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XXXXXXX.XXX, INC.
AND
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
As Depositary
AND
OWNERS AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS
Deposit Agreement
Dated as of July 6, 2000
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DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
DEPOSIT AGREEMENT dated as of July 6, 2000, among XXXXXXX.XXX, INC.,
incorporated with limited liability under the laws of the Cayman Islands (herein
called the Company), THE BANK OF NEW YORK, a New York banking corporation
(herein called the Depositary), and all Owners and Beneficial Owners from time
to time of American Depositary Receipts issued hereunder.
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide, as hereinafter set forth in this
Deposit Agreement, for the deposit of Shares (as hereinafter defined) of the
Company from time to time with the Depositary or with the Custodian (as
hereinafter defined) as agent of the Depositary for the purposes set forth in
this Deposit Agreement, for the creation of American Depositary Shares
representing the Shares so deposited and for the execution and delivery of
American Depositary Receipts evidencing the American Depositary Shares; and
WHEREAS, the American Depositary Receipts are to be substantially in the
form of Exhibit A annexed hereto, with appropriate insertions, modifications and
omissions, as hereinafter provided in this Deposit Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, it is agreed by and
between the parties hereto as follows:
ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS
The following definitions shall for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly
indicated, apply to the respective terms used in this Deposit Agreement:
SECTION 1.01. American Depositary Shares.
The term "American Depositary Shares" shall mean the securities
representing the interests in the Deposited Securities and evidenced by the
Receipts issued hereunder. Each American Depositary Share shall represent one
hundred (100) Shares, until there shall occur a distribution upon Deposited
Securities covered by Section 4.03 or a change in Deposited Securities covered
by Section 4.08 with respect to which additional Receipts are not executed and
delivered, and thereafter American Depositary Shares shall evidence the amount
of Shares or Deposited Securities specified in such Sections.
SECTION 1.02. Beneficial Owner.
The term "Beneficial Owner" shall mean each person owning from time to
time any beneficial interest in the American Depositary Shares evidenced by any
Receipt.
SECTION 1.03. 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 1.04. Company.
The term "Company" shall mean Xxxxxxx.xxx, Inc., incorporated with limited
liability under the laws of the Cayman Islands and registered as an overseas
company under the laws of Hong Kong, and its successors.
SECTION 1.05. Consultation.
The term "consultation" shall include within its meaning the good faith
attempt by the Depositary to discuss, if practicable, the relevant issue in a
timely manner with a person employed by the Company reasonably believed by the
Depositary to be empowered by the Company to engage in such discussion on behalf
of the Company.
SECTION 1.06. Custodian.
The term "Custodian" shall mean the principal Hong Kong office of The
Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, as agent of the Depositary
for the purposes of this Deposit Agreement, and any other firm or corporation
which may hereafter be appointed by the Depositary pursuant to the terms of
Section 5.05, as substitute or additional custodian or custodians hereunder, as
the context shall require and shall also mean all of them collectively.
SECTION 1.07. Deposit Agreement.
The term "Deposit Agreement" shall mean this Agreement, as the same may be
amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof.
SECTION 1.08. Depositary; Corporate Trust Office.
The term "Depositary" shall mean The Bank of New York, a New York banking
corporation, and any successor as depositary hereunder. The term "Corporate
Trust Office", when used with respect to the Depositary, shall mean the office
of the
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Depositary which at the date of this Agreement is 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000.
SECTION 1.09. Deposited Securities.
The term "Deposited Securities" as of any time shall mean Shares at such
time deposited or deemed to be deposited under this Deposit Agreement and any
and all other securities, property and cash received by the Depositary or the
Custodian in respect thereof and at such time held hereunder, subject as to cash
to the provisions of Section 4.05.
SECTION 1.10. Dollars; Hong Kong Dollars; HK$.
The term "Dollars" shall mean United States dollars. The terms "Hong Kong
Dollars" and "HK$" shall mean Hong Kong Dollars or such other currency as is for
the time being legal tender in Hong Kong.
SECTION 1.11. Foreign Registrar.
The term "Foreign Registrar" shall mean the entity that presently carries
out the duties of registrar for the Shares or any successor as registrar for the
Shares and any other appointed agent of the Company for the transfer and
registration of Shares.
SECTION 1.12. Owner.
The term "Owner" shall mean the person from time to time in whose name a
Receipt is registered on the books of the Depositary maintained for such
purpose.
SECTION 1.13. Receipts.
The term "Receipts" shall mean the American Depositary Receipts issued
hereunder evidencing American Depositary Shares.
SECTION 1.14. Registrar.
The term "Registrar" shall mean any bank or trust company having an office
in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, which shall be appointed to
register Receipts and transfers of Receipts as herein provided.
SECTION 1.15. Restricted Securities.
The term "Restricted Securities" shall mean Shares, or Receipts
representing such Shares, which are acquired directly or indirectly from the
Company or its affiliates (as defined in Rule 144 to the Securities Act of 1933)
in a transaction or chain of transactions not involving a public offering or
that are subject to resale limits
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under Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933 or both, or which are held
by an officer, director (or persons performing similar functions) or other
affiliate of the Company, or which would require registration under the
Securities Act in connection with the offer and sale thereof in the United
States, or which are subject to other restrictions on sale or deposit under the
laws of the United States, the Cayman Islands, or Hong Kong or under a
shareholder agreement or the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the
Company.
SECTION 1.16. Securities Act of 1933.
The term "Securities Act of 1933" shall mean the United States Securities
Act of 1933, as from time to time amended.
SECTION 1.17. Shares.
The term "Shares" shall mean Ordinary Shares in registered form of the
Company, par value U.S. $0.0001 each, heretofore validly issued and outstanding
and fully paid, nonassessable and free of any pre-emptive rights of the holders
of outstanding Shares or hereafter validly issued and outstanding and fully
paid, nonassessable and free of any pre-emptive rights of the holders of
outstanding Shares or interim certificates representing such Shares.
ARTICLE 2. FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF SHARES, EXECUTION AND DELIVERY, TRANSFER
AND SURRENDER OF RECEIPTS
SECTION 2.01. Form and Transferability of Receipts.
Definitive Receipts shall be substantially in the form set forth in
Exhibit A annexed to this Deposit Agreement, with appropriate insertions,
modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided. No Receipt shall be
entitled to any benefits under this Deposit Agreement or be valid or obligatory
for any purpose, unless such Receipt shall have been executed by the Depositary
by the manual signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary;
provided, however, that such signature may be a facsimile if a Registrar for the
Receipts shall have been appointed and such Receipts are countersigned by the
manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer of the Registrar. The
Depositary shall maintain books on which each Receipt so executed and delivered
as hereinafter provided and the transfer of each such Receipt shall be
registered. Receipts bearing the manual or facsimile signature of a duly
authorized signatory of the Depositary who was at any time a proper signatory of
the Depositary shall bind the Depositary, notwithstanding that such signatory
has ceased to hold such office prior to the execution and delivery of such
Receipts by the Registrar or did not hold such office on the date of issuance of
such Receipts.
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The Receipts may be endorsed with or have incorporated in the text thereof
such legends or recitals or modifications not inconsistent with the provisions
of this Deposit Agreement as may be required by the Depositary or required to
comply with any applicable law or regulations thereunder or with the rules and
regulations of any securities exchange upon which American Depositary Shares may
be listed or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, or to indicate any
special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Receipts are subject
by reason of the date of issuance of the underlying Deposited Securities or
otherwise.
Title to a Receipt (and to the American Depositary Shares evidenced
thereby), when properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of
transfer, shall be transferable by delivery with the same effect as in the case
of a negotiable instrument under the laws of New York; provided, however, that
the Depositary, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the Owner
thereof as the absolute owner thereof for the purpose of determining the person
entitled to distribution of dividends or other distributions or to any notice
provided for in this Deposit Agreement and for all other purposes.
SECTION 2.02. Deposit of Shares.
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, Shares or
evidence of rights to receive Shares may be deposited by delivery thereof to any
Custodian hereunder, accompanied by any appropriate instrument or instruments of
transfer, or endorsement, in form satisfactory to the Custodian, together with
all such certifications as may be reasonably required by the Depositary or the
Custodian in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, and, if
the Depositary requires, together with a written order directing the Depositary
to execute and deliver to, or upon the written order of, the person or persons
stated in such order, a Receipt or Receipts for the number of American
Depositary Shares representing such deposit. No Share shall be accepted for
deposit unless accompanied by evidence satisfactory to the Depositary that any
necessary approval has been granted by any governmental body in the Cayman
Islands or Hong Kong which is then performing the function of the regulation of
currency exchange. If required by the Depositary, Shares presented for deposit
at any time, whether or not the transfer books of the Company or the Foreign
Registrar, if applicable, are closed, shall also be accompanied by an agreement
or assignment, or other instrument satisfactory to the Depositary, which will
provide for the prompt transfer to the Custodian of any dividend, or right to
subscribe for additional Shares or to receive other property which any person in
whose name the Shares are or have been recorded may thereafter receive upon or
in respect of such deposited Shares, or in lieu thereof, such agreement of
indemnity or other agreement as shall be satisfactory to the Depositary.
At the request and risk and expense of any person proposing to deposit
Shares, and for the account of such person, the Depositary may receive
certificates for
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Shares to be deposited, together with the other instruments herein specified,
for the purpose of forwarding such Share certificates to the Custodian for
deposit hereunder.
Upon each delivery to a Custodian of a certificate or certificates for
Shares or of evidence of rights to receive Shares to be deposited hereunder,
together with the other documents above specified, such Custodian shall, as soon
as transfer and recordation can be accomplished, present such certificate or
certificates or evidence of rights to the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if
applicable, for transfer and recordation of the Shares being deposited in the
name of the Depositary or its nominee or such Custodian or its nominee.
Deposited Securities shall be held by the Depositary or by a Custodian for
the account and to the order of the Depositary or at such other place or places
as the Depositary shall determine.
SECTION 2.03. Execution and Delivery of Receipts.
Upon receipt by any Custodian of any deposit pursuant to Section 2.02
hereunder (and in addition, if the transfer books of the Company or the Foreign
Registrar, if applicable, are open, the Depositary may in its sole discretion
require a proper acknowledgment or other evidence from the Company that any
Deposited Securities have been recorded upon the books of the Company or the
Foreign Registrar, if applicable, in the name of the Depositary or its nominee
or such Custodian or its nominee), together with the other documents required as
above specified, such Custodian shall notify the Depositary of such deposit and
the person or persons to whom or upon whose written order a Receipt or Receipts
are deliverable in respect thereof and the number of American Depositary Shares
to be evidenced thereby. Such notification shall be made by letter or, at the
request, risk and expense of the person making the deposit, by cable, telex or
facsimile transmission. Upon receiving such notice from such Custodian, or upon
the receipt of Shares by the Depositary, the Depositary, subject to the terms
and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall execute and deliver at its
Corporate Trust Office, to or upon the order of the person or persons entitled
thereto, a Receipt or Receipts, registered in the name or names and evidencing
any authorized number of American Depositary Shares requested by such person or
persons, but only upon payment to the Depositary of the fees and expenses of the
Depositary for the execution and delivery of such Receipt or Receipts as
provided in Section 5.09, and of all taxes and governmental charges and fees
payable in connection with such deposit and the transfer of the Deposited
Securities.
SECTION 2.04. Transfer of Receipts; Combination and Split-up of Receipts.
The Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit
Agreement, shall register transfers of Receipts on its transfer books from time
to time, upon any surrender of a Receipt, by the Owner in person or by a duly
authorized attorney,
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properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, and duly
stamped as may be required by the laws of the State of New York and of the
United States of America. Thereupon the Depositary shall execute a new Receipt
or Receipts and deliver the same to or upon the order of the person entitled
thereto.
The Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit
Agreement, shall upon surrender of a Receipt or Receipts for the purpose of
effecting a split-up or combination of such Receipt or Receipts, execute and
deliver a new Receipt or Receipts for any authorized number of American
Depositary Shares requested, evidencing the same aggregate number of American
Depositary Shares as the Receipt or Receipts surrendered.
The Depositary, with written approval of the Company, may appoint one or
more co-transfer agents for the purpose of effecting transfers, combinations and
split-ups of Receipts at designated transfer offices on behalf of the
Depositary. In carrying out its functions, a co-transfer agent may require
evidence of authority and compliance with applicable laws and other requirements
by Owners or persons entitled to Receipts and will be entitled to protection and
indemnity to the same extent as the Depositary. Each co-transfer agent appointed
under this Section 2.04 shall give notice in writing to the Depositary and the
Company accepting such appointment and agreeing to be bound by the applicable
terms of this Deposit Agreement.
SECTION 2.05. Surrender of Receipts and Withdrawal of Shares.
Upon surrender at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary of a
Receipt for the purpose of withdrawal of the Deposited Securities represented by
the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt, and upon payment of
the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of Receipts as provided in Section
5.09 and payment of all taxes and governmental charges payable in connection
with such surrender and withdrawal of the Deposited Securities, and subject to
the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Owner of such Receipt
shall be entitled to delivery, to him or upon his order, of the amount of
Deposited Securities at the time represented by the American Depositary Shares
evidenced by such Receipt. Delivery of such Deposited Securities may be made by
the delivery of (a) certificates in the name of such Owner or as ordered by him
or certificates properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of
transfer to such Owner or as ordered by him and (b) any other securities,
property and cash to which such Owner is then entitled in respect of such
Receipts to such Owner or as ordered by him. Such delivery shall be made, as
hereinafter provided, without unreasonable delay.
A Receipt surrendered for such purposes may be required by the Depositary
to be properly endorsed in blank or accompanied by proper instruments of
transfer in blank, and if the Depositary so requires, the Owner thereof shall
execute and
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deliver to the Depositary a written order directing the Depositary to cause the
Deposited Securities being withdrawn to be delivered to or upon the written
order of a person or persons designated in such order. Thereupon the Depositary
shall direct the Custodian to deliver at the Hong Kong office of such Custodian,
subject to Sections 2.06, 3.01 and 3.02 and to the other terms and conditions of
this Deposit Agreement, to or upon the written order of the person or persons
designated in the order delivered to the Depositary as above provided, the
amount of Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares
evidenced by such Receipt, except that the Depositary may make delivery to such
person or persons at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary of any
dividends or distributions with respect to the Deposited Securities represented
by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt, or of any proceeds
of sale of any dividends, distributions or rights, which may at the time be held
by the Depositary.
At the request, risk and expense of any Owner so surrendering a Receipt,
and for the account of such Owner, the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to
forward any cash or other property (other than rights) comprising, and forward a
certificate or certificates and other proper documents of title for, the
Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by
such Receipt to the Depositary for delivery at the Corporate Trust Office of the
Depositary. Such direction shall be given by letter or, at the request, risk and
expense of such Owner, by cable, telex or facsimile transmission.
SECTION 2.06. Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer and Surrender
of Receipts.
As a condition precedent to the execution and delivery, registration of
transfer, split-up, combination or surrender of any Receipt or withdrawal of any
Deposited Securities, the Depositary, Custodian or Registrar may require payment
from the depositor of Shares or the presenter of the Receipt of a sum sufficient
to reimburse it for any tax, stamp duty or other governmental charge and any
stock transfer or registration fee with respect thereto (including any such tax
or charge and fee with respect to Shares being deposited or withdrawn) and
payment of any applicable fees as herein provided, may require the production of
proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature and
may also require compliance with any regulations the Depositary may establish
consistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, including, without
limitation, this Section 2.06.
The delivery of Receipts against deposit of Shares generally or against
deposit of particular Shares may be suspended, or the transfer of Receipts in
particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer of
outstanding Receipts generally may be suspended, during any period when the
transfer books of the Depositary are closed in accordance with Section 5.01, or
if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary or the
Company at any time or from time to time because of
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any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body or commission,
or under any provision of this Deposit Agreement, or for any other reason,
subject to the provisions of the following sentence and Section 7.07 hereof.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Deposit Agreement, the
surrender of outstanding Receipts and withdrawal of Deposited Securities may not
be suspended, subject only to (i) temporary delays caused by closing the
transfer books of the Depositary or the Company or the deposit of Shares in
connection with voting at a shareholders' meeting, or the payment of dividends,
(ii) the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges, and (iii) compliance with
any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating to the Receipts or
to the withdrawal of the Deposited Securities. Without limitation of the
foregoing, the Depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under this
Deposit Agreement any Shares required to be registered under the provisions of
the Securities Act of 1933, unless a registration statement is in effect as to
such Shares.
SECTION 2.07. Lost Receipts, etc.
In case any Receipt shall be mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen, the
Depositary shall execute and deliver a new Receipt of like tenor in exchange and
substitution for such mutilated Receipt upon cancellation thereof, or in lieu of
and in substitution for such destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt. Before the
Depositary shall execute and deliver a new Receipt in substitution for a
destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt, the Owner thereof shall have (a) filed with
the Depositary (i) a request for such execution and delivery before the
Depositary has notice that the Receipt has been acquired by a bona fide
purchaser and (ii) a sufficient indemnity bond and (b) satisfied any other
reasonable requirements imposed by the Depositary.
SECTION 2.08. Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts.
All Receipts surrendered to the Depositary shall be cancelled by the
Depositary. The Depositary is authorized to destroy Receipts so cancelled.
SECTION 2.09. Pre-Release of Receipts.
The Depositary may issue Receipts against the delivery by the Company (or
any agent of the Company recording Share ownership) of rights to receive Shares
from the Company (or any such agent). No such issue of Receipts will be deemed a
"Pre-Release" that is subject to the restrictions of the following paragraph.
Unless requested in writing by the Company to cease doing so, the
Depositary may, notwithstanding Section 2.03 hereof, execute and deliver
Receipts prior to the receipt of Shares pursuant to Section 2.02
("Pre-Release"). The Depositary may, pursuant to Section 2.05, deliver Shares
upon the receipt and cancellation of Receipts which have been Pre-Released,
whether or not such cancellation is prior to the termination of such Pre-Release
or the Depositary knows that such Receipt has been
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Pre-Released. The Depositary may receive Receipts in lieu of Shares in
satisfaction of a Pre-Release. Each Pre-Release will be (a) preceded or
accompanied by a written representation and agreement from the person to whom
Receipts are to be delivered (the "Pre-Releasee") that the Pre-Releasee, or its
customer, (i) owns the shares or Receipts to be remitted, as the case may be,
(ii) assigns all beneficial rights, title and interest in such Shares or
Receipts, as the case may be, to the Depositary in its capacity as such and for
the benefit of the Owners, and (iii) will not take any action with respect to
such Shares or Receipts, as the case may be, that is inconsistent with the
transfer of beneficial ownership (including, without the consent of the
Depositary, disposing of such Shares or Receipts, as the case may be), other
than in satisfaction of such Pre-Release, (b) at all times fully collateralized
with cash, U.S. government securities or such other collateral as the Depositary
determines, in good faith, will provide substantially similar liquidity and
security, (c) terminable by the Depositary on not more than five (5) business
days notice, and (d) subject to such further indemnities and credit regulations
as the Depositary deems appropriate. The number of Shares not deposited but
represented by American Depositary Shares outstanding at any time as a result of
Pre-Releases will not normally exceed thirty percent (30%) of the Shares
deposited hereunder; provided, however, that the Depositary reserves the right
to disregard such limit from time to time as it deems reasonably appropriate,
and may, with the prior written consent of the Company, change such limit for
purposes of general application. The Depositary will also set Dollar limits with
respect to Pre-Release transactions to be entered into hereunder with any
particular Pre-Releasee on a case-by-case basis as the Depositary deems
appropriate. For purposes of enabling the Depositary to fulfill its obligations
to the Owners under the Deposit Agreement, the collateral referred to in clause
(b) above shall be held by the Depositary as security for the performance of the
Pre-Releasee's obligations to the Depositary in connection with a Pre-Release
transaction, including the Pre-Releasee's obligation to deliver Shares or
Receipts upon termination of a Pre-Release transaction (and shall not, for the
avoidance of doubt, constitute Deposited Securities hereunder).
The Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received by
it in connection with the foregoing.
ARTICLE 3. CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF OWNERS AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF RECEIPTS
SECTION 3.01. Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information.
Any person presenting Shares for deposit or any Owner or Beneficial Owner
of a Receipt may be required by the Company, the Depositary or the Custodian
from time to time to file with the Depositary or the Custodian such proof of
citizenship or residence, legal or beneficial ownership, exchange control
approval, or such information relating to the registration on the books of the
Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, to execute such certificates
and to make such representations and warranties,
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as the Depositary or the Company may deem necessary or proper. The Depositary
may withhold the delivery or registration of transfer of any Receipt or the
distribution of any dividend or sale or distribution of rights or of the
proceeds thereof or the delivery of any Deposited Securities until such proof or
other information is filed or such certificates are executed or such
representations and warranties made. If requested in writing, the Depositary
shall promptly provide the Company, at the expense of the Company, with copies
or originals of (i) any such proofs of citizenship or residence, legal or
beneficial ownership, or exchange control approval that it receives, and (ii)
any other information or documents that the Company may reasonably require and
that the Depositary shall require from the Owners or Beneficial Owners.
SECTION 3.02. Liability of Owner or Beneficial Owner for Taxes.
If any tax or other governmental charge shall become payable by the
Custodian or the Depositary with respect to any Receipt or any Deposited
Securities represented by any Receipt, such tax or other governmental charge
shall be payable by the Owner or Beneficial Owner of such Receipt to the
Depositary. The Depositary may refuse to effect any transfer of such Receipt or
any withdrawal of Deposited Securities represented by American Depositary Shares
evidenced by such Receipt until such payment is made, and may withhold any
dividends or other distributions, or may sell for the account of the Owner or
Beneficial Owner thereof any part or all of the Deposited Securities represented
by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt, and may apply such
dividends or other distributions or the proceeds of any such sale in payment of
such tax or other governmental charge and the Owner or Beneficial Owner of such
Receipt shall remain liable for any deficiency.
SECTION 3.03. Warranties on Deposit of Shares.
Every person depositing Shares under this Deposit Agreement shall be
deemed thereby to represent and warrant that such Shares and each certificate
therefor are validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free of any
preemptive rights of the holders of outstanding Shares and that the person
making such deposit is duly authorized so to do. Every such person shall also be
deemed to represent that such Shares are not, and the Receipts evidencing
American Depositary Shares representing such Shares would not be, Restricted
Securities. Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit of
Shares and issuance of Receipts.
SECTION 3.04. Disclosure of Beneficial Ownership.
To the extent that provisions of or governing any Deposited Securities may
require the disclosure of beneficial or other ownership of Deposited Securities,
other Shares and other securities to the Company and may provide for blocking
transfer and voting or other rights to enforce such disclosure or limit such
ownership, the Depositary shall use its reasonable efforts to comply with
Company instructions as to Receipts in
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respect of any such enforcement or limitation and Owners and Beneficial Owners
shall comply with all such disclosure requirements and ownership limitations and
shall cooperate with the Depositary's compliance with such Company instruction.
SECTION 3.05. Ownership Restrictions.
The Company may restrict, in such manner as it deems appropriate,
transfers of Receipts where such transfer may result in the total number of
Shares represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipts
beneficially owned by a single Owner or Beneficial Owner exceeding the limits
under any applicable law or the Company's Memorandum and Articles of
Association. The Company may, in such manner as it deems appropriate, instruct
the Depositary to take action with respect to the ownership interest of any
Owner or Beneficial Owner in excess of the limitation set forth in the preceding
sentence, including but not limited to a mandatory sale or disposition on behalf
of any Owner or Beneficial Owner in the Receipt of the Shares represented by the
American Depositary Shares evidenced by a Receipt or Receipts held by such Owner
or Beneficial Owner in excess of such limitations, if and to the extent such
disposition is permitted by applicable law.
ARTICLE 4. THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES
SECTION 4.01. Cash Distributions.
Whenever the Depositary or a Custodian shall receive any cash dividend or
other cash distribution on any Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall,
subject to the provisions of Section 4.05, promptly convert such dividend or
distribution into Dollars and shall promptly distribute the amount thus received
(net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09) to
the Owners entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of American Depositary
Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by them respectively;
provided, however, that in the event that the Company or the Depositary shall be
required to withhold and does withhold from such cash dividend or such other
cash distribution an amount on account of taxes, the amount distributed to the
Owner of the Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares representing such
Deposited Securities shall be reduced accordingly. The Depositary shall
distribute only such amount, however, as can be distributed without attributing
to any Owner a fraction of one cent. Any such fractional amounts shall be
rounded to the nearest whole cent and so distributed to Owners entitled thereto.
The Company or its agent will remit to the appropriate governmental agency in
the Cayman Islands all amounts withheld and owing to such agency. The Depositary
will forward to the Company or its agent such information from its records as
the Company may reasonably request to enable the Company or its agent to file
necessary reports with governmental agencies, and the Depositary or the Company
or its agent may file any such reports necessary to obtain benefits under any
applicable tax treaties for the Owners of Receipts.
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SECTION 4.02. Distributions Other Than Cash, Shares or Rights.
Subject to the provisions of Sections 4.11 and 5.09, whenever the
Depositary shall receive any distribution other than a distribution described in
Section 4.01, 4.03 or 4.04, the Depositary shall, subject to all applicable
laws, cause the securities or property received by it to be distributed to the
Owners entitled thereto, after deduction or upon payment of any fees and
expenses of the Depositary or any taxes or other governmental charges, in
proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such
Deposited Securities held by them respectively, in any manner that the
Depositary may deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing such
distribution; provided, however, that if in the opinion of the Depositary such
distribution cannot be made proportionately among the Owners entitled thereto,
or if for any other reason (including, but not limited to, any requirement that
the Company or the Depositary withhold an amount on account of taxes or other
governmental charges or that such securities must be registered under the
Securities Act of 1933 in order to be distributed to Owners or Beneficial
Owners) the Depositary deems such distribution not to be feasible, the
Depositary may (after consultation with the Company, where practicable) adopt
such method as it may deem equitable and practicable for the purpose of
effecting such distribution, including, but not limited to, the public or
private sale of the securities or property thus received, or any part thereof,
and the net proceeds of any such sale (net of the fees and expenses of the
Depositary as provided in Section 5.09) shall be distributed by the Depositary
to the Owners entitled thereto, all in the manner and subject to the conditions
described in Section 4.01.
SECTION 4.03. Distributions in Shares.
If any distribution upon any Deposited Securities consists of a dividend
in, or free distribution of, Shares, the Depositary may, distribute to the
Owners of outstanding Receipts entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of
American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by them
respectively, additional Receipts evidencing an aggregate number of American
Depositary Shares representing the amount of Shares received as such dividend or
free distribution, subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement
with respect to the deposit of Shares and the issuance of American Depositary
Shares evidenced by Receipts, including the withholding of any tax or other
governmental charge as provided in Section 4.11 and the payment of the fees and
expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09. The Depositary may
withhold any such distribution of Receipts if it has not received reasonably
satisfactory assurances from the Company that such distribution does not require
registration under the Securities Act or is exempt from registration under the
provisions of such Act. In lieu of delivering Receipts for fractional American
Depositary Shares in any such case, the Depositary shall sell the amount of
Shares represented by the aggregate of such fractions and distribute the net
proceeds, all in the manner and subject to the conditions described in Section
4.01. If additional Receipts are not so distributed
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(except pursuant to the preceding sentence), each American Depositary Share
shall thenceforth also represent the additional Shares distributed upon the
Deposited Securities represented thereby.
SECTION 4.04. Rights.
In the event that the Company shall offer or cause to be offered to the
holders of any Deposited Securities any rights to subscribe for additional
Shares or any rights of any other nature, the Depositary, after consultation
with the Company, shall have discretion as to the procedure to be followed in
making such rights available to any Owners entitled thereto or in disposing of
such rights on behalf of any Owners entitled thereto and making the net proceeds
available to such Owners or, if by the terms of such rights offering or for any
other reason, the Depositary may not either make such rights available to any
Owners or dispose of such rights and make the net proceeds available to such
Owners, then the Depositary shall allow the rights to lapse. If at the time of
the offering of any rights the Depositary determines in its discretion (after
consultation with the Company, where practicable) that it is lawful and feasible
to make such rights available to all or certain Owners but not to other Owners,
the Depositary may distribute to any Owner to whom it determines the
distribution to be lawful and feasible, in proportion to the number of American
Depositary Shares held by such Owner, warrants or other instruments therefor in
such form as it deems appropriate.
In circumstances in which rights would otherwise not be distributed, if an
Owner of Receipts requests the distribution of warrants or other instruments in
order to exercise the rights allocable to the American Depositary Shares of such
Owner hereunder, the Depositary will make such rights available to such Owner
upon written notice from the Company to the Depositary that (a) the Company has
elected in its sole discretion to permit such rights to be exercised and (b)
such Owner has executed such documents as the Company has determined in its sole
discretion are reasonably required under applicable law.
If the Depositary has distributed warrants or other instruments for rights
to all or certain Owners, then upon instruction from such an Owner pursuant to
such warrants or other instruments to the Depositary to exercise such rights,
upon payment by such Owner to the Depositary for the account of such Owner of an
amount equal to the purchase price of the Shares or the acquisition price of any
other rights to be received upon the exercise of the rights, and upon payment of
the fees and expenses of the Depositary and any other charges as set forth in
such warrants or other instruments, the Depositary shall, on behalf of such
Owner, exercise the rights and purchase the Shares or other rights, and the
Company shall cause the Shares or rights so purchased to be delivered to the
Depositary on behalf of such Owner. As agent for such Owner, the Depositary will
cause the Shares or rights so purchased to be deposited pursuant to Section 2.02
of this Deposit Agreement, and shall, pursuant to Section 2.03 of this
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Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, execute and deliver Receipts to such Owner. In the case of a
distribution pursuant to the second paragraph of this section, such Receipts
shall be legended in accordance with applicable U.S. laws, and shall be subject
to the appropriate restrictions on sale, deposit, cancellation, and transfer
under such laws.
If the Depositary determines in its discretion that it is not lawful and
feasible to make such rights available to all or certain Owners, it may sell the
rights, warrants or other instruments in proportion to the number of American
Depositary Shares held by the Owners to whom it has determined it may not
lawfully or feasibly make such rights available, and allocate the net proceeds
of such sales (net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in
Section 5.09 and all taxes and governmental charges payable in connection with
such rights and subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement)
for the account of such Owners otherwise entitled to such rights, warrants or
other instruments, upon an averaged or other practical basis without regard to
any distinctions among such Owners because of exchange restrictions or the date
of delivery of any Receipt or otherwise.
The Depositary will not offer rights to Owners unless both the rights and
the securities to which such rights relate are either exempt from registration
under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to a distribution to all Owners or
are registered under the provisions of such Act; provided, that nothing in this
Deposit Agreement shall create any obligation on the part of the Company to file
a registration statement with respect to such rights or underlying securities or
to endeavor to have such a registration statement declared effective. If an
Owner of Receipts requests the distribution of warrants or other instruments,
notwithstanding that there has been no such registration under such Act, the
Depositary shall not effect such distribution unless it has received an opinion
from recognized counsel in the United States for the Company in accordance with
Section 5.07 hereof upon which the Depositary may rely that such distribution to
such Owner is exempt from such registration; provided, however, the Company
shall have no obligation to cause its counsel to issue such opinion at the
request of such Owner.
The Depositary shall not be responsible for any reasonable failure to
determine that it may be lawful or feasible to make such rights available to
Owners in general or any Owner in particular.
SECTION 4.05. Conversion of Foreign Currency.
Whenever the Depositary or the Custodian shall receive foreign currency,
by way of dividends or other distributions or the net proceeds from the sale of
securities, property or rights, and if at the time of the receipt thereof the
foreign currency so received can in the judgment of the Depositary be converted
on a reasonable basis into Dollars and the resulting Dollars transferred to the
United States, the Depositary shall promptly convert or cause to be converted,
by sale or in any other manner that it may determine,
-15-
such foreign currency into Dollars, and such Dollars shall be promptly
distributed to the Owners entitled thereto or, if the Depositary shall have
distributed any warrants or other instruments which entitle the holders thereof
to such Dollars, then to the holders of such warrants and/or instruments upon
surrender thereof for cancellation. Such distribution may be made upon an
averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among
Owners on account of exchange restrictions, the date of delivery of any Receipt
or otherwise and shall be net of any expenses of conversion into Dollars
incurred by the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09.
If such conversion or distribution can be effected only with the approval
or license of any government or agency thereof, the Depositary shall file such
application for approval or license, if any, as it may deem desirable.
If at any time the Depositary shall determine that in its judgment any
foreign currency received by the Depositary or the Custodian is not convertible
on a reasonable basis into Dollars transferable to the United States, or if any
approval or license of any government or agency thereof which is required for
such conversion is denied or in the opinion of the Depositary is not obtainable,
or if any such approval or license is not obtained within a reasonable period as
determined by the Depositary, the Depositary may distribute the foreign currency
(or an appropriate document evidencing the right to receive such foreign
currency) received by the Depositary to, or in its discretion may hold such
foreign currency uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the
respective accounts of, the Owners entitled to receive the same.
If any such conversion of foreign currency, in whole or in part, cannot be
effected for distribution to some of the Owners entitled thereto, the Depositary
may in its discretion make such conversion and distribution in Dollars to the
extent permissible to the Owners entitled thereto and may distribute the balance
of the foreign currency received by the Depositary to, or hold such balance
uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective
accounts of, the Owners entitled thereto.
SECTION 4.06. Fixing of Record Date.
Whenever any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable
or any distribution other than cash shall be made, or whenever rights shall be
issued with respect to the Deposited Securities, or whenever the Depositary
shall receive notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited
Securities, or whenever for any reason the Depositary causes a change in the
number of Shares that are represented by each American Depositary Share, or
whenever the Depositary shall find it necessary or convenient, the Depositary
shall fix a record date, which date shall (x) be the same date, to the extent
practicable, as the record date for the Deposited Securities or (y) if
different, after consultation with the Company, be fixed to be a date as soon
thereafter as practicable (a) for the determination of the Owners who shall be
(i) entitled to receive
-16-
such dividend, distribution or rights or the net proceeds of the sale thereof or
(ii) entitled to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such
meeting, (b) on or after which each American Depositary Share will represent the
changed number of Shares or (c) for any other matter. Subject to the provisions
of Sections 4.01 through 4.05 and to the other terms and conditions of this
Deposit Agreement, the Owners on such record date shall be entitled, as the case
may be, to receive the amount distributable by the Depositary with respect to
such dividend or other distribution or such rights or the net proceeds of sale
thereof in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by them
respectively and to give voting instructions and to act in respect of any other
such matter.
SECTION 4.07. Voting of Deposited Securities.
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other
Deposited Securities, if requested in writing by the Company, the Depositary
shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the Owners a notice, the form
of which notice shall be in the sole discretion of the Depositary after
consultation with the Company if practicable, which shall contain (a) such
information as is contained in such notice of meeting received by the Depositary
from the Company, (b) a statement that the Owners as of the close of business on
a specified record date will be entitled, subject to any applicable provision of
Cayman Islands law or Hong Kong law and of the Memorandum and Articles of
Association of the Company, to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the
voting rights, if any, pertaining to the amount of Shares or other Deposited
Securities represented by their respective American Depositary Shares and (c) a
statement as to the manner in which such instructions may be given, including an
express indication that if no instruction is received, an instruction may be
given on behalf of such Owner in accordance with the last sentence of this
paragraph to the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated
by the Company. Upon the written request of an Owner on such record date,
received on or before the date established by the Depositary for such purpose,
the Depositary shall endeavor, in so far as practicable, to vote or cause to be
voted the amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by the
American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt in accordance with the
instructions set forth in such request. The Depositary shall not vote or attempt
to exercise the right to vote that attaches to the Shares or other Deposited
Securities, other than in accordance with such instructions.
If no instructions are received by the Depositary from any Owner with
respect to any of the Deposited Securities represented by the American
Depositary Shares evidenced by such Owner's Receipts on or before the date
established by the Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall deem such
Owner to have instructed the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a
person designated by the Company with respect to such Deposited Securities and
the Depositary shall give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the
Company to vote such Deposited Securities, provided that no such
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instruction shall be deemed given and no such discretionary proxy shall be given
with respect to any matter as to which the Company notifies the Depositary (and
the Company agrees to provide such notification as promptly as reasonably
practicable in writing) and (x) the Company does not wish such proxy given, (y)
in the opinion of the Company, substantial opposition exists or (z) such matter
materially and adversely affects the rights or holders of Shares, provided
further that the Company shall have no liability to any Owner or Beneficial
Owner resulting from such notification.
SECTION 4.08. Changes Affecting Deposited Securities.
In circumstances where the provisions of Section 4.03 do not apply, upon
any change in nominal value, change in par value, split-up, consolidation or any
other reclassification of Deposited Securities, or upon any recapitalization,
reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale of assets affecting the Company
or to which it is a party, any securities which shall be received by the
Depositary or a Custodian in exchange for or in conversion of or in respect of
Deposited Securities, shall be treated as new Deposited Securities under this
Deposit Agreement, and American Depositary Shares shall thenceforth represent,
subject to this Agreement and all applicable laws in addition to the existing
Deposited Securities, the right to receive the new Deposited Securities so
received in exchange or conversion, unless additional Receipts are delivered
pursuant to the following sentence. In any such case the Depositary may, and
shall at the Company's request, execute and deliver additional Receipts as in
the case of a dividend in Shares, or call for the surrender of outstanding
Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts specifically describing such new
Deposited Securities.
Immediately upon the occurrence of any change, conversion, exchange or
other event covered by this Section 4.08 in respect of the Deposited Securities,
the Depositary shall give notice thereof in writing to all Owners.
SECTION 4.09. Reports.
The Depositary shall make available for inspection by Owners at its
Corporate Trust Office any reports and communications, including any proxy
soliciting material, received from the Company which are both (a) received by
the Depositary as the holder of the Deposited Securities and (b) made generally
available to the holders of such Deposited Securities by the Company. The
Depositary shall also send to the Owners copies of such reports when furnished
by the Company pursuant to Section 5.06. Any such reports and communications,
including any such proxy soliciting material, furnished to the Depositary by the
Company shall be furnished in English, to the extent such materials are required
to be translated into English pursuant to any regulations of the Commission.
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SECTION 4.10. Lists of Owners.
At the beginning of each calendar quarter the Depositary shall furnish to
the Company a list, as of a recent date, of the names, addresses and holdings of
American Depositary Shares by all persons in whose names Receipts are registered
on the books of the Depositary to the extent known or reasonably capable of
being known by the Depositary. Upon the request and at the expense of the
Company, the Depositary shall supply such a list at any other time during any
calendar quarter.
SECTION 4.11. Withholding.
In connection with any distribution to Owners or Beneficial Owners and the
related remittance of any amount to any appropriate government or regulatory
authority required to be withheld by the Company or the Depositary and owing to
such authority, the Company or its agent may request from the Depositary, and
the Depositary will forward to the Company or its agent, such information from
its records to enable the Company or its agent to comply with any request from
or requirement of such authority. The Depositary will use reasonable efforts to
make and maintain arrangements to assist Owners and Beneficial Owners to receive
any tax credits or other benefits which may be available now or in the future
relating to dividend payments or other distributions on the Shares or Deposited
Securities. In the event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in
property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) is subject to any
tax or other governmental charge which the Depositary is obligated to withhold,
the Depositary may by public or private sale dispose of all or a portion of such
property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) in such amounts and
in such manner as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay such
taxes or charges and the Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds of any
such sale after deduction of such taxes or charges to the Owners entitled
thereto in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by them
respectively.
ARTICLE 5. THE DEPOSITARY, THE CUSTODIANS AND THE COMPANY
SECTION 5.01. Maintenance of Office and Transfer Books by the Depositary.
Until termination of this Deposit Agreement in accordance with its terms,
the Depositary shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York,
facilities for the execution and delivery, registration, registration of
transfers and surrender of Receipts in accordance with the provisions of this
Deposit Agreement.
The Depositary shall keep books, at its Corporate Trust Office, for the
registration of Receipts and transfers of Receipts which at all reasonable times
shall be open for inspection by the Owners and the Company, provided that such
inspection shall not be for the purpose of communicating with Owners in the
interest of a business or
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object other than the business of the Company or a matter related to this
Deposit Agreement or the Receipts.
The Depositary may, and shall if requested by the Company in writing,
close the transfer books, at any time or from time to time, when deemed
reasonably expedient by it and in compliance with all applicable laws in
connection with the performance of its duties hereunder.
If any Receipts or the American Depositary Shares evidenced thereby are
listed on one or more stock exchanges in the United States, the Depositary shall
act as Registrar or appoint, with prompt written notice provided to the Company,
a Registrar or one or more co-registrars for registry of such Receipts in
accordance with any requirements of such exchange or exchanges. Each Receipt
registrar, co-registrar or other agent appointed under this Section 5.01 shall
give notice in writing within five business days from the date of such
appointment to the Company and the Depositary accepting such appointment and
agreeing to the applicable terms of this Deposit Agreement.
SECTION 5.02. Prevention or Delay in Performance by the Depositary or the
Company.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their respective
directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates shall incur any liability
to any Owner or Beneficial Owner of any Receipt, if by reason of any provision
of any present or future law or regulation of the United States, the People's
Republic of China or any other country, or of any governmental or regulatory
authority or stock exchange, or by reason of any provision, present or future,
of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, or by reason of
any provision of any securities issued or distributed by the Company, or any
offering or distribution thereof, or by reason of any act of God or war or other
circumstances beyond its control, the Depositary or the Company shall be
prevented, delayed or forbidden from, or be subject to any civil or criminal
penalty on account of doing or performing any act or thing which by the terms of
this Deposit Agreement or Deposited Securities it is provided shall be done or
performed; nor shall the Depositary or the Company or any of their respective
directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates incur any liability to any
Owner or Beneficial Owner of any Receipt by reason of any nonperformance or
delay, caused as aforesaid, in the performance of any act or thing which by the
terms of this Deposit Agreement it is provided shall or may be done or
performed, or by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any
discretion provided for in this Deposit Agreement. Where, by the terms of a
distribution pursuant to Section 4.01, 4.02, or 4.03 of the Deposit Agreement,
or an offering or distribution pursuant to Section 4.04 of the Deposit
Agreement, or for any other reason, such distribution or offering may not be
made available to Owners, and the Depositary may not dispose of such
distribution or offering on behalf of such Owners and make the net proceeds
available to such Owners, then the Depositary shall not make such distribution
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or offering, and shall allow any rights, if applicable, to lapse, in each such
case without liability to the Company or the Depositary.
SECTION 5.03. Obligations of the Depositary, the Custodian and the Company.
Neither the Company, nor its officers, employees and agents assume any
obligation nor shall it or any of them be subject to any liability under this
Deposit Agreement to Owners or Beneficial Owners, except that the Company agrees
to perform its obligations specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement
without negligence or bad faith.
Neither the Depositary, nor its officers, employees and agents assume any
obligation nor shall it or any of them be subject to any liability under this
Deposit Agreement to any Owner or Beneficial Owner (including, without
limitation, liability with respect to the validity or worth of the Deposited
Securities), except that the Depositary agrees to perform its obligations
specifically set forth in, and in accordance with the terms of, this Deposit
Agreement without negligence or bad faith.
Neither the Depositary nor 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 Receipts, which in its opinion
may involve it in expense or liability, unless indemnity satisfactory to it
against all expense and liability shall be furnished as often as may be
required, and the Custodian shall not be under any obligation whatsoever with
respect to such proceedings, the responsibility of the Custodian being solely to
the Depositary.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be liable for any action or
nonaction by it in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal
counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares for deposit, any Owner or any
other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or
information.
The Depositary shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by a
successor depositary whether in connection with a previous act or omission of
the Depositary or in connection with any matter arising wholly after the removal
or resignation of the Depositary, provided that in connection with the issue out
of which such potential liability arises the Depositary performed its
obligations without negligence or bad faith and in accordance with the terms of
this Deposit Agreement while it acted as Depositary.
The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to carry out any
instructions to vote any of the Deposited Securities, or for the manner in which
any such vote is cast or the effect of any such vote, provided that any such
action or nonaction is,
-21-
without negligence or bad faith and in accordance with the terms of this Deposit
Agreement.
No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act of 1933 is intended by
any provision of this Deposit Agreement.
SECTION 5.04. Resignation and Removal of the Depositary.
The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary hereunder by written
notice of its election so to do delivered to the Company, such resignation to
take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of
such appointment as hereinafter provided.
The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by written notice
of such removal effective 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 use reasonable efforts to appoint a successor
depositary, which shall be a bank or trust company having an office in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York. Every successor depositary shall
execute and deliver to its predecessor and to the Company an instrument in
writing accepting its appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor
depositary, without any further act or deed, shall become fully vested with all
the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor; but such
predecessor, nevertheless, upon payment of all sums due it and on the written
request of the Company shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to
such successor all rights and powers of such predecessor hereunder, shall duly
assign, transfer and deliver all right, title and interest in the Deposited
Securities to such successor, and shall deliver to such successor a list of the
Owners of all outstanding Receipts. Any such successor depositary shall promptly
mail notice of its appointment to the Owners.
Any corporation into or with which the Depositary may be merged or
consolidated shall be the successor of the Depositary without the execution or
filing of any document or any further act.
SECTION 5.05. The Custodians.
The Custodian shall be subject at all times and in all respects to the
directions of the Depositary and shall be responsible solely to it. Any
Custodian may resign and be discharged from its duties hereunder by notice of
such resignation delivered to the Depositary at least 30 days prior to the date
on which such resignation is to become effective. If upon such resignation there
shall be no Custodian acting hereunder, the Depositary shall, promptly after
receiving such notice, appoint a substitute custodian or custodians, each of
which shall thereafter be a Custodian hereunder. Whenever the
-22-
Depositary in its discretion determines that it is in the best interest of the
Owners to do so, it may, with timely written notice to the Company, appoint a
substitute or additional custodian or custodians, each of which shall thereafter
be one of the Custodians hereunder. Upon demand of the Depositary any Custodian
shall deliver such of the Deposited Securities held by it as are requested of it
to any other Custodian or such substitute or additional custodian or custodians.
Each such substitute or additional custodian shall deliver to the Depositary,
forthwith upon its appointment, an acceptance of such appointment satisfactory
in form and substance to the Depositary.
Upon the appointment of any successor depositary hereunder, each Custodian
then acting hereunder shall forthwith become, without any further act or
writing, the agent hereunder of such successor depositary and the appointment of
such successor depositary shall in no way impair the authority of each Custodian
hereunder; but the successor depositary so appointed shall, nevertheless, on the
written request of any Custodian, execute and deliver to such Custodian all such
instruments as may be proper to give to such Custodian full and complete power
and authority as agent hereunder of such successor depositary.
SECTION 5.06. Notices and Reports.
On or before the first date on which the Company gives notice, by
publication or otherwise, of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited
Securities, or of any adjourned meeting of such holders, or of the taking of any
action in respect of any cash or other distributions or the offering of any
rights, the Company agrees to transmit to the Depositary and the Custodian a
copy of the notice thereof in the form given or to be given to holders of Shares
or other Deposited Securities.
The Company will arrange for the translation into English, if not already
in English, to the extent required pursuant to any regulations of the
Commission, and the prompt transmittal by the Company to the Depositary and the
Custodian of such notices and any other reports and communications which are
made generally available by the Company to holders of its Shares. If requested
in writing by the Company, the Depositary will arrange for the mailing, at the
Company's expense, of copies of such notices, reports and communications to all
Owners. The Company will timely provide the Depositary with the quantity of such
notices, reports, and communications, as requested by the Depositary from time
to time, in order for the Depositary to effect such mailings.
SECTION 5.07. Distribution of Additional Shares, Rights, etc.
The Company agrees that in the event of any issuance or distribution of
(1) additional Shares, (2) rights to subscribe for Shares, (3) securities
convertible into Shares, or (4) rights to subscribe for such securities (each a
"Distribution"), the Company will promptly furnish to the Depositary a written
opinion from U.S. counsel for the
-23-
Company, which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary,
stating whether or not the Distribution requires a Registration Statement under
the Securities Act of 1933 to be in effect prior to making such Distribution
available to Owners entitled thereto. If in the opinion of such counsel a
Registration Statement is required, such counsel shall furnish to the Depositary
a written opinion as to whether or not there is a Registration Statement in
effect which will cover such Distribution.
The Company agrees with the Depositary that neither the Company nor any
company controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Company will
at any time deposit any Shares, either originally issued or previously issued
and reacquired by the Company or any such affiliate, unless a Registration
Statement is in effect as to such Shares under the Securities Act of 1933.
SECTION 5.08. Indemnification.
The Company agrees to indemnify the Depositary, its directors, employees,
agents and affiliates and any Custodian against, and hold each of them harmless
from, any liability or expense (including, but not limited to, the fees and
expenses of counsel) which may arise out of acts performed or omitted, in
accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement and of the Receipts, as
the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, (i) by
either the Depositary or a Custodian or their respective directors, employees,
agents and affiliates, except for any liability or expense arising out of the
negligence or bad faith of either of them, or (ii) by the Company or any of its
directors, employees, agents and affiliates.
The Depositary agrees to indemnify the Company, its directors, officers,
employees, agents and affiliates and hold them harmless from any liability or
expense which may arise out of acts performed or omitted by the Depositary or
its Custodian or their respective directors, employees, agents and affiliates
due to their negligence or bad faith.
If an action, proceeding (including, but not limited to, any governmental
investigation), claim or dispute (collectively, a "Proceeding") in respect of
which indemnity may be sought by either party is brought or asserted against the
other party, the party seeking indemnification (the "Indemnitee") shall promptly
(and in no event more than ten (10) days after receipt of notice of such
Proceeding) notify the party obligated to provide such indemnification (the
"Indemnitor") of such Proceeding. The failure of the Indemnitee to so notify the
Indemnitor shall not impair the Indemnitee's ability to seek indemnification
from the Indemnitor (but only for costs, expenses and liabilities incurred after
such notice) unless such failure adversely affects the Indemnitor's ability to
adequately oppose or defend such Proceeding. Upon receipt of such notice from
the Indemnitee, the Indemnitor shall be entitled to participate in such
Proceeding and, to the extent that it shall so desire and provided no conflict
of interest exists as specified in
-24-
subparagraph (b) below or there are no other defenses available to Indemnitee as
specified in subparagraph (d) below, to assume the defense thereof with counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee (in which case all attorney's fees and
expenses shall be borne by the Indemnitor and the Indemnitor shall in good faith
defend the Indemnitee). The Indemnitee shall have the right to employ separate
counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but
the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be borne by the Indemnitee unless
(a) the Indemnitor agrees in writing to pay such fees and expenses, (b) the
Indemnitee shall have reasonably and in good faith concluded that there is a
conflict of interest between the Indemnitor and the Indemnitee in the conduct of
the defense of such action, (c) the Indemnitor fails to assume, at least ten
(10) days prior to the date the first response or appearance is required to be
made in such Proceeding, the defense of such Proceeding with counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the Indemnitee or (d) there are legal defenses available to the
Indemnitee that are different from or are in addition to those available to the
Indemnitor. No compromise or settlement of such Proceeding may be effected by
either party without the other party's consent unless (i) there is no finding or
admission of any violation of law and no effect on any other claims that may be
made against such other party and (ii) the sole relief provided is monetary
damages that are paid in full by the party seeking the settlement. Neither party
shall have any liability with respect to any compromise or settlement effected
without its consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Indemnitor
shall have no obligation to indemnify and hold harmless the Indemnitee from any
loss, expense or liability incurred by the Indemnitee as a result of a default
judgment entered against the Indemnitee unless such judgment was entered after
the Indemnitor agreed, in writing, to assume the defense of such Proceeding.
SECTION 5.09. Charges of Depositary.
The Company agrees to pay the fees, reasonable expenses and out-of-pocket
charges of the Depositary and those of any Registrar only in accordance with
agreements in writing entered into between the Depositary and the Company from
time to time. The Depositary shall present its statement for such charges and
expenses to the Company once every three months. The charges and expenses of the
Custodian are for the sole account of the Depositary.
The following charges shall be incurred by any party depositing or
withdrawing Shares or by any party surrendering Receipts or to whom Receipts are
issued (including, without limitation, issuance pursuant to a stock dividend or
stock split declared by the Company or an exchange of stock regarding the
Receipts or Deposited Securities or a distribution of Receipts pursuant to
Section 4.03), whichever applicable: (1) taxes, stamp duty and other
governmental charges, (2) such registration fees as may from time to time be in
effect for the registration of transfers of Shares generally on the Share
register of the Company or Foreign Registrar and applicable to transfers of
Shares to the name of the Depositary or its nominee or the Custodian or its
nominee on the
-25-
making of deposits or withdrawals hereunder, (3) such cable, telex and facsimile
transmission expenses as are expressly provided in this Deposit Agreement, (4)
such expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in the conversion of foreign
currency pursuant to Section 4.05, (5) a fee of $5.00 or less per 100 American
Depositary Shares (or portion thereof) for the execution and delivery of
Receipts pursuant to Section 2.03, 4.03 or 4.04 and the surrender of Receipts
pursuant to Section 2.05 or 6.02, (6) a fee of $.02 or less per American
Depositary Share (or portion thereof) for any cash distribution made pursuant to
the Deposit Agreement, including, but not limited to Sections 4.01 through 4.04
hereof, (7) a fee of $1.50 or less per certificate for a Receipt or Receipts for
transfers made pursuant to Section 2.04 and (8) a fee for the distribution of
securities pursuant to Section 4.02, such fee being in an amount equal to the
fee for the execution and delivery of American Depositary Shares referred to
above which would have been charged as a result of the deposit of such
securities (for purposes of this clause (8) treating all such securities as if
they were Shares), but which securities are instead distributed by the
Depositary to Owners.
The Depositary, subject to Section 2.09 hereof, may own and deal in any
class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in Receipts.
SECTION 5.10. Retention of Depositary Documents.
The Depositary is authorized to destroy those documents, records, bills
and other data compiled during the term of this Deposit Agreement at the times
permitted by the laws or regulations governing the Depositary unless the Company
requests that such papers be retained for a longer period or turned over to the
Company or to a successor depositary.
SECTION 5.11. Exclusivity.
The Company agrees not to appoint any other depositary for issuance of
American Depositary Receipts so long as The Bank of New York is acting as
Depositary hereunder.
SECTION 5.12. List of Restricted Securities Owners.
From time to time, at the written request of the Depositary, the Company
shall provide to the Depositary a list setting forth, to the actual knowledge of
the Company, those persons or entities who beneficially own Restricted
Securities and the Company shall update that list at the written request of the
Depositary. The Company agrees to advise in writing each of the persons or
entities so listed that such Restricted Securities are ineligible for deposit
hereunder. The Depositary may rely on such a list or update but shall not be
liable for any action or omission made in reliance thereon.
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ARTICLE 6. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
SECTION 6.01. Amendment.
The form of the Receipts and any provisions of this Deposit Agreement may
at any time and from time to time be amended by written agreement between the
Company and the Depositary without the consent of Owners or Beneficial Owners of
Receipts in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable. Any
amendment which shall impose or increase any fees or charges (other than taxes
and other governmental charges, registration fees, cable, telex or facsimile
transmission costs, delivery costs or other such expenses), or which shall
otherwise prejudice any substantial existing right of Owners, shall, however,
not become effective as to outstanding Receipts until the expiration of 30 days
after notice of such amendment shall have been given to the Owners of
outstanding Receipts. Every Owner, at the time any amendment so becomes
effective, shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such Receipt, to consent and
agree to such amendment and to be bound by the Deposit Agreement as amended
thereby. In no event shall any amendment impair the right of the Owner of any
Receipt to surrender such Receipt and receive therefor the Deposited Securities
represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of
applicable law.
SECTION 6.02. Termination.
The Depositary shall, at any time at the direction of the Company,
terminate this Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the
Owners of all Receipts then outstanding at least 90 days prior to the date fixed
in such notice for such termination. The Depositary may likewise terminate this
Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the Company and the
Owners of all Receipts then outstanding, if at any time 90 days shall have
expired after the Depositary shall have delivered to the Company a written
notice of its election to resign and a successor depositary shall not have been
appointed and accepted its appointment as provided in Section 5.04. On and after
the date of termination, the Owner of a Receipt will, upon (a) surrender of such
Receipt at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary, (b) payment of the fee
of the Depositary for the surrender of Receipts referred to in Section 2.05, and
(c) payment of any applicable taxes or governmental charges, be entitled to
delivery, to him or upon his order, of the amount of Deposited Securities
represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt. If any
Receipts shall remain outstanding after the date of termination, the Depositary
thereafter shall discontinue the registration of transfers of Receipts, shall
suspend the distribution of dividends to the Owners thereof, and shall not give
any further notices or perform any further acts under this Deposit Agreement,
except that the Depositary shall continue to collect dividends and other
distributions pertaining to Deposited Securities, shall sell rights and other
property as provided in this Deposit Agreement, and shall continue to deliver
Deposited Securities, together with any dividends or other distributions
received with respect thereto and the
-27-
net proceeds of the sale of any rights or other property, in exchange for
Receipts surrendered to the Depositary (after deducting, in each case, the fee
of the Depositary for the surrender of a Receipt, any expenses for the account
of the Owner of such Receipt in accordance with the terms and conditions of this
Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental charges). At any
time after the expiration of one year from the date of termination, the
Depositary may sell the Deposited Securities then held hereunder and may
thereafter hold uninvested the net proceeds of any such sale, together with any
other cash then held by it hereunder, unsegregated and without liability for
interest, for the pro rata benefit of the Owners of Receipts which have not
theretofore been surrendered, such Owners thereupon becoming general creditors
of the Depositary with respect to such net proceeds. After making such sale, the
Depositary shall be discharged from all obligations under this Deposit
Agreement, except to account for such net proceeds and other cash (after
deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of a
Receipt, any expenses for the account of the Owner of such Receipt in accordance
with the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, and any applicable
taxes or governmental charges) and except for its obligations to the Company
under Section 5.08. Upon the termination of this Deposit Agreement, the Company
shall be discharged from all obligations under this Deposit Agreement except for
its obligations to the Depositary under Sections 5.08 and 5.09 hereof.
ARTICLE 7. MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 7.01. Counterparts.
This Deposit Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed an original and all of such counterparts shall
constitute one and the same instrument. Copies of this Deposit Agreement shall
be filed with the Depositary and the Custodians and shall be open to inspection
by any Owner or Beneficial Owner of a Receipt during business hours.
SECTION 7.02. No Third Party Beneficiaries.
This Deposit Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the parties hereto
(which shall include the Owners) and shall not be deemed to give any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim whatsoever to any other person.
SECTION 7.03. Severability.
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Deposit
Agreement or in the Receipts should be or become invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions contained herein or therein shall in no way be affected,
prejudiced or disturbed thereby.
-28-
SECTION 7.04. Owners and Beneficial Owners as Parties; Binding Effect.
The Owners and Beneficial Owners of Receipts from time to time shall be
parties to this Deposit Agreement and shall be bound by all of the terms and
conditions hereof and of the Receipts by acceptance thereof.
SECTION 7.05. Notices.
Any and all notices to be given to the Company shall be deemed to have
been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail or cable, telex or
facsimile transmission confirmed by letter, addressed to Xxxxxxx.xxx, Inc., 00xx
xxxxx, 00/X Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx Centre, Xx. 0 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx'x Xxxxxxxx of China 100020, or any other place to which the
Company may from time to time transfer its principal place of business.
Any and all notices to be given to the Depositary shall be deemed to have
been duly given if in English and personally delivered or sent by mail or cable,
telex or facsimile transmission confirmed by letter, addressed to The Bank of
New York, 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: American
Depositary Receipt Administration, or any other place to which the Depositary
may transfer its Corporate Trust Office.
Any and all notices to be given to any Owner shall be deemed to have been
duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile
transmission confirmed by letter, addressed to such Owner at the address of such
Owner as it appears on the transfer books for Receipts of the Depositary, or, if
such Owner shall have filed with the Depositary a written request that notices
intended for such Owner be mailed to some other address, at the address
designated in such request.
Delivery of a notice sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile
transmission shall be deemed to be effective at the time when a duly addressed
letter containing the same (or a confirmation thereof in the case of a cable,
telex or facsimile transmission) is deposited, postage prepaid, in a post-office
letter box. The Depositary or the Company may, however, act upon any cable,
telex or facsimile transmission received by it, notwithstanding that such cable,
telex or facsimile transmission shall not subsequently be confirmed by letter as
aforesaid.
SECTION 7.06. Governing Law.
This Deposit Agreement and the Receipts shall be interpreted and all
rights hereunder and thereunder and provisions hereof and thereof shall be
governed by the laws of the State of New York.
-29-
SECTION 7.07. Compliance with U.S. Securities Laws.
Notwithstanding anything in this Deposit Agreement to the contrary, the
Company and the Depositary each agrees that it will not exercise any rights it
has under this Deposit Agreement to prevent the withdrawal or delivery of
Deposited Securities in a manner which would violate the U.S. securities laws,
including, but not limited to, Section I.A.(1) of the General Instructions to
the Form F-6 Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, under the
Securities Act of 1933.
-30-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, XXXXXXX.XXX, INC. and THE BANK OF NEW YORK have duly
executed this Deposit Agreement as of the day and year first set forth above and
all Owners and Beneficial Owners shall become parties hereto upon acceptance by
them of Receipts issued in accordance with the terms hereof.
XXXXXXX.XXX, INC.
By:_____________________________
Name:
Title:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as Depositary
By:_____________________________
Name:
Title:
-31-
EXHIBIT A
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
(Each American Depositary Share
represents one hundred (100)
deposited Shares)
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
FOR ORDINARY SHARES,
PAR VALUE OF $ 0.0001 EACH,
OF
XXXXXXX.XXX, INC.
(INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS)
The Bank of New York, as depositary (hereinafter called the "Depositary"),
hereby certifies that ________________, or registered assigns IS THE OWNER OF
_____________________
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
representing deposited Ordinary Shares, par value of $0.0001 each (herein called
"Shares"), of Xxxxxxx.xxx, Inc., incorporated with limited liability under the
laws of the Cayman Islands (herein called the "Company"). At the date hereof,
each American Depositary Share represents one hundred (100) Shares deposited or
subject to deposit under the Deposit Agreement (as such term is hereinafter
defined) at the principal Hong Kong office of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited (herein called the "Custodian"). The Depositary's Corporate
Trust Office is located at a different address than its principal executive
office. Its Corporate Trust Office is located at 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx,
X.X. 00000, and its principal executive office is located at Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, X.X. 00000.
THE DEPOSITARY'S CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE ADDRESS IS
000 XXXXXXX XXXXXX, XXX XXXX, X.X. 00000
1. THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT.
This American Depositary Receipt is one of an issue (herein called
"Receipts"), all issued and to be issued upon the terms and conditions set forth
in the deposit agreement, dated as of July 6, 2000 (herein called the "Deposit
Agreement"), by and among the Company, the Depositary, and all Owners and
Beneficial Owners from time to time of Receipts issued thereunder, each of whom
by accepting a Receipt agrees to become a party thereto and become bound by all
the terms and conditions thereof. The Deposit Agreement sets forth the rights of
Owners and Beneficial Owners of the Receipts and the rights and duties of the
Depositary in respect of the Shares deposited thereunder and any and all other
securities, property and cash from time to time received in respect of such
Shares and held thereunder (such Shares, securities, property, and cash are
herein called "Deposited Securities"). Copies of the Deposit Agreement are on
file at the Depositary's Corporate Trust Office in New York City and at the
office of the Custodian.
The statements made on the face and reverse of this Receipt are summaries
of certain provisions of the Deposit Agreement and are qualified by and subject
to the detailed provisions of the Deposit Agreement, to which reference is
hereby made. Capitalized terms defined in the Deposit Agreement and not defined
herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Deposit Agreement.
2. SURRENDER OF RECEIPTS AND WITHDRAWAL OF SHARES.
Upon surrender at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary of this
Receipt, and upon payment of the fee of the Depositary provided in this Receipt,
and subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, the Owner
hereof is entitled to delivery, to him or upon his order, of the Deposited
Securities at the time represented by the American Depositary Shares for which
this Receipt is issued. Delivery of such Deposited Securities may be made by the
delivery of (a) certificates in the name of the Owner hereof or as ordered by
him or certificates properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of
transfer and (b) any other securities, property and cash to which such Owner is
then entitled in respect of this Receipt. Such delivery will be made at the
option of the Owner hereof, either at the office of the Custodian or at the
Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary, provided that the forwarding of
certificates for Shares or other Deposited Securities for such delivery at the
Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary shall be at the risk and expense of the
Owner hereof.
3. TRANSFERS, SPLIT-UPS, AND COMBINATIONS OF RECEIPTS.
The transfer of this Receipt is registrable on the books of the Depositary
at its Corporate Trust Office by the Owner hereof in person or by a duly
authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Receipt properly endorsed for
transfer or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer and funds sufficient
to pay any applicable transfer taxes and the expenses of the Depositary and upon
compliance with such regulations, if any, as the
-2-
Depositary may establish for such purpose. This Receipt may be split into other
such Receipts, or may be combined with other such Receipts into one Receipt,
evidencing the same aggregate number of American Depositary Shares as the
Receipt or Receipts surrendered. As a condition precedent to the execution and
delivery, registration of transfer, split-up, combination, or surrender of any
Receipt or withdrawal of any Deposited Securities, the Depositary, the
Custodian, or Registrar may require payment from the depositor of the Shares or
the presentor of the Receipt of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax,
stamp duty or other governmental charge and any stock transfer or registration
fee with respect thereto (including any such tax or charge and fee with respect
to Shares being deposited or withdrawn) and payment of any applicable fees as
provided in this Receipt, may require the production of proof satisfactory to it
as to the identity and genuineness of any signature and may also require
compliance with any regulations the Depositary may establish consistent with the
provisions of the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, including, without
limitation, this Article 3.
The delivery of Receipts against deposit of Shares generally or against
deposit of particular Shares may be suspended, or the transfer of Receipts in
particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer of
outstanding Receipts generally may be suspended, during any period when the
transfer books of the Depositary are closed in accordance with Section 5.01 of
the Deposit Agreement, or if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by
the Depositary or the Company at any time or from time to time because of any
requirement of law or of any government or governmental body or commission, or
under any provision of the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, or for any other
reason, subject to the provisions of the following sentence. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, the surrender
of outstanding Receipts and withdrawal of Deposited Securities may not be
suspended subject only to (i) temporary delays caused by closing the transfer
books of the Depositary or the Company or the deposit of Shares in connection
with voting at a shareholders' meeting, or the payment of dividends, (ii) the
payment of fees, taxes and similar charges, and (iii) compliance with any U.S.
or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating to the Receipts or to the
withdrawal of the Deposited Securities. Without limitation of the foregoing, the
Depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under the Deposit Agreement
any Shares required to be registered under the provisions of the Securities Act
of 1933, unless a registration statement is in effect as to such Shares.
4. LIABILITY OF OWNER OR BENEFICIAL OWNER FOR TAXES.
If any tax or other governmental charge shall become payable with respect
to any Receipt or any Deposited Securities represented hereby, such tax or other
governmental charge shall be payable by the Owner or Beneficial Owner hereof to
the Depositary. The Depositary may refuse to effect any transfer of this Receipt
or any withdrawal of Deposited Securities represented by American Depositary
Shares evidenced by such Receipt until such payment is made, and may withhold
any dividends
-3-
or other distributions, or may sell for the account of the Owner or Beneficial
Owner hereof any part or all of the Deposited Securities represented by the
American Depositary Shares evidenced by this Receipt, and may apply such
dividends or other distributions or the proceeds of any such sale in payment of
such tax or other governmental charge and the Owner or Beneficial Owner hereof
shall remain liable for any deficiency.
5. WARRANTIES ON DEPOSIT OF SHARES.
Every person depositing Shares under the Deposit Agreement shall be deemed
thereby to represent and warrant that such Shares and each certificate therefor
are validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable, and free of any preemptive
rights of the holders of outstanding Shares and that the person making such
deposit is duly authorized so to do. Every such person shall also be deemed to
represent that such Shares and the Receipts evidencing American Depositary
Shares representing such Shares would not be Restricted Securities. Such
representations and warranties shall survive the deposit of Shares and issuance
of Receipts.
6. FILING PROOFS, CERTIFICATES, AND OTHER INFORMATION.
Any person presenting Shares for deposit or any Owner or Beneficial Owner
of a Receipt may be required by the Company, the Depositary or the Custodian
from time to time to file with the Depositary or the Custodian such proof of
citizenship or residence, legal or beneficial ownership, exchange control
approval, or such information relating to the registration on the books of the
Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, to execute such certificates
and to make such representations and warranties, as the Depositary or the
Company may deem necessary or proper. The Depositary may withhold the delivery
or registration of transfer of any Receipt or the distribution of any dividend
or sale or distribution of rights or of the proceeds thereof or the delivery of
any Deposited Securities until such proof or other information is filed or such
certificates are executed or such representations and warranties made. If
requested in writing, the Depositary shall promptly provide the Company, at the
expense of the Company, with copies of originals of (i) any such proofs of
citizenship or residence, legal or beneficial ownership, or exchange control
approval that it receives, and (ii) any other information or documents that the
Company may reasonably request and the Depositary shall require from the Owners
or Beneficial Owners. No Share shall be accepted for deposit unless accompanied
by evidence satisfactory to the Depositary that any necessary approval has been
granted by any governmental body in the Cayman Islands or Hong Kong which is
then performing the function of the regulation of currency exchange.
7. CHARGES OF DEPOSITARY.
The Company agrees to pay the fees, reasonable expenses and out-of-pocket
charges of the Depositary and those of any Registrar only in accordance with
agreements in writing entered into between the Depositary and the Company from
-4-
time to time. The Depositary shall present its statement for such charges and
expenses to the Company once every three months. The charges and expenses of the
Custodian are for the sole account of the Depositary.
The following charges shall be incurred by any party depositing or
withdrawing Shares or by any party surrendering Receipts or to whom Receipts are
issued (including, without limitation, issuance pursuant to a stock dividend or
stock split declared by the Company or an exchange of stock regarding the
Receipts or Deposited Securities or a distribution of Receipts pursuant to
Section 4.03 of the Deposit Agreement), whichever applicable: (1) taxes, stamp
duty and other governmental charges, (2) such registration fees as may from time
to time be in effect for the registration of transfers of Shares generally on
the Share register of the Company or Foreign Registrar and applicable to
transfers of Shares to the name of the Depositary or its nominee or the
Custodian or its nominee on the making of deposits or withdrawals under the
terms of the Deposit Agreement, (3) such cable, telex and facsimile transmission
expenses as are expressly provided in the Deposit Agreement, (4) such expenses
as are incurred by the Depositary in the conversion of foreign currency pursuant
to Section 4.05 of the Deposit Agreement, (5) a fee of $5.00 or less per 100
American Depositary Shares (or portion thereof) for the execution and delivery
of Receipts pursuant to Section 2.03, 4.03 or 4.04 of the Deposit Agreement and
the surrender of Receipts pursuant to Section 2.05 or 6.02 of the Deposit
Agreement, (6) a fee of $.02 or less per American Depositary Share (or portion
thereof) for any cash distribution made pursuant to Sections 4.01 through 4.04
of the Deposit Agreement, (7) a fee of $1.50 or less per certificate for a
Receipt or Receipts for transfers made pursuant to Section 2.04 of the Deposit
Agreement and (8) a fee for the distribution of securities pursuant to Section
4.02 of the Deposit Agreement, such fee being in an amount equal to the fee for
the execution and delivery of American Depositary Shares referred to above which
would have been charged as a result of the deposit of such securities (for
purposes of this clause (8) treating all such securities as if they were
Shares), but which securities are instead distributed by the Depositary to
Owners.
The Depositary, subject to Article 8 hereof, may own and deal in any class
of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in Receipts.
8. PRE-RELEASE OF RECEIPTS.
The Depositary may issue Receipts against the delivery by the Company (or
any agent of the Company recording Share ownership) of rights to receive Shares
from the Company (or any such agent). No such issue of Receipts will be deemed a
"Pre-Release" that is subject to the restrictions of the following paragraph.
Unless requested in writing by the Company to cease doing so, the
Depositary may, notwithstanding Section 2.03 of the Deposit Agreement, execute
and
-5-
deliver Receipts prior to the receipt of Shares pursuant to Section 2.02 of the
Deposit Agreement ("Pre-Release"). The Depositary may, pursuant to Section 2.05
of the Deposit Agreement, deliver Shares upon the receipt and cancellation of
Receipts which have been Pre-Released, whether or not such cancellation is prior
to the termination of such Pre-Release or the Depositary knows that such Receipt
has been Pre-Released. The Depositary may receive Receipts in lieu of Shares in
satisfaction of a Pre-Release. Each Pre-Release will be (a) preceded or
accompanied by a written representation and agreement from the person to whom
Receipts are to be delivered (the "Pre-Releasee") that the Pre-Releasee, or its
customer, (i) owns the shares or Receipts to be remitted, as the case may be,
(ii) assigns all beneficial rights, title and interest in such Shares or
Receipts, as the case may be, to the Depositary in its capacity as such and for
the benefit of the Owners, and (iii) will not take any action with respect to
such Shares or Receipts, as the case may be, that is inconsistent with the
transfer of beneficial ownership (including, without the consent of the
Depositary, disposing of such Shares or Receipts, as the case may be), other
than in satisfaction of such Pre-Release, (b) at all times fully collateralized
with cash, U.S. government securities or such other collateral as the Depositary
determines, in good faith, will provide substantially similar liquidity and
security, (c) terminable by the Depositary on not more than five (5) business
days notice, and (d) subject to such further indemnities and credit regulations
as the Depositary deems appropriate. The number of Shares not deposited but
represented by American Depositary Shares outstanding at any time as a result of
Pre-Releases will not normally exceed thirty percent (30%) of the Shares
deposited hereunder; provided, however, that the Depositary reserves the right
to disregard such limit from time to time as it deems reasonably appropriate,
and may, with the prior written consent of the Company, change such limit for
purposes of general application. The Depositary will also set Dollar limits with
respect to Pre-Release transactions to be entered into hereunder with any
particular Pre-Releasee on a case-by-case basis as the Depositary deems
appropriate. For purposes of enabling the Depositary to fulfill its obligations
to the Owners under the Deposit Agreement, the collateral referred to in clause
(b) above shall be held by the Depositary as security for the performance of the
Pre-Releasee's obligations to the Depositary in connection with a Pre-Release
transaction, including the Pre-Releasee's obligation to deliver Shares or
Receipts upon termination of a Pre-Release transaction (and shall not, for the
avoidance of doubt, constitute Deposited Securities hereunder).
The Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received by
it in connection with the foregoing.
9. TITLE TO RECEIPTS.
It is a condition of this Receipt and every successive Owner and
Beneficial Owner of this Receipt by accepting or holding the same consents and
agrees, that title to this Receipt when properly endorsed or accompanied by
proper instruments of transfer, is transferable by delivery with the same effect
as in the case of a negotiable instrument
-6-
under the laws of New York; provided, however, that the Depositary,
notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the person in whose name
this Receipt is registered on the books of the Depositary as the absolute owner
hereof for the purpose of determining the person entitled to distribution of
dividends or other distributions or to any notice provided for in the Deposit
Agreement or for all other purposes.
10. VALIDITY OF RECEIPT.
This Receipt shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Deposit
Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless this Receipt shall
have been executed by the Depositary by the manual signature of a duly
authorized signatory of the Depositary; provided however that such signature may
be a facsimile if a Registrar for the Receipts shall have been appointed and
such Receipts are countersigned by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly
authorized officer of the Registrar.
11. REPORTS; INSPECTION OF TRANSFER BOOKS.
The Company is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and, accordingly, files certain reports with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (hereinafter called the "Commission"). Such
reports and communications will be available for inspection and copying at the
public reference facilities maintained by the Commission located at 000 Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, X.X., Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000.
The Depositary will make available for inspection by Owners of
Receipts at its Corporate Trust Office any reports and communications, including
any proxy soliciting material, received from the Company which are both (a)
received by the Depositary as the holder of the Deposited Securities and (b)
made generally available to the holders of such Deposited Securities by the
Company. The Depositary will also send to Owners of Receipts copies of such
reports when furnished by the Company pursuant to the Deposit Agreement. Any
such reports and communications, including any such proxy soliciting material,
furnished to the Depositary by the Company shall be furnished in English to the
extent such materials are required to be translated into English pursuant to any
regulations of the Commission.
The Depositary will keep books, at its Corporate Trust Office, for the
registration of Receipts and transfers of Receipts which at all reasonable times
shall be open for inspection by the Owners and the Company provided that such
inspection shall not be for the purpose of communicating with Owners of Receipts
in the interest of a business or object other than the business of the Company
or a matter related to the Deposit Agreement or the Receipts.
-7-
12. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS.
Whenever the Depositary or a Custodian receives any cash dividend or other
cash distribution on any Deposited Securities, the Depositary will, if at the
time of receipt thereof any amounts received in a foreign currency can in the
judgment of the Depositary be converted on a reasonable basis into United States
dollars transferable to the United States, and subject to the Deposit Agreement,
promptly convert such dividend or distribution into dollars and will promptly
distribute the amount thus received (net of the fees and expenses of the
Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and Section 5.09 of the Deposit
Agreement) to the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto; provided, however, that
in the event that the Company or the Depositary is required to withhold and does
withhold from any cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of any
Deposited Securities an amount on account of taxes, the amount distributed to
the Owners of the Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares representing
such Deposited Securities shall be reduced accordingly.
Subject to the provisions of Section 4.11 and 5.09 of the Deposit
Agreement, whenever the Depositary receives any distribution other than a
distribution described in Section 4.01, 4.03 or 4.04 of the Deposit Agreement,
the Depositary will, subject to all applicable laws, cause the securities or
property received by it to be distributed to the Owners entitled thereto, in any
manner that the Depositary may deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing
such distribution; provided, however, that if in the opinion of the Depositary
such distribution cannot be made proportionately among the Owners of Receipts
entitled thereto, or if for any other reason the Depositary deems such
distribution not to be feasible, the Depositary may (after consultation with the
Company where practicable) adopt such method as it may deem equitable and
practicable for the purpose of effecting such distribution, including, but not
limited to, the public or private sale of the securities or property thus
received, or any part thereof, and the net proceeds of any such sale (net of the
fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and Section
5.09 of the Deposit Agreement) will be distributed by the Depositary to the
Owners of Receipts entitled thereto all in the manner and subject to the
conditions described in Section 4.01 of the Deposit Agreement.
If any distribution consists of a dividend in, or free distribution of,
Shares, the Depositary may distribute to the Owners of outstanding Receipts
entitled thereto, additional Receipts evidencing an aggregate number of American
Depositary Shares representing the amount of Shares received as such dividend or
free distribution subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement
with respect to the deposit of Shares and the issuance of American Depositary
Shares evidenced by Receipts, including the withholding of any tax or other
governmental charge as provided in Section 4.11 of the Deposit Agreement and the
payment of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Article 7
hereof and Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement. In lieu of delivering Receipts
for fractional American Depositary Shares in any such case, the
-8-
Depositary will sell the amount of Shares represented by the aggregate of such
fractions and distribute the net proceeds, all in the manner and subject to the
conditions described in Section 4.01 of the Deposit Agreement. If additional
Receipts are not so distributed (except pursuant to the preceding sentence),
each American Depositary Share shall thenceforth also represent the additional
Shares distributed upon the Deposited Securities represented thereby.
In connection with any distribution to Owners or Beneficial Owners and the
related remittance of any amount to any appropriate government or regulatory
authority required to be withheld by the Company or the Depositary and owing to
such authority, the Company or its agent may request from the Depositary, and
the Depositary will forward to the Company or its agent, such information from
its records to enable the Company or its agent to comply with any request from
or requirement of such authority. The Depositary will use reasonable efforts to
make and maintain arrangements to assist Owners and Beneficial Owners to receive
any tax credits or other benefits which may be available now or in the future
relating to dividend payments or other distributions on the Shares or Deposited
Securities. In the event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in
property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) is subject to any
tax or other governmental charge which the Depositary is obligated to withhold,
the Depositary may by public or private sale dispose of all or a portion of such
property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) in such amounts and
in such manner as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay any such
taxes or charges, and the Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds of any
such sale after deduction of such taxes or charges to the Owners of Receipts
entitled thereto.
13. RIGHTS.
In the event that the Company shall offer or cause to be offered to the
holders of any Deposited Securities any rights to subscribe for additional
Shares or any rights of any other nature, the Depositary, after consultation
with the Company, shall have discretion as to the procedure to be followed in
making such rights available to any Owners entitled thereto or in disposing of
such rights on behalf of any Owners entitled thereto and making the net proceeds
available to such Owners or, if by the terms of such rights offering or for any
other reason, the Depositary may not either make such rights available to any
Owners or dispose of such rights and make the net proceeds available to such
Owners, then the Depositary shall allow the rights to lapse. If at the time of
the offering of any rights the Depositary determines in its discretion (after
consultation with the Company where practicable) that it is lawful and feasible
to make such rights available to all or certain Owners but not to other Owners,
the Depositary may distribute to any Owner to whom it determines the
distribution to be lawful and feasible, in proportion to the number of American
Depositary Shares held by such Owner, warrants or other instruments therefor in
such form as it deems appropriate.
-9-
In circumstances in which rights would otherwise not be distributed, if an
Owner of Receipts requests the distribution of warrants or other instruments in
order to exercise the rights allocable to the American Depositary Shares of such
Owner under the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary will make such rights
available to such Owner upon written notice from the Company to the Depositary
that (a) the Company has elected in its sole discretion to permit such rights to
be exercised and (b) such Owner has executed such documents as the Company has
determined in its sole discretion are reasonably required under applicable law.
If the Depositary has distributed warrants or other instruments for rights
to all or certain Owners, then upon instruction from such an Owner pursuant to
such warrants or other instruments to the Depositary to exercise such rights,
upon payment by such Owner to the Depositary for the account of such Owner of an
amount equal to the purchase price of the Shares or the acquisition price of any
other rights to be received upon the exercise of the rights, and upon payment of
the fees and expenses of the Depositary and any other charges as set forth in
such warrants or other instruments, the Depositary shall, on behalf of such
Owner, exercise the rights and purchase the Shares or other rights, and the
Company shall cause the Shares or rights so purchased to be delivered to the
Depositary on behalf of such Owner. As agent for such Owner, the Depositary will
cause the Shares or rights so purchased to be deposited pursuant to Section 2.02
of the Deposit Agreement, and shall, pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Deposit
Agreement, execute and deliver Receipts to such Owner. In the case of a
distribution pursuant to the second paragraph of this Article 13, such Receipts
shall be legended in accordance with applicable U.S. laws, and shall be subject
to the appropriate restrictions on sale, deposit, cancellation, and transfer
under such laws.
If the Depositary determines in its discretion that it is not lawful and
feasible to make such rights available to all or certain Owners, it may sell the
rights, warrants or other instruments in proportion to the number of American
Depositary Shares held by the Owners to whom it has determined it may not
lawfully or feasibly make such rights available, and allocate the net proceeds
of such sales (net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in
Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement and all taxes and governmental charges
payable in connection with such rights and subject to the terms and conditions
of the Deposit Agreement) for the account of such Owners otherwise entitled to
such rights, warrants or other instruments, upon an averaged or other practical
basis without regard to any distinctions among such Owners because of exchange
restrictions or the date of delivery of any Receipt or otherwise.
The Depositary will not offer rights to Owners unless both the rights and
the securities to which such rights relate are either exempt from registration
under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to a distribution to all Owners or
are registered under the provisions of such Act; provided, that nothing in the
Deposit Agreement shall create any obligation on the part of the Company to file
a registration statement with respect to
-10-
such rights or underlying securities or to endeavor to have such a registration
statement declared effective. If an Owner of Receipts requests the distribution
of warrants or other instruments, notwithstanding that there has been no such
registration under such Act, the Depositary shall not effect such distribution
unless it has received an opinion from recognized counsel in the United States
for the Company upon which the Depositary may rely that such distribution to
such Owner is exempt from such registration, provided, however, the Company
shall have no obligation to cause its counsel to issue such opinion at the
request of such Owner.
The Depositary shall not be responsible for any reasonable failure to
determine that it may be lawful or feasible to make such rights available to
Owners in general or any Owner in particular.
14. CONVERSION OF FOREIGN CURRENCY.
Whenever the Depositary or the Custodian shall receive foreign currency,
by way of dividends or other distributions or the net proceeds from the sale of
securities, property or rights, and if at the time of the receipt thereof the
foreign currency so received can in the judgment of the Depositary be converted
on a reasonable basis into Dollars and the resulting Dollars transferred to the
United States, the Depositary shall promptly convert or cause to be converted,
by sale or in any other manner that it may determine, such foreign currency into
Dollars, and such Dollars shall be promptly distributed to the Owners entitled
thereto or, if the Depositary shall have distributed any warrants or other
instruments which entitle the holders thereof to such Dollars, then to the
holders of such warrants and/or instruments upon surrender thereof for
cancellation. Such distribution may be made upon an averaged or other
practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among Owners on account of
exchange restrictions, the date of delivery of any Receipt or otherwise and
shall be net of any expenses of conversion into Dollars incurred by the
Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement. The Company
shall not incur any liability to any Owner or Beneficial Owner as a result of
any currency conversion transaction.
If such conversion or distribution can be effected only with the approval
or license of any government or agency thereof, the Depositary shall file such
application for approval or license, if any, as it may deem desirable.
If at any time the Depositary shall determine that in its judgment any
foreign currency received by the Depositary or the Custodian is not convertible
on a reasonable basis into Dollars transferable to the United States, or if any
approval or license of any government or agency thereof which is required for
such conversion is denied or in the opinion of the Depositary is not obtainable,
or if any such approval or license is not obtained within a reasonable period as
determined by the Depositary, the Depositary may distribute the foreign currency
(or an appropriate document evidencing
-11-
the right to receive such foreign currency) received by the Depositary to, or in
its discretion may hold such foreign currency uninvested and without liability
for interest thereon for the respective accounts of, the Owners entitled to
receive the same.
If any such conversion of foreign currency, in whole or in part, cannot be
effected for distribution to some of the Owners entitled thereto, the Depositary
may in its discretion make such conversion and distribution in Dollars to the
extent permissible to the Owners entitled thereto and may distribute the balance
of the foreign currency received by the Depositary to, or hold such balance
uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective
accounts of, the Owners entitled thereto.
15. RECORD DATES.
Whenever any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable
or any distribution other than cash shall be made, or whenever rights shall be
issued with respect to the Deposited Securities, or whenever the Depositary
shall receive notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited
Securities, or whenever for any reason the Depositary causes a change in the
number of Shares that are represented by each American Depositary Share, or
whenever the Depositary shall find it necessary or convenient, the Depositary
shall fix a record date, which date shall (x) be the same date, to the extent
practicable, as the record date for the Deposited Securities or (y) if
different, after consultation with the Company, be fixed to be a date as soon
thereafter as practicable (a) for the determination of the Owners of Receipts
who shall be (i) entitled to receive such dividend, distribution or rights or
the net proceeds of the sale thereof or (ii) entitled to give instructions for
the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting, (b) on or after which each
American Depositary Share will represent the changed number of Shares or (c) for
any other matter, subject to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement.
16. VOTING OF DEPOSITED SECURITIES.
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other
Deposited Securities, if requested in writing by the Company, the Depositary
shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the Owners of Receipts a
notice, the form of which notice shall be in the sole discretion of the
Depositary (after consultation with the Company if practicable), which shall
contain (a) such information as is contained in such notice of meeting received
by the Depositary from the Company, (b) a statement that the Owners of Receipts
as of the close of business on a specified record date will be entitled, subject
to any applicable provision of Cayman Islands law or Hong Kong law and of the
Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, to instruct the
Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the
amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by their respective
American Depositary Shares, and (c) a statement as to the manner in which such
instructions may be given including an express indication that if no instruction
is received, an instruction may be given on behalf
-12-
of such Owner in accordance with the last sentence of this paragraph to the
Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company.
Upon the written request of an Owner of a Receipt on such record date, received
on or before the date established by the Depositary for such purpose, the
Depositary shall endeavor insofar as practicable to vote or cause to be voted
the amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by such American
Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt in accordance with the instructions
set forth in such request. The Depositary shall not vote or attempt to exercise
the right to vote that attaches to the Shares or other Deposited Securities,
other than in accordance with such instructions.
If no instructions are received by the Depositary from any Owner with
respect to any of the Deposited Securities represented by the American
Depositary Shares evidenced by such Owner's Receipts on or before the date
established by the Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall deem such
Owner to have instructed the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a
person designated by the Company with respect to such Deposited Securities and
the Depositary shall give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the
Company to vote such Deposited Securities, provided that no such instruction
shall be deemed given and no such discretionary proxy shall be given with
respect to any matter as to which the Company notifies the Depositary (and the
Company agrees to provide such notification as promptly as reasonably
practicable in writing) and (x) the Company does not wish such proxy given, (y)
in the opinion of the Company, substantial opposition exists or (z) such matter
materially and adversely affects the rights or holders of Shares, provided
further that the Company shall have no liability to any Owner or Beneficial
Owner resulting from such notification.
17. CHANGES AFFECTING DEPOSITED SECURITIES.
In circumstances where the provisions of Section 4.03 of the Deposit
Agreement do not apply, upon any change in nominal value, change in par value,
split-up, consolidation, or any other reclassification of Deposited Securities,
or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or sale
of assets affecting the Company or to which it is a party, any securities which
shall be received by the Depositary or a Custodian in exchange for or in
conversion of or in respect of Deposited Securities shall be treated as new
Deposited Securities under the Deposit Agreement, and American Depositary Shares
shall thenceforth represent, subject to the Deposit Agreement and all applicable
laws in addition to the existing Deposited Securities, the right to receive the
new Deposited Securities so received in exchange or conversion, unless
additional Receipts are delivered pursuant to the following sentence. In any
such case the Depositary may, and shall at the Company's request, execute and
deliver additional Receipts as in the case of a dividend in Shares, or call for
the surrender of outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts
specifically describing such new Deposited Securities.
-13-
Immediately upon the occurrence of any change, conversion, exchange or
other event covered by Section 4.08 of the Deposit Agreement in respect of the
Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall give notice thereof in writing to all
Owners.
18. LIABILITY OF THE COMPANY AND DEPOSITARY.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their respective
directors, employees, agents or affiliates shall incur any liability to any
Owner or Beneficial Owner of any Receipt, if by reason of any provision of any
present or future law or regulation of the United States, the People's Republic
of China or any other country, or of any other governmental or regulatory
authority or stock exchange, or by reason of any provision, present or future,
of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, or by reason of
any provision of any securities issued or distributed by the Company, or any
offering or distribution thereof, or by reason of any act of God or war or other
circumstances beyond its control, the Depositary or the Company shall be
prevented, delayed or forbidden from or be subject to any civil or criminal
penalty on account of doing or performing any act or thing which by the terms of
the Deposit Agreement or Deposited Securities it is provided shall be done or
performed; nor shall the Depositary or the Company or any of their respective
directors, employees, agents or affiliates incur any liability to any Owner or
Beneficial Owner of a Receipt by reason of any non-performance or delay, caused
as aforesaid, in the performance of any act or thing which by the terms of the
Deposit Agreement it is provided shall or may be done or performed, or by reason
of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in the
Deposit Agreement. Where, by the terms of a distribution pursuant to Section
4.01, 4.02 or 4.03 of the Deposit Agreement, or an offering or distribution
pursuant to Section 4.04 of the Deposit Agreement, such distribution or offering
may not be made available to Owners of Receipts, and the Depositary may not
dispose of such distribution or offering on behalf of such Owners and make the
net proceeds available to such Owners, then the Depositary shall not make such
distribution or offering, and shall allow any rights, if applicable, to lapse,
in each such case without liability to the Company or the Depositary. Neither
the Company nor the Depositary nor any of their officers, employees and agents
assumes any obligation or shall be subject to any liability under the Deposit
Agreement to Owners or Beneficial Owners of Receipts, except that the Company
and the Depositary agree to perform their obligations specifically set forth in
the Deposit Agreement without negligence or bad faith. The Depositary shall not
be subject to any liability with respect to the validity or worth of the
Deposited Securities. Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be under any
obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit, or other
proceeding in respect of any Deposited Securities or in respect of the Receipts,
which in its opinion may involve it in expense or liability, unless indemnity
satisfactory to it against all expense and liability shall be furnished as often
as may be required, and the Custodian shall not be under any obligation
whatsoever with respect to such proceedings, the responsibility of the Custodian
being solely to the Depositary. Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be
liable for any
-14-
action or nonaction by it in reliance upon the advice of or information from
legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares for deposit, any Owner
or Beneficial Owner of a Receipt, or any other person believed by it in good
faith to be competent to give such advice or information. The Depositary shall
not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any of
the Deposited Securities, or for the manner in which any such vote is cast or
the effect of any such vote, provided that any such action or nonaction is
without negligence or bad faith and in accordance with the terms of the Deposit
Agreement. The Depositary shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by
a successor depositary whether in connection with a previous act or omission of
the Depositary or in connection with a matter arising wholly after the removal
or resignation of the Depositary, provided that in connection with the issue out
of which such potential liability arises, the Depositary performed its
obligations without negligence or bad faith and in accordance with the terms of
the Deposit Agreement while it acted as Depositary. The Company agrees to
indemnify the Depositary, its directors, employees, agents and affiliates and
any Custodian against, and hold each of them harmless from, any liability or
expense (including, but not limited to, the expenses of counsel) which may arise
out of acts performed or omitted, in accordance with the provisions of the
Deposit Agreement and of the Receipts, as the same may be amended, modified, or
supplemented from time to time, (i) by either the Depositary or a Custodian or
their respective directors, employees, agents and affiliates, except for any
liability or expense arising out of the negligence or bad faith of either of
them, or (ii) by the Company or any of its directors, employees, agents and
affiliates. No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act of 1933 is
intended by any provision of the Deposit Agreement.
19. RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF THE DEPOSITARY; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR
CUSTODIAN.
The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary under the Deposit
Agreement by written notice of its election so to do delivered to the Company,
such resignation to take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary
and its acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. The
Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by written notice of such
removal, effective upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its
acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. Whenever
the Depositary in its discretion determines that it is in the best interest of
the Owners of Receipts to do so, it may appoint a substitute or additional
custodian or custodians.
20. AMENDMENT.
The form of the Receipts and any provisions of the Deposit Agreement may
at any time and from time to time be amended by written agreement between the
Company and the Depositary without the consent of Owners or Beneficial Owners of
Receipts in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable. Any
amendment
-15-
which shall impose or increase any fees or charges (other than taxes and other
governmental charges, registration fees and cable, telex or facsimile
transmission costs, delivery costs or other such expenses), or which shall
otherwise prejudice any substantial existing right of Owners of Receipts, shall,
however, not become effective as to outstanding Receipts until the expiration of
30 days after notice of such amendment shall have been given to the Owners of
outstanding Receipts. Every Owner of a Receipt at the time any amendment so
becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such Receipt, to
consent and agree to such amendment and to be bound by the Deposit Agreement as
amended thereby. In no event shall any amendment impair the right of the Owner
of any Receipt to surrender such Receipt and receive therefor the Deposited
Securities represented thereby except in order to comply with mandatory
provisions of applicable law.
21. TERMINATION OF DEPOSIT AGREEMENT.
The Depositary at any time at the direction of the Company, shall
terminate the Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the
Owners of all Receipts then outstanding at least 90 days prior to the date fixed
in such notice for such termination. The Depositary may likewise terminate the
Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the Company and the
Owners of all Receipts then outstanding if at any time 90 days shall have
expired after the Depositary shall have delivered to the Company a written
notice of its election to resign and a successor depositary shall not have been
appointed and accepted its appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. On
and after the date of termination, the Owner of a Receipt will, upon (a)
surrender of such Receipt at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary, (b)
payment of the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of Receipts referred to
in Section 2.05 of the Deposit Agreement, and (c) payment of any applicable
taxes or governmental charges, be entitled to delivery, to him or upon his
order, of the amount of Deposited Securities represented by the American
Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt. If any Receipts shall remain
outstanding after the date of termination, the Depositary thereafter shall
discontinue the registration of transfers of Receipts, shall suspend the
distribution of dividends to the Owners thereof, and shall not give any further
notices or perform any further acts under the Deposit Agreement, except that the
Depositary shall continue to collect dividends and other distributions
pertaining to Deposited Securities, shall sell rights and other property as
provided in the Deposit Agreement, and shall continue to deliver Deposited
Securities, together with any dividends or other distributions received with
respect thereto and the net proceeds of the sale of any rights or other
property, in exchange for Receipts surrendered to the Depositary (after
deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of a
Receipt, any expenses for the account of the Owner of such Receipt in accordance
with the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes
or governmental charges). At any time after the expiration of one year from the
date of termination, the Depositary may sell the Deposited Securities then held
under the Deposit Agreement and may thereafter hold
-16-
uninvested the net proceeds of any such sale, together with any other cash then
held by it thereunder, unsegregated and without liability for interest, for the
pro rata benefit of the Owners of Receipts which have not theretofore been
surrendered, such Owners thereupon becoming general creditors of the Depositary
with respect to such net proceeds. After making such sale, the Depositary shall
be discharged from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement, except to
account for such net proceeds and other cash (after deducting, in each case, the
fee of the Depositary for the surrender of a Receipt, any expenses for the
account of the Owner of such Receipt in accordance with the terms and conditions
of the Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental charges) and
except for its obligations to the Company under Section 5.08 of the Deposit
Agreement. Upon the termination of the Deposit Agreement, the Company shall be
discharged from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement except for its
obligations to the Depositary with respect to indemnification, charges, and
expenses.
22. DISCLOSURE OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP.
To the extent that provisions of or governing any Deposited Securities may
require the disclosure of beneficial or other ownership of Deposited Securities,
other Shares and other securities to the Company and may provide for blocking
transfer and voting or other rights to enforce such disclosure or limit such
ownership, the Depositary shall use its reasonable efforts to comply with
Company instructions as to Receipts in respect of any such enforcement or
limitation and Owners and Beneficial Owners shall comply with all such
disclosure requirements and ownership limitations and shall cooperate with the
Depositary's compliance with such Company instruction
23. OWNERSHIP RESTRICTIONS.
The Company may restrict, in such manner as it deems appropriate,
transfers of Receipts where such transfer may result in the total number of
Shares represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipts
beneficially owned by a single Owner or Beneficial Owner exceeding the limits
under any applicable law or the Company's Memorandum and Articles of
Association. The Company may, in such manner as it deems appropriate, instruct
the Depositary to take action with respect to the ownership interest of any
Owner or Beneficial Owner in excess of the limitation set forth in the preceding
sentence, including but not limited to a mandatory sale or disposition on behalf
of any Owner or Beneficial Owner in the Receipt of the Shares represented by the
American Depositary Shares evidenced by a Receipt or Receipts held by such Owner
or Beneficial Owner in excess of such limitations, if and to the extent such
disposition is permitted by applicable law.
24. COMPLIANCE WITH U.S. SECURITIES LAWS.
Notwithstanding anything in the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt to the
contrary, the Company and the Depositary each agrees that it will not exercise
any rights
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it has under the Deposit Agreement to prevent the withdrawal or delivery of
Deposited Securities in a manner which would violate the U.S. securities laws,
including, but not limited to, Section I.A.(1) of the General Instructions to
the Form F-6 Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, under the
Securities Act of 1933.
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