OSMETECH PLC AND THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON As Depositary AND OWNERS AND HOLDERS OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES Deposit Agreement Dated as of , 2008
EXHIBIT
4.3
AND
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
As Depositary
AND
OWNERS AND HOLDERS OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
Dated as of , 2008
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS | 1 | |||||
SECTION 1.01 |
American Depositary Shares | 1 | ||||
SECTION 1.02 |
Commission | 2 | ||||
SECTION 1.03 |
Company | 2 | ||||
SECTION 1.04 |
Custodian | 2 | ||||
SECTION 1.05 |
Deliver; Surrender | 2 | ||||
SECTION 1.06 |
Deposit Agreement | 3 | ||||
SECTION 1.07 |
Depositary; Corporate Trust Office | 3 | ||||
SECTION 1.08 |
Deposited Securities | 3 | ||||
SECTION 1.09 |
Dollars | 3 | ||||
SECTION 1.10 |
DTC | 3 | ||||
SECTION 1.11 |
Foreign Xxxxxxxxx | 0 | ||||
SECTION 1.12 |
Holder | 3 | ||||
SECTION 1.13 |
Owner | 4 | ||||
SECTION 1.14 |
Receipts | 4 | ||||
SECTION 1.15 |
Xxxxxxxxx | 0 | ||||
SECTION 1.16 |
Restricted Securities | 4 | ||||
SECTION 1.17 |
Securities Act of 1933 | 4 | ||||
SECTION 1.18 |
Shares | 4 | ||||
ARTICLE 2. FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF SHARES, DELIVERY, TRANSFER AND
SURRENDER OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES |
5 | |||||
SECTION 2.01 |
Form of Receipts; Registration and Transferability of American Depositary Shares | 5 | ||||
SECTION 2.02 |
Deposit of Shares | 6 | ||||
SECTION 2.03 |
Delivery of American Depositary Shares | 7 | ||||
SECTION 2.04 |
Registration of Transfer of American Depositary Shares; Combination and Split-up of Receipts; Interchange of Certificated and Uncertificated American Depositary Shares | 7 | ||||
SECTION 2.05 |
Surrender of American Depositary Shares and Withdrawal of Deposited Securities | 8 | ||||
SECTION 2.06 |
Limitations on Delivery, Transfer and Surrender of American Depositary Shares | 9 | ||||
SECTION 2.07 |
Lost Receipts, etc. | 10 | ||||
SECTION 2.08 |
Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts | 10 | ||||
SECTION 2.09 |
Pre-Release of American Depositary Shares | 10 |
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SECTION 2.10 |
DTC Direct Registration System and Profile Modification System | 12 | ||||
ARTICLE 3. CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF OWNERS AND HOLDERS OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES |
12 | |||||
SECTION 3.01 |
Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information | 12 | ||||
SECTION 3.02 |
Liability of Owner for Taxes | 13 | ||||
SECTION 3.03 |
Warranties on Deposit of Shares | 13 | ||||
SECTION 3.04 |
Disclosure of Interests | 13 | ||||
ARTICLE 4. THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES | 14 | |||||
SECTION 4.01 |
Cash Distributions | 14 | ||||
SECTION 4.02 |
Distributions Other Than Cash, Shares or Rights | 14 | ||||
SECTION 4.03 |
Distributions in Shares | 15 | ||||
SECTION 4.04 |
Rights. | 15 | ||||
SECTION 4.05 |
Conversion of Foreign Currency | 17 | ||||
SECTION 4.06 |
Fixing of Record Date | 18 | ||||
SECTION 4.07 |
Voting of Deposited Securities | 18 | ||||
SECTION 4.08 |
Changes Affecting Deposited Securities | 20 | ||||
SECTION 4.09 |
Reports | 20 | ||||
SECTION 4.10 |
Lists of Owners | 21 | ||||
SECTION 4.11 |
Withholding | 21 | ||||
ARTICLE 5. THE DEPOSITARY, THE CUSTODIANS AND THE COMPANY | 21 | |||||
SECTION 5.01 |
Maintenance of Office and Transfer Books by the Depositary | 21 | ||||
SECTION 5.02 |
Prevention or Delay in Performance by the Depositary or the Company | 22 | ||||
SECTION 5.03 |
Obligations of the Depositary, the Custodian and the Company | 22 | ||||
SECTION 5.04 |
Resignation and Removal of the Depositary | 23 | ||||
SECTION 5.05 |
The Custodians | 24 | ||||
SECTION 5.06 |
Notices and Reports | 25 | ||||
SECTION 5.07 |
Distribution of Additional Shares, Rights, etc. | 25 | ||||
SECTION 5.08 |
Indemnification | 26 | ||||
SECTION 5.09 |
Charges of Depositary | 27 | ||||
SECTION 5.10 |
Retention of Depositary Documents | 28 | ||||
SECTION 5.11 |
Exclusivity | 28 | ||||
SECTION 5.12 |
List of Restricted Securities Owners | 29 |
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ARTICLE 6. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION | 29 | |||||
SECTION 6.01 |
Amendment | 29 | ||||
SECTION 6.02 |
Termination | 29 | ||||
ARTICLE 7. MISCELLANEOUS | 30 | |||||
SECTION 7.01 |
Counterparts | 30 | ||||
SECTION 7.02 |
No Third Party Beneficiaries | 31 | ||||
SECTION 7.03 |
Severability | 31 | ||||
SECTION 7.04 |
Owners and Holders as Parties; Binding Effect | 31 | ||||
SECTION 7.05 |
Notices | 31 | ||||
SECTION 7.06 |
Submission to Jurisdiction; Appointment of Agent for Service of Process; Jury Trial Waiver | 32 | ||||
SECTION 7.07 |
Waiver of Immunities | 33 | ||||
SECTION 7.08 |
Governing Law | 33 | ||||
SECTION 7.09 |
Compliance with US Securities Laws | 33 |
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DEPOSIT AGREEMENT dated as of , 2008, among OSMETECH PLC, a public company limited
by shares, incorporated under the laws of the England and Wales (herein called the Company), THE
BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, a New York banking corporation (herein called the Depositary), and all
Owners and Holders from time to time of American Depositary Shares issued hereunder.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide, as hereinafter set forth in this Deposit Agreement,
for the deposit of Shares (as hereinafter defined) of the Company from time to time with the
Depositary or with the Custodian (as hereinafter defined) as agent of the Depositary for the
purposes set forth in this Deposit Agreement, for the creation of American Depositary Shares
representing the Shares so deposited and for the execution and delivery of American Depositary
Receipts evidencing the American Depositary Shares; and
WHEREAS, the American Depositary Receipts are to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A
annexed hereto, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided
in this Deposit Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, it is agreed by and between the parties
hereto as follows:
ARTICLE 1. | DEFINITIONS |
The following definitions shall for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated, apply to
the respective terms used in this Deposit Agreement:
SECTION 1.01 American Depositary Shares.
The term “American Depositary Shares” shall mean the securities created under this Deposit
Agreement representing rights with respect to the Deposited Securities. American Depositary Shares
may be certificated securities evidenced by Receipts or uncertificated securities. The form of
Receipt annexed as Exhibit A to this Deposit Agreement shall be the prospectus required under the
Securities Act of 1933 for sales of both certificated and uncertificated American Depositary
Shares. Except for those provisions of this Deposit Agreement that refer specifically to Receipts,
all the provisions of this Deposit Agreement shall apply to both certificated and uncertificated
American Depositary Shares. Each American Depositary Share shall represent the number of Shares
specified in Exhibit A to this Deposit Agreement, until there shall occur a distribution upon
Deposited Securities covered by Section 4.03 or a change in Deposited Securities covered by Section
4.08 with respect to which additional American
Depositary Shares are not delivered, and thereafter American Depositary Shares shall represent the
amount of Shares or Deposited Securities specified in such Sections.
SECTION 1.02 Commission.
The term “Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States
or any successor governmental agency in the United States.
SECTION 1.03 Company.
The term “Company” shall mean Osmetech plc, a public company limited by shares, organized
under the laws of England and Wales, and its successors.
SECTION 1.04 Custodian.
The term “Custodian” shall mean the London office of The Bank of New York Mellon, as agent of
the Depositary for the purposes of this Deposit Agreement, and any other firm or corporation which
may hereafter be appointed by the Depositary pursuant to the terms of Section 5.05, as substitute
or additional custodian or custodians hereunder, as the context shall require and shall also mean
all of them collectively.
SECTION 1.05 Deliver; Surrender.
(a) The term “deliver”, or its noun form, when used with respect to Shares or other Deposited
Securities, shall mean (i) book-entry transfer of those Shares or other Deposited Securities to an
account maintained by an institution authorized under applicable law to effect transfers of such
securities designated by the person entitled to that delivery or (ii) physical transfer of
certificates evidencing those Shares or other Deposited Securities registered in the name of, or
duly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer to, the person entitled to that
delivery.
(b) The term “deliver”, or its noun form, when used with respect to American Depositary
Shares, shall mean (i) book-entry transfer of American Depositary Shares to an account at DTC
designated by the person entitled to such delivery, evidencing American Depositary Shares
registered in the name requested by that person, (ii) registration of American Depositary Shares
not evidenced by a Receipt on the books of the Depositary in the name requested by the person
entitled to such delivery and mailing to that person of a statement confirming that registration
or (iii) if requested by the person entitled to such delivery, delivery at the Corporate Trust
Office of the Depositary to the person entitled to such delivery of one or more Receipts.
(c) The term “surrender”, when used with respect to American Depositary Shares, shall mean (i)
one or more book-entry transfers of American Depositary Shares to the DTC account of the
Depositary, (ii) delivery to the Depositary at
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its Corporate Trust Office of an instruction to surrender American Depositary Shares not
evidenced by a Receipt or (iii) surrender to the Depositary at its Corporate Trust Office of one or
more Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares.
SECTION 1.06 Deposit Agreement.
The term “Deposit Agreement” shall mean this Agreement, as the same may be amended from time
to time in accordance with the provisions hereof.
SECTION 1.07 Depositary; Corporate Trust Office.
The term “Depositary” shall mean The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York banking corporation,
and any successor as depositary hereunder. The term “Corporate Trust Office”, when used with
respect to the Depositary, shall mean the office of the Depositary which at the date of this
Deposit Agreement is 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000.
SECTION 1.08 Deposited Securities.
The term “Deposited Securities” as of any time shall mean Shares at such time deposited or
deemed to be deposited under this Deposit Agreement, including without limitation Shares that have
not been successfully delivered upon surrender of American Depositary Shares, and any and all other
securities, property and cash received by the Depositary or the Custodian in respect thereof and at
such time held under this Deposit Agreement, subject as to cash to the provisions of Section 4.05.
SECTION 1.09 Dollars.
The term “Dollars” shall mean United States dollars.
SECTION 1.10 DTC.
The term “DTC” shall mean The Depository Trust Company or its successor.
SECTION 1.11 Foreign Registrar.
The term “Foreign Registrar” shall mean the entity that presently carries out the duties of
registrar for the Shares or any successor as registrar for the Shares and any other agent of the
Company for the transfer and registration of Shares, including without limitation any securities
depository for the Shares.
SECTION 1.12 Holder.
The term “Holder” shall mean any person holding a Receipt or a security entitlement or other
interest in American Depositary Shares, whether for its own account
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or for the account of another person, but that is not the Owner of that Receipt or those
American Depositary Shares.
SECTION 1.13 Owner.
The term “Owner” shall mean the person in whose name American Depositary Shares are registered
on the books of the Depositary maintained for such purpose.
SECTION 1.14 Receipts.
The term “Receipts” shall mean the American Depositary Receipts issued hereunder evidencing
certificated American Depositary Shares, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance
with the provisions hereof.
SECTION 1.15 Registrar.
The term “Registrar” shall mean any bank or trust company having an office in the Borough of
Manhattan, The City of New York, that is appointed by the Depositary to register American
Depositary Shares and transfers of American Depositary Shares as herein provided.
SECTION 1.16 Restricted Securities.
The term “Restricted Securities” shall mean Shares, or American Depositary Shares representing
Shares, that are acquired directly or indirectly from the Company or its affiliates (as defined in
Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933) in a transaction or chain of transactions not involving
any public offering, or that are subject to resale limitations under Regulation D under the
Securities Act of 1933 or both, or which are held by an officer, director (or persons performing
similar functions) or other affiliate of the Company, or that would require registration under the
Securities Act of 1933 in connection with the offer and sale thereof in the United States, or that
are subject to other restrictions on sale or deposit under the laws of the United States or the
United Kingdom, or under a shareholder agreement or the articles of association or similar document
of the Company.
SECTION 1.17 Securities Act of 1933.
The term “Securities Act of 1933” shall mean the United States Securities Act of 1933, as from
time to time amended.
SECTION 1.18 Shares.
The term “Shares” shall mean ordinary shares of the Company that are validly issued and
outstanding and fully paid, nonassessable and that were not issued in
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violation of any pre-emptive or similar rights of the holders of outstanding securities of the
Company; provided, however, that, if there shall occur any change in nominal value,
a split-up or consolidation or any other reclassification or, upon the occurrence of an event
described in Section 4.08, an exchange or conversion in respect of the Shares of the Company, the
term “Shares” shall thereafter also mean the successor securities resulting from such change in
nominal value, split-up or consolidation or such other reclassification or such exchange or
conversion.
ARTICLE 2. | FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF SHARES, DELIVERY, TRANSFER AND SURRENDER OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES |
SECTION 2.01 Form of Receipts; Registration and Transferability of American Depositary
Shares.
Definitive Receipts shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A annexed to this
Deposit Agreement, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter
provided. No Receipt shall be entitled to any benefits under this Deposit Agreement or be valid or
obligatory for any purpose, unless such Receipt shall have been (i) executed by the Depositary by
the manual signature of a duly authorized officer of the Depositary or (ii) executed by the
facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer of the Depositary and countersigned by the manual
signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary or a Registrar. The Depositary shall
maintain books on which (x) each Receipt so executed and delivered as hereinafter provided and the
transfer of each such Receipt shall be registered and (y) all American Depositary Shares delivered
as hereinafter provided and all registrations of transfer of American Depositary Shares shall be
registered. A Receipt bearing the facsimile signature of a person that was at any time a proper
officer of the Depositary shall, subject to the other provisions of this paragraph, bind the
Depositary, notwithstanding that such person was not a proper officer of the Depositary on the date
of issuance of that Receipt.
The Receipts may be endorsed with or have incorporated in the text thereof such legends or
recitals or modifications not inconsistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement as may be
required by the Depositary or required to comply with any applicable law or regulations thereunder
or with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange upon which American Depositary Shares
may be listed or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, or to indicate any special
limitations or restrictions to which any particular Receipts are subject by reason of the date of
issuance of the underlying Deposited Securities or otherwise.
American Depositary Shares evidenced by a Receipt, when properly endorsed or accompanied by
proper instruments of transfer, shall be transferable as certificated registered securities under
the laws of New York. American Depositary Shares not evidenced by Receipts shall be transferable as
uncertificated registered securities under the laws of New York. The Depositary, notwithstanding
any notice to
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the contrary, may treat the Owner of American Depositary Shares as the absolute owner thereof
for the purpose of determining the person entitled to distribution of dividends or other
distributions or to any notice provided for in this Deposit Agreement and for all other purposes,
and neither the Depositary nor the Company shall have any obligation or be subject to any liability
under this Deposit Agreement to any Holder of American Depositary Shares unless that Holder is the
Owner of those American Depositary Shares.
SECTION 2.02 Deposit of Shares.
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, Shares or evidence of rights to
receive Shares may be deposited by delivery thereof to any Custodian hereunder, accompanied by any
appropriate instruments or instructions for transfer, or endorsement, in form satisfactory to the
Custodian, together with all such certifications as may be required by the Depositary or the
Custodian in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, and, if the Depositary
requires, together with a written order directing the Depositary to deliver to, or upon the written
order of, the person or persons stated in such order, the number of American Depositary Shares
representing such deposit.
No Share shall be accepted for deposit unless accompanied by evidence satisfactory to the
Depositary that any necessary approval has been granted by any governmental body in the United
Kingdom that is then performing the function of the regulation of currency exchange. If required by
the Depositary, Shares presented for deposit at any time, whether or not the transfer books of the
Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, are closed, shall also be accompanied by an
agreement or assignment, or other instrument satisfactory to the Depositary, which will provide for
the prompt transfer to the Custodian of any dividend, or right to subscribe for additional Shares
or to receive other property which any person in whose name the Shares are or have been recorded
may thereafter receive upon or in respect of such deposited Shares, or in lieu thereof, such
agreement of indemnity or other agreement as shall be satisfactory to the Depositary.
The Depositary and the Custodian shall refuse to accept Shares for deposit if they have
received a notice from the Company that the Company has restricted transfer of those Shares under
its memorandum or articles of association or similar document of the Company or any applicable laws
or that the deposit would result in any violation of its memorandum or articles of association or
similar document of the Company or any applicable laws. The Company shall notify the Depositary and
the custodian in writing with respect to any restrictions on transfer of its Shares for deposit
under this Deposit Agreement.
At the request and risk and expense of any person proposing to deposit Shares, and for the
account of such person, the Depositary may receive certificates for Shares to be deposited,
together with the other instruments herein specified, for the purpose of forwarding such Share
certificates to the Custodian for deposit hereunder.
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Upon each delivery to a Custodian of a certificate or certificates for Shares to be deposited
hereunder, together with the other documents specified above, such Custodian shall, as soon as
transfer and recordation can be accomplished, present such certificate or certificates to the
Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, for transfer and recordation of the Shares being
deposited in the name of the Depositary or its nominee or such Custodian or its nominee.
Deposited Securities shall be held by the Depositary or by a Custodian for the account and to
the order of the Depositary or at such other place or places as the Depositary shall determine.
SECTION 2.03 Delivery of American Depositary Shares.
Upon receipt by any Custodian of any deposit pursuant to Section 2.02 hereunder, together with
the other documents required as specified above, such Custodian shall notify the Depositary of such
deposit and the person or persons to whom or upon whose written order American Depositary Shares
are deliverable in respect thereof and the number of American Depositary Shares to be so delivered.
Such notification shall be made by letter or, at the request, risk and expense of the person making
the deposit, by cable, telex or facsimile transmission (and in addition, if the transfer books of
the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, are open, the Depositary may in its sole
discretion require a proper acknowledgment or other evidence from the Company or the Foreign
Registrar that any Deposited Securities have been recorded upon the books of the Company or the
Foreign Registrar, if applicable, in the name of the Depositary or its nominee or such Custodian or
its nominee). Upon receiving such notice from such Custodian, or upon the receipt of Shares or
evidence of the right to receive Shares by the Depositary, the Depositary, subject to the terms and
conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall deliver, to or upon the order of the person or persons
entitled thereto, the number of American Depositary Shares issuable in respect of that deposit, but
only upon payment to the Depositary of the fees and expenses of the Depositary for the delivery of
such American Depositary Shares as provided in Section 5.09, and of all taxes and governmental
charges and fees payable in connection with such deposit and the transfer of the Deposited
Securities.
SECTION 2.04 Registration of Transfer of American Depositary Shares; Combination and
Split-up of Receipts; Interchange of Certificated and Uncertificated American Depositary
Shares.
The Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall register
transfers of American Depositary Shares on its transfer books from time to time, upon (i) in the
case of certificated American Depositary Shares, surrender of the Receipt evidencing those American
Depositary Shares, by the Owner in person or by a duly authorized attorney, properly endorsed or
accompanied by proper instruments of transfer or (ii) in the case of uncertificated American
Depositary Shares, receipt from the Owner of a proper instruction (including, for the avoidance of
doubt,
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instructions through DRS and Profile as provided in Section 2.10), and, in either case, duly
stamped as may be required by the laws of the State of New York and of the United States of
America. Thereupon the Depositary shall deliver those American Depositary Shares to or upon the
order of the person entitled thereto.
The Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall upon
surrender of a Receipt or Receipts for the purpose of effecting a split-up or combination of such
Receipt or Receipts, execute and deliver a new Receipt or Receipts for any authorized number of
American Depositary Shares requested, evidencing the same aggregate number of American Depositary
Shares as the Receipt or Receipts surrendered.
The Depositary, upon surrender of certificated American Depositary Shares for the purpose of
exchanging for uncertificated American Depositary Shares, shall cancel those certificated American
Depositary Shares and send the Owner a statement confirming that the Owner is the owner of the same
number of uncertificated American Depositary Shares. The Depositary, upon receipt of a proper
instruction (including, for the avoidance of doubt, instructions through DRS and Profile as
provided in Section 2.10) from the Owner of uncertificated American Depositary Shares for the
purpose of exchanging for certificated American Depositary Shares, shall cancel those
uncertificated American Depositary Shares and deliver to the Owner the same number of certificated
American Depositary Shares.
The Depositary may appoint one or more co-transfer agents for the purpose of effecting
registration of transfers of American Depositary Shares and combinations and split-ups of Receipts
at designated transfer offices on behalf of the Depositary. In carrying out its functions, a
co-transfer agent may require evidence of authority and compliance with applicable laws and other
requirements by Owners or persons entitled to American Depositary Shares and will be entitled to
protection and indemnity to the same extent as the Depositary. The Depositary shall require each
co-transfer agent that it appoints under this Section 2.04 to give notice in writing to the
Depositary accepting such appointment and agreeing to abide by the applicable terms of this Deposit
Agreement.
SECTION 2.05 Surrender of American Depositary Shares and Withdrawal of Deposited
Securities.
Upon surrender at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary of American Depositary Shares
for the purpose of withdrawal of the Deposited Securities represented thereby, and upon payment of
the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of American Depositary Shares as provided in Section
5.09 and payment of all taxes and governmental charges payable in connection with such surrender
and withdrawal of the Deposited Securities, and subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit
Agreement, the Owner of those American Depositary Shares shall be entitled to delivery, to him or
as instructed, of the amount of Deposited Securities at the time represented by those
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American Depositary Shares. Such delivery shall be made, as hereinafter provided, without
unreasonable delay.
A Receipt surrendered for such purposes may be required by the Depositary to be properly
endorsed in blank or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer in blank. The Depositary may
require the surrendering Owner to 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 in the manner provided in the
preceding paragraph. Thereupon the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to deliver at the office
of such Custodian, subject to Sections 2.06, 3.01 and 3.02 and to the other terms and conditions of
this Deposit Agreement, to or upon the written order of the person or persons designated in the
order delivered to the Depositary as above provided, the amount of Deposited Securities represented
by the surrendered American Depositary Shares, except that the Depositary may make delivery to such
person or persons at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary of any dividends or distributions
with respect to the Deposited Securities represented by those American Depositary Shares, or of any
proceeds of sale of any dividends, distributions or rights, which may at the time be held by the
Depositary.
At the request, risk and expense of any Owner so surrendering American Depositary Shares, and
for the account of such Owner, the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to forward any cash or
other property (other than rights) comprising, and forward a certificate or certificates, if
applicable, and other proper documents of title for, the Deposited Securities represented by the
surrendered American Depositary Shares to the Depositary for delivery at the Corporate Trust Office
of the Depositary. Such direction shall be given by letter or, at the request, risk and expense of
such Owner, by cable, telex or facsimile transmission.
SECTION 2.06 Limitations on Delivery, Transfer and Surrender of American Depositary
Shares.
As a condition precedent to the delivery, registration of transfer or surrender of any
American Depositary Shares or split-up or combination of any Receipt or withdrawal of any Deposited
Securities, the Depositary, Custodian or Registrar may require payment from the depositor of Shares
or the presenter of the Receipt or instruction for registration of transfer or surrender of
American Depositary Shares not evidenced by a Receipt of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any
tax, stamp duty or other governmental charge and any stock transfer or registration fee with
respect thereto (including any such tax or charge and fee with respect to Shares being deposited or
withdrawn) and payment of any applicable fees as herein provided, may require the production of
proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature and may also require
compliance with any regulations the Depositary may establish consistent with the provisions of this
Deposit Agreement, including, without limitation, this Section 2.06.
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The delivery of American Depositary Shares against deposit of Shares generally or against
deposit of particular Shares may be suspended, or the transfer of American Depositary Shares in
particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer of outstanding American
Depositary Shares generally may be suspended, during any period when the transfer books of the
Depositary are closed, as provided in Section 5.01, or if any such action is deemed necessary or
advisable by the Depositary or the Company at any time or from time to time because of any
requirement of law or of any government or governmental body or commission, or under any provision
of this Deposit Agreement, or for any other reason, subject to the provisions of the following
sentence. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Deposit Agreement, the surrender of
outstanding American Depositary Shares and withdrawal of Deposited Securities may not be suspended
subject only to (i) temporary delays caused by closing the transfer books of the Depositary or the
Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, or the deposit of Shares in connection with voting
at a shareholders’ meeting, or the payment of dividends, (ii) the payment of fees, taxes and
similar charges, and (iii) compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations
relating to the American Depositary Shares or to the withdrawal of the Deposited Securities.
Without limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under
this Deposit Agreement any Shares which would be required to be registered under the provisions of
the Securities Act of 1933 for public offer and sale in the United States unless a registration
statement is in effect as to such Shares for such offer and sale.
SECTION 2.07 Lost Receipts, etc.
In case any Receipt shall be mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen, the Depositary shall
deliver to the Owner the American Depositary Shares evidenced by that Receipt in uncertificated
form or, if requested by the Owner, execute and deliver a new Receipt of like tenor in exchange and
substitution for such mutilated Receipt, upon cancellation thereof, or in lieu of and in
substitution for such destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt. Before the Depositary shall deliver
American Depositary Shares in uncertificated form or execute and deliver a new Receipt, in
substitution for a destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt, the Owner thereof shall have (a) filed with
the Depositary (i) a request for such execution and delivery before the Depositary has notice that
the Receipt has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser and (ii) a sufficient indemnity bond and (b)
satisfied any other reasonable requirements imposed by the Depositary.
SECTION 2.08 Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts.
All Receipts surrendered to the Depositary shall be cancelled by the Depositary. The
Depositary is authorized to destroy Receipts so cancelled.
SECTION 2.09 Pre-Release of American Depositary Shares.
The Depositary may issue Receipts against the delivery by the Company (or any agent of the
Company recording Share ownership) of rights to receive Shares
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from the Company (or any such agent). No such issue of Receipts will be deemed a “Pre
Release” that is subject to the restrictions of the following paragraph.
Unless requested in writing by the Company to cease doing so, the Depositary may,
notwithstanding Section 2.03 hereof, execute and deliver Receipts prior to the receipt of shares
pursuant to Section 2.02 (“Pre-Release”). The Depositary may, pursuant to Section 2.05, deliver
Shares upon the receipt and cancellation of Receipts which have been Pre-Released, whether or not
such cancellation is prior to the termination of such Pre-Release or the Depositary knows that such
Receipt has been Pre Released. The Depositary may receive Receipts in lieu of Shares in
satisfaction of a Pre Release. Each Pre Release will be (a) preceded or accompanied by a written
representation and agreement from the person to whom Receipts are to be delivered (the
“Pre-Releasee”) that the Pre-Releasee, or its customer, (i) owns the shares or Receipts to be
remitted, as the case may be, (ii) assigns all beneficial rights, title and interest in such Shares
or Receipts, as the case may be, to the Depositary in its capacity as such and for the benefit of
the Owners, and (iii) will not take any action with respect to such Shares or Receipts, as the case
may be, that is inconsistent with the transfer of beneficial ownership (including, without the
consent of the Depositary, disposing of such Shares or Receipts, as the case may be), other than in
satisfaction of such Pre Release, (b) at all times fully collateralized with cash, U.S. government
securities or such other collateral as the Depositary determines, in good faith, will provide
substantially similar liquidity and security, (c) terminable by the Depositary on not more than
five (5) business days notice, and (d) subject to such further indemnities and credit regulations
as the Depositary deems appropriate. The number of Shares not deposited but represented by
American Depositary Shares outstanding at any time as a result of Pre Releases will not normally
exceed thirty percent (30%) of the Shares deposited hereunder; provided, however, that the
Depositary reserves the right to disregard such limit from time to time as it deems reasonably
appropriate, and may, with the prior written consent of the Company, change such limit for purposes
of general application. The Depositary will also set Dollar limits with respect to Pre-Release
transactions to be entered into hereunder with any particular Pre-Releasee on a case by case basis
as the Depositary deems appropriate. For purposes of enabling the Depositary to fulfill its
obligations to the Owners under the Deposit Agreement, the collateral referred to in clause (b)
above shall be held by the Depositary as security for the performance of the Pre-Releasee’s
obligations to the Depositary in connection with a Pre Release transaction, including the
Pre-Releasee’s obligation to deliver Shares or Receipts upon termination of a Pre Release
transaction (and shall not, for the avoidance of doubt, constitute Deposited Securities hereunder).
The Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received by it in connection
with the foregoing.
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SECTION 2.10 DTC Direct Registration System and Profile Modification System.
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.04, the parties acknowledge that the Direct
Registration System (“DRS”) and Profile Modification System (“Profile”) shall apply to
uncertificated American Depositary Shares upon acceptance thereof to DRS by DTC. DRS is the system
administered by DTC pursuant to which the Depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated
American Depositary Shares, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic statements issued by the
Depositary to the Owners entitled thereto. Profile is a required feature of DRS which allows a DTC
participant, claiming to act on behalf of an Owner of American Depositary Shares, to direct the
Depositary to register a transfer of those American Depositary Shares to DTC or its nominee and to
deliver those American Depositary Shares to the DTC account of that DTC participant without receipt
by the Depositary of prior authorization from the Owner to register such transfer.
(b) In connection with and in accordance with the arrangements and procedures relating to
DRS/Profile, the parties understand that the Depositary will not verify, determine or otherwise
ascertain that the DTC participant which is claiming to be acting on behalf of an Owner in
requesting a registration of transfer and delivery as described in subsection (a) has the actual
authority to act on behalf of the Owner (notwithstanding any requirements under the Uniform
Commercial Code). For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Sections 5.03 and 5.08 shall apply
to the matters arising from the use of the DRS. The parties agree that the Depositary’s reliance
on and compliance with instructions received by the Depositary through the DRS/Profile System and
in accordance with this Deposit Agreement shall not constitute negligence or bad faith on the part
of the Depositary.
ARTICLE 3. | CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF OWNERS AND HOLDERS OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES |
SECTION 3.01 Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information.
Any person presenting Shares for deposit or any Owner or holder may be required from time to
time to file with the Depositary or the Custodian such proof of citizenship or residence, exchange
control approval, or such information relating to the registration on the books of the Company or
the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, to execute such certificates and to make such representations
and warranties, as the Depositary may deem necessary or proper. The Depositary may withhold the
delivery or registration of transfer of American Depositary Shares or the distribution of any
dividend or sale or distribution of rights or of the proceeds thereof or the delivery of any
Deposited Securities until such proof or other information is filed or such certificates are
executed or such representations and warranties made. If requested in writing, the Depositary
shall, as promptly as practicable, provide the Company, at the expense of the Company,
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with copies of any such proofs, certificates or other information it receives pursuant to this
section unless prohibited by applicable law.
SECTION 3.02 Liability of Owner for Taxes.
If any tax or other governmental charge shall become payable by the Custodian or the
Depositary with respect to any American Depositary Shares or any Deposited Securities represented
by any American Depositary Shares, such tax or other governmental charge shall be payable by the
Owner of such American Depositary Shares to the Depositary. The Depositary may refuse to register
any transfer of those American Depositary Shares or any withdrawal of Deposited Securities
represented by those American Depositary Shares until such payment is made, and may withhold any
dividends or other distributions, or may sell for the account of the Owner thereof any part or all
of the Deposited Securities represented by those American Depositary Shares, and may apply such
dividends or other distributions or the proceeds of any such sale in payment of such tax or other
governmental charge and the Owner of such American Depositary Shares shall remain liable for any
deficiency.
SECTION 3.03 Warranties on Deposit of Shares.
Every person depositing Shares under this Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to
represent and warrant that such Shares and each certificate therefor, if applicable, are validly
issued, fully paid, nonassessable and were not issued in violation of any preemptive rights of the
holders of outstanding Shares and that the person making such deposit is duly authorized so to do.
Every such person shall also be deemed to represent that the deposit of such Shares and the sale of
American Depositary Shares representing such Shares by that person are not restricted under the
Securities Act of 1933. Such representations and warranties deemed made under this Section 3.03
shall survive the deposit of Shares and delivery of American Depositary Shares.
SECTION 3.04 Disclosure of Interests.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Deposit Agreement, each Owner and holder agrees to
comply with requests from the Company pursuant to applicable law the rules and requirements of any
other stock exchange on which the Shares are, or will be, registered, traded or listed, the rules
and requirements of any other clearing system through which transactions in the Shares may be
settled or the Articles of Association to provide information, inter alia, as to the capacity in
which such Owner or holder owns American Depositary Shares (and Shares as the case may be) and
regarding the identity of any other person(s) interested in such American Depositary Shares (and
Shares, as the case may be) and the nature of such interest and various other matters, whether or
not they are Owners or holders at the time of such request. The Depositary agrees to use its
reasonable efforts to forward, upon the written request of the Company and at the expense of the
Company, any such written request from the Company to the Owners and to forward, as promptly as
practicable, to the Company any such responses
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to such requests received by the Depositary. If the Company requests information from the
Depositary, as the registered holder of the Shares, the obligations of the Depositary shall be
limited to disclosing to the Company the information contained in the register.
ARTICLE 4. | THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES |
SECTION
4.01 Cash Distributions.
Whenever the Depositary shall receive any cash dividend or other cash distribution on any
Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall, subject to the provisions of Section 4.05, convert such
dividend or distribution into Dollars and shall distribute the amount thus received (net of the
fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09) to the Owners entitled thereto, in
proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held
by them respectively; provided, however, that in the event that the Custodian 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 or other governmental charges, the amount
distributed to the Owner of the American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities
shall be reduced accordingly. The Depositary shall distribute only such amount, however, as can be
distributed without attributing to any Owner a fraction of one cent. Any such fractional amounts
shall be rounded to the nearest whole cent and so distributed to Owners entitled thereto. The
Company or its agent will remit to the appropriate governmental agency in the United Kingdom all
amounts withheld and owing to such agency. The Depositary will forward to the Company or its agent
such information from its records as the Company may reasonably request to enable the Company or
its agent to file necessary reports with governmental agencies, and the Depositary or the Company
or its agent may file any such reports necessary to obtain benefits under the applicable tax
treaties for the Owners.
SECTION 4.02 Distributions Other Than Cash, Shares or Rights.
Subject to the provisions of Sections 4.11 and 5.09, whenever the Depositary shall, subject to
all applicable laws receive any distribution other than a distribution described in Section 4.01,
4.03 or 4.04, the Depositary shall cause the securities or property received by it to be
distributed to the Owners entitled thereto, after deduction or upon payment of any fees and
expenses of the Depositary or any taxes or other governmental charges, in proportion to the number
of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by them respectively, in
any manner that the Depositary may deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing such
distribution; provided, however, that if in the opinion of the Depositary such distribution cannot
be made proportionately among the Owners entitled thereto, or if for any other reason (including,
but not limited to, any requirement that the Company or the Depositary withhold an amount on
account of taxes or other governmental charges or that such securities must be registered under the
Securities Act of 1933 in order to be distributed to
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Owners or holders) the Depositary deems such distribution not to be feasible, the Depositary
may adopt such method as it may deem equitable and practicable for the purpose of effecting such
distribution, including, but not limited to, the public or private sale of the securities or
property thus received, or any part thereof, and the net proceeds of any such sale (net of the fees
and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09) shall be distributed by the Depositary
to the Owners entitled thereto, all in the manner and subject to the conditions described in
Section 4.01. The Depositary may withhold any distribution of securities under this Section 4.02
if it has not received assurances from the Company satisfactory to the Depositary that the
distribution does not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933. The Depositary may
sell, by public or private sale, an amount of securities or other property it would otherwise
distribute under this Section 4.02 that is sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in respect of
that distribution.
SECTION 4.03 Distributions in Shares.
If any distribution upon any Deposited Securities consists of a dividend in, or free
distribution of, Shares, the Depositary may, and shall if the Company shall so request in writing,
deliver to the Owners entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares
representing such Deposited Securities held by them respectively, an aggregate number of American
Depositary Shares representing the amount of Shares received as such dividend or free distribution,
subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement with respect to the deposit of Shares
and after deduction or upon issuance of American Depositary Shares, including the withholding of
any tax or other governmental charge as provided in Section 4.11 and the payment of the fees and
expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 (and the Depositary may sell, by public or
private sale, an amount of the Shares received sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in respect
of that distribution). The Depositary may withhold any such delivery of American Depositary Shares
if it has not received assurances from the Company satisfactory to it that such distribution does
not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933. In lieu of delivering fractional
American Depositary Shares in any such case, the Depositary shall sell the amount of Shares
represented by the aggregate of such fractions and distribute the net proceeds, all in the manner
and subject to the conditions described in Section 4.01. If additional American Depositary Shares
are not so delivered, each American Depositary Share shall thenceforth also represent the
additional Shares distributed upon the Deposited Securities represented thereby.
SECTION 4.04 Rights.
In the event that the Company shall offer or cause to be offered to the holders of any
Deposited Securities any rights to subscribe for additional Shares or any rights of any other
nature, the Depositary shall have discretion as to the procedure to be followed in making such
rights available to any Owners or in disposing of such rights on behalf of any Owners and making
the net proceeds available to such Owners or, if by the
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terms of such rights offering or for any other reason, the Depositary may not either make such
rights available to any Owners or dispose of such rights and make the net proceeds available to
such Owners, then the Depositary shall allow the rights to lapse. If at the time of the offering
of any rights the Depositary determines in its discretion that it is lawful and feasible to make
such rights available to all or certain Owners but not to other Owners, the Depositary may
distribute to any Owner to whom it determines the distribution to be lawful and feasible, in
proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by such Owner, warrants or other
instruments therefor in such form as it deems appropriate.
In circumstances in which rights would otherwise not be distributed, if an Owner requests the
distribution of warrants or other instruments in order to exercise the rights allocable to the
American Depositary Shares of such Owner hereunder, the Depositary will make such rights available
to such Owner upon written notice from the Company to the Depositary that (a) the Company has
elected in its sole discretion to permit such rights to be exercised and (b) such Owner has
executed such documents as the Company has determined in its sole discretion are reasonably
required under applicable law.
If the Depositary has distributed warrants or other instruments for rights to all or certain
Owners, then upon instruction from such an Owner pursuant to such warrants or other instruments to
the Depositary from such Owner to exercise such rights, upon payment by such Owner to the
Depositary for the account of such Owner of an amount equal to the purchase price of the Shares to
be received upon the exercise of the rights, and upon payment of the fees and expenses of the
Depositary and any other charges as set forth in such warrants or other instruments, the Depositary
shall, on behalf of such Owner, exercise the rights and purchase the Shares, and the Company shall
cause the Shares so purchased to be delivered to the Depositary on behalf of such Owner. As agent
for such Owner, the Depositary will cause the Shares so purchased to be deposited pursuant to
Section 2.02 of this Deposit Agreement, and shall, pursuant to Section 2.03 of this Deposit
Agreement, deliver American Depositary Shares to such Owner. In the case of a distribution
pursuant to the second paragraph of this Section, such deposit shall be made, and depositary shares
shall be delivered, under depositary arrangements which provide for issuance of depositary shares
subject to the appropriate restrictions on sale, deposit, cancellation, and transfer under
applicable United States laws.
If the Depositary determines in its discretion that it is not lawful and feasible to make such
rights available to all or certain Owners, it may sell the rights, warrants or other instruments in
proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by the Owners to whom it has determined
it may not lawfully or feasibly make such rights available, and allocate the net proceeds of such
sales (net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 and all taxes and
governmental charges payable in connection with such rights and subject to the terms and conditions
of this Deposit Agreement) for the account of such Owners otherwise entitled to such rights,
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warrants or other instruments, upon an averaged or other practical basis without regard to any
distinctions among such Owners because of exchange restrictions or the date of delivery of any
American Depositary Shares or otherwise.
The Depositary will not offer rights to Owners unless both the rights and the securities to
which such rights relate are either exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 with
respect to a distribution to all Owners or are registered under the provisions of such Act;
provided, that nothing in this Deposit Agreement shall create any obligation on the part of
the Company to file a registration statement with respect to such rights or underlying securities
or to endeavor to have such a registration statement declared effective. If an Owner requests the
distribution of warrants or other instruments, notwithstanding that there has been no such
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, the Depositary shall not effect such distribution
unless it has received an opinion from recognized counsel in the United States for the Company upon
which the Depositary may rely that such distribution to such Owner is exempt from such
registration.
The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to determine that it may be lawful or
feasible to make such rights available to Owners in general or any Owner in particular.
SECTION 4.05 Conversion of Foreign Currency.
Whenever the Depositary or the Custodian shall receive foreign currency, by way of dividends
or other distributions or the net proceeds from the sale of securities, property or rights, and if
at the time of the receipt thereof the foreign currency so received can in the judgment of the
Depositary be converted on a reasonable basis into Dollars and the resulting Dollars transferred to
the United States, the Depositary shall convert or cause to be converted by sale or in any other
manner that it may determine such foreign currency into Dollars, and such Dollars shall be
distributed to the Owners entitled thereto or, if the Depositary shall have distributed any
warrants or other instruments which entitle the holders thereof to such Dollars, then to the
holders of such warrants and/or instruments upon surrender thereof for cancellation. Such
distribution may be made upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any
distinctions among Owners on account of exchange restrictions, the date of delivery of any American
Depositary Shares or otherwise and shall be net of any expenses of conversion into Dollars incurred
by the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09.
If such conversion or distribution can be effected only with the approval or license of any
government or agency thereof, the Depositary shall file such application for approval or license,
if any, as it may deem desirable.
If at any time the Depositary shall determine that in its judgment any foreign currency
received by the Depositary or the Custodian is not convertible on a reasonable basis into Dollars
transferable to the United States, or if any approval or license of any government or agency
thereof which is required for such conversion is
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denied or in the opinion of the Depositary is not obtainable, or if any such approval or
license is not obtained within a reasonable period as determined by the Depositary, the Depositary
may distribute the foreign currency (or an appropriate document evidencing the right to receive
such foreign currency) received by the Depositary to, or in its discretion may hold such foreign
currency uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of, the
Owners entitled to receive the same.
If any such conversion of foreign currency, in whole or in part, cannot be effected for
distribution to some of the Owners entitled thereto, the Depositary may in its discretion make such
conversion and distribution in Dollars to the extent permissible to the Owners entitled thereto and
may distribute the balance of the foreign currency received by the Depositary to, or hold such
balance uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of, the
Owners entitled thereto.
SECTION 4.06 Fixing of Record Date.
Whenever any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable or any distribution
other than cash shall be made, or whenever rights shall be issued with respect to the Deposited
Securities, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or
other Deposited Securities, or whenever for any reason the Depositary causes a change in the number
of Shares that are represented by each American Depositary Share, or whenever the Depositary shall
find it necessary or convenient, the Depositary shall fix a record date, which date shall be the
same date, to the extent practicable, as the record date, if any, for the Deposited Securities or
if different, as close thereto as is practicable (the “ADS Record Date”) (a) for the determination
of the Owners who shall be (i) entitled to receive such dividend, distribution or rights or the net
proceeds of the sale thereof, (ii) entitled to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights
at any such meeting or (iii) responsible for any fee or charge assessed by the Depositary pursuant
to this Deposit Agreement or (b) on or after which each American Depositary Share will represent
the changed number of Shares. Subject to the provisions of Sections 4.01 through 4.05 and to the
other terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Owners on the ADR Record Date shall be
entitled, as the case may be, to receive the amount distributable by the Depositary with respect to
such dividend or other distribution or such rights or the net proceeds of sale thereof in
proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by them respectively and to give voting
instructions and to act in respect of any other such matter.
SECTION 4.07 Voting of Deposited Securities.
Upon receipt from the Company of notice of any meeting or solicitation of proxies or consents
of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, if requested in writing by the Company, the
Depositary shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the Owners a notice, the form of which
notice shall be in the sole discretion of the Depositary, approved by the Company in advance and
such approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, which shall contain (a) such information as is
contained in such
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notice of meeting received by the Depositary from the Company, (b) a statement that the Owners
as of the close of business on the ADS Record Date will be entitled, subject to any applicable
provision of United Kingdom law, of the articles of association or similar documents of the Company
and of the provisions of or governing the Deposited Securities, to instruct the Depositary as to
the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the amount of Shares or other Deposited
Securities represented by their respective American Depositary Shares and (c) a statement as to the
manner in which such instructions may be given, including an express indication that such
instructions may be given or deemed given in accordance with the last sentence of this paragraph if
no instruction is received, to the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated
by the Company. Upon the written request of an Owner of American Depositary Shares on the ADS
Record Date, received on or before the date established by the Depositary for such purpose, the
Depositary shall endeavor, in so far as practicable, to vote or cause to be voted the amount of
Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by those American Depositary Shares in accordance
with the instructions set forth in such request. The Depositary shall not vote or attempt to
exercise the right to vote that attaches to the Shares or other Deposited Securities, other than in
accordance with such instructions or deemed instructions. If no instructions are received by the
Depositary from any Owner with respect to any of the Deposited Securities represented by the
American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Owner’s Receipts on or before the date established by
the Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall deem such Owner to have instructed the
Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company with respect to such
Deposited Securities and the Depositary shall give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by
the Company to vote such Deposited Securities, provided, that no such instruction shall be
deemed given and no such discretionary proxy shall be given with respect to any matter as to which
the Company informs the Depositary (and the Company agrees to provide such information as promptly
as practicable in writing) that (x) the Company does not wish such proxy given, (y) substantial
opposition exists or (z) such matter materially and adversely affects the rights of holders of
Shares.
There can be no assurance that Owners generally or any Owner in particular will receive the
notice described in the preceding paragraph sufficiently prior to the instruction cutoff date to
ensure that the Depositary will vote the Shares or Deposited Securities in accordance with the
provisions set forth in the preceding paragraph.
In order to give Owners a reasonable opportunity to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise
of voting rights relating to Deposited Securities, if the Company will request the Depositary to
act under this Section 4.07, the Company shall give the Depositary notice of any such meeting and
details concerning the matters to be voted upon not less than 45 days prior to the meeting date.
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Subject to the rules of any securities exchange on which the American Depositary Shares or the
Deposited Securities represented thereby are listed, at least 48 hours prior to the time of such
meeting, the Depositary shall, to the extent practicable, if requested in writing by the Company,
deliver to the Company, to the extent practicable, for the attention of its company secretary,
copies of all instructions received from Owners in accordance with which the Depositary will vote,
or cause to be voted, the Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares
evidenced by such Receipts at such meeting. Delivery of instructions will be made at the expense of
the Company provided that payment of such expense shall not be a condition precedent to the
obligations of the Depositary under this Section 4.07.
SECTION 4.08 Changes Affecting Deposited Securities.
Upon any change in nominal value, change in par value, split-up, consolidation or any other
reclassification of Deposited Securities, or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, merger or
consolidation or sale of assets affecting the Company or to which it is a party, or upon the
redemption or cancellation by the Company of the Deposited Securities, any securities, cash or
property which shall be received by the Depositary or a Custodian in exchange for, in conversion
of, in lieu of or in respect of Deposited Securities, shall be treated as new Deposited Securities
under this Deposit Agreement, and American Depositary Shares shall thenceforth represent, in
addition to the existing Deposited Securities, the right to receive the new Deposited Securities so
received, unless additional American Depositary Shares are delivered pursuant to the following
sentence. In any such case the Depositary may deliver additional American Depositary Shares as in
the case of a dividend in Shares, or call for the surrender of outstanding Receipts to be exchanged
for new Receipts specifically describing such new Deposited Securities.
SECTION 4.09 Reports.
The Depositary shall make available for inspection by Owners at its Corporate Trust Office, as
promptly as practicable after receipt of any reports and communications, including any proxy
solicitation material, received from the Company which are both (a) received by the Depositary as
the holder of the Deposited Securities and (b) made generally available to the holders of such
Deposited Securities by the Company. The Depositary shall also, upon written request by the
Company, send to the Owners copies of such reports when furnished by the Company pursuant to
Section 5.06. Any such reports and communications, including any such proxy soliciting material,
furnished to the Depositary by the Company shall be furnished in English, to the extent such
materials are required to be translated into English pursuant to any regulations of the Commission.
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SECTION 4.10 Lists of Owners.
Promptly upon request by the Company, the Depositary shall, at the expense of the Company,
furnish to it a list, as of a recent date, of the names, addresses and holdings of American
Depositary Shares by all persons in whose names American Depositary Shares are registered on the
books of the Depositary.
SECTION 4.11 Withholding.
In the event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in property (including
Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) is subject to any tax or other governmental charge which
the Depositary is obligated to withhold, the Depositary may by public or private sale dispose of
all or a portion of such property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) in such
amounts and in such manner as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay such taxes or
charges and the Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds of any such sale after deduction of
such taxes or charges to the Owners entitled thereto in proportion to the number of American
Depositary Shares held by them respectively.
ARTICLE 5. | THE DEPOSITARY, THE CUSTODIANS AND THE COMPANY |
SECTION 5.01 Maintenance of Office and Transfer Books by the Depositary.
Until termination of this Deposit Agreement in accordance with its terms, the Depositary shall
maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, facilities for the execution and
delivery, registration, registration of transfers and surrender of American Depositary Shares in
accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement.
The Depositary shall keep books, at its Corporate Trust Office, for the registration of
American Depositary Shares and transfers of American Depositary Shares which at all reasonable
times shall be open for inspection by the Owners and the Company, provided that such inspection
shall not be for the purpose of communicating with Owners in the interest of a business or object
other than the business of the Company or a matter related to this Deposit Agreement or the
American Depositary Shares.
The Depositary may close the transfer books, at any time or from time to time, when deemed
expedient by it in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder or at the reasonable
written request of the Company.
If any American Depositary Shares are listed on one or more stock exchanges in the United
States, the Depositary shall act as Registrar or appoint a
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Registrar or one or more co-registrars for registry of such American Depositary Shares in
accordance with any requirements of such exchange or exchanges.
SECTION 5.02 Prevention or Delay in Performance by the Depositary or the Company.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their respective directors, officers,
employees, agents or affiliates shall incur any liability to any Owner or Holder (i) if by reason
of any provision of any present or future law or regulation of the United States or any other
country, or of any governmental or regulatory authority or stock exchange, or by reason of any
provision, present or future, of the articles of association or similar document 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 terrorism or other circumstances
beyond its control, the Depositary or the Company shall be prevented, delayed or forbidden from, or
be subject to any civil or criminal penalty on account of, doing or performing any act or thing
which by the terms of this Deposit Agreement or the Deposited Securities it is provided shall be
done or performed, (ii) by reason of any non-performance or delay, caused as aforesaid, in the
performance of any act or thing which by the terms of this Deposit Agreement it is provided shall
or may be done or performed, (iii) by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any
discretion provided for in this Deposit Agreement, (iv) for the inability of any Owner or holder to
benefit from any distribution, offering, right or other benefit which is made available to holders
of Deposited Securities but is not, under the terms of this Deposit Agreement, made available to
Owners or holders, or (v) for any special, consequential or punitive damages for any breach of the
terms of this Deposit Agreement. Where, by the terms of a distribution pursuant to Section 4.01,
4.02 or 4.03, or an offering or distribution pursuant to Section 4.04, or for any other reason,
such distribution or offering may not be made available to Owners, and the Depositary may not
dispose of such distribution or offering on behalf of such Owners and make the net proceeds
available to such Owners, then the Depositary shall not make such distribution or offering, and
shall allow any rights, if applicable, to lapse.
SECTION 5.03 Obligations of the Depositary, the Custodian and the Company.
Neither the Company nor it directors, officers, employees and agents assume any obligation nor
shall it or any of them be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement to any Owner or
Holder, except that the Company agrees to perform its obligations specifically set forth in this
Deposit Agreement without negligence or bad faith.
Neither the Depositary nor the directors, officers, employees and agents assume any obligation
nor shall it or any of them be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement to any Owner
or Holder (including, without limitation, liability with respect to the validity or worth of the
Deposited Securities), except that the Depositary
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agrees to perform its obligations specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement without
negligence or bad faith.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute
or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any Deposited Securities or in respect
of the American Depositary Shares on behalf of any Owner or Holder or any other person.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be liable for any action or nonaction by it in
reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting
Shares for deposit, any Owner or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to
give such advice or information.
The Depositary shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by a successor depositary
whether in connection with a previous act or omission of the Depositary or in connection with any
matter arising wholly after the removal or resignation of the Depositary, provided that in
connection with the issue out of which such potential liability arises the Depositary performed its
obligations without negligence or bad faith while it acted as Depositary.
The Depositary shall not be liable for the acts or omissions of any securities depository,
clearing agency or settlement system in connection with or arising out of book-entry settlement of
Deposited Securities or otherwise.
The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote
any of the Deposited Securities, or for the manner in which any such vote is cast or the effect of
any such vote, provided that any such action or nonaction is in good faith.
No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act of 1933 is intended by any provision of
this Deposit Agreement.
SECTION 5.04 Resignation and Removal of the Depositary.
The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary hereunder by written notice of its
election so to do delivered to the Company, such resignation to take effect upon the appointment of
a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided.
The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by 120 days prior written notice of
such removal, to become effective upon the later of (i) the 120th day after delivery of the notice
to the Depositary and (ii) the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such
appointment as hereinafter provided.
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In case at any time the Depositary acting hereunder shall resign or be removed, the Company
shall use reasonable efforts to appoint a successor depositary, which shall be a bank or trust
company having an office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York. Every successor
depositary shall execute and deliver to its predecessor and to the Company an instrument in writing
accepting its appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor depositary, without any further
act or deed (except as required by applicable law), shall become fully vested with all the rights,
powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor; but such predecessor, nevertheless, upon payment
of all sums due it and on the written request of the Company shall execute and deliver an
instrument transferring to such successor all rights and powers of such predecessor hereunder,
shall duly assign, transfer and deliver all right, title and interest in the Deposited Securities
to such successor and shall deliver to such successor a list of the Owners of all outstanding
Receipts. Any such successor depositary shall promptly mail notice of its appointment to the
Owners.
Any corporation into or with which the Depositary may be merged or consolidated shall be the
successor of the Depositary without the execution or filing of any document or any further act.
SECTION 5.05 The Custodians.
The Custodian shall be subject at all times and in all respects to the directions of the
Depositary and shall be responsible solely to it. Any Custodian may resign and be discharged from
its duties hereunder by notice of such resignation delivered to the Depositary at least 30 days
prior to the date on which such resignation is to become effective. If upon such resignation there
shall be no Custodian acting hereunder, the Depositary shall, promptly after receiving such notice,
appoint a substitute custodian or custodians, each of which shall thereafter be a Custodian
hereunder. The Depositary in its discretion may appoint a substitute or additional custodian or
custodians, each of which shall thereafter be one of the Custodians hereunder. Upon demand of the
Depositary any Custodian shall deliver such of the Deposited Securities held by it as are requested
of it to any other Custodian or such substitute or additional custodian or custodians. Each such
substitute or additional custodian shall deliver to the Depositary, forthwith upon its appointment,
an acceptance of such appointment satisfactory in form and substance to the Depositary.
Upon the appointment of any successor depositary hereunder, each Custodian then acting
hereunder shall forthwith become, without any further act or writing, the agent hereunder of such
successor depositary and the appointment of such successor depositary shall in no way impair the
authority of each Custodian hereunder; but the successor depositary so appointed shall,
nevertheless, on the written request of any Custodian, execute and deliver to such Custodian all
such instruments as may be proper to give to such Custodian full and complete power and authority
as agent hereunder of such successor depositary.
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SECTION 5.06 Notices and Reports.
On or before the first date on which the Company gives notice, by publication or otherwise, of
any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, or of any adjourned meeting of such
holders, or of the taking of any action in respect of any cash or other distributions or the
offering of any rights, the Company agrees to transmit to the Depositary and the Custodian a copy
of the notice thereof in the form given or to be given to holders of Shares or other Deposited
Securities.
The Company will arrange for the translation into English, if not already in English, to the
extent required pursuant to any regulation of the Commission, and the prompt transmittal by the
Company to the Depositary and the Custodian of such notices and any other reports and
communications which are made generally available by the Company to holders of its Shares. If
requested in writing by the Company, the Depositary will arrange for the mailing, at the Company’s
expense, of copies of such notices, reports and communications to all Owners. The Company will
timely provide the Depositary with the quantity of such notices, reports, and communications, as
requested by the Depositary from time to time, in order for the Depositary to effect such mailings.
SECTION 5.07 Distribution of Additional Shares, Rights, etc.
If the Company or any affiliate of the Company determines to make any issuance or distribution
of (1) additional Shares, (2) rights to subscribe for Shares, (3) securities convertible into
Shares, or (4) rights to subscribe for such securities (each a “Distribution”), the Company shall
notify the Depositary in writing in English as promptly as practicable and in any event before the
Distribution starts and, if requested in writing by the Depositary, the Company shall promptly
furnish to the Depositary a written opinion from U.S. counsel for the Company that is reasonably
satisfactory to the Depositary, stating whether or not the Distribution requires, or, if made in
the United States, would require, registration under the Securities Act of 1933. If, in the
opinion of that counsel, the Distribution requires, or, if made in the United States, would
require, registration under the Securities Act of 1933, that counsel shall furnish to the
Depositary a written opinion as to whether or not there is a registration statement under the
Securities Act of 1933 in effect that will cover that Distribution.
The Company agrees with the Depositary that neither the Company nor any company controlled by,
controlling or under common control with the Company will at any time deposit any Shares, either
originally issued or previously issued and reacquired by the Company or any such affiliate, unless
a Registration Statement is in effect as to such Shares under the Securities Act of 1933 or the
Company delivers to the Depositary an opinion of United States counsel, satisfactory to the
Depositary, to the effect that, upon deposit, those Shares will be eligible for public resale in
the United States without further registration under the Securities Act of 1933.
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Notwithstanding anything else in this Deposit Agreement, nothing in this Deposit Agreement
shall be deemed to oblige the Company to file any registration statement in respect of any proposed
transactions.
SECTION 5.08 Indemnification.
The Company agrees to indemnify the Depositary, its directors, employees, agents and
affiliates and any Custodian against, and hold each of them harmless from, any liability or expense
(including, but not limited to any fees and expenses incurred in seeking, enforcing or collecting
such indemnity and the fees and expenses of counsel) which may arise out of or in connection with
(a) any registration with the Commission of American Depositary Shares or Deposited Securities or
the offer or sale thereof in the United States or (b) acts performed or omitted, pursuant to the
provisions of or in connection with this Deposit Agreement and of the Receipts, as the same may be
amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, (i) by either the Depositary or a Custodian or
their respective directors, employees, agents and affiliates, except for any liability or expense
arising out of the negligence or bad faith of either of them, or (ii) by the Company or any of its
directors, employees, agents and affiliates.
The indemnities contained in the preceding paragraph shall not extend to any liability or
expense which may arise out of any Pre-Release (as defined in Section 2.09) but only to the extent
that any such liability or expense arises in connection with (a) any United States Federal, state
or local income tax laws, or (b) the failure of the Depositary to deliver Deposited Securities when
required under the terms of Section 2.05 hereof. However, the indemnities contained in the
preceding paragraph shall apply to any liability or expense which may arise out of any misstatement
or alleged misstatement or omission or alleged omission in any registration statement, proxy
statement, prospectus (or placement memorandum), or preliminary prospectus (or preliminary
placement memorandum) relating to the offer of sale of American Depositary Shares, except to the
extent any such liability or expense arises out of (i) information relating to the Depositary or
any Custodian (other than the Issuer), as applicable, furnished in writing and not materially
changed or altered by the Company expressly for use in any of the foregoing documents, or, (ii) if
such information is provided, the failure to state a material fact necessary to make the
information provided not misleading.
The Depositary agrees to indemnify the Company, its directors, employees, agents and
affiliates against and hold each of them harmless from any liability or expense (including, but not
limited to, the fees and expenses of counsel) which may arise out of acts performed or omitted by
the Depositary or its Custodian or their respective directors, employees, agents and affiliates due
to their negligence or bad faith.
If an action, proceeding (including, but not limited to, any governmental investigation),
claim or dispute (collectively, a “Proceeding”) in respect of which indemnity may be sought by
either party is brought or asserted against the other party, the party seeking indemnification (the
“Indemnitee”) shall promptly (and in no event more
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than ten (10) days after receipt of notice of such Proceeding) notify the party obligated to
provide such indemnification (the “Indemnitor”) of such Proceeding. The failure of the Indemnitee
to so notify the Indemnitor shall not impair the Indemnitee’s ability to seek indemnification from
the Indemnitor (but only for costs, expenses and liabilities incurred after such notice) unless
such failure adversely affects the Indemnitor’s ability to adequately oppose or defend such
Proceeding. Upon receipt of such notice from the Indemnitee, the Indemnitor shall be entitled to
participate in such Proceeding and, to the extent that it shall so desire and provided no conflict
of interest exists as specified in subparagraph (b) below or there are no other defenses available
to Indemnitee as specified in subparagraph (d) below, to assume the defense thereof with counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee (in which case all attorney’s fees and expenses shall be
borne by the Indemnitor and the Indemnitor shall in good faith defend the Indemnitee). The
Indemnitee shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such Proceeding and to
participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be borne by the
Indemnitee unless (a) the Indemnitor agrees in writing to pay such fees and expenses, (b) the
Indemnitee shall have reasonably and in good faith concluded that there is a conflict of interest
between the Indemnitor and the Indemnitee in the conduct of the defense of such action, (c) the
Indemnitor fails, within ten (10) days prior to the date the first response or appearance is
required to be made in such Proceeding, to assume the defense of such Proceeding with counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee or (d) there are legal defenses available to Indemnitee
that are different from or are in addition to those available to the Indemnitor. No compromise or
settlement of such Proceeding may be effected by either party without the other party’s consent
unless (i) there is no finding or admission of any violation of law and no effect on any other
claims that may be made against such other party and (ii) the sole relief provided is monetary
damages that are paid in full by the party seeking the settlement. Neither party shall have any
liability with respect to any compromise or settlement effected without its consent, which shall
not be unreasonably withheld. The Indemnitor shall have no obligation to indemnify and hold
harmless the Indemnitee from any loss, expense or liability incurred by the Indemnitee as a result
of a default judgment entered against the Indemnitee unless such judgment was entered after the
Indemnitor agreed, in writing, to assume the defense of such Proceeding.
SECTION 5.09 Charges of Depositary.
The Company agrees to pay the fees and out-of-pocket expenses 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 following charges shall be incurred by any party depositing or withdrawing Shares or by
any party surrendering American Depositary Shares or to whom American Depositary Shares 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 American Depositary Shares or Deposited
Securities or a delivery of
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American Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 4.03), or by Owners, as applicable: (1) taxes,
stamp duty and other governmental charges, (2) such registration fees as may from time to time be
in effect for the registration of transfers of Shares generally on the Share register of the
Company or Foreign Registrar and applicable to transfers of Shares to or from the name of the
Depositary or its nominee or the Custodian or its nominee on the making of deposits or withdrawals
hereunder, (3) such cable, telex and facsimile transmission expenses as are expressly provided in
this Deposit Agreement, (4) such expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in the conversion of
foreign currency pursuant to Section 4.05, (5) a fee of $5.00 or less per 100 American Depositary
Shares (or portion thereof) for the delivery of American Depositary Shares pursuant to Section
2.03, 4.03 or 4.04 and the surrender of American Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 2.05 or
6.02, (6) a fee of $.02 or less per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) for any cash
distribution made pursuant to this Deposit Agreement, including, but not limited to Sections 4.01
through 4.04 hereof, (7) a fee for the distribution of securities pursuant to Section 4.02, such
fee being in an amount equal to the fee for the execution and delivery of American Depositary
Shares referred to above which would have been charged as a result of the deposit of such
securities (for purposes of this clause 7 treating all such securities as if they were Shares) but
which securities are instead distributed by the Depositary to Owners, (8) in addition to any fee
charged under clause 6, a fee of $.02 or less per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof)
per annum for depositary services, which will be payable as provided in clause 9 below, (9) any
other charges payable by the Depositary, any of the Depositary’s agents, including the Custodian,
or the agents of the Depositary’s agents in connection with the servicing of Shares or other
Deposited Securities (which charge shall be assessed against Owners as of the date or dates set by
the Depositary in accordance with Section 4.06 and shall be payable at the sole discretion of the
Depositary by billing such Owners for such charge or by deducting such charge from one or more cash
dividends or other cash distributions).
The Depositary, subject to Section 2.09 hereof, may own and deal in any class of securities of
the Company and its affiliates and in American Depositary Shares.
SECTION 5.10 Retention of Depositary Documents.
The Depositary is authorized to destroy those documents, records, bills and other data
compiled during the term of this Deposit Agreement at the times permitted by the laws or
regulations governing the Depositary unless the Company requests that such papers be retained for a
longer period or turned over to the Company or to a successor depositary.
SECTION 5.11 Exclusivity.
The Company agrees not to appoint any other depositary for issuance of American or global
depositary shares or receipts so long as The Bank of New York Mellon is acting as Depositary
hereunder.
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SECTION 5.12 List of Restricted Securities Owners.
From time to time, the Company shall provide to the Depositary a list setting forth, to the
actual knowledge of the Company, those persons or entities who beneficially own Restricted
Securities and the Company shall update that list on a regular basis. The Company agrees to advise
in writing each of the persons or entities so listed that such Restricted Securities are ineligible
for deposit hereunder. The Depositary may rely on such a list or update but shall not be liable
for any action or omission made in reliance thereon.
ARTICLE 6. | AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION |
SECTION 6.01 Amendment.
The form of the Receipts and any provisions of this Deposit Agreement may at any time and from
time to time be amended by agreement between the Company and the Depositary without the consent of
Owners or holders in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable. Any amendment which
shall impose or increase any fees or charges (other than taxes and other governmental charges,
registration fees, cable, telex or facsimile transmission costs, delivery costs or other such
expenses), or which shall otherwise prejudice any substantial existing right of Owners, shall,
however, not become effective as to outstanding American Depositary Shares until the expiration of
thirty days after notice of such amendment shall have been given to the Owners of outstanding
American Depositary Shares. Every Owner and holder, at the time any amendment so becomes effective,
shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such American Depositary Shares or any interest therein, to
consent and agree to such amendment and to be bound by the Deposit Agreement as amended thereby. In
no event shall any amendment impair the right of the Owner to surrender American Depositary Shares
and receive therefor the Deposited Securities represented thereby, except in order to comply with
mandatory provisions of applicable law.
SECTION 6.02 Termination.
The Company may at any time terminate this Deposit Agreement by instructing the Depositary to
mail a notice of termination to the Owners of all American Depositary Shares then outstanding at
least 30 days prior to the termination date included in such notice. The Depositary may likewise
terminate this Deposit Agreement if at any time 60 days shall have expired after the Depositary
delivered to the Company a written resignation notice and if a successor depositary shall not have
been appointed and accepted its appointment as provided in Section 5.04; in such case the
Depositary shall mail a notice of termination to the Owners of all American Depositary Shares then
outstanding at least 30 days prior to the termination date. On and after the date of termination,
the Owner of American Depositary Shares will, upon (a) surrender of such American Depositary
Shares, (b) payment of the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of American Depositary Shares
referred to in Section 2.05, and (c) payment of any
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applicable taxes or governmental charges, be entitled to delivery, to him or upon his order,
of the amount of Deposited Securities represented by those American Depositary Shares. If any
American Depositary Shares shall remain outstanding after the date of termination, the Depositary
thereafter shall discontinue the registration of transfers of American Depositary Shares, shall
suspend the distribution of dividends to the Owners thereof, and shall not give any further notices
or perform any further acts under this Deposit Agreement, except that the Depositary shall continue
to collect dividends and other distributions pertaining to Deposited Securities, shall sell rights
and other property as provided in this Deposit Agreement, and shall continue to deliver Deposited
Securities, together with any dividends or other distributions received with respect thereto and
the net proceeds of the sale of any rights or other property, upon surrender of American Depositary
Shares (after deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of American
Depositary Shares, any expenses for the account of the Owner of such American Depositary Shares in
accordance with the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or
governmental charges).
At any time after the expiration of four months from the date of termination, the Depositary
may sell the Deposited Securities then held under this 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 Owners
of American Depositary Shares that have not theretofore been surrendered, such Owners thereupon
becoming general creditors of the Depositary with respect to such net proceeds. After making such
sale, the Depositary shall be discharged from all obligations under this Deposit Agreement, except
for its obligations to the Company under Section 5.08 to account for such net proceeds and other
cash (after deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of American
Depositary Shares, any expenses for the account of the Owner of such American Depositary Shares in
accordance with the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or
governmental charges). Upon the termination of this Deposit Agreement, the Company shall be
discharged from all obligations under this Deposit Agreement except for its obligations to the
Depositary under Sections 5.08 and 5.09.
ARTICLE 7. | MISCELLANEOUS |
SECTION 7.01 Counterparts.
This Deposit Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed an original and all of such counterparts shall constitute one and the same instrument.
Copies of this Deposit Agreement shall be filed with the Depositary and the Custodians and shall be
open to inspection by any Owner or Holder during business hours.
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SECTION 7.02 No Third Party Beneficiaries.
This Deposit Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and shall not be
deemed to give any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim whatsoever to any other person.
SECTION 7.03 Severability.
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Deposit Agreement or in the
Receipts should be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein or therein shall in no way
be affected, prejudiced or disturbed thereby.
SECTION 7.04 Owners and Holders as Parties; Binding Effect.
The Owners and Holders from time to time shall be parties to this Deposit Agreement and shall
be bound by all of the terms and conditions hereof and of the Receipts by acceptance of American
Depositary Shares or any interest therein.
SECTION 7.05 Notices.
Any and all notices to be given to the Company shall be deemed to have been duly given if
personally delivered or sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile transmission confirmed by letter,
addressed to Osmetech plc, No 0 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, XX0X 0XX, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Attention: the
Company Secretary or any other place to which the Company may have transferred its principal office
with notice to the Depositary.
Any and all notices to be given to the Depositary shall be deemed to have been duly given if
in English and personally delivered or sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile transmission
confirmed by letter, addressed to The Bank of New York Mellon, 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx
Xxxx 00000, Attention: American Depositary Receipt Administration, or any other place to which the
Depositary may have transferred its Corporate Trust Office with notice to the Company.
Any and all notices to be given to any Owner shall be deemed to have been duly given if
personally delivered or sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile transmission confirmed by letter,
addressed to such Owner at the address of such Owner as it appears on the transfer books for
American Depositary Shares of the Depositary, or, if such Owner shall have filed with the
Depositary a written request that notices intended for such Owner be mailed to some other address,
at the address designated in such request.
Delivery of a notice sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile transmission shall be deemed to
be effected at the time when a duly addressed letter containing the
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same (or a confirmation thereof in the case of a cable, telex or facsimile transmission) is
deposited, postage prepaid, in a post-office letter box. The Depositary or the Company may,
however, act upon any cable, telex or facsimile transmission received by it, notwithstanding that
such cable, telex or facsimile transmission shall not subsequently be confirmed by letter as
aforesaid.
SECTION 7.06 Submission to Jurisdiction; Appointment of Agent for Service of Process; Jury
Trial Waiver.
The Company hereby (i) irrevocably designates and appoints [
], in
the State of New York, as the Company’s authorized agent upon which process may be served in any
suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Shares or Deposited Securities, the American
Depositary Shares, the Receipts or this Agreement, (ii) consents and submits to the jurisdiction of
any state or federal court in the State of New York in which any such suit or proceeding may be
instituted, and (iii) agrees that service of process upon said authorized agent shall be deemed in
every respect effective service of process upon the Company in any such suit or proceeding. The
Company agrees to deliver, upon the execution and delivery of this Deposit Agreement, a written
acceptance by such agent of its appointment as such agent. The Company further agrees to take any
and all action, including the filing of any and all such documents and instruments, as may be
necessary to continue such designation and appointment in full force and effect for so long as any
American Depositary Shares or Receipts remain outstanding or this Agreement remains in force. In
the event the Company fails to continue such designation and appointment in full force and effect,
the Company hereby waives personal service of process upon it and consents that any such service of
process may be made by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, directed to the
Company at its address last specified for notices hereunder, and service so made shall be deemed
completed five (5) days after the same shall have been so mailed.
EACH PARTY TO THIS DEPOSIT AGREEMENT (INCLUDING, FOR AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, EACH OWNER AND
HOLDER) HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT
MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING AGAINST THE COMPANY AND/OR THE
DEPOSITARY DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SHARES OR OTHER DEPOSITED
SECURITIES, THE AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES OR THE RECEIPTS, THIS DEPOSIT AGREEMENT OR ANY
TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREIN OR THEREIN, OR THE BREACH HEREOF OR THEREOF, INCLUDING WITHOUT
LIMITATION ANY QUESTION REGARDING EXISTENCE, VALIDITY OR TERMINATION (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT,
TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).
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SECTION 7.07 Waiver of Immunities.
To the extent that the Company or any of its properties, assets or revenues may have or may
hereafter become entitled to, or have attributed to it, any right of 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 Deposited Securities, the American Depositary
Shares, the Receipts or this Agreement, the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, hereby
irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to plead or claim, any such immunity and
consents to such relief and enforcement.
SECTION 7.08 Governing Law.
This Deposit Agreement and the Receipts shall be interpreted and all rights hereunder and
thereunder and provisions hereof and thereof shall be governed by the laws of the State of New
York, except with respect to its authorization and execution by the Company, which shall be
governed by the laws of the United Kingdom.
SECTION 7.09 Compliance with US Securities Laws.
Notwithstanding anything in this Deposit Agreement to the contrary, the Company and the
Depositary each agrees that it will not exercise any rights it has under this Deposit Agreement to
permit the withdrawal or delivery of Deposited Securities in a manner which would violate the U.S.
securities laws, including, but not limited to, Section I.A.(1) of the General Instructions to the
Form F-6 Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, under the Securities Act.
-33-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, OSMETECH PLC and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON have duly executed this
Deposit Agreement as of the day and year first set forth above and all Owners and Holders shall
become parties hereto upon acceptance by them of American Depositary Shares or any interest
therein.
OSMETECH PLC |
||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as Depositary |
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By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: |
-34-
EXHIBIT A
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
(Each American Depositary Share represents
[ ] ([ ]) deposited Shares)
(Each American Depositary Share represents
[ ] ([ ]) deposited Shares)
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
FOR ORDINARY SHARES OF
THE PAR VALUE OF 0.0010 £ EACH OF
OSMETECH PLC
(INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF ENGLAND AND WALES)
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
FOR ORDINARY SHARES OF
THE PAR VALUE OF 0.0010 £ EACH OF
OSMETECH PLC
(INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF ENGLAND AND WALES)
The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary (hereinafter called the “Depositary”), hereby
certifies that , or registered assigns IS THE OWNER OF
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
representing deposited ordinary shares (herein called “Shares”) of Osmetech plc, incorporated under
the laws of England and Wales (herein called the “Company”). At the date hereof, each American
Depositary Share represents fifty (50) Shares deposited or subject to deposit under the Deposit
Agreement (as such term is hereinafter defined) at the London office of The Bank of New York Mellon
(herein called the “Custodian”). The Depositary’s Corporate Trust Office is located at a different
address than its principal executive office. Its Corporate Trust Office is located at 000 Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, X.X. 00000, and its principal executive office is located at Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx
Xxxx, X.X. 00000.
THE DEPOSITARY’S CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE ADDRESS IS
000 XXXXXXX XXXXXX, XXX XXXX, X.X. 00000
000 XXXXXXX XXXXXX, XXX XXXX, X.X. 00000
1. | THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT. |
This American Depositary Receipt is one of an issue (herein called “Receipts”), all issued and
to be issued upon the terms and conditions set forth in the deposit agreement, dated as of
, 2008 (herein called the “Deposit Agreement”), by and among the Company, the Depositary,
and all Owners and holders from time to time of American Depositary Shares issued thereunder, each
of whom by accepting American Depositary Shares agrees to become a party thereto and become bound
by all the terms and conditions thereof. The Deposit Agreement sets forth the rights of Owners and
holders and the rights and duties of the Depositary in respect of the Shares deposited thereunder
and any and all other securities, property and cash from time to time received in respect of such
Shares and held thereunder (such Shares, securities, property, and cash are herein called
“Deposited Securities”). Copies of the Deposit Agreement are on file at the Depositary’s Corporate
Trust Office in New York City and at the office of the Custodian.
The statements made on the face and reverse of this Receipt are summaries of certain
provisions of the Deposit Agreement and are qualified by and subject to the detailed provisions of
the Deposit Agreement, to which reference is hereby made. Capitalized terms defined in the Deposit
Agreement and not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Deposit Agreement.
2. | SURRENDER OF RECEIPTS AND WITHDRAWAL OF SHARES. |
Upon surrender at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary of American Depositary Shares,
and upon payment of the fee of the Depositary provided in this Receipt, and subject to the terms
and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, the Owner of those American Depositary Shares is entitled
to delivery, to him or as instructed, of the amount of Deposited Securities at the time represented
by those American Depositary Shares. Delivery of such Deposited Securities may be made by the
delivery of (a) certificates or account transfer in the name of the Owner hereof or as ordered by
him, with proper endorsement or accompanied by proper instruments or instructions of transfer and
(b) any other securities, property and cash to which such Owner is then entitled in respect of this
Receipt. Such delivery will be made at the option of the Owner hereof, either at the office of the
Custodian or at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary, provided that the forwarding of
certificates for Shares or other Deposited Securities for such delivery at the Corporate Trust
Office of the Depositary shall be at the risk and expense of the Owner hereof.
3. | TRANSFERS, SPLIT-UPS, AND COMBINATIONS OF RECEIPTS. |
Transfers of American Depositary Shares may be registered on the books of the Depositary by
the Owner in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of those American Depositary
Shares properly endorsed for transfer or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, in the case
of a Receipt, or pursuant to a proper instruction
-2-
(including, for the avoidance of doubt, instructions through DRS and Profile as provided in
Section 2.10 of the Deposit Agreement), in the case of uncertificated American Depositary Shares,
and funds sufficient to pay any applicable transfer taxes and the expenses of the Depositary and
upon compliance with such regulations, if any, as the Depositary may establish for such purpose.
This Receipt may be split into other such Receipts, or may be combined with other such Receipts
into one Receipt, evidencing the same aggregate number of American Depositary Shares as the Receipt
or Receipts surrendered. The Depositary, upon surrender of certificated American Depositary Shares
for the purpose of exchanging for uncertificated American Depositary Shares, shall cancel those
certificated American Depositary Shares and send the Owner a statement confirming that the Owner is
the Owner of uncertificated American Depositary Shares. The Depositary, upon receipt of a proper
instruction (including, for the avoidance of doubt, instructions through DRS and Profile as
provided in Section 2.10 of the Deposit Agreement) from the Owner of uncertificated American
Depositary Shares for the purpose of exchanging for certificated American Depositary Shares, shall
cancel those uncertificated American Depositary Shares and deliver to the Owner the same number of
certificated American Depositary Shares. As a condition precedent to the delivery, registration of
transfer, or surrender of any American Depositary Shares or split-up or combination of any Receipt
or withdrawal of any Deposited Securities, the Depositary, the Custodian, or Registrar may require
payment from the depositor of the Shares or the presenter of the Receipt or instruction for
registration of transfer or surrender of American Depositary Shares not evidenced by a Receipt of a
sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax, stamp duty or other governmental charge and any stock
transfer or registration fee with respect thereto (including any such tax or charge and fee with
respect to Shares being deposited or withdrawn) and payment of any applicable fees as provided in
the Deposit Agreement, may require the production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity
and genuineness of any signature and may also require compliance with any regulations the
Depositary may establish consistent with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement.
The delivery of American Depositary Shares against deposit of Shares generally or against
deposit of particular Shares may be suspended, or the transfer of American Depositary Shares in
particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer of outstanding American
Depositary Shares generally may be suspended, during any period when the transfer books of the
Depositary are closed, as provided in Section 5.01 of the Deposit Agreement, or if any such action
is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary or the Company at any time or from time to time
because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body or commission, or under
any provision of the Deposit Agreement, or 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 American Depositary Shares and withdrawal of Deposited
Securities may not be suspended subject only to (i) temporary delays caused by closing the transfer
books of the Depositary or the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, or the deposit of
Shares in connection with voting at a
-3-
shareholders’ meeting, or the payment of dividends, (ii) the payment of fees, taxes and
similar charges, and (iii) compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations
relating to the American Depositary Shares or to the withdrawal of the Deposited Securities.
Without limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under
the Deposit Agreement any Shares which would be required to be registered under the provisions of
the Securities Act of 1933 for public offer and sale in the United States unless a registration
statement is in effect as to such Shares for such offer or sale.
4. | LIABILITY OF OWNER FOR TAXES. |
If any tax or other governmental charge shall become payable with respect to any American
Depositary Shares or any Deposited Securities represented by any American Depositary Shares, such
tax or other governmental charge shall be payable by the Owner to the Depositary. The Depositary
may refuse to register any transfer of those American Depositary Shares or any withdrawal of
Deposited Securities represented by those American Depositary Shares until such payment is made,
and may withhold any dividends or other distributions, or may sell for the account of the Owner any
part or all of the Deposited Securities represented by those American Depositary Shares, and may
apply such dividends or other distributions or the proceeds of any such sale in payment of such tax
or other governmental charge and the Owner shall remain liable for any deficiency.
5. | WARRANTIES ON DEPOSIT OF SHARES. |
Every person depositing Shares under the Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to
represent and warrant, that such Shares and each certificate therefor, if applicable, are validly
issued, fully paid, nonassessable and were not issued in violation of any preemptive rights of the
holders of outstanding Shares and that the person making such deposit is duly authorized so to do.
Every such person shall also be deemed to represent that the deposit of such Shares and the sale of
American Depositary Shares representing such Shares by that person are not restricted under the
Securities Act of 1933. Such representations and warranties deemed made under Section 3.03 of the
Deposit Agreement shall survive the deposit of Shares and delivery of American Depositary Shares.
6. | FILING PROOFS, CERTIFICATES, AND OTHER INFORMATION. |
Any person presenting Shares for deposit or any Owner or holder may be required from time to
time to file with the Depositary or the Custodian such proof of citizenship or residence, exchange
control approval, or such information relating to the registration on the books of the Company or
the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, to execute such certificates and to make such representations
and warranties, as the Depositary may deem necessary or proper. The Depositary may withhold the
delivery or registration of transfer of any American Depositary Shares or the distribution of any
dividend or sale or
-4-
distribution of rights or of the proceeds thereof or the delivery of any Deposited Securities
until such proof or other information is filed or such certificates are executed or such
representations and warranties made. If requested in writing, the Depositary shall, as promptly as
practicable, provide the Company, at the expense of the Company, with copies of any such proofs,
certificates or other information it receives pursuant to Section 3.01 of the Deposit Agreement
unless prohibited by applicable law. No Share shall be accepted for deposit unless accompanied by
evidence satisfactory to the Depositary that any necessary approval has been granted by any
governmental body in the England and Wales that is then performing the function of the regulation
of currency exchange.
7. | CHARGES OF DEPOSITARY. |
The following charges shall be incurred by any party depositing or withdrawing Shares or by
any party surrendering American Depositary Shares or to whom American Depositary Shares 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 American Depositary Shares or Deposited
Securities or a delivery of American Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 4.03 of the Deposit
Agreement), or by Owners, as applicable: (1) taxes, stamp duty and other governmental charges, (2)
such registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the registration of transfers of
Shares generally on the Share register of the Company or Foreign Registrar and applicable to
transfers of Shares to or from the name of the Depositary or its nominee or the Custodian or its
nominee on the making of deposits or withdrawals under the terms of the Deposit Agreement, (3) such
cable, telex and facsimile transmission expenses as are expressly provided in the Deposit
Agreement, (4) such expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in the conversion of foreign
currency pursuant to Section 4.05 of the Deposit Agreement, (5) a fee of $5.00 or less per 100
American Depositary Shares (or portion thereof) for the delivery of American Depositary Shares
pursuant to Section 2.03, 4.03 or 4.04 of the Deposit Agreement and the surrender of American
Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 2.05 or 6.02 of the Deposit Agreement, (6) a fee of $.02 or
less per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) for any cash distribution made pursuant to
the Deposit Agreement, including, but not limited to Sections 4.01 through 4.04 of the Deposit
Agreement, (7) a fee for the distribution of securities pursuant to Section 4.02 of the Deposit
Agreement, such fee being in an amount equal to the fee for the execution and delivery of American
Depositary Shares referred to above which would have been charged as a result of the deposit of
such securities (for purposes of this clause 7 treating all such securities as if they were Shares)
but which securities are instead distributed by the Depositary to Owners, (8) in addition to any
fee charged under clause 6, a fee of $.02 or less per American Depositary Share (or portion
thereof) per annum for depositary services, which will be payable as provided in clause 9 below,
(9) any other charges payable by the Depositary, any of the Depositary’s agents, including the
Custodian, or the agents of the Depositary’s agents in connection with the servicing of Shares or
other Deposited Securities (which charge shall be assessed against Owners as of the date or
-5-
dates set by the Depositary in accordance with Section 4.06 of the Deposit Agreement and shall
be payable at the sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such Owners for such charge or by
deducting such charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions).
The Depositary, subject to Article 8 hereof, may own and deal in any class of securities of
the Company and its affiliates and in American Depositary Shares.
8. | PRE-RELEASE OF RECEIPTS. |
The Depositary may issue Receipts against the delivery by the Company (or any agent of the
Company recording Share ownership) of rights to receive Shares from the Company (or any such
agent). No such issue of Receipts will be deemed a “Pre Release” that is subject to the
restrictions of the following paragraph.
Unless requested in writing by the Company to cease doing so, the Depositary may,
notwithstanding Section 2.03 of the Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver Receipts prior to the
receipt of shares pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Deposit Agreement (“Pre Release”). The
Depositary may, pursuant to Section 2.05 of the Deposit Agreement, deliver Shares upon the receipt
and cancellation of Receipts which have been Pre Released, whether or not such cancellation is
prior to the termination of such Pre Release or the Depositary knows that such Receipt has been Pre
Released. The Depositary may receive Receipts in lieu of Shares in satisfaction of a Pre Release.
Each Pre Release will be (a) preceded or accompanied by a written representation and agreement from
the person to whom Receipts are to be delivered (the “Pre Releasee”) that the Pre Releasee, or its
customer, (i) owns the shares or Receipts to be remitted, as the case may be, (ii) assigns all
beneficial rights, title and interest in such Shares or Receipts, as the case may be, to the
Depositary in its capacity as such and for the benefit of the Owners, and (iii) will not take any
action with respect to such Shares or Receipts, as the case may be, that is inconsistent with the
transfer of beneficial ownership (including, without the consent of the Depositary, disposing of
such Shares or Receipts, as the case may be), other than in satisfaction of such Pre Release, (b)
at all times fully collateralized with cash, U.S. government securities or such other collateral as
the Depositary determines, in good faith, will provide substantially similar liquidity and
security, (c) terminable by the Depositary on not more than five (5) business days notice, and (d)
subject to such further indemnities and credit regulations as the Depositary deems appropriate.
The number of Shares not deposited but represented by American Depositary Shares outstanding at any
time as a result of Pre Releases will not normally exceed thirty percent (30%) of the Shares
deposited hereunder; provided, however, that the Depositary reserves the right to disregard such
limit from time to time as it deems reasonably appropriate, and may, with the prior written consent
of the Company, change such limit for purposes of general application. The Depositary will also
set Dollar limits with respect to Pre-Release transactions to be entered into hereunder with any
particular Pre Releasee on a case by case basis as the Depositary deems appropriate. For purposes
-6-
of enabling the Depositary to fulfill its obligations to the Owners under the Deposit
Agreement, the collateral referred to in clause (b) above shall be held by the Depositary as
security for the performance of the Pre Releasee’s obligations to the Depositary in connection with
a Pre Release transaction, including the Pre Releasee’s obligation to deliver Shares or Receipts
upon termination of a Pre Release transaction (and shall not, for the avoidance of doubt,
constitute Deposited Securities under the Deposit Agreement).
The Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received by it in connection
with the foregoing.
9. | TITLE TO RECEIPTS. |
It is a condition of this Receipt and every successive Owner and holder of this Receipt by
accepting or holding the same consents and agrees that when properly endorsed or accompanied by
proper instruments of transfer, shall be transferable as certificated registered securities under
the laws of New York. American Depositary Shares not evidenced by Receipts shall be transferable as
uncertificated registered securities under the laws of New York. The Depositary, notwithstanding
any notice to the contrary, may treat the Owner of American Depositary Shares as the absolute owner
thereof for the purpose of determining the person entitled to distribution of dividends or other
distributions or to any notice provided for in the Deposit Agreement and for all other purposes,
and neither the Depositary nor the Company shall have any obligation or be subject to any liability
under the Deposit Agreement to any Holder of American Depositary Shares unless that Holder is the
Owner of those American Depositary Shares.
10. | VALIDITY OF RECEIPT. |
This Receipt shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Deposit Agreement or be valid or
obligatory for any purpose, unless this Receipt shall have been executed by the Depositary by the
manual signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary; provided,
however that such signature may be a facsimile if a Registrar for the Receipts shall have
been appointed and such Receipts are countersigned by the manual signature of a duly authorized
officer of the Registrar.
11. | REPORTS; INSPECTION OF TRANSFER BOOKS. |
The Company is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 and, accordingly, files certain reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such
reports and communications will be available for inspection and copying at the public reference
facilities maintained by the Commission located at 000 X Xxxxxx, X.X., Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000.
The Depositary will make available for inspection by Owners at its Corporate Trust Office, as
promptly as practicable after receipt of any reports, notices and other
-7-
communications, including any proxy soliciting material, received from the Company which are
both (a) received by the Depositary as the holder of the Deposited Securities and (b) made
generally available to the holders of such Deposited Securities by the Company. The Depositary
will also, upon written request by the Company, send to Owners copies of such reports when
furnished by the Company pursuant to the Deposit Agreement. Any such reports and communications,
including any such proxy soliciting material, furnished to the Depositary by the Company shall be
furnished in English to the extent such materials are required to be translated into English
pursuant to any regulations of the Commission.
The Depositary will keep books, at its Corporate Trust Office, for the registration of
American Depositary Shares and transfers of American Depositary Shares which at all reasonable
times shall be open for inspection by the Owners, provided that such inspection shall not be for
the purpose of communicating with Owners in the interest of a business or object other than the
business of the Company or a matter related to the Deposit Agreement or the American Depositary
Shares.
12. | DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. |
Whenever the Depositary receives any cash dividend or other cash distribution on any Deposited
Securities, the Depositary will, if at the time of receipt thereof any amounts received in a
foreign currency can in the judgment of the Depositary be converted on a reasonable basis into
United States dollars transferable to the United States, and subject to the Deposit Agreement,
convert such dividend or distribution into dollars and will distribute the amount thus received
(net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and Section 5.09 of
the Deposit Agreement) to the Owners entitled thereto; provided, however, that in
the event that the Company or the Depositary is required to withhold and does withhold from any
cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of any Deposited Securities an amount on
account of taxes or other governmental charges, the amount distributed to the Owners of the
American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities shall be reduced accordingly.
Subject to the provisions of Section 4.11 and 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement, whenever the
Depositary receives any distribution other than a distribution described in Section 4.01, 4.03 or
4.04 of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary will cause, subject to all applicable laws, the
securities or property received by it to be distributed to the Owners entitled thereto, in any
manner that the Depositary may deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing such distribution;
provided, however, that if in the opinion of the Depositary such distribution
cannot be made proportionately among the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto, or if for any other
reason the Depositary deems such distribution not to be feasible, the Depositary may adopt such
method as it may deem equitable and practicable for the purpose of effecting such distribution,
including, but not limited to, the public or private sale of the securities or property thus
received, or any part thereof, and the net proceeds of any such sale (net of the fees and expenses
of the
-8-
Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement) will be
distributed by the Depositary to the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto all in the manner and
subject to the conditions described in Section 4.01 of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary may
withhold any distribution of securities under Section 4.02 of the Deposit Agreement if it has not
received assurances from the Company satisfactory to the Depositary that the distribution does not
require registration under the Securities Act of 1933. The Depositary may sell, by public or
private sale, an amount of securities or other property it would otherwise distribute under this
Article that is sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in respect of that distribution.
If any distribution consists of a dividend in, or free distribution of, Shares, the Depositary
may, and shall if the Company shall so request in writing, deliver to the Owners entitled thereto,
an aggregate number of American Depositary Shares representing the amount of Shares received as
such dividend or free distribution, subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement
with respect to the deposit of Shares and after deduction or upon issuance of American Depositary
Shares, including the withholding of any tax or other governmental charge as provided in Section
4.11 of the Deposit Agreement and the payment of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as
provided in Article 7 hereof and Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement (and the Depositary may
sell, by public or private sale, an amount of Shares received sufficient to pay its fees and
expenses in respect of that distribution). In lieu of delivering fractional American Depositary
Shares in any such case, the Depositary will sell the amount of Shares represented by the aggregate
of such fractions and distribute the net proceeds, all in the manner and subject to the conditions
described in Section 4.01 of the Deposit Agreement. If additional American Depositary Shares are
not so delivered, each American Depositary Share shall thenceforth also represent the additional
Shares distributed upon the Deposited Securities represented thereby.
In the event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in property (including
Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) is subject to any tax or other governmental charge which
the Depositary is obligated to withhold, the Depositary may by public or private sale dispose of
all or a portion of such property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) in such
amounts and in such manner as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay any such taxes
or charges, and the Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds of any such sale after deduction
of such taxes or charges to the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto.
13. | RIGHTS. |
In the event that the Company shall offer or cause to be offered to the holders of any
Deposited Securities any rights to subscribe for additional Shares or any rights of any other
nature, the Depositary shall have discretion as to the procedure to be followed in making such
rights available to any Owners or in disposing of such rights on behalf of any Owners and making
the net proceeds available to such Owners or, if by the terms of
-9-
such rights offering or for any other reason, the Depositary may not either make such rights
available to any Owners or dispose of such rights and make the net proceeds available to such
Owners, then the Depositary shall allow the rights to lapse. If at the time of the offering of any
rights the Depositary determines in its discretion that it is lawful and feasible to make such
rights available to all or certain Owners but not to other Owners, the Depositary may distribute to
any Owner to whom it determines the distribution to be lawful and feasible, in proportion to the
number of American Depositary Shares held by such Owner, warrants or other instruments therefor in
such form as it deems appropriate.
In circumstances in which rights would otherwise not be distributed, if an Owner requests the
distribution of warrants or other instruments in order to exercise the rights allocable to the
American Depositary Shares of such Owner under the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary will make such
rights available to such Owner upon written notice from the Company to the Depositary that (a) the
Company has elected in its sole discretion to permit such rights to be exercised and (b) such Owner
has executed such documents as the Company has determined in its sole discretion are reasonably
required under applicable law.
If the Depositary has distributed warrants or other instruments for rights to all or certain
Owners, then upon instruction from such an Owner pursuant to such warrants or other instruments to
the Depositary from such Owner to exercise such rights, upon payment by such Owner to the
Depositary for the account of such Owner of an amount equal to the purchase price of the Shares to
be received upon the exercise of the rights, and upon payment of the fees and expenses of the
Depositary and any other charges as set forth in such warrants or other instruments, the Depositary
shall, on behalf of such Owner, exercise the rights and purchase the Shares, and the Company shall
cause the Shares so purchased to be delivered to the Depositary on behalf of such Owner. As agent
for such Owner, the Depositary will cause the Shares so purchased to be deposited pursuant to
Section 2.02 of the Deposit Agreement, and shall, pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Deposit
Agreement, deliver American Depositary Shares to such Owner. In the case of a distribution
pursuant to the second paragraph of this Article 13, such deposit shall be made, and depositary
shares shall be delivered, under depositary arrangements which provide for issuance of depositary
shares subject to the appropriate restrictions on sale, deposit, cancellation, and transfer under
applicable United States laws.
If the Depositary determines in its discretion that it is not lawful and feasible to make such
rights available to all or certain Owners, it may sell the rights, warrants or other instruments in
proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by the Owners to whom it has determined
it may not lawfully or feasibly make such rights available, and allocate the net proceeds of such
sales (net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 of the Deposit
Agreement and all taxes and governmental charges payable in connection with such rights and subject
to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement) for the account of such Owners otherwise
entitled
-10-
to such rights, warrants or other instruments, upon an averaged or other practical basis
without regard to any distinctions among such Owners because of exchange restrictions or the date
of delivery of any American Depositary Shares or otherwise.
The Depositary will not offer rights to Owners unless both the rights and the securities to
which such rights relate are either exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 with
respect to a distribution to all Owners or are registered under the provisions of such Act;
provided, that nothing in the Deposit Agreement shall create any obligation on the part of the
Company to file a registration statement with respect to such rights or underlying securities or to
endeavor to have such a registration statement declared effective. If an Owner requests the
distribution of warrants or other instruments, notwithstanding that there has been no such
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, the Depositary shall not effect such distribution
unless it has received an opinion from recognized counsel in the United States for the Company upon
which the Depositary may rely that such distribution to such Owner is exempt from such
registration.
The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to determine that it may be lawful or
feasible to make such rights available to Owners in general or any Owner in particular.
14. | CONVERSION OF FOREIGN CURRENCY. |
Whenever the Depositary or the Custodian shall receive foreign currency, by way of dividends
or other distributions or the net proceeds from the sale of securities, property or rights, and if
at the time of the receipt thereof the foreign currency so received can in the judgment of the
Depositary be converted on a reasonable basis into Dollars and the resulting Dollars transferred to
the United States, the Depositary shall convert or cause to be converted by sale or in any other
manner that it may determine, such foreign currency into Dollars, and such Dollars shall be
distributed to the Owners entitled thereto or, if the Depositary shall have distributed any
warrants or other instruments which entitle the holders thereof to such Dollars, then to the
holders of such warrants and/or instruments upon surrender thereof for cancellation. Such
distribution may be made upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any
distinctions among Owners on account of exchange restrictions, the date of delivery of any American
Depositary Shares or otherwise and shall be net of any expenses of conversion into Dollars incurred
by the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement.
If such conversion or distribution can be effected only with the approval or license of any
government or agency thereof, the Depositary shall file such application for approval or license,
if any, as it may deem desirable.
If at any time the Depositary shall determine that in its judgment any foreign currency
received by the Depositary or the Custodian is not convertible on a reasonable basis into Dollars
transferable to the United States, or if any approval or license of any government or agency
thereof which is required for such conversion is denied or in the
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opinion of the Depositary is not obtainable, or if any such approval or license is not
obtained within a reasonable period as determined by the Depositary, the Depositary may distribute
the foreign currency (or an appropriate document evidencing the right to receive such foreign
currency) received by the Depositary to, or in its discretion may hold such foreign currency
uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of, the Owners
entitled to receive the same.
If any such conversion of foreign currency, in whole or in part, cannot be effected for
distribution to some of the Owners entitled thereto, the Depositary may in its discretion make such
conversion and distribution in Dollars to the extent permissible to the Owners entitled thereto and
may distribute the balance of the foreign currency received by the Depositary to, or hold such
balance uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of, the
Owners entitled thereto.
15. | RECORD DATES. |
Whenever any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable or any distribution
other than cash shall be made, or whenever rights shall be issued with respect to the Deposited
Securities, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or
other Deposited Securities, or whenever for any reason the Depositary causes a change in the number
of Shares that are represented by each American Depositary Share, or whenever the Depositary shall
find it necessary or convenient, the Depositary shall fix a record date, which date shall be the
same date, to the extent practicable, as the record date, if any, for the Deposited Securities or
if different, as close thereto as is practicable (the “ADS Record Date”) (a) for the determination
of the Owners who shall be (i) entitled to receive such dividend, distribution or rights or the net
proceeds of the sale thereof, (ii) entitled to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights
at any such meeting or (iii) responsible for any fee assessed by the Depositary pursuant to the
Deposit Agreement or (b) on or after which each American Depositary Share will represent the
changed number of Shares, subject to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement.
16. | VOTING OF DEPOSITED SECURITIES. |
Upon receipt from the Company of notice of any meeting or solicitation of proxies or consents
of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, if requested in writing by the Company, the
Depositary shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the Owners of Receipts a notice, the
form of which notice shall be in the sole discretion of the Depositary, approved by the Company in
advance and such approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, which shall contain (a) such
information as is contained in such notice of meeting received by the Depositary from the Company,
(b) a statement that the Owners as of the close of business on the ADR Record Date will be
entitled, subject to any applicable provision of law, the articles of association or similar
documents of the Company and of the provisions of or governing the Deposited Securities, to
instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the amount
of
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Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by their respective American Depositary
Shares and (c) a statement as to the manner in which such instructions may be given. Including an
express indication that such instructions may be given or deemed given in accordance with the last
sentence of this paragraph if no instruction is received, to the Depositary to give a discretionary
proxy to a person designated by the Company. Upon the written request of an Owner of American
Depositary Shares on such record date, received on or before the date established by the Depositary
for such purpose, the Depositary shall endeavor insofar as practicable to vote or cause to be voted
the amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by those American Depositary Shares
in accordance with the instructions set forth in such request. The Depositary shall not vote or
attempt to exercise the right to vote that attaches to the Shares or other Deposited Securities,
other than in accordance with such instructions or deemed instructions. If no instructions are
received by the Depositary from any Owner with respect to any of the Deposited Securities
represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Owner’s Receipts on or before the
date established by the Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall deem such Owner to have
instructed the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company with
respect to such Deposited Securities and the Depositary shall give a discretionary proxy to a
person designated by the Company to vote such Deposited Securities, provided, that no such
instruction shall be deemed given and no such discretionary proxy shall be given with respect to
any matter as to which the Company informs the Depositary (and the Company agrees to provide such
information as promptly as practicable in writing) that (x) the Company does not wish such proxy
given, (y) substantial opposition exists or (z) such matter materially and adversely affects the
rights of holders of Shares. .
There can be no assurance that Owners generally or any Owner in particular will receive the
notice described in the preceding paragraph sufficiently prior to the instruction date to ensure
that the Depositary will vote the Shares or Deposited Securities in accordance with the provisions
set forth in the preceding paragraph.
In order to give Owners a reasonable opportunity to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise
of voting rights relating to Deposited Securities, if the Company will request the Depositary to
act under this Article, the Company shall endeavor to give the Depositary notice of any such
meeting or solicitation and details concerning the matters to be voted upon sufficiently in advance
of the meeting date.
Subject to the rules of any securities exchange on which the American Depositary Shares or the
Deposited Securities represented thereby are listed, at least 48 hours prior to the time of such
meeting, the Depositary shall, to the extent practicable, if requested in writing by the Company,
deliver to the Company, for the attention of its company secretary, copies of all instructions
received from Owners in accordance with which the Depositary will vote, or cause to be voted, the
Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipts at
such meeting. Delivery of instructions will be made at the expense of the Company provided that
payment of such
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expense shall not be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Depositary under Article
16.
17. | CHANGES AFFECTING DEPOSITED SECURITIES. |
Upon any change in nominal value, change in par value, split-up, consolidation, or any other
reclassification of Deposited Securities, or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, merger or
consolidation, or sale of assets affecting the Company or to which it is a party, or upon the
redemption or cancellation by the Company of the Deposited Securities, any securities, cash or
property which shall be received by the Depositary or a Custodian in exchange for, in conversion
of, in lieu of or in respect of Deposited Securities shall be treated as new Deposited Securities
under the Deposit Agreement, and American Depositary Shares shall thenceforth represent, in
addition to the existing Deposited Securities, the right to receive the new Deposited Securities so
received, unless additional Receipts are delivered pursuant to the following sentence. In any such
case the Depositary may deliver additional American Depositary Shares as in the case of a dividend
in Shares, or call for the surrender of outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts
specifically describing such new Deposited Securities.
18. | LIABILITY OF THE COMPANY AND DEPOSITARY. |
Neither the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their respective directors, officers,
employees, agents or affiliates shall incur any liability to any Owner or holder, (i) if by reason
of any provision of any present or future law or regulation of the United States or any other
country, or of any governmental or regulatory authority, or by reason of any provision, present or
future, of the articles of association or any similar document 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 terrorism 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,
(ii) by reason of any non-performance or delay, caused as aforesaid, in the performance of any act
or thing which by the terms of the Deposit Agreement it is provided shall or may be done or
performed, (iii) by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for
in the Deposit Agreement, (iv) for the inability of any Owner or holder to benefit from any
distribution, offering, right or other benefit which is made available to holders of Deposited
Securities but is not, under the terms of the Deposit Agreement, made available to Owners or
holders, or (v) for any special, consequential or punitive damages for any breach of the terms of
the Deposit Agreement. Where, by the terms of a distribution pursuant to Section 4.01, 4.02 or
4.03 of the Deposit Agreement, or an offering or distribution pursuant to Section 4.04 of the
Deposit Agreement, such distribution or offering may not be made available to Owners of
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Receipts, and the Depositary may not dispose of such distribution or offering on behalf of
such Owners and make the net proceeds available to such Owners, then the Depositary shall not make
such distribution or offering, and shall allow any rights, if applicable, to lapse. Neither the
Company nor its directors, officers, employees and agents, or the Depositary assumes any obligation
or shall be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement to Owners or holders, except that
they agree to perform their obligations specifically set forth in the Deposit Agreement without
negligence or bad faith. The Depositary, the directors, officers, employees and agents shall not
be subject to any liability with respect to the validity or worth of the Deposited Securities.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or
defend any action, suit, or other proceeding in respect of any Deposited Securities or in respect
of the American Depositary Shares, on behalf of any Owner or holder or other person. Neither the
Depositary nor the Company shall be liable for any action or nonaction by it in reliance upon the
advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares for deposit,
any Owner or holder, or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such
advice or information. The Depositary shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by a
successor depositary whether in connection with a previous act or omission of the Depositary or in
connection with a matter arising wholly after the removal or resignation of the Depositary,
provided that in connection with the issue out of which such potential liability arises, the
Depositary performed its obligations without negligence or bad faith while it acted as Depositary.
The Depositary shall not be liable for the acts or omissions of any securities depository, clearing
agency or settlement system in connection with or arising out of book-entry settlement of Deposited
Securities or otherwise. The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to carry out any
instructions to vote any of the Deposited Securities or for the manner in which any such vote is
cast or the effect of any such vote, provided that any such action or nonaction is in good faith.
No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act of 1933 is intended by any provision of
the Deposit Agreement.
19. | RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF THE DEPOSITARY; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN. |
The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary under the Deposit Agreement by written
notice of its election so to do delivered to the Company, such resignation to take effect upon the
earlier of (i) the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as
provided in the Deposit Agreement or (ii) termination by the Depositary pursuant to Section 6.02 of
the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by 120 days prior
written notice of such removal, to become effective upon the later of (i) the 120th day after
delivery of the notice to the Depositary and (ii) the appointment of a successor depositary and its
acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary in its
discretion may appoint a substitute or additional custodian or custodians.
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20. | AMENDMENT. |
The form of the Receipts and any provisions of the Deposit Agreement may at any time and from
time to time be amended by agreement between the Company and the Depositary without the consent of
Owners or holders in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable. Any amendment which
shall impose or increase any fees or charges (other than taxes and other governmental charges,
registration fees, cable, telex or facsimile transmission costs, delivery costs or other such
expenses), or which shall otherwise prejudice any substantial existing right of Owners, shall,
however, not become effective as to outstanding American Depositary Shares until the expiration of
thirty days after notice of such amendment shall have been given to the Owners of outstanding
American Depositary Shares. Every Owner and holder of American Depositary Shares, at the time any
amendment so becomes effective, shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such American Depositary
Shares or any interest therein, to consent and agree to such amendment and to be bound by the
Deposit Agreement as amended thereby. In no event shall any amendment impair the right of the Owner
to surrender American Depositary Shares and receive therefor the Deposited Securities represented
thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law.
21. | TERMINATION OF DEPOSIT AGREEMENT. |
The Company may terminate the Deposit Agreement by instructing the Depositary to mail notice
of termination to the Owners of all American Depositary Shares then outstanding at least 30 days
prior to the termination date included in such notice. The Depositary may likewise terminate the
Deposit Agreement, if at any time 60 days shall have expired after the Depositary delivered to the
Company a written resignation notice and if a successor depositary shall not have been appointed
and accepted its appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement; in such case the Depositary
shall mail a notice of termination to the Owners of all American Depositary Shares then outstanding
at least 30 days prior to the termination date. On and after the date of termination, the Owner of
American Depositary Shares will, upon (a) surrender of such American Depositary Shares, (b) payment
of the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of American Depositary Shares referred to in Section
2.05, and (c) payment of any applicable taxes or governmental charges, be entitled to delivery, to
him or upon his order, of the amount of Deposited Securities represented by those American
Depositary Shares. If any American Depositary Shares shall remain outstanding after the date of
termination, the Depositary thereafter shall discontinue the registration of transfers of American
Depositary Shares, shall suspend the distribution of dividends to the Owners thereof, and shall not
give any further notices or perform any further acts under the Deposit Agreement, except that the
Depositary shall continue to collect dividends and other distributions pertaining to Deposited
Securities, shall sell rights and other property as provided in the Deposit Agreement, and shall
continue to deliver Deposited Securities, together with any dividends or other distributions
received with respect thereto and the net proceeds of the sale of any rights or other property,
upon surrender of American
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Depositary Shares (after deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender
of American Depositary Shares, any expenses for the account of the Owner of such American
Depositary Shares 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 four 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 thereunder, unsegregated and without liability for interest, for the pro
rata benefit of the Owners of American Depositary Shares that have not theretofore been
surrendered, such Owners thereupon becoming general creditors of the Depositary with respect to
such net proceeds. After making such sale, the Depositary shall be discharged from all obligations
under the Deposit Agreement, except to account for such net proceeds and other cash (after
deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of American Depositary Shares,
any expenses for the account of the Owner of such American Depositary Shares 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 its obligations to the Depositary with respect to
indemnification, charges, and expenses.
22. | DTC DIRECT REGISTRATION SYSTEM AND PROFILE MODIFICATION SYSTEM. |
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.04 of the Deposit Agreement, the parties
acknowledge that the Direct Registration System (“DRS”) and Profile Modification System (“Profile”)
shall apply to uncertificated American Depositary Shares upon acceptance thereof to DRS by DTC.
DRS is the system administered by DTC pursuant to which the Depositary may register the ownership
of uncertificated American Depositary Shares, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic
statements issued by the Depositary to the Owners entitled thereto. Profile is a required feature
of DRS which allows a DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf of an Owner, to direct the
Depositary to register a transfer of those American Depositary Shares to DTC or its nominee and to
deliver those American Depositary Shares to the DTC account of that DTC participant without receipt
by the Depositary of prior authorization from the Owner to register such transfer.
(b) In connection with and in accordance with the arrangements and procedures relating to
DRS/Profile, the parties understand that the Depositary will not verify, determine or otherwise
ascertain that the DTC participant which is claiming to be acting on behalf of an Owner in
requesting registration of transfer and delivery described in subsection (a) has the actual
authority to act on behalf of the Owner (notwithstanding any requirements under the Uniform
Commercial Code). For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Sections 5.03 and 5.08 of the
Deposit Agreement shall apply to the matters arising from the use of the DRS. The parties agree
that the Depositary’s reliance on and
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compliance with instructions received by the Depositary through the DRS/Profile System and in
accordance with the Deposit Agreement, shall not constitute negligence or bad faith on the part of
the Depositary.
23. | SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; JURY TRIAL WAIVER; WAIVER OF IMMUNITIES. |
In the Deposit Agreement, the Company has (i) appointed [
], in the
State of New York, as the Company’s authorized agent upon which process may be served in any suit
or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Shares or Deposited Securities, the American
Depositary Shares, the Receipts or this Agreement, (ii) consented and submitted to the jurisdiction
of any state or federal court in the State of New York 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 upon the Company in any such suit or proceeding.
EACH PARTY TO THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT (INCLUDING, FOR AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, EACH OWNER AND HOLDER)
THEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY
HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING AGAINST THE COMPANY AND/OR THE DEPOSITARY
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SHARES OR OTHER DEPOSITED SECURITIES, THE
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES OR THE RECEIPTS, THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED
HEREIN OR THEREIN, OR THE BREACH HEREOF OR THEREOF, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY QUESTION
REGARDING EXISTENCE, VALIDITY OR TERMINATION (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).
To the extent that the Company or any of its properties, assets or revenues may have or
hereafter become entitled to, or have attributed to it, any right of 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 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 Deposited Securities, the American Depositary Shares, the Receipts or
the Deposit Agreement, the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally waives, and agrees not to plead or claim, any such immunity and consents to such
relief and enforcement.
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24. | DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS. |
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Deposit Agreement, each Owner and holder agrees to
comply with requests from the Company pursuant to applicable law the rules and requirements of any
other stock exchange on which the Shares are, or will be, registered, traded or listed, the rules
and requirements of any other clearing system through which transactions in the Shares may be
settled or the Articles of Association to provide information, inter alia, as to the capacity in
which such Owner or holder owns American Depositary Shares (and Shares as the case may be) and
regarding the identity of any other person(s) interested in such American Depositary Shares (and
Shares, as the case may be) and the nature of such interest and various other matters, whether or
not they are Owners or holders at the time of such request. The Depositary agrees to use its
reasonable efforts to forward, upon the written request of the Company and at the expense of the
Company, any such written request from the Company to the Owners and to forward, as promptly as
practicable, to the Company any such responses to such requests received by the Depositary. If the
Company requests information from the Depositary, as the registered holder of the Shares, the
obligations of the Depositary shall be limited to disclosing to the Company the information
contained in the register.
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