OJSC ROSTELECOM AND JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. As Depositary AND OWNERS AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS Second Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement Dated as of January __, 2010
OJSC
ROSTELECOM
AND
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A.
As
Depositary
AND
OWNERS
AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS
OF
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS
Second
Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement
Dated as
of January __, 2010
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Page
PARTIES
|
1
|
|
RECITALS
|
2
|
|
ARTICLE
1.
|
DEFINITIONS
|
2
|
SECTION
1.01.
|
Affiliate.
|
2
|
SECTION
1.02.
|
American
Depositary Shares
|
2
|
SECTION
1.03.
|
Beneficial
Owner
|
2
|
SECTION
1.04.
|
Business
Day
|
2
|
SECTION
1.05.
|
Commission
|
2
|
SECTION
1.06.
|
Company
|
2
|
SECTION
1.07.
|
Custodian
|
2
|
SECTION
1.08.
|
Deliver,
execute, issue et al.
|
2
|
SECTION
1.09.
|
3
|
|
SECTION
1.10.
|
Depositary;
Depositary’s Office.
|
3
|
SECTION
1.11.
|
Deposited
Securities
|
3
|
SECTION
1.12.
|
Direct
Registration Receipt
|
3
|
SECTION
1.13.
|
Direct
Registration System
|
3
|
SECTION
1.14.
|
Dollars;
Rubles
|
3
|
SECTION
1.15.
|
FSFM
|
3
|
SECTION
1.16.
|
New
Shares
|
3
|
SECTION
1.17.
|
Offering
|
3
|
SECTION
1.18.
|
Owner
|
4
|
SECTION
1.19.
|
Placement
Notice
|
4
|
SECTION
1.20.
|
Placement
Report
|
4
|
SECTION
1.21.
|
Receipts;
American Depositary Receipts.
|
4
|
SECTION
1.22.
|
Registrar
|
4
|
SECTION
1.23.
|
Restricted
Securities
|
4
|
SECTION
1.24.
|
Russian
Share Xxxxxxxxx
|
0
|
SECTION
1.25.
|
Securities
Act of 1933
|
5
|
SECTION
1.26.
|
Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
|
5
|
SECTION
1.27.
|
Share
Register
|
5
|
SECTION
1.28.
|
Shares
|
5
|
SECTION
1.29.
|
Standards
of Issue.
|
5
|
ARTICLE
2.
|
FORM
OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF SHARES, EXECUTION AND DELIVERY, TRANSFER AND
SURRENDER OF RECEIPTS
|
5
|
SECTION
2.01.
|
Form
and Transferability of Receipts
|
5
|
SECTION
2.02.
|
Deposit
of Shares.
|
9
|
SECTION
2.03.
|
Execution
and Delivery of Receipts.
|
11
|
SECTION
2.04.
|
Transfer
of Receipts; Combination and Split-up of Receipts
|
12
|
SECTION
2.05.
|
Surrender
of Receipts and Withdrawal of Shares
|
12
|
SECTION
2.06.
|
Limitations
on Execution and Delivery, Transfer and Surrender of
Receipts.
|
14
|
SECTION
2.07.
|
Lost
Receipts, etc.
|
15
|
SECTION
2.08.
|
Cancellation
and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts.
|
15
|
SECTION
2.09.
|
Pre-Release
of Receipts
|
15
|
SECTION
2.10.
|
Maintenance
of Records.
|
16
|
ARTICLE
3.
|
CERTAIN
OBLIGATIONS OF OWNERS AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF RECEIPTS
|
16
|
SECTION
3.01.
|
Filing
Proofs, Certificates and Other Information.
|
16
|
SECTION
3.02.
|
Liability
of Owner or Beneficial Owner for Taxes
|
17
|
i
SECTION
3.03.
|
Warranties
on Deposit of Shares
|
17
|
SECTION
3.04.
|
Disclosure
of Interests.
|
18
|
ARTICLE
4.
|
THE
DEPOSITED SECURITIES
|
18
|
SECTION
4.01.
|
Cash
Distributions.
|
18
|
SECTION
4.02.
|
Distributions
Other Than Cash, Shares or Rights
|
19
|
SECTION
4.03.
|
Distributions
in Shares
|
19
|
SECTION
4.04.
|
Rights.
|
20
|
SECTION
4.05.
|
Conversion
of Foreign Currency.
|
21
|
SECTION
4.06.
|
Fixing
of Record Date.
|
22
|
SECTION
4.07.
|
Voting
of Deposited Securities
|
22
|
SECTION
4.08.
|
Changes
Affecting Deposited Securities
|
23
|
SECTION
4.09.
|
Reports
|
24
|
SECTION
4.10.
|
Lists
of Owners
|
24
|
SECTION
4.11.
|
Withholding
|
24
|
ARTICLE
5.
|
THE
DEPOSITARY, THE CUSTODIAN AND THE COMPANY
|
25
|
SECTION
5.01.
|
Maintenance
of Office and Transfer Books by the Depositary
|
25
|
SECTION
5.02.
|
Prevention
or Delay in Performance by the Depositary or the Company.
|
25
|
SECTION
5.03.
|
Obligations
of the Depositary, the Custodian and the Company
|
26
|
SECTION
5.04.
|
Resignation
and Removal of the Depositary
|
28
|
SECTION
5.05.
|
The
Custodian
|
29
|
SECTION
5.06.
|
Notices
and Reports
|
29
|
SECTION
5.07.
|
Distribution
of Additional Shares, Rights, etc
|
30
|
SECTION
5.08.
|
Indemnification
|
31
|
SECTION
5.09.
|
Charges
of Depositary
|
32
|
SECTION
5.10.
|
Retention
of Depositary Documents
|
33
|
SECTION
5.11.
|
Exclusivity
|
33
|
SECTION
5.12.
|
List
of Restricted Securities Owners
|
33
|
SECTION
5.13.
|
Registration
of Shares; Russian Share Registrar; Share Register.
|
33
|
ARTICLE
6.
|
AMENDMENT
AND TERMINATION
|
36
|
SECTION
6.01.
|
Amendment
|
36
|
SECTION
6.02.
|
Termination
|
36
|
ARTICLE
7.
|
MISCELLANEOUS
|
37
|
SECTION
7.01.
|
Counterparts
|
37
|
SECTION
7.02.
|
No
Third Party Beneficiaries
|
37
|
SECTION
7.03.
|
Severability
|
38
|
SECTION
7.04.
|
Owners
and Beneficial Owners as Parties; Binding Effect
|
38
|
SECTION
7.05.
|
Notices
|
38
|
SECTION
7.06.
|
Arbitration;
Settlement of Disputes.
|
38
|
SECTION
7.07.
|
Submission
to Jurisdiction; Appointment of Agent for Service of
Process.
|
39
|
SECTION
7.08.
|
Waiver
of Immunities
|
40
|
SECTION
7.09.
|
Governing
Law
|
40
|
SECTION
7.10.
|
Assignment
|
40
|
SECTION
7.11
|
Amendment
and Restatement of Old Deposit Agreement
|
40
|
SECTION
7.12.
|
Appointment
|
40
|
EXHIBIT
A
|
FORM
OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
|
ii
SECOND
AMENDED AND RESTATED DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
SECOND
AMENDED AND RESTATED DEPOSIT AGREEMENT dated as of January __, 2010
among OJSC ROSTELECOM, incorporated under the laws of the Russian Federation
(herein called the "Company"), JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., a national banking
association organized under the laws of the United States (herein called the
"Depositary"), and all Owners and Beneficial Owners from time to time of
American Depositary Receipts issued hereunder.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS,
the Company and the Depositary entered into an Amended and Restated Deposit
Agreement dated as of December 30, 2002 (the "Old Deposit Agreement") for the
purposes set forth therein;
WHEREAS,
the Company and the Depositary now wish to amend and restate the Old Deposit
Agreement and the American depositary receipts issued thereunder;
WHEREAS,
the Company desires to further 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 (as hereinafter defined) 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:
1
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. Affiliate. The
term "Affiliate" means a person or entity that directly, or indirectly through
one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common
control with, another entity.
SECTION
1.02. American Depositary
Shares. The term "American Depositary Shares" means the
securities representing the interests in the Deposited Securities and evidenced
by the Receipts issued hereunder. Each American Depositary Share shall represent
six (6) 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
1.03. Beneficial
Owner. The term "Beneficial Owner" means each person owning
from time to time any beneficial interest in the American Depositary Shares
evidenced by any Receipt. A Beneficial Owner may or may not be the
Owner of the Receipt evidencing such American Depositary Shares. A
Beneficial Owner shall only be able to exercise any rights or receive any
benefits hereunder through the person who is the Owner of the Receipt evidencing
the American Depositary Shares owned by such Beneficial Owner.
SECTION
1.04. Business
Day. The term "Business Day" means each Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not (a) a day on which banking
institutions in the Russian Federation or the Borough of Manhattan, The City of
New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close or (b) a
day on which the primary market in which Receipts are traded is
closed.
SECTION
1.05. Commission. The
term "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United
States or any successor governmental agency in the United States.
SECTION1.06.
Company. The
term "Company" means OJSC ROSTELECOM incorporated under the laws of the Russian
Federation, and its successors.
SECTION
1.07. Custodian. The
term "Custodian" means the Moscow, Russian Federation, office of ING Bank
(Eurasia) ZAO (Closed Joint Stock Company) 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
1.08. Deliver, execute, issue et
al. The terms
"deliver", "execute", "issue", "register", "surrender", "transfer" or "cancel",
when used with respect to Direct Registration Receipts, shall refer to an entry
or entries or an electronic transfer or transfers in the Direct Registration
System, and, when used with respect to Receipts in physical certificated form,
shall refer to the physical delivery, execution, issuance, registration,
surrender, transfer or cancellation of certificates representing the
Receipts.
2
SECTION
1.09. Deposit
Agreement. The term "Deposit
Agreement" means this Second Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, as the same
may be further amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions
hereof.
SECTION
1.10. Depositary; Depositary’s
Office. The term "Depositary" means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,
a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States,
and any successor as depositary hereunder. The term "Depositary's
Office", when used with respect to the Depositary, means the office of the
Depositary which at the date of this Deposit Agreement is 4 New York Plaza, 40th
Floor, New York, New York 10004.
SECTION
1.11. Deposited
Securities. The term "Deposited Securities" as of any time
means Shares at such time deposited or deemed to be deposited under this Deposit
Agreement and any and all other securities, property and cash at such time held
by the Depositary or the Custodian in respect or in lieu
thereof.
SECTION
1.12. Direct Registration
Receipt. The term "Direct Registration Receipt" means a
Receipt, the ownership of which is recorded on the Direct Registration
System.
SECTION
1.13. Direct Registration
System. The term "Direct Registration System" means the system
for the uncertificated registration of ownership of securities established by
The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") and utilized by the Depositary pursuant to
which the Depositary may record the ownership of Receipts without the issuance
of a certificate, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic statements
issued by the Depositary to the Owners entitled thereto. For purposes hereof,
the Direct Registration System shall include access to the Profile Modification
System maintained by DTC which provides for automated transfer of ownership
between DTC and the Depositary.
SECTION
1.14. Dollars;
Rubles. The terms "Dollars" or "U.S.$" means United States
dollars. The terms "Rubles" or "R" means the national currency of the
Russian Federation.
SECTION
1.15
FSFM. The
term “FSFM” means the Russian Federal Service for the Financial Markets and any
successor governmental agency thereto in Russia .
SECTION.
1.16. New
Shares. The term "New Shares" means any newly issued Shares
that may be issued in connection with an Offering.
SECTION
1.17. Offering. The
term "Offering" means an offering of Shares in the form of American Depositary
Shares by the Company and/or any shareholders, who may but need not be
Affiliates of the Company, as described in a prospectus or offering circular to
be prepared for such public offering, including any over-allotment option
granted to the underwriters thereof.
3
SECTION
1.18. Owner. The
term "Owner" means the person in whose name a Receipt is registered on the books
of the Depositary maintained for such purpose.
SECTION
1.19. Placement
Notice. The term "Placement Notice" means the notice on the
results of issuance of any New Shares if such notice is filed pursuant to the
Standards of Issue.
SECTION
1.20. Placement
Report. The term "Placement Report" means the placement report
filed by the Company and registered by the FSFM in relation to the
issuance of New Shares pursuant to the Standards of Issue.
SECTION
1.21. Receipts; American Depositary
Receipts. The terms "Receipts" and "American Depositary
Receipts" each mean the American Depositary Receipts issued hereunder evidencing
American Depositary Shares. Receipts may be either in physical certificated form
or Direct Registration Receipts. Receipts in physical certificated form, and the
terms and conditions governing Direct Registration Receipts, shall be
substantially in the form of Exhibit A annexed hereto, as the same may be
amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof. References
to "Receipts" shall include certificated Receipts and Direct Registration
Receipts, unless the context otherwise requires. The form of
Receipt is hereby incorporated herein and made a part hereof; the provisions of
the form of Receipt shall be binding upon all Owners and Beneficial
Owners.
SECTION
1.22. Registrar. The
term "Registrar" means 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
1.23. Restricted
Securities. The term "Restricted Securities" means
Shares, or American Depositary Shares representing such Shares, which (i) have
been acquired directly or indirectly from the Company or any of its Affiliates
in a transaction or chain of transactions not involving any public offering and
subject to resale limitations under the Securities Act of 1933 or the rules
issued thereunder, or (ii) are held by an officer or director (or persons
performing similar functions) or other Affiliate of the Company, or (iii) are
subject to other restrictions on sale or deposit under the laws of the United
States, the Russian Federation, or under a shareholders' agreement or the
Company’s Charter or under the regulations of an applicable securities exchange
unless, in each case, such Shares are being sold to persons other than an
Affiliate of the Company in a transaction (x) covered by an effective resale
registration statement or (y) exempt from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act (as hereinafter defined), and the Shares are not, when held by
such person, Restricted Securities.
SECTION
1.24. Russian Share
Registrar. The term "Russian Share Registrar" means the entity
that maintains the Share Register for the Shares in Russia or any successor
thereto and any other appointed agent of the Company for the transfer and
registration of the Shares in Russia.
4
SECTION
1.25. Securities Act of
1933. The term "Securities Act of 1933" means the United
States Securities Act of 1933, as from time to time amended.
SECTION
1.26. Securities Exchange Act of
1934. The term "Securities Exchange Act of 1934" means the
United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as from time to time
amended.
SECTION
1.27. Share
Register. The term "Share Register" means the shareholder
register maintained by the Russian Share Registrar in which ownership of the
Shares is registered.
SECTION
1.28. Shares. The
term "Shares" means the fully paid ordinary shares of the Company and includes
any additional shares and any new shares issued in substitution for such shares
in connection with any change in nominal value, consolidation, sub-division or
other reclassification of such shares or any re-organisation, merger or
consolidation of or affecting the Company, and shall include the right to
receive Shares.
SECTION
1.29. Standards of
Issue. The term “Standards of Issue” means Standards of Issue
of Securities and Registration of Securities Prospectus' as approved by FSFM
Order No. 07-4/pz-n, dated January 25, 2007 (as amended).
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. Receipts may be issued in denominations of any number of
American Depositary Shares. No definitive 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 or
facsimile signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary; provided,
however, that such signature may be a facsimile if a Registrar for the Receipts
shall have been appointed and such Receipts are countersigned by the manual
signature of a duly authorized officer of the Registrar. The Depositary shall
maintain books on which each Receipt so executed and delivered, in the case of
definitive Receipts, and each Receipt issued through the Direct Registration
System, in either case as hereinafter provided and the transfer of each such
Receipt shall be registered. Receipts in certificated form 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.
Each
Receipt shall bear the following legend:
5
IT IS
EXPECTED THAT THE SHARES DEPOSITED HEREUNDER WILL BE REGISTERED ON THE SHARE
REGISTER MAINTAINED BY THE RUSSIAN SHARE REGISTRAR OF THE COMPANY IN THE NAME OF
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. AS DEPOSITARY, OR ITS NOMINEE, OR OF THE CUSTODIAN, OR
ITS NOMINEE. OWNERS AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS SHOULD BE AWARE, HOWEVER, THAT
RUSSIA'S SYSTEM OF SHARE REGISTRATION AND CUSTODY CREATES RISKS OF LOSS THAT ARE
NOT NORMALLY ASSOCIATED WITH INVESTMENTS IN OTHER SECURITIES MARKETS. THE
DEPOSITARY WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR UNAVAILABILITY OF SHARES OR FOR THE FAILURE TO
MAKE ANY DISTRIBUTION OF CASH OR PROPERTY WITH RESPECT THERETO AS A RESULT OF
SUCH UNAVAILABILITY.
THE
DEPOSITARY HAS BEEN ADVISED BY RUSSIAN COUNSEL THAT COURTS IN THE RUSSIAN
FEDERATION ARE NOT REQUIRED TO RECOGNISE OR ENFORCE JUDGMENTS OBTAINED IN THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, IN THE NEW YORK
COURTS.
If the
Company offers and places New Shares in an Offering in which the Depositary
subscribes to all or any portion of such New Shares, the Receipts shall bear the
following legends:
NEITHER
THE DEPOSITARY NOR THE CUSTODIAN ASSUMES, AND NONE OF THEM SHALL HAVE, ANY
OBLIGATION OR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE ANY PAYMENTS FOR, NOR SHALL EITHER OF THEM
BE SUBJECT TO ANY LIABILITY UNDER THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER AGREEMENT OR
OTHERWISE FOR NONPAYMENT FOR, ANY SHARES OR OTHER SECURITIES NEWLY ISSUED BY THE
COMPANY OR SOLD BY ANY SELLING SHAREHOLDERS IN ANY OFFERING (INCLUDING ANY
EXERCISE BY THE UNDERWRITERS OF AN OVER-ALLOTMENT OPTION IN CONNECTION
THEREWITH).
6
IN
CONNECTION WITH AN OFFERING WHICH INCLUDES AN OFFERING OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY
SHARES REPRESENTING SHARES NEWLY ISSUED BY THE COMPANY, THE AMERICAN DEPOSITARY
SHARES EVIDENCED HEREBY ARE ISSUED ON A PROVISIONAL BASIS UNTIL RECEIPT BY THE
DEPOSITARY OF WRITTEN NOTICE FROM THE COMPANY THAT, AS THE CASE MAY BE, EITHER
(I) A VALID PLACEMENT NOTICE HAS BEEN DULY AND TIMELY FILED WITH THE FSFM OR
(II) A PLACEMENT REPORT HAS BEEN REGISTERED BY THE FSFM. PRIOR TO RECEIPT BY THE
DEPOSITARY OF SUCH WRITTEN NOTICE FROM THE COMPANY OR, IF LATER, THE MOSCOW
BUSINESS DAY NEXT FOLLOWING A DUE AND TIMELY FILING OF A VALID PLACEMENT NOTICE
WITH THE FSFM OR REGISTRATION OF THE PLACEMENT REPORT WITH THE FSFM,
NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING HEREIN OR IN THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT TO THE CONTRARY,
OWNERS' AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS' RIGHTS OF WITHDRAWAL ARE LIMITED AS SET OUT IN
SECTION 2 OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT AND ARTICLE 2 OF THIS RECEIPT AND THE
DEPOSITARY SHALL NOT VOTE, OR CAUSE TO BE VOTED, SECURITIES DEPOSITED
THEREUNDER, AND OWNERS SHALL NOT BE ENTITLED TO GIVE VOTING INSTRUCTIONS, AS
CONTEMPLATED BY ARTICLE 16 OF THIS RECEIPT OR SECTION 4.07 OF THE DEPOSIT
AGREEMENT.
IF (I)
THE COMPANY DID NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO FILE, OR, HAVING SUCH A RIGHT, FAILED TO
DULY AND TIMELY FILE, A VALID PLACEMENT NOTICE WITH THE FSFM, AND (II) A
PLACEMENT REPORT REQUIRED TO BE REGISTERED BY THE FSFM HAS NOT BEEN SO
REGISTERED IN RESPECT OF THE NEW SHARES, WITHIN 60 CALENDAR DAYS OF THE FIRST
CLOSING DATE OF THE OFFERING OR, IN RESPECT OF ANY SUBSEQUENT ISSUE OF NEW
SHARES, WITHIN 45 CALENDAR DAYS OF THE CLOSING DATE OF THE ISSUE OF SUCH SHARES,
AS THE CASE MAY BE, OR SUCH OTHER TIME AS MAY BE AGREED BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND
THE DEPOSITARY (IN RESPECT OF ANY OTHER NEW SHARES) OR IF ANY NEW SHARES ARE TO
BE CANCELLED, WHETHER OR NOT A VALID PLACEMENT NOTICE HAS BEEN DULY AND TIMELY
FILED OR A PLACEMENT REPORT IN RESPECT OF SUCH SHARES HAS BEEN REGISTERED,
RELEVANT NEW SHARES DEPOSITED HEREUNDER AND THE CORRESPONDING AMERICAN
DEPOSITARY SHARES SHALL BE CANCELLED AND THE SUBSCRIPTION MONIES IN RESPECT OF
SUCH CANCELLED SHARES AND AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES WILL BE RETURNED TO OWNERS
ENTITLED THERETO AND, PENDING SUCH RETURN, THE AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES ISSUED
IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH OFFERING WILL REPRESENT THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE A
PROPORTIONAL INTEREST IN THE FUNDS SO RECEIVED. THE FUNDS SO RECEIVED BY THE
DEPOSITARY IN ANY CURRENCY OTHER THAN U.S. DOLLARS WILL BE CONVERTED INTO U.S.
DOLLARS (AT MARKET RATES THEN AVAILABLE) AND DISTRIBUTED TO THE THEN OWNERS OF
THE RELEVANT AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES, IN EACH CASE ON THE TERMS OF THE
DEPOSIT AGREEMENT. SUCH AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES WILL BE CANCELLED
BY THE DEPOSITARY UPON DISTRIBUTION OF THE PROPORTIONAL INTERESTS IN THE FUNDS
SO RECEIVED, CONVERTED (IF NECESSARY) AND DISTRIBUTED TO THE OWNERS OF SUCH
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES. THE FUNDS SO RECEIVED, CONVERTED (IF
NECESSARY) AND DISTRIBUTED TO OWNERS OF SUCH AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES MAY BE
LESS THAN THE PRICE AT WHICH SUCH AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES HAVE BEEN SOLD BY
THE COMPANY OR THE SELLING SHAREHOLDERS (IF ANY) OR PURCHASED BY THE OWNERS
THEREOF, AND SUCH DISTRIBUTION MAY BE SUBJECT TO TAXES OR DELAYS IN
PAYMENT.
7
In
addition to the foregoing, 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 reasonably
required by the Depositary in order 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.
Notwithstanding
anything in this Deposit Agreement or in the Receipt to the contrary, to the
extent available, American Depositary Shares shall be evidenced by Direct
Registration Receipts, unless certificated Receipts are specifically requested
by the Owner. Owners and Beneficial Owners shall be bound by the terms and
conditions of this Deposit Agreement and of the form of Receipt, regardless of
whether their Receipts are Direct Registration Receipts or certificated
Receipts.
Title to
a Receipt (and to the American Depositary Shares evidenced thereby), when
properly endorsed (in the case of certificated Receipts) or upon delivery to the
Depositary of proper instruments of transfer, shall be transferable by delivery
with the same effect as in the case of a negotiable instrument under the laws of
New York; provided, however, that the Depositary and the Company,
notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the Owner thereof as the
absolute owner thereof for the purpose of determining the person entitled to
distribution of dividends or other distributions or to any notice provided for
in this Deposit Agreement and for all other purposes and neither the Depositary
nor the Company will have any obligation or be subject to any liability under
the Deposit Agreement to any holder of a Receipt, unless such holder is the
Owner thereof.
8
SECTION
2.02. Deposit of
Shares.
(a) 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
(which will consist of (a) extracts from the Share Register evidencing ownership
of Shares and, where applicable, share certificates, (b) a transfer deed or
other similar document authorizing registration of the Shares in the name of the
Depositary, the Custodian or their respective nominees, or endorsement, in form
satisfactory to the Custodian, and (c) where applicable, a purchase/sale
contract or other similar document relating to the transfer of the Shares), in
each case together with all such certifications as may be required by the
Depositary or the Custodian in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit
Agreement, and, if the Depositary requires, together with a written order
directing the Depositary to execute and deliver to, or upon the written order
of, the person or persons stated in such order, a Receipt or Receipts through
the Direct Registration System (or, if specifically requested, certificated
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 (i) all conditions to such deposit have been satisfied by the
person depositing such Shares under Russian laws and regulations, (ii) any
necessary approval has been granted by any governmental body in the Russian
Federation which is then performing the function of the regulation of currency
exchange, and (iii) all applicable taxes and governmental charges and the
fees and expenses of the Depositary, as provided in Section 5.09 hereof,
have been paid. If required by the Depositary, Shares presented for
deposit at any time, whether or not the Share Register is 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.
Upon each
delivery to a Custodian of an extract (including extracts from the Share
Register evidencing ownership of the Shares by each person presenting Shares for
deposit hereunder) and, as applicable, a certificate for, or other documents
evidencing title to, the Shares to be deposited hereunder, together with the
other documents specified in this Deposit Agreement, such Custodian or its
agents, promptly after receipt of evidence that such transfer and recordation
have been accomplished, shall present such extract or extracts, certificate or
certificates, where applicable, or other documents as specified in this Deposit
Agreement to the Russian Share Registrar for transfer and recordation of the
Shares being deposited in the name of the Depositary or its nominee or such
Custodian or its nominee, and the Company shall use its best efforts to ensure
that such transfer and recordation is promptly effected by the Russian Share
Registrar.
9
(b) Records
of ownership of Deposited Securities (including extracts from the Share
Register) 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. The Depositary agrees to instruct the Custodian to
place all Shares accepted for deposit under this Deposit Agreement into
segregated accounts separate from any Shares of the Company that may be held by
such Custodian under any other depositary receipt facility relating to the
Shares.
(c) If
at the time of any deposit of Shares hereunder the Company instructs the
Depositary that the Shares accepted for deposit are not fungible with the Shares
previously deposited under the terms of this Deposit Agreement, then the
Depositary and the Custodian shall take all steps reasonably necessary (through
the use of sub-accounts or otherwise as they see fit): (i) to segregate the
newly-deposited Shares on the books of the Custodian in an account different
from the previously-deposited Shares and (ii) to ensure (through the use of a
distinct CUSIP or ISIN number, or otherwise as they see fit) that the American
Depositary Shares issued for the newly deposited Shares are not fungible with
the American Depositary Shares issued for the previously-deposited Shares until,
in any such case, such time as the newly deposited Shares are fungible with the
Shares previously deposited under the terms of this Deposit
Agreement.
(d) NEITHER
THE DEPOSITARY NOR THE CUSTODIAN ASSUMES, AND NONE OF THEM SHALL HAVE, ANY
OBLIGATION OR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE ANY PAYMENTS FOR, NOR SHALL EITHER OF THEM
BE SUBJECT TO ANY LIABILITY UNDER THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER AGREEMENT OR
OTHERWISE FOR NONPAYMENT FOR, ANY SHARES OR OTHER SECURITIES NEWLY ISSUED BY THE
COMPANY OR SOLD BY ANY SELLING SHAREHOLDERS IN ANY OFFERING (INCLUDING ANY
EXERCISE BY THE UNDERWRITERS OF AN OVER-ALLOTMENT OPTION IN CONNECTION
THEREWITH).
IN
CONNECTION WITH AN OFFERING WHICH INCLUDES AN OFFERING OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY
SHARES REPRESENTING SHARES NEWLY ISSUED BY THE COMPANY, THE AMERICAN DEPOSITARY
SHARES EVIDENCED HEREBY ARE ISSUED ON A PROVISIONAL BASIS UNTIL RECEIPT BY THE
DEPOSITARY OF WRITTEN NOTICE FROM THE COMPANY THAT, AS THE CASE MAY BE, EITHER
(I) A VALID NOTICE ON THE RESULTS OF PLACEMENT OF THE NEW ISSUE OF SHARES (A
"PLACEMENT NOTICE") HAS BEEN DULY AND TIMELY FILED WITH THE RUSSIAN FEDERAL
SERVICE FOR THE FINANCIAL MARKETS ("FSFM") OR (II) A REPORT ON THE RESULTS OF
THE PLACEMENT OF THE NEW ISSUE OF SHARES (A "PLACEMENT REPORT") HAS BEEN
REGISTERED BY THE FSFM. PRIOR TO RECEIPT BY THE DEPOSITARY OF SUCH WRITTEN
NOTICE FROM THE COMPANY OR, IF LATER, THE MOSCOW BUSINESS DAY NEXT FOLLOWING A
DUE AND TIMELY FILING OF A VALID PLACEMENT NOTICE WITH THE FSFM OR REGISTRATION
OF THE PLACEMENT REPORT WITH THE FSFM, NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING HEREIN OR IN THE
DEPOSIT AGREEMENT TO THE CONTRARY, OWNERS' AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS' RIGHTS OF
WITHDRAWAL ARE LIMITED AS SET OUT IN SECTION 2 OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT AND
ARTICLE (2) OF THIS RECEIPT AND THE DEPOSITARY SHALL NOT VOTE, OR CAUSE TO BE
VOTED, SECURITIES DEPOSITED THEREUNDER, AND OWNERS SHALL NOT BE ENTITLED TO GIVE
VOTING INSTRUCTIONS, AS CONTEMPLATED BY ARTICLE (16) OF THIS RECEIPT OR SECTION
4.07 OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT.
10
IF (I)
THE COMPANY DID NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO FILE, OR, HAVING SUCH A RIGHT, FAILED TO
DULY AND TIMELY FILE, A VALID PLACEMENT NOTICE WITH THE FSFM, AND
(II) A PLACEMENT REPORT REQUIRED TO BE REGISTERED BY THE FSFM HAS NOT BEEN SO
REGISTERED IN RESPECT OF THE NEW SHARES, WITHIN 60 CALENDAR DAYS OF THE FIRST
CLOSING DATE OF THE OFFERING OR, IN RESPECT OF ANY SUBSEQUENT ISSUE OF NEW
SHARES, WITHIN 45 CALENDAR DAYS OF THE CLOSING DATE OF THE ISSUE OF SUCH SHARES,
AS THE CASE MAY BE, OR SUCH OTHER TIME AS MAY BE AGREED BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND
THE DEPOSITARY (IN RESPECT OF ANY OTHER NEW SHARES) OR IF ANY NEW SHARES ARE TO
BE CANCELLED, WHETHER OR NOT A VALID PLACEMENT NOTICE HAS BEEN DULY AND TIMELY
FILED OR A PLACEMENT REPORT IN RESPECT OF SUCH SHARES HAS BEEN REGISTERED,
RELEVANT NEW SHARES DEPOSITED HEREUNDER AND THE CORRESPONDING AMERICAN
DEPOSITARY SHARES SHALL BE CANCELLED AND THE SUBSCRIPTION MONIES IN RESPECT OF
SUCH CANCELLED SHARES AND AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES WILL BE RETURNED TO OWNERS
ENTITLED THERETOAND, PENDING SUCH RETURN, THE AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES ISSUED
IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH OFFERING WILL REPRESENT THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE A
PROPORTIONAL INTEREST IN THE FUNDS SO RECEIVED. THE FUNDS SO RECEIVED BY THE
DEPOSITARY IN ANY CURRENCY OTHER THAN U.S. DOLLARS WILL BE CONVERTED INTO U.S.
DOLLARS (AT MARKET RATES THEN AVAILABLE) AND DISTRIBUTED TO THE THEN OWNERS OF
THE RELEVANT AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES, IN EACH CASE ON THE TERMS OF THE
DEPOSIT AGREEMENT. SUCH AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES WILL BE CANCELLED
BY THE DEPOSITARY UPON DISTRIBUTION OF THE PROPORTIONAL INTERESTS IN THE FUNDS
SO RECEIVED, CONVERTED (IF NECESSARY) AND DISTRIBUTED TO THE OWNERS OF SUCH
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES. THE FUNDS SO RECEIVED, CONVERTED (IF
NECESSARY) AND DISTRIBUTED TO OWNERS OF SUCH AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES MAY BE
LESS THAN THE PRICE AT WHICH SUCH AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES HAVE BEEN SOLD BY
THE COMPANY OR THE SELLING SHAREHOLDERS (IF ANY) OR PURCHASED BY THE OWNERS
THEREOF, AND SUCH DISTRIBUTION MAY BE SUBJECT TO TAXES OR DELAYS IN
PAYMENT.
SECTION
2.03. Execution and Delivery of
Receipts. Upon receipt by any Custodian of any deposit
pursuant to Section 2.02 hereunder and upon receipt in form satisfactory to
the Depositary of a proper acknowledgment or other evidence from the Company or
the Russian Share Registrar (including extracts from the Share Register) that
any Deposited Securities have been recorded on the Share Register maintained by
the Russian Share Registrar in the name of the Depositary or its nominee or such
Custodian or its nominee, together with the other documents required as
specified in this Deposit Agreement, 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, the Depositary, subject to the terms and
conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall, as promptly as practicable, execute
and deliver at the Depositary's 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 (a) 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 and (b) subject to the other terms of this Deposit
Agreement and the provisions of the Charter of the Company and of the Deposited
Securities. The Depositary shall not issue Receipts except in
accordance with this Section 2.03 and Sections 2.04, 2.07, 2.09, 4.03, 4.04 and
4.08 hereof.
11
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 without
unreasonable delay register transfers of Receipts on its transfer books from
time to time, upon receipt at the Depositary's Office of proper instruments of
transfer or upon any surrender of a Receipt, by the Owner in person or by a duly
authorized attorney, properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of
transfer, and duly stamped as may be required by the laws of the State of New
York and of the United States of America. Thereupon the Depositary shall execute
a new Receipt or Receipts evidencing the same aggregate number of American
Depositary Shares 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 may, after consultation with the Company to the extent practicable,
appoint one or more co-transfer agents reasonably acceptable to the Company for
the purpose of effecting transfers, combinations and split-ups of Receipts at
designated transfer offices on behalf of the Depositary. Each co-transfer agent
appointed under this Section 2.04 shall notify in writing the Company and the
Depositary that it accepts its appointment as co-transfer agent and agrees 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 to
Receipts and will be entitled to protection and indemnity to the same extent as
the Depositary.
At the
request of an Owner, the Depositary shall, for the purpose of substituting a
certificated Receipt with a Direct Registration Receipt, or vice versa, execute
and deliver a certificated Receipt or a Direct Registration Receipt, as the case
may be, for any authorized number of American Depositary Shares requested,
evidencing the same aggregate number of American Depositary Shares as those
evidenced by the certificated Receipt or Direct Registration Receipt, as the
case may be, substituted.
12
SECTION
2.05. Surrender of Receipts and
Withdrawal of Shares. Upon receipt at the Depositary's Office
or at such other offices as the Depositary may designate of an Owner's written
order directing the Depositary to cause the Deposited Securities represented by
the American Depositary Shares evidenced by a Receipt to be withdrawn and
delivered to or upon the written order of the person or persons designated in
such order along with a certificated Receipt (properly endorsed in blank or
accompanied by proper instruments of transfer in blank, to the extent required
by the Depositary) or, in the case of a Direct Registration Receipt, proper
instruments of transfer in blank, to the extent required by the Depositary, in
each case accompanied by such documents as the Depositary may require (including
a purchase/sale contract relating to the transfer of the Shares) and upon
payment of the fees and expenses 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 Charter of the Company and the Deposited Securities, 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; provided that the Depositary shall not make
arrangements for such delivery or collection if (i) the Depositary is notified
by the Company in writing that delivery of Deposited Securities will not comply
generally, or in one or more localities, with any applicable law or governmental
or stock exchange regulations or the delivery of Deposited Securities is blocked
by any applicable court order, or (ii) the Depositary is notified by the Company
in writing that delivery of Deposited Securities will result in ownership of
such Shares exceeding any limit under applicable Russian law or government
resolution or the Charter of the Company, or for any other reason as agreed with
the Depositary, as notified to the Depositary by the Company from time to time,
or (iii) in the case where the Depositary has been informed by the Company that
either a Placement Notice or a Placement Report has been prepared in respect of
any other New Shares represented by American Depositary Shares, then in relation
to those American Depositary Shares, during any period prior to the Depositary
being notified in writing that a valid Placement Notice has been duly and timely
filed or a Placement Report has been registered by the FSFM in relation to those
Shares or, if later, the Moscow Business Day next following the due and timely
filing of a valid Placement Notice with the FSFM or the registration of a valid
Placement Report by the FSFM. For the avoidance of doubt, in the absence of any
such notification from the Company, the Depositary is not under any obligation
to ascertain or determine whether or not any such delivery should be refused
(including monitoring ownership levels amongst Owners or Beneficial Owners) and
the Depositary shall not be liable for any loss, damage or other consequences
arising from any such delivery. Also, for the avoidance of doubt, provided that
it is complying with a written notification from the Company pursuant to this
Section 2.05, the Depositary shall not be liable for any loss, damage or other
consequences arising from its refusal or delivery. The Depositary shall only be
obliged to deliver Shares or other Deposited Securities to the extent that
Shares or such other Deposited Securities are then held by the Custodian or the
Depositary or by their respective agents pursuant to the provisions of this
Deposit Agreement; provided further that the Depositary may suspend the
withdrawal of all or any category of Deposited Securities during any period when
the Share Register is closed. The Depositary may withhold the delivery of Shares
until any applicable fees and expenses have been paid.
13
Delivery
of such Deposited Securities may be made by the delivery of (a) certificates or
other documents evidencing title (including extracts from the Share Register) 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 promptly as practicable, as hereinafter
provided.
A Receipt
surrendered for such purposes may be required by the Depositary to be properly
endorsed in blank or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer in blank, and
if the Depositary so requires, the Owner thereof shall execute and deliver to
the Depositary a written order directing the Depositary to cause the Deposited
Securities being withdrawn to be delivered to or upon the written order of a
person or persons designated in such order. Thereupon the Depositary
shall direct the Custodian or its agents to cause the transfer and recordation
by the Russian Share Registrar on the Share Register of the Shares being
withdrawn in the name of such Owner or as directed by him as above provided, and
the Company shall use its best efforts to ensure that such transfer and
recordation is effected within three (3) Business Days of the Russian Share
Registrar's receipt of such documentation as may be required by applicable law
and the reasonable and customary regulations of the Russian Share
Registrar, or as soon thereafter as practicable. Upon such transfer
and recordation, the Custodian shall deliver at the Moscow, Russian Federation,
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, documents evidencing title (including extracts
from the Share Register) for the amount of Deposited Securities represented by
the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt, except that, if and to
the extent practicable, the Depositary may make delivery to such person or
persons at the Depositary's Office 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 or other documents evidencing title (including extracts from the
Share Register) for, the Deposited Securities represented by the American
Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt 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.
Neither
the Depositary nor any Custodian shall deliver Shares (other than to the Company
or its agent as contemplated by Section 4.08), or otherwise permit Shares to be
withdrawn from the facility created hereby, except upon the receipt and
cancellation of Receipts.
SECTION
2.06. Limitations on Execution and
Delivery, Transfer and Surrender of Receipts. As a
condition precedent to the execution and delivery, registration of transfer,
split-up, combination or surrender of any Receipt or withdrawal of any Deposited
Securities, the Depositary, Custodian or Registrar may require payment from the
depositor of Shares or the presenter of the Receipt of a sum sufficient to
reimburse it for any tax or other governmental charge and any stock transfer or
registration fee with respect thereto (including any such tax or charge and fee
with respect to Shares being deposited or withdrawn) and payment of any
applicable fees and expenses as herein provided, may require the production of
proof satisfactory to it as to the identity of any signatory and genuineness of
any signature and may also require compliance with such reasonable regulations
as the Depositary may establish consistent with the provisions of this Deposit
Agreement, including, without limitation, this Section 2.06.
14
The
delivery of Receipts against deposit of Shares generally or against deposit of
particular Shares may be suspended, or the transfer of Receipts in particular
instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer of outstanding
Receipts generally may be suspended, during any period when the transfer books
of the Depositary are closed, or if any such action is deemed necessary or
advisable by the Depositary or the Company at any time or from time to time
because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body or
commission, or under any provision of this Deposit Agreement, or for any other
reason, subject to the provisions of the following
sentence. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Deposit
Agreement or the Receipts, the surrender of outstanding Receipts and withdrawal
of Deposited Securities may not be suspended subject only to (i) temporary
delays caused by 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. The
Depositary will comply with written instructions of the Company that the
Depositary shall not accept for deposit hereunder any Shares identified in such
instructions at such times and under such circumstances as may reasonably be
specified in such instructions in order to facilitate the Company's compliance
with the securities laws of the United States.
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 in certificated form so cancelled, subject to
Section 2.10.
SECTION
2.09. Pre-Release of
Receipts. The Depositary may issue Receipts against rights to
receive Shares from the Company. No such issue of Receipts shall be deemed a
"Pre-Release" subject to the restrictions of the following
paragraph.
15
Unless
requested by the Company to cease doing so, notwithstanding Section 2.03
hereof, the Depositary may execute and deliver Receipts prior to the receipt of
Shares pursuant to Section 2.02 (a "Pre-Release"). The
Depositary may, pursuant to Section 2.05, deliver Shares upon the receipt
and cancellation of Receipts which have been Pre-Released, whether or not such
cancellation is prior to the termination of such Pre-Release or the Depositary
knows that such Receipt has been Pre-Released. The Depositary may
receive Receipts in lieu of Shares in satisfaction of a
Pre-Release. Each Pre-Release will be (a) preceded or accompanied by
a written representation from the person to whom Receipts or Shares are to be
delivered (the "Pre-Releasee") that the Pre-Releasee, or its customer owns the
Shares or Receipts to be remitted, as the case may be, (b) at all times
fully collateralized (such collateral marked to market daily) with cash or such
other collateral as the Depositary reasonably deems appropriate,
(c) terminable by the Depositary on not more than
five (5) Business Days notice, and (d) subject to such further
indemnities and credit regulations as the Depositary deems
appropriate. The number of American Depositary Shares which are
outstanding at any time as a result of Pre-Release will not normally exceed
thirty percent (30%) of the Shares deposited hereunder; provided, however,
that the Depositary reserves the right to change or disregard such limit from
time to time as it deems appropriate, and may, with the prior written consent of
the Company, change such limit from time to time for purposes of general
application. The Depositary will also set limits with respect to
Pre-Release transactions to be entered into hereunder with any particular
Pre-Releasee on a case-by-case basis as it deems appropriate. The
collateral referred to in clause (b) above shall be held by the Depositary for
the benefit of the Owners as security for the performance of the obligations to
deliver Shares set forth in clause (a) above (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. The Company shall have no liability to
any Owner with respect to any representations, actions or omissions by the
Depositary, any holder of Receipts, or any Owner or any of their respective
agents pursuant to this Section 2.09.
SECTION
2.10. Maintenance of
Records. The Depositary agrees to maintain or cause its agents
to maintain records of all Receipts surrendered and Deposited Securities
withdrawn under Section 2.05, substitute Receipts delivered under Section 2.07,
and of cancelled or destroyed Receipts under Section 2.08, in keeping with
procedures ordinarily followed by stock transfer agents located in The City of
New York or as required by the laws or regulations governing the
Depositary. Prior to destroying any such records, the Depositary will
notify the Company and will turn such records over to the Company upon its
request.
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 from time
to time to file with the Depositary or the Custodian such proof of citizenship
or residence, exchange control approval, evidence of payment of applicable taxes
and other governmental charges, or such information relating to the registration
on the books of the Russian Share Registrar to execute such certificates and to
make such representations and warranties, as the Depositary, or the Company,
upon written notice to the Depositary, may deem necessary or
proper. The Depositary may, and at the reasonable written request of
the Company shall, 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, evidence or other information is filed or such certificates are executed
or such representations and warranties made to the satisfaction of the
Depositary and the Company. The Depositary shall from time to time on
request of the Company advise the Company of the availability of any such
proofs, certificates or other information and shall provide copies
thereof to the Company as promptly as practicable upon
request by the Company, unless such disclosure is prohibited by
law. Each Owner and Beneficial Owner agrees to provide any
information requested by the Company or the Depositary pursuant to this Section
3.01.
16
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, and such Owner or Beneficial Owner shall be
deemed liable therefor. In addition to any other remedies available
to it, 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. The obligations of
Owners and Beneficial Owners under this Section 3.02 shall survive any transfer
of Receipts pursuant to Section 2.04, any surrender of Receipts and withdrawal
of Deposited Securities pursuant to Section 2.05, or the termination of this
Deposit Agreement pursuant to Section 6.02.
Each
Owner and Beneficial Owner shall indemnify the Depositary, the Company, the
Custodian and any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and
Affiliates against, and hold each of them harmless from, any claims by any
governmental authority with respect to taxes, additions to tax, penalties or
interest arising out of any refund of taxes, reduced rate of withholding at
source or other tax benefit obtained.
SECTION
3.03. Warranties on Deposit of
Shares. Every person depositing Shares under the Deposit
Agreement represents and warrants that such Shares are validly issued and
outstanding, fully paid, nonassessable and free of pre-emptive rights, that the
person making such deposit is duly authorized so to do and that such Shares (A)
are not Restricted Securities unless at the time of deposit the requirements of
paragraphs (c), (e), (f) and (h) of Rule 144 shall not apply and such Shares may
be freely transferred and may otherwise be offered and sold freely in the United
States or (B) have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933. To the
extent the person depositing Shares is an Affiliate, the person also represents
and warrants that upon the sale of the American Depositary Shares, all of the
provisions of Rule 144 which enable the Shares to be freely sold (in the form of
American Depositary Shares) will be fully complied with and, as a result
thereof, all of the American Depositary Shares issued in respect of such Shares
will not be on the sale thereof, Restricted Securities. Such
representations and warranties shall survive the deposit of Shares and issuance
of Receipts.
17
SECTION
3.04. Disclosure of
Interests. To the extent that the provisions of or governing
any Deposited Securities may require disclosure of or impose limits on
beneficial or other ownership of Deposited Securities, other Shares and other
securities and may provide for blocking transfer, voting or other rights to
enforce such disclosure or limits, Owners and Beneficial Owners agree to comply
with all such disclosure requirements and ownership limitations and to comply
with any reasonable Company instructions in respect thereof. The Company may
from time to time request Owners to provide information as to the capacity in
which such Owners own or owned Receipts and regarding the identity of any other
persons then or previously having a beneficial interest in such Receipts and the
nature of such interest and various other matters. Each Owner agrees
to provide any information requested by the Company pursuant to this Section
3.04. The Depositary agrees to comply with reasonable written
instructions received from time to time from the Company requesting that the
Depositary forward any such requests to the Owners and to forward to the Company
any such responses to such requests received by the
Depositary. Each Owner agrees to provide any information
requested pursuant to this Section 3.04. The Company reserves the
right to instruct Owners and Beneficial Owners to deliver their American
Depositary Shares for cancellation and withdrawal of the Deposited Securities so
as to permit the Company to deal directly with the Owner and/or Beneficial Owner
as a holder of Shares and Owners and Beneficial Owners agree to comply with such
instructions. The Depositary agrees to cooperate with the
Company in its efforts to inform Owners of the Company's exercise of its rights
under this Section 3.04 and agrees to consult with, and provide reasonable
assistance without risk, liability or expense on the part of the Depositary, to
the Company on the manner or manners in which it may enforce such rights with
respect to any Owner.
ARTICLE
4.
THE DEPOSITED
SECURITIES
SECTION
4.01. Cash
Distributions. Whenever the Depositary shall receive any cash
dividend or other cash distribution on any Deposited Securities, the Depositary
shall, as promptly as practicable after its receipt of such dividend or
distribution (unless otherwise prohibited or prevented by applicable law),
subject to the provisions of Section 4.05, convert such dividend or distribution
into Dollars and, after fixing a record date in respect thereof pursuant to
Section 4.06, shall, as promptly as practicable, 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 down 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
Russian Federation all amounts withheld and owing to such agency. In
the event the Depositary withholds any such amounts, the Depositary will remit
to the appropriate governmental agency in the United States all amounts withheld
and owing to such agency. The Depositary will forward to the Company or its
agent such information from its records as the Company may reasonably request to
enable the Company or its agent to file necessary reports with governmental
agencies, and the Depositary or the Company or its agent may file any such
reports necessary to obtain benefits under the applicable tax treaties for the
Owners of Receipts.
18
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 Sections 4.01, 4.03 or 4.04, the Depositary shall, as
promptly as practicable, 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 reasonably deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing such
distribution; provided, however, that if in the reasonable 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 reasonably deems such distribution not to be
feasible, the Depositary may, after consultation with the Company to the extent
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; provided, however, that no distribution to
Owners pursuant to this Section 4.02 shall be unreasonably delayed by any action
of the Depositary or any of its agents.
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,
and shall if the Company shall so request, distribute, as promptly as
practicable 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 satisfactory assurances from the Company that
such distribution does not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933
or is exempt from registration under the provisions of such Act. In
lieu of delivering Receipts for fractional American Depositary Shares in any
such case, the Depositary shall sell the amount of Shares represented by the
aggregate of such fractions and distribute the net proceeds, all in the manner
and subject to the conditions described in Section 4.01; provided, however, that
no distribution to Owners pursuant to this Section 4.03 shall be unreasonably
delayed by any action of the Depositary or any of its agents. If
additional Receipts are not so distributed, each American Depositary Share shall
thenceforth also represent the additional Shares distributed upon the Deposited
Securities represented thereby.
19
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
(including New Shares) or any rights of any other nature, the Depositary, after
consultation with the Company to the extent practicable, shall have discretion
as to the procedure to be followed in making such rights available to any Owners
or in disposing of such rights on behalf of any Owners and making the net
proceeds available to such Owners or, if by the terms of such rights offering or
for any other reason, the Depositary may not either make such rights available
to any Owners or dispose of such rights and make the net proceeds available to
such Owners, then the Depositary shall allow the rights to lapse. If
at the time of the offering of any rights the Depositary determines that it is
lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all or certain Owners but
not to other Owners, the Depositary may, and at the request of the Company
shall, 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 promptly make such rights available to such Owner
upon written notice from the Company to the Depositary that (a) the Company has
elected in its sole discretion to permit such rights to be exercised and (b)
such Owner has executed such documents as the Company has determined in its sole
discretion are reasonably required under applicable law.
If the
Depositary has distributed warrants or other instruments for rights to all or
certain Owners, then upon instruction from such an Owner pursuant to such
warrants or other instruments to the Depositary from such Owner to exercise such
rights, upon payment by such Owner to the Depositary for the account of such
Owner of an amount equal to the purchase price of the Shares to be received upon
the exercise of the rights, and upon payment of the fees and expenses of the
Depositary and any other charges as set forth in such warrants or other
instruments, the Depositary shall, on behalf of such Owner, exercise the rights
and purchase the Shares, and the Company shall cause the Shares so purchased to
be delivered to the Depositary on behalf of such Owner. As agent for
such Owner, the Depositary will cause the Shares so purchased to be deposited
pursuant to Section 2.02 of this Deposit Agreement, and shall, pursuant to
Section 2.03 of this Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver Receipts to
such Owner. In the case of a distribution pursuant to the second paragraph of
this section, such Receipts shall be legended in accordance with applicable U.S.
laws, and shall be subject to the appropriate restrictions on sale, deposit,
cancellation, and transfer under such laws.
If the
Depositary determines, after consultation with the Company to the extent
practicable, that it is not lawful and feasible to make such rights available to
all or certain Owners, it may, and at the request of the Company shall, use its
best efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to 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 will 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. Such proceeds shall be
distributed as promptly as practicable in accordance with Section 4.01
hereof.
20
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 upon which the Depositary may rely that such distribution to
such Owner is exempt from such registration.
The
Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to determine that it may be
lawful or feasible to make such rights available to Owners in general or any
Owner in particular.
SECTION
4.05. Conversion of Foreign
Currency. Whenever the Depositary 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 commercially reasonable
judgment of the Depositary be converted on a reasonable basis into Dollars and
the resulting Dollars transferred to the United States, the Depositary shall
convert or cause to be converted, as promptly as practicable, by sale or in any
other manner that it may reasonably determine, in accordance with applicable
law, such foreign currency into Dollars, and such Dollars shall be distributed
as promptly as practicable 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, as promptly as
practicable, such application for approval or license, however, the Depositary
shall be entitled to rely on local Russian counsel in such matters, which
counsel shall be instructed to act as promptly as practicable.
21
If at any
time any foreign currency received by the Depositary or the Custodian is not,
pursuant to applicable law, convertible, in whole or in part, 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 reasonable opinion of the Depositary cannot be promptly obtained, or if
any such approval or license is not promptly obtained the Depositary shall, (a)
as to that portion of the foreign currency that is convertible into Dollars,
make such conversion and if permitted by applicable law, transfer such Dollars
to the United States for distribution in accordance with the first paragraph of
this Section 4.05 and (b) as to the nonconvertible balance, if any, (i) if
requested in writing by an Owner, distribute the foreign currency (or an
appropriate document evidencing the right to receive such foreign currency)
received by the Depositary to such Owner and (ii) if not so requested by an
Owner, 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 by applicable law 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, to the extent
applicable, shall be as close as possible to the record date applicable to the
relevant Deposited Securities) (a) for the determination of the Owners who shall
be (i) entitled to receive such dividend, distribution or rights or the net
proceeds of the sale thereof 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
the determination of the Owners who shall be responsible for any fees assessed
by the Depositary.
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 or obligated, 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, to give voting
instructions and to act and/or be liable or obligated 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, in such form as approved by the Company to the extent practicable, which
shall contain (a) such information as is contained in such notice of
meeting received by the Depositary from the Company (or if requested by the
Company, a summary of such information provided by 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 the law of the Russian
Federation and of the Charter of the Company, to instruct the Depositary as to
the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the amount of Shares or
other Deposited Securities represented by their respective American Depositary
Shares and (c) a statement as to the manner in which such instructions may
be given. Upon the written request of an Owner on such record date,
received on or before the date established by the Depositary for such purpose,
the Depositary shall endeavor, in so far as practicable, to vote or cause to be
voted the amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by the
American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt in accordance with the
instructions set forth in such request. The Depositary shall not vote
or attempt to exercise the right to vote that attaches to the Shares or other
Deposited Securities, other than in accordance with such
instructions.
22
The
Depositary shall if requested by the Company deliver, at least two Business Days
prior to the date of such meeting, to the Company, to the attention of its
General Director, copies of all instructions received from Owners in accordance
with which the Depositary will vote, or cause to be voted, the Deposited
Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such
Receipts at such meeting. Delivery of instructions will be made at
the expense of the Company (unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Company
and the Depositary) provided that payment of such expense shall not be a
condition precedent to the obligations of the Depositary under this
Section.
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, 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, in its
reasonable discretion, after consultation with the Company to the extent
practicable, and shall if the Company shall so 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. Promptly upon receipt of
notice from the Company pursuant to Section 5.06 of the occurrence of any of the
events referred to in the first sentence of this Section, the Depositary shall
give notice thereof to all Owners.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, in the event that any securities or other distribution so
received may not be lawfully distributed to some or all Owners, the Depositary
may, subject to receipt of an opinion of Company's counsel paid for by the
Company that such action is not in violation of any applicable laws or
regulations, sell such securities at public or private sale, at such place or
places and upon such terms as it may deem proper, and may allocate the net
proceeds of such sales (after payment, netting or deduction of (a) the
applicable fees and charges (as the Depositary may reasonably determine to be
appropriate in accordance with Section 5.09 of this Deposit Agreement) of, and
expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes and other governmental
charges) for the account of the Owners otherwise entitled to such securities
upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions
among such Owners and distribute the net proceeds so allocated to the extent
practicable as in the case of a distribution received pursuant to Section 4.01
hereof. The Depositary shall have no obligations with respect
to any such securities or other distribution to the extent a satisfactory
opinion of counsel is not received by the Depositary on a timely
basis.
23
SECTION
4.09. Reports. The
Depositary shall make available for inspection by Owners at the Depositary's
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 (i) copies of such reports when furnished by the
Company pursuant to Section 5.06, (ii) copies of any written communications
provided to the Depositary by the Russian Share Registrar pursuant to Section
5.13(b)(v), and (iii) copies of any notices given or required to be given by the
Depositary pursuant to Section 5.13(d). 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. Any such communications furnished to the
Depositary by the Russian Share Registrar shall be furnished in
English.
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
4.10. Lists of
Owners. Promptly upon request by the Company, the Depositary
shall, at the expense of the Company, furnish to it a list, as of a recent date,
of the names, addresses and holdings of American Depositary Shares by all
persons in whose names Receipts are registered on the books of the
Depositary.
SECTION
4.11. Withholding. In
connection with any distribution to Owners, the Company shall remit to the
appropriate governmental authority or agency all amounts (if any) required to be
withheld by the Company and owing to such authority or agency by the Company;
and the Depositary and the Custodian shall remit to the appropriate governmental
authority or agency all amounts (if any) required to be withheld and owing to
such authority or agency by the Depositary or the Custodian. In the
event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in property
(including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) or any deposit of Shares,
transfer of Receipts or withdrawal of Deposited Securities hereunder 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. The Depositary shall forward to the
Company such information from its records as the Company may request to enable
the Company to file necessary reports with governmental authorities or agencies,
and either the Company or the Depositary may file any such reports necessary to
obtain benefits under any applicable tax treaties for Owners.
24
ARTICLE
5.
THE DEPOSITARY, THE
CUSTODIAN 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
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 the Depositary's Office, for the registration of
Receipts and transfers of Receipts which at all reasonable times shall be open
for inspection by the Owners, provided that such inspection shall not be for the
purpose of communicating with Owners in the interest of a business or object
other than the business of the Company, including without limitation a matter
related to this Deposit Agreement or the Receipts.
The
Depositary may close the transfer books, at any time or from time to time, when
deemed expedient by it in connection with the performance of its duties
hereunder or at the request of the Company, provided that any
such closing of the transfer books shall be subject to the provisions of Section
2.06 which limit the suspension of withdrawals of Shares and provided further
that the Depositary shall provide the Company with written notice promptly after
any such closure which occurs outside of the ordinary course of
business.
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, upon the request or with the written approval of the Company,
appoint a Registrar or one or more co-registrars for registry of such Receipts
in accordance with any requirements of such exchange or
exchanges. Any such Registrar or co-registrars shall, upon the
Company's request, and may, with the approval of the Company, be removed and a
substitute or substitutes appointed by the Depositary.
The
Company shall have the right, upon reasonable request, to inspect the transfer
and registration records of the Depositary relating to the Receipts, to take
copies thereof and to require the Depositary and any co-registrars to supply
copies of such portions of such records as the Company may request.
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 (a) any provision of any
present or future law, rule, regulation, fiat, order or decree of the United
States, the Russian Federation or any other country, or of any governmental or
regulatory authority or stock exchange or market or automated quotation system,
the provisions of or governing Deposited Securities, or by reason of any act of
God, war, terrorism or other circumstances beyond its control (including,
without limitation, nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, work
stoppage, strikes, civil unrest, acts of terrorism, revolutions, rebellions,
explosions and computer failure), or (b) in the case of the Depositary only, (i)
any act or failure to act of the Company, its agents, the Russian Share
Registrar, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees,
agents or Affiliates, (ii) any provision, present or future, of the
Charter of the Company or any other instrument of the Company governing the
Deposited Securities, or (iii) any provision of any securities issued or
distributed by the Company, or any offering or distribution thereof, 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 the Deposited
Securities it is provided shall or may be done or performed (including, in the
case of the Depositary, delivery of any Deposited Securities or distribution of
cash or property in respect thereof pursuant to Sections 4.01 through 4.04) 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 or in the Charter of the Company. Where, by the
terms of a distribution pursuant to Sections 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, the Depositary is prevented or
prohibited from making such distribution or offering available to Owners, and
the Depositary is prevented or prohibited from disposing of such distribution or
offering on behalf of such Owners and making the net proceeds available to such
Owners, then the Depositary, after consultation with the Company to the extent
practicable, shall not make such distribution or offering, and shall allow any
rights, if applicable, to lapse.
25
SECTION
5.03. Obligations of the
Depositary, the Custodian and the Company. The Company assumes no
obligation nor shall it be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement
to Owners or Beneficial Owners, except that it agrees to perform its obligations
specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement without gross negligence or bad
faith.
The
Depositary assumes no obligation nor shall it 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 it agrees to perform its obligations specifically set
forth in this Deposit Agreement without gross negligence or bad
faith.
Neither
the Depositary nor the Company, nor any of their respective directors, officers,
employees, agents or Affiliates shall be under any obligation to appear in,
prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any
Deposited Securities or in respect of the Receipts, 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, nor any of their respective directors, officers,
employees, agents or Affiliates shall be liable (i) by reason of any exercise
of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in this Deposit
Agreement or (ii) for any action or inaction by it in reliance upon the advice
of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares
for deposit, any Owner or any other person believed by it in good faith to be
competent to give such advice or information; provided, however, that, in the
case of the Company, advice of or information from legal counsel is from
recognized U.S. counsel for U.S. legal issues, recognized Russian counsel for
Russian legal issues and recognized counsel of any other jurisdiction for legal
issues with respect to that jurisdiction.
26
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 gross negligence or bad faith while it acted as Depositary.
The
Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to carry out any
instructions to vote any of the Deposited Securities, or for the manner in which
any such vote is cast (provided that any such action or inaction is in good
faith) or the effect of any such vote.
The
Depositary shall not be liable to the Company, any Owner or Beneficial Owner or
any other person for the unavailability of Deposited Securities or for the
failure to make any distribution of cash or property with respect thereto as a
result of (i) any act or failure to act of the Company, its agents,
the Russian Share Registrar, or any of their respective directors, officers,
employees, agents or Affiliates, (ii) any provision of any present or future
law, rule, regulation, fiat, order or decree of the United States, the Russian
Federation or any other country, or on account of possible criminal or civil
penalties or restraint, (iii) any provision of any present or future regulation
of any governmental or regulatory authority or stock exchange or market or
automated quotation system, (iv) any provision of any present or future Charter
of the Company or any other instrument of the Company governing the Deposited
Securities, (v) any provision of any securities issued or distributed by the
Company, or any offering or distribution thereof, or (vi) any act of
God, war, terrorism or other circumstance beyond its control
(including, without limitation, nationalization, expropriation, currency
restrictions, work stoppage, strikes, civil unrest, acts of terrorism,
revolutions, rebellions, explosions and computer failure).
The
Company shall not be liable to the any Owner or Beneficial Owner or any other
person for the unavailability of the Deposited Securities or for the failure to
make any distribution of cash or property with respect thereto as a result of
(i) any provision of any present or future law, rule,
regulation, fiat, order or decree of the United States, the Russian
Federation or any other country, (ii) any provision of any present or future
regulation of any governmental or regulatory authority or stock exchange or
market or automated quotation system, or on account of possible criminal or
civil penalties or restraint or (iii) any act of God, war, terrorism or other
circumstance beyond its control (including, without limitation, nationalization,
expropriation, currency restrictions, work stoppage, strikes, civil unrest, acts
of terrorism, revolutions, rebellions, explosions and computer
failure).
Neither
the Depositary nor the Company, nor any of their respective directors, officers,
employees, agents or Affiliates shall incur any liability in the case that any
or all holders of Deposited Securities benefit from any distribution, offering,
right or other benefit which is not, under the terms of this Deposit Agreement,
made available to any or all Owner(s) or Beneficial Owners of American
Depositary Shares issued hereunder.
27
The
Depositary shall not be liable for the acts or omissions made by any securities
depository, clearing agency or settlement system in the Russian Federation in
connection with or arising out of book-entry settlement of Deposited Securities
or otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary set forth in the Deposit Agreement or a Receipt the Depositary and its
agents may fully respond to any and all demands or requests for information
maintained by or on its behalf in connection with the Deposit Agreement, any
Owner or Owners, any Receipt or Receipts or otherwise related hereto to the
extent such information is requested or required by or pursuant to any lawful
authority, including without limitation laws, rules, regulations, administrative
or judicial process, banking, securities or other regulators.
None of
the Depositary, the Custodian or the Company shall be liable for the failure by
any Owner or Beneficial Owner to obtain the benefits of credits on the basis of
non-U.S. tax paid against such Owner's or Beneficial Owner's income tax
liability. The Depositary and the Company shall not incur any liability for any
tax consequences that may be incurred by Owners and/or Beneficial Owners on
account of their ownership of the Receipts or American Depositary
Shares.
The
Depositary shall not be responsible for, and shall incur no liability in
connection with or arising from, the insolvency of any Custodian that is not a
branch or Affiliate of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
Neither
the Company nor the Depositary nor any of their respective agents shall be
liable to Owners or Beneficial Owners for any indirect, special, punitive or
consequential damages.
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 its best efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances
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, 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.
28
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
Custodian. 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, and the Depositary shall be responsible for the 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. 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 approved by the Company (such
approval not to be unreasonably withheld), each of which shall thereafter be a
Custodian hereunder. Whenever the Depositary in its discretion determines that
it is in the best interest of the Owners to do so, it may appoint a substitute
or additional custodian or custodians, each of which shall thereafter be one of
the Custodians hereunder. The Depositary shall notify the Company of
the appointment of a substitute or additional Custodian at least 30 days prior
to the date on which such appointment is to become effective. Upon
demand of the Depositary the 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. Promptly after any such change, the
Depositary shall give notice thereof in writing to all Owners.
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 English but otherwise in the form
given or to be given to holders of Shares or other Deposited
Securities.
29
The
Company shall furnish to the Depositary annual reports in English which will
include a description of operations and annual audited financial statements
prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting
Standards. In addition, 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, as promptly as practicable and 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.
The
Company has delivered to the Depositary and the Custodian a copy (in English or
with an English translation) of the Company's Charter and of all provisions of
or governing the Shares and any other Deposited Securities. Promptly
upon any change in such provisions, the Company shall deliver promptly to the
Depositary and the Custodian a copy (in English or with an English translation)
of such provisions as so changed. The Depositary and its agents may
rely on the copy of such provisions as so delivered for all purposes of this
Deposit Agreement.
The
Company represents that as of the date of this Deposit Agreement as amended from
time to time, the statements in Article 11 of the Receipt with respect to the
exemption from registration under Rule 12g3-2(b) are true and correct. The
Company agrees to promptly notify the Depositary and all Owners in the event of
any change in the truth of any such statements.
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 (including New 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 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 the Company will at any time deposit and shall use its best
efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to ensure that no company
controlling or under common control with the Company will at any time deposit,
any Shares or New Shares, either originally issued or previously issued and
reacquired by the Company or any such Affiliate unless a Registration Statement
is in effect as to such Shares under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Company
furnishes to the Depositary a written opinion from U.S. counsel for the Company
stating that the offer and sale of the Receipts evidencing the American
Depositary Shares representing such Shares are exempt from registration under
that Act.
30
SECTION
5.08. Indemnification. The Company agrees to
indemnify the Depositary, any Custodian, and their respective directors,
officers, employees, agents and Affiliates against, and hold each of them
harmless from, any liability or expense (including, but not limited to, the
reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) which may arise out of (a) any
registration with the Commission of Receipts, American Depositary Shares or
Deposited Securities or the offer or sale thereof, or out of acts performed or
omitted, in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement and of the
Receipts, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to
time, (i) by either the Depositary or a Custodian or their
respective directors, officers, employees, agents and Affiliates,
except for any liability or expense arising out of the negligence or bad faith
of either of them, or (ii) by the Company or any of
its directors, officers, employees, agents and Affiliates,
(b) the unavailability of Deposited Securities or the failure to make any
distribution of cash or property with respect thereto as a result of
(i) any act or failure to act of the Company or its agents, the
Russian Share Registrar, or any of their respective directors, officers,
employees, agents or Affiliates, (ii) any provision of any present or
future Charter of the Company or any other instrument of the Company governing
Deposited Securities or (iii) any provision of any securities issued or
distributed by the Company, or any offering or distribution thereof or (c) any
assessment (or purported assessment) against Shares or other Deposited
Securities of the sort contemplated by Section 4.08. The indemnities
contained in this paragraph shall not extend to any liability or expense which
may arise out of any 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
this paragraph shall apply to any liability or expense to the extent that such
liability or expense would have arisen had a Receipt or Receipts not been the
subject of a Pre-Release.
The
indemnities set forth in the preceding paragraph shall also apply to any
liability or expense 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 its agents (other than the
Company), as applicable, furnished in writing by the Depositary and not 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.
Except as
provided in the next succeeding paragraph, the Depositary agrees to indemnify
the Company, its directors, 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 officers, employees and agents, in each case
acting hereunder, due to their negligence or bad faith.
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Deposit Agreement or any Receipt to the contrary,
neither the Company nor the Depositary, nor any of their respective agents,
shall be liable to the other for any indirect, special, punitive or
consequential damages (collectively "Special Damages") except (i) to the extent
such Special Damages arise from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of
the party from whom indemnification is sought or (ii) to the extent Special
Damages arise from or out of a claim brought by a third party (including,
without limitation, Owners) against the Depositary or its agents, except to the
extent such Special Damages arise out of the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of the party seeking indemnification hereunder.
31
The
obligations set forth in this Section 5.08 shall survive the termination of this
Deposit Agreement and the succession or substitution of any indemnified
person.
Any
person seeking indemnification hereunder (an "Indemnified Person") shall notify
the person from whom it is seeking indemnification (the "Indemnifying Person")
of the commencement of any indemnifiable action or claim promptly after such
Indemnified Person becomes aware of such commencement and shall consult in good
faith with the Indemnifying Person as to the conduct of the defense of such
action or claim, which defense shall be reasonable under the
circumstances. No Indemnified Person shall compromise or settle any
such action or claim without the prior consent in writing of the Indemnifying
Person (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed).
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 detailed statements 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 Owner of Receipts 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
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 maintained by the Russian Share 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
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 Sections 2.03, 4.03 or 4.04, and the surrender of
Receipts pursuant to Sections 2.05 or 6.02, (6) a fee of $0.02 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 $0.01 or less per
American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) per calendar year for custodial
related matters (which fee shall be assessed against Owners of record as of the
date or dates set by the Depositary in accordance with Section 4.06 and shall be
collected at the sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such Owners for
such fee or by deducting such fee from one or more cash dividends or other cash
distributions), (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, (9) a fee not in excess of $1.50 per certificate for a Receipt or
Receipts for transfers made pursuant to the terms of the Deposit Agreement, and
(10) an aggregate fee of U.S.$0.02 per American Depositary Share per calendar
year for services performed by the Depositary in administering the Receipts
(which fee may be charged on a periodic basis during each calendar year ((with
the aggregate of such fees not to exceed the amount set forth above))) and shall
be assessed against Owners as of the record date or record dates set by the
Depositary during each calendar year and shall be payable at the sole discretion
of the Depositary by billing such Owners or by deducting such charge from one or
more cash dividends or other cash distributions); provided, however, that if the
Depositary imposes a fee under this clause (10), then the total of fees assessed
under this clause (10), combined with the total of fees assessed under clauses
(6) and (7) above, shall not exceed U.S.$0.03 per American Depositary Share in
any calendar year.
32
The
Depositary, subject to Section 2.09 hereof, may own and deal, in accordance
with applicable law, 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 JPMorgan Chase Bank is acting as Depositary
hereunder, subject, however, to the rights of the Company under Section
5.04.
SECTION
5.12. List of Restricted
Securities Owners. From time to time, the Company shall
provide to the Depositary a list setting forth, to the actual knowledge of the
Company, those persons or entities who beneficially own Restricted Securities
and the Company shall update that list on a regular basis. The
Company agrees to advise in writing each of the persons or entities so listed
that such Restricted Securities are ineligible for deposit
hereunder. The Depositary may rely on such a list or update but shall
not be liable for any action or omission made in reliance thereon.
SECTION
5.13. Registration of Shares;
Russian Share Registrar; Share Register.
(a) The
Company has appointed OJSC Obyedinennaya Registratsionnaya Kompaniya (OJSC
United Registration Company) or OJSC ORK, in the Russian Federation as its
Russian Share Registrar in respect of the Shares and other Deposited Securities.
The Company further agrees to take any and all action, including the filing of
any and all such documents and instruments, as may be necessary to continue such
designation and appointment in full force and effect for so long as any American
Depositary Shares or Receipts remain outstanding hereunder or this Deposit
Agreement remains in force provided, however, that the
Company may appoint a substitute Russian Share Registrar upon thirty (30) days
written notice to the Depositary and the Owners in accordance with Section 7.05
and any such substitution shall not be deemed an amendment of this Deposit
Agreement or the Receipts and shall not be subject to the provisions of Section
6.01.
33
(b) The
Company agrees that it shall:
(i) take such action as is reasonably
necessary to ensure the accuracy and completeness of all information set forth
in the Share Register;
(ii) provide or use its reasonable
efforts to cause the Russian Share Registrar to provide to the Depositary, the
Custodian or their respective agents unrestricted access to the Share Register
during ordinary business hours in Moscow, Russia, in such manner and upon such
terms and conditions as the Depositary, in its reasonable discretion, may deem
appropriate, to permit the Depositary, the Custodian or their respective agents
to regularly reconcile the number of Deposited Securities registered in the name
of the Depositary, the Custodian or their respective nominees, as applicable,
pursuant to the terms of this Deposit Agreement and, in connection therewith, to
provide the Depositary, the Custodian or their respective agents, upon request,
with a duplicate extract from the Share Register duly certified by the Russian
Share Registrar (or some other evidence of verification which the Depositary, in
its reasonable discretion, deems sufficient);
(iii) use its reasonable best efforts
to cause the Russian Share Registrar promptly (and, in any event, within three
(3) business days in Moscow, Russia, of the Russian Share Registrar's receipt of
such documentation as may be required by applicable law and regulation and the
reasonable and customary internal regulations of the Russian Share Registrar, or
as soon as practicable thereafter) to effect the re-registration of ownership of
Shares in the Share Register in connection with any deposit or withdrawal of
Shares or other Deposited Securities under this Deposit Agreement;
(iv) permit and use its reasonable
efforts to cause the Russian Share Registrar to permit the Depositary or the
Custodian to register any Shares held hereunder in the name of the Depositary,
the Custodian or their respective nominees (who may be non-residents of Russia);
and
(v) use its reasonable efforts to cause
the Russian Share Registrar promptly to notify the Depositary in writing at any
time that the Russian Share Registrar (A) eliminates the name of a shareholder
of the Company from the Share Register or otherwise alters a shareholder's
interest in the Shares and such shareholder alleges to the Company or the
Russian Share Registrar or publicly that such elimination or alteration is
unlawful; (B) no longer will be able materially to comply with, or has engaged
in conduct that indicates it will not materially comply with, the provisions of
this Deposit Agreement relating to it (including, without limitation, this
Section 5.13); (C) refuses to re-register the Shares in the name of a particular
purchaser and such purchaser (or its respective seller) alleges that such
refusal is unlawful; (D) holds the Shares for its own account; or (E) has
materially breached the provisions of this Deposit Agreement relating to it
(including, without limitation, this Section 5.13) and has failed to cure such
breach within a reasonable time.
34
(c) In
connection with this Deposit Agreement, the Company agrees that it shall be
solely liable for any act or failure to act on the part of the Russian Share
Registrar (other than such act or failure to act on the part of the Russian
Share Registrar arising as a result of any act or failure to act of the
Depositary or its agents acting hereunder or the Custodian) and that the Company
shall be solely liable for the unavailability of Deposited Securities or for the
failure of the Depositary to make any distribution of cash or other
distributions with respect thereto as a result of (i) any act or failure to act
of the Company or its agents, the Russian Share Registrar (other than such act
or failure to act on the part of the Russian Share Registrar arising as a result
of any act or failure to act of the Depositary or its agents acting hereunder or
the Custodian), or their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or
Affiliates, (ii) any provision of any present or future Charter of the Company
or any other instrument of the Company governing the Deposited Securities, or
(iii) any provision of any securities issued or distributed by the Company,
or any offering or distribution thereof.
(d) The
Depositary agrees for the benefit of Owners and Beneficial Owners of American
Depositary Receipts that the Depositary or the Custodian shall reconcile
regularly the number of Deposited Securities registered in the name of the
Depositary, the Custodian or their respective nominees, as applicable, pursuant
to the terms of this Deposit Agreement. The Company and the Depositary agree
that, for the purposes of the rights and obligations under this Deposit
Agreement of the parties hereto, the records of the Depositary and the Custodian
shall be controlling for all purposes with respect to the number of Shares or
other Deposited Securities which should be registered in the name of the
Depositary, the Custodian or their respective nominees, as applicable, pursuant
to the terms of this Deposit Agreement. The Depositary agrees that it
shall, and shall cause the Custodian to, at any time and from time to time use
all reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy and completeness of all
information set forth in the records of the Depositary, the Custodian or their
respective nominees, as applicable, pursuant to this Deposit Agreement with
respect to Shares or other Deposited Securities registered in the name of any of
them. The Depositary agrees that it will instruct the Custodian to maintain
custody of all duplicative share extracts (or other evidence of verification)
provided to the Depositary, the Custodian or their respective agents. In the
event of any material discrepancy between the records of the Depositary or the
Custodian and the Share Register, then, if the Depositary has knowledge of such
discrepancy, the Depositary shall notify the Company promptly. In the event of
discrepancy between the records of the Depositary or the Custodian and the Share
Register, the Company agrees that (whether or not it has received any
notification from the Depositary) it will (i) use its reasonable efforts to
cause the Russian Share Registrar to reconcile its records to the records of the
Depositary or the Custodian, as applicable, and to make such corrections or
revisions in the Share Register as may be necessary in connection therewith, and
(ii) to the extent the Company is unable to so reconcile such records, and the
number of Shares reflected in the records of the Russian Share Registrar differs
by more than one-half of one percent from the number of Shares reflected in the
records of the Depositary or the Custodian, promptly instruct the Depositary to
notify the Owners of the existence of such discrepancy. Upon receipt of the
Company's instructions to notify the Owners of such discrepancy, the Depositary
shall give such notification promptly to the Owners pursuant to Section 4.09 (it
being understood that the Depositary at any time may give such notification to
the Owners, whether or not it has received instructions from the Company) and
shall promptly cease issuing Receipts pursuant to Section 2.02 until such time
as, in the opinion of the Depositary, such records have been appropriately
reconciled.
35
ARTICLE
6.
AMENDMENT AND
TERMINATION
SECTION
6.01. Amendment. The
form of the Receipts and any provisions of this Deposit Agreement may at any
time and from time to time be amended by agreement between the Company and the
Depositary without the consent of Owners or 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 thirty days after
notice of such amendment shall have been given to the Owners of outstanding
Receipts. Every Owner, at the time any amendment so becomes
effective, shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such Receipt, to consent and
agree to such amendment and to be bound by the Deposit Agreement as amended
thereby. In no event shall any amendment impair the right of the
Owner of any Receipt to surrender such Receipt and receive therefor the
Deposited Securities represented thereby, except in order to comply with
mandatory provisions of applicable law. Any amendments or supplements
which (i) are reasonably necessary (as agreed by the Company and the Depositary)
in order for (a) the American Depositary Shares to be registered on Form F-6
under the Securities Act of 1933, (b) the American Depositary Shares or Shares
to be traded solely in electronic book-entry form, or (c) the
American Depositary Shares to be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange
and/or deregistered under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and (ii) do
not in either such case impose or increase any fees or charges to be borne by
Owners, shall be deemed not to prejudice any substantial rights of
Owners. Notice of any amendment to the Deposit Agreement or form of
Receipt shall not need to describe in detail the specific amendments effectuated
thereby, and failure to describe the specific amendments in any such notice
shall not render such notice invalid, provided, however, that, in each such
case, the notice given to the Owner identifies a means for Owners to retrieve or
receive the text of such amendment (i.e., upon retrieval from the Commission's,
the Depositary's or the Company's website or upon request from the
Depositary). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any governmental
body or regulatory body should adopt new laws, rules or regulations which would
require amendment or supplement of the Deposit Agreement or the form of Receipt
to ensure compliance therewith, the Company and the Depositary may amend or
supplement the Deposit Agreement and the Receipt at any time in accordance with
such changed laws, rules or regulations. Such amendment or supplement
to the Deposit Agreement in such circumstances may become effective before a
notice of such amendment or supplement is given to Owners or within any other
period.
36
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 thirty (30) 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, such termination to be effective on
a date specified in such notice not less than thirty (30) days after the date
thereof, if at any time thirty (30) days shall have expired after the
Depositary shall have delivered to the Company a written notice of its election
to resign and a successor depositary shall not have been appointed and accepted
its appointment as provided in Section 5.04. On and after the
date of termination, the Owner of a Receipt will, upon (a) surrender of
such Receipt at the Depositary's Office and (b) payment of any applicable
taxes or governmental charges and the fees and expenses of the Depositary,
including the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of Receipts referred to in
Section 5.09, 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 in the manner provided in
Section 2.05. 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 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
six months from the date of termination, the Depositary may sell the Deposited
Securities then held hereunder and may thereafter hold uninvested the net
proceeds of any such sale, together with any other cash then held by it
hereunder, unsegregated and without liability for interest, for the pro rata
benefit of the Owners of Receipts which have not theretofore been surrendered,
such Owners thereupon becoming general creditors of the Depositary with respect
to such net proceeds. After making such sale, the Depositary shall be
discharged from all obligations under this Deposit Agreement, except to account
for such net proceeds and other cash (after deducting, in each case, the fee of
the Depositary for the surrender of a Receipt, any expenses for the account of
the Owner of such Receipt in accordance with the terms and conditions of this
Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental charges), and except
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
7.01. 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 and shall not be deemed to give any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim whatsoever to any other person.
37
SECTION
7.03. Severability. In
case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Deposit Agreement
or in the Receipts should be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any
respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions
contained herein or therein shall in no way be affected, prejudiced or disturbed
thereby.
SECTION
7.04. Owners and 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 OJSC ROSTELECOM, 00, 0xx
Xxxxxxxxx-Xxxxxxxx xxx., 000000, Xxxxxx, Russian Federation, Attention: Xx.
Xxxxx X. Nezhutin, Corporate Secretary, or any other place to which the Company
may have transferred its principal office.
Any and
all notices to be given to the Depositary shall be deemed to have been duly
given if in English and personally delivered or sent by mail or cable, telex or
facsimile transmission confirmed by letter, addressed to JPMorgan Chase Bank,
N.A., Four Xxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: ADR
Administration, Fax: (000) 000-0000, or any other place to which the Depositary
may have transferred the Depositary's 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. Failure
to notify an Owner or any defect in the notification to an Owner shall not
affect the sufficiency of notification to other Owners or to the Beneficial
Owners of American Depositary Shares held by such other
Owners.
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. Arbitration; Settlement of
Disputes.
(a) Any
dispute, controversy, claim or cause of action brought by any party hereto or
other person against the Company arising out of or relating to the Shares or
other Deposited Securities, the American Depositary Shares, the Receipts or this
Deposit Agreement, or the breach hereof or thereof, shall be referred to, and
finally resolved by, arbitration in accordance with the Rules of the London
Court of International Arbitration, which Rules are deemed to be incorporated by
reference into this Section 7.06, and judgment upon the award rendered by the
arbitrators may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof; provided,
that in the event of any third-party litigation to which the Depositary is a
party and to which the Company may properly be joined, the Company may be so
joined by the Depositary in any court of competent jurisdiction in which such
litigation is proceeding; and provided further that any such dispute,
controversy, claim or cause of action relating to or based upon the provisions
of the federal securities laws of the United States or the rules and regulations
thereunder may, but need not, be submitted to arbitration as provided in this
Section 7.06.
38
The place
of the arbitration shall be London, England, and the language of the arbitration
shall be English.
The
number of arbitrators shall be three, each of whom shall be disinterested in the
dispute, controversy, claim or cause of action, shall have no connection with
any party thereto, and shall be an attorney reasonably experienced in
international securities transactions. If a dispute, controversy,
claim or cause of action shall involve more than two parties, the parties shall
attempt to align themselves in two sides (i.e., claimant and respondent), each
of which shall appoint one arbitrator as if there were only two parties to such
dispute, controversy, claim or cause of action, and such arbitrators shall
appoint the third arbitrator. If such alignment and appointment shall
not have occurred within twenty (20) calendar days after the initiating party
serves the arbitration demand, the London Court of International Arbitration
shall appoint the three arbitrators. The parties and the London Court
of International Arbitration may appoint from among the nationals of any
country, whether or not a party is a national of that country, except that the
Chair of the panel shall not be a national of the country of any
party.
The
arbitrators shall have no authority to award punitive or other damages not
measured by the prevailing party's actual damages and may not, in any event,
make any ruling, finding or award that does not conform to the terms and
conditions of this Deposit Agreement.
(b) Any
dispute, controversy, claim or cause of action arising out of or relating to the
Shares or other Deposited Securities, the American Depositary Shares, the
Receipts or this Deposit Agreement not subject to clause (a) above shall be
litigated in the federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in the
City of Xxx Xxxx, Xxxxx xx Xxx Xxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx of America.
(c) The
provisions of this Section 7.06 shall survive any termination of this Deposit
Agreement, in whole or in part.
SECTION
7.07. Submission to Jurisdiction;
Appointment of Agent for Service of Process. The Company
hereby (i) irrevocably designates and appoints CT Corporation System, in the
United States of America, as the Company's authorized agent upon which process
may be served in any suit or proceeding (including, but not limited to, any
arbitral proceeding as contemplated by Section 7.06 of this Deposit Agreement)
in any United States or State court in the State of New York, County of New
York, arising out of or relating to the Shares or other Deposited Securities,
the American Depositary Shares, the Receipts or this Deposit Agreement, (ii)
consents and submits to the jurisdiction of any court in which any such suit or
proceeding may be instituted, and (iii) agrees that service of process upon said
authorized agent and written notice of such service to the Company (which notice
may be given by facsimile) shall be deemed in every respect effective service of
process upon the Company in any such suit or proceeding. The Company agrees to
deliver, upon the execution and delivery of this Deposit Agreement, a written
acceptance by such Agent of its appointment as such Agent. The
Company further agrees to take any and all action, including the filing of any
and all such documents and instruments, as may be necessary to continue such
designation and appointment in full force and effect for so long as any American
Depositary Shares or Receipts remain outstanding or this Deposit Agreement
remains in force. In the event the Company fails to continue such
designation and appointment in full force and effect, the Company hereby waives
personal service of process upon it and consents that any such service of
process may be made by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested,
directed to the Company at its address last specified for notices hereunder, and
service so made shall be deemed completed ten (10) days after the same shall
have been so mailed.
39
SECTION
7.08. Waiver of
Immunities. To the extent that the Company or any of its
properties, assets or revenues may have or may hereafter become entitled to, or
have attributed to it, any right of sovereign immunity from any legal action,
suit or proceeding, from the giving of any relief in any respect thereof, from
setoff or counterclaim, from the jurisdiction of any court, from service of
process, from attachment upon or prior to judgment, from attachment in aid of
execution of judgment, or from execution of judgment, or other legal process or
proceeding for the giving of any relief or for the enforcement of any judgment,
in any United States or State court in the State of New York, County of New
York, in which proceedings may at any time be commenced, with respect to its
obligations, liabilities or any other matter under or arising out of or in
connection with the Shares or other Deposited Securities, the American
Depositary Shares, the Receipts or this Deposit Agreement, the Company, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives,
and agrees not to plead or claim, any such immunity and consents to such relief
and enforcement.
SECTION
7.09. Governing
Law. This
Deposit Agreement and the Receipts shall be interpreted and all rights hereunder
and thereunder and provisions hereof and thereof shall be governed by the laws
of the State of New York, except with respect to its authorization and execution
by the Company, which shall be governed by the laws of the Russian
Federation.
SECTION
7.10. Assignment. This
Deposit Agreement may not be assigned by either the Company or the
Depositary.
SECTION
7.11 Amendment and Restatement of
Old Deposit Agreement. The Deposit Agreement
amends and restates the Old Deposit Agreement in its entirety to consist
exclusively of the Deposit Agreement, and each Old Receipt is hereby deemed
amended and restated to substantially conform to the form of Receipt set forth
in Exhibit A annexed hereto, except that, to the extent any portion of either
such amendment and restatement would prejudice any substantial existing right of
owners of Old Receipts, such portion shall not become effective as to such
owners until one month after such owners shall have received notice thereof,
such notice to be conclusively deemed given upon the mailing to such owners of
notice of such amendment and restatement which notice contains a provision
whereby such owners can receive a copy of the form of Receipt.
40
SECTION
7.12. Appointment. Each
Owner and Beneficial Owner, upon acceptance of any American Depositary Shares
(or any interest therein) issued in accordance with the terms and conditions of
the Deposit Agreement shall be deemed for all purposes to (a) be a party to and
bound by the terms of the Deposit Agreement and the applicable Receipt(s), and
(b) appoint the Depositary its attorney-in-fact, with full power to delegate, to
act on its behalf and to take any and all actions contemplated in the Deposit
Agreement and the applicable Receipt(s), to adopt any and all procedures
necessary to comply with applicable laws and to take such action as the
Depositary in its sole discretion may deem necessary or appropriate to carry out
the purposes of the Deposit Agreement and the applicable Receipt(s), the taking
of such actions to be the conclusive determinant of the necessity and
appropriateness thereof.
The appointment of the
Depositary under this Deposit
Agreement shall not be deemed the appointment of the Depositary as
custodian/depositary (депозитарий) or registrar (держатель реестра) for the
purposes of Articles 7 or 8 of Russian Federal Law No. 39-FZ On the Securities
Market dated April
22, 1996 (as amended) or other applicable Russian law.
41
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, OJSC ROSTELECOM and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. 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.
OJSC ROSTELECOM | |||
By:
|
|||
Name: | Xx. Xxxxx Xx. Kolpakov | ||
Title: | General Director of OJSC Rostelecom | ||
By:
|
|||
Name: | Xx. Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||
Title: | Chief Accountant of OJSC Rostelecom | ||
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Depositary | |||
By:
|
|||
Name: | |||
Title: | |||
42
EXHIBIT
A
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES (Each American Depositary Share represents Six (6) Shares) |
IT IS
EXPECTED THAT THE SHARES DEPOSITED HEREUNDER WILL BE REGISTERED ON THE SHARE
REGISTER MAINTAINED BY THE RUSSIAN SHARE REGISTRAR OF THE COMPANY IN THE NAME OF
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. AS DEPOSITARY, OR ITS NOMINEE, OR OF THE CUSTODIAN, OR
ITS NOMINEE. OWNERS AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS SHOULD BE AWARE, HOWEVER, THAT
RUSSIA'S SYSTEM OF SHARE REGISTRATION AND CUSTODY CREATES RISKS OF LOSS THAT ARE
NOT NORMALLY ASSOCIATED WITH INVESTMENTS IN OTHER SECURITIES MARKETS. THE
DEPOSITARY WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR UNAVAILABILITY OF SHARES OR FOR THE FAILURE TO
MAKE ANY DISTRIBUTION OF CASH OR PROPERTY WITH RESPECT THERETO AS A RESULT OF
SUCH UNAVAILABILITY.
THE
DEPOSITARY HAS BEEN ADVISED BY RUSSIAN COUNSEL THAT COURTS IN THE RUSSIAN
FEDERATION ARE NOT REQUIRED TO RECOGNISE OR ENFORCE JUDGMENTS OBTAINED IN THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, IN THE NEW YORK
COURTS.
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A.
AMERICAN
DEPOSITARY RECEIPT FOR
ORDINARY
SHARES OF
THE
NOMINAL VALUE OF 0.0025 RUBLES EACH OF
OJSC
ROSTELECOM
(INCORPORATED
UNDER THE LAWS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION)
JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A., as depositary (hereinafter called the "Depositary"),
hereby
certifies that ___________________, or registered assigns IS THE OWNER OF
__________________________
AMERICAN
DEPOSITARY SHARES
representing
deposited ordinary shares in registered form, nominal value 0.0025 Rubles each
(herein called "Shares") of OJSC ROSTELECOM, incorporated under the laws of the
Russian Federation (herein called the "Company"). The term
"Depositary" shall include the nominee of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in whose
name Shares are registered pursuant to the Deposit Agreement (as such term is
hereinafter defined). At the date hereof, each American Depositary
Share represents six (6) Shares deposited or subject to deposit under the
Deposit Agreement (as such term is hereinafter defined) at the Moscow, Russian
Federation, office of ING Bank (Eurasia) ZAO (closed joint stock company)
(herein called the "Custodian").
THE
DEPOSITARY'S OFFICE ADDRESS
IS 0 XXX
XXXX XXXXX, XXX XXXX, XXX XXXX 00000
A-1
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 Amended
and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of January___, 2010 (as hereinafter
amended from time to time, 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 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 Depositary's Office of this Receipt and upon payment of the
fees and expenses of the Depositary provided in this Receipt, and subject to the
terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement and accompanied by such documents
as the Depositary may require (including a purchase/sale contract relating to
the transfer of the Shares), and upon payment of the fee of the Depositary for
the surrender of Receipts as provided in Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement
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 the Deposit Agreement, the Charter of the Company and
the Deposited Securities, 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; provided that the
Depositary shall not make arrangements for such delivery or collection if (i)
the Depositary is notified by the Company in writing that delivery of Deposited
Securities will not comply generally, or in one or more localities, with any
applicable law or governmental or stock exchange regulations or the delivery of
Deposited Securities is blocked by any applicable court order, or (ii) the
Depositary is notified by the Company in writing that delivery of Deposited
Securities will result in ownership of such Shares exceeding any limit under
applicable Russian law or government resolution or the Charter of the Company,
or for any other reason as agreed with the Depositary, as notified to the
Depositary by the Company from time to time, or (iii) in the case where the
Depositary has been informed by the Company that either a Placement Notice or a
Placement Report has been prepared in respect of any other New Shares
represented by American Depositary Shares, then in relation to those American
Depositary Shares, during any period prior to the Depositary being notified in
writing that a valid Placement Notice has been duly and timely filed or a
Placement Report has been registered by the FSFM in relation to those Shares or,
if later, the Moscow Business Day next following the due and timely filing of a
valid Placement Notice with the FSFM or the registration of a valid Placement
Report by the FSFM. For the avoidance of doubt, in the absence of any such
notification from the Company, the Depositary is not under any obligation to
ascertain or determine whether or not any such delivery should be refused
(including monitoring ownership levels amongst Owners or Beneficial Owners) and
the Depositary shall not be liable for any loss, damage or other consequences
arising from any such delivery. Also, for the avoidance of doubt, provided that
it is complying with a written notification from the Company pursuant to this
Article 2, the Depositary shall not be liable for any loss, damage or other
consequences arising from its refusal or delivery. The Depositary shall only be
obliged to deliver Shares or other Deposited Securities to the extent that
Shares or such other Deposited Securities are then held by the Custodian or the
Depositary or by their respective agents pursuant to the provisions of the
Deposit Agreement; provided further that the Depositary may suspend the
withdrawal of all or any category of Deposited Securities during any period when
the Share Register is closed. The Depositary may withhold the delivery of Shares
until any applicable fees and expenses have been paid.
A-2
Delivery
of such Deposited Securities may be made by the delivery of (a) certificates or
other documents evidencing title (including extracts from the Share Register) 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. The Depositary shall direct the Custodian or its agents
to cause the transfer and recordation by the Russian Share Registrar on the
Share Register of the Shares being withdrawn in the name of such Owner or as
directed by him as above provided, and the Company shall use its best efforts to
ensure that such transfer and recordation is effected within three (3) Business
Days of the Russian Share Registrar's receipt of such documentation as may be
required by applicable law and the reasonable and customary internal regulations
of the Russian Share Registrar or as soon thereafter as
practicable. Upon such transfer and recordation, the Custodian shall
deliver at the Moscow, Russian Federation, office of the Custodian, subject to
Sections 2.06, 3.01 and 3.02 of the Deposit Agreement and to the other terms and
conditions thereof, to or upon the written order of the person or persons
designated in the order delivered to the Depositary as above provided, documents
evidencing title (including extracts from the Share Register) for the amount of
Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by
this Receipt, except that, if and to the extent practicable, the Depositary may
make delivery to such person or persons at the Depositary's Office 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 this 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 or other documents
evidencing title (including extracts from the Share Register) for (as described
above), the Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares
evidenced by such Receipt 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.
A-3
3.
|
TRANSFERS,
SPLIT-UPS, AND COMBINATIONS OF
RECEIPTS.
|
The
transfer of this Receipt is registrable on the books of the Depositary at the
Depositary's Office by the Owner hereof in person or by a duly authorized
attorney, without unreasonable delay, upon surrender of this Receipt properly
endorsed for transfer or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer and funds
sufficient to pay any applicable transfer taxes and the expenses of the
Depositary and upon compliance with such regulations, if any, as the Depositary
may establish for such purpose. This Receipt may be split into other
such Receipts, or may be combined with other such Receipts into one Receipt,
evidencing the same aggregate number of American Depositary Shares as the
Receipt or Receipts surrendered. As a condition precedent to the
execution and delivery, registration of transfer, split-up, combination, or
surrender of any Receipt or withdrawal of any Deposited Securities, the
Depositary, the Custodian, or Registrar may require payment from the depositor
of the Shares or the presenter of the Receipt of a sum sufficient to reimburse
it for any tax or other governmental charge and any stock transfer or
registration fee with respect thereto (including any such tax or charge and fee
with respect to Shares being deposited or withdrawn) and payment of any
applicable fees and expenses as provided in this Receipt, may require the
production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity of any signatory and
genuineness of any signature and may also require compliance with such
reasonable regulations as the Depositary may establish consistent with the
provisions of the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, including, without
limitation, this Article 3.
The
delivery of Receipts against deposit of Shares generally or against deposit of
particular Shares may be suspended, or the transfer of Receipts in particular
instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer of outstanding
Receipts generally may be suspended, during any period when the transfer books
of the Depositary are closed, or if any such action is deemed necessary or
advisable by the Depositary or the Company at any time or from time to time
because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body or
commission, or under any provision of the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, or
for any other reason, subject to the provisions of the following
sentence. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Deposit
Agreement or this Receipt, the surrender of outstanding Receipts and
withdrawal of Deposited Securities may not be suspended subject only
to (i) temporary delays caused by closing the transfer books of the Depositary
or the Company or the deposit of Shares in connection with voting at a
shareholders' meeting, or the payment of dividends, (ii) the payment of fees,
taxes and similar charges, and (iii) compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or
governmental regulations relating to the Receipts or to the withdrawal of the
Deposited Securities. Without limitation of the foregoing, the
Depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under the Deposit Agreement
any Shares required to be registered under the provisions of the Securities Act
of 1933, unless a registration statement is in effect as to such
Shares. The Depositary has agreed to comply with written instructions
of the Company that the Depositary will not accept for deposit under the Deposit
Agreement any Shares identified in such instructions at such times and under
such circumstances as may reasonably be specified in such instructions in order
to facilitate the Company's compliance with the securities laws in the United
States.
A-4
4.
|
LIABILITY
OF OWNER OR BENEFICIAL OWNERS 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, and such Owner or Beneficial Owner shall be deemed liable
therefor. In addition to any other remedies available to it, the
Depositary may refuse to effect any transfer of this Receipt or any withdrawal
of Deposited Securities represented by American Depositary Shares evidenced by
such Receipt until such payment is made, and may withhold any dividends or other
distributions, or may sell for the account of the Owner 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. The obligations of Owners and Beneficial
Owners under this Article 4 shall survive any transfer of Receipts pursuant to
Section 2.04 of the Deposit Agreement, any surrender of Receipts and withdrawal
of Deposited Securities pursuant to Section 2.05 of the Deposit Agreement, or
the termination of the Deposit Agreement pursuant to Section 6.02 of the Deposit
Agreement.
Each
Owner and Beneficial Owner shall indemnify the Depositary, the Company, the
Custodian and any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and
Affiliates against, and hold each of them harmless from, any claims by any
governmental authority with respect to taxes, additions to tax, penalties or
interest arising out of any refund of taxes, reduced rate of withholding at
source or other tax benefit obtained.
5.
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WARRANTIES
ON DEPOSIT OF SHARES.
|
Every
person depositing Shares under the Deposit Agreement represents and warrants
that such Shares are validly issued and outstanding, fully paid, nonassessable
and free of pre-emptive rights, that the person making such deposit is duly
authorized so to do and that such Shares (A) are not Restricted Securities
unless at the time of deposit the requirements of paragraphs (c), (e), (f) and
(h) of Rule 144 shall not apply and such Shares may be freely transferred and
may otherwise be offered and sold freely in the United States or (B) have been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933. To the extent the person depositing
Shares is an Affiliate, the person also represents and warrants that upon the
sale of the American Depositary Shares, all of the provisions of Rule 144 which
enable the Shares to be freely sold (in the form of American Depositary Shares)
will be fully complied with and, as a result thereof, all of the American
Depositary Shares issued in respect of such Shares will not be on the sale
thereof, Restricted Securities. Such representations and warranties
shall survive the deposit of Shares and issuance of Receipts.
A-5
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 from time to time to file with the Depositary or the
Custodian such proof of citizenship or residence, exchange control approval, or
such information relating to the registration on the books of the Company or the
Russian Share Registrar, if applicable, to execute such certificates and to make
such representations and warranties, as the Depositary, or the Company, upon
written notice to the Depositary, may deem necessary or proper. The
Depositary may, and at the reasonable written request of the Company will,
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 to the satisfaction of the Depositary and
the Company. Each Owner and Beneficial Owner agrees to provide any
information requested by the Company or the Depositary pursuant to Section 3.01
of the Deposit Agreement and this Article 6. 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 Russian Federation which is then performing the function of the
regulation of currency exchange.
7.
|
CHARGES
OF DEPOSITARY.
|
The
Company agrees to pay the fees, reasonable expenses and out-of-pocket charges of
the Depositary and those of any Registrar only in accordance with agreements in
writing entered into between the Depositary and the Company from time to
time. The Depositary shall present detailed statements 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.
A-6
The
following charges shall be incurred by any party depositing or withdrawing
Shares or by any Owner of Receipts 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 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 maintained by the Russian Share 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 Sections 2.03, 4.03 or 4.04 of the Deposit
Agreement and the surrender of Receipts pursuant to Sections 2.05 or 6.02
of the Deposit Agreement, (6) a fee of $0.02 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 of the Deposit Agreement, (7) a fee of $0.01 or less per American
Depositary Share (or portion thereof) per calendar year for custodial related
matters (which fee shall be assessed against Owners of record as of the date or
dates set by the Depositary in accordance with Section 4.06 of the Deposit
Agreement and shall be collected at the sole discretion of the Depositary by
billing such Owners for such fee or by deducting such fee from one or more cash
dividends or other cash distributions), (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, (9) a fee not in excess of $1.50 per certificate
for a Receipt or Receipts for transfers made pursuant to the terms of the
Deposit Agreement, and (10) an aggregate fee of U.S.$0.02 per American
Depositary Share per calendar year for services performed by the Depositary in
administering the Receipts (which fee may be charged on a periodic basis during
each calendar year ((with the aggregate of such fees not to exceed the amount
set forth above))) and shall be assessed against Owners as of the record date or
record dates set by the Depositary during each calendar year and shall be
payable at the sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such Owners or by
deducting such charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash
distributions); provided, however, that if the Depositary imposes a fee under
this clause (10), then the total of fees assessed under this clause (10),
combined with the total of fees assessed under clauses (6) and (7) above, shall
not exceed U.S.$0.03 per American Depositary Share in any calendar
year.
The
Depositary, subject to Article 8 hereof, may own and deal, in accordance with
applicable law, 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 rights to receive Shares from the
Company. No such issue of Receipts will be deemed a "Pre-Release"
subject to the restrictions of the following paragraph.
A-7
Unless
requested by the Company to cease doing so, notwithstanding Section 2.03 of
the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may execute and deliver Receipts prior to
the receipt of Shares pursuant to Section 2.09 of the Deposit Agreement (a
"Pre-Release"). The Depositary may, pursuant to Section 2.05 of
the Deposit Agreement, deliver Shares upon the receipt and cancellation of
Receipts which have been Pre-Released, whether or not such cancellation is prior
to the termination of such Pre-Release or the Depositary knows that such Receipt
has been Pre-Released. The Depositary may receive Receipts in lieu of
Shares in satisfaction of a Pre-Release. Each Pre-Release will be (a)
preceded or accompanied by a written representation from the person to whom
Receipts or Shares are to be delivered (the "Pre-Releasee") that the
Pre-Releasee, or its customer, owns the Shares or Receipts to be remitted, as
the case may be, (b) at all times fully collateralized (such collateral marked
to market daily) with cash, or such other collateral as the Depositary
reasonably deems appropriate, (c) terminable by the Depositary on not more than
five (5) Business Days notice, and (d) subject to such further indemnities and
credit regulations as the Depositary deems appropriate. The number of
American Depositary Shares which are outstanding at any time as a result of
Pre-Releases will not normally exceed thirty percent (30%) of the Shares
deposited under the Deposit Agreement; provided, however, that the Depositary
reserves the right to change or disregard such limit from time to time as it
deems appropriate, and may, with the prior written consent of the Company,
change such limit from time to time for purposes of general
application. The Depositary will also set limits with respect to
Pre-Release transactions to be entered into under the Deposit Agreement with any
particular Pre-Releasee on a case-by-case basis as it deems appropriate. The
collateral referred to in clause (b) above will be held by the Depositary for
the benefit of the Owners as security for the performance of the obligations to
deliver Shares set forth in clause (a) above (and will not, for the avoidance of
doubt, constitute Deposited Securities under the Deposit
Agreement).
The
Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received by it in
connection with the foregoing.
The
Company will have no liability to any Owner with respect to any representations,
actions or omissions by the Depositary, any holder of Receipts, or any Owner or
any of their respective agents pursuant to the Deposit Agreement and the
Receipts.
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 under the laws of New York, provided, however, that the
Depositary and the Company, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may
treat the person in whose name this Receipt is registered on the books of the
Depositary as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of determining the
person entitled to distribution of dividends or other distributions or to any
notice provided for in the Deposit Agreement or for all other purposes and
neither the Depositary nor the Company will have any obligation or be subject to
any liability under the Deposit Agreement to any holder of this Receipt, unless
such holder is the Owner hereof.
A-8
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 or facsimile signature of a duly
authorized signatory of the Depositary; provided, however, that such signature
may be a facsimile if a Registrar for the Receipts shall have been appointed and
such Receipts are countersigned by the manual signature of a duly authorized
officer of the Registrar.
11.
|
REPORTS;
INSPECTION OF TRANSFER BOOKS.
|
Upon
effectiveness of the termination of the Company’s reporting requirements under
the Securities Exchange Act, the Company shall publish information in English
required to maintain the exemption from registration under Rule 12g3-2(b) under
the Securities Exchange Act (the “Rule 12g3-2(b) exemption”) on its Internet Web
site (xxx.xx.xx) or through an electronic information delivery system generally
available to the public in its primary trading market and shall comply with the
other requirements of the Rule 12g3-2(b) exemption. The Company represents that,
as of the effectiveness of the termination of the Company's reporting
requirements under the Securities Exchange Act, it shall be exempt from the
requirement to register a class of equity securities under Section 12(g) of the
Securities Exchange Act pursuant to the Rule 12g3-2(b) exemption. The Company
agrees to promptly notify the Depositary and all Holders in the event that the
Company ceases to qualify for the Rule 12g3-2(b) exemption. The Depositary does
not assume any duty to determine if the Company is complying with the current
requirements of the Rule 12g3-2(b) exemption or to take any action if the
Company is not complying with those requirements.
The
Depositary will make available for inspection by Owners of Receipts at the
Depositary's 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 (i)
copies of such reports when furnished by the Company pursuant to Section 5.06 of
the Deposit Agreement, (ii) copies of any written communications provided to the
Depositary by the Russian Share Registrar pursuant to Section 5.13(b)(v) of the
Deposit Agreement, and (iii) copies of any notices given or required to be given
by the Depositary pursuant to Section 5.13(d) of 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 the Depositary's Office, for the registration of
Receipts and transfers of Receipts which at all reasonable times shall be open
for inspection by the Owners of Receipts provided that such inspection shall not
be for the purpose of communicating with Owners of Receipts in the interest of a
business or object other than the business of the Company, including without
limitation a matter related to the Deposit Agreement or the
Receipts.
A-9
12.
|
DIVIDENDS
AND DISTRIBUTIONS.
|
Whenever
the Depositary 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 commercially reasonable
judgment of the Depositary be converted on a reasonable basis into United States
dollars transferable to the United States, and subject to the Deposit Agreement,
convert as promptly as practicable, such dividend or distribution into Dollars
and will distribute, as promptly as practicable, 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 Sections 4.11 and 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement, whenever
the Depositary receives any distribution other than a distribution described in
Sections 4.01, 4.03 or 4.04 of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary will, as
promptly as practical, cause the securities or property received by it to be
distributed to the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto, in any manner that the
Depositary may reasonably deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing such
distribution; provided, however, that if in the reasonable 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 reasonably
deems such distribution not to be feasible, the Depositary may, after
consultation with the Company to the extent practicable, adopt such method as it
may reasonably 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; provided, however, that no distribution to Owners pursuant to Section
4.02 of the Deposit Agreement will be unreasonably delayed by any action of the
Depositary or any of its agents.
A-10
If any
distribution consists of a dividend in, or free distribution of, Shares, the
Depositary may and will if the Company shall so request, distribute, as promptly
as practicable, 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. The Depositary may withhold any such distribution of
Receipts under Section 4.03 of the Deposit Agreement if it has not received
satisfactory assurances from the Company that such distribution does not require
registration under the Securities Act of 1933 or is exempt from registration
under the provisions of such Act. In lieu of delivering Receipts for
fractional American Depositary Shares in any such case, the Depositary 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 provided, however, that no
distribution to Owners pursuant to Section 4.03 of the Deposit Agreement will be
unreasonably delayed by any action of the Depositary or any action of its
agents. If additional Receipts are not so distributed, each American
Depositary Share shall thenceforth also represent the additional Shares
distributed upon the Deposited Securities represented thereby.
In the
event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in property
(including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) or any deposit of Shares,
transfer of Receipts or withdrawal of Deposited Securities under the Deposit
Agreement 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. The
Depositary will forward to the Company such information from its records as the
Company may request to enable the Company to file necessary reports with
governmental authorities or agencies, and either the Company or the Depositary
may file any such reports necessary to obtain benefits under any applicable tax
treaties for Owners.
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 (including
New Shares) or any rights of any other nature, the Depositary, after
consultation with the Company to the extent practicable, shall have discretion
as to the procedure to be followed in making such rights available to any Owners
or in disposing of such rights on behalf of any Owners and making the net
proceeds available to such Owners or, if by the terms of such rights offering or
for any other reason, the Depositary may not either make such rights available
to any Owners or dispose of such rights and make the net proceeds available to
such Owners, then the Depositary shall allow the rights to lapse. If
at the time of the offering of any rights the Depositary determines that it is
lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all or certain Owners but
not to other Owners, the Depositary may, and at the request of the Company
shall, 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.
A-11
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 promptly make such rights available to such Owner
upon written notice from the Company to the Depositary that (a) the Company has
elected in its sole discretion to permit such rights to be exercised and (b)
such Owner has executed such documents as the Company has determined in its sole
discretion are reasonably required under applicable law.
If the
Depositary has distributed warrants or other instruments for rights to all or
certain Owners, then upon instruction from such an Owner pursuant to such
warrants or other instruments to the Depositary from such Owner to exercise such
rights, upon payment by such Owner to the Depositary for the account of such
Owner of an amount equal to the purchase price of the Shares to be received upon
the exercise of the rights, and upon payment of the fees and expenses of the
Depositary and any other charges as set forth in such warrants or other
instruments, the Depositary shall, on behalf of such Owner, exercise the rights
and purchase the Shares, and the Company shall cause the Shares so purchased to
be delivered to the Depositary on behalf of such Owner. As agent for
such Owner, the Depositary will cause the Shares so purchased to be deposited
pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Deposit Agreement, and shall, pursuant to
Section 2.03 of the Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver Receipts to such
Owner. In the case of a distribution pursuant to the second paragraph
of this Article 13, such Receipts shall be legended in accordance with
applicable U.S. laws, and shall be subject to the appropriate restrictions on
sale, deposit, cancellation, and transfer under such laws.
If the
Depositary determines, after consultation with the Company to the extent
practicable, that it is not lawful and feasible to make such rights available to
all or certain Owners, it may, and at the request of the Company shall, use its
best efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to 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 shall 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. Such proceeds shall be distributed as promptly as
practicable in accordance with Section 4.01 of the Deposit
Agreement.
The
Depositary will not offer rights to Owners unless both the rights and the
securities to which such rights relate are either exempt from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act and, if applicable, the Securities Exchange
Act or have been registered under the Securities Act and, if applicable, the
Securities Exchange Act (and such registration statement has been declared
effective); 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 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.
A-12
The
Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to determine that it may be
lawful or feasible to make such rights available to Owners in general or any
Owner in particular.
14.
|
CONVERSION
OF FOREIGN CURRENCY.
|
Whenever
the Depositary 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 commercially reasonable judgment of the Depositary be
converted on a reasonable basis into Dollars and the resulting Dollars
transferred to the United States, the Depositary shall convert or cause to be
converted, as promptly as practicable, by sale or in any other manner that it
may reasonably determine, in accordance with applicable law, such foreign
currency into Dollars, and such Dollars shall be distributed as promptly as
practicable to the Owners entitled thereto or, if the Depositary shall have
distributed any warrants or other instruments which entitle the holders thereof
to such Dollars, then to the holders of such warrants and/or instruments upon
surrender thereof for cancellation. Such distribution may be made
upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions
among Owners on account of exchange restrictions, the date of delivery of any
Receipt or otherwise and shall be net of any expenses of conversion into Dollars
incurred by the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 of the Deposit
Agreement.
If such
conversion or distribution can be effected only with the approval or license of
any government or agency thereof, the Depositary shall file, as promptly as
practicable, such application for approval or license, however, the Depositary
will be entitled to rely on local Russian counsel in such matters, which counsel
shall be instructed to act as promptly as practicable.
If at any
time any foreign currency received by the Depositary or the Custodian is not,
pursuant to applicable law, convertible in whole or in part 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 reasonable opinion of the Depositary cannot be promptly obtained, or if
any such approval or license is not promptly obtained the Depositary shall, (a)
as to that portion of the foreign currency that is convertible into Dollars,
make such conversion and if permitted by applicable law, transfer such Dollars
to the United States for distribution in accordance with the first paragraph of
Section 4.05 of the Deposit Agreement and of this Article 14 and (b) as to the
nonconvertible balance, if any, (i) if requested in writing by an Owner
distribute the foreign currency (or an appropriate document evidencing the right
to receive such foreign currency) received by the Depositary to such Owner and
(ii) if not so requested by the Owner hold such foreign currency uninvested and
without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of, the
Owners entitled to receive the same.
A-13
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, to the extent applicable, shall be as close
as possible to the record date applicable to the relevant Deposited Securities)
(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, subject to the provisions of the Deposit
Agreement or (c) for the determination of the Owners who shall be responsible
for any fees assessed by the Depositary .
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, in such
form as approved by the Company to the extent practicable, which shall contain
(a) such information as is contained in such notice of meeting received by the
Depositary from the Company (or if requested by the Company, a summary of such
information provided by 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 law and of the Charter of the
Company, to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if
any, pertaining to the amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities
represented by their respective American Depositary Shares and (c) a statement
as to the manner in which such instructions may be given. Upon the
written request of an Owner of a Receipt on such record date, received on or
before the date established by the Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary
shall endeavor insofar as 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.
A-14
The
Depositary shall if requested by the Company deliver, at least two Business Days
prior to the date of such meeting, to the Company, to the attention of its
General Director, copies of all instructions received from Owners in accordance
with which the Depositary will vote, or cause to be voted, the Deposited
Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such
Receipts at such meeting. Delivery of instructions will be made at
the expense of the Company (unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Company
and the Depositary) provided that payment of such expense shall not be a
condition precedent to the obligations of the Depositary under this
Article.
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, 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, in its reasonable
discretion, after consultation with the Company to the extent practicable, and
will if the Company shall so 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. Promptly upon receipt of notice from the
Company pursuant to Section 5.06 of the Deposit Agreement of the occurrence of
any of the events referred to in the first sentence of this Article 17, the
Depositary will give notice thereof to all Owners.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, in the event that any securities or other distribution so
received may not be lawfully distributed to some or all Owners, the Depositary
may, subject to receipt of an opinion of Company's counsel paid for by the
Company that such action is not in violation of any applicable laws or
regulations, sell such securities at public or private sale, at such place or
places and upon such terms as it may deem proper, and may allocate the net
proceeds of such sales (after payment, netting or deduction of (a) the
applicable fees and charges (as the Depositary may reasonably determine to be
appropriate in accordance with Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement) of, and
expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes and other governmental
charges) for the account of the Owners otherwise entitled to such securities
upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions
among such Owners and distribute the net proceeds so allocated to the extent
practicable as in the case of a distribution received pursuant to Section 4.01
of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary shall have no
obligations with respect to any such securities or other distribution to the
extent a satisfactory opinion of counsel is not received by the Depositary on a
timely basis.
A-15
18.
|
LIABILITY
OF THE COMPANY AND
DEPOSITARY.
|
Neither
the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their respective directors, officers,
employees, agents or Affiliates shall incur any liability to any Owner or
Beneficial Owner of any Receipt, if by reason of (a) any provision of any
present or future law, rule, regulation, fiat, order or decree of the United
States, the Russian Federation or any other country, or of any governmental or
regulatory authority or stock exchange or market or automated quotation system,
the provisions of or governing Deposited Securities, or by reason of any act of
God, war, terrorism or other circumstances beyond its control, or (b) in the
case of the Depositary only, (i) any act or failure to act of the Company, its
agents, the Russian Share Registrar or any of their respective directors,
officers, employees, agents or Affiliates, (ii) any provision, present or
future, of the Charter of the Company or any other instrument of the Company
governing the Deposited Securities or (iii) any provision of any securities
issued or distributed by the Company, or any offering or distribution thereof,
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 the Deposited
Securities it is provided shall or may be done or performed (including, in the
case of the Depositary, delivery of any Deposited Securities or distribution of
cash or property in respect thereof pursuant to Articles 12 and 13 hereof); 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 a Receipt by reason of any nonperformance 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 or in the Charter of the Company. Where, by the
terms of a distribution pursuant to Sections 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, the Depositary is prevented or prohibited from disposing such
distribution or offering available to Owners of Receipts, and the Depositary is
prevented or prohibited from disposing of such distribution or offering on
behalf of such Owners and making the net proceeds available to such Owners, then
the Depositary, after consultation with the Company to the extent practicable,
shall not make such distribution or offering, and shall allow any rights, if
applicable, to lapse. Neither the Company nor the Depositary 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 agrees to
perform its obligations specifically set forth in the Deposit Agreement without
gross negligence or bad faith and that the Depositary agrees to perform its
obligations specifically set forth in the Deposit Agreement without gross
negligence or bad faith. The Depositary shall not be subject to any
liability with respect to the validity or worth of the Deposited
Securities. Neither the Depositary nor the Company, nor any of their
respective directors, officers, employees, agents or Affiliates shall be under
any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit, or other
proceeding in respect of any Deposited Securities or in respect of the Receipts,
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
A-16
being
solely to the Depositary. Neither the Depositary nor the Company, nor any of
their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or Affiliates shall be
liable (i) by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion
provided for in the Deposit Agreement or (ii) for any action or inaction by it
in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants,
any person presenting Shares for deposit, any 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; provided, however, that in the case of the
Company, advice of or information from legal counsel is from recognized U.S.
counsel for U.S. legal issues, recognized Russian counsel for Russian legal
issues and recognized counsel of any other jurisdiction for legal issues with
respect to that jurisdiction. 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 (provided
that any such action or inaction is in good faith) or the effect of any such
vote. 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 gross negligence or bad faith while it acted as
Depositary. The Depositary shall not be liable to the Company, any
Owner or Beneficial Owner or any other person for the unavailability of
Deposited Securities or for the failure to make any distribution of cash or
property with respect thereto as a result of (i) any act or failure to act of
the Company, its agents, the Russian Share Registrar or any of their respective
directors, officers, employees, agents or Affiliates, (ii) any provision of any
present or future law, rule, regulation, fiat, order or decree of the United
States, the Russian Federation or any other country, or on account of possible
criminal or civil penalties or restraint, (iii) any provision of any present or
future regulation of any governmental or regulatory authority or stock exchange
or market or automated quotation system, (iv) any provision of any present or
future Charter of the Company or any other instrument of the Company governing
the Deposited Securities, (v) any provision of any securities issued or
distributed by the Company, or any offering or distribution thereof, or (vi) any
act of God, war, terrorism or other circumstance beyond its control (including,
without limitation, nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, work
stoppage, strikes, civil unrest, acts of terrorism, revolutions, rebellions,
explosions and computer failure). The Company shall not be liable to
any Owner or Beneficial Owner or any other person for the unavailability of the
Deposited Securities or for the failure to make any distribution of cash or
property with respect thereto as a result of (i) any provision of any present or
future law, rule, regulation, fiat, order or decree of the United States, the
Russian Federation or any other country, or on account of possible criminal or
civil penalties or restraint, (ii) any provision of any present or future
regulation of any governmental or regulatory authority or stock exchange or
market or automated quotation system, or (iii) any act of God, war, terrorism or
other circumstance occurring beyond its control (including, without limitation,
nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, work stoppage, strikes,
civil unrest, acts of terrorism, revolutions, rebellions, explosions and
computer failure). In the Deposit Agreement the Company and the Depositary have
agreed to indemnify each other under certain circumstances. Neither
the Depositary nor the Company, nor any of their respective directors, officers,
employees, agents or Affiliates shall incur any liability in the case that any
or all holders of Deposited Securities benefit from any distribution, offering,
right or other benefit which is not, under the terms of the Deposit Agreement,
made available to any or all Owner(s) or Beneficial Owners of American
Depositary Shares issued hereunder.
A-17
The
Depositary shall not be liable for the acts or omissions made by any securities
depository, clearing agency or settlement system in the Russian Federation in
connection with or arising out of book-entry settlement of Deposited Securities
or otherwise.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth in the Deposit Agreement or a Receipt the
Depositary and its agents may fully respond to any and all demands or requests
for information maintained by or on its behalf in connection with the Deposit
Agreement, any Owner or Owners, any Receipt or Receipts or otherwise related
hereto to the extent such information is requested or required by or pursuant to
any lawful authority, including without limitation laws, rules, regulations,
administrative or judicial process, banking, securities or other
regulators.
None of
the Depositary, the Custodian or the Company shall be liable for the failure by
any Owner or Beneficial Owner to obtain the benefits of credits on the basis of
non-U.S. tax paid against such Owner's or Beneficial Owner's income tax
liability. The Depositary and the Company shall not incur any liability for any
tax consequences that may be incurred by Owners and/or Beneficial Owners on
account of their ownership of the Receipts or American Depositary
Shares.
The
Depositary shall not be responsible for, and shall incur no liability in
connection with or arising from, the insolvency of any Custodian that is not a
branch or Affiliate of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
Neither
the Company nor the Depositary nor any of their respective agents shall be
liable to Owners or Beneficial Owners for any indirect, special, punitive or
consequential damages.
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 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 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.
A-18
20.
|
AMENDMENT.
|
The form
of the Receipts and any provisions of the Deposit Agreement may at any time and
from time to time be amended by agreement between the Company and the Depositary
without the consent of Owners or 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 and cable, telex or facsimile transmission costs,
delivery costs or other such expenses), or which shall otherwise prejudice any
substantial existing right of Owners of Receipts, shall, however, not become
effective as to outstanding Receipts until the expiration of thirty days after
notice of such amendment shall have been given to the Owners of outstanding
Receipts. Every Owner of a Receipt at the time any amendment so
becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such Receipt, to
consent and agree to such amendment and to be bound by the Deposit Agreement as
amended thereby. In no event shall any amendment impair the right of
the Owner of any Receipt to surrender such Receipt and receive therefor the
Deposited Securities represented thereby except in order to comply with
mandatory provisions of applicable law. Any amendments or supplements
which (i) are reasonably necessary (as agreed by the Company and the Depositary)
in order for (a) the American Depositary Shares to be registered on Form F-6
under the Securities Act of 1933, (b) the American Depositary Shares or Shares
to be traded solely in electronic book-entry form, or (c) the
American Depositary Shares to be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange
and/or deregistered under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and (ii) do
not in either such case impose or increase any fees or charges to be borne by
Owners, shall be deemed not to prejudice any substantial rights of
Owners. Notice of any amendment to the Deposit Agreement or
form of Receipt shall not need to describe in detail the specific amendments
effectuated thereby, and failure to describe the specific amendments in any such
notice shall not render such notice invalid, provided, however, that, in each
such case, the notice given to the Owner identifies a means for Owners to
retrieve or receive the text of such amendment (i.e., upon retrieval from the
Commission's, the Depositary's or the Company's website or upon request from the
Depositary). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any governmental body
or regulatory body should adopt new laws, rules or regulations which would
require amendment or supplement of the Deposit Agreement or the form of Receipt
to ensure compliance therewith, the Company and the Depositary may amend or
supplement the Deposit Agreement and the Receipt at any time in accordance with
such changed laws, rules or regulations. Such amendment or supplement
to the Deposit Agreement in such circumstances may become effective before a
notice of such amendment or supplement is given to Owners or within any other
period.
A-19
21.
|
TERMINATION
OF DEPOSIT AGREEMENT.
|
The
Depositary shall at any time at the direction of the Company, terminate the
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 likewise
terminate the Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the
Company and the Owners of all Receipts then outstanding, such termination to be
effective on a date specified in such notice not less than thirty (30) days
after the date thereof, if at any time thirty (30) days shall have expired
after the Depositary shall have delivered to the Company a written notice of its
election to resign and a successor depositary shall not have been appointed and
accepted its appointment as provided in Section 5.04 of the Deposit
Agreement. On and after the date of termination, the Owner of a
Receipt will, upon (a) surrender of such Receipt at the Depositary's Office
and (b) payment of any applicable taxes or governmental charges and the
fees and expenses of the Depositary, including the fee of the Depositary for the
surrender of Receipts referred to in Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement,
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 in the manner provided in Section 2.05 of the Deposit
Agreement. 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 six months from the date of termination, the Depositary may
sell the Deposited Securities then held hereunder and may thereafter hold
uninvested the net proceeds of any such sale, together with any other cash then
held by it hereunder, unsegregated and without liability for interest, for the
pro rata benefit of the Owners of Receipts which have not theretofore been
surrendered, such Owners thereupon becoming general creditors of the Depositary
with respect to such net proceeds. After making such sale, the
Depositary shall be discharged from all obligations under 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 as provided in 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 under Sections 5.08 and 5.09 of the
Deposit Agreement.
A-20
22.
|
ARBITRATION;
WAIVER OF IMMUNITIES.
|
The
Deposit Agreement provides that any dispute, controversy, claim or cause of
action brought by any party to the Deposit Agreement or other person against the
Company, arising out of or relating to the Shares or other Deposited Securities,
the American Depositary Shares, the Receipts or the Deposit Agreement, or the
breach thereof, shall be referred to, and finally resolved by, arbitration in
London, England in accordance with the Rules of the London Court of
International Arbitration, which Rules are deemed to be incorporated by
reference into this Article 22, and that judgment upon the award rendered by the
arbitrators may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof; provided,
that in the event of any third-party litigation to which the Depositary is a
party and to which the Company may properly be joined, the Company may be so
joined by the Depositary in any court of competent jurisdiction in which such
litigation is proceeding; and provided further that any such dispute,
controversy, claim or cause of action relating to or based upon any provision of
the federal securities laws of the United States or the rules and regulations
thereunder may, but need not, be submitted to arbitration as provided in the
Deposit Agreement. The Deposit Agreement also provides that any
dispute, controversy, claim or cause of action arising out of or relating to the
Shares or other Deposited Securities, the American Depositary Shares, the
Receipts or the Deposit Agreement not subject to arbitration shall be litigated
in the federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of Xxx
Xxxx, Xxxxx xx Xxx Xxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx of America.
To the
extent that the Company or any of its properties, assets or revenues may have or
hereafter become entitled to, or have attributed to it, any right of sovereign
immunity, from any legal action, suit or proceeding, from the giving of any
relief in any respect thereof, from setoff or counterclaim, from the
jurisdiction of any court, from service of process, from attachment upon or
prior to judgment, from attachment in aid of execution of judgment, or other
legal process or proceeding for the giving of any relief or for the enforcement
of any judgment, in any United States or State court in the State of New York,
County of New York in which proceedings may at any time be commenced, with
respect to its obligations, liabilities or any other matter under or arising out
of or in connection with the Shares or other Deposited Securities, the American
Depositary Shares, the Receipts or the Deposit Agreement, the Company, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, has irrevocably and unconditionally waived, and
has agreed not to plead or claim, any such immunity and has consented to such
relief and enforcement.
23.
|
REGISTRATION
OF SHARES; RUSSIAN SHARE REGISTRAR; SHARE
REGISTER.
|
(a) The
Company agreed in the Deposit Agreement that it shall:
(i) take
such action as is reasonably necessary to ensure the accuracy and completeness
of all information set forth in the Share Register;
(ii) provide
or use its reasonable efforts to cause the Russian Share Registrar to provide to
the Depositary, the Custodian or their respective agents unrestricted access to
the Share Register during ordinary business hours in Moscow, Russia, in such
manner and upon such terms and conditions as the Depositary, in its reasonable
discretion, may deem appropriate, to permit the Depositary, the Custodian or
their respective agents to regularly reconcile the number of Deposited
Securities registered in the name of the Depositary, the Custodian or their
respective nominees, as applicable, pursuant to the terms of the Deposit
Agreement and, in connection therewith, to provide the Depositary, the Custodian
or their respective agents, upon request, with a duplicate extract from the
Share Register duly certified by the Russian Share Registrar (or some other
evidence of verification which the Depositary, in its reasonable discretion,
deems sufficient);
A-21
(iii) use
its reasonable best efforts to cause the Russian Share Registrar promptly (and,
in any event, within three (3) business days in Moscow, Russia, of the Russian
Share Registrar's receipt of such documentation as may be required by applicable
law and regulation and the reasonable and customary internal regulations of the
Russian Share Registrar, or as soon as practicable thereafter) to effect the
re-registration of ownership of Shares in the Share Register in connection with
any deposit or withdrawal of Shares or other Deposited Securities under the
Deposit Agreement;
(iv) permit
and use its reasonable efforts to cause the Russian Share Registrar to permit
the Depositary or the Custodian to register any Shares held hereunder in the
name of the Depositary, the Custodian or their respective nominees (who may be
non-residents of Russia); and
(v) use
its reasonable efforts to cause the Russian Share Registrar promptly to notify
the Depositary in writing at any time that the Russian Share Registrar (A)
eliminates the name of a shareholder of the Company from the Share Register or
otherwise alters a shareholder's interest in the Shares and such shareholder
alleges to the Company or the Russian Share Registrar or publicly that such
elimination or alteration is unlawful; (B) no longer will be able materially to
comply with, or has engaged in conduct that indicates it will not materially
comply with, the provisions of the Deposit Agreement relating to it (including,
without limitation, Section 5.13 thereof); (C) refuses to re-register the Shares
in the name of a particular purchaser and such purchaser (or its respective
seller) alleges that such refusal is unlawful; (D) holds the Shares for its own
account; or (E) has materially breached the provisions of the Deposit Agreement
relating to it (including, without limitation, Section 5.13 thereof) and has
failed to cure such breach within a reasonable time.
(c) In
the Deposit Agreement the Company has agreed that it shall be solely liable for
any act or failure to act on the part of the Russian Share Registrar (other than
such act or failure to act on the part of the Russian Share Registrar arising as
a result of any act or failure to act of the Depositary or its agents acting
hereunder or the Custodian) and that the Company shall be solely liable for the
unavailability of Deposited Securities or for the failure of the Depositary to
make any distribution of cash or other distributions with respect thereto as a
result of (i) any act or failure to act of the Company or its agents, the
Russian Share Registrar (other than such act or failure to act on the part of
the Russian Share Registrar arising as a result of any act or failure to act of
the Depositary or its agents acting hereunder or the Custodian), or their
respective directors, officers, employees, agents or Affiliates, (ii) any
provision of any present or future Charter of the Company or any other
instrument of the Company governing the Deposited Securities, or (iii) any
provision of any securities issued or distributed by the Company, or any
offering or distribution thereof.
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(d) The
Depositary agrees for the benefit of Owners and Beneficial Owners of American
Depositary Receipts that the Depositary or the Custodian shall reconcile
regularly the number of Deposited Securities registered in the name of the
Depositary, the Custodian or their respective nominees, as applicable, pursuant
to the terms of the Deposit Agreement. The Company and the Depositary have
agreed in the Deposit Agreement that, for the purposes of the rights and
obligations under the Deposit Agreement of the parties thereto and hereto, the
records of the Depositary and the Custodian shall be controlling for all
purposes with respect to the number of Shares or other Deposited Securities
which should be registered in the name of the Depositary, the Custodian or their
respective nominees, as applicable, pursuant to the terms of the Deposit
Agreement. The Depositary has agreed that it shall, and shall cause
the Custodian to, at any time and from time to time use all reasonable efforts
to ensure the accuracy and completeness of all information set forth in the
records of the Depositary, the Custodian or their respective nominees, as
applicable, pursuant to the Deposit Agreement with respect to Shares or other
Deposited Securities registered in the name of any of them. The Depositary has
agreed that it will instruct the Custodian to maintain custody of all
duplicative share extracts (or other evidence of verification) provided to the
Depositary, the Custodian or their respective agents. In the event of any
material discrepancy between the records of the Depositary or the Custodian and
the Share Register, then, if the Depositary has knowledge of such discrepancy,
the Depositary shall notify the Company promptly. In the event of discrepancy
between the records of the Depositary or the Custodian and the Share Register,
the Company has agreed that (whether or not it has received any notification
from the Depositary) it will (i) use its reasonable efforts to cause the Russian
Share Registrar to reconcile its records to the records of the Depositary or the
Custodian, as applicable, and to make such corrections or revisions in the Share
Register as may be necessary in connection therewith, and (ii) to the extent the
Company is unable to so reconcile such records, and the number of Shares
reflected in the records of the Russian Share Registrar differs by more than
one-half of one percent from the number of Shares reflected in the records of
the Depositary or the Custodian, promptly instruct the Depositary to notify the
Owners of the existence of such discrepancy. Upon receipt of the Company’s
instructions to notify the Owners of such discrepancy, the Depositary shall give
such notification promptly to the Owners pursuant to Section 4.09 of the Deposit
Agreement (it being understood that the Depositary at any time may give such
notification to the Owners, whether or not it has received instructions from the
Company) and shall promptly cease issuing Receipts pursuant to Section 2.02 of
the Deposit Agreement until such time as, in the opinion of the Depositary, such
records have been appropriately reconciled.
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24.
|
DISCLOSURE
OF INTERESTS.
|
To the
extent that the provisions of or governing any Deposited Securities may require
disclosure of or impose limits on beneficial or other ownership of Deposited
Securities, other Shares and other securities and may provide for blocking
transfer, voting or other rights to enforce such disclosure or limits, Owners
and Beneficial Owners agree to comply with all such disclosure requirements and
ownership limitations and to comply with any reasonable Company instructions in
respect thereof. The Company may from time to time request Owners to provide
information as to the capacity in which such Owners own or owned Receipts and
regarding the identity of any other persons then or previously having a
beneficial interest in such Receipts and the nature of such interest and various
other matters. Each Owner agrees to provide any information requested
by the Company pursuant to Section 3.04 of the Deposit Agreement. The
Depositary has agreed to comply with reasonable written instructions received
from time to time from the Company requesting that the Depositary forward any
such requests to the Owners and to forward to the Company any such responses to
such requests received by the Depositary. Each Owner agrees to
provide any information requested pursuant to this Article 24. The
Company reserves the right to instruct Owners and Beneficial Owners to deliver
their American Depositary Shares for cancellation and withdrawal of the
Deposited Securities so as to permit the Company to deal directly with the Owner
and/or Beneficial Owner as a holder of Shares and Owners and Beneficial Owners
agree to comply with such instructions. The Depositary agrees
to cooperate with the Company in its efforts to inform Owners of the Company's
exercise of its rights under this Article and agrees to consult with, and
provide reasonable assistance without risk, liability or expense on the part of
the Depositary, to the Company on the manner or manners in which it may enforce
such rights with respect to any Owner.
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