INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS GROUP PLC AND JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., As Depositary AND HOLDERS OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement Dated as of February__, 2006
INTERCONTINENTAL
HOTELS GROUP PLC
AND
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A.,
As
Depositary
AND
HOLDERS
OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS
Amended
and Restated Deposit Agreement
Dated
as
of February__, 2006
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
|
||
PARTIES |
1
|
|
RECITALS |
1
|
|
Section 1. | Certain Definitions | |
(a)
|
ADR
Register
|
1
|
(b)
|
ADRs;
Direct Registration ADRs
|
1
|
(c)
|
ADS
|
2
|
(d)
|
Custodian
|
2
|
(e)
|
Deliver,
execute, issue et al.
|
2
|
(f)
|
Delivery
Order
|
2
|
(g)
|
Deposited
Securities
|
2
|
(h)
|
Direct
Registration System
|
2
|
(i)
|
Holder
|
2
|
(j)
|
Securities
Act of 1933
|
2
|
(k)
|
Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
|
3
|
(l)
|
Shares
|
3
|
(m)
|
Transfer
Office
|
3
|
(n)
|
Withdrawal
Order
|
3
|
Section 2. |
ADRs
|
3
|
Section 3. |
Deposit
of Shares
|
3
|
Section 4. |
Issue
of ADRs
|
3
|
Section 5. |
Distributions
on Deposited Securities
|
4
|
Section 6. |
Withdrawal
of Deposited Securities
|
4
|
Section 7. |
Substitution
of ADRs
|
4
|
Section 8. |
Cancellation
and Destruction of ADRs
|
5
|
Section 9. |
The
Custodian
|
5
|
Section 10. |
Co-Registrars
and Co-Transfer Agents
|
5
|
Section 11. |
Lists
of Holders.
|
5
|
Section 12. |
Depositary's
Agents
|
5
|
Section 13. |
Successor
Depositary
|
5
|
Section 14. |
Reports
|
5
|
Section 15. |
Additional
Shares
|
6
|
Section 16. |
Indemnification
|
6
|
Section 17. |
Notices
|
7
|
Section 18. |
Miscellaneous
|
7
|
Section 19. |
Consent
to Jurisdiction
|
8
|
Section 20. |
Amendment
and Restatement of Old Deposit Agreement
|
9
|
TESTIMONIUM |
10
|
|
SIGNATURES |
10
|
-i-
Page
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EXHIBIT
A
|
||
FORM OF FACE OF ADR |
A-1
|
|
Introductory
Paragraph
|
A-1
|
|
(1)
|
Issuance of ADRs |
A-1
|
(2)
|
Withdrawal of Deposited Securities |
A-2
|
(3)
|
Transfers of ADRs |
A-2
|
(4)
|
Certain Limitations |
A-3
|
(5)
|
Taxes |
A-4
|
(6)
|
Disclosure of Interests |
A-4
|
(7)
|
Charges of Depositary |
A-5
|
(8)
|
Available Information |
A-5
|
(9)
|
Execution |
A-6
|
Signature
of Depositary
|
A-6
|
|
Address
of Depositary's Office
|
A-6
|
|
FORM OF REVERSE OF ADR |
A-7
|
|
(10)
|
Distributions on Deposited Securities |
A-7
|
(11)
|
Record Dates |
A-7
|
(12)
|
Voting of Deposited Securities |
A-8
|
(13)
|
Changes Affecting Deposited Securities |
A-8
|
(14)
|
Exoneration |
A-8
|
(15)
|
Resignation and Removal of Depositary; the Custodian |
A-9
|
(16)
|
Amendment |
A-9
|
(17)
|
Termination |
A-10
|
(18)
|
Appointment |
A-10
|
-
ii-
AMENDED
AND RESTATED DEPOSIT AGREEMENT dated as of February__, 2006 (the
"Deposit Agreement") among INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS GROUP PLC and its
successors
(the "Company"), JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as depositary hereunder (the
"Depositary"),
and all holders from time to time of American Depositary Receipts issued
hereunder
("ADRs") evidencing American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") representing Deposited
Securities
(as hereinafter defined). The Company hereby appoints the Depositary as
depositary for
the
Deposited Securities and hereby authorizes and directs the Depositary to act
in
accordance with
the
terms set forth in this Deposit Agreement. All capitalized terms used herein
have the meanings
ascribed to them in Section 1 or elsewhere in this Deposit Agreement. The
parties hereto
agree as follows:
W
I T N E
S S E T H
WHEREAS,
the Company and The Bank of New York entered into a Deposit Agreement
dated as of June 27, 2005 (the "Old Deposit Agreement") to provide for the
deposit of Shares
of
the Company with The Bank of New York or with the Custodian as agent of The
Bank
of
New
York for the purposes set forth in such Old Deposit Agreement, for the creation
of ADSs representing
the Deposited Securities and for the execution and delivery of ADRs ("Old
Receipts")
evidencing the ADSs;
WHEREAS,
pursuant to the terms of Section 5.04 of the Old Deposit Agreement, the
Company has removed The Bank of New York as depositary and has appointed
JPMorgan Chase
Bank, N.A. as successor depositary thereunder;
WHEREAS,
the Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as successor
depositary under the Old Deposit Agreement, now wish to amend and restate the
Old Deposit
Agreement and the Old Receipts;
WHEREAS,
the Company desires to provide, as hereinafter set forth in this Deposit
Agreement, for the deposit of Shares of the Company from time to time with
the
Depositary
or with the Custodian as agent of the Depositary for the purposes set forth
in
this Deposit
Agreement, for the creation of ADSs representing the Shares so deposited and
for
the execution
and delivery of ADRs evidencing the ADSs; and
WHEREAS,
the ADRs are to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A annexed hereto,
with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter
provided in this Deposit
Agreement;
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the parties hereto agree
as
follows:
1.
Certain
Definitions.
(a) "ADR
Register"
is
defined in paragraph (3) of the form of ADR.
(b) "ADRs"
mean
the American Depositary Receipts executed and delivered hereunder.
ADRs may be either in physical certificated form or Direct Registration ADRs.
ADRs
in
physical certificated form, and the terms and conditions governing the Direct
Registration
ADRs, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A annexed hereto (the
"form
of ADR").
The
term "Direct
Registration ADR"
means
an ADR, the ownership of which is recorded
on the Direct Registration System. References to "ADRs" shall include
certificated ADRs
and
Direct Registration ADRs, unless the context otherwise requires. The form of
ADR
is hereby
incorporated herein and made a part hereof; the provisions of the form of ADR
shall be binding
upon the parties hereto.
(c) Subject
to paragraph (13) of the form of ADR, each "ADS"
evidenced by an ADR
represents the right to receive one Share and a pro rata share in any other
Deposited Securities.
(d) "Custodian"
means
the agent or agents of the Depositary (singly or collectively, as
the
context requires) and any additional or substitute Custodian appointed pursuant
to Section 9.
(e) The
terms
"deliver",
"execute",
"issue",
"register",
"surrender",
"transfer"
or
"cancel",
when
used with respect to Direct Registration ADRs, shall refer to an entry or
entries or an
electronic transfer or transfers in the Direct Registration System, and, when
used with respect to
ADRs
in physical certificated form, shall refer to the physical delivery, execution,
issuance, registration,
surrender, transfer or cancellation of certificates representing the
ADRs.
(f) "Delivery
Order"
is
defined in Section 3.
(g) "Deposited
Securities"
as of
any time means all Shares at such time deposited under
this Deposit Agreement and any and all other Shares, securities, property and
cash at such time
held
by the Depositary or the Custodian in respect or in lieu of such deposited
Shares and other
Shares, securities, property and cash.
(h) "Direct
Registration System"
means
the system for the uncertificated registration of
ownership of securities established by The Depository Trust Company ("DTC")
and
utilized by
the
Depositary pursuant to which the depositary may record the ownership of ADRs
without the
issuance of a physical certificate, which ownership shall be evidenced by
periodic statements issued
by
the Depositary to the Holders entitled thereto. For purposes hereof, the Direct
Registration
System shall include access to the Profile Modification System maintained by
DTC
which
provides for automated transfer of ownership between DTC and the
Depositary.
(i) "Holder"
means
the person or persons in whose name an ADR is registered on the
ADR
Register.
(j) "Securities
Act of 1933"
means
the United States Securities Act of 1933, as from time to time
amended.
2
(k) "Securities
Exchange Act of 1934"
means
the United States Securities Exchange Act
of
1934, as from time to time amended.
(l) "Shares"
mean
the ordinary shares of the Company, and shall include the rights to
receive Shares specified in paragraph (1) of the form of ADR.
(m) "Transfer
Office"
is
defined in paragraph (3) of the form of ADR.
(n) "Withdrawal
Order"
is
defined in Section 6.
2.
ADRs.
(a)
ADRs in certificated form shall be engraved, printed or otherwise reproduced
at the discretion of the Depositary in accordance with its customary practices
in its American
depositary receipt business, or at the request of the Company typewritten and
photocopied
on plain or safety paper, and shall be substantially in the form set forth
in
the form of
ADR,
with such changes as may be required by the Depositary or the Company to comply
with
their obligations hereunder, any applicable law, regulation or usage or to
indicate any special
limitations or restrictions to which any particular ADR is subject. ADRs may
be
issued in
denominations of any number of ADSs. ADRs in certificated form shall be executed
by the Depositary
by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer of the
Depositary. ADRs
in
certificated form bearing the facsimile signature of anyone who was at the
time
of execution
a duly authorized officer of the Depositary shall bind the Depositary,
notwithstanding that
such
officer has ceased to hold such office prior to the delivery of such
ADRs.
(b)
Direct
Registration ADRs.
Notwithstanding anything in this Deposit Agreement or in the
form
of ADR to the contrary, ADSs shall be evidenced by Direct Registration ADRs,
unless certificated
ADRs are specifically requested by the Holder.
(c)
Holders shall be bound by the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement
and
of the
form
of ADR, regardless of whether their ADRs are Direct Registration ADRs or
certificated ADRs.
3.
Deposit
of Shares.
In
connection with the deposit of Shares hereunder, the Depositary or
the
Custodian may require the following in form satisfactory to it: (a) a written
order directing the
Depositary to issue to, or upon the written order of, the person or persons
designated in such order
a
Direct Registration ADR or ADRs evidencing the number of ADSs representing
such
deposited
Shares (a "Delivery Order"); (b) proper endorsements or duly executed
instruments of transfer
in respect of such deposited Shares; (c) instruments assigning to the Custodian
or its nominee
any distribution on or in respect of such deposited Shares or indemnity
therefor; and (d) proxies
entitling the Custodian to vote such deposited Shares. As soon as practicable
after the Custodian
receives Deposited Securities pursuant to any such deposit or pursuant to
paragraph (10)
or
(13) of the form of ADR, the Custodian shall present such Deposited Securities
for registration
of transfer into the name of the Custodian or its nominee, to the extent such
3
registration
is practicable, at the cost and expense of the person making such deposit (or
for whose
benefit such deposit is made) and shall obtain evidence satisfactory to it
of
such registration.
Deposited Securities shall be held by the Custodian for the account and to
the
order of
the
Depositary at such place or places and in such manner as the Depositary shall
determine. Deposited
Securities may be delivered by the Custodian to any person only under the
circumstances
expressly contemplated in this Deposit Agreement. To the extent that the
provisions
of or governing the Shares make delivery of certificates therefor impracticable,
Shares may
be
deposited hereunder by such delivery thereof as the Depositary or the Custodian
may reasonably
accept, including, without limitation, by causing them to be credited to an
account maintained
by the Custodian for such purpose with the Company or an accredited
intermediary, such
as a
bank, acting as a registrar for the Shares, together with delivery of the
documents, payments
and Delivery Order referred to herein to the Custodian or the Depositary.
4.
Issue
of ADRs.
After
any such deposit of Shares, the Custodian shall notify the Depositary
of such deposit and of the information contained in any related Delivery Order
by letter,
first class airmail postage prepaid, or, at the request, risk and expense of
the
person making the
deposit, by cable, SWIFT or facsimile transmission. After receiving such notice
from the Custodian,
the Depositary, subject to this Deposit Agreement, shall properly issue at
the
Transfer Office,
to or upon the order of any person named in such notice, an ADR or ADRs
registered as requested
and evidencing the aggregate ADSs to which such person is entitled.
5.
Distributions
on Deposited Securities.
To the
extent that the Depositary determines in its
discretion that any distribution pursuant to paragraph (10) of the form of
ADR
is not practicable
with respect to any Holder, the Depositary may make such distribution as it
so
deems practicable,
including the distribution of foreign currency, securities or property (or
appropriate documents
evidencing the right to receive foreign currency, securities or property) or
the
retention
thereof as Deposited Securities with respect to such Holder's ADRs (without
liability for
interest thereon or the investment thereof).
6.
Withdrawal
of Deposited Securities.
In
connection with any surrender of an ADR for withdrawal
of the Deposited Securities represented by the ADSs evidenced thereby, the
Depositary
may require proper endorsement in blank of such ADR (or duly executed
instruments of
transfer thereof in blank) and the Holder's written order directing the
Depositary to cause the Deposited
Securities represented by the ADSs evidenced by such ADR to be withdrawn and
delivered
to, or upon the written order of, any person designated in such order (a
"Withdrawal Order").
Directions from the Depositary to the Custodian to deliver Deposited Securities
shall be given
by
letter, first class airmail postage prepaid, or, at the request, risk and
expense of the Holder,
by cable, telex or facsimile transmission. Delivery of Deposited Securities
may
be made by
the
delivery of certificates (which, if required by law shall be properly endorsed
or accompanied
by properly executed instruments of transfer or, if such certificates may be
registered,
registered in the name of such Holder or as ordered by such Holder in any
Withdrawal Order)
or
by such other means as the Depositary may deem practicable, including, without
limitation,
by transfer of record ownership thereof to an account designated in the
Withdrawal Order
maintained either by the Company or an accredited intermediary, such as a bank,
acting as a registrar for the Deposited Securities.
4
7.
Substitution
of ADRs.
The
Depositary shall execute and deliver a new Direct Registration
ADR in exchange and substitution for any mutilated certificated ADR upon
cancellation
thereof or in lieu of and in substitution for such destroyed, lost or stolen
certificated ADR,
unless the Depositary has notice that such ADR has been acquired by a bona
fide
purchaser,
upon the Holder thereof filing with the Depositary a request for such execution
and delivery
and a sufficient indemnity bond and satisfying any other reasonable requirements
imposed
by the Depositary.
8.
Cancellation
and Destruction of ADRs.
All
ADRs surrendered to the Depositary shall be
cancelled by the Depositary. The Depositary is authorized to destroy ADRs in
certificated form
so
cancelled in accordance with its customary practices.
9.
The
Custodian.
Any
Custodian in acting hereunder shall be subject to the directions of the
Depositary and shall be responsible solely to it. The Depositary may from time
to time appoint
one or more agents to act for it as Custodian hereunder. Each Custodian so
appointed (other
than JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.) shall give written notice to the Company and
the
Depositary
accepting such appointment and agreeing to be bound by the applicable terms
hereof. Any
Custodian may resign from its duties hereunder by at least 30 days written
notice to the Depositary.
The Depositary may discharge any Custodian at any time upon notice to the
Custodian
being discharged. Any Custodian ceasing to act hereunder as Custodian shall
deliver, upon
the
instruction of the Depositary, all Deposited Securities held by it to a
Custodian continuing
to act.
10.
Co-Registrars
and Co-Transfer Agents.
The
Depositary may appoint and remove (i) co-registrars
to register ADRs and transfers, combinations and split-ups of ADRs and to
countersign
ADRs in accordance with the terms of any such appointment and (ii) co-transfer
agents
for the purpose of effecting transfers, combinations and split-ups of ADRs
at
designated transfer
offices in addition to the Transfer Office on behalf of the Depositary. Each
co-registrar or
co-transfer agent (other than JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.) shall give notice
in
writing to the Company
and the Depositary accepting such appointment and agreeing to be bound by the
applicable
terms of this Deposit Agreement.
11.
Lists
of Holders.
The
Company shall have the right to inspect transfer records of the Depositary
and its agents and the ADR Register, take copies thereof and require the
Depositary and
its
agents to supply copies of such portions of such records as the Company may
request. The
Depositary or its agent shall furnish to the Company promptly upon the written
request of the
Company, a list of the names, addresses and holdings of ADSs by all Holders
as
of a date within
seven days of the Depositary's receipt of such request.
12.
Depositary's
Agents.
The
Depositary may perform its obligations under this Deposit Agreement
through any agent appointed by it, provided that the Depositary shall notify
the
Company
of such appointment and shall remain responsible for the performance of such
obligations
as if no agent were appointed.
5
13.
Successor
Depositary.
The
Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary hereunder
by written notice of its election so to do delivered to the Company. The
Depositary may
at
any time be removed by the Company by written notice of such removal.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, in case at any time the Depositary
acting
hereunder shall resign or be removed, it shall continue to act as Depositary
for
the purpose of
terminating this Deposit Agreement pursuant to paragraph (17) of the form of
ADR. Any bank or
trust
company into or with which the Depositary may be merged or consolidated, or
to
which the
Depositary shall transfer substantially all its American depositary receipt
business, shall be the
successor of the Depositary without the execution or filing of any document
or
any further act.
14.
Reports.
On or
before the first date on which the Company makes any communication
available to holders of Deposited Securities or any securities regulatory
authority or
stock
exchange, by publication or otherwise, the Company shall transmit to the
Depositary a copy
thereof in English or with an English translation or summary. The Company has
delivered to
the
Depositary, the Custodian and any Transfer Office, a copy of all provisions
of
or governing the
Shares and any other Deposited Securities issued by the Company or any affiliate
of the Company
and, promptly upon any change thereto, the Company shall deliver to the
Depositary, the
Custodian and any Transfer Office, a copy (in English or with an English
translation) of such provisions
as so changed. The Depositary and its agents may rely upon the Company's
delivery thereof
for all purposes of this Deposit Agreement.
15.
Additional
Shares.
Neither
the Company nor any company controlling, controlled by or
under
common control with the Company shall issue additional Shares, rights to
subscribe for Shares,
securities convertible into or exchangeable for Shares or rights to subscribe
for any such securities
or shall deposit any Shares under this Deposit Agreement, except under
circumstances complying
in all respects with the Securities Act of 1933. The Depositary will use
reasonable efforts
to comply with written instructions of the Company not to accept for deposit
hereunder any
Shares identified in such instructions at such times and under such
circumstances as may reasonably
be specified in such instructions in order to facilitate the Company's
compliance with securities
laws in the United States.
16.
Indemnification.
The
Company shall indemnify, defend and save harmless each of the
Depositary and its agents against any loss, liability or expense (including
reasonable fees and expenses
of counsel) which may arise out of acts performed or omitted, in connection
with
the provisions
of this Deposit Agreement and of the ADRs, as the same may be amended, modified
or
supplemented from time to time in accordance herewith (i) by either the
Depositary or its agents
or
their respective directors, employees, agents and affiliates, except, subject
to
the penultimate
paragraph of this Section 16, for any liability or expense directly arising
out
of the negligence
or bad faith of the Depositary, or (ii) by the Company or any of its directors,
employees,
agents or affiliates.
The
indemnities set forth 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 or sale of ADSs, except to the extent any such liability or expense arises
out of (i) information relating to the
Depositary or its agents (other than the Company), as applicable, furnished
in
writing by the Depositary
and not changed or altered by the Company expressly for use in any of the
foregoing documents
or (ii) if such information is provided, the failure to state a material fact
necessary to make
the
information provided not misleading.
6
Except
as
provided in the next succeeding paragraph, the Depositary shall indemnify,
defend
and save harmless the Company against any loss, liability or expense (including
reasonable
fees and expenses of counsel) incurred by the Company in respect of this Deposit
Agreement
to the extent such loss, liability or expense is due to the negligence or bad
faith of the Depositary.
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Deposit Agreement or the form of ADR to the
contrary, neither the Company nor the Depositary, nor any of their agents,
shall
be liable to the
other
for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential damages (collectively
"Special Damages")
except (i) to the extent such Special Damages arise from the gross negligence
or
willful
misconduct of the party from whom indemnification is sought or (ii) to the
extent Special Damages
arise from or out of a claim brought by a third party (including, without
limitation, Holders)
against the Depositary or its agents, except to the extent such Special Damages
arise out of
the
gross negligence or willful misconduct of the party seeking indemnification
hereunder.
The
obligations set forth in this Section 16 shall survive the termination of this
Deposit Agreement
and the succession or substitution of any indemnified person.
17.
Notices.
Notice
to any Holder shall be deemed given when first mailed, first class postage
prepaid, to the address of such Holder on the ADR Register or received by such
Holder. Notice
to
the Depositary or the Company shall be deemed given when first received by
it at
the address
or facsimile transmission number set forth in (a) or (b), respectively, or
at
such other address
or facsimile transmission number as either may specify to the other by written
notice:
(a)
|
JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A.
|
Four
Xxx
Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention:
ADR Administration
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
(b) |
InterContinental
Hotels Group PLC
|
00
Xxxx
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
XX0 0XX
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Attention:
Company Secretary
Fax:
00
(0) 0000 000 000
18.
Miscellaneous.
This
Deposit Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the Company, the
Depositary, the Holders, and their respective successors hereunder, and shall
not give any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim whatsoever to any other
person. The Holders and owners
of
ADRs from time to time shall be parties to this Deposit Agreement and shall
be
bound by
all of
the provisions hereof. If any such provision is invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect,
the remaining provisions shall in no way be affected thereby. This Deposit
Agreement may
be
executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an
original and all
of
which shall constitute one instrument.
7
19.
Consent
to Jurisdiction.
The
Company irrevocably agrees that any legal suit, action or
proceeding against the Company brought by the Depositary or any Holder, arising
out of or based
upon this Deposit Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, may be
instituted in any
state
or federal court in New York, New York, and irrevocably waives any objection
which it may
now
or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding, and irrevocably
submits
to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or
proceeding. The
Company also irrevocably agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding
against the Depositary
brought by the Company, arising out of or based upon this Deposit Agreement
or
the transactions
contemplated hereby, may only be instituted in a state or federal court in
New
York, New
York.
The Company has appointed CT Corporation System, New York, New York, as its
authorized
agent (the "Authorized Agent") upon which process may be served in any such
action arising
out of or based on this Deposit Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby which may
be
instituted in any state or federal court in New York, New York by the Depositary
or any Holder,
and waives any other requirements of or objections to personal jurisdiction
with
respect thereto.
The Company represents and warrants that the Authorized Agent has agreed to
act
as said
agent for service of process, and the Company agrees to take any and all action,
including the
filing of any and all documents and instruments, that may be necessary to
continue such appointment
in full force and effect as aforesaid. Service of process upon the Authorized
Agent and
written notice of such service to the Company shall be deemed, in every respect,
effective service
of process upon the Company. If, for any reason, the Authorized Agent named
above or its
successor shall no longer serve as agent of the Company to receive service
of
process in New York,
the
Company shall promptly appoint a successor acceptable to the Depositary, so
as
to serve
and
will promptly advise the Depositary thereof. 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any action based
on this
Agreement may be instituted by the Depositary or any Holder in any competent
court in the United
Kingdom.
To
the
extent that the Company or any of its properties, assets or revenues may have
or
may
hereafter be 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
other matter under or arising out of or in connection with the Shares or
Deposited Securities, the ADSs,
the
ADRs 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.
20. Amendment
and Restatement of Old Deposit Agreement. The
Deposit
Agreement
amends and restates the Old Deposit Agreement in its entirety to consist
exclusively of
the
Deposit Agreement, and each Old Receipt is hereby deemed amended and restated
to
substantially
conform to the form of ADR set forth in Exhibit A annexed hereto, except that,
to the
extent any portion of either such amendment and restatement would prejudice
any
substantial existing
right of registered owners of Old Receipts, such portion shall not become
effective as to such
registered owners until one month after such owners shall have received notice
thereof, such notice
to
be conclusively deemed given upon the mailing to such registered owners of
notice of such
amendment and restatement which notice contains a provision whereby such owners
can receive
a
copy of the form of ADR.
8
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS GROUP PLC and JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A. have duly executed this Deposit Agreement as of the day
and
year
first above set forth and all holders of ADRs shall become parties hereto upon
acceptance
by them of ADRs issued in accordance with the terms hereof.
INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS GROUP PLC | ||
|
|
|
By: | ||
Name: |
||
Title |
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. | ||
|
|
|
Date: | By: | /s/ |
Name: |
||
Title: Vice President |
9
EXHIBIT
A
ANNEXED
TO AND INCORPORATED IN
DEPOSIT
AGREEMENT
[FORM
OF
FACE OF ADR]
No.
of
ADSs:
Number
Each
ADS
represents
One
Share
CUSIP:
AMERICAN
DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
evidencing
AMERICAN
DEPOSITARY SHARES
representing
ORDINARY
SHARES
of
INTERCONTINENTAL
HOTELS GROUP PLC
(Incorporated
under the laws of England)
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A., a national banking association organized under
the
laws of the United States of America, as depositary hereunder (the
"Depositary"), hereby
certifies that
is the
registered owner (a "Holder") of
American
Depositary Shares
("ADSs"), each (subject to paragraph (13)) representing one ordinary share
(including the rights
to
receive Shares described in paragraph (1), "Shares" and, together with any
other
securities,
cash or property from time to time held by the Depositary in respect or in
lieu
of deposited
Shares, the "Deposited Securities"), of InterContinental Hotels Group PLC,
a
corporation
organized under the laws of England (the "Company"), deposited under the Amended
and
Restated Deposit Agreement dated as of February__, 2006 (as amended from time
to
time, the
"Deposit Agreement") among the Company, the Depositary and all Holders from
time
to time of
American Depositary Receipts issued thereunder ("ADRs"), each of whom by
accepting an ADR
becomes a party thereto. The Deposit Agreement and this ADR (which includes
the
provisions
set forth on the reverse hereof) shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the
laws
of the State of New York.
A-1
(1)
Issuance
of ADRs.
This
ADR is one of the ADRs issued under the Deposit Agreement.
Subject to paragraph (4), the Depositary may so issue ADRs for delivery at
the
Transfer
Office (defined in paragraph (3)) only against deposit with the Custodian of:
(a) Shares in
form
satisfactory to the Custodian; (b) rights to receive Shares from the Company
or
any registrar,
transfer agent, clearing agent or other entity recording Share ownership or
transactions; or,
(c)
other rights to receive Shares (until such Shares are actually deposited
pursuant to (a) or (b)
above, "Pre-released ADRs") only if (i) Pre-released ADRs are fully
collateralized (marked to market
daily) with cash or such other collateral as the Depositary deems appropriate
held by the Depositary
for the benefit of Holders (but such collateral shall not constitute "Deposited
Securities"),
(ii) each recipient of Pre-released ADRs represents and agrees in writing with
the Depositary
that such recipient or its customer (a) beneficially owns such Shares, (b)
assigns all beneficial
right, title and interest therein to the Depositary, (c) holds such Shares
for
the account of
the
Depositary and (d) will deliver such Shares to the Custodian as soon as
practicable and promptly
upon demand therefor and (iii) all Pre-released ADRs evidence not more than
25%
of all
ADSs
(excluding those evidenced by Pre-released ADRs), provided, however,
that
the Depositary
reserves the right to change or disregard such limit from time to time as it
deems reasonably
appropriate and may, with the prior written consent of the Company, change
such
limit
for
purposes of general application. The Depositary may retain for its own account
any earnings
on collateral for Pre-released ADRs and its charges for issuance thereof. At
the
request, risk
and
expense of the person depositing Shares, the Depositary may accept deposits
for
forwarding
to the Custodian and may deliver ADRs at a place other than its office. Every
person depositing
Shares under the Deposit Agreement represents and warrants that such Shares
are
validly
issued and outstanding, fully paid, nonassessable and free of pre-emptive
rights, that the person
making such deposit is duly authorized so to do and that such Shares (A) are
not
"restricted
securities" as such term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act of
1933
unless at
the
time of deposit they may be freely transferred in accordance with Rule 144(k)
and may otherwise
be offered and sold freely in the United States or (B) have been registered
under the Securities
Act of 1933. Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit
of
Shares and
issuance of ADRs. The Depositary will not knowingly accept for deposit under
the
Deposit Agreement
any Shares required to be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and not
so
registered;
the Depositary may refuse to accept for such deposit any Shares identified
by
the Company
in order to facilitate the Company's compliance with such Act.
(2)
Withdrawal
of Deposited Securities.
Subject
to paragraphs (4) and (5), upon surrender
of (i) a certificated ADR in form satisfactory to the Depositary at the Transfer
Office or (ii)
proper instructions and documentation in the case of a Direct Registration
ADR,
the Holder hereof
is
entitled to delivery at, or to the extent in dematerialized form from, the
Custodian's office
of
the Deposited Securities at the time represented by the ADSs evidenced by this
ADR. At
the
request, risk and expense of the Holder hereof, the Depositary may deliver
such
Deposited Securities
at such other place as may have been requested by the Holder. Notwithstanding
any other
provision of the Deposit Agreement or this ADR, the withdrawal of Deposited
Securities may
be
restricted only for the reasons set forth in General Instruction I.A.(1) of
Form
F-6 (as such
instructions may be amended from time to time) under the Securities Act of
1933.
(3)
Transfers
of ADRs.
The
Depositary or its agent will keep, at a designated transfer office
in
the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York (the "Transfer Office"), (a)
a
register (the "ADR Register") for the registration, registration of transfer,
combination and split-up of ADRs,
and, in the case of Direct Registration ADRs, shall include the Direct
Registration System,
which at all reasonable times will be open for inspection by Holders and the
Company for
the
purpose of communicating with Holders in the interest of the business of the
Company or a
matter
relating to the Deposit Agreement and (b) facilities for the delivery and
receipt of ADRs. The
term
ADR Register includes the Direct Registration System. Title to this ADR (and
to
the Deposited
Securities represented by the ADSs evidenced hereby), when properly endorsed
(in
the case
of
ADRs in certificated form) or upon delivery to the Depositary of proper
instruments of transfer,
is transferable by delivery with the same effect as in the case of negotiable
instruments under
the
laws of the State of New York; provided
that the
Depositary, notwithstanding any notice
to
the contrary, may treat the person in whose name this ADR is registered on
the
ADR Register
as the absolute owner hereof for all purposes and neither the Depositary nor
the
Company
will have any obligation or be subject to any liability under the Deposit
Agreement to any
holder of an ADR, unless such holder is the Holder thereof. Subject to
paragraphs (4) and (5),
this
ADR is transferable on the ADR Register and may be split into other ADRs or
combined with
other ADRs into one ADR, evidencing the aggregate number of ADSs surrendered
for
split-up or combination, by the Holder hereof or by duly authorized attorney
upon surrender of this ADR
at
the Transfer Office properly endorsed (in the case of ADRs in certificated
form)
or upon delivery
to the Depositary of proper instruments of transfer and duly stamped as may
be
required by
applicable law; provided
that the
Depositary may close the ADR Register at any time or from time
to
time when deemed expedient by it or requested by the Company. At the request
of
a Holder,
the Depositary shall, for the purpose of substituting a certificated ADR with
a
Direct Registration
ADR, or vice versa, execute and deliver a certificated ADR or a Direct
Registration ADR,
as
the case may be, for any authorized number of ADSs requested, evidencing the
same aggregate
number of ADSs as those evidenced by the certificated ADR or Direct Registration
ADR,
as
the case may be, substituted.
A-2
(4)
Certain
Limitations.
Prior
to the issue, registration, registration of transfer, split-up or
combination of any ADR, the delivery of any distribution in respect thereof,
or,
subject to the last
sentence of paragraph (2), the withdrawal of any Deposited Securities, and
from
time to time in
the
case of clause (b)(ii) of this paragraph (4), the Company, the Depositary or
the
Custodian may
require: (a) payment with respect thereto of (i) any stock transfer or other
tax
or other governmental
charge, (ii) any stock transfer or registration fees in effect for the
registration of transfers
of Shares or other Deposited Securities upon any applicable register and (iii)
any applicable
charges as provided in paragraph (7) of this ADR; (b) the production of proof
satisfactory
to it of (i) the identity of any signatory and genuineness of any signature
and
(ii) such other
information, including without limitation, information as to citizenship,
residence, exchange
control approval, beneficial ownership of any securities, compliance with
applicable law,
regulations, provisions of or governing Deposited Securities and terms of the
Deposit Agreement
and this ADR, as it may deem necessary or proper; and (c) compliance with such
regulations
as the Depositary may establish consistent with the Deposit Agreement. The
issuance of
ADRs,
the acceptance of deposits of Shares, the registration, registration of
transfer, split-up or
combination of ADRs or, subject to the last sentence of paragraph (2), the
withdrawal of Deposited
Securities may be suspended, generally or in particular instances, when the
ADR
Register or any register for Deposited Securities is closed or when any such
action is deemed advisable
by the Depositary.
(5)
Taxes.
If any
tax or other governmental charge shall become payable by or on behalf
of
the
Custodian or the Depositary with respect to this ADR, any Deposited Securities
represented
by the ADSs evidenced hereby or any distribution thereon, such tax or other
governmental
charge shall be paid by the Holder hereof to the Depositary. The Depositary
may
refuse
to
effect any registration, registration of transfer, split-up or combination
hereof or, subject to
the
last sentence of paragraph (2), any withdrawal of such Deposited Securities
until such payment
is made. The Depositary may also deduct from any distributions on or in respect
of Deposited
Securities, or may sell by public or private sale for the account of the Holder
hereof any
part
or all of such Deposited Securities (after attempting by reasonable means to
notify the Holder
hereof prior to such sale), and may apply such deduction or the proceeds of
any
such sale in
payment of such tax or other governmental charge, the Holder hereof remaining
liable for any deficiency,
and shall reduce the number of ADSs evidenced hereby to reflect any such sales
of Shares.
In connection with any distribution to Holders, the Company will remit to the
appropriate governmental
authority or agency all amounts (if any) required to be withheld and owing
to
such authority
or agency by the Company; and the Depositary and the Custodian will remit to
the
appropriate
governmental authority or agency all amounts (if any) required to be withheld
and owing
to
such authority or agency by the Depositary or the Custodian. If the Depositary
determines
that any distribution in property other than cash (including Shares or rights)
on Deposited
Securities is subject to any tax that the Depositary or the Custodian is
obligated to withhold,
the Depositary may dispose of all or a portion of such property in such amounts
and in such
manner as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay such taxes,
by
public or private
sale, and the Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds of any such sale
or
the balance of
any
such property after deduction of such taxes to the Holders entitled thereto.
Each Holder of an
ADR or
an interest therein agrees to indemnify the Depositary, the Company, the
Custodian and
any
of their respective directors, employees, agents and affiliates against, and
hold each of them
harmless from, any claims by any governmental authority with respect to taxes,
additions to tax,
penalties or interest arising out of any refund of taxes, reduced rate of
withholding at source or
other
tax benefit obtained.
(6)
Disclosure
of Interests.
To the
extent that the provisions of or governing any Deposited
Securities may require disclosure of or impose limits on beneficial or other
ownership of
Deposited Securities, other Shares and other securities and may provide for
blocking transfer, voting
or
other rights to enforce such disclosure or limits, Holders and all persons
holding ADRs agree
to
comply with all such disclosure requirements and ownership limitations and
to
comply with
any
reasonable Company instructions in respect thereof. The Company reserves the
right to instruct
Holders to deliver their ADSs for cancellation and withdrawal of the Deposited
Securities
so as to permit the Company to deal directly with the Holder thereof as a holder
of Shares
and Holders agree to comply with such instructions. The Depositary agrees to
cooperate with
the
Company in its efforts to inform Holders of the Company s
exercise of its rights under this
paragraph and agrees to consult with, and provide reasonable assistance without
risk, liability or expense on the part of the Depositary, to the Company on
the
manner or manners in which it may
enforce such rights with respect to any Holder.
Notwithstanding
any provision of the Deposit Agreement or of this ADR and without limiting
the foregoing, by being a Holder of an ADR, each such Holder agrees to provide
such information
as the Company may request in a disclosure notice (a "Disclosure Notice") given
pursuant
to the Great Britain Companies Act 1985 (as amended from time to time and
including any
statutory modification or re-enactment thereof, the "Companies Act") or the
Articles of Association
of the Company. By accepting or holding this ADR, each Holder acknowledges
that
it
understands that failure to comply with a Disclosure Notice may result in the
imposition of sanctions
against the holder of the Shares in respect of which the non-complying person
is
or was,
or
appears to be or has been, interested as provided in the Companies Act and
the
Articles of
Association which currently include, the withdrawal of the voting rights of
such
Shares and the
imposition of restrictions on the rights to receive dividends on and to transfer
such Shares. In addition,
by accepting or holding this ADR each Holder agrees to comply with the
provisions of the
Companies Act with regard to the notification to the Company of interests in
Shares, which currently
provide, inter alia,
that
any Holder who is or becomes directly or indirectly interested (within
the meaning of the Companies Act) in 3% or more of the outstanding Shares,
or is
aware that
another person for whom it holds such ADRs is so interested, must within two
business days after
becoming so interested or so aware (and thereafter in certain circumstances
upon
any change
to
the particulars previously notified) notify the Company as required by the
Companies Act.
After the relevant threshold is exceeded, similar notifications must be made
in
whole respect
of whole percentage figure increases or decreases, rounded down to the nearest
whole number.
A-3
(7)
Charges
of Depositary.
The
Depositary may charge (i) each person to whom ADSs are
issued, including, without limitation, issuances against deposits of
Shares, issuances in respect
of Share Distributions, Rights and Other Distributions (as such terms are
defined in paragraph
(10)), issuances pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split declared by
the Company, or
issuances pursuant to a merger, exchange of securities or any other
transaction or event affecting
the ADSs or the Deposited Securities, and (ii) each person surrendering
ADSs for withdrawal
of Deposited Securities or whose ADSs are cancelled or reduced for any other
reason, U.S.
$5.00 for each 100 ADSs (or portion thereof) issued, delivered, reduced,
cancelled or surrendered
(as the case may be). The Depositary may sell (by public or private sale)
sufficient securities
and property received in respect of Share Distributions, Rights and Other
Distributions prior
to
such deposit to pay such charge. The following additional charges shall be
incurred by the
Holders, by any party depositing or withdrawing Shares or by any party
surrendering ADRs, to
whom
ADRs 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 ADRs or
the
Deposited
Securities or a distribution of ADRs pursuant to paragraph (10)), whichever
is
applicable
(i) to the extent not prohibited by the rules of the primary stock exchange
upon
which the
ADSs
are listed, a fee of $.02 or less per ADS (or portion thereof) for any Cash
distribution made
pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, (ii) to the extent not prohibited by the
rules of the primary
stock exchange upon which the ADSs are listed, a fee of $1.50 per ADR or ADRs
for transfers
made pursuant to paragraph (3) hereof, (iii) a fee for the distribution or
sale
of securities pursuant
to paragraph (10) hereof, such fee being in an amount equal to the fee for
the
execution and
delivery of ADSs referred to above which would have been charged as a result
of
the deposit of such securities (for purposes of this paragraph (7) treating
all
such securities as if they were Shares)
but which securities or the net cash proceeds from the sale thereof are instead
distributed by
the
Depositary to Holders entitled thereto, (iv)
to
the extent not prohibited by the rules of the primary
stock exchange upon which the ADSs are listed, a fee of US$0.02 per ADS (or
portion thereof)
per year for the services performed by the Depositary in administering the
ADRs
(which fee
shall
be assessed against Holders as of the record date or dates set by the Depositary
not more than
once
each calendar year and shall be payable at the sole discretion of the Depositary
by billing
such Holders or by deducting such charge from one or more cash dividends or
other cash distributions),
and (v) such fees and expenses as are incurred by the Depositary (including
without
limitation expenses incurred on behalf of Holders in connection with compliance
with foreign
exchange control regulations or any law or regulation relating to foreign
investment) in delivery
of Deposited Securities or otherwise in connection with the Depositary's or
its
Custodian's
compliance with applicable law, rule or regulation. The Company will pay all
other charges
and expenses of the Depositary and any agent of the Depositary (except the
Custodian) pursuant
to agreements from time to time between the Company and the Depositary, except
(i) stock
transfer or other taxes and other governmental charges (which are payable by
Holders or persons
depositing Shares), (ii) cable, telex and facsimile transmission and delivery
charges incurred
at the request of persons depositing, or Holders delivering Shares, ADRs or
Deposited Securities
(which are payable by such persons or Holders), (iii) transfer or registration
fees for the
registration or transfer of Deposited Securities on any applicable register
in
connection with the
deposit or withdrawal of Deposited Securities (which are payable by persons
depositing Shares
or
Holders withdrawing Deposited Securities; there are no such fees in respect
of
the Shares
as
of the date of the Deposit Agreement), (iv) expenses of the Depositary in
connection with
the
conversion of foreign currency into U.S. dollars (which are paid out of such
foreign currency),
and (v) any other charge payable by any of the Depositary, any of the
Depositary’s
agents,
including, without limitation, the custodian, or the agents of the Depositary’s
agents in connection
with the servicing of the Shares or other Deposited Securities (which charge
shall be assessed
against Holders as of the record date or dates set by the depositary and shall
be payable at
the
sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such Holders or by deducting such
charge from one
or
more cash dividends or other cash distributions). Such charges may at any time
and from time
to
time be changed by agreement between the Company and the Depositary.
(8)
Available
Information.
The
Deposit Agreement, the provisions of or governing Deposited
Securities and any written communications from the Company, which are both
received
by the Custodian or its nominee as a holder of Deposited Securities and made
generally available
to the holders of Deposited Securities, are available for inspection by Holders
at the offices
of the Depositary and the Custodian and at the Transfer Office. The Depositary
will distribute
copies of such communications (or English translations or summaries thereof)
to
Holders
when furnished by the Company. The Company is subject to the periodic reporting
requirements
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and accordingly files certain reports
with the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such
reports and other
information may be inspected and copied at public reference facilities
maintained by the Commission
located at the date hereof at 000 X Xxxxxx, XX, Xxxxxxxxxx, XX
00000.
(9)
Execution.
This
ADR shall not be valid for any purpose unless executed by the Depositary
by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer of the
Depositary.
A-4
Dated:
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Depositary | ||
|
|
|
Date: | By: | .................................................. |
|
Authorized
Officer
|
|
The
Depositary's office is located at 0 Xxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx
00000.
A-5
[FORM
OF
REVERSE OF ADR]
(10)
Distributions
on Deposited Securities.
Subject
to paragraphs (4) and (5), to the extent
practicable, the Depositary will distribute to each Holder entitled thereto
on
the record date
set
by the Depositary therefor at such Holder's address shown on the ADR Register,
in proportion
to the number of Deposited Securities (on which the following distributions
on
Deposited
Securities are received by the Custodian) represented by ADSs evidenced by
such
Holder's
ADRs: (a) Cash.
Any
U.S. dollars available to the Depositary resulting from a cash dividend
or other cash distribution or the net proceeds of sales of any other
distribution or portion thereof
authorized in this paragraph (10) ("Cash"), on an averaged or other practicable
basis, subject
to (i) appropriate adjustments for taxes withheld, (ii) such distribution being
impermissible
or impracticable with respect to certain Holders, and (iii) deduction of the
Depositary's
expenses in (1) converting any foreign currency to U.S. dollars by sale or
in
such other
manner as the Depositary may determine to the extent that it determines that
such conversion
may be made on a reasonable basis, (2) transferring foreign currency or U.S.
dollars to
the
United States by such means as the Depositary may determine to the extent that
it determines
that such transfer may be made on a reasonable basis, (3) obtaining any approval
or license
of any governmental authority required for such conversion or transfer, which
is
obtainable
at a reasonable cost and within a reasonable time and (4) making any sale by
public or private
means in any commercially reasonable manner. (b) Shares.
(i)
Additional ADRs evidencing
whole ADSs representing any Shares available to the Depositary resulting from
a
dividend
or free distribution on Deposited Securities consisting of Shares (a "Share
Distribution")
and (ii) U.S. dollars available to it resulting from the net proceeds of sales
of Shares
received in a Share Distribution, which Shares would give rise to fractional
ADSs if additional
ADRs were issued therefor, as in the case of Cash. (c) Rights.
(i)
Warrants or other instruments
in the discretion of the Depositary representing rights to acquire additional
ADRs in respect
of any rights to subscribe for additional Shares or rights of any nature
available to the Depositary
as a result of a distribution on Deposited Securities ("Rights"), to the extent
that the Company
timely furnishes to the Depositary evidence satisfactory to the Depositary
that
the Depositary
may lawfully distribute the same (the Company has no obligation to so furnish
such evidence),
or (ii) to the extent the Company does not so furnish such evidence and sales
of
Rights are
practicable, any U.S. dollars available to the Depositary from the net proceeds
of sales of Rights
as
in the case of Cash, or (iii) to the extent the Company does not so furnish
such
evidence
and such sales cannot practicably be accomplished by reason of the
nontransferability of
the
Rights, limited markets therefor, their short duration or otherwise, nothing
(and any Rights may
lapse). (d) Other
Distributions.
(i)
Securities or property available to the Depositary resulting
from any distribution on Deposited Securities other than Cash, Share
Distributions and Rights
("Other Distributions"), by any means that the Depositary may deem equitable
and
practicable,
or (ii) to the extent the Depositary deems distribution of such securities
or
property not
to be
equitable and practicable, any U.S. dollars available to the Depositary from
the
net proceeds
of sales of Other Distributions as in the case of Cash. Such U.S. dollars
available will be
distributed by checks drawn on a bank in the United States for whole dollars
and
cents. Fractional
cents will be withheld without liability and dealt with by the Depositary in
accordance with
its
then current practices.
(11)
Record
Dates.
The
Depositary may, after consultation with the Company if practicable,
fix a record date (which, to the extent applicable, shall be as near as
practicable to any corresponding record date set by the Company) for the
determination of the Holders who shall
be
responsible for the fee assessed by the Depositary for administration of the
ADR
program
and for any expenses provided for in paragraph (7) hereof as well as for the
determination
of the Holders who shall be entitled to receive any distribution on or in
respect of Deposited
Securities, to give instructions for the exercise of any voting rights, to
receive any notice
or
to act in respect of other matters and only such Holders shall be so entitled
or
obligated.
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(12)
Voting
of Deposited Securities.
As soon
as practicable after receipt from the Company
of notice of any meeting or solicitation of consents or proxies of holders
of
Shares or other
Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall distribute to Holders a notice
stating (a) such information
as is contained in such notice and any solicitation materials, (b) that each
Holder on the
record date set by the Depositary therefor will, subject to any applicable
provisions of the United
Kingdom law, be entitled to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the
voting rights, if
any,
pertaining to the Deposited Securities represented by the ADSs evidenced by
such
Holder's
ADRs and (c) the manner in which such instructions may be given, including
instructions
to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company. Upon
receipt of
instructions of a Holder on such record date in the manner and on or before
the
date established
by the Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall endeavor insofar as
practicable
and permitted under the provisions of or governing Deposited Securities to
vote
or cause
to
be voted the Deposited Securities represented by the ADSs evidenced by such
Holder's ADRs
in
accordance with such instructions. The Depositary will not itself exercise
any
voting discretion
in respect of any Deposited Securities.
To
the
extent such instructions are not so received by the Depositary from any Holder,
the Depositary
shall deem such Holder to have so instructed the Depositary to give a
discretionary proxy
to
a person designated by the Company and the Depositary shall endeavor insofar
as
practicable
and permitted under the provisions of or governing Deposited Securities to
give
a discretionary
proxy to a person designated by the Company to vote the Deposited Securities
represented
by the ADSs evidenced by such Holder's ADRs as to which such instructions are
so
given,
provided
that no
such instruction 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 promptly in writing) or the Depositary
reasonably believes
(in the case of (y) or (z) below) that (x) the Company does not wish such proxy
given, (y)
substantial opposition exists or (z) materially affects the rights of holders
of
Shares.
There
is
no guarantee that Holders generally or any Holder in particular will receive
the
notice
described above with sufficient time to enable such Holder to return any voting
instructions
to the Depositary in a timely manner.
(13)
Changes
Affecting Deposited Securities.
Subject
to paragraphs (4) and (5), the
Depositary may, in its discretion, amend this ADR or distribute additional
or
amended ADRs (with
or
without calling this ADR for exchange) or cash, securities or property on the
record date set
by
the Depositary therefor to reflect any change in par value, split-up,
consolidation, cancellation
or other reclassification of Deposited Securities, any Share Distribution or
Other Distribution
not distributed to Holders or any cash, securities or property available to
the
Depositary
in respect of Deposited Securities from (and the Depositary is hereby authorized
to surrender
any Deposited Securities to any person and, irrespective of whether such
Deposited Securities are surrendered or otherwise cancelled by operation of
law,
rule, regulation or otherwise,
to sell by public or private sale any property received in connection with)
any
recapitalization,
reorganization, merger, consolidation, liquidation, receivership, bankruptcy
or
sale
of
all or substantially all the assets of the Company, and to the extent the
Depositary does not
so
amend this ADR or make a distribution to Holders to reflect any of the
foregoing, or the net
proceeds thereof, whatever cash, securities or property results from any of
the
foregoing shall constitute
Deposited Securities and each ADS evidenced by this ADR shall automatically
represent
its pro rata interest in the Deposited Securities as then
constituted.
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(14)
Exoneration.
The
Depositary, the Company, their agents and each of them shall:
(a) incur no liability (i) if any present or future law, rule or regulation
of
the United States, the
United Kingdom or any other country, or of any governmental or regulatory
authority or any securities
exchange or market or automated quotation system, the provisions of or governing
any Deposited
Securities, any present or future provision of the Company's charter, any act
of
God, war,
terrorism or other circumstance beyond its control shall prevent, delay or
subject to any civil or
criminal penalty
any act which the Deposit Agreement or this ADR provides shall be done or
performed
by
it or
them (including, without limitation, voting pursuant to paragraph (12) hereof),
or
(ii)
by reason of any exercise or failure to exercise any discretion given it in
the
Deposit Agreement
or this ADR; (b) assume no liability except to perform its obligations to the
extent they
are
specifically set forth in this ADR and the Deposit Agreement without gross
negligence or
bad
faith; (c) in the case of the Depositary and its agents, be under no obligation
to appear in, prosecute
or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any Deposited
Securities or this
ADR;
(d) in the case of the Company and its agents hereunder be under no obligation
to appear
in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of
any
Deposited Securities
or this ADR, which in its opinion may involve it in expense or liability, unless
indemnity
satisfactory to it against all expense (including fees and disbursements of
counsel) and liability
be furnished as often as may be required; or (e) not be liable for any action
or
inaction by it
in
reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants,
any
person presenting
Shares for deposit, any Holder, or any other person believed by it to be
competent to give
such
advice or information. The Depositary, its agents and the Company may rely
and
shall be
protected in acting upon any written notice, request, direction or other
document believed by them
to
be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
The Depositary
and its agents will not be responsible for any failure to carry out any
instructions to vote
any
of the Deposited Securities or for the manner in which any such vote is cast,
provided such
action or inaction is in good faith, or for the effect of any such vote. The
Depositary and its agents
may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its affiliates
and in ADRs.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the Deposit Agreement
or
an ADR, the
Depositary and its agents may fully respond to any and all demands or requests
for information
maintained by or on its behalf in connection with the Deposit Agreement, any
Holder
or
Holders, any ADR or ADRs or otherwise related hereto to the extent such
information is
requested or required by or pursuant to any lawful authority, including without
limitation laws, rules,
regulations, administrative or judicial process, banking, securities or other
regulators. The Company
has agreed to indemnify the Depositary and its agents under certain
circumstances and the
Depositary has agreed to indemnify the Company under certain circumstances.
Neither the Company
nor the Depositary nor any of their respective agents shall be liable to Holders
or beneficial
owners of interests in ADSs for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential
damages. No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act of 1933 is intended
by any provision hereof.
A-8
(15)
Resignation
and Removal of Depositary; the Custodian.
The
Depositary may
resign as Depositary by written notice of its election to do so delivered to
the
Company, or be
removed as Depositary by the Company by written notice of such removal delivered
to the Depositary.
The Depositary may appoint substitute or additional Custodians and the term
"Custodian"
refers
to each Custodian or all Custodians as the context requires.
(16)
Amendment.
Subject
to the last sentence of paragraph (2), the ADRs and the
Deposit Agreement may be amended by the Company and the Depositary, provided
that any
amendment
that imposes or increases any fees or charges (other than stock transfer or
other taxes and
other
governmental charges, transfer or registration fees, cable, telex or facsimile
transmission
costs, delivery costs or other such expenses), or that shall otherwise prejudice
any substantial
existing right of Holders, shall become effective 30 days after notice of such
amendment
shall have been given to the Holders. Every Holder of an ADR at the time any
amendment
to the Deposit Agreement so becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing
to
hold
such
ADR, 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
Holder of
any
ADR to surrender such ADR and receive the Deposited Securities represented
thereby, except
in
order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law. Any amendments
or
supplements
which (i) are reasonably necessary (as agreed by the Company and the Depositary)
in
order
for (a) the ADSs to be registered on Form F-6 under the Securities Act of 1933
or (b) the ADSs
or
Shares to be traded solely in electronic book-entry form and (ii) do not in
either such case
impose or increase any fees or charges to be borne by Holders, shall be deemed
not to prejudice
any substantial rights of Holders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any
governmental body
or
regulatory body should adopt new laws, rules or regulations which would require
amendment
or supplement of the Deposit Agreement or the form of ADR to ensure compliance
therewith,
the Company and the Depositary may amend or supplement the Deposit Agreement
and
the
ADR at any time in accordance with such changed laws, rules or regulations.
Such
amendment
or supplement to the Deposit Agreement in such circumstances may become
effective
before a notice of such amendment or supplement is given to Holders or within
any other
period of time as required for compliance.
(17)
Termination.
Upon
the resignation or removal of the Depositary pursuant to
the
Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may, and shall at the written direction of
the
Company, terminate
the Deposit Agreement and this ADR by mailing notice of such termination to
the
Holders
at least 30 days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination.
After the date so
fixed
for termination, the Depositary and its agents will perform no further acts
under the Deposit
Agreement and this ADR, except to receive and hold (or sell) distributions
on
Deposited Securities
and deliver Deposited Securities being withdrawn. As soon as practicable after
the expiration
of six months from the date so fixed for termination, the Depositary shall
sell
the Deposited
Securities and shall thereafter (as long as it may lawfully do so) hold in
a
segregated account
the net proceeds of such sales, together with any other cash then held by it
under the Deposit
Agreement, without liability for interest, in trust for the pro rata
benefit
of the Holders of ADRs
not
theretofore surrendered. After making such sale, the Depositary shall be
discharged from
all
obligations in respect of the Deposit Agreement and this ADR, except to account
for such net proceeds and other cash. After the date so fixed for termination,
the Company shall be discharged
from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement except for its obligations
to
the Depositary
and its agents.
(18)
Appointment.
Each
Holder and each person holding an interest in ADSs, upon
acceptance of any ADSs (or any interest therein) issued in accordance with
the
terms and conditions
of the Deposit Agreement shall be deemed for all purposes to (a) be a party
to
and bound
by
the terms of the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR(s), and (b) appoint
the Depositary
its attorney-in-fact, with full power to delegate, to act on its behalf and
to
take any and
all
actions contemplated in the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR(s), to
adopt any and
all
procedures necessary to comply with applicable law and to take such action
as
the Depositary
in its sole discretion may deem necessary or appropriate to carry out the
purposes of the
Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR(s), the taking of such actions to
be
the conclusive
determinant of the necessity and appropriateness thereof.
A-9