AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
AMENDMENT
NO. 1 TO DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
AMENDMENT
NO. 1 dated
as
of June , 2007 (the "Amendment") to the Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement
dated as of September 18, 2006 (the "Deposit Agreement"), among EDP- ENERGIAS
DE
PORTUGAL, S.A., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of
Portugal (the "Company"), Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as depositary
(the "Depositary"), and all Holders and Beneficial Owners from time to time
of
American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") issued thereunder.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS,
the Company and the Depositary executed the Deposit Agreement for the purposes
set forth therein; and
WHEREAS,
the Company has or intends to file a Form 15F with the Securities and Exchange
Commission in order to deregister its ordinary shares under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
WHEREAS,
pursuant to Section 6.01 of the Deposit Agreement, the Company and the
Depositary desire to amend the terms of the Deposit Agreement and ADRs to
reflect the Rule 12g3-2(b) exempt status of the Company and the other amendments
set forth herein.
NOW,
THEREFORE, for
good
and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the Company and the Depositary hereby agree to amend the Deposit
Agreement as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION
1.01. Definitions.
Unless
otherwise defined in this Amendment, all capitalized terms used, but not
otherwise defined, herein shall have the meaning given to such terms in the
Deposit Agreement.
1
ARTICLE
II
AMENDMENTS
TO DEPOSIT AGREEMENT AND FORM OF ADR
SECTION
2.01. All
references in the Deposit Agreement to the term "Deposit Agreement" shall,
as of
the Effective Date (as herein defined), refer to the Deposit Agreement, as
amended by this Amendment.
SECTION
2.02. Section
4.11 of the Deposit Agreement and the first paragraph of
Article
(11) of the form of Receipt are amended to read as follows:
The
Company publishes on its web site on an ongoing basis, or otherwise furnishes
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") with,
certain public reports and documents required by foreign law or otherwise under
Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. To the extent
furnished to the Commission, such reports and documents may be inspected and
copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission located
at the date of the Deposit Agreement at 000 X Xxxxxx, XX, Xxxxxxxxxx, XX
00000.
SECTION
2.03. Section
5.09 and Exhibit B of the Deposit Agreement and Article (10) of the form of
Receipt set forth in Exhibit A to the Deposit Agreement are each amended to
include the following sentence:
In
addition, Holders and Beneficial Owners will be required to pay the Depositary
(i) a fee not in excess of U.S. $ 2.00 per 100 ADS held for the
distribution of cash proceeds, including cash dividends or sale of rights and
other entitlements, not made pursuant to a cancellation or withdrawal and (ii)
a
servicing fee equal to U.S. $0.02 per ADS per calendar year for services
rendered by the Depositary under the Deposit Agreement. (which fee shall be
assessed against Holders and Beneficial Owners as of a record date or record
dates set by the Depositary during each calendar year and shall be payable
at
the sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such Holders or by deducting
such charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions)
provided, however, that if the Depositary imposes a fee under this clause (ii),
then the total of fees assessed under this clause (ii), combined with the total
of fees assessed under clause (i) above, shall not exceed U.S.$0.02 per ADS
in any calendar year.
2
ARTICLE
III
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
SECTION
3.01. Representations
and Warranties.
The
Company represents and
warrants
to, and agrees with, the Depositary and the Holders, that:
(a)
This
Amendment, when executed and delivered by the Company, and the Deposit Agreement
and the Form F-6Pos as executed and delivered by the Company in connection
herewith, will be and have been, respectively, duly and validly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company, and constitute the legal, valid and
binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with their respective terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent transfer, moratorium and similar laws of general
applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity
principles; and
(b)
In
order to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility into
evidence of this Amendment or the Deposit Agreement as amended hereby, and
any
other document furnished hereunder or thereunder in the Republic of Portugal,
neither of such agreements need to be filed or recorded with any court or other
authority in the Republic of Portugal, nor does any stamp or similar tax need
to
be paid in the Republic of Portugal on or in respect of such agreements;
and
(c)
All
of the information provided to the Depositary by the Company in connection
with
this Amendment is true, accurate and correct.
ARTICLE
IV
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION
4.01. Effective
Date.
This
Amendment is dated as of the date set forth above and, with respect to Section
2.03 shall be effective on the date in which the Company becomes exempt from
the
continued reporting obligations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended in accordance with Rule 12g3-2(b) promulgated thereunder and, with
respect to Section 2.04, shall be effective 30 days after notice hereof is
first
provided to Holders (the "Effective Date").
SECTION
4.02. Indemnification.
The
parties hereto shall remain subject to the indemnification provisions of Section
5.08 of the Deposit Agreement, as amended hereby in connection with any and
all
liability it or they may incur as a result of the terms of this Amendment and
the transactions contemplated herein.
3
SECTION
4.03. Governing
Law; Jurisdiction.
The
Deposit Agreement, the Amendment and the ADRs as amended hereby shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
Any dispute, legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon
the
Deposit Agreement (as amended by the Amendment) or the transactions contemplated
thereby shall be submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of New
York, New York.
SECTION
4.04. Outstanding
ADRs.
ADRs
issued prior or subsequent to the date hereof, which do not reflect the changes
to the form of ADR effected hereby, do not need to be called in for exchange
and
may remain outstanding until such time as the Holders thereof choose to
surrender them for any reason under the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary is
authorized and directed to take any and all actions deemed necessary to effect
the foregoing.
4
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
the
Company and the Depositary have caused this Amendment to be executed by
representatives thereunto duly authorized as of the date set forth above and
all
Holders shall become parties hereto by holding ADSs as of the Effective
Date.
EDP-ENERGIAS
DE PORTUGAL, S.A.
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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DEUTSCHE
BANK TRUST COMPANY
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AMERICAS
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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5
EXHIBIT
A
[FORM
OF
FACE OF RECEIPT]
NUMBER
AMERICAN
DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
FOR
AMERICAN
DEPOSITARY SHARES
representing
DEPOSITED
ORDINARY SHARES
of
EDP-Energias
de Portugal, S.A.
(A
corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of Portugal)
DEUTSCHE
BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche
Bank AG, as depositary (herein called the “Depositary”), hereby certifies that
_________________________ is the owner of _____ American Depositary Shares,
each
representing deposited ordinary shares, nominal value Euro 1.00 each, including
evidence of the right to be registered as the owner of ordinary shares (the
“Shares”) of EDP-Energias de Portugal, S.A., a corporation organized under the
laws of the Republic of Portugal (the “Company”). As of the date of the Deposit
Agreement (hereinafter referred to), each American Depositary Share represents
ten (10) Shares deposited under the Deposit Agreement with the Custodian which
at the date of execution of the Deposit Agreement is BNP Paribas Securities
Services (the “Custodian”). The ratio of Depositary Shares to shares of stock is
subject to subsequent amendment as provided in Article IV of the Deposit
Agreement. The Depositary's principal executive office is located at 00 Xxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, X.X.X.
(1)
The
Deposit Agreement.
This
American Depositary Receipt is one of an issue of American Depositary Receipts
(“Receipts”), executed and delivered pursuant to the Amended and Restated
Deposit Agreement, dated as of , 2006 (as amended from time to time, the
“Deposit Agreement”), by and among the Company, the Depositary and all Holders
and Beneficial Owners of Receipts from time to time of Receipts issued
thereunder, each of whom by accepting a Receipt agrees to become a party thereto
and become bound by all the terms and conditions thereof. The Deposit Agreement
sets forth the rights and obligations of Holders and Beneficial Owners 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, collectively, “Deposited Securities”). Copies of the Deposit
Agreement are on file at the Principal Office of the Depositary and the
Custodian.
1
The
statements made on the face and reverse of this Receipt are summaries of certain
provisions of the Deposit Agreement and the Articles of Association of the
Company and are qualified by and subject to the detailed provisions of the
Deposit Agreement, to which reference is hereby made. All capitalized terms
used
herein which are not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed
thereto in the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary makes no representation or
warranty as to the validity or worth of the Deposited Securities.
(2)
Surrender
of Receipts and Withdrawal of Deposited Securities.
Upon
surrender, at the Principal Office of the Depositary, of this Receipt and upon
payment of (i) the charges of the Depositary for the making of withdrawals
and
cancellation of Receipts (as set forth in Article (10) hereof and Section 5.09
and Exhibit B of the Deposit Agreement) and (ii) all applicable taxes and
governmental charges payable in connection with such surrender and withdrawal,
and, subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, the Company's
Articles of Association, Article (23) of this Receipt and the provisions of
or
governing the Deposited Securities and other applicable laws, the Holder hereof
is entitled in the name of the Holder, or in a name specified by the Holder,
to
register with the Share Registrar the Shares underlying such Receipts, and
will
be entitled to the delivery to the Holder or upon such Holder's order, of the
amount of Deposited Securities at the time represented by the American
Depositary Shares evidenced by this Receipt. Subject to the last sentence of
this paragraph, such Deposited Securities may be delivered in registered form
or
by electronic delivery. Such Deposited Securities may be delivered by (a)
electronic delivery of such Deposited Securities to such Holder or as ordered
by
such Holder through an account with an institution recognized by the Share
Registrar or delivery by other means approved by the Company in accordance
with
Portuguese law and (b) delivery of any other securities, property and cash
to
which such Holder is then entitled in respect of this Receipt.
A
Receipt
surrendered for such purposes shall if so required by the Depositary be properly
endorsed in blank or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer in blank,
and
if the Depositary so requires, the Holder thereof shall execute and deliver
to
the Depositary a written order directing the Depositary to cause the Deposited
Securities being withdrawn to be delivered electronically to or upon the written
order of a person or persons designated in such order through an account with
an
institution recognized by the Share Registrar, or delivery by other means
approved by the Company in accordance with Portuguese law. Thereupon, the
Depositary shall direct the Custodian to deliver, subject to Sections 2.06,
3.01, 3.02, 5.09 and to the other terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement
and Articles of Association, and to the provisions of or governing the Deposited
Securities and other applicable laws, now or hereafter in effect, evidence
of
the electronic transfer of the Deposited Securities represented by such Receipt
except that the Depositary may make delivery to such person or persons at the
Principal Office of the Depositary of any dividends or distributions with
respect to the Deposited Securities represented by such Receipt, or of any
proceeds of sale of any dividends, distributions or rights, which may at the
time be held by the Depositary.
2
The
Depositary shall not accept for surrender a Receipt evidencing American
Depositary Shares representing less than one Share. In the case of surrender
of
a Receipt evidencing a number of American Depositary Shares representing other
than a whole number of Shares, the Depositary shall cause ownership of the
appropriate whole number of Shares to be recorded in the name of the Holder
surrendering such Receipt, and shall deliver to the person surrendering such
Receipt the net cash proceeds from the sale by the Depositary of any remaining
fractional share.
(3)
Transfers,
Split-Ups and Combinations of Receipts.
Subject
to the limitations set forth herein and in the Deposit Agreement, the transfer
of this Receipt is registrable on the books of the Depositary at its Principal
Office by the Holder hereof in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon
surrender of this Receipt at any of the Depositary's designated transfer
offices, properly endorsed for transfer or accompanied by a proper instrument
or
instruments of transfer (including any certifications that the Depositary or
the
Company may require in order to comply with applicable laws, signature
guarantees in accordance with standard industry practice and the accurate
completion of any endorsements appearing on this Receipt) and (i) duly stamped
as may be required by the laws of the State of New York and the United States
of
America, and (ii) accompanied by funds sufficient to pay any applicable stamp,
transfer or other applicable taxes, duties and the charges set forth in Article
(10) hereof, and upon compliance with such regulations, if any, as the
Depositary may establish for such purpose, subject to Article (23) of this
Receipt. This Receipt may be split into other such Receipts, or may be combined
with other such Receipts into one Receipt for any authorized number of American
Depositary Shares requested, evidencing the same aggregate number of American
Depositary Shares as the Receipt or Receipts surrendered.
(4)
Pre-Conditions
to Registration, Transfer, Etc.
As a
condition precedent to the execution and delivery, registration of transfer,
split-up, combination or surrender of any Receipt or withdrawal of any Deposited
Securities, and subject to Article 23 of this Receipt, the Depositary, the
Custodian or the Share Registrar may require (i) payment from the presenter
of
the Receipt of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or other
governmental charge and any share transfer or registration fee with respect
thereto (including any such tax, duty, charge, fee and expense with respect
to
Shares being deposited or Deposited Securities being withdrawn) and payment
of
any applicable fees payable by Holders as provided in this Receipt, (ii) the
production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of
any
signature or other matters, subject to Article (23) of this Receipt, and (iii)
compliance with (a) any applicable laws or governmental regulations relating
to
American Depositary Receipts or to the withdrawal of Deposited Securities and
(b) such reasonable regulations, if any, as the Depositary and the Company
may
establish consistent with the provisions of the Deposit
Agreement.
3
After
consultation with the Company, the delivery of Receipts against deposits of
Shares generally or against deposits of particular Shares may be suspended,
or
the delivery of Receipts against the deposit of particular Shares may be
withheld, or the registration of transfer of Receipts in particular instances
may be refused, or the registration of transfer of Receipts generally may be
suspended or the surrender of outstanding Receipts for the purpose of withdrawal
of Deposited Securities may be suspended, during any period when the transfer
books of the Company, the Depositary or the Share Registrar are closed, or
if
any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary or the
Company in good faith at any time or from time to time, because of any
requirement of law, any government or governmental body or commission or any
securities exchange on which the Receipts or Shares are listed, or under any
provision of the Deposit Agreement or provisions of or governing Deposited
Securities, or any meeting of shareholders of the Company or for any other
reason, subject in all cases to Article (23) hereof. Notwithstanding any other
provision of the Deposit Agreement, the surrender of outstanding Receipts and
withdrawal of Deposited Securities may not be suspended except as required
in
General Instructions I.A.(l) to Form F-6 (as such instructions may be amended
from time to time) under the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with (i)
temporary delays caused by closing the transfer books of the Depositary, the
Company or the Share Registrar or relating to 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 governmental regulations relating to the Receipts or to the withdrawal
of
the Deposited Securities. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary
shall not, and it shall instruct the Custodian not to, knowingly accept for
deposit under the Deposit Agreement any Shares or other Deposited Securities
required to be registered under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933,
unless a registration statement is in effect as to such Shares or her Deposited
Securities or any Shares or Deposited Securities the deposit of which would
violate any provisions of the Company's Articles of
Association.
4
Dated:
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DEUTSCHE
BANK TRUST COMPANY
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AMERICAS,
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as
Depositary
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Countersigned
By:
____________________
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By:
____________________
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Authorized
Officer
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Vice
President
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The
address of the Principal Office of the Depositary is 00 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000, X.X.X.
5
[FORM
OF
REVERSE OF RECEIPT]
SUMMARY
OF CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
OF
THE
DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
(5) Compliance
With Information Requests.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Deposit Agreement, the Company may
from time to time request Holders or former Holders to provide information
as to
the capacity in which they hold or held Receipts and regarding the identity
of
any other persons then or previously interested in such Receipts and the nature
of such interest and various other matters. Each Holder agrees to provide any
such information reasonably requested by the Company or the Depositary pursuant
to this Section, whether or not they are Holders at the time of such request.
The Depositary agrees to use reasonable efforts to comply with written
instructions received from the Company requesting the Depositary to forward
any
such requests to the Holders and to forward to the Company any such responses
to
such requests received by the Depositary.
(6) Ownership
Restrictions.
The
Company may restrict transfers of the Shares where such transfer might result
in
ownership of Shares exceeding limits under applicable law or the Articles of
Association of the Company. The Company may also restrict, in such manner as
it
deems appropriate, transfers of the American Depositary Shares where such
transfer may result in the total number of Shares represented by the American
Depositary Shares owned by a single Holder to exceed the limits under any
applicable law. The Company may, in its sole discretion, instruct the Depositary
to take action with respect to the ownership interest of any Holder in excess
of
the limitation set forth in the preceding sentence, including but not limited
to
a mandatory sale or disposition on behalf of a Holder of the Shares represented
by the American Depositary Shares held by such Holder in excess of such
limitations, if and to the extent such disposition is permitted by applicable
law and the Articles of Association of the Company.
(7)
Liability
of Holder for Taxes, Duties and Other Charges.
If any
tax or other governmental charge shall become payable by the Depositary with
respect to any Receipt or any Deposited Securities represented by the American
Depositary Shares evidenced hereby, such tax or other governmental charge shall
be payable by the Holder hereof to the Depositary. The Depositary may refuse
to
effect any registration of transfer of all or part of this Receipt or any
withdrawal of Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares
evidenced hereby until such payment is made, and the Company and the Depositary
may withhold or deduct from any dividends or other distributions, or may sell
for the account of the Holder hereof any part or all of the Deposited Securities
represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by this Receipt, and
may
apply such dividends or other distributions or the proceeds of any such sale
in
payment of such tax or other governmental charge, with the Holder hereof
remaining liable for any deficiency. The Holder shall 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 tax, reduced rate of withholding at
source or other tax benefit obtained for such Holder pursuant to Section 4.15
of
the Deposit Agreement.
6
(8) Representations
and Warranties of Depositors.
Every
person depositing Shares under the Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby
to
represent and warrant that such Shares are validly issued and outstanding,
fully
paid and non-assessable, that any preemptive rights have been validly waived
or
exercised and that the person making such deposit is duly authorized to do
so.
Each such person shall be deemed to acknowledge complete responsibility for
the
report of any false information relating to foreign exchange transactions to
the
Depositary, the Custodian or any governmental authority in Portugal in
connection with the issuance of Receipts and the deposit, transfer, surrender
or
withdrawal of Shares or Receipts. Every such person shall be deemed to represent
that the deposit of Shares or sale of Receipts by that person is not restricted,
and such Shares do not constitute Restricted Securities, under the Securities
Act of 1933. Such representations and warranties shall survive any such deposit,
transfer, surrender and withdrawal of Shares and Receipts. If any such
representations or warranties are false in any way, the Company and the
Depositary shall be authorized, at the cost and expense of the person depositing
Shares, to take any and all actions reasonably necessary to correct the
consequences thereof.
(9) Filing
Proofs, Certificates and Other Information.
Any
person presenting Shares for deposit or any Holder may, in addition to the
requirements of Articles (4) and (5) hereof, be required from time to time
(i)
to file with the Depositary or a Custodian such proof of citizenship or
residence, taxpayer status, exchange control approval, payment of all applicable
taxes or other governmental charges, the identity of any person legally or
beneficially interested in the Receipt and the nature of such interest, (ii)
provide such information relating to the registration on the books of the
Company or the Share Registrar of the Shares presented for deposit, (iii)
establish compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations of or
governing the Deposited Securities and the terms of the Deposit Agreement,
and
(iv) execute and deliver to the Depositary or a Custodian such certificates
and
to make such representations and warranties as the Depositary or the Company
may
deem necessary or proper or as the Company reasonably may require by written
request to the Depositary and the Custodian. Subject to Article (23) hereof
and
the terms of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may withhold the delivery
or
registration of transfer of any Receipt or the distribution or sale of any
dividend or other 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 delivered or such representations and warranties
made.
(10) Charges
of Depositary.
The
Depositary shall charge any party to whom Receipts are issued (including,
without limitation, deposit or issuance pursuant to a stock dividend or stock
split declared by the Company or an exchange of stock for the Shares or
Deposited Securities, or a distribution of Receipts pursuant to Section 4.03
or
4.11 of the Deposit Agreement), or who surrenders Receipts, a fee of U.S. $5.00
or less, and a fee of U.S. $5.00 or less, in each case, per 100 American
Depositary Shares (or portion thereof) for the issuance or surrender,
respectively, of a Receipt. In addition, Holders and Beneficial Owners will
be
required to pay the Depositary (i) a fee not in excess of U.S. $ 2.00 per
100 ADS held for the distribution of cash proceeds, including cash dividends
or
sale of rights and other entitlements, not made pursuant to a cancellation
or
withdrawal and (ii) a servicing fee equal to U.S. $0.02 per ADS per calendar
year for services rendered by the Depositary under the Deposit Agreement. (which
fee shall be assessed against Holders and Beneficial Owners as of a record
date
or record dates set by the Depositary during each calendar year and shall be
payable at the sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such Holders or
by
deducting such charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash
distributions) provided, however, that if the Depositary imposes a fee under
this clause (ii), then the total of fees assessed under this clause (ii),
combined with the total of fees assessed under clause (i) above, shall not
exceed U.S.$0.02 per ADS in any calendar year.
In
addition, Holders will pay the fees of the Depositary for making a deposit,
the
execution and delivery of Receipts, making a withdrawal, the surrender of
Receipts and the making of any distribution pursuant to the Deposit Agreement,
all stamp, transfer and other applicable taxes and other governmental charges,
registration fees and facsimile transmission and delivery expenses, and
customary and other expenses incurred by the Depositary in connection with
its
obligations and duties under the Deposit Agreement, as set forth in Exhibit
B
thereof. Any other charges and expenses of the Depositary under the Deposit
Agreement will be paid by the Company after consultation and agreement between
the Depositary and the Company concerning the nature and amount of such charges
and expenses. All fees and charges may at any time and from time to time be
changed by agreement between the Company and the Depositary. The charges and
expenses of the Custodian, nominee or any other agent of the Depositary are
for
the sole account of the Depositary. The provisions in respect of these charges
may be changed in the manner indicated in Article (21) of this
Receipt.
7
(11) Title
to Receipts.
It is a
condition of this Receipt, and every successive Holder of this Receipt by
accepting or holding the same consents and agrees, that title to this Receipt
(and to each American Depositary Share evidenced hereby), when such Receipt
is
properly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument or instruments of
transfer, is transferable by delivery with the same effect as in the case of
a
negotiable instrument; provided, however, that the Company and the Depositary,
notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may deem and treat the person in
whose name this Receipt is registered on the books of the Depositary as the
absolute owner hereof for the purpose of determining the person entitled to
any
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 obligations or be subject to any liability
hereunder or under the Deposit Agreement to any holder of a Receipt unless
such
holder is a Holder thereof.
(12)
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 has been executed
by
the Depositary by the manual signature of a duly authorized signatory of the
Depositary; provided, however, that such signature may be a facsimile if a
Registrar has been appointed and this Receipt has been countersigned by the
manual signature of a duly authorized officer of the Registrar; and provided,
further, that, only with respect to the Receipts originally issued, the
signatures of both the Depositary and the Registrar may be
facsimiles.
8
(13)
Reports;
Inspection of Transfer Books.
The
Company publishes on its web site on an ongoing basis, or otherwise furnishes
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") with,
certain public reports and documents required by foreign law or otherwise under
Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. To the extent
furnished to the Commission, such reports and documents may be inspected and
copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission located
at the date of the Deposit Agreement at 000 X Xxxxxx, XX, Xxxxxxxxxx, XX
00000.
The
Depositary will make available for inspection by Holders at its Principal Office
and at the office of each Custodian, copies of the Deposit Agreement, any
notices, reports or communications, including any proxy soliciting material,
received from the Company which are both (a) received by the Depositary, a
Custodian, or the nominee of either of them as the holder of the Deposited
Securities and (b) made generally available to the holders of such Deposited
Securities by the Company. In accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, such reports and communications shall be in English. The
Depositary will also send to Holders copies of such reports when furnished
by
the Company pursuant to Section 5.06 of the Deposit Agreement.
The
Registrar will keep books for the registration of Receipts and transfers of
Receipts which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by Holders,
provided that such inspection shall not be for the purpose of communicating
with
Holders in the interest of a business or object other than the business of
the
Company or a matter related to the Deposit Agreement or the
Receipts.
Subject
to Article (23) hereof, the Registrar may close the transfer books (with notice
to the Company if other than in the ordinary course of business), at any time
or
from time to time, when deemed necessary or advisable by it in good faith in
connection with the performance of its duties hereunder or at the reasonable
written request of the Company.
(14)
Dividends
and Distributions in Cash, Shares, etc.
Whenever the Depositary or any Custodian receives any cash dividend or other
cash distribution on any Deposited Securities, the Depositary will, if at the
time of receipt thereof any amounts received in a Foreign Currency can in the
judgment of the Depositary, pursuant to Section 4.08 of the Deposit Agreement,
be converted on a practicable basis, by sale or any other manner that it may
determine in accordance with applicable law, into Dollars transferable to the
United States, and subject to the Deposit Agreement, promptly convert or cause
to be converted such dividend or distribution into Dollars and will distribute
promptly the amount thus received (net of fees of, and expenses incurred by,
the
Depositary) to the Holders entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of
American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by them
respectively without liability for interest thereon. The Depositary shall
distribute only such amount, however, as can be distributed without attributing
to any Holder a fraction of one Cent, and any balance not so distributable
shall
be held by the Depositary (without liability for interest thereon) and shall
be
added to and become part of the next sum received by the Depositary for
distribution to Holders of Receipts then outstanding. Pursuant to Articles
(4)
and (7) hereof, if the Company or the Depositary is required to withhold and
does withhold from any cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect
of
any Deposited Securities an amount on account of taxes, duties or other
governmental charges, the amount distributed to Holders on the American
Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities shall be reduced
accordingly. Such withheld amounts shall be forwarded to the relevant
governmental authority by the person holding the withheld
amounts.
9
If
any
distribution upon any Deposited Securities consists of a dividend in, or free
distribution of Shares, the Company shall deposit or cause such Shares to be
deposited with and registered with the Share Registrar in the name of the
Custodian and thereupon the Depositary may, with the Company's approval and
shall, if the Company so requests, subject to Section 5.07 of the Deposit
Agreement, either (i) distribute to the Holders entitled thereto, as of the
record date fixed pursuant to Section 4.09 of the Deposit Agreement, in
proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such
Deposited Securities held by them respectively, additional Receipts for American
Depositary Shares, which represent in aggregate the number of Shares received
as
such dividend or free distribution, subject to the terms of this Deposit
Agreement, including, without limitation, Sections 2.02, 2.03, 5.07 and 5.09
of
the Deposit Agreement; in lieu of delivering Receipts for fractional American
Depositary Shares in any such case, the Depositary shall sell the number 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
4.02 of the Deposit Agreement, or (ii) if additional Receipts are not so
distributed (except pursuant to (i) above), each American Depositary Share
shall
thenceforth also represent pro rata 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 charges which
the Depositary is obligated to withhold, or, if after the Company, in the
fulfillment of its obligations under Section 5.07 of the Deposit Agreement,
has
furnished an opinion of U.S. counsel determining that Shares must be registered
under the Securities Act or other laws in order to be distributed to Holders,
or
if the Company does not provide a satisfactory opinion as provided in Section
5.07, the Depositary may adopt such method as the Depositary may deem equitable
and practicable (after consultation with the Company) for the purpose of
effecting such distribution, including the disposal of all or a portion of
such
property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) in such amounts
and
in such manner, including by public or private sale, as the Depositary deems
necessary and practicable to pay any such taxes or charges, or effect the
distribution of unregistered Shares, and the Depositary shall distribute the
net
proceeds of any such sale after deduction of such taxes or charges to Holders
entitled thereto in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares
held
by them respectively and the Depositary shall distribute any unsold balance
of
such property in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit
Agreement.
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 will, after consultation with the Company,
either (a) make such rights available to the Holders, (b) dispose of such rights
for the benefit of the Holders and make the net proceeds available in Dollars
to
the Holders or (c) allow such rights to lapse in the event such rights may
not
be made available to the Holders or may not be disposed of for the benefit
of
the Holders; provided, however, that the Depositary will, if requested by the
Company in writing, take action as follows:
10
(a) |
if
at the time of the offering of any rights, the Depositary in its
discretion, after the Company has obtained opinion(s) of counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary, that it is lawful and
feasible
to make such rights available to all or certain Holders but not to
others,
by means of warrants or otherwise, the Depositary will distribute
warrants
or other instruments therefor in such form as it may determine, to
the
Holders entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of American
Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by
them
respectively, or employ such other method as it may deem feasible
after
the Company has obtained opinion(s) of counsel reasonably satisfactory
to
the Depositary in order to facilitate the exercise, sale or transfer
of
rights or the securities obtainable upon the exercise of such rights,
by
such Holders; or
|
(b) |
if
at the time of the offering of any rights, the Depositary determines
after
the Company has obtained opinion(s) of counsel reasonably satisfactory
to
the Depositary, that it is not lawful or not feasible to make such
rights
available to certain Holders by means of warrants or otherwise, or
if the
rights represented by such rights, warrants or such other instruments
are
not exercised and appear to be about to lapse, the Depositary shall
use
its reasonable efforts to sell the rights, warrants or other instruments
at public or private sale, in a riskless principal capacity, at such
place
or places and upon such terms as it may deem proper, and allocate
the
proceeds of such sales for the account of the Holders otherwise entitled
to such rights, warrants or other instruments upon an averaged or
other
practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among such Holders
because of exchange restrictions or the date of delivery of any Receipt
or
Receipts, or otherwise, and distribute such net proceeds so allocated
to
the extent practicable as in the case of a distribution of cash pursuant
to Section 4.02 of the Deposit Agreement. Neither the Company nor
the
Depositary shall be responsible for (i) any failure of the Depositary
to
determine that it may be lawful or feasible to make such rights available
to Holders in general or any Holder or Holders in particular, (ii)
any
foreign exchange exposure or loss incurred in connection with such
sale,
or (iii) any liability to the purchaser of such rights, warrants
or other
instruments.
|
If
the
Depositary does not receive such written request from the Company, the
Depositary shall, after consultation with the Company, and after obtaining
opinion(s) of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary, have discretion
as to the procedure to be followed (i) in making such rights available to the
Holders, or (ii) in disposing of such rights on behalf of such Holders and
distributing the net proceeds available in dollars to such Holders as in the
case of a distribution of cash pursuant to Section 4.02 of the Deposit
Agreement, or (iii) in allowing such rights to lapse in the event such rights
may not be made available to Holders or be disposed of and the net proceeds
thereof made available to Holders.
11
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Article (14), if registration (under the
Securities Act or any other applicable law) of the rights or the securities
to
which any rights relate may be required in order for the Company to offer such
rights or such securities to Holders and to sell the securities represented
by
such rights, the Depositary will not offer such rights to the Holders (i) unless
and until a registration statement under the Securities Act covering such
offering is in effect, or (ii) unless the Company furnishes the Depositary
opinion(s) of counsel for the Company in the United States and counsel to the
Company in any other applicable country in which rights would be distributed,
satisfactory to the Depositary or other evidence satisfactory to the Depositary
to the effect that the offering and sale of such securities to the Holders
of
such Receipts are exempt from or do not require registration under the
provisions of the Securities Act or any other applicable laws, provided,
however, that nothing in this Deposit Agreement shall create, or be construed
to
create, any obligation on the part of the Company to file a registration
statement or to endeavor to have such a registration statement declared
effective.
Whenever
the Custodian shall receive any distribution other than cash, Shares or rights
in respect of any Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall, after consultation
with the Company, and after the Company has obtained opinion(s) of counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary that the proposed distribution does
not violate any applicable laws or regulations, cause the securities or property
so received to be distributed to the Holders entitled thereto, as of a record
date fixed pursuant to Section 4.09 of the Deposit Agreement, in proportion
to
the number of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities
held by them respectively, in any manner that the Depositary may deem equitable
and practicable for accomplishing such distribution, after deduction or upon
payment of any fees and expenses of the Depositary or any taxes or other
governmental charge; provided, however, that, if in the opinion of the
Depositary or its counsel, it cannot cause such securities or property to be
distributed or such distribution cannot be made proportionately among the
Holders entitled thereto, or if for any other reason (including without
limitation any requirement (i) that the Company, the Depositary or the Custodian
withhold an amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges or (ii)
that under applicable securities or exchange control regulations or law such
securities must be registered under the Securities Act or other law in order
to
be distributed to Holders), the Depositary deems such distribution not to be
feasible, the Depositary shall 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 and may rely on such advice, which method
may include, but not be limited to, the sale (at public or private sale) of
the
securities or property thus received, or any part thereof, and the distribution
of the net proceeds of any such sale (net of taxes, fees and expenses of the
Depositary set forth in Section 5.09 or in Exhibit B of the Deposit Agreement)
by the Depositary to the Holders entitled thereto as in the case of a
distribution received in cash, provided that any unsold balance of such
securities or property shall be distributed by the Depositary to the Holders
entitled thereto, if such distribution is feasible without withholding for
or an
account of any taxes or other governmental charges and without registration
under the Securities Act, in accordance with such equitable and practicable
method as the Depositary may have adopted.
12
Pursuant
to Articles (4) and (7) hereof, if the Depositary determines that any
distribution in property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor)
is
subject to any tax, duty or other governmental charges which the Depositary
is
obligated to withhold, the Depositary may dispose of all or a portion of such
property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) in such amounts
and
in such manner, including by public or private sale, as the Depositary deems
necessary and practicable to pay any such taxes, duties or governmental charges,
and the Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds of any such sale after
deduction of such taxes, duties or governmental charges to Holders entitled
thereto in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by them
respectively and shall distribute any unsold balance of such property in
accordance with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement.
The
Custodian, the Depositary or the Company or its agents shall use reasonable
efforts to make and maintain arrangements enabling Holders who are citizens
or
residents of the United States to receive any rebates, tax and/or duty credits
or other benefits (pursuant to treaty or otherwise) relating to dividend
payments on the American Depositary Shares to which they are entitled, and
they
may file any such reports necessary to obtain benefits under applicable tax
treaties for the Holders.
(15)
Fixing
of Record Date.
Whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of the fixing of a record date
by
the Company for the determination of holders of Deposited Securities entitled
to
receive any cash dividend or other cash distribution or any distribution other
than cash, or any rights to be issued with respect to the 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 receive notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other
Deposited Securities, or whenever the Depositary shall find it necessary or
convenient in connection with the giving of any notice, solicitation of any
consent or any other matter, the Depositary shall, after consultation with
the
Company, fix a record date as close as practicable to the record date fixed
by
the Company in respect of the Shares for the determination of the Holders of
Receipts who shall be entitled to receive such dividend, distribution rights
or
the net proceeds of the sale thereof, to give instructions for the exercise
of
voting rights at any such meeting, or to give or withhold such consent, or
to
receive such notice or solicitation or to otherwise take action, or to exercise
the rights of Holders with respect to such changed number of Shares represented
by each American Depositary Share. Subject to the provisions of Sections 4.02
through 4.08 of the Deposit Agreement and to the other terms and conditions
of
this Receipt and the Deposit Agreement, the Holders of Receipts at the close
of
business on such record date shall be entitled 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, or to give
such voting instructions, to receive such notice or solicitation, or otherwise
take action.
13
(16) Voting
of Deposited Securities.
As soon
as practicable after receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders
of
Shares are entitled to vote or of solicitation of consents or proxies from
holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, the Depositary will, to the
extent permitted by law, (and provided such written notice is received by the
Depositary at least 30 days prior to the date of such meeting) mail or cause
to
be mailed a notice containing (i) such information as is provided to the
Depositary by the Company, (ii) a statement in English, in a form provided
by
the Company, that the Holders of record at the close of business on a specified
record date will be entitled, subject to the terms of the Deposit Agreement,
any
applicable provisions of Portuguese law, the Articles of Association of the
Company and the provisions of or governing Deposited Securities (which
provisions, if any, shall have been summarized in pertinent part by the
Company), to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights
pertaining to the number of Deposited Securities represented by their respective
ADSs and (iii) a statement addressing the manner in which such instructions
may
be given, including an indication that instructions may be given (or may be
deemed to have been given in accordance with the next paragraph if no
instructions are received prior to the deadline set for such purposes) to the
Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company.
In the event notice of the meeting and the request of the Company are not
received by the Depositary at least 30 days prior to the meeting, the Depositary
shall be under an obligation to notify the Holders and shall be under no
obligation to vote or cause to be voted the Deposited Securities. A Holder
of
Receipts will only be entitled to exercise the voting rights, if any, pertaining
to the Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by its respective ADSs.
Holders on the close of business on the record date specified by the Depositary
shall be entitled, subject to any applicable provisions of law and the Company's
Articles of Association, to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the
voting rights, if any, pertaining to the Shares or other Deposited Securities
represented by their respective ADSs. The Depositary shall endeavor, insofar
as
practicable to vote or cause to be voted the Shares so represented in accordance
with any written instructions of such Holder, including by aggregating, insofar
as practicable, in blocks of 100 ADSs of various Holders who have instructed
the
Depositary in identical manner as to the exercise of rights with respect to
any
matter to be voted upon.
Neither
the Custodian nor the Depositary shall vote the Shares or other Deposited
Securities represented by the ADSs other than in accordance with instructions
from the Holder and as described in the following paragraph. If the Depositary
does not receive instructions from a Holder on or before the record date
specified by the Depositary, under certain circumstances such Holder shall
be
deemed to have instructed the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to the
person designated by the Company to vote the Shares or other Deposited
Securities.
Pursuant
to the Company's Articles of Association, with the exception of the Portuguese
Republic and equivalent entities, no person may exercise more than 5% of
outstanding voting rights of the Company. [Pursuant to Portuguese law, no person
may acquire more than 10% of the Shares (either directly or in the form of
ADSs)
without the prior approval of the Ministry of Finance.] Holders of ADSs will
be
treated as holders of the Shares represented by the ADSs for the purposes of
determining the applicability of the foregoing limitations.
14
(17) Changes
Affecting Deposited Securities.
Upon
any change in nominal or par value, split-up, cancellation, consolidation or
any
other reclassification of Deposited Securities, or upon any recapitalization,
reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale of assets affecting the Company
or to which it is a party, any securities which shall be received by the
Depositary or a Custodian in exchange for, or in conversion of or replacement
or
otherwise in respect of, such Deposited Securities shall be treated as new
Deposited Securities under the Deposit Agreement, and the Receipts shall,
subject to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement and applicable law, evidence
American Depositary Shares representing the right to receive such additional
securities. Alternatively, the Depositary may, with the Company's approval,
and
shall, if the Company shall so request, subject to the terms of the Deposit
Agreement and receipt of an opinion of counsel to the Company satisfactory
to
the Depositary that such distributions are not in violation of any applicable
laws or regulations, execute and deliver additional Receipts as in the case
of a
stock dividend on the Shares, or call for the surrender of outstanding Receipts
to be exchanged for new Receipts, in either case, as well as in the event of
newly deposited shares, with necessary modifications to the form of Receipt
contained in this Exhibit A to the Deposit Agreement, specifically describing
such new Deposited Securities or corporate change. The Company agrees to,
jointly with the Depositary, amend the Registration Statement on Form F-6 as
filed with the Commission to permit the issuance of such new Receipts.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any security so received may
not be lawfully distributed to some or all Holders, the Depositary may, and
with
the Company's approval, shall if the Company requests, subject to receipt of
an
opinion of Company's counsel satisfactory to the Depositary that such action
is
not in violation of any applicable laws or regulations sell such securities
at
public or private sale, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may
deem proper and shall allocate the net proceeds of such sales for the account
of
the Holders otherwise entitled to such securities upon an averaged or other
practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among such Holders and
distribute the net proceeds so allocated to the extent practicable as in the
case of a distribution received in cash pursuant to Section 4.02 of the Deposit
Agreement. Neither the Company nor the Depositary shall not be responsible
for
(i) any failure by the Depositary to determine that it may be lawful or feasible
to make such securities available to Holders in general or any Holder or Holders
in particular, (ii) any foreign exchange exposure or loss incurred in connection
with such sale, or (iii) any liability to the purchaser of such
securities.
(18) Indemnification.
The
Company agrees to indemnify the Depositary, the Custodian and any of their
respective directors, employees, agents and Affiliates against, and hold each
of
them harmless from, any loss, liability, tax, charge or expense of any kind
whatsoever (including, but not limited to, the reasonable fees and expenses
of
counsel) that may arise (a) out of or in connection with any offer, issuance,
sale, resale, transfer, deposit or withdrawal of Receipts, American Depositary
Shares, the Shares or other Deposited Securities by the Company or any Affiliate
of the Company or any offering circular or registration statement under the
Securities Act (whether or not declared effective) in respect thereof, except
to
the extent such loss, liability, tax, charge or expense (including reasonable
fees and expenses of counsel) arises out of information (or omissions from
such
information) relating to the Depositary, furnished to the Company by the
Depositary for use in any offering documents in respect thereof or (b) out
of
acts performed or omitted, in connection with the Deposit Agreement and the
Receipts including but not limited to any delivery by the Depositary on behalf
of the Company of information regarding the Company, in connection with the
Deposit Agreement, the Receipts, the American Depositary Shares, the Shares
or
any Deposited Securities, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented
from time to time, in any such case (i) by the Depositary, the Custodian or
any
of their respective directors, employees, agents and Affiliates, except to
the
extent such loss, liability, tax, charge or expense is due to negligence or
bad
faith of any of them, or (ii) by the Company or any of its directors, employees,
agents and Affiliates.
15
The
indemnities contained in the preceding paragraph shall not extend to any
liability or expense which may arise out of any Pre-Release Transaction (as
defined in Article (24) hereof and Section 5.10 of the Deposit Agreement) other
than a Pre-Release Transaction entered into at the request of the
Company.
The
Depositary agrees to indemnify the Company and its directors, employees, agents
and Affiliates and hold each of them harmless from any loss, liability, charge
or expense of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, the reasonable
fees and expenses of counsel) which may arise out of acts performed or omitted
by the Depositary in any such case or any of its directors, employees or
Affiliates, including, but not limited to, any delivery by the Company on behalf
of the Depositary of information regarding the Depositary in connection with
the
Deposit Agreement, the Receipts, the American Depositary Shares, the Shares
or
any Deposited Securities, as the same may be amended, modified, or supplemented
from time to time, due to the negligence or bad faith of the Depositary, and
of
any of its directors, employees, agents or Affiliates.
The
obligations set forth in this Article (18) shall survive the termination of
the
Deposit Agreement and the succession or substitution of any party
hereto.
Any
person seeking indemnification hereunder (an “indemnified person”) shall notify
the person from whom it is seeking indemnification (the “indemnifying person”)
of the commencement of any indemnifiable action or claim promptly after such
indemnified person becomes aware of such commencement (provided that the failure
to make such notification shall not affect such indemnified person's rights
otherwise than under this Article (18) and Section 5.08 of the Deposit
Agreement) and shall consult in good faith with the indemnifying person as
to
the conduct of the defense of such action or claim, which defense shall be
reasonable in the circumstances. No indemnified person shall compromise or
settle any action or claim without the consent of the indemnifying person,
which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
(19) Liability
of the Company and the Depositary.
Neither
the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their respective controlling persons,
directors, employees, agents or affiliates shall incur any liability to any
Holder or other person if, by reason of any present or future law, the Articles
of Association of the Company, the provisions of any Deposited Security, act
of
God, war or other circumstance beyond its control or by reason of any provision
of any securities issued by the Company, or any offering or distribution
thereof, the Depositary, its controlling persons or its agents or the Company,
its controlling persons or its agents shall be prevented, delayed or forbidden
from doing or performing any act or thing which by the terms of the Deposit
Agreement it is provided shall or may be done or performed, or by reason of
any
exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in the Deposit
Agreement or obligated to do or perform any act which obligation is inconsistent
with the obligations of the Deposit Agreement. Each of the Depositary, its
controlling persons and its agents, the Company, its controlling persons and
its
agents assumes no obligation and shall be subject to no liability under the
Deposit Agreement or this Receipt to Holders or other persons, except to perform
such obligations as are specifically set forth and undertaken by it to perform
in the Deposit Agreement without negligence or bad faith and using its
reasonable judgment. The Depositary and the Company undertake to perform such
duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in the Deposit
Agreement, and no implied covenants or obligations will be read into the Deposit
Agreement against the Depositary or the Company or their respective agents.
None
of the Depositary, its controlling persons or its agents nor the Company its
controlling persons or its agents will be (a) under any obligation to appear
in,
prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any
Deposited Securities or this Receipt that in its opinion may involve it in
expense or liability, unless indemnity satisfactory to it in its sole discretion
against all expense and liability be furnished as often as may be required
or
(b) liable for any action or inaction by it or them 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 or them in good
faith
to be competent to give such advice or information. The Depositary, its
controlling persons and its agents and the Company, its controlling persons
and
its agents may rely and shall be protected in acting upon any written notice,
request, direction or other document believed by them in good faith to be
genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
Subject to the provisions of this paragraph (19), the Depositary and its agents
will not be liable for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any
of
the Deposited Securities, for the manner in which any such vote is cast or
for
the effect of any such vote. The Depositary may own and deal in any class of
securities of the Company and its affiliates and in Receipts.
16
(20) Resignation
and Removal of the Depositary; Appointment of Successor
Depositary.
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 be effective on the earlier of (i) the 60th day after delivery
thereof to the Company, or (ii) upon the appointment of a successor depositary
and its acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement.
The
Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by written notice of such
removal which notice shall be effective on the earlier of (i) the 60th day
after
delivery thereof to the Depositary, or (ii) upon the appointment of a successor
depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit
Agreement. 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 (i) execute and deliver an instrument transferring
to such successor all rights and powers of such predecessor hereunder, (ii)
duly
assign, transfer and deliver all right, title and interest to the Deposited
Securities to such successor, and (iii) deliver to such successor a list of
the
Holders of all outstanding Receipts and such other information relating to
Receipts and Holders thereof as the successor may reasonably request. Any such
successor depositary shall promptly mail notice of its appointment to such
Holders.
17
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.
(21)
Amendment,
Supplement.
The
form of the Receipts in respect of the Shares and any provisions of the Deposit
Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended or supplemented
by
written agreement between the Company and the Depositary in any respect which
they may deem necessary or desirable without the consent of the Holders. Any
amendment or supplement which shall impose or increase any fees or charges
(other than taxes and other governmental charges), or which shall otherwise
prejudice any substantial existing right of Holders or Beneficial Owners, shall
not, however, become effective as to outstanding Receipts until the expiration
of 30 days after notice of such amendment or supplement shall have been given
to
the Holders of outstanding Receipts. The parties hereto agree that any
amendments or supplements which (i) are reasonably necessary (as agreed by
the
Company and the Depositary) in order for (a) the American Depositary Shares
to
be registered on Form F-6 under the Securities Act or (b) the American
Depositary Shares or Shares to be traded solely in electronic book-entry form
and (ii) do not in either such case impose or increase any fees or charges
to be
borne by Holders, shall be deemed not to prejudice any substantial rights of
Holders or Beneficial Owners. Every Holder and Beneficial Owner at the time
any
amendment or supplement so becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing
to
hold such Receipt, to consent and agree to such amendment or supplement and
to
be bound by the Deposit Agreement as amended or supplemented thereby. In no
event shall any amendment or supplement impair the right of the Holder to
surrender such Receipt and receive therefor the Deposited Securities represented
thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable
law.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any governmental body should adopt new laws,
rules or regulations which would require amendment or supplement of the Deposit
Agreement to ensure compliance therewith, the Company and the Depositary may
amend or supplement the Deposit Agreement and the Receipt at any time in
accordance with such changed rules. 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.
18
(22) Termination.
The
Depositary shall, at any time at the written direction of the Company, terminate
the Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the Holders
of
all Receipts then outstanding at least 30 days prior to the date fixed in such
notice for such termination. If 60 days shall have expired after (i) the
Depositary shall have delivered to the Company a written notice of its election
to resign, or (ii) the Company shall have delivered to the Depositary a written
notice of the removal of the Depositary, and in either case a successor
depositary shall not have been appointed and accepted its appointment as
provided in Article (20) hereof and Section 5.04 of the Deposit Agreement,
the
Depositary may terminate the Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such
termination to the Holders of all Receipts then outstanding at least 30 days
prior to the date fixed for such termination. On and after the date of
termination of the Deposit Agreement, the Holder will, upon surrender of such
Receipt at the Principal Office of the Depositary, upon the payment of the
charges of the Depositary for the surrender of Receipts referred to in Article
(2) hereof and Section 2.05 of the Deposit Agreement and subject to the
conditions and restrictions therein set forth, and upon 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 such
Receipt. If any Receipts shall remain outstanding after the date of termination
of the Deposit Agreement, the Registrar thereafter shall discontinue the
registration of transfers of Receipts, and the Depositary shall suspend the
distribution of dividends to the Holders 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 as provided in the Deposit
Agreement, and shall continue to deliver Deposited Securities, subject to the
conditions and restrictions set forth in Section 2.05 of the Deposit Agreement,
together with any dividends or other distributions received with respect thereto
and the net proceeds of the sale of any rights or other property, in exchange
for Receipts surrendered to the Depositary (after deducting, or charging, as
the
case may be, in each case the charges of the Depositary for the surrender of
a
Receipt, any expenses for the account of the Holder in accordance with the
terms
and conditions of the Deposit Agreement and applicable taxes or governmental
charges or assessments). At any time after the expiration of six months from
the
date of termination of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may and intends
to
sell the Deposited Securities then held hereunder and may thereafter hold
uninvested the net proceeds of any such sale, together with any other cash
then
held by it hereunder, in an unsegregated escrow account, without liability
for
interest for the pro rata benefit of the Holders of Receipts whose Receipts
have
not theretofore been surrendered. After making such sale, the Depositary shall
be discharged from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement with respect
to
the Receipts and the Shares, Deposited Securities and American Depositary
Shares, except for its obligations to the Company under Article (18) hereof
and
Section 5.08 of the Deposit Agreement and except to account for such net
proceeds and other cash (after deducting, or charging, as the case may be,
in
each case the charges of the Depositary for the surrender of a Receipt, any
expenses for the account of the Holder in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Deposit Agreement and any applicable taxes or governmental
charges or assessments). Upon the termination of the Deposit Agreement as to
Receipts, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations under the Deposit
Agreement as to the Receipts and the Shares, Deposited Securities and American
Depositary Shares except for its obligations to the Depositary under Articles
(10) and (18) hereof, and Sections 5.08 and 5.09 of the Deposit
Agreement.
(23) Compliance
with U.S. Securities Laws.
Notwithstanding any provisions in this Receipt or the Deposit Agreement to
the
contrary, the Company and the Depositary have each agreed that it will not
exercise any rights it has under the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt to
prevent the withdrawal or delivery of Deposited Securities in a manner which
would violate the United States securities laws, including, but not limited
to,
Section I.A.(1) of the General Instructions to the Form F-6 Registration
Statement, as amended from time to time, under the Securities Act of 1933.
19
(24)
Certain
Rights of the Depositary; Limitations.
Subject
to the further terms and provisions of this Article (24), the Depositary and
its
agents, on their own behalf, may own and deal in any class of securities of
the
Company and any Affiliate of the Company and in Receipts. The Depositary may
issue Receipts against evidence of rights be registered with the Share Registrar
as the owner of Shares. Such evidence of rights shall consist of written blanket
or specific guarantees of rights to be registered with the Share Registrar
as
the owner of Shares furnished on behalf of the holder thereof. In its capacity
as Depositary, the Depositary shall not lend Shares or Receipts; provided,
however, that the Depositary may issue Receipts prior to the receipt of Shares
pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Deposit Agreement (a “Pre-Release Transaction”)
and deliver Shares upon the receipt and cancellation of Receipts which were
issued in a Pre-Release Transaction but for which Shares may not have been
received. The Depositary may receive Receipts in lieu of Shares in satisfaction
of a Pre-Release Transaction. Each such Pre-Release Transaction will be (a)
accompanied by or subject to a written agreement whereby the person or entity
(the “Applicant”) to whom Receipts are to be delivered (i) represents that at
the time of the Pre-Release Transaction the Applicant or its customer owns
the
Shares or Receipts that are to be delivered in connection with such Pre-Release
Transaction, (ii) agrees to indicate the Depositary as owner of such Shares
or
Receipts in its records and to hold such Shares or Receipts in trust for the
Depositary until such Shares or Receipts are delivered to the Depositary or
a
Custodian, (iii) unconditionally guarantees to deliver to the Depositary or
a
Custodian, as applicable, such Shares or Receipts and (iv) agrees to any
additional restrictions or requirements that the Depositary deems appropriate,
(b) at all times fully collateralized with cash, United States government
securities 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 Depositary will normally limit the number of Receipts
and
Shares involved in Pre-Release Transactions at any one time to thirty percent
(30%) of the number of Receipts then issued by the Depositary and in respect
of
which shares are deposited with the Depositary or a Custodian, provided,
however, that the Depositary may change or disregard such limit from time to
time as it deems appropriate. The Depositary may also set limits with respect
to
the number of Receipts and Shares involved in Pre-Release Transactions with
any
one person on a case by case basis as it deems appropriate. The Depositary
will
terminate all Pre-Release Transactions and enter no new Pre-Release Transactions
to the extent requested by the Company. The Depositary may retain for its own
account any compensation received by it in connection with the foregoing
(including, without limitation, earnings on the collateral provided pursuant
to
(b) above). Collateral provided pursuant to (b) above, but not the earnings
thereon, shall be for the benefit of the Holders (other than the
Applicant).
(ASSIGNMENT
AND TRANSFER SIGNATURE LINES)
FOR
VALUE
RECEIVED, the undersigned Holder hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s)
unto
______________________ whose taxpayer identification number is
20
_____________________
and whose address including postal zip code is ___________________________,
the
within Receipt and all rights and interests represented thereby, and hereby
irrevocably constitutes and appoints_______________________ attorney-in-fact
to
transfer said Receipt on the books of the Depositary, with full power of
substitution in the premises.
Dated:
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Name:
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By:
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Title:
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NOTICE:
The signature of the Holder to this assignment must correspond with
the
name as written upon the face of the within instrument in every
particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change
whatsoever.
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If
the endorsement be executed by an attorney, executor, administrator,
trustee or guardian, the person executing the endorsement must give
evidence of authority to act in such capacity, if not on file with
the
Depositary, must be forwarded with this Receipt
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All
endorsements or assignments of Receipts must be guaranteed by a member
of
a Medallion Signature Program approved by the Securities Transfer
Association Inc.
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SIGNATURE
GUARANTEED
21