AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
AMENDMENT
NO. 1 TO DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
AMENDMENT
NO. 1, dated
as
of May 21, 2007 (the “Amendment”), to the Deposit
Agreement, dated as of 16 July 2004 (such Deposit Agreement as previously
amended and as amended from time to time, the “Deposit
Agreement”),
by
and among Mechel Open Joint Stock Company (the "Company"), Deutsche Bank
Trust
Company Americas (the "Depositary"), and all Holders and Beneficial Owners
from
time to time of Receipts representing American Depositary Share(s) issued
thereunder.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS,
the Company and the Depositary executed the Deposit Agreement for the purposes
set forth therein; and
WHEREAS,
pursuant to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement, the Company and the
Depositary desire to amend certain provisions of the Deposit Agreement and
Receipt .
NOW,
THEREFORE, for
good
and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the Company and the Depositary hereby agree to amend the Deposit
Agreement as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION
1.01. Definitions.
Unless
otherwise defined in this Amendment, all capitalized terms used, but not
otherwise defined, herein shall have the meaning given to such terms in the
Deposit Agreement.
ARTICLE
II
AMENDMENTS
TO DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
1
SECTION
2.01. All
references in the Deposit Agreement to the term “Deposit Agreement” shall, as of
the Effective Date (as herein defined), refer to the Deposit Agreement as
amended hereby.
SECTION
2.02. Section
5.09 of the Deposit Agreement is amended to include the following at the
conclusion of the second paragraph thereof:
and
(11)
a fee of US$0.02 per American Depositary Share per calendar year for the
operation and maintenance of all Receipts: provided, however, that if the
Depositary imposes a fee under this clause (11), then the total of the
fees
assessed under this clause (11)
when
combined
with the total of fees assessed under clause (6) above shall not exceed
U.S.$0.02 per American Depositary Share in any calendar year.
r.
ARTICLE
III
AMENDMENTS
TO THE FORM OF ADR
SECTION
3.01. All
references in the form of American Depositary Receipt to the
term
"Deposit Agreement" or "Receipts" shall refer to the Deposit Agreement and
Receipts as amended hereby.
SECTION
3.02. Paragraph
7 of the form of Receipt is amended to include the following at the conclusion
of the second paragraph thereof:
and
(11)
a fee of US$0.02 per American Depositary Share per calendar year for the
operation and maintenance of all Receipts: provided, however, that if the
Depositary imposes a fee under this clause (11), then the total of the
fees
assessed under this clause (11)
when
combined
with the total of fees assessed under clause (6) above shall not exceed
U.S.$0.02 per American Depositary Share in any calendar year.
SECTION
3.03. The
form
of American Depositary Receipt, reflecting the amendments set forth in Article
III hereof, is amended and restated to read as set forth as Exhibit A hereto.
2
ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
SECTION
4.01. Representations
and Warranties.
The
Company represents
and warrants to, and agrees with, the Depositary and the Holders,
that:
(a)
This
Amendment, when executed and delivered by the Company, will be duly and validly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and it and the Deposit
Agreement as amended hereby constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations
of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their
respective terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors’ rights and to general equity principles; and
(b)
In
order to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility into
evidence of this Amendment or the Deposit Agreement as amended hereby, neither
of such agreements need to be filed or recorded with any court or other
authority in the Russian Federation, nor does any stamp or similar tax or
governmental charge need to be paid in the Russian Federation on or in respect
of such agreements.
ARTICLE
V
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION
5.01. Effective
Date.
This
Amendment is dated as of the date set forth above and shall be effective
thirty
days from the date notice hereof is first provided to Holders (the “Effective
Date”).
SECTION
5.02. Outstanding
Receipts.
Receipts issued prior or subsequent to the date hereof, which do not reflect
the
changes to the form of Receipt effected hereby, do not need to be called
in for
exchange and may remain outstanding until such time as the Holders thereof
choose to surrender them for any reason under the Deposit Agreement. The
Depositary is authorized and directed to take any and all actions deemed
necessary to effect the foregoing.
3
SECTION
5.03. Indemnification.
The
parties hereto shall be entitled to the benefits of the indemnification
provisions of Section 5.08 of the Deposit Agreement in connection with any
and
all liability it or they may incur as a result of the terms of this Amendment
and the transactions contemplated herein.
SECTION
5.04. Counterparts.
This
Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall
be
deemed an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one
instrument.
4
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
the
Company and the Depositary have caused this Amendment to be executed by
representatives thereunto duly authorized as of the date set forth
above.
MECHEL
OPEN JOINT STOCK COMPANY
By:
______________________________________
Name:
Title:
By:
______________________________________
Name:
Title:
DEUTSCHE
BANK TRUST COMPANY
AMERICAS,
as Depositary
By:
______________________________________
Name:
Title:
By:
______________________________________
Name:
Title:
5
Exhibit
A
to Amendment to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement
FORM
OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
Number
CUSIP#_______________________
Each
American Depositary Share
represents
Three Ordinary Shares
IT
IS
EXPECTED THAT THE SHARES DEPOSITED HEREUNDER WILL BE REGISTERED
ON THE SHARE REGISTER MAINTAINED BY THE RUSSIAN SHARE REGISTRAR OF MECHEL
OPEN JOINT STOCK COMPANY IN
THE
NAME OF DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,
AS
DEPOSITARY
OR ITS
NOMINEE OR OF THE CUSTODIAN OR ITS NOMINEE. HOLDERS 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 THE UNAVAILABILITY
OF
SHARES OR FOR THE FAILURE TO MAKE ANY DISTRIBUTION OF CASH OR PROPERTY WITH
RESPECT THERETO AS A RESULT OF SUCH UNAVAILABILITY IF IT IS PREVENTED OR
DELAYED
FROM PERFORMING ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT.
THE
DEPOSITARY HAS BEEN ADVISED BY RUSSIAN COUNSEL THAT COURTS IN THE RUSSIAN
FEDERATION MAY NOT RECOGNIZE OR ENFORCE JUDGMENTS OBTAINED IN THE FEDERAL
COURTS
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR XXX XXXXXX XX XXX XXXXX XX XXX
XXXX.
A-1
DEUTSCHE
BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
AMERICAN
DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
EVIDENCING
AMERICAN
DEPOSITARY SHARES
REPRESENTING
THREE
ORDINARY SHARES OF NOMINAL VALUE 10 RUBLES EACH
OF
MECHEL
OPEN JOINT STOCK COMPANY
(AN
OPEN STOCK COMPANY ORGANIZED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE RUSSIAN
FEDERATION)
Deutsche
Bank Trust Company Americas as depositary (hereinafter called the “Depositary”),
hereby certifies that ___________________, or registered assigns IS THE HOLDER
OF _______________________AMERICAN
DEPOSITARY SHARES representing
ordinary shares, nominal value 10 Rubles each (herein called “Share(s)”),
of
Mechel
Open Joint Stock Company, an open stock company organized
under the laws of the Russian Federation
(herein
called the “Company”).
At
the date hereof, each American Depositary Share represents
three Shares deposited or subject to deposit under the Deposit
Agreement.
THE
DEPOSITARY’S CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE ADDRESS IS LOCATED AT 00
XXXX
XXXXXX, XXX XXXX, X.X. 00000
1. THE
DEPOSIT AGREEMENT.
This
American Depositary Receipt is one of an issue (herein called “Receipts”),
all
issued and to be issued upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Deposit
Agreement, dated as of 16 July 2004, as amended (such Deposit Agreement as
amended from time to time, the “Deposit
Agreement”),
by
and among the Company, the Depositary, and all Holders and Beneficial Owners
from time to time of Receipts representing American Depositary Share(s) (herein
called “ADS(s)”)
issued
thereunder, each of whom by accepting a Receipt or an interest therein agrees
to
become a party thereto and become bound by all the terms and conditions thereof.
The Deposit Agreement sets forth the rights of Holders and Beneficial Owners
of
the Receipts and the rights and duties of the Depositary in respect of the
Shares deposited thereunder and any and all other securities, property and
cash
from time to time received in respect of such Shares and held thereunder
(such
Shares, securities, property, and cash are herein called “Deposited
Securities”).
Copies of the Deposit Agreement are on file at the Depositary’s Corporate Trust
Office in New York City and at the principal office
of
OOO
Deutsche Bank,
Moscow,
Russian Federation,
as
custodian (the “Custodian”).
A-2
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.
For the avoidance of doubt, in the event of any inconsistency between the
statements in this Receipt and the provisions of the Deposit Agreement, the
provisions of the Deposit Agreement will control. 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 of this Receipt at the Corporate Trust Office, and upon payment
of the
fee of the Depositary provided in this Receipt 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 and the charter of the Company, and upon payment of related fees
and
charges of the Depositary as described in Paragraph 7, the Holder hereof
is
entitled to delivery, to him or upon his order, at the principal office of
the
Custodian of the amount of Deposited Securities at the time represented by
the
American Depositary
Shares evidenced by this Receipt. Delivery of such Deposited Securities may
be
made by (a)(i)
the
delivery of
proper
instruments of transfer to
such
Holder
or as ordered by him or (ii) other
documents evidencing
title (including extracts from the Share Register) in
the
name
of such Holder or as ordered by such Holder,
and (b)
delivery of any other securities, property and cash to which such Holder
is then
entitled in respect of such Receipts to such Holder or as ordered by him.
Such
delivery shall be made, as hereinafter provided, without unreasonable delay,
at
the principal
office
of
the
Custodian. At the request, risk and expense of the Holder, the Depositary
may
deliver Deposited Securities (other than Shares) at the Corporate Trust Office.
The Company shall use its best efforts to ensure that transfer and recordation
of the Deposited Securities into the name of the Holder or as directed by
such
Holder 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 as possible thereafter.
A
Receipt
surrendered for such purposes may be required by the Depositary to be properly
endorsed in blank or accompanied by properly executed instruments of transfer
in
blank, and if the Depositary so requires, the Holder 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 to deliver at the principal office of such Custodian,
subject to the terms of the Deposit Agreement, to or upon the written order
of
the person or persons designated in the order delivered to the Depositary
as
above provided, the amount of Deposited Securities represented by the American
Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt, except that the Depositary may
make
delivery to such person or persons at the Corporate Trust Office of any
cash dividends
or other cash 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.
A-3
The
Depositary shall not accept for surrender a Receipt evidencing American
Depositary Shares representing less than one Share. In the case of surrender
of
a Receipt evidencing a number of American Depositary Shares representing
other
than a whole number of Shares, the Depositary shall cause ownership of the
appropriate whole number of Shares to be delivered in accordance with the
terms
of the
Deposit Agreement, and shall issue and deliver to the person surrendering
such
Receipt a new Receipt evidencing American Depositary Shares representing
any
remaining fractional Share.
At
the
request, risk and expense of any Holder so surrendering a Receipt, and for
the
account of such Holder, the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to forward
any
cash or other property (other than rights) comprising, and forward a certificate
or certificates and other proper documents of title for, the Deposited
Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such
Receipt to the Depositary for delivery at the Corporate Trust Office. Such
direction shall be given by letter or, at the request, risk and expense of
such
Holder, by cable, telex or facsimile transmission.
No
surrender of Receipts for the purpose of withdrawal of Deposited Securities
shall be accepted unless accompanied by evidence satisfactory to the Depositary
that all necessary filings have been made and approvals have been obtained
(or
in each case, have been properly waived) under the laws of the Russian
Federation.
3. TRANSFERS,
SPLIT-UPS, AND COMBINATIONS OF RECEIPTS.
Subject
to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, the transfer of this
Receipt is registrable on the books of the Depositary at its Corporate Trust
Office by the Holder hereof in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon
surrender of this Receipt duly stamped (as may be required by law), properly
endorsed for transfer or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer and
funds
sufficient to pay any applicable taxes or other governmental charges, and
the
fees and expenses of the Depositary related to such registration of transfer
as
set forth in Paragraph 7 hereof,
and upon compliance with such regulations, if any, as the Depositary may
establish for such purpose. Upon
satisfaction of the conditions described above, the Depositary shall execute
a
new Receipt or Receipts and deliver the same to or upon the order of the
person
entitled thereto. This Receipt may, upon the terms and conditions of the
Deposit
Agreement, be split into other Receipts, or may be combined with other 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,
registration
of
transfer, split-up, combination
or
surrender of any Receipt,
the
delivery of any distribution thereon,
or
withdrawal of any Deposited Securities, the Depositary, the Custodian, or
the Registrar
may require payment from the depositor of the Shares or the presenter of
the
Receipt a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax (including, without
limitation, amounts in respect of any applicable transfer taxes) or other
governmental charge and any stock transfer or registration fee with respect
thereto (including any such tax or charge and fee with respect to Shares
being
deposited or withdrawn) and payment of any applicable fees as provided in
this
Receipt, may require the production of proof satisfactory to it as to the
identity of any signatory and genuineness of any signature,
and may
also require proof of compliance with any applicable notice, consent or other
requirements relating to the acquisition of securities of companies organized
in
the Russian Federation,
may
require proof of compliance with the provisions of the Company’s charter in
effect from time to time and resolutions and regulations of the Company's
Board
of Directors adopted pursuant to such charter,
and may
also require compliance with any regulations the Depositary may establish
consistent with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement and applicable law
and this
Receipt, including, without limitation, this Paragraph 3.
A-4
The
delivery of Receipts against the deposit of Shares generally or against the
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 or the combination or split-up
of
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 in their reasonable discretion
at any
time or from time to time because of any
requirement of law or of any
governmental or quasi-governmental body or commission or any securities
exchange, market or automated quotation system on which the American Depositary
Shares may be listed, 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 be suspended, only as permitted in General Instruction I.A.
(1)
to Form F-6 in connection with (i) temporary delays caused by closing the
transfer books of the Depositary or the Russian Share Registrar or the deposit
of Shares in connection with voting at a shareholders’ meeting, or the payment
of dividends, (ii) the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges, (iii)
compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating
to
the Receipts or to the withdrawal of the Deposited Securities or (iv) such
other
circumstances as may be specifically contemplated by General Instruction
I.A.(1)
to Form F-6. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary shall not
knowingly accept for deposit under the Deposit Agreement any securities required
to be registered under the provisions of the Securities Act, unless a
registration statement is in effect as to such securities. Except in connection
with any cancellation of this Receipt that may be contemplated by Section
2.11
of the Deposit Agreement, the surrender of outstanding Receipts may only
be
undertaken after (i) the placement report of the issue of the Shares issued
by
the Company and placed in the initial public offering by the Company has
been
registered by the Russian Federal Service for the Financial Markets and (ii)
such Shares have been fully paid.
4. LIABILITY
OF HOLDER OR BENEFICIAL OWNER FOR TAXES.
If
any
tax (including, without limitation, any transfer taxes) or other governmental
charge shall become payable with respect to this Receipt or any Deposited
Securities represented hereby, such tax or other governmental charge shall
be
payable by the Holder or Beneficial Owner hereof to the Depositary. The
Depositary may refuse to effect any transfer (or any combination or split-up)
of
this Receipt or, subject to Paragraph 23 hereof,
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 Holder
and
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 Holder or Beneficial Owner
hereof
shall remain liable for any deficiency.
A-5
The
Holder and Beneficial Owner (if any) hereof agrees to indemnify the Depositary,
the Company, the Custodian, and any of their agents, officers, employees
and
Affiliates for, and to hold each of them harmless from, any claims with respect
to taxes (including applicable interest and penalties thereon) arising from
any
tax benefit obtained for such Holder and/or Beneficial Owner.
5. REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES ON DEPOSIT OF SHARES;
POWER
OF ATTORNEY.
Except
as
contemplated in Section 2.11 of the Deposit Agreement, every person depositing
Shares under the Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to represent and
warrant that such Shares and each certificate therefore, if any are (i) duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable, (ii) obtained and
held
by such person in compliance with all applicable law and (iii) free of any
preemptive rights of the holders of outstanding Shares and that the person
making such deposit is duly authorized so to do. Except as contemplated in
Section 2.11 of the Deposit Agreement, every such person shall also be deemed
to
represent and warrant that (i) such Shares and the Receipts evidencing American
Depositary Shares representing such Shares are (a) not Restricted Securities
and
(b) not subject to any unfulfilled requirements of the laws of the Russian
Federation;
and (ii)
except with respect to any deposit of Rule 144 Volume-Limited Securities
or any
deposit permitted hereunder pursuant to Paragraph 12 (third paragraph),
Paragraph 13 or Paragraph 17, such person is not and shall not become at
any
time while such person holds Receipts or any beneficial interest therein
an
Affiliate of the Company.
Such
representations and warranties shall survive the deposit of Shares and issuance
of Receipts. If any such representations or warranties are false in any way,
the
Company and the Depositary shall be authorized, at the cost and expense of
the
person depositing the
Shares,
and in their sole and absolute discretion, to take any and all actions necessary
to correct the consequences thereof.
Each
Holder and Beneficial Owner upon acceptance of American Depositary Shares
represented by this Receipt (or acceptance of any interest herein) hereby
appoints the Depositary its attorney-in-fact, with full power to delegate,
to
act on its behalf and to take any and all steps or action provided for or
contemplated in the Deposit Agreement with respect to the Deposited Securities,
to adopt any and all procedures necessary to comply with applicable law and
to
take such further steps or action as the Depositary in its sole discretion
may
deem necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Deposit
Agreement.
6. FILING
PROOFS, CERTIFICATES, AND OTHER INFORMATION.
Any
person presenting Shares for deposit or any Holder or Beneficial Owner of
a
Receipt may be required from time to time (i)
to
file with the Depositary or the Custodian such proof of citizenship or
residence, taxpayer
status, exchange
control approval, payment of applicable taxes or other governmental charges,
legal or beneficial ownership of Receipts, Deposited Securities or other
securities, compliance with applicable law or terms of the Deposit Agreement
or
the Receipts, or such information relating to the registration on the books
of
the Company or of
the
Russian
Share
Registrar, if applicable, or any other information the Custodian, the
Depositary, or the Company may deem necessary or appropriate as evidence
of
compliance with applicable law, and (ii)
to
execute such certificates and to make such representations and warranties,
as
the Depositary or
the
Company may
deem
necessary or appropriate. Any such person shall be required to comply with
requests by the Company for information as to the capacity in which such
person
owns Receipts and Shares, the identity of any other person interested in
any
such Receipt or Share, and the nature of such interest. The Depositary may
withhold the delivery or registration of transfer of any Receipt or the
distribution of any dividend or distribution of rights or of the sale proceeds
thereof or, subject to the terms of Paragraph 23
hereof,
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 Depositary’s
or the
Company’s, as the case may be,
reasonable satisfaction.
A-6
7. CHARGES
OF DEPOSITARY.
The
Company agrees to pay or reimburse 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 right of the Depositary to receive payments
and/or reimbursements under this Paragraph 7 shall survive the termination
of
the Deposit Agreement.
The
following charges shall be incurred by the Holders and Beneficial Owners,
by any
party depositing or withdrawing Shares or by any party surrendering Receipts
or
to whom Receipts are issued (including, without limitation, issuance pursuant
to
a stock dividend or stock split declared by the Company or an exchange of
stock
regarding the Receipts or Deposited Securities or a distribution of Receipts
pursuant to Paragraph 12
hereof
and
to
the terms of the Deposit Agreement), whichever is applicable: (1) taxes
(including, without limitation, any amounts in respect of any applicable
stamp
tax and other governmental charges), (2) such transfer or registration fees
as
may from time to time be in effect for the registration of transfers of Shares
generally on the Share Register 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
Deposit Agreement,
(3)
such cable, telex or facsimile transmission and
delivery 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
Paragraph 14 hereof and to the terms of the Deposit Agreement or in connection
with the execution and delivery of physical certificates pursuant to Section
2.04 of the Deposit Agreement, (5) except as otherwise provided in Section
5.09
of the Deposit Agreement, a fee of $5.00 or less per 100 American Depositary
Shares (or portion thereof) for the execution and delivery of Receipts pursuant
to Paragraphs 12, 13 and 17 hereof and to the terms of the Deposit Agreement
and
the surrender of Receipts pursuant to Paragraphs 2, 12 and 21 hereof and
the
terms of the Deposit Agreement, (6) except as otherwise provided in Section
5.09
of the Deposit Agreement, a fee of $.02 or less per American Depositary Share
(or portion thereof) for any cash distribution made pursuant to the Deposit
Agreement, (7) a fee of $1.50 per certificate
for a Receipt
or Receipts for transfers made pursuant to Paragraph 3, (8) a fee for the
distribution of securities pursuant to Paragraph 12 hereof and to the terms
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 Holders,
(9)
a fee
for, and deducted from, the distribution of proceeds of sales of securities or
rights pursuant to Paragraph 12 or 13, respectively, such fee being in an
amount
equal to the fee for the issuance of American Depositary Shares referred
to
above which would have been charged as a result of the deposit by Holders
of
securities (for purposes of this clause (9) treating all such securities
as if
they were Shares) or Shares received in exercise of rights distributed to
them
pursuant to Paragraph 13, but which securities or rights are instead sold
by the
Depositary and the net proceeds distributed, (10)
a fee
of $0.01 or less per ADS (or portion thereof) per year to cover such expenses
as
are incurred for inspections by the Depositary, the Custodian or their
respective agents of the Share Register maintained by the Russian Share
Registrar (which fee shall be assessed against Holders of record as of the
date
set by the Depositary in accordance with Section 4.06 of the Deposit Agreement
not more often than once each calendar year), and (11) a fee of US$0.02 per
American Depositary Share per calendar year for the operation and maintenance
of
all Receipts: provided, however, that if the Depositary imposes a fee under
this
clause (11), then the total of the fees assessed under this clause (11) when
combined with the total of fees assessed under clause (6) above shall not
exceed
U.S.$0.02 per American Depositary Share in any calendar year.
A-7
8. PRE-RELEASE
OF RECEIPTS.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Receipt or in the Deposit Agreement but
subject
to the terms and conditions thereof, unless otherwise instructed by the Company,
the Depositary may execute and deliver Receipts prior to the receipt of Shares
(a “Pre-Release”)
against the evidence (including extracts from the Share Register) of the
right
to receive Shares from the Company. Other than as contemplated in Section
2.11
of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may 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. Other than as
contemplated in Section 2.11 of the Deposit Agreement, 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, that such person, or its customer, owns the Shares or Receipts
to be
remitted, as the case may be, and
that
such person or its customer agrees to hold such Shares or Receipts in trust
for
the Depositary until such Shares or Receipts are delivered to the Depositary
or
the Custodian, and unconditionally guarantees to deliver to the Depositary
or
the Custodian, as applicable, such Shares or Receipts, (b)
at
all times fully collateralized with cash or such other collateral as the
Depositary deems appropriate, (c) terminable by the Depositary on not more
than
five (5) Business Days notice, and (d) subject to such further indemnities
and
credit regulations as the Depositary deems appropriate. Other than as
contemplated by Section 2.11 of the Deposit Agreement, 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
under
the
Deposit Agreement;
provided, however, that the Depositary reserves the right to change or disregard
such limit from time to time as it reasonably deems appropriate, and may
change
such limit for purposes of general application. The Depositary will also
set
Dollar limits with respect to Pre-Release transactions to be entered into
under
the
Deposit Agreement
with any
particular Pre-Releasee on a case-by-case basis as the Depositary reasonably
deems appropriate. For purposes of enabling the Depositary to fulfill its
obligations to the Holders under the Deposit Agreement, the collateral referred
to in clause (b) above shall be held by the Depositary as security for the
performance of the Pre-Releasee’s obligations to the Depositary in connection
with a Pre-Release transaction, including the Pre-Releasee’s obligation to
deliver Shares or Receipts upon termination of a Pre-Release transaction
(and
shall not, for the avoidance of doubt, constitute Deposited Securities
under
the
Deposit Agreement).
A-8
The
Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received by it
in
connection with the foregoing.
9. TITLE
TO
RECEIPTS.
It
is a
condition of this Receipt and every successive Holder 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 (subject to satisfying the
requirements of the Deposit Agreement); provided, however, that the Depositary,
notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the Holder hereof as
the
absolute owner hereof for the purpose of determining the person entitled
to any
distribution of dividends or other distributions or to any notice provided
for
in the Deposit Agreement and for all other purposes. Neither the Depositary
nor
the Company shall have obligation under the terms hereof or of the Deposit
Agreement to any Beneficial Owner or Holder of any Receipt issued pursuant
to
the Deposit Agreement unless such person is registered as the Holder
thereof.
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 on behalf of the Depositary by the manual signature of a duly
authorized signatory of the Depositary; provided, however, that the
signature of the Depositary may be a facsimile if
a
Registrar for the Receipts shall have been appointed and
this
Receipt is
countersigned on
behalf
of the Registrar by
the
manual signature of a duly authorized officer of the Registrar. Signature
of this
Receipt by manual signature
on
behalf of one or both of the Depositary and the Registrar, if any,
shall be
conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that this Receipt has been duly
executed and delivered under the terms hereof, and of the Deposit
Agreement.
11. REPORTS;
INSPECTION OF TRANSFER BOOKS.
The
Company furnishes the Commission with certain public reports and documents
required under the
Securities
Exchange
Act. These reports and documents can be inspected and copied at the Commission’s
Public Reference Room which is located at Judiciary Plaza, 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx,
X.X., Xxxx 0000 Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000.
A-9
The
Depositary shall keep books at
its
Corporate Trust Office, for the registration of Receipts and transfers of
Receipts which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the
Holders,
provided that such inspection shall be reasonably related to the Holders’
interests as such and shall not be for the purpose of communicating with
Holders
in the
interest of a business or object other than the business of the Company or
a
matter related to the Deposit Agreement or the Receipts.
12. DIVIDENDS
AND DISTRIBUTIONS.
Whenever
the Depositary shall receive any cash dividend or other cash distribution
on any
Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall establish an ADS Record Date pursuant
to Paragraph 15 hereof and shall, subject to Paragraph 14 hereof, convert
such
dividend or distribution into Dollars (if not paid in Dollars), as promptly
as
practicable, and shall distribute the amount thus received (net of the fees
and
expenses of the Depositary as provided in Paragraph 7 hereof and any taxes
or
other governmental charges paid or payable in conjunction with such conversion),
as promptly as practicable, to the Holders as of the ADS Record Date (as
herein
defined), 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 Holder 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 Holder a fraction
of
one cent. Any such fractional amounts shall be rounded down to the nearest
whole
cent and so distributed to Holders entitled thereto, and any balance not
so
distributable shall be retained by the Depositary (without liability for
interest thereon) for inclusion with funds received by the Depositary thereafter
in respect of the Deposited Securities for distribution to Holders of Receipts
then outstanding. The Depositary or the Company or their respective agents
may
(but shall not be obligated to) file any reports necessary to obtain benefits
under the applicable tax treaties for the Holders of Receipts.
Subject
to the terms of the Deposit Agreement, whenever the Depositary shall receive
any
distribution other than a distribution in cash, Shares or rights under the
terms
of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall establish an ADS Record Date
pursuant to the terms of Paragraph 15 hereof, and shall cause the securities
or
property received by it to be distributed as promptly as practicable to the
Holders as of the ADS Record Date, after deduction or upon payment of any
fees
and expenses of the Depositary or any taxes or other governmental charges,
in
proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such
Deposited Securities held by them respectively, in any manner that the
Depositary may deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing such
distribution; provided, however, that if in the opinion of the Depositary
such
distribution cannot be made proportionately among the Holders 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 in order to be distributed to Holders) the Depositary deems
such
distribution not to be practicable, the Depositary may adopt such method
as it
may deem equitable and practicable for the purpose of effecting a distribution,
including without limitation (after consulting with the Company), the public
or
private sale of the securities or property thus received, or any part thereof,
and the distribution of proceeds of any such sale (net of the fees and expenses
of the Depositary as provided in Paragraph 7 hereof
and
any
taxes or other governmental charges paid or payable in conjunction with such
sale or distribution) to the Holders entitled thereto, all in the manner
described above in this Paragraph 12.
The
Depositary may also refrain from making any such distribution, in which case
each American Depositary Share shall thenceforth also represent its
proportionate interest in such securities or property.
A-10
If
any
distribution upon any Deposited Securities consists of a dividend in, or
free
distribution of, Shares, the Depositary shall establish an ADS Record Date
pursuant to the terms of Paragraph 15 hereof, and may, and will if the Company
so requests, distribute as promptly as practicable to the Holders of outstanding
Receipts as of the ADS Record Date, in proportion to the number of American
Depositary Shares 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 and of this Receipt 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 the Deposit Agreement and the payment of the fees and expenses
of
the Depositary as provided in Paragraph 7 hereof. The Depositary may withhold
any such distribution of
Receipts if
the
Depositary has not received evidence satisfactory to it from the Company
that
such distribution complies
with applicable law.
If
additional Receipts are not so distributed (except as pursuant to the final
sentence of this paragraph), each American Depositary Share shall thenceforth
also represent its proportionate interest in the additional Shares so
distributed upon such Deposited Securities. Alternatively, the Depositary
may,
upon the instruction of the Company, increase the Share-to-ADS ratio to reflect
the new Shares, if the Depositary has received evidence from the Company
that
such change in the Share-to-ADS ratio complies with applicable law. In lieu
of
delivering Receipts for fractional American Depositary Shares the Depositary
may, in its discretion, after consultation with the Company, sell the amount
of
Shares represented by the aggregate of such fractions, at public or private
sale, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem proper,
and
distribute the net proceeds of any such sale as if such proceeds were a cash
distribution.
If,
upon
the advice of recognized outside counsel practicing in the Russian Federation
retained by the Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary determines that
the
acceptance of Shares for deposit hereunder in connection with any such dividend
in or free distribution of Shares would require any registration, approval,
permission or other action of any governmental authority of the Russian
Federation, then the Depositary may, in its discretion, after consultation
with
the Company, (i) seek such registration, approval, permission or other action,
at the cost and expense of the Company, or (ii) sell such Shares at public
or
private sale, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem
proper,
and distribute the net proceeds of any such sale in the same manner as a
cash
distribution under the first paragraph of this Paragraph 12.
13. RIGHTS.
In
the
event that the Company shall offer or cause to be offered to the holders
of any
Deposited Securities any rights to subscribe for additional Shares or any
rights
of any other nature, the Depositary shall, upon receipt of timely notice
thereof
and after consultation with the Company, have discretion as to the procedure
to
be followed in making such rights available to any Holders or in disposing
of
such rights on behalf of any Holders and making the net proceeds available
to
such Holders 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 Holders
or dispose of such rights and make the net proceeds available to such Holders,
then the Depositary may allow the rights to lapse. If at the time of the
offering of any rights, the Depositary determines in its discretion that
it is
lawful and practicable to make such rights available to all or certain Holders
but not to other Holders, the Depositary may distribute to any Holder to
whom it
determines the distribution to be lawful and practicable, in proportion to
the
number of American Depositary Shares held by such Holder, warrants or other
instruments therefor in such form as it deems appropriate.
A-11
In
circumstances in which rights would otherwise not be distributed
generally,
if
the
Depositary
determines in its discretion that it is lawful and practicable
to
make such
rights
available
to
certain
Holders, the
Depositary
will, subject to applicable law, make such rights available to such Holders,
in
proportion to
the
number
of
American
Depositary Shares held by such Holder 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 Holder has executed such documents as the Company and the Depositary
have
determined are required under applicable law.
If
the
Depositary has distributed warrants or other instruments for rights to all
or
certain Holders, then upon instruction from any such Holder pursuant to such
warrants or other instruments to the Depositary to exercise such rights,
upon
payment by such Holder to the Depositary for the account of such Holder 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 Holder, 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 Holder. As agent for such
Holder, the Depositary will cause the Shares so purchased to be deposited
pursuant to the terms of the Deposit Agreement, and shall, pursuant to the
Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver Receipts to such Holder.
In the
case of a distribution pursuant to the second paragraph of this Paragraph
13,
such Receipts shall be legended in accordance with applicable U.S. laws,
and
shall be subject to the appropriate restrictions on sale, deposit, cancellation
and transfer under such laws.
If
the
Depositary determines in its reasonable discretion that it is not lawful
or
practicable to make such rights available to all or certain Holders, it may
sell
the rights, warrants or other instruments (either
by public or private sale or otherwise at its discretion) in
proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by the Holders
to
whom it has determined it may not lawfully or practicably make such rights
available, and allocate the proceeds of such sales (net of the fees and expenses
of the Depositary as provided in Paragraph 7 hereof 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 Holders
otherwise entitled to such rights, warrants or other instruments, upon an
averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among
such Holders because of exchange restrictions or the date of delivery of
any
Receipt or otherwise. Any such proceeds shall be distributed in the same
manner
as a cash distribution under Paragraph 12 hereof.
A-12
The
Depositary will not distribute rights to Holders unless both the rights and
the
securities to which such rights relate are either exempt from registration
under
the Securities Act with respect to a distribution to all Holders or are
registered under the provisions of such Act; provided, that nothing in this
Receipt or in the Deposit Agreement shall create, or be construed to create,
any
obligation on the part of the Company or the Depositary 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 a Holder 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 acceptable to
it from
recognized counsel in the United States for the Company upon which the
Depositary may rely that such distribution to such Holder is exempt from
such
registration.
Subject
to Paragraph 18 hereof, the Depositary shall not be responsible for any mistake
in determining that it may be lawful or practicable to make such rights
available to Holders in general or any Holder in particular.
There
can
be no assurance that Holders generally, or any Holder in particular, will
be
given the opportunity to exercise rights on the same terms and conditions
as the
holders of Shares or to exercise such rights.
14. CONVERSION
OF FOREIGN CURRENCY.
Whenever
the Depositary or the Custodian shall receive foreign currency, by way of
dividends or other distributions or the net proceeds from the sale of
securities, property or rights, and if at the time of the receipt thereof
the
foreign currency so received can in the commercially reasonable judgment
of the
Depositary be converted on a practicable basis into Dollars and the resulting
Dollars transferred to the United States, the Depositary shall, as promptly
as
practicable, convert or cause to be converted, by sale or in any other manner
that it may determine, such foreign currency into Dollars and such Dollars
(net
of any fees, expenses, taxes or other governmental charges incurred in the
process of such conversion) shall be distributed, as promptly as practicable,
to
the Holders entitled thereto or, if the Depositary shall have distributed
any
warrants or other instruments which entitle the holders thereof to such Dollars,
then to the holders of such warrants and/or instruments upon surrender thereof
for cancellation. Such distribution may be made upon an averaged or other
practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among Holders on account
of
exchange restrictions, the date of delivery of any Receipt or
otherwise.
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 an application for such approval or license, if any, as it may
deem
necessary. Nothing herein shall obligate the Depositary to file or cause
to be
filed or to seek effectiveness of any such application for any such approval
or
license,
nor
shall the Depositary be liable for failure to obtain such approval or
license.
If
at any
time the Depositary shall determine that in its reasonable judgment any foreign
currency received by the Depositary or the Custodian is not convertible on
a
reasonable basis into Dollars transferable to the United States, or if any
approval or license of any government or agency thereof which is required
for
such conversion is denied or cannot be obtained within a reasonable period
and
at
reasonable cost as
determined by the Depositary, the Depositary may in its discretion, but subject
to applicable law, either (i) distribute the foreign currency (or an appropriate
document evidencing the right to receive such foreign currency) received
by the
Depositary to the Holders entitled to receive such foreign currency, or (ii)
hold such foreign currency uninvested and without liability for interest
thereon
for the respective accounts of the Holders 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 Holders entitled thereto, the Depositary may
in its
discretion, but subject to applicable law, make such conversion and distribution
in Dollars to the extent permissible to the Holders entitled thereto and
either
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 Holders 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 (each,
an“ADS
Record Date”)
(a)
for the determination of the Holders who shall be (i) entitled to receive
such
dividend, distribution or rights or the net proceeds of the sale thereof,
(ii)
entitled to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such
meeting, (iii) entitled
to
act in
respect of any other matter or (iv) responsible for the fee assessed by the
Depositary for inspection of the Share Register maintained by the Russian
Share
Registrar, or
(b) on
or after which each American Depositary Share will represent the changed
number
of Shares. The
Depositary shall attempt to fix an ADS Record Date that is the same as the
record date fixed by the Company with respect to the Shares or other Deposited
Securities, but shall not be liable for any failure to do so. In
addition, the Company shall give the Depositary at least twenty (20) days
prior
written notice of any meeting of the board of directors of the Company that
is
to consider the declaration and payment of dividends, in which case the
Depositary may elect to exercise its discretion under Paragraph 3 and suspend
the delivery and registration of transfers of Receipts, and the Depositary
shall
fix an ADS Record Date for the determination of the Holders who shall be
solely
entitled to receive such dividend (if such dividend is declared and paid).
The
Company shall not fix a record date with respect to the payment of dividends
that is prior to the date the Company has delivered such notice of the meeting
of the board of directors of the Company. Subject
to Paragraph 12 hereof and to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement, the
Holders at close of business in New York on such ADS Record Date shall be
entitled, as the case may be, to receive the amount distributable by the
Depositary with respect to such dividend or other distribution or such rights
or
the net proceeds of sale thereof in proportion to the number of American
Depositary Shares held by them respectively and to give voting instructions
and
to act in respect of any other such matter.
A-14
16. VOTING
OF
DEPOSITED SECURITIES.
Except
as
contemplated by Section 2.11 of the Deposit Agreement, upon receipt of timely
notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or solicitation of consents or
proxies of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, the Depositary
shall
establish an ADS Record Date pursuant to Paragraph 15 hereof, and the Depositary
shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the Holders of Receipts
a
notice in English, the form of which notice shall be in the sole discretion
of
the Depositary, which shall contain (a) such information as is contained
in such
notice of meeting (or solicitation of consent or proxy) received by the
Depositary from the Company, (b) a statement that the Holders of Receipts
as of
the ADS Record Date will be entitled, subject to any applicable provision
of the
laws of the Russian Federation , the terms of the Deposit Agreement and of
the
charter of the Company, to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of
the
voting rights (or right to consent to or to grant a proxy), 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. Except as contemplated by Section 2.11
of
the Deposit Agreement, upon the written request of a Holder of a Receipt
as of
such ADS Record Date, received on or before the date established by the
Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall (subject to Paragraph 18)
endeavor, insofar as practicable and
as
permitted by the laws of the Russian Federation and the charter of the Company,
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(s)
in
accordance with the instructions set forth in such request. Neither the
Depositary nor the Custodian shall, under any circumstances, exercise any
discretion as to voting, grant any proxy of power of attorney to another
person
to vote Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by American Depositary
Shares in such other person’s discretion, vote any Shares or other Deposited
Securities other than an integral number thereof, or vote Shares or other
Deposited Securities in a manner that would be inconsistent with applicable
law.
A separate written request shall be required for each such meeting or
solicitation of consents or proxies of holders of Shares or other Deposited
Securities. Shares or other Deposited Securities evidenced by Receipts for
which
no specific voting instructions have been received shall not be voted and
shall
not be registered at the shareholders meeting. Instructions in respect of
any
ADS shall be deemed to have been received only if received in accordance
with
the terms of the Deposit Agreement and of this Receipt. The Company has agreed
that it shall not establish internal procedures that would prevent the
Depositary from complying with, or that are inconsistent with, its obligations
under this Paragraph 16, and provide timely notice to the Depositary which
will
enable the timely notification of Holders as to any change in applicable
law or
the Company’s charter resulting in limitations on the ability of the Depositary
to vote a particular ADS according to the voting instructions received in
regard
to such ADS.
17. CHANGES
AFFECTING DEPOSITED SECURITIES.
In
circumstances other than a distribution in Shares, upon any change in nominal
value, change in par value, split-up, consolidation or any other
reclassification of Deposited Securities, or upon any distribution on Shares
that is not distributed to Holders, or upon any recapitalization,
reorganization, merger, consolidation or liquidation affecting the Company
or to
which it is a party, or upon the sale of all or substantially all of the
assets
of the Company, any securities, cash or property which shall be received
by the
Depositary or a Custodian in exchange for or in conversion of or in respect
of
Deposited Securities shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be
treated as new Deposited Securities under the Deposit Agreement, and American
Depositary Shares shall (to the extent permitted by applicable law) thenceforth
represent, in addition to (or
in
lieu of, as the case may be) the
existing Deposited Securities, the right to receive the new Deposited Securities
so received in exchange or conversion; provided that the Depositary may elect
in
its sole discretion to (i) distribute
any cash it has received in connection with such actions in accordance with
Section 4.01; (ii) distribute any securities or other property it has received
in connection with such actions (or sell such securities or other property
and
distribute the proceeds as cash) in accordance with Section 4.02;
or (iii)
execute and deliver additional Receipts as in the case of a dividend in Shares.
In any such case the Depositary may at the request of the Company, but shall
not
be obligated to, call for the surrender of outstanding Receipts to be exchanged
for new Receipts specifically describing such new Deposited
Securities.
A-15
18. LIABILITY
OF THE COMPANY AND DEPOSITARY.
Neither
the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their respective directors, employees,
agents or Affiliates shall incur any liability to any Holder or Beneficial
Owner
of any Receipt, if by reason of any provision of any present or future law
or
regulation of the United States or any state thereof, the Russian Federation,
or
any other country, or of any governmental or regulatory authority, securities
exchange, market or automated quotation system, or by reason of any provision,
present or future, of the charter
of the
Company, or by reason of any provision of any securities issued or distributed
by the Company, or any offering or distribution thereof, or by reason of
any act
of God or war or other circumstances beyond its control, the Depositary or
the
Company shall be prevented, delayed or forbidden from, or be subject to any
civil or criminal penalty on account of, doing or performing any act or thing
which by the terms of the Deposit Agreement or Deposited Securities it is
provided shall be done or performed; nor shall the Depositary or the Company
or
any of their respective directors, employees, agents or Affiliates incur
any
liability to any Holder 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 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. Neither the Depositary
nor the
Company 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 Holder(s) or Beneficial Owners of American Depositary Shares.
Where, by the terms of a distribution pursuant to the terms of the Deposit
Agreement and Paragraph 12 hereof, or an offering or distribution pursuant
to
the terms of the Deposit Agreement and Paragraph 13 hereof, or for any other
reason, such distribution or offering may not be made available to Holders,
and
the Depositary may not dispose of such distribution or offering on behalf
of
such Holders and make the net proceeds available to such Holders, then the
Depositary shall not make such distribution or offering, and shall allow
any
rights, if applicable, to lapse.
A-16
Neither
the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their respective directors, employees,
agents and Affiliates shall be liable for any action or nonaction by it in
reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants,
any
person presenting Shares for deposit, any Holder 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, the Custodian and the Company
may
rely and shall be protected in acting upon any written notice, request,
direction or other document believed by
it
to
be
genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
The
Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to carry out any
instructions to vote any of the Deposited Securities, or for the manner in
which
any such vote is cast or the effect of any such vote, provided that such
action
or nonaction is without negligence. The Depositary shall not be liable to
the
Company, any Holder 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 other distributions with respect thereto as a result
of
(a) any act or failure to act of the Company or its agents, the Russian Share
Registrar, or its or their respective directors, employees, agents or
Affiliates, (b) any provision of any present or future law or regulation
of the
United States, the Russian Federation or any other country, (c) any provision
of
any present or future regulation of any governmental or regulatory authority
or
securities exchange, market or automated quotation system, (d) any provision
of
any present or future charter of the Company or any other instrument of the
Company governing Deposited Securities, (e) any provision of any securities
issued or distributed by the Company, or any offering or distribution thereof
or
(f) any act of God or war or other circumstances beyond its control. The
Depositary shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by a successor
depositary whether in connection with a previous act or omission of the
Depositary or in connection with any matter arising wholly after the removal
or
resignation of the Depositary, provided that in connection with the issue
out of
which such potential liability arises, the Depositary performed its obligations
without negligence or bad faith while it acted as Depositary. If any Receipts
or
the American Depositary Shares evidenced thereby are listed on one or more
securities exchanges, markets or automated quotation systems, (i) the Depositary
shall be entitled to take or refrain from taking such action(s) as it may
deem
necessary or appropriate to comply with the requirements of such securities
exchange(s), market(s) or automated quotation system(s) applicable to it,
notwithstanding any other provision of the Deposit Agreement; and (ii) upon
the
reasonable request of the Depositary, the Company has agreed in the Deposit
Agreement to provide the Depositary such information and assistance as may
be
reasonably necessary for the Depositary to comply with such requirements,
to the
extent that the Company may lawfully do so. The Custodian and the Depositary
(and any of their Affiliates) may own and deal in any class of securities
of the
Company (and any of its Affiliates) and in Receipts. No disclaimer of liability
under the Securities act is intended by any provision of the Deposit Agreement
or this Receipt.
19. RESIGNATION
AND REMOVAL OF THE DEPOSITARY; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN.
The
Depositary at any time may resign as Depositary under the Deposit Agreement
by
written notice of its election to do so delivered to the Company. The Company
at
any time may remove the Depositary by written notice of its election to do
so
delivered to the Depositary. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
in
the
Deposit Agreement,
in case
at any time the acting Depositary shall resign or be removed, it shall continue
to act as Depositary for the purpose of terminating this Deposit Agreement
pursuant to the terms of the Deposit Agreement and Paragraph 21 of this Receipt.
Any
corporation into or with which the Depositary may be converted,
merged
or
consolidated shall be the successor of the Depositary without the execution
or
filing of any document or any further act.
A-17
The
Depositary may from time to time appoint one or more entities as 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. Any Custodian may resign
and be discharged from its duties under
the
Deposit Agreement
by
notice of such resignation delivered to the Depositary at least 30 days prior
to
the date on which such resignation is to become effective. If upon such
resignation there shall be no Custodian acting under
the
Deposit Agreement,
the
Depositary shall, promptly after receiving such notice, appoint a substitute
custodian or custodians. Whenever the Depositary in its discretion determines
that it is in the best interest of the Holders to do so, it may appoint a
substitute or additional custodian or custodians, each of which shall thereafter
be one of the Custodians under
the
Deposit Agreement.
The
Depositary shall notify the Company promptly after the appointment of a
substitute or an additional Custodian
under
the Deposit Agreement.
Upon
demand of the Depositary, any Custodian shall deliver such of the Deposited
Securities held by it as are requested of it, and any records pertaining
thereto, 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.
20. AMENDMENT.
This
Receipt 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
in
any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable without the consent
of
the Holder or Beneficial Owner hereof. 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 affect any substantial
existing right of the Holder hereof shall, however, not become effective
as to
this Receipt until the expiration of thirty days after notice of such amendment
shall have been given to the Holder hereof. The Holder and Beneficial Owner
hereof agree that 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
or (b) the American Depositary Shares or Shares to be traded solely in
electronic book-entry form and (ii) do not in either such case impose or
increase any fees or charges to be borne by Holders, shall be deemed not
to
affect any substantial rights of Holders or Beneficial Owners. Every Holder
and
Beneficial Owner, at the time any amendment so becomes effective, shall be
deemed, by continuing to hold this Receipt and the ADSs represented thereby,
to
consent and agree to such amendment and to be bound by this Receipt, the
ADSs
and by the Deposit Agreement as amended thereby. In no event shall any amendment
impair the right of the Holder or Beneficial Owner of this Receipt to surrender
this Receipt and receive therefor the Deposited Securities represented thereby,
except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any governmental body should adopt new
laws,
rules or regulations which would require the amendment or supplement of this
Receipt or of the Deposit Agreement to ensure compliance therewith, the Company
and the Depositary may amend or supplement this Receipt and the Deposit
Agreement at any time in accordance with such changed laws, rules or
regulations. Such amendment or supplement hereof or of the Deposit Agreement
in
such circumstances may become effective before a notice of such amendment
or
supplement is given to Holders or within any other period of time as required
for compliance with such laws, rules or regulations.
A-18
21. TERMINATION
OF DEPOSIT AGREEMENT.
Upon
the
resignation or removal of the Depositary pursuant to the terms of the Deposit
Agreement and Paragraph 19 hereof, the Deposit Agreement shall terminate
on the
date falling 90 days after the date written notification of such resignation
or
removal is delivered, unless prior to such date the Company shall have appointed
a successor Depositary and such successor Depositary shall have delivered
written notice of such appointment to the Holders of all Receipts then
outstanding. The Depositary shall mail notice of such resignation or removal,
and the consequences thereof, to the Holders of all Receipts then outstanding
reasonably promptly after the date of such resignation or removal. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, in the absence of the willful default,
gross
negligence or bad faith of the
Depositary or its agents, directors, officers or employees, no such termination
shall have effect, and no such notice shall be given, until the Company has
reimbursed the Depositary for its expenses and for other amounts incurred
or
disbursed by the Depositary in connection with the establishment and maintenance
of the American Depositary Receipt facility created under the Deposit Agreement,
as agreed between the Company and the Depositary.
The
Deposit Agreement may otherwise be terminated in the manner provided in Section
2.11 of the Deposit Agreement, in which case no notice of termination shall
be
required. On and after the date of termination, the Holder of a Receipt will,
upon (a) surrender of such Receipt at the Corporate Trust Office, (b) payment
of
the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of Receipts referred to in Paragraph
2, and (c) payment of any applicable taxes or governmental charges, be entitled
to delivery, to him or upon his order, of the amount of Deposited Securities
represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt.
If any
Receipts shall remain outstanding after the date of termination, the Depositary
thereafter shall discontinue the registration of transfers of Receipts, shall
suspend the distribution of dividends to the Holders thereof, and shall not
give
any further notices or perform any further acts under the terms of 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
(without
liability for interest and after
deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of a
Receipt, any expenses for the account of the Holder 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 under
the
Deposit Agreement
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 Holders of Receipts which have
not
theretofore been surrendered, such Holders 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 to the Holders and
Beneficial Owners 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
Holder of such Receipt in accordance with the terms and conditions of the
Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental charges). Upon
the
termination of the Deposit Agreement, the Company shall be discharged from
all
obligations under the Deposit Agreement except for certain obligations to
the
Depositary described therein.
A-19
22. DISCLOSURE
OF INTERESTS; OWNERSHIP RESTRICTIONS.
Notwithstanding
any other provision of the Deposit Agreement or of this Receipt, each Holder
and
Beneficial Owner agrees to (a) provide such information as the Company may
request pursuant to law
(including, without limitation, relevant Russian
Federation law, any applicable laws of the United States or any other relevant
jurisdiction), the charter
of the
Company, any resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors adopted pursuant to
such charter, the requirements of any markets or exchanges upon which the
ADSs
or Receipts are listed or traded, or to any requirements of any electronic
book
entry system by which the ADSs or Receipts may be transferred and (b) comply
with, be bound by and subject to applicable provisions of the laws of the
Russian Federation, the United States and any other relevant jurisdiction,
the
charter of the Company and requirements of any markets or exchanges upon
which
the ADSs, Receipts or Shares are listed or traded, or pursuant to any
requirements of any electronic book entry system by which the ADSs, Receipts
or
Shares may be transferred, to the same extent as if such Holder and Beneficial
Owner held Shares (or such Beneficial Owner held ADSs or Receipts)
directly.
Failure
by a Holder or Beneficial Owner to provide in a timely fashion the information
requested by the Company may, in the Company’s sole discretion, result in the
withholding of certain rights in respect of such Holder or Beneficial Owner’s
American Depositary Shares (including voting rights and certain rights as
to
dividends in respect of the Shares represented by such American Depositary
Shares). The Depositary agrees to comply with any instructions received from
the
Company requesting that the Depositary take the actions specified therein
to
obtain such information.
In
the
event that the Company determines that there has been a failure to comply
with
the applicable reporting requirements with respect to any Deposited Securities
and that sanctions are to be imposed against such Deposited Securities pursuant
to the laws of the Russian Federation by a court of competent jurisdiction
or
the charter of the Company, the Company shall so notify the Depositary, giving
details thereof, and shall instruct the Depositary in writing as to the
application of such sanctions to the Deposited Securities. The Depositary
shall
have no liability for any actions taken in accordance with such
instructions.
A-20
23. COMPLIANCE
WITH U.S. LAWS.
Notwithstanding
anything in the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt to the contrary, the
withdrawal or delivery of Deposited Securities will not be suspended by the
Company or the Depositary except as would be permitted by General Instruction
I.A. (1) to Form F-6 under the Securities Act, as such instruction may be
amended from time to time.
24. AGENTS.
The
Depositary may perform its obligations under the Deposit Agreement through
any
agent or attorney appointed by it, provided that the Depositary shall notify
the
Company of such appointment. With respect to any and all losses, damages,
costs,
judgments, expenses and other liabilities (including reasonable attorneys'
fees
and expenses) (collectively referred to as “Losses”)
incurred by any Holder or Beneficial Owner as a result of the acts or failure
to
act by such agent or attorney (or, in the case of the Custodian, only such
damages as are described below), the Depositary, to the extent it shall receive
indemnification and security acceptable to it from such Holder or Beneficial
Owner, may take appropriate action to recover such Losses from such agent
or
attorney and, to the extent is takes such action and recovers any amounts,
as
promptly as practicable shall distribute any amounts so recovered (exclusive
of
costs and expenses incurred by the Depositary in connection with recovering
such
Losses which are not reimbursed by such agent or attorney, including, without
limitation, the Custodian) to the Holders and Beneficial Owners entitled
thereto; and the Depositary's sole responsibility and liability to such Holders
and Beneficial Owners shall be limited to amounts so received from such agent
or
attorney (exclusive of costs and expenses incurred by the Depositary in
connection with recovering such Losses which are not reimbursed by such agent
or
attorney, including, without limitation, the Custodian).
The
liability of the Custodian is set
forth
in
the
Custody
Agreement
between
the Depositary and the Custodian (the “Custody
Agreement”).
Under
the terms of the Custodian
Operating Agreement,
the
Custodian is only liable for its breach of the Custody Agreement, its gross
negligence, willful default or fraud in connection with the performance of
its
obligations thereunder and for loss of Shares or funds held in custody under
the
Custody Agreement. In each case, the liability of the Custodian with respect
to
the loss of Shares or funds will be limited to direct (but not indirect,
including consequential) losses incurred by Holders and Beneficial
Owners.
Moreover,
only the Depositary, acting on behalf of Holders and Beneficial Owners, will
be
permitted to bring claims against the Custodian in respect of such losses
incurred by Holders and Beneficial Owners as a result of the acts of, or
the
failure to act by, the Custodian. Any such claims by the Depositary against
the
Custodian will be resolved exclusively by arbitration. The Depositary agrees
to
promptly remit to Holders any amounts recovered from such claims (exclusive
of
costs and expenses incurred by the Depositary in connection with recovering
such
losses which are not reimbursed by the Custodian). The Depositary shall have
no
other responsibility or liability to Holders or Beneficial Owners with respect
to the acts of, or the failure to act by, the Custodian or for the
unavailability of the Shares or the failure to make any distribution of cash
or
property with respect thereto as a result of such unavailability.
A-21
The
liability of the Custodian for such losses incurred by Holders and Beneficial
Owners, the obligation of the Depositary to bring claims against the Custodian
for such losses and the method by which such claims may be brought are subject
to the terms and conditions of the Custody Agreement, a copy of which is
available from the Depositary upon the written request of any
Holder.
25. REGISTRATION
OF SHARES; RUSSIAN SHARE REGISTRAR; SHARE REGISTER.
(a)
In
the
Deposit Agreement the Company designated and appointed OAO NIKoil Registrar,
in
the Russian Federation, as its Russian Share Registrar in respect of the
Shares
and other
Deposited
Securities. The Company further agreed to take any and all action, including
the
filing of any and all such documents and instruments, as may be necessary
to
ensure that the designation and appointment of a Russian Share Registrar
unaffiliated with the Company is in full force and effect for so long as
any
ADSs or Receipts
remain
outstanding or the Deposit Agreement remains in force.
(b) |
In
the Deposit Agreement, the Company agreed that it shall, at all
times:
|
(i)
|
take
any and all action necessary to assure the accuracy and completeness
of
all information set forth in the Share Register maintained by the
Russian
Share Registrar in respect of the Shares or other Deposited
Securities;
|
(ii)
|
use
its best 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, the Russian Federation,
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 (and in any event
not
less than monthly) confirm 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);
|
(iii)
|
use
its best efforts to cause the Russian Share Registrar promptly
(and, in
any event, within three 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 as practicable thereafter) to effect the
re-registration of ownership of Deposited Securities in the Share
Register
in connection with any deposit or withdrawal of Shares or other
Deposited
Securities under the Deposit
Agreement;
|
A-22
(iv)
|
permit
and use its best efforts to cause the Russian Share Registrar to
permit
the Depositary or the Custodian to register any Shares or other
Deposited
Securities held under
the Deposit Agreement
in
the name of the Depositary, the Custodian or their respective nominees
(which may, but need not be, a non-resident of the Russian Federation);
and
|
(v)
|
use
its best 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 Company’s
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,
those set out in this Paragraph 25); (C) refuses to re-register
shares of
the Company in the name of a particular purchaser and such purchaser
(or
its respective seller) alleges that such refusal is unlawful; (D)
holds
Shares of the Company for its own account; or (E) has materially
breached
the provisions of the Deposit Agreement relating to it (including,
without
limitation, those set out in this Paragraph 25) and has failed
to cure
such breach within a reasonable
time.
|
(c)
In
the
Deposit Agreement, the Company agreed that it shall be solely liable for
any act
or failure to act on the part of the Russian Share Registrar (other than
any act
or failure to act arising in connection with any act or of the Depositary
or the
Custodian to act) 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,
or
their respective directors, employees, agents or Affiliates (other
than any act or failure to act arising in connection with any act or failure
of
the Depositary or the Custodian, or their respective directors, employees,
agents or Affiliates to act), (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.
A-23
(d)
In
the
Deposit Agreement, the Depositary agreed, for the benefit of Holders and
Beneficial Owners, that the Depositary or the Custodian shall confirm regularly
(and in any event not less than monthly) 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. In the Deposit Agreement, the Company and the Depositary agreed
that,
for the purposes of the rights and obligations under the
Deposit
Agreement of the parties thereto, 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. In the Deposit Agreement,
the
Depositary agreed that it shall, and shall cause the Custodian to, at any
time
and from time to time use all reasonable efforts to assure 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. In the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary agreed that
it
will instruct the Custodian to maintain custody of all duplicate share extracts
(or other evidence of verification) provided to the Depositary, the Custodian
or
their respective agents pursuant to the terms
of the
Deposit Agreement and Paragraph 25(b) hereof.
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 event of
discrepancy between the records of the Depositary or the Custodian and the
Share
Register, the Company agreed
that
(whether or not it has received any notification from the Depositary) it
will
(i) use its best efforts to cause the Russian Share Registrar to reconcile
its records to the records of the Depositary or the Custodian 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 Holders of the existence of such discrepancy.
Upon
receipt of the Company's instruction to notify the Holders of such discrepancy,
the Depositary shall give such notification promptly to the Holders pursuant
to
the notice provisions of the Deposit Agreement (it being understood that
the
Depositary at any time may give such notification to the Holders, whether
or not
it has received instructions from the Company) and shall promptly cease issuing
Receipts
until
such time as, in the opinion of the Depositary, such records have been
appropriately reconciled.
26.
ARBITRATION;
SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES; WAIVER OF IMMUNITIES.
(a)
Any
dispute,
controversy,
claim
or cause
of action brought by any party to
the
Deposit Agreement
against
the Company arising out of or relating to the Shares or other Deposited
Securities, the ADSs, the Receipts
or
the
Deposit
Agreement, or the breach
hereof
or
thereof,
shall be referred to, and finally resolved by, arbitration in accordance
with
the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association
in
effect on the date of the
Deposit
Agreement, which
Rules are deemed incorporated by reference into this paragraph.
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 be properly
be
joined, the Company may be so joined in any court 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 promulgated thereunder
may, but need not, be submitted to arbitration as provided in Section 7.11
of
the Deposit Agreement. The place of the arbitration shall be the
Borough of Manhattan in the City of Xxx Xxxx, Xxxxx xx Xxx Xxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
of America,
and the
language of the arbitration shall be English.
A-24
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 experienced in international securities transactions selected from
the
American Arbitration Association’s Large Complex Case Panel. If a dispute,
controversy 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. If such alignment and appointment shall have not occurred within
twenty (20) calendar days after the initiating party serves the arbitration
demand, the American Arbitration Association shall
appoint the three arbitrators. The parties and the American Arbitration
Association may
appoint from among the nationals of any country, whether or not a party is
a
national of that country.
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 the
Deposit
Agreement.
(b)
Any
dispute,
controversy,
claim
or cause
of action rising out of or relating to the Shares or other Deposited Securities,
the ADSs, the Receipts
or
the
Deposit
Agreement not subject to arbitration shall be litigated in the federal or
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 Paragraph 26 shall survive any termination of the Deposit
Agreement, in whole or in part.
(d)
In
the Deposit Agreement, the Company (i) irrevocably designated and appointed
CT
Corporation System (the “Agent”),
presently
having
its office at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
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 the terms of the Deposit Agreement and the preceding
provisions of 26) arising out of or relating to the Shares or other
Deposited
Securities, the ADSs, the Receipts
or
the
Deposit
Agreement, (ii) consented
and
submitted
to
the
non-exclusive jurisdiction
of any court in which any such suit or proceeding may be instituted, and
(iii)
agreed
that
service of process upon said authorized agent shall be deemed in every respect
effective service of process,
by any
means permitted by applicable law,
upon the
Company in any such suit or proceeding. The Company agreed
to
deliver, upon the execution and delivery of the
Deposit
Agreement, a written acceptance by such Agent of its appointment. The Company
further agreed
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 ADSs or Receipts
remain
outstanding or the
Deposit
Agreement remains in force. In the event the Company fails to continue such
designation and appointment in full force and effect, to
the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the
Company thereby waived
personal
service of process upon it and consented
that any
such service of process may be made by established overnight courier service,
directed to the Company at its address last specified for notices under
the
Deposit Agreement,
and
service so made shall be deemed completed five (5) days after the same shall
have been so couriered.
The
Company thereby
irrevocably designated,
appointed
and
empowered
the
Agent to
receive and accept for and on its behalf, and on behalf of its properties,
assets and revenues, service by mail of any and all legal process, summons,
notices and documents that may be served in any suit, action or proceeding
brought against the Company in any federal or state court or arbitration
as
described in the terms of the Deposit Agreement and this Paragraph 26.
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(e)
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
immunity, on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise, 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 or 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 jurisdiction 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 ADSs, the Receipts
or
the
Deposit
Agreement, the Company in
the
Deposit Agreement
irrevocably and unconditionally waived and agreed not to plead or claim any
such
immunity and consented
to such
relief and enforcement,
to
the
fullest extent permitted by law. Additionally, in the Deposit Agreement,
the
Company irrevocably and unconditionally waived, to the fullest extent permitted
by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of
venue
of any actions, suits or proceedings brought in any arbitration or court
as
provided in the Deposit Agreement and this Paragraph 26, and further irrevocably
and unconditionally waived and agreed not to plead or claim in any such
arbitration
or court
that any such action, suit or proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient
forum.
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