EXECUTION COPY
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
by and among
BRASIL TELECOM S.A.
AND
CITIBANK, N.A.,
as Depositary,
AND
THE HOLDERS AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS
OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES EVIDENCED BY
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ISSUED HEREUNDER
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated as of November 16, 2001
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS....................................................................1
Section 1.1 "Affiliate"...............................................2
Section 1.2 "ADS Record Date".........................................2
Section 1.3 "American Depositary Receipt(s)", "ADR(s)" and
"Receipt(s)"..............................................2
Section 1.4 "American Depositary Share(s)" and "ADS(s)"...............2
Section 1.5 "Applicant"...............................................2
Section 1.6 "Beneficial Owner"........................................2
Section 1.7 "Brazil"..................................................2
Section 1.8 "CBLC"....................................................2
Section 1.9 "Commission"..............................................3
Section 1.10 "Company".................................................3
Section 1.11 "Custodian"...............................................3
Section 1.12 "Deliver" and "Delivery"..................................3
Section 1.13 "Deposit Agreement".......................................3
Section 1.14 "Depositary"..............................................3
Section 1.15 "Deposited Securities"....................................3
Section 1.16 "Dollars" and "$".........................................3
Section 1.17 "DTC".....................................................4
Section 1.18 "DTC Participant".........................................4
Section 1.19 "Exchange Act"............................................4
Section 1.20 "Foreign Currency"........................................4
Section 1.21 "Full Entitlement ADR(s)", "Full Entitlement ADS(s)"
and "Full Entitlement Share(s)"...........................4
Section 1.22 "Holder(s)"...............................................4
Section 1.23 "Memorandum and Articles of Association"..................4
Section 1.24 "Partial Entitlement ADR(s)", "Partial Entitlement
ADS(s)" and "Partial Entitlement Share(s)"................4
Section 1.25 "Pre-Release Transaction".................................4
Section 1.26 "Principal Office"........................................5
Section 1.27 "Real," "Reais" and "R$"..................................5
Section 1.28 "Registrar"...............................................5
Section 1.29 "Restricted Securities"...................................5
Section 1.30 "Restricted ADR(s)", "Restricted ADS(s)" and
"Restricted Shares".......................................5
Section 1.31 "Securities Act"..........................................5
Section 1.32 "Share Registrar".........................................6
Section 1.33 "Shares"..................................................6
Section 1.34 "United States" and "U.S."................................6
ARTICLE II
APPOINTMENT OF DEPOSITARY; FORM OF RECEIPTS; DEPOSIT OF SHARES; EXECUTION
AND DELIVERY, TRANSFER AND SURRENDER OF RECEIPTS...............................6
Section 2.1 Appointment of Depositary.................................6
Section 2.2 Form and Transferability of ADRs..........................6
Section 2.3 Deposit with Custodian....................................8
Section 2.4 Registration and Safekeeping of Deposited Securities......9
Section 2.5 Execution and Delivery of ADRs............................9
Section 2.6 Transfer, Combination and Split-up of ADRs...............10
Section 2.7 Surrender of ADSs and Withdrawal of Deposited
Securities...............................................11
Section 2.8 Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer, etc.
of ADRs; Suspension of Delivery, Transfer, etc...........12
Section 2.9 Lost ADRs, etc...........................................13
Section 2.10 Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered ADRs;
Maintenance of Records...................................13
Section 2.11 Partial Entitlement ADSs.................................14
Section 2.12 Restricted ADSs..........................................14
ARTICLE III
CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF HOLDERS AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF ADSs..................16
Section 3.1 Proofs, Certificates and Other Information...............16
Section 3.2 Liability for Taxes and Other Charges....................16
Section 3.3 Representations and Warranties on Deposit of Shares......17
Section 3.4 Compliance with Information Requests.....................17
Section 3.5 Ownership Restrictions...................................18
ARTICLE IV
THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES......................................................18
Section 4.1 Cash Distributions.......................................18
Section 4.2 Distribution in Shares...................................19
Section 4.3 Elective Distributions in Cash or Shares.................19
Section 4.4 Distribution of Rights to Purchase Additional ADSs.......21
Section 4.5 Distributions Other Than Cash, Shares or Rights to
Purchase Shares..........................................22
Section 4.6 Redemption...............................................23
Section 4.7 Conversion of Foreign Currency...........................24
Section 4.8 Fixing of ADS Record Date................................25
Section 4.9 Voting of Deposited Securities...........................25
Section 4.10 Changes Affecting Deposited Securities...................26
Section 4.11 Available Information....................................27
Section 4.12 Reports..................................................27
Section 4.13 List of Holders..........................................27
Section 4.14 Taxation.................................................27
ARTICLE V
THE DEPOSITARY, THE CUSTODIAN AND THE COMPANY.................................28
Section 5.1 Maintenance of Office and Transfer Books by the
Registrar................................................28
Section 5.2 Exoneration..............................................29
Section 5.3 Standard of Care.........................................30
Section 5.4 Resignation and Removal of the Depositary; Appointment
of Successor Depositary..................................30
Section 5.5 The Custodian............................................31
Section 5.6 Notices and Reports......................................32
Section 5.7 Issuance of Additional Shares, ADSs etc..................33
Section 5.8 Indemnification..........................................34
Section 5.9 Fees and Charges of Depositary...........................35
Section 5.10 Pre-Release Transactions.................................35
Section 5.11 Restricted Securities Owners.............................36
ARTICLE VI
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION.....................................................36
Section 6.1 Amendment/Supplement.....................................36
Section 6.2 Termination..............................................37
ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS.................................................................38
Section 7.1 Counterparts.............................................38
Section 7.2 No Third-Party Beneficiaries.............................38
Section 7.3 Severability.............................................38
Section 7.4 Holders and Beneficial Owners as Parties; Binding
Effect...................................................38
Section 7.5 Notices..................................................39
Section 7.6 Governing Law and Jurisdiction...........................40
Section 7.7 Assignment...............................................41
Section 7.8 Compliance with U.S. Securities Laws.....................41
Section 7.9 Brazilian Law References.................................41
Section 7.10 Titles and References....................................42
EXHIBITS
Form of ADR.............................................A-1
Fee Schedule............................................B-1
DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
DEPOSIT AGREEMENT, dated as of November 16, 2001, by and among (i) Brasil
Telecom S.A., a corporation organized under the laws of the Federative Republic
of Brazil, and its successors (the "Company"), (ii) CITIBANK, N.A., a national
banking association organized under the laws of the United States of America
acting in its capacity as depositary, and any successor depositary hereunder
(the "Depositary"), and (iii) all Holders and Beneficial Owners of American
Depositary Shares evidenced by American Depositary Receipts issued hereunder
(all such capitalized terms as hereinafter defined).
W I T N E S S E T H T H A T:
WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized and has outstanding preferred
shares, without par value (the "Shares") which are listed for trading on the Sao
Paulo Stock Exchange; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to establish with the Depositary an ADR
facility to provide for the deposit of the Shares and the creation of American
Depositary Shares representing the Shares so deposited and for the execution and
delivery of American Depositary Receipts evidencing such American Depositary
Shares; and
WHEREAS, the Depositary is willing to act as the Depositary for such ADR
facility upon the terms set forth in this Deposit Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the American Depositary Receipts evidencing the American
Depositary Shares issued pursuant to the terms of this Deposit Agreement are to
be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto, with appropriate
insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided in this Deposit
Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the American Depositary Shares to be issued pursuant to the terms
of this Deposit Agreement are to be listed for trading on The New York Stock
Exchange, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (or an authorized committee
thereof) has duly approved the establishment of an ADR facility upon the terms
set forth in this Deposit Agreement (as hereinafter defined), the execution and
delivery of this Deposit Agreement on behalf of the Company, and the actions of
the Company and the transactions contemplated herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
All capitalized terms used, but not otherwise defined, herein shall have
the meanings set forth below, unless otherwise clearly indicated:
Section 1.1 "Affiliate" shall have the meaning assigned to such term by
the Commission (as hereinafter defined) under Regulation C promulgated under the
Securities Act (as hereinafter defined), or under any successor regulation
thereto.
Section 1.2 "ADS Record Date" shall have the meaning given to such term in
Section 4.8.
Section 1.3 "American Depositary Receipt(s)", "ADR(s)" and "Receipt(s)"
shall mean the certificate(s) issued by the Depositary to evidence the American
Depositary Shares issued under the terms of this Deposit Agreement, as such ADRs
may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this
Deposit Agreement. An ADR may evidence any number of ADSs and may, in the case
of ADSs held through a central depository such as DTC, be in the form of a
"Balance Certificate."
Section 1.4 "American Depositary Share(s)" and "ADS(s)" shall mean the
rights and interests in the Deposited Securities granted to the Holders and
Beneficial Owners pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement
and the ADRs issued hereunder to evidence such ADSs. Each ADS shall represent
3,000 Share(s) until there shall occur a distribution upon Deposited Securities
referred to in Section 4.2 or a change in Deposited Securities referred to in
Section 4.10 with respect to which additional ADSs are not issued, and
thereafter each ADS shall represent the Deposited Securities determined in
accordance with the terms of such Sections.
Section 1.5 "Applicant" shall have the meaning given to such term in
Section 5.10.
Section 1.6 "Beneficial Owner" shall mean, as to any ADS, any person or
entity having a beneficial interest deriving from the ownership of such ADS. A
Beneficial Owner of ADSs may or may not be the Holder of the ADR(s) evidencing
such ADSs. A Beneficial Owner shall be able to exercise any right or receive any
benefit hereunder solely through the person who is the Holder of the ADR(s)
evidencing the ADSs owned by such Beneficial Owner.
Section 1.7 "Brazil" shall mean the Federative Republic of Brazil.
Section 1.8 "CBLC" shall mean Companhia Brasileira de Liquidacao e
Custodia S.A., which provides the book-entry settlement system for equity
securities in Brazil, or any successor entity thereto.
Section 1.9 "Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission
of the United States or any successor governmental agency thereto in the United
States.
Section 1.10 "Company" shall mean Brasil Telecom S.A., a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of Brazil, and its successors.
Section 1.11 "Custodian" shall mean, as of the date hereof, Banco
Bradesco, having its principal office at 4010-0 Dep. de Acoes e Custodia, Cidade
de Deus, Xx. Xxxx, X/X Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx 0 Xxxx, 0000-000, Osasco-Sao Paulo,
Brazil, as the custodian for the purposes of this Deposit Agreement, and any
other entity that may be appointed by the Depositary pursuant to the terms of
Section 5.5 as successor or substitute custodian hereunder.
2
Section 1.12 "Deliver" and "Delivery" shall mean, when used in respect of
ADSs, ADRs, Deposited Securities and Shares, either (i) the physical delivery of
the certificate(s) representing such securities, or (ii) the electronic delivery
of such securities by means of book-entry transfer, if available.
Section 1.13 "Deposit Agreement" shall mean this Deposit Agreement and all
exhibits hereto, as the same may from time to time be amended and supplemented
from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.
Section 1.14 "Depositary" shall mean Citibank, N.A., a national banking
association organized under the laws of the United States, in its capacity as
depositary under the terms of this Deposit Agreement, and any successor
depositary hereunder.
Section 1.15 "Deposited Securities" shall mean Shares at any time
deposited under this Deposit Agreement and any and all other securities,
property and cash held by the Depositary or the Custodian in respect thereof,
subject, in the case of cash, to the provisions of Section 4.8. The collateral
delivered in connection with Pre-Release Transactions described in Section 5.10
hereof shall not constitute Deposited Securities.
Section 1.16 "Dollars" and "$" shall refer to the lawful currency of the
United States.
Section 1.17 "DTC" shall mean The Depository Trust Company, a national
clearinghouse and the central book-entry settlement system for securities traded
in the United States and, as such, the custodian for the securities of DTC
Participants (as hereinafter defined) maintained in DTC, and any successor
thereto.
Section 1.18 "DTC Participant" shall mean any financial institution (or
any nominee of such institution) having one or more participant accounts with
DTC for receiving, holding and delivering the securities and cash held in DTC.
Section 1.19 "Exchange Act" shall mean the United States Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
Section 1.20 "Foreign Currency" shall mean any currency other than
Dollars.
Section 1.21 "Full Entitlement ADR(s)", "Full Entitlement ADS(s)" and
"Full Entitlement Share(s)" shall have the respective meanings set forth in
Section 2.11.
Section 1.22 "Holder(s)" shall mean the person(s) in whose name an ADR is
registered on the books of the Depositary (or the Registrar, if any) maintained
for such purpose. A Holder may or may not be a Beneficial Owner. If a Holder is
not the Beneficial Owner of the ADSs evidenced by the ADR registered in its
name, such person shall be deemed to have all requisite authority to act on
behalf of the Beneficial Owners of the ADSs evidenced by such ADR.
Section 1.23 "Memorandum and Articles of Association" shall mean the
Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, as from time to time
amended.
3
Section 1.24 "Partial Entitlement ADR(s)", "Partial Entitlement ADS(s)"
and "Partial Entitlement Share(s)" shall have the respective meanings set forth
in Section 2.11.
Section 1.25 "Pre-Release Transaction" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5.10.
Section 1.26 "Principal Office" shall mean, when used with respect to the
Depositary, the principal office of the Depositary at which at any particular
time its depositary receipts business shall be administered, which, at the date
of this Deposit Agreement, is located at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx
00000, X.X.X.
Section 1.27 "Real," "Reais" and "R$" shall refer to the lawful currency
of Brazil.
Section 1.28 "Registrar" shall mean the Depositary or, with the consent of
the Company, any bank or trust company having an office in the Borough of
Manhattan, The City of New York, which shall be appointed by the Depositary to
register ownership, issuances, transfers and cancellations of ADRs as herein
provided, and shall include any co-registrar appointed by the Depositary, with
the consent of the Company, for such purposes. Registrars (other than the
Depositary) may be removed and substitutes appointed by the Depositary, with the
consent of the Company. Each Registrar (other than the Depositary) appointed
pursuant to this Deposit Agreement shall be required to give notice in writing
to the Depositary accepting such appointment and agreeing to be bound by the
applicable terms of this Deposit Agreement.
Section 1.29 "Restricted Securities" shall mean Shares, Deposited
Securities or ADSs which (i) have been acquired directly or indirectly from the
Company or any of its Affiliates in a transaction or chain of transactions not
involving any public offering and are subject to resale limitations under the
Securities Act or the rules issued thereunder, or (ii) are held by an officer or
director (or persons performing similar functions) or other Affiliate of the
Company, or (iii) are subject to other restrictions on sale or deposit under the
laws of the United States, Brazil, or under a shareholder agreement or the
Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company or under the regulations
of an applicable securities exchange unless, in each case, such Shares,
Deposited Securities or ADSs are being transferred or sold to persons other than
an Affiliate of the Company in a transaction (a) covered by an effective resale
registration statement, or (b) exempt from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act (as hereinafter defined), and the Shares, Deposited Securities or
ADSs are not, when held by such person(s), Restricted Securities.
Section 1.30 "Restricted ADR(s)", "Restricted ADS(s)" and "Restricted
Shares" shall have the respective meanings set forth in Section 2.12.
4
Section 1.31 "Securities Act" shall mean the United States Securities Act
of 1933, as amended from time to time.
Section 1.32 "Share Registrar" shall mean Banco Bradesco S.A. or any other
institution organized under the laws of Brazil subsequently appointed by the
Company to carry out the duties of registrar for the Shares, and any successor
thereto.
Section 1.33 "Shares" shall mean the Company's preferred shares, without
par value, validly issued and outstanding and fully paid and may, if the
Depositary so agrees after consultation with the Company, include evidence of
the right to receive Shares; provided that in no event shall Shares include
evidence of the right to receive Shares with respect to which the full purchase
price has not been paid or Shares as to which preemptive rights have theretofore
not been validly waived or exercised; provided further, however, that, if there
shall occur any change in par value, split-up, consolidation, reclassification,
exchange, conversion or any other event described in Section 4.10 in respect of
the Shares of the Company, the term "Shares" shall thereafter, to the maximum
extent permitted by law, represent the successor securities resulting from such
event.
Section 1.34 "United States" and "U.S." shall have the meaning assigned to
it under Regulation S under the Securities Act.
ARTICLE II
APPOINTMENT OF DEPOSITARY; FORM OF RECEIPTS;
DEPOSIT OF SHARES; EXECUTION
AND DELIVERY, TRANSFER AND SURRENDER OF RECEIPTS
Section 2.1 Appointment of Depositary. The Company hereby appoints the
Depositary as depositary for the Deposited Securities and hereby authorizes and
directs the Depositary to act in accordance with the terms and conditions set
forth in this Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADRs. Each Holder and each
Beneficial Owner, upon acceptance of any ADSs (or any interest therein) issued
in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement shall be
deemed for all purposes to (a) be a party to and bound by the terms of this
Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR(s), and (b) appoint the Depositary its
attorney-in-fact, with full power to delegate, to act on its behalf and to take
any and all actions contemplated in this Deposit Agreement and the applicable
ADR(s), to adopt any and all procedures necessary to comply with applicable law
and to take such action as the Depositary in its sole discretion may deem
necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this Deposit Agreement and
the applicable ADR(s), the taking of such actions to be the conclusive
determinant of the necessity and appropriateness thereof.
Section 2.2 Form and Transferability of ADRs.
(a) Form. ADSs shall be evidenced by definitive ADRs which shall be
engraved, printed, lithographed or produced in such other manner as may be
agreed upon by the Company and the Depositary. ADRs may be issued under the
Deposit Agreement in denominations of any whole number of ADSs. The ADRs shall
be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A attached to this Deposit
Agreement, with any appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, in each
5
case as otherwise contemplated in this Deposit Agreement or required by law.
ADRs shall be (i) dated, (ii) signed by the manual or facsimile signature of a
duly authorized signatory of the Depositary, (iii) countersigned by the manual
or facsimile signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Registrar, and (iv)
registered in the books maintained by the Registrar for the registration of
issuances and transfers of ADRs. No ADR and no ADS evidenced thereby shall be
entitled to any benefits under this Deposit Agreement or be valid or enforceable
for any purpose against the Depositary or the Company, unless such ADR shall
have been so duly dated, signed, countersigned and registered in accordance with
the terms hereof. ADRs bearing the facsimile signature of a duly-authorized
signatory of the Depositary or the Registrar, who at the time of signature was a
duly-authorized signatory of the Depositary or the Registrar, as the case may
be, shall bind the Depositary, notwithstanding the fact that such signatory has
ceased to be so authorized prior to the delivery of such ADR by the Depositary.
The ADRs shall bear a CUSIP number that is different from any CUSIP number that
was, is or may be assigned to any depositary receipts previously or subsequently
issued pursuant to any other arrangement between the Depositary (or any other
depositary) and the Company and which are not ADRs issued hereunder.
(b) Legends. The ADRs may be endorsed with, or have incorporated in the
text thereof, such legends or recitals not inconsistent with the provisions of
this Deposit Agreement as (i) may be necessary to enable the Depositary and the
Company to perform their respective obligations hereunder, (ii) may be required
to comply with any applicable laws or regulations, or with the rules and
regulations of any securities exchange or market upon which ADSs may be traded,
listed or quoted, or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, (iii) may
be necessary to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any
particular ADRs or ADSs are subject by reason of the date of issuance of the
Deposited Securities or otherwise, or (iv) may be required by any book-entry
system in which the ADSs are held. Holders and Beneficial Owners shall be
deemed, for all purposes, to have notice of, and to be bound by, the terms and
conditions of the legends set forth, in the case of Holders, on the ADR
registered in the name of the applicable Holders or, in the case of Beneficial
Owners, on the ADR representing the ADSs owned by such Beneficial Owners.
(c) Title. Subject to the limitations contained herein and in the ADR,
title to an ADR (and to each ADS evidenced thereby) shall be transferable upon
the same terms as a certificated security under the laws of the State of New
York, provided that such ADR has been properly endorsed or is accompanied by
proper instruments of transfer. Notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, the
Depositary and the Company may deem and treat the Holder of an ADR (that is, the
person in whose name an ADR is registered on the books of the Depositary) as the
absolute owner thereof for all purposes. Neither the Depositary nor the Company
shall have any obligation nor be subject to any liability under this Deposit
Agreement or any ADR to any holder of an ADR or any Beneficial Owner unless such
holder is the Holder of such ADR registered on the books of the Depositary or,
in the case of a Beneficial Owner, such Beneficial Owner, or the Beneficial
Owner's representative, is the Holder registered on the books of the Depositary.
(d) Book-Entry Systems. The Depositary shall make arrangements for the
acceptance of the ADSs into DTC. A single ADR in the form of a "Balance
Certificate" will evidence all ADSs held through DTC and will be registered in
the name of the nominee for DTC (currently "Cede & Co.") and will provide that
it represents the aggregate amount of ADSs from time to time indicated in the
records of the Depositary as being issued hereunder and that the aggregate
6
amount of ADSs represented thereby may from time to time be increased or
decreased by making adjustments on such records of the Depositary and of DTC or
its nominee as hereinafter provided. As such, the nominee for DTC will be the
only "Holder" of the ADR evidencing all ADSs held through DTC. Citibank, N.A.
(or such other entity as is appointed by DTC or its nominee) may hold the
"Balance Certificate" as custodian for DTC. Each Beneficial Owner of ADSs held
through DTC must rely upon the procedures of DTC and the DTC Participants to
exercise or be entitled to any rights attributable to such ADSs. The DTC
Participants shall for all purposes be deemed to have all requisite power and
authority to act on behalf of the Beneficial Owners of the ADSs held in the DTC
Participants' respective accounts in DTC and the Depositary shall for all
purposes be authorized to rely upon any instructions and information given to it
by DTC Participants on behalf of Beneficial Owners of ADSs. So long as ADSs are
held through DTC or unless otherwise required by law, ownership of beneficial
interests in the ADR registered in the name of the nominee for DTC will be shown
on, and transfers of such ownership will be effected only through, records
maintained by (i) DTC or its nominee (with respect to the interests of DTC
Participants), or (ii) DTC Participants or their nominees (with respect to the
interests of clients of DTC Participants).
Section 2.3 Deposit with Custodian. Subject to the terms and conditions of
this Deposit Agreement and applicable law, Shares or evidence of rights to
receive Shares (other than Restricted Securities) may be deposited by any person
(including the Depositary in its individual capacity but subject, however, in
the case of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, to Section 5.7 hereof)
at any time, whether or not the transfer books of the Company or the Share
Registrar, if any, are closed, by Delivery of the Shares to the Custodian. Every
deposit of Shares shall be accompanied by the following: (A) (i) in the case of
Shares represented by certificates issued in registered form, appropriate
instruments of transfer or endorsement, in a form satisfactory to the Custodian,
(ii) in the case of Shares represented by certificates in bearer form. the
requisite coupons and talons pertaining thereto, and (iii) in the case of Shares
delivered by book-entry transfer, confirmation of such book-entry transfer to
the Custodian or that irrevocable instructions have been given to cause such
Shares to be so transferred, (B) such certifications and payments (including,
without limitation, the Depositary's fees and related charges) and evidence of
such payments (including, without limitation, stamping or otherwise marking such
Shares by way of receipt) as may be required by the Depositary or the Custodian
in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement and applicable law,
(C) if the Depositary so requires, a written order directing the Depositary to
execute and deliver to, or upon the written order of, the person(s) stated in
such order the ADR(s) for the number of ADSs representing the Shares so
deposited, (D) evidence satisfactory to the Depositary (which may be an opinion
of counsel) that all necessary approvals have been granted by, or there has been
compliance with the rules and regulations of, any applicable governmental agency
in Brazil, and (E) if the Depositary so requires, (i) an agreement, assignment
or instrument satisfactory to the Depositary or the Custodian which provides for
the prompt transfer by any person in whose name the Shares are or have been
recorded to the Custodian of any distribution, or right to subscribe for
additional Shares or to receive other property in respect of any such deposited
Shares or, in lieu thereof, such indemnity or other agreement as shall be
satisfactory to the Depositary or the Custodian and (ii) if the Shares are
registered in the name of the person on whose behalf they are presented for
deposit, a proxy or proxies entitling the Custodian to exercise voting rights in
respect of the Shares for any and all purposes until the Shares so deposited are
registered in the name of the Depositary, the Custodian or any of their
respective nominees.
7
Without limiting any other provision of this Deposit Agreement, the
Depositary shall instruct the Custodian not to, and the Depositary shall not
knowingly, accept for deposit (a) any Restricted Securities (except as
contemplated by Section 2.12) nor (b) any fractional Shares or fractional
Deposited Securities nor (c) a number of Shares or Deposited Securities which
upon application of the ADS to Shares ratio would give rise to fractional ADSs.
No Share shall be accepted for deposit unless accompanied by evidence, if any is
required by the Depositary, that is reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary or
the Custodian that all conditions to such deposit have been satisfied by the
person depositing such Shares under the laws and regulations of Brazil and any
necessary approval has been granted by any applicable governmental body in
Brazil, if any. The Depositary may issue ADSs against evidence of rights to
receive Shares from the Company, any agent of the Company or any custodian,
registrar, transfer agent, clearing agency or other entity involved in ownership
or transaction records in respect of the Shares. Such evidence of rights shall
consist of written blanket or specific guarantees of ownership of Shares
furnished by the Company or any such custodian, registrar, transfer agent,
clearing agency or other entity involved in ownership or transaction records in
respect of the Shares.
Section 2.4 Registration and Safekeeping of Deposited Securities. The
Depositary shall instruct the Custodian upon each Delivery of Shares being
deposited hereunder with the Custodian (or other Deposited Securities pursuant
to Article IV hereof), together with the other documents above specified, to
promptly notify the Depositary of such deposit and the person or persons to whom
or upon whose order an ADR or ADRs are deliverable with respect to such deposit.
Deposited Securities shall be held by the Depositary or by a Custodian for the
account and to the order of the Depositary or a nominee in each case on behalf
of the Holders and Beneficial Owners, at such place or places as the Depositary
or the Custodian shall determine.
Without limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary shall not knowingly
accept for deposit under this Deposit Agreement any Shares or other Deposited
Securities required to be registered under the provisions of the Securities Act,
unless a registration statement is in effect as to such Shares or other
Deposited Securities, or any Shares or other Deposited Securities the deposit of
which would violate any provisions of the Memorandum and Articles of Association
of the Company.
Section 2.5 Execution and Delivery of ADRs. The Depositary has made
arrangements with the Custodian to confirm to the Depositary (i) that a deposit
of Shares has been made pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof, (ii) that such Deposited
Securities have been recorded in the name of the Depositary, the Custodian or a
nominee of either on the shareholders' register maintained by or on behalf of
the Company by the Share Registrar if registered Shares have been deposited or,
if deposit is made by book-entry transfer, confirmation of such transfer in the
books of the CBLC, (iii) that all required documents have been received, and
(iv) the person(s) to whom or upon whose order ADSs are deliverable in respect
thereof and the number of ADSs to be so delivered thereby. Such notification may
be made by letter, cable, telex, SWIFT message or, at the risk and expense of
the person making the deposit, by facsimile or other means of electronic
transmission. Upon receiving such notice from the Custodian, the Depositary,
subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement and applicable
law, shall issue the ADSs representing the Shares so deposited to or upon the
order of the person(s) named in the notice delivered to the Depositary and shall
8
execute and deliver at its Principal Office ADRs registered in the name(s)
requested by such person(s) and evidencing the aggregate number of ADSs to which
such person(s) are entitled, but only upon payment to the Depositary of the
charges of the Depositary for accepting a deposit, issuing ADSs and executing
and delivering such ADR(s) (as set forth in Section 5.9 and Exhibit B hereto)
and all taxes and governmental charges and fees payable in connection with such
deposit and the transfer of the Shares and the issuance of the ADR(s). The
Depositary shall only issue ADSs in whole numbers and deliver ADR(s) evidencing
whole numbers of ADSs. Nothing herein shall prohibit any Pre-Release Transaction
upon the terms set forth in this Deposit Agreement.
Section 2.6 Transfer, Combination and Split-up of ADRs.
(a) Transfer. The Registrar shall register the transfer of ADRs (and of
the ADSs represented thereby) on the books maintained for such purpose and the
Depositary shall (x) cancel such ADRs and execute new ADRs evidencing the same
aggregate number of ADSs as those evidenced by the ADRs canceled by the
Depositary, (y) cause the Registrar to countersign such new ADRs and (z) Deliver
such new ADRs to or upon the order of the person entitled thereto, if each of
the following conditions has been satisfied: (i) the ADRs have been duly
Delivered by the Holder (or by a duly authorized attorney of the Holder) to the
Depositary at its Principal Office for the purpose of effecting a transfer
thereof, (ii) the surrendered ADRs have been properly endorsed or are
accompanied by proper instruments of transfer (including signature guarantees in
accordance with standard securities industry practice), (iii) the surrendered
ADRs have been duly stamped (if required by the laws of the State of New York or
of the United States), and (iv) all applicable fees and charges of, and expenses
incurred by, the Depositary and all applicable taxes and governmental charges
(as are set forth in Section 5.9 and Exhibit B hereto) have been paid, subject,
however, in each case, to the terms and conditions of the applicable ADRs, of
this Deposit Agreement and of applicable law, in each case as in effect at the
time thereof.
(b) Combination & Split Up. The Registrar shall register the split-up or
combination of ADRs (and of the ADSs represented thereby) on the books
maintained for such purpose and the Depositary shall (x) cancel such ADRs and
execute new ADRs for the number of ADSs requested, but in the aggregate not
exceeding the number of ADSs evidenced by the ADRs cancelled by the Depositary,
(y) cause the Registrar to countersign such new ADRs and (z) Deliver such new
ADRs to or upon the order of the Holder thereof, if each of the following
conditions has been satisfied: (i) the ADRs have been duly Delivered by the
Holder (or by a duly authorized attorney of the Holder) to the Depositary at its
Principal Office for the purpose of effecting a split-up or combination thereof,
and (ii) all applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the
Depositary and all applicable taxes and governmental charges (as are set forth
in Section 5.9 and Exhibit B hereto) have been paid, subject, however, in each
case, to the terms and conditions of the applicable ADRs, of this Deposit
Agreement and of applicable law, in each case as in effect at the time thereof.
(c) Co-Transfer Agents. The Depositary may, with the consent of the
Company, appoint one or more co-transfer agents for the purpose of effecting
transfers, combinations and split-ups of ADRs at designated transfer offices on
behalf of the Depositary. In carrying out its functions, a co-transfer agent may
9
require evidence of authority and compliance with applicable laws and other
requirements by Holders or persons entitled to such ADRs and will be entitled to
protection and indemnity to the same extent as the Depositary. Such co-transfer
agents may be removed and substitutes appointed by the Depositary, with the
consent of the Company. Each co-transfer agent appointed under this Section 2.6
(other than the Depositary) shall give notice in writing to the Depositary
accepting such appointment and agreeing to be bound by the applicable terms of
this Deposit Agreement.
Section 2.7 Surrender of ADSs and Withdrawal of Deposited Securities. The
Holder of ADSs shall be entitled to Delivery (at the Custodian's designated
office) of the Deposited Securities at the time represented by the ADSs upon
satisfaction of each of the following conditions: (i) the Holder (or a
duly-authorized attorney of the Holder) has duly Delivered ADSs to the
Depositary at its Principal Office (and if applicable, the ADRs evidencing such
ADSs) for the purpose of withdrawal of the Deposited Securities represented
thereby, (ii) if so required by the Depositary, the ADRs Delivered to the
Depositary for such purpose have been properly endorsed in blank or are
accompanied by proper instruments of transfer in blank (including signature
guarantees in accordance with standard securities industry practice), (iii) if
so required by the Depositary, the Holder of the ADSs has executed and delivered
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 the person(s) designated in such order, and (iv) all applicable fees
and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and all applicable
taxes and governmental charges (as are set forth in Section 5.9 and Exhibit B
hereof) have been paid, subject, however, in each case, to the terms and
conditions of the ADRs evidencing the surrendered ADSs, of this Deposit
Agreement, of the Company's Memorandum and Articles of Association and of any
applicable laws and the rules of CBLC, and to any provisions of or governing the
Deposited Securities, in each case as in effect at the time thereof.
Upon satisfaction of each of the conditions specified above, the
Depositary (i) shall cancel the ADSs Delivered to it (and, if applicable, the
ADRs evidencing the ADSs so Delivered), (ii) shall direct the Registrar to
record the cancellation of the ADSs so Delivered on the books maintained for
such purpose, and (iii) shall direct the Custodian to Deliver (without
unreasonable delay) at the Custodian's designated office the Deposited
Securities represented by the ADSs so canceled together with any certificate or
other document of title for the Deposited Securities, or evidence of the
electronic transfer thereof (if available), as the case may be, to or upon the
written order of the person(s) designated in the order delivered to the
Depositary for such purpose, subject however, in each case, to the terms and
conditions of the Deposit Agreement, of the ADRs evidencing the ADSs so
cancelled, of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, of any
applicable laws and of the rules of the CBLC, and to the terms and conditions of
or governing the Deposited Securities, in each case as in effect at the time
thereof.
The Depositary shall not accept for surrender ADSs representing less than
one Share. In the case of the Delivery to it of ADSs representing a number other
than a whole number of Shares, the Depositary shall cause ownership of the
appropriate whole number of Shares to be Delivered in accordance with the terms
hereof, and shall, at the discretion of the Depositary, either (i) return to the
person surrendering such ADSs the number of ADSs representing any remaining
fractional Share, or (ii) sell or cause to be sold the fractional Share
represented by the ADSs so surrendered and remit the proceeds of such sale (net
of (a) applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary
and (b) taxes withheld) to the person surrendering the ADSs.
10
Notwithstanding anything else contained in any ADR or this Deposit
Agreement, the Depositary may make delivery at the Principal Office of the
Depositary of (i) any cash dividends or cash distributions, or (ii) any proceeds
from the sale of any distributions of shares or rights, which are at the time
held by the Depositary in respect of the Deposited Securities represented by the
ADSs surrendered for cancellation and withdrawal. At the request, risk and
expense of any Holder so surrendering ADSs, and for the account of such Holder,
the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to forward (to the extent permitted by
law) any cash or other property (other than securities) held by the Custodian in
respect of the Deposited Securities represented by such ADSs to the Depositary
for delivery at the Principal Office of the Depositary. Such direction shall be
given by letter or, at the request, risk and expense of such Holder, by cable,
telex or facsimile transmission.
Section 2.8 Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer, etc. of ADRs;
Suspension of Delivery, Transfer, etc.
(a) Additional Requirements. As a condition precedent to the execution and
delivery, registration of issuance, transfer, split-up, combination or
surrender, of any ADR, the delivery of any distribution thereon, or the
withdrawal of any Deposited Securities, the Depositary or the Custodian may
require (i) payment from the depositor of Shares or presenter of ADSs or of an
ADR of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or other governmental charge
and any stock transfer or registration fee with respect thereto (including any
such tax or charge and fee with respect to Shares being deposited or withdrawn)
and payment of any applicable fees and charges of the Depositary as provided in
Section 5.9 and Exhibit B hereof, (ii) the production of proof reasonably
satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature or any
other matter contemplated by Section 3.1 hereof, and (iii) compliance with (A)
any laws or governmental regulations relating to the execution and delivery of
ADRs or ADSs or to the withdrawal of Deposited Securities and (B) such
reasonable regulations as the Depositary and the Company may establish
consistent with the provisions of the applicable ADR, this Deposit Agreement and
applicable law.
(b) Additional Limitations. The issuance of ADSs against deposits of
Shares generally or against deposits of particular Shares may be suspended, or
the deposit of particular Shares may be refused, or the registration of transfer
of ADRs in particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfers
of ADRs generally may be suspended, during any period when the transfer books of
the Company, the Depositary, a Registrar or the Share Registrar are closed or if
any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary or the
Company, in good faith, at any time or from time to time because of any
requirement of law, any government or governmental body or commission or any
securities exchange on which the ADSs or Shares are listed, or under any
provision of this Deposit Agreement or the applicable ADR(s) or under any
provision of, or governing, the Deposited Securities, or because of a meeting of
shareholders of the Company or for any other reason, subject, in all cases, to
Section 7.8 hereof.
11
(c) Regulatory Restrictions. Notwithstanding any provision of this Deposit
Agreement or any ADR(s) to the contrary, Holders are entitled to surrender
outstanding ADSs to withdraw the Deposited Securities at any time 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, (iii) compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or
governmental regulations relating to the ADRs or to the withdrawal of the
Deposited Securities, and (iv) other circumstances specifically contemplated by
Instruction I.A.(l) of the General Instructions to Form F-6 (as such General
Instructions may be amended from time to time).
Section 2.9 Lost ADRs, etc. In case any ADR shall be mutilated, destroyed,
lost, or stolen, the Depositary shall execute and deliver a new ADR of like
tenor at the expense of the Holder (a) in the case of a mutilated ADR, in
exchange of and substitution for such mutilated ADR upon cancellation thereof,
or (b) in the case of a destroyed, lost or stolen ADR, in lieu of and in
substitution for such destroyed, lost, or stolen ADR, after the Holder thereof
(i) has submitted to the Depositary a written request for such exchange and
substitution before the Depositary has notice that the ADR has been acquired by
a bona fide purchaser, (ii) has provided such security or indemnity (including
an indemnity bond) as may be required by the Depositary to save it and any of
its agents harmless, and (iii) has satisfied any other reasonable requirements
imposed by the Depositary, including, without limitation, evidence satisfactory
to the Depositary of such destruction, loss or theft of such ADR, the
authenticity thereof and the Holder's ownership thereof.
Section 2.10 Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered ADRs; Maintenance
of Records. All ADRs surrendered to the Depositary shall be canceled by the
Depositary. Canceled ADRs shall not be entitled to any benefits under this
Deposit Agreement or be valid or enforceable against the Depositary for any
purpose. The Depositary is authorized to destroy ADRs so canceled, provided the
Depositary maintains a record of all destroyed ADRs. Any ADSs held in book-entry
form (i.e., through accounts at DTC) shall be deemed canceled when the
Depositary causes the number of ADSs evidenced by the Balance Certificate to be
reduced by the number of ADSs surrendered (without the need to physically
destroy the Balance Certificate).
Section 2.11 Partial Entitlement ADSs. In the event any Shares are
deposited which entitle the holders thereof to receive a per-share distribution
or other entitlement in an amount different from the Shares then on deposit (the
Shares then on deposit collectively, "Full Entitlement Shares" and the Shares
with different entitlement, "Partial Entitlement Shares"), the Depositary shall
(i) cause the Custodian to hold Partial Entitlement Shares separate and distinct
from Full Entitlement Shares, and (ii) subject to the terms of this Deposit
Agreement, issue ADSs and deliver ADRs representing Partial Entitlement Shares
which are separate and distinct from the ADSs and ADRs representing Full
Entitlement Shares, by means of separate CUSIP numbering and legending (if
necessary) ("Partial Entitlement ADSs/ADRs" and "Full Entitlement ADSs/ADRs",
respectively). If and when Partial Entitlement Shares become Full Entitlement
Shares, the Depositary shall (a) give notice thereof to Holders of Partial
Entitlement ADSs and give Holders of Partial Entitlement ADRs the opportunity to
exchange such Partial Entitlement ADRs for Full Entitlement ADRs, (b) cause the
Custodian to transfer the Partial Entitlement Shares into the account of the
Full Entitlement Shares, and (c) take such actions as are necessary to remove
the distinctions between (i) the Partial Entitlement ADRs and ADSs, on the one
hand, and (ii) the Full Entitlement ADRs and ADSs on the other. Holders and
Beneficial Owners of Partial Entitlement ADSs shall only be entitled to the
12
entitlements of Partial Entitlement Shares. Holders and Beneficial Owners of
Full Entitlement ADSs shall be entitled only to the entitlements of Full
Entitlement Shares. All provisions and conditions of this Deposit Agreement
shall apply to Partial Entitlement ADRs and ADSs to the same extent as Full
Entitlement ADRs and ADSs, except as contemplated by this Section 2.11. The
Depositary is authorized to take any and all other actions as may be necessary
(including, without limitation, making the necessary notations on ADRs) to give
effect to the terms of this Section 2.11. The Company agrees to give timely
written notice to the Depositary if any Shares issued or to be issued are
Partial Entitlement Shares and shall assist the Depositary with the
establishment of procedures enabling the identification of Partial Entitlement
Shares upon Delivery to the Custodian.
Section 2.12 Restricted ADSs. The Depositary shall, at the request and
expense of the Company, establish procedures enabling the deposit hereunder of
Shares that are Restricted Securities in order to enable the holder of such
Shares to hold its ownership interests in such Restricted Shares in the form of
ADSs issued under the terms hereof (such Shares, "Restricted Shares"). Upon
receipt of a written request from the Company to accept Restricted Shares for
deposit hereunder, the Depositary agrees to establish procedures permitting the
deposit of such Restricted Shares and the issuance of ADSs representing such
deposited Restricted Shares (such ADSs, the "Restricted ADSs," and the ADRs
evidencing such Restricted ADSs, the "Restricted ADRs"). The Company shall
assist the Depositary in the establishment of such procedures and agrees that it
shall take all steps necessary and satisfactory to the Depositary to insure that
the establishment of such procedures does not violate the provisions of the
Securities Act or any other applicable laws. The depositors of such Restricted
Shares and the holders of the Restricted ADSs may be required prior to the
deposit of such Restricted Shares, the transfer of the Restricted ADRs and the
Restricted ADSs evidenced thereby or the withdrawal of the Restricted Shares
represented by Restricted ADSs to provide such written certifications or
agreements as the Depositary or the Company may require. The Company shall
provide to the Depositary in writing the legend(s) to be affixed to the
Restricted ADRs, which legends shall (i) be in a form reasonably satisfactory to
the Depositary and (ii) contain the specific circumstances under which the
Restricted ADRs and the Restricted ADSs represented thereby may be transferred
or the Restricted Shares withdrawn. The Restricted ADSs issued upon the deposit
of Restricted Shares shall be separately identified on the books of the
Depositary and the Restricted Shares so deposited shall be held separate and
distinct from the other Deposited Securities held hereunder. The Restricted
Shares and the Restricted ADSs shall not be eligible for Pre-Release
Transactions. The Restricted ADSs shall not be eligible for inclusion in any
book-entry settlement system, including, without limitation, DTC, and shall not
in any way be fungible with the ADSs issued under the terms hereof that are not
Restricted ADSs. The Restricted ADRs and the Restricted ADSs evidenced thereby
shall be transferable only by the Holder thereof upon delivery to the Depositary
of (i) all documentation otherwise contemplated by this Deposit Agreement and
(ii) an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Depositary setting forth, inter
alia, the conditions upon which the Restricted ADR presented is, and the
Restricted ADSs evidenced thereby are, transferable by the Holder thereof under
13
applicable securities laws and the transfer restrictions contained in the legend
set forth on the Restricted ADR presented for transfer. Except as set forth in
this Section 2.12 and except as required by applicable law, the Restricted ADRs
and the Restricted ADSs evidenced thereby shall be treated as ADRs and ADSs
issued and outstanding under the terms of the Deposit Agreement. In the event
that, in determining the rights and obligations of parties hereto with respect
to any Restricted ADSs, any conflict arises between (a) the terms of this
Deposit Agreement (other than this Section 2.12) and (b) the terms of (i) this
Section 2.12 or (ii) the applicable Restricted ADR, the terms and conditions set
forth in this Section 2.12 and of the Restricted ADR shall be controlling and
shall govern the rights and obligations of the parties to this Deposit Agreement
pertaining to the deposited Restricted Shares, the Restricted ADSs and
Restricted ADRs.
If the Restricted ADRs, the Restricted ADSs and the Restricted Shares are no
longer Restricted Securities, the Depositary, upon receipt of (x) an opinion of
counsel satisfactory to the Depositary setting forth, inter alia, that the
Restricted ADRs, the Restricted ADSs and the Restricted Shares are not as of
such time Restricted Securities, and (y) instructions from the Company to remove
the restrictions applicable to the Restricted ADRs, the Restricted ADSs and the
Restricted Shares, shall (i) eliminate the distinctions and separations between
the applicable Restricted Shares held on deposit under this Section 2.12 and the
other Shares held on deposit under the terms of the Deposit Agreement that are
not Restricted Shares, (ii) treat the newly unrestricted ADRs and ADSs on the
same terms as, and fully fungible with, the other ADRs and ADSs issued and
outstanding under the terms of the Deposit Agreement that are not Restricted
ADRs or Restricted ADSs, (iii) take all actions necessary to remove any
distinctions, limitations and restrictions previously existing under this
Section 2.12 between the applicable Restricted ADRs and Restricted ADSs,
respectively, on the one hand, and the other ADRs and ADSs that are not
Restricted ADRs or Restricted ADSs, respectively, on the other hand, including,
without limitation, by making the newly-unrestricted ADSs eligible for
Pre-Release Transactions and for inclusion in the applicable book-entry
settlement systems.
ARTICLE III
CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF HOLDERS
AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF ADSs
Section 3.1 Proofs, Certificates and Other Information. Any person
presenting Shares for deposit, any Holder and any Beneficial Owner may be
required, and every Holder and Beneficial Owner agrees, from time to time (i) to
provide to the Depositary and the Custodian such proof of, citizenship or
residence, taxpayer status, payment of all applicable taxes or other
governmental charges, exchange control approval, legal or beneficial ownership
of ADSs and Deposited Securities, compliance with applicable laws, compliance
with the terms of this Deposit Agreement or the ADR(s) evidencing the ADSs and
compliance with the provisions of, or governing, the Deposited Securities, (ii)
to execute such certifications and to make such representations and warranties,
and (iii) to provide such other information and documentation (or, in the case
of Shares in registered form presented for deposit, such information relating to
the registration on the books of the Company or of the Share Registrar) as the
Depositary or the Custodian may reasonably deem necessary or proper or as the
Company may reasonably require by written request to the Depositary consistent
with its obligations under this Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR(s). The
Depositary and the Registrar, as applicable, may withhold the execution or
delivery or registration of transfer of any ADR or the distribution or sale of
any dividend or distribution of rights or of the proceeds thereof or, to the
extent not limited by the terms of Section 7.8 hereof, the delivery of any
Deposited Securities until such proof or other information is filed or such
certifications are executed, or such representations are made, or such other
14
documentation or information provided, in each case to the Depositary's, the
Registrar's and the Company's satisfaction. The Depositary shall provide the
Company, in a timely manner, with copies or originals if necessary and
appropriate of (i) any such proofs of citizenship or residence, taxpayer status,
or exchange control approval which it receives from Holders and Beneficial
Owners, and (ii) any other information or documents which the Company may
reasonably request and which the Depositary shall request and receive from any
Holder or Beneficial Owner or any person presenting Shares for deposit or ADSs
for cancellation, transfer or withdrawal. Nothing herein shall obligate the
Depositary to (i) obtain any information for the Company if not provided by the
Holders or Beneficial Owners, or (ii) verify or vouch for the accuracy of the
information so provided by the Holders or Beneficial Owners.
Section 3.2 Liability for Taxes and Other Charges. Any tax or other
governmental charge payable by the Custodian or by the Depositary with respect
to any ADR or any Deposited Securities or ADSs shall be payable by the Holders
and Beneficial Owners to the Depositary. The Company, the Custodian and/or the
Depositary may withhold or deduct from any distributions made in respect of
Deposited Securities and may sell for the account of a Holder and/or Beneficial
Owner any or all of the Deposited Securities and apply such distributions and
sale proceeds in payment of such taxes (including applicable interest and
penalties) or charges, the Holder and the Beneficial Owner remaining liable for
any deficiency. The Custodian may refuse the deposit of Shares and the
Depositary may refuse to issue ADSs, to deliver ADRs, register the transfer,
split-up or combination of ADRs and (subject to Section 2.8) the withdrawal of
Deposited Securities until payment in full of such tax, charge, penalty or
interest is received. Every Holder and Beneficial Owner agrees to indemnify the
Depositary, the Company, the Custodian, and any of their agents, officers,
employees and Affiliates for, and to hold each of them harmless from, any claims
with respect to taxes (including applicable interest and penalties thereon)
arising from any tax benefit obtained for such Holder and/or Beneficial Owner.
Section 3.3 Representations and Warranties on Deposit of Shares. Each
person depositing Shares under the Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to
represent and warrant that (i) such Shares and the certificates therefor are
duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable and legally obtained
by such person, (ii) all preemptive (and similar) rights, if any, with respect
to such Shares have been validly waived or exercised, (iii) the person making
such deposit is duly authorized so to do, (iv) the Shares presented for deposit
are free and clear of any lien, encumbrance, security interest, charge, mortgage
or adverse claim, (v) the Shares presented for deposit are not, and the ADSs
issuable upon such deposit will not be, Restricted Securities (except as
contemplated in Section 2.12), and (vi) the Shares presented for deposit have
not been stripped of any rights or entitlements. Such representations and
warranties shall survive the deposit and withdrawal of Shares, the issuance and
cancellation of ADSs in respect thereof and the transfer of such ADSs. If any
such representations or warranties are false in any way, the Company and the
Depositary shall be authorized, at the cost and expense of the person depositing
Shares, to take any and all actions necessary to correct the consequences
thereof.
Section 3.4 Compliance with Information Requests. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Deposit Agreement or any ADR(s), each Holder and
Beneficial Owner agrees to comply with requests from the Company pursuant to
applicable law, the rules and requirements of the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange, the
New York Stock Exchange and any other stock exchange on which the Shares or ADSs
are, or will be, registered, traded or listed or the Memorandum and Articles of
15
Association of the Company, which are made to provide information, inter alia,
as to the capacity in which such Holder or Beneficial Owner owns ADSs (and
Shares as the case may be) and regarding the identity of any other person(s)
interested in such ADSs and the nature of such interest and various other
matters, whether or not they are Holders and/or Beneficial Owners at the time of
such request. The Depositary agrees to use its reasonable efforts to forward,
upon the request of the Company and at the Company's expense, any such request
from the Company to the Holders and to forward to the Company any such responses
to such requests received by the Depositary.
The Depositary and the Company shall comply with Brazil's Monetary Council
Resolution number 1927, in its third article, and agree to furnish the Brazilian
Securities Commission (Comissao de Valores Mobiliarios) and the Brazilian
Central Bank (Banco Central do Brasil), whenever required information or
documents related to the approved ADR program, the Deposited Securities and
distributions thereon.
Section 3.5 Ownership Restrictions. Notwithstanding any other provision in
this Deposit Agreement or any ADR, the Company may restrict transfers of the
Shares where such transfer might result in ownership of Shares exceeding limits
imposed by applicable law or the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the
Company. The Company may also restrict, in such manner as it deems appropriate,
transfers of the ADSs where such transfer may result in the total number of
Shares represented by the ADSs owned by a single Holder or Beneficial Owner to
exceed any such limits. The Company may, in its sole discretion but subject to
applicable law, instruct the Depositary to take action with respect to the
ownership interest of any Holder or Beneficial Owner in excess of the limits set
forth in the preceding sentence, including, but not limited to, the imposition
of restrictions on the transfer of ADSs, the removal or limitation of voting
rights or mandatory sale or disposition on behalf of a Holder or Beneficial
Owner of the Shares represented by the ADSs held by such Holder or Beneficial
Owner in excess of such limitations, if and to the extent such disposition is
permitted by applicable law and the Memorandum and Articles of Association of
the Company.
ARTICLE IV
THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES
Section 4.1 Cash Distributions. Whenever the Depositary receives
confirmation from the Custodian of the receipt of any cash dividend or other
cash distribution on any Deposited Securities, or receives proceeds from the
sale of any Deposited Securities or any other entitlements held in respect of
Deposited Securities under the terms hereof, the Depositary will (i) if at the
time of receipt thereof any amounts received in a Foreign Currency can in the
reasonable judgment of the Depositary (pursuant to Section 4.7) be converted on
a practicable basis into Dollars transferable to the United States, promptly
convert or cause to be converted such cash dividend, distribution or proceeds
into Dollars (on the terms described in Section 4.7), (ii) if applicable,
establish the ADS Record Date upon the terms described in Section 4.8, and (iii)
distribute promptly the amount thus received (net of (a) the applicable fees and
charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes withheld, in
16
each case, to the extent permitted by the provisions of this Deposit Agreement)
to the Holders entitled thereto as of the ADS Record Date in proportion to the
number of ADSs held as of the ADS Record Date. The Depositary shall distribute
only such amount, however, as can be distributed without attributing to any
Holder a fraction of one cent, and any balance not so distributed shall be held
by the Depositary (without liability for interest thereon) and shall be added to
and become part of the next sum received by the Depositary for distribution to
Holders of ADSs outstanding at the time of the next distribution. If the
Company, the Custodian or the Depositary is required to withhold and does
withhold from any cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of any
Deposited Securities an amount on account of taxes, duties or other governmental
charges, the amount distributed to Holders on the ADSs representing such
Deposited Securities shall be reduced accordingly. Such withheld amounts shall
be forwarded by the Company, the Custodian or the Depositary to the relevant
governmental authority. Evidence of payment thereof by the Company shall be
forwarded by the Company to the Depositary upon request.
Section 4.2 Distribution in Shares. If any distribution upon any Deposited
Securities consists of a dividend in, or free distribution of, Shares, the
Company shall cause such Shares to be deposited with the Custodian and
registered, as the case may be, in the name of the Depositary, the Custodian or
their respective nominees. Upon receipt of confirmation of such deposit from the
Custodian, the Depositary shall establish the ADS Record Date upon the terms
described in Section 4.8 and either (i) the Depositary shall, subject to Section
5.9 hereof, distribute to the Holders as of the ADS Record Date in proportion to
the number of ADSs held as of the ADS Record Date, additional ADSs, which
represent in the aggregate the number of Shares received as such dividend, or
free distribution, subject to the other terms of this Deposit Agreement
(including, without limitation, (a) the applicable fees and charges of, and
expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes, in each case, to the extent
permitted by the provisions of this Deposit Agreement), or (ii) if additional
ADSs are not so distributed, each ADS issued and outstanding after the ADS
Record Date shall, to the extent permissible by law, thenceforth also represent
rights and interests in the additional integral number of Shares distributed
upon the Deposited Securities represented thereby (net of (a) the applicable
fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes). In
lieu of delivering fractional ADSs, the Depositary shall sell the number of
Shares or ADSs, as the case may be, represented by the aggregate of such
fractions and distribute the net proceeds upon the terms described in Section
4.1. In the event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in
property (including Shares) is subject to any tax or other governmental charges
which the Depositary is obligated to withhold, or, if the Company in the
fulfillment of its obligation under Section 5.7 hereof, has furnished an opinion
of U.S. counsel determining that Shares must be registered under the Securities
Act or other laws in order to be distributed to Holders (and no such
registration statement has been declared effective), the Depositary may dispose
of all or a portion of such property (including Shares and rights to subscribe
therefor) in such amounts and in such manner, including by public or private
sale, as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable, and the Depositary
shall distribute the net proceeds of any such sale (after deduction of (a) taxes
and (b) fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary, in each
case, to the extent permitted by the provisions of this Deposit Agreement) to
Holders entitled thereto upon the terms described in Section 4.1. The Depositary
shall hold and/or distribute any unsold balance of such property in accordance
with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement.
17
Section 4.3 Elective Distributions in Cash or Shares. Whenever the Company
intends to make a distribution payable at the election of the holders of Shares
in cash or in additional Shares, the Company shall give notice thereof to the
Depositary at least sixty (60) days prior to the proposed distribution stating
whether or not it wishes such elective distribution to be made available to
Holders of ADSs. Upon timely receipt of notice indicating that the Company
wishes such elective distribution to be made available to Holders of ADSs, the
Depositary shall consult with the Company to determine, and the Company shall
assist the Depositary in its determination, whether it is lawful and reasonably
practicable to make such elective distribution available to the Holders of ADSs.
The Depositary shall make such elective distribution available to Holders only
if (i) the Company shall have timely requested that the elective distribution be
made available to Holders, (ii) the Depositary shall have determined that such
distribution is reasonably practicable and (iii) the Depositary shall have
received documentation within the terms of Section 5.7 reasonably satisfactory
to it. If the above conditions are not satisfied, the Depositary shall, to the
extent permitted by law, distribute to the Holders, on the basis of the same
determination as is made in Brazil in respect of the Shares for which no
election is made, either (X) cash upon the terms described in Section 4.1 or (Y)
additional ADSs representing such additional Shares upon the terms described in
Section 4.2. If the above conditions are satisfied, the Depositary shall
establish an ADS Record Date (on the terms described in Section 4.8) and
establish procedures to enable Holders to elect the receipt of the proposed
distribution in cash or in additional ADSs. The Company shall assist the
Depositary in establishing such procedures to the extent necessary. If a Holder
elects to receive the proposed distribution (X) in cash, the distribution shall
be made upon the terms described in Section 4.1, or (Y) in ADSs, the
distribution shall be made upon the terms described in Section 4.2. Nothing
herein shall obligate the Depositary to make available to Holders a method to
receive the elective distribution in Shares (rather than ADSs). There can be no
assurance that Holders generally, or any Holder in particular, will be given the
opportunity to receive elective distributions on the same terms and conditions
as the holders of Shares.
18
Section 4.4 Distribution of Rights to Purchase Additional ADSs.
(a) Distribution to ADS Holders. Whenever the Company intends to
distribute to the holders of the Deposited Securities rights to subscribe for
additional Shares, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Depositary at
least sixty (60) days prior to the proposed distribution stating whether or not
it wishes such rights to be made available to Holders of ADSs. Upon timely
receipt of a notice indicating that the Company wishes such rights to be made
available to Holders of ADSs, the Depositary shall consult with the Company to
determine, and the Company shall assist the Depositary in its determination,
whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable to make such rights available to
the Holders. The Depositary shall make such rights available to Holders only if
(i) the Company shall have timely requested that such rights be made available
to Holders, (ii) the Depositary shall have received documentation within the
terms of Section 5.7 reasonably satisfactory to it, and (iii) the Depositary
shall have determined that such distribution of rights is reasonably
practicable. In the event any of the conditions set forth above are not
satisfied or if the Company requests that the rights not be made available to
Holders of ADSs, the Depositary shall proceed with the sale of the rights as
contemplated in Section 4.4(b) below. In the event all conditions set forth
above are satisfied, the Depositary shall establish an ADS Record Date (upon the
terms described in Section 4.8) and establish procedures to (x) distribute
rights to purchase additional ADSs (by means of warrants or otherwise), (y) to
enable the Holders to exercise such rights (upon payment of the subscription
price and of the applicable (a) fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by,
the Depositary and (b) taxes), and (z) to deliver ADSs upon the valid exercise
of such rights. The Company shall assist the Depositary to the extent necessary
in establishing such procedures. Nothing herein shall obligate the Depositary to
make available to the Holders a method to exercise rights to subscribe for
Shares (rather than ADSs).
(b) Sale of Rights. If (i) the Company does not timely request the
Depositary to make the rights available to Holders or requests that the rights
not be made available to Holders, (ii) the Depositary fails to receive
documentation within the terms of Section 5.7 reasonably satisfactory to it, or
determines it is not reasonably practicable to make the rights available to
Holders, or (iii) any rights made available are not exercised and appear to be
about to lapse, the Depositary shall determine whether it is lawful and
reasonably practicable to sell such rights, in a riskless principal capacity, at
such place and upon such terms (including public or private sale) as it may deem
practicable. The Company shall assist the Depositary to the extent necessary to
determine such legality and practicability. The Depositary shall, upon such
sale, convert and distribute proceeds of such sale (net of applicable (a) fees
and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes, in each
case, to the extent permitted by the provisions of this Deposit Agreement) upon
the terms set forth in Section 4.1.
(c) Lapse of Rights. If the Depositary is unable to make any rights
available to Holders upon the terms described in Section 4.4(a) or to arrange
for the sale of the rights upon the terms described in Section 4.4(b), the
Depositary shall allow such rights to lapse.
The Depositary shall not be responsible for (i) any failure to determine
that it may be lawful or practicable to make such rights available to Holders in
general or any Holders in particular, (ii) any foreign exchange exposure or loss
incurred in connection with such sale, or exercise, or (iii) the content of any
materials forwarded to the Holders on behalf of the Company in connection with
19
the rights distribution if the Company has provided or approved such materials;
provided, however, if such materials are received by the Depositary from a
person other than the Company or its agent and such materials are required by
law to be forwarded to Holders, the Depositary shall promptly provide the
Company with a copy of such materials for the Company's review and, unless
otherwise required by law, the Company's approval, prior to distribution by the
Depositary to the Holders.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.4, if
registration (under the Securities Act or any other applicable law) of the
rights or the securities to which any rights relate may be required in order for
the Company to offer such rights or such securities to Holders and to sell the
securities represented by such rights, the Depositary will not distribute such
rights to the Holders (i) unless and until a registration statement under the
Securities Act (or other applicable law) covering such offering is in effect or
(ii) unless the Company furnishes the Depositary opinion(s) of counsel for the
Company in the United States and counsel to the Company in any other applicable
country in which rights would be distributed, in each case satisfactory to the
Depositary, to the effect that the offering and sale of such securities to
Holders and Beneficial Owners are exempt from, or do not require registration
under, the provisions of the Securities Act or any other applicable laws.
In the event that the Company, the Depositary or the Custodian shall be
required to withhold and does withhold from any distribution of property
(including rights) an amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges,
the amount distributed to the Holders of ADSs representing such Deposited
Securities shall be reduced accordingly. In the event that the Depositary
determines that any distribution in property (including Shares and rights to
subscribe therefor) is subject to any tax or other governmental charges which
the Depositary is obligated to withhold, the Depositary may dispose of all or a
portion of such property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) in
such amounts and in such manner, including by public or private sale, as the
Depositary reasonably deems necessary and practicable to pay any such taxes or
charges.
There can be no assurance that Holders generally, or any Holder in
particular, will be given the opportunity to receive or exercise rights on the
same terms and conditions as the holders of Shares or be able to exercise such
rights. Nothing herein shall obligate the Company to file any registration
statement in respect of any rights or Shares or other securities to be acquired
upon the exercise of such rights.
Section 4.5 Distributions Other Than Cash, Shares or Rights to Purchase
Shares.
(a) Whenever the Company intends to distribute to the holders of Deposited
Securities property other than cash, Shares or rights to purchase additional
Shares, the Company shall give timely notice thereof to the Depositary and shall
indicate whether or not it wishes such distribution to be made to Holders of
ADSs. Upon receipt of a notice indicating that the Company wishes such
distribution be made to Holders of ADSs, the Depositary shall consult with the
Company, and the Company shall assist the Depositary, to determine whether such
distribution to Holders is lawful and reasonably practicable. The Depositary
shall not make such distribution unless (i) the Company shall have requested the
Depositary to make such distribution to Holders, (ii) the Depositary shall have
received documentation within the terms of Section 5.7 reasonably satisfactory
to it, and (iii) the Depositary shall have determined that such distribution is
reasonably practicable.
20
(b) Upon receipt of satisfactory documentation and the request of the
Company to distribute property to Holders of ADSs and after making the requisite
determinations set forth in (a) above, the Depositary shall distribute the
property so received to the Holders of record, as of the ADS Record Date, in
proportion to the number of ADSs held by them respectively and in such manner as
the Depositary may deem practicable for accomplishing such distribution (i) upon
receipt of payment or net of the applicable fees and charges of, and expenses
incurred by, the Depositary, and (ii) net of any taxes withheld, in each case,
to the extent permitted by the provision of this Deposit Agreement. The
Depositary may dispose of all or a portion of the property so distributed and
deposited, in such amounts and in such manner (including public or private sale)
as the Depositary may reasonably deem practicable or necessary to satisfy any
taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) or other governmental
charges applicable to the distribution.
(c) If (i) the Company does not request the Depositary to make such
distribution to Holders or requests not to make such distribution to Holders,
(ii) the Depositary does not receive satisfactory documentation within the terms
of Section 5.7, or (iii) the Depositary determines that all or a portion of such
distribution is not reasonably practicable, the Depositary shall sell or cause
such property to be sold in a public or private sale, at such place or places
and upon such terms as it may reasonably deem practicable and shall (i) cause
the proceeds of such sale, if any, to be converted into Dollars and (ii)
distribute the proceeds of such conversion received by the Depositary (net of
applicable (a) fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and
(b) taxes, in each case, to the extent permitted by the provision of this
Deposit Agreement) to the Holders as of the ADS Record Date upon the terms of
Section 4.1. If the Depositary is unable to sell such property, the Depositary
may dispose of such property for the account of the Holders in any way it deems
reasonably practicable under the circumstances. Any benefit received upon such
disposition shall be for the pro rata benefit of the Holders.
Section 4.6 Redemption. If the Company intends to exercise any right of
redemption in respect of any of the Deposited Securities, the Company shall give
notice thereof to the Depositary at least sixty (60) days prior to the intended
date of redemption which notice shall set forth the particulars of the proposed
redemption. Upon timely receipt of (i) such notice and (ii) documentation given
by the Company to the Depositary within the terms of Section 5.7 reasonably
satisfactory to it, and only if the Depositary shall have determined that such
proposed redemption is practicable, the Depositary shall provide to each Holder
a notice setting forth the intended exercise by the Company of the redemption
rights and any other particulars set forth in the Company's notice to the
Depositary. The Depositary shall instruct the Custodian to present to the
Company the Deposited Securities in respect of which redemption rights are being
exercised against payment of the applicable redemption price. Upon receipt of
confirmation from the Custodian that the redemption has taken place and that
funds representing the redemption price have been received, the Depositary shall
convert, transfer, and distribute the proceeds (net of applicable (a) fees and
charges of, and the expenses incurred by, the Depositary, and (b) taxes, in each
case, to the extent permitted by the provision of this Deposit Agreement),
retire ADSs and cancel ADRs upon delivery of such ADSs by Holders thereof and
the terms set forth in Sections 4.1 and 6.2 hereof. If less than all outstanding
21
Deposited Securities are redeemed, the ADSs to be retired will be selected by
lot or on a pro rata basis, as may be determined by the Depositary. The
redemption price per ADS shall be the dollar equivalent of the per share amount
received by the Depositary (adjusted to reflect the ADS(s)-to-Share(s) ratio)
upon the redemption of the Deposited Securities represented by ADSs (subject to
the terms of Section 4.8 hereof and the applicable fees and charges of, and
expenses incurred by, the Depositary, and taxes, in each case, to the extent
permitted by the provision of this Deposit Agreement) multiplied by the number
of Deposited Securities represented by each ADS redeemed.
Section 4.7 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, which in the reasonable judgment of the Depositary can at such time be
converted on a practicable basis, by sale or in any other manner that it may
determine in accordance with applicable law, into Dollars transferable to the
United States and distributable to the Holders entitled thereto, 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 shall distribute such
Dollars (net of any applicable fees, any reasonable and customary expenses
incurred in such conversion and any expenses incurred on behalf of the Holders
in complying with currency exchange control or other governmental requirements)
in accordance with the terms of the applicable sections of this Deposit
Agreement. If the Depositary shall have distributed warrants or other
instruments that entitle the holders thereof to such Dollars, the Depositary
shall distribute such Dollars to the holders of such warrants and/or instruments
upon surrender thereof for cancellation, in either case without liability for
interest thereon. Such distribution may be made upon an averaged or other
practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among Holders on account of
any application of exchange restrictions or otherwise.
If such conversion or distribution generally or with regard to a
particular Holder can be effected only with the approval or license of any
government or agency thereof, the Depositary shall have authority to file such
application for approval or license, if any, as it may deem desirable. In no
event, however, shall the Depositary be obligated to make such a filing.
If at any time the Depositary shall determine that in its reasonable
judgment the conversion of any Foreign Currency and the transfer and
distribution of proceeds of such conversion received by the Depositary is not
practicable or lawful, or if any approval or license of any governmental
authority or agency thereof that is required for such conversion, transfer and
distribution is denied or, in the reasonable opinion of the Depositary, not
obtainable at a reasonable cost or within a reasonable period, the Depositary
may, in its discretion, (i) make such conversion and distribution in Dollars to
the Holders for whom such conversion, transfer and distribution is lawful and
practicable, (ii) distribute the Foreign Currency (or an appropriate document
evidencing the right to receive such Foreign Currency) to Holders for whom this
is lawful and practicable or (iii) hold (or cause the Custodian to hold) such
Foreign Currency (without liability for interest thereon) for the respective
accounts of the Holders entitled to receive the same.
Section 4.8 Fixing of ADS Record Date. Whenever the Depositary shall
receive notice of the fixing of a record date by the Company for the
determination of holders of Deposited Securities entitled to receive any
distribution (whether in cash, Shares, rights, or other distribution), or
22
whenever for any reason the Depositary causes a change in the number of Shares
that are represented by each ADS, or whenever the Depositary shall receive
notice of any meeting of, or solicitation of consents or proxies of, holders of
Shares or other Deposited Securities, or whenever the Depositary shall find it
necessary or convenient in connection with the giving of any notice,
solicitation of any consent or any other matter, the Depositary, after
consultation with the Company, shall fix a record date (the "ADS Record Date")
for the determination of the Holders of ADRs who shall be entitled to receive
such distribution, to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any
such meeting, to give or withhold such consent, to receive such notice or
solicitation or to otherwise take action, or to exercise the rights of Holders
with respect to such changed number of Shares represented by each ADS. The
Depositary shall make reasonable efforts to establish the ADS Record Date as
closely as possible to the applicable record date for the Deposited Securities
(if any) set by the Company in Brazil. Subject to applicable law and the
provisions of Section 4.1 through 4.7 and to the other terms and conditions of
this Deposit Agreement, only the Holders of ADRs at the close of business in New
York on such ADS Record Date shall be entitled to receive such distribution, to
give such voting instructions, to receive such notice or solicitation, or
otherwise take action.
Section 4.9 Voting of Deposited Securities. As soon as practicable after
receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of Deposited Securities
are entitled to vote, or of solicitation of consents or proxies from holders of
Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall fix the ADS Record Date in respect of
such meeting or solicitation of consent or proxy in accordance with Section 4.8.
The Depositary shall, if requested by the Company in writing in a timely manner
(the Depositary having no obligation to take any further action if the request
shall not have been received by the Depositary at least thirty (30) days prior
to the date of such vote or meeting), at the Company's expense and provided no
U.S. legal prohibitions exist, distribute to Holders as of the ADS Record Date:
(a) such notice of meeting or solicitation of consent or proxy, (b) a statement
that the Holders at the close of business on the ADS Record Date will be
entitled, subject to any applicable law, the provisions of this Deposit
Agreement, the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company and the
provisions of or governing the Deposited Securities (which provisions, if any,
shall be summarized in pertinent part by the Company), to instruct the
Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the
Deposited Securities represented by such Holder's ADSs, and (c) a brief
statement as to the manner in which such voting instructions may be given.
Voting instructions may be given only in respect of a number of ADSs
representing an integral number of Deposited Securities. Upon the timely receipt
from a Holder of ADSs as of the ADS Record Date of voting instructions in the
manner specified by the Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall
endeavor, insofar as practicable and permitted under applicable law, the
provisions of this Deposit Agreement, Memorandum and Articles of Association of
the Company and the provisions of the Deposited Securities, to vote, or cause
the Custodian to vote, the Deposited Securities (in person or by proxy)
represented by such Holder's ADSs in accordance with such voting instructions.
Neither the Depositary nor the Custodian shall under any circumstances
exercise any discretion as to voting and neither the Depositary nor the
Custodian shall vote, attempt to exercise the right to vote, or in any way make
use of, for purposes of establishing a quorum or otherwise, the Deposited
Securities represented by ADSs, except pursuant to and in accordance with the
voting instructions timely received from Holders or as otherwise contemplated
herein. If the Depositary timely receives voting instructions from a Holder
which fail to specify the manner in which the Depositary is to vote the
23
Deposited Securities represented by such Holder's ADSs, the Depositary will deem
such Holder (unless otherwise specified in the notice distributed to Holders) to
have instructed the Depositary to vote in favor of the items set forth in such
voting instructions. Deposited Securities represented by ADSs for which no
timely voting instructions are received by the Depositary from the Holder shall
not be voted.
Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Deposit Agreement or any
ADR, the Depositary shall not have any obligation to take any action with
respect to any meeting, or solicitation of consents or proxies, of holders of
Deposited Securities if the taking of such action would violate U.S. laws. The
Company agrees to take any and all actions reasonably necessary to enable
Holders and Beneficial Owners to exercise the voting rights accruing to the
Deposited Securities and to deliver to the Depositary an opinion of U.S. counsel
addressing any actions requested to be taken if so requested by the Depositary.
There can be no assurance that Holders generally or any Holder in
particular will receive the notice described above with sufficient time to
enable the Holder to return voting instructions to the Depositary in a timely
manner.
Section 4.10 Changes Affecting Deposited Securities. Upon any change in
nominal or par value, split-up, cancellation, consolidation or any other
reclassification of Deposited Securities, or upon any recapitalization,
reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale of assets affecting the Company
or to which it is a party, any securities which shall be received by the
Depositary or the Custodian in exchange for, or in conversion of or replacement
of or otherwise in respect of, such Deposited Securities shall, to the extent
permitted by law, be treated as new Deposited Securities under this Deposit
Agreement, and the ADRs shall, subject to the provisions of this Deposit
Agreement and applicable law, evidence ADSs representing the right to receive
such additional securities. The Depositary may, with the Company's approval, and
shall, if the Company shall so request, subject to the terms of the Deposit
Agreement and receipt of an opinion of counsel to the Company reasonably
satisfactory to the Depositary that such distributions are not in violation of
any applicable laws or regulations, execute and deliver additional ADRs as in
the case of a stock dividend on the Shares, or call for the surrender of
outstanding ADRs to be exchanged for new ADRs, in either case, as well as in the
event of newly deposited Shares, with necessary modifications to the form of ADR
contained in Exhibit A hereto, specifically describing such new Deposited
Securities or corporate change. The Company agrees to, jointly with the
Depositary, amend the Registration Statement on Form F-6 as filed with the
Commission to permit the issuance of such new form of ADRs. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in the event that any security so received may not be lawfully
distributed to some or all Holders, the Depositary may, with the Company's
approval, and shall, if the Company requests, subject to receipt of an opinion
of Company's counsel satisfactory to the Depositary that such action is not in
violation of any applicable laws or regulations, sell such securities at public
or private sale, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem
proper and may allocate the net proceeds of such sales (net of (a) fees and
charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes) for the
account of the Holders otherwise entitled to such securities upon an averaged or
other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among such Holders
and distribute the net proceeds so allocated to the extent practicable as in the
24
case of a distribution received in cash pursuant to Section 4.1. The Depositary
shall not be responsible for (i) any failure to determine that it may be lawful
or feasible to make such securities available to Holders in general or to any
Holder in particular, (ii) any foreign exchange exposure or loss incurred in
connection with such sale, or (iii) any liability to the purchaser of such
securities.
Section 4.11 Available Information. The Company is subject to the periodic
reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and accordingly files certain
information with the Commission. These reports and documents can be inspected
and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission
located at Judiciary Plaza, 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X., Xxxxxxxxxx X.X. 00000.
Section 4.12 Reports. The Depositary shall make available for inspection
by Holders at its Principal Office any reports and communications, including any
proxy soliciting materials, received from the Company which are both (a)
received by the Depositary, the Custodian, or the nominee of either of them as
the holder of the Deposited Securities and (b) made generally available to the
holders of such Deposited Securities by the Company. The Depositary shall also
provide to Holders copies of such reports when furnished by the Company pursuant
to Section 5.6.
Section 4.13 List of Holders. Promptly upon written request by the
Company, the Depositary shall furnish to it a list, as of a recent date, of the
names, addresses and holdings of ADSs of all Holders.
Section 4.14 Taxation. The Depositary will, and will instruct the
Custodian to, forward to the Company or its agents such information from its
records as the Company may reasonably request to enable the Company or its
agents to file the necessary tax reports with governmental authorities or
agencies. The Depositary, the Custodian or the Company and its agents may file
such reports as are necessary to reduce or eliminate applicable taxes on
dividends and on other distributions in respect of Deposited Securities under
applicable tax treaties or laws for the Holders and Beneficial Owners. In
accordance with instructions from the Company and to the extent practicable, the
Depositary or the Custodian will take reasonable administrative actions to
obtain tax refunds, reduced withholding of tax at source on dividends and other
benefits under applicable tax treaties or laws with respect to dividends and
other distributions on the Deposited Securities. As a condition to receiving
such benefits, Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs may be required from time
to time, and in a timely manner, to file such proof of taxpayer status,
residence and beneficial ownership (as applicable), to execute such certificates
and to make such representations and warranties, or to provide any other
information or documents, as the Depositary or the Custodian may deem reasonably
necessary or proper to fulfill the Depositary's or the Custodian's obligations
under applicable law. The Holders and Beneficial Owners shall indemnify the
Depositary, the Company, the Custodian and any of their respective directors,
employees, agents and Affiliates against, and hold each of them harmless from,
any claims by any governmental authority with respect to taxes, additions to
tax, penalties or interest arising out of any refund of taxes, reduced rate of
withholding at source or other tax benefit obtained.
If the Company (or any of its agents) withholds from any distribution any
amount on account of taxes or governmental charges, or pays any other tax in
respect of such distribution (i.e., stamp duty tax, capital gains or other
25
similar tax), the Company shall (and shall cause such agent to) remit promptly
to the Depositary information about such taxes or governmental charges withheld
or paid, and, if so requested, the tax receipt (or other proof of payment to the
applicable governmental authority) therefor, in each case, in a form
satisfactory to the Depositary. The Depositary shall, to the extent required by
U.S. law, report to Holders any taxes withheld by it or the Custodian, and, if
such information is provided to it by the Company, any taxes withheld by the
Company. The Depositary and the Custodian shall not be required to provide the
Holders with any evidence of the remittance by the Company (or its agents) of
any taxes withheld, or of the payment of taxes by the Company, except to the
extent the evidence is provided by the Company to the Depositary or the
Custodian, as applicable. Neither the Depositary nor the Custodian shall be
liable for the failure by any Holder or Beneficial Owner to obtain the benefits
of credits on the basis of non-U.S. tax paid against such Holder's or Beneficial
Owner's income tax liability.
The Depositary is under no obligation to provide the Holders and
Beneficial Owners with any information about the tax status of the Company. The
Depositary shall not incur any liability for any tax consequences that may be
incurred by Holders and Beneficial Owners on account of their ownership of the
ADSs, including without limitation, tax consequences resulting from the Company
(or any of its subsidiaries) being treated as a "Foreign Personal Holding
Company," or as a "Passive Foreign Investment Company" (in each case as defined
in the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and the regulations issued thereunder) or
otherwise.
ARTICLE V
THE DEPOSITARY, THE CUSTODIAN AND THE COMPANY
Section 5.1 Maintenance of Office and Transfer Books by the Registrar.
Until termination of this Deposit Agreement in accordance with its terms, the
Registrar shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, an
office and facilities for the execution and delivery, registration of issuances,
registration of transfers, combination and split-up of ADRs, and the surrender
of ADRs for the purpose of withdrawal of Deposited Securities in accordance with
the provisions of this Deposit Agreement.
The Registrar shall keep books for the registration of issuances and
transfers of ADRs which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by
the Company and by the Holders of such ADRs, provided that such inspection shall
not be, to the Registrar's knowledge, for the purpose of communicating with
Holders of such ADRs in the interest of a business or object other than the
business of the Company or other than a matter related to this Deposit Agreement
or the ADRs.
The Registrar may close the transfer books with respect to the ADRs, at
any time or from time to time, when deemed necessary or advisable by it in good
faith in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder, or at the
reasonable written request of the Company subject, in all cases, to Section 7.8
hereof.
If any ADRs or the ADSs evidenced thereby are listed on one or more stock
exchanges or automated quotation systems in the United States, the Depositary
shall act as Registrar or, with the consent of the Company, appoint a Registrar
or one or more co-registrars for registration of ADRs and transfers,
26
combinations and split-ups, and to countersign such ADRs in accordance with any
requirements of such exchanges or systems. Such Registrar or co-registrars may
be removed and a substitute or substitutes appointed by the Depositary, with the
consent of the Company.
Section 5.2 Exoneration. Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be
obligated to do or perform any act which is inconsistent with the provisions of
this Deposit Agreement or incur any liability (i) if the Depositary or the
Company shall be prevented or forbidden from, or delayed in, doing or performing
any act or thing required by the terms of this Deposit Agreement, by reason of
any provision of any present or future law or regulation of the United States,
Brazil or any other country, or of any other governmental authority or
regulatory authority or stock exchange, or on account of the possible criminal
or civil penalties or restraint, or by reason of any provision, present or
future, of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company or any
provision of or governing any Deposited Securities, or by reason of any act of
God or war or other circumstances beyond its control (including, without
limitation, nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, work
stoppage, strikes, civil unrest, revolutions, rebellions, explosions and
computer failure), (ii) by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise,
any discretion provided for in this Deposit Agreement or in the Memorandum and
Articles of Association of the Company or provisions of or governing Deposited
Securities, (iii) for any action or inaction in reliance upon the advice of or
information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares for
deposit, any Holder, any Beneficial Owner or authorized representative thereof,
or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such
advice or information, (iv) for the inability by a Holder or Beneficial Owner to
benefit from any distribution, offering, right or other benefit which is made
available to holders of Deposited Securities but is not, under the terms of this
Deposit Agreement, made available to Holders of ADSs, or (v) for any
consequential or punitive damages for any breach of the terms of this Deposit
Agreement.
The Depositary, its controlling persons, its agents, any Custodian and the
Company, its controlling persons and its agents may rely and shall be protected
in acting upon any written notice, request or other document believed by it to
be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act is intended by any
provision of this Deposit Agreement.
Section 5.3 Standard of Care. The Company and the Depositary assume no
obligation and shall not be subject to any liability under this Deposit
Agreement or any ADRs to any Holder(s) or Beneficial Owner(s), except that the
Company and the Depositary agree to perform their respective obligations
specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement or the applicable ADRs without
negligence or bad faith.
Without limitation of the foregoing, neither the Depositary, nor the
Company, nor any of their respective controlling persons, or agents, 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 ADRs,
which in its opinion may involve it in expense or liability, unless indemnity
27
satisfactory to it against all expense (including fees and disbursements of
counsel) and liability be furnished as often as may be required (and no
Custodian shall be under any obligation whatsoever with respect to such
proceedings, the responsibility of the Custodian being solely to the
Depositary).
The Depositary and its agents shall not be liable for any failure to carry
out any instructions to vote any of the Deposited Securities, or for the manner
in which any vote is cast or the effect of any vote, provided that any such
action or omission is in good faith and in accordance with the terms of this
Deposit Agreement. The Depositary shall not incur any liability for any failure
to determine that any distribution or action may be lawful or reasonably
practicable, for the content of any information submitted to it by the Company
for distribution to the Holders or for any inaccuracy of any translation
thereof, for any investment risk associated with acquiring an interest in the
Deposited Securities, for the validity or worth of the Deposited Securities or
for any tax consequences that may result from the ownership of ADSs, Shares or
Deposited Securities, for the credit-worthiness of any third party, for allowing
any rights to lapse upon the terms of this Deposit Agreement or for the failure
or timeliness of any notice from the Company.
Section 5.4 Resignation and Removal of the Depositary; Appointment of
Successor Depositary. The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary
hereunder by written notice of resignation delivered to the Company, such
resignation to be effective on the earlier of (i) the 60th day after delivery
thereof to the Company (whereupon the Depositary shall be entitled to take the
actions contemplated in Section 6.2 hereof), or (ii) the appointment by the
Company 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 written notice
of such removal, which removal shall be effective on the earlier of (i) the 60th
day after delivery thereof to the Depositary (whereupon the Depositary shall be
entitled to take the actions contemplated in Section 6.2 hereof), or (ii) upon
the appointment by the Company 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 be
required by the Company to 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 (except as
required by applicable law), shall become fully vested with all the rights,
powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor (other than as contemplated in
Sections 5.8 and 5.9). The predecessor depositary, upon payment of all sums due
it and on the written request of the Company shall, (i) execute and deliver an
instrument transferring to such successor all rights and powers of such
predecessor hereunder (other than as contemplated in Sections 5.8 and 5.9), (ii)
duly assign, transfer and deliver all right, title and interest to the Deposited
Securities to such successor, and (iii) deliver to such successor a list of the
Holders of all outstanding ADRs and such other information relating to ADRs and
Holders thereof as the successor may reasonably request. Any such successor
depositary shall promptly provide notice of its appointment to such Holders.
28
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 Custodian. The Depositary has initially appointed Banco
Bradesco as Custodian for the purpose of this Deposit Agreement. The Custodian
or its successors in acting hereunder shall be subject at all times and in all
respects to the direction of the Depositary for the Shares for which the
Custodian acts as custodian and shall be responsible solely to it. If any
Custodian resigns or is discharged from its duties hereunder with respect to any
Deposited Securities and no other Custodian has previously been appointed
hereunder, the Depositary shall promptly appoint a substitute custodian that is
organized under the laws of Brazil. The Depositary shall require such resigning
or discharged Custodian to deliver the Deposited Securities held by it, together
with all such records maintained by it as Custodian with respect to such
Deposited Securities as the Depositary may request, to the Custodian designated
by the Depositary. Whenever the Depositary determines, in its reasonable
discretion, that it is appropriate to do so, it may discharge the Custodian with
respect to any Deposited Securities and appoint a substitute custodian, which
shall thereafter be Custodian hereunder with respect to the Deposited
Securities. Immediately upon any such change, the Depositary shall give notice
thereof in writing to all Holders of ADRs, each other Custodian and the Company.
Upon the appointment of any successor depositary, any Custodian then
acting hereunder shall, unless otherwise instructed by the Depositary, continue
to be the Custodian of the Deposited Securities without any further act or
writing, and shall be subject to the direction of the successor depositary. 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 to act
on the direction of such successor depositary.
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 by such holders other than at a meeting,
or of the taking of any action in respect of any cash or other distributions or
the offering of any rights in respect of Deposited Securities, the Company shall
transmit to the Depositary and the Custodian a copy of the notice thereof in the
English language but otherwise in the form given or to be given to holders of
Shares or other Deposited Securities. The Company shall also furnish to the
Custodian and the Depositary a summary, in English, of any applicable provisions
or proposed provisions of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the
Company that may be relevant or pertain to such notice of meeting or be the
subject of a vote thereat.
The Company will also transmit to the Depositary (a) an English language
version of the other notices, reports and communications which are made
generally available by the Company to holders of its Shares or other Deposited
Securities and (b) the English-language versions of the Company's annual reports
on Form 20-F (or any comparable form then required for annual reports) prepared
in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Commission. The Depositary
shall arrange, at the request of the Company and at the Company's expense, to
provide copies thereof to all Holders or make such notices, reports and other
communications available to all Holders on a basis similar to that for holders
29
of Shares or other Deposited Securities or on such other basis as the Company
may advise the Depositary or as may be required by any applicable law,
regulation or stock exchange requirement. The Company has delivered to the
Depositary and the Custodian a copy of the Company's Memorandum and Articles of
Association along with the provisions of or governing the Shares and any other
Deposited Securities issued by the Company in connection with such Shares, and
promptly upon any amendment thereto or change therein, the Company shall deliver
to the Depositary and the Custodian a copy of such amendment thereto or change
therein. The Depositary may rely upon such copy for all purposes of this Deposit
Agreement.
The Depositary will, at the expense of the Company, make available a copy
of any such notices, reports or communications issued by the Company and
delivered to the Depositary for inspection by the Holders of the ADRs at the
Depositary's Principal Office, at the office of the Custodian and at any other
designated transfer office.
Section 5.7 Issuance of Additional Shares, ADSs etc. The Company agrees
that in the event it or any of its Affiliates proposes (i) an issuance, sale or
distribution of additional Shares, (ii) an offering of rights to subscribe for
Shares or other Deposited Securities, (iii) an issuance of securities
convertible into or exchangeable for Shares, (iv) an issuance of rights to
subscribe for securities convertible into or exchangeable for Shares, (v) an
elective dividend of cash or Shares, (vi) a redemption of Deposited Securities,
(vii) a meeting of holders of Deposited Securities, or solicitation of consents
or proxies, relating to any reclassification of securities, merger or
consolidation or transfer of assets, or (viii) any reclassification,
recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale of assets which
affects the Deposited Securities, it will obtain U.S. legal advice and take all
steps necessary to ensure that the application of the proposed transaction to
Holders and Beneficial Owners does not violate the registration provisions of
the Securities Act, or any other applicable laws (including, without limitation,
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Exchange Act and the
securities laws of the states of the U.S.). In support of the foregoing, the
Company will furnish to the Depositary (a) a written opinion of U.S. counsel
(reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary) stating whether or not application
of such transaction to Holders and Beneficial Owners (1) requires a registration
statement under the Securities Act to be in effect or (2) is exempt from the
registration requirements of the Securities Act and (b) an opinion of Brazil
counsel (which may be in-house counsel to the Company) stating that (1) making
the transaction available to Holders and Beneficial Owners does not violate the
laws or regulations of Brazil and (2) all requisite regulatory consents and
approvals have been obtained in Brazil. If the filing of a registration
statement is required, the Depositary shall not have any obligation to proceed
with the transaction unless it shall have received evidence reasonably
satisfactory to it that such registration statement has been declared effective.
If, being advised by counsel, the Company determines that a transaction is
required to be registered under the Securities Act, the Company will either (i)
register such transaction to the extent necessary, (ii) alter the terms of the
transaction to avoid the registration requirements of the Securities Act or
(iii) direct the Depositary to take specific measures, in each case as
contemplated in this Deposit Agreement, to prevent such transaction from
violating the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The Company
30
agrees with the Depositary that the Company will not at any time (i) deposit any
Shares or other Deposited Securities, either upon original issuance or upon a
sale of Shares or other Deposited Securities previously issued and reacquired by
the Company, or (ii) issue additional Shares, rights to subscribe for such
Shares, securities convertible into or exchangeable for Shares or rights to
subscribe for such securities, unless such transaction and the securities
issuable in such transaction are exempt from registration under the Securities
Act and, if applicable, the Exchange Act or have been registered under the
Securities Act and, if applicable, the Exchange Act (and such registration
statement has been declared effective).
Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Deposit Agreement, nothing
in this Deposit Agreement shall be deemed to obligate the Company to file any
registration statement in respect of any proposed transaction.
Section 5.8 Indemnification. The Depositary agrees to indemnify the
Company and its directors, officers, employees, agents and Affiliates against,
and hold each of them harmless from, any direct loss, liability, tax, charge or
expense of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, the reasonable
fees and expenses of counsel) which may arise out of acts performed or omitted
by the Depositary under the terms hereof due to the negligence or bad faith of
the Depositary.
The Company agrees to indemnify the Depositary, the Custodian and any of
their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and Affiliates against,
and hold each of them harmless from, any direct loss, liability, tax, charge or
expense of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, the reasonable
fees and expenses of counsel) that may arise (a) out of acts performed or
omitted in connection with any offer, issuance, sale, resale, transfer, deposit
or withdrawal of ADRs, ADSs, the Shares, or other Deposited Securities, as the
case may be, (b) out of or as a result of any offering documents in respect
thereof or (c) out of acts performed or omitted, including, but not limited to,
any delivery by the Depositary on behalf of the Company of information regarding
the Company in connection with this Deposit Agreement, the ADRs, the ADSs, the
Shares, or any Deposited Securities, in any such case (i) by the Depositary, the
Custodian or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and
Affiliates, except to the extent such loss, liability, tax, charge or expense is
due to the negligence or bad faith of any of them, or (ii) by the Company or any
of its directors, officers, employees, agents and Affiliates except to the
extent that such liability or expense arises out of information (or omissions
from information) relating to the Depositary or to any Custodian or any of their
agents, as the case may be, furnished in writing to the Company by the
Depositary for use in any registration statement, proxy statement, prospectus
(or placement memorandum), or preliminary prospectus (or preliminary placement
memorandum) or any other document relating to the ADRs evidencing the ADSs.
The obligations set forth in this Section shall survive the termination of
this Deposit Agreement and the succession or substitution of any party hereto.
Any person seeking indemnification hereunder (an "indemnified person")
shall notify the person from whom it is seeking indemnification (the
"indemnifying person") of the commencement of any indemnifiable action or claim
promptly after such indemnified person becomes aware of such commencement
(provided that the failure to make such notification shall not affect such
indemnified person's rights to seek indemnification except to the extent the
indemnifying person is materially prejudiced by such failure) and shall consult
in good faith with the indemnifying person as to the conduct of the defense of
such action or claim that may give rise to an indemnity hereunder, which defense
shall be reasonable in the circumstances. No indemnified person shall compromise
or settle any action or claim that may give rise to an indemnity hereunder
without the consent of the indemnifying person, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld.
31
Section 5.9 Fees and Charges of Depositary. The Company, the Holders, the
Beneficial Owners, and persons depositing Shares or surrendering ADSs for
cancellation and withdrawal of Deposited Securities shall be required to pay to
the Depositary the Depositary's fees and related charges identified as payable
by them respectively in the Fee Schedule attached hereto as Exhibit B. All fees
and charges so payable may, at any time and from time to time, be changed by
agreement between the Depositary and the Company, but, in the case of fees and
charges payable by Holders and Beneficial Owners, only in the manner
contemplated in Section 6.1. The Depositary shall provide, without charge, a
copy of its latest fee schedule to anyone upon request.
The Company agrees to promptly pay to the Depositary such other fees and
charges and to reimburse the Depositary for such out-of-pocket expenses as the
Depositary and the Company may agree to in writing from time to time.
Responsibility for payment of such charges may at any time and from time to time
be changed by agreement between the Company and the Depositary. Unless otherwise
agreed, the Depositary shall present its statement for such expenses and fees or
charges to the Company once every three months. The charges and expenses of the
Custodian are for the sole account of the Depositary.
The right of the Depositary to receive payment of fees, charges and
expenses as provided above shall survive the termination of this Deposit
Agreement. As to any Depositary, upon the resignation or removal of such
Depositary as described in Section 5.4 hereof, such right shall extend for those
fees, charges and expenses incurred prior to the effectiveness of such
resignation or removal.
Section 5.10 Pre-Release Transactions. Subject to the further terms and
provisions of this Section 5.10, the Depositary, its Affiliates and their
agents, on their own behalf, may own and deal in any class of securities of the
Company and its Affiliates and in ADSs. In its capacity as Depositary, the
Depositary shall not lend Shares or ADSs; provided, however, that the Depositary
may (i) issue ADSs prior to the receipt of Shares pursuant to Section 2.3 and
(ii) deliver Shares prior to the receipt of ADSs for withdrawal of Deposited
Securities pursuant to Section 2.7, including ADSs which were issued under (i)
above but for which Shares may not have been received (each such transaction a
"Pre-Release Transaction"). The Depositary may receive ADSs in lieu of Shares
under (i) above and receive Shares in lieu of ADSs under (ii) above. Each such
Pre-Release Transaction will be (a) subject to a written agreement whereby the
person or entity (the "Applicant") to whom ADSs or Shares are to be delivered
(w) represents that at the time of the Pre-Release Transaction the Applicant or
its customer owns the Shares or ADSs that are to be delivered by the Applicant
under such Pre-Release Transaction, (x) agrees to indicate the Depositary as
owner of such Shares or ADSs in its records and to hold such Shares or ADSs in
trust for the Depositary until such Shares or ADSs are delivered to the
Depositary or the Custodian, (y) unconditionally guarantees to deliver to the
Depositary or the Custodian, as applicable, such Shares or ADSs, and (z) agrees
to any additional restrictions or requirements that the Depositary deems
32
appropriate, (b) at all times fully collateralized with cash, U.S. government
securities or such other collateral as the Depositary deems appropriate, (c)
terminable by the Depositary on not more than five (5) business days' notice and
(d) subject to such further indemnities and credit regulations as the Depositary
deems appropriate. The Depositary will normally limit the number of ADSs and
Shares involved in such Pre-Release Transactions at any one time to thirty
percent (30%) of the ADSs outstanding (without giving effect to ADSs outstanding
under (i) above), provided, however, that the Depositary reserves the right to
change or disregard such limit from time to time as it deems appropriate.
The Depositary may also set limits with respect to the number of ADSs and
Shares involved in Pre-Release Transactions with any one person on a
case-by-case basis as it deems appropriate. The Depositary may retain for its
own account any compensation received by it in conjunction with the foregoing.
Collateral provided pursuant to (b) above, but not the earnings thereon, shall
be held for the benefit of the Holders (other than the Applicant).
Section 5.11 Restricted Securities Owners. The Company agrees to advise in
writing each of the persons or entities who, to the knowledge of the Company,
holds Restricted Securities that such Restricted Securities are ineligible for
deposit hereunder (except under the circumstances contemplated in Section 2.12)
and, to the extent practicable, shall require each of such persons to represent
in writing that such person will not deposit Restricted Securities hereunder
(except under the circumstances contemplated in Section 2.12).
ARTICLE VI
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
Section 6.1 Amendment/Supplement. Subject to the terms and conditions of
this Section 6.1 and applicable law, the ADRs outstanding at any time, the
provisions of this Deposit Agreement and the form of ADR attached hereto and to
be issued under the terms hereof may at any time and from time to time be
amended or supplemented by written agreement between the Company and the
Depositary in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable without the
prior written consent of the Holders or Beneficial Owners. Any amendment or
supplement which shall impose or increase any fees or charges (other than
charges in connection with foreign exchange control regulations, and taxes and
other governmental charges, delivery and other such expenses), or which shall
otherwise materially prejudice any substantial existing right of Holders or
Beneficial Owners, shall not, however, become effective as to outstanding ADRs
until the expiration of thirty (30) days after notice of such amendment or
supplement shall have been given to the Holders of outstanding ADRs. The parties
hereto agree that any amendments or supplements which (i) are reasonably
necessary (as agreed by the Company and the Depositary) in order for (a) the
ADSs to be registered on Form F-6 under the Securities Act or (b) the ADSs to be
traded solely in electronic book-entry form and (ii) do not in either such case
impose or increase any fees or charges to be borne by Holders, shall be deemed
not to materially prejudice any substantial rights of Holders or Beneficial
Owners. Every Holder and Beneficial Owner at the time any amendment or
supplement so becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such
ADSs, to consent and agree to such amendment or supplement and to be bound by
this Deposit Agreement and the ADR as amended or supplemented thereby. In no
event shall any amendment or supplement impair the right of the Holder to
surrender such ADR and receive therefor the Deposited Securities represented
thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law.
33
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any governmental body should adopt new laws,
rules or regulations which would require an amendment of, or supplement to, this
Deposit Agreement to ensure compliance therewith, the Company and the Depositary
may amend or supplement this Deposit Agreement and the ADRs at any time in
accordance with such changed laws, rules or regulations. Such amendment or
supplement to this Deposit Agreement and the ADRs in such circumstances may
become effective before a notice of such amendment or supplement is given to
Holders or within any other period of time as required for compliance with such
laws, rules or regulations.
Section 6.2 Termination. The Depositary shall, at any time at the written
direction of the Company, terminate this Deposit Agreement by providing notice
of such termination to the Holders of all ADRs then outstanding at least thirty
(30) days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination. If sixty
(60) days shall have expired after (i) the Depositary shall have delivered to
the Company a written notice of its election to resign, or (ii) the Company
shall have delivered to the Depositary a written notice of the removal of the
Depositary, and in either case a successor depositary shall not have been
appointed and accepted its appointment as provided in Section 5.4, the
Depositary may terminate this Deposit Agreement by providing notice of such
termination to the Holders of all ADRs then outstanding at least thirty (30)
days prior to the date fixed for such termination. On and after the date of
termination of this Deposit Agreement, the Holder of an ADR will, upon surrender
of such ADR at the Principal Office of the Depositary, upon the payment of the
charges of the Depositary for the surrender of ADRs referred to in Section 2.7
and subject to the conditions and restrictions therein set forth, and upon
payment of any applicable taxes or governmental charges, be entitled to
Delivery, to him or upon his order, of the amount of Deposited Securities
represented by such ADR. If any ADRs shall remain outstanding after the date of
termination of this Deposit Agreement, the Registrar thereafter shall
discontinue the registration of transfers of ADRs, and the Depositary shall
suspend the distribution of dividends to the Holders thereof, and shall not give
any further notices or perform any further acts under this Deposit Agreement,
except that the Depositary shall continue to collect dividends and other
distributions pertaining to Deposited Securities, shall sell rights as provided
in this Deposit Agreement, and shall continue to deliver Deposited Securities,
subject to the conditions and restrictions set forth in Section 2.7, 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 ADRs
surrendered to the Depositary (after deducting, or charging, as the case may be,
in each case, the charges of the Depositary for the surrender of a ADR, any
expenses for the account of the Holder in accordance with the terms and
conditions of this Deposit Agreement and any applicable taxes or governmental
charges or assessments). At any time after the expiration of six months from the
date of termination of this Deposit Agreement, 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, in an unsegregated account, without liability for interest for the
pro rata benefit of the Holders whose ADRs have not theretofore been
surrendered. After making such sale, the Depositary shall be discharged from all
obligations under this Deposit Agreement with respect to the ADRs, the Deposited
Securities and the ADSs, except to account for such net proceeds and other cash
(after deducting, or charging, as the case may be, in each case, the charges of
the Depositary for the surrender of an ADR, any expenses for the account of the
Holder in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement and
any applicable taxes or governmental charges or assessments). 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, 5.9 and 7.6 hereof.
34
ARTICLE VII
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 together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Copies
of this Deposit Agreement shall be maintained with the Depositary and shall be
open to inspection by any Holder during business hours.
Section 7.2 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Deposit Agreement is for
the exclusive benefit of the parties hereto (and their successors) and shall not
be deemed to give any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim whatsoever to
any other person, except to the extent specifically set forth in this Deposit
Agreement. Nothing in this Deposit Agreement shall be deemed to give rise to a
partnership or joint venture among the parties nor establish a fiduciary or
similar relationship among the parties. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree
that (i) the Depositary and its Affiliates may at any time have multiple banking
relationships with the Company and its Affiliates, (ii) the Depositary and its
Affiliates may be engaged at any time in transactions in which parties adverse
to the Company or the Holders or Beneficial Owners may have interests and (iii)
nothing contained in this Agreement shall (a) preclude the Depositary or any of
its Affiliates from engaging in such transactions or establishing or maintaining
such relationships, (b) obligate the Depositary or any of its Affiliates to
disclose such transactions or relationships or to account for any profit made or
payment received in such transactions or relationships.
Section 7.3 Severability. In case any one or more of the provisions
contained in this Deposit Agreement or in the ADRs 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 Beneficial Owners as Parties; Binding Effect. The
Holders and Beneficial Owners from time to time of ADSs shall be parties to this
Deposit Agreement and shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions hereof
and of any ADR by acceptance thereof or any beneficial interest therein.
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, air
courier or cable, telex or facsimile transmission, confirmed by letter
personally delivered or sent by mail or air courier, addressed to SIA/Sul, ASP,
Lote D, Bloco X-00000-000-Xxxxxx xx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, XX, Xxxxxx, Attention:
Ehana Xxxxxxxxx or Xxxxxx Nageira, or to any other address which the Company may
specify in writing to the Depositary.
Any and all notices to be given to the Depositary shall be deemed to have
been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail, air courier or cable,
telex or facsimile transmission, confirmed by letter personally delivered or
sent by mail or air courier, addressed to Citibank, N.A., 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, U.S.A., Attention: Depositary Receipts Department, or to
any other address which the Depositary may specify in writing to the Company.
35
Any and all notices to be given to any Holder shall be deemed to have been
duly given if (a) 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 books of the Depositary or, if such
Holder shall have filed with the Depositary a request that notices intended for
such Holder be mailed to some other address, at the address specified in such
request, or (b) if a Holder shall have designated such means of notification as
an acceptable means of notification under the terms of this Deposit Agreement,
by means of electronic messaging addressed for delivery to the e-mail address
designated by the Holder for such purpose. Notice to Holders shall be deemed to
be notice to Beneficial Owners for all purposes of this Deposit Agreement.
Failure to notify a Holder or any defect in the notification to a Holder shall
not affect the sufficiency of notification to other Holders or to the Beneficial
Owners of ADSs held by such other Holders.
Delivery of a notice sent by mail, air courier or cable, telex or
facsimile transmission shall be deemed to be effective 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 or delivered to an air courier service, without regard
for the actual receipt or time of actual receipt thereof by a Holder. The
Depositary or the Company may, however, act upon any cable, telex or facsimile
transmission received by it from any Holder, the Custodian or the Company,
notwithstanding that such cable, telex or facsimile transmission shall not be
subsequently confirmed by letter.
Delivery of a notice by means of electronic messaging shall be deemed to
be effective at the time of the initiation of the transmission by the sender (as
shown on the sender's records), notwithstanding that the intended recipient
retrieves the message at a later date, fails to retrieve such message, or fails
to receive such notice on account of its failure to maintain the designated
e-mail address, its failure to designate a substitute e-mail address or for any
other reason.
Section 7.6 Governing Law and Jurisdiction. This Deposit Agreement and the
ADRs shall be interpreted in accordance with, and all rights hereunder and
thereunder and provisions hereof and thereof shall be governed by, the laws of
the State of New York without reference to the principles of choice of law
thereof. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Deposit Agreement, any ADR
or any present or future provisions of the laws of the State of New York, the
rights of holders of Shares and of any other Deposited Securities and the
obligations and duties of the Company in respect of the holders of Shares and
other Deposited Securities, as such, shall be governed by the laws of Brazil
(or, if applicable, such other laws as may govern the Deposited Securities).
Except as set forth in the following paragraph of this Section 7.6, the
Company and the Depositary agree that the federal or state courts in the City of
New York shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine any suit, action or
proceeding and to settle any dispute between them that may arise out of or in
connection with this Deposit Agreement and, for such purposes, each irrevocably
submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts. The Company hereby
irrevocably designates, appoints and empowers CT Corporation System (the
36
"Agent") now at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx (00xx Xxxxx) Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 as its
authorized agent to receive and accept for and on its behalf, and on behalf of
its properties, assets and revenues, service by mail of any and all legal
process, summons, notices and documents that may be served in any suit, action
or proceeding brought against the Company in any federal or state court as
described in the preceding sentence or in the next paragraph of this Section
7.6. If for any reason the Agent shall cease to be available to act as such, the
Company agrees to designate a new agent in New York on the terms and for the
purposes of this Section 7.6 reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary. The
Company further hereby irrevocably consents and agrees to the service of any and
all legal process, summons, notices and documents in any suit, action or
proceeding against the Company, by service by mail of a copy thereof upon the
Agent (whether or not the appointment of such Agent shall for any reason prove
to be ineffective or such Agent shall fail to accept or acknowledge such
service), with a copy mailed to the Company by registered or certified air mail,
postage prepaid, to its address provided in Section 7.5 hereof. The Company
agrees that the failure of the Agent to give any notice of such service to it
shall not impair or affect in any way the validity of such service or any
judgment rendered in any action or proceeding based thereon.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Depositary and the Company
unconditionally agree that in the event that a Holder or Beneficial Owner brings
a suit, action or proceeding against (a) the Company, (b) the Depositary in its
capacity as Depositary under this Deposit Agreement or (c) against both the
Company and the Depositary, in any such case, in any state or federal court of
the United States, and the Depositary or the Company have any claim, for
indemnification or otherwise, against each other arising out of the subject
matter of such suit, action or proceeding, then the Company and the Depositary
may pursue such claim against each other in the state or federal court in the
United States in which such suit, action, or proceeding is pending and, for such
purposes, the Company and the Depositary irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive
jurisdiction of such courts. The Company agrees that service of process upon the
Agent in the manner set forth in the preceding paragraph shall be effective
service upon it for any suit, action or proceeding brought against it as
described in this paragraph.
The Company irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying
of venue of any actions, suits or proceedings brought in any court as provided
in this Section 7.6, and hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives
and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or
proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
The Company irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, and agrees not to plead or claim, any right of immunity from
legal action, suit or proceeding, 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, from
execution of judgment, or from any other legal process or proceeding for the
giving of any relief or for the enforcement of any judgment, and consents to
such relief and enforcement against it, its assets and its revenues in any
jurisdiction, in each case with respect to any matter arising out of, or in
connection with, the Deposit Agreement, any ADR or the Deposited Securities.
37
No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act is intended by any
provision of the Deposit Agreement. The provisions of this Section 7.6 shall
survive any termination of this Deposit Agreement, in whole or in part.
Section 7.7 Assignment. Subject to the provisions of Section 5.4 hereof,
this Deposit Agreement may not be assigned by either the Company or the
Depositary.
Section 7.8 Compliance with U.S. Securities Laws. Notwithstanding anything
in this Deposit Agreement to the contrary, the withdrawal or delivery of
Deposited Securities will not be suspended by the Company or the Depositary
except as would be permitted by Instruction I.A.(1) of the General Instructions
to Form F-6 Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, under the
Securities Act.
Section 7.9 Brazilian Law References. Any summary of Brazilian laws and
regulations and of the terms of the Company's Memorandum and Articles of
Association set forth in this Deposit Agreement have been provided by the
Company solely for the convenience of Holders, Beneficial Owners and the
Depositary. While such summaries are believed by the Company to be accurate as
of the date of this Deposit Agreement, (i) they are summaries and as such may
not include all aspects of the materials summarized applicable to a Holder or
Beneficial Owner, and (ii) these laws and regulations and the Company's
Memorandum and Articles of Association may change after the date of this Deposit
Agreement. Neither the Depositary nor the Company has any obligation under the
terms of this Deposit Agreement to update any such summaries.
Section 7.10 Titles and References All references in this Deposit
Agreement to exhibits, articles, sections, subsections, and other subdivisions
refer to the exhibits, articles, sections, subsections and other subdivisions of
this Deposit Agreement unless expressly provided otherwise. The words "this
Deposit Agreement", "herein", "hereof", "hereby", "hereunder", and words of
similar import refer to the Deposit Agreement as a whole as in effect between
the Company, the Depositary and the Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs and
not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. Pronouns in
masculine, feminine and neuter gender shall be construed to include any other
gender, and words in the singular form shall be construed to include the plural
and vice versa unless the context otherwise requires. Titles to sections of this
Deposit Agreement are included for convenience only and shall be disregarded in
construing the language contained in this Deposit Agreement. References to
"applicable laws and regulations" shall refer to laws and regulations applicable
to ADRs, ADSs or Deposited Securities as in effect at the relevant time of
determination, unless otherwise required by law or regulation.
38
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, BRASIL TELECOM S.A. and CITIBANK, N.A. have duly
executed this Deposit Agreement as of the day and year first above set forth and
all Holders and Beneficial Owners shall become parties hereto upon acceptance by
them of ADSs evidenced by ADRs issued in accordance with the terms hereof, or
upon acquisition of any beneficial interest therein.
BRASIL TELECOM S.A.
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxx
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx Xxxx
Title: Chief Executive Officer
By: /s/ Paulo Pedrao Rio Xxxxxx
--------------------------------
Name: Paulo Pedrao Rio Xxxxxx
Title: Chief Financial Officer
CITIBANK, N.A.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Neto
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Title: Vice President
39
EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF ADR]
Number CUSIP NUMBER: _______
_____________
American Depositary Shares (each American
Depositary Share representing 3,000 fully
paid preferred shares without par value)
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
FOR
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
representing
DEPOSITED PREFERRED SHARES
of
Brasil Telecom S.A.
(Organized under the laws of Brazil)
CITIBANK, N.A., a national banking association organized and existing
under the laws of the United States of America, as depositary (the
"Depositary"), hereby certifies that _____________is the owner of ______________
American Depositary Shares (hereinafter "ADS"), representing deposited preferred
shares, without par value, including evidence of rights to receive such
preferred shares (the "Shares"), of Brasil Telecom S.A., a corporation organized
under the laws of Brazil (the "Company"). As of the date of the Deposit
Agreement (as hereinafter defined), each ADS represents 3,000 Shares deposited
under the Deposit Agreement with the Custodian, which at the date of execution
of the Deposit Agreement is Banco Bradesco (the "Custodian"). The
ADS(s)-to-Share(s) ratio is subject to amendment as provided in Articles IV and
VI of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary's Principal Office is located at 000
Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, X.X.X.
(1) The Deposit Agreement. This American Depositary Receipt is one of an
issue of American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"), all issued and to be issued upon
the terms and conditions set forth in the Deposit Agreement, dated as of
November 16, 2001 (as amended and supplemented from time to time, the "Deposit
Agreement"), by and among the Company, the Depositary, and all Holders and
A-1
Beneficial Owners from time to time of ADSs evidenced by ADRs issued thereunder.
The Deposit Agreement sets forth the rights and obligations of Holders and
Beneficial Owners of ADRs 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
Principal Office of the Depositary and with the Custodian. Each Holder and each
Beneficial Owner, upon acceptance of any ADSs (or any interest therein) issued
in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, shall be
deemed for all purposes to (a) be a party to and bound by the terms of the
Deposit Agreement and applicable ADR(s), and (b) appoint the Depositary its
attorney-in-fact, with full power to delegate, to act on its behalf and to take
any and all actions contemplated in the Deposit Agreement and the applicable
ADR(s), to adopt any and all procedures necessary to comply with applicable law
and to take such action as the Depositary in its sole discretion may deem
necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Deposit Agreement and
the applicable ADR(s), the taking of such actions to be the conclusive
determinant of the necessity and appropriateness thereof.
The statements made on the face and reverse of this ADR are summaries of
certain provisions of the Deposit Agreement and the Memorandum and Articles of
Association of the Company (as in effect on the date of the signing of the
Deposit Agreement) and are qualified by and subject to the detailed provisions
of the Deposit Agreement and the Memorandum and Articles of Association, to
which reference is hereby made. All capitalized terms used herein which are not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Deposit
Agreement. The Depositary makes no representation or warranty as to the validity
or worth of the Deposited Securities. The Depositary has made arrangements for
the acceptance of the ADSs into DTC. Each Beneficial Owner of ADSs held through
DTC must rely on the procedures of DTC and the DTC Participants to exercise and
be entitled to any rights attributable to such ADSs.
(2) Withdrawal of Deposited Securities. The Holder of this ADR (and of the
ADSs evidenced hereby) shall be entitled to Delivery (at the Custodian's
designated office) of the Deposited Securities at the time represented by the
ADSs evidenced hereby upon satisfaction of each of the following conditions: (i)
the Holder (or a duly authorized attorney of the Holder) has duly Delivered to
the Depositary at its Principal Office the ADSs evidenced hereby (and, if
applicable, this ADR) for the purpose of withdrawal of the Deposited Securities
represented thereby, (ii) if so required by the Depositary, this ADR has been
properly endorsed in blank or is accompanied by proper instruments of transfer
in blank (including signature guarantees in accordance with standard securities
industry practice), (iii) if so required by the Depositary, the Holder of the
ADSs has executed and delivered 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 the person(s) designated in such order, and (iv)
all applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and
all applicable taxes and governmental charges (as are set forth in Section 5.9
of, and Exhibit B to, the Deposit Agreement) have been paid, subject, however,
in each case, to the terms and conditions of this ADR, of the Deposit Agreement,
of the Company's Memorandum and Articles of Association, of any applicable laws
and the rules of CBLC, and to any provisions of or governing the Deposited
Securities, in each case as in effect at the time thereof.
A-2
Upon satisfaction of each of the conditions specified above, the
Depositary (i) shall cancel the ADSs Delivered to it (and, if applicable, the
ADR(s) evidencing the ADSs so Delivered), (ii) shall direct the Registrar to
record the cancellation of the ADSs so Delivered on the books maintained for
such purpose, and (iii) shall direct the Custodian to Deliver (without
unreasonable delay) at the Custodian's designated office the Deposited
Securities represented by the ADSs so canceled together with any certificate or
other document of title for the Deposited Securities, or evidence of the
electronic transfer thereof (if available), as the case may be, to or upon the
written order of the person(s) designated in the order delivered to the
Depositary for such purpose, subject however, in each case, to the terms and
conditions of the Deposit Agreement, of this ADR, of the Memorandum and Articles
of Association of the Company, of any applicable laws and the rules of the CBLC,
and to the terms and conditions of or governing the Deposited Securities, in
each case as in effect at the time thereof.
The Depositary shall not accept for surrender ADSs representing less than
one Share. In the case of Delivery to it of ADSs representing a number other
than a whole number of Shares, the Depositary shall cause ownership of the
appropriate whole number of Shares to be Delivered in accordance with the terms
hereof, and shall, at the discretion of the Depositary, either (i) return to the
person surrendering such ADSs the number of ADSs representing any remaining
fractional Share, or (ii) sell or cause to be sold the fractional Share
represented by the ADSs so surrendered and remit the proceeds of such sale (net
of (a) applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary
and (b) taxes withheld) to the person surrendering the ADSs. Notwithstanding
anything else contained in this ADR or the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may
make delivery at the Principal Office of the Depositary of (i) any cash
dividends or cash distributions, or (ii) any proceeds from the sale of any
distributions of shares or rights, which are at the time held by the Depositary
in respect of the Deposited Securities represented by the ADSs surrendered for
cancellation and withdrawal. At the request, risk and expense of any Holder so
surrendering ADSs represented by this ADR, and for the account of such Holder,
the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to forward (to the extent permitted by
law) any cash or other property (other than securities) held by the Custodian in
respect of the Deposited Securities represented by such ADSs to the Depositary
for delivery at the Principal Office of the Depositary. Such direction shall be
given by letter or, at the request, risk and expense of such Holder, by cable,
telex or facsimile transmission.
(3) Transfer, Combination and Split-Up of ADRs. The Registrar shall
register the transfer of this ADR (and of the ADSs represented hereby) on the
books maintained for such purpose and the Depositary shall (x) cancel this ADR
and execute new ADRs evidencing the same aggregate number of ADSs as those
evidenced by this ADR when canceled, (y) cause the Registrar to countersign such
new ADRs, and (z) Deliver such new ADRs to or upon the order of the person
entitled thereto, if each of the following conditions has been satisfied: (i)
this ADR has been duly Delivered by the Holder (or by a duly authorized attorney
of the Holder) to the Depositary at its Principal Office for the purpose of
effecting a transfer thereof, (ii) this ADR has been properly endorsed or is
accompanied by proper instruments of transfer (including signature guarantees in
accordance with standard securities industry practice), (iii) this ADR has been
duly stamped (if required by the laws of the State of New York or of the United
States), and (iv) all applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by,
the Depositary and all applicable taxes and governmental charges (as are set
forth in Section 5.9 of, and Exhibit B to, the Deposit Agreement) have been
paid, subject, however, in each case, to the terms and conditions of this ADR,
of the Deposit Agreement and of applicable law, in each case as in effect at the
time thereof.
A-3
The Registrar shall register the split-up or combination of this ADR (and
of the ADSs represented hereby) on the books maintained for such purpose and the
Depositary shall (x) cancel this ADR and execute new ADRs for the number of ADSs
requested, but in the aggregate not exceeding the number of ADSs evidenced by
this ADR (when canceled), (y) cause the Registrar to countersign such new ADRs,
and (z) Deliver such new ADRs to or upon the order of the Holder thereof, if
each of the following conditions has been satisfied: (i) this ADR has been duly
Delivered by the Holder (or by a duly authorized attorney of the Holder) to the
Depositary at its Principal Office for the purpose of effecting a split-up or
combination hereof, and (ii) all applicable fees and charges of, and expenses
incurred by, the Depositary and all applicable taxes and government charges (as
are set forth in Section 5.9 of, and Exhibit B to, the Deposit Agreement) have
been paid, subject, however, in each case, to the terms and conditions of this
ADR, of the Deposit Agreement and of applicable law, in each case as in effect
at the time thereof.
(4) Pre-Conditions to Registration, Transfer, Etc. As a condition
precedent to the execution and delivery, the registration of issuance, transfer,
split-up, combination or surrender, of any ADR, the delivery of any distribution
thereon, or the withdrawal of any Deposited Securities, the Depositary or the
Custodian may require (i) payment from the depositor of Shares or presenter of
ADSs or of an ADR of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or other
governmental charge and any stock transfer or registration fee with respect
thereto (including any such tax or charge and fee with respect to Shares being
deposited or withdrawn) and payment of any applicable fees and charges of the
Depositary as provided in the Deposit Agreement and in this ADR, (ii) the
production of proof reasonably satisfactory to it as to the identity and
genuineness of any signature or any other matters contemplated in the Deposit
Agreement, and (iii) compliance with (A) any laws or governmental regulations
relating to the execution and delivery of ADRs or ADSs or to the withdrawal of
Deposited Securities and (B) such reasonable regulations as the Depositary or
the Company may establish consistent with the provisions of this ADR and the
Deposit Agreement and applicable law.
The issuance of ADSs against deposits of Shares generally or against
deposits of particular Shares may be suspended, or the deposit of particular
Shares may be refused, or the registration of transfer of ADRs in particular
instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer of ADRs generally may
be suspended, during any period when the transfer books of the Company, the
Depositary, a Registrar or the Share Registrar are closed or if any such action
is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary or the Company, in good
faith, at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law, any
government or governmental body or commission or any securities exchange upon
which the Shares or ADSs are listed, or under any provision of the Deposit
Agreement or this ADR, or under any provision of, or governing, the Deposited
Securities, or because of a meeting of shareholders of the Company or for any
other reason, subject in all cases to paragraph (24) hereof. Notwithstanding any
provision of the Deposit Agreement or this ADR to the contrary, Holders are
entitled to surrender outstanding ADSs to withdraw the Deposited Securities at
any time 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
A-4
payment of fees, taxes and similar charges, (iii) compliance with any U.S. or
foreign laws or governmental regulations relating to the ADRs or to the
withdrawal of the Deposited Securities, and (iv) other circumstances
specifically contemplated by Instruction I.A.(l) of the General Instructions to
Form F-6 (as such General Instructions may be amended from time to time).
(5) Compliance With Information Requests. Notwithstanding any other
provision of the Deposit Agreement or this ADR, each Holder and Beneficial Owner
of the ADSs represented hereby agrees to comply with requests from the Company
pursuant to applicable Brazilian law, the rules and requirements of Sao Paulo
Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, and of any other stock exchange on
which Shares or ADSs are, or will be, registered, traded or listed, or the
Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, which are made to provide
information, inter alia, as to the capacity in which such Holder or Beneficial
Owner owns ADSs (and Shares, as the case may be) and regarding the identity of
any other person(s) interested in such ADSs and the nature of such interest and
various other matters, whether or not they are Holders and/or Beneficial Owners
at the time of such request. The Depositary agrees to use its reasonable efforts
to forward, upon the request of the Company and at the Company's expense, any
such request from the Company to the Holders and to forward to the Company any
such responses to such requests received by the Depositary.
The Depositary and the Company shall comply with Brazil's Monetary Council
Resolution number 1927, in its third article, and agree to furnish the Brazilian
Securities Commission (Comissao de Valores Mobiliarios) and the Brazilian
Central Bank (Banco Central do Brasil), whenever required information or
documents related to the approved ADR program, the Deposited Securities and
distributions thereon.
(6) Ownership Restrictions. Notwithstanding any provision of this ADR or
of the Deposit Agreement, the Company may restrict transfers of the Shares where
such transfer might result in ownership of Shares exceeding limits imposed by
applicable law or the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company. The
Company may also restrict, in such manner as it deems appropriate, transfers of
ADSs where such transfer may result in the total number of Shares represented by
the ADSs owned by a single Holder or Beneficial Owner to exceed any such limits.
The Company may, in its sole discretion but subject to applicable law, instruct
the Depositary to take action with respect to the ownership interest of any
Holder or Beneficial Owner in excess of the limits set forth in the preceding
sentence, including but not limited to, the imposition of restrictions on the
transfer of ADSs, the removal or limitation of voting rights or a mandatory sale
or disposition on behalf of a Holder or Beneficial Owner of the Shares
represented by the ADSs held by such Holder or Beneficial Owner in excess of
such limitations, if and to the extent such disposition is permitted by
applicable law and the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company.
(7) Liability of Holder for Taxes and Other Charges. Any tax or other
governmental charge payable with respect to any ADR or any Deposited Securities
or ADSs shall be payable by the Holders and Beneficial Owners to the Depositary.
The Company, the Custodian and/or Depositary may withhold or deduct from any
distributions made in respect of Deposited Securities and may sell for the
account of a Holder and/or Beneficial Owner any or all of the Deposited
Securities and apply such distributions and sale proceeds in payment of such
taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) or charges, the Holder and
A-5
the Beneficial Owner hereof remaining liable for any deficiency. The Custodian
may refuse the deposit of Shares and the Depositary may refuse to issue ADSs, to
deliver ADRs, register the transfer, split-up or combination of ADRs and
(subject to paragraph (24) hereof) the withdrawal of Deposited Securities until
payment in full of such tax, charge, penalty or interest is received. Every
Holder and Beneficial Owner agrees to indemnify the Depositary, the Company, the
Custodian, and any of their agents, officers, employees and Affiliates for, and
hold each of them harmless from, any claims with respect to taxes (including
applicable interest and penalties thereon) arising from any tax benefit obtained
for such Holder and/or Beneficial Owner.
(8) Representations and Warranties of Depositors. Each person depositing
Shares under the Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to represent and
warrant that (i) such Shares and the certificates therefor are duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable and legally obtained by such person,
(ii) all preemptive (and similar) rights, if any, with respect to such Shares
have been validly waived or exercised, (iii) the person making such deposit is
duly authorized so to do, (iv) the Shares presented for deposit are free and
clear of any lien, encumbrance, security interest, charge, mortgage or adverse
claim, (v) the Shares presented for deposit are not, and the ADSs issuable upon
such deposit will not be, Restricted Securities (except as contemplated in
Section 2.12 of the Deposit Agreement), and (vi) the Shares presented for
deposit have not been stripped of any rights or entitlements. Such
representations and warranties shall survive the deposit and withdrawal of
Shares, the issuance and cancellation of ADSs in respect thereof and the
transfer of such ADSs. If any such representations or warranties are false in
any way, the Company and the Depositary shall be authorized, at the cost and
expense of the person depositing Shares, to take any and all actions necessary
to correct the consequences thereof.
(9) Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information. Any person
presenting Shares for deposit, and any Holder and any Beneficial Owner may be
required, and every Holder and Beneficial Owner agrees, from time to time (i) to
provide to the Depositary and the Custodian such proof of, citizenship or
residence, taxpayer status, payment of all applicable taxes or other
governmental charges, exchange control approval, legal or beneficial ownership
of ADSs and Deposited Securities, compliance with applicable laws, compliance
with the terms of the Deposit Agreement and the provisions of, or governing, the
Deposited Securities, (ii) to execute such certifications and to make such
representations and warranties, and (iii) to provide such other information and
documentation (or, in the case of Shares in registered form presented for
deposit, such information relating to the registration of Shares on the books of
the Shares Registrar) as the Depositary or the Custodian may reasonably deem
necessary or proper or as the Company may reasonably require by written request
to the Depositary consistent with its obligations under the Deposit Agreement.
The Depositary and the Registrar, as applicable, may withhold the execution or
delivery or registration of transfer of any ADR or the distribution or sale of
any dividend or other distribution of rights or of the proceeds thereof or, to
the extent not limited by paragraph (24) hereof, the delivery of any Deposited
Securities until such proof or other information is filed or such certifications
are executed, or such representations are made or such information and
documentation are provided, in each case to the Depositary's, the Registrar's
and the Company's satisfaction.
(10) Charges of Depositary. The Depositary shall charge the following fees
for the services performed under the terms of the Deposit Agreement:
A-6
(i) to any person to whom ADSs are issued upon the deposit of
Shares, a fee not in excess of U.S. $ 5.00 per 100 ADSs (or
portion thereof) so issued under the terms of the Deposit
Agreement (excluding issuances pursuant to paragraphs (iii)
and (v) below);
(ii) to any person surrendering ADSs for cancellation and
withdrawal of Deposited Securities, a fee not in excess of
U.S. $ 5.00 per 100 ADSs (or portion thereof) so surrendered;
(iii) no fee shall be payable upon distribution of (a) cash
dividends or (b) ADSs pursuant to stock dividends (or other
free distributions of stock) so long as the charging of such
fee is prohibited by the exchange upon which the ADSs are
listed. If charging of such fees is not prohibited, the fees
specified in (i) above shall be payable in respect of ADS
distributions pursuant to stock dividends (or other free
distributions of stock) and the fees specified in (iv) below
shall be payable in respect of distributions of cash;
(iv) to any Holder of ADRs, a fee not in excess of U.S. $ 2.00 per
100 ADSs (or portion thereof) held for the distribution of
cash proceeds (i.e., upon the sale of rights and other
entitlements); and
(v) to any Holder of ADRs, a fee not in the excess of U.S. $ 5.00
per 100 ADSs (or portion thereof) issued upon the exercise of
rights to purchase additional ADSs.
In addition, Holders, Beneficial Owners, persons depositing Shares for
deposit and persons surrendering ADSs for cancellation and withdrawal of
Deposited Securities will be required to pay the following charges:
(i) taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) and other
governmental charges;
(ii) such registration fees as may from time to time be in effect
for the registration of Shares or other Deposited Securities
on the share register and applicable to transfers of Shares or
other Deposited Securities to or from the name of the
Custodian, the Depositary or any nominees upon the making of
deposits and withdrawals, respectively;
(iii) such cable, telex and facsimile transmission and delivery
expenses as are expressly provided in the Deposit Agreement to
be at the expense of the person depositing or withdrawing
Shares or Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs;
(iv) the expenses and charges incurred by the Depositary in the
conversion of foreign currency;
A-7
(v) such fees and expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in
connection with compliance with exchange control regulations
and other regulatory requirements applicable to Shares,
Deposited Securities, ADSs and ADRs; and
(vi) the fees and expenses incurred by the Depositary in connection
with the delivery of Deposited Securities.
Any other charges and expenses of the Depositary under the Deposit
Agreement will be paid by the Company upon agreement between the Depositary and
the Company. All fees and charges may, at any time and from time to time, be
changed by agreement between the Depositary and Company but, in the case of fees
and charges payable by Holders or Beneficial Owners, only in the manner
contemplated by paragraph (22) of this ADR. The Depositary will provide, without
charge, a copy of its latest fee schedule to anyone upon request. The charges
and expenses of the Custodian are for the sole account of the Depositary.
(11) Title to ADRs. It is a condition of this ADR, and every successive
Holder of this ADR by accepting or holding the same consents and agrees, that
title to this ADR (and to each ADS evidenced hereby) shall be transferable upon
the same terms as a certificated security under the laws of the State of New
York, provided that the ADR has been properly endorsed or is accompanied by
proper instruments of transfer. Notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, the
Depositary and the Company may deem and treat the Holder of this ADR (that is,
the person in whose name this ADR is registered on the books of the Depositary)
as the absolute owner thereof for all purposes. Neither the Depositary nor the
Company shall have any obligation nor be subject to any liability under the
Deposit Agreement or this ADR to any holder of this ADR or any Beneficial Owner
unless such holder is the Holder of this ADR registered on the books of the
Depositary or, in the case of a Beneficial Owner, such Beneficial Owner or the
Beneficial Owner's representative is the Holder registered on the books of the
Depositary.
(12) Validity of ADR. The Holder(s) of this ADR (and the ADSs represented
hereby) shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Deposit Agreement or be
valid or enforceable for any purpose against the Depositary or the Company
unless this ADR has been (i) dated, (ii) signed by the manual or facsimile
signature of a duly-authorized signatory of the Depositary, (iii) countersigned
by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly-authorized signatory of the
Registrar, and (iv) registered in the books maintained by the Registrar for the
registration of issuances and transfers of ADRs. ADRs bearing the facsimile
signature of a duly-authorized signatory of the Depositary or the Registrar, who
at the time of signature was a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary or
the Registrar, as the case may be, shall bind the Depositary, notwithstanding
the fact that such signatory has ceased to be so authorized prior to the
delivery of such ADR by the Depositary.
(13) Available Information; Reports; Inspection of Transfer Books. The
Company is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act
and accordingly files certain information with the Commission. These reports and
documents can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities
maintained by the Commission located at Judiciary Plaza, 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X.,
Xxxxxxxxxx X.X. 00000. The Depositary shall make available for inspection by
Holders at its Principal Office any reports and communications, including any
proxy soliciting materials, received from the Company which are both (a)
received by the Depositary, the Custodian, or the nominee of either of them as
the holder of the Deposited Securities and (b) made generally available to the
holders of such Deposited Securities by the Company.
A-8
The Registrar shall keep books for the registration of issuances and
transfers of ADRs which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by
the Company and by the Holders of such ADRs, provided that such inspection shall
not be, to the Registrar's knowledge, for the purpose of communicating with
Holders of such ADRs in the interest of a business or object other than the
business of the Company or other than a matter related to the Deposit Agreement
or the ADRs.
The Registrar may close the transfer books with respect to the ADRs, at
any time or from time to time, when deemed necessary or advisable by it in good
faith in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder, or at the
reasonable written request of the Company subject, in all cases, to paragraph
(24) hereof.
Dated:
CITIBANK, N.A. CITIBANK, N.A.
Transfer Agent and Registrar as Depositary
By: __________________________________ By: _________________________________
Authorized Signatory Authorized Signatory
The address of the Principal Office of the Depositary is 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, X.X.X.
A-9
[FORM OF REVERSE OF ADR]
SUMMARY OF CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
(14) Dividends and Distributions in Cash, Shares, etc. Whenever the
Depositary receives confirmation from the Custodian of receipt of any cash
dividend or other cash distribution on any Deposited Securities, or receives
proceeds from the sale of any Deposited Securities or of any entitlements held
in respect of Deposited Securities under the terms of the Deposit Agreement, the
Depositary will (i) if at the time of receipt thereof any amounts received in a
Foreign Currency can, in the reasonable judgment of the Depositary (upon the
terms of the Deposit Agreement), be converted on a practicable basis into
Dollars transferable to the United States, promptly convert or cause to be
converted such cash dividend, distribution or proceeds into Dollars (upon the
terms of the Deposit Agreement), (ii) if applicable, establish the ADS Record
Date upon the terms described in Section 4.9 of the Deposit Agreement, and (iii)
distribute promptly the amount thus received (net of (a) applicable fees and
charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes withheld, in
each case, to the extent permitted by the provisions of the Deposit Agreement)
to the Holders entitled thereto as of the ADS Record Date in proportion to the
number of ADSs held as of the ADS Record Date. The Depositary shall distribute
only such amount, however, as can be distributed without attributing to any
Holder a fraction of one cent, and any balance not so distributed shall be held
by the Depositary (without liability for interest thereon) and shall be added to
and become part of the next sum received by the Depositary for distribution to
Holders of ADSs then outstanding at the time of the next distribution. If the
Company, the Custodian or the Depositary is required to withhold and does
withhold from any cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of any
Deposited Securities an amount on account of taxes, duties or other governmental
charges, the amount distributed to Holders on the ADSs representing such
Deposited Securities shall be reduced accordingly. Such withheld amounts shall
be forwarded by the Company, the Custodian or the Depositary to the relevant
governmental authority.
If any distribution upon any Deposited Securities consists of a dividend
in, or free distribution of, Shares, the Company shall cause such Shares to be
deposited with the Custodian and registered, as the case may be, in the name of
the Depositary, the Custodian or their respective nominees. Upon receipt of
confirmation of the deposit from the Custodian, the Depositary shall, subject to
and in accordance with the Deposit Agreement, establish the ADS Record Date and
either (i) the Depositary shall distribute to the Holders as of the ADS Record
Date in proportion to the number of ADSs held as of the ADS Record Date,
additional ADSs, which represent in aggregate the number of Shares received as
such dividend, or free distribution, subject to the terms of the Deposit
Agreement (including, without limitation, (a) the applicable fees and charges
of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes, in each case, to the
extent permitted by the provisions of the Deposit Agreement), or (ii) if
additional ADSs are not so distributed, each ADS issued and outstanding after
the ADS Record Date shall, to the extent permissible by law, thenceforth also
represent rights and interest in the additional integral number of Shares
distributed upon the Deposited Securities represented thereby (net of (a) the
applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary, and
(b) taxes). In lieu of delivering fractional ADSs, the Depositary shall sell the
number of Shares or ADSs, as the case may be, represented by the aggregate of
such fractions and distribute the net proceeds upon the terms set forth in the
Deposit Agreement.
A-10
In the event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in
property (including Shares) is subject to any tax or other governmental charges
which the Depositary is obligated to withhold, or, if the Company in the
fulfillment of its obligations under the Deposit Agreement, has furnished an
opinion of U.S. counsel determining that Shares must be registered under the
Securities Act or other laws in order to be distributed to Holders (and no such
registration statement has been declared effective), the Depositary may dispose
of all or a portion of such property (including Shares and rights to subscribe
therefor) in such amounts and in such manner, including by public or private
sale, as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable and the Depositary shall
distribute the net proceeds of any such sale (after deduction of (a) taxes and
(b) fees and charges of, and the expenses incurred by, the Depositary in each
case, to the extent permitted by the provisions of the Deposit Agreement) to
Holders entitled thereto upon the terms of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary
shall hold and/or distribute any unsold balance of such property in accordance
with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement.
Upon timely receipt of a notice indicating that the Company wishes an
elective distribution to be made available to Holders of ADSs upon the terms
described in the Deposit Agreement, the Company and the Depositary shall
determine whether such distribution is lawful and reasonably practicable. If so,
the Depositary shall, subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit
Agreement, establish an ADS Record Date according to paragraph (16) and
establish procedures to enable the Holder hereof to elect to receive the
proposed distribution in cash or in additional ADSs. If a Holder elects to
receive the distribution in cash, the distribution shall be made as in the case
of a distribution in cash. If the Holder hereof elects to receive the
distribution in additional ADSs, the distribution shall be made as in the case
of a distribution in Shares upon the terms described in the Deposit Agreement.
If such elective distribution is not reasonably practicable or if the Depositary
did not receive documentation set forth in the Deposit Agreement reasonably
satisfactory to it, the Depositary shall, to the extent permitted by law,
distribute to Holders, on the basis of the same determination as is made in
Brazil in respect of the Shares for which no election is made, either (x) cash
or (y) additional ADSs representing such additional Shares, in each case, upon
the terms described in the Deposit Agreement. Nothing herein or in the Deposit
Agreement shall obligate the Depositary to make available to the Holder hereof a
method to receive the elective distribution in Shares (rather than ADSs). There
can be no assurance that the Holder hereof will be given the opportunity to
receive elective distributions on the same terms and conditions as the holders
of Shares.
Upon timely receipt by the Depositary of a notice indicating that the
Company wishes rights to subscribe for additional Shares to be made available to
Holders of ADSs, the Depositary upon consultation with the Company, shall
determine, whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable to make such rights
available to the Holders. The Depositary shall make such rights available to any
Holders only if (i) the Company shall have timely requested that such rights be
made available to Holders, (ii) the Depositary shall have received the
documentation contemplated in the Deposit Agreement reasonably satisfactory to
it, and (iii) the Depositary shall have determined that such distribution of
rights is reasonably practicable. If such conditions are not satisfied, the
Depositary shall sell the rights as described below. In the event all conditions
set forth above are satisfied, the Depositary shall establish an ADS Record Date
(upon the terms described in the Deposit Agreement) and establish procedures (x)
A-11
to distribute rights to purchase additional ADSs (by means of warrants or
otherwise), (y) to enable the Holders to exercise the rights (upon payment of
the subscription price and of the applicable (a) fees and charges of, and
expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes), and (z) to deliver ADSs
upon the valid exercise of such rights. Nothing herein or in the Deposit
Agreement shall obligate the Depositary to make available to the Holders a
method to exercise rights to subscribe for Shares (rather than ADSs). If (i) the
Company does not timely request the Depositary to make the rights available to
Holders or if the Company requests that the rights not be made available to
Holders, (ii) the Depositary fails to receive the documentation required by the
Deposit Agreement reasonably satisfactory to it or determines it is not
reasonably practicable to make the rights available to Holders, or (iii) any
rights made available are not exercised and appear to be about to lapse, the
Depositary shall determine whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable to
sell such rights, in a riskless principal capacity, at such place and upon such
terms (including public and private sale) as it may reasonably deem practicable.
The Depositary shall, upon such sale, convert and distribute proceeds of such
sale (net of applicable (a) fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the
Depositary and (b) taxes in each case, to the extent permitted by the provision
of the Deposit Agreement) upon the terms hereof and of the Deposit Agreement. If
the Depositary is unable to make any rights available to Holders or to arrange
for the sale of the rights upon the terms described above, the Depositary shall
allow such rights to lapse. The Depositary shall not be responsible for (i) any
failure to determine that it may be lawful or practicable to make such rights
available to Holders in general or any Holders in particular, (ii) any foreign
exchange exposure or loss incurred in connection with such sale or exercise, or
(iii) the content of any materials forwarded to the ADR Holders on behalf of the
Company in connection with the rights distribution if the Company has provided
or approved such materials; provided, however, if such materials are received by
the Depositary from a person other than the Company or its agent and such
materials are required by law to be forwarded to Holders, the Depositary shall
promptly provide the Company with a copy of such materials for the Company's
review and, unless otherwise required by law, the Company's approval, prior to
distribution by the Depositary to the Holders.
Notwithstanding anything herein or in the Deposit Agreement to the
contrary, if registration (under the Securities Act or any other applicable law)
of the rights or the securities to which any rights relate may be required in
order for the Company to offer such rights or such securities to Holders and to
sell the securities represented by such rights, the Depositary will not
distribute such rights to the Holders (i) unless and until a registration
statement under the Securities Act (or other applicable law) covering such
offering is in effect or (ii) unless the Company furnishes the Depositary
opinion(s) of counsel for the Company in the United States and counsel to the
Company in any other applicable country in which rights would be distributed, in
each case satisfactory to the Depositary, to the effect that the offering and
sale of such securities to Holders and Beneficial Owners are exempt from, or do
not require registration under, the provisions of the Securities Act or any
other applicable laws. In the event that the Company, the Depositary or the
Custodian shall be required to withhold and does withhold from any distribution
of property (including rights) an amount on account of taxes or other
governmental charges, the amount distributed to the Holders of ADSs representing
such Deposited Securities shall be reduced accordingly. In the event that the
A-12
Depositary determines that any distribution in property (including Shares and
rights to subscribe therefor) is subject to any tax or other governmental
charges which the Depositary is obligated to withhold, the Depositary may
dispose of all or a portion of such property (including Shares and rights to
subscribe therefor) in such amounts and in such manner, including by public or
private sale, as the Depositary reasonably deems necessary and practicable to
pay any such taxes or charges.
There can be no assurance that Holders generally, or any Holder in
particular, will be given the opportunity to exercise rights on the same terms
and conditions as the holders of Shares or to exercise such rights. Nothing
herein or in the Deposit Agreement shall obligate the Company to file any
registration statement in respect of any rights or Shares or other securities to
be acquired upon the exercise of such rights.
Upon receipt of a notice indicating that the Company wishes property other
than cash, Shares or rights to purchase additional Shares, to be made to Holders
of ADSs, the Depositary shall determine whether such distribution to Holders is
lawful and reasonably practicable. The Depositary shall not make such
distribution unless (i) the Company shall have requested the Depositary to make
such distribution to Holders, (ii) the Depositary shall have received the
documentation contemplated in the Deposit Agreement reasonably satisfactory to
it, and (iii) the Depositary shall have determined that such distribution is
reasonably practicable. Upon satisfaction of such conditions, the Depositary
shall distribute the property so received to the Holders of record, as of the
ADS Record Date, in proportion to the number of ADSs held by them respectively
and in such manner as the Depositary may deem practicable for accomplishing such
distribution (i) upon receipt of payment or net of the applicable fees and
charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary, and (ii) net of any taxes
withheld in each case, to the extent permitted by the provisions of the Deposit
Agreement. The Depositary may dispose of all or a portion of the property so
distributed and deposited, in such amounts and in such manner (including public
or private sale) as the Depositary may reasonably deem practicable or necessary
to satisfy any taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) or other
governmental charges applicable to the distribution.
If the conditions above are not satisfied, the Depositary shall sell or
cause such property to be sold in a public or private sale, at such place or
places and upon such terms as it may reasonably deem practicable and shall (i)
cause the proceeds of such sale, if any, to be converted into Dollars and (ii)
distribute the proceeds of such conversion received by the Depositary (net of
applicable (a) fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and
(b) taxes, in each case, to the extent permitted by the provisions of the
Deposit Agreement) to the Holders as of the ADS Record Date upon the terms
hereof and of the Deposit Agreement. If the Depositary is unable to sell such
property, the Depositary may dispose of such property for the account of the
Holders in any way it deems reasonably practicable under the circumstances. Any
benefit received upon such disposition shall be for the pro-rata benefit of the
Holders.
(15) Redemption. Upon timely receipt of notice from the Company to the
Depositary, which notice shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary,
that it intends to exercise its right of redemption in respect of any of the
Deposited Securities, and a satisfactory opinion of counsel, and upon
determining that such proposed redemption is practicable, the Depositary shall
(to the extent practicable) provide to each Holder a notice setting forth the
Company's intention to exercise the redemption rights and any other particulars
A-13
set forth in the Company's notice to the Depositary. Upon receipt of
confirmation that the redemption has taken place and that funds representing the
redemption price have been received, the Depositary shall convert, transfer,
distribute the proceeds (net of applicable (a) fees and charges of, and expenses
incurred by, the Depositary, and (b) taxes, in each case, to the extent
permitted by the provisions of the Deposit Agreement), retire ADSs and cancel
ADRs upon delivery of such ADSs by Holders thereof upon the terms of the Deposit
Agreement. If less than all outstanding Deposited Securities are redeemed, the
ADSs to be retired will be selected by lot or on a pro rata basis, as may be
determined by the Depositary. The redemption price per ADS shall be the dollar
equivalent of the per share amount received by the Depositary (adjusted to
reflect the ADS(s)-to-Share(s) ratio) upon the redemption of the Deposited
Securities represented by ADSs (subject to the terms of the Deposit Agreement
and the applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the
Depositary, and taxes, in each case, to the extent permitted by the provisions
of the Deposit Agreement) multiplied by the number of Deposited Securities
represented by each ADS redeemed.
(16) Fixing of ADS Record Date. Whenever the Depositary shall receive
notice of the fixing of a record date by the Company for the determination of
holders of Deposited Securities entitled to receive any distribution (whether in
cash, Shares, rights or other distribution), or whenever for any reason the
Depositary causes a change in the number of Shares that are represented by each
ADS, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting of, or
solicitation of consents or proxies of, holders of Shares or other Deposited
Securities, or whenever the Depositary shall find it necessary or convenient in
connection with the giving of any notice, solicitation of any consent or any
other matter, the Depositary, after consultation with the Company, shall fix a
record date ("ADS Record Date") for the determination of the Holders of ADRs who
shall be entitled to receive such distribution, to give instructions for the
exercise of voting rights at any such meeting, to give or withhold such consent,
to receive such notice or solicitation or to otherwise take action, or to
exercise the rights of Holders with respect to such changed number of Shares
represented by each ADS. Subject to applicable law and the terms and conditions
of this ADR and the Deposit Agreement, only the Holders of ADRs at the close of
business in New York on such ADS Record Date shall be entitled to receive such
distributions, to give such instructions, to receive such notice or
solicitation, or otherwise take action.
(17) Voting of Deposited Securities. As soon as practicable after receipt
of notice of any meeting at which the holders of Deposited Securities are
entitled to vote, or of solicitation of consents or proxies from holders of
Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall fix the ADS Record Date in respect of
such meeting or solicitation of such consent or proxy. The Depositary shall, if
requested by the Company in writing in a timely manner (the Depositary having no
obligation to take any further action if the request shall not have been
received by the Depositary at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of such
vote or meeting), at the Company's expense and provided no U.S. legal
prohibitions exist, distribute to Holders as of the ADS Record Date: (a) such
notice of meeting or solicitation of consent or proxies, (b) a statement that
the Holders at the close of business on the ADS Record Date will be entitled,
subject to any applicable law, the provisions of the Deposit Agreement, the
Company's Memorandum and Articles of Association and the provisions of or
governing Deposited Securities (which provisions, if any, shall be summarized in
pertinent part by the Company), to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of
the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the Deposited Securities represented by
such Holder's ADSs and (c) a brief statement as to the manner in which such
voting instructions may be given. Voting instructions may be given only in
A-14
respect of a number of ADSs representing an integral number of Deposited
Securities. Upon the timely receipt of voting instructions from a Holder of ADSs
as of the ADS Record Date in the manner specified by the Depositary for such
purpose, the Depositary shall endeavor, insofar as practicable and permitted
under applicable law and the provisions of the Deposit Agreement, Memorandum and
Articles of Association of the Company and the provisions of the Deposited
Securities, to vote, or cause the Custodian to vote, the Deposited Securities
represented by such Holder's ADSs in accordance with such instructions.
Neither the Depositary nor the Custodian shall under any circumstances
exercise any discretion as to voting and neither the Depositary nor the
Custodian shall vote, attempt to exercise the right to vote, or in any way make
use of, for purposes of establishing a quorum or otherwise the Deposited
Securities represented by ADSs, except pursuant to and in accordance with the
voting instructions timely received from Holders or as otherwise contemplated
herein. If the Depositary timely receives voting instructions from a Holder
which fail to specify the manner in which the Depositary is to vote the
Deposited Securities represented by such Holder's ADSs, the Depositary will deem
such Holder (unless otherwise specified in the notice distributed to Holders) to
have instructed the Depositary to vote in favor of the items set forth in such
instructions. Deposited Securities represented by ADSs for which no timely
voting instructions are received by the Depositary from the Holder shall not be
voted. Notwithstanding anything else contained in the Deposit Agreement or this
ADR, the Depositary shall not have any obligation to take any action with
respect to any meeting, or solicitation of consents or proxies, of holders of
Deposited Securities if the taking of such action would violate U.S. laws. The
Company agrees to take any and all actions reasonably necessary to enable
Holders and Beneficial Owners to exercise the voting rights accruing to the
Deposited Securities and to deliver to the Depositary an opinion of U.S. counsel
addressing any actions requested to be taken if so requested by the Depositary.
There can be no assurance that Holders generally or any Holder in particular
will receive the notice described above with sufficient time to enable the
Holder to return voting instructions to the Depositary in a timely manner.
(18) Changes Affecting Deposited Securities. Upon any change in nominal or
par value, split-up, cancellation, consolidation or any other reclassification
of Deposited Securities, or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, merger or
consolidation or sale of assets affecting the Company or to which it is a party,
any securities which shall be received by the Depositary or the Custodian in
exchange for, or in conversion of or replacement of or otherwise in respect of,
such Deposited Securities shall, to the extent permitted by law, be treated as
new Deposited Securities under the Deposit Agreement, and the ADRs shall,
subject to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement and applicable law, evidence
ADSs representing the right to receive such additional securities. The
Depositary may, with the Company's approval, and shall, if the Company shall so
request, subject to the terms of the Deposit Agreement and receipt of reasonably
satisfactory documentation contemplated by the Deposit Agreement, execute and
deliver additional ADRs as in the case of a stock dividend on the Shares, or
call for the surrender of outstanding ADRs to be exchanged for new ADRs, in
either case, as well as in the event of newly deposited Shares, with necessary
modifications to the form of ADR contained in this Exhibit A to the Deposit
Agreement, specifically describing such new Deposited Securities or corporate
change. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any security so
received may not be lawfully distributed to some or all Holders, the Depositary
may, with the Company's approval, and shall if the Company requests, subject to
receipt of satisfactory legal documentation contemplated in the Deposit
Agreement, sell such securities at public or private sale, at such place or
places and upon such terms as it may deem proper and may allocate the net
A-15
proceeds of such sales (net of (a) fees and charges of, and expenses incurred
by, the Depositary and (b) taxes) for the account of the Holders otherwise
entitled to such securities and distribute the net proceeds so allocated to the
extent practicable as in the case of a distribution received in cash pursuant to
the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary shall not be responsible for (i) any
failure to determine that it may be lawful or feasible to make such securities
available to Holders in general or any Holder in particular, (ii) any foreign
exchange exposure or loss incurred in connection with such sale, or (iii) any
liability to the purchaser of such securities.
(19) Exoneration. Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be
obligated to do or perform any act which is inconsistent with the provisions of
the Deposit Agreement or incur any liability (i) if the Depositary or the
Company shall be prevented or forbidden from, or subjected to any civil or
criminal penalty or restraint on account of, or delayed in, doing or performing
any act or thing required by the terms of the Deposit Agreement and this ADR, by
reason of any provision of any present or future law or regulation of the United
States, Brazil or any other country, or of any other governmental authority or
regulatory authority or stock exchange, or on account of possible criminal or
civil penalties or restraint, or by reason of any provision, present or future,
of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company or any provision of
or governing any Deposited Securities, or by reason of any act of God or war or
other circumstances beyond its control (including, without limitation,
nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, work stoppage, strikes,
civil unrest, revolutions, rebellions, explosions and computer failure), (ii) by
reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for
in the Deposit Agreement or in the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the
Company or provisions of or governing Deposited Securities, (iii) for any action
or inaction in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel,
accountants, any person presenting Shares for deposit, any Holder, any
Beneficial Owner or authorized representative thereof, or any other person
believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information,
(iv) for the inability by a Holder or Beneficial Owner to benefit from any
distribution, offering, right or other benefit which is made available to
holders of Deposited Securities but is not, under the terms of the Deposit
Agreement, made available to Holders of ADSs or (v) for any consequential or
punitive damages for any breach of the terms of the Deposit Agreement. The
Depositary, its controlling persons, its agents, any Custodian and the Company,
its controlling persons and its agents may rely and shall be protected in acting
upon any written notice, request or other document believed by it to be genuine
and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties. No
disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act is intended by any provision of
the Deposit Agreement or this ADR.
(20) Standard of Care. The Company and the Depositary assume no obligation
and shall not be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement or this
ADR to any Holder(s) or Beneficial Owner(s), except that the Company and
Depositary agree to perform their respective obligations specifically set forth
in the Deposit Agreement and this ADR without negligence or bad faith. The
Depositary and its agents shall not be liable for any failure to carry out any
instructions to vote any of the Deposited Securities, or for the manner in which
any vote is cast or the effect of any vote, provided that any such action or
omission is in good faith and in accordance with the terms of the Deposit
Agreement. The Depositary shall not incur any liability for any failure to
determine that any distribution or action may be lawful or reasonably
practicable, for the content of any information submitted to it by the Company
A-16
for distribution to the Holders or for any inaccuracy of any translation
thereof, for any investment risk associated with acquiring an interest in the
Deposited Securities, for the validity or worth of the Deposited Securities or
for any tax consequences that may result from the ownership of ADSs, Shares or
Deposited Securities, for the credit-worthiness of any third party, for allowing
any rights to lapse upon the terms of the Deposit Agreement or for the failure
or timeliness of any notice from the Company.
(21) Resignation and Removal of the Depositary; Appointment of Successor
Depositary. The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary under the
Deposit Agreement by written notice of resignation delivered to the Company,
such resignation to be effective on the earlier of (i) the 60th day after
delivery thereof to the Company, or (ii) upon the appointment of a successor
depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit
Agreement. The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by written
notice of such removal, which removal shall be effective on the earlier of (i)
the 60th day after delivery thereof to the Depositary, or (ii) upon the
appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as
provided in the Deposit Agreement. In case at any time the Depositary acting
hereunder shall resign or be removed, the Company shall use its best efforts to
appoint a successor depositary, which shall be a bank or trust company having an
office in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York. Every successor
depositary shall execute and deliver to its predecessor and to the Company an
instrument in writing accepting its appointment hereunder, and thereupon such
successor depositary, without any further act or deed (except as required by
applicable law), shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties
and obligations of its predecessor. The predecessor depositary, upon payment of
all sums due it and on the written request of the Company, shall (i) execute and
deliver an instrument transferring to such successor all rights and powers of
such predecessor hereunder (other than as contemplated in the Deposit
Agreement), (ii) duly assign, transfer and deliver all right, title and interest
to the Deposited Securities to such successor, and (iii) deliver to such
successor a list of the Holders of all outstanding ADRs and such other
information relating to ADRs and Holders thereof as the successor may reasonably
request. Any such successor depositary shall promptly provide notice of its
appointment to such Holders. 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.
(22) Amendment/Supplement. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
paragraph 22, the Deposit Agreement and applicable law, this ADR and any
provisions of the Deposit Agreement may at any time and from time to time be
amended or supplemented by written agreement between the Company and the
Depositary in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable without the
prior written consent of the Holders or Beneficial Owners. Any amendment or
supplement which shall impose or increase any fees or charges (other than the
charges in connection with foreign exchange control regulations, and taxes and
other governmental charges, delivery and other such expenses), or which shall
otherwise materially prejudice any substantial existing right of Holders or
Beneficial Owners, shall not, however, become effective as to outstanding ADRs
until the expiration of thirty (30) days after notice of such amendment or
supplement shall have been given to the Holders of outstanding ADRs. The parties
hereto agree that any amendments or supplements which (i) are reasonably
necessary (as agreed by the Company and the Depositary) in order for (a) the
A-17
ADSs to be registered on Form F-6 under the Securities Act or (b) the ADSs to be
traded solely in electronic book-entry form and (ii) do not in either such case
impose or increase any fees or charges to be borne by Holders, shall be deemed
not to materially prejudice any substantial rights of Holders or Beneficial
Owners. Every Holder and Beneficial Owner at the time any amendment or
supplement so becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such
ADS(s), to consent and agree to such amendment or supplement and to be bound by
the Deposit Agreement and this ADR as amended or supplemented thereby. In no
event shall any amendment or supplement impair the right of the Holder to
surrender such ADR and receive therefor the Deposited Securities represented
thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any governmental body should adopt new laws,
rules or regulations which would require an amendment of, or supplement to, the
Deposit Agreement to ensure compliance therewith, the Company and the Depositary
may amend or supplement the Deposit Agreement and this ADR at any time in
accordance with such changed laws, rules or regulations. Such amendment or
supplement to the Deposit Agreement in such circumstances may become effective
before a notice of such amendment or supplement is given to Holders or within
any other period of time as required for compliance with such laws, or rules or
regulations.
(23) Termination. The Depositary shall, at any time at the written
direction of the Company, terminate the Deposit Agreement by providing notice of
such termination to the Holders of all ADRs then outstanding at least thirty
(30) days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination. If sixty
(60) days shall have expired after (i) the Depositary shall have delivered to
the Company a written notice of its election to resign, or (ii) the Company
shall have delivered to the Depositary a written notice of the removal of the
Depositary, and in either case a successor depositary shall not have been
appointed and accepted its appointment as provided herein and in the Deposit
Agreement, the Depositary may terminate the Deposit Agreement by providing
notice of such termination to the Holders of all ADRs then outstanding at least
thirty (30) days prior to the date fixed for such termination. On and after the
date of termination of the Deposit Agreement, the Holder will, upon surrender of
such Holders' ADR(s) at the Principal Office of the Depositary, upon the payment
of the charges of the Depositary for the surrender of ADSs referred to in
paragraph (2) hereof and in the Deposit Agreement and subject to the conditions
and restrictions therein set forth, and upon payment of any applicable taxes or
governmental charges, be entitled to Delivery, to him or upon his order, of the
amount of Deposited Securities represented by such ADR. If any ADRs shall remain
outstanding after the date of termination of the Deposit Agreement, the
Registrar thereafter shall discontinue the registration of transfers of ADRs,
and the Depositary shall suspend the distribution of dividends to the Holders
thereof, and shall not give any further notices or perform any further acts
under the Deposit Agreement, except that the Depositary shall continue to
collect dividends and other distributions pertaining to Deposited Securities,
shall sell rights as provided in the Deposit Agreement, and shall continue to
deliver Deposited Securities, subject to the conditions and restrictions set
forth in the Deposit Agreement, together with any dividends or other
distributions received with respect thereto and the net proceeds of the sale of
any rights or other property, in exchange for ADRs surrendered to the Depositary
(after deducting, or charging, as the case may be, in each case the charges of
the Depositary for the surrender of a ADR, any expenses for the account of the
Holder in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement and
any applicable taxes or governmental charges or assessments). At any time after
the expiration of six months from the date of termination of the Deposit
A-18
Agreement, 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, in an unsegregated account,
without liability for interest for the pro rata benefit of the Holders whose
ADRs have not theretofore been surrendered. After making such sale, the
Depositary shall be discharged from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement
with respect to the ADRs, the Deposited Securities and the ADSs, except to
account for such net proceeds and other cash (after deducting, or charging, as
the case may be, in each case, the charges of the Depositary for the surrender
of an ADR, any expenses for the account of the Holder in accordance with the
terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement and any applicable taxes or
governmental charges or assessments). Upon the termination of the Deposit
Agreement, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations under the
Deposit Agreement except as set forth in the Deposit Agreement.
(24) Compliance with U.S. Securities Laws. Notwithstanding any provisions
in this ADR or the Deposit Agreement to the contrary, the withdrawal or delivery
of Deposited Securities will not be suspended by the Company or the Depositary
except as would be permitted by Instruction I.A.(1) of the General Instructions
to the Form F-6 Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, under the
Securities Act.
(25) Certain Rights of the Depositary; Limitations. Subject to the further
terms and provisions of this paragraph (25), the Depositary, its Affiliates and
their agents, on their own behalf, may own and deal in any class of securities
of the Company and its Affiliates and in ADSs. The Depositary may issue ADSs
against evidence of rights to receive Shares from the Company, any agent of the
Company or any custodian, registrar, transfer agent, clearing agency or other
entity involved in ownership or transaction records in respect of the Shares.
Such evidence of rights shall consist of written blanket or specific guarantees
of ownership of Shares. In its capacity as Depositary, the Depositary shall not
lend Shares or ADSs; provided, however, that the Depositary may (i) issue ADSs
prior to the receipt of Shares pursuant to Section 2.3 of the Deposit Agreement
and (ii) deliver Shares prior to the receipt of ADSs for withdrawal of Deposited
Securities pursuant to Section 2.7 of the Deposit Agreement, including ADSs
which were issued under (i) above but for which Shares may not have been
received (each such transaction a "Pre-Release Transaction"). The Depositary may
receive ADSs in lieu of Shares under (i) above and receive Shares in lieu of
ADSs under (ii) above. Each such Pre-Release Transaction will be (a) subject to
a written agreement whereby the person or entity (the "Applicant") to whom ADSs
or Shares are to be delivered (w) represents that at the time of the Pre-Release
Transaction the Applicant or its customer owns the Shares or ADSs that are to be
delivered by the Applicant under such Pre-Release Transaction, (x) agrees to
indicate the Depositary as owner of such Shares or ADSs in its records and to
hold such Shares or ADSs in trust for the Depositary until such Shares or ADSs
are delivered to the Depositary or the Custodian, (y) unconditionally guarantees
to deliver to the Depositary or the Custodian, as applicable, such Shares or
ADSs and (z) agrees to any additional restrictions or requirements that the
Depositary deems appropriate, (b) at all times fully collateralized with cash,
U.S. government securities or such other collateral as the Depositary deems
appropriate, (c) terminable by the Depositary on not more than five (5) business
days' notice and (d) subject to such further indemnities and credit regulations
as the Depositary deems appropriate. The Depositary will normally limit the
A-19
number of ADSs and Shares involved in such Pre-Release Transactions at any one
time to thirty percent (30%) of the ADSs outstanding (without giving effect to
ADSs outstanding under (i) above), provided, however, that the Depositary
reserves the right to change or disregard such limit from time to time as it
deems appropriate. The Depositary may also set limits with respect to the number
of ADSs and Shares involved in Pre-Release Transactions with any one person on a
case by case basis as it deems appropriate. The Depositary may retain for its
own account any compensation received by it in conjunction with the foregoing.
Collateral provided pursuant to (b) above, but not earnings thereon, shall be
held for the benefit of the Holders (other than the Applicant).
A-20
(ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER SIGNATURE LINES)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned Holder hereby sell(s), assign(s) and
transfer(s) unto ______________________________ whose taxpayer identification
number is _______________________ and whose address including postal zip code is
________________, the within ADR and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably
constituting and appointing ________________________ attorney-in-fact to
transfer said ADR on the books of the Depositary with full power of substitution
in the premises.
Dated: Name:____________________________________
By:
Title:
NOTICE: The signature of the Holder to
this assignment must correspond with the
name as written upon the face of the
within instrument in every particular,
without alteration or enlargement or any
change whatsoever.
If the endorsement be executed by an
attorney, executor, administrator,
trustee or guardian, the person executing
the endorsement must give his/her full
title in such capacity and proper
evidence of authority to act in such
capacity, if not on file with the
Depositary, must be forwarded with this
ADR.
__________________________
SIGNATURE GUARANTEED
All endorsements or assignments of ADRs
must be guaranteed by a member of a
Medallion Signature Program approved by
the Securities Transfer Association, Inc.
Legends
[The ADRs issued in respect of Partial Entitlement American Depositary Shares
shall bear the following legend on the face of the ADR: "This ADR evidences ADSs
representing 'partial entitlement' preferred shares of Brasil Telecom S.A. and
as such do not entitle the holders thereof to the same per-share entitlement as
other preferred Shares (which are 'full entitlement' preferred Shares) issued
and outstanding at such time. The ADSs represented by this ADR shall entitle
holders to distributions and entitlements identical to other ADSs when the
preferred Shares represented by such ADSs become 'full entitlement' preferred
Shares."]
A-21
EXHIBIT B
FEE SCHEDULE
DEPOSITARY FEES AND RELATED CHARGES
All capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meaning given to such terms in the Deposit Agreement.
I. Depositary Fees
The Company, the Holders, the Beneficial Owners and the persons depositing
Shares or surrendering ADSs for cancellation agree to pay the following fees of
the Depositary:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Service Rate By Whom Paid
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Issuance of ADSs upon deposit Up to $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or Person for whom deposits are made
of Shares (excluding fraction thereof) issued. or person receiving ADSs.
issuances contemplated by
paragraphs (3)(b) and (5)
below).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Delivery of Deposited Up to $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or Person surrendering ADSs or making
Securities, property and fraction thereof) surrendered. withdrawal.
cash against surrender of
ADSs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) Distribution of (a) cash No fee, so long as prohibited by Person to whom distribution is made.
dividend or (b) ADSs the exchange upon which the ADSs
pursuant to stock dividends are listed. If the charging of
(or other free distribution such fee is not prohibited, the
of stock). fees specified in (1) above shall
be payable in respect of a
distribution of ADSs pursuant to
stock dividends (or other free
distribution of stock) and the fees
specified in (4) below shall be
payable in respect of distributions
of cash.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) Distribution of cash proceeds Up to $2.00 per 100 ADSs (or Person to whom distribution is made.
(i.e., upon sale of rights fraction thereof) held.
and other entitlements).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5) Distribution of ADSs pursuant Up to $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or Person to whom distribution is made.
to exercise of rights to fraction thereof) issued.
purchase additional ADSs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B-1
II. Charges
Holders, Beneficial Owners, persons depositing Shares for deposit and
persons surrendering ADSs for cancellation and for the purpose of withdrawing
Deposited Securities shall be responsible for the following charges:
(i) taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) and other governmental
charges;
(ii) such registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the
registration of Shares or other Deposited Securities on the share register
and applicable to transfers of Shares or other Deposited Securities to or
from the name of the Custodian, the Depositary or any nominees upon the
making of deposits and withdrawals, respectively;
(iii) such cable, telex and facsimile transmission and delivery expenses as are
expressly provided in the Deposit Agreement to be at the expense of the
person depositing or withdrawing Shares or Holders and Beneficial Owners
of ADSs;
(iv) the expenses and charges incurred by the Depositary in the conversion of
foreign currency;
(v) such fees and expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in connection
with compliance with exchange control regulations and other regulatory
requirements applicable to Shares, Deposited Securities, ADSs and ADRs;
and
(vi) the fees and expenses incurred by the Depositary in connection with the
delivery of Deposited Securities.
B-2
