AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
AMENDMENT
NO. 1 TO DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
AMENDMENT
NO. 1 dated
as
of June , 2008 (the "Amendment") to the Amended
and Restated Deposit Agreement dated as of April 22, 2002 as further Amended
and
Restated as of October 12, 2004 (as so further amended and restated, the
"Deposit Agreement"), among JSC Volgatelecom (the "Company"), incorporated
under
the laws of The Russian Federation, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as depositary
(the "Depositary"), and all Owners and Beneficial Owners from time to time
of
American Depositary Receipts ("Receipts") issued thereunder.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS,
the Company and the Depositary executed the Deposit Agreement for the purposes
set forth therein; and
WHEREAS,
pursuant to Section 6.01 of the Deposit Agreement, the Company and the
Depositary desire to amend the terms of the Deposit Agreement and
Receipts.
NOW,
THEREFORE, for
good
and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the Company and the Depositary hereby agree to amend the Deposit
Agreement as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION
1.01. Definitions.
Unless
otherwise defined in this Amendment, all capitalized terms used, but not
otherwise defined, herein shall have the meaning given to such terms in the
Deposit Agreement.
1
ARTICLE
II
AMENDMENTS
TO DEPOSIT AGREEMENT AND FORM OF RECEIPT
SECTION
2.01. All
references in the Deposit Agreement to the term "Deposit Agreement" shall,
as of
the Effective Date (as herein defined), refer to the Deposit Agreement, as
amended by this Amendment.
SECTION
2.02. All
references in the Deposit Agreement to the Depositary or JPMorgan Chase Bank
shall be deemed references to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
SECTION
2.03. Section
3.04 of the Deposit Agreement and Article 24 of the Receipts are amended to
read
as follows:
The
Company or, on the request of the Company, the Depositary may from time to
time
request Owners to provide information as to the capacity in which such Owners
own or owned Receipts and regarding the identity of any other persons then
or
previously having a beneficial interest in such Receipts and the nature of
such
interest and various other matters. Each Owner agrees to provide any information
requested pursuant to this [Section 3.04][Article 24]. The Depositary agrees
to
comply with reasonable written instructions received from time to time from
the
Company requesting that the Depositary forward any such requests to the Owners
and to forward to the Company any such responses to such requests received
by
the Depositary. To the extent that provisions of or governing any Deposited
Securities (including the Company's Charter or applicable law) may require
the
disclosure of beneficial or other ownership of Deposited Securities, other
Shares and other securities to the Company and may provide for blocking transfer
and voting or other rights to enforce such disclosure or limit such ownership,
the Company may instruct the Depositary to shall use its reasonable efforts
under the circumstances to comply with the Company instructions as to Receipts
in respect of any such enforcement or limitation, and Owners and Beneficial
Owners shall comply with all such disclosure requirements and ownership
limitations and shall cooperate with the Depositary's compliance with such
Company instructions; provided, however, the Company acknowledges that no such
instructions shall be provided to the Depositary with respect to any Receipts
registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company or its
nominee.
2
SECTION
2.04. Subparagraph
(c) of Section 4.06 of the Deposit Agreement and of Article
15 of the Receipt are each amended to read as follows:
for
the
determination of the Owners who shall be responsible for the fees assessed
by
the Depositary for administration of the Receipt program and/or for any expenses
provided for in [Section 5.09] [Article 7] hereof.
SECTION
2.05. Section
5.02 of the Deposit Agreement and Article 18 of the Receipt are each amended
to
include the following immediately prior to the final sentence
thereof:
Neither
the Company nor the Depositary nor any of their respective agents shall be
liable to Owners or Beneficial Owners for any indirect, special, punitive or
consequential damages.
SECTION
2.06. The
second paragraph of Section 5.08 of the Deposit Agreement is deleted in its
entirety and replaced with the following:
The
Depositary agrees to indemnify the Company, its directors, employees, agents
and
affiliates and hold them harmless from any liability or expense which may arise
out of acts performed or omitted by the Depositary or its Custodian or their
respective directors, employees, agents and affiliates due to their negligence
or bad faith.
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Deposit Agreement (including, without limitation,
the indemnification provisions of the first two paragraphs of this Section
5.08)
or the Receipts to the contrary, neither the Company nor the Depositary, nor
any
of their agents, shall be liable to the other for any indirect, special,
punitive or consequential damages (collectively "Special Damages") except (i)
to
the extent such Special Damages arise from the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of the party from whom indemnification is sought or (ii) to the
extent Special Damages arise from or out of a claim brought by a third party
(including, without limitation, Owners) against the Depositary or its agents,
except to the extent such Special Damages arise out of the gross negligence
or
willful misconduct of the party seeking indemnification hereunder.
SECTION
2.07. Section
5.09 of the Deposit Agreement and Article 7 of the form
of
Receipts are each amended to read as follows:
3
Charges
of Depositary.
The
Depositary may collect from (i) each person to whom American Depositary Shares
are issued, including, without limitation, issuances against deposits
of Shares, issuances in respect of Share distributions, rights and other
distributions, issuances pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split
declared by the Company, or issuances pursuant to a merger, exchange of
securities or any other transaction or event affecting the American Depositary
Shares or the Deposited Securities, and (ii) each person surrendering
American Depositary Shares for withdrawal of Deposited Securities or whose
American Depositary Shares are cancelled or reduced for any other reason, up
to
U.S.$5.00 for each 100 American Depositary Shares (or portion thereof) issued,
delivered, reduced, cancelled or surrendered (as the case may be). The
Depositary may sell (by public or private sale) sufficient securities and
property received in respect of Share distributions, rights and other
distributions prior to such deposit to pay such charge. The following additional
charges shall be incurred by the Owners, by any party depositing or withdrawing
Shares, or by any party surrendering American Depositary Shares, to whom
American Depositary Shares are issued (including, without limitation, issuance
pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split declared by the Company or an
exchange of stock regarding the American Depositary Shares or the Deposited
Securities or a distribution of American Depositary Shares), whichever is
applicable (i) an aggregate fee of U.S.$0.03 per American Depositary Share
(or
portion thereof) per calendar year for services performed by the depositary
in
administering the Receipts (which fee may be charged on a periodic basis during
each calendar year and shall be assessed against Owners of Receipts as of the
record date or record dates set by the depositary during each calendar year
and
shall be payable at the sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such Owners
or by deducting such charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash
distributions), (ii) to the extent not prohibited by the rules of the primary
stock exchange upon which the American Depositary Shares are listed, a fee
of
U.S.$1.50 per Receipt or Receipts for transfers made pursuant to paragraph
(3)
hereof, (iii) a fee for the distribution or sale of securities pursuant to
Article 4 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 [Section 5.09][Article 7] treating all such securities as
if
they were Shares) but which securities or the net cash proceeds from the sale
thereof are instead distributed by the Depositary to Owners entitled
thereto, and
(iv)
such fees and expenses as are incurred by the Depositary (including without
limitation expenses incurred on behalf of Owners in connection with compliance
with foreign exchange control regulations or any law or regulation relating
to
foreign investment) in delivery of Deposited Securities or otherwise in
connection with the Depositary's or its Custodian's compliance with applicable
law, rule or regulation. The Company will pay all other charges and expenses
of
the Depositary and any agent of the Depositary (except the Custodian) pursuant
to agreements from time to time between the Company and the Depositary, except
(i) stock transfer or other taxes and other governmental charges (which are
payable by Owners or persons depositing Shares), (ii) cable, telex and facsimile
transmission and delivery charges incurred at the request of persons depositing,
or Owners delivering Shares, Receipts or Deposited Securities (which are payable
by such persons or Owners), (iii) transfer or registration fees for the
registration or transfer of Deposited Securities on any applicable register
in
connection with the deposit or withdrawal of Deposited Securities (which are
payable by persons depositing Shares or Owners withdrawing Deposited Securities;
there are no such fees in respect of the Shares as of the date of the Deposit
Agreement), (iv) expenses of the Depositary in connection with the conversion
of
foreign currency into U.S. dollars (which are paid out of such foreign
currency), and (v) any other charge payable by any of the Depositary, any of
the
Depositary’s agents, including, without limitation, the Custodian, or the agents
of the Depositary’s agents in connection with the servicing of the Shares or
other Deposited Securities (which charge shall be assessed against Owners as
of
the record date or dates set by the Depositary and shall be payable at the
sole
discretion of the Depositary by billing such Owners or by deducting such charge
from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions). Such charges
may
at any time and from time to time be changed by agreement between the Company
and the Depositary. The charges and expenses of the Custodian are for the sole
account of the Depositary.
4
The
Depositary, subject to [Section 2.09][Article 8] hereof, may own and deal
in, any class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in
Receipts.
SECTION
2.08. Section
5.13 of the Deposit Agreement and Article 23 of the form of Receipt are each
amended to reflect the appointment of Open Joint Stock Company "Obiedinennaya
registratsionnaya companiya" (United Registration Company) as the Russian Share
Registrar or such other Russian Share Registrar reasonably acceptable to the
Depositary after no less than 45 days prior written notice to the Depositary
(except where the then current Russian Share Registrar ceases to be legally
permitted to provide registrar services, in which case the Depositary shall
receive sufficient prior notice so as to enable it to make a determination
on
the acceptance of such entity as a successor Russian Share
Registrar).
5
SECTION
2.09. References
in the form of Receipt to "JPMorgan Chase Bank, a New York banking corporation"
are replaced with "JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., a national banking association
organized under the laws of the United States of America".
SECTION
2.10. The
last
sentence of the first paragraph of Article 11 of the form of Receipt is amended
to read as follows:
Such
reports and communications will be available for inspection and copying by
Owners and Beneficial Owners at the public reference facilities maintained
by
the Commission located at 000
X
Xxxxxx, XX, Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000.
SECTION
2.11. The
form
of Receipt, reflecting the amendments set forth herein and
some
clarifying amendments thereto is amended and restated to read as set forth
as
Exhibit A hereto.
ARTICLE
III
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
SECTION
3.01. Representations
and Warranties.
The
Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Depositary and the
Owners, that:
(a)
This
Amendment, when executed and delivered by the Company, and the Deposit Agreement
and the Form F-6 as executed and delivered by the Company in connection
herewith, will be and have been, respectively, duly and validly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company, and constitute the legal, valid and
binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with their respective terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent transfer, moratorium and similar laws of general
applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity
principles; and
(b)
In
order to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility into
evidence of this Amendment or the Deposit Agreement as amended hereby, and
any
other document furnished hereunder or thereunder in the Russian Federation,
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 need
to
be paid in the Russian Federation on or in respect of such agreements;
and
6
(c)
All
of the information provided to the Depositary by the Company in connection
with
this Amendment is true, accurate and correct.
ARTICLE
IV
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION
4.01. Effective
Date.
This
Amendment is dated as of the date set forth above and shall be effective as
of
thirty days from the date notice hereof is first provided to Owners (the
"Effective Date").
SECTION
4.02. Indemnification.
The
parties hereto shall be entitled to all of the benefits of the indemnification
provisions of Section 5.08 of the Deposit Agreement, as amended hereby in
connection with any and all liability it or they may incur as a result of the
terms of this Amendment and the transactions contemplated herein.
SECTION
4.03. Governing
Law. This
Amendment and the Receipts as amended hereby shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. SECTION
4.04. 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 Owners 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.
7
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
the
Company and the Depositary have caused this Amendment to be executed by
representatives thereunto duly authorized as of the date set forth above and
all
Owners shall become parties hereto by holding American Depositary Shares as
of
the Effective Date.
JSC
VOLGATELECOM
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By:
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____________________________
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Name:
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Title:
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JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A.
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By:
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____________________________
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Name:
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Title:
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8
EXHIBIT
A
ANNEXED
TO AND INCORPORATED IN
AMENDMENT
TO DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
[FORM
OF
FACE OF ADR]
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES (Each American Depositary Share represents two (2) deposited Shares) |
IT
IS
EXPECTED THAT COMMON SHARES DEPOSITED HEREUNDER WILL BE REGISTERED ON THE SHARE
REGISTER MAINTAINED BY THE RUSSIAN SHARE REGISTRAR IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY
OR ITS NOMINEE OR OF THE CUSTODIAN OR ITS NOMINEE. OWNERS AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS
SHOULD BE AWARE, HOWEVER, THAT RUSSIA'S SYSTEM OF SHARE REGISTRATION AND CUSTODY
CREATES CERTAIN RISKS OF LOSS THAT ARE NOT NORMALLY ASSOCIATED WITH INVESTMENTS
IN OTHER SECURITIES MARKETS. THE DEPOSITARY WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR THE
UNAVAILABILITY OF COMMON 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 NEW YORK
COURTS.
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A.
AMERICAN
DEPOSITARY RECEIPT FOR
COMMON
SHARES OF
THE
NOMINAL VALUE OF 5 RUBLES EACH OF
JSC
VOLGATELECOM
(INCORPORATED
UNDER THE LAWS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION)
JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A., as depositary (hereinafter together with the nominee of
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in whose name Shares are registered pursuant to
the
Deposit Agreement, the "Depositary"), hereby certifies that
_________________________________________________________________, or registered
assigns IS THE OWNER OF ____________________________________
AMERICAN
DEPOSITARY SHARES
representing
deposited common shares in registered form, nominal value 5 Rubles each (herein
called "Shares") of JSC VOLGATELECOM, incorporated under the laws of the Russian
Federation (herein called the "Company"). At the date hereof, each American
Depositary Share represents two (2) Shares deposited or subject to deposit
under
the Deposit Agreement (as such term is hereinafter defined) at the Moscow,
Russian Federation, office of ING Bank (Eurasia) ZAO (Closed Joint Stock
Company) (herein called the "Custodian").
THE
DEPOSITARY'S OFFICE ADDRESS IS
0
XXX
XXXX XXXXX, XXX XXXX, XXX XXXX 00000
1. THE
DEPOSIT AGREEMENT.
This
American Depositary Receipt is one of an issue (herein called "Receipts"),
all issued and to be issued upon the terms and conditions set forth in the
Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement dated as of April 22, 2002 as further
amended and restated as of October 12, 2004 (as amended from time to time,
the
"Deposit Agreement"), by and among the Company, the Depositary, and all Owners
and Beneficial Owners from time to time of Receipts issued thereunder, each
of
whom by accepting a Receipt agrees to become a party thereto and become bound
by
all the terms and conditions thereof. The Deposit Agreement sets forth the
rights of Owners 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 Office in New York City and at the office of the
Custodian.
The
statements made on the face and reverse of this Receipt are summaries of certain
provisions of the Deposit Agreement and are qualified by and subject to the
detailed provisions of the Deposit Agreement, to which reference is hereby
made.
Capitalized terms defined in the Deposit Agreement and not defined herein shall
have the meanings set forth in the Deposit Agreement.
2. SURRENDER
OF RECEIPTS AND WITHDRAWAL OF SHARES.
Upon
surrender at the Depositary's Office of this Receipt and upon payment of the
fees and expenses of the Depositary provided in this Receipt, and subject to
the
terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement and accompanied by such documents
as the Depositary may require (including a purchase/sale contract relating
to
the transfer of the Shares) and upon payment of the fee of the Depositary for
the surrender of Receipts as provided in Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement
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, the Charter of the Company and
the Deposited Securities, the Owner hereof is entitled to delivery, to him
or
upon his order, of the Deposited Securities at the time represented by the
American Depositary Shares for which this Receipt is issued. Delivery of such
Deposited Securities may be made by the delivery of (a) certificates or
other documents evidencing title (including extracts from the Share Register)
in
the name of the Owner hereof or as ordered by him or certificates properly
endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer and (b) any other
securities, property and cash to which such Owner is then entitled in respect
of
this Receipt. The Depositary shall direct the Custodian or its agents to cause
the transfer and recordation by the Russian Share Registrar on the Share
Register of the Shares being withdrawn in the name of such Owner or as directed
by him as above provided, and the Company shall ensure that such transfer and
recordation is effected within 72 hours of the Russian Share Registrar's receipt
of such documentation as may be required by applicable law and the reasonable
and customary regulations of the Russian Share Registrar or as soon thereafter
as practicable. Upon such transfer and recordation, the Custodian shall deliver
at the Moscow, Russian Federation, office of the Custodian, subject to Sections
2.06, 3.01 and 3.02 and to the other terms and conditions 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, documents evidencing
title (including extracts from the Share Register) for the amount of Deposited
Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by this
Receipt, except that, if and to the extent practicable, the Depositary may
make
delivery to such person or persons at the Depositary's Office of any dividends
or 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. At the request, risk and expense of any Owner so surrendering this
Receipt, and for the account of such Owner, the Depositary shall direct the
Custodian to forward any cash or other property (other than rights) comprising,
and forward a certificate or certificates and other proper documents evidencing
title for (as described above), the Deposited Securities represented by the
American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt to the Depositary for
delivery at the Depositary's Office. Such direction shall be given by letter
or,
at the request, risk and expense of such Owner, by cable, telex or facsimile
transmission.
3. TRANSFERS,
SPLIT-UPS, AND COMBINATIONS OF RECEIPTS.
The
transfer of this Receipt is registrable on the books of the Depositary at the
Depositary's Office by the Owner hereof in person or by a duly authorized
attorney, without unreasonable delay upon surrender of this Receipt properly
endorsed for transfer or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer and
funds
sufficient to pay any applicable transfer taxes and the expenses of the
Depositary and upon compliance with such regulations, if any, as the Depositary
may establish for such purpose. This Receipt may be split into other such
Receipts, or may be combined with other such Receipts into one Receipt,
evidencing the same aggregate number of American Depositary Shares as the
Receipt or Receipts surrendered. As a condition precedent to the execution
and
delivery, registration of transfer, split-up, combination, or surrender of
any
Receipt or withdrawal of any Deposited Securities, the Depositary, the
Custodian, or Registrar may require payment from the depositor of the Shares
or
the presenter of the Receipt of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax
or
other governmental charge and any stock transfer or registration fee with
respect thereto (including any such tax or charge and fee with respect to Shares
being deposited or withdrawn) and payment of any applicable fees and expenses
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
compliance with such reasonable regulations as the Depositary may establish
consistent with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt,
including, without limitation, this Article 3.
The
delivery of Receipts against deposit of Shares generally or against 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 generally may be suspended, during any period when the transfer books
of the Depositary are closed, or if any such action is deemed necessary or
advisable by the Depositary or the Company at any time or from time to time
because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body
or
commission, or under any provision of the Deposit Agreement 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 not be suspended subject only to (i) temporary delays caused
by closing the transfer books of the Depositary or the Company or the deposit
of
Shares in connection with voting at a shareholders' meeting, or the payment
of
dividends, (ii) the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges, and
(iii) compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations
relating to the 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 Shares required to be registered
under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, unless a registration
statement is in effect as to such Shares. The Depositary has agreed to comply
with written instructions of the Company that the Depositary will not accept
for
deposit under the Deposit Agreement any Shares identified in such instructions
at such times and under such circumstances as may reasonably be specified in
such instructions in order to facilitate the Company's compliance with the
securities laws in the United States.
4. LIABILITY
OF OWNERS OR BENEFICIAL OWNERS FOR TAXES.
If
any
tax or other governmental charge shall become payable with respect to any
Receipt or any Deposited Securities represented hereby, such tax or other
governmental charge shall be payable by the Owner or Beneficial Owner hereof
to
the Depositary, and such Owner or Beneficial Owner shall be deemed liable
therefor. In addition to any other remedies available to it, the Depositary
may
refuse to effect any transfer of this Receipt or 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 Owner or 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 Owner or Beneficial Owner hereof shall remain
liable for any deficiency. The obligations of Owners and Beneficial Owners
under
this Article 4 shall survive any transfer of Receipts pursuant to Section 2.04
of the Deposit Agreement, any surrender of Receipts and withdrawal of Deposited
Securities pursuant to Section 2.05 of the Deposit Agreement, or the termination
of the Deposit Agreement pursuant to Section 6.02 of the Deposit
Agreement.
5. WARRANTIES
ON DEPOSIT OF SHARES.
Every
person depositing Shares under the Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby
to
represent and warrant that such Shares and each certificate therefor are validly
issued, fully paid, non-assessable, and free of any preemptive rights of the
holders of outstanding Shares and that the person making such deposit is duly
authorized so to do. Every such person shall also be deemed to represent that
such Shares and the Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares representing
such Shares would not be Restricted Securities. Such representations and
warranties shall survive the deposit of Shares and issuance of
Receipts.
6. FILING
PROOFS, CERTIFICATES, AND OTHER INFORMATION
Any
person presenting Shares for deposit or any Owner or Beneficial Owner of a
Receipt may be required from time to time to file with the Depositary or the
Custodian such proof of citizenship or residence, exchange control approval,
or
such information relating to the registration on the books of the Company or
the
Russian Share Registrar if applicable to execute such certificates and to make
such representations and warranties, as the Depositary, or the Company, upon
written notice to the Depositary, may deem necessary or proper. The Depositary
may, and at the reasonable written request of the Company will, withhold the
delivery or registration of transfer of any Receipt or the distribution of
any
dividend or sale or distribution of rights or of the proceeds thereof or the
delivery of any Deposited Securities until such proof or other information
is
filed or such certificates are executed or such representations and warranties
made to the satisfaction of the Depositary and the Company. Each Owner and
Beneficial Owner agrees to provide any information requested by the Company
or
the Depositary pursuant to Section 3.01 of the Deposit Agreement and this
Article 6. No Share shall be accepted for deposit unless accompanied by evidence
satisfactory to the Depositary that any necessary approval has been granted
by
any governmental body in the Russian Federation which is then performing the
function of the regulation of currency exchange.
7. CHARGES
OF DEPOSITARY.
The
Depositary may collect from (i) each person to whom American Depositary Shares
are issued, including, without limitation, issuances against deposits
of Shares, issuances in respect of Share distributions, rights and other
distributions, issuances pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split
declared by the Company, or issuances pursuant to a merger, exchange of
securities or any other transaction or event affecting the American Depositary
Shares or the Deposited Securities, and (ii) each person surrendering
American Depositary Shares for withdrawal of Deposited Securities or whose
American Depositary Shares are cancelled or reduced for any other reason, up
to
U.S.$5.00 for each 100 American Depositary Shares (or portion thereof) issued,
delivered, reduced, cancelled or surrendered (as the case may be). The
Depositary may sell (by public or private sale) sufficient securities and
property received in respect of Share distributions, rights and other
distributions prior to such deposit to pay such charge. The following additional
charges shall be incurred by the Owners, by any party depositing or withdrawing
Shares, or by any party surrendering American Depositary Shares, to whom
American Depositary Shares are issued (including, without limitation, issuance
pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split declared by the Company or an
exchange of stock regarding the American Depositary Shares or the Deposited
Securities or a distribution of American Depositary Shares), whichever is
applicable (i) an aggregate fee of U.S.$0.03 per American Depositary Share
(or
portion thereof) per calendar year for services performed by the depositary
in
administering the Receipts (which fee may be charged on a periodic basis during
each calendar year and shall be assessed against Owners of Receipts as of the
record date or record dates set by the depositary during each calendar year
and
shall be payable at the sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such Owners
or by deducting such charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash
distributions), (ii) to the extent not prohibited by the rules of the primary
stock exchange upon which the American Depositary Shares are listed, a fee
of
U.S.$1.50 per Receipt or Receipts for transfers made pursuant to paragraph
(3)
hereof, (iii) a fee for the distribution or sale of securities pursuant to
Article 4 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 Article 7 treating all such securities as if they were Shares)
but which securities or the net cash proceeds from the sale thereof are instead
distributed by the Depositary to Owners entitled thereto, and
(iv)
such fees and expenses as are incurred by the Depositary (including without
limitation expenses incurred on behalf of Owners in connection with compliance
with foreign exchange control regulations or any law or regulation relating
to
foreign investment) in delivery of Deposited Securities or otherwise in
connection with the Depositary's or its Custodian's compliance with applicable
law, rule or regulation. The Company will pay all other charges and expenses
of
the Depositary and any agent of the Depositary (except the Custodian) pursuant
to agreements from time to time between the Company and the Depositary, except
(i) stock transfer or other taxes and other governmental charges (which are
payable by Owners or persons depositing Shares), (ii) cable, telex and facsimile
transmission and delivery charges incurred at the request of persons depositing,
or Owners delivering Shares, Receipts or Deposited Securities (which are payable
by such persons or Owners), (iii) transfer or registration fees for the
registration or transfer of Deposited Securities on any applicable register
in
connection with the deposit or withdrawal of Deposited Securities (which are
payable by persons depositing Shares or Owners withdrawing Deposited Securities;
there are no such fees in respect of the Shares as of the date of the Deposit
Agreement), (iv) expenses of the Depositary in connection with the conversion
of
foreign currency into U.S. dollars (which are paid out of such foreign
currency), and (v) any other charge payable by any of the Depositary, any of
the
Depositary’s agents, including, without limitation, the Custodian, or the agents
of the Depositary’s agents in connection with the servicing of the Shares or
other Deposited Securities (which charge shall be assessed against Owners as
of
the record date or dates set by the Depositary and shall be payable at the
sole
discretion of the Depositary by billing such Owners or by deducting such charge
from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions). Such charges
may
at any time and from time to time be changed by agreement between the Company
and the Depositary. The charges and expenses of the Custodian are for the sole
account of the Depositary.
The
Depositary, subject to Article 8 hereof, may own and deal, in accordance
with applicable law, in any class of securities of the Company and its
affiliates and in Receipts.
8. PRE-RELEASE
OF RECEIPTS.
The
Depositary may issue Receipts against rights to receive Shares from the Company.
No such issue of Receipts will be deemed a "Pre-Release" subject to the
restrictions of the following paragraph.
Unless
requested by the Company to cease doing so, notwithstanding Section 2.03 of
the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may execute and deliver Receipts prior
to
the receipt of Shares pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Deposit Agreement (a
"Pre-Release"). The Depositary may, pursuant to Section 2.05 of the Deposit
Agreement, deliver Shares upon the receipt and cancellation of Receipts which
have been Pre-Released, whether or not such cancellation is prior to the
termination of such Pre-Release or the Depositary knows that such Receipt has
been Pre-Released. The Depositary may receive Receipts in lieu of Shares in
satisfaction of a Pre-Release. Each Pre-Release will be (a) preceded or
accompanied by a written representation from the person to whom Receipts or
Shares are to be delivered (the "Pre-Releasee"), that the Pre-Releasee or its
customer, owns the Shares or Receipts to be remitted, as the case may be ,
(b)
at all times fully collateralized (such collateral marked to market daily)
with
cash or such other collateral as the Depositary reasonably 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 deems appropriate, and may, with the prior
written consent of the Company, change such limit for purposes of general
application. The Depositary will also set 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 it deems appropriate. The collateral
referred to in clause (b) above will be held by the Depositary for the benefit
of the Owners as security for the performance of the obligation to deliver
Shares set forth in clause (a) above (and will not, for the avoidance of doubt,
constitute Deposited Securities under the Deposit Agreement).
The
Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received by it in
connection with the foregoing.
The
Company will have no liability to any Owner with respect to any representations,
actions or omissions by the Depositary, any holder of Receipts, or any Owner
or
any of their respective agents pursuant to Section 2.09 of the Deposit Agreement
and this Article 8.
9. TITLE
TO
RECEIPTS.
It
is a
condition of this Receipt and every successive Owner 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 the State of New York, provided,
however, that the Depositary and the Company, notwithstanding any notice to
the
contrary, may treat the person in whose name this Receipt is registered on
the
books of the Depositary as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of
determining the person entitled to distribution of dividends or other
distributions or to any notice provided for in the Deposit Agreement or for
all
other purposes and neither the Depositary nor the Company will have any
obligation or be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement to any
holder of this Receipt, unless such holder is the Owner hereof.
10. VALIDITY
OF RECEIPT.
This
Receipt shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Deposit Agreement or
be
valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless this Receipt shall have been
executed by the Depositary by the manual signature of a duly authorized
signatory of the Depositary; provided, however, that such signature may be
a
facsimile if a Registrar for the Receipts shall have been appointed and such
Receipts are countersigned by the manual signature of a duly authorized officer
of the Registrar.
11. REPORTS;
INSPECTION OF TRANSFER BOOKS.
The
Company currently furnishes the Securities and Exchange Commission (hereinafter
called the "Commission") with certain public reports and documents required
by
foreign law or otherwise under Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934. Such reports and communications will be available for inspection
and copying by Owners and Beneficial Owners at the public reference facilities
maintained by the Commission located at 000 X Xxxxxx, X.X., Xxxxxxxxxx,
X.X. 00000.
The
Depositary will make available for inspection by Owners of Receipts at the
Depositary's Office any reports and communications, including any proxy
soliciting material, received from the Company which are both (a) received
by the Depositary as the holder of the Deposited Securities and (b) made
generally available to the holders of such Deposited Securities by the Company.
The Depositary will also send to Owners of Receipts (i) copies of such reports
when furnished by the Company pursuant to Section 5.06 of the Deposit
Agreement, (ii) copies of any written communications provided to the
Depositary by the Russian Share Registrar pursuant to Section 5.13(b)(v) of
the
Deposit Agreement, and (iii) copies of any notices given or required to be
given by the Depositary pursuant to Section 5.13(d) of the Deposit Agreement.
Any such reports and communications, including any such proxy soliciting
material, furnished to the Depositary by the Company shall be furnished in
English to the extent such materials are required to be translated into English
pursuant to any regulations of the Commission.
The
Depositary will keep books, at the Depositary's Office, for the registration
of
Receipts and transfers of Receipts which at all reasonable times shall be open
for inspection by the Owners of Receipts provided that such inspection shall
not
be for the purpose of communicating with Owners of Receipts in the interest
of a
business or object other than the business of the Company, including without
limitation a matter related to the Deposit Agreement or the Receipts.
12. DIVIDENDS
AND DISTRIBUTIONS.
Whenever
the Depositary receives any cash dividend or other cash distribution on any
Deposited Securities, the Depositary will, if at the time of receipt thereof
any
amounts received in a foreign currency can in the judgment of the Depositary
be
converted on a reasonable basis into United States dollars transferable to
the
United States, and subject to the Deposit Agreement, convert, as promptly as
practicable, such dividend or distribution into dollars and will distribute,
as
promptly as practicable, the amount thus received (net of the fees and expenses
of the Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and Section 5.09 of
the Deposit Agreement) to the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto; provided,
however, that in the event that the Company or the Depositary is required to
withhold and does withhold from any cash dividend or other cash distribution
in
respect of any Deposited Securities an amount on account of taxes, the amount
distributed to the Owners of the Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares
representing such Deposited Securities shall be reduced accordingly.
Subject
to the provisions of Sections 4.11 and 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement,
whenever the Depositary receives any distribution other than a distribution
described in Sections 4.01, 4.03 or 4.04 of the Deposit Agreement, the
Depositary will, as promptly as practicable, cause the securities or property
received by it to be distributed to the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto,
in
any manner that the Depositary may reasonably deem equitable and practicable
for
accomplishing such distribution; provided, however, that if in the opinion
of
the Depositary such distribution cannot be made proportionately among the Owners
of Receipts entitled thereto, or if for any other reason the Depositary
reasonably deems such distribution not to be feasible, the Depositary may,
after
consultation with the Company to the extent practicable, adopt such method
as it
may deem equitable and practicable for the purpose of effecting such
distribution, including, but not limited to, the public or private sale of
the
securities or property thus received, or any part thereof, and the net proceeds
of any such sale (net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided
in
Article 7 hereof and Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement) will be
distributed by the Depositary to the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto all
in
the manner and subject to the conditions described in Section 4.01 of the
Deposit Agreement; provided, however, that no distribution to Owners pursuant
to
Section 4.02 of the Deposit Agreement will be unreasonably delayed by any action
of the Depositary or any of its agents.
If
any
distribution consists of a dividend in, or free distribution of, Shares, the
Depositary may and will if the Company will so request, distribute, as promptly
as practicable, to the Owners of outstanding Receipts entitled thereto,
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 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 Section 4.11 of the Deposit Agreement and the payment of the
fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and
Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary may withhold any such
distribution of Receipts under Section 4.03 of the Deposit Agreement if it
has
not received satisfactory assurances from the Company that such distribution
does not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933 or is exempt
from
registration under the provisions of such Act. In lieu of delivering Receipts
for fractional American Depositary Shares in any such case, the Depositary
will
sell the amount of Shares represented by the aggregate of such fractions and
distribute the net proceeds, all in the manner and subject to the conditions
described in Section 4.01 of the Deposit Agreement provided, however, that
no
distribution to Owners pursuant to Section 5.03 of the Deposit Agreement will
be
unreasonably delayed by any action of the Depositary or any action of its
agents. If additional Receipts are not so distributed, each American Depositary
Share shall thenceforth also represent the additional Shares distributed upon
the Deposited Securities represented thereby.
In
the
event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in property
(including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) or any deposit of Shares,
transfer of Receipts or withdrawal of Deposited Securities under the Deposit
Agreement is subject to any tax or other governmental charge which the
Depositary is obligated to withhold, the Depositary may by public or private
sale dispose of all or a portion of such property (including Shares and rights
to subscribe therefor) in such amounts and in such manner as the Depositary
deems necessary and practicable to pay any such taxes or charges, and the
Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds of any such sale after deduction
of
such taxes or charges to the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto. The Depositary
will forward to the Company such information from its records as the Company
may
request to enable the Company to file necessary reports with governmental
authorities or agencies, and either the Company or the Depositary may file
any
such reports necessary to obtain benefits under any applicable tax treaties
for
Owners.
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, after consultation with the Company to
the
extent practicable, shall have discretion as to the procedure to be followed
in
making such rights available to any Owners or in disposing of such rights on
behalf of any Owners and making the net proceeds available to such Owners or,
if
by the terms of such rights offering or for any other reason, the Depositary
may
not either make such rights available to any Owners or dispose of such rights
and make the net proceeds available to such Owners, then the Depositary shall
allow the rights to lapse. If at the time of the offering of any rights the
Depositary determines that it is lawful and feasible to make such rights
available to all or certain Owners but not to other Owners, the Depositary
may,
and at the request of the Company shall, distribute to any Owner to whom it
determines the distribution to be lawful and feasible, in proportion to the
number of American Depositary Shares held by such Owner, warrants or other
instruments therefor in such form as it deems appropriate.
In
circumstances in which rights would otherwise not be distributed, if an Owner
of
Receipts requests the distribution of warrants or other instruments in order
to
exercise the rights allocable to the American Depositary Shares of such Owner
hereunder, the Depositary will promptly make such rights available to such
Owner
upon written notice from the Company to the Depositary that (a) the Company
has elected in its sole discretion to permit such rights to be exercised and
(b) such Owner has executed such documents as the Company has determined in
its sole discretion are reasonably required under applicable law.
If
the
Depositary has distributed warrants or other instruments for rights to all
or
certain Owners, then upon instruction from such an Owner pursuant to such
warrants or other instruments to the Depositary from such Owner to exercise
such
rights, upon payment by such Owner to the Depositary for the account of such
Owner of an amount equal to the purchase price of the Shares to be received
upon
the exercise of the rights, and upon payment of the fees and expenses of the
Depositary and any other charges as set forth in such warrants or other
instruments, the Depositary shall, on behalf of such Owner, exercise the rights
and purchase the Shares, and the Company shall cause the Shares so purchased
to
be delivered to the Depositary on behalf of such Owner. As agent for such Owner,
the Depositary will cause the Shares so purchased to be deposited pursuant
to
Section 2.02 of the Deposit Agreement, and shall, pursuant to
Section 2.03 of the Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver Receipts to such
Owner. In the case of a distribution pursuant to the second paragraph of this
Article 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, after consultation with the Company to the extent
practicable that it is not lawful and feasible to make such rights available
to
all or certain Owners, it may, and at the request of the Company shall, use
its
best efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to sell the rights,
warrants or other instruments in proportion to the number of American Depositary
Shares held by the Owners to whom it has determined it may not lawfully or
feasibly make such rights available, and allocate the net proceeds of such
sales
(net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09
of the Deposit Agreement and all taxes and governmental charges payable in
connection with such rights and subject to the terms and conditions of the
Deposit Agreement) for the account of such Owners otherwise entitled to such
rights, warrants or other instruments, upon an averaged or other practical
basis
without regard to any distinctions among such Owners because of exchange
restrictions or the date of delivery of any Receipt or otherwise. Such proceeds
will be distributed as promptly as practicable in accordance with Section 4.01
of the Deposit Agreement.
The
Depositary will not offer rights to Owners unless both the rights and the
securities to which such rights relate are either exempt from registration
under
the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to a distribution to all Owners or
are
registered under the provisions of such Act; provided, that nothing in the
Deposit Agreement shall create any obligation on the part of the Company to
file
a registration statement with respect to such rights or underlying securities
or
to endeavor to have such a registration statement declared effective. If an
Owner 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
from recognized counsel in the United States for the Company upon which the
Depositary may rely that such distribution to such Owner is exempt from such
registration.
The
Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to determine that it may
be
lawful or feasible to make such rights available to Owners in general or any
Owner in particular
14. CONVERSION
OF FOREIGN CURRENCY.
Whenever
the Depositary shall receive foreign currency, by way of dividends or other
distributions or the net proceeds from the sale of securities, property or
rights, into the Depositary's foreign investment account in the Russian
Federation, and if at the time of the receipt thereof the foreign currency
so
received can in the judgment of the Depositary be converted on a reasonable
basis into Dollars and the resulting Dollars transferred to the United States,
the Depositary shall convert or cause to be converted, as promptly as
practicable, by sale or in any other manner that it may determine in accordance
with applicable law, such foreign currency into Dollars, and such Dollars shall
be distributed as promptly as practicable to the Owners entitled thereto or,
if
the Depositary shall have distributed any warrants or other instruments which
entitle the holders thereof to such Dollars, then to the holders of such
warrants and/or instruments upon surrender thereof for cancellation. Such
distribution may be made upon an averaged or other practicable basis without
regard to any distinctions among Owners on account of exchange restrictions,
the
date of delivery of any Receipt or otherwise and shall be net of any expenses
of
conversion into Dollars incurred by the Depositary as provided in
Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement.
If
such
conversion or distribution can be effected only with the approval or license
of
any government or agency thereof, the Depositary shall file, as promptly as
practicable, such application for approval or license, however, the Depositary
will be entitled to rely on local Russian counsel in such matters, which counsel
shall be instructed to act as promptly as practicable.
If
at any
time any foreign currency received by the Depositary or the Custodian is not,
pursuant to applicable law, convertible in whole or in part 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 cannot promptly be obtained, or if any such
approval or license is not promptly obtained the Depositary shall, (a) as to
that portion of the foreign currency that is convertible into Dollars, make
such
conversion and if permitted by applicable law, transfer such Dollars to the
United States for distribution in accordance with the first paragraph of Section
4.05 of the Deposit Agreement and of this Article 14 and (b) as to the
nonconvertible balance, if any, (i) if requested in writing by an Owner
distribute the foreign currency (or an appropriate document evidencing the
right
to receive such foreign currency) received by the Depositary to such Owner
and
(ii) if not so requested by the Owner hold such foreign currency uninvested
and
without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of, the
Owners entitled to receive the same.
If
any
such conversion of foreign currency, in whole or in part, cannot be effected
for
distribution to some of the Owners entitled thereto, the Depositary may in
its
discretion make such conversion and distribution in Dollars to the extent
permissible to the Owners entitled thereto and may distribute the balance of
the
foreign currency received by the Depositary to, or hold such balance uninvested
and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of,
the
Owners entitled thereto.
15. RECORD
DATES.
Whenever
any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable or any
distribution other than cash shall be made, or whenever rights shall be issued
with respect to the Deposited Securities, or whenever the Depositary shall
receive notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited
Securities, or whenever for any reason the Depositary shall cause 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 (a) for the determination of the Owners of Receipts
who
shall be (i) entitled to receive such a dividend, distribution or other rights
or the net proceeds of the sale thereof or (ii) entitled to give instructions
for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting, (b) on or after which
each American Depositary share will represent the changed number of Shares,
subject to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement or (c) for the determination
of the Owners who shall be responsible for the fees assessed by the Depositary
for administration of the Receipt program and/or for any expenses provided
for
in Article 7 hereof .
16. VOTING
OF
DEPOSITED SECURITIES.
As
soon
as practicable after receipt from the Company of notice of any meeting
or
solicitation
of consents or proxies of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities,
, the
Depositary shall mail to Owners a notice stating (a) such information as is
contained in such notice and any solicitation materials, (b) that each Owner
on
the record date set by the Depositary therefor will be entitled to instruct
the
Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the
Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by
such Owner's Receipts and (c) the manner in which such instructions may be
given. Upon receipt of instructions of a Owner on such record date in the manner
and on or before the date established by the Depositary for such purpose, the
Depositary shall endeavor insofar as practicable and permitted under the
provisions of or governing Deposited Securities to vote or cause to be voted
the
Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced
by
such Owner's Receipts in accordance with such instructions. The Depositary
shall
not vote or attempt to exercise the right to vote that attaches to the Shares
or
other Deposited Securities, other than in accordance with such instructions.
Deposited Securities underlying American Depositary Shares for which no voting
instructions have been received from Owners shall not be counted as being
present for the calculation of a quorum at any meeting of the
Company.
At
the
request of the Company, the Depositary shall deliver, at least two
business
days
prior to the date of such meeting, a schedule of all instructions received
from
Owners in accordance with which the Depositary will vote or cause to be voted,
the Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced
by such Receipts at such meeting and corresponding information indicating the
number of copies of instructions to be delivered and the period of time that
is
required by the Depositary to furnish copies of all such information and the
Company and the Depositary will agree upon a schedule for such delivery and
the
costs to be paid therefor by the Company. Delivery of instructions will be
made
at the expense of the Company (unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Company
and the Depositary).
The
Company agrees to make the notice and any solicitation material for any
such
meeting
available to Beneficial Owners in a timely manner, and in any event no less
than
28 days prior to the date of the relevant meeting of holders of Shares, in
order
to allow such Beneficial Owners to provide voting instructions to the relevant
Owner. For the avoidance of doubt, it is agreed that the Company shall bear
the
sole responsibility for distributing any notices and solicitation materials
to
Beneficial Owners pursuant to the foregoing procedures, and the Depositary
shall
assist the Company in conducting such distribution and shall not be liable
for
the failure of the Company to do so or to do so in a timely manner. The Company
and the Depositary agree to cooperate with each other in connection with the
voting procedures described in this Article 16.
17. CHANGES
AFFECTING DEPOSITED SECURITIES.
In
circumstances where the provisions of Section 4.03 of the Deposit Agreement
do not apply, 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 be treated as new Deposited Securities
under the Deposit Agreement, and American Depositary Shares shall thenceforth
represent, in addition to the existing Deposited Securities, the right to
receive the 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, in its reasonable discretion, after consultation
with the Company to the extent practicable, and shall if the Company shall
so
request, 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. Promptly
upon receipt of notice from the Company pursuant to Section 5.06 of the Deposit
Agreement of the occurrence of any of the events referred to in the first
sentence of this Article 17, the Depositary will give notice thereof to all
Owners.
18. LIABILITY
OF THE COMPANY AND DEPOSITARY.
Neither
the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their respective directors, employees,
agents or affiliates shall incur any liability to any Owner or Beneficial Owner
of any Receipt, if by reason of any provision of (a) any present or future
law
or regulation of the United States, the Russian Federation or any other country,
or of any other governmental or regulatory authority or stock exchange, or
by
reason of any act of God or war or other circumstances beyond its control,
or
(b) in the case of the Depositary only, (i) any act or failure to act of the
Company or its agents, including the Russian Share Registrar, or their
respective directors, employees, agents or affiliates, (ii) any provision,
present or future, of the 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, 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 it
is
provided shall be done or performed (including, in the case of the Depositary,
delivery of any Deposited Securities or distribution of cash or property in
respect thereof pursuant to Articles 12 and 13 hereof); nor shall the Depositary
or the Company or any of their respective directors, employees, agents or
affiliates incur any liability to any Owner or Beneficial Owner of a 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 or in the
Charter of the Company. Where, by the terms of a distribution pursuant to
Sections 4.01, 4.02 or 4.03 of the Deposit Agreement, or an offering or
distribution pursuant to Section 4.04 of the Deposit Agreement, the
Depositary is prevented or prohibited from disposing such distribution or
offering available to Owners of Receipts, and the Depositary is prevented or
prohibited from disposing such distribution or offering on behalf of such Owners
and making the net proceeds available to such Owners, then the Depositary,
after
consultation with the Company to the extent practicable, shall not make such
distribution or offering, and shall allow any rights, if applicable, to lapse.
Neither the Company nor the Depositary assumes any obligation or shall be
subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement to Owners or Beneficial
Owners of Receipts, except that the Company agrees to perform its obligations
specifically set forth in the Deposit Agreement and the Depositary agrees to
perform its obligations specifically set forth in the Deposit Agreement without
negligence or bad faith. The Depositary shall not be subject to any liability
with respect to the validity or worth of the Deposited Securities. Neither
the
Depositary nor the Company shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute
or defend any action, suit, or other proceeding in respect of any Deposited
Securities or in respect of the Receipts, which in its opinion may involve
it in
expense or liability, unless indemnity satisfactory to it against all expense
and liability shall be furnished as often as may be required, and the Custodian
shall not be under any obligation whatsoever with respect to such proceedings,
the responsibility of the Custodian being solely to the Depositary. Neither
the
Depositary nor the Company shall be liable for any action or inaction by it
in
reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants,
any
person presenting Shares for deposit, any Owner 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 inaction is in good faith. The Depositary
shall
not be liable for any acts or omissions made by a successor depositary whether
in connection with a previous act or omission of the Depositary or in connection
with a matter arising wholly after the removal or resignation of the Depositary,
provided that in connection with the issue out of which such potential liability
arises, the Depositary performed its obligations without negligence or bad
faith
while it acted as Depositary. The Depositary shall not be liable to the Company,
any Owner or Beneficial Owner or any other person for the unavailability of
Deposited Securities or for the failure to make any distribution of cash or
property with respect thereto as a result of (i) any act or failure to act
of
the Company or its agents, including the Russian Share Registrar, or their
respective directors, employees, agents or affiliates, (ii) any provision of
any
present or future law or regulation of the United States, the Russian Federation
or any other country, (iii) any provision of any present or future regulation
of
any governmental or regulatory authority or stock exchange, (iv) any provision
of any present or future Charter of the Company or any other instrument of
the
Company governing the Deposited Securities, (v) any provision of any securities
issued or distributed by the Company, or any offering or distribution thereof,
or (vi) any act of God or war or other circumstance beyond its control. The
Company shall not be liable to the Depositary, any Owner 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 property with respect thereto as
a
result of (i) any provision of any present or future law or regulation of the
United States, the Russian Federation or any other country, (ii) any provision
of any present or future regulation of any governmental or regulatory authority
or stock exchange or (iii) any act of God or war or other circumstance occurring
beyond its control. The Company agrees to indemnify the Depositary, any
Custodian, and their respective directors, employees, agents and affiliates
and
any Custodian against, and hold each of them harmless from, any liability or
expense (including, but not limited to, the reasonable fees and expenses of
counsel) which may arise out of (a) any registration with the Commission of
Receipts, American Depositary Shares or Deposited Securities or the offer or
sale thereof, or out of acts performed or omitted, in accordance with the
provisions of the Deposit Agreement and of the Receipts, as the same may be
amended, modified, or supplemented from time to time, (i) by either the
Depositary or a Custodian or their respective directors, employees, agents
and
affiliates, except for any liability or expense arising out of the negligence
or
bad faith of either of them or (ii) by the Company or any of its directors,
employees, agents and affiliates or (b) the unavailability of Deposited
Securities or the failure to make any distribution of cash or property with
respect thereto as a result of (i) any act or failure to act of the Company
or
its agents, including the Russian Share Registrar, 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
Deposited Securities or (iii) any provision of any securities issued or
distributed by the Company, or any offering or distribution thereof or (c)
any
assessment (or purported assessment) against Shares or other Deposited
Securities of the sort contemplated by Section 5.08 of the Deposit Agreement.
Neither
the Company nor the Depositary nor any of their respective agents shall be
liable to Owners or Beneficial Owners for any indirect, special, punitive or
consequential damages. No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act
of
1933 is intended by any provision of the Deposit Agreement.
19. RESIGNATION
AND REMOVAL OF THE DEPOSITARY; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN.
The
Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary hereunder by written notice
of
its election so to do delivered to the Company, such resignation to take effect
upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such
appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary may at any
time
be removed by the Company by written notice of such removal, effective upon
the
appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment
as
provided in the Deposit Agreement. Whenever the Depositary in its discretion
determines that it is in the best interest of the Owners of Receipts to do
so,
it may appoint a substitute or additional custodian or custodians.
20. AMENDMENT.
The
form
of the Receipts and any provisions of the Deposit Agreement may at any time
and
from time to time be amended by agreement between the Company and the Depositary
without the consent of Owners or Beneficial Owners of Receipts in any respect
which they may deem necessary or desirable. Any amendment which shall impose
or
increase any fees or charges (other than taxes and other governmental charges,
registration fees and cable, telex or facsimile transmission costs, delivery
costs or other such expenses), or which shall otherwise prejudice any
substantial existing right of Owners of Receipts, shall, however, not become
effective as to outstanding Receipts until the expiration of thirty days
after notice of such amendment shall have been given to the Owners of
outstanding Receipts. Every Owner of a Receipt at the time any amendment so
becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such Receipt, to
consent and agree to such amendment and to be bound by the Deposit Agreement
as
amended thereby. In no event shall any amendment impair the right of the Owner
of any Receipt to surrender such Receipt and receive therefor the Deposited
Securities represented thereby except in order to comply with mandatory
provisions of applicable law.
21. TERMINATION
OF DEPOSIT AGREEMENT.
The
Depositary at any time at the direction of the Company, shall terminate the
Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the Owners of all
Receipts then outstanding at least 30 days prior to the date fixed in such
notice for such termination. The Depositary may likewise terminate the Deposit
Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the Company and the Owners
of
all Receipts then outstanding, such termination to be effective on a date
specified in such notice not less than 30 days after the date thereof, if at
any
time 30 days shall have expired after the Depositary shall have delivered to
the
Company a written notice of its election to resign and a successor depositary
shall not have been appointed and accepted its appointment as provided in the
Deposit Agreement. On and after the date of termination, the Owner of a Receipt
will, upon (a) surrender of such Receipt at the Depositary's Office and (b)
payment of any applicable taxes or governmental charges and the fees and
expenses of the Depositary, including the fee of the Depositary for the
surrender of Receipts referred to in Article 7 hereof and Section 2.05 of the
Deposit Agreement, 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 in the manner provided in Section 2.05 of the Deposit
Agreement. 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 Owners
thereof, and shall not give any further notices or perform any further acts
under the Deposit Agreement, except that the Depositary shall continue to
collect dividends and other distributions pertaining to Deposited Securities,
shall sell rights and other property as provided in the Deposit Agreement,
and
shall continue to deliver Deposited Securities, together with any dividends
or
other distributions received with respect thereto and the net proceeds of the
sale of any rights or other property, in exchange for Receipts surrendered
to
the Depositary (after deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for
the
surrender of a Receipt, any expenses for the account of the Owner 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 one(1) year from the date of termination, the Depositary may
sell
the Deposited Securities then held under the Deposit Agreement and may
thereafter hold uninvested the net proceeds of any such sale, together with
any
other cash then held by it thereunder, unsegregated and without liability for
interest, for the pro rata benefit of the Owners of Receipts which have not
theretofore been surrendered, such Owners thereupon becoming general creditors
of the Depositary with respect to such net proceeds. After making such sale,
the
Depositary shall be discharged from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement,
except to account for such net proceeds and other cash (after deducting, in
each
case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of a Receipt, any expenses
for
the account of the Owner of such Receipt in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental
charges) and except as provided in Section 5.08 of the Deposit Agreement. Upon
the termination of the Deposit Agreement, the Company shall be discharged from
all obligations under the Deposit Agreement except for its obligations to the
Depositary with respect to indemnification, charges, and expenses.
22.
ARBITRATION; WAIVER OF IMMUNITIES.
The
Deposit Agreement provides that any controversy, claim 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 American Depositary
Shares, the Receipts or the Deposit Agreement, or the breach thereof, shall
be
settled by arbitration in London, England in accordance with the Rules of the
London Court of International Arbitration which rules are deemed to be
incorporated by reference of this Article 22 and that 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 properly be joined, the
Company may be so joined in any court of competent jurisdiction in which such
litigation is proceeding; and provided further that any such controversy, claim
or cause of action relating to or based upon any provision of the Federal
securities laws of the United States or the rules and regulations thereunder
may, but need not, be submitted to arbitration as provided in the Deposit
Agreement. The Deposit Agreement also provides that any controversy, claim
or
cause of action arising out of or relating to the Shares or other Deposited
Securities, the American Depositary Shares, the Receipts or the Deposit
Agreement not subject to arbitration above shall be litigated in the Federal
and
state courts in the Borough of Manhattan.
To
the
extent that the Company or any of its properties, assets or revenues may have
or
hereafter become entitled to, or have attributed to it, any right of sovereign
immunity, from any legal action, suit or proceeding, from the giving of any
relief in any respect thereof, from setoff or counterclaim, from the
jurisdiction of any court, from service of process, from attachment upon or
prior to judgment, from attachment in aid of execution or judgment, or other
legal process or proceeding for the giving of any relief or for the enforcement
of any judgment, in any jurisdiction in which proceedings may at any time be
commenced, with respect to its obligations, liabilities or any other matter
under or arising out of or in connection with the Shares or Deposited
Securities, the American Depositary Shares, the Receipts or the Deposit
Agreement, the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law has irrevocably
and unconditionally waived, and agreed not to plead or claim, any such immunity
and consents to such relief and enforcement.
23. REGISTRATION
OF SHARES; RUSSIAN SHARE REGISTRAR; SHARE REGISTER.
(a) The
Company has agreed in the Deposit Agreement that it shall, at any time and
from
time to time:
(i)
take
any and all action as may be 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 Deposited
Securities;
(ii)
provide or 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 may, in its sole discretion,
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 sole discretion,
deems sufficient);
(iii)
cause the Russian Share Registrar within 72 hours after receipt by the Russian
Share Registrar from the Depositary or the Custodian or any of their respective
agents of such documentation as may be required by applicable law and the
reasonable and customary regulations of the Russian Share Registrar or as soon
thereafter as practicable, to effect the re-registration of ownership of
Deposited Securities in the Share Register in connection with any deposit or
withdrawal of Shares or Deposited Securities under the Deposit
Agreement;
(iv)
permit and 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) 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 5.13
thereof); (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 5.13 thereof) and has failed
to cure such breach within a reasonable time.
(b) The
Company has agreed in the Deposit Agreement that it shall be solely liable
for
any act or failure to act on the part of the Russian Share Registrar 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 property with respect thereto as a result of (i) any act or failure to act
of
the Company or its agents, including the Russian Share Registrar, 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.
(c) The
Depositary has agreed in the Deposit Agreement that the Depositary or the
Custodian will 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. The Company and the Depositary have agreed in the Deposit
Agreement that, for purposes of the rights and obligations under the Deposit
Agreement and this Receipt of the parties thereto and hereto, 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. In the event of
any
discrepancy between the records of the Depositary or the Custodian and the
Share
Register, the Company has 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, promptly instruct
the
Depositary to notify the Owners of the existence of such discrepancy. Upon
receipt of such instruction, the Depositary will promptly give such notification
to the Owners pursuant to Section 4.09 of the Deposit Agreement (it being
understood that the Depositary may at any time give such notification to the
Owners, whether or not it has received instructions from the Company) and the
Depositary will promptly cease issuing Receipts pursuant to Section 2.02 of
the
Deposit Agreement until such time as, in the opinion of the Depositary, such
records have been appropriately reconciled.
24. DISCLOSURE
OF INTERESTS.
The
Company or, on the request of the Company, the Depositary may from time to
time
request Owners to provide information as to the capacity in which such Owners
own or owned Receipts and regarding the identity of any other persons then
or
previously having a beneficial interest in such Receipts and the nature of
such
interest and various other matters. Each Owner agrees to provide any information
requested pursuant to this [Section 3.04][Article 24]. The Depositary agrees
to
comply with reasonable written instructions received from time to time from
the
Company requesting that the Depositary forward any such requests to the Owners
and to forward to the Company any such responses to such requests received
by
the Depositary. To the extent that provisions of or governing any Deposited
Securities (including the Company's Charter or applicable law) may require
the
disclosure of beneficial or other ownership of Deposited Securities, other
Shares and other securities to the Company and may provide for blocking transfer
and voting or other rights to enforce such disclosure or limit such ownership,
the Company may instruct the Depositary to shall use its reasonable efforts
under the circumstances to comply with the Company instructions as to Receipts
in respect of any such enforcement or limitation, and Owners and Beneficial
Owners shall comply with all such disclosure requirements and ownership
limitations and shall cooperate with the Depositary's compliance with such
Company instructions; provided, however, the Company acknowledges that no such
instructions shall be provided to the Depositary with respect to any Receipts
registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company or its nominee.