and OWNERS AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS Deposit Agreement Dated as of _____________, 2005
[Execution Copy]
and
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
As Depositary
and
OWNERS AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS
Dated as of _____________, 2005
EMM-781612_6
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
SECTION 1.01.
American Depositary Shares.
SECTION 1.02.
Articles.
SECTION 1.03.
Beneficial Owner.
SECTION 1.04.
Commission.
SECTION 1.05.
Company.
SECTION 1.06.
Custodian.
SECTION 1.07.
Deliver; Surrender.
SECTION 1.08.
SECTION 1.09.
Depositary; Principal Office.
SECTION 1.10.
Deposited Securities.
SECTION 1.11.
Dollars; GBP.
SECTION 1.12.
DTC.
SECTION 1.13.
Foreign Registrar.
SECTION 1.14.
Owner.
SECTION 1.15.
Receipts; Direct Registration Receipts.
SECTION 1.16.
Registrar.
SECTION 1.17.
Restricted Securities.
SECTION 1.18.
Securities Act of 1933.
SECTION 1.19.
Shares.
ARTICLE 2.
FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF SHARES, EXECUTION AND
DELIVERY, TRANSFER AND SURRENDER OF RECEIPTS
SECTION 2.01.
Form and Transferability of Receipts.
SECTION 2.02.
Deposit of Shares.
SECTION 2.03.
Execution and Delivery of Receipts.
SECTION 2.04.
Registration of Transfer of Receipts; Combination and Split-up of Receipts.
SECTION 2.05.
Surrender of Receipts and Withdrawal of Shares.
SECTION 2.06.
Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer and Surrender of Receipts.
SECTION 2.07.
Lost Receipts, etc.
SECTION 2.08.
Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts.
SECTION 2.09.
Pre-Release of Receipts.
SECTION 2.10.
Maintenance of Records.
SECTION 2.11.
Profile Modification System.
ARTICLE 3.
CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF OWNERS AND BENEFICIAL
OWNERS OF RECEIPTS
SECTION 3.01.
Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information.
SECTION 3.02.
Liability of Owner or Beneficial Owner for Taxes.
SECTION 3.03.
Warranties on Deposit of Shares.
SECTION 3.04.
Disclosure of Interests.
ARTICLE 4.
THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES
SECTION 4.01.
Cash Distributions
SECTION 4.02.
Distributions Other Than Cash, Shares or Rights.
SECTION 4.03.
Distributions in Shares.
SECTION 4.04.
Rights.
SECTION 4.05.
Conversion of Foreign Currency.
SECTION 4.06.
Fixing of Record Date.
SECTION 4.08.
Changes Affecting Deposited Securities.
SECTION 4.09.
Reports.
SECTION 4.10.
Lists of Owners.
SECTION 4.11.
Withholding.
ARTICLE 5.
THE DEPOSITARY, THE CUSTODIANS AND THE COMPANY
SECTION 5.01.
Maintenance of Office and Transfer Books by the Depositary.
SECTION 5.02.
Prevention or Delay in Performance by the Depositary or the Company.
SECTION 5.03.
Obligations of the Depositary, the Custodian and the Company.
SECTION 5.04.
Resignation and Removal of the Depositary.
SECTION 5.05.
The Custodians.
SECTION 5.06.
Notices and Reports.
SECTION 5.07.
Distribution of Additional Shares, Rights, etc.
SECTION 5.08.
Indemnification.
SECTION 5.09.
Charges of Depositary.
SECTION 5.10.
Retention of Depositary Documents.
SECTION 5.11.
Exclusivity.
SECTION 5.12.
List of Restricted Securities Owners.
ARTICLE 6.
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
SECTION 6.01.
Amendment.
SECTION 6.02.
Termination.
ARTICLE 7.
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 7.01.
Counterparts.
SECTION 7.02.
No Third Party Beneficiaries.
SECTION 7.03.
Severability.
SECTION 7.04.
Owners and Beneficial Owners as Parties; Binding Effect.
SECTION 7.05.
Notices.
SECTION 7.06.
Compliance with U.S. Securities Laws.
SECTION 7.07.
Arbitration of Disputes.
SECTION 7.08.
Governing Law.
EXHIBIT A
Form of Receipt
DEPOSIT AGREEMENT dated as of ___________, 2005, among ROYAL DUTCH SHELL plc, incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (herein called the Company), THE BANK OF NEW YORK, a New York banking corporation (herein called the Depositary), and all Owners and Beneficial Owners from time to time of American Depositary Shares issued hereunder.
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide, as hereinafter set forth in this Deposit Agreement, for the deposit of Shares (as hereinafter defined) of the Company from time to time with the Depositary or with the Custodian (as hereinafter defined) as agent of the Depositary for the purposes set forth in this Deposit Agreement, for the creation of American Depositary Shares representing the Shares so deposited and for the execution and delivery of American Depositary Receipts evidencing the American Depositary Shares; and
WHEREAS, the American Depositary Receipts are to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A annexed hereto, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided in this Deposit Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, it is agreed by and among the parties hereto as follows:
ARTICLE 1.
DEFINITIONS
The following definitions shall for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated, apply to the respective terms used in this Deposit Agreement:
SECTION 1.1.
American Depositary Shares.
The term "American Depositary Shares" shall mean the securities representing the interests in the Deposited Securities and evidenced by the Receipts issued hereunder. Each American Depositary Share shall represent the number of Shares specified in Exhibit A annexed hereto, until there shall occur a distribution upon Deposited Securities covered by Section 4.03 or a change in Deposited Securities covered by Section 4.08 with respect to which additional Receipts are not executed and delivered, and thereafter American Depositary Shares shall represent the amount of Shares or Deposited Securities specified in such Sections.
SECTION 1.2.
Articles.
The term "Articles" shall mean the articles of association from time to time of the Company.
SECTION 1.3.
Beneficial Owner.
The term “Beneficial Owner” shall mean each person owning from time to time any beneficial interest in the American Depositary Shares evidenced by any Receipt.
SECTION 1.4.
Commission.
The term “Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States or any successor governmental agency in the United States.
SECTION 1.5.
Company.
The term “Company” shall mean Royal Dutch Shell plc, incorporated under the laws of England and Wales, and its successors.
SECTION 1.6.
Custodian.
The term “Custodian” shall mean each of the principal London office of The Bank of New York, as agent of the Depositary for the purposes of this Deposit Agreement, and any other firm or corporation which may hereafter be appointed by the Depositary pursuant to the terms of Section 5.05, as substitute or additional custodian or custodians hereunder, as the context shall require and shall also mean all of them collectively.
SECTION 1.7.
Deliver; Surrender.
(a)
The term “deliver”, or its noun form, when used with respect to Shares shall mean (i) one or more book-entry transfers to an account or accounts maintained with an institution authorized under the laws of England and Wales to effect book-entry transfers of such securities or (ii) to the extent applicable, the physical transfer of certificates evidencing Shares.
(b)
The term “deliver”, or its noun form, when used with respect to Receipts, shall mean (i) registration of American Depositary Shares on the Direct Registration System in the name of, or one or more book-entry transfers of American Depositary Shares to an account or accounts at DTC designated by, the person entitled to such delivery or (ii) if requested by the person entitled to such delivery, to delivery at the Principal Office of the Depositary of one or more Receipts registered in the name requested by the person entitled to such delivery.
(c)
The term “surrender”, when used with respect to Receipts, shall mean (i) delivery to the Depositary’s Principal Office of an instruction from an Owner surrendering American Depositary Shares on the Direct Registration System to the Depositary, (ii) one or more book-entry transfers of American Depositary Shares to the DTC account of the Depositary or (ii) surrender to the Depositary at its Principal Office of one or more Receipts.
SECTION 1.8.
The term “Deposit Agreement” shall mean this Deposit Agreement, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement.
SECTION 1.9.
Depositary; Principal Office.
The term “Depositary” shall mean The Bank of New York, a New York banking corporation, and any successor as depositary hereunder. The term “Principal Office”, when used with respect to the Depositary, shall mean the office of the Depositary which at the date of this Agreement is ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.
SECTION 1.10.
Deposited Securities.
The term “Deposited Securities” as of any time shall mean Shares at such time deposited or deemed to be deposited under this Deposit Agreement and any and all other securities, property and cash received by the Depositary or the Custodian in respect thereof and at such time held hereunder, subject as to cash to the provisions of Section 4.05.
SECTION 1.10.
Direct Registration System.
"Direct Registration System" means the system for the uncertificated registration of ownership of securities established by DTC and utilized by the Depositary pursuant to which the Depositary may record the ownership of American Depositary Shares without the issuance of a Receipt, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic statements issued by the Depositary to the Owner. For purposes hereof, the Direct Registration System shall include access to the Profile Modification System maintained by DTC which provides for automated transfer of record ownership between DTC and other Owners.
SECTION 1.11.
Dollars; GBP.
The term “Dollars” shall mean United States dollars. The term “GBP” shall mean United Kingdom pounds.
SECTION 1.12.
DTC.
The term “DTC” shall mean The Depository Trust Company, or its successor.
SECTION 1.13.
Foreign Registrar.
The term “Foreign Registrar” shall mean the entity that presently carries out the duties of registrar for the Shares or any successor as registrar for the Shares and any other appointed agent of the Company for the transfer and registration of Shares.
SECTION 1.14.
Owner.
The term “Owner” shall mean the person in whose name a Receipt is registered on the books of the Depositary maintained for such purpose.
SECTION 1.15.
Receipts; Direct Registration Receipts.
The term “Receipts” shall mean the American Depositary Receipts issued hereunder, including Pre-Released Receipts, evidencing American Depositary Shares. The term "Direct Registration Receipts" shall mean American Depositary Shares not evidenced by Receipts that are evidenced by book entry notations recorded on the Direct Registration System and by periodic statements from the Depositary. References to “Receipts” shall include Direct Registration Receipts, unless the context otherwise requires.
SECTION 1.16.
Registrar.
The term “Registrar” shall mean any bank or trust company having an office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, which shall be appointed, after consultation with the Company, to register Receipts and transfers of Receipts as herein provided.
SECTION 1.17.
Restricted Securities.
The term “Restricted Securities” shall mean Shares, or Receipts representing such Shares, which are acquired directly or indirectly from the Company, or any affiliate (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933) of the Company, in a transaction or chain of transactions not involving any public offering, or which are held by an officer, director (or persons performing similar functions) or other affiliate of the Company, or which would require registration under the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with the public offer and sale thereof in the United States, or which are subject to other restrictions on sale or deposit under the laws of the United States or England and Wales, or under a shareholder agreement or the Memorandum or Articles of Association of the Company.
SECTION 1.18.
Securities Act of 1933.
The term “Securities Act of 1933” shall mean the United States Securities Act of 1933, as from time to time amended.
SECTION 1.19.
Shares.
The term “Shares” shall mean Class B ordinary shares in registered form of the Company heretofore validly issued and outstanding and fully paid, nonassessable and that were not issued in violation of any pre-emptive or similar rights of the holders of outstanding Shares or hereafter validly issued and outstanding and fully paid, nonassessable and that are not issued in violation of any pre-emptive or similar rights of the holders of outstanding Shares; provided, however, that, if there shall occur any change in nominal value, a split-up or consolidation or any other reclassification or, upon the occurrence of an event described in Section 4.08, an exchange or conversion in respect of the Shares of the Company, the term “Shares” shall thereafter also mean the successor securities resulting from such change in nominal value, split-up or consolidation or such other reclassification or such exchange or conversion. Shares may be certificated or uncertificated.
ARTICLE 2.
FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF SHARES, EXECUTION AND DELIVERY, TRANSFER AND SURRENDER OF RECEIPTS
SECTION 2.1.
Form and Transferability of Receipts.
Definitive Receipts shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A annexed to this Deposit Agreement, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided. No Receipt shall be entitled to any benefits under this Deposit Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless such Receipt shall have been either issued through the Direct Registration System or executed by the Depositary by the manual signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary; provided, however, that such signature may be a facsimile if a Registrar for the Receipts shall have been appointed and such Receipts are countersigned by the manual signature of a duly authorized officer of the Registrar. The Depositary shall maintain books on which each Receipt so issued, executed and/or delivered as hereinafter provided and the transfer of each such Receipt shall be registered. Receipts bearing the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary who was at any time a proper signatory of the Depositary shall bind the Depositary, notwithstanding that such signatory has ceased to hold such office prior to the execution and delivery of such Receipts by the Registrar or did not hold such office on the date of issuance of such Receipts.
The Receipts may be endorsed with or have incorporated in the text thereof such legends or recitals or modifications not inconsistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement as may be required by the Depositary or required to comply with any applicable law or regulations thereunder or with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange upon which American Depositary Shares may be listed or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Receipts are subject by reason of the date of issuance of the underlying Deposited Securities or otherwise.
Notwithstanding anything in this Deposit Agreement or in the Receipts to the contrary, American Depositary Shares shall be evidenced by Direct Registration Receipts or by a global Receipt registered in the name of a nominee of The Depository Trust Company, unless certificated Receipts are specifically requested by a person entitled to delivery of Receipts. Owners shall be bound by the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement and of the form of Receipt, regardless of whether their Receipts are Direct Registration Receipts or certificated Receipts.
American Depositary Shares evidenced by a Receipt, when properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, shall be transferable as certificated securities in registered form under the laws of the State of New York. American Depositary Shares not evidenced by a Receipt (also referred to as Direct Registration Receipts in this Deposit Agreement) shall be transferable as uncertificated securities in registered form under the laws of the State of New York. The Depositary, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the Owner of American Depositary Shares as the absolute owner thereof for the purpose of determining the person entitled to distribution of dividends or other distributions or to any notice provided for in this Deposit Agreement and for all other purposes.
SECTION 2.2.
Deposit of Shares.
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, Shares or evidence of rights to receive Shares may be deposited by delivery thereof to any Custodian hereunder, accompanied by any appropriate instrument or instruments of transfer, or endorsement, in form satisfactory to the Custodian, together with all such certifications as may be required by the Depositary or the Custodian in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, and, if the Depositary requires, together with a written order directing the Depositary to execute and deliver to, or upon the written order of, the person or persons stated in such order, a Receipt or Receipts for the number of American Depositary Shares representing such deposit. No Share shall be accepted for deposit unless accompanied by evidence satisfactory to the Depositary that any necessary approval, where relevant, has been granted by any governmental body in England and Wales that is then performing the function of the regulation of currency exchange. If required by the Depositary, Shares presented for deposit at any time, whether or not the transfer books of the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, are closed, shall also be accompanied by an agreement or assignment, or other instrument satisfactory to the Depositary, which will provide for the prompt transfer to the Custodian of any dividend, or right to subscribe for additional Shares or to receive other property which any person in whose name the Shares are or have been recorded may thereafter receive upon or in respect of such deposited Shares, or in lieu thereof, such agreement of indemnity or other agreement as shall be satisfactory to the Depositary.
In the case of certificated Shares, at the request and risk and expense of any person proposing to deposit Shares, and for the account of such person, the Depositary may receive certificates for Shares to be deposited, together with the other instruments herein specified, for the purpose of forwarding such Share certificates to the Custodian for deposit hereunder.
In the case of certificated Shares, upon each delivery to a Custodian of a certificate or certificates evidencing Shares to be deposited hereunder, together with the other documents above specified, such Custodian shall be required by the Depositary, as soon as transfer and recordation can be accomplished, to present such certificate or certificates to the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, for transfer and recordation of the Shares being deposited in the name of the Depositary or its nominee or such Custodian or its nominee.
Deposited Securities shall be held by the Depositary or by a Custodian for the account and to the order of the Depositary or at such other place or places as the Depositary shall determine. The Depositary shall provide written notice informing the Company of any such other place or places.
SECTION 2.3.
Execution and Delivery of Receipts.
Upon receipt by any Custodian of any deposit pursuant to Section 2.02 hereunder (and in addition, if the transfer books of the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, are open, the Depositary may in its sole discretion require a proper acknowledgment or other evidence from the Company that any Deposited Securities have been recorded upon the books of the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, in the name of the Depositary or its nominee or such Custodian or its nominee), together with the other documents required as above specified, such Custodian shall be required by the Depositary to notify the Depositary of such deposit and the person or persons to whom or upon whose written order a Receipt or Receipts are deliverable in respect thereof and the number of American Depositary Shares to be evidenced thereby. Such notification shall be required to be made by letter or, at the request, risk and expense of the person making the deposit, by cable, telex or facsimile transmission. Upon receiving such notice from such Custodian, or upon the receipt of Shares by the Depositary, the Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall execute and deliver at its Principal Office, to or upon the order of the person or persons entitled thereto, a Receipt or Receipts, registered in the name or names and evidencing any authorized number of American Depositary Shares requested by such person or persons, but only upon payment to the Depositary of the fees and expenses of the Depositary for the execution and delivery of such Receipt or Receipts as provided in Section 5.09, and of all taxes and governmental charges and fees payable in connection with such deposit and the transfer of the Deposited Securities.
SECTION 2.4.
Registration of Transfer of Receipts; Combination and Split-up of Receipts.
The Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall without unreasonable delay, register transfers of Receipts on its transfer books, upon any surrender of a Receipt, by the Owner in person or by a duly authorized attorney, properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer or, in the case of Direct Registration Receipts, upon receipt of a proper instruction, and duly stamped as may be required by the laws of the State of New York and of the United States of America. Thereupon the Depositary shall execute a new Receipt or Receipts and deliver the same to or upon the order of the person entitled thereto.
The Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall upon surrender of a Receipt or Receipts for the purpose of effecting a split-up or combination of such Receipt or Receipts, execute and deliver a new Receipt or Receipts for any authorized number of American Depositary Shares requested, evidencing the same aggregate number of American Depositary Shares as the Receipt or Receipts surrendered. At the request of an Owner, the Depositary shall, for the purpose of substituting a certificated Receipt with a Direct Registration Receipts, or vice versa, deliver a certificated Receipt or Direct Registration Receipts, as the case may be, for any authorized number of American Depositary Shares requested, evidencing the same aggregate number of American Depositary Shares as those evidenced by the certificated Receipt or Direct Registration Receipts, as the case may be, surrendered for substitution.
The Depositary may appoint one or more co-transfer agents for the purpose of effecting transfers, combinations and split-ups of Receipts at designated transfer offices on behalf of the Depositary. In carrying out its functions, a co-transfer agent may require evidence of authority and compliance with applicable laws and other requirements by Owners or persons entitled to Receipts and will be entitled to protection and indemnity to the same extent as the Depositary.
SECTION 2.5.
Surrender of Receipts and Withdrawal of Shares.
Upon surrender at the Principal Office of the Depositary of a Receipt for the purpose of withdrawal of the Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt, and upon payment of the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of Receipts as provided in Section 5.09 and payment of all taxes and governmental charges payable in connection with such surrender and withdrawal of the Deposited Securities, and subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement and English law, the Owner of such Receipt shall be entitled to delivery, to him or upon his order, of the amount of Deposited Securities at the time represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt. Delivery of such Deposited Securities may be made (a) in the case of certificated Shares, by delivery of certificates in the name of such Owner or as ordered by him or certificates properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer to such Owner or as ordered by him and (b) in the case of any securities cash or other property to which such Owner is then entitled in respect of such Receipt, by delivery of those securities or that cash or other property to such Owner or as ordered by him. Such delivery shall be made, as hereinafter provided, without unreasonable delay.
A Receipt surrendered for such purposes may be required by the Depositary to be properly endorsed in blank or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer in blank (in the case of a certificated Receipt), or surrendered pursuant to a proper instruction (in the case of Direct Registration Receipts), and if the Depositary so requires, the Owner thereof shall execute and deliver to the Depositary a written order directing the Depositary to cause the Deposited Securities being withdrawn to be delivered to or upon the written order of a person or persons designated in such order. Thereupon the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to deliver at the office of such Custodian, subject to Sections 2.06, 3.01 and 3.02 and to the other terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement and English law, to or upon the written order of the person or persons designated in the order delivered to the Depositary as above provided, the amount of Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt, except that the Depositary may make delivery to such person or persons at the Principal Office of the Depositary of any dividends or distributions with respect to the Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt, or of any proceeds of sale of any dividends, distributions or rights, which may at the time be held by the Depositary.
At the request, risk and expense of any Owner so surrendering a Receipt, and for the account of such Owner, the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to forward any cash or other property (other than rights) comprising, and forward a certificate or certificates and other proper documents of title, if any, for, the Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt to the Depositary for delivery at the Principal Office of the Depositary. Such direction shall be given by letter or, at the request, risk and expense of such Owner, by cable, telex or facsimile transmission. Rights, if any, shall be delivered to such Owner pursuant to Section 4.04.
SECTION 2.6.
Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer and Surrender of Receipts.
As a condition precedent to the execution and delivery, registration of transfer, split-up, combination or surrender of any Receipt or withdrawal of any Deposited Securities, the Depositary, Custodian or Registrar may require payment from the depositor of Shares or the presenter of the Receipt of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or other governmental charge and any stock transfer or registration fee with respect thereto (including any such tax or charge and fee with respect to Shares being deposited or withdrawn) and payment of any applicable fees as herein provided, may require the production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature and may also require compliance with any regulations the Depositary may establish consistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, including, without limitation, this Section 2.06.
The delivery of Receipts against deposit of Shares generally or against deposit of particular Shares may be suspended, or the transfer of Receipts in particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer of outstanding Receipts generally may be suspended, during any period when the transfer books of the Depositary are closed, or if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary or the Company at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body or commission, or under any provision of this Deposit Agreement, or for any other reason, subject to the provisions of Section 7.07 hereof. The Depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under this Deposit Agreement any Shares which would be required to be registered under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 for the public offer and sale thereof in the United States unless a registration statement is in effect as to such Shares for such offer and sale. The Depositary will use reasonable efforts to comply with written instructions of the Company that the Depositary shall not accept for the deposit hereunder any Shares identified in such circumstances as may reasonably be specified in such instructions to facilitate the Company’s compliance with the U.S. securities laws.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Deposit Agreement, Owners shall be entitled to surrender Receipts and withdraw Deposited Securities as provided in Section 2.05 at any time, subject only to (i) temporary delays caused by closing the transfer books of the Depositary or the Company or the deposit of Shares in connection with voting at a shareholders’ meeting, or the payment of dividends, (ii) the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges, (iii) compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating to the Receipts or to the withdrawal of the Deposited Securities and (iv) any other reason that may at any time be specified in paragraph I.(A)(1) of the General Instructions to Form F-6 under the Securities Act of 1933, from time to time in effect, or any successor provision thereto.
SECTION 2.7.
Lost Receipts, etc.
In case any Receipt shall be mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen, the Depositary shall deliver a new Receipt through the Direct Registration system or execute and deliver a new Receipt of like tenor in exchange and substitution for such mutilated Receipt upon cancellation thereof, or in lieu of and in substitution for such destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt. Before the Depositary shall execute and deliver a new Receipt in substitution for a destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt, the Owner thereof shall have (a) filed with the Depositary (i) a request for such execution and delivery before the Depositary has notice that the Receipt has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser and (ii) a sufficient indemnity bond and (b) satisfied any other reasonable requirements imposed by the Depositary.
SECTION 2.8.
Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts.
All Receipts surrendered to the Depositary shall be canceled by the Depositary. The Depositary is authorized to destroy Receipts so canceled subject to Section 2.10.
SECTION 2.9.
Pre-Release of Receipts.
The Depositary will lend neither the Shares held under this Deposit Agreement nor the Receipts. The Depositary reserves the right to execute and deliver Receipts prior to the receipt of Shares pursuant to Section 2.02 on the terms and conditions set forth below (a “Pre-Release”). The Depositary may receive Receipts in lieu of Shares as settlement of the Pre-Release of a Receipt. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Pre-Release of Receipts may occur only if (i) Pre-released Receipts are fully collateralized (marked to market daily) with cash or U.S. government securities in an amount equal to not less than 100% of the market value of the Pre-Released Receipts held by the Depositary for the benefit of Owners (but such collateral shall not constitute Deposited Securities), (ii) each recipient of Pre-released Receipts agrees in writing with the Depositary that such recipient (a) owns such Shares, (b) assigns all beneficial right, title and interest therein to the Depositary, (c) holds such Shares for the account of the Depositary and (d) will deliver such Shares to the Custodian as soon as practicable and promptly upon demand therefor and (iii) all Pre-released Receipts evidence not more than 20% of all American Depositary Shares (excluding those evidenced by Pre-released Receipts) and all Pre-Released Receipts evidence American Depositary Shares representing not more than 1% of all Shares outstanding or such other percentage of American Depositary Shares or Shares, as the case may be, as the Company and the Depositary may from time to time agree in writing, except to the extent, if any, that either of such limitations is exceeded solely because of the withdrawal of Deposited Securities subsequent to the execution and delivery of Pre-Released Receipts in compliance with such limitation. The Depositary will also set limits with respect to the number of American Depositary Shares and Shares involved in transactions to be done hereunder with any one person on a case by case basis as it deems appropriate.
The Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received by it in connection with the foregoing.
SECTION 2.10.
Maintenance of Records.
The Depositary agrees to maintain or cause its agents to maintain records of all Receipts surrendered and Deposited Securities withdrawn under Section 2.05, substitute Receipts delivered under Section 2.07, and of cancelled or destroyed Receipts under Section 2.08, in keeping with procedures ordinarily followed by stock transfer agents located in the City of New York or as required by laws or regulations governing the Depositary. The Depositary shall provide full access to such records to the Company and its agents from time to time during normal business hours upon the reasonable written request of the Company.
SECTION 2.11.
Profile Modification System.
(a)
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.04, the parties acknowledge the Profile Modification System (“Profile”) shall apply to Direct Registration Receipts upon acceptance thereof by DTC. Profile is a required feature of the Direct Registration System that allows a DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf of the Owner of Direct Registration Receipts, to direct the Depositary to register a transfer of the 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.
(b)
In connection with and in accordance with the arrangements and procedures relating to Profile, the parties understand that the Depositary will not verify, determine or otherwise ascertain that the DTC participant that is claiming to be acting on behalf of an Owner in requesting a registration of transfer and delivery described in subsection (a) has the actual authority to act on behalf of the Owner. Each Owner agrees that neither the Company nor the Depositary shall have any liability for the Depositary’s reliance upon information, or compliance with directions, it receives from a DTC participant as set forth in subsection (a) above.
ARTICLE 3.
CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF OWNERS AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF RECEIPTS
SECTION 3.1.
Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information.
Any person presenting Shares for deposit or any Owner or Beneficial Owner of a Receipt may be required from time to time to file with the Depositary or the Custodian such proof of citizenship or residence, exchange control approval, or such information relating to the registration on the books of the Company or the 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. The Depositary shall provide copies thereof to the Company as promptly as practicable upon written request by the Company, to the extent that disclosure is permitted under applicable law.
SECTION 3.2.
Liability of Owner or Beneficial Owner for Taxes.
If any tax or other governmental charge shall become payable by the Custodian or the Depositary with respect to any Receipt or any Deposited Securities represented by any Receipt, such tax or other governmental charge shall be payable by the Owner or Beneficial Owner of such Receipt to the Depositary. The Depositary may refuse to effect any transfer of such Receipt or any withdrawal of Deposited Securities represented by American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt until such payment is made, and may withhold any dividends or other distributions, or may sell for the account of the Owner or Beneficial Owner thereof any part or all of the Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt, and may apply such dividends or other distributions or the proceeds of any such sale in payment of such tax or other governmental charge and the Owner or Beneficial Owner of such Receipt shall remain liable for any deficiency. Neither the Company nor the Depositary shall be liable for failure of an Owner to comply with applicable tax laws or governmental charges.
SECTION 3.3.
Warranties on Deposit of Shares.
Every person depositing Shares under this Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to represent and warrant that such Shares and each certificate therefor are validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and were not issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights of the holders of outstanding Shares and that the person making such deposit is duly authorized so to do. Every such person shall also be deemed to represent that such Shares are not, and American Depositary Shares representing such Shares would not be, Restricted Securities. Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit of Shares and delivery of Receipts.
SECTION 3.4.
Disclosure of Interests.
To the extent that provisions of or governing any Deposited Securities (including the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association or applicable English law) may require the disclosure of beneficial or other ownership of Deposited Securities, other Shares and other securities to the Company and may provide for blocking transfer and voting or other rights to enforce such disclosure or limit such ownership, the Depositary shall, to the extent reasonably practicable, comply with the Company’s instructions as to Receipts in respect of any such enforcement or limitation, and Owners and Beneficial Owners of Receipts shall comply with all such disclosure requirements and ownership limitations and shall cooperate with the Depositary’s compliance with such Company instructions. The Company may from time to time request Owners to provide information (a) as to the capacity in which such Owners own or owned American Depositary Shares, (b) regarding the identity of any other persons then or previously interested in such American Depositary Shares and (c) regarding the nature of such interest and various other matters pursuant to applicable law or the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company or other such corporate document of the Company, all as if such American Depositary Shares were to the extent practicable the underlying Shares. Each Owner agrees to provide any information requested by the Company or the Depositary pursuant to this Section whether or not such person is still an Owner at the time of the request. The Depositary agrees to use reasonable efforts to comply with written instructions received from the Company requesting that the Depositary forward any such requests to Owners and to forward to the Company any responses to such requests received by the Depositary.
ARTICLE 4.
THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES
SECTION 4.1.
Cash Distributions
Notwithstanding any rights under the Company’s articles of association, any dividends paid on the Deposited Securities that are not paid to the Depositary or its nominee in Dollars will be paid by the Company in GBP. Whenever the Depositary shall receive any cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of any Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall, subject to the provisions of Section 4.05 in the case of a dividend and/or distribution received in a currency other than Dollars, convert the amounts so received into Dollars. Promptly after the settlement of such conversion or, in the in the case of any cash dividend or other cash distribution received by the Depositary in Dollars, the Depositary shall as promptly as practicable, distribute the amount thus received (net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09) to the Owners entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by each of them; provided, however, that in the event that the Depositary shall be required to withhold and does withhold from such cash dividend or such other cash distribution an amount on account of taxes, the amount distributed to the Owner of the Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities shall be reduced accordingly. The Depositary shall distribute only such amount, however, as can be distributed without attributing to any Owner a fraction of one cent. Any such fractional amounts shall be rounded down to the nearest whole cent and so distributed to Owners entitled thereto. The Company or its agent will remit to the appropriate governmental agency in England and Wales all amounts withheld and owing to such agency. The Depositary will forward to the Company or its agent such information from its records as the Company may reasonably request to enable the Company or its agent to file necessary reports with governmental agencies, and the Depositary or the Company or its agent may file any such reports necessary to obtain benefits under the applicable tax treaties for the Owners of Receipts.
Subject to the rules and regulations of any stock exchange upon which the American Depositary Shares may be traded, the Depositary shall endeavor to convert the funds as promptly as practicable and to distribute Dollars to Owners under this Section within five New York Stock Exchange trading days of the day on which the cash dividend or cash distribution on the Deposited Securities is received by the Depositary.
SECTION 4.2.
Distributions Other Than Cash, Shares or Rights.
Subject to the provisions of Sections 4.11 and 5.09, whenever the Depositary shall receive any distribution other than a distribution described in Section 4.01, 4.03 or 4.04, the Depositary shall cause the securities or property received by it to be distributed to the Owners entitled thereto, after deduction or upon payment of any fees and expenses of the Depositary or any taxes or other governmental charges, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by them respectively, in any manner that the Depositary may deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing such distribution; provided, however, that if in the reasonable opinion of the Depositary such distribution cannot be made proportionately among the Owners entitled thereto, or if for any other reason (including, but not limited to, any requirement that the Company or the Depositary withhold an amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges or that such securities must be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 in order to be distributed to Owners or Beneficial Owners) the Depositary deems such distribution not to be 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 and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09) shall be distributed by the Depositary to the Owners entitled thereto, all in the manner and subject to the conditions described in Section 4.01; provided, however, that no distribution to Owners pursuant to this Section 4.02 shall be unreasonably delayed by any action or inaction of the Depositary or any of its agents. The Depositary may withhold any distribution of securities under this Section 4.02 if it has not received reasonably satisfactory assurances from the Company that the distribution does not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933.
SECTION 4.3.
Distributions in Shares.
If any distribution upon any Deposited Securities consists of a dividend in, or free distribution of, Shares, the Depositary may, and shall if the Company shall so request, distribute to the Owners of outstanding Receipts entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by them respectively, additional Receipts evidencing an aggregate number of American Depositary Shares representing the amount of Shares received as such dividend or free distribution, subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement with respect to the deposit of Shares and the issuance of American Depositary Shares evidenced by Receipts, including the withholding of any tax or other governmental charge as provided in Section 4.11 and the payment of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09; provided, however, that no distribution to Owners pursuant to this Section 4.03 shall be unreasonably delayed by any action or inaction of the Depositary or any of its agents. The Depositary may withhold any such distribution of Receipts if it has not received satisfactory assurances from the Company that such distribution does not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933. In lieu of delivering Receipts for fractional American Depositary Shares in any such case, the Depositary shall use reasonable efforts to sell the amount of Shares represented by the aggregate of such fractions and distribute the net proceeds, if any, all in the manner and subject to the conditions described in Section 4.01. 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.
SECTION 4.4.
Rights.
In the event that the Company shall offer or cause to be offered to the holders of any Deposited Securities any rights to subscribe for additional Shares or any rights of any other nature, the Depositary, 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 to such Owners or, if by the terms of such rights offering or for any other reason, the Depositary may not either make such rights available to any Owners or dispose of such rights and make the net proceeds available to such Owners, then the Depositary shall allow the rights to lapse. If at the time of the offering of any rights the Depositary, after consultation with the Company, determines in its reasonable discretion that it is lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all or certain Owners but not to other Owners, the Depositary may, and at the request of the Company shall, distribute to any Owner to whom it determines the distribution to be lawful and feasible, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by such Owner, warrants or other instruments therefor in such form as it deems appropriate.
In circumstances in which rights would otherwise not be distributed, if an Owner of Receipts requests the distribution of warrants or other instruments in order to exercise the rights allocable to the American Depositary Shares of such Owner hereunder, the Depositary will make such rights available to such Owner upon written notice from the Company to the Depositary that (a) the Company has elected in its sole discretion to permit such rights to be exercised and (b) such Owner has executed such documents as the Company has determined in its sole discretion are reasonably required under applicable law.
If the Depositary has distributed warrants or other instruments for rights to all or certain Owners, then upon instruction from such an Owner pursuant to such warrants or other instruments to the Depositary from such Owner to exercise such rights, upon payment by such Owner to the Depositary for the account of such Owner of an amount equal to the purchase price of the Shares to be received upon the exercise of the rights, and upon payment of the fees and expenses of the Depositary and any other charges as set forth in such warrants or other instruments, the Depositary shall, on behalf of such Owner, exercise the rights and purchase the Shares, and the Company shall cause the Shares so purchased to be delivered to the Depositary on behalf of such Owner. As agent for such Owner, the Depositary will cause the Shares so purchased to be deposited pursuant to Section 2.02 of this Deposit Agreement, and shall, pursuant to Section 2.03 of this Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver Receipts to such Owner; provided, however, that in the case of a distribution pursuant to the second paragraph of this Section, 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 applicable United States laws.
If the Depositary determines that it is not lawful and 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 and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 and all taxes and governmental charges payable in connection with such rights and subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement) for the account of such 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 all Owners or are registered under the provisions of such Act; provided, that nothing in this Deposit Agreement shall create any obligation on the part of the Company to file a registration statement with respect to such rights or underlying securities or to endeavor to have such a registration statement declared effective. If an Owner of Receipts requests the distribution of warrants or other instruments, notwithstanding that there has been no such registration under the Securities Act of 1933, 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 does not require 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.
SECTION 4.5.
Conversion of Foreign Currency.
Whenever the Depositary or the Custodian shall receive foreign currency, by way of dividends or other distributions or the net proceeds from the sale of securities, property or rights, and if at the time of the receipt thereof the foreign currency so received can in the reasonable 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 reasonably determine, such foreign currency into Dollars, and such Dollars shall be 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 5.09.
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 reasonable judgment any foreign currency received by the Depositary or the Custodian is not convertible on a reasonable basis into Dollars transferable to the United States, or if any approval or license of any government or agency thereof which is required for such conversion is denied or in the reasonable 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 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 accounts of, the Owners entitled thereto.
SECTION 4.6.
Fixing of Record Date.
Whenever any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable or any distribution other than cash shall be made, or whenever rights shall be issued with respect to the Deposited Securities, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other 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 find it necessary, the Depositary shall fix a record date (a) for the determination of the Owners 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 (iii) responsible for any fee or charges assessed by the Depositary pursuant to this Deposit Agreement, or (b) on or after which each American Depositary Share will represent the changed number of Shares. Subject to the provisions of Sections 4.01 through 4.05 and to the other terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Owners on such record date shall be entitled, as the case may be, to receive the amount distributable by the Depositary with respect to such dividend or other distribution or such rights or the net proceeds of sale thereof in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by each of them, to give voting instructions and to act in respect of any other such matter.
SECTION 4.7.
Voting of Deposited Securities.
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, if requested in writing by the Company, the Depositary shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the Owners of record as of the record date set by the Depositary under Section 4.06 (the “Voting Record Date”) a notice, the form of which notice shall be approved of by the Company which shall contain (a) such information as is contained in such notice of meeting, (b) a voting instruction card in the form prepared by the Depositary after consultation with the Company, (c) a statement that the Owners of record as of the close of business on the Voting Record Date will be entitled, subject to any applicable provision of English law and of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company and the provisions of or governing the Deposited Securities, to either (i) use such voting instruction card to request the Depositary, its Custodian or nominee (as appropriate) to appoint the Owner its proxy to attend at that meeting and vote with respect to the number of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Owner’s Receipts or (ii) instruct the person nominated by the Depositary, its Custodian or nominee as its proxy as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to that number of Shares or other Deposited Securities, and (d) a brief statement as to the manner in which voting instructions may be given to the person nominated by the Depositary.
Upon the written request of an Owner of a Receipt as of the Voting Record Date received on or before the date established by the Depositary for that purpose (the “Instruction Date”), the Depositary shall endeavor to cause the appointment (or, if the Deposited Securities are registered in the name of or held by its Custodian or a nominee, the Depositary shall endeavor to procure that the Custodian or its nominee shall cause the appointment), subject to the articles of association of the Company, of that Owner as a proxy in respect of that meeting (including any adjournment of that meeting) to attend and vote the number of Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by that Receipt.
Upon the written request of an Owner of a Receipt as of the Voting Record Date, received on or before the Instruction Date, the Depositary shall endeavor, in so far as practicable, to vote or cause to be voted the number 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. Neither the Depositary, nor the Custodian nor the nominee of either of them shall vote or attempt to exercise the right to vote that attaches to the Shares or other Deposited Securities other than in accordance with such written instructions from Owners given in accordance with this Section 4.07.
There can be no assurance that Owners generally or any Owner in particular will receive the notice described in the first paragraph of this Section 4.07 sufficiently prior to the Instruction Date to ensure that the Depositary will appoint the Owner its proxy or vote the Shares or other Deposited Securities as requested in accordance with the provisions set forth in the preceding paragraphs.
SECTION 4.8.
Changes Affecting Deposited Securities.
In circumstances where the provisions of Section 4.03 do not apply, upon any change in nominal value, change in par value, split-up, consolidation or any other reclassification of Deposited Securities, or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale of assets affecting the Company or to which it is a party, any securities which shall be received by the Depositary or a Custodian in exchange for or in conversion of or in respect of Deposited Securities, shall be treated as new Deposited Securities under this Deposit Agreement, and American Depositary Shares shall thenceforth represent, in addition to the existing Deposited Securities, the right to receive 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 reasonably 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.
SECTION 4.9.
Reports.
The Company is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and accordingly files certain reports with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (hereinafter called the "Commission"). Such reports and other information may be inspected and copied at public reference facilities maintained by the Commission located at the date hereof at Judiciary Plaza, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇., ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇. The Depositary shall make available for inspection by Owners at its Principal Office any reports and communications, including any proxy soliciting material, received from the Company which are both (a) received by the Depositary as the holder of the Deposited Securities and (b) made generally available to the holders of such Deposited Securities by the Company. The Depositary shall also, upon the written request of the Company, send to the Owners copies of such reports when furnished by the Company pursuant to Section 5.06.
SECTION 4.10.
Lists of Owners.
Upon the written request of the Company, the Depositary shall, as promptly as practical, at the expense of the Company, furnish to it a list, as of a recent date, of the names, addresses and holdings of American Depositary Shares by all persons in whose names Receipts are registered on the books of the Depositary.
SECTION 4.11.
Withholding.
In the event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) is subject to any tax or other governmental charge which the Depositary is obligated to withhold, the Depositary may by public or private sale dispose of all or a portion of such property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) in such amounts and in such manner as the Depositary reasonably deems necessary and practicable to pay 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 entitled thereto in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by them.
ARTICLE 5.
THE DEPOSITARY, THE CUSTODIANS AND THE COMPANY
SECTION 5.1.
Maintenance of Office and Transfer Books by the Depositary.
Until termination of this Deposit Agreement in accordance with its terms, the Depositary shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, facilities for the execution and delivery, registration, registration of transfers and surrender of Receipts in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement.
The Depositary shall keep books, at its Principal Office, for the registration of Receipts and transfers of Receipts which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Owners, provided that such inspection shall not be for the purpose of communicating with Owners in the interest of a business or object other than the business of the Company or a matter related to this Deposit Agreement or the Receipts.
The Depositary may close the transfer books, at any time or from time to time, when reasonably deemed expedient by it in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder or at the written reasonable request of the Company, provided that any such closing of the transfer books shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2.06 which limit the suspension of withdrawals of Shares.
If any Receipts or the American Depositary Shares evidenced thereby are listed on one or more stock exchanges in the United States, the Depositary shall act as Registrar or appoint a Registrar or one or more co-registrars for registry of such Receipts in accordance with any requirements of such exchange or exchanges. The Company shall have the right, upon reasonable written request, to inspect the transfer and registration records of the Depositary relating to the Receipts, and to take copies thereof.
SECTION 5.2.
Prevention or Delay in Performance by the Depositary or the Company.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their directors, employees, agents or affiliates shall incur any liability to any Owner or Beneficial Owner if, by reason of any provision of any present or future law or regulation of the United States or any other country, or of any governmental or regulatory authority or stock exchange, or by reason of any provision, present or future, of the Memorandum or Articles of Association of the Company, or by reason of any provision of any securities issued or distributed by the Company, or any offering or distribution thereof, or by reason of any act of God or war or terrorism or other circumstances beyond its control, the Depositary or the Company shall be prevented, delayed or forbidden from, or be subject to any civil or criminal penalty on account of, doing or performing any act or thing which by the terms of this Deposit Agreement or Deposited Securities it is provided shall be done or performed; nor shall the Depositary or the Company or any of their directors, employees, agents or affiliates incur any liability to any Owner or Beneficial Owner of any Receipt by reason of any nonperformance or delay, caused as aforesaid, in the performance of any act or thing which by the terms of this Deposit Agreement it is provided shall or may be done or performed, or by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in this Deposit Agreement. Where, by the terms of a distribution pursuant to Section 4.01, 4.02, or 4.03, or an offering or distribution pursuant to Section 4.04, or for any other reason, such distribution or offering may not be made available to Owners, 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.
SECTION 5.3.
Obligations of the Depositary, the Custodian and the Company.
Neither the Company nor any of its directors, officers, employees or agents assumes any obligation nor shall any of them be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement to Owners or Beneficial Owners, except that the Company agrees to perform its obligations specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement without negligence or bad faith.
Neither the Depositary nor any of its directors, officers, employees or agents assumes any obligation nor shall any of them be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement to any Owner or Beneficial Owner (including, without limitation, liability with respect to the validity or worth of the Deposited Securities), except that the Depositary agrees to perform its obligations specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement without negligence or bad faith.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company (nor any of their respective directors, officers, employees or agents) shall be under any obligation to appear in or prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any Deposited Securities or in respect of the Receipts on behalf of any Owner, Beneficial Owner or other person. The parties understand that the Custodian is not a party to this Deposit Agreement and, accordingly, has no obligations whatsoever with respect to such proceedings, the responsibility of the Custodian being solely to the Depositary.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company (nor any of their respective directors, officers, employees or agents) 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 any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information. Each of the Depositary, the Company and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents may rely and shall be protected in acting upon any written notice, request, direction or other document believed by such person to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
The Depositary shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by a successor depositary whether in connection with a previous act or omission of the Depositary or in connection with any matter arising wholly after the removal or resignation of the Depositary, provided that in connection with the issue out of which such potential liability arises the Depositary performed its obligations without negligence or bad faith while it acted as Depositary.
The Depositary and its agents will not be responsible for (i) 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, in each case to the extent the Depositary or its agents act without gross negligence or willful misconduct or (ii) for the effect of any such vote.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the Deposit Agreement or any Receipt, the Depositary and its agents may fully respond to any and all demands or requests for information maintained by or on its behalf in connection with the Deposit Agreement, any Owner or Owners, any Receipt or Receipts or otherwise related hereto to the extent such information is requested or required by or pursuant to any lawful authority, including without limitation laws, rules, regulations, administrative or judicial process, banking, securities or other regulators. Neither the Company nor the Depositary nor any of their respective agents shall be liable to Owners or holders of interests in American Depositary Shares or any other third party or parties for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential damages.
No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act of 1933 is intended by any provision of this Deposit Agreement.
SECTION 5.4.
Resignation and Removal of the Depositary.
The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary hereunder by written notice of its election so to do delivered to the Company, such resignation to take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided.
The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by written notice to the Depositary, such removal to become effective upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided.
In case at any time the Depositary acting hereunder shall resign or be removed, the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to appoint a successor depositary, which shall be a bank or trust company having an office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York. Every successor depositary shall execute and deliver to its predecessor and to the Company an instrument in writing accepting its appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor depositary, without any further act or deed, shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor; but such predecessor, nevertheless, upon payment of all sums due it and on the written request of the Company shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor all rights and powers of such predecessor hereunder, shall duly assign, transfer and deliver all right, title and interest in the Deposited Securities to such successor, and shall deliver to such successor a list of the Owners of all outstanding Receipts. Any such successor depositary shall promptly mail notice of its appointment to the Owners.
Any corporation into or with which the Depositary may be merged or consolidated shall be the successor of the Depositary without the execution or filing of any document or any further act.
SECTION 5.5.
The Custodians.
The Custodian shall be subject at all times and in all respects to the directions of the Depositary and shall be responsible solely to it. If the Depositary receives notice of the resignation of a Custodian and, upon the effectiveness of such resignation, there would be no Custodian acting hereunder, the Depositary shall, promptly after receiving such notice and upon consultation with the Company if practicable, appoint a substitute custodian or custodians, each of which shall thereafter be a Custodian hereunder. Whenever the Depositary in its reasonable discretion determines that it is in the best interest of the Owners to do so, it may, after consultation with the Company if practicable, appoint, a substitute or additional custodian or custodians, each of which shall thereafter be one of the Custodians hereunder. The Depositary shall require each such substitute or additional custodian to deliver to the Depositary, forthwith upon its appointment, an acceptance of such appointment satisfactory in form and substance to the Depositary.
Upon the appointment of any successor depositary hereunder, each Custodian then acting hereunder shall forthwith become, without any further act or writing, the agent hereunder of such successor depositary and the appointment of such successor depositary shall in no way impair the authority of each Custodian hereunder; but the successor depositary so appointed shall, nevertheless, on the written request of any Custodian, execute and deliver to such Custodian all such instruments as may be proper to give to such Custodian full and complete power and authority as agent hereunder of such successor depositary.
SECTION 5.6.
Notices and Reports.
On or before the first date on which the Company gives notice, by publication or otherwise, of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, or of any adjourned meeting of such holders, or of the taking of any action in respect of any cash or other distributions or the offering of any rights, the Company agrees to transmit to the Depositary and the Custodian a copy of the notice thereof in English but otherwise in the form given or to be given to holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities.
The Company will arrange for the translation into English, if not already in English, to the extent required pursuant to any regulations of the Commission, and the prompt transmittal by the Company to the Depositary and the Custodian of such notices and any other reports and communications which are made generally available by the Company to holders of its Shares. If requested by the Company, the Depositary will arrange for the mailing, at the Company’s expense, of copies of such notices, reports and communications to all Owners. The Company will timely provide the Depositary with the quantity of such notices, reports, and communications, as reasonably requested by the Depositary from time to time, in order for the Depositary to effect such mailings.
SECTION 5.7.
Distribution of Additional Shares, Rights, etc.
If the Company or any affiliate of the Company determines to make any issuance or distribution of (1) additional Shares, (2) rights to subscribe for Shares, (3) securities convertible into Shares, or (4) rights to subscribe for such securities (each a “Distribution”), the Company shall notify the Depositary in writing in English as promptly as practicable and in any event before the Distribution starts and, if requested in writing by the Depositary, the Company shall promptly furnish to the Depositary a written opinion from U.S. counsel for the Company that is reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary, stating whether or not the Distribution requires, or, if made in the United States, would require, registration under the Securities Act of 1933. If, in the opinion of that counsel, the Distribution requires, or, if made in the United States, would require, registration under the Securities Act of 1933, that counsel shall furnish to the Depositary a written opinion as to whether or not there is a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 in effect that will cover that Distribution.
The Company agrees with the Depositary that neither the Company nor any company controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Company will at any time deposit any Shares, either originally issued or previously issued and reacquired by the Company or any such affiliate, unless a registration statement is in effect as to such Shares under the Securities Act of 1933.
The Company reserves full discretion as to whether in the future it may or may not register under said Act for purposes of offering and selling in the United States any Shares or any other securities, including any Shares or other securities which may be the subject of subscription or purchase rights pertaining to Deposited Securities at the time deposited under this Deposit Agreement.
SECTION 5.8.
Indemnification.
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 reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) which may arise out of or in connection with (a) any registration with the Commission of Receipts, American Depositary Shares or Deposited Securities or the offer or sale thereof in the United States or (b) acts performed or omitted, pursuant to the provisions of this 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, or (ii) by the Company or any of its directors, employees, agents and affiliates excepting, however, any liability arising out of the negligence or bad faith of the Depositary or the Custodian or any of their respective directors, employees, agents or affiliates or the Registrar or any co-transfer agent.
The Depositary agrees to indemnify the Company, its directors, employees, agents and affiliates and hold them harmless from any liability or expense which may arise out of acts performed or omitted by the Depositary or its Custodian or their respective directors, employees, agents and affiliates in connection with the issuance of Pre-Released Receipts and the transactions contemplated by any Pre-Release Agreement or due to their negligence or bad faith.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Deposit Agreement or the Receipts to the contrary, neither the Company nor the Depositary, nor any of their agents, shall be liable to the other for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential damages (collectively "Special Damages") except (i) to the extent such Special Damages arise from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the party from whom indemnification is sought or (ii) to the extent Special Damages arise from or out of a claim brought by a third party (including, without limitation, Owners) against the Depositary or its agents, except to the extent such Special Damages arise out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the party seeking indemnification hereunder.
The Company and the Depositary agree that the indemnification provided in the first paragraph of this Section 5.08 shall apply to the Depositary’s implementation of Profile and that, to the extent the relevant transfer is performed in connection with and in accordance with the arrangements and procedures related to Profile generally in effect, reliance by the Depositary upon information, or compliance with directions, it receives from a DTC participant claiming to act on behalf of an Owner of Direct Registration Receipts to register a transfer of American Depositary Shares to DTC or its nominee or to deliver 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 or make such delivery (unless such prior authorization is required by Profile), shall not be deemed negligence or bad faith by the Depositary within the meaning of this Section 5.08, unless the Depositary had actual knowledge, or had reason to know (despite the absence of any investigation by it), that such directions were not authorized or were otherwise invalid.
SECTION 5.9.
Charges of Depositary.
The Company agrees to pay the fees, reasonable expenses and out-of-pocket charges of the Depositary and those of any Registrar only in accordance with agreements in writing entered into between the Depositary and the Company from time to time. The Depositary shall present its statement for such charges and expenses to the Company once every three months. The charges and expenses of the Custodian are for the sole account of the Depositary.
The following charges shall be incurred by any party depositing or withdrawing Shares or by any party surrendering Receipts or to whom Receipts are issued (including, without limitation, issuance pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split declared by the Company or an exchange of stock regarding the Receipts or Deposited Securities or a distribution of Receipts pursuant to Section 4.03), 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 this Deposit Agreement, (4) such expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in the conversion of foreign currency pursuant to Section 4.05, (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 2.03, 4.03 or 4.04 and the surrender of Receipts pursuant to Section 2.05 or 6.02, and (6) a fee for the distribution of securities pursuant to Section 4.02, 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 6 treating all such securities as if they were Shares) but which securities are instead distributed by the Depositary to Owners
The Depositary, subject to Section 2.09, may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in Receipts.
SECTION 5.10.
Retention of Depositary Documents.
The Depositary is authorized to destroy those documents, records, bills and other data compiled during the term of this Deposit Agreement at the times permitted by the laws or regulations governing the Depositary unless the Company requests that such papers be retained for a longer period.
SECTION 5.11.
Exclusivity.
Subject to Section 5.04, the Company agrees not to appoint any other depositary for issuance of American or global depositary receipts for the Shares so long as JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. is acting as Depositary hereunder.
SECTION 5.12.
List of Restricted Securities Owners.
The Company shall provide to the Depositary a list setting forth, to the actual knowledge of the Company, those persons or entities who beneficially own Restricted Securities as of the date hereof and the Company shall update that list on a regular basis as changes occur. The Company agrees to advise in writing each of the persons or entities so listed that such Restricted Securities, so long as they remain such, are ineligible for deposit hereunder. The Depositary (i) may rely on the list provided under this Section 5.12, as most recently updated, but shall not be liable for any action or omission made in reliance thereon and (ii) shall keep such a list strictly confidential, except as required by applicable law, legal process, regulation, judicial or administrative proceeding.
ARTICLE 6.
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
SECTION 6.1.
Amendment.
The form of the Receipts and any provisions of this Deposit Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended by agreement between the Company and the Depositary without the consent of Owners or Beneficial Owners in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable. Any amendment which shall impose or increase any fees or charges (other than taxes and other governmental charges, registration fees, cable, telex or facsimile transmission costs, delivery costs or other such expenses), or which shall otherwise prejudice any substantial existing right of Owners, shall, however, not become effective as to outstanding Receipts until the expiration of 30 days after notice of such amendment shall have been given to the Owners of outstanding Receipts. Every Owner and Beneficial Owner, at the time any amendment so becomes effective, shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such Receipt or any interest therein, 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.
The Company and the Depositary shall each use their reasonable efforts to amend this Deposit Agreement as necessary to reflect changes in English or U.S. law and in the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association.
SECTION 6.2.
Termination.
The Depositary shall, at any time at the direction of the Company, terminate this Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the Owners of all Receipts then outstanding at least 30 days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination. The Depositary may likewise terminate this Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the Company and the Owners of all Receipts then outstanding, if at any time 60 days shall have expired after the Depositary shall have delivered to the Company a written notice of its election to resign and a successor depositary shall not have been appointed and accepted its appointment as provided in Section 5.04. On and after the date of termination, the Owner of a Receipt will, upon (a) surrender of such Receipt at the Principal Office of the Depositary, and (b) payment of the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of Receipts referred to in section 2.05, and (c) payment of any applicable taxes or governmental charges, be entitled to delivery, to him or upon his order, of the amount of Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt. If any Receipts shall remain outstanding after the date of termination, the Depositary thereafter shall discontinue the registration of transfers of Receipts, shall suspend the distribution of dividends to the Owners thereof, and shall not give any further notices or perform any further acts under this Deposit Agreement, except that the Depositary shall continue to collect dividends and other distributions pertaining to Deposited Securities, shall sell rights and other property as provided in this Deposit Agreement, and shall continue to deliver Deposited Securities, together with any dividends or other distributions received with respect thereto and the net proceeds of the sale of any rights or other property, in exchange for Receipts surrendered to the Depositary (after deducting, in each case, any expenses for the account of the Owner of such Receipt in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental charges) and for its obligations under Section 5.08 hereof. At any time after the expiration of six months from the date of termination, the Depositary may sell the Deposited Securities then held hereunder and may thereafter hold the net proceeds of any such sale, together with any other cash then held by it hereunder, 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. All such proceeds and cash shall be invested in direct obligations of the federal government of the United States. After making such sale, the Depositary shall be discharged from all obligations under this Deposit Agreement, except to account for such net proceeds and other cash (after deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of a Receipt, any expenses for the account of the Owner of such Receipt in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental charges) and for its obligations under Section 5.08 hereof. Upon the termination of this Deposit Agreement, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations under this Deposit Agreement except for its obligations to the Depositary under Sections 5.08 and 5.09.
ARTICLE 7.
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 7.1.
Counterparts.
This Deposit Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of such counterparts shall constitute one and the same instrument. Copies of this Deposit Agreement shall be filed with the Depositary and the Custodian and shall be open to inspection by any Owner or Beneficial Owner during business hours.
SECTION 7.2.
No Third Party Beneficiaries.
This Deposit Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and, except with respect to indemnification of the Custodian as set forth in Section 5.08, shall not be deemed to give any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim whatsoever to any other person.
SECTION 7.3.
Severability.
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Deposit Agreement or in the Receipts should be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein or therein shall in no way be affected, prejudiced or disturbed thereby.
SECTION 7.4.
Owners and Beneficial Owners as Parties; Binding Effect.
The Owners and Beneficial Owners of Receipts from time to time shall be parties to this Deposit Agreement and shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions hereof and of the Receipts by acceptance thereof or any interest therein.
SECTION 7.5.
Notices.
Any and all notices to be given to the Company shall be deemed to have been duly given if in English and personally delivered or sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile transmission confirmed by letter, addressed to Royal Dutch Shell plc, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Attn: Company Secretary, or any other place to which the Company may have transferred its registered office with notice to the Depositary.
Any and all notices to be given to the Depositary shall be deemed to have been duly given if in English and personally delivered or sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile transmission confirmed by letter, addressed to The Bank of New York, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: American Depositary Receipt Administration, or any other place to which the Depositary may have transferred its Principal Office with notice to the Company.
Any and all notices to be given to any Owner shall be deemed to have been duly given if in English and personally delivered or sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile transmission confirmed by letter, addressed to such Owner at the address of such Owner as it appears on the transfer books for Receipts of the Depositary, or, if such Owner shall have filed with the Depositary a written request that notices intended for such Owner be mailed to some other address, at the address designated in such request.
Delivery of a notice sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile transmission shall be deemed to be effective at the time when a duly addressed letter containing the same (or a confirmation thereof in the case of a cable, telex or facsimile transmission) is deposited, postage prepaid, in a post-office letter box. The Depositary or the Company may, however, act upon any cable, telex or facsimile transmission received by it, notwithstanding that such cable, telex or facsimile transmission shall not subsequently be confirmed by letter as aforesaid.
SECTION 7.6.
Compliance with U.S. Securities Laws.
Notwithstanding anything in this Deposit Agreement to the contrary, the Company and the Depositary each agrees that it will not exercise any rights it has under this Deposit Agreement to permit the withdrawal or delivery of Deposited Securities in a manner which would violate the U.S. securities laws, including, but not limited to, Section I.A.(1) of the General Instructions to the Form F-6 registration statement, as amended from time to time, under the Securities Act of 1933.
SECTION 7.7.
Arbitration of Disputes.
(a)
The Company and each Owner, but not the Depositary, shall be bound by the arbitration and exclusive jurisdiction provisions set out in articles 152, 153 and 154 of the Articles as if all references therein to “shareholder” were replaced with “Owner.” Articles 152, 153 and 154 of the Articles shall accordingly be incorporated, mutatis mutandis into this Deposit Agreement.
(b)
The Company will make a copy of the Articles available to Owners upon request.
(c)
All cross-references to the Articles in this Section 7.07 will be updated and amended without further action of any party in the event the Articles themselves are renumbered.
SECTION 7.8.
Governing Law.
This Deposit Agreement and the Receipts shall be interpreted and all rights hereunder and thereunder and provisions hereof and thereof shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, except that the provisions of Section 7.07 and Article 25 of Exhibit A and the provisions incorporated by reference into that Section and that Article of Exhibit A shall be governed by the laws of England and Wales.
It is hereby acknowledged and agreed that Owners and Beneficial Owners of ADRs, as such, are not shareholders of the Company and have no direct rights of a shareholder against the Company. The rights of holders of and of the Company with respect to the Shares are governed exclusively by the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association and the laws of England and Wales.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, ROYAL DUTCH SHELL plc and THE BANK OF NEW YORK have duly executed this Deposit Agreement as of the day and year first set forth above and all Owners and Beneficial Owners shall become parties hereto upon acceptance by them of Receipts issued in accordance with the terms hereof or any interest therein.
By:
Name:
Title:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as Depositary
By:
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT A
No.
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
(Each American Depositary Share represents two deposited Shares)
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
FOR CLASS B ORDINARY SHARES
NOMINAL VALUE 0.25 GBP EACH OF
(INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF ENGLAND AND WALES)
The Bank of New York, as depositary (herein called the Depositary), hereby certifies that___________ ____________________________________________, or registered assigns IS THE OWNER OF _____________________________
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
representing deposited Class B ordinary shares (herein called Shares) of Royal Dutch Shell plc, incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (herein called the Company). At the date hereof, each American Depositary Share represents two Shares deposited or subject to deposit under the Deposit Agreement (as such term is hereinafter defined) at the principal London officer of The Bank of New York.
THE DEPOSITARY’S PRINCIPAL OFFICE ADDRESS IS
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
A-#
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 deposit agreement, dated as of ____________, 2005, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with its terms (the “Deposit Agreement”), by and among the Company, the Depositary, and all Owners and Beneficial Owners from time to time of American Depositary Shares issued thereunder, each of whom by accepting a Receipt or any interest therein agrees to become a party thereto and become bound by all the terms and conditions thereof. The Deposit Agreement sets forth the rights of Owners and Beneficial Owners of the Receipts and the rights and duties of the Depositary in respect of the Shares deposited thereunder and any and all other securities, property and cash from time to time received in respect of such Shares and held thereunder (such Shares, securities, property, and cash are herein called Deposited Securities). Copies of the Deposit Agreement are on file at the Depositary’s Principal Office in New York City and at the office of the Custodian.
The statements made on the face and reverse of this Receipt are summaries of certain provisions of the Deposit Agreement and are qualified by and subject to the detailed provisions of the Deposit Agreement, to which reference is hereby made. Capitalized terms defined in the Deposit Agreement and not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Deposit Agreement.
2.
SURRENDER OF RECEIPTS AND WITHDRAWAL OF SHARES.
Upon surrender at the Principal Office of the Depositary of a Receipt endorsed in blank or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer in blank (in the case of a certificated Receipt), or surrendered pursuant to a proper instruction (in the case of a Direct Registration 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 English law, 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 that Receipt is issued. Delivery of such Deposited Securities may be made made (a) in the case of certificated Shares, by delivery of certificates in the name of such Owner or as ordered by him or certificates properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer to such Owner or as ordered by him and (b) in the case of any securities cash or other property to which such Owner is then entitled in respect of such Receipt, by delivery of those securities or that cash or other property to such Owner or as ordered by him. Such delivery will be made at the option of the Owner hereof, either at the office of the Custodian or at the Principal Office of the Depositary, provided that the forwarding of certificates for Shares or other Deposited Securities for such delivery at the Principal Office of the Depositary shall be at the risk and expense of the Owner hereof.
3.
TRANSFERS, SPLIT-UPS, AND COMBINATIONS OF RECEIPTS.
The transfer of this Receipt is registrable on the books of the Depositary at its Principal 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 or, in the case of Direct Registration Receipts, upon receipt of a proper instruction, and funds sufficient to pay any applicable transfer taxes and the expenses of the Depositary and upon compliance with such regulations, if any, as the Depositary may establish for such purpose. This Receipt may be split into other such Receipts, or may be combined with other such Receipts into one Receipt, evidencing the same aggregate number of American Depositary Shares as the Receipt or Receipts surrendered. As a condition precedent to the execution and delivery, registration of transfer, split-up, combination, or surrender of any Receipt or withdrawal of any Deposited Securities, the Depositary, the Custodian, or Registrar may require payment from the depositor of the Shares or the presenter of the Receipt of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or other governmental charge and any stock transfer or registration fee with respect thereto (including any such tax or charge and fee with respect to Shares being deposited or withdrawn) and payment of any applicable fees as provided in this Receipt, may require the production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature and may also require compliance with any regulations the Depositary may establish consistent with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, including, without limitation, this Article 3.
The delivery of Receipts against deposit of Shares generally or against deposit of particular Shares may be suspended, or the transfer of Receipts in particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer of outstanding Receipts generally may be suspended, during any period when the transfer books of the Depositary are closed, or if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary or the Company at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body or commission, or under any provision of the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, or for any other reason, subject to the provisions of Section 7.07 of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under the Deposit Agreement any Shares which would be required to be registered under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 for the public offer and sale thereof in the United States unless a registration statement is in effect as to such Shares for such offer and sale. The Depositary will use reasonable efforts to comply with written instructions of the Company that the Depositary shall not accept for the deposit hereunder any Shares identified in such circumstances as may reasonably be specified in such restrictions to facilitate the Company’s compliance with the U.S. securities laws. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Deposit Agreement, Owners shall be entitled to surrender Receipts and withdraw Deposited Securities as provided in Section 2.05 of the Deposit Agreement at any time, subject only to (i) temporary delays caused by closing the transfer books of the Depositary or the Company or the deposit of Shares in connection with voting at a shareholders’ meeting, or the payment of dividends, (ii) the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges, (iii) compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating to the Receipts or to the withdrawal of the Deposited Securities and (iv) any other reason that may at any time be specified in paragraph I.(A)(1) of the General Instructions to Form F-6 under the Securities Act of 1933, from time to time in effect, or any successor provision thereto.
4.
LIABILITY OF OWNER OR BENEFICIAL 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 or Beneficial 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 or Beneficial Owner hereof any part or all of the Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by this Receipt, and may apply such dividends or other distributions or the proceeds of any such sale in payment of such tax or other governmental charge and the Owner or Beneficial Owner hereof shall remain liable for any deficiency. Neither the Company nor the Depositary shall be liable for failure of an Owner to comply with applicable tax laws or governmental charges.
5.
WARRANTIES ON DEPOSIT OF SHARES.
Every person depositing Shares under the Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to represent and warrant that such Shares and each certificate therefor are validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable, and were not issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights of the holders of outstanding Shares and that the person making such deposit is duly authorized so to do. Every such person shall also be deemed to represent that such Shares are not, and American Depositary Shares representing such Shares would not be, Restricted Securities. Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit of Shares and delivery of Receipts.
6.
FILING PROOFS, CERTIFICATES, AND OTHER INFORMATION.
Any person presenting Shares for deposit or any Owner or Beneficial Owner of a Receipt may be required from time to time to file with the Depositary or the Custodian such proof of citizenship or residence, exchange control approval, or such information relating to the registration on the books of the Company or the 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. The Depositary shall notify the Company, upon its request, of the availability of any such proofs, certificates or other information and shall provide copies thereof to the Company as promptly as practicable upon request by the Company, unless such disclosure is prohibited by law. No Share shall be accepted for deposit unless accompanied by evidence satisfactory to the Depositary that any necessary approval, where relevant, has been granted by any governmental body in England and Wales that 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 4.03 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 under the terms of the Deposit Agreement, (3) such cable, telex and facsimile transmission expenses as are expressly provided in the Deposit Agreement, (4) such expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in the conversion of foreign currency pursuant to Section 4.05 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 2.03, 4.03 or 4.04 of the Deposit Agreement and the surrender of Receipts pursuant to Section 2.05 or 6.02 of the Deposit Agreement and (6) a fee for the distribution of securities pursuant to Section 4.02 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.
The Depositary, subject to Article 8 hereof, may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in Receipts.
8.
PRE-RELEASE OF RECEIPTS.
The Depositary will lend neither the Shares held under the Deposit Agreement nor the Receipts, provided, however, that the Depositary reserves the right to execute and deliver Receipts prior to the receipt of Shares pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Deposit Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth below and in the Deposit Agreement (a “Pre-Release”). The Depositary may receive Receipts in lieu of Shares as settlement of the Pre-Release of a Receipt. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Pre-Release of Receipts may occur only if (i) Pre-released Receipts are fully collateralized (marked to market daily) with cash or U.S. government securities in an amount equal to not less than 100% of the market value of the Pre-Released Receipts held by the Depositary for the benefit of Owners (but such collateral shall not constitute Deposited Securities), (ii) each recipient of Pre-released Receipts agrees in writing with the Depositary that such recipient (a) owns such Shares, (b) assigns all beneficial right, title and interest therein to the Depositary, (c) holds such Shares for the account of the Depositary and (d) will deliver such Shares to the Custodian as soon as practicable and promptly upon demand therefor and (iii) all Pre-released Receipts evidence not more than 20% of all American Depositary Shares (excluding those evidenced by Pre-released Receipts) and all Pre-Released Receipts evidence American Depositary Shares representing not more than 1% of all Shares outstanding or such other percentage of American Depositary Shares or Shares, as the case may be, as the Company and the Depositary may from time to time agree in writing, except to the extent, if any, that either of such limitations is exceeded solely because of the withdrawal of Deposited Securities subsequent to the execution and delivery of Pre-Released Receipts in compliance with such limitation. The Depositary will also set limits with respect to the number of American Depositary Shares and Shares involved in transactions to be done under the Deposit Agreement with anyone person on a case by case basis as it deems appropriate. The Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received by it in connection with the foregoing.
9.
TITLE TO RECEIPTS.
It is a condition of this Receipt and every successive Owner and Beneficial Owner of this Receipt by accepting or holding the same consents and agrees, that the American Depositary Shares evidenced by this Receipt when properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, shall be transferable as certificated securities in registered form under the laws of the State of New York. American Depositary Shares not evidenced by a Receipt (also referred to as Direct Registration Receipts) shall be transferable as uncertificated securities in registered form under the laws of the State of New York. The Depositary, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the person in whose name American Depositary Shares are 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 signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary; provided, however, that such signature may be a facsimile if a Registrar for the Receipts shall have been appointed and such Receipts are countersigned by the manual signature of a duly authorized officer of the Registrar.
11.
REPORTS; INSPECTION OF TRANSFER BOOKS.
The Company is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and accordingly files certain reports with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (hereinafter called the "Commission"). Such reports and other information may be inspected and copied at public reference facilities maintained by the Commission located at the date hereof at Judiciary Plaza, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇., ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇. The Company currently furnishes the Securities and Exchange Commission (hereinafter called the "Commission") with certain public reports and documents required by foreign law or otherwise under Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such reports and communications will be available for inspection and copying by Owners and Beneficial Owners at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission located at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇., ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇.
The Depositary will make available for inspection by Owners of Receipts at its Principal 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. Any such reports and communications, including any such proxy soliciting material, furnished to the Depositary by the Company shall be furnished in English to the extent such materials are required to be translated into English pursuant to any regulations of the Commission.
The Depositary will keep books, at its Principal Office, for the registration of Receipts and transfers of Receipts which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Owners of Receipts provided that such inspection shall not be for the purpose of communicating with Owners of Receipts in the interest of a business or object other than the business of the Company or a matter related to the Deposit Agreement or the Receipts.
12.
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS.
Notwithstanding any rights under the Company’s articles of association, dividends paid on the Deposited Securities that are not paid to the Depositary or its nominee in Dollars will be paid by the Company in GBP. Whenever the Depositary receives any cash dividend or other cash distribution on any Deposited Securities distribution in respect of any Deposited Securities (including, without limitation, any dividend paid to holders of Shares in a foreign currency, 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. Promptly after the settlement of such conversion or, in the in the case of any cash dividend or other cash distribution received by the Depositary in Dollars, the Depositary shall as promptly as practicable, distribute the amount thus received (net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement) to the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto; provided, however, that in the event that the Company or the Depositary is required to withhold and does withhold from any cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of any Deposited Securities an amount on account of taxes, the amount distributed to the Owners of the Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities shall be reduced accordingly. Subject to the rules and regulations of any stock exchange upon which the American Depositary Shares may be traded, the Depositary shall endeavor to convert the funds as promptly as practicable and to distribute Dollars to Owners pursuant to Section 4.01 of the Deposit Agreement within five New York Stock Exchange trading days of the day on which the cash dividend or cash distribution on the Deposited Securities is received by the Depositary.
Subject to the provisions of Section 4.11 and 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement, whenever the Depositary receives any distribution other than a distribution described in Section 4.01, 4.03 or 4.04 of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary will cause the securities or property received by it to be distributed to the Owners entitled thereto, in any manner that the Depositary may deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing such distribution; provided, however, that if in the reasonable 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 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 and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement) will be distributed by the Depositary to the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto all in the manner and subject to the conditions described in Section 4.01 of the Deposit Agreement; provided, however, that no distribution to Owners pursuant to Section 4.02 of the Deposit Agreement shall be unreasonably delayed by any action or inaction of the Depositary or any of its agents. The Depositary may withhold any distribution of securities under this Section 4.02 if it has not received satisfactory assurances from the Company that the distribution does not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933.
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 to the Owners of outstanding Receipts entitled thereto, additional Receipts evidencing an aggregate number of American Depositary Shares representing the amount of Shares received as such dividend or free distribution subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement with respect to the deposit of Shares and the issuance of American Depositary Shares evidenced by Receipts, including the withholding of any tax or other governmental charge as provided in Section 4.11 of the Deposit Agreement and the payment of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement; provided, however, that no distribution to Owners pursuant to this Section 4.03 shall be unreasonably delayed by any action or inaction of the Depositary or any of its agents. The Depositary may withhold any such distribution of Receipts if it has not received reasonably satisfactory assurances from the Company that such distribution does not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933 or is exempt from registration under the provisions of such Act. In lieu of delivering Receipts for fractional American Depositary Shares in any such case, the Depositary shall sell the amount of Shares represented by the aggregate of such fractions and distribute the net proceeds, all in the manner and subject to the conditions described in Section 4.01 of 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 reasonably 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.
13.
RIGHTS.
In the event that the Company shall offer or cause to be offered to the holders of any Deposited Securities any rights to subscribe for additional Shares or any rights of any other nature, the Depositary, after consultation with the Company, shall have discretion as to the procedure to be followed in making such rights available to any Owners or in disposing of such rights on behalf of any Owners and making the net proceeds available to such Owners or, if by the terms of such rights offering or for any other reason, the Depositary may not either make such rights available to any Owners or dispose of such rights and make the net proceeds available to such Owners, then the Depositary shall allow the rights to lapse. If at the time of the offering of any rights the Depositary, after consultation with the Company, determines in its reasonable discretion that it is lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all or certain Owners but not to other Owners, the Depositary may, and at the request of the Company shall, distribute to any Owner to whom it determines the distribution to be lawful and feasible, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by such Owner, warrants or other instruments therefor in such form as it deems appropriate.
In circumstances in which rights would otherwise not be distributed, if an Owner of Receipts requests the distribution of warrants or other instruments in order to exercise the rights allocable to the American Depositary Shares of such Owner hereunder, the Depositary will make such rights available to such Owner upon written notice from the Company to the Depositary that (a) the Company has elected in its sole discretion to permit such rights to be exercised and (b) such Owner has executed such documents as the Company has determined in its sole discretion are reasonably required under applicable law.
If the Depositary has distributed warrants or other instruments for rights to all or certain Owners, then upon instruction from such an Owner pursuant to such warrants or other instruments to the Depositary from such Owner to exercise such rights, upon payment by such Owner to the Depositary for the account of such Owner of an amount equal to the purchase price of the Shares to be received upon the exercise of the rights, and upon payment of the fees and expenses of the Depositary and any other charges as set forth in such warrants or other instruments, the Depositary shall, on behalf of such Owner, exercise the rights and purchase the Shares, and the Company shall cause the Shares so purchased to be delivered to the Depositary on behalf of such Owner. As agent for such Owner, the Depositary will cause the Shares so purchased to be deposited pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Deposit Agreement, and shall, pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver Receipts to such Owner; provided, however, that in the case of a distribution pursuant to the second paragraph of this Article 13, such Receipts shall be legended in accordance with applicable U.S. laws, and shall be subject to the appropriate restrictions on sale, deposit, cancellation, and transfer under applicable United States laws.
If the Depositary determines that it is not lawful and 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 and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement and all taxes and governmental charges payable in connection with such rights and subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement) for the account of such Owners otherwise entitled to such rights, warrants or other instruments, upon an averaged or other practical basis without regard to any distinctions among such Owners because of exchange restrictions or the date of delivery of any Receipt or otherwise.
The Depositary will not offer rights to Owners unless both the rights and the securities to which such rights relate are either exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to a distribution to all Owners or are registered under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, provided, that nothing in the Deposit Agreement shall create any obligation on the part of the Company to file a registration statement with respect to such rights or underlying securities or to endeavor to have such a registration statement declared effective. If an Owner of Receipts requests the distribution of warrants or other instruments, notwithstanding that there has been no such registration under such Act, the Depositary shall not effect such distribution unless it has received an opinion from recognized counsel in the United States for the Company upon which the Depositary may rely that such distribution to such Owner is exempt from such registration. The Company will have no obligation under the Deposit Agreement to register such rights under the Securities Act of 1933.
The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to determine that it may be lawful or feasible to make such rights available to Owners in general or any Owner in particular.
14.
CONVERSION OF FOREIGN CURRENCY.
Whenever the Depositary or the Custodian shall receive foreign currency, by way of dividends or other distributions or the net proceeds from the sale of securities, property or rights the Depositary shall, as promptly as practicable, convert or cause to be converted, by sale or in any other manner that it may reasonably determine, such foreign currency into Dollars, and such Dollars shall be 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 or instruments upon surrender thereof for cancellation. Such distribution may be made upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among Owners on account of exchange restrictions, the date of delivery of any Receipt or otherwise and shall be net of any expenses of conversion into Dollars incurred by the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement.
If such conversion or distribution can be effected only with the approval or license of any government or agency thereof, the Depositary shall file such application for approval or license, if any, as it may deem desirable.
If at any time the Depositary shall determine that in its reasonable judgment any foreign currency received by the Depositary or the Custodian is not convertible on a reasonable basis into Dollars transferable to the United States, or if any approval or license of any government or agency thereof which is required for such conversion is denied or in the reasonable 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 reasonable discretion may hold such foreign currency uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the 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 accounts of, the Owners entitled thereto.
15.
RECORD DATES.
Whenever any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable or any distribution other than cash shall be made, or whenever rights shall be issued with respect to the Deposited Securities, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, or whenever for any reason the Depositary causes a change in the number of Shares that are represented by each American Depositary Share, or whenever the Depositary shall find it necessary, the Depositary shall fix a record date (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, (ii) entitled to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting or (iii) responsible for any fees or charges assessed by the Depositary pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, 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. The record date shall be fixed in accordance with any applicable rules of the New York Stock Exchange. The Depositary shall advise the Company and the New York Stock Exchange of any record date so fixed by the Depositary.
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 of record as of the record date set by the Depositary under Section 4.06 of the Deposit Agreement (the “Voting Record Date”) a notice, the form of which notice shall be approved of by the Company which shall contain (a) such information as is contained in such notice of meeting, (b) a voting instruction card in the form prepared by the Depositary after consultation with the Company, (c) a statement that the Owners of record as of the close of business on the Voting Record Date will be entitled, subject to any applicable provision of English law and of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company and the provisions of or governing the Deposited Securities, to either (i) use such voting instruction card to request the Depositary, its Custodian or nominee (as appropriate) to appoint the Owner its proxy to attend at that meeting and vote with respect to the number of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Owner’s Receipts or (ii) instruct the person nominated by the Depositary, its Custodian or nominee as its proxy as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to that number of Shares or other Deposited Securities, and (d) a brief statement as to the manner in which voting instructions may be given to the person nominated by the Depositary.
Upon the written request of an Owner of a Receipt as of the Voting Record Date received on or before the date established by the Depositary for that purpose (the “Instruction Date”), the Depositary shall endeavor to cause the appointment (or, if the Deposited Securities are registered in the name of or held by its Custodian or a nominee, the Depositary shall endeavor to procure that the Custodian or its nominee shall cause the appointment), subject to the articles of association of the Company, of that Owner as a proxy in respect of that meeting (including any adjournment of that meeting) to attend and vote the number of Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by that Receipt.
Upon the written request of an Owner of a Receipt as of the Voting Record Date, received on or before the Instruction Date, the Depositary shall endeavor, in so far as practicable, to vote or cause to be voted the number 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. Neither the Depositary, nor the Custodian nor the nominee of either of them shall vote or attempt to exercise the right to vote that attaches to the Shares or other Deposited Securities other than in accordance with such written instructions from Owners given in accordance with Section 4.07 of the Deposit Agreement.
There can be no assurance that Owners generally or any Owner in particular will receive the notice described in the first paragraph of Section 4.07 of the Deposit Agreement sufficiently prior to the Instruction Date to ensure that the Depositary will appoint the Owner its proxy or vote the Shares or Deposited Securities as requested in accordance with the provisions set forth in the preceding paragraphs.
17.
CHANGES AFFECTING DEPOSITED SECURITIES.
In circumstances where the provisions of Section 4.03 of the Deposit Agreement do not apply, upon any change in nominal value, change in par value, split-up, consolidation, or any other reclassification of Deposited Securities, or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or sale of assets affecting the Company or to which it is a party, any securities which shall be received by the Depositary or a Custodian in exchange for or in conversion of or in respect of Deposited Securities shall be treated as new Deposited Securities under the Deposit Agreement, and American Depositary Shares shall thenceforth represent, in addition to the existing Deposited Securities, the right to receive the 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 reasonably 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 nor any of their directors, employees, agents or affiliates shall incur any liability to any Owner or Beneficial Owner if, by reason of any provision of any present or future law or regulation of the United States or any other country, or of any other governmental or regulatory authority, or by reason of any provision, present or future, of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, or by reason of any provision of any securities issued or distributed by the Company, or any offering or distribution thereof, or by reason of any act of God or war or terrorism or other circumstances beyond its control, the Depositary or the Company shall be prevented, delayed or forbidden from or be subject to any civil or criminal penalty on account of doing or performing any act or thing which by the terms of the Deposit Agreement or Deposited Securities it is provided shall be done or performed; nor shall the Depositary or the Company or any of their directors, employees, agents or affiliates incur any liability to any Owner or Beneficial Owner of a Receipt by reason of any non-performance or delay, caused as aforesaid, in the performance of any act or thing which by the terms of the Deposit Agreement it is provided shall or may be done or performed, or by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in the Deposit Agreement. Where, by the terms of a distribution pursuant to Section 4.01, 4.02 or 4.03 of the Deposit Agreement, or an offering or distribution pursuant to Section 4.04 of the Deposit Agreement, 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 Beneficial Owners of Receipts, except that they agree to perform their obligations specifically set forth in the Deposit Agreement without negligence or bad faith. The Depositary shall not be subject to any liability with respect to the validity or worth of the Deposited Securities. Neither the Depositary nor the Company (nor any of their respective directors, officers, employees or agents) shall be under any obligation to appear in or prosecute or defend any action, suit, or other proceeding in respect of any Deposited Securities or in respect of the Receipts on behalf of any Owner, Beneficial Owner or other person. The parties to the Deposit Agreement understand that the Custodian is not a party to the Deposit Agreement and, accordingly, the Custodian has no obligations whatsoever with respect to such proceedings, the responsibility of the Custodian being solely to the Depositary. Neither the Depositary nor the Company (nor any of their respective directors, officers, employees or agents) 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 Beneficial Owner of a Receipt, or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information. Each of the Depositary, the Company and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents may rely and shall be protected in acting upon any written notice, request, direction or other document believed by such person to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties. The Depositary and its agents will not be responsible for (i) 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, in each case to the extent the Depositary or its agents act without gross negligence or willful misconduct or (ii) for the effect of any such vote. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the Deposit Agreement or any Receipt, the Depositary and its agents may fully respond to any and all demands or requests for information maintained by or on its behalf in connection with the Deposit Agreement, any Owner or Owners, any Receipt or Receipts or otherwise related hereto to the extent such information is requested or required by or pursuant to any lawful authority, including without limitation laws, rules, regulations, administrative or judicial process, banking, securities or other regulators. 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. Neither the Company nor the Depositary nor any of their respective agents shall be liable to Owners or holders of interests in American Depositary Shares or any other third party or parties for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential damages. No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act of 1933 is intended by any provision of the Deposit Agreement.
19.
RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF THE DEPOSITARY; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN.
The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary by written notice of its election so to do delivered to the Company, such resignation to take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by written notice to the Depositary, such removal, to become effective upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. Whenever the Depositary in its reasonable 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, after consultation with the Company.
20.
AMENDMENT.
The form of the Receipts and any provisions of the Deposit Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended by agreement between the Company and the Depositary without the consent of Owners or Beneficial Owners in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable. Any amendment which shall impose or increase any fees or charges (other than taxes and other governmental charges, registration fees and cable, telex or facsimile transmission costs, delivery costs or other such expenses), or which shall otherwise prejudice any substantial existing right of Owners of Receipts, shall, however, not become effective as to outstanding Receipts until the expiration of thirty days after notice of such amendment shall have been given to the Owners of outstanding Receipts. Every Owner and Beneficial Owner of a Receipt at the time any amendment so becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such Receipt or any interest therein, 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.
The Company and the Depositary shall each use their reasonable efforts to amend the Deposit Agreement as necessary to reflect changes in English or U.S. law and in the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association.
21.
TERMINATION OF DEPOSIT AGREEMENT.
The Depositary at any time at the direction of the Company, shall terminate the Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the Owners of all Receipts then outstanding at least 30 days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination. The Depositary may likewise terminate the Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the Company and the Owners of all Receipts then outstanding if at any time 60 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 Principal Office of the Depositary and (b) payment of the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of Receipts referred to in section 2.05, and (c) payment of any applicable taxes or governmental charges, be entitled to delivery, to him or upon his order, of the amount of Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt. If any Receipts shall remain outstanding after the date of termination, the Depositary thereafter shall discontinue the registration of transfers of Receipts, shall suspend the distribution of dividends to the Owners thereof, and shall not give any further notices or perform any further acts under the Deposit Agreement, except that the Depositary shall continue to collect dividends and other distributions pertaining to Deposited Securities, shall sell rights and other property as provided in the Deposit Agreement, and shall continue to deliver Deposited Securities, together with any dividends or other distributions received with respect thereto and the net proceeds of the sale of any rights or other property, in exchange for Receipts surrendered to the Depositary (after deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of Receipts, 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 for its obligation under Section 5.08 of the Deposit Agreement. At any time after the expiration of six months from the date of termination, the Depositary may sell the Deposited Securities then held under the Deposit Agreement and may thereafter hold uninvested the net proceeds of any such sale, together with any other cash then held by it thereunder, unsegregated and without liability for interest, for the pro rata benefit of the 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 for its obligation under Section 5.08 of the Deposit Agreement. Upon the termination of the Deposit Agreement, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement except for its obligations to the Depositary with respect to indemnification, charges, and expenses.
22
COMPLIANCE WITH U.S. SECURITIES LAWS.
Notwithstanding anything in the Deposit Agreement to the contrary, the Company and the Depositary each agrees that it will not exercise any rights it has under the Deposit Agreement to permit the withdrawal or delivery of Deposited Securities in a manner which would violate the U.S. securities laws, including, but not limited to, Section I.A.(1) of the General Instructions to the Form F-6 registration statement, as amended from time to time, under the Securities Act of 1933.
23.
DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS.
To the extent that provisions of or governing any Deposited Securities (including the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association or applicable English law) may require the disclosure of beneficial or other ownership of Deposited Securities, other Shares and other securities to the Company and may provide for blocking transfer and voting or other rights to enforce such disclosure or limit such ownership, the Depositary shall, to the extent reasonably practicable, comply with the Company’s instructions as to Receipts in respect of any such enforcement or limitation, and Owners and Beneficial Owners of Receipts shall comply with all such disclosure requirements and ownership limitations and shall cooperate with the Depositary’s compliance with such Company instructions. The Company may from time to time request Owners to provide information (a) as to the capacity in which such Owners own or owned American Depositary Shares, (b) regarding the identity of any other persons then or previously interested in such American Depositary Shares and (c) regarding the nature of such interest and various other matters pursuant to applicable law or the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company or other such corporate document of the Company, all as if such American Depositary Shares were to the extent practicable the underlying Shares. Each Owner agrees to provide any information requested by the Company or the Depositary pursuant to this Section whether or not such person is still an Owner at the time of the request. The Depositary agrees to use reasonable efforts to comply with written instructions received from the Company requesting that the Depositary forward any such requests to Owners and to forward to the Company any responses to such requests received by the Depositary.
24.
PROFILE MODIFICATION SYSTEM.
(a)
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.04 of the Deposit Agreement, the parties acknowledge the Profile Modification System (“Profile”) shall apply to Direct Registration Receipts upon acceptance thereof by DTC. Profile is a required feature of the Direct Registration System that allows a DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf of the Owner of Direct Registration Receipts, to direct the Depositary to register a transfer of the 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.
(b)
In connection with and in accordance with the arrangements and procedures relating to Profile, the parties to the Deposit Agreement understand that the Depositary will not verify, determine or otherwise ascertain that the DTC participant that is claiming to be acting on behalf of an Owner in requesting a registration of transfer and delivery described in subsection (a) of Section 2.11 of the Deposit Agreement has the actual authority to act on behalf of the Owner. Each Owner agrees that neither the Company nor the Depositary shall have any liability for the Depositary’s reliance upon information, or compliance with directions, it receives from a DTC participant as set forth in that subsection (a).
25.
ARBITRATION OF DISPUTES.
(a)
The Company and each Owner, but not the Depositary, shall be bound by the arbitration and exclusive jurisdiction provisions set out in articles 152, 153 and 154 of the Articles as if all references therein to “shareholder” were replaced with “Owner.” Articles 152, 153 and 154 of the Articles shall accordingly be incorporated, mutatis mutandis into the Deposit Agreement.
(b)
The Company will make a copy of the Articles available to Owners upon request.
(c)
All cross-references to the Articles in Section 7.07 of the Deposit Agreement will be updated and amended without further action of any party in the event the Articles themselves are renumbered.
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