TV AZTECA, S.A. DE C.V. AND THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Depositary AND OWNERS OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS DEPOSIT AGREEMENT Dated as of August 15, 1997 As amended and restated as of April 22, 1998
_____________________________________________________________
TV AZTECA, S.A. DE C.V.
AND
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Depositary
AND
OWNERS OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS
________________________
________________________
Dated as of August 15, 1997
As amended and restated as of April 22, 1998
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DEPOSIT AGREEMENT dated as of August 15, 1997, as amended and restated as of April 22, 1998 among TV AZTECA, S.A. de C.V., a corporation (sociedad anónima de capital variable) organized under the laws of the United Mexican States (herein called the "Company"), THE BANK OF NEW YORK, a New York banking corporation (herein called the "Depositary"), and all OWNERS from time to time of American Depositary Receipts issued hereunder.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide, as hereinafter set forth in this Deposit Agreement, for the deposit of Ordinary Participation Certificates (the "CPOs"), each representing a financial interest in one Series A Share, without par value, one Series D-A Share, without par value, and one Series D-L Share, without par value, of the Company (a "Share"), 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 CPOs so deposited (subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement) 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 as hereinafter provided in this Deposit Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, it is agreed by and among the parties hereto as follows:
ARTICLE 1.
Definitions
Section 1.1
Certain Terms Defined.
The following definitions shall for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated, apply to the respective terms used in this Deposit Agreement.
The term "American Depositary Shares" shall mean the rights evidenced by the Receipts issued hereunder, including the interests in the Deposited Securities granted to the Owners pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement. Each American Depositary Share shall represent the right to receive sixteen (16) CPOs, until there shall occur a distribution upon Deposited Securities covered by Section 4.03(a) or a change in Deposited Securities covered by Section 4.08 with respect to which additional Receipts are not executed and delivered, and thereafter each American Depositary Share shall represent the right to receive the amount of Deposited Securities specified in such Sections.
The term "Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States or any successor governmental agency in the United States.
The term "Common Representative" shall mean Inverlat Casa de Bolsa, Grupo Financiero Inverlat, S.A. de C.V., or any other Mexican banking institution appointed by the holders of CPOs from time to time in accordance with the Mexican Law of Negotiable Instruments.
The term "Company" shall mean TV Azteca, S.A. de C.V., a corporation (sociedad anónima de capital variable) organized under the laws of the United Mexican States, having its principal offices at Periférico Sur, No. 4121, Col. Xxxxxxx xxx Xxxxxxxx, 00000 Xxxxxx, D.F., and its successors.
The term "CPOs" shall mean the non-redeemable Ordinary Participation Certificates issued pursuant to the CPO Trust by the CPO Trustee, holder of the Shares underlying the CPOs, and shall include evidence of rights to receive CPOs. Each CPO represents a financial interest in, and certain voting rights with respect to, one Series A Share, one Series D-A Share and one Series D-L Share of the Company.
The term "CPO Deed" shall mean the public deed dated August 12, 1997, that evidences the issuance of CPOs by the CPO Trustee pursuant to the CPO Trust Agreement and which deed is registered with and may be examined at the Public Registry of Commerce of the Federal District in Mexico City.
The term "CPO Trust" shall mean the Mexican trust created by the CPO Trust Agreement.
The term "CPO Trust Agreement" shall mean the agreement dated as of August 11, 1997 among the Company, as grantor, and the CPO Trustee.
The term "CPO Trustee" shall mean Nacional Financiera, S.N.C., a national credit institution and development bank organized under the laws of the United Mexican States, having its principal office at Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxx 0000, Xxx. Xxxxxxxxx Inn, Delegacion Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, 00000 Xxxxxx, D.F., or its successor, which acts as trustee for the CPO Trust.
The term "Custodian" shall mean Nacional Financiera, S.N.C., as agent of the Depositary for the purposes of this Deposit Agreement, at its principal Mexico D.F., United Mexican States offices, and any other entity, firm or corporation which may hereafter be appointed by the Depositary pursuant to Section 5.05 as substitute custodian hereunder.
The term "Deposit Agreement" shall mean this Agreement, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof.
The term "Depositary" shall mean The Bank of New York, a New York banking corporation, currently having its office for the administration of its American depositary receipt business (the "Depositary's Office") at 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, and its successors as depositary hereunder pursuant to Section 5.04.
The term "Deposited Securities" as of any time shall mean all CPOs at such time deposited under this Deposit Agreement and any and all other securities, property and cash received at any time by the Depositary or the Custodian in respect or in lieu of CPOs, other securities, property or cash previously received by the Depositary or the Custodian and at such time held hereunder.
The term "Directors" shall mean the directors of the Company.
The term "Estatutos" shall mean the estatutos sociales of the Company, as the same may be amended from time to time.
The term "Indeval" shall mean S.D. Indeval, S.A. de C.V., the Mexican securities depository institution, and any successor which performs substantially identical functions in Mexico.
The term "Owner" shall mean the person or persons in whose name a Receipt is registered on the books of the Depositary maintained for such purpose.
The term "Pre-Release" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.09.
The term "Receipt Registrar" shall mean the Depositary, or any other bank or trust company having an office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, appointed by the Company, to register transfers of Receipts and to countersign Receipts as herein provided, and shall include any co-registrar appointed by the Depositary upon the request or with the approval of the Company for such purposes.
The term "Receipts" or "American Depositary Receipts" shall mean the American Depositary Receipts issued hereunder evidencing American Depositary Shares.
The term "Regulation S" shall mean Rules 901 through 904, inclusive, under the Securities Act of 1933, as such Rules may from time to time be amended.
The term "Securities Act of 1933" shall mean the United States Securities Act of 1933, as from time to time amended.
The term "Securities Exchange Act of 1934" shall mean the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as from time to time amended.
The term "Series A Share" shall mean validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable Series A shares, without par value, of the Company.
The term "Series D-A Share" shall mean a validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable Series D-A share, without par value, of the Company or, on and after the tenth anniversary of the CPO Trust, a validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable Series A Share, without par value, of the Company, into which such Series D-A Share will be converted.
The term "Series D-L Share" shall mean a validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable Series D-L share, without par value, of the Company or, on and after the tenth anniversary of the CPO Trust, a validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable Series L Share, without par value, of the Company, into which such Series D-L Share will be converted.
The term "Series L Shares" shall mean validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable Series L Shares, without par value, of the Company.
The term "Shares" shall mean the Series A Shares, the Series D-A Shares, the Series D-L Shares and the Series L Shares; provided, however, that if there shall occur any change in par value, split-up or consolidation or any other reclassification or, upon the occurrence of an event described in Section 4.08, an exchange, replacement or conversion in respect of the Shares of the Company, the term "Shares" shall thereafter represent the successor securities resulting from such change in par value, split-up or consolidation or any other such reclassification or exchange or conversion.
The term "U.S. dollars" or "$" shall mean United States dollars. The term "Pesos" or "p" shall mean pesos of the United Mexican States.
ARTICLE 2.
Form of Receipts, Deposit of Shares, Execution and Delivery, Transfer and Surrender of Receipts
Section 2.1
Form and Transferability of Receipts.
Definitive receipts shall be engraved or printed or lithographed on steel-engraved borders or in such other form as may be acceptable to the New York Stock Exchange and shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions as hereinafter provided. Receipts may be issued in denominations of whole numbers of American Depositary Shares only. Receipts shall be executed by the Depositary by the manual signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary; provided, however, that such signature may be a facsimile if a Receipt Registrar or co-registrar shall have been appointed and such Receipts are countersigned by the manual signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Receipt Registrar or any co-registrar. 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 or, if a Receipt Registrar shall have been appointed, by the manual signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Receipt Registrar or any co-registrar. If a Receipt Registrar shall have been appointed, Receipts bearing the facsimile signature of anyone who was at any time a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary shall bind the Depositary, notwithstanding that such signatory has ceased to be a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary prior to the signature of the Receipt Registrar or any co-registrar and delivery of such Receipts or was not a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary at the date of issuance of such Receipts. 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.
The Receipts may be endorsed with or have incorporated in the text thereof such legends or recitals or changes not inconsistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement or the Estatutos as may be required by the Depositary in respect of its obligations hereunder or required to comply with any applicable law or regulations or with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange upon which Receipts 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; provided, however, that the Company and 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 any distribution of dividends or other distributions or to any notice provided for in this Deposit Agreement and for all other purposes.
Section 2.2
Deposit of CPOs.
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, CPOs may be deposited by (i) electronic transfer of CPOs through Indeval to the account of the Custodian maintained for such purposes, or (ii) delivery to the Custodian of evidence satisfactory to the Custodian that irrevocable instructions have been given to cause such CPOs to be transferred to such account, in any case accompanied by delivery to the Custodian of any appropriate instrument or instruments of transfer, or endorsement, in form satisfactory to the Custodian, together with all such certifications, payments and evidence of such payments as may be required by the Depositary or the Custodian in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, and 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 deposited CPOs.
If required by the Depositary, CPOs presented for deposit at any time, whether or not the transfer books of the CPO Trust (or the appointed agent of the CPO Trust for transfer and registration of CPOs) are closed, shall also be accompanied by (i) 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 CPOs or to receive other property which any person in whose name the CPOs are or have been registered may thereafter receive upon or in respect of such deposited CPOs, or, in lieu thereof, such agreement of indemnity or other agreements shall be satisfactory to the Depositary, and (ii) if the CPOs are registered in the name of the person on whose behalf they are deposited, a proxy or proxies entitling the Custodian to vote such deposited CPOs for any and all purposes until the CPOs are registered in the name of the Custodian or its nominee.
At the request, risk and expense of any holder of CPOs, and for the account of such holder, the Depositary may receive evidence that CPOs have been electronically transferred or that irrevocable instructions have been given to cause the transfer of such CPOs to the account of the Custodian, together with the other documents and payments herein specified, for the purpose of forwarding such CPOs to the Custodian for deposit hereunder.
Upon electronic transfer to the Custodian of CPOs to be deposited hereunder, or delivery to the Custodian of irrevocable instructions therefor, together in either case with the other documents and payments herein specified, the Custodian shall, as soon as practicable, obtain confirmation of registration of, or registration of transfer of, the CPOs being deposited in the name of the Custodian or its nominee, at the cost and expense of the holder making such deposit.
Deposited Securities (other than CPOs) shall be held by the Depositary, or by the Custodian for the account and to the order of the Depositary, at such place or places as the Depositary shall determine. Neither the Depositary nor the Custodian will lend CPOs or Deposited Securities held hereunder.
Section 2.3
Execution and Delivery of Receipts.
Upon receipt by the Custodian of any deposit pursuant to Section 2.02 (and in addition, if the transfer books of the CPO Trust (or the appointed agent or agents of the CPO Trust for transfer and registration of the CPOs) are open, or if the Depositary so requires, a proper acknowledgment or other evidence from the CPO Trust (or the appointed agent or agents of the CPO Trust for transfer and registration of the CPOs) satisfactory to the Depositary that any deposited CPOs have been recorded upon the CPO Trust's books (or by the appointed agent of the CPO Trust for transfer and registration of CPOs) in the name of the Custodian or nominee), together with the other documents and payments required as above specified, the Custodian shall notify the Depositary of such deposit, the person or persons to whom or upon whose written order a Receipt or Receipts is or 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 the Custodian, the Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall execute and deliver at the Depositary's Office, to or upon the order of the person or persons named in the notice delivered to the Depositary, a Receipt or Receipts registered in the name or names of, and evidencing any authorized number of American Depositary Shares requested by, such person or persons, but only upon payment to the Depositary by such person or persons of the fee of the Depositary for the execution and delivery of such Receipt or Receipts, and of all taxes, duties and other governmental charges and fees payable (whether by the Depositary, the Custodian or a nominee of either of them) in connection with such deposit, the transfer of the deposited CPOs and the issuance of such Receipt or Receipts.
Section 2.4
Transfer of Receipts; Combinations and Split-ups of Receipts.
The Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall register transfers on its transfer books from time to time of Receipts, upon any surrender at any of its designated transfer offices of a Receipt by the Owner in person or by duly authorized attorney, properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, and duly stamped as may be required by applicable law. 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 at any of its designated transfer offices 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.
Section 2.5
Surrender of Receipts and Withdrawal of Deposited Securities.
Upon surrender at the Depositary's Office of a Receipt for the purpose of withdrawal of the Deposited Securities represented thereby, and upon payment of the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of Receipts against withdrawal of the Deposited Securities, and subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Estatutos and the Deposited Securities, the Owner of such Receipt shall be entitled to (i) with respect to the CPOs evidenced by such Receipt, electronic transfer, through Indeval, of such CPOs to an account in the name of the Owner or such other name as the Owner may direct and (ii) physical delivery, to or upon the order of such Owner, of any other Deposited Securities at the time evidenced by such Receipt.
Delivery of such Deposited Securities (other than the CPOs) may be made by the delivery of certificates in the name of such Owner or as ordered by such Owner or by the delivery of certificates properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer. Such delivery shall be made, as hereinafter provided, without unreasonable delay.
A Receipt surrendered for such purpose may be required by the Depositary to be properly endorsed in blank or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer in blank, and the Owner thereof shall execute and deliver to the Depositary a written order directing the Depositary to cause (i) the electronic transfer of the CPOs represented by such Receipt to an account in the name of the Owner or such other name as the Owner may direct and (ii) cause the Deposited Securities (other than CPOs) 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 Mexico City office of the Custodian, subject to Sections 2.06, 3.01, 3.02 and 3.04 hereof and pursuant to the other terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement and the Estatutos, to or upon the written order of the person or persons designated in the order delivered to the Depositary as above provided, the Deposited Securities (including evidence of transfer of the CPOs) at the time evidenced by such Receipt, except that the Depositary may, in its discretion, make delivery to such person or persons at the Depositary's Office of any evidence of transfer, cash, dividends, distributions or rights with respect to the Deposited Securities evidenced by such Receipt, or of any proceeds of sale of any such cash, 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 transfer or forward any cash, rights or other property comprising, and to forward any certificate or certificates and other proper documents of title for, the Deposited Securities (including evidence of transfer of the CPOs) evidenced by such Receipts to the Depositary for delivery at the Depositary's Office. Such direction shall be given by letter or, at the request, risk and expense of such Owner, by cable, telex or facsimile transmission.
Section 2.6
Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer and Surrender of Receipts.
As a condition precedent to the execution and delivery, registration, registration of transfer, split-up, combination or surrender of any Receipt or transfer and withdrawal of any Deposited Securities, the Depositary, the Company, the CPO Trustee or the Custodian may require (i) payment from the Owner, the presenter of the Receipt or the depositor of CPOs of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax, duty or other governmental charge payable with respect thereto (including any such tax, duty or other governmental charge with respect to CPOs being deposited, to the Receipts being issued or to Deposited Securities being withdrawn) and any transfer or registration fees in effect for the registration or registration of transfers of CPOs generally on the CPO register of the CPO Trust (or the appointed agent of the CPO Trust for transfer and registration of CPOs); (ii) payment of any applicable fees as herein provided; (iii) the production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature; and (iv) compliance with such reasonable regulations, if any, as the Depositary may establish consistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement.
The delivery of Receipts against deposits of CPOs generally may be suspended, or the delivery of Receipts against the deposit of particular CPOs may be withheld, or the registration of transfer of Receipts in particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer or surrender of outstanding Receipts generally may be suspended, during any period when the transfer books of the Depositary, the Share register of the Company or the CPO register of the CPO Trustee are closed, or if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary, the Company or the CPO Trustee at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body or commission, or any securities exchange on which the Receipts or Shares are listed, or under any provision of the Receipts or of this Deposit Agreement, or for any other reason.
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence or any other provision of this Deposit Agreement to the contrary, Owners shall be entitled to withdraw Deposited Securities subject only to the conditions set forth in paragraph I(A)(1) of the General Instructions (or any successor provisions thereto), as in effect from time to time, to Form F-6 as prescribed by the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933.
Without limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under this Deposit Agreement any CPOs, the Shares underlying which, if sold by the holder thereof in the United States (as defined in Regulation S), would be subject to the registration provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, unless a registration statement is in effect as to such Shares or such sale would be exempt from such provisions. The Depositary shall comply with written instructions of the Company not to accept for deposit hereunder any CPOs identified in such instructions at such times and under such circumstances as may be specified in such instructions in order to facilitate the Company's compliance with the securities laws of the United States.
Section 2.7
Lost Receipts, etc.
In case any Receipt shall be mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen, the Depositary shall execute and deliver a new Receipt evidencing the same number of CPOs, 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, upon the Owner thereof filing with the Depositary (a) a request for such execution and delivery before the Depositary has notice that the Receipt has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser and (b) a sufficient indemnity bond satisfying any other reasonable requirements imposed by the Depositary.
Section 2.8
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 canceled seven (7) years after such cancellation.
Section 2.9
Pre-Release.
The Depositary may issue Receipts against rights to receive CPOs from the CPO Trust (or the appointed agent of the CPO Trust for transfer and registration of CPOs). 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 CPOs pursuant to Section 2.02 ("Pre-Release"). The Depositary may, pursuant to Section 2.05, deliver CPOs 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 CPOs 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 CPOs or Receipts to be remitted, as the case may be, (ii) assigns all beneficial right, title and interest in such CPOs 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 CPOs 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 CPOs 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 CPOs 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 CPOs 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 CPOs 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 of Receipts
Section 3.1
Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information.
Any person depositing CPOs or any Owner of a Receipt may be required from time to time to file with the Depositary or the Custodian such proof of citizenship, residence, exchange control approval, legal or beneficial ownership or other information relating to the registration on the books of the CPO Trust (or the appointed agent of the CPO Trust for transfer and registration of CPOs) of the CPOs presented for deposit, to execute and deliver to the Depositary or the Custodian such certificates, and to make such representations and warranties, as the Depositary may deem necessary or proper or as the Company may require by written request to the Depositary or the Custodian. The Depositary may withhold the delivery or registration of transfer of any Receipt or the distribution or sale of any dividend or other distribution or rights or of the proceeds thereof or the delivery of any Deposited Securities underlying such Receipt until the foregoing is accomplished to the Depositary's reasonable satisfaction. The Depositary shall provide the Company and the CPO Trustee, in a timely manner, with copies of any such proofs of citizenship or residence, or exchange control approval that it receives.
Section 3.2
Liability of Owner for Taxes.
Any tax, duty or other governmental charge or expense payable by the Custodian, the Depositary or the nominee or nominees of either as the registered holder of any Deposited Securities underlying any Receipt shall be payable by the Owner of such Receipt, who shall pay the amount thereof to the Depositary. The Depositary may refuse to effect registration of transfer of such Receipt or any transfer and withdrawal of Deposited Securities underlying such Receipt until such payment is made, and may withhold any cash dividends or other cash distributions constituting Deposited Securities underlying such Receipt, or may sell for the account of the Owner thereof any part or all of the other Deposited Securities underlying such Receipt, and may apply such cash or the proceeds of any such sale in payment of any such tax, duty or other governmental charge or expense (and any taxes and expenses arising or incurred as a result of effecting any such sale), the Owner of such Receipt remaining liable for any deficiency.
Section 3.3
Warranties on Deposit of CPOs.
Every person depositing CPOs under this Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to represent and warrant that such CPOs are validly issued and outstanding, fully paid, non-assessable and free of preemptive rights, and that the person making such deposit is duly authorized so to do. Every such person (other than the Company) shall also be deemed to represent that the deposit of CPOs or the sale of the Receipts issued upon such deposit is not restricted under the securities laws of the United States. All such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit or withdrawal of CPOs and issuance or cancellation of Receipts therefor.
Section 3.4
Disclosure of Interests.
To the extent that provisions of or governing any Deposited Securities (including, in the case of CPOs, the Shares underlying such CPOs), the Estatutos or applicable law may require the disclosure of beneficial or other ownership of Deposited Securities, other CPOs and other securities to the Company or the CPO Trustee and provide for blocking of Owners' transfer and voting or other rights to enforce such disclosure or limit such ownership, the Depositary shall use its best efforts to comply with Company or CPO Trustee instructions, as the case may be, as to Receipts in respect of any such enforcement or limitation. Owners shall comply with all such disclosure requirements and shall cooperate with the Depositary's compliance with such instructions and by their holding of Receipts are deemed to consent to any such limitation or blocking of rights.
ARTICLE 4.
The Deposited Securities
Section 4.1
Cash Distributions.
Whenever the Depositary shall receive any cash dividend or other cash distribution by the Company in respect of any Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall, subject to the provisions of Section 4.05, as soon as possible convert such dividend or distribution into U.S. dollars and shall distribute as soon as possible the amount thus received 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, the CPO Trustee, the Depositary or the Custodian shall be required to withhold and does withhold from any cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of any Deposited Securities an amount on account of taxes, the amount distributed to the Owner of Receipts for American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities shall be reduced accordingly. The Depositary shall distribute only such amount, however, as can be distributed without distributing to any Owner a fraction of one cent, and any balance not so distributable shall be held by the Depositary (without liability for interest thereon) and shall be added to and become part of the next sum received by the Depositary for distribution to Owners of Receipts then outstanding. The Company, the CPO Trustee or the Depositary, as appropriate, will remit to the appropriate governmental agency in Mexico all amounts (if any) required to be withheld and owing to such agency. The Depositary will as soon as possible forward to the Company or the CPO Trustee such information from its records as the Company or the CPO Trustee may reasonably request to enable the Company or the CPO Trustee to file necessary reports with governmental agencies, and either the Depositary, the Company or the CPO Trustee may file any such reports necessary to obtain benefits under any applicable tax treaties for Owners.
Section 4.2
Distributions Other Than Cash or CPOs.
Subject to the applicable provisions of this Deposit Agreement, whenever the Depositary shall receive any distribution other than cash or CPOs or rights to subscribe to additional CPOs or Shares underlying CPOs upon any Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall cause the securities or property received by it to be distributed promptly to the Owners entitled thereto, 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 any securities law requirement or any requirement that the Company, the CPO Trustee or the Depositary or the Custodian withhold an amount on account of taxes) the Depositary deems such distribution not to be feasible, the Depositary may adopt such method as it may deem equitable and practicable for the purpose of effecting such distribution, including the sale (at public or private sale) of the securities or property thus received, or any part thereof, and the net proceeds of any such sale shall be distributed by the Depositary to the Owners entitled thereto as in the case of a distribution received in cash.
Section 4.3
Distribution in CPOs.
(a)
If any distribution upon any Deposited Securities consists of a dividend in, or free distribution of, CPOs (including Shares underlying the CPOs), subject to the applicable provisions of this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may, with the approval of the Company and the CPO Trustee, and shall, if the Company shall so request, distribute promptly 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 for an aggregate number of American Depositary Shares representing the number of CPOs received as such dividend or distribution. In lieu of delivering Receipts for fractional American Depositary Shares in any such case, the Depositary shall sell the amount of CPOs, or request the CPO Trustee to sell the number of Shares underlying such CPOs, represented by the aggregate of such fractions and distribute promptly the net proceeds, all in the manner and subject to the conditions described in Section 4.02. If additional Receipts are not so distributed, each American Depositary Share shall thenceforth also represent the additional CPOs distributed upon the Deposited Securities represented thereby.
(b)
In the event that the Company shall offer or cause to be offered to the holders of any Deposited Securities an option to elect to receive dividends in fully paid CPOs (including Shares underlying the CPOs) instead of cash, the Depositary and the Company agree to consult to determine whether such option will be made available to the Owners of Receipts and, if such option is to be made available to Owners, the procedures to be followed.
Section 4.4
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 CPOs (including rights to subscribe for additional Shares underlying the CPOs) or any rights of any other nature, the Depositary shall, after consultation with the Company, have discretion as to the procedure to be followed in making such rights available to the Owners of Receipts or in disposing of such rights on behalf of such Owners and making the net proceeds available in U.S. dollars to such Owners; provided, however, that the Depositary will, if requested by the Company, take action as follows:
(i)
if at the time of the offering of any rights the Depositary determines that it is lawful and feasible to make such rights available to Owners by means of warrants or otherwise, the Depositary shall distribute promptly warrants or other instruments therefor in such form as it may determine to the Owners entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by them, respectively, or employ such other method as it may deem feasible in order to facilitate the exercise, sale or transfer of rights by such Owners; or
(ii)
if at the time of the offering of any rights the Depositary determines that it is not lawful or not feasible to make such rights available to Owners by means of warrants or otherwise, or if the rights represented by such warrants or such other instruments are not exercised and appear to be about to lapse, the Depositary will use its best efforts to sell such rights or such warrants or other instruments at public or private sale, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem proper, and will allocate the proceeds of such sales for account of the Owners otherwise entitled to such rights, warrants or other instruments, upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among such Owners because of exchange restrictions, the date of delivery of any Receipt or Receipts or otherwise.
If a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 is required with respect to the securities to which any rights relate in order for the Company to offer such rights to Owners and sell the securities represented by such rights, the Depositary will not offer such rights to Owners having an address in the United States (as defined in Regulation S) unless and until such a registration statement is in effect, or unless the offering and sale of such securities and such rights to such Owners are exempt from registration under the provisions of such Act.
Section 4.5
Conversion of Foreign Currency.
Whenever the Depositary shall receive foreign currency, by way of dividends or other distributions or as 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 U.S. dollars and the resulting U.S. dollars transferred to the United States, the Depositary shall, as soon as possible, convert or cause to be converted, by sale or in any other manner that it may determine, such foreign currency into U.S. dollars, and such U.S. dollars shall be distributed as soon as possible to the Owners entitled thereto or, if the Depositary shall have distributed any warrants or other instruments which entitle the holders thereof to such U.S. dollars, then to the holders of such warrants and/or instruments, as applicable, 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 or otherwise and shall be net of any expenses of conversion into U.S. 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 promptly 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 is not convertible on a reasonable basis into U.S. 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 Owners entitled thereto, the Depositary may in its discretion make such conversion and distribution in U.S. 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 for the respective accounts of, the Owners entitled to receive the same uninvested and without liability for interest thereon.
Section 4.6
Fixing of Record Date.
Whenever any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable or any distribution other than cash shall be made, or whenever rights shall be issued, with respect to the Deposited Securities, or whenever for any reason the Depositary causes a change in the number of CPOs that are represented by each American Depositary Share, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting of holders of CPOs (including notices of any meeting of holders of the Shares underlying the CPOs) or other Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall, after consultation with the Company or the CPO Trustee, as the case may be, fix a record date, which date shall, to the extent practicable, be the same as the record date fixed by the Company or the CPO Trustee, as the case may be, for the determination of the Owners who shall be entitled to receive such dividend, distribution or rights, or the net proceeds of the sale thereof, or to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting or to receive American Depositary Shares that will represent the changed number of CPOs. Subject to the provisions of Sections 4.01 through 4.04 and to the other terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Owners on such record date shall be entitled to receive the amount distributable by the Depositary with respect to such dividend or other distribution or such rights or the net proceeds of sale thereof or to give voting instructions in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by them, respectively.
Section 4.7
Voting of Deposited Securities.
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the Owners a notice, the form of which notice shall be in the sole discretion of the Depositary, which shall contain (a) such information as is contained in such notice of meeting received by the Depositary from the Company, (b) a statement that the Owners as of the close of business on a specified record date will be entitled, subject to any applicable provision of Mexican law and of the Estatutos Sociales 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 Regulation S American Depositary Shares and (c) a statement as to the manner in which such instructions may be given, including an express indication that such instructions may be given or deemed given in accordance with the last sentence of this paragraph if no instruction is received, to the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated to 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, insofar as practicable, to vote or cause to be voted the amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by the Regulation S 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 or deemed 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 informs the Depositary (and the Company agrees to provide such information as promptly as practicable in writing) that (x) the Company does not wish such proxy given, (y) substantial opposition exists or (z) such matter materially and adversely affects the rights of holders of Shares.
There can be no assurance that Owners generally or any Owner in particular will receive the notice described in the preceding paragraph sufficiently prior to the Instruction Date to ensure that the Depositary will vote or cause to be voted the Shares or Deposited Securities in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Section 4.07.
As soon as practicable after the receipt by the Depositary of notice of any meeting of holders of CPOs, Series A Shares, Series D-A Shares or Series D-L Shares (or, after conversion upon the tenth anniversary of the CPO Trust, the Series L Shares) underlying the CPOs, which notice shall be furnished to the Depositary by the Company pursuant to the terms of Section 5.06 hereunder, the Depositary will mail or cause to be mailed the information contained in such notice of meeting to all record holders of ADRs. Owners at the close of business on the date specified by the Depositary pursuant to Section 4.06 hereof are entitled, subject to any applicable provisions of Mexican law and of the Estatutos of the Company, to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the CPOs and the underlying Shares represented by their respective ADRs. The Depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the CPOs and the underlying Shares so represented in accordance with any such written instructions.
Mexican nationals and Mexican corporations, the charters of which contain a prohibition on ownership by non-Mexicans of the corporation's capital stock ("Eligible Mexican Owners"), are entitled to exercise voting rights with respect to the Series A Shares, the Series D-A Shares and the Series D-L Shares and, after conversion, the Series L Shares underlying the CPOs represented by their ADSs. Owners who are non-Eligible Mexican Owners may exercise voting rights only with respect to the Series D-L Shares, and, after conversion, the Series L Shares underlying the CPOs represented by their ADSs, and may not direct the CPO Trustee as to how to vote the Series A Shares or the Series D-A Shares represented by CPOs or attend shareholders' meetings of the Company. Under the terms of the CPO Trust Agreement, the CPO Trustee will exercise all voting rights relating to the Series A Shares or the Series D-A Shares represented by CPOs held by non-Eligible Mexican Owners in the same manner as the majority of the Series A shares or the Series D-A Shares outstanding and held by Eligible Mexican Owners (directly or through the CPO Trust) are voted at the relevant meeting.
The Company, the CPO Trustee and the Depositary shall use their reasonable efforts to implement arrangements as will enable Eligible Mexican Owners of ADSs, who can provide evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary, the CPO Trustee and the Company to such effect, to cause to be voted the Series A Shares or the Series D-A Shares underlying the CPOs represented by such ADSs.
If the Depositary does not receive instructions from a non-Eligible Mexican Owner of ADSs regarding the underlying Series D-L Shares or the converted Series L Shares, or from an Eligible Mexican Owner of ADSs regarding the underlying Series A Shares, the Series D-A Shares, the Series D-L Shares, or the converted Series L Shares on or before the date established by the Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall take such action as is necessary to cause the underlying Series A Shares, Series D-A Shares, Series D-L Shares or the converted Series L Shares, as the case may be, to be counted for the purposes of satisfying applicable quorum requirements. The Depositary will vote such shares in the same manner as the majority of Series A Shares, Series D-A Shares, Series D-L Shares or the converted Series L Shares, as the case may be, are voted at the relevant meeting.
Owners of ADSs will not be entitled to attend CPO General Meetings, but will be entitled to instruct the Depositary as to the manner of voting the CPOs represented by ADSs at any CPO General Meeting for purposes of exercising any individual rights of a CPO holder under Mexican law.
Section 4.8
Changes Affecting Deposited Securities.
Upon any 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 received by the Depositary or the Custodian in exchange for or in conversion of or in respect of Deposited Securities, including, without limitation, the Series A Shares and the Series L Shares into which the Series D-A Shares and the Series D-L Shares, respectively, will be converted on the tenth anniversary of the CPO Trust, shall be treated as new Deposited Securities under this Deposit Agreement, and American Depositary Shares shall thenceforth represent 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 with the approval of the Company, and shall if the Company shall so request, execute and deliver additional Receipts as in the case of a dividend of CPOs, or call for the surrender of outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts specifically describing such new Deposited Securities.
Section 4.9
Reports.
The Depositary shall make available for inspection by Owners at the Depositary's Office, and at any other designated transfer offices, English language versions of any reports and communications received from the Company or the CPO Trustee which are both (a) received by the Depositary or the Custodian or the nominee of either of them as the holder of the Deposited Securities or by the CPO Trustee as the holder of the Shares underlying the CPOs, and (b) made generally available to the holders of such Deposited Securities (including the Shares underlying the CPOs) by the Company or the CPO Trustee. The Depositary shall also send to Owners copies of such reports when furnished by the Company pursuant to Section 5.06.
In addition, upon notice that the Company has not furnished the Commission or any other securities regulatory authority or stock exchange with any public reports, documents or other information as required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, foreign law or otherwise, the Depositary shall furnish promptly to the Commission copies of all annual or other periodic reports and other notices or communications which the Depositary, the Custodian or the nominee of either receives from the Company as holder of the Deposited Securities or pursuant to Section 5.06 and which are not so furnished to or filed with the Commission pursuant to any other requirement of the Commission or to or with such other securities regulatory authority or stock exchange.
Section 4.10
Lists of Receipt Owners.
As soon as possible upon request by the Company or the CPO Trustee, the Depositary shall furnish to the Company or the CPO Trustee, as the case may be, a list, as of the date or a specified date in the future, of the names and addresses of, and holdings of American Depositary Shares by, all persons in whose names Receipts are registered on the books of the Depositary.
Section 4.11
Withholding.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Deposit Agreement, if the Depositary determines that any distribution in property (including CPOs and rights to subscribe therefor) is subject to any tax which the Depositary is obligated to withhold, the Depositary may dispose of all or a portion of such property (including CPOs and rights to subscribe therefor) in such amounts and in such manner as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay such taxes, by public or private sale, and the Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds of any such sale or the balance of any such property after deduction of such taxes to the Owners entitled thereto in the manner described in Section 4.01 or Section 4.02, as the case may be.
ARTICLE 5.
The Depositary, the Custodian and the Company
Section 5.1
Maintenance of Office and Transfer Books by the Depositary.
Until termination of this Deposit Agreement in accordance with its terms, the Depositary shall maintain as its transfer office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, facilities for the execution and delivery, registration, registration of transfer and surrender of Receipts in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement.
The Depositary shall keep books at such transfer office for the registration of Receipts and transfer of Receipts which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Owners, CPO Trustee and the Company; provided that such inspection shall not be for the purpose of communicating with Owners in the interest of a business or object other than the business of the Company or a matter related to this Deposit Agreement, the Receipts, the CPOs, the Shares or the Estatutos.
The Depositary may close the transfer books (a) after consultation with the Company, at any time or from time to time, when deemed expedient by it in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder or (b) at the request of the Company.
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 Receipt Registrar, unless any other bank or trust company having an office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, shall have been appointed by the Company. Upon the request or with the approval of the Company, the Depositary may appoint a Receipt Registrar or one or more co-registrars for registration of such Receipts in accordance with any requirements of such exchange or exchanges. Such Receipt Registrar or co-registrars may be removed and a substitute or substitutes appointed by the Depositary upon the request or with the approval of the Company.
The Depositary, upon the request or with the 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. Such co-transfer agents may be removed by the Depositary upon the request or with the approval of the Company and substitutes appointed by the Depositary upon the request or with the approval of the Company. Each Receipt Registrar, co-registrar or co-transfer agent appointed under this Section 5.01 shall give notice in writing to the Company and the Depositary accepting such appointment and agreeing to be bound by the applicable terms of this Deposit Agreement. 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 thereto but only to the extent that the Depositary would in similar circumstances be entitled so to require.
The Company and the CPO Trustee shall have the right to inspect transfer and registration records of the Depositary relating to Receipts, to take copies thereof and to require the Depositary, the Receipt Registrar and any co-transfer agents or co-registrars to supply copies of such portions of such records as the Company or the CPO Trustee, as the case may be, may request.
Section 5.2
Prevention or Delay in Performance by the Depositary or the Company.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company nor the CPO Trustee, nor any of their respective directors, employees, agents or affiliates, shall incur any liability to any Owner if, by reason of any provision of any present or future law of the United States, the United Mexican States 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 Estatutos, the CPO Trust Agreement, the CPO Deed or the Deposited Securities, or by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstance beyond its control, the Depositary or the Company or the CPO Trustee or any of their respective directors, employees, agents or affiliates shall be prevented 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 it is provided or contemplated shall be done or performed; nor shall the Depositary or the Company or the CPO Trustee or any of their respective directors, employees, agents or affiliates incur any liability to any Owner by reason of any nonperformance or delay, caused as aforesaid, in performance of any act or thing which by the terms of this Deposit Agreement it is provided or contemplated 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 or the Estatutos, or the CPO Trust Agreement or the CPO Deeds.
Section 5.3
Obligations of the Depositary and the Company.
The Depositary assumes no obligation nor shall it be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement to Owners (including, without limitation, liability with respect to the validity or worth of the Deposited Securities), except that it agrees to use its reasonable efforts exercised in good faith in the performance of such duties as are specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement.
The Company assumes no obligation nor shall it be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement to Owners, except that it agrees to use its reasonable efforts exercised in good faith in the performance of its obligations set forth in this Deposit Agreement.
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 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 non-action by it in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any governmental authority, any person presenting CPOs 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 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 for the effect of any such vote, provided that any such action or non-action is in good faith.
Subject to the Estatutos and this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in Receipts.
The Depositary shall not be liable to Owners 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 the Depositary exercised its best judgment in good faith while it acted as Depositary.
No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act of 1933 is intended by any provision of this Deposit Agreement.
Section 5.4
Resignation and Removal of the Depositary; Appointment of Successor Depositary.
(a)
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.
(b)
The Depositary may at any time be removed as Depositary 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.
(c)
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 to 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, and such predecessor shall thereupon 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, together with copies of such records in relation to the Receipts as the Company may reasonably request. Any such successor depositary shall mail notice of its appointment within 30 days to the Owners.
(d)
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 5.5
The Custodian.
The Depositary has appointed Nacional Financiera, S.N.C. as Custodian and agent of the Depositary for the purposes of this Deposit Agreement. The Custodian in acting hereunder shall be subject at all times and in all respects to the directions of the Depositary and shall be responsible solely to it and the Depositary undertakes to procure compliance by the Custodian with the applicable provisions of this Deposit Agreement. The Custodian may resign and be discharged from its duties hereunder by notice of such resignation delivered to the Depositary at least thirty (30) days prior to the date on which such resignation is to become effective. The Depositary shall, promptly after receiving such notice, appoint a substitute custodian approved by the Company (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld), which shall thereafter be the Custodian hereunder. Whenever the Depositary in its discretion determines that it is in the best interest of the Owners to do so, it may appoint a substitute custodian approved by the Company (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld), which shall thereafter be the Custodian hereunder, and upon demand of the Depositary the previous Custodian shall deliver the Deposited Securities held by it to such substitute custodian. Each such substitute custodian shall deliver to the Depositary forthwith upon its appointment an acceptance of such appointment satisfactory in form and substance to the Depositary and the Company. Immediately upon any such change, the Depositary shall give notice thereof in writing to all Owners.
Upon the appointment of any successor Depositary hereunder, the 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 the Custodian hereunder; but the successor Depositary so appointed shall, nevertheless, on the written request of the Custodian, execute and deliver to the Custodian all such instruments as may be proper to give the Custodian full and complete power and authority as agent hereunder of such successor Depositary.
Section 5.6
Notices and Reports.
On or before the first date on which the Company or the Common Representative gives notice, by publication or otherwise, of any meeting of holders of CPOs (including notices of any meeting of holders of Shares underlying the CPOs) 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 in respect of Deposited Securities, the Company agrees to cause or direct the Common Representative to transmit to the Custodian and the Depositary a copy in English of the notice thereof in the form given or to be given to holders of CPOs (including notices of any meeting of holders of Shares underlying the CPOs) or other Deposited Securities. The Company also will transmit to the Depositary and the Custodian an English language version of any report it makes generally available to holders of Deposited Securities (including the Shares underlying the CPOs).
The Depositary will arrange for the prompt transmittal by the Custodian to the Depositary of such notices and any other reports and communications which are made generally available by the Company to holders of Shares and delivered to the Depositary by the Company pursuant to this Section 5.06, and arrange for the mailing of copies thereof to all Owners or, at the request of the Company, make such notices, reports and communications available to all Owners on a basis similar to that for holders of Shares, or on such other basis as the Company may advise the Depositary may be required by any applicable law or regulation or any requirement of any stock exchange to which the Company may be subject. Prior to the date hereof, the Company shall have transmitted to the Custodian a copy of the Estatutos. Thereafter, promptly upon any amendment thereto or change therein, the Company shall transmit to the Custodian a copy of the Estatutos as so amended or changed. The Depositary may rely upon such copies for all purposes of this Deposit Agreement. The Depositary will make such copies, a copy of this Deposit Agreement and such notices, reports and communications available for inspection by Owners at the Depositary's Office, at the office of the Custodian and at any other designated transfer offices.
Section 5.7
Issuance of Additional CPOs, etc.
The Company agrees that in the event of any issuance of (1) additional CPOs (including the Shares underlying the CPOs), (2) rights to subscribe for CPOs (including the Shares underlying the CPOs), (3) securities convertible into or exchangeable for CPOs (including the Shares underlying the CPOs), or (4) rights to subscribe for such securities, it will take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that no violation by the Company or the Depositary of the Securities Act of 1933 will result from such issuance.
The Company agrees with the Depositary that neither the Company nor any company controlled by the Company will at any time deposit any CPOs (including the Shares underlying the CPOs), either upon original issuance or upon a sale of CPOs (including the Shares underlying the CPOs) previously issued and reacquired by the Company or by any company under the control of the Company, unless a registration statement is in effect as to such CPOs (including the Shares underlying the CPOs) under the Securities Act of 1933 or the offer or sale of such CPOs (including the Shares underlying the CPOs) is exempt from registration under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 or the transaction is exempt under such Act.
The Depositary will comply with written instructions of the Company not to accept for deposit hereunder any Shares identified in such instructions at such times and under such circumstances as may be specified in such instructions in order to facilitate the Company's compliance with the securities laws of the United States.
Section 5.8
Indemnification.
(a)
The Company agrees to indemnify the Depositary and the Custodian against, and hold each of them harmless from, any liability or expense (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) which may arise out of any registration with the Commission of Receipts, American Depositary Shares or Deposited Securities or the offer or sale thereof in the United States or out of acts performed or omitted in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement and of the Receipts, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, (i) by either the Depositary or the Custodian, except for any liability or expense arising out of the negligence or bad faith of either of them, and, except to the extent that such liability or expense arises out of information relating to the Depositary or the Custodian, as applicable, furnished in writing to the Company by the Depositary or the Custodian, as applicable, expressly for use in any registration statement, proxy statement, prospectus (or placement memorandum) or preliminary prospectus (or preliminary placement memorandum) relating to the CPOs represented by the American Depositary Shares or the Shares represented thereby, or omissions from such information or (ii) by the Company or any of its agents.
(b)
The indemnities contained in the preceding paragraph shall not extend to any liability or expense which arises solely and exclusively out of a Pre-Release (as defined in Section 2.09) of a Receipt or Receipts in accordance with Section 2.09 and which would not otherwise have arisen had such Receipt or Receipts not been the subject of a Pre-Release pursuant to Section 2.09; provided, however, that the indemnities provided in the preceding paragraph shall apply to any such liability or expense (i) to the extent that such liability or expense would have arisen had a Receipt or Receipts not be the subject of a Pre-Release, or (ii) which may arise out of any misstatement or alleged misstatement or omission or alleged omission in any registration statement, proxy statement, prospectus (or placement memorandum), or preliminary prospectus (or preliminary placement memorandum) relating to the offer or sale of American Depositary Shares, except to the extent any such liability or expense arises out of (i) information relating to the Depositary or any Custodian (other than the Company), as applicable, furnished in writing and not materially changed or altered by the Company expressly for use in any of the foregoing documents, or (ii) if such information is provided, the failure to state a material fact necessary to make the information provided not misleading.
(c)
The Depositary agrees to indemnify the Company and to hold it harmless from any liability or expense (including fees and expenses of counsel) which may arise out of acts performed or omitted to be performed by the Depositary or Custodian due to their negligence or bad faith.
(d)
Any person seeking indemnification hereunder (an "Indemnified Person") shall notify the person from whom it is seeking indemnification (the "Indemnifying Person") of the commencement of any indemnifiable action or claim promptly after such Indemnified Person becomes aware of such commencement and shall consult in good faith with the Indemnifying Person as to the conduct of the defense of such action or claim, which defense shall be reasonable under the circumstances. No Indemnifying Person shall compromise or settle any action or claim without the consent in writing of the Indemnified Person.
(e)
The obligations set forth in this Section 5.08 shall survive the termination of this Deposit Agreement and the succession or substitution of any person indemnified hereby.
Section 5.9
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 CPOs or by any Owner 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 hereof, but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the Series A Shares and the Series L Shares received on conversion of the Series D-A Shares and the Series D-L Shares, respectively), whichever applicable: (1) taxes and other governmental charges, (2) such registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the registration of transfers of CPOs generally on the CPO register of the CPO Trust (or the appointed agent of the CPO Trust for transfer and registration of CPOs) and applicable to transfers of CPOs to the name of the Depositary or its nominee or the Custodian or its nominee on the making of deposits or withdrawals hereunder, (3) such cable, telex and facsimile transmission expenses as are expressly provided in this Deposit Agreement, (4) such expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in the conversion of foreign currency pursuant to Section 4.05, (5) a fee not in excess 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, the execution and delivery of Receipts pursuant to Section 4.03 and the surrender of Receipts pursuant to Section 2.05 and (6) a fee for the distribution of proceeds pursuant to Section 4.04, such fee (to be deducted from such proceeds) being in an amount equal to the fee for the issuance of American Depositary Shares referred to above which would have been charged as a result of the deposit by Owners of CPOs received in exercise of rights distributed to them pursuant to Section 4.04, but which rights are instead sold by the Depositary, and the net proceeds distributed.
Section 5.10
Available Information to the Commission.
The Company is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and accordingly, is required to file certain reports with the Commission. Such reports and other information may be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission located at the date hereof at Judiciary Plaza, 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X., Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000.
Section 5.11
Exclusivity.
The Company agrees not to appoint any other depositary for the issuance of Receipts so long as The Bank of New York is acting as Depositary hereunder, subject, however, to the rights of the Company under Section 5.04.
ARTICLE 6.
Amendment and Termination
Section 6.1
Amendment.
The form of the Receipts and any provisions of this Deposit Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended by agreement between the Company and the Depositary in any respect that they may deem necessary or desirable.
Any amendment which shall impose or increase any fees or charges (other than taxes (including, without limitation, stamp taxes) and other governmental charges), or which shall otherwise prejudice any substantial existing right of Owners of Receipts shall, however, not become effective as to outstanding Receipts until the expiration of thirty (30) days after notice of such amendment shall have been given to the Owners of outstanding Receipts, provided that the parties hereto agree that any amendments which do not impose or increase any fees or charges to be borne by Owners shall be deemed not to prejudice any substantial rights of Owners. Every Owner of a Receipt at the time any such 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 or the Receipts or both of them, as applicable, 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 6.2
Termination.
The Depositary shall at any time at the direction of the Company (which shall be confirmed in writing) terminate this Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the Owners of all Receipts then outstanding at least thirty (30) days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination. The Depositary may terminate this Deposit Agreement if at any time ninety (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, such termination to become effective by the Depositary mailing notice of such termination to Owners of all Receipts then outstanding at least thirty (30) days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination. If any Receipts shall remain outstanding after the date of termination of this Deposit Agreement, 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, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, (a) continue to collect dividends and other distributions pertaining to Deposited Securities, (b) sell rights as provided in this Deposit Agreement and (c) 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. At any time after the expiration of two years 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 applicable fees and expenses of the Depositary and applicable taxes or governmental charges and except as provided in 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 7.1
Counterparts.
This Deposit Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which counterparts shall constitute one and the same instrument. Copies of this Deposit Agreement shall be filed with the Depositary and the Custodian and shall be open to inspection by any Owner during business hours.
Section 7.2
No Third Party Beneficiaries.
This Deposit Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and shall not be deemed to give any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim whatsoever to any other person.
Section 7.3
Severability.
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Deposit Agreement or in the Receipts should be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein or therein shall in no way be affected, prejudiced or disturbed thereby.
Section 7.4
Owners as Parties; Binding Effect.
The 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 Estatutos and of the Receipts by acceptance of the Receipts. Each Owner agrees that, by accepting a Receipt, such Owner shall hold such Receipt subject to, and with the obligations of, the provisions hereof, the Estatutos, the CPOs and the Shares.
Section 7.5
Notices.
(a)
To the Company. 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 air courier or by cable, telex or facsimile transmission confirmed by letter, addressed to the Company at Periférico Sur, No. 4121, Col. Xxxxxxx xxx Xxxxxxxx, 00000 Xxxxxx, D.F., or to any other person or place as shall be specified in writing by the Company.
(b)
To the Depositary. Any and all notices to be given to the Depositary shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail or air courier or by cable, telex or facsimile transmission confirmed by letter, addressed to The Bank of New York, 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: ADR Division, 22nd Floor, or to any other place to which the Depositary may have transferred the Depositary's Office.
(c)
To any Owner. 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 air courier or by 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 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.
(d)
General. Delivery of a notice sent to the Company or the Depositary shall be deemed to be effected when received. Delivery of a notice sent to a Owner by mail or air courier or by cable, telex or facsimile transmission shall be deemed to be effected at the time when a duly addressed letter containing such notice (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 from the other or from any Owner, notwithstanding that such cable, telex or facsimile transmission shall not subsequently be confirmed by letter as aforesaid.
Section 7.6
Governing Law.
This Deposit Agreement and the Receipts shall be interpreted in accordance with, and all rights hereunder and thereunder and provisions hereof and thereof shall be governed by, the laws of the State of New York.
Section 7.7
Headings.
Headings contained herein are included for convenience only and are not to be used in construing or interpreting any provision hereof.
Section 7.8
The CPO Trust.
The Receipt shall contain the following description of the CPO Trust:
Nacional Financiera, S.N.C. is CPO Trustee under the CPO Trust, which was created under the Foreign Investment Law in order to facilitate non-Mexican investment in the Company. The CPO Trust operates through Indeval, the central depositary for participants trading on the Mexican Securities Exchange, which maintains records of the CPOs in book entry form. The principal executive office of the CPO Trustee is located as of the date of the Deposit Agreement at Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxx 0000, Xxx. Xxxxxxxxx Inn, Delegacion Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, 01020 Mexico, D.F., Mexico. The terms of the CPO Trust, upon which the Shares may be deposited and CPOs issued, are briefly described as follows (which description is qualified by and subject to the terms of the CPO Trust, copies of which in Spanish and in an English translation are on file at the Depositary's Office, the office of the Custodian and at any other designated transfer office for Receipts): (i) each CPO represents financial interests in, and certain voting rights with respect to, one Series A Share, one Series D-A Share and one Series D-L Share, which three securities may not be traded separately and may be traded only in the form of CPOs until the tenth anniversary of the creation of the CPO Trust; (ii) holders of CPOs have the voting rights discussed in Section 4.07 above; (iii) dividends on the Shares are credited to CPO holder's accounts by Indeval on the business day on which funds are received from the Company; (iv) CPO holders will be informed and have access to materials at the same time as direct holders of Shares; (v) any rights pertaining to the Shares are transferred to CPO holders through Indeval at the same time as direct holders of Shares receive any such rights; (vi) any securities resulting from dividends, splits or plans of reorganization are distributed to CPO holders through Indeval at the same time as direct holders of Shares receive such securities (but only in the form of CPOs, to the extent available); (vii) the CPO Trust may be terminated following instructions from the Technical Committee of the CPO Trust, after a resolution has been adopted at a meeting by holders of a majority of CPOs, and must be terminated after 10 years; (viii) Indeval participants may confirm their position on the CPO Trust transfer books through Indeval, but may not inspect same or obtain any list of holders of CPOs; and (ix) the CPO Trust does not limit the liability of the CPO Trustee. Fees or charges payable to the CPO Trustee are not charged against CPO holders.
Upon termination of the first CPO Trust the Depositary agrees, at the request of the Company (and without charge to the Company or the Owners), to roll the Deposited Securities into a new CPO Trust that the Company expects to create at that time. The terms of the successor CPO Trust are expected to be substantially similar to the terms of the first CPO Trust except that holders of CPOs will be permitted to withdraw the Shares underlying their CPOs, but only in combinations of two Series A Shares and one Series L Share (the "Withdrawal Combination" requirement). Holders of CPOs who are Eligible Mexican Holders will be permitted to withdraw and hold all Shares underlying each of their CPOs, subject to the Withdrawal Combination requirement. Non-Eligible Mexican Holders may only withdraw and hold the Series L Shares underlying their CPOs, and then only when the withdrawal of each Series L Share is accompanied by the simultaneous sale of two Series A Shares to an Eligible Mexican Holder.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, TV AZTECA, S.A. DE C.V. and THE BANK OF NEW YORK have duly executed this Deposit Agreement as of the day and year first above set forth and all Owners of Receipts shall become parties hereto upon acceptance by them of Receipts issued in accordance with the terms hereof.
TV AZTECA, S.A. DE C.V.
By:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
By:
