AND OWNERS AND HOLDERS OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement Dated as of May 14, 2018
AND
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
As Depositary
AND
OWNERS AND HOLDERS OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement
Dated as of May 14, 2018
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.................................................................................................. 4
SECTION 1.11 Foreign Registrar. ............................................................................. 4
SECTION 1.12 Holder. ............................................................................................ 4
SECTION 1.13 Owner............................................................................................... 4
SECTION 1.14 Receipts............................................................................................ 4
SECTION 1.15 Registrar........................................................................................... 4
SECTION 1.16 Restricted Securities.......................................................................... 4
SECTION 1.17 Securities Act of 1933...................................................................... 5
SECTION 1.18 Shares............................................................................................... 5
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 Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
Depositary Shares...........................................................................β¦ 5
SECTION 2.02 Deposit of Shares............................................................................. 6
SECTION 2.03 Delivery of American Depositary Shares.......................................... 7
SECTION 2.04 Β Β Β Β Registration of Transfer of American Depositary Shares;
Combination and Split-up of Receipts; Interchange of Certificated
and Uncertificated American Depositary Shares............................... 8
SECTION 2.05 Β Β Β Β Surrender of American Depositary Shares and Withdrawal of
Deposited Securities. ........................................................................9Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
SECTION 2.06 Limitations on Delivery, Transfer and Surrender of American Β Β Β Β
Depositary Shares........................................................................... 10
SECTION 2.07 Lost Receipts, etc. .......................................................................... 11
SECTION 2.08 Β Β Β Β Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receiptsβ¦................ 11
SECTION 2.09 Pre-Release of American Depositary Shares. .................................. 11
SECTION 2.10 Β Β Β Β DTC Direct Registration System and Profile Modification System...12Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
ARTICLE 3. CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF OWNERS AND HOLDERS OF AMERICAN Β Β Β Β 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
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. ..................................................... 19
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 Β Β Β Β Prevention or Delay in Performance by the Depositary or the
Company....................................................................................... 22
SECTION 5.03 Β Β Β Β Obligations of the Depositary, the Custodian and the Company..β¦ 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. ................................................................................... 29
SECTION 5.12 List of Restricted Securities Owners............................................... 29
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
AMENDED AND RESTATED DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
AMENDED AND RESTATED DEPOSIT AGREEMENT dated as of May 14, 2018 among SEQUANS COMMUNICATIONS S.A., a societe anonyme incorporated under the laws of The Republic of France (herein called the Company), THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, a New York banking corporation (herein called the Depositary), and all Owners (as hereinafter defined) and Holders (as hereinafter defined) from time to time of American Depositary Shares issued hereunder.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Company and the Depositary entered into a deposit agreement dated as of April 14, 2011 (the "Prior Deposit Agreement");
WHEREAS, the Company and the Depositary now wish to amend and restate the Prior Deposit Agreement pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Prior Deposit Agreement in the form of this amended and restated Deposit Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide, as hereinafter set forth in this amended and restated Deposit Agreement (as hereinafter defined), 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 amended and restated Deposit Agreement, for the creation of American Depositary Shares (as hereinafter defined) representing the Shares so deposited and for the execution and delivery of American Depositary Receipts (as hereinafter defined) 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 amended and restated Deposit Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, it is agreed by and between the parties hereto that the Prior Deposit Agreement is hereby amended and restated 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 Sequans Communications S.A., a societe anonyme incorporated under the laws of The Republic of France, and its successors.
SECTION 1.04 Custodian.
The term "Custodian" shall mean the principal Paris office of Societe Generale, 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", or its noun form, 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 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 amended and restated Deposit Agreement, including the Exhibit hereto, 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 appointed 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 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 otheraffiliate 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 Republic of France, or under a shareholder agreement or the statuts of the Company 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 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 or with any provision of the Company's statuts or French law as may be reasonably 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 the State of New York. American Depositary Shares not evidenced by Receipts shall be transferable as uncertificated registered securities under the laws of the State of New York. The Depositary and the Company, 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 any 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 (but only to 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 Republic of France, if any, that is then performing the function of the regulation of currency exchange or that has jurisdiction over foreign investment or regulates foreign ownership of French companies. If required by the Depositary, Shares presented for deposit at any time, whether or not the transfer books of the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, are closed, shall also be accompanied by an agreement or assignment, or other instrument satisfactory to the Depositary, which will provide for the prompt transfer to the Custodian of any dividend, or right to subscribe for additional Shares or to receive other property which any person in whose name the Shares are or have been recorded may thereafter receive upon or in respect of such deposited Shares, or in lieu thereof, such agreement of indemnity or other agreement as shall be satisfactory to the Depositary.
At the request and risk and expense of any person proposing to deposit Shares, and for the account of such person, the Depositary may receive certificates for Shares to be deposited, together with the other instruments herein specified, for the purpose of forwarding such Share certificates to the Custodian for deposit hereunder.
Upon each delivery to a Custodian of a certificate or certificates for Shares 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, 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 were evidenced by 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 a number of uncertificated American Depositary Shares equal to the number of certificated American Depositary Shares that were surrendered. The Depositary, upon receipt of a proper instruction (including, 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.
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 and the Company's statuts, 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 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.
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 and the Company's statuts, 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 or other governmental charge and any stock transfer or registration fee with respect thereto (including any such tax or charge and fee with respect to Shares being deposited or withdrawn) and payment of any applicable fees as herein provided, may require the production of proof satisfactory to it as to the
identity and genuineness of any signature and may also require compliance with any regulations the Depositary may establish consistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, including, without limitation, this Section 2.06.
The delivery of 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, 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. The Depositary will comply with reasonable written instructions from the Company requesting that the Depositary not accept for deposit hereunder any Shares or rights identified in such instructions in order to facilitate the Company's compliance with U.S. State and Federal Securities laws or the laws of The Republic of France.
SECTION 2.07 Lost Receipts, etc.
h1 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.
Notwithstanding Section 2.03 hereof, the Depositary may deliver American Depositary Shares prior to the receipt of Shares pursuant to Section 2.02 (a "Pre-Release"). The Depositary may, pursuant to Section 2.05, deliver Shares upon the surrender of American Depositary Shares that have been Pre-Released, whether or not such cancellation is prior to the termination of such Pre-Release or the Depositary knows that such American Depositary Shares have been Pre-Released. The Depositary may receive American Depositary Shares in lieu of Shares in satisfaction of a Pre-Release. Each Pre-Release will be (a) preceded or accompanied by a written representation from the person to whom American Depositary Shares or Shares are to be delivered, that such person, or its customer, owns the Shares or American Depositary Shares to be remitted, as the case may be, (b) at all times fully collateralized with cash or such other collateral as the Depositary determines, in good faith, to be appropriate, (c) terminable by the Depositary on not more than five (5) business days notice, and (d) subject to such further indemnities and credit regulations as the Depositary deems appropriate. The number of Shares represented by American Depositary Shares that are outstanding at any time as a result of Pre-Release will not normally exceed thirty percent (30%) of the Shares deposited hereunder; provided, however, that the Depositary reserves the right to change or disregard such limit from time to time as it deems reasonably appropriate.
The Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received by it in connection with the foregoing.
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 as in effect in the State of New York). 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, payment of applicable French or other taxes or governmental charges or legal or beneficial ownership 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 or as the Company may reasonably require upon written request to the Depositary. 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.
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 free of any preemptive rights of the holders of outstanding Shares and that the person making such deposit is duly authorized so to do. Every such person shall also be deemed to represent that 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 shall survive the deposit of Shares and delivery of American Depositary Shares.
SECTION 3.04 Disclosure of Interests.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Deposit Agreement, each Owner and Holder of American Depositary Shares agrees to comply with the Company's statuts, as they may be amended from time to time, and the laws of the Republic of France, if applicable, with respect to the disclosure requirements regarding ownership of Shares, as if the American Depositary Shares were, for this purpose, the amount of Shares they represent.
In order to facilitate compliance with the notification requirements, an Owner or Holder of American Depositary Shares may deliver any notification to the Depositary with respect to the
amount of Shares represented thereby, and the Depositary shall, as promptly as practicable, forward that notification to the Company and, if applicable, the Societe des Bourses Francaises or any other authorities in the Republic of France.
ARTICLE 4. THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES
SECTION 4.01 Cash Distributions.
Whenever the Depositary shall receive any cash dividend or other cash distribution on any Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall, as promptly as practicable after its receipt of such dividend or distribution, subject to the provisions of Section 4.05, convert such dividend or distribution into Dollars and shall, as promptly as possible, 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 each applicable jurisdiction 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.
SECTION 4.02 Distributions Other Than Cash, Shares or Rights.
Subject to the provisions of Sections 4.11 and 5.09, whenever the Depositary shall receive any distribution other than a distribution described in Section 4.01, 4.03 or 4.04, the Depositary shall cause the securities or property received by it to be distributed to the Owners entitled thereto, as of the record date fixed pursuant to Section 4.06, 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, after consultation with the Company to the extent practicable, may deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing such distribution; provided, however, that if in the opinion of the Depositary such distribution cannot be made proportionately among the Owners entitled thereto, or if for any other reason (including, but not limited to, any requirement that the Company or the Depositary withhold an amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges or that such securities must be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 in order to be distributed to Owners or Holders) the Depositary deems such distribution not to be feasible, the Depositary may, after consultation with the Company to the extent practicable, adopt such method as it may deem equitable and practicable for the purpose of effecting such distribution, including, but not limited to, the public or private sale of the securities or property thus received, or any part thereof, and the net proceeds of any such sale (net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09) shall be distributed by the Depositary to the Owners entitled thereto, all in the manner and subject to the conditions described in Section 4.01. The Depositary may withhold any distribution of securities under this Section 4.02 if it has not received satisfactory assurances from the Company 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 issuance of American Depositary Shares, including withholding of any tax or governmental charge as provided in Section 4.11 and deduction or and after deduction or upon 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 satisfactory assurances from the Company 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, after consultation with the Company, shall have discretion as to the procedure to be followed in making such rights available to any Owners or in disposing of such rights on behalf of any Owners and making the net proceeds available to such Owners or, if by the terms of such rights offering or for any other reason, the Depositary may not either make such rights available to any Owners or dispose of such rights and make the net proceeds available to such Owners, then the Depositary shall allow the rights to lapse. If at the time of the offering of any rights the Depositary determines 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 as promptly as practicable 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 reasonable judgment that it is not lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all or certain Owners, it may, and at the request of the Company shall use reasonable efforts to, sell the rights, warrants or other instruments in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by the Owners to whom it has determined it may not lawfully or feasibly make such rights available, and allocate the net proceeds of such sales (net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 and all taxes and governmental charges payable in connection with such rights and subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement) for the account of such Owners otherwise entitled to such rights, warrants or other instruments, upon an averaged or other practical basis without regard to any distinctions among such Owners because of exchange restrictions or the date of delivery of any American Depositary Shares or otherwise. Such proceeds shall be distributed as promptly as practicable in accordance with Section 4.01.
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; provided, however, it is acknowledged and agreed that the Company shall no obligation to furnish any such opinion to the Depositary.
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, as promptly as practicable, by sale or in any other manner that it may reasonably 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, as promptly as practicable, 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 areasonable basis into Dollars transferable to the United States, or if any approval or license of any government or agency thereof which is required for such conversion is denied or in the opinion of the Depositary is not obtainable, or if any such approval or license is not obtained within a reasonable period as determined by the Depositary, the Depositary may distribute the foreign currency (or an appropriate document evidencing the right to receive such foreign currency) received by the Depositary to, or in its discretion may hold such foreign currency uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of, the Owners entitled to receive the same.
If any such conversion of foreign currency, in whole or in part, cannot be effected for distribution to some of the Owners entitled thereto, the Depositary may in its discretion make such conversion and distribution in Dollars to the extent permissible to the Owners entitled thereto and may distribute the balance of the foreign currency received by the Depositary to, or hold such balance uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of, the Owners entitled thereto.
The Depositary may convert currency itself or through any of its affiliates and, in those cases, acts as principal for its own account and not as agent, advisor, broker or fiduciary on behalf of any other person and earns revenue, including, without limitation, transaction spreads, that it will retain for its own account. The revenue is based on, among other things, the difference between the exchange rate assigned to the currency conversion made under this Deposit Agreement and the rate that the Depositary or its affiliate receives when buying or selling foreign currency for its own account. The Depositary makes no representation that the exchange rate used or obtained in any currency conversion under this Deposit Agreement will be the most favorable rate that could be obtained at the time or that the method by which that rate will be determined will be the most favorable to Owners, subject to the Depositary's obligations under Section 5.03. The methodology used to determine exchange rates used in currency conversions is available upon request.
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 shall be the same as, or as near as practicable to, the record date, if any established by the Company, (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 such record date shall be entitled, as the case may be, to receive the amount distributable by the Depositary with respect to such dividend or other distribution or such rights or the net proceeds of sale thereof in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by them respectively and to give voting instructions and to act in respect of any other such matter.
SECTION 4.07 Voting of Deposited Securities.
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, if requested in writing by the Company, the Depositary shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the Owners a notice, the form of which notice shall be in the sole discretion of the Depositary, which shall contain (a) such information as is contained in such notice of meeting received by the Depositary from the Company, (b) a statement that the Owners as of the close of business on a specified record date will be entitled, subject to any applicable provision of French law and of the statuts of the Company, to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by their respective American Depositary Shares and (c) a statement as to the manner in which such instructions may be given, including an express indication that instructions may be given or deemed given in accordance with the last paragraph of this Section 4.07 if no instruction is received, to the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company, and (d) the last date on which the Depositary will accept instructions (the "Instruction Cutoff Date"). 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 may, and if the Depositary sent a notice under this paragraph, 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 given by Owners and received by the Depositary or as provided in the following sentence. If (i) the Company instructed the Depositary to Disseminate a notice under this paragraph and complied with last paragraph of this Section 4.07 and (ii) no instructions are received by the Depositary from an Owner with respect to a matter and an amount of American Depositary Shares of that Owner on or before the Instruction Cutoff Date, the Depositary shall deem that Owner to have instructed the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company with respect to that matter and the amount of deposited Shares represented by that amount of American Depositary Shares and the Depositary shall give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company to vote that
amount of deposited Shares as to that matter, except that no instruction of that kind shall be deemed given and no 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, if applicable) that (x) the Company does not wish a proxy given, (y) substantial opposition exists or (z) the 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.
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, and shall if the Company shall so request, 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 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.
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, 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.
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 Registrar or one or more co-registrars for registry of such American Depositary Shares in accordance with any requirements of such exchange or exchanges.
The Company shall have the right, upon reasonable request, at any reasonable time, to inspect the transfer and registration records of the Depositary relating to the American Depositary Shares, to take copies thereof and to require the Depositary to supply copies of such portions of such records as the Company may reasonably request.
SECTION 5.02 Prevention or Delay in Performance by the Depositary or the Company.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their respective directors, 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, the Republic of France 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 statuts 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.
The Company and its directors, employees, agents and affiliates assume no obligation nor shall they 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.
The Depositary and its directors, employees, agents and affiliates assume no obligation nor shall they 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 agrees to perform its obligations specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement without negligence or bad faith.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company, nor any of their respective directors, employees nor affiliates, shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any Deposited Securities or in respect of the American Depositary Shares on behalf of any Owner or Holder or any other person.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company, nor any of their respective directors, employees nor affiliates, shall be liable for any action or nonaction by them 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.
In case at any time the Depositary acting hereunder shall resign or be removed, the Company shall use its best efforts to appoint a successor depositary, which shall be a bank or trust company having an office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York. Every successor depositary shall execute and deliver to its predecessor and to the Company an instrument in writing accepting its appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor depositary, without any further act or deed, shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor; but such predecessor, nevertheless, upon payment of all sums due it and on the written request of the Company shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor all rights and powers of such predecessor hereunder, shall duly assign, transfer and deliver all right, title and interest in the Deposited Securities to such successor and shall deliver to such successor a list of the Owners of all outstanding American Depositary Shares. 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.
SECTION 5.06 Notices and Reports.
On or before the first date on which the Company gives notice, by publication or otherwise, of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, or of any adjourned meeting of such holders, or of the taking of any action in respect of any cash or other distributions or the offering of any rights, the Company agrees to transmit to the Depositary and the Custodian a copy of the notice thereof in the form given or to be given to holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities.
The Company will arrange for the translation into English, if not already in English, to the extent required pursuant to any regulations of the Commission, and the prompt transmittal by the Company to the Depositary and the Custodian of such notices and any other reports and communications which are made generally available by the Company to holders of its Shares. If requested in writing by the Company, the Depositary will arrange for the mailing, at the Company's expense, of copies of such notices, reports and communications to all Owners. The Company will timely provide the Depositary with the quantity of such notices, reports, and communications, as requested by the Depositary from time to time, in order for the Depositary to effect such mailings.
SECTION 5.07 Distribution of Additional Shares, Rights, etc.
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.
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 the American Depositary Shares, 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. 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 Company), as applicable, furnished in writing and not materially changed or altered by the Company expressly for use in any of the foregoing documents, or, (ii) if such information is provided, the failure to state a material fact necessary to make the information provided not misleading.
The Depositary agrees to indemnify the Company, its directors, employees, agents and affiliates and hold them harmless from any liability or expense which may arise out of acts performed or omitted by the Depositary or its Custodian or their respective directors, employees, agents and affiliates due to their negligence or bad faith.
If an action, proceeding (including, but not limited to, any governmental investigation), claim or dispute (collectively, a "Proceeding") in respect of which indemnity may be sought by either
party is brought or asserted against the other party, the party seeking indemnification (the "Indemnitee") shall promptly (and in no event more than ten (10) days after receipt of notice of such Proceeding) notify the party obligated to provide such indemnification (the ."Indemnitor") of such Proceeding. The failure of the Indemnitee to so notify the Indemnitor shall not impair the Indemnitee's ability to seek indemnification from the Indemnitor (but only for costs, expenses and liabilities incurred after such notice) unless such failure adversely affects the hldemnitor'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 hzdemnitee (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 reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel shall be borne by the hzdemnitee 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 Proceeding, (c) the Indemnitor fails to assume, at least ten (10) days prior to the date the first response or appearance is required to be made in such Proceeding, the defense of such Proceeding with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee or (d) there are legal defenses available to the Indemnitee that are different from or are in addition to those available to the Indemnitor. No compromise or settlement of such Proceeding may be effected by either party without the other party's consent unless (i) there is no finding or admission of any violation of law and no effect on any other claims that may be made against such other party and (ii) the sole relief provided is monetary damages that are paid in full by the party seeking the settlement. Neither party shall have any liability with respect to any compromise or settlement effected without its consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Indemnitor shall have no obligation to indemnify and hold harmless the Indemnitee from any loss, expense or liability incurred by the Indemnitee as a result of a default judgment entered against the Indemnitee unless such judgment was entered after the Indemnitor agreed, in writing, to assume the defense of such Proceeding.
SECTION 5.09 Charges of Depositary.
The Company agrees to pay the fees 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. Except as otherwise provided in the following paragraph, the charges and expenses of the Custodian are for the sole account of the Depositary.
The following charges shall be incurred by any party depositing or withdrawing Shares or by any party surrendering 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), or by Owners, as applicable: (1) taxes and other governmental charges, (2) such registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the registration of transfers of Shares generally on the Share register of the Company 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 $.05 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 $.05 or less per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) per annum for depositary services, which will be payable as provided in clause 9 below, and (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 may collect any of its fees by deduction from any cash distribution payable, or by selling a portion of any securities to be distributed, to Owners that are obligated to pay those fees.
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.
Subject to the provisions of Section 5.04, 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.
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 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 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 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.
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 Sequans Communications S.A., 00-00 xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx xx Xxxxxx, 00000 Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Attention: Chief Financial Officer, 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 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 GKL Corporate/Search, Inc., Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000, 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 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).
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 Republic of France.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, SEQUANS COMMUNICATIONS S.A. 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.
By: /s/Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Title: Chief Financial Officer
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,
as Depositary
By:______________________
Name:
Title:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, SEQUANS COMMUNICATIONS S.A. 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.
By:______________________
Name:
Title:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as Depositary
By: /s/Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx Title: Managing Director
EXHIBIT A
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
(Each American Depositary Share represents one
Deposited Share)
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
FOR ORDINARY SHARES
OF
(INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE REPUBLIC OF FRANCE)
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 Sequans Communications S.A., a societe anonyme organized under the laws of the Republic of France (herein called the "Company"). At the date hereof, each American Depositary Share represents one (1) Share deposited or subject to deposit under the Deposit Agreement (as such term is hereinafter defined) at the principal Paris office of Societe Generale (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 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, X.X. 00000.
THE DEPOSITARY'S CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE ADDRESS IS
000 XXXXXXX XXXXXX, XXX XXXX, X.X. 00000
1.THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT.
This American Depositary Receipt is one of an issue (herein called "Receipts"), all issued and to be issued upon the terms and conditions set forth in the amended and restated deposit agreement dated as of May 14, 2018 (herein called the "Deposit Agreement") 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 not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Deposit Agreement.
2. SURRENDER OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES AND WITHDRAWAL OF DEPOSITED SECURITIES.
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 Company's status and the Deposited Securities, 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. 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 (including, 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, 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 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, 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, the statuts of the Company or this Receipt, or for any other reason, subject to the provisions of the following sentence. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, the surrender of outstanding American Depositary Shares and withdrawal of Deposited Securities may not be suspended except in connection with (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 the Deposit Agreement any Shares which would be required to be registered under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, unless a registration statement is in effect as to such Shares.
4. LIABILITY OF OWNER 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 free of any preemptive rights of the holders of outstanding Shares and
that the person making such deposit is duly authorized so to do. Every such person shall also be deemed to represent that 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 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, payment of applicable French or other taxes or governmental charges or legal or beneficial ownership 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 or the Company may reasonably require upon written request to the Depositary. The Depositary may withhold the delivery or registration of transfer of any 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. 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 each applicable jurisdiction that is then performing the function of the regulation of currency exchange or which has jurisdiction over foreign investment.
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 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 $.05 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 $.05 or less per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) per annum for depositary services, which will be payable as provided in clause 9 below, and (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 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 may collect any of its fees by deduction from any cash distribution payable, or by selling a portion of any securities to be distributed, to Owners that are obligated to pay those fees.
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.
Notwithstanding Section 2.03 of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may deliver American Depositary Shares prior to the receipt of Shares pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Deposit Agreement (a "Pre-Release"). The Depositary may, pursuant to Section 2.05 of the Deposit Agreement, deliver Shares upon the surrender of American Depositary Shares that have been Pre-Released, whether or not such cancellation is prior to the termination of such Pre-Release or the Depositary knows that such American Depositary Shares have been Pre-Released. The Depositary may receive American Depositary Shares in lieu of Shares in satisfaction of a Pre-Release. Each Pre-Release will be (a) preceded or accompanied by a written representation from the person to whom American Depositary Shares or Shares are to be delivered, that such person, or its customer, owns the Shares or American Depositary Shares to be remitted, as the case may be, (b) at all times fully collateralized with cash or such other collateral as the Depositary deems appropriate, (c) terminable by the Depositary on not more than five (5) business days notice, and (d) subject to such further indemnities and credit regulations as the Depositary deems appropriate. The number of American Depositary Shares that are outstanding at any time as a result of Pre-Release will not normally exceed thirty percent (30%) of the Shares deposited under the Deposit Agreement; provided, however, that the Depositary reserves the right to change or disregard such limit from time to time as it deems reasonably appropriate.
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 title to this Receipt (and to the American Depositary Shares evidenced thereby) when properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, shall be transferable as certificated registered securities under the laws of the State of New York. American Depositary Shares not evidenced by Receipts shall be transferable as uncertificated registered securities under the laws of the State 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 (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.
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 reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Those reports will be available for inspection and copying through the Commission's XXXXX system on the Internet at xxx.xxx.xxx or at 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 any reports, notices and other 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, 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 Custodian 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 the securities or property received by it to be distributed to the Owners entitled thereto, in any manner that the Depositary, after consultation with the Company to the extent practicable, 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 (including, but not limited to, any requirement that the Company or the Depositary withhold an amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges or that such securities must be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 in order to be distributed to Owners or Holders) the Depositary deems such distribution not to be feasible, the Depositary may, after consultation with the Company to the extent practicable, adopt such method as it may deem equitable and practicable for the purpose of effecting such distribution, including, but not limited to, the public or private sale of the securities or property thus received, or any part thereof, and the net proceeds of any such sale (net of the fees of the Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement) will be distributed by the Depositary to the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto as in the case of a distribution received in cash. The Depositary may withhold any distribution of securities under Section 4.02 of the Deposit Agreement if it has not received satisfactory assurances from the Company 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 Section 4.02 of the Deposit Agreement 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, distribute to the Owners of outstanding Receipts entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares corresponding to 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 the issuance of American Depositary Shares, including withholding of any tax or other governmental charge as provided in Section 4.11 of the Deposit Agreement and deduction or 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 that is 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 satisfactory assurances from the Company that the 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 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.
The Depositary will use reasonable efforts to follow the procedures established by the French Treasury for eligible United States Owners to benefit from the reduced withholding tax rate upon payment of any dividend. To effect such recovery and receipt, the Depositary shall provide U.S. resident Owners, upon request, with the appropriate French tax forms and instructions for completing such forms, which shall be provided by the Company to the Depositary, and shall advise such U.S. resident Owners to return such forms to it properly completed and executed. Upon receipt of such forms properly completed and executed by U.S. resident Owners, the Depositary shall promptly cause them to be filed with the appropriate French tax authorities, and upon receipt of any resulting remittance, the Depositary shall distribute to the Owners entitled thereto, as soon as practicable, the proceeds thereof in Dollars in accordance with Section 4.05 of the Deposit Agreement.
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, after consultation with the Company, as to the procedure to be followed in making such rights available to any Owners or in disposing of such rights on behalf of any Owners and making the net proceeds available to such Owners or, if by the terms of such rights offering or for any other reason, the Depositary may not either make such rights available to any Owners or dispose of such rights and make the net proceeds available to such Owners, then the Depositary shall allow the rights to lapse. If at the time of the offering of any rights the Depositary determines 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 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 reasonable judgment that it is not lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all or certain Owners, it may, and at the request of the Company shall use reasonable efforts to, sell the rights, warrants or other instruments in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by the Owners to whom it has determined it may not lawfully or feasibly make such rights available, and allocate the net proceeds of such sales (net of the fees of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement and all taxes and governmental charges payable in connection with such rights and subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement) for the account of such Owners otherwise entitled to such rights, warrants or other instruments, upon an averaged or other practical basis without regard to any distinctions among such Owners because of exchange restrictions or the date of delivery of any 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 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.
The Depositary may convert currency itself or through any of its affiliates and, in those cases, acts as principal for its own account and not as agent, advisor, broker or fiduciary on behalf of any other person and earns revenue, including, without limitation, transaction spreads, that it will retain for its own account. The revenue is based on, among other things, the difference between the exchange rate assigned to the currency conversion made under the Deposit Agreement and the rate that the Depositary or its affiliate receives when buying or selling foreign currency for its own account. The Depositary makes no representation that the exchange rate used or obtained in any currency conversion under the Deposit Agreement will be the most favorable rate that could be obtained at the time or that the method by which that rate will be determined will be the most favorable to Owners, subject to the Depositary's obligations under Section 5.03 of that Agreement. The methodology used to determine exchange rates used in currency conversions is available upon request.
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 shall be the same as, or as near as practicable to, the record date, if any, established by the Company) (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 of notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, if requested in writing by the Company, the Depositary shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the Owners a notice, the form of which notice shall be in the sole discretion of the Depositary, which shall contain (a) such information as is contained in such notice of meeting received by the Depositary from the Company, (b) a statement that the Owners as of the close of business on a specified record date will be entitled, subject to any applicable provision of French law and of the statuts of the Company, to
instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by their respective American Depositary Shares and (c) a statement as to the manner in which such instructions may be given, including an express indication that instructions may be given or deemed given in accordance with the last paragraph Section 4.07 of the Deposit Agreement if no instruction is received, to the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company, and (d) the last date on which the Depositary will accept instructions (the "Instruction Cutoff Date"). 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 may, and if the Depositary sent a notice under this paragraph, 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 given by Owners and received by the Depositary or as provided in the following sentence. If (i) the Company instructed the Depositary to Disseminate a notice under this paragraph and complied with last paragraph of Section 4.07 of the Deposit Agreement and (ii) no instructions are received by the Depositary from an Owner with respect to a matter and an amount of American Depositary Shares of that Owner on or before the Instruction Cutoff Date, the Depositary shall deem that Owner to have instructed the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company with respect to that matter and the amount of deposited Shares represented by that amount of American Depositary Shares and the Depositary shall give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company to vote that amount of deposited Shares as to that matter, except that no instruction of that kind shall be deemed given and no 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, if applicable) that (x) the Company does not wish a proxy given, (y) substantial opposition exists or (z) the 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 Section 4.07 of the Deposit Agreement, the Company shall give the Depositary notice of any such meeting or solicitation and details concerning the matters to be voted upon not less than 45 days prior to the meeting date.
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, 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, the Republic of France 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 statuts 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 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 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, or for any other reason, such distribution or offering may not be made available to Owners of Receipts, and the Depositary may not dispose of such distribution or offering on behalf of such Owners and make the net proceeds available to such Owners, then the Depositary shall not make such distribution or offering, and shall allow any rights, if applicable, to lapse. Neither the Company nor the Depositary nor any of their directors, employees, agents or affiliates 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 shall not be subject to any liability with respect to the validity or worth of the Deposited Securities. Neither the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their directors, employees, agents or affiliates shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit, or other proceeding in respect of any Deposited Securities or in respect of the 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 appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by 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.
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 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 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.
c.
23. SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; JURY TRIAL WAIVER; WAIVER OF IMMUNITIES.
In the Deposit Agreement, the Company has (i) appointed GKL Corporate/Search, Inc., Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000, 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 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.
24. DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Deposit Agreement, each Owner and Holder of American Depositary Shares agrees to comply with the Company's statuts, as they may be amended from time to time, and the laws of the Republic of France, if applicable, with respect to the disclosure requirements regarding ownership of Shares, as if the American Depositary Shares were, for this purpose, the amount of Shares they represent.
In order to facilitate compliance with the notification requirements, an Owner or Holder of American Depositary Shares may deliver any notification to the Depositary with respect to the amount of Shares represented thereby, and the Depositary shall, as promptly as practicable, forward that notification to the Company and, if applicable, the Societe des Bourses Francaises or any other authorities in the Republic of France.
