Exhibit 4.3
DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF __________________,
AMONG
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ GROUP, INC.
A DELAWARE CORPORATION,
________________, A [NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION],
AND THE HOLDERS
FROM TIME TO TIME OF THE DEPOSITARY SHARES
DESCRIBED HEREIN.
WHEREAS it is desired to provide, as hereinafter set forth in
this Deposit Agreement, for the deposit of shares of ____% Preferred Stock,
Series __, par value $__per share, of Jefferies Group, Inc. with the Depositary
(as hereinafter defined) for the purposes set forth in this Deposit Agreement
and for the issuance hereunder of Receipts (as hereinafter defined) evidencing
Depositary Shares (as hereinafter defined) in respect of the Stock (as
hereinafter defined) so deposited;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the parties
hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
The following definitions shall for all purposes, unless
otherwise indicated, apply to the respective terms used in this Deposit
Agreement and the Receipts:
"Certificate" shall mean the certificate of designations filed
with the Secretary of State of Delaware establishing the Stock as a series of
preferred stock of the Company.
"Company" shall mean Jefferies Group, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, and its successors.
"Deposit Agreement" shall mean this Deposit Agreement, as
amended or supplemented from time to time.
"Depositary" shall mean ___________________, a [national
banking association], and any successor as Depositary hereunder.
"Depositary Shares" shall mean Depositary Shares, each
representing a [one-half] interest in a share of the Stock and evidenced by a
Receipt.
"Depositary's Agent" shall mean an agent appointed by the
Depositary pursuant to Section 7.05.
"Depositary's Office" shall mean the office of the Depositary
at ___________________, ___________________, ___________________, at which at
any particular time its depositary receipt business shall be administered.
"Receipt" shall mean one of the depositary receipts issued
hereunder, whether in definitive or temporary form.
"Record Holder" as applied with respect to a Depositary Share
shall mean the person in whose name a Receipt evidencing such Depositary Share
is registered on the books of the Depositary maintained for such purpose.
"Registrar" shall mean any bank or trust company which shall
be appointed to register ownership and transfers of Receipts as herein provided.
"Stock" shall mean shares of the Company's _____% Preferred
Stock, Series __, $_____ par value.
ARTICLE II
FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF STOCK, EXECUTION AND DELIVERY,
TRANSFER, SURRENDER AND REDEMPTION OF RECEIPTS
SECTION 2.01. Form and Transfer of Receipts. Definitive
Receipts shall be engraved or printed or lithographed and shall be substantially
in the form set forth in Exhibit A annexed to this Deposit Agreement, with
appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided.
Pending the preparation of definitive Receipts, the Depositary, upon the written
order of the Company delivered in compliance with Section 2.02, shall execute
and deliver temporary Receipts which are printed, lithographed, typewritten,
mimeographed or otherwise substantially of the tenor of the definitive Receipts
in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions,
omissions, substitutions and other variations as the persons executing such
Receipts may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Receipts. If
temporary Receipts are issued, the Company and the Depositary will cause
definitive Receipts to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the
preparation of definitive Receipts, the temporary Receipts shall be exchangeable
for definitive Receipts upon surrender of the
-2-
temporary Receipts at an office described in the third paragraph of Section
2.02, without charge to the holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one
or more temporary Receipts, the Depositary shall execute and deliver in exchange
therefor definitive Receipts representing the same number of Depositary Shares
as represented by the surrendered temporary Receipt or Receipts. Such exchange
shall be made at the Company's expense and without any charge therefor. Until so
exchanged, the temporary Receipts shall in all respects be entitled to the same
benefits under this Deposit Agreement, and with respect to the Stock, as
definitive Receipts.
Receipts shall be executed by the Depositary by the manual
signature of a duly authorized officer of the Depositary; provided, that such
signature may be a facsimile if a Registrar for the Receipts (other than the
Depositary) shall have been appointed and such Receipts are countersigned by
manual signature of a duly authorized officer of the Registrar. No Receipt shall
be entitled to any benefits under this Deposit Agreement or be valid or
obligatory for any purpose unless it shall have been executed manually by a duly
authorized officer of the Depositary or, if a Registrar for the Receipts (other
than the Depositary) shall have been appointed, by facsimile signature of a duly
authorized officer of the Depositary and countersigned manually by a duly
authorized officer of such Registrar. The Depositary shall record on its books
each Receipt so signed and delivered as hereinafter provided.
Receipts may be endorsed with or have incorporated in the text
thereof such legends or recitals or changes not inconsistent with the provisions
of this Deposit Agreement as may be required by the Company or the Depositary or
required to comply with any applicable law or any regulation thereunder or with
the rules and regulations of any securities exchange upon which the Stock, the
Depositary Shares or the Receipts may be listed or to conform with any usage
with respect thereto, or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to
which any particular Receipts are subject.
Title to Depositary Shares evidenced by a Receipt which is
properly endorsed, or accompanied by a properly executed instrument of transfer,
shall be transferable by delivery with the same effect as in the case of a
negotiable instrument; provided, however, that until transfer of a Depositary
Share shall be registered on the books of the Depositary as provided in Section
2.04, the Depositary may, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, treat the
Record Holder thereof at such time as the absolute owner thereof for the purpose
of determining the person entitled to distributions of dividends or other
distributions or to any notice provided for in this Deposit Agreement and for
all other purposes.
SECTION 2.02. Deposit of Stock; Execution and Delivery of
Receipts in Respect Thereof. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit
Agreement, the Company may from time to time deposit shares of Stock under this
Deposit Agreement by delivery to the Depositary of a certificate or certificates
for the Stock to be deposited, properly endorsed or accompanied, if required by
the Depositary, by a duly executed instrument of transfer or endorsement, in
form satisfactory to the Depositary, together with all such certifications as
may be required by the Depositary in accordance with the provisions of this
Deposit Agreement, and together with a written order of the Company directing
the Depositary to execute and deliver to, or upon the
-3-
written order of, the person or persons stated in such order a Receipt or
Receipts for the number of Depositary Shares relating to such deposited Stock.
Deposited Stock shall be held by the Depositary at the
Depositary's Office or at such other place or places as the Depositary shall
determine.
Upon receipt by the Depositary of a certificate or
certificates for Stock deposited in accordance with the provisions of this
Section, together with the other documents required as above specified, and upon
recordation of the Stock so deposited on the books of the Company in the name of
the Depositary or its nominee, the Depositary, subject to the terms and
conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall execute and deliver, to or upon the
order of the person or persons named in the written order delivered to the
Depositary referred to in the first paragraph of this Section, a Receipt or
Receipts for the number of Depositary Shares relating to the Stock so deposited
and registered in such name or names as may be requested by such person or
persons. The Depositary shall execute and deliver such Receipt or Receipts at
the Depositary's Office or such other offices, if any, as the Depositary may
designate. Delivery at other offices shall be at the risk and expense of the
person requesting such delivery.
Other than in the case of splits, combinations or other
reclassifications affecting the Stock, or in the case of dividends or other
distributions of Stock, if any, there shall be deposited hereunder not more than
____________________ shares of Stock.
SECTION 2.03. Redemption of Stock. Whenever the Company shall
elect to redeem shares of Stock in accordance with the provisions of the
Certificate, it shall (unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Depositary)
mail notice to the Depositary of such proposed redemption, by first class mail,
postage prepaid not less than 40 or more than 70 days prior to the date fixed
for redemption of Stock in accordance with Section [3(b)] of the Certificate. On
the date of such redemption, provided that the Company shall then have paid in
full to the Depositary the redemption price of the Stock to be redeemed, plus
any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, the Depositary shall redeem the
Depositary Shares relating to such Stock. The Depositary shall mail notice of
such redemption and the proposed simultaneous redemption of the number of
Depositary Shares relating to the Stock to be redeemed, by first-class mail,
postage prepaid, not less than 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the date
fixed for redemption of such Stock and Depositary Shares (the "Redemption
Date"), to the Record Holders of the Depositary Shares to be so redeemed, at the
addresses of such holders as they appear on the records of the Depositary; but
neither failure to mail any such notice to one or more such holders nor any
defect in any notice to one or more such holders shall affect the sufficiency of
the proceedings for redemption as to other holders. Each such notice shall
state: (i) the Redemption Date; (ii) the number of Depositary Shares to be
redeemed and, if less than all the Depositary Shares held by any such holder are
to be redeemed, the number of such Depositary Shares held by such holder to be
so redeemed; (iii) the redemption price; (iv) the place or places where Receipts
evidencing Depositary Shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption
price; and (v) that dividends in respect of the Stock underlying the Depositary
Shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue and accumulate at the close of
business on such
-4-
Redemption Date. In case less than all the outstanding Depositary Shares are to
be redeemed, the Depositary Shares to be so redeemed shall be selected by lot,
pro rata or such other method as may be determined by the Depositary to be
equitable.
Notice having been mailed by the Depositary as aforesaid, from
and after the Redemption Date (unless the Company shall have failed to redeem
the shares of Stock to be redeemed by it as set forth in the Company's notice
provided for in the preceding paragraph) all dividends in respect of the
Depositary Shares so called for redemption shall cease to accrue and accumulate,
the Depositary Shares being redeemed from such proceeds shall be deemed no
longer to be outstanding, all rights of the holders of Receipts evidencing such
Depositary Shares (except the right to receive the redemption price) shall, to
the extent of such Depositary Shares, cease and terminate and, upon surrender in
accordance with such notice of the Receipts evidencing any such Depositary
Shares (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Depositary shall so
require), such Depositary Shares shall be redeemed by the Depositary at a
redemption price per Depositary Share equal to the proportionate part of the
redemption price per share paid in respect of the shares of Stock plus all money
and other property, if any, paid with respect to such Depositary Shares,
including all amounts paid by the Company in respect of dividends which on the
Redemption Date have accumulated on the shares of Stock to be so redeemed and
have not theretofore been paid.
If less than all the Depositary Shares evidenced by a Receipt
are called for redemption, the Depositary will deliver to the holder of such
Receipt upon its surrender to the Depositary, together with the redemption
payment, a new Receipt evidencing the Depositary Shares evidenced by such prior
Receipt and not called for redemption.
SECTION 2.04. Registration of Transfer of Receipts. Subject to
the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall
register on its books from time to time transfers of Depositary Shares upon any
surrender of the Receipt or Receipts evidencing such Depositary Shares by the
holder in person or by duly authorized attorney, properly endorsed or
accompanied by a properly executed instrument of transfer. Thereupon the
Depositary shall execute a new Receipt or Receipts evidencing the same aggregate
number of Depositary Shares as those evidenced by the Receipt or Receipts
surrendered and deliver such new Receipt or Receipts to or upon the order of the
person entitled thereto.
SECTION 2.05. Split-ups and Combinations of Receipts;
Surrender of Depositary Shares and Withdrawal of Stock. Upon surrender of a
Receipt or Receipts at the Depositary's Office or at such other offices as it
may designate for the purpose of effecting a split-up or combination of such
Receipt or Receipts, and subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit
Agreement, the Depositary shall execute and deliver a new Receipt or Receipts in
the denominations requested, evidencing the aggregate number of Depositary
Shares evidenced by the Receipt or Receipts surrendered.
Any holder of Depositary Shares may withdraw the number of
whole shares of Stock underlying such Depositary Shares and all money and other
property, if any, underlying
-5-
such Depositary Shares by surrendering Receipts evidencing such Depositary
Shares at the Depositary's Office or at such other offices as the Depositary may
designate for such withdrawals. Thereafter, without unreasonable delay, the
Depositary shall deliver to such holder, or to the person or persons designated
by such holder as hereinafter provided, the number of whole shares of Stock and
all money and other property, if any, underlying the Depositary Shares so
surrendered for withdrawal, but holders of such whole shares of Stock will not
thereafter be entitled to deposit such Stock hereunder or to receive Receipts
evidencing Depositary Shares therefor. If a Receipt delivered by a holder to the
Depositary in connection with such withdrawal shall evidence a number of
Depositary Shares relating to other than a number of whole shares of Stock, the
Depositary shall at the same time, in addition to such number of whole shares of
Stock and such money and other property, if any, to be so withdrawn, deliver to
such holder, or (subject to Section 3.02) upon his order, a new Receipt
evidencing such excess number of Depositary Shares. Delivery of the Stock and
money and other property being withdrawn may be made by delivery of such
certificates, documents of title and other instruments as the Depositary may
deem appropriate.
If the Stock and the money and other property being withdrawn
are to be delivered to a person or persons other than the Record Holder of the
Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipts being surrendered for withdrawal of
Stock, such holder shall execute and deliver to the Depositary a written order
so directing the Depositary, and the Depositary may require that the Receipt or
Receipts surrendered by such holder for withdrawal of such shares of Stock be
properly endorsed in blank or accompanied by a properly executed instrument of
transfer.
Delivery of the Stock and money and other property, if any,
underlying the Depositary Shares surrendered for withdrawal shall be made by the
Depositary at the Depositary's Office, except that, at the request, risk and
expense of the holder surrendering such Depositary Shares and for the account of
such holder, such delivery may be made at such other place as may be designated
by such holder.
SECTION 2.06. Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer,
Surrender and Exchange of Receipts. As a condition precedent to the execution
and delivery, registration of transfer, split-up, combination, surrender or
exchange of any Receipt, the Depositary, any of the Depositary's Agents or the
Company may require payment to it of a sum sufficient for the payment (or, in
the event that the Depositary or the Company shall have made such payment, the
reimbursement to it) of any charges or expenses payable by the holder of a
Receipt pursuant to Section 5.07, may require the production of evidence
satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature and may
also require compliance with such regulations, if any, as the Depositary or the
Company may establish consistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement.
The delivery of Receipts against Stock may be suspended, the
registration of transfer of Depositary Shares may be refused and the
registration of transfer, surrender or exchange of outstanding Depositary Shares
may be suspended (i) during any period when the
-6-
register of stockholders of the Company is closed or (ii) if any such action is
deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary, any of the Depositary's Agents
or the Company at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of
law or of any government or governmental body or commission or under any
provision of this Deposit Agreement.
SECTION 2.07. Lost Receipts, etc. In case any Receipt shall be
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen, the Depositary in its discretion may
execute and deliver a Receipt of like form and tenor in exchange and
substitution for such mutilated Receipt, or in lieu of and in substitution for
such destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt, upon (i) the filing by the holder
thereof with the Depositary of evidence satisfactory to the Depositary of such
destruction or loss or theft of such Receipt, or the authenticity thereof and of
his or her ownership thereof and (ii) the furnishing of the Depositary with
reasonable indemnification satisfactory to it.
SECTION 2.08. Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered
Receipts. All Receipts surrendered to the Depositary or any Depositary's Agent
shall be canceled by the Depositary. Except as prohibited by applicable law or
regulation, the Depositary is authorized to destroy all Receipts so canceled.
ARTICLE III
CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF THE HOLDERS
OF RECEIPTS AND THE COMPANY
SECTION 3.01. Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other
Information. Any holder of a Depositary Share may be required from time to time
to file such proof of residence, or other matters or other information, to
execute such certificates and to make such representations and warranties as the
Depositary or the Company may reasonably deem necessary or proper. The
Depositary or the Company may withhold the delivery, or delay the registration
of transfer, redemption or exchange, of any Depositary Share or the withdrawal
of any Stock underlying Depositary Shares or the distribution of any dividend or
other distribution or the sale of any rights or of the proceeds thereof until
such proof or other information is filed or such certificates are executed or
such representations and warranties are made.
SECTION 3.02. Payment of Taxes or Other Governmental Charges.
Holders of Depositary Shares shall be obligated to make payments to the
Depositary of certain charges and expenses, as provided in Section 5.07.
Registration of transfer of any Depositary Share or any withdrawal of Stock and
delivery of all money or other property, if any, underlying such Depositary
Share may be refused until any such payment due is made, and any dividends or
other distributions may be withheld or all or any part of the Stock or other
property relating to such Depositary Shares and not theretofore sold may be sold
for the account of the holder thereof (after attempting by reasonable means to
notify such holder prior to such sale) and such dividends or other distributions
or the proceeds of any such sale may be applied to any payment
-7-
of such charges or expenses, the holder of such Depositary Share remaining
liable for any deficiency.
SECTION 3.03. Warranty as to Stock. The Company hereby
represents and warrants that the Stock, when issued, will be validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable. Such representation and warranty shall survive the
deposit of the Stock and the issuance of the Receipts.
ARTICLE IV
THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES; NOTICES
SECTION 4.01. Cash Distributions. Whenever the Depositary
shall receive any cash dividend or other cash distribution on the Stock, the
Depositary shall, subject to Sections 3.01 and 3.02, distribute to the Record
Holders of Depositary Shares on the record date fixed pursuant to Section 4.04
such amounts of such dividend or distribution as are, as nearly as practicable,
in proportion to the respective numbers of Depositary Shares held by such
holders; provided, however, that in case the Company or the Depositary shall be
required to withhold and shall withhold from any cash dividend or other cash
distribution in respect of the Stock an amount on account of taxes, the amount
made available for distribution or distributed in respect of Depositary Shares
shall be reduced accordingly. The Depositary shall distribute or make available
for distribution, as the case may be, only such amount, however, as can be
distributed without attributing to any holder of Depositary Shares a fraction of
one cent, and any balance not so distributable shall be held by the Depositary
(without liability for interest thereon) and shall be added to and be treated as
part of the next sum received by the Depositary for distribution to Record
Holders of Depositary Shares then outstanding.
SECTION 4.02. Distributions Other than Cash. Whenever the
Depositary shall receive any distribution other than cash on the Stock, the
Depositary shall, subject to Sections 3.01 and 3.02, distribute to the Record
Holders of Depositary Shares on the record date fixed pursuant to Section 4.04
such amounts of the securities or property received by it as are, as nearly as
practicable, in proportion to the respective numbers of Depositary Shares held
by such holders, in any manner that the Depositary may deem equitable and
practicable for accomplishing such distribution. If in the opinion of the
Depositary such distribution cannot be made proportionately among such Record
Holders, or if for any other reason (including any requirement that the Company
or the Depositary withhold an amount on account of taxes or governmental
charges) the Depositary deems, after consultation with the Company, such
distribution not to be feasible, the Depositary may, with the approval of the
Company, adopt such method as it deems equitable and practicable for the purpose
of effecting such distribution, including the sale (at public or private sale)
of the securities or property thus received, or any part thereof, at such place
or places and upon such terms as it may deem proper. The net proceeds of any
such sale shall, subject to Sections 3.01 and 3.02, be distributed or made
available for distribution, as the case may be, by the Depositary to the Record
Holders of
-8-
Depositary Shares entitled thereto as provided by Section 4.01 in the case of a
distribution received in cash. The Company shall not make any distribution of
such securities unless the Company shall have provided an opinion of counsel to
the effect that such securities have been registered under the Securities Act of
1933 or do not need to be registered.
SECTION 4.03. Subscription Rights, Preferences or Privileges.
If the Company shall at any time offer or cause to be offered to the persons in
whose names Stock is recorded on the books of the Company any rights,
preferences or privileges to subscribe for or to purchase any securities or any
rights, preferences or privileges of any other nature, such rights, preferences
or privileges shall in each such instance be made available by the Depositary to
the Record Holders of Depositary Shares in such manner as the Depositary may
determine, either by the issue to such Record Holders of warrants representing
such rights, preferences or privileges or by such other method as may be
approved by the Depositary in its discretion with the approval of the Company;
provided, however, that (i) if at the time of issue or offer of any such rights,
preferences or privileges the Depositary determines that it is not lawful or
(after consultation with the Company) not feasible to make such rights,
preferences or privileges available to holders of Depositary Shares by the issue
of warrants or otherwise, or (ii) if and to the extent so instructed by holders
of Depositary Shares who do not desire to exercise such rights, preferences or
privileges, then the Depositary, in its discretion (with the approval of the
Company, in any case where the Depositary has determined that it is not feasible
to make such rights, preferences or privileges available), may, if applicable
laws or the terms of such rights, preferences or privileges permit such
transfer, sell such rights, preferences or privileges at public or private sale,
at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem proper. The net
proceeds of any such sale shall, subject to Sections 3.01 and 3.02, be
distributed by the Depositary to the Record Holders of Depositary Shares
entitled thereto as provided by Section 4.01 in the case of a distribution
received in cash. The Company shall not make any distribution of such rights,
preferences or privileges unless the Company shall have provided an opinion of
counsel to the effect that such rights, preferences or privileges have been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or do not need to be registered.
If registration under the Securities Act of 1933 of the
securities to which any rights, preferences or privileges relate is required in
order for holders of Depositary Shares to be offered or sold the securities to
which such rights, preferences or privileges relate, the Company agrees with the
Depositary that it will file promptly a registration statement pursuant to such
Act with respect to such rights, preferences or privileges and securities and
use its best efforts and take all steps available to it to cause such
registration statement to become effective sufficiently in advance of the
expiration of such rights, preferences or privileges to enable such holders to
exercise such rights, preferences or privileges. In no event shall the
Depositary make available to the holders of Depositary Shares any right,
preference or privilege to subscribe for or to purchase any securities unless
and until such a registration statement shall have become effective, or unless
the offering and sale of such securities to such holders are exempt from
registration under the provision of such Act.
-9-
If any other action under the laws of any jurisdiction or any
governmental or administrative authorization, consent or permit is required in
order for such rights, preferences or privileges to be made available to the
holders of Depositary Shares, the Company agrees with the Depositary that the
Company will use its best efforts to take such action or obtain such
authorization, consent or permit sufficiently in advance of the expiration of
such rights, preferences or privileges to enable such holders to exercise such
rights, preferences or privileges.
SECTION 4.04. Notice of Dividends. etc.; Fixing of Record Date
for Holders of Depositary Shares. Whenever any cash dividend or other cash
distribution shall become payable or any distribution other than cash shall be
made, or if rights, preferences or privileges shall at any time be offered, with
respect to the Stock, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of any
meeting at which holders of Stock are entitled to vote, or of which holders of
Stock are entitled to notice, the Depositary shall in each such instance fix a
record date (which shall be the same date as the record date fixed by the
Company with respect to the Stock) for the determination of the holders of
Depositary Shares who shall be entitled to receive a distribution in respect of
such dividend, distribution, rights, preferences or privileges or the net
proceeds of the sale thereof, or to give instructions for the exercise of voting
rights at any such meeting, or who shall be entitled to receive notice of such
meeting.
SECTION 4.05. Voting Rights. Upon receipt of notice of any
meeting at which the holders of the Stock are entitled to vote, the Depositary
shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the Record Holders of
Depositary Shares a notice which shall contain (i) such information as is
contained in such notice of meeting and (ii) a statement informing holders of
Depositary Shares that they may instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of
the voting rights pertaining to the amount of Stock underlying their respective
Depositary Shares and a brief statement as to the manner in which such
instructions may be given. Upon the written request of the holders of Depositary
Shares on the record date established in accordance with Section 4.04, the
Depositary shall endeavor insofar as practicable to vote or cause to be voted,
in accordance with the instructions set forth in such requests, the maximum
number of whole shares of Stock underlying the Depositary Shares as to which any
particular voting or consent instructions are received. The Company hereby
agrees to take all action which may be deemed necessary by the Depositary in
order to enable the Depositary to vote such Stock or cause such Stock to be
voted. In the absence of specific instructions from the holder of a Depositary
Share, the Depositary will abstain from voting (but, at its discretion, not from
appearing at any meeting with respect to such Stock unless directed to the
contrary by the holders of all the Depositary Shares) to the extent of the Stock
underlying the Depositary Shares.
SECTION 4.06. Changes Affecting Deposited Securities and
Reclassifications Recapitalizations, etc. Upon any change in par or liquidation
value, split-up, combination or any other reclassification of the Stock, or upon
any recapitalization, reorganization, merger, amalgamation or consolidation
affecting the Company or to which it is a party, the Depositary may in its
discretion, with the approval of, and shall upon the instructions of, the
Company, and (in either case) in such manner as the Depositary may deem
equitable, (i) make such adjustments in (a) the fraction of an interest in one
share of Stock underlying one Depositary Share and (b)
-10-
the ratio of the redemption price per Depositary Share to the redemption price
of a share of the Stock, in each case as may be necessary fully to reflect the
effects of such change in par or liquidation value, split-up, combination or
other reclassification of the Stock, or of such recapitalization,
reorganization, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and (ii) treat any
securities which shall be received by the Depositary in exchange for or upon
conversion of or in respect of the Stock as new deposited securities so received
in exchange for or upon conversion of or in respect of such Stock. In any such
case the Depositary may in its discretion, with the approval of the Company,
execute and deliver additional Receipts, or may call for the surrender of all
outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts specifically describing
such new deposited securities.
SECTION 4.07. Delivery of Reports. The Depositary will forward
to Record Holders of Receipts, at their respective addresses appearing in the
Depositary's books, all notices, reports and communications received from the
Company which are delivered to the Depositary and which the Company is required
to furnish to the holders of Stock or Receipts.
SECTION 4.08. List of Holders. Promptly upon request from time
to time by the Company, the Depositary shall furnish to it a list, as of a
recent date, of the names, addresses and holdings of Depositary Shares of all
persons in whose names Depositary Shares are registered on the books of the
Depositary or Registrar, as the case may be.
ARTICLE V
THE DEPOSITARY, THE DEPOSITARY'S AGENTS,
THE REGISTRAR AND THE COMPANY
SECTION 5.01. Maintenance of Offices, Agencies and Transfer
Books by the Depositary; Registrar. Upon execution of this Deposit Agreement,
the Depositary shall maintain at the Depositary's Offices, or at any Registrar's
Office, at which the Depositary shall have complete access to all books and
records maintained on the Company's behalf, facilities for the execution and
delivery, surrender and exchange of Receipts and the registration and
registration of transfer of Depositary Shares, and at the offices of the
Depositary's Agents, if any, facilities for the delivery, surrender and exchange
of Receipts and the registration of transfer of Depositary Shares, all in
accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement.
The Depositary shall keep books at the Depositary's Office for
the registration and registration of transfer of Depositary Shares, which books
at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Record Holders of
Depositary Shares; provided, that any such holder requesting to exercise such
right shall certify to the Depositary that such inspection shall be for a proper
purpose reasonably related to such person's interest as an owner of Depositary
Shares.
The Depositary may close such books, at any time or from time
to time, when deemed expedient by it in connection with the performance of its
duties hereunder.
-11-
If the Receipts or the Depositary Shares evidenced thereby or
the Stock underlying such Depositary Shares shall be listed on the New York
Stock Exchange, the Depositary may, with the approval of the Company, appoint a
Registrar for registration of such Receipts or Depositary Shares in accordance
with any requirements of such Exchange. Such Registrar (which may be the
Depositary if so permitted by the requirements of such Exchange) may be removed
and a substitute registrar appointed by the Depositary upon the request or with
the approval of the Company. If the Receipts, such Depositary Shares or such
Stock are listed on one or more other stock exchanges, the Depositary will, at
the request of the Company, arrange such facilities for the delivery,
registration, registration of transfer, surrender and exchange of such Receipts,
such Depositary Shares or such Stock as may be required by law or applicable
stock exchange regulation.
SECTION 5.02. Prevention of or Delay in Performance by the
Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, any Registrar or the Company. Neither the
Depositary nor any Depositary's Agent nor any Registrar nor the Company shall
incur any liability to any holder or any Depositary Share if by reason of any
provision of any present or future law, or regulation thereunder, of the United
States of America or of any other governmental authority or, in the case of the
Depositary, any Depositary's Agent or any Registrar, by reason of any provision,
present or future, of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation (including the
Certificate) or by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstance beyond
the control of the relevant party, the Depositary, any Depositary's Agent, any
Registrar or the Company shall be prevented or forbidden from doing or
performing any act or thing which the terms of this Deposit Agreement provide
shall be done or performed; nor shall the Depositary, any Depositary's Agent,
any Registrar or the Company incur any liability to any holder of a Depositary
Share (i) by reason of any nonperformance or delay, caused as aforesaid, in the
performance of any act or thing which the terms of this Deposit Agreement
provide shall or may be done or performed, or (ii) by reason of any exercise of,
or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in this Deposit Agreement
except, in case of any such exercise or failure to exercise discretion not
caused as aforesaid, if caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of
the party charged with such exercise or failure to exercise.
SECTION 5.03. Obligations of the Depositary, the Depositary's
Agents, any Registrar and the Company. Neither the Depositary nor any
Depositary's Agent nor any Registrar nor the Company assumes any obligation or
shall be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement to holders of
Depositary Shares other than for its negligence or willful misconduct.
Neither the Depositary nor any Depositary's Agent nor any
Registrar nor the Company shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute
or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of the Stock, the
Depositary Shares or the Receipts which in its opinion may involve it in expense
or liability unless indemnity satisfactory to it against all expense and
liability be furnished as often as may be required.
-12-
Neither the Depositary nor any Depositary's Agent nor any
Registrar nor the Company shall be liable for any action or any failure to act
by it in reliance upon the written advice of legal counsel or accountants, or
information from any person presenting Stock for deposit, any holder of a
Depositary Share or any other person believed by it in good faith to be
competent to give such information. The Depositary, any Depositary's Agent, any
Registrar and the Company may each rely and shall each be protected in acting
upon any written notice, request, direction or other document believed by it to
be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to
carry out any instruction to vote any of the shares of Stock or for the manner
or effect of any such vote, as long as any such action or non-action is in good
faith. The Depositary undertakes, and any Registrar shall be required to
undertake, to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set
forth in this Deposit Agreement, and no implied covenants or obligations shall
be read into this Deposit Agreement against the Depositary or any Registrar. The
Depositary will indemnify the Company against any liability which may arise out
of acts performed or omitted by the Depositary or its agents due to its or their
negligence or bad faith. The Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, any Registrar
and the Company may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and
its affiliates and in Depositary Shares. The Depositary may also act as transfer
agent or registrar of any of the securities of the Company and its affiliates.
SECTION 5.04. Resignation and Removal of the Depositary;
Appointment of Successor Depositary. The Depositary may at any time resign as
Depositary hereunder by notice of its election so to do delivered to the
Company, such resignation to take effect upon the appointment of a successor
Depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided.
The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by
notice of such removal delivered to the Depositary, such removal to take effect
upon the appointment of a successor Depositary and its acceptance of such
appointment as hereinafter provided.
In case the Depositary acting hereunder shall at any time
resign or be removed, the Company shall, within 60 days after the delivery of
the notice of resignation or removal, as the case may be, appoint a successor
Depositary, which shall be a bank or trust company having its principal office
in the United States of America and having a combined capital and surplus of at
least $50,000,000. If no successor Depositary shall have been so appointed
within 60 days after delivery of such notice, the resigning or removed
Depositary may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment
of a successor Depositary. Every successor Depositary shall execute and deliver
to its predecessor and to the Company an instrument in writing accepting its
appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor Depositary, without any
further act or deed, shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers,
duties and obligations of its predecessor and for all purposes shall be the
Depositary under this Deposit Agreement, and such predecessor, upon payment of
all sums due it and on the written request of
-13-
the Company, shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such
successor all rights and powers of such predecessor hereunder, shall duly
assign, transfer and deliver all right, title and interest in the Stock and any
moneys or property held hereunder to such successor and shall deliver to such
successor a list of the Record Holders of all outstanding Depositary Shares. Any
successor Depositary shall promptly mail notice of its appointment to the Record
Holders of Depositary Shares.
Any corporation into or with which the Depositary may be
merged, consolidated or converted shall be the successor of such Depositary
without the execution or filing of any document or any further act. Such
successor Depositary may authenticate the Receipts in the name of the
predecessor Depositary or in the name of the successor Depositary.
SECTION 5.05. Corporate Notices and Reports. The Company
agrees that it will transmit to the Depositary all notices, reports and
communications (including without limitation financial statements) required by
law, the rules of any national securities exchange upon which the Stock, the
Depositary Shares or the Receipts are listed or by the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation (including the Certificate) to be furnished by the Company to
holders of the Stock.
SECTION 5.06. Indemnification by the Company. The Company
shall indemnify the Depositary, any Depositary's Agent and any Registrar
against, and hold each of them harmless from, any loss, liability or expense
(including the costs and expenses of defending itself) which may arise out of
(i) acts performed or omitted in connection with this Deposit Agreement and the
Depositary Shares (a) by the Depositary, any Registrar or any of their
respective agents (including any Depositary's Agent), except for any liability
arising out of negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on the respective
parts of any such person or persons, or (b) by the Company or any of its agents,
or (ii) the offer, sale or registration of the Depositary Shares or the Stock
pursuant to the provisions hereof. The obligations of the Company set forth in
this Section 5.06 shall survive any succession of any Depositary, Registrar or
Depositary's Agent.
SECTION 5.07. Charges and Expenses. The Company shall pay all
transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the
existence of the depositary arrangements. The Company shall pay all charges of
the Depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the Stock and the
initial issuance of the Receipts, any redemption of the Stock at the option of
the Company and any withdrawals of Stock by holders of Depositary Shares. All
other transfer and other taxes and governmental charges shall be at the expense
of holders of Depositary Shares. If, at the request of a holder of a Depositary
Share, the Depositary incurs charges or expenses for which it is not otherwise
liable hereunder, such holder will be liable for such charges and expenses. All
other charges and expenses of the Depositary, any Depositary's Agent hereunder
and any Registrar (including, in each case, fees and expenses of counsel)
incident to the performance of their respective obligations hereunder will be
paid upon consultation and agreement between the Depositary and the Company as
to the amount and nature of such charges and expenses. The Depositary shall
present its statement for charges and
-14-
expenses to the Company once every three months or at such other intervals as
the Company and the Depositary may agree.
ARTICLE VI
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
SECTION 6.01. Amendment. The form of the Receipts and any
provisions of this Deposit Agreement may at any time and from time to time be
amended by agreement between the Company and the Depositary in any respect which
they may deem necessary or desirable; provided, however, that no such amendment
which shall materially and adversely alter the rights of the existing holders of
Depositary Shares shall be effective unless such amendment shall have been
approved by the holders of at least a majority of the Depositary Shares then
outstanding. Every holder of an outstanding Depositary Share at the time any
such amendment becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such
Depositary Share, to consent and agree to such amendment and to be bound by this
Deposit Agreement as amended thereby.
SECTION 6.02. Termination. This Deposit Agreement may be
terminated by the Company or the Depositary only after (i) all outstanding
Depositary Shares shall have been redeemed and any accumulated and unpaid
dividends on the Stock represented by the Depositary Shares, together with all
other moneys and property, if any, to which holders of the related Receipts are
entitled under the terms of such Receipts or this Deposit Agreement, have been
paid or distributed as provided in this Deposit Agreement or provision therefor
has been duly made pursuant to Section 2.03 or (ii) there shall have been made a
final distribution in respect of the Stock in connection with any liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Company and such distribution shall have been
distributed to the holders of Receipts pursuant to Section 4.01 or 4.02, as
applicable.
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, any Depositary's Agents and any Registrar
under Sections 5.06 and 5.07.
ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 7.01. Counterparts. This Deposit Agreement may be
executed in any number of counterparts, and by each of the parties hereto on
separate counterparts, each of which counterparts, when so executed and
delivered, shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts taken together
shall constitute one and the same instrument.
-15-
SECTION 7.02. Exclusive Benefit of Parties. This Deposit
Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the parties hereto, and their
respective successors hereunder, and shall not be deemed to give any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim to any other person whatsoever.
SECTION 7.03. Invalidity of Provisions. In case any one or
more of the provisions contained in this Deposit Agreement or in the Receipts
should be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained
herein or therein shall in no way be affected, prejudiced or disturbed thereby.
SECTION 7.04. Notices. Any and all notices to be given to the
Company hereunder or under the Receipts shall be in writing and shall be deemed
to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail or telegram or
telex confirmed by letter, addressed to the Company at _____________,
___________, ______________, to the attention of the General Counsel, or at any
other address of which the Company shall have notified the Depositary in
writing.
Any and all notices to be given to the Depositary hereunder or
under the Receipts shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly
given if personally delivered or sent by mail or by telegram or telex confirmed
by letter, addressed to the Depositary at the Depositary's office, at
_______________, _________________, ______________, or at any other address of
which the Depositary shall have notified the Company in writing.
Any and all notices to be given to any Record Holder of a
Depositary Share hereunder or under the Receipts shall be in writing and shall
be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail or by
telegram or telex confirmed by letter, addressed to such Record Holder at the
address of such Record Holder as it appears on the books of the Depositary, or
if such holder shall have filed with the Depositary a written request that
notices intended for such holder be mailed to some other address, at the address
designated in such request.
Delivery of a notice sent by mail or by telegram or telex
shall be deemed to be effected at the time when a duly addressed letter
containing the same (or a confirmation thereof in the case of a telegram or
telex message) is deposited, postage prepaid, in a post office letter box. The
Depositary or the Company may, however, act upon any telegram or telex message
received by it from the other or from any holder of a Depositary Share,
notwithstanding that such telegram or telex message shall not subsequently be
confirmed by letter or as aforesaid.
SECTION 7.05. Depositary's Agents. The Depositary may from
time to time, with the prior approval of the Company, appoint Depositary's
Agents to act in any respect for the Depositary for the purposes of this Deposit
Agreement and may at any time appoint additional Depositary's Agents and vary or
terminate the appointment of such Depositary's Agents. The Depositary will
notify the Company of any such action.
-16-
SECTION 7.06. Holders of Receipts Are Parties. The holders of
Depositary Shares from time to time shall be parties to this Deposit Agreement
and shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions hereof and of the Receipts
evidencing such Depositary Shares by acceptance of delivery thereof.
SECTION 7.07. Governing Law. THIS DEPOSIT AGREEMENT AND THE
RECEIPTS AND ALL RIGHTS HEREUNDER AND THEREUNDER AND PROVISIONS HEREOF AND
THEREOF SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION 7.08. Inspection of Deposit Agreement. Copies of this
Deposit Agreement shall be filed with the Depositary and the Depositary's Agents
and shall be open to inspection during business hours at the Depositary's Office
and the respective offices of the Depositary's Agents, if any, by any holder of
a Depository Share.
SECTION 7.09. Headings. The headings of articles and sections
in this Deposit Agreement and in the form of Receipt set forth in Exhibit A
hereto have been inserted for convenience only and are not to be regarded as
part of this Deposit Agreement or the Receipts or to have any bearing upon the
meaning or interpretation of any provision contained herein or in the Receipts.
-17-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Depositary have duly executed
this Deposit Agreement as of the day and year first above set forth, and all
holders of Depositary Shares shall become parties hereof by and upon acceptance
by them of delivery of Receipts evidencing such Depositary Shares and issued in
accordance with the terms hereof.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ GROUP, INC.
By
-------------------------------
[Name and Title]
[--------------------------------]
By
-------------------------------
Authorized Officer
-18-
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
FOR DEPOSITARY SHARES
[GENERAL FORM OF FACE OF RECEIPT]
NUMBER DEPOSITARY SHARES
DEPOSITARY RECEIPT FOR DEPOSITARY SHARES,
REPRESENTING ___________________ PREFERRED STOCK
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ GROUP, INC.
Incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware
This Depositary Receipt is transferable
in the City of __________________
_____________________________, as Depositary, (the
"Depositary"), hereby certifies that _____________________ is the registered
owner of ____________________ Depositary Shares ("Depositary Shares"), each
Depositary Share representing ___________________ of one share of
___________________ Preferred Stock, Series _____, par value $1.00 per share
(the "Stock"), of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
on deposit with the Depositary, subject to the terms and entitled to the
benefits of the Deposit Agreement dated as of __________________, 200_ (the
"Deposit Agreement"), between the Company, the Depositary and all holders from
time to time of Depositary Receipts. By accepting this Depositary Receipt the
holder hereof becomes a party to and agrees to be bound by all the terms and
conditions of the Deposit Agreement. This Depositary Receipt shall not be valid
or obligatory for any purpose or entitled to any benefits under the Deposit
Agreement unless it shall have been executed by the Depositary by the manual
signature of a duly authorized officer or, if executed in facsimile by the
Depositary, countersigned by a Registrar in respect of the Depositary Receipts
by the manual signature of a duly authorized officer thereof.
Dated: Depositary
A-1
By:
-------------------------------
Authorized Officer
Registrar
By:
-------------------------------
Authorized Officer
A-2
[GENERAL FORM OF REVERSE OF RECEIPT]
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ GROUP, INC.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Group, Inc. will furnish without charge to each
receiptholder who so requests a copy of the Deposit Agreement and a statement or
summary of the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating,
optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof which
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Group, Inc. is authorized to issue and the qualifications, limitations
or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. Any such request is to be
addressed to the Secretary of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Group, Inc.
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on
the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out
in full according to applicable laws or regulations:
TEN COM - as tenants in common
TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties
JT TEN - as joint tenants with right of survivorship and
not as tenants in common
UNIF GIFT MIN ACT - ____________ Custodian ___________
(Cust) (Minor)
under the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act ________
(State)
Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the
above list.
For value received, ___________________ hereby sell(s), assign(s) and
transfer(s) unto ___________________________________________
(Please insert social security or other identifying
number of Assignee)
----------------------------------------------------------------
Please print or typewrite Name and address including postal
Zip Code of Assignee
__________________________ Depositary Shares represented by the within receipt
and all rights thereunder, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint
__________________________
A-3
Attorney to transfer said Depositary Shares on the books of the within-named
Depositary with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated:
----------------------
------------------------------
NOTICE. The signature to this assignment
must correspond with the name as written
upon the face of this instrument in every
particular, without alteration or
enlargement or any change whatever.
A-4