BARCLAYS PLC AND JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
AND
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A.
as
Depositary
AND
HOLDERS
OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS
Second
Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement
Dated
as
of ,
2008
SECOND
AMENDED AND RESTATED DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
DEPOSIT
AGREEMENT dated
as
of ,
2008 among BARCLAYS PLC, incorporated under the laws of England (herein called
the "Company"), JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., a national banking association
organized under the laws of the United States (herein called the "Depositary"),
and all Holders from time to time of American Depositary Receipts issued
hereunder.
W
I T N E
S S E T H :
WHEREAS,
the
Company, The Bank of New York, as depositary, and all Holders from time to
time
entered into an amended and restated deposit agreement dated as of July 15,
2002
(the “Original Deposit Agreement”); and
WHEREAS,
pursuant to Section 5.04 of the Original Deposit Agreement, the Company removed
The Bank of New York, as depositary, and appointed JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
as
successor depositary (hereinafter called the “Depositary”); and
WHEREAS,
the
Company desires to provide, as hereinafter set forth in this amended and
restated Deposit Agreement, for the deposit of Shares (as hereinafter defined)
of the Company from time to time with the Depositary or with the Custodian
(as
hereinafter defined) as agent of the Depositary for the purposes set forth
in
this amended and restated Deposit Agreement, for the creation of American
Depositary Shares representing the Shares so deposited and for the execution
and
delivery of American Depositary Receipts evidencing the American Depositary
Shares; and
WHEREAS,
the
American Depositary Receipts are to be substantially in the form of Exhibit
A
annexed hereto, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as
hereinafter provided in this Deposit Agreement; and
1
NOW,
THEREFORE,
in
consideration of the premises, it is agreed by and between the parties hereto
as
follows:
ARTICLE
1.
DEFINITIONS.
The
following definitions shall for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly
indicated, apply to the respective terms used in this Deposit
Agreement:
SECTION
1.1 American
Depositary Shares.
The
term
"American Depositary Shares" shall mean the securities representing the
interests in the Deposited Securities and evidenced by the Receipts issued
hereunder. Each American Depositary Share shall represent the number of
Shares specified in Exhibit A annexed hereto, until there shall occur a
distribution upon Deposited Securities covered by Section 4.3 or a change in
Deposited Securities covered by Section 4.8 with respect to which additional
Receipts are not executed and delivered, and thereafter American Depositary
Shares shall evidence the amount of Shares or Deposited Securities specified
in
such Sections.
SECTION
1.2 Article;
Section.
Wherever
references are made in this Deposit Agreement to an "Article" or "Articles"
or
to a "Section" or "Sections", such references shall mean an article or articles
or a section or sections of this Deposit Agreement, unless otherwise required
by
the context.
SECTION
1.3 Commission.
The
term
"Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United
States or any successor governmental agency in the United States.
SECTION
1.4 Company.
The
term
"Company" shall mean Barclays PLC, incorporated under the laws of England,
and
its successors.
2
SECTION
1.5 Custodian.
The
term
"Custodian" shall mean the London office of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as agent
of the Depositary for the purposes of this Deposit Agreement, and any other
firm
or corporation which may hereafter be appointed by the Depositary pursuant
to
the terms of Section 5.5, as substitute or additional custodian or custodians
hereunder, as the context shall require and shall also mean all of them
collectively.
SECTION
1.6 Deliver;
Deposit; Surrender; Transfer; Withdraw; Entry.
The
term
“deliver”, “deposit”, “surrender”, “transfer” or “withdraw”; “entry” when used
(i) with respect to Shares: (a) in the case of book-entry Shares, shall refer
to
an entry or entries in an account or accounts maintained by institutions
authorized under United Kingdom law to effect transfers of securities, or (b)
in
the case of certificated Shares, to the physical delivery, deposit, withdrawal
or transfer of certificates representing the Shares if and to the extent
permitted by applicable law and regulation and (ii) with respect to American
Depositary Shares evidenced by Receipts, (a) in the case of American Depositary
Shares available in book-entry form or otherwise through the direct registration
system established by The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") , shall refer to
appropriate adjustments in the records maintained by (1) the Depositary, (2)
DTC
or its nominee, or (3) institutions that have accounts with DTC, as applicable,
or (b) otherwise, shall refer to the physical delivery, deposit, surrender,
transfer or withdrawal of such American Depositary Shares evidenced by
Receipts.
SECTION
1.7 Deposit
Agreement.
The
term
"Deposit Agreement" shall mean this amended and restated Deposit Agreement,
as
the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions
hereof.
SECTION
1.8 Depositary;
Depositary's Office.
The
term
"Depositary" shall mean JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., a New York banking
corporation, and any successor as depositary hereunder. The term
"Depositary's Office", when used with respect to the Depositary, shall mean
the
office of the Depositary, which at the date of this Agreement is 0 Xxx Xxxx
Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000.
SECTION
1.9 Deposited
Securities.
The
term
"Deposited Securities" as of any time shall mean Shares at such time deposited
or deemed to be deposited under this Deposit Agreement and any and all other
securities, property and cash received by the Depositary or the Custodian in
respect thereof and at such time held hereunder, subject as to cash to the
provisions of Section 4.5.
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SECTION
1.10
Dollars;
Pounds; Xxxxx.
The
term
"Dollars" or "$" shall mean United States dollars. The term "Pounds" or
"£" shall mean English Pounds and the term "xxxxx" or "p" shall mean English
Xxxxx.
SECTION
1.11
Foreign
Registrar.
The
term
"Foreign Registrar" shall mean the entity that presently carries out the duties
of registrar for the Shares or any successor as registrar for the Shares and
any
other appointed agent of the Company for the transfer and registration of
Shares.
SECTION
1.12
Holder.
The
term
"Holder" shall mean the person in whose name a Receipt is registered on the
books of the Depositary maintained for such purpose.
SECTION
1.13
Receipts.
The
term
"Receipts" shall mean the American Depositary Receipts issued hereunder
evidencing American Depositary Shares, as the same may be amended from time
to
time in accordance with the provisions hereof. Receipts may be either in
physical certificated form or in book-entry form the ownership of which shall
be
evidenced by periodic statements issued by the Depositary to the Holders
entitled thereto.
SECTION
1.14
Registrar.
The
term
"Registrar" shall mean any bank or trust company having an office in the Borough
of Manhattan, The City of New York, which shall be appointed to register
Receipts and transfers of Receipts as herein provided.
SECTION
1.15
Restricted
Securities.
The
term
"Restricted Securities" shall mean Shares, or Receipts representing such Shares,
which are acquired directly or indirectly from the Company or its affiliates
(as
defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) in a transaction or chain of
transactions not involving any public offering or which are subject to resale
limitations under Regulation D under that Act or both, or which are held by
an
officer, director (or persons performing similar functions) or other affiliate
of the Company, or which would require registration under the Securities Act
in
connection with the offer and sale thereof in the United States, or which are
subject to other restrictions on sale or deposit under the laws of the United
States or the United Kingdom, or under a shareholder agreement or the Articles
of Association and By-laws of the Company.
4
SECTION
1.16
Securities
Act.
The
term
"Securities Act" shall mean the United States Securities Act of 1933, as from
time to time amended.
SECTION
1.17
Shares.
The
term
"Shares" shall mean ordinary shares in registered form of the Company,
heretofore validly issued and outstanding and fully paid, nonassessable and
free
of any pre-emptive rights of the holders of outstanding Shares or hereafter
validly issued and outstanding and fully paid, nonassessable and free of any
pre-emptive rights of the holders of outstanding Shares or interim certificates
representing such Shares.
ARTICLE
2.
FORM
OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF SHARES, EXECUTION AND DELIVERY, TRANSFER AND SURRENDER
OF RECEIPTS.
SECTION
2.1 Form
and Transferability of Receipts.
Definitive
Receipts shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A annexed
to
this Deposit Agreement, with appropriate insertions, modifications and
omissions, as hereinafter provided. No definitive Receipt shall be
entitled to any benefits under this Deposit Agreement or be valid or obligatory
for any purpose, unless such Receipt shall have been executed by the Depositary
by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized signatory of the
Depositary and, if a Registrar for the Receipts shall have been appointed,
countersigned by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer
of the Registrar. The Depositary shall maintain books on which each
Receipt so executed and delivered as hereinafter provided and the transfer
of
each such Receipt shall be registered. Receipts bearing the manual or
facsimile signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary who was
at
any time a proper signatory of the Depositary shall bind the Depositary,
notwithstanding that such signatory has ceased to hold such office prior to
the
execution and delivery of such Receipts by the Registrar or did not hold such
office on the date of issuance of such Receipts.
5
The
Receipts may be endorsed with or have incorporated in the text thereof such
legends or recitals or modifications not inconsistent with the provisions of
this Deposit Agreement as may be required by the Depositary or required to
comply with any applicable law or regulations thereunder or with the rules
and
regulations of any securities exchange upon which American Depositary Shares
may
be listed or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, or to indicate
any
special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Receipts are subject
by reason of the date of issuance of the underlying Deposited Securities or
otherwise.
Title
to
a Receipt (and to the American Depositary Shares evidenced thereby), when
properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, shall be
transferable by delivery with the same effect as in the case of a negotiable
instrument under the laws of New York; provided, however, that the Depositary,
notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the Holder thereof as
the
absolute owner thereof for the purpose of determining the person entitled to
any
distribution of dividends or other distributions or to any notice provided
for
in this Deposit Agreement and for all other purposes.
SECTION
2.2 Deposit
of Shares.
Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, Shares or evidence of
rights to receive Shares may be deposited by delivery thereof to any Custodian
hereunder, accompanied by any appropriate instrument or instruments of transfer,
or endorsement, in form satisfactory to the Custodian, together with all such
certifications as may be required by the Depositary or the Custodian in
accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, and, if the Depositary
requires, together with a written order directing the Depositary to execute
and
deliver to, or upon the written order of, the person or persons stated in such
order, a Receipt or Receipts for the number of American Depositary Shares
representing such deposit. No Share shall be accepted for deposit unless
accompanied by evidence satisfactory to the Depositary that any necessary
approval has been granted by any governmental authority or body in the United
Kingdom, if any, which is then performing the function of the regulation of
currency exchange. If required by the Depositary, Shares presented for
deposit at any time, whether or not the transfer books of the Company or the
Foreign Registrar, if applicable, are closed, shall also be accompanied by
an
agreement or assignment, or other instrument satisfactory to the Depositary,
which will provide for the prompt transfer to the Custodian of any dividend,
or
right to subscribe for additional Shares or to receive other property which
any
person in whose name the Shares are or have been recorded may thereafter receive
upon or in respect of such deposited Shares, or in lieu thereof, such agreement
of indemnity or other agreement as shall be satisfactory to the
Depositary.
6
At
the
request and risk and expense of any person proposing to deposit Shares, and
for
the account of such person, the Depositary may receive certificates for Shares
to be deposited, together with the other instruments herein specified, for
the
purpose of forwarding such Share certificates to the Custodian for deposit
hereunder.
Upon
each
delivery to a Custodian of a certificate or certificates for Shares to be
deposited hereunder, together with the other documents specified above, such
Custodian shall, as soon as transfer and recordation can be accomplished,
present such certificate or certificates to the Company or the Foreign
Registrar, if applicable, for transfer and recordation of the Shares being
deposited in the name of the Depositary or its nominee or such Custodian or
its
nominee.
Deposited
Securities shall be held by the Depositary or by a Custodian for the account
and
to the order of the Depositary or at such other place or places as the
Depositary shall determine.
SECTION
2.3 Execution
and Delivery of Receipts.
Upon
receipt by any Custodian of any deposit pursuant to Section 2.2 hereunder (and
in addition, if the transfer books of the Company or the Foreign Registrar,
if
applicable, are open, the Depositary may in its sole discretion require a proper
acknowledgment or other evidence from the Company that any Deposited Securities
have been recorded upon the books of the Company or the Foreign Registrar,
if
applicable, in the name of the Depositary or its nominee or such Custodian
or
its nominee), together with the other documents required as specified above,
such Custodian shall notify the Depositary of such deposit and the person or
persons to whom or upon whose written order a Receipt or Receipts are
deliverable in respect thereof and the number of American Depositary Shares
to
be evidenced thereby. Such notification shall be made by letter or, at the
request, risk and expense of the person making the deposit, by cable, telex
or
facsimile transmission. Upon receiving such notice from such Custodian, or
upon the receipt of Shares by the Depositary, the Depositary, subject to the
terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall execute and deliver,
to or
upon the order of the person or persons entitled thereto, a Receipt or Receipts,
registered in the name or names and evidencing any authorized number of American
Depositary Shares requested by such person or persons, but only upon payment
to
the Depositary of the fees and expenses of the Depositary for the execution
and
delivery of such Receipt or Receipts as provided in Section 5.9, and of all
taxes and governmental charges and fees payable in connection with such deposit
and the transfer of the Deposited Securities.
7
SECTION
2.4 Transfer
of Receipts; Combination and Split-up of Receipts.
The
Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement,
shall
register transfers of Receipts on its transfer books from time to time, upon
any
surrender of a Receipt, by the Holder in person or by a duly authorized
attorney, properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer,
and duly stamped as may be required by the laws of the State of New York and
of
the United States of America. Thereupon the Depositary shall execute a new
Receipt or Receipts and deliver the same to or upon the order of the person
entitled thereto.
The
Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement,
shall
upon surrender of a Receipt or Receipts for the purpose of effecting a split-up
or combination of such Receipt or Receipts, execute and deliver a new Receipt
or
Receipts for any authorized number of American Depositary Shares requested,
evidencing the same aggregate number of American Depositary Shares as the
Receipt or Receipts surrendered.
The
Depositary may appoint one or more co-transfer agents for the purpose of
effecting transfers, combinations and split-ups of Receipts at designated
transfer offices on behalf of the Depositary. In carrying out its
functions, a co-transfer agent may require evidence of authority and compliance
with applicable laws and other requirements by Holders or persons entitled
to
Receipts and will be entitled to protection and indemnity to the same extent
as
the Depositary.
8
SECTION
2.5 Surrender
of Receipts and Withdrawal of Shares.
Upon
surrender at the Depositary's Office of a Receipt for the purpose of withdrawal
of the Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares
evidenced by such Receipt, and upon payment of the fee of the Depositary for
the
surrender of Receipts as provided in Section 5.9 and payment of all taxes and
governmental charges payable in connection with such surrender and withdrawal
of
the Deposited Securities, and subject to the terms and conditions of this
Deposit Agreement, the Holder of such Receipt shall be entitled to delivery,
to
him or upon his order, of the amount of Deposited Securities at the time
represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt.
Delivery of such Deposited Securities may be made by the delivery of (a)
Shares in the name of such Holder or as ordered by such Holder or by
certificates properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer
to such Holder or as ordered by him and (b) 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.
A
Receipt
surrendered for such purposes may be required by the Depositary to be properly
endorsed in blank or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer in blank,
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 London office of such Custodian, subject
to Sections 2.6, 3.1 and 3.2 and to the other terms and conditions of this
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 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.
9
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, if applicable, 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 Depositary's Office.
Such direction shall be given by letter or, at the request, risk and
expense of such Holder, by cable, telex or facsimile transmission.
SECTION 2.6 |
Limitations
on Execution and Delivery, Transfer and Surrender
of Receipts.
|
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, Custodian or Registrar may require payment from
the
depositor of 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 as herein provided, may require the production of proof
satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature and
may
also require compliance with any regulations the Depositary may establish
consistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, including, without
limitation, this Section 2.6.
The
delivery of Receipts against deposits of Shares generally or against deposits
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 or the Company or those maintained by the Foreign Registrar
are closed, or if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the
Depositary or the Company at any time or from time to time because of any
requirement of law or of any government or governmental body or commission,
or
under any provision of this Deposit Agreement, or for any other reason, subject
to the provisions of Section 7.7 hereof. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Deposit Agreement or the Receipts, 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 this Deposit Agreement any Shares
required to be registered under the provisions of the Securities Act, unless
a
registration statement is in effect as to such Shares.
10
SECTION
2.7 Lost
Receipts, etc.
In
case
any Receipt shall be mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen, the Depositary shall
execute and deliver a new Receipt of like tenor in exchange and substitution
for
such mutilated Receipt upon cancellation thereof, or in lieu of and in
substitution for such destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt. Before the
Depositary shall execute and deliver a new Receipt in substitution for a
destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt, the Holder thereof shall have (a) filed
with
the Depositary (i) a request for such execution and delivery before the
Depositary has notice that the Receipt has been acquired by a bona fide
purchaser and (ii) a sufficient indemnity bond and (b) satisfied any other
reasonable requirements imposed by the Depositary.
SECTION
2.8 Cancellation
and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts.
All
Receipts surrendered to the Depositary shall be cancelled by the Depositary.
The Depositary is authorized to destroy Receipts so cancelled in
accordance with procedures ordinarily followed by stock transfer agents located
in the City of New York or as required by the laws or regulations governing
the
Depositary.
11
SECTION
2.9 Pre-Release
of Receipts.
Unless
requested in writing by the Company to cease doing so, the Depositary may,
notwithstanding Section 2.3 hereof, execute and deliver Receipts prior to the
receipt of shares pursuant to Section 2.2 ("Pre-Release"). The Depositary
may, pursuant to Section 2.5, 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 and agreement from the
person to whom Receipts are to be delivered (the "Pre-Releasee") that the
Pre-Releasee, or its customer, (i) owns the shares or Receipts to be remitted,
as the case may be, (ii) assigns all beneficial rights, title and interest
in
such Shares or Receipts, as the case may be, to the Depositary in its capacity
as such and for the benefit of the Holders, and (iii) will not take any action
with respect to such Shares or Receipts, as the case may be, that is
inconsistent with the transfer of beneficial ownership (including, without
the
consent of the Depositary, disposing of such Shares or Receipts, as the case
may
be), other than in satisfaction of such Pre-Release, (b) at all times fully
collateralized with cash, U.S. government securities or such other collateral
as
the Depositary determines, in good faith, will provide substantially similar
liquidity and security, (c) terminable by the Depositary on not more than five
(5) business days notice, and (d) subject to such further indemnities and credit
regulations as the Depositary deems appropriate. The number of Shares not
deposited but represented by American Depositary Shares outstanding at any
time
as a result of Pre-Releases will not normally exceed thirty percent (30%) of
the
Shares deposited hereunder; provided, however, that the Depositary reserves
the
right to disregard such limit from time to time as it deems reasonably
appropriate, and may, with the prior written consent of the Company,
change such limit for purposes of general application. The Depositary will
also set Dollar limits with respect to Pre-Release transactions to be entered
into hereunder with any particular Pre-Releasee on a case-by-case basis as
the
Depositary 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 hereunder).
12
The
Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received by it in
connection with the foregoing.
SECTION
2.10
Maintenance
of Records
The
Depositary agrees to maintain or cause its agents to maintain records of all
Receipts surrendered and Deposited Securities withdrawn under Section 2.5,
substitute Receipts delivered under Section 2.7, and of cancelled or destroyed
Receipts under Section 2.8, to the extent required in keeping with procedures
ordinarily followed by stock transfer agents located in the City of New York
or
as required by the laws or regulations governing the Depositary.
ARTICLE
3.
CERTAIN
OBLIGATIONS OF HOLDERS AND OWNERS OF RECEIPTS.
SECTION
3.1 Filing
Proofs, Certificates and Other Information.
Any
person presenting Shares for deposit or any Holder or 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
Foreign Registrar, if applicable, to execute such certificates and to make
such
representations and warranties, as the Depositary may deem necessary or proper.
The Depositary may 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.
SECTION
3.2 Liability
of Holder for Taxes.
If
any
tax or other governmental charge shall become payable by the Custodian or the
Depositary with respect to any Receipt or any Deposited Securities represented
by any Receipt, such tax or other governmental charge shall be payable by the
Holder of such Receipt to the Depositary. The Depositary may refuse to
effect any transfer of such 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 Holder thereof any part or all of the Deposited
Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such
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
of such Receipt shall remain liable for any deficiency.
13
SECTION
3.3 Warranties
on Deposit of Shares.
Every
person depositing Shares under this Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby
to
represent and warrant that such Shares and each certificate therefor, if
applicable, are validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free of any
pre-emptive rights of the holders of outstanding Shares and that the person
making such deposit is duly authorized so to do. Every such person shall
also be deemed to represent that the deposit of such Shares and the sale of
Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares representing such Shares by
that
person are not restricted under the Securities Act. Such representations
and warranties shall survive the deposit of Shares and issuance of
Receipts.
ARTICLE
4.
THE
DEPOSITED SECURITIES.
SECTION
4.1 Cash
Distributions.
Whenever
the Depositary shall receive any cash dividend or other cash distribution on
any
Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall, subject to the provisions of Section
4.5, convert such dividend or distribution into Dollars and shall distribute
the
amount thus received (net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided
in Section 5.9 hereof, if applicable) to the Holders entitled thereto, in
proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such
Deposited Securities held by them respectively; provided, however, that in
the
event that the 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. The
Company or its agent will remit to the appropriate governmental agency in the
United Kingdom all amounts withheld and owing to such agency. The
Depositary will forward to the Company or its agent such information from its
records as the Company may reasonably request to enable the Company or its
agent
to file necessary reports with governmental agencies, and the Depositary or
the
Company or its agent may file any such reports necessary to obtain benefits
under the applicable tax treaties for the Holders of Receipts.
14
SECTION
4.2 Distributions
Other Than Cash, Shares or Rights.
Subject
to the provisions of Section 4.11 and Section 5.9, whenever the Depositary
shall
receive any distribution other than a distribution described in Sections 4.1,
4.3 or 4.4, the Depositary shall cause the securities or property received
by it
to be distributed to the Holders entitled thereto, after deduction or upon
payment of any fees and expenses of the Depositary (as provided in Section
5.09
hereof) 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 or owners) the Depositary deems such distribution not to be feasible,
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 net proceeds of any such sale (net of the fees and
expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.9) shall be distributed
by
the Depositary to the Holders entitled thereto as in the case of a distribution
received in cash.
SECTION
4.3 Distributions
in Shares.
If
any
distribution upon any Deposited Securities consists of a dividend in, or free
distribution of, Shares, the Depositary may, and shall if the Company shall
so
request, distribute to the Holders of outstanding Receipts entitled thereto,
in
proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such
Deposited Securities 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 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
and the payment of fees of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.9. The
Depositary may withhold any such distribution of Receipts if it has not received
satisfactory assurances from the Company that such distribution does not require
registration under the Securities Act 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 shall sell the amount of
Shares represented by the aggregate of such fractions and distribute the net
proceeds, all in the manner and subject to the conditions described in Section
4.1. 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.
15
SECTION
4.4 Rights.
In
the
event that the Company shall offer or cause to be offered to the holders of
any
Deposited Securities any rights to subscribe for additional Shares or any rights
of any other nature, the Depositary shall have discretion 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; provided however, that
the
Depositary will, if requested by the Company, take action as
follows:
(i)
if
at the
time of the offering of any such rights the Depositary determines that it is
lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all Holders or to certain
Holders but not to other Holders, the Depositary may distribute to any Holder
to
whom it determines the distribution to be lawful and feasible to distribute
such
warrants or other instruments therefor in such form as it may determine to
the
Holders entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of American Depositary
Shares representing such Deposited Securities, or employ such other method
as it
may deem feasible in order to facilitate the exercise, sale or transfer of
rights by such Holders; or
16
(ii)
if
at the
time of the offering of any rights the Depositary determines that it is not
lawful or not feasible to make such rights available to all or certain Holders
by means of warrants or otherwise, or if the rights represented by such warrants
or such other instruments are not exercised and appear to be about to lapse,
the
Depositary in its discretion may sell such rights or such warrants or other
instruments at a public or private sale, at such place or places and upon such
terms as it may deem proper, and may allocate the proceeds of such sales 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 (net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section
5.9 and all taxes and governmental charges payable in connection with such
rights and subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement) for
the account of such Holders otherwise entitled to such rights, warrants or
other
instruments, upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to
any
distinctions among such Holders because of exchange restrictions, or the date
of
delivery of any Receipt or Receipts, or otherwise.
In
circumstances in which rights would otherwise not be distributed, if a Holder
requests the distribution of warrants or other instruments in order to exercise
the rights allocable to the American Depositary Shares of such Holder hereunder,
the Depositary will as promptly as practicable make such rights available to
such Holder if the Depositary shall have received 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 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 Holders, then upon instruction from such a Holder pursuant to such
warrants or other instruments to the Depositary from such Holder 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 Section 2.2 of this Deposit Agreement, and shall, pursuant
to Section 2.3 of this Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver Receipts to such
Holder.
17
The
Depositary will not offer 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 Holders or are registered
under the provisions of such Act. If a Holder of Receipts requests
distribution of warrants or other instruments, notwithstanding that there has
been no such registration under the Securities 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 Holder 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 Holders in general or any
Holder in particular.
SECTION
4.5 Conversion
of Foreign Currency.
Whenever
the Depositary or the Custodian shall receive foreign currency, by way of
dividends or other distributions or the net proceeds from the sale of
securities, property or rights, and if at the time of the receipt thereof the
foreign currency so received can in the judgment of the Depositary be converted
on a reasonable basis into Dollars and the resulting Dollars transferred to
the
United States, the Depositary shall convert or cause to be converted, by sale
or
in any other manner that it may determine, such foreign currency into Dollars,
and such Dollars shall be distributed to the 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 and shall be net of any
expenses of conversion into Dollars incurred by the Depositary as provided
in
Section 5.9.
18
If
such
conversion or distribution can be effected only with the approval or license
of
any government or agency thereof, the Depositary shall file such application
for
approval or license, if any, as it may deem desirable.
If
at any
time the Depositary shall determine that in its judgment any foreign currency
received by the Depositary or the Custodian is not convertible on a reasonable
basis into Dollars transferable to the United States, or if any approval or
license of any government or agency thereof which is required for such
conversion is denied or in the opinion of the Depositary is not obtainable,
or
if any such approval or license is not obtained within a reasonable period
as
determined by the Depositary, the Depositary may distribute the foreign currency
(or an appropriate document evidencing the right to receive such foreign
currency) received by the Depositary to, or in its discretion may hold such
foreign currency uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for
the
respective accounts of, the 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 make such conversion and distribution in Dollars to the extent
permissible to the Holders 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 Holders entitled thereto.
SECTION
4.6 Fixing
of Record Date.
Whenever
any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable or any
distribution other than cash shall be made, or whenever rights shall be issued
with respect to the Deposited Securities, or whenever for any reason the
Depositary causes a change in the number of Shares that are represented by
each
American Depositary Share, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice
of
any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, the Depositary
shall fix a record date (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, or (iii) who shall be responsible
for any fee assessed by the Depositary pursuant to this Deposit Agreement,
or
(b) on or after which each American Depositary Share will represent the changed
number of Shares. Subject to the provisions of Sections 4.1 through 4.5
and to the other terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Holders
on
such record date shall be entitled, as the case may be, to receive the amount
distributable by the Depositary with respect to such dividend or other
distribution or such rights or the net proceeds of sale thereof in proportion
to
the number of American Depositary Shares held by them respectively and to give
voting instructions and to act in respect of any other such matter.
19
SECTION
4.7 Voting
of Deposited Securities.
Upon
receipt of notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited
Securities, if requested in writing by the Company the Depositary shall, as
soon
as practicable thereafter, mail to the Holders a notice, the form of which
notice shall be in the discretion of the Depositary, upon consultation with
the
Company, which shall contain (a) such information as is contained in such notice
of meeting, and (b) a statement that the Holders as of the close of business
on
a specified record date will be entitled, subject to any applicable provision
of
English law and of the Articles of Association of the Company, to instruct
the
Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the
amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by their respective
American Depositary Shares and (c) a statement as to the manner in which such
instructions may be given, including instructions
to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company. Upon
the written request of a Holder on such record date, received on or before
the
date established by the Depositary for such purpose, (the "Instruction Date")
the Depositary shall endeavor, in so far as practicable, 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 in accordance with the
instructions set forth in such request. The Depositary shall not vote or
attempt to exercise the right to vote that attaches to the Shares or other
Deposited Securities, other than in accordance with such instructions.
20
There
can
be no assurance that Holders generally or any Holder in particular will receive
the notice described in the preceding paragraph sufficiently prior to the
Instruction Date to ensure that the Depositary will vote the Shares or Deposited
Securities in accordance with the provisions set forth in the preceding
paragraph.
SECTION
4.8 Changes
Affecting Deposited Securities.
In
circumstances where the provisions of Section 4.3 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 this
Deposit Agreement, and American Depositary Shares shall thenceforth represent,
in addition to the existing Deposited Securities, if any, 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 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.
SECTION
4.9 Reports.
The
Depositary shall make available for inspection by Holders 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 shall
also, upon written request, send to the Holders copies of such reports furnished
by the Company pursuant to Section 5.6.
SECTION 4.10 |
Lists of Holders.
|
Promptly
upon request by the Company, the Depositary shall, at the expense of the
Company, furnish to it a list, as of a recent date, of the names, addresses
and
holdings of American Depositary Shares by all persons in whose names Receipts
are registered on the books of the Depositary.
21
SECTION
4.11
Withholding.
In
the
event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in property
(including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) is subject to any tax or
other governmental charge which the Depositary is obligated to withhold, the
Depositary may by public or private sale dispose of all or a portion of such
property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) in such amounts
and
in such manner as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay 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 Holders entitled
thereto in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by them
respectively.
ARTICLE
5.
THE
DEPOSITARY, THE CUSTODIANS AND THE COMPANY.
SECTION
5.1 Maintenance
of Office and Transfer Books by the Depositary.
Until
termination of this Deposit Agreement in accordance with its terms, the
Depositary shall maintain facilities for the execution and delivery,
registration, registration of transfers and surrender of Receipts in accordance
with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement.
The
Depositary shall keep books 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 this Deposit Agreement or
the
Receipts.
The
Depositary may close the transfer books, at any time or from time to time,
when
deemed expedient by it in connection with the performance of its duties
hereunder.
22
If
any
Receipts or the American Depositary Shares evidenced thereby are listed on
one
or more stock exchanges in the United States, the Depositary shall act as
Registrar or appoint a Registrar or one or more co-registrars for registry
of
such Receipts in accordance with any requirements of such exchange or
exchanges.
SECTION 5.2 |
Prevention
or Delay in Performance by the Depositary or the
Company.
|
Neither
the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their respective directors, employees,
agents or affiliates shall incur any liability to any Holder or owner of any
Receipt, if by reason of any provision of any present or future law or
regulation of the United Kingdom, the United States or any other country, or
of
any governmental or regulatory authority or stock exchange, or by reason of
any
provision, present or future, of the Articles of Association of the Company,
or
by reason of any provision of any securities issued or distributed by the
Company, or any offering or distribution thereof, or by reason of any act of
God
or war or terrorism or other circumstances beyond its control, the Depositary
or
the Company shall be prevented, delayed or forbidden from, or be subject to
any
civil or criminal penalty on account of, doing or performing any act or thing
which by the terms of this Deposit Agreement or the Deposited Securities it
is
provided shall be done or performed; nor shall the Depositary or the Company
or
any of their respective directors, employees, agents or affiliates incur any
liability to any Holder or owner of any Receipt by reason of any non-performance
or delay, caused as aforesaid, in the performance of any act or thing which
by
the terms of this Deposit Agreement it is provided shall or may be done or
performed, or by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any
discretion provided for in this Deposit Agreement. Where, by the terms of
a distribution pursuant to Sections 4.1, 4.2, or 4.3 of the Deposit Agreement,
or an offering or distribution pursuant to Section 4.4 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.
SECTION
5.3 Obligations
of the Depositary, the Custodian and the Company.
The
Company assumes no obligation nor shall it be subject to any liability under
this Deposit Agreement to Holders or owners of Receipts, except that it agrees
to perform its obligations specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement
without gross negligence or bad faith.
23
The
Depositary assumes no obligation nor shall it be subject to any liability under
this Deposit Agreement to any Holders or owners of any Receipt (including,
without limitation, liability with respect to the validity or worth of the
Deposited Securities), except that it agrees to perform its obligations
specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement without gross negligence or
bad
faith.
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 nonaction
by it
in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants,
any person presenting Shares for deposit, any Holder or any other person
believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or
information.
The
Depositary shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by a successor
depositary whether in connection with a previous act or omission of the
Depositary or in connection with any matter arising wholly after the removal
or
resignation of the Depositary, provided that in connection with the issue out
of
which such potential liability arises the Depositary performed its obligations
without negligence or bad faith while it acted as Depositary.
The
Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to carry out any
instructions to vote any of the Deposited Securities, or for the manner in
which
any such vote is cast(provided that any such action or nonaction is in good
faith) or the effect of any such vote.
24
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth in the Deposit Agreement or any Receipt,
the
Depositary and its agents may fully respond to any and all demands or requests
for information maintained by or on its behalf in connection with the Deposit
Agreement, any Holder(s) or beneficial owner(s), any Receipt or Receipts or
otherwise related hereto to the extent such information is requested or required
by or pursuant to any lawful authority, including without limitation laws,
rules, regulations, administrative or judicial process, banking, securities
or
other regulators.
Neither
the Company nor the Depositary nor any of their respective agents shall be
liable to Holders or beneficial owners for any indirect, special, punitive
or
consequential damages.
No
disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act is intended by any provision
of
this Deposit Agreement.
SECTION
5.4 Resignation
and Removal of the Depositary.
The
Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary hereunder by written notice
of
its election so to do delivered to the Company, such resignation to take effect
upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such
appointment as hereinafter provided.
The
Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by 90 days prior written
notice of such removal, which shall become effective upon the later to occur
of
(i) the 90th
day
after delivery of the notice to the Depositary or (ii) the appointment of a
successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter
provided.
In
case
at any time the Depositary acting hereunder shall resign or be removed, the
Company shall use its best efforts to appoint a successor depositary, which
shall be a bank or trust company having an office in the Borough of Manhattan,
The City of New York. Every successor depositary shall execute and deliver
to its predecessor and to the Company an instrument in writing accepting its
appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor depositary, without any
further act or deed, shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers,
duties and obligations of its predecessor; but such predecessor, nevertheless,
upon payment of all sums due it and on the written request of the Company shall
execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor all rights
and
powers of such predecessor hereunder, shall duly assign, transfer and deliver
all right, title and interest in the Deposited Securities to such successor,
and
shall deliver to such successor a list of the Holders of all outstanding
Receipts. Any such successor depositary shall promptly mail notice of its
appointment to the Holders.
25
Any
corporation into or with which the Depositary may be merged or consolidated
shall be the successor of the Depositary without the execution or filing of
any
document or any further act.
SECTION
5.5 The
Custodians.
The
Custodian shall be subject at all times and in all respects to the directions
of
the Depositary and shall be responsible solely to it. Any Custodian may
resign and be discharged from its duties hereunder by notice of such resignation
delivered to the Depositary at least 30 days prior to the date on which such
resignation is to become effective. If upon such resignation there shall
be no Custodian acting hereunder, the Depositary shall, promptly after receiving
such notice, appoint a substitute custodian or custodians, each of which shall
thereafter be a Custodian hereunder. 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, which shall
thereafter be one of the Custodians hereunder. Upon demand of the
Depositary any Custodian shall deliver such of the Deposited Securities held
by
it as are requested of it to any other Custodian or such substitute or
additional custodian or custodians. Each such substitute or additional
custodian shall deliver to the Depositary, forthwith upon its appointment,
an
acceptance of such appointment satisfactory in form and substance to the
Depositary.
Upon
the
appointment of any successor depositary hereunder, each Custodian then acting
hereunder shall forthwith become, without any further act or writing, the agent
hereunder of such successor depositary and the appointment of such successor
depositary shall in no way impair the authority of each Custodian hereunder;
but
the successor depositary so appointed shall, nevertheless, on the written
request of any Custodian, execute and deliver to such Custodian all such
instruments as may be proper to give to such Custodian full and complete power
and authority as agent hereunder of such successor depositary.
26
SECTION
5.6 Notices
and Reports.
On
or
before the first date on which the Company gives notice, by publication or
otherwise, of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities,
or
of any adjourned meeting of such holders, or of the taking of any action in
respect of any cash or other distributions or the offering of any rights, the
Company agrees to transmit to the Depositary and the Custodian a copy of the
notice thereof in the form given or to be given to holders of Shares or other
Deposited Securities.
The
Company will arrange for the prompt transmittal by the Company to the Depositary
and the Custodian of such notices and any other reports and communications
which
are made generally available by the Company to holders of its Shares. If
requested in writing by the Company, the Depositary will arrange for the
mailing, at the Company's expense, of copies of such notices, reports and
communications to all Holders. The Company will, in a timely manner,
provide the Depositary with the quantity of such notices, reports, and
communications, as requested by the Depositary from time to time, in order
for
the Depositary to effect such mailings.
SECTION
5.7 Distribution
of Additional Shares, Rights, etc.
The
Company agrees that in the event of any issuance or distribution to Holders
of
(1) additional Shares, (2) rights to subscribe for Shares, (3) securities
convertible into Shares, or (4) rights to subscribe for such securities, (each
a
"Distribution") the Company will promptly furnish to the Depositary a written
opinion from U.S. counsel for the Company, which counsel shall be satisfactory
to the Depositary, stating whether or not the Distribution requires a
Registration Statement under the Securities Act to be in effect prior to making
such Distribution available to Holders entitled thereto. If in the opinion
of such counsel a Registration Statement is required, such counsel shall furnish
to the Depositary a written opinion as to whether or not there is a Registration
Statement in effect which will cover such Distribution.
27
The
Company agrees with the Depositary that neither the Company nor any affiliate
of
the Company (as defined in the Securities Act) will at any time deposit any
Shares, either originally issued or previously issued and reacquired by the
Company or any such affiliate, unless a Registration Statement is in effect
as
to such Shares under the Securities Act.
SECTION
5.8 Indemnification.
The
Company shall indemnify, defend and save harmless each of the Depositary and
its
agents against any loss, liability or expense (including reasonable fees and
expenses of counsel) which may arise out of acts performed or omitted, in
connection with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement and of the Receipts,
as
the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in
accordance herewith (i) by either the Depositary or its agents or their
respective directors, employees, agents and affiliates, except, subject to
the
penultimate paragraph of this Section 5.8, for any loss, liability or expense
directly arising out of the negligence or bad faith of the Depositary or its
agents acting hereunder, or (ii) by the Company or any of its directors,
employees, agents or affiliates.
The
indemnities set forth in the preceding paragraph shall also apply to any
liability or expense which may arise out of any misstatement or alleged
misstatement or omission or alleged omission in any registration statement,
proxy statement, prospectus (or placement memorandum), or preliminary prospectus
(or preliminary placement memorandum) relating to the offer or sale of American
Depositary Shares, except to the extent any such liability or expense arises
out
of (i) information relating to the Depositary or its agents, as applicable,
furnished in writing by the Depositary and not changed or altered by the Company
expressly for use in any of the foregoing documents or (ii) if such information
is provided, the failure to state a material fact necessary to make the
information provided not misleading.
Except
as
provided in the next succeeding paragraph, the Depositary shall indemnify,
defend and save harmless the Company against any loss, liability or expense
(including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) incurred by the Company
in
respect of this Deposit Agreement to the extent such loss, liability or expense
is due to the negligence or bad faith of the Depositary or its agents acting
hereunder.
28
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Deposit Agreement or any 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, Holders)
against the Depositary or its agents, except to the extent such Special Damages
arise out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the party seeking
indemnification hereunder
The
obligations set forth in this Section 5.8 shall survive the termination of
this
Deposit Agreement and the succession or substitution of any indemnified
person.
SECTION
5.9 Charges
of Depositary.
The
Company agrees to pay 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 Depositary shall present its statement for such charges and expenses
to the Company once every three months. The charges and expenses of the
Custodian are for the sole account of the Depositary.
The
following charges shall be incurred by any party depositing or withdrawing
Shares or by any party surrendering 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
Section 4.3), or by Holders, as applicable: (1) taxes and other
governmental charges, (2) such registration fees as may from time to time
be in effect for the registration of transfers of Shares generally on the Share
register of the Company or Foreign Registrar and applicable to transfers of
Shares to or from the name of the Depositary or its nominee or the Custodian
or
its nominee on the making of deposits or withdrawals hereunder, (3) such
cable, telex and facsimile transmission expenses as are expressly provided
in
this Deposit Agreement, (4) such expenses as are incurred by the Depositary
in the conversion of foreign currency pursuant to Section 4.5, (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 Section 2.3, 4.3 or 4.4
and the surrender of Receipts pursuant to Section 2.5 or 6.2, (6)
a
fee of
U.S.$0.02 or less per American Depositary Share on any cash dividend and cash
distribution made pursuant to the Deposit Agreement and which will be payable
in
the manner described in clause (9) below, (7) a fee for the distribution of
securities pursuant to Section 4.2, such fee being in an amount equal to
the fee for the execution and delivery of American Depositary Shares referred
to
above which would have been charged as a result of the deposit of such
securities (for purposes of this clause (7) treating all such securities as
if they were Shares) but which securities are instead distributed by the
Depositary to Holders, (8) to the extent the Depositary has not collected a
fee
of $0.02 per ADS in a calendar year under (6) above, a fee of $.02 or less
per
American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) for depositary services, which
will accrue on the last day of each calendar year and which will be payable
in
the manner described in clause (9) below; and (9) any other charge payable
by the Depositary, any of the Depositary's agents, including the Custodian,
or
the agents of the Depositary's agents in connection with the servicing of Shares
or other Deposited Securities (which charge shall be assessed against Holders
as
of the date or dates set by the Depositary in accordance with Section 4.6 and
shall be payable at the sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such
Holders for such charge or by deducting such charge from one or more cash
dividends or other cash distributions).
29
The
Depositary, subject to Section 2.9 hereof, may own and deal in any class of
securities of the Company and its affiliates and in Receipts.
SECTION
5.10
Retention
of Depositary Documents.
The
Depositary is authorized to destroy those documents, records, bills and other
data compiled during the term of this Deposit Agreement at the times permitted
by the laws or regulations governing the Depositary unless the Company requests
that such papers be retained for a longer period or turned over to the Company
or to a successor depositary.
30
SECTION
5.11
Exclusivity.
The
Company agrees not to appoint any other depositary for issuance of American
Depositary Receipts so long as JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. is acting as Depositary
hereunder.
ARTICLE
6.
AMENDMENT
AND TERMINATION.
SECTION
6.1 Amendment.
The
form
of the Receipts and any provisions of this Deposit Agreement may at any time
and
from time to time be amended by agreement between the Company and the Depositary
without the consent of Holders and owners in any respect which they may deem
necessary or desirable. Any amendment which shall impose or increase any
fees or charges (other than taxes and other governmental charges, registration
fees, cable, telex or facsimile transmission costs, delivery costs or other
such
expenses), or which shall otherwise prejudice any substantial existing right
of
Holders, 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 Holders of outstanding Receipts. Every Holder 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 Holder 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.
31
SECTION
6.2 Termination.
The
Depositary shall at any time at the direction of the Company terminate this
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. The Depositary may likewise terminate this
Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the Company and
the
Holders of all Receipts then outstanding if at any time 90 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 Section 5.4. On and
after the date of termination, the Holder of a Receipt will, upon (a) surrender
of such Receipt at the Depositary's Office, (b) payment of the fee of the
Depositary for the surrender of Receipts referred to in Section 2.5, 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 this
Deposit Agreement, except that the Depositary shall continue to collect
dividends and other distributions pertaining to Deposited Securities, shall
sell
rights and other property as provided in this Deposit Agreement, and shall
continue to deliver Deposited Securities, together with any dividends or other
distributions received with respect thereto and the net proceeds of the sale
of
any rights or other property, 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 Holder of such
Receipt in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement,
and any applicable taxes or governmental charges). At any time after the
expiration of six months from the date of termination, the Depositary may sell
the Deposited Securities then held hereunder and may thereafter hold uninvested
the net proceeds of any such sale, together with any other cash then held by
it
hereunder, 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 this Deposit Agreement, except to account
for such net proceeds and other cash (after deducting, in each case, the fee
of
the Depositary for the surrender of a Receipt, any expenses for the account
of
the Holder of such Receipt in accordance with the terms and conditions of this
Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental charges). Upon
the termination of this Deposit Agreement, the Company shall be discharged
from
all obligations under this Deposit Agreement except for its obligations to
the
Depositary under Sections 5.8 and 5.9 hereof.
32
ARTICLE
7.
MISCELLANEOUS.
SECTION
7.1 Counterparts.
This
Deposit Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original and all of such counterparts shall constitute one
and the same instrument. Copies of this Deposit Agreement shall be filed
with the Depositary and the Custodians and shall be open to inspection by any
owner or Holder of a Receipt during business hours.
SECTION
7.2 No
Third Party Beneficiaries.
This
Deposit Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and shall
not be deemed to give any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim whatsoever
to any other person.
SECTION
7.3 Severability.
In
case
any one or more of the provisions contained in this Deposit Agreement or in
the
Receipts should be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect,
the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained
herein or therein shall in no way be affected, prejudiced or disturbed
thereby.
SECTION
7.4 Holders
and Owners as Parties; Binding Effect.
The
Holders and owners of Receipts from time to time shall be parties to this
Deposit Agreement and shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions hereof
and of the Receipts by acceptance thereof. Each Holder and owner, upon
acceptance of any American Depositary Share (or any interest therein) issued
in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement shall be
deemed for all purposes to (a) be a party to and bound by the terms of the
Deposit Agreement and the applicable Receipt(s), and (b) appoint the Depositary
its attorney-in-fact, with full power to delegate, to act on its behalf and
to
take any and all actions contemplated in the Deposit Agreement and the
applicable Receipt(s), to adopt any and all procedures necessary to comply
with
applicable law and to take such action as the Depositary in its sole discretion
may deem necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Deposit
Agreement and the applicable Receipt(s), the taking of such actions to be the
conclusive determinant of the necessity and appropriateness thereof.
33
SECTION
7.5 Notices.
Any
and
all notices to be given to the Company shall be deemed to have been duly given
if personally delivered or sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile
transmission confirmed by letter, addressed to Barclays PLC, 0 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx,
Xxxxxx X00 0XX, Xxxxxxx, Attention: Secretary, or any other place to which
the
Company may have transferred its principal office.
Any
and
all notices to be given to the Depositary shall be deemed to have been duly
given if in English and personally delivered or sent by mail or cable, telex
or
facsimile transmission confirmed by letter, addressed to JPMorgan Chase Bank,
N.A., 4 New York Plaza, 13th
Floor,
New York, New York 10004, Attention: American Depositary Receipt
Administration, or any other place to which the Depositary may have transferred
the Depositary's Office.
Any
and
all notices to be given to any Holder shall be deemed to have been duly given
if
personally delivered or sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile transmission
confirmed by letter, addressed to such Holder at the address of such Holder
as
it appears on the transfer books for Receipts of the Depositary, or, if such
Holder shall have filed with the Depositary a written request that notices
intended for such Holder be mailed to some other address, at the address
designated in such request.
Delivery
of a notice sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile transmission shall be
deemed to be effected at the time when a duly addressed letter containing the
same (or a confirmation thereof in the case of a cable, telex or facsimile
transmission) is deposited, postage prepaid, in a post-office letter box.
The Depositary or the Company may, however, act upon any cable, telex or
facsimile transmission received by it, notwithstanding that such cable, telex
or
facsimile transmission shall not subsequently be confirmed by letter as
aforesaid.
SECTION
7.6 Governing
Law.
This
Deposit Agreement and the Receipts shall be interpreted and all rights hereunder
and thereunder and provisions hereof and thereof shall be governed by the laws
of the State of New York.
34
SECTION
7.7 Compliance
with U.S. Securities Laws.
Notwithstanding
anything in this Deposit Agreement to the contrary, the Company and the
Depositary each agrees that it will not exercise any rights it has under this
Deposit Agreement to permit the withdrawal or delivery of Deposited Securities
in a manner which would violate the U.S. securities laws, including, but not
limited to, Section I.A.(1) of the General Instructions to the Form F-6
Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, under the Securities
Act.
SECTION
7.8 Consent
to Jurisdiction.
The
Company irrevocably agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding against
the
Company brought by the Depositary or any Holder, arising out of or based upon
this Deposit Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, shall be
instituted in any state or federal court in New York, New York, and irrevocably
waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue
of any such proceeding, and, subject to the last sentence of this paragraph,
irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such
suit, action or proceeding. The Company also irrevocably agrees that any legal
suit, action or proceeding against the Depositary brought by the Company,
arising out of or based upon this Deposit Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby, may only be instituted in a state or federal court in
New
York, New York and irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such
courts in any such suit, action or proceeding and irrevocably waives any
objection which it may have or hereinafter have to the laying of venue of any
such proceeding. The Company has appointed Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Barclays Bank PLC,
000
Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, as its authorized agent (the "Authorized
Agent") upon which process may be served in any such action arising out of
or
based on this Deposit Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby which
may be instituted in any state or federal court in New York, New York by the
Depositary or any Holder, and waives any other requirements of or objections
to
personal jurisdiction with respect thereto. The Company represents and warrants
that the Authorized Agent has agreed to act as said agent for service of
process, and the Company agrees to take any and all action, including the filing
of any and all documents and instruments, that may be necessary to continue
such
appointment in full force and effect as aforesaid. Service of process upon
the
Authorized Agent and written notice of such service to the Company shall be
deemed, in every respect, effective service of process upon the Company. If,
for
any reason, the Authorized Agent named above or its successor shall no longer
serve as agent of the Company to receive service of process in New York, the
Company shall promptly appoint a successor acceptable to the Depositary, so
as
to serve and will promptly advise the Depositary thereof. In the event the
Company fails to continue such designation and appointment in full force and
effect, the Company hereby waives personal service of process upon it and
consents that any such service of process may be made by certified or registered
mail, return receipt requested, directed to the Company at its address last
specified for notices hereunder, and service so made shall be deemed completed
five (5) days after the same shall have been so mailed. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Depositary and Holders may commence actions to enforce judgments
issued by New York courts or other orders of such New York courts against the
Company in any competent court in England.
35
To
the
extent that the Company or any of its properties, assets or revenues may have
or
may hereafter be entitled to, or have attributed to it, any right of immunity,
on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise, from any legal action, suit or
proceeding, from the giving of any relief in any respect thereof, from setoff
or
counterclaim, from the jurisdiction of any court, from service of process,
from
attachment upon or prior to judgment, from attachment in aid of execution or
judgment, or from execution of judgment, or other legal process or proceeding
for the giving of any relief or for the enforcement of any judgment, in any
jurisdiction in which proceedings may at any time be commenced, with respect
to
its obligations, liabilities or other matter under or arising out of or in
connection with the Shares or Deposited Securities, the American Depositary
Shares, the Receipts or this Deposit Agreement, the Company, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and
agrees not to plead or claim, any such immunity and consents to such relief
and
enforcement.
36
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, BARCLAYS PLC and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. have duly executed
this agreement as of the day and year first set forth above and all Holders
and
owners shall become parties hereto upon acceptance by them of Receipts issued
in
accordance with the terms hereof.
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
|
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A.,
|
|
as
Depositary
|
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
37
Exhibit
A
to Deposit Agreement
No.
_____________
AMERICAN
DEPOSITARY SHARES
(Each
American Depositary Share represents four (4) deposited Shares)
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A.
AMERICAN
DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
FOR
ORDINARY SHARES
25
XXXXX EACH OF
(INCORPORATED
UNDER THE LAWS OF ENGLAND)
JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A. as depositary (hereinafter called the "Depositary"), hereby
certifies that ,
or
registered assigns IS THE OWNER OF
AMERICAN
DEPOSITARY SHARES
representing
deposited ordinary shares (herein called "Shares") of 25 xxxxx, incorporated
under the laws of England (herein called the "Company"). At the date
hereof, each American Depositary Share represents four (4) Shares which are
either deposited or subject to deposit under the deposit agreement at the London
office of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (herein called the "Custodian").
1
THE
DEPOSITARY'S OFFICE ADDRESS IS
4
NEW YORK PLAZA, 13TH
FLOOR, NEW YORK, N.Y. 10004
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 second
amended and restated deposit agreement, dated as of , 2008 (herein called the
"Deposit Agreement"), by and among the Company, the Depositary, and all Holders
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 Holders
and 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 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
fee of the Depositary provided in this Receipt, and subject to the terms and
conditions of the Deposit Agreement, the Holder hereof is entitled to delivery,
to him or upon his order, of the amount of 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)
Shares in the name of the Holder hereof or as ordered by such Holder or by
certificates properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer
to such Holder or as ordered by him and (b) any other securities, property
and
cash to which such Holder is then entitled in respect of this Receipt to such
Holder or as ordered by him. Such delivery will be made at the option of
the Holder hereof, either at the office of the Custodian or at the Depositary's
Office, provided that the forwarding of certificates for Shares or other
Deposited Securities for such delivery at the Depositary's Office shall be
at
the risk and expense of the Holder hereof. Notwithstanding any other
provision of the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, the surrender of outstanding
Receipts and withdrawal of Deposited Securities may be suspended only for (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.
2
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 Holder hereof in person or by a duly authorized
attorney, 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 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 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 any regulations the Depositary
may establish consistent with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement or this
Receipt.
The
delivery of Receipts against deposits of Shares generally or against deposits
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 or the Company or those maintained by the Foreign Registrar
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 Article (22) hereof. 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, unless a registration statement is in effect as to such
Shares.
4. |
LIABILITY
OF HOLDER 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 Holder hereof to the Depositary.
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 Holder
hereof any part or all of the Deposited Securities represented by the American
Depositary Shares evidenced by this Receipt, and may apply such dividends or
other distributions or the proceeds of any such sale in payment of such tax
or
other governmental charge and the Holder hereof shall remain liable for any
deficiency.
3
5. |
WARRANTIES
OF DEPOSITORS.
|
Every
person depositing Shares under the Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby
to
represent and warrant that such Shares and each certificate therefor, if
applicable, are validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free of any
pre-emptive rights of the holders of outstanding Shares and that the person
making such deposit is duly authorized so to do. Every such person shall
also be deemed to represent that the deposit of such Shares and the sale of
Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares representing such Shares by
that
person are not restricted under the Securities Act. 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 Holder or 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
Foreign Registrar, if applicable, to execute such certificates and to make
such
representations and warranties, as the Depositary may deem necessary or proper.
The Depositary may 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. 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 authority or body
in
the United Kingdom, if any, which is then performing the function of the
regulation of currency exchange.
7. |
CHARGES
OF DEPOSITARY.
|
The
Company agrees to pay 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 Depositary shall present its statement for such charges and expenses
to the Company once every three months. The charges and expenses of the
Custodian are for the sole account of the Depositary.
4
The
following charges shall be incurred 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 Section 4.3
of the Deposit Agreement), or by Holders, as applicable: (1) taxes
and other governmental charges, (2) such registration fees as may from time
to time be in effect for the registration of transfers of Shares generally
on
the Share register of the Company or Foreign Registrar and applicable to
transfers of Shares to or from the name of the Depositary or its nominee or
the
Custodian or its nominee on the making of deposits or withdrawals under the
Deposit Agreement, (3) such cable, telex and facsimile transmission
expenses as are expressly provided in the Deposit Agreement, (4) such
expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in the conversion of foreign currency
pursuant to Section 4.5, (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 Section 2.3, 4.3 or 4.4 of the Deposit Agreement and
the surrender of Receipts pursuant to Section 2.5 or 6.2 of the Deposit
Agreement, (6) a
fee of
U.S.$0.02 or less per American Depositary Share on any cash dividend and cash
distribution made pursuant to the Deposit Agreement and which will be payable
in
the manner described in clause (9) below, (7) a fee for the distribution of
securities pursuant to Section 4.2, such fee being in an amount equal to
the fee for the execution and delivery of American Depositary Shares referred
to
above which would have been charged as a result of the deposit of such
securities (for purposes of this clause (7) treating all such securities as
if they were Shares) but which securities are instead distributed by the
Depositary to Holders, (8) to the extent the Depositary has not collected a
fee
of $0.02 per ADS in a calendar year under (6) above, a fee of $.02 or less
per
American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) for depositary services, which
will accrue on the last day of each calendar year and which will be payable
in
the manner described in clause (9) below; and (9) any other charge payable
by the Depositary, any of the Depositary's agents, including the Custodian,
or
the agents of the Depositary's agents in connection with the servicing of Shares
or other Deposited Securities (which charge shall be assessed against Holders
as
of the date or dates set by the Depositary in accordance with Section 4.6 and
shall be payable at the sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such
Holders for such charge or by deducting such charge from one or more cash
dividends or other cash distributions).
The
Depositary, subject to Section 2.9 of the Deposit Agreement, may own and
deal in any class of securities of the Issuer and its affiliates and in
Receipts.
8. |
PRE-RELEASE
OF RECEIPTS.
|
Unless
requested in writing by the Company to cease doing so, the Depositary may,
notwithstanding Section 2.3 of the Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver
Receipts prior to the receipt of shares pursuant to Section 2.2 of the Deposit
Agreement ("Pre-Release"). The Depositary may, pursuant to Section 2.5 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 and agreement from the
person to whom Receipts are to be delivered (the "Pre-Releasee") that the
Pre-Releasee, or its customer, (i) owns the shares or Receipts to be remitted,
as the case may be, (ii) assigns all beneficial rights, title and interest
in
such Shares or Receipts, as the case may be, to the Depositary in its capacity
as such and for the benefit of the Holders, and (iii) will not take any action
with respect to such Shares or Receipts, as the case may be, that is
inconsistent with the transfer of beneficial ownership (including, without
the
consent of the Depositary, disposing of such Shares or Receipts, as the case
may
be), other than in satisfaction of such Pre-Release, (b) at all times fully
collateralized with cash, U.S. government securities or such other collateral
as
the Depositary determines, in good faith, will provide substantially similar
liquidity and security, (c) terminable by the Depositary on not more than five
(5) business days notice, and (d) subject to such further indemnities and credit
regulations as the Depositary deems appropriate. The number of Shares not
deposited but represented by American Depositary Shares outstanding at any
time
as a result of Pre-Releases will not normally exceed thirty percent (30%) of
the
Shares deposited hereunder; provided, however, that the Depositary reserves
the
right to disregard such limit from time to time as it deems reasonably
appropriate, and may, with the prior written consent of the Company, change
such
limit for purposes of general application. The Depositary will also set
Dollar limits with respect to Pre-Release transactions to be entered into
hereunder with any particular Pre-Releasee on a case-by-case basis as the
Depositary 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 hereunder).
5
The
Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received by it in
connection with the foregoing.
9. |
TITLE
TO RECEIPTS.
|
It
is a
condition of this Receipt and every successive owner and Holder of this Receipt
by accepting or holding the same consents and agrees, that title to this Receipt
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; provided, however, that the Depositary, 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 any distribution of dividends or other
distributions or to any notice provided for in the Deposit Agreement and for
all
other purposes.
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 or facsimile signature of a duly
authorized signatory of the Depositary and, if a Registrar for the Receipts
shall have been appointed, countersigned by the manual or facsimile signature
of
a duly authorized officer of the Registrar.
6
11. |
REPORTS;
INSPECTION OF TRANSFER BOOKS.
|
The
Company is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and, accordingly, files certain reports with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (hereinafter called the "Commission").
Such
reports and communications will be available for inspection and copying at
the
public reference facilities maintained by the Commission located at 000 X Xxxxxx
XX, Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000.
The
Depositary will make available for inspection by Holders 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 shall also, upon written request, send to the Holders of Receipts
copies of such reports furnished by the Company pursuant to the Deposit
Agreement.
The
Depositary shall keep books for the registration of Receipts and transfers
of
Receipts which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the
Holders of Receipts, provided that such inspection shall not be for the purpose
of communicating with Holders of Receipts 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, 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 such dividend
or distribution into Dollars and shall distribute the amount thus received
(net
of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in the Deposit Agreement,
if applicable) to the Holders of Receipts entitled thereto, 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 in respect of any Deposited Securities an amount on account of
taxes, the amount distributed to the Holders of the Receipts evidencing American
Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities shall be reduced
accordingly.
Subject
to the provisions of Sections 4.11 and 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement, whenever
the Depositary shall receive any distribution other than a distribution
described in Sections 4.1, 4.3 or 4.4 of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary
shall cause the securities or property received by it to be distributed to
the
Holders of Receipts entitled thereto, after deduction or upon payment of any
fees and expenses of the Depositary (as provided in Section 5.9 of the Deposit
Agreement) or any taxes or other governmental charges, 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 of Receipts
entitled thereto, or if for any other reason the Depositary deems such
distribution not to be feasible, 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 net proceeds of any such
sale (net of the fees of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.9 of the
Deposit Agreement) shall be distributed by the Depositary to the Holders of
Receipts entitled thereto as in the case of a distribution received in
cash.
7
If
any
distribution upon any Deposited Securities consists of a dividend in, or free
distribution of, Shares, the Depositary may, and shall if the Company shall
so
request, distribute to the Holders 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 of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.9 of the Deposit
Agreement. The Depositary may withhold any such distribution of Receipts
if it has not received satisfactory assurances from the Company that such
distribution does not require registration under the Securities Act 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 shall sell the amount of Shares represented by the aggregate of
such
fractions and distribute the net proceeds, all in the manner and subject to
the
conditions set forth in the Deposit Agreement. 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) 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 Holders of Receipts
entitled thereto.
13. |
CONVERSION
OF FOREIGN CURRENCY.
|
Whenever
the Depositary or the Custodian shall receive foreign currency, by way of
dividends or other distributions or the net proceeds from the sale of
securities, property or rights, and if at the time of the receipt thereof the
foreign currency so received can in the judgment of the Depositary be converted
on a reasonable basis into Dollars and the resulting Dollars transferred to
the
United States, the Depositary shall convert or cause to be converted, by sale
or
in any other manner that it may determine, such foreign currency into Dollars,
and such Dollars shall be distributed to the 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 and shall be net of any
expenses of conversion into Dollars incurred by the Depositary as provided
in
Section 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement.
8
If
such
conversion or distribution can be effected only with the approval or license
of
any government or agency thereof, the Depositary shall file such application
for
approval or license, if any, as it may deem desirable.
If
at any
time the Depositary shall determine that in its judgment any foreign currency
received by the Depositary or the Custodian is not convertible on a reasonable
basis into Dollars transferable to the United States, or if any approval or
license of any government or agency thereof which is required for such
conversion is denied or in the opinion of the Depositary is not obtainable,
or
if any such approval or license is not obtained within a reasonable period
as
determined by the Depositary, the Depositary may distribute the foreign currency
(or an appropriate document evidencing the right to receive such foreign
currency) received by the Depositary to, or in its discretion may hold such
foreign currency uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for
the
respective accounts of, the 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 make such conversion and distribution in Dollars to the extent
permissible to the Holders 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 Holders entitled thereto.
14. |
RIGHTS.
|
In
the
event that the Company shall offer or cause to be offered to the holders of
any
Deposited Securities any rights to subscribe for additional Shares or any rights
of any other nature, the Depositary shall have discretion 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; provided however, that
the
Depositary will, if requested by the Company, take action as follows:
(i) 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 Holders or to certain Holders
but not to other Holders, the Depositary may distribute, to any Holder to whom
it determines the distribution to be lawful and feasible to distribute such
warrants or other instruments therefor in such form as it may determine to
the
Holders entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of American Depositary
Shares representing such Deposited Securities or employ such other method as
it
may deem feasible in order to facilitate the exercise, sale or transfer of
rights by such Holders; or
9
(ii) if
at the
time of the offering of any rights the Depositary determines that it is not
lawful or not feasible to make such rights available to all or certain Holders
by means of warrants or otherwise, or if the rights represented by such warrants
or such other instruments are not exercised and appear to be about to lapse,
the
Depositary in its discretion may sell such rights or such warrants or other
instruments at a public or private sale, at such place or places and upon such
terms as it may deem proper, and may allocate the proceeds of such sales 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 (net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section
5.9 of the Deposit Agreement and all taxes and governmental charges payable
in
connection with such rights and subject to the terms and conditions of this
Deposit Agreement) for the account of such Holders otherwise entitled to such
rights, warrants or other instruments, upon an averaged or other practicable
basis without regard to any distinctions among such Holders because of exchange
restrictions, or the date of delivery of any Receipt or Receipts, or
otherwise.
In
circumstances in which rights would otherwise not be distributed, if a Holder
requests the distribution of warrants or other instruments in order to exercise
the rights allocable to the American Depositary Shares of such Holder hereunder,
the Depositary will as promptly as practicable make such rights available to
such Holder if the Depositary shall have received 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 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 Holders, then upon instruction from such a Holder pursuant to such
warrants or other instruments to the Depositary from such Holder 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 Section 2.2 of the Deposit Agreement, and shall, pursuant
to Section 2.3 of the Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver Receipts to such
Holder.
The
Depositary will not offer 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 Holders or are registered
under the provisions of the Securities Act. If a Holder of Receipts
requests distribution of warrants or other instruments, notwithstanding that
there has been no such registration under such the Securities 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 Holder is exempt from such
registration.
10
The
Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to determine that it may
be
lawful or feasible to make such rights available to Holders in general or any
Holder in particular.
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 for any reason the
Depositary causes a change in the number of Shares that are represented by
each
American Depositary Share, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice
of
any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, the Depositary
shall fix a record date (a) for the determination of the Holders of Receipts
who
shall be (i) entitled to receive such dividend, distribution or rights or the
net proceeds of the sale thereof, (ii) entitled to give instructions for the
exercise of voting rights at any such meeting, or (iii) who shall be responsible
for any fee assessed by the Depositary, or (b) on or after which each American
Depositary Share will represent the changed number of Shares, subject to the
provisions of the Deposit Agreement.
16. |
VOTING
OF DEPOSITED SECURITIES.
|
Upon
receipt of notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited
Securities, if requested in writing by the Company, the Depositary shall, as
soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the Holders of Receipts a notice, the
form of which notice shall be in the discretion of the Depositary, upon
consultation with the Company, which shall contain (a) such information as
is
contained in such notice of meeting, (b) a statement that the Holders of
Receipts as of the close of business on a specified record date will be
entitled, subject to any applicable provision of English law and of the Articles
of Association of the Company, to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise
of
the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the amount of Shares or other Deposited
Securities represented by their respective American Depositary Shares and (c)
a
statement as to the manner in which such instructions may be given, including
instructions to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the
Company. Upon the written request of a Holder of a Receipt on such record
date, received on or before the date established by the Depositary for such
purpose (the "Instruction Date"), the Depositary shall endeavor, in so far
as
practicable 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 in accordance with the instructions set forth in such request. The
Depositary shall not vote or attempt to exercise the right to vote that attaches
to the Shares or other Deposited Securities, other than in accordance with
such
instructions.
11
There
can
be no assurance that Holders generally or any Holder in particular will receive
the notice described in the preceding paragraph sufficiently prior to the
Instruction Date to ensure that the Depositary will vote the Shares or Deposited
Securities in accordance with the provisions set forth in the preceding
paragraph.
17. |
CHANGES
AFFECTING DEPOSITED SECURITIES.
|
In
circumstances where the provisions of Section 4.3 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, if any, 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 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 owner of any
Receipt, if by reason of any provision of any present or future law or
regulation of the United Kingdom, the United States or any other country, or
of
any governmental or regulatory authority or stock exchange, or by reason of
any
provision, present or future, of the Articles of Association of the Company,
or
by reason of any provision of any Securities issued or distributed by the
Company, or any Offering or distribution thereof or by reason of any act of
God
or war or terrorism or other circumstances beyond its control, the Depositary
or
the Company shall be prevented, delayed or forbidden from, or be subject to
any
civil or criminal penalty on account of, doing or performing any act or thing
which by the terms of the Deposit Agreement or Deposited Securities it is
provided shall be done or performed; nor shall the Depositary or the Company
incur any liability to any Holder or owner of a Receipt by reason of any
non-performance or delay, caused as aforesaid, in the performance of any act
or
thing which by the terms of the Deposit Agreement it is provided shall or may
be
done or performed, or by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise,
any
discretion provided for in the Deposit Agreement. Where, by the terms of a
distribution pursuant to Sections 4.1, 4.2 or 4.3 of the Deposit Agreement,
or
an offering or distribution pursuant to Section 4.4 of the Deposit Agreement,
or
for any other reason, such distribution or offering may not be made available
to
Holders of Receipts, 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. Neither the Company nor
the Depositary assumes any obligation or shall be subject to any liability
under
the Deposit Agreement to Holders or owners of Receipts, except that they agree
to perform their obligations specifically set forth in the Deposit Agreement
without gross 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 nonaction by it in reliance upon the advice
of
or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares
for
deposit, any Holder or owner of a Receipt, or any other person believed by
it in
good faith to be competent to give such advice or information. The
Depositary shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by a successor
depositary whether in connection with a previous act or omission of the
Depositary or in connection with any matter arising wholly after the removal
or
resignation of the Depositary, provided that in connection with the issue out
of
which such potential liability arises the Depositary performed its obligations
without negligence or bad faith while it acted as Depositary. The
Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to carry out any
instructions to vote any of the Deposited Securities, or for the manner in
which
any such vote is cast( provided that any such action or nonaction is in good
faith) or for the effect of any such vote. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary set forth in the Deposit Agreement or any Receipt, the Depositary
and
its agents may fully respond to any and all demands or requests for information
maintained by or on its behalf in connection with the Deposit Agreement, any
Holder(s) or beneficial owner(s), any Receipt or Receipts or otherwise related
hereto to the extent such information is requested or required by or pursuant
to
any lawful authority, including without limitation laws, rules, regulations,
administrative or judicial process, banking, securities or other regulators.
Neither the Company nor the Depositary nor any of their respective agents shall
be liable to Holders or beneficial owners for any indirect, special, punitive
or
consequential damages.
12
No
disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act is intended by any provision
of
the Deposit Agreement.
19. |
RESIGNATION
AND REMOVAL OF THE DEPOSITARY.
|
The
Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary under the Deposit Agreement
written notice of its election so to do delivered to the Company, such
resignation to take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and
its acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement.
The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by 120 days prior
written notice of such removal, which shall become effective upon the later
to
occur of the (i) 120th
day
after delivery of the notice to the Depositary or (ii) 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 Holders of Receipts to do so, it may
appoint substitute or additional custodian or custodians.
13
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 Holders and owners in any respect which they may deem
necessary or desirable. Any amendment which shall impose or increase any
fees or charges (other than taxes and other governmental charges, registration
fees, cable, telex or facsimile transmission costs, delivery costs or other
such
expenses), or which shall otherwise prejudice any substantial existing right
of
Holders 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 Holders of outstanding Receipts. Every Holder
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 Holder 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 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. The Depositary may likewise terminate the
Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the Company and
the
Holders of all Receipts then outstanding if at any time 90 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 Holder of a Receipt will, upon
(a) surrender of such Receipt at the Depositary's Office, (b) payment of the
fee
of the Depositary for the surrender of Receipts referred to in Section 2.5
of
the Deposit Agreement 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 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 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 thereunder, 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 its obligations to the Depositary under
Sections 5.8 and 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement.
14
22. |
COMPLIANCE
WITH U.S. SECURITIES LAWS.
|
Notwithstanding
anything in the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt to the contrary, the Company
and the Depositary each agrees that it will not exercise any rights it has
under
the Deposit Agreement to permit the withdrawal or delivery of Deposited
Securities in a manner which would violate the U.S. securities laws, including,
but not limited to, Section I.A.(1) of the General Instructions to the Form
F-6
Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, under the Securities
Act.
23. |
APPOINTMENT.
|
Each
Holder and owner, upon acceptance of any American Depositary Share (or any
interest therein) issued in accordance with the terms and conditions of the
Deposit Agreement shall be deemed for all purposes to (a) be a party to and
bound by the terms of the Deposit Agreement and the applicable Receipt(s),
and
(b) appoint the Depositary its attorney-in-fact, with full power to delegate,
to
act on its behalf and to take any and all actions contemplated in the Deposit
Agreement and the applicable Receipt(s), to adopt any and all procedures
necessary to comply with applicable law and to take such action as the
Depositary in its sole discretion may deem necessary or appropriate to carry
out
the purposes of the Deposit Agreement and the applicable Receipt(s), the taking
of such actions to be the conclusive determinant of the necessity and
appropriateness thereof.
15