Depositary causes
a change in the number of Shares that are represented by each GDS, or whenever
the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting or solicitation of consents
or proxy of holders of shares or other Deposited Securities or whenever the
Depositary finds it necessary or convenient in respect of any matter, the
Depositary shall fix a record date (the “GDS Record Date”) after consultation
with the Company (which shall be as near as practicable to the corresponding
record date for such distribution or meeting set by the Company) (a) for the
determination of the Holders who will be entitled to receive such dividend,
distribution or rights or the net proceeds of the sale thereof or to receive
notice as to such meeting (b) for fixing the date on or after which each GDS
will represent the changed number of Shares or (c) in respect of other
matters. Subject to applicable law and the provisions of Sections
4.02 through 4.07, 4.09, 4.10 and to the other terms and conditions of the
Deposit Agreement, only the Holders of GDSs at the close of business in New York
on such GDS Record Date shall be entitled to receive the amount distributable by
the Depositary with respect to such dividend or other distribution or such
rights or the net proceeds of the sale thereof and to exercise the rights of
Holders hereunder with respect to such changed number of Shares represented by
each GDS, in proportion to the number of GDSs held by them
respectively.
(16) Voting of
Deposited Securities. Holders and
Beneficial Owners will have no voting rights with respect to the Deposited
Securities. The Depositary will not exercise any voting rights in
respect of the Deposited Securities unless it is required to do so by the law of
the Republic of India.
A-16
As soon
as practicable after receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of
Deposited Securities are entitled to vote, or of solicitation of consents or
proxies from holders of Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall, if requested
in writing by the Company, fix the GDS Record Date for determining the Holders
entitled to receive information as to such meeting or solicitation of consent or
proxy in accordance with Section 4.08 of the Deposit Agreement and shall
distribute to the Holders as of the GDS Record Date: (a) such notice of meeting
or solicitation of consent or proxy, and (b) a statement that the Holders of
GDSs do not have the right to instruct the Depositary to vote the Shares or
other Deposited Securities represented by their GDSs.
Notwithstanding
anything contained in the Deposit Agreement or this GDR, the Depositary may, to
the extent not prohibited by law or regulations, or by the requirements of any
stock exchange on which the GDSs are listed, in lieu of distribution of the
materials provided to the Depositary in connection with any meeting of, or
solicitation of consents or proxies from, holders of Deposited Securities,
distribute to the Holders a notice that provides Holders with, or otherwise
publicize to Holders, instructions on how to retrieve such materials or receive
such materials upon request (i.e., by reference to a
website containing the materials for retrieval or a contact for requesting
copies of the materials.)
If the
Depositary is required by Indian law to exercise any voting rights in respect of
the Deposited Securities, the Depositary will, subject to receipt of an opinion
of the Company’s Indian counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary that
it is required so to do and such action is in conformity with all applicable
laws of the Republic of India, vote the Shares then held on deposit in the same
manner and in the same proportion as the other shareholders of the Company
exercising voting rights in favor of or against any resolution under
consideration before the meeting of the shareholders of the Company. Except as
provided in the foregoing sentence, the Depositary shall not exercise any voting
rights with respect to the Shares and shall have no liability to the Company or
any Holder or Beneficial Owner for any action taken or not taken, as the case
may be, pursuant to Section 4.09 of the Deposit Agreement. By holding
or continuing to hold GDSs, Holders are deemed to consent to the foregoing
voting provisions.
A-17
(17) Changes
Affecting Deposited Securities. Upon any change
in nominal or par value, split-up, consolidation, cancellation or any other
reclassification of Deposited Securities, or upon any recapitalization,
reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company or sale of assets
affecting the Company or to which it is a party, any shares, other securities or
other property which shall be received by the Depositary or the Custodian in
exchange for or in conversion, replacement or otherwise in respect of Deposited
Securities of the Company shall, to the extent permitted by law, be treated as
new Deposited Securities, and the GDSs shall thenceforth represent the right to
receive the new Deposited Securities so received in exchange or conversion,
unless additional or new GDSs are delivered pursuant to the following
sentence. In any such case the Depositary may, with the Company's
approval, and shall, at the Company's request, subject to receipt of an opinion
of counsel satisfactory to the Depositary that such distributions are not in
violation of applicable laws and regulations, (i) issue and deliver additional
GDSs or make appropriate adjustments in its records, as in the case of a stock
dividend on the Shares, (ii) amend the Deposit Agreement and this GDR, (iii)
amend the applicable Registration Statement(s) on Form F-6 as filed with the
Commission in respect of the GDSs, (iv) call for the surrender of outstanding
GDRs to be exchanged for new GDRs, and (v) take such other actions as are
appropriate to reflect the transaction with respect to the GDSs. The
Company agrees to, jointly with the Depositary, amend the Registration Statement
on Form F-6 as filed with the Commission to permit the issuance of such new form
of GDSs. In lieu of delivering fractional GDSs, the Depositary shall
sell the number of Shares or GDSs, as the case may be, represented by the
aggregate of such fractions and distribute the net proceeds upon the terms
described in Section 4.02 of the Deposit Agreement. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if the Depositary determines that any such adjustment, delivery or
exchange is not lawful or practicable, the Depositary may, and shall, if the
Company so requests, subject to receipt of an opinion of counsel satisfactory to
the Depositary that such action is not in violation of applicable laws and
regulations, sell such securities or property at public or private sale and
distribute the net proceeds to the Holders entitled thereto as in the case of a
distribution pursuant to Section 4.02 of the Deposit Agreement. The
Depositary shall not be responsible for (i) any failure to determine that it is
lawful or practicable to make such securities available to Holders in general or
to any Holder in particular, (ii) any foreign exchange exposure or loss incurred
in connection with such sale, or (iii) any liability to the purchaser of such
securities.
Immediately
upon the occurrence of any such change, conversion or exchange covered by the
preceeding paragraph in respect of the Deposited Securities, the Depositary
shall give notice thereof in writing to all Holders.
(18) Withholding. Notwithstanding
any other provision of the Deposit Agreement, in the event that the Depositary
determines that any distribution of property (including Shares or rights to
subscribe therefor and other securities) is subject to any tax or governmental
charges which the Depositary is obligated to withhold, the Depositary may
dispose of all or a portion of such property (including Shares and rights to
subscribe therefor and other securities) in such amounts and in such manner as
the Depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay such taxes or governmental
charges, including by public or private sale, and the Depositary shall
distribute the net proceeds of any such sale or the balance of any such property
after deduction of such taxes or governmental charges to the Holders entitled
thereto in proportion to the number of GDSs held by them respectively and the
Depositary shall, if feasible without withholding for or on account of taxes or
other governmental charges, without registration of such shares or other
securities under the Securities Act and otherwise in compliance with applicable
law, distribute any unsold balance of such property in accordance with the
provisions of the Deposit Agreement.
A-18
(19) Liability
of the Company and the Depositary. Neither the
Depositary nor the Company nor any of their directors, employees, agents or
affiliates shall incur any liability to any Holder, Beneficial Owner or other
person, if by reason of any provision of any present or future law or regulation
of the United States, the Republic of India or any other country or
jurisdiction, or of any other governmental authority or stock exchange, or by
reason of any act of God, terrorism or war or other circumstances beyond its
control, or, in the case of the Depositary, by reason of any provision, present
or future, of the Company's Memorandum or Articles of Association, or of any
securities issued or distributed by the Company, or any offering or distribution
thereof, the Depositary or the Company, or any of their directors, employees,
agents or affiliates, is prevented, delayed or forbidden from, or is 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 the Deposited Securities it is
provided shall be done or performed; nor shall the Depositary, the Company or
any of their directors, employees, agents or affiliates incur any liability to
any Holder, Beneficial Owner or other person by reason of any nonperformance or
delay, caused by any of the aforesaid, in performance of any act or thing which
by the terms of the Deposit Agreement it is provided shall or may be done or
performed, or by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any
discretion provided for in the Deposit Agreement or of the Company's Memorandum
or Articles of Association including, without limitation, any loss occasioned by
sale of Shares. Neither the Company nor the Depositary nor any director,
employee, agent or affiliate of the Depositary or Custodian assumes any
obligation or shall be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement to
Holders, Beneficial Owners or other persons, except that each of them agrees to
act in good faith and without negligence in the performance of such duties as
are specifically set forth in the Deposit Agreement. The legal
relationship created between the Depositary and the Holders and the Beneficial
Owners is not a trust and the Depositary will not be acting as a trustee for the
Holders or the Beneficial Owners. The Depositary and the Company
undertake to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set
forth in the Deposit Agreement, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be
read into the Deposit Agreement against the Depositary or the Company or their
respective agents. Neither the Depositary nor the Company nor any
director, employee, agent or affiliate of the Depositary or the Company shall be
under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other
proceeding in respect of any Deposited Securities or in respect of the GDSs,
which in its opinion may involve it in expense and liability, unless indemnity
satisfactory to it against all expense and liability be furnished as often as
may be required, and no Custodian or agent of the Custodian shall be under any
obligation whatsoever with respect to such proceedings, the responsibility of
the Custodian being solely to the Depositary. Neither the Depositary nor the
Company nor any director, employee, agent or affiliate of the Depositary or the
Company shall be liable for any action or inaction by it in reliance upon the
advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting
Shares for deposit, any Holder or Beneficial Owner, or any other person believed
by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information. Each of
the Depositary and its agents and the Company and their agents may rely and
shall be protected in acting upon any written notice, request, direction or
other document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented
by the proper party or parties. The Depositary shall not incur any
liability for any failure to determine that any distribution or action may be
lawful or reasonably practicable, for the content of any information submitted
to it by the Company for distribution to the Holders or Beneficial Owners or for
any inaccuracy of any translation thereof, for any investment risk associated
with acquiring an interest in the Deposited Securities, for the validity or
worth of the Deposited Securities, for the credit-worthiness of any third party,
or for any tax consequences that may result from the ownership of GDSs, Shares
or Deposited Securities, for allowing any rights to lapse upon the terms the
Deposit Agreement or for the failure or timeliness of any notice from the
Company. Subject to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement, the
Depositary may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company (and their
affiliates) and in GDRs.
A-19
The
Company and the Depositary have each agreed to indemnify the other in certain
circumstances arising out of acts performed or omitted in connection with the
Deposit Agreement, the offer or sale of the GDRs or Shares and any offering
document relating thereto.
(20) Resignation
and Removal of the Depositary; Appointment of Successor Depositary. The Depositary
may at any time resign as Depositary hereunder by 30 days' prior written notice
of its election so to do delivered to the Company, such resignation to take
effect upon the appointment of a qualified successor depositary and its
acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided. The
Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by 60 days' prior written
notice of such removal, which shall become effective upon the appointment of a
qualified 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 (other than as contemplated in Sections 5.06 and 5.10 of
the Deposit Agreement), 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 Holders of all outstanding GDSs and such other
books and records maintained by such predecessor with respect to its function as
Depositary hereunder. Any such successor depositary shall at its own
cost promptly provide notice of its appointment to the Holders. 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.
A-20
(21) Amendment/Supplement. This GDR, the
provisions of the Deposit Agreement and the form of GDR attached thereto may at
any time and from time to time be amended or supplemented by agreement between
the Company and the Depositary in any respect which they may deem necessary or
desirable without the prior consent of Holders and Beneficial
Owners. Any amendment or supplement which shall impose or increase
any fees, charges or expenses (other than charges in connection with foreign
exchange control regulations, taxes, or other governmental charges, delivery and
other such expenses), or which shall otherwise materially prejudice any
substantial existing right of Holders or Beneficial Owners, shall not, however,
become effective as to outstanding GDSs until the expiration of 30 days after
notice of such amendment or supplement shall have been given to the Holders of
outstanding GDSs. Notice of any amendment to the Deposit Agreement or
any GDR shall not need to describe in detail the specific amendments effectuated
thereby, and failure to describe the specific amendments in any such notice
shall not render such notice invalid, provided, however, that, in each such
case, the notice given to the Holders identifies a means for Holders and
Beneficial Owners to retrieve or receive the text of such amendment (i.e., upon
retrieval from the Commission's, the Depositary's or the Company's website or
upon request from the Depositary). The parties to the Deposit
Agreement have agreed that any amendments or supplements which (i) are
reasonably necessary (as agreed by the Company and the Depositary) in order for
(a) the GDSs to be registered on Form F-6 under the Securities Act or (b) the
GDSs to be settled solely in electronic book-entry form and (ii) do not in
either such case impose or increase any fees or charges to be borne by Holders,
shall be deemed not to materially prejudice any substantial rights of Holders or
Beneficial Owners. Every Holder and Beneficial Owner at the time any
amendment or supplement so becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to
hold such GDSs, to consent and agree to such amendment or supplement and to be
bound by the Deposit Agreement as amended thereby. In no event may
any amendment impair the right of any Holder to surrender such Holder's GDS and
receive the Deposited Securities represented thereby, except to comply with
mandatory provisions of applicable law. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if any governmental body should adopt new laws, rules or regulations
which would require an amendment or supplement of the Deposit Agreement, the
form of GDR attached thereto or this GDR to ensure compliance therewith, the
Company and the Depositary may amend or supplement the Deposit Agreement, the
form of GDR attached thereto and this GDR, at any time in accordance with such
changed laws, rules or regulations. Such amendment or supplement to
the Deposit Agreement, the form of GDR attached thereto and this GDR in such
circumstances may become effective before a notice of such amendment or
supplement is given to Holders or within any other period of time as required
for compliance with such laws, rules or regulations..
A-21
(22) Termination. The Depositary
shall at any time at the direction of the Company, terminate the Deposit
Agreement by providing notice of such termination to the Holders of all GDSs
then outstanding at least 30 days prior to the date fixed in such notice for
such termination. If 90 days shall have expired after (i) the Depositary shall
have delivered to the Company a written notice of its election to resign, or
(ii) the Company shall have delivered to the Depositary a written notice of the
removal of the Depositary, and, in either case, a successor depositary shall not
have been appointed and accepted its appointment as provided in Section 5.05 of
the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may terminate the Deposit Agreement by
distributing notice of such termination to the Holders of all GDSs then
outstanding at least 30 days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such
termination. On and after the date of termination of the Deposit
Agreement, the Holder of a GDS will, upon surrender of such GDS at the Principal
Office of the Depositary, upon the payment of the charges of the Depositary for
the surrender of GDSs referred to in Section 2.06 of the Deposit Agreement and
subject to the conditions and restrictions therein set forth, and upon payment
of any applicable taxes or governmental charges, be entitled to Delivery, to
him/her or upon his/her order, of the amount of Deposited Securities represented
by such GDS. If any GDSs shall remain outstanding after the date of
termination, the Depositary thereafter shall discontinue the registration of
transfers of GDSs, shall suspend the distribution of dividends to the Holders
thereof, shall not accept deposits of Shares (and shall instruct each Custodian
to act accordingly), 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 property and rights and convert Deposited Securities into
cash as provided in the Deposit Agreement, and shall continue to deliver
Deposited Securities or the proceeds thereof, as permitted by applicable law,
together with any dividends or other distributions received with respect thereto
and the net proceeds of the sale of any Shares, rights or other property, in all
such cases, without liability for interest, in exchange for GDSs surrendered to
the Depositary after deducting or charging, as the case may be in each case the
charges of the Depositary, any expense for the account of the Holders in
accordance with the Deposit Agreement and any applicable taxes or governmental
charges or assessments. At any time after the expiration of six
months from the date of termination, the Depositary may sell the Deposited
Securities then held under the Deposit Agreement and hold the net proceeds of
any such sale, together with any other cash then held by it under the Deposit
Agreement, without liability for interest, for the pro rata benefit of the
Holders of GDSs which have not theretofore been surrendered. 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. Upon the termination of the Deposit Agreement, the Company
shall be discharged from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement except for
its obligations to the Depositary under Sections 5.06, 5.10 and 7.06
thereof. The obligations of the Depositary under Section 5.10 thereof
shall survive the termination of the Deposit Agreement. The
obligations under the terms of the Deposit Agreement of Holders and Beneficial
Owners of GDSs outstanding as of the date of termination shall survive such
termination and shall be discharged only when the applicable GDSs are presented
by their Holders to the Depositary for cancellation under the terms of the
Deposit Agreement.
(23) Compliance
with U.S. Securities Laws. Notwithstanding
any other provision of the Deposit Agreement or this GDR, the withdrawal or
delivery of Deposited Securities will not be suspended by the Company or the
Depositary except as would be permitted by Instruction I.A.(1) of the General
Instructions to Form F-6 Registration Statement, as amended from time to time,
under the Securities Act..
A-22
(24) Certain
Rights of the Depositary; Limitations. The Depositary,
its agents and its Affiliates on their own behalf may own and deal in any class
of securities of the Company and their Affiliates and in GDSs. At the
direction of the Company, the Depositary may cause the issuance of GDSs against
rights to receive Shares from the Company, or any custodian, registrar, transfer
agent, clearing agency or other entity involved in ownership or transaction
records in respect of the Shares. Such evidence of rights shall
consist of written blanket or specific guarantees of ownership of Shares
furnished on behalf of the holder thereof. Neither the Depositary nor
the Custodian, in their respective capacities as such, shall lend Shares or
GDSs; provided,
however, that
the Depositary may (i) issue GDSs prior to the receipt of Shares pursuant to
Section 2.03 of the Deposit Agreement and (ii) deliver Shares prior to the
receipt and cancellation of GDSs pursuant to Section 2.06 of the Deposit
Agreement, including GDSs which were issued under (i) above but for which Shares
may not have been received (each such transaction a “Pre-Release
Transaction”). The Depositary may receive GDSs in lieu of Shares
under (i) above and receive Shares in lieu of GDSs under (ii)
above. Each such Pre-Release Transaction will be (a) subject to a
written agreement whereby the person or entity (the “Applicant”) to whom GDSs or
Shares are to be delivered (w) represents that at the time of the Pre-Release
Transaction the Applicant or its customer owns the Shares or GDSs that are to be
delivered by the Applicant under such Pre-Release Transaction, (x) agrees to
indicate the Depositary as owner of such Shares or GDSs in its records and to
hold such Shares or GDSs in trust for the Depositary until such Shares or GDSs
are delivered to the Depositary or the Custodian, (y) unconditionally guarantees
to deliver to the Depositary or the Custodian, as applicable, such Shares or
GDSs, and (z) agrees to any additional restrictions or requirements that the
Depositary deems appropriate, (b) at all times fully collateralized with cash,
U.S. government securities 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 Depositary will normally
limit the number of GDSs and Shares involved in such Pre-Release Transactions at
any one time to thirty percent (30%) of the GDSs outstanding (without giving
effect to GDSs outstanding under (i) above), 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 also set limits with
respect to the number of GDSs and Shares involved in Pre-Release Transactions
with any one person on a case by case basis as it deems
appropriate. The Depositary may retain for its own account any
compensation received by it in connection with the
foregoing. Collateral provided pursuant to (b) above, but not the
earnings thereon, shall be held for the benefit of the Holders (other than the
Applicant).
A-23
(ASSIGNMENT
AND TRANSFER SIGNATURE LINES)
FOR VALUE
RECEIVED, the undersigned Holder hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
______________________________ whose taxpayer identification number is
_______________________ and whose address including postal zip code is
________________, the within GDS and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably
constituting and appointing ________________________ attorney-in-fact to
transfer said GDS on the books of the Depositary with full power of substitution
in the premises.
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Dated:
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Name:________________________________
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By:
Title:
NOTICE:
The signature of the Holder to this assignment must correspond with the name as
written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular, without
alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
If the
endorsement be executed by an attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or
guardian, the person executing the endorsement must give his/her full title in
such capacity and proper evidence of authority to act in such capacity, if not
on file with the Depositary, must be forwarded with this GDR.
__________________________
SIGNATURE
GUARANTEED
All
endorsements or assignments of GDRs must be guaranteed by a member of a
Medallion Signature Program approved by the Securities Transfer Association,
Inc.
Legends
[The
GDRs issued in respect of Partial Entitlement Global Depositary Shares shall
bear the following legend on the face of the GDR: “This GDR evidences
GDSs representing 'partial entitlement' equity Shares of UltraTech
Cement Limited and as such do not entitle the holders thereof to the same
per-share entitlement as other equity Shares (which are 'full entitlement'
equity Shares) issued and outstanding at such time. The GDSs
represented by this GDR shall entitle holders to distributions and entitlements
identical to other GDSs when the equity Shares represented by such GDSs become
'full entitlement' equity Shares.”]
A-24
EXHIBIT
B
FEE
SCHEDULE
DEPOSITARY
FEES AND RELATED CHARGES
All
capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning
given to such terms in the Deposit Agreement.
I.
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Depositary
Fees
|
The
Company, the Holders, the Beneficial Owners and the persons depositing Shares or
surrendering GDSs for cancellation agree to pay the following fees of the
Depositary:
Service
|
Rate
|
By
Whom Paid
|
|
(1) |
Issuance
of GDSs upon deposit of Shares (excluding issuances as a result of
distributions described in paragraph (4) below).
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Up
to U.S. $5.00 per 100 GDSs (or fraction thereof) issued.
|
Person
depositing Shares or person receiving GDSs.
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(2) |
Delivery
of Deposited Securities against surrender of GDSs.
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Up
to U.S. $5.00 per 100 GDSs (or fraction thereof)
surrendered.
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Person
surrendering GDSs for the purpose of withdrawal of Deposited Securities or
person to whom Deposited Securities are delivered.
|
(3) |
Distribution
of cash dividends or other cash distributions (i.e., sale of rights
and other entitlements).
|
Up
to U.S. $5.00 per 100 GDSs (or fraction thereof) held.
|
Person
to whom distribution is made.
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(4) |
Distribution
of GDSs pursuant to (i) stock dividends or other free stock distributions,
or (ii) exercise of rights to purchase additional
GDSs.
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Up
to U.S. $5.00 per 100 GDSs (or fraction thereof) held.
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Person
to whom distribution is made.
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(5) |
Distribution
of securities other than GDSs or rights to purchase additional GDSs (i.e., spin-off
shares).
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Up
to U.S. $5.00 per 100 GDSs (or fraction thereof) held.
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Person
to whom distribution is made.
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(6) |
Depositary
Services.
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Up
to U.S. $5.00 per 100 GDSs (or fraction thereof) held on the applicable
record date(s) established by the Depositary.
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Person
holding GDSs on the applicable record date(s) established by the
Depositary.
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B-1
II.
|
Charges
|
Holders,
Beneficial Owners, persons depositing Shares and persons surrendering GDSs for
cancellation and for the purpose of withdrawing Deposited Securities shall be
responsible for the following charges:
(i)
|
taxes
(including applicable interest and penalties) and other governmental
charges;
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(ii)
|
such
registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the
registration of Shares or other Deposited Securities on the share register
and applicable to transfers of Shares or other Deposited Securities to or
from the name of the Custodian, the Depositary or any nominees upon the
making of deposits and withdrawals,
respectively;
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(iii)
|
such
cable, telex and facsimile transmission and delivery expenses as are
expressly provided in the Deposit Agreement to be at the expense of the
person depositing or withdrawing Shares or Holders and Beneficial Owners
of GDSs;
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(iv)
|
the
expenses and charges incurred by the Depositary in the conversion of
foreign currency;
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(v)
|
such
fees and expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in connection with
compliance with exchange control regulations and other regulatory
requirements applicable to Shares, Deposited Securities, GDSs and GDRs;
and
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(vi)
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the
fees and expenses incurred by the Depositary, the Custodian, or any
nominee in connection with the servicing or delivery of Deposited
Securities.
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B-2