AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
AMENDMENT
NO. 1 TO DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
AMENDMENT NO. 1 dated as of
October 19, 2009 (the “Amendment”), to the Deposit Agreement (the "Deposit
Agreement") dated
as of January 17, 2002 by and among Wimm-Xxxx-Xxxx Foods OJSC (the "Company"),
incorporated under the laws of the Russian Federation, Deutsche Bank Trust
Company Americas (the "Depositary"), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of
Deutsche Bank A.G. and all Holders and Beneficial Owners from time to time of
American Depositary Shares (as defined herein) evidenced by Receipts (as defined
herein) issued thereunder.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company and the
Depositary executed the Deposit Agreement for the purposes set forth therein;
and
WHEREAS, the Company and the
Depositary desire to amend the ratio of Deposited Securities represented by each
American Depositary Share.
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.
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ARTICLE
II
AMENDMENTS TO DEPOSIT
AGREEMENT AND RECEIPT
SECTION 2.01. All references
in the Deposit Agreement and Receipts to the term "Deposit Agreement" shall, as
of the Effective Date (as herein defined), refer to the Deposit Agreement as
amended hereby.
SECTION 2.02. All references
in the Deposit Agreement and Receipts to the Depositary shall be references to
the Depositary as defined above.
SECTION 2.03. The ratio of
shares per American Depositary Share set forth in Section 1.03 of the Deposit
Agreement and the initial paragraph and face of the form of Receipt are each
amended so that after the Effective Date, each American Depositary Share
represents one-fourth of one Share.
SECTION 2.04. The second
paragraph of Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement and the second paragraph of
Paragraph 7 of the Receipt are each amended by inserting the following as (11)
thereof:
and (11)
for the operation and maintenance costs in administering the ADSs an annual fee
of U.S. $0.02 or less per ADS; provided, however, that if the Depositary imposes
a fee under this clause (11), then the total of fees assessed under this clause
(11), combined with the total of fees assessed under clause (6) above with
respect to dividends, shall not exceed U.S. $0.02 per ADS in any calendar
year.
In order
to effect the above amendment the "and" preceding clause (10) of Section 5.09
and Paragraph 7 shall be replaced with a comma.
SECTION 2.05. The address of
the Depositary set forth in Section 7.05 of the Deposit Agreement and in the
Receipt is amended to read as follows:
Deutsche
Bank Trust Company Americas, 00 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, XXX
Attention: ADR Department,
telephone: (000) 000 000-0000,
facsimile: (000) 000 000 0000.
SECTION 2.06. The form of
Receipt, reflecting the amendments set forth herein, is amended and restated to
read as set forth as Exhibit A hereto.
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ARTICLE
III
REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
SECTION 3.01. The Company represents
and warrants to, and agrees with, the Depositary and the Holders,
that:
(a) This
Amendment, when executed and delivered by the Company, will be duly and validly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and it and the Deposit
Agreement as amended hereby constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations
of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their
respective terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors’ rights and to general equity principles; and
(b) In
order to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility into
evidence of this Amendment or the Deposit Agreement as amended hereby, neither
of such agreements need to be filed or recorded with any court or other
authority in the Russian Federation, nor does any stamp or similar tax or
governmental charge need to be paid in the Russian Federation on or in respect
of such agreements.
ARTICLE
IV
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 4.01. Effective
Date. This Amendment is dated as of the date set forth above and shall be
effective as of the close of business New York time on such date (the "Effective
Date"); provided, however that the amendment set forth in Section 2.03 hereof
shall become effective at the close of business New York time on November 13,
2009 and the amendment set forth in Section 2.04 hereof shall not become
effective until 30 days after notice thereof has been provided to Holders of
outstanding Receipts.
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SECTION 4.02. Outstanding
Receipts. Receipts issued prior or subsequent to the date hereof, which
do not reflect the changes to the form of Receipt effected hereby, do not need
to be called in for exchange and may remain outstanding until such time as the
Holders thereof choose to surrender them for any reason under the Deposit
Agreement. The Depositary is authorized and directed to take any and all actions
deemed necessary to effect the foregoing.
SECTION 4.03. Indemnification.
The parties hereto shall be entitled to the benefits of the indemnification
provisions of Section 5.08 of the Deposit Agreement in connection with any and
all liability it or they may incur as a result of the terms of this Amendment
and the transactions contemplated herein.
SECTION 4.04. Counterparts. This Amendment may be
executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an
original and all of which taken together shall constitute one
instrument.
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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.
WIMM-XXXX-XXXX
FOODS OJSC
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By:
______________________________________
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Name:
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Title:
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DEUTSCHE
BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,
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as
Depositary
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By:
______________________________________
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Name:
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Title:
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By:
______________________________________
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Name:
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Title:
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5
Exhibit
A
IT IS
EXPECTED THAT THE SHARES DEPOSITED HEREUNDER WILL BE REGISTERED ON THE SHARE
REGISTER MAINTAINED BY THE RUSSIAN SHARE REGISTRAR OF WIMM-XXXX-XXXX FOODS OJSC
IN THE NAME OF DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS DEPOSITARY, OR ITS
NOMINEE OR OF THE CUSTODIAN OR ITS NOMINEE. HOLDERS AND BENEFICIAL
OWNERS SHOULD BE AWARE, HOWEVER, THAT RUSSIA'S SYSTEM OF SHARE REGISTRATION AND
CUSTODY CREATES RISKS OF LOSS THAT ARE NOT NORMALLY ASSOCIATED WITH INVESTMENTS
IN OTHER SECURITIES MARKETS. THE DEPOSITARY WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR THE
UNAVAILABILITY OF SHARES OR FOR THE FAILURE TO MAKE ANY DISTRIBUTION OF CASH OR
PROPERTY WITH RESPECT THERETO AS A RESULT OF SUCH UNAVAILABILITY.
THE
DEPOSITARY HAS BEEN ADVISED BY RUSSIAN COUNSEL THAT COURTS IN THE RUSSIAN
FEDERATION WILL NOT RECOGNIZE OR ENFORCE JUDGMENTS OBTAINED IN THE FEDERAL
COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR XXX XXXXXX XX XXX XXXXX XX XXX
XXXX.
[For
global Receipt only:] Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized
representative of DTC to the agent authorized by Wimm-Xxxx-Xxxx Foods OJSC for
registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued in
exchange for this certificate or any portion hereof is registered in the name of
[DTC’s nominee], or in such other name as is requested by an authorized
representative of DTC (and any payment is made to [DTC’s nominee] or to such
other entity as is requested by an authorized representative thereof), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE
HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL, in as much
as the registered owner hereof, [DTC’s nominee], has an interest
herein.
[For global Receipt only:] PRIOR
TO RECEIPT BY THE DEPOSITARY OF WRITTEN NOTICE FROM THE COMPANY THAT (A) THE
RESULTS OF THE ISSUE OF THE SHARES ISSUED BY THE COMPANY AND PLACED IN THE
INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING BY THE COMPANY (INCLUDING ANY EXERCISE BY THE
UNDERWRITERS OF AN OVER-ALLOTMENT OPTION IN CONNECTION THEREWITH), HAVE BEEN
REGISTERED WITH THE RUSSIAN FEDERAL COMMISSION FOR THE SECURITIES MARKET AND (B)
SUCH SHARES HAVE BEEN FULLY PAID, NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING IN THIS RECEIPT OR
THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT TO THE CONTRARY: THE DEPOSITARY SHALL NOT
DELIVER ANY SHARES PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH 2 OF THIS RECEIPT AND SECTION 2.06 OF
THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT, AND THE DEPOSITARY SHALL NOT VOTE, OR CAUSE TO BE VOTED,
SECURITIES DEPOSITED HEREUNDER, AND HOLDERS SHALL NOT BE ENTITLED TO GIVE VOTING
INSTRUCTIONS, AS CONTEMPLATED BY PARAGRAPH 16 OF THIS RECEIPT AND SECTION 4.07
OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT.
[For global Receipt only:] IF
THE RESULTS OF ISSUE OF THE SHARES ISSUED BY THE COMPANY AND PLACED IN THE
INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE RUSSIAN FEDERAL
COMMISSION FOR THE SECURITIES MARKET ON OR BEFORE 60 DAYS AFTER THE CLOSING DATE
FOR SUCH OFFERING (OR SUCH LATER DATE AS THE COMPANY, THE SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
AND THE UNDERWRITERS PARTICIPATING IN SUCH OFFERING MAY AGREE), UPON WRITTEN
NOTICE BY A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNDERWRITERS FOR THE INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING,
THIS RECEIPT SHALL BE DEEMED CANCELLED AND VOID, AND THE DEPOSITARY SHALL RETURN
TO THE COMPANY AND TO THE SELLING SHAREHOLDERS, AS INSTRUCTED BY SUCH
REPRESENTATIVE, ALL SHARES DEPOSITED HEREUNDER AND, TO THE EXTENT IT RECEIVES
FUNDS FROM THE ESCROW AGENT HOLDING THE PROCEEDS OF THE INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING,
THE DEPOSITARY SHALL DISTRIBUTE SUCH FUNDS TO DTC FOR DISTRIBUTION TO ITS
RESPECTIVE PARTICIPANTS.
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Number
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CUSIP
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American
Depositary Shares (Each American Depositary Share representing one-fourth
of one deposited Share)
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AMERICAN
DEPOSITARY SHARES
DEUTSCHE
BANK TRUST COMPANYAMERICAS
AMERICAN
DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
REPRESENTING
ORDINARY SHARES OF
WIMM-XXXX-XXXX
FOODS OJSC
(a corporation organized under the laws
of the Russian Federation)
DEUTSCHE
BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as depositary (hereinafter called the
“Depositary”), hereby certifies that ___________________, or registered assigns
IS THE HOLDER OF _________AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES representing shares of
Common Stock (herein called “Share(s)”) of WIMM-XXXX-XXXX FOODS OJSC, a
corporation organized under the
laws of the Russian Federation (herein called the “Company”). At the date
hereof, each American Depositary Share represents one-fourth of one Share
deposited or subject to deposit under the Deposit Agreement.
THE
DEPOSITARY’S CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE ADDRESS IS LOCATED AT
00 XXXX
XXXXXX, XXX XXXX, X.X. 00000
1. THE
DEPOSIT AGREEMENT.
This American Depositary Receipt is one
of an issue (herein called “Receipts”), all issued and to
be issued upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Deposit Agreement,
dated as of January 17, 2002 (such Deposit Agreement as amended from time to
time, the “Deposit
Agreement”), by and among the Company, the Depositary, and all Holders
and Beneficial Owners from time to time of Receipts representing American
Depositary Share(s) (herein called “ADS(s)”) issued thereunder,
each of whom by accepting a Receipt agrees to become a party thereto and become
bound by all the terms and conditions thereof. The Deposit Agreement sets forth
the rights of Holders and Beneficial Owners of the Receipts and the rights and
duties of the Depositary in respect of the Shares deposited thereunder and any
and all other securities, property and cash from time to time received in
respect of such Shares and held thereunder (such Shares, securities, property,
and cash are herein called “Deposited Securities”). Copies
of the Deposit Agreement are on file at the Depositary’s Corporate Trust Office
in New York City and at OOO Deutsche Bank, Moscow, Russian Federation, as
custodian (the “Custodian”).
The
statements made on the face and reverse of this Receipt are summaries of certain
provisions of the Deposit Agreement and are qualified by and subject to the
detailed provisions of the Deposit Agreement, to which reference is hereby made.
Capitalized terms defined in the Deposit Agreement and not defined herein shall
have the meanings set forth in the Deposit Agreement.
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2. SURRENDER
OF RECEIPTS AND WITHDRAWAL OF SHARES.
Upon
surrender at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary of this Receipt, and
upon payment of the fee of the Depositary provided in this Receipt and payment
of all taxes and governmental charges payable in connection with such surrender
and withdrawal of the Deposited Securities, and subject to the terms and
conditions of the Deposit Agreement and the Charter of the Company,
and upon payment of related fees and charges of the Depositary as described in
Paragraph 7, the Holder hereof is entitled to delivery, to him or upon his
order, at the principal office of the Custodian of the amount of Deposited
Securities at the time represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced
by this Receipt. Delivery of such Deposited Securities may be made by (a) the
delivery of instruments of transfer or such other documents in
accordance with Russian law, and (b) delivery of any other securities, property
and cash to which such Holder is then entitled in respect of such Receipts to
such Holder or as ordered by him. Such delivery shall be made, as hereinafter
provided, without unreasonable delay, at the principal office of the Custodian.
At the request, risk and expense of the Holder, the Depositary may deliver
Deposited Securities (other than Shares) at the Corporate Trust Office. The
Company shall use its best efforts to ensure that transfer and recordation of
the Deposited Securities into the name of the Holder or as directed by such
Holder is effected within three (3) Moscow Business Days of the Russian Share
Registrar's receipt of such documentation as may be required by applicable law
and regulation and the reasonable and customary internal regulations of the
Russian Share Registrar, or as soon as possible thereafter.
A Receipt surrendered for such purposes
may be required by the Depositary to be properly endorsed in blank or
accompanied by properly executed instruments of transfer in blank, and if the
Depositary so requires, the Holder thereof shall execute and deliver to the
Depositary a written order directing the Depositary to cause the Deposited
Securities being withdrawn to be delivered to or upon the written order of a
person or persons designated in such order. Thereupon the Depositary shall
direct the Custodian to deliver at the principal office of such Custodian,
subject to the terms of the Deposit Agreement, to or upon the written order of
the person or persons designated in the order delivered to the Depositary as
above provided, the amount of Deposited Securities represented by the American
Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt, except that the Depositary may make
delivery to such person or persons at the Corporate Trust Office of the
Depositary of any cash dividends or other cash distributions with respect to the
Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by
such Receipt, or of any proceeds of sale of any dividends, distributions or
rights, which may at the time be held by the Depositary.
The
Depositary shall not accept for surrender a Receipt evidencing American
Depositary Shares representing less than one Share. In the case of surrender of
a Receipt evidencing a number of American Depositary Shares representing other
than a whole number of Shares, the Depositary shall cause ownership of the
appropriate whole number of Shares to be delivered in accordance with the terms
of the Deposit Agreement, and shall issue and deliver to the person surrendering
such Receipt a new Receipt evidencing American Depositary Shares representing
any remaining fractional Share.
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At the
request, risk and expense of any Holder so surrendering a Receipt, and for the
account of such Holder, the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to forward any
cash or other property (other than rights) comprising, and forward a certificate
or certificates and other proper documents of title for, the Deposited
Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such
Receipt to the Depositary for delivery at the Corporate Trust Office of the
Depositary. Such direction shall be given by letter or, at the request, risk and
expense of such Holder, by cable, telex or facsimile transmission.
No
surrender of Receipts for the purpose of withdrawal of Deposited Securities
shall be accepted unless accompanied by evidence satisfactory to the Depositary
that all necessary filings have been made and approvals have been obtained (or
in each case, have been properly waived) under the laws of the Russian
Federation.
3. TRANSFERS,
SPLIT-UPS, AND COMBINATIONS OF RECEIPTS.
Subject
to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, the transfer of this
Receipt is registrable on the books of the Depositary at its Corporate Trust
Office by the Holder hereof in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon
surrender of this Receipt duly stamped (as may be required by law), properly
endorsed for transfer or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer and funds
sufficient to pay any applicable taxes or other governmental charges, and the
fees and expenses of the Depositary related to such registration of transfer as
set forth in Paragraph 7 hereof, and upon compliance with such regulations, if
any, as the Depositary may establish for such purpose. Upon
satisfaction of the conditions described above, the Depositary shall execute a
new Receipt or Receipts and deliver the same to or upon the order of the person
entitled thereto. This Receipt may, upon the terms and conditions of the Deposit
Agreement, be split into other Receipts, or may be combined with other Receipts
into one Receipt, evidencing the same aggregate number of American Depositary
Shares as the Receipt or Receipts surrendered. As a condition precedent to the
execution and delivery, registration, registration of transfer, split-up,
combination or surrender of any Receipt, the delivery of any distribution
thereon, or withdrawal of any Deposited Securities, the Depositary, the
Custodian, or the Registrar may require payment from the depositor of the Shares
or the presenter of the Receipt a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax
(including, without limitation, amounts in respect of any applicable transfer
taxes) or other governmental charge and any stock transfer or registration fee
with respect thereto (including any such tax or charge and fee with respect to
Shares being deposited or withdrawn) and payment of any applicable fees as
provided in this Receipt, may require the production of proof satisfactory to it
as to the identity and genuineness of any signature, and may also require proof
of compliance with any applicable notice, consent or other requirements relating
to the acquisition of securities of companies organized in the Russian
Federation, may require proof of compliance with the provisions of the Company’s
Charter in effect from time to time and resolutions and regulations of the
Company’s Board of Directors adopted pursuant to such Charter, and may also
require compliance with any regulations the Depositary may establish consistent
with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement and applicable law or this Receipt,
including, without limitation, this Paragraph 3.
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The
delivery of Receipts against the deposit of Shares generally or against the
deposit of particular Shares may be suspended, or the transfer of Receipts in
particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer of
outstanding Receipts or the combination or split-up of Receipts generally may be
suspended, during any period when the transfer books of the Depositary are
closed, or if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary
or the Company in their reasonable discretion at any time or from time to time
because of any requirement of law or of any governmental or quasi-governmental
body or commission or any securities exchange or automated quotation system on
which the American Depositary Shares may be listed, or under any provision of
the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, or for any other reason, subject to the
provisions of the following sentence. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
in the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, the surrender of outstanding Receipts
and withdrawal of Deposited Securities may be suspended, only as permitted in
General Instruction I.A. (1) to Form F-6 (as such instruction may be amended
from time to time) in connection with (a) temporary delays caused by closing the
transfer books of the Depositary or the Russian Share Registrar or the deposit
of Shares in connection with voting at a shareholders’ meeting, or the payment
of dividends, (b) the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges, or (c)
compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating to
the Receipts or to the withdrawal of the Deposited Securities. Without
limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary shall not knowingly accept for
deposit under the Deposit Agreement any securities required to be registered
under the provisions of the Securities Act, unless a registration statement is
in effect as to such securities.
4.
LIABILITY OF HOLDER OR BENEFICIAL OWNER FOR TAXES.
If any
tax (including, without limitation, any transfer taxes) or other governmental
charge shall become payable with respect to this Receipt or any Deposited
Securities represented hereby, such tax or other governmental charge shall be
payable by the Holder or Beneficial Owner hereof to the Depositary. The
Depositary may refuse to effect any transfer (or any combination or split-up) of
this Receipt or, subject to Paragraph 23, any withdrawal of Deposited Securities
represented by American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt until such
payment is made, and may withhold any dividends or other distributions, or may
sell for the account of the Holder and Beneficial Owner hereof any part or all
of the Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares
evidenced by this Receipt, and may apply such dividends or other distributions
or the proceeds of any such sale in payment of such tax or other governmental
charge and the Holder or Beneficial Owner hereof shall remain liable for any
deficiency.
The
Holder and Beneficial Owner (if any) hereof agrees to indemnify the Depositary,
the Company, the Custodian, and any of their agents, officers, employees and
Affiliates for, and to hold each of them harmless from, any claims with respect
to taxes (including applicable interest and penalties thereon) arising from any
tax benefit obtained for such Holder and/or Beneficial Owner.
5. REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES ON DEPOSIT OF SHARES; POWER OF ATTORNEY.
Every
person depositing Shares under the Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to
represent and warrant that such Shares and each certificate therefor, if any,
are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid (except as otherwise
contemplated by Section 2.11 of the Deposit Agreement), non-assessable, legally
obtained by such person and free of any preemptive rights of the holders of
outstanding Shares and that the person making such deposit is duly authorized so
to do. Every such person shall also be deemed to represent and warrant that such
Shares and the Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares representing such
Shares are (a) not Restricted Securities (as defined in the Deposit Agreement)
and (b) not subject to any unfulfilled requirements of the laws of the Russian
Federation. Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit of
Shares and issuance of Receipts. If any such representations or warranties are
false in any way, the Company and the Depositary shall be authorized, at the
cost and expense of the person depositing the Shares, and in their sole and
absolute discretion, to take any and all actions necessary to correct the
consequences thereof.
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Each
Holder and Beneficial Owner upon acceptance of this Receipt hereby appoints the
Depositary its attorney-in-fact, with full power to delegate, to act on its
behalf and to take any and all steps or action provided for or contemplated
herein with respect to the Deposited Securities, to adopt any and all procedures
necessary to comply with applicable law, including, but not limited to, those
set forth in Paragraphs 12, 13 and 14, and to take such further steps or action
as the Depositary in its sole discretion may deem necessary or appropriate to
carry out the purposes of the Deposit Agreement.
6.
FILING PROOFS, CERTIFICATES, AND OTHER INFORMATION.
Any
person presenting Shares for deposit or any Holder or Beneficial Owner of a
Receipt may be required from time to time (a) to file with the Depositary or the
Custodian such proof of citizenship or residence, taxpayer status, exchange
control approval, payment of applicable taxes or other governmental charges,
legal or beneficial ownership of Receipts, Deposited Securities or other
securities, compliance with all applicable laws or regulations or terms of the
Deposit Agreement or the Receipts, or such information relating to the
registration on the books of the Company or of the Russian Share Registrar, if
applicable, or any other information the Custodian, the Depositary, or the
Company may deem necessary or appropriate as evidence of compliance with all
applicable laws and regulations, and (b) to execute such certificates and to
make such representations and warranties, as the Depositary or the Company may
deem necessary or appropriate. Any such person shall be required to comply with
requests by the Company for information as to the capacity in which such person
owns Receipts and Shares, the identity of any other person interested in any
such Receipt or Share, and the nature of such interest. The Depositary may
withhold the delivery or registration of transfer of any Receipt or the
distribution of any dividend or distribution of rights or of the sale proceeds
thereof or, subject to the terms of Paragraph 23, the delivery of any Deposited
Securities until such proof or other information is filed or such certificates
are executed or such representations and warranties made to the Depositary’s or
the Company’s, as the case may be, reasonable satisfaction.
7. CHARGES
OF DEPOSITARY.
The
Company agrees to pay or reimburse the fees, reasonable expenses and
out-of-pocket charges of the Depositary and those of any Registrar only in
accordance with agreements in writing entered into between the Depositary and
the Company from time to time. The right of the Depositary to receive payment
and/or reimbursements under this Paragraph 7 shall survive the termination of
the Deposit Agreement.
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The
following charges shall be incurred by the Holders and Beneficial Owners, by any
party depositing or withdrawing Shares or by any party surrendering Receipts or
to whom Receipts are issued (including, without limitation, issuance pursuant to
a stock dividend or stock split declared by the Company or an exchange of stock
regarding the Receipts or Deposited Securities or a distribution of Receipts
pursuant to Paragraph 12 and to the terms of the Deposit Agreement), whichever
is applicable: (1) taxes (including, without limitation, any amounts
in respect of any applicable stamp tax and other governmental charges), (2) such
transfer or registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the
registration of transfers of Shares generally on the register of the Russian
Share Registrar and applicable to transfers of Shares to the name of the
Depositary or its nominee or the Custodian or its nominee on the making of
deposits or withdrawals under the Deposit Agreement, (3) such cable, telex or
facsimile transmission and delivery expenses as are expressly provided in the
Deposit Agreement, (4) such expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in the
conversion of foreign currency pursuant to Paragraph 14 and to the terms of the
Deposit Agreement, (5) a fee of $5.00 or less per 100 American Depositary Shares
(or portion thereof) for the execution and delivery of Receipts pursuant to
Paragraph 14 and to the terms of the Deposit Agreement and the surrender of
Receipts pursuant to Paragraphs 2, 12 and 21 and the terms of the Deposit
Agreement, (6) a fee of $0.02 or less per American Depositary Share (or portion
thereof) for any cash distribution made pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, (7) a
fee of $1.50 per Receipt or Receipts for transfers made pursuant to Paragraph 3,
(8) a fee for the distribution of securities pursuant to Paragraph 12 and to the
terms of the Deposit Agreement, such fee being in an amount equal to the fee for
the execution and delivery of American Depositary Shares referred to above which
would have been charged as a result of the deposit of such securities (for
purposes of this clause (8) treating all such securities as if they were Shares)
but which securities are instead distributed by the Depositary to Holders, (9) a
fee for, and deducted from, the distribution of proceeds of sales of securities
or rights pursuant to Paragraph 12 or 13, respectively, such fee being in an
amount equal to the fee for the issuance of American Depositary Shares referred
to above which would have been charged as a result of the deposit by Holders of
securities (for purposes of this clause (9) treating all such securities as if
they were Shares) or Shares received in exercise of rights distributed to them
pursuant to Paragraph 12 or 13, respectively, but which securities or rights are
instead sold by the Depositary and the net proceeds distributed, (10) a fee of
$0.01 or less per ADS (or portion thereof) per year to cover such expenses as
are incurred for inspections by the Depositary, the Custodian or their
respective agents of the Share Register maintained by the Russian Share
Registrar (which fee shall be assessed against Holders of record as of the date
set by the Depositary in accordance with Section 4.06 of the Deposit Agreement
not more often than once each calendar year) and (11) for the operation and
maintenance costs in administering the ADSs an annual fee of U.S. $0.02 or less
per ADS; provided, however, that if the Depositary imposes a fee under this
clause (11), then the total of fees assessed under this clause (11), combined
with the total of fees assessed under clause (6) above with respect to
dividends, shall not exceed U.S. $0.02 per ADS in any calendar
year.
8. PRE-RELEASE
OF RECEIPTS.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Receipt or in the Deposit Agreement but subject
to the terms and conditions thereof, the Depositary may execute and deliver
Receipts prior to the receipt of Shares (a “Pre-Release”). The Depositary
may deliver Shares upon the receipt and cancellation of Receipts which have been
Pre-Released, whether or not such cancellation is prior to the termination of
such Pre-Release or the Depositary knows that such Receipt has been
Pre-Released. The Depositary may receive Receipts in lieu of Shares in
satisfaction of a Pre-Release. Except as otherwise contemplated by Section 2.11
of the Deposit Agreement, each Pre-Release will be (a) preceded or accompanied
by a written representation from the person to whom Receipts or Shares are to be
delivered, that such person, or its customer, owns the Shares or Receipts to be
remitted, as the case may be, and that such person or its customer agrees to
indicate the Depositary as owner of the Shares or Receipts, as applicable, 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 the Custodian,
and unconditionally guarantees to deliver to the Depositary or the Custodian, as
applicable, such Shares or Receipts, (b) at all times fully collateralized with
cash or such other collateral as the Depositary deems appropriate, (c)
terminable by the Depositary on not more than five (5) Business Days notice, and
(d) subject to such further indemnities and credit regulations as the Depositary
deems appropriate. The number of American Depositary Shares which are
outstanding at any time as a result of Pre-Release will not normally exceed
thirty percent (30%) of the Shares deposited under the Deposit Agreement; provided, however, that the
Depositary reserves the right to change or disregard such limit from time to
time as it reasonably deems appropriate, and may change such limit for purposes
of general application. The Depositary will also set Dollar limits
with respect to Pre-Release transactions to be entered into under the Deposit
Agreement with any particular Pre-Releasee on a case-by-case basis as the
Depositary reasonably deems appropriate. For purposes of enabling the Depositary
to fulfill its obligations to the Holders under the Deposit Agreement, the
collateral referred to in clause (b) above shall be held by the Depositary as
security for the performance of the Pre-Releasee’s obligations to the Depositary
in connection with a Pre-Release transaction, including the Pre-Releasee’s
obligation to deliver Shares or Receipts upon termination of a Pre-Release
transaction (and shall not, for the avoidance of doubt, constitute Deposited
Securities under the Deposit Agreement).
7
The
Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received by it in
connection with the foregoing.
9. TITLE
TO RECEIPTS.
It is a
condition of this Receipt and every successive Holder and Beneficial Owner of
this Receipt by accepting or holding the same consents and agrees, that title to
this Receipt when properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of
transfer, is transferable by delivery with the same effect as in the case of a
negotiable instrument under the laws of New York (subject to satisfying the
requirements of the Deposit Agreement); provided, however, that the
Depositary, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the Holder
hereof as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of determining the person
entitled to distribution of dividends or other distributions or to any notice
provided for in the Deposit Agreement and for all other purposes. Neither the
Depositary nor the Company shall have obligation under the terms hereof or of
the Deposit Agreement to any Beneficial Owner or Holder of any Receipt issued
pursuant to the Deposit Agreement unless such person is registered as the Holder
thereof.
10. VALIDITY
OF RECEIPT.
This
Receipt shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Deposit Agreement or be
valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless this Receipt shall have been
executed on behalf of the Depositary by the manual signature of a duly
authorized signatory of the Depositary; provided, however, that the
signature of the Depositary may be a facsimile if a Registrar for the Receipts
shall have been appointed and this Receipt is countersigned on behalf of the
Registrar by the manual signature of a duly authorized officer of the
Registrar. Signature of this Receipt by manual signature on behalf of
one or both of the Depositary and the Registrar, if any, shall be conclusive
evidence, and the only evidence, that this Receipt has been duly executed and
delivered under the terms hereof, and of the Deposit Agreement.
8
11.
REPORTS; INSPECTION OF TRANSFER BOOKS.
The
Company furnishes the Commission with certain public reports and documents
required under the Securities Exchange Act. These reports and documents can be
inspected and copied at public reference facilities maintained by the Commission
located at 000 X Xxxxxx X.X., Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000.
The
Depositary shall keep books (which shall at all times be retained outside the
United Kingdom), at its Corporate Trust Office, for the registration of Receipts
and transfers of Receipts which at all reasonable times shall be open for
inspection by the Holders, provided that such inspection shall not be for the
purpose of communicating with Holders in the interest of a business or object
other than the business of the Company or a matter related to the Deposit
Agreement or the Receipts.
12. DIVIDENDS
AND DISTRIBUTIONS.
Whenever
the Depositary shall receive any cash dividend or other cash distribution on any
Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall establish an ADS Record Date pursuant
to Paragraph 15 and shall, subject to this Paragraph 12, convert such dividend
or distribution into Dollars (if not paid in Dollars), as promptly as
practicable, and shall distribute the amount thus received (net of the fees and
expenses of the Depositary as provided in Paragraph 7 and any taxes or other
governmental charges paid or payable in conjunction with such conversion), as
promptly as practicable, to the Holders as of the ADS Record Date (as herein
defined), in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing
such Deposited Securities held by them, respectively; provided, however, that in the
event that the Company or the Depositary shall be required to withhold and does
withhold from such cash dividend or such other cash distribution an amount on
account of taxes, the amount distributed to the Holder of the Receipts
evidencing American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities
shall be reduced accordingly. The Depositary shall distribute only such amount,
however, as can be distributed without attributing to any Holder a fraction of
one cent. Any such fractional amounts shall be rounded down to the nearest whole
cent and so distributed to Holders entitled thereto, and any balance not so
distributable shall be retained by the Depositary (without liability for
interest thereon) for inclusion with funds received by the Depositary thereafter
in respect of the Deposited Securities for distribution to Holders of Receipts
then outstanding. The Depositary or the Company or their respective agents may
(but shall not be obligated to) file any reports necessary to obtain benefits
under the applicable tax treaties for the Holders of Receipts.
Subject
to the terms of the Deposit Agreement, whenever the Depositary shall receive any
distribution other than a distribution in cash, Shares or rights under the terms
of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall establish an ADS Record Date
pursuant to the terms of Paragraph 15, and shall cause the securities or
property received by it to be distributed as promptly as practicable to the
Holders as of the ADS Record Date, after deduction or upon payment of any fees
and expenses of the Depositary or any taxes or other governmental charges, in
proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such
Deposited Securities held by them respectively, in any manner that the
Depositary may deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing such
distribution; provided, however, that if in
the opinion of the Depositary such distribution cannot be made proportionately
among the Holders entitled thereto, or if for any other reason (including, but
not limited to, any requirement that the Company or the Depositary withhold an
amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges or that such securities
must be registered under the Securities Act in order to be distributed to
Holders) the Depositary deems such distribution not to be practicable, the
Depositary may adopt such method as it may deem equitable and practicable for
the purpose of effecting such distribution, including, but not limited to, the
public or private sale of the securities or property thus received, or any part
thereof, and the proceeds of any such sale (net of the fees and expenses of the
Depositary as provided in Paragraph 7 and any taxes or other governmental
charges paid or payable in conjunction with such sale or distribution) shall be
distributed by the Depositary to the Holders entitled thereto, all in the manner
described above in this Paragraph 12. The Depositary may withhold any such
distribution if it has not received satisfactory assurances from the Company
(including an opinion of recognized outside counsel practicing in the relevant
jurisdiction) that such distribution complies with the Securities Act and with
other applicable law.
9
If any
distribution upon any Deposited Securities consists of a dividend in, or free
distribution of, Shares, the Depositary shall establish an ADS Record Date
pursuant to the terms of Paragraph 15, and may, and will if the Company so
requests, distribute as promptly as practicable to the Holders of outstanding
Receipts as of the ADS Record Date, in proportion to the number of American
Depositary Shares held by them respectively, additional Receipts evidencing an
aggregate number of American Depositary Shares representing the amount of Shares
received as such dividend or free distribution, subject to the terms and
conditions of the Deposit Agreement and of this Receipt with respect to the
deposit of Shares and the issuance of American Depositary Shares evidenced by
Receipts, including the withholding of any tax or other governmental charge as
provided in this Paragraph 12 and the payment of the fees and expenses of the
Depositary as provided in Paragraph 7. The Depositary may withhold
any such distribution if it has not received satisfactory assurances from the
Company (including an opinion of recognized outside counsel practicing in the
relevant jurisdiction) that such distribution complies with the Securities Act
and with other applicable law. In lieu of delivering Receipts for
fractional American Depositary Shares the Depositary may, in its discretion,
after consultation with the Company, sell the amount of Shares represented by
the aggregate of such fractions, at public or private sale, at such place or
places and upon such terms as it may deem proper, and distribute the net
proceeds of any such sale as if such proceeds were a cash
distribution. If additional Receipts are not so distributed (except
as pursuant to the preceding sentence), each American Depositary Share shall
thenceforth also represent its proportionate interest in the additional Shares
so distributed upon such Deposited Securities.
13.
RIGHTS.
In the
event that the Company shall offer or cause to be offered to the holders of any
Deposited Securities any rights to subscribe for additional Shares or any rights
of any other nature, the Depositary shall, upon receipt of timely notice thereof
and after consultation with the Company, have discretion as to the procedure to
be followed in making such rights available to any Holders or in disposing of
such rights on behalf of any Holders and making the net proceeds available to
such Holders or, if by the terms of such rights offering or for any other
reason, the Depositary may not either make such rights available to any Holders
or dispose of such rights and make the net proceeds available to such Holders,
then the Depositary shall allow the rights to lapse. If at the time of the
offering of any rights, the Depositary determines in its reasonable discretion
that it is lawful and practicable to make such rights available to all or
certain Holders but not to other Holders, the Depositary may distribute to any
Holder to whom it determines the distribution to be lawful and practicable, in
proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by such Holder,
warrants or other instruments therefor in such form as it deems
appropriate.
10
In
circumstances in which rights would otherwise not be distributed generally, if
the Depositary determines in its discretion that it is lawful and feasible to
make such rights available to certain Holders, the Depositary will, subject to
applicable law, make such rights available to such Holders, in proportion to the
number of American Depositary Shares held by such Holder, upon written notice
from the Company to the Depositary that (a) the Company has elected in its sole
discretion to permit such rights to be exercised and (b) such Holder has
executed such documents as the Company and the Depositary have determined are
required under applicable law.
If the
Depositary has distributed warrants or other instruments for rights to all or
certain Holders, then upon instruction from any such Holder pursuant to such
warrants or other instruments to the Depositary to exercise such rights, upon
payment by such Holder to the Depositary for the account of such Holder of an
amount equal to the purchase price of the Shares to be received upon the
exercise of the rights, and upon payment of the fees and expenses of the
Depositary and any other charges as set forth in such warrants or other
instruments, the Depositary shall, on behalf of such Holder, exercise the rights
and purchase the Shares, and the Company shall cause the Shares so purchased to
be delivered to the Depositary on behalf of such Holder. As agent for such
Holder, the Depositary will cause the Shares so purchased to be deposited
pursuant to the terms of the Deposit Agreement, and shall, pursuant to the
Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver Receipts to such Holder. In the case of a
distribution pursuant to the second paragraph of this Paragraph 13, such
Receipts shall be legended in accordance with applicable U.S. laws, and shall be
subject to the appropriate restrictions on sale, deposit, cancellation and
transfer under such laws.
If the
Depositary determines in its reasonable discretion that it is not lawful or
feasible to make such rights available to all or certain Holders, it may sell
the rights, warrants or other instruments (either by public or private sale or
otherwise at its discretion) in proportion to the number of American Depositary
Shares held by the Holders to whom it has determined it may not lawfully or
feasibly make such rights available, and allocate the proceeds of such sales
(net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Paragraph 7 and
all taxes and governmental charges payable in connection with such rights and
subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement) for the account of
such Holders otherwise entitled to such rights, warrants or other instruments,
upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions
among such Holders because of exchange restrictions or the date of delivery of
any Receipt or otherwise. Any such proceeds shall be distributed in accordance
with as would a cash distribution under Paragraph 12.
The
Depositary will not distribute rights to Holders unless both the rights and the
securities to which such rights relate are either exempt from registration under
the Securities Act with respect to a distribution to all Holders or are
registered under the provisions of such Act; provided, that
nothing in this Receipt or in the Deposit Agreement shall create, or be
construed to create, any obligation on the part of the Company or the Depositary
to file a registration statement with respect to such rights or underlying
securities or to endeavor to have such a registration statement declared
effective. If a Holder of Receipts requests the distribution of warrants or
other instruments, notwithstanding that there has been no such registration
under such Act, the Depositary shall not effect such distribution unless it has
received an opinion acceptable to it from recognized counsel in the United
States for the Company upon which the Depositary may rely that such distribution
to such Holder is exempt from such registration.
11
Subject
to Paragraph 18, the Depositary shall not be responsible for any good faith
failure to determine that it may be lawful or feasible to make such rights
available to Holders in general or any Holder in particular.
There can
be no assurance that Holders generally, or any Holder in particular, will be
given the opportunity to exercise rights on the same terms and conditions as the
holders of Shares or to exercise such rights.
14. CONVERSION
OF FOREIGN CURRENCY.
Whenever
the Depositary or the Custodian shall receive foreign currency, by way of
dividends or other distributions or the net proceeds from the sale of
securities, property or rights, and if at the time of the receipt thereof the
foreign currency so received can in the commercially reasonable judgment of the
Depositary be converted on a practicable basis into Dollars and the resulting
Dollars transferred to the United States, the Depositary shall, as promptly as
practicable, convert or cause to be converted, by sale or in any other manner
that it may determine, such foreign currency into Dollars and such Dollars (net
of any fees, expenses, taxes or other governmental charges incurred in the
process of such conversion) shall be distributed, as promptly as practicable, to
the Holders entitled thereto or, if the Depositary shall have distributed any
warrants or other instruments which entitle the holders thereof to such Dollars,
then to the holders of such warrants and/or instruments upon surrender thereof
for cancellation. Such distribution may be made upon an averaged or other
practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among Holders on account of
exchange restrictions, the date of delivery of any Receipt or
otherwise.
If such
conversion or distribution can be effected only with the approval or license of
any government or agency thereof, the Depositary shall file as promptly as
practicable such application for approval or license, if any, as it may deem
necessary. Nothing herein shall obligate the Depositary to file or
cause to be filed, or to seek effectiveness of any such application or license,
nor shall the Depositary be liable for failure to obtain such permit or
license.
If at any
time the Depositary shall determine that in its reasonable judgment any foreign
currency received by the Depositary or the Custodian is not convertible on a
practicable basis into Dollars transferable to the United States, or if any
approval or license of any government or agency thereof which is required for
such conversion is denied or in the opinion of the Depositary is not reasonably
obtainable, or if any such approval or license is not obtained within a
reasonable period and at reasonable cost as determined by the Depositary, the
Depositary may in its discretion, but subject to applicable laws and
regulations, either (a) distribute the foreign currency (or an appropriate
document evidencing the right to receive such foreign currency) received by the
Depositary to the Holders entitled to receive such foreign currency, or (b) hold
such foreign currency uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for
the respective accounts of the Holders entitled to receive the
same.
If any
such conversion of foreign currency, in whole or in part, cannot be effected for
distribution to some of the Holders entitled thereto, the Depositary may in its
discretion, but subject to applicable laws and regulations, make such conversion
and distribution in Dollars to the extent permissible to the Holders entitled
thereto and either distribute the balance of the foreign currency received by
the Depositary to, or hold such balance uninvested and without liability for
interest thereon for the respective accounts of, the Holders entitled
thereto.
12
15.
RECORD DATES.
Whenever
any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable or any
distribution other than cash shall be made, or whenever rights shall be issued
with respect to the Deposited Securities, or whenever the Depositary shall
receive notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited
Securities, or whenever for any reason the Depositary causes a change in the
number of Shares that are represented by each American Depositary Share, or
whenever the Depositary shall find it necessary or convenient, the Depositary
shall fix a record date (each, an “ADS Record Date”) as close as
practicable to the record date fixed by the Company with respect to the Shares
or other Deposited Securities (a) for the determination of the Holders who shall
be (i) entitled to receive such dividend, distribution or rights or the net
proceeds of the sale thereof, (ii) entitled to give instructions for the
exercise of voting rights at any such meeting, (iii) entitled to act in respect
of any other matter or (iv) responsible for the fee assessed by the Depositary
for inspection of the Share Register maintained by the Russian Share
Registrar, or (b)
on or after which each American Depositary Share will represent the changed
number of Shares. In addition, the Company shall give the Depositary
at least twenty (20) days prior written notice of any meeting of the board of
directors of the Company that is to consider the issuance of interim dividends,
in which case the Depositary may elect to exercise its discretion under
Paragraph 3 and suspend the delivery and registration of transfers of Receipts,
and the Depositary shall fix an ADS Record Date for the determination of the
Holders who shall be solely entitled to receive such interim dividend (if such
dividend is declared). The Company shall not fix a record date with
respect to the payment of interim dividends that is prior to the date the
Company has delivered such notice of the meeting of the board of
directors. Subject to Paragraph 12 and to the provisions of the
Deposit Agreement, the Holders at close of business in New York on such ADS
Record Date shall be entitled, as the case may be, to receive the amount
distributable by the Depositary with respect to such dividend or other
distribution or such rights or the net proceeds of sale thereof in proportion to
the number of American Depositary Shares held by them respectively and to give
voting instructions and to act in respect of any other such matter.
16. VOTING
OF DEPOSITED SECURITIES.
Upon
receipt of timely notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or solicitation of
consents or proxies of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, the
Depositary shall establish an ADS Record Date pursuant to Paragraph 15 and
shall, as soon as practicable thereafter and if requested in writing by the
Company, mail to the Holders of Receipts a notice in English, the form of which
notice shall be in the sole discretion of the Depositary, which shall contain
(a) such information as is contained in such notice of meeting (or solicitation
of consent or proxy) received by the Depositary from the Company, (b) a
statement that the Holders of Receipts as of the ADS Record Date will be
entitled, subject to any applicable provision of the laws of the Russian
Federation, the terms of the Deposit Agreement and of the Charter of the
Company, to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights (or
right to consent to or to grant a proxy), if any, pertaining to the amount of
Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by their respective American
Depositary Shares and (c) a statement as to the manner in which such
instructions may be given. Upon the written request of a Holder of a Receipt as
of such ADS Record Date, received on or before the date established by the
Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall endeavor, insofar as
practicable, and as permitted by the laws of the Russian Federation, to vote or
cause to be voted the amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented
by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt(s) in accordance
with the instructions set forth in such request. Neither the Depositary nor the
Custodian shall, under any circumstances, exercise any discretion as to voting,
vote any Shares other than an integral number thereof, or vote Shares in a
manner that would be inconsistent with applicable law. Shares evidenced by
Receipts for which no specific voting instructions have been received shall not
be voted and shall not be registered at the shareholders
meeting. Instructions in respect of any ADS shall be deemed to have
been received only if received in accordance with the terms of the Deposit
Agreement and of this Receipt. The Company agrees to provide timely notice to
the Depositary which will enable the timely notification of Holders as to any
change of law resulting in limitations on the ability of the Depositary to vote
a particular ADS according to the voting instructions received in regard to such
ADS.
13
17.
CHANGES AFFECTING DEPOSITED SECURITIES.
In
circumstances other than a distribution in Shares, upon any change in nominal
value, change in par value, split-up, consolidation or any other
reclassification of Deposited Securities, or upon any 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 in respect of
Deposited Securities shall, to the extent permitted by applicable laws, be
treated as new Deposited Securities under the Deposit Agreement, and American
Depositary Shares shall (to the extent permitted by law) thenceforth represent,
in addition to (or in lieu of, as the case may be) the existing Deposited
Securities, the right to receive the new Deposited Securities so received in
exchange or conversion, unless additional Receipts are delivered pursuant to the
following sentence. In any such case the Depositary may, but shall not without
first receiving from counsel of Company an opinion, which shall be satisfactory
to the Depositary, that such delivery would not violate any applicable law or
regulation, execute and deliver additional Receipts as in the case of a dividend
in Shares, or call for the surrender of outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for
new Receipts specifically describing such new Deposited Securities.
18. LIABILITY
OF THE COMPANY AND DEPOSITARY.
Neither
the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their respective directors, employees,
agents or Affiliates shall incur any liability to any Holder or Beneficial Owner
of any Receipt, if by reason of any provision of any present or future law or
regulation of the United States or any state thereof, the Russian Federation, or
any other country, or of any governmental or regulatory authority, stock
exchange or automated quotation system, or by reason of any provision, present
or future, of the Charter of the Company, or by reason of any provision of any
securities issued or distributed by the Company, or any offering or distribution
thereof, or by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstances beyond its
control, the Depositary or the Company shall be prevented, delayed or forbidden
from, or be subject to any civil or criminal penalty on account of, doing or
performing any act or thing which by the terms of the Deposit Agreement or
Deposited Securities it is provided shall be done or performed; nor shall the
Depositary or the Company or any of their respective directors, employees,
agents or Affiliates incur any liability to any Holder or Beneficial Owner of
any Receipt by reason of any nonperformance or delay, caused as aforesaid, in
the performance of any act or thing which by the terms of the Deposit Agreement
it is provided shall or may be done or performed, or by reason of any exercise
of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in the Deposit
Agreement. Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall incur any liability in
the case that any or all holders of Deposited Securities benefit from any
distribution, offering, right or other benefit which is not, under the terms of
the Deposit Agreement, made available to any or all Holder(s) or Beneficial
Owners of American Depositary Shares. Where, by the terms of a distribution
pursuant to the terms of the Deposit Agreement, or an offering or distribution
pursuant to the terms of the Deposit Agreement, or for any other reason, such
distribution or offering may not be made available to Holders, and the
Depositary may not dispose of such distribution or offering on behalf of such
Holders and make the net proceeds available to such Holders, then the Depositary
shall not make such distribution or offering, and shall allow any rights, if
applicable, to lapse.
14
Neither
the Depositary nor the Company shall be liable for any action or nonaction by it
in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants,
any person presenting Shares for deposit, any Holder or Beneficial Owner of a
Receipt, or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to
give such advice or information provided, however, that in the
case of the Company, advice of or information from legal counsel is from
recognized U.S. counsel for U.S. legal issues, recognized Russian counsel for
Russian legal issues and recognized counsel of any other jurisdiction for legal
issues with respect to that jurisdiction. The Depositary shall not be
responsible for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any of the
Deposited Securities, or for the manner in which any such vote is cast or the
effect of any such vote, provided that any such action or nonaction is in good
faith. The Depositary shall not be liable to the Company, any Holder or
Beneficial Owner or any other person for the unavailability of the Deposited
Securities or for the failure to make any distribution of cash or other
distributions with respect thereto as a result of (a) any act or failure to act
of the Company or its agents, the Russian Share Registrar, or its or their
respective directors, employees, agents or Affiliates, (b) any provision of any
present or future law or regulation of the United States, the Russian Federation
or any other country, (c) any provision of any present or future regulation of
any governmental or regulatory authority or stock exchange, (d) any provision of
any present or future Charter of the Company or any other instrument of the
Company governing the Deposited Securities, (e) any provision of any securities
issued or distributed by the Company, or any offering or distribution thereof or
(f) any act of God or war or other circumstances beyond its control. The
Depositary shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by a successor
depositary whether in connection with a previous act or omission of the
Depositary or in connection with any matter arising wholly after the removal or
resignation of the Depositary, provided that in connection with the issue out of
which such potential liability arises, the Depositary performed its obligations
without negligence or bad faith while it acted as Depositary.
19. RESIGNATION
AND REMOVAL OF THE DEPOSITARY; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN.
The
Depositary at any time may resign as Depositary under the Deposit Agreement by
written notice of its election so to do delivered to the Company. The
Depositary at any time may be removed by the Company by written notice of such
removal. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the
Deposit Agreement, in case at any time the Depositary shall resign or be
removed, it shall continue to act as Depositary for the purpose of terminating
this Deposit Agreement pursuant to Section 6.02 of the Deposit Agreement and
Paragraph 21. Any
corporation into or with which the Depositary may be converted, merged or
consolidated shall be the successor of the Depositary without the execution or
filing of any document or any further act.
15
The
Depositary may from time to time appoint one or more entities as Custodian. The
Custodian shall be subject at all times and in all respects to the directions of
the Depositary and shall be responsible solely to it. Any Custodian may resign
and be discharged from its duties under the Deposit Agreement by notice of such
resignation delivered to the Depositary at least 30 days prior to the date on
which such resignation is to become effective. If upon such resignation there
shall be no Custodian acting under the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall,
promptly after receiving such notice, appoint a substitute custodian or
custodians. Whenever the Depositary in its discretion determines that it is in
the best interest of the Holders to do so, it may appoint a substitute or
additional custodian or custodians, each of which shall thereafter be one of the
Custodians. The Depositary shall notify the Company promptly after
the appointment of replacement or additional Custodian. Upon demand
of the Depositary, any Custodian shall deliver such of the Deposited Securities
held by it as are requested of it, and any rewards pertaining thereto, to any
other Custodian or such substitute or additional custodian or custodians. Each
such substitute or additional custodian shall deliver to the Depositary,
forthwith upon its appointment, an acceptance of such appointment satisfactory
in form and substance to the Depositary.
20. AMENDMENT.
This
Receipt and any provisions of the Deposit Agreement may at any time and from
time to time be amended by agreement between the Company and the Depositary in
any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable without the consent of
the Holder or Beneficial Owner hereof. Any amendment which shall impose or
increase any fees or charges (other than taxes and other governmental charges,
registration fees, cable, telex or facsimile transmission costs, delivery costs
or other such expenses), or which shall otherwise prejudice any substantial
existing right of the Holder hereof shall, however, not become effective as to
this Receipt until the expiration of thirty days after notice of such amendment
shall have been given to the Holder hereof. The Holder and Beneficial Owner
hereof agree that any amendments or supplements which (a) are reasonably
necessary (as agreed by the Company and the Depositary) in order for (i) the
American Depositary Shares to be registered on Form F-6 under the Securities Act
or (ii) the American Depositary Shares or Shares to be traded solely in
electronic book-entry form and (b) do not in either such case impose or increase
any fees or charges to be borne by Holders, shall be deemed not to materially
prejudice any substantial rights of Holders or Beneficial
Owners. Every Holder and Beneficial Owner, at the time any amendment
so becomes effective, shall be deemed, by continuing to hold this Receipt and
the ADSs represented thereby, to consent and agree to such amendment and to be
bound by this Receipt and by the Deposit Agreement as amended thereby. In no
event shall any amendment impair the right of the Holder or Beneficial Owner of
this Receipt to surrender this Receipt and receive therefor the Deposited
Securities represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory
provisions of applicable law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any governmental
body should adopt new laws, rules or regulations which would require the
amendment or supplement of this Receipt or of the Deposit Agreement to ensure
compliance therewith, the Company and the Depositary may amend or supplement
this Receipt and the Deposit Agreement at any time in accordance with such
changed laws, rules or regulations. Such amendment or supplement hereof or of
the Deposit Agreement in such circumstances may become effective before a notice
of such amendment or supplement is given to Holders or within any other period
of time as required for compliance with such laws, rules or
regulations.
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21. TERMINATION
OF DEPOSIT AGREEMENT.
Upon the
resignation or removal of the Depositary pursuant to Section 5.04 of the Deposit
Agreement, the Depositary may, and shall at any time at the 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. This Deposit
Agreement may otherwise be terminated as contemplated by Section 2.11 of the
Deposit Agreement, in which case no notice of termination shall be
required. On and after the date of termination, the Holder of a
Receipt will, upon (a) surrender of such Receipt at the Corporate Trust Office
of the Depositary, (b) payment of the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of
Receipts referred to in Paragraph 2, and (c) payment of any applicable taxes or
governmental charges, be entitled to delivery, to him or upon his order, of the
amount of Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares
evidenced by such Receipt. If any Receipts shall remain outstanding after the
date of termination, the Depositary thereafter shall discontinue the
registration of transfers of Receipts, shall suspend the distribution of
dividends to the Holders thereof, and shall not give any further notices or
perform any further acts under the terms of the Deposit Agreement, except that
the Depositary shall continue to collect dividends and other distributions
pertaining to Deposited Securities, shall sell rights and other property as
provided in the Deposit Agreement, and shall continue to deliver Deposited
Securities, together with any dividends or other distributions received with
respect thereto and the net proceeds of the sale of any rights or other
property, in exchange for Receipts surrendered to the Depositary (without
liability for interest and after deducting, in each case, the fee of the
Depositary for the surrender of a Receipt, any expenses for the account of the
Holder of such Receipt in accordance with the terms and conditions of the
Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental charges). At any
time after the expiration of six months from the date of termination, the
Depositary may sell the Deposited Securities then held under the Deposit
Agreement and may thereafter hold uninvested the net proceeds of any such sale,
together with any other cash then held by it hereunder, unsegregated and without
liability for interest, for the pro rata benefit of the Holders of Receipts
which have not theretofore been surrendered, such Holders thereupon becoming
general creditors of the Depositary with respect to such net
proceeds. After making such sale, the Depositary shall be discharged
from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement, except to account for such net
proceeds and other cash (after deducting, in each case, the fee of the
Depositary for the surrender of a Receipt, any expenses for the account of the
Holder of such Receipt in accordance with the terms and conditions of the
Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental charges). Upon the
termination of the Deposit Agreement, the Company shall be discharged from all
obligations under the Deposit Agreement except for certain obligations to the
Depositary described therein.
22. DISCLOSURE
OF INTERESTS; OWNERSHIP RESTRICTIONS.
Notwithstanding
any other provision of the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, each Holder and
Beneficial Owner agrees to (a) provide such information as the Company may
request pursuant to law (including, without limitation, relevant Russian
Federation law, any applicable law of the United States, the Charter of the
Company, any resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors adopted pursuant to
such Charter, the requirements of any markets or exchanges upon which the ADSs
or Receipts are listed or traded, or to any requirements of any electronic
book-entry system by which the ADSs or Receipts may be transferred), and (b) be
bound by and subject to applicable provisions of the laws of the Russian
Federation, the Charter of the Company and the requirements of any markets or
exchanges upon which the ADSs, Receipts or Shares are listed or traded, or
pursuant to any requirements of any electronic book-entry system by which the
ADSs, Receipts or Shares may be transferred, to the same extent as if such
Holder and Beneficial Owner held Shares directly.
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Failure
by a Holder or Beneficial Owner to provide in a timely fashion the information
requested by the Company may, in the Company’s sole discretion, result in the
withholding of certain rights in respect of such Holder or Beneficial Owner’s
American Depositary Shares (including voting rights and certain rights as to
dividends in respect of the Shares represented by such American Depositary
Shares). The Depositary agrees to comply with any instructions received from the
Company requesting that the Depositary take the actions specified therein to
obtain such information.
In the
event that the Company determines that there has been a failure to comply with
the applicable reporting requirements with respect to any Deposited Securities
and that sanctions are to be imposed against such Deposited Securities pursuant
to the laws of the Russian Federation by a court of competent jurisdiction or
the Charter of the Company, the Company shall so notify the Depositary, giving
details thereof, and shall instruct the Depositary in writing as to the
application of such sanctions to the Deposited Securities. The Depositary shall
have no liability for any actions taken in accordance with such
instructions.
23. COMPLIANCE
WITH U.S. LAWS.
Notwithstanding
anything in the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt to the contrary, the
withdrawal or delivery of Deposited Securities will not be suspended by the
Company or the Depositary except as would be permitted by Instruction I.A. (1)
of the General Instructions to Form F-6 Registration Statement, as amended from
time to time, under the Securities Act.
24. AGENTS.
The
Depositary may perform its obligations under the Deposit Agreement through any
agent appointed by it, provided that the Depositary shall notify the Company of
such appointment. With respect to any and all losses, damages, costs, judgments,
expenses and other liabilities (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and
expenses) (collectively referred to as “Losses”) incurred by any
Holder or Beneficial Owner as a result of the acts or failure to act by such
agent or attorney (or, in the case of the Custodian, only such damages as are
described below), the Depositary, to the extent it shall receive indemnification
and security acceptable to it from such Holder or Beneficial Owner, may take
appropriate action to recover such Losses from such agent or attorney and, to
the extent is takes such action and recovers any amounts, as promptly as
practicable shall distribute any amounts so recovered (exclusive of costs and
expenses incurred by the Depositary in connection with recovering such Losses
which are not reimbursed by such agent or attorney, including, without
limitation, the Custodian) to the Holders and Beneficial Owners entitled
thereto; and the Depositary’s sole responsibility and liability to such Holders
and Beneficial Owners shall be limited to amounts so received from such agent or
attorney (exclusive of costs and expenses incurred by the Depositary in
connection with recovering such Losses which are not reimbursed by such agent or
attorney, including, without limitation, the Custodian).
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The
liability of the Custodian is established pursuant to the custody agreement
between the Depositary and the Custodian (the “Custody Agreement”). Under the
terms of the related custodian operating agreement, the Custodian is only liable
for its breach of the Custody Agreement, its gross negligence, willful default
or fraud in connection with the performance of its obligations thereunder and
for loss of Shares or funds held in custody under the Custody Agreement. In each
case, the liability of the Custodian with respect to the loss of Shares or funds
will be limited to direct (but not indirect, including consequential) losses
incurred by Holders and Beneficial Owners.
Moreover,
only the Depositary, acting on behalf of Holders and Beneficial Owners, will be
permitted to bring claims against the Custodian in respect of such losses
incurred by Holders and Beneficial Owners as a result of the acts of, or the
failure to act by, the Custodian. Any such claims by the Depositary against the
Custodian will be resolved exclusively by arbitration. The Depositary agrees to
promptly remit to Holders any amounts recovered from such claims (exclusive of
costs and expenses incurred by the Depositary in connection with recovering such
losses which are not reimbursed by the Custodian). The Depositary shall have no
other responsibility or liability to Holders or Beneficial Owners with respect
to the acts of, or the failure to act by, the Custodian or for the
unavailability of the Shares or the failure to make any distribution of cash or
property with respect thereto as a result of such unavailability.
The
liability of the Custodian for such losses incurred by Holders and Beneficial
Owners, the obligation of the Depositary to bring claims against the Custodian
for such losses and the method by which such claims may be brought are subject
to the terms and conditions of the Custody Agreement, a copy of which is
available from the Depositary upon the written request of any
Holder.
25. REGISTRATION
OF SHARES; RUSSIAN SHARE REGISTRAR; SHARE REGISTER.
(a) In
the Deposit Agreement the Company designated and appointed Moscow Central
Depositary Inc., in the Russian Federation, as its Russian Share Registrar in
respect of the Shares and other Deposited Securities. The Company further agreed
to take any and all action, including the filing of any and all such documents
and instruments, as may be necessary to continue such designation and
appointment in full force and effect for so long as any ADSs or Receipts remain
outstanding or the Deposit Agreement remains in force.
(b) In
the Deposit Agreement, the Company agreed that it shall, at all
times:
(i) take
any and all action necessary to assure the accuracy and completeness of all
information set forth in the Share Register maintained by the Russian Share
Registrar in respect of the Shares or other Deposited Securities;
(ii) provide
or use its best efforts to cause the Russian Share Registrar to provide to the
Depositary, the Custodian or their respective agents unrestricted access to the
Share Register during ordinary business hours in Moscow, Russian Federation, in
such manner and upon such terms and conditions as the Depositary, in its
reasonable discretion, may deem appropriate, to permit the Depositary, the
Custodian or their respective agents to regularly (and in any event not less
than monthly) confirm the number of Deposited Securities registered in the name
of the Depositary, the Custodian or their respective nominees, as applicable,
pursuant to the terms of the Deposit Agreement and, in connection therewith, to
provide the Depositary, the Custodian or their respective agents, upon request,
with a duplicate extract from the Share Register duly certified by the Russian
Share Registrar (or some other evidence of verification which the Depositary, in
its reasonable discretion, deems sufficient);
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(iii) use
its best efforts to cause the Russian Share Registrar promptly (and, in any
event, within three Moscow Business Days of the Russian Share Registrar’s
receipt of such documentation as may be required by applicable law and
regulation and the reasonable and customary internal regulations of the Russian
Share Registrar, or as soon as practicable thereafter) to effect the
re-registration of ownership of Deposited Securities in the Share Register in
connection with any deposit or withdrawal of Shares or other Deposited
Securities under the Deposit Agreement;
(iv) permit
and use its best efforts to cause the Russian Share Registrar to permit the
Depositary or the Custodian to register any Shares or other Deposited Securities
held under the Deposit Agreement in the name of the Depositary, the Custodian or
their respective nominees (which may, but need not be, a non-resident of the
Russian Federation); and
(v) use
its best efforts to cause the Russian Share Registrar promptly to notify the
Depositary in writing at any time that the Russian Share Registrar (A)
eliminates the name of a shareholder of the Company from the Share Register or
otherwise alters a shareholder’s interest in the Company’s shares and such
shareholder alleges to the Company or the Russian Share Registrar or publicly
that such elimination or alteration is unlawful; (B) no longer will be able
materially to comply with, or has engaged in conduct that indicates it will not
materially comply with, the provisions of the Deposit Agreement relating to it
(including, without limitation, Section 7.10 of the Deposit Agreement); (C)
refuses to re-register shares of the Company in the name of a particular
purchaser and such purchaser (or its respective seller) alleges that such
refusal is unlawful; (D) holds Shares of the Company for its own account; or (E)
has materially breached the provisions of the Deposit Agreement relating to it
(including, without limitation, Section 7.10 of the Deposit Agreement) and has
failed to cure such breach within a reasonable time.
(c) In
the Deposit Agreement, the Company agreed that it shall be solely liable for any
act or failure to act on the part of the Russian Share Registrar (other than
such act or failure to act on the part of the Russian Share Registrar arising in
connection with any act or failure to act of the Depositary or the Custodian, or
their respective directors, employees, agents or Affiliates) and that the
Company shall be solely liable for the unavailability of Deposited Securities or
for the failure of the Depositary to make any distribution of cash or other
distributions with respect thereto as a result of (i) any act or failure to act
of the Company or its agents, the Russian Share Registrar (other than such act
or failure to act on the part of the Russian Share Registrar arising in
connection with any act or failure to act of the Depositary or the Custodian, or
their respective directors, employees, agents or Affiliates), or their
respective directors, employees, agents or Affiliates, (ii) any provision
of any present or future Charter of the Company or any other instrument of the
Company governing the Deposited Securities, or (iii) any provision of any
securities issued or distributed by the Company, or any offering or distribution
thereof.
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(d) In
the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary agreed for the benefit of Holders and
Beneficial Owners that the Depositary or the Custodian shall confirm regularly
(and in any event not less than monthly) the number of Deposited Securities
registered in the name of the Depositary, the Custodian or their respective
nominees, as applicable, pursuant to the terms of the Deposit Agreement. The
Company and the Depositary agreed that, for the purposes of the rights and
obligations under the Deposit Agreement of the parties thereto, the records of
the Depositary and the Custodian shall be controlling for all purposes with
respect to the number of Shares or other Deposited Securities which should be
registered in the name of the Depositary, the Custodian or their respective
nominees, as applicable, pursuant to the terms of the Deposit Agreement; provided however, that the
Depositary agreed that it shall, and shall cause the Custodian to, at any time
and from time to time take any and all action necessary to assure the accuracy
and completeness of all information set forth in the records of the Depositary,
the Custodian or their respective nominees, as applicable, pursuant to the
Deposit Agreement with respect to Shares or other Deposited Securities
registered in the name of any of them. The Depositary agreed that it will
instruct the Custodian to maintain custody of all duplicate share extracts (or
other evidence of verification) provided to the Depositary, the Custodian or
their respective agents pursuant to Section 7.10(b) of the Deposit
Agreement. In the event of any material discrepancy between the
records of the Depositary or the Custodian and the Share Register, then, if the
Depositary has knowledge of such discrepancy, the Depositary shall notify the
Company promptly. In event of discrepancy between the records of the Depositary
or the Custodian and the Share Register, the Company agreed that (whether or not
it has received any notification from the Depositary) it will (i) use its
best efforts to cause the Russian Share Registrar to reconcile its records to
the records of the Depositary or the Custodian and to make such corrections or
revisions in the Share Register as may be necessary in connection therewith, and
(ii) to the extent the Company is unable to so reconcile such records, and the
number of Shares reflected in the records of the Russian Share Registrar differs
by more than one-half of one percent from the number of Shares reflected in the
records of the Depositary or the Custodian, promptly instruct the Depositary to
notify the Holders of the existence of such discrepancy. Upon receipt of the
Company's instruction to notify the Holders of such discrepancy, the Depositary
shall give such notification promptly to the Holders pursuant to the notice
provisions of the Deposit Agreement (it being understood that the Depositary at
any time may give such notification to the Holders, whether or not it has
received instructions from the Company) and shall promptly cease issuing
Receipts until such time as, in the opinion of the Depositary, such records have
been appropriately reconciled.
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26. ARBITRATION;
SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES; WAIVER OF IMMUNITIES.
(a) Any
dispute, controversy or cause of action brought by any party to the Deposit
Agreement against the Company arising out of or relating to the Shares or other
Deposited Securities, the ADSs, the Receipts or the Deposit Agreement, or the
breach thereof, shall be referred to, and finally resolved by, arbitration in
accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration
Association in effect on the date of the Deposit Agreement, and judgment upon
the award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in any court having
jurisdiction thereof; provided, that in the event of any third party litigation
to which the Depositary is a party and to which the Company may be properly be
joined, the Company may be so joined in any court in which such litigation is
proceeding; and provided further, that any such dispute, controversy or cause of
action relating to or based upon the provisions of the federal securities laws
of the United States or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder may,
but need not, be submitted to arbitration as provided in Section 7.11 of the
Deposit Agreement. The place of the arbitration shall be The Borough of
Manhattan, and the language of the arbitration shall be English.
The
number of arbitrators shall be three, each of whom shall be disinterested in
dispute, controversy or cause of action shall have no connection with any party
thereto, and shall be an attorney experienced in international securities
transactions. If a dispute, controversy or cause of action shall involve more
than two parties, the parties shall attempt to align themselves in two sides
(i.e., claimant and respondent), each of which shall appoint one arbitrator as
if there were only two parties to such dispute, controversy or cause of
action. If such alignment and appointment shall have not occurred
within twenty (20) calendar days after the initiating party serves the
arbitration demand, the American Arbitration Association shall appoint the three
arbitrators. The parties and the American Arbitration Association may appoint
from among the nationals of any country, whether or not a party is a national of
that country.
The
arbitrators shall have no authority to award punitive or other damages not
measured by the prevailing party’s actual damages and may not, in any event,
make any ruling, finding or award that does not conform to the terms and
conditions of the Deposit Agreement.
(b) Any
dispute, controversy or cause of action rising out of or relating to the Shares
or other Deposited Securities, the ADSs, the Receipts or the Deposit Agreement
not subject to arbitration shall be litigated in the federal or state courts in
the Borough of Manhattan.
(c) The
provisions of this Paragraph 25 shall survive any termination of the Deposit
Agreement, in whole or in part.
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(d) In
the Deposit Agreement, the Company (a) appointed CT Corporation System (the
“Agent”), currently
having its office at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
of America, as the Company’s authorized agent upon which process may be served
in any suit or proceeding (including, but not limited to, any arbitral
proceeding as contemplated by Section 7.11 of the Deposit Agreement) arising out
of or relating to the Shares or other Deposited Securities, the ADSs, the
Receipts or the Deposit Agreement, (b) consented and submitted to the
non-exclusive jurisdiction of any court in which any such suit or proceeding may
be instituted, and (c) agreed that service of process upon said authorized agent
shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process, by any means
permitted by applicable law, upon the Company in any such suit or proceeding.
The Company agreed to deliver, upon the execution and delivery of the Deposit
Agreement, a written acceptance by such Agent of its appointment. The Company
further agreed to take any and all action, including the filing of any and all
such documents and instruments, as may be necessary to continue such designation
and appointment in full force and effect for so long as any ADSs or Receipts
remain outstanding or the Deposit Agreement remains in force. In the event the
Company fails to continue such designation and appointment in full force and
effect, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company thereby
waived personal service of process upon it and consented that any such service
of process may be made by established overnight courier service, directed to the
Company at its address last specified for notices under the Deposit Agreement,
and service so made shall be deemed completed five (5) days after the same shall
have been so couriered. The Company thereby irrevocably designated,
appointed and empowered the Agent to receive and accept
for and on its behalf, and on behalf of its properties, assets and revenues,
service by mail of any and all legal process, summons, notices and documents
that may be served in any suit, action or proceeding brought against the Company
in any federal or state court or arbitration as described in Article 7 of the
Deposit Agreement.
(e) To
the extent that the Company or any of its properties, assets or revenues may
have or may hereafter become entitled to, or have attributed to it, any right of
immunity, on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise, from any legal action,
suit or proceeding, from the giving of any relief in any respect thereof, from
setoff or counterclaim, from the jurisdiction of any court, from service of
process, from attachment upon or prior to judgment, from attachment in aid of
execution or judgment, or from execution of judgment, or other legal process or
proceeding for the giving of any relief or for the enforcement of any judgment,
in any jurisdiction in which proceedings may at any time be commenced, with
respect to its obligations, liabilities or any other matter under or arising out
of or in connection with the Shares or other Deposited Securities, the ADSs, the
Receipts or the Deposit Agreement, the Company, in the Deposit Agreement, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, has irrevocably and unconditionally waived and
agreed not to plead or claim any such immunity and consented to such relief and
enforcement. Additionally, in the Deposit Agreement, the Company irrevocably and
unconditionally waived, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection
that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any actions, suits
or proceedings brought in any arbitration or court as provided in the Deposit
Agreement, and further irrevocably and unconditionally waived and agreed not to
plead or claim in any such arbitration or court that any such action, suit or
proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
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