Effective January 20, 2009 the Companys
Name Changed To Lloyds Banking Group plc
Exhibit A to Deposit Agreement
No.
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
(Each American Depositary Share
represents four (4) Deposited Shares)
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
FOR ORDINARY SHARES,
PAR VALUE OF 25 XXXXX EACH,
OF
LLOYDS TSB GROUP PLC
(INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS
OF SCOTLAND)
The Bank of New York Mellon, as
depositary hereinafter called
the Depositary,
hereby certifies that
,or registered assigns IS THE OWNER OF
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
representing deposited Ordinary Shares
(herein called Shares) of
Lloyds TSB Group plc, incorporated
under the laws of Scotland
(herein called the Company). At the date
hereof, each American Depositary Share
represents four (4) Shares which are either
deposited or subject to deposit under the
deposit agreement at the London office of
The Bank of New York (herein called the
Custodian). The Depositarys Corporate
Trust Office is located at a different address
than its principal executive office. Its
Corporate Trust Office is located at 000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, X.X. 00000, and
its principal executive office is located at
Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, X.X. 00000.
THE DEPOSITARYS CORPORATE
TRUST OFFICE ADDRESS IS
000 XXXXXXX XXXXXX, XXX XXXX,
X.X. 00000
1. THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT.
This American Depositary Receipt is
one of an issue (herein called Receipts), all
issued and to be issued upon the terms and
conditions set forth in the Amended and
Restated Deposit Agreement dated as of
November 17, 2008 (herein called the
Deposit Agreement), by and among the
Company, the Depositary, and all Owners
and holders from time to time of American
Depositary Shares issued thereunder, each of
whom by accepting American Depositary
Shares agrees to become a party thereto and
become bound by all the terms and
conditions thereof. The Deposit Agreement
sets forth the rights of Owners and holders
of the Receipts and the rights and duties of
the Depositary in respect of the Shares
deposited thereunder and any and all other
securities, property and cash from time to
time received in respect of such Shares and
held thereunder (such Shares, securities,
property, and cash are herein called
Deposited Securities). Copies of the
Deposit Agreement are on file at the
Depositarys Corporate Trust Office in New
York City and at the office of the Custodian.
The statements made on the face and
reverse of this Receipt are summaries of
certain provisions of the Deposit Agreement
and are qualified by and subject to the
detailed provisions of the Deposit
Agreement, to which reference is hereby
made. Capitalized terms not defined herein
shall have the meanings set forth in the
Deposit Agreement.
2. SURRENDER OF RECEIPTS
AND WITHDRAWAL OF SHARES.
Upon surrender at the Corporate
Trust Office of the Depositary of this
Receipt, and upon payment of the fee of the
Depositary provided in this Receipt, and
subject to the terms and conditions of the
Deposit Agreement and applicable laws, the
Receipt is cancelled and the Owner hereof is
entitled to delivery, to him or upon his order,
of the Deposited Securities at the time
represented by the American Depositary
Shares for which this Receipt is issued.
Delivery of such Deposited Securities may
be made by the delivery of (a) certificates in
the name of the Owner hereof or as ordered
by him or by the delivery of certificates
properly endorsed or accompanied by proper
instruments of transfer and (b) any other
securities, property and cash to which such
Owner is then entitled in respect of this
Receipt. Such delivery will be made at the
option of the Owner hereof, either at the
office of the Custodian or at the Corporate
Trust Office of the Depositary, provided that
the forwarding of certificates for Shares or
other Deposited Securities for such delivery
at the Corporate Trust Office of the
Depositary shall be at the risk and expense
of the Owner hereof. Notwithstanding any
other provision of the Deposit Agreement or
this Receipt, the surrender of outstanding
Receipts and withdrawal of Deposited
Securities may be suspended only for (i)
temporary delays caused by closing the
transfer books of the Depositary or the
Company or the deposit of Shares in
connection with voting at a shareholders
meeting, or the payment of dividends, (ii)
the payment of fees, taxes and similar
charges, and (iii) compliance with any U.S.
or foreign laws or governmental regulations
relating to the Receipts or to the withdrawal
of the Deposited Securities.
3. TRANSFERS, SPLIT-UPS, AND
COMBINATIONS OF RECEIPTS.
The transfer of this Receipt is
registrable on the books of the Depositary at
its Corporate Trust Office by the Owner
hereof in person or by a duly authorized
attorney, upon surrender of this Receipt
properly endorsed for transfer or
accompanied by proper instruments of
transfer and funds sufficient to pay any
applicable transfer taxes and the expenses of
the Depositary and upon compliance with
such regulations, if any, as the Depositary
may establish for such purpose. This
Receipt may be split into other such
Receipts, or may be combined with other
such Receipts into one Receipt, evidencing
the same aggregate number of American
Depositary Shares as the Receipt or Receipts
surrendered. As a condition precedent to the
execution and delivery, registration of
transfer, split-up, combination, or surrender
of any Receipt or withdrawal of any
Deposited Securities, the Depositary, the
Custodian, or Registrar may require
payment from the presentor of the Receipt
of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any
tax or other governmental charge and any
stock transfer or registration fee with respect
thereto (including any such tax or charge
and fee with respect to Shares being
deposited or withdrawn) and payment of any
applicable fees as provided in this Receipt,
may require the production of proof
satisfactory to it as to the identity and
genuineness of any signature, may require
compliance with the Companys Articles of
Association and resolutions and regulations
of the Companys Board of Directors adopted
in compliance with such Articles of
Association, as provided in writing to the
Depositary, and may also require
compliance with any regulations the
Depositary may establish consistent with the
provisions of the Deposit Agreement or this
Receipt.
The delivery of Receipts against
deposits of Shares generally or against
deposits of particular Shares may be
suspended, or the transfer of Receipts in
particular instances may be refused, or the
registration of transfer of outstanding
Receipts generally may be suspended,
during any period when the transfer books
of the Depositary are closed, or if any such
action is deemed necessary or advisable by
the Depositary or the Company at any time
or from time to time because of any
requirement of law or of any government or
governmental body or commission, or under
any provision of the Deposit Agreement or
this Receipt, or for any other reason, subject
to Article (22) hereof. Without limitation of
the foregoing, the Depositary shall not
knowingly accept for deposit under the
Deposit Agreement any Shares required to
be registered under the provisions of the
Securities Act of 1933, unless a registration
statement is in effect as to such Shares.
4. LIABILITY OF OWNER FOR
TAXES.
If any tax or other governmental
charge shall become payable with respect to
any Receipt or any Deposited Securities
represented hereby, such tax or other
governmental charge shall be payable by the
Owner hereof to the Depositary. The
Depositary may refuse to effect any transfer
of this Receipt or any withdrawal of
Deposited Securities represented by
American Depositary Shares evidenced by
such Receipt until such payment is made,
and may withhold any dividends or other
distributions, or may sell for the account of
the Owner hereof any part or all of the
Deposited Securities represented by the
American Depositary Shares evidenced by
this Receipt, and may apply such dividends
or other distributions or the proceeds of any
such sale in payment of such tax or other
governmental charge and the Owner hereof
shall remain liable for any deficiency.
5. WARRANTIES OF
DEPOSITORS.
Every person depositing Shares
under the Deposit Agreement shall be
deemed thereby to represent and warrant
that such Shares and each certificate therefor
are validly issued, fully paid and free of any
pre-emptive rights of the holders of
outstanding Shares and that the person
making such deposit is duly authorized so to
do. Every such person shall also be deemed
to represent that the deposit of such Shares
and the sale of Receipts evidencing
American Depositary Shares representing
such Shares by that person are not restricted
under the Securities Act of 1933. Such
representations and warranties shall survive
the deposit of Shares and issuance of
Receipts.
6. FILING PROOFS,
CERTIFICATES, AND OTHER
INFORMATION.
Any person presenting Shares for
deposit or any Owner of a Receipt may be
required from time to time to file with the
Depositary or the Custodian such proof of
citizenship or residence, exchange control
approval, or such information relating to the
registration on the books of the Company or
the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, to
execute such certificates and to make such
representations and warranties, as the
Depositary may deem necessary or proper.
The Depositary may withhold the delivery
or registration of transfer of any Receipt or
the distribution of any dividend or sale or
distribution of rights or of the proceeds
thereof or the delivery of any Deposited
Securities until such proof or other
information is filed or such certificates are
executed or such representations and
warranties made to the Depositarys
satisfaction. Upon written request from the
Company, the Depositary, in a timely
manner, will provide copies of any such
proofs, certificates or other information with
copies, unless such disclosure is prohibited
by applicable law. No Share shall be
accepted for deposit unless accompanied by
evidence satisfactory to the Depositary that
any necessary approval has been granted by
any governmental body in the United
Kingdom which is then performing the
function of the regulation of currency
exchange.
7. CHARGES OF DEPOSITARY.
The Company agrees to pay the fees,
reasonable expenses and out-of-pocket
charges of the Depositary and those of any
Registrar only in accordance with
agreements in writing entered into between
the Depositary and the Company from time
to time. The Depositary shall present its
statement for such charges and expenses to
the Company once every three months. The
charges and expenses of the Custodian are
for the sole account of the Depositary.
The following charges shall be
incurred by any party depositing or
withdrawing Shares or by any party
surrendering Receipts or to whom Receipts
are issued (including, without limitation,
issuance pursuant to a stock dividend or
stock split declared by the Company or an
exchange of stock regarding the Receipts or
Deposited Securities or a distribution of
Receipts pursuant to Section 4.3 of the
Deposit Agreement), or by Owners, as
applicable: (1) taxes and other
governmental charges, (2) such registration
fees as may from time to time be in effect
for the registration of transfers of Shares
generally on the Share register of the
Company or Foreign Registrar and
applicable to transfers of Shares to or from
the name of the Depositary or its nominee or
the Custodian or its nominee on the making
of deposits or withdrawals hereunder,
(3) such cable, telex and facsimile
transmission expenses as are expressly
provided in the Deposit Agreement, (4) such
expenses as are incurred by the Depositary
in the conversion of foreign currency
pursuant to Section 4.5 of the Deposit
Agreement, (5) a fee of $5.00 or less per 100
American Depositary Shares (or portion
thereof) for the execution and delivery of
Receipts pursuant to Section 2.3, 4.3 or 4.4
and the surrender of Receipts pursuant to
Section 2.5 or 6.2 of the Deposit Agreement,
(6) a fee of $.02 or less per American
Depositary Share (or portion thereof) for any
cash distribution made pursuant to the
Deposit Agreement, including, but not
limited to Sections 4.1 through 4.4 of the
Deposit Agreement, (7) a fee for the
distribution of securities pursuant to
Section 4.2 of the Deposit Agreement, such
fee being in an amount equal to the fee for
the execution and delivery of American
Depositary Shares referred to above which
would have been charged as a result of the
deposit of such securities (for purposes of
this clause 7 treating all such securities as if
they were Shares) but which securities are
instead distributed by the Depositary to
Owners, (8) a fee of $.02 or less per
American Depositary Share (or portion
thereof)for depositary services, which will
accrue on the last day of each calendar year
and which will be payable as provided in
clause (9) below; provided, however, that no
fee will be assessed under this clause (8) if a
fee was charged pursuant to clause (6) above
during that calendar year and (9) any other
charge payable by the Depositary, any of the
Depositarys agents, including the Custodian,
or the agents of the Depositarys agents in
connection with the servicing of Shares or
other Deposited Securities (which charge
shall be assessed against Owners as of the
date or dates set by the Depositary in
accordance with Section 4.6 of the Deposit
Agreement and shall be payable at the sole
discretion of the Depositary by billing such
Owners for such charge or by deducting
such charge from one or more cash
dividends or other cash distributions).
The Depositary, subject to
Section 2.9 of the Deposit Agreement, may
own and deal in any class of securities of the
Company and its affiliates and in Receipts.
8. LOANS AND PRE-RELEASE OF
SHARES AND RECEIPTS.
Unless requested in writing by the
Company to cease doing so, the Depositary
may, notwithstanding Section 2.3 of the
Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver
Receipts prior to the receipt of shares
pursuant to Section 2.2 of the Deposit
Agreement (Pre-Release). The Depositary
may, pursuant to Section 2.5 of the Deposit
Agreement, deliver Shares upon the receipt
and cancellation of Receipts which have
been Pre-Released, whether or not such
cancellation is prior to the termination of
such Pre-Release or the Depositary knows
that such Receipt has been Pre-Released.
The Depositary may receive Receipts in lieu
of Shares in satisfaction of a Pre-Release.
Each Pre-Release will be (a) preceded or
accompanied by a written representation and
agreement from the person to whom
Receipts are to be delivered (the
Pre-Releasee) that the Pre-Releasee, or its
customer, (i) owns the Shares or Receipts to
be remitted, as the case may be, (ii) assigns
all beneficial rights, title and interest in such
Shares or Receipts, as the case may be, to
the Depositary in its capacity as such and for
the benefit of the Owners, and (iii) will not
take any action with respect to such Shares
or Receipts, as the case may be, that is
inconsistent with the transfer of beneficial
ownership (including, without the consent of
the Depositary, disposing of such Shares or
Receipts, as the case may be), other than in
satisfaction of such Pre-Release, (b) at all
times fully collateralized with cash, U.S.
government securities or such other
collateral as the Depositary determines, in
good faith, will provide substantially similar
liquidity and security, (c) terminable by the
Depositary on not more than five (5)
business days notice, and (d) subject to such
further indemnities and credit regulations as
the Depositary deems appropriate. The
number of Shares not deposited but
represented by American Depositary Shares
outstanding at any time as a result of
Pre-Releases will not normally exceed thirty
percent (30%) of the Shares deposited
hereunder; provided, however, that the
Depositary reserves the right to disregard
such limit from time to time as it deems
reasonably appropriate, and may, with the
prior written consent of the Company,
change such limit for purposes of general
application. The Depositary will also set
Dollar limits with respect to Pre-Release
transactions to be entered into hereunder
with any particular Pre-Releasee on a
case-by-case basis as the Depositary deems
appropriate. For purposes of enabling the
Depositary to fulfill its obligations to the
Owners under the Deposit Agreement, the
collateral referred to in clause (b) above
shall be held by the Depositary as security
for the performance of the Pre-Releasees
obligations to the Depositary in connection
with a Pre-Release transaction, including the
Pre-Releasees obligation to deliver Shares or
Receipts upon termination of a Pre-Release
transaction (and shall not, for the avoidance
of doubt, constitute Deposited Securities
hereunder).
The Depositary may retain for its
own account any compensation received by
it in connection with the foregoing.
9. TITLE TO RECEIPTS.
It is a condition of this Receipt and
every successive holder and Owner of this
Receipt by accepting or holding the same
consents and agrees, that title to this Receipt
when properly endorsed or accompanied by
proper instruments of transfer, is
transferable by delivery with the same effect
as in the case of a negotiable instrument
under the laws of the State of New York,
provided, however, that the Depositary,
notwithstanding any notice to the contrary,
may treat the person in whose name this
Receipt is registered on the books of the
Depositary as the absolute owner hereof for
the purpose of determining the person
entitled to distribution of dividends or other
distributions or to any notice provided for in
the Deposit Agreement or for all other
purposes.
10. VALIDITY OF RECEIPT.
This Receipt shall not be entitled to
any benefits under the Deposit Agreement or
be valid or obligatory for any purpose,
unless this Receipt shall have been executed
by the Depositary by the manual or
facsimile signature of a duly authorized
signatory of the Depositary and, if a
Registrar for the Receipts shall have been
appointed, countersigned by the manual or
facsimile signature of a duly authorized
officer of the Registrar.
11. REPORTS; INSPECTION OF
TRANSFER BOOKS.
The Company is subject to the
periodic reporting requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and,
accordingly, files certain reports with the
Securities and Exchange Commission
(hereinafter called the Commission).
Such reports and communications
will be available for inspection and copying
at the public reference facilities maintained
by the Commission located at 000 Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, X.X., Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000.
The Depositary will make available
for inspection by Owners of Receipts at its
Corporate Trust Office any reports and
communications, including any proxy
soliciting material, received from the
Company which are both (a) received by the
Depositary as the holder of the Deposited
Securities and (b) made generally available
to the holders of such Deposited Securities
by the Company. The Depositary will also,
upon written request, send to Owners of
Receipts copies of such reports when
furnished by the Company pursuant to the
Deposit Agreement.
The Depositary will keep books for
the registration of Receipts and transfers of
Receipts which at all reasonable times shall
be open for inspection by the Owners of
Receipts provided that such inspection shall
not be for the purpose of communicating
with Owners of Receipts in the interest of a
business or object other than the business of
the Company or a matter related to the
Deposit Agreement or the Receipts.
12. DIVIDENDS AND
DISTRIBUTIONS.
Whenever the Depositary receives
any cash dividend or other cash distribution
on any Deposited Securities, the Depositary
will, if at the time of receipt thereof any
amounts received in a foreign currency can
in the judgment of the Depositary be
converted on a reasonable basis into United
States dollars transferable to the United
States, and subject to the Deposit
Agreement, convert such dividend or
distribution into dollars and will, as
promptly as practicable, distribute the
amount thus received to the Owners of
Receipts entitled thereto, provided, however,
that in the event that the Company or the
Depositary is required to withhold and does
withhold from any cash dividend or other
cash distribution in respect of any Deposited
Securities an amount on account of taxes,
the amount distributed to the Owners of the
Receipts evidencing American Depositary
Shares representing such Deposited
Securities shall be reduced accordingly.
Subject to the provisions of Section
4.11 and 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement,
whenever the Depositary receives any
distribution other than a distribution
described in Sections 4.1, 4.3 or 4.4 of the
Deposit Agreement, the Depositary will
cause the securities or property received by
it to be distributed, as promptly as
practicable, to the Owners of Receipts
entitled thereto, in any manner that the
Depositary may deem equitable and
practicable for accomplishing such
distribution; provided, however, that if in the
opinion of the Depositary such distribution
cannot be made proportionately among the
Owners of Receipts entitled thereto, or if for
any other reason the Depositary deems such
distribution not to be lawful or feasible, the
Depositary may, after consultation with the
Company, adopt such method as it may
deem equitable and practicable for the
purpose of effecting such distribution,
including, but not limited to, the public or
private sale of the securities or property thus
received, or any part thereof, and the net
proceeds of any such sale (net of the fees of
the Depositary as provided in Section 5.9 of
the Deposit Agreement) shall be distributed
by the Depositary to the Owners of Receipts
entitled thereto as in the case of a
distribution received in cash.
If any distribution consists of a
dividend in, or free distribution of, Shares,
the Depositary may and shall if the
Company shall so request, distribute, as
promptly as practicable, to the Owners of
outstanding Receipts entitled thereto,
additional Receipts evidencing an aggregate
number of American Depositary Shares
representing the amount of Shares received
as such dividend or free distribution subject
to the terms and conditions of the Deposit
Agreement with respect to the deposit of
Shares and the issuance of American
Depositary Shares evidenced by Receipts,
including the withholding of any tax or other
governmental charge as provided in Section
4.11 of the Deposit Agreement and the
payment of the fees of the Depositary as
provided in Section 5.9 of the Deposit
Agreement. In lieu of delivering Receipts
for fractional American Depositary Shares
in any such case, the Depositary will sell the
amount of Shares represented by the
aggregate of such fractions and distribute the
net proceeds, all in the manner and subject
to the conditions set forth in the Deposit
Agreement. If additional Receipts are not so
distributed, each American Depositary Share
shall thenceforth also represent the
additional Shares distributed upon the
Deposited Securities represented thereby.
In the event that the Depositary
determines that any distribution in property
(including Shares and rights to subscribe
therefor) is subject to any tax or other
governmental charge which the Depositary
is obligated to withhold, the Depositary may
by public or private sale dispose of all or a
portion of such property (including Shares
and rights to subscribe therefor) in such
amounts and in such manner as the
Depositary deems necessary and practicable
to pay any such taxes or charges, and the
Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds
of any such sale after deduction of such
taxes or charges to the Owners of Receipts
entitled thereto. The Depositary will
forward to the Company or its agent such
information from its records as the Company
may reasonably request in writing to enable
the Company or its agent to file necessary
reports with governmental agencies.
As to Owners that are U.S. residents,
the Depositary will use reasonable efforts to
follow any procedures, in a manner
reasonably satisfactory to the Company, that
may be established by the United Kingdom
Inland Revenue or the European Union for
such Owners to be subject, if eligible, to
applicable reduced withholding tax rates
available at the time dividends are paid.
13. CONVERSION OF FOREIGN
CURRENCY.
Whenever the Depositary shall
receive foreign currency, by way of
dividends or other distributions or the net
proceeds from the sale of securities,
property or rights, and if at the time of the
receipt thereof the foreign currency so
received can in the judgment of the
Depositary be converted on a reasonable
basis into Dollars and the resulting Dollars
transferred to the United States, the
Depositary shall, as promptly as practicable,
convert or cause to be converted, by sale or
in any other manner that it may determine,
such foreign currency into Dollars, and such
Dollars shall be, as promptly as practicable,
distributed to the Owners entitled thereto or,
if the Depositary shall have distributed any
warrants or other instruments which entitle
the holders thereof to such Dollars, then to
the holders of such warrants and/or
instruments upon surrender thereof for
cancellation. Such distribution may be
made upon an averaged or other practicable
basis without regard to any distinctions
among Owners on account of exchange
restrictions, the date of delivery of any
Receipt or otherwise and shall be net of any
expenses of conversion into Dollars incurred
by the Depositary as provided in Section 5.9
of the Deposit Agreement.
If such conversion or distribution can
be effected only with the approval or license
of any government or agency thereof, the
Depositary shall file such application for
approval or license, if any, as it may deem
desirable.
If at any time the Depositary shall
determine that in its judgment any foreign
currency received by the Depositary is not
convertible on a reasonable basis into
Dollars transferable to the United States, or
if any approval or license of any government
or agency thereof which is required for such
conversion is denied or in the opinion of the
Depositary is not obtainable, or if any such
approval or license is not obtained within a
reasonable period as determined by the
Depositary, the Depositary may distribute
the foreign currency (or an appropriate
document evidencing the right to receive
such foreign currency) received by the
Depositary to, or in its discretion may hold
such foreign currency uninvested and
without liability for interest thereon for the
respective accounts of, the Owners entitled
to receive the same.
If any such conversion of foreign
currency, in whole or in part, cannot be
effected for distribution to some of the
Owners entitled thereto, the Depositary may
in its discretion make such conversion and
distribution in Dollars to the extent
permissible to the Owners entitled thereto
and may distribute the balance of the foreign
currency received by the Depositary to, or
hold such balance uninvested and without
liability for interest thereon for the
respective accounts of, the Owners entitled
thereto.
14. RIGHTS.
In the event that the Company shall
offer or cause to be offered to the holders of
any Deposited Securities any rights to
subscribe for additional Shares or any rights
of any other nature, the Depositary, after
consultation with the Company, shall have
discretion as to the procedure to be followed
in making such rights available to any
Owners or in disposing of such rights on
behalf of any Owners and making the net
proceeds available in Dollars to such
Owners or, if by the terms of such rights
offering or, for any other legal or practical
reason, the Depositary may not either make
such rights available to any Owners or
dispose of such rights and make the net
proceeds available to such Owners, then the
Depositary shall allow the rights to lapse. If
at the time of the offering of any rights the
Depositary determines in its discretion that it
is lawful and feasible to make such rights
available to all Owners or to certain Owners
but not to other Owners, the Depositary
may, and shall if the Company so requests,
distribute, to any Owner to whom it
determines the distribution to be lawful and
feasible, in proportion to the number of
American Depositary Shares held by such
Owner, warrants or other instruments
therefor in such form as it deems
appropriate.
In circumstances in which rights
would otherwise not be distributed, if an
Owner of Receipts requests the distribution
of warrants or other instruments in order to
exercise the rights allocable to the American
Depositary Shares of such Owner under the
Deposit Agreement, the Depositary will
make such rights available to such Owner
upon written notice from the Company to
the Depositary that (a) the Company has
elected in its sole discretion to permit such
rights to be exercised and (b) such Owner
has executed such documents as the
Company has determined in its sole
discretion are reasonably required under
applicable law.
If the Depositary has distributed
warrants or other instruments for rights to all
or certain Owners, then upon instruction
from such an Owner pursuant to such
warrants or other instruments to the
Depositary from such Owner to exercise
such rights, upon payment by such Owner to
the Depositary for the account of such
Owner of an amount equal to the purchase
price of the Shares to be received upon the
exercise of the rights, and upon payment of
the fees of the Depositary and any other
charges as set forth in such warrants or other
instruments, the Depositary shall, on behalf
of such Owner, exercise the rights and
purchase the Shares, and the Company shall
cause the Shares so purchased to be
delivered to the Depositary on behalf of
such Owner. As agent for such Owner, the
Depositary will cause the Shares so
purchased to be deposited pursuant to
Section 2.2 of the Deposit Agreement, and
shall, pursuant to Section 2.3 of the Deposit
Agreement, execute and deliver Receipts to
such Owner. In the case of a distribution
pursuant to the second paragraph of this
Article (14), such Receipts shall be legended
in accordance with applicable U.S. laws, and
shall be subject to the appropriate
restrictions on sale, deposit, cancellation,
and transfer under such laws.
If the Depositary determines in its
discretion that it is not lawful or feasible to
make such rights available to all or certain
Owners, it may sell the rights, warrants or
other instruments in proportion to the
number of American Depositary Shares held
by the Owners to whom it has determined it
may not lawfully or feasibly make such
rights available, and allocate the net
proceeds of such sales (net of the fees of the
Depositary as provided in Section 5.9 of the
Deposit Agreement and all taxes and
governmental charges payable in connection
with such rights and subject to the terms and
conditions of the Deposit Agreement) for the
account of such Owners otherwise entitled
to such rights, warrants or other instruments,
upon an averaged or other practical basis
without regard to any distinctions among
such Owners because of exchange
restrictions or the date of delivery of any
Receipt or otherwise.
The Depositary will not offer rights
to Owners unless both the rights and the
securities to which such rights relate are
either exempt from registration under the
Securities Act of 1933 with respect to a
distribution to Owners or are registered
under the provisions of such Act. If an
Owner of Receipts requests distribution of
warrants or other instruments,
notwithstanding that there has been no such
registration under such Act, the Depositary
shall not effect such distribution unless it
has received an opinion from recognized
counsel in the United States for the
Company upon which the Depositary may
rely that such distribution to such Owner is
exempt from such registration.
The Depositary shall not be
responsible for any failure to determine that
it may be lawful or feasible to make such
rights available to Owners in general or any
Owner in particular.
15. RECORD DATES.
Whenever any cash dividend or other
cash distribution shall become payable or
any distribution other than cash shall be
made, or whenever rights shall be issued
with respect to the Deposited Securities, or
whenever for any reason the Depositary
causes a change in the number of Shares that
are represented by each American
Depositary Share, or whenever the
Depositary shall receive notice of any
meeting of holders of Shares or other
Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall
fix a record date (which, to the extent
practicable, shall be the same as any
corresponding record date set by the
Company with respect to the Shares, and
after Consultation with the Company if such
date is to be different from any such record
date established by the Company in respect
of the Shares) (a) for the determination of
the Owners of Receipts who shall be (i)
entitled to receive such dividend,
distribution or rights or the net proceeds of
the sale thereof or (ii) entitled to give
instructions for the exercise of voting rights
at any such meeting, or (b) on or after which
each American Depositary Share will
represent the changed number of Shares,
subject to the provisions of the Deposit
Agreement.
16. VOTING OF DEPOSITED
SECURITIES.
Upon receipt of notice of any
meeting of holders of Shares or other
Deposited Securities, if requested in writing
by the Company the Depositary shall, as
soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the
Owners a notice, the form of which notice
shall be in the sole discretion of the
Depositary, which shall contain (a) such
information as is contained in such notice of
meeting, and (b) a statement that the Owners
as of the close of business on a specified
record date will be entitled, subject to any
applicable provision of Scottish law and of
the Articles of Association of the Company,
to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise
of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the
amount of Shares or other Deposited
Securities represented by their respective
American Depositary Shares and (c) a
statement as to the manner in which such
instructions may be given, including an
express indication that such instructions may
be given or deemed given in accordance
with the last sentence of this paragraph if no
instruction is received, to the Depositary to
give a discretionary proxy to a person
designated to the Company. Upon the
written request of an Owner on such record
date, received on or before the date
established by the Depositary for such
purpose (the Instruction Date), the
Depositary shall endeavor, in so far as
practicable, to vote or cause to be voted the
amount of Shares or other Deposited
Securities represented by the American
Depositary Shares evidenced by such
Receipt in accordance with the instructions
set forth in such request. The Depositary
shall not vote or attempt to exercise the right
to vote that attaches to the Shares or other
Deposited Securities, other than in
accordance with such instructions or deemed
instructions. If (i) the Company made a
request to the Depositary as contemplated by
Section 4.7 of the Deposit Agreement and
complied with the second paragraph of that
Section 4.7 and (ii) no instructions are
received by the Depositary from an Owner
with respect to an amount of Deposited
Securities represented by the American
Depositary Shares evidenced by that Owners
Receipts on or before the Instruction Date,
the Depositary shall deem that Owner to
have instructed the Depositary to give, and
the Depositary shall give, a discretionary
proxy to a person designated by the
Company with respect to that amount of
Deposited Securities, except that such
instruction shall not be deemed to have been
given and the Depositary shall not give a
discretionary proxy with respect to any
matter as to which the Company informs the
Depositary (and the Company agrees to
provide that information as promptly as
practicable in writing, if applicable) that (x)
the Company does not wish to receive a
discretionary proxy, (y) substantial
opposition exists or (z) the matter materially
and adversely affects the rights of holders of
Shares.
In order to give Owners a reasonable
opportunity to instruct the Depositary as to
the exercise of voting rights relating to
Deposited Securities, if the Company will
request the Depositary to act under Section
4.7 of the Deposit Agreement, the Issuer
shall give the Depositary notice of any such
meeting or solicitation and details
concerning the matters to be voted upon not
less than 45 days, or such other period as the
Company and the Depositary may agree,
prior to the meeting date or date for giving
such proxies or consents.
There can be no assurance that
Owners generally or any Owner in particular
will receive the notice described in the
preceding paragraph sufficiently prior to the
Instruction Date to ensure that the
Depositary will vote the Shares or Deposited
Securities in accordance with the provisions
of Section 4.7 of the Deposit Agreement.
17. CHANGES AFFECTING
DEPOSITED SECURITIES.
In circumstances where the
provisions of Section 4.3 of the Deposit
Agreement do not apply, upon any change in
nominal value, change in par value, split-up,
consolidation, or any other reclassification
of Deposited Securities, or upon any
recapitalization, reorganization, merger or
consolidation, or sale of assets affecting the
Company or to which it is a party, any
securities which shall be received by the
Depositary or a Custodian in exchange for
or in conversion of or in respect of
Deposited Securities shall be treated as new
Deposited Securities under the Deposit
Agreement, and American Depositary
Shares shall thenceforth represent the new
Deposited Securities so received in
exchange or conversion, unless additional
Receipts are delivered pursuant to the
following sentence. In any such case the
Depositary may, and shall if the Company
shall so request, execute and deliver
additional Receipts as in the case of a
dividend in Shares, or call for the surrender
of outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for
new Receipts specifically describing such
new Deposited Securities.
18. LIABILITY OF THE COMPANY
AND DEPOSITARY.
Neither the Depositary nor the
Company shall incur any liability to any
Owner or holder of any Receipt, if by reason
of any provision of any present or future law
of the United States any state thereof, the
United Kingdom or any other country, or of
any other governmental or regulatory
authority, of the United States, any state
thereof, the United Kingdom or any other
country, or stock exchange, or by reason of
any provision, present or future, of the
Articles of Association of the Company, or
by reason of any act of God or war or other
circumstances beyond its control, the
Depositary or the Company shall be delayed
in prevented or forbidden from or be subject
to any civil or criminal penalty on account
of doing or performing any act or thing
which by the terms of the Deposit
Agreement it is provided shall be done or
performed by such party; nor shall the
Depositary or the Company incur any
liability to any Owner or holder of a Receipt
by reason of any non-performance or delay,
caused as aforesaid, in the performance of
any act or thing which by the terms of the
Deposit Agreement it is provided shall or
may be done or performed, or by reason of
any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any
discretion provided for in the Deposit
Agreement. Where, by the terms of a
distribution pursuant to Sections 4.1, 4.2, or
4.3 of the Deposit Agreement, or an offering
or distribution pursuant to Section 4.4 of the
Deposit Agreement, such distribution or
offering may not be made available to
Owners of Receipts, and the Depositary may
not dispose of such distribution or offering
on behalf of such Owners and make the net
proceeds available to such Owners, then the
Depositary shall not make such distribution
or offering, and shall allow any rights, if
applicable, to lapse. Neither the Company
nor the Depositary assumes any obligation
or shall be subject to any liability under the
Deposit Agreement to Owners or holders of
Receipts, except that they agree to perform
their obligations specifically set forth in the
Deposit Agreement without negligence or
bad faith. The Depositary and all Owners
and holders from time to time of Receipts
issued under the Deposit Agreement
acknowledge that, in accordance with
Article 12 of the Articles of Association of
the Company, no person shall be recognized
by the Company as holding any Share upon
trust, and the Company shall not be bound
by or be compelled in any way to recognize
(even when having notice thereof) any
equitable, contingent, future or partial
interest in any Share or any interest in any
fractional part of a Share, or (except only as
by the Articles of Association of the
Company otherwise expressly provided or
as by the statutes required or under an order
of court) any other right in respect of any
Share, except an absolute right to the
entirety thereof in the registered holder. The
Depositary shall not be subject to any
liability with respect to the validity or worth
of the Deposited Securities. Neither the
Depositary nor the Company shall be under
any obligation to appear in, prosecute or
defend any action, suit, or other proceeding
in respect of any Deposited Securities or in
respect of the Receipts, which in its opinion
may involve it in expense or liability, unless
indemnity satisfactory to it against all
expense and liability shall be furnished as
often as may be required, and the Custodian
shall not be under any obligation whatsoever
with respect to such proceedings, the
responsibility of the Custodian being solely
to the Depositary. Neither the Depositary
nor the Company shall be liable for any
action or nonaction by it in reliance upon the
advice of or information from legal counsel,
accountants, any person presenting Shares
for deposit, any Owner or holder of a
Receipt, or any other person believed by it
in good faith to be competent to give such
advice or information. The Depositary shall
not be responsible for any failure to carry
out any instructions to vote any of the
Deposited Securities, or for the manner in
which any such vote is cast or the effect of
any such vote, provided that any such action
or nonaction is in good faith. The
Depositary shall not be liable for any acts or
omissions made by a successor depositary
whether in connection with a previous act or
omission of the Depositary or in connection
with a matter arising wholly after the
removal or resignation of the Depositary,
provided that in connection with the issue
out of which such potential liability arises
the Depositary performed its obligations
without negligence or bad faith while it
acted as Depositary. The Company agrees
to indemnify the Depositary, its directors,
employees, agents and affiliates and any
Custodian against, and hold each of them
harmless from, any liability or expense
(including, but not limited to, the fees and
expenses of counsel) which may arise out of
acts performed or omitted, in accordance
with the provisions of the Deposit
Agreement and of the Receipts, as the same
may be amended, modified, or
supplemented from time to time, (i) by
either the Depositary or a Custodian or their
respective directors, employees, agents and
affiliates, except for any liability or expense
arising out of the negligence or bad faith of
either of them, or (ii) by the Company or
any of its directors, employees, agents and
affiliates. No disclaimer of liability under
the Securities Act of 1933 is intended by any
provision of the Deposit Agreement.
19. RESIGNATION AND
REMOVAL OF THE DEPOSITARY.
The Depositary may at any time
resign as Depositary under the Deposit
Agreement by written notice of its election
so to do delivered to the Company, such
resignation only to take effect upon the
appointment of a successor depositary and
its acceptance of such appointment as
provided in the Deposit Agreement. The
Depositary may at any time be removed by
the Company by 120 days prior written
notice of such removal, to become effective
only upon the later of (i) the 120th day after
delivery of the notice to the Depositary or
(ii) the appointment of a successor
depositary and its acceptance of such
appointment as provided in the Deposit
Agreement. Whenever the Depositary in its
discretion determines that it is in the best
interest of the Owners of Receipts to do so,
it may appoint a substitute or additional
custodian or custodians.
20. AMENDMENT.
The form of the Receipts and any
provisions of the Deposit Agreement may at
any time and from time to time be amended
by agreement between the Company and the
Depositary in any respect which they may
deem necessary or desirable. Any
amendment which shall impose or increase
any fees or charges (other than taxes and
other governmental charges, registration
fees, cable, telex or facsimile transmission
costs, delivery costs or other such expenses),
or which shall otherwise prejudice any
substantial existing right of Owners of
Receipts, shall, however, not become
effective as to outstanding Receipts until the
expiration of thirty days after notice by the
Depositary of such amendment shall have
been given to the Owners of outstanding
Receipts. Every Owner of a Receipt at the
time any amendment so becomes effective
shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such
Receipt, to consent and agree to such
amendment and to be bound by the Deposit
Agreement as amended thereby. In no event
shall any amendment impair the right of the
Owner of any Receipt to surrender such
Receipt and receive therefor the Deposited
Securities represented thereby except in
order to comply with mandatory provisions
of applicable law.
21. TERMINATION OF DEPOSIT
AGREEMENT.
The Depositary shall at any time at
the direction of the Company terminate the
Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of
such termination to the Owners of all
Receipts then outstanding at least 90 days
prior to the date fixed in such notice for such
termination. The Depositary may likewise
terminate the Deposit Agreement by mailing
notice of such termination to the Company
and the Owners of all Receipts then
outstanding if at any time 90 days shall have
expired after the Depositary shall have
delivered to the Company a written notice of
its election to resign and a successor
depositary shall not have been appointed and
accepted its appointment as provided in the
Deposit Agreement. On and after the date
of termination, the Owner of a Receipt, will
upon (a) surrender of such Receipt at the
Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary,
(b) payment of the fee of the Depositary for
the surrender of Receipts referred to in
Section 2.5 of the Deposit Agreement, and
(c) payment of any applicable taxes or
governmental charges, will be entitled to
delivery, to him or upon his order, of the
amount of Deposited Securities represented
by the American Depositary Shares
evidenced by such Receipt. If any Receipts
shall remain outstanding after the date of
termination, the Depositary thereafter shall
discontinue the registration of transfers of
Receipts, shall suspend the distribution of
dividends to the Owners thereof, and shall
not give any further notices or perform any
further acts under the Deposit Agreement,
except that the Depositary shall continue to
collect dividends and other distributions
pertaining to Deposited Securities, shall sell
rights as provided in the Deposit Agreement,
and shall continue to deliver Deposited
Securities, together with any dividends or
other distributions received with respect
thereto and the net proceeds of the sale of
any rights or other property, in exchange for
Receipts surrendered to the Depositary (after
deducting, in each case, the fee of the
Depositary for the surrender of a Receipt,
any expenses for the account of the Owner
of such Receipt in accordance with the terms
and conditions of the Deposit Agreement,
and any applicable taxes or governmental
charges). At any time after the expiration of
one year from the date of termination, the
Depositary may sell the Deposited Securities
then held under the Deposit Agreement and
may thereafter hold uninvested the net
proceeds of any such sale, together with any
other cash then held by it thereunder,
unsegregated and without liability for
interest, for the pro rata benefit of the
Owners of Receipts which have not
theretofore been surrendered, such Owners
thereupon becoming general creditors of the
Depositary with respect to such net
proceeds. After making such sale, the
Depositary shall be discharged from all
obligations under the Deposit Agreement,
except to account for such net proceeds and
other cash (after deducting, in each case, the
fee of the Depositary for the surrender of a
Receipt, any expenses for the account of the
Owner of such Receipt in accordance with
the terms and conditions of the Deposit
Agreement, and any applicable taxes or
governmental charges) and its obligations to
the Company, its directors, employees,
agents and affiliates under Section 5.8 of the
Deposit Agreement. Upon the termination
of the Deposit Agreement, the Company
shall be discharged from all obligations
under the Deposit Agreement except for its
obligations to the Depositary with respect to
indemnification, charges, and expenses.
22. COMPLIANCE WITH U.S.
SECURITIES LAWS.
Notwithstanding anything in the
Deposit Agreement or this Receipt to the
contrary, the Company and the Depositary
each agrees that it will not exercise any
rights it has under the Deposit Agreement to
prevent the withdrawal or delivery of
Deposited Securities in a manner which
would violate the U.S. securities laws,
including, but not limited to, Section I.A.(1)
of the General Instructions to the Form F-6
Registration Statement, as amended from
time to time, under the Securities Act of
1933.
23. DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS.
To the extent that the provisions of
or governing any Deposited Securities
including, without limitation, the provisions
of the Companys Articles of Association as
in effect from time to time and resolutions
and regulations of the Companys Board of
Directors adopted in compliance with such
Articles of Association or any applicable
laws or regulations in the United Kingdom,
the United States or any other country, may
require the disclosure of beneficial or other
ownership of Deposited Securities, other
Shares and other securities of the Company
and may provide for blocking transfer and
voting or other rights to enforce such
disclosure or limit such ownership, the
Depositary shall use its reasonable efforts to
comply, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, with the Companys
reasonable written instructions in respect of
any such disclosure, enforcement or
limitation. Owners and holders shall
comply with all such disclosure
requirements and enforcement and
ownership limitations and shall cooperate
with the Depositary and the Depositarys
compliance with such Companys
instructions in respect thereof.
24. SUBMISSION TO
JURISDICTION; APPOINTMENT OF
AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS.
The Company hereby (i) irrevocably
designates and appoints CT Corporation,
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx
00000, as the Companys authorized agent
upon which process may be served in any
suit or proceeding arising out of or relating
to the Shares or Deposited Securities, the
American Depositary Shares, the Receipts or
the Deposit Agreement, (ii) consents and
submits to the jurisdiction of any state or
federal court in the State of New York in
which any such suit or proceeding may be
instituted, and (iii) agrees that service of
process upon said authorized agent shall be
deemed in every respect effective service of
process upon the Company in any such suit
or proceeding. The Company agrees to
deliver, upon the execution and delivery of
the Deposit Agreement, a written acceptance
by such agent of its appointment as such
agent. The Company further agrees to take
any and all action, including the filing of
any and all such documents and instruments,
as may be necessary to continue such
designation and appointment in full force
and effect for so long as any American
Depositary Shares or Receipts remain
outstanding or this Agreement remains in
force. In the event the Company fails to
continue such designation and appointment
in full force and effect, the Company hereby
waives personal service of process upon it
and consents that any such service of
process may be made by certified or
registered mail, return receipt requested,
directed to the Company at its address last
specified for notices under the Deposit
Agreement, and service so made shall be
deemed completed five (5) days after the
same shall have been so mailed.
25. WAIVER OF IMMUNITIES.
To the extent that the Company or
any of its properties, assets or revenues may
have or may hereafter become entitled to, or
have attributed to it, any right of immunity,
on the grounds of sovereignty or any
substantially similar immunities, from any
legal action, suit or proceeding, from the
giving of any relief in any respect thereof,
from setoff or counterclaim, from the
jurisdiction of any court, from service of
process, from attachment upon or prior to
judgment, from attachment in aid of
execution or judgment, or from execution of
judgment, or other legal process or
proceeding for the giving of any relief or for
the enforcement of any judgment, in any
jurisdiction in which proceedings may at any
time be commenced, with respect to its
obligations, liabilities or any other matter
under or arising out of or in connection with
the Shares or Deposited Securities, the
American Depositary Shares, this Receipts
or the Deposit Agreement, the Company, to
the fullest extent permitted by law, hereby
irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and
agrees not to plead or claim, any such
immunity and consents to such relief and
enforcement.
26. UNCERTIFICATED AMERICAN
DEPOSITARY SHARES; DIRECT
REGISTRATION SYSTEM.
Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in the Deposit Agreement:
(a) American Depositary Shares
may be certificated securities evidenced by
Receipts or uncertificated securities. The
form of Receipt annexed as Exhibit A to the
Deposit Agreement describes the terms and
conditions of, and will be the prospectus
required under the Securities Act of 1933
for, both certificated and uncertificated
American Depositary Shares. Except for
those provisions of the Deposit Agreement
that by their nature do not apply to
uncertificated American Depositary Shares,
all the provisions of the Deposit Agreement
shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to
uncertificated American Depositary Shares
as well as to certificated American
Depositary Shares, and to Owners and
holders of uncertificated American
Depositary Shares as well as to Owners and
holders of Receipts.
(b) (i) The term deliver, or
its noun form, when used with respect to
Receipts, shall mean (A) book-entry transfer
of American Depositary Shares to an
account at The Depository Trust Company,
or its successor (DTC), designated by the
person entitled to such delivery, (B)
registration of American Depositary Shares
not evidenced by a Receipt on the books of
the Depositary in the name requested by the
person entitled to such delivery and mailing
to that person of a statement confirming that
registration or (C) if requested by the person
entitled to such delivery, delivery at the
Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary to
the person entitled to such delivery of one or
more Receipts evidencing American
Depositary Shares registered in the name
requested by that person.
(ii) The term surrender,
when used with respect to Receipts, shall
mean (A) one or more book-entry transfers
of American Depositary Shares to the DTC
account of the Depositary, (B) delivery to
the Depositary at its Corporate Trust Office
of an instruction to surrender American
Depositary Shares not evidenced by a
Receipt or (C) surrender to the Depositary
at its Corporate Trust Office of one or more
Receipts evidencing American Depositary
Shares.
(c) American Depositary Shares
not evidenced by Receipts shall be
transferable as uncertificated registered
securities under the laws of the State of New
York.
(d) The Depositary shall have a
duty to register a transfer in the case of
uncertificated American Depositary Shares,
upon receipt from the Owner of a proper
instruction (including, for the avoidance of
doubt, instructions through DRS and Profile
as provided in subsection (f) below). The
Depositary, upon surrender of a Receipt for
the purpose of exchanging for uncertificated
American Depositary Shares, shall cancel
that Receipt and send the Owner a statement
confirming that the Owner is the owner of
the same number of uncertificated American
Depositary Shares that the surrendered
Receipt evidenced. The Depositary, upon
receipt of a proper instruction (including, for
the avoidance of doubt, instructions through
DRS and Profile as provided in subsection
(f) below) from the Owner of uncertificated
American Depositary Shares for the purpose
of exchanging for certificated American
Depositary Shares, shall execute and deliver
to the Owner a Receipt evidencing the same
number of certificated American Depositary
Shares.
(e) Upon satisfaction of the
conditions for replacement of a Receipt that
is mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen, the
Depositary shall deliver to the Owner the
American Depositary Shares evidenced by
that Receipt in uncertificated form unless
otherwise requested by the Owner.
(f) (i) The parties acknowledge
that the Direct Registration System (DRS)
and Profile Modification System (Profile)
shall apply to uncertificated American
Depositary Shares upon acceptance thereof
to DRS by DTC. DRS is the system
administered by DTC pursuant to which the
Depositary may register the ownership of
uncertificated American Depositary Shares,
which ownership shall be evidenced by
periodic statements issued by the Depositary
to the Owners entitled thereto. Profile is a
required feature of DRS which allows a
DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf
of an Owner of American Depositary
Shares, to direct the Depositary to register a
transfer of those American Depositary
Shares to DTC or its nominee and to deliver
those American Depositary Shares to the
DTC account of that DTC participant
without receipt by the Depositary of prior
authorization from the Owner to register
such transfer.
(ii) In connection with and in
accordance with the arrangements and
procedures relating to DRS/Profile, the
parties understand that the Depositary will
not verify, determine or otherwise ascertain
that the DTC participant which is claiming
to be acting on behalf of an Owner in
requesting a registration of transfer and
delivery as described in clause (i) above has
the actual authority to act on behalf of the
Owner (notwithstanding any requirements
under the Uniform Commercial Code). For
the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of
Sections 5.3 and 5.8 of the Deposit
Agreement shall apply to the matters arising
from the use of the DRS. The parties agree
that the Depositarys reliance on and
compliance with instructions received by the
Depositary through the DRS/Profile System
and in accordance with the Deposit
Agreement shall not constitute negligence or
bad faith on the part of the Depositary.
38
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