EXHIBIT 4.19
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MONTPELIER RE HOLDINGS LTD.
AND
[ ],
as Depositary
AND
HOLDERS OF DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS
FORM OF
DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of [ ], 200__
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS.................................................................................1
ARTICLE II FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF PREFERENCE SHARES, EXECUTION AND DELIVERY, TRANSFER,
SURRENDER, REDEMPTION AND CONVERSION OF RECEIPTS............................................2
Section 2.01. Form and Transfer of Receipts...............................................................2
Section 2.02. Deposit of Preference Shares; Execution and Delivery of Receipts in Respect Thereof.........3
Section 2.03. Redemption and Conversion of Preference Shares..............................................4
Section 2.04. Register of Transfer of Receipts............................................................6
Section 2.05. Combination and Split-ups of Receipts.......................................................7
Section 2.06. Surrender of Receipts and Withdrawal of Preference Shares...................................7
Section 2.07. Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer, Split-up, Combination, Surrender and
Exchange of Receipts and Withdrawal or Deposit of Preference Shares.........................8
Section 2.08. Lost Receipts, etc..........................................................................8
Section 2.09. Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts........................................8
ARTICLE III CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF HOLDERS OF RECEIPTS AND THE COMPANY..................................9
Section 3.01. Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information...........................................9
Section 3.02. Payment of Taxes or Other Governmental Charges..............................................9
Section 3.03. Withholding.................................................................................9
Section 3.04. Representations and Warranties as to Ordinary Shares........................................9
ARTICLE IV THE PREFERENCE SHARES, NOTICES.............................................................10
Section 4.01. Cash Distributions.........................................................................10
Section 4.02. Distributions Other Than Cash..............................................................10
Section 4.03. Subscription Rights, Preferences or Privileges.............................................10
Section 4.04. Notice of Dividends, Fixing of Record Date for Holders of Receipts.........................11
Section 4.05. Voting Rights..............................................................................12
Section 4.06. Changes Affecting Preference Shares and Reclassifications, Recapitalizations, etc..........12
Section 4.07. Reports....................................................................................12
Section 4.08. Lists of Receipt Holders...................................................................12
ARTICLE V THE DEPOSITARY, THE DEPOSITARY'S AGENTS, THE REGISTRAR AND THE COMPANY.....................13
Section 5.01. Maintenance of Offices, Agencies, Transfer Books by the Depositary; the Registrar..........13
Section 5.02. Prevention or Delay in Performance by the Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, the
Registrar or the Company...................................................................13
Section 5.03. Obligations of the Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, the Registrar and the Company......14
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Section 5.04. Resignation and Removal of the Depositary, Appointment of Successor Depositary.............15
Section 5.05. Corporate Notices and Reports..............................................................16
Section 5.06. Deposit of Preference Shares by the Company................................................16
Section 5.07. Indemnification by the Company.............................................................16
Section 5.08. Fees, Charges and Expenses.................................................................16
ARTICLE VI AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION..................................................................17
Section 6.01. Amendment..................................................................................17
Section 6.02. Termination................................................................................17
ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS..............................................................................18
Section 7.01. Counterparts...............................................................................18
Section 7.02. Exclusive Benefits of Parties..............................................................18
Section 7.03. Invalidity of Provisions...................................................................18
Section 7.04. Notices....................................................................................18
Section 7.05. Depositary's Agents........................................................................19
Section 7.06. Holders of Receipts Are Parties............................................................19
Section 7.07. Governing Law..............................................................................19
Section 7.08. Headings...................................................................................19
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DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
DEPOSIT AGREEMENT, dated as of [ ],200__, among Montpelier Re
Holdings Ltd., a company incorporated and organized under the laws of Bermuda
(the "Company"), [ ], a [ ], as Depositary (the
"Depositary"), and all holders from time to time of Receipts issued hereunder.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide as hereinafter set forth in this
Deposit Agreement, for the deposit of Preference Shares (as hereinafter defined)
with the Depositary (as hereinafter defined), as agent for the beneficial owners
of the Preference Shares, for the purposes set forth in this Deposit Agreement
and for the issuance hereunder of the Receipts evidencing Depositary Shares (as
hereinafter defined) representing an interest in the Preference Shares so
deposited;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises contained herein, it is
agreed by and among the parties hereto as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
The following definitions shall apply to the respective terms (in the
singular and plural forms of such terms) used in this Deposit Agreement and the
Receipts:
"Certificate" shall mean the document evidencing the preferences and
rights of a series of the Preference Shares adopted by the Board of Directors of
the Company establishing a series of the Preference Shares as a series of
preference shares of the Company.
"Common Shares" shall mean the Company's Common Shares, par value 1/6
cent per share.
"Corporate Office" shall mean the office of the Depositary in
[ ], [ ] at which at any particular time its business in respect of
matters governed by this Deposit Agreement shall be administered, which at the
date of this Deposit Agreement is located at [ ].
"Deposit Agreement" shall mean this agreement, as the same may be
amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.
"Depositary Share" shall mean the rights evidenced by the Receipts
executed and delivered hereunder, including the interests in Preference Shares
granted to holders of Receipts pursuant to the terms and conditions of the
Deposit Agreement. Each Depositary Share shall represent an interest in [insert
fractional interest] of a share of Preference Shares deposited with the
Depositary hereunder and the same proportionate interest in any and all other
property received by the Depositary in respect of such share of Preference
Shares and held under this Deposit Agreement. Subject to the terms of this
Deposit Agreement, each record holder of a
Receipt evidencing a Depositary Share or Shares is entitled, proportionately, to
all the rights, preferences and privileges of the Preference Shares represented
by such Depositary Share or Shares, including the dividend, voting and
liquidation rights contained in the applicable Certificate, and to the benefits
of all obligations and duties of the Company in respect of the Preference Shares
under the Memorandum of Association (including the applicable Certificate).
"Depositary's Agent" shall mean an agent appointed by the Depositary as
provided, and for the purposes specified, in Section 7.05.
"Memorandum of Association" shall mean the Memorandum of Association, as
amended and restated from time to time, of the Company.
"New York Office" shall mean the facility maintained by the Depositary
in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York for accepting, executing and
delivering Receipts and other instruments prior to processing such instruments
at the Corporate Office, which facility at the date of this Deposit Agreement is
located at [ ].
"Preference Shares" shall mean shares of the Company's Preference
Shares, [ ] par value per share.
"Receipt" shall mean one of the depositary receipts issued hereunder,
whether in definitive or temporary form, evidencing one or more Depositary
Shares.
"Record holder" or "Holder" as applied to a Receipt shall mean the
person in whose name a Receipt is registered on the books maintained by or on
behalf of the Depositary for such purpose.
"Registrar" shall mean any bank or trust company appointed to register
ownership and transfers of Receipts as herein provided.
"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
ARTICLE II
FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF PREFERENCE SHARES,
EXECUTION AND DELIVERY, TRANSFER, SURRENDER,
REDEMPTION AND CONVERSION OF RECEIPTS
Section 2.01. Form and Transfer of Receipts. Definitive Receipts shall
be engraved or printed or lithographed on steel-engraved borders and shall be
substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A annexed to this Deposit
Agreement, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as
hereinafter provided. Pending the preparation of definitive Receipts, the
Depositary, upon the written order of the Company delivered in compliance with
Section 2.02, shall execute and deliver temporary Receipts which are printed,
lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise substantially of the tenor
of the definitive Receipts in lieu of which they are issued and with such
appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the
persons executing such Receipts may determine, as evidenced by their execution
of such Receipts. If temporary Receipts are issued, the Company and the
Depositary will cause
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definitive Receipts to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the
preparation of definitive Receipts, the temporary Receipts shall be exchangeable
for definitive Receipts upon surrender of the temporary Receipts at the
Corporate Office, the New York Office, or such other office as the Depositary
may designate, without charge to the holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of
any one or more temporary Receipts, the Depositary shall execute and deliver in
exchange therefor definitive Receipts representing the same number of Depositary
Shares as represented by the surrendered temporary Receipt or Receipts. Such
exchange shall be made at the Company's expense and without any charge thereof.
Until so exchanged, the temporary Receipts shall in all respects be entitled to
the same benefits under this Deposit Agreement, and with respect to the
Preference Shares, as definitive Receipts.
Receipts shall be executed by the Depositary by the manual signature of
a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary; provided, however, that such
signature may be a facsimile if a Registrar (other than the Depositary) shall
have countersigned the Receipts by manual signature of a duly authorized
signatory of the Registrar. No Receipt shall be entitled to any benefits under
this Deposit Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless it shall
have been executed as provided in the preceding sentence. The Depositary shall
record on its books each Receipt executed as provided above and delivered as
hereinafter provided. Receipts bearing the facsimile signature of anyone who was
at any time a duly authorized officer of the Depositary shall bind the
Depositary, notwithstanding that such officer has ceased to hold such office
prior to the delivery of such Receipts.
Receipts may be issued in denominations of any number of whole
Depositary Shares.
Receipts may be endorsed with or have incorporated in the text thereof
such legends or recitals or changes not inconsistent with the provisions of this
Deposit Agreement as may be required by the Depositary or required to comply
with any applicable law or regulation or with the rules and regulations of any
securities exchange upon which the Preference Shares or the Depositary Shares
may be listed or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, or to indicate
any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Receipts are
subject by reason of the date of issuance of the Preference Shares or otherwise.
Title to any Receipt (and to the Depositary Shares evidenced by such
Receipt) that is properly endorsed or accompanied by a properly executed
instrument of transfer shall be transferable by delivery with the same effect as
in the case of a negotiable instrument; provided, however, that the Depositary
may, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, treat the record holder thereof
at such time as the absolute owner thereof for the purpose of determining the
person entitled to distributions of dividends or other distributions or to any
notice provided for in this Deposit Agreement and for all other purposes.
Section 2.02. Deposit of Preference Shares; Execution and Delivery of
Receipts in Respect Thereof. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit
Agreement, the Company or any holder of Preference Shares may deposit such
Preference Shares under this Deposit Agreement by delivery to the Depositary of
a certificate or certificates for the Preference Shares to be deposited,
properly endorsed or accompanied, if required by the Depositary, by a properly
executed instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Depositary, together
with (i) all such certifications as may be required by the Depositary in
accordance with the provisions of this
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Deposit Agreement and (ii) a written order of the Company or such holder, as the
case may be, directing the Depositary to execute and deliver to or upon the
written order of the person or persons stated in such order a Receipt or
Receipts for the number of Depositary Shares representing such deposited
Preference Shares.
Upon receipt by the Depositary of a certificate or certificates for
Preference Shares deposited in accordance with the provisions of this Section,
together with the other documents required as above specified, and upon
recordation of the Preference Shares so deposited in the register of members of
the Company in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, the Depositary,
subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall execute and
deliver, to or upon the order of the person or persons named in the written
order delivered to the Depositary referred to in the first paragraph of this
Section, a Receipt or Receipts for the number of Depositary Shares relating to
the Preference Shares so deposited and registered in such name or names as may
be requested by such person or persons. The Depositary shall execute and deliver
such Receipt or Receipts at the Corporate Office, the New York Office, or such
other office, if any, as the Depositary may designate. Delivery at other offices
shall be at the risk and expense of the person requesting such delivery.
The Company shall deliver to the Depositary from time to time such
quantities of Receipts as the Depositary may request to enable the Depositary to
perform its obligations under this Deposit Agreement.
Section 2.03. Redemption and Conversion of Preference Shares./1/
Whenever the Company shall elect to redeem or be required to convert shares of
Preference Shares into shares of Common Shares in accordance with the applicable
Certificate, it shall (unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Depositary)
give the Depositary in its capacity as Depositary not less than 5 business days'
prior notice of the proposed date of the mailing of a notice of redemption or
conversion of Preference Shares and the simultaneous redemption or conversion of
the Depositary Shares representing the Preference Shares to be redeemed or
converted and of the number of such shares of Preference Shares held by the
Depositary to be redeemed or converted. The Depositary shall, as directed by the
Company in writing, mail, first class postage prepaid, notice of the redemption
or conversion of Preference Shares and the proposed simultaneous redemption or
conversion of the Depositary Shares representing the Preference Shares to be
redeemed or converted, not less than 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the
date fixed for redemption or conversion of such Preference Shares and Depositary
Shares, to the record holders of the Receipts evidencing the Depositary Shares
to be so redeemed or converted, at the addresses of such holders as the same
appear on the records of the Depositary; provided, that if the effectiveness of
a Merger or Consolidation (as defined in the applicable Certificate) makes it
impracticable to provide at least 30 days' notice, the Depositary shall provide
such notice as soon as practicable prior to such effectiveness. Any such notice
shall also be published in the same manner as notices of redemption or
conversion of Preference Shares are required to be published pursuant to the
applicable Certificate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither failure to mail
or publish any such notice to one or more such holders nor any defect in any
notice shall affect the sufficiency of the proceedings for redemption or
conversion. The Company shall provide the
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/1/ This section to be modified to discuss specific redemption or conversion
terms of the Preference Shares, if any.
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Depositary with such notice, and each such notice shall state: the redemption or
conversion date; the number of Depositary Shares to be redeemed or converted; if
fewer than all the Depositary Shares held by any holder are to be redeemed, the
number of such Depositary Shares held by such holder to be so redeemed; in the
case of a call for redemption, the call price payable upon redemption; whether
the Company is exercising any option in the applicable Certificate to deliver
Common Shares in lieu of any cash consideration and the method used to calculate
the number of such shares; the place or places where Receipts evidencing
Depositary Shares to be redeemed or converted are to be surrendered for
redemption or conversion; whether the Company is depositing with a bank or trust
company on or before the redemption or conversion date, the Common Shares and
cash, if any, payable by the Company and the proposed date of such deposit; the
amount of accrued and unpaid dividends payable per share of Preference Shares to
be redeemed or converted to and including such redemption or conversion date, as
the case may be, and that dividends in respect of the Preference Shares
represented by the Depositary Shares to be redeemed or converted will cease to
accrue on such redemption or conversion date (unless the Company shall default
in delivering Common Shares and cash, if any, at the time and place specified in
such notice).
On the date of any such redemption or conversion, the Preference Shares
of the Depositary shall be automatically redeemed or converted and the
Depositary shall surrender to the Company the certificate or certificates held
by the Depositary evidencing the number of Preference Shares so redeemed or
converted in the manner specified in the notice of redemption or conversion of
Preference Shares provided by the Company pursuant to the applicable Certificate
with an instrument of transfer for transfer of all the Common Shares to be
issued in such redemption or conversion to the record holders of Receipts. The
Depositary shall, thereafter, redeem or convert the number of Depositary Shares
representing such redeemed or converted Preference Shares upon the surrender of
Receipts evidencing such Depositary Shares in the manner provided in the notice
sent to record holders of Receipts; provided, that the Depositary shall have
received, upon surrendering such certificate or certificates as aforesaid, a
sufficient number of Common Shares registered in the name of the holders of
Receipts to convert or redeem such number of Depositary Shares (including, in
the event that the Company elects pursuant to the applicable Certificate to
exercise any option to deliver Common Shares in lieu of any cash consideration
payable on the Effective Date (as defined in the applicable Certificate) of any
Merger or Consolidation, a number of Common Shares equal to such cash
consideration (as determined in the manner set forth in the applicable
Certificate)), plus any accrued and unpaid dividends payable with respect
thereto to and including the date of any such redemption or conversion and any
other cash consideration payable on the Effective Date of a Merger or
Consolidation (other than any dividends or other cash consideration payable on
the Effective Date of a Merger or Consolidation that the Company has elected to
pay in Common Shares pursuant to the applicable Certificate) as instructed and
calculated by the Company. In case fewer than all the outstanding Depositary
Shares are to be redeemed, the Depositary Shares to be redeemed shall be
selected by the Depositary by lot or on a pro rata basis.
Notice having been mailed by the Depositary as aforesaid, from and after
the redemption or conversion date (unless the Company shall have failed to
redeem or convert the Preference Shares to be redeemed or converted by it upon
the surrender of the certificate or certificates therefor by the Depositary as
described in the preceding paragraph), the Depositary Shares called for
redemption or subject to conversion shall be deemed no longer to be outstanding
and all
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rights of the holders of Receipts evidencing such Depositary Shares (except the
right to receive the Common Shares and cash, if any, payable upon redemption or
conversion upon surrender of such Receipts) shall, to the extent of such
Depositary Shares, cease and terminate. Upon surrender in accordance with said
notice of the Receipts evidencing such Depositary Shares (properly endorsed or
assigned for transfer, if the Depositary shall so require), such Depositary
Shares shall be exchanged for Common Shares at a rate equal to [insert
fractional interest] of the number of Common Shares delivered, and the holders
thereof shall be entitled to [insert fractional interest] of the cash, if any,
payable, in respect of the shares of Preference Shares pursuant to the
applicable Certificate. The foregoing shall be subject further to the terms and
conditions of the applicable Certificate.
If fewer than all of the Depositary Shares evidenced by a Receipt are
called for redemption, the Depositary will deliver to the holder of such Receipt
upon its surrender to the Depositary, together with the Common Shares and all
accrued and unpaid dividends to and including the date fixed for redemption
payable in respect of the Depositary Shares called for redemption, a new Receipt
evidencing the Depositary Shares evidenced by such prior Receipt and not called
for redemption.
To the extent that Depositary Shares are exchanged for Common Shares and
all of such Common Shares cannot be distributed to the record holders of
Receipts converted or called for redemption without creating fractional
interests in such shares, the Depositary may, with the consent of the Company,
adopt such method as it deems equitable and practicable for the purpose of
effecting such distribution, including the sale (at public or private sale) of
such Common Shares at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem
proper, and the net proceeds of any such sale shall, subject to Section 3.02, be
distributed or made available for distribution to such record holders that would
otherwise receive fractional interests in such Common Shares.
The Depositary shall not be required (a) to issue, transfer or exchange
any Receipts for a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days next
preceding any selection of Depositary Shares and Preference Shares to be
redeemed and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing of notice
of redemption of Depositary Shares or (b) to transfer or exchange for another
Receipt any Receipt evidencing Depositary Shares called or being called for
redemption, in whole or in part, or subject to conversion except as provided in
the second preceding paragraph of this Section 2.03.
Section 2.04. Register of Transfer of Receipts. Subject to the terms and
conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall register on its books
from time to time transfers of Receipts upon any surrender thereof at the
Corporate Office, the New York Office or such other office as the Depositary may
designate for such purpose, by the record holder in person or by a duly
authorized attorney, properly endorsed or accompanied by a properly executed
instrument of transfer, together with evidence of the payment of any transfer
taxes as may be required by law. Upon such surrender, the Depositary shall
execute a new Receipt or Receipts and deliver the same to or upon the order of
the person entitled thereto evidencing the same aggregate number of Depositary
Shares evidenced by the Receipt or Receipts surrendered.
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Section 2.05. Combination and Split-ups of Receipts. Upon surrender of a
Receipt or Receipts at the Corporate Office, the New York Office or such other
office as the Depositary may designate for the purpose of effecting a split-up
or combination of Receipts, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit
Agreement, the Depositary shall execute and deliver a new Receipt or Receipts in
the authorized denominations requested evidencing the same aggregate number of
Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipt or Receipts surrendered; provided,
however, that the Depositary shall not issue any Receipt evidencing a fractional
Depositary Share.
Section 2.06. Surrender of Receipts and Withdrawal of Preference
Shares./2/ Any holder of a Receipt or Receipts may withdraw any or all of the
Preference Shares (but only in whole shares of Preference Shares) represented by
the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipts and all money and other
property, if any, represented by such Depositary Shares by surrendering such
Receipt or Receipts at the Corporate Office, the New York Office or at such
other office as the Depositary may designate for such withdrawals. After such
surrender, without unreasonable delay, the Depositary shall deliver to such
holder, or to the person or persons designated by such holder as hereinafter
provided, the whole number of Preference Shares and all such money and other
property, if any, represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipt
or Receipts so surrendered for withdrawal. If the Receipt or Receipts delivered
by the holder to the Depositary in connection with such withdrawal shall
evidence a number of Depositary Shares in excess of the number of whole
Depositary Shares representing the whole number of Preference Shares to be
withdrawn, the Depositary shall at the same time, in addition to such whole
number of Preference Shares and such money and other property, if any, to be
withdrawn, deliver to such holder, or (subject to Section 2.04) upon his order,
a new Receipt or Receipts evidencing such excess number of whole Depositary
Shares. Delivery of the Preference Shares and such money and other property
being withdrawn may be made by the delivery of such certificates, documents of
title and other instruments as the Depositary may deem appropriate, which, if
required by the Depositary, shall be properly endorsed or accompanied by proper
instruments of transfer.
If the Preference Shares and the money and other property being
withdrawn are to be delivered to a person or persons other than the record
holder of the Receipt or Receipts being surrendered for withdrawal of Preference
Shares, such holder shall execute and deliver to the Depositary a written order
so directing the Depositary and the Depositary may require that the Receipt or
Receipts surrendered by such holder for withdrawal of such shares of Preference
Shares be properly endorsed in blank or accompanied by a properly executed
instrument of transfer in blank and that the signature on such instrument of
transfer be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (banks,
stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with membership in
an approved signature guarantee medallion program) pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
The Depositary shall deliver the Preference Shares and the money and
other property, if any, represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by
Receipts surrendered for withdrawal, without unreasonable delay, at the office
at which such Receipts were surrendered, except that, at the request, risk and
expense of the holder surrendering such Receipt or Receipts and for the
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/2/ This Section to be modified to reflect any restrictions on withdrawal of
underlying securities.
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account of the holder thereof, such delivery may be made, without unreasonable
delay, at such other place as may be designated by such holder.
Section 2.07. Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer, Split-up,
Combination, Surrender and Exchange of Receipts and Withdrawal or Deposit of
Preference Shares. As a condition precedent to the execution and delivery,
registration of transfer, split-up, combination, surrender or exchange of any
Receipt, the delivery of any distribution thereon or the withdrawal or deposit
of Preference Shares, the Depositary, any of the Depositary's Agents or the
Company may require any or all of the following: (i) payment to it of a sum
sufficient for the payment (or, in the event that the Depositary or the Company
shall have made such payment, the reimbursement to it) of any tax or other
governmental charge with respect thereto (including any such tax or charge with
respect to the Preference Shares being deposited or withdrawn or with respect to
the Common Shares or other securities or property of the Company being issued
upon conversion or redemption); (ii) production of proof satisfactory to it as
to the identity and genuineness of any signature; and (iii) compliance with such
reasonable regulations, if any, as the Depositary or the Company may establish
not inconsistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement.
The deposit of Preference Shares may be refused, the delivery of
Receipts against Preference Shares or the registration of transfer, split-up,
combination, surrender or exchange of outstanding Receipts and the withdrawal of
deposited Preference Shares may be suspended (i) during any period when the
register of members of the Company is closed, (ii) if any such action is deemed
necessary or advisable by the Depositary, any of the Depositary's Agents or the
Company at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law or of
any government or governmental body or commission, or under any provision of
this Deposit Agreement, or (iii) with the approval of the Company, for any other
reason. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary shall not knowingly
accept for deposit under this Deposit Agreement any Preference Shares that are
required to be registered under the Securities Act unless a registration
statement under the Securities Act is in effect as to such Preference Shares.
Section 2.08. Lost Receipts, etc. In case any Receipt shall be mutilated
or destroyed or lost or stolen, the Depositary shall execute and deliver a
Receipt of like form and tenor in exchange and substitution for such mutilated
Receipt or in lieu of and in substitution for such destroyed, lost or stolen
Receipt unless the Depositary has notice that such Receipt has been acquired by
a bona fide purchaser; provided, however, that the holder thereof provides the
Depositary with (i) evidence satisfactory to the Depositary of such destruction,
loss or theft of such Receipt, of the authenticity thereof and of his ownership
thereof, (ii) reasonable indemnification satisfactory to the Depositary or the
payment of any charges incurred by the Depositary in obtaining insurance in lieu
of such indemnification and (iii) payment of any expense (including fees,
charges and expenses of the Depositary) in connection with such execution and
delivery.
Section 2.09. Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts. All
Receipts surrendered to the Depositary or any Depositary's Agent shall be
cancelled by the Depositary. Except as prohibited by applicable law or
regulation, the Depositary is authorized to destroy such Receipts so cancelled.
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ARTICLE III
CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF HOLDERS
OF RECEIPTS AND THE COMPANY
Section 3.01. Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information. Any
person presenting Preference Shares for deposit or any holder of a Receipt may
be required from time to time to file such proof of residence or other
information, to execute such certificates and to make such representations and
warranties as the Depositary or the Company may reasonably deem necessary or
proper. The Depositary or the Company may withhold or delay the delivery of any
Receipt, the registration of transfer, redemption, conversion or exchange of any
Receipt, the withdrawal of the Preference Shares represented by the Depositary
Shares evidenced by any Receipt or the distribution of any dividend or other
distribution until such proof or other information is filed, such certificates
are executed or such representations and warranties are made.
Section 3.02. Payment of Taxes or Other Governmental Charges. If any tax
or other governmental charge shall become payable by or on behalf of the
Depositary with respect to (i) any Receipt, (ii) the Depositary Shares evidenced
by such Receipt, (iii) the Preference Shares (or fractional interest therein) or
other property represented by such Depositary Shares, or (iv) any transaction
referred to in Section 4.06, such tax (including transfer, issuance or
acquisition taxes, if any) or governmental charge shall be payable by the holder
of such Receipt, who shall pay the amount thereof to the Depositary. Until such
payment is made, registration of transfer of any Receipt or any split-up or
combination thereof or any withdrawal of the Preference Shares or money or other
property, if any, represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt
may be refused, any dividend or other distribution may be withheld and any part
or all of the Preference Shares or other property (including Common Shares
received in connection with a conversion or redemption of Preference Shares)
represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt may be sold for
the account of the holder thereof (after attempting by reasonable means to
notify such holder prior to such sale). Any dividend or other distribution so
withheld and the proceeds of any such sale may be applied to any payment of such
tax or other governmental charge, the holder of such Receipt remaining liable
for any deficiency.
Section 3.03. Withholding. The Depositary shall act as the tax
withholding agent for any payments, distributions and exchanges made with
respect to the Depositary Shares and Receipts, and the Preference Shares, Common
Shares or other securities or assets represented thereby (collectively, the
"Securities"). The Depositary shall be responsible with respect to the
Securities for the timely (i) collection and deposit of any required withholding
or backup withholding tax, and (ii) filing of any information returns or other
documents with federal (and other applicable) taxing authorities.
Section 3.04. Representations and Warranties as to Common Shares. In the
case of the initial deposit of the Preference Shares, the Company and, in the
case of subsequent deposits thereof, each person so depositing Preference Shares
under this Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to represent and warrant
that such Preference Shares and each certificate therefor are valid and that the
person making such deposit is duly authorized to do so. Such
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representations and warranties shall survive the deposit of the Preference
Shares and the issuance of Receipts therefor.
ARTICLE IV
THE PREFERENCE SHARES, NOTICES
Section 4.01. Cash Distributions. Whenever the Depositary shall receive
any cash dividend or other cash distribution on the Preference Shares, the
Depositary shall, subject to Section 3.02, distribute to record holders of
Receipts on the record date fixed pursuant to Section 4.04 such amounts of such
sum as are, as nearly as practicable, in proportion to the respective numbers of
Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipts held by such holders; provided,
however, that in case the Company or the Depositary shall be required by law to
withhold and does withhold from any cash dividend or other cash distribution in
respect of the Preference Shares an amount on account of taxes, the amount made
available for distribution or distributed in respect of Depositary Shares shall
be reduced accordingly. The Depositary shall distribute or make available for
distribution, as the case may be, only such amount, however, as can be
distributed without attributing to any owner of Depositary Shares 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 be treated as
part of the next sum received by the Depositary for distribution to record
holders of Receipts then outstanding.
Section 4.02. Distributions Other Than Cash. Whenever the Depositary
shall receive any distribution other than cash, rights, preferences or
privileges upon the Preference Shares, the Depositary shall, subject to Section
3.02, distribute to record holders of Receipts on the record date fixed pursuant
to Section 4.04 such amounts of the securities or property received by it as
are, as nearly as practicable, in proportion to the respective numbers of
Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipts held by such holders, in any manner
that the Depositary and the Company may deem equitable and practicable for
accomplishing such distribution. If, in the opinion of the Company after
consultation with the Depositary, such distribution cannot be made
proportionately among such record holders, or if for any other reason (including
any tax withholding or securities law requirement), the Depositary deems, after
consultation with the Company, such distribution not to be feasible, the
Depositary may, with the approval of the Company which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld, adopt such method as it deems equitable and practicable
for the purpose of effecting such distribution, including the sale (at public or
private sale) of the securities or property thus received, or any part thereof,
at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem proper. The net
proceeds of any such sale shall, subject to Section 3.02, be distributed or made
available for distribution, as the case may be, by the Depositary to record
holders of Receipts as provided by Section 4.01 in the case of a distribution
received in cash.
Section 4.03. Subscription Rights, Preferences or Privileges. If the
Company shall at any time offer or cause to be offered to the persons in whose
names Preference Shares are registered on the books of the Company any rights,
preferences or privileges to subscribe for or to purchase any securities or any
rights, preferences or privileges of any other nature, such rights, preferences
or privileges shall in each such instance be made available by the Depositary to
the record holders of Receipts in such manner as the Company shall instruct
(including by the issue
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to such record holders of warrants representing such rights, preferences or
privileges); provided, however, that (a) if at the time of issue or offer of any
such rights, preferences or privileges the Company determines and instructs the
Depositary that it is not lawful or feasible to make such rights, preferences or
privileges available to some or all holders of Receipts (by the issue of
warrants or otherwise) or (b) if and to the extent instructed by holders of
Receipts who do not desire to exercise such rights, preferences or privileges,
the Depositary shall then, in each case, and if applicable laws or the terms of
such rights, preferences or privileges so permit, sell such rights, preferences
or privileges of such holders at public or private sale, at such place or places
and upon such terms as it may deem proper. The net proceeds of any such sale
shall be distributed by the Depositary to the record holders of Receipts
entitled thereto as provided by Section 4.01 in the case of a distribution
received in cash.
If registration under the Securities Act of the securities to which any
rights, preferences or privileges relate is required in order for holders of
Receipts to be offered or sold such securities, the Company shall promptly file
a registration statement pursuant to the Securities Act with respect to such
rights, preferences or privileges and securities and use its best efforts and
take all steps available to it to cause such registration statement to become
effective sufficiently in advance of the expiration of such rights, preferences
or privileges to enable such holders to exercise such rights, preferences or
privileges. In no event shall the Depositary make available to the holders of
Receipts any right, preference or privilege to subscribe for or to purchase any
securities unless and until such registration statement shall have become
effective or unless the offering and sale of such securities to such holders are
exempt from registration under the provisions of the Securities Act.
If any other action under the law of any jurisdiction or any
governmental or administrative authorization, consent or permit is required in
order for such rights, preferences or privileges to be made available to holders
of Receipts, the Company agrees with the Depositary that the Company will use
its reasonable best efforts to take such action or obtain such authorization,
consent or permit sufficiently in advance of the expiration of such rights,
preferences or privileges to enable such holders to exercise such rights,
preferences or privileges.
Section 4.04. Notice of Dividends, Fixing of Record Date for Holders of
Receipts. Whenever (i) any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become
payable, or any distribution other than cash shall be made, or any rights,
preferences or privileges shall at any time be offered, with respect to the
Preference Shares, or (ii) the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting at
which holders of Preference Shares are entitled to vote or of which holders of
Preference Shares are entitled to notice or of the mandatory conversion of, or
any election on the part of the Company to call for the redemption of, any
shares of Preference Shares, the Company shall in each such instance fix a
record date (which shall be the same date as the record date fixed by the
Company with respect to the Preference Shares) for the determination of the
holders of Receipts (x) who shall be entitled to receive such dividend,
distribution, rights, preferences or privileges or the net proceeds of the sale
thereof, or (y) who shall be entitled to give instructions for the exercise of
voting rights at any such meeting or to receive notice of such meeting or of
such conversion or redemption. The Company shall advise the Depositary of all
such record dates.
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Section 4.05. Voting Rights. Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at
which the holders of Preference Shares are entitled to vote, the Depositary
shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the record holders of Receipts
a notice, which shall be provided by the Company and which shall contain (i)
such information as is contained in such notice of meeting, (ii) a statement
that the holders of Receipts at the close of business on a specified record date
fixed pursuant to Section 4.04 will be entitled, subject to any applicable
provision of law, the Memorandum of Association (including the applicable
Certificate), to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights
pertaining to the Preference Shares represented by their respective Depositary
Shares and (iii) a brief statement as to the manner in which such instructions
may be given. Upon the written request of a holder of a Receipt on such record
date, the Depositary shall endeavor insofar as practicable to vote or cause to
be voted the Preference Shares represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by
such Receipt in accordance with the instructions set forth in such request. The
Company hereby agrees to take all reasonable action that may be deemed necessary
by the Depositary in order to enable the Depositary to vote such Preference
Shares or cause such Preference Shares to be voted. In the absence of specific
instructions from the holder of a Receipt, the Depositary will abstain from
voting to the extent of the Preference Shares represented by the Depositary
Shares evidenced by such Receipt.
Section 4.06. Changes Affecting Preference Shares and Reclassifications,
Recapitalizations, etc. Upon any split-up, consolidation or any other
reclassification of Preference Shares, or upon any recapitalization,
reorganization, merger, amalgamation or consolidation affecting the Company or
to which it is a party (other than a Merger or Consolidation) or sale of all or
substantially all of the Company's assets, the Depositary shall treat any shares
of Preference Shares or other securities or property (including cash) that shall
be received by the Depositary in exchange for or upon conversion of or in
respect of the Preference Shares as new deposited property under this Deposit
Agreement, and Receipts then outstanding shall thenceforth represent the
proportionate interests of holders thereof in the new deposited property so
received in exchange for or upon conversion or in respect of such Preference
Shares. In any such case the Depositary may, in its discretion, with the
approval of the Company, execute and deliver additional Receipts, or may call
for the surrender of all outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts
specifically describing such new deposited property.
Section 4.07. Reports. The Depositary shall make available for
inspection by holders of Receipts at the Corporate Office, the New York Office
and at such other places as it may from time to time deem advisable during
normal business hours any reports and communications received from the Company
that are received by the Depositary as the holder of Preference Shares.
Section 4.08. Lists of Receipt Holders. Promptly upon request from time
to time by the Company, the Depositary shall furnish to it a list, as of a
recent date, of the names, addresses and holdings of Depositary Shares of all
persons in whose names Receipts are registered on the books of the Depositary.
At the expense of the Company, the Company shall have the right to inspect
transfer and registration records of the Depositary, any Depositary's Agent or
the Registrar, take copies thereof and require the Depositary, any Depositary's
Agent or the Registrar to supply copies of such portions of such records as the
Company may request.
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ARTICLE V
THE DEPOSITARY, THE DEPOSITARY'S AGENTS,
THE REGISTRAR AND THE COMPANY
Section 5.01. Maintenance of Offices, Agencies, Transfer Books by the
Depositary; the Registrar. Upon execution of this Deposit Agreement in
accordance with its terms, the Depositary shall maintain (i) at the New York
Office facilities for the execution and delivery, registration, registration of
transfer, surrender and exchange, split-up, combination, redemption and
conversion of Receipts and deposit and withdrawal of Preference Shares and
(ii) at the Corporate Office and at the offices of the Depositary's Agents, if
any, facilities for the delivery, registration, registration of transfer,
surrender and exchange, split-up, combination, conversion and redemption of
Receipts and deposit and withdrawal of Preference Shares, all in accordance with
the provisions of this Deposit Agreement.
The Depositary shall keep books at the Corporate Office for the
registration and transfer of Receipts, which books at all reasonable times shall
be open for inspection by the record holders of Receipts; provided that any such
holder requesting to exercise such right shall certify to the Depositary that
such inspection shall be for a proper purpose reasonably related to such
person's interest as an owner of Depositary Shares. The Depositary shall consult
with the Company upon receipt of any request for inspection. The Depositary may
close such books, at any time or from time to time, when deemed expedient by it
in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder.
If the Receipts or the Depositary Shares evidenced thereby or the
Preference Shares represented by such Depositary Shares shall be listed on one
or more stock exchanges, the Depositary shall, with the approval of the Company,
appoint a Registrar for registry of such Receipts or Depositary Shares in
accordance with the requirements of such exchange or exchanges. Such Registrar
(which may be the Depositary if so permitted by the requirements of such
exchange or exchanges) may be removed and a substitute registrar appointed by
the Depositary upon the request or with the approval of the Company. In
addition, if the Receipts, such Depositary Shares or such Preference Shares are
listed on one or more stock exchanges, the Depositary will, at the request of
the Company, arrange such facilities for the delivery, registration,
registration of transfer, surrender and exchange, split-up, combination,
redemption or conversion of such Receipts, such Depositary Shares or such
Preference Shares as may be required by law or applicable stock exchange
regulations.
Section 5.02. Prevention or Delay in Performance by the Depositary, the
Depositary's Agents, the Registrar or the Company. Neither the Depositary nor
any Depositary's Agent nor the Registrar nor the Company shall incur any
liability to any holder of any Receipt, if by reason of any provision of any
present or future law or regulation thereunder of the United States of America
or of any other governmental authority or, in the case of the Depositary, the
Registrar or any Depositary's Agent, by reason of any provision, present or
future, of the Memorandum of Association (including the applicable Certificate)
or, in the case of the Company, the Depositary, the Registrar or any
Depositary's Agent, by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstances
beyond the control of the relevant party, the Depositary, any Depositary's
Agent, the Registrar or the Company shall be prevented or forbidden from doing
or performing any act
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or thing that the terms of this Deposit Agreement provide shall be done or
performed; nor shall the Depositary, any Depositary's Agent, the Registrar or
the Company incur any liability to any holder of a Receipt (i) by reason of any
nonperformance or delay, caused as aforesaid, in the performance of any act or
thing that the terms of this Deposit Agreement provide shall or may be done or
performed, or (ii) by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any
discretion provided for in this Deposit Agreement except, in the case of the
Depositary, any Depositary's Agent or the Registrar, if any such exercise or
failure to exercise discretion is caused by its negligence or bad faith.
Section 5.03. Obligations of the Depositary, the Depositary's Agents,
the Registrar and the Company. The Company assumes no obligation and shall be
subject to no liability under this Deposit Agreement or the Receipts to holders
or other persons, except to perform in good faith such obligations as are
specifically set forth and undertaken by it to perform in this Deposit
Agreement. Each of the Depositary, the Depositary's Agents and the Registrar
assumes no obligation and shall be subject to no liability under this Deposit
Agreement or the Receipts to holders or other persons, except to perform such
obligations as are specifically set forth and undertaken by it to perform in
this Deposit Agreement without negligence or bad faith.
Neither the Depositary nor any Depositary's Agent nor the Registrar nor
the Company shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any
action, suit or other proceeding with respect to Preference Shares, Depositary
Shares, Receipts or Common Shares that 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.
Neither the Depositary nor any Depositary's Agent nor the Registrar nor
the Company shall be liable for any action or any failure to act by it in
reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any
person presenting Preference Shares for deposit, any holder of a Receipt or any
other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or
information. The Depositary, any Depositary's Agent, the Registrar and the
Company may each rely and shall each 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, the Registrar and any Depositary's Agent may own and
deal in any class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in
Receipts or Depositary Shares. The Depositary may also act as transfer agent or
registrar of any of the securities of the Company and its affiliates.
It is intended that neither the Depositary nor any Depositary's Agent
shall be deemed to be an "issuer" of the Preference Shares, the Depositary
Shares, the Receipts or the Common Shares issued upon conversion or redemption
of the Preference Shares under the federal securities laws or applicable state
securities laws, it being expressly understood and agreed that the Depositary
and any Depositary's Agent are acting only in a ministerial capacity as
Depositary for the Preference Shares; provided, however, that the Depositary
agrees to comply with all information reporting and withholding requirements
applicable to it under law or this Deposit Agreement in its capacity as
Depositary.
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Neither the Depositary (or its officers, directors, employees or agents)
nor any Depositary's Agent makes any representation or has any responsibility as
to the validity of the Registration Statement pursuant to which the Depositary
Shares are registered under the Securities Act, the Preference Shares, the
Depositary Shares or any instruments referred to therein or herein, or as to the
correctness of any statement made therein or herein; provided, however, that the
Depositary is responsible for its representations in this Deposit Agreement.
The Depositary assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the
description that appears in the Receipts, which can be taken as a statement of
the Company summarizing certain provisions of this Deposit Agreement.
Notwithstanding any other provision herein or in the Receipts, the Depositary
makes no warranties or representations as to the validity, genuineness or
sufficiency of any Preference Shares at any time deposited with the Depositary
hereunder or of the Depositary Shares, as to the validity or sufficiency of this
Deposit Agreement, as to the value of the Depositary Shares or as to any right,
title or interest of the record holders of Receipts in and to the Depositary
Shares except that the Depositary hereby represents and warrants as follows: (i)
the Depositary has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of New York, with full power, authority and
legal right under such law to execute, deliver and carry out the terms of this
Deposit Agreement; (ii) this Deposit Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Depositary; and (iii) this Deposit Agreement
constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Depositary, enforceable
against the Depositary in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement
thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other
similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors' rights generally and except as
enforcement thereof is subject to general principles of equity (regardless of
whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). The
Depositary shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of
the Depositary Shares or the Receipts or the proceeds thereof.
Section 5.04. Resignation and Removal of the Depositary, Appointment of
Successor Depositary. The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary
hereunder by written notice via registered mail of its election to do so
delivered to the Company, such resignation to take effect upon the appointment
of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter
provided.
The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by written
notice of such removal delivered to the Depositary, such removal to take effect
upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such
appointment as hereinafter provided.
In case at any time the Depositary acting hereunder shall resign or be
removed, the Company shall, within sixty (60) days after the delivery of the
notice of resignation or removal, as the case may be, appoint a successor
depositary, which shall be a bank or trust company, or an affiliate of a bank or
trust company, having its principal office in the United States of America and
having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If a successor
depositary shall not have been appointed in sixty (60) days, the resigning or
removed Depositary may petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a
successor depositary. 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
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obligations of its predecessor and for all purposes shall be the Depositary
under this Deposit Agreement, and such predecessor, upon payment of all sums due
it and on the written request of the Company, shall promptly execute and deliver
an instrument transferring to such successor all rights and powers of such
predecessor hereunder, shall duly assign, transfer and deliver all rights, title
and interest in the Preference Shares and any moneys or property held hereunder
to such successor and shall deliver to such successor a list of the record
holders of all outstanding Receipts. Any successor depositary shall promptly
mail notice of its appointment to the record holders of Receipts.
Any corporation into or with which the Depositary may be merged,
consolidated or converted shall be the successor of such Depositary without the
execution or filing of any document or any further act. Such successor
depositary may execute the Receipts either in the name of the predecessor
depositary or in the name of the successor depositary.
Section 5.05. Corporate Notices and Reports. The Company agrees that it
will deliver to the Depositary, and the Depositary will, promptly after receipt
thereof, transmit to the record holders of Receipts, in each case at the address
recorded in the Depositary's books, copies of all notices and reports (including
financial statements) required by law, by the rules of any national securities
exchange upon which the Preference Shares, the Depositary Shares or the Receipts
are listed or by the Memorandum of Association (including the applicable
Certificate) to be furnished by the Company to holders of Preference Shares.
Such transmission will be at the Company's expense and the Company will provide
the Depositary with such number of copies of such documents as the Depositary
may reasonably request. In addition, the Depositary will transmit to the record
holders of Receipts at the Company's expense such other documents as may be
requested by the Company.
Section 5.06. Deposit of Preference Shares by the Company. The Company
agrees with the Depositary that neither the Company nor any company controlled
by the Company will at any time deposit any Preference Shares if such Preference
Shares are required to be registered under the provisions of the Securities Act
and no registration statement is at such time in effect as to such Preference
Shares.
Section 5.07. Indemnification by the Company. The Company agrees to
indemnify the Depositary, any Depositary's Agent and any Registrar against, and
hold each of them harmless from, any liability, costs and expenses (including
reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) that may arise out of or in connection
with its acting as Depositary, Depositary's Agent or Registrar, respectively,
under this Deposit Agreement and the Receipts, except for any liability arising
out of negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of any such
person or persons.
Section 5.08. Fees, Charges and Expenses. No fees, charges and expenses
of the Depositary or any Depositary's Agent hereunder or of any Registrar shall
be payable by any person other than the Company, except for any taxes and other
governmental charges and except as provided in this Deposit Agreement. If, at
the request of a holder of a Receipt, the Depositary incurs fees, charges or
expenses for which it is not otherwise liable hereunder, such holder or other
person will be liable for such fees, charges and expenses. All other fees,
charges and expenses of the Depositary and any Depositary's Agent hereunder and
of any Registrar (including, in each case, reasonable fees and expenses of
counsel) incident to the performance of
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their respective obligations hereunder will be paid from time to time upon
consultation and agreement between the Depositary and the Company as to the
amount and nature of such fees, charges and expenses.
ARTICLE VI
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
Section 6.01. Amendment. The form of the Receipts and any provision of
this Deposit Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended by
agreement between the Company and the Depositary in any respect that they may
deem necessary or desirable. Any amendment that shall impose or increase any
fees, taxes or charges payable by holders of Receipts (other than taxes and
other governmental charges, fees and other expenses payable by holders pursuant
to the terms hereof or of the Receipts), or that shall otherwise prejudice any
substantial existing right of holders of Receipts, shall not become effective as
to outstanding Receipts until the expiration of ninety (90) days after notice of
such amendment shall have been given to the record holders of outstanding
Receipts. Every holder of an outstanding Receipt at the time any such amendment
becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such Receipt, to
consent and agree to such amendment and to be bound by this Deposit Agreement as
amended thereby. In no event shall any amendment impair the right, subject to
the provisions of Sections 2.03, 2.06 and 2.07 and Article III, of any owner of
any Depositary Shares to surrender the Receipt evidencing such Depositary Shares
with instructions to the Depositary to deliver to the holder the Preference
Shares and all money and other property, if any, represented thereby, except in
order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law.
Section 6.02. Termination. Whenever so directed by the Company, the
Depositary will terminate this Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such
termination to the record holders of all Receipts then outstanding at least
thirty (30) days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination.
The Depositary may likewise terminate this Deposit Agreement if at any time
sixty (60) days shall have expired after the Depositary shall have delivered to
the Company a written notice of its election to resign and a successor
depositary shall not have been appointed and accepted its appointment as
provided in Section 5.04.
If any Receipts shall remain outstanding after the date of termination
of this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary thereafter shall discontinue the
transfer of Receipts, shall suspend the distribution of dividends to the holders
thereof and shall not give any further notices (other than notice of such
termination) or perform any further acts under this Deposit Agreement, except as
provided below and that the Depositary shall continue to collect dividends and
other distributions pertaining to Preference Shares, shall sell rights,
preferences or privileges as provided in this Deposit Agreement and shall
continue to deliver the Preference Shares and any money and other property
represented by Receipts, without liability for interest thereon, upon surrender
thereof by the holders thereof. At any time after the expiration of two years
from the date of termination, the Depositary may sell Preference Shares then
held hereunder at public or private sale, at such places and upon such terms as
it deems proper and may thereafter hold in a segregated account the net proceeds
of any such sale, together with any money and other property held by it
hereunder, without liability for interest, for the benefit, pro rata in
accordance with their holdings, of the holders of Receipts that have not
heretofore been surrendered. After making
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such sale, the Depositary shall be discharged from all obligations under this
Deposit Agreement except to account for such net proceeds and money and other
property. Upon the termination of this Deposit Agreement, the Company shall be
discharged from all obligations under this Deposit Agreement except for its
obligations to the Depositary, any Depositary's Agent and any Registrar under
Sections 5.07 and 5.08. In the event this Deposit Agreement is terminated, the
Company hereby agrees to use its best efforts to list the underlying Preference
Shares on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 7.01. Counterparts. This Deposit Agreement may be executed by
the Company and the Depositary in separate counterparts, each of which
counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed an original, but
all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this
Deposit Agreement by telecopier shall be effective as delivery of a manually
executed counterpart of this Deposit Agreement. Copies of this Deposit Agreement
shall be filed with the Depositary and the Depositary's Agents and shall be open
to inspection during business hours at the Corporate Office and the New York
Office and the respective offices of the Depositary's Agents, if any, by any
holder of a Receipt.
Section 7.02. Exclusive Benefits of Parties. This Deposit Agreement is
for the exclusive benefit of the parties hereto, and their respective successors
hereunder, and shall not be deemed to give any legal or equitable right, remedy
or claim to any other person whatsoever.
Section 7.03. Invalidity of Provisions. In case any one or more of the
provisions contained in this Deposit Agreement or in the Receipts should be or
become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality
and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein or therein shall
in no way be affected, prejudiced or disturbed thereby.
Section 7.04. Notices. Any notices to be given to the Company hereunder
or under the Receipts shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly
given if personally delivered or sent by mail, or by telegram or telex or
telecopier confirmed by letter, addressed to the Company at Mintflower Place, 0
Xxx-xx-Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx XX 08, Bermuda, or at any other place to which the
Company may have transferred its principal executive office.
Any notices to be given to the Depositary hereunder or under the
Receipts shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if
personally delivered or sent by mail, or by telegram or telex or telecopier
confirmed by letter, addressed to the Depositary at the Corporate Office.
Any notices given to any record holder of a Receipt hereunder or under
the Receipts shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if
personally delivered or sent by mail, or by telegram or telex or telecopier
confirmed by letter, addressed to such record holder at the address of such
record holder as it appears on the books of the Depositary or, if such holder
-18-
shall have filed with the Depositary a written request that notices intended for
such holder be mailed to some other address, at the address designated in such
request.
Delivery of a notice sent by mail, or by telegram or telex or telecopier
shall be deemed to be effected at the time when a duly addressed letter
containing the same (or a duly addressed letter confirming an earlier notice in
the case of a telegram or telex or telecopier message) is deposited, postage
prepaid, in a post office letter box. The Depositary or the Company may,
however, act upon any telegram or telex or telecopier message received by it
from the other or from any holder of a Receipt, notwithstanding that such
telegram or telex or telecopier message shall not subsequently be confirmed by
letter as aforesaid.
Section 7.05. Depositary's Agents. The Depositary may, with the approval
of the Company which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, from time to
time appoint one or more Depositary's Agents to act in any respect for the
Depositary for the purposes of this Deposit Agreement and may vary or terminate
the appointment of such Depositary's Agents.
Section 7.06. Holders of Receipts Are Parties. Notwithstanding that
holders of Receipts have not executed and delivered this Deposit Agreement or
any counterpart thereof, the holders of Receipts from time to time shall be
deemed to be parties to this Deposit Agreement and shall be bound by all of the
terms and conditions, and be entitled to all of the benefits, hereof and of the
Receipts by acceptance of delivery of Receipts.
Section 7.07. Governing Law. This Deposit Agreement and the Receipts and
all rights hereunder and thereunder and provisions hereof and thereof shall be
governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York
without giving effect to principles of conflict of laws.
Section 7.08. Headings. The headings of articles and sections in this
Deposit Agreement and in the form of the Receipt set forth in Exhibit A hereto
have been inserted for convenience only and are not to be regarded as a part of
this Deposit Agreement or to have any bearing upon the meaning or interpretation
of any provision contained herein or in the Receipts.
-19-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd. and [ ] have duly
executed this Deposit Agreement as of the day and year first above set forth and
all holders of Receipts shall become parties hereto by and upon acceptance by
them of delivery of Receipts issued in accordance with the terms hereof.
MONTPELIER RE HOLDINGS LTD.
Attest:
By: By:
------------------------------ -------------------------------
Authorized Officer
[ ]
Attest:
By: By:
------------------------------ -------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
-20-
EXHIBIT A
DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
FOR
DEPOSITARY SHARES
EACH REPRESENTING [INSERT FRACTIONAL INTEREST] OF A SHARE OF
[ ] PREFERENCE SHARES
OF
MONTPELIER RE HOLDINGS LTD.
(a company incorporated and organized under the laws of Bermuda)
No.
[ ] (the "Depositary") hereby certifies that [ ] is the
registered owner of [ ] Depositary Shares (the "Depositary Shares"),
each Depositary Share representing [insert fractional interest][ ]
Preference Shares, [ ] par value per share (the "Preference Shares"), of
Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd., a company incorporated and organized under the laws
of Bermuda (the "Company"), and the same proportionate interest in any and all
other property received by the Depositary in respect of such shares of
Preference Shares and held by the Depositary under the Deposit Agreement, dated
as of [ ],200_ (the "Deposit Agreement"), among the Company, the
Depositary and all holders from time to time, of Receipts. Subject to the terms
of the Deposit Agreement, each owner of a Depositary Share is entitled,
proportionately, to all the rights, preferences and privileges of the Preference
Shares represented thereby, including the dividend, voting, liquidation and
other rights contained in the Certificate of Designations establishing the
rights, preferences, privileges and limitations of the Preference Shares (the
"Certificate"), copies of which are on file at the office of the Depositary at
which at any particular time its business in respect of matters governed by the
Deposit Agreement shall be administered, which at the time of the execution of
the Deposit Agreement is located at [ ] (the "Corporate
Office").
This Depositary Receipt ("Receipt") shall not be entitled to any
benefits under the Deposit Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose
unless this Receipt shall have been executed manually or, if a Registrar for the
Receipts (other than the Depositary) shall have been appointed, by facsimile by
the Depositary by the signature of a duly authorized signatory and, if executed
by facsimile signature of the Depositary, shall have been countersigned manually
by such Registrar by the signature of a duly authorized signatory.
THE DEPOSITARY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VALIDITY OF ANY DEPOSITED PREFERENCE
SHARES. THE DEPOSITARY ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CORRECTNESS OF THE
DESCRIPTION SET FORTH IN THIS RECEIPT, WHICH CAN BE TAKEN AS A STATEMENT OF THE
COMPANY SUMMARIZING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT. UNLESS
EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT, THE DEPOSITARY MAKES NO WARRANTIES
OR REPRESENTATIONS AS TO THE VALIDITY, GENUINENESS OR SUFFICIENCY OF
A-1
ANY PREFERENCE SHARES AT ANY TIME DEPOSITED WITH THE DEPOSITARY UNDER THE
DEPOSIT AGREEMENT OR OF THE DEPOSITARY SHARES, AS TO THE VALIDITY OR SUFFICIENCY
OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT, AS TO THE VALUE OF THE DEPOSITARY SHARES OR AS TO ANY
RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST OF THE RECORD HOLDERS OF THE DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS IN AND
TO THE DEPOSITARY SHARES.
This Receipt is continued on the reverse hereof and the additional
provisions therein set forth for all purposes have the same effect as if set
forth at this place.
Dated:
[ ],
as Depositary and Registrar
By:
----------------------------
Authorized Signatory
A-2
[FORM OF REVERSE
OF DEPOSITARY RECEIPT]
Depositary Receipts, of which this Receipt is one, are made available
upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Deposit Agreement. The Deposit
Agreement (copies of which are on file at the Corporate Office, the office
maintained by the Depositary in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York
which at the time of the execution of the Deposit Agreement is located at
[ ] (the "New York Office") and at the office of any agent of
the Depositary) sets forth the rights of holders of Receipts and the rights and
duties of the Depositary. The statements made on the face and the reverse of
this Receipt are summaries of certain provisions of the Deposit Agreement and
are subject to the detailed provisions thereof, to which reference is hereby
made.
The Company will furnish to any holder of this Receipt without charge,
upon request addressed to its executive office, a full statement of the
designation, relative rights, preferences and limitations of the shares of each
authorized class, and of each class of preference shares authorized to be
issued, so far as the same may have been fixed, and a statement of the authority
of the Board of Directors of the Company to designate and fix the relative
rights, preferences and limitations of other classes.
A-3
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers
unto [ ] the within Receipt and all rights and interests represented by
the Depositary Shares evidenced thereby, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and
appoints [ ] his attorney, to transfer the same on the books of the
within-named Depositary, with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated: Signature:_______________________________________
NOTE: The signature to this assignment
must correspond with the name as
written upon the face of the Receipt in
every particular, without alteration or
enlargement, or any change whatever.
A-4
