AND OWNERS AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES Deposit Agreement Dated as of March 21, 1996 Amended and Restated as of November 21, 2007 DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
[EXECUTION COPY]
COMPANHIA PARANAENSE DE ENERGIA--COPEL
AND
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
As Depositary
AND
OWNERS AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
Dated as of March 21, 1996
Amended and Restated as of November 21, 2007
DEPOSIT AGREEMENT dated as of March 21, 1996, as amended and restated as of November 21, 2007 among COMPANHIA PARANAENSE DE ENERGIA--COPEL, a sociedade de economia mista (a mixed-capital corporation with limited liability) organized under the laws of the Federative Republic of Brazil (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 Receipts issued hereunder.
W I T N E SSE T H :
WHEREAS, the Company and the Depositary entered into a Deposit Agreement, dated March 21, 1996 relating to the Company’s common shares (the “COPEL Deposit Agreement”);
WHEREAS, the Company and the Depositary now wish to amend the COPEL Deposit Agreement to, among other things, provide for the creation of uncertificated American Depositary Shares;
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 the Deposit Agreement, for the creation of American Depositary Shares representing the Shares so deposited, in specified circumstances, 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 Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the parties hereto hereby agree that, pursuant to Section 6.01 of this Deposit Agreement, this Deposit Agreement shall be amended and restated 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 1.01
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 or otherwise with respect to which additional Receipts are not executed and delivered, and thereafter American Depositary Shares shall evidence the amount of Shares or Deposited Securities specified in such Sections.
Section 1.02
Beneficial Owner.
The term “Beneficial Owner” shall be any person who has a beneficial interest in any American Depositary Share.
Section 1.03
Business Day.
The term “Business Day” shall mean any day on which banks in each of São Paulo, Brazil, Curitiba, Brazil and New York, New York are not required or authorized by law to close.
Section 1.04
Central Bank.
The term “Central Bank” shall mean Banco Central do Brasil and its successors.
Section 1.05
Charter.
The term “Charter" shall mean the Estatuto Social of the Company.
Section 1.06
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 1.07
Company.
The term “Company” shall mean Companhia Paranaense de Energia--COPEL, a sociedade de economia mista (a mixed-capital corporation with limited liability), organized under the laws of the Federative Republic of Brazil, and its successors.
Section 1.08
Custodian.
The term “Custodian” shall mean the principal São Paulo, Brazil office of [Banco Itaú S/A], as agent of the Depositary for the purposes of this Deposit Agreement, and any other firm or corporation which may hereafter be appointed by the Depositary pursuant to the terms of Section 5.05, as substitute or additional custodian or custodians hereunder, as the context shall require and shall also mean all of them collectively.
Section 1.09
CVM.
The term “CVM” shall mean the Comissão de Valores Mobiliários of Brazil.
Section 1.10
Deposit Agreement.
The term "Deposit Agreement" shall mean this amended and restated Deposit Agreement, including Exhibit A hereto, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof.
Section 1.11
Depositary; Corporate Trust Office.
The term “Depositary” shall mean The Bank of New York, a New York banking corporation, and any successor as depositary hereunder. The term “Corporate Trust Office”, when used with respect to the Depositary, shall mean the office of the Depositary which at the date of this Deposit Agreement is ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.
Section 1.12
Deposited Securities.
The term “Deposited Securities” as of any time shall mean Shares at such time deposited or deemed to be deposited (including as contemplated under Section 2.09) under this Deposit Agreement and any and all other securities, property and cash received or deemed to be received by the Depositary or the Custodian in respect or in lieu of such deposited Shares and at such time held hereunder, subject as to cash to the provisions of Section 4.05.
Section 1.13
Dollars; Reais.
The term “Dollars” shall mean United States dollars. The term “Reais” shall mean the lawful currency of Brazil.
Section 1.14
Foreign Currency.
The term “Foreign Currency” shall mean currency other than Dollars.
Section 1.15
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 1.16
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 1.17
Pre-Release.
The term “Pre-Release” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.09.
Section 1.18
Receipts.
The term “Receipts” shall mean the American Depositary Receipts issued hereunder evidencing American Depositary Shares, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof.
Section 1.19
Registrar.
The term “Registrar” shall mean any bank or trust company having an office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, which shall be appointed to register Receipts and transfers of Receipts as herein provided.
Section 1.20
Restricted Securities.
The term “Restricted Securities” shall mean Shares, or American Depositary Shares which are acquired directly or indirectly from the Company or its affiliates (as defined in Rule 144), or which are held by an officer, director (or persons performing similar functions) or other affiliate of the Company, or which would require registration under the Securities Act in connection with the offer and sale thereof in the United states, or which are subject to other restrictions on sale or deposit under the laws of the United States or Brazil.
Section 1.21
Rule 144.
The term “Rule 144” shall mean Rule 144, as from time to time amended, under the Securities Act of 1933.
Section 1.22
Securities Act.
The term “Securities Act” shall mean the United States Securities Act of 1933, as from time to time amended.
Section 1.23
Securities Exchange Act.
The “Securities Exchange Act” shall mean the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as from time to time amended.
Section 1.24
Shares.
The term “Shares” shall mean shares of the Company’s ações ordinárias (common shares) heretofore validly issued and outstanding and fully paid; nonassessable and free of any pre-emptive rights of the holders of outstanding Shares or hereafter validly issued, subscribed and outstanding and fully paid, nonassessable and free of any pre-emptive rights of the holders of outstanding Shares or interim certificates representing such Shares.
ARTICLE 2
FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF SHARES, EXECUTION AND DELIVERY, TRANSFER AND SURRENDER OF RECEIPTS
Section 2.01
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 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. Receipts may be issued in denominations of any whole number of American Depositary Shares. The Depositary shall maintain books on which each Receipt so executed and delivered as hereinafter provided and the transfer of each such Receipt shall be registered. Receipts bearing the 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 or with any provisions of the Charter or Brazilian law as may be reasonably required by the Depositary in order to comply with any applicable law or regulations thereunder or with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange upon which American Depositary Shares may be listed or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Receipts are subject by reason of the date of issuance of the underlying Deposited securities or otherwise.
Title to a Receipt (and to the American Depositary Shares evidenced thereby), when properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, shall be transferable by delivery with the same effect as in the case of a negotiable instrument; provided, however, that the Depositary and the Company, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the Owner thereof 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 2.02
Deposit of Shares.
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, Shares, or evidence of rights to receive Shares to the extent permitted by Section 2.09, may be deposited by delivery thereof (including by book-entry credit) 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, the Custodian or the Company 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 reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary that any necessary approval has been granted by the governmental body or bodies in Brazil which is or are then regulating 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 (i) 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 and (ii) if the Shares are registered in the name of the person on whose behalf they are presented for deposit, a proxy or proxies entitling the Custodian to vote such deposited Shares, insofar as permitted under Brazilian law and the Charter, for any and all purposes until the Shares are registered in the name of the Custodian or its nominees.
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 documents herein specified, for the purpose of forwarding such share certificates to the Custodian for deposit hereunder.
Upon each delivery to a Custodian of Shares to be deposited hereunder, together with the other documents above specified, such Custodian shall, as soon as transfer and recordation can be accomplished, present such evidence of ownership 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 at the cost and expense of the person making such deposit (or for whose benefit such deposit is made) and shall obtain evidence satisfactory to it of such registration.
Deposited Securities shall be held by the Depositary or by a Custodian for the account and to the order of the Depositary or at such other place or places as the Depositary shall determine.
Section 2.03
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 or the Foreign Registrar, as the case may be, 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 notify the Depositary of such deposit and the person or persons to whom or upon whose written order a Receipt or Receipts are deliverable in respect thereof and the number of American Depositary shares to be evidenced thereby. Such notification shall be made by letter or, at the request, risk and expense of the person making the deposit, by cable, telex or facsimile transmission. Upon receiving such notice from such Custodian, or upon the receipt of Shares by the Depositary, the Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall, as promptly as practicable, execute and deliver at its Corporate Trust 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 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, if any, payable in connection with such deposit and the transfer of the Deposited Securities. The Depositary shall not issue Receipts except in accordance with this Section 2.03 and Sections 2.04, 2.07, 2.09, 4.03, 4.04 and 4.08.
Section 2.04
Transfer of Receipts; Combination and Split-up of Receipts.
The Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall register transfers of Receipts on its transfer books from time to time, upon any surrender of a Receipt, by the Owner in person or by a duly authorized attorney, properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, and duly stamped as may be required by the laws of the State of New York and of the United States of America. Thereupon the Depositary shall execute a new Receipt or Receipts and deliver the same to or upon the order of the person entitled thereto.
The Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall upon surrender of a Receipt or Receipts for the purpose of effecting a split-up or combination of such Receipt or Receipts, execute and deliver a new Receipt or Receipts for any authorized number of American Depositary Shares requested, evidencing the same aggregate number of American Depositary Shares as the Receipt or Receipts surrendered.
The Depositary may appoint, upon at least 20 days’ written notice to the Company, one or more co-transfer agents, reasonably acceptable to the Company, 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 2.05
Surrender of Receipts and Withdrawal of Shares.
Upon surrender at the Corporate Trust 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, if any, payable in connection with such surrender and withdrawal of the Deposited Securities, and subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Charter, the provisions of or governing the Deposited Securities and applicable 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 by (a) (i) the 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, or (ii) book-entry transfer of the Shares represented by such Receipt to an account in the name of such Owner or as ordered by him, and (b) delivery of any other securities, property and cash to which such Owner is then entitled in respect of such Receipts to such Owner or as ordered by him. Such delivery shall be made, as promptly as practicable, as hereinafter provided.
A Receipt surrendered for such purposes may be required by the Depositary to be properly endorsed in blank or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer in blank, and if the Depositary so requires, the 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, as promptly as practicable, direct the Custodian to deliver at the São Paulo, Brazil 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 the Charter, 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 Corporate Trust 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 for, the Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt to the Depositary for delivery at the Corporate Trust 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.
Neither the Depositary nor the Custodian shall deliver Shares, by physical delivery, book entry or otherwise (other than to the Company or its agent as contemplated by Section 4.08), or otherwise permit Shares to be withdrawn from the facility created hereby, except upon the receipt and cancellation of Receipts.
Section 2.06
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, the delivery of any distribution thereon, or withdrawal of any Deposited Securities, the Company, 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, charge or fee with respect to Shares being deposited or withdrawn) and payment of any fees of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09, may require the production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature and may also require compliance with such reasonable regulations as the Depositary and the Company may establish consistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, including, without limitation, this Section 2.06 and any regulations deemed necessary or desirable by the Depositary or the Custodian to facilitate compliance with any applicable rules or regulations of the Central Bank or the (the CVM).
The delivery of Receipts against deposits of Shares generally or against deposits of particular Shares may be suspended, or the transfer of Receipts in particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer of outstanding Receipts or the combination or split-up of 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 the following sentence. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Deposit Agreement or the Receipts, the surrender of outstanding Receipts and withdrawal of Deposited securities may be suspended only for (i) temporary delays caused by closing the transfer books of the Depositary or the Company or the deposit of Shares in connection with voting at a shareholders’ meeting, or the payment of dividends, (ii) the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges, (iii) compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating to the Receipts or to the withdrawal of the Deposited Securities, or (iv) any other reason that may at any time be specified in paragraph I (A) (1) of the General Instructions to Form F-6, as from time to time in effect, or any successor provision thereto. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under this Deposit Agreement any Shares required to be registered under the provisions of the Securities Act, unless a registration statement is in effect as to such shares. The Depositary will comply with written instructions of the Company that the Depositary shall not accept for deposit hereunder any Shares identified in such instructions at such times and under such circumstances as may reasonably be specified in such instructions in order to facilitate the Company’s compliance with the securities laws in the United States.
Section 2.07
Lost Receipts, etc.
In case any Receipt shall be mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen, the Depositary shall execute and deliver a new Receipt of like tenor in exchange and substitution for such mutilated Receipt upon cancellation thereof, or in lieu of and in substitution for such destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt. Before the Depositary shall execute and deliver a new Receipt in substitution for a destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt, the 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 2.08
Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts.
All Receipts surrendered to the Depositary shall be cancelled by the Depositary. The Depositary is authorized to destroy Receipts so cancelled, subject to Section 2.10.
Section 2.09
Pre-Release of Receipts.
The Depositary may issue Receipts against rights to receive Shares from the Company (or any agent of the Company recording Share ownership). No such issue of Receipts will be deemed a “Pre-Release” subject to the restrictions of the following paragraph.
Unless requested in writing by the Company to cease doing so, the Depositary may, notwithstanding Section 2.03 hereof, execute and deliver Receipts prior to the receipt of Shares pursuant to Section 2.02 (“Pre-Release”). The Depositary may, pursuant to Section 2.05, deliver Shares upon the receipt and cancellation of Receipts which have been Pre-Released, whether or not such cancellation is prior to the termination of such Pre-Release or the Depositary knows that such Receipt has been Pre-Released. The Depositary may receive Receipts in lieu of Shares in satisfaction of a Pre-Release. Each Pre-Release will be (a) preceded or accompanied by a written representation and agreement from the person to whom Receipts are to be delivered (the “Pre-Releasee”) that the Pre-Releasee, or its customer, (i) owns the Shares or Receipts to be remitted, as the case may be, (ii) assigns all beneficial right, title and interest in such Shares or Receipts, as the case may be, to the Depositary in its capacity as such and for the benefit of the Owners, and (iii) will not take any action with respect to such Shares or Receipts, as the case may be, that is inconsistent with the transfer of beneficial ownership (including, without the consent of the Depositary, disposing of such shares or Receipts, as the case may be, other than in satisfaction of such Pre-Release), (b) at all times fully collateralized with cash, U.S. government securities or such other collateral as the Depositary determines, in good faith, will provide substantially similar liquidity and security, (c) terminable by the Depositary on not more than five (5) Business Days notice, and (d) subject to such further indemnities and credit regulations as the Depositary deems appropriate. The number of Shares not deposited but represented by American Depositary Shares outstanding at any time as a result of Pre-Releases will not normally exceed thirty percent (30%) of the Shares deposited hereunder; provided, however, that the Depositary reserves the right to disregard such limit from time to time as it deems reasonably appropriate, and may, with the prior written consent of the Company, change such limit for purposes of general application. The Depositary will also set Dollar limits with respect to Pre-Release transactions to be entered into hereunder with any particular Pre-Releasee on a case-by-case basis as the Depositary deems appropriate. For purposes of enabling the Depositary to fulfill its obligations to the Owners under the Deposit Agreement, the collateral referred to in clause (b) above shall be held by the Depositary as security for the performance of the Pre-Releasee’s obligations to the Depositary in connection with a Pre-Release transaction, including the Pre-Releasee’s obligation to deliver Shares or Receipts upon termination of a Pre-Release transaction (and shall not, for the avoidance of doubt, constitute Deposited Securities hereunder).
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 the laws or regulations governing the Depositary. Prior to destroying any such records, the Depositary will notify the Company and will turn such records over to the Company upon its request.
Section 2.11
Uncertificated American Depositary Shares; DTC Direct Registration System.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Deposit Agreement:
(a)
American Depositary Shares may be certificated securities evidenced by Receipts or uncertificated securities. The form of Receipt annexed as Exhibit A to this Deposit Agreement summarizes the terms and conditions of, and will be the prospectus required under the Securities Act of 1933 for, both certificated and uncertificated American Depositary Shares. Except for those provisions of this Deposit Agreement that by their nature do not apply to uncertificated American Depositary Shares, all the provisions of this Deposit Agreement shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to both certificated and uncertificated American Depositary Shares.
(b)
(i)
The term "deliver", or its noun form, when used with respect to Receipts, shall mean (A) book-entry transfer of American Depositary Shares to an account at The Depository Trust Company, or its successor ("DTC"), designated by the person entitled to such delivery, evidencing American Depositary Shares registered in the name requested by that person, (B) registration of American Depositary Shares not evidenced by a Receipt on the books of the Depositary in the name requested by the person entitled to such delivery and mailing to that person of a statement confirming that registration or (C) if requested by the person entitled to such delivery, delivery at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary to the person entitled to such delivery of one or more Receipts.
(ii)
The term "surrender", when used with respect to Receipts, shall mean (A) one or more book-entry transfers of American Depositary Shares to the DTC account of the Depositary, (B) delivery to the Depositary at its Corporate Trust Office of an instruction to surrender American Depositary Shares not evidenced by a Receipt or (C) surrender to the Depositary at its Corporate Trust Office of one or more Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares.
(c)
American Depositary Shares not evidenced by Receipts shall be transferable as uncertificated registered securities under the laws of New York.
(d)
The Depositary shall have a duty to register a transfer, in the case of uncertificated American Depositary Shares, upon receipt from the Owner of a proper instruction (including, for the avoidance of doubt, instructions through DRS and Profile as provided in subsection (f) below). The Depositary, upon surrender of a Receipt for the purpose of exchanging it for uncertificated American Depositary Shares, shall cancel that Receipt and send the Owner a statement confirming that the Owner is the owner of the same number of uncertificated American Depositary Shares that the surrendered Receipt evidenced. The Depositary, upon receipt of a proper instruction (including, for the avoidance of doubt, instructions through DRS and Profile as provided in subsection (f) below) from the Owner of uncertificated American Depositary Shares for the purpose of exchanging them for certificated American Depositary Shares, shall execute and deliver to the Owner a Receipt evidencing the same number of certificated American Depositary Shares.
(e)
Upon satisfaction of the conditions for replacement of a Receipt that is mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen, the Depositary shall deliver to the Owner the American Depositary Shares evidenced by that Receipt in uncertificated form unless otherwise requested by the Owner.
(f)
(i) The parties acknowledge that the Direct Registration System ("DRS") and Profile Modification System ("Profile") shall apply to uncertificated American Depositary Shares upon acceptance thereof to DRS by DTC. DRS is the system administered by DTC pursuant to which the Depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated American Depositary Shares, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic statements issued by the Depositary to the Owners entitled thereto. Profile is a required feature of DRS which allows a DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf of an Owner of American Depositary Shares, to direct the Depositary to register a transfer of those American Depositary Shares to DTC or its nominee and to deliver those American Depositary Shares to the DTC account of that DTC participant without receipt by the Depositary of prior authorization from the Owner to register such transfer.
(ii) In connection with and in accordance with the arrangements and procedures relating to DRS/Profile, the parties understand that the Depositary will not verify, determine or otherwise ascertain that the DTC participant which is claiming to be acting on behalf of an Owner in requesting a registration of transfer and delivery as described in subsection (i) has the actual authority to act on behalf of the Owner (notwithstanding any requirements under the Uniform Commercial Code). For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Sections 5.03 and 5.08 shall apply to the matters arising from the use of the DRS. The parties agree that the Depositary's reliance on and compliance with instructions received by the Depositary through the DRS/Profile System and in accordance with this Deposit Agreement shall not constitute negligence or bad faith on the part of the Depositary.
ARTICLE 3
CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF OWNERS OF RECEIPTS
Section 3.01
Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information.
Any person presenting Shares for deposit or any Owner of a Receipt may be required from time to time to file with the Depositary or the Custodian such proof of citizenship or residence, exchange control approval, legal or beneficial ownership of Receipts, Deposited Securities or other securities, compliance with all applicable laws or regulations or terms of this Deposit Agreement or the Receipts, 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 reasonably deem necessary or proper or as the Company reasonably may require. 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 from time to time advise the Company 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.
Section 3.02
Liability of owner for Taxes.
If any tax or other governmental charge shall become payable with respect to any Receipt or any Deposited Securities represented by any Receipt, such tax or other governmental charge shall be payable by the Owner of such Receipt. The Depositary may refuse to effect any transfer of such Receipt or any combination or split-up thereof 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 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 any taxes or expenses arising out of such sale), and the Owner of such Receipt shall remain liable for any deficiency.
Section 3.03
Warranties on Deposit of Shares.
Every person depositing shares under this Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to represent and warrant that such Shares and each certificate therefor, if any, are validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free of any preemptive 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 and warrant that, except with respect to the initial deposit and any deposit permitted hereunder pursuant to Section 4.03, 4.04 or 4.09, such person is not and shall not become at any time while such person holds Receipts or any beneficial interest therein an affiliate of the Company. In addition, every person depositing Shares under this Deposit Agreement shall also be deemed thereby to represent and warrant that such Shares and the Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares representing such Shares would not be Restricted Securities. Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit of Shares and issuance of Receipts.
Section 3.04
Disclosure of Interests.
To the extent that provisions of or governing any Deposited Securities (including the Charter or applicable 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 use its best efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to comply with Company instructions as to Receipts in respect of any such enforcement or limitation, and Owners and Beneficial Owners shall comply with all such disclosure requirements and ownership limitations and shall cooperate with the Depositary’s compliance with such Company instructions.
ARTICLE 4
THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES
Section 4.01
Cash Distributions.
Whenever the Depositary, or on its behalf, its agent, shall receive any cash dividend or other cash distribution on any Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall, or shall cause its agent to, as promptly as practicable (and in any event within one (1) Business Day) after its receipt of such dividend or distribution (unless otherwise prohibited or prevented by law), subject to the provisions of Section 4.05, convert such dividend or distribution into Dollars, transfer such Dollars to the United States and shall, as promptly as practicable, distribute the amount thus received (net of the 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 respectively; provided, however, that in the event that the Company, the Depositary or the Custodian 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 amounts as can be distributed without distributing to any Owner a fraction of one cent and any balance that is not so distributed shall be held by the Depositary (without liability for the interest thereon) and shall be added to and be part of the next sum received by the Depositary for distribution to the owners of Receipts then outstanding.
Section 4.02
Distributions Other Than Cash, Shares or Rights.
Subject to the provisions of Section 4.11 and 5.09, whenever the Depositary shall receive any distribution other than a distribution described in Sections 4.01, 4.03 or 4.04, the Depositary may, as promptly as practicable, cause the securities or property received by it to be distributed to the Owners entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by each of them respectively, in any manner that the Depositary may deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing such distribution; provided, further, that if in the 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, the Custodian or the Depositary withhold an amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges or that such securities must be registered under the Securities Act in order to be distributed to 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 of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 and any expenses in connection with such sale) shall be distributed by the Depositary to the Owners entitled thereto as in the case of a distribution received in cash pursuant to Section 4.01; provided, further, that no distribution to Owners pursuant to this Section 4.02 shall be unreasonably delayed by any action of the Depositary or any of its agents. To the extent such securities or property or the net proceeds thereof are not distributed to Owners as provided in this Section 4.02, the same shall constitute Deposited Securities and each American Depositary Share shall thereafter also represent its proportionate interest in such securities, property or net proceeds.
Section 4.03
Distributions in Shares.
If any distribution upon any Deposited Securities consists of a dividend in, or free distribution of, Shares, the Depositary may distribute, as promptly as practicable, to the Owners of outstanding Receipts entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by each of 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 of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09. 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; provided, however, that no distribution to Owners pursuant to this Section 4.03 shall be unreasonably delayed by any action of the Depositary or any of its agents. 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 addition, the Depositary may withhold any distribution of Receipts under this Section 4.03 if it has not received satisfactory assurances from the Company that such distribution does not require registration under the securities Act or is exempt from registration under the provisions of such Act; provided that, in any such event, the Depositary may sell the Shares distributed upon the Deposited Securities and distribute the net proceeds, all in the manner and subject to the conditions described in Section 4.01.
Section 4.04
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 it would be unlawful for the Depositary either to make such rights available to any Owners or dispose of such rights and make the net proceeds available to such owners, then the Depositary shall allow the rights to lapse. If at the time of the offering of any rights the Depositary determines that it is lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all or certain Owners but not to other Owners, the Depositary 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 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 promptly 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 to exercise such rights, upon payment by such Owner to the Depositary for the account of such owner of an amount equal to the purchase price of the Shares to be received upon the exercise of the rights, and upon payment of the fees of the Depositary and any other charges as set forth in such warrants or other instruments, the Depositary shall, on behalf of such Owner, exercise the rights and purchase the Shares, and the Company shall cause the Shares so purchased to be delivered to the Depositary on behalf of such owner. As agent for such Owner, the Depositary will cause the Shares so purchased to be deposited pursuant to Section 2.02 of this Deposit Agreement, and shall, pursuant to Section 2.03 of this Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver Receipts to such Owner. In the case of a distribution pursuant to this paragraph, such Receipts shall be legended in accordance with applicable U.S. laws, and shall be subject to the appropriate restrictions on sale, deposit, cancellation, and transfer under such laws.
If the Depositary determines that it is not lawful or feasible to make such rights available to all or certain owners, it will use its best efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to, sell the rights, warrants or other instruments in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by the Owners to whom it has determined it may not lawfully or feasibly make such rights available, and allocate the net proceeds of such sales (net of the fees of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09, any expenses in connection with such sale 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. Such proceeds shall be distributed as promptly as practicable in accordance with Section 4.01 hereof.
If a registration statement under the Securities Act is required with respect to the securities to which any rights relate in order for the company to offer such rights to Owners and sell the securities represented by such rights, the Depositary will not offer such rights to Owners unless and until such a registration statement is in effect, or unless the offering and sale of such securities and such rights to such Owners are exempt from, or not subject to, registration under the provisions of such Act; provided, however, that nothing in this Deposit Agreement shall create, or shall be construed as creating, any obligation on the part of the Company to file a registration statement under the Securities Act or to endeavor to have a registration statement declared effective.
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 4.05
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, pursuant to applicable law, be converted on a reasonable basis into Dollars and the resulting Dollars transferred to the United States, the Depositary or the Custodian shall convert or cause to be converted as promptly as practicable (and in any event within one Business Day of its or its agent’s receipt of such Foreign Currency), by sale or in any other manner that it may determine in accordance with applicable law, such Foreign Currency into Dollars. If, at the time of conversion of such Foreign Currency into Dollars, such Dollars can, pursuant to applicable law, be transferred outside of Brazil for distribution to owners entitled thereto, such Dollars shall be distributed as promptly as practicable to the Owners entitled thereto or, if the Depositary or the custodian shall have distributed any rights, warrants or other instruments which entitle the holders thereof to such Dollars, then to the holders of such rights, warrants and/or instruments upon surrender thereof for cancellation in each case pursuant to Section 4.01, Such distribution or conversion 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 or the Custodian as provided in Section 5.09.
If such conversion, transfer or distribution can be effected only with the approval or license of any government or agency thereof, the Depositary or the Custodian shall file as promptly as practicable such application for approval or license; however, the Depositary or the Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon Brazilian local counsel in such matters, which counsel shall be instructed to act as promptly as possible.
If at any time Foreign Currency received by the Depositary or the Custodian is not, pursuant to applicable law, convertible, in whole or in part, into Dollars transferable into the United States, or if any approval or license of any government or agency thereof which is required for such conversion is denied or in the opinion of the Depositary cannot be promptly obtained at a reasonable cost, the Depositary or the Custodian shall, (a) as to that portion of the Foreign Currency that is convertible into Dollars, make such conversion and, if permitted by applicable law, transfer such Dollars to the United States for distribution to Owners in accordance with the first paragraph of this Section 4.05 or, if such transfer is not so permitted, hold such Dollars uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of the Owners entitled to receive the same, and (b) as to the nonconvertible balance, if any, (i) if requested in writing by an Owner, distribute or cause the Custodian to distribute the Foreign Currency (or an appropriate document evidencing the right to receive such Foreign Currency) received by the Depositary or Custodian in respect of the American Depositary Shares evidenced by Receipts held by such Owners (as the same may be adjusted as a consequence of subclause (ii) below) to such Owner (x) if such request is received before the 15th day of a calendar month, on such 15th day, or (y) if not, on the last day of such month (or, in either case, if such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day) and (ii) the Depositary shall cause the Custodian to hold any amounts of nonconvertible Foreign Currency not distributed pursuant to the immediately preceding subclause (i) for the respective accounts of the Owners entitled to receive the same, uninvested and without liability for interest thereon, on demand and, if and to the extent reasonably practicable and permitted by applicable law, in a manner designed to protect such Owners against the effects of inflation; provided that, at such time, at the reasonable request of the Depositary, the Company shall furnish the Depositary, at the Company’s expense, with a written opinion from recognized United States counsel for the Company confirming that the manner in which the Depositary proposes to hold such amounts of non-convertible Foreign Currency will not violate the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Section 4.06
Fixing of Record Date.
Whenever any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable or any distribution other than cash shall be made, or whenever rights shall be issued with respect to the Deposited Securities, or whenever for any reason the Depositary causes a change in the number of Shares that are represented by each American Depositary Share, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall fix a record date, which date shall, (x) be the same date as the record date fixed by the Company, if any, to the extent practicable, or (y) if different from the record date fixed by the Company, be as near as practicable to the record date fixed by the Company or, if more than five (5) Business Days after such record date, be fixed after consultation with the Company (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, (b) on or after which each American Depositary Share will represent the changed number of Shares, or (c) for any other reason. 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 respectively and to give voting instructions and to act in respect of any other such matter. The Company agrees to provide the Depositary with not less than 10 days’ prior notice of any meeting of shareholders or of the Board of Directors of the Company, the agenda for which includes authorization for the declaration of a dividend; provided, however, that if the date for any such meeting is fixed less than 10 days prior to such meeting or the Company does not know, 10 days prior to such meeting, that a dividend may be declared at any such meeting, then the Company shall give such notice to the Depositary as promptly as practicable after such date is fixed or the Company learns that a dividend may be declared.
Section 4.07
Voting of Deposited Securities.
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting or solicitation of proxies of holders of Shares or other Deposited securities, if requested in writing by the Company, the Depositary shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the Owners a notice, the form of which notice shall be in the sole discretion of the Depositary, which shall contain (a) such information as is contained in such notice of meeting (or if requested by the Company a summary in English of such information provided by the Company), (b) a statement that the Owners as of the close of business on a specified record date will be entitled, subject to any applicable provision of Brazilian law, the Charter and the provisions of the Deposited Securities, to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by their respective American Depositary Shares and (c) a statement as to the manner in which such instructions may be given, including an express indication that instructions may be given or deemed given in accordance with the last sentence of this paragraph if no instruction is received, to the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company. Upon the written request of an Owner on such record date, received on or before the date established by the Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall endeavor, in so far as practicable and permitted under Brazilian law, the Charter and the Deposited Securities, to vote or cause to be voted the amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt in accordance with the instructions set forth in such request. The Depositary shall not itself exercise any voting discretion over any Deposited Securities. If no instructions are received by the Depositary from any Owner with respect to any of the Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Owner’s Receipts on or before the date established by the Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall deem such owner to have instructed the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company with respect to such Deposited Securities and the Depositary shall give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company to vote such Deposited Securities, provided that no such instruction shall be deemed given and no such discretionary proxy shall be given with respect to any matter as to which the Company informs the Depositary (and the Company agrees to provide such information as promptly as practicable in writing) that (x) the Company does not wish such proxy given, (y) substantial opposition exists or (z) such matter materially or adversely affects the rights of holders of Shares.
Subject to the rules of any securities exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system on which American Depositary Shares or the Deposited Securities represented thereby are listed or quoted, the Depositary shall deliver, at least two Business Days prior to the date of such meeting, to the Company, to the attention of its Chief Financial Officer, copies of all instructions received from Owners in accordance with which the Depositary will vote, or cause to be voted, the Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipts at such meeting. Delivery of instructions will be made at the expense of the Company (unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Company and the Depositary) provided that payment of such expense shall not be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Depositary under this Section.
Section 4.08
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 the new Deposited Securities so received in exchange or conversion, unless additional Receipts are delivered pursuant to the following sentence. In any such case the Depositary may, and shall if the Company shall so request, execute and deliver additional Receipts as in the case of a dividend in Shares, or call for the surrender of outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts specifically describing such new Deposited securities.
Section 4.09
Reports.
The Depositary shall make available for inspection by Owners at its Corporate Trust Office any reports, notices and communications, including any proxy soliciting material, received from the company which are both (a) received by the Depositary, the Custodian or a nominee of either 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 make available for inspection by Owners copies of such reports, notices and communications when furnished by the Company pursuant to Section 5.06. Any such reports, notices 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 applicable to the Company. The Company agrees to provide to the Depositary, at the Company’s expense (unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Company and the Depositary), all documents that it provides to the Custodian.
The Company has delivered to the Depositary and the Custodian a copy of the provisions of or governing the Shares and any other Deposited Securities issued by the Company or any affiliate of the Company, and promptly upon any amendment thereto or change therein, the Company shall deliver to the Depositary and the Custodian a copy of such provisions as 80 amended or changed. The Depositary may rely upon such copy for all purposes of this Deposit Agreement. The Depositary will, at the expense of the Company (unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Company and the Depositary), make such copy and such notices, reports and other communications available for inspection by Owners at the Depositary’s office, at the office of the Custodian and at any other designated transfer offices.
Section 4.10
Lists of Owners.
Promptly upon request by the Company, the Depositary shall, at the expense of the Company (unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Company and the Depositary), 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 connection with any distribution to Owners, the Company or its agent will remit to the appropriate governmental authority or agency in Brazil all amounts (if any) required to be withheld by the Company and owing to such authority or agency by the Company; and the Depositary and the Custodian, respectively, will remit to the appropriate governmental authority or agency all amounts (if any) required to be withheld and owing to such authority or agency by the Depositary or the Custodian, respectively. The Depositary shall forward to the Company or its agent in a timely manner such information from its records as the Company may reasonably request to enable the Company or its agent to file necessary reports with governmental authorities or agencies. The Depositary shall use reasonable efforts to make and maintain arrangements enabling Owners to receive any tax credits or other benefits (pursuant to treaty or otherwise) relating to dividend payments in respect of the American Depositary Shares, and the Company, shall, to the extent reasonably practicable, provide the Depositary with such tax receipts or other similar documents as the Depositary may reasonably request to maintain such arrangements. In the event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in property other than cash (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) is subject to any tax or other governmental charge which the Depositary is obligated to withhold, the Depositary may by public or private sale dispose of all or a portion of such property (including shares and rights to subscribe therefor) in such amounts and in such manner as the Depositary deems reasonably 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 entitled thereto in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by each of them respectively, all in accordance with applicable provisions of this Deposit Agreement.
ARTICLE 5
THE DEPOSITARY, THE CUSTODIANS AND THE COMPANY
Section 5.01
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 delivery and surrender of Shares, withdrawal of Deposited Securities, execution and delivery, registration, registration of transfers, combinations and split-ups and surrender of Receipts, all in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement.
The Depositary shall keep books for the registration of Receipts and transfers of Receipts which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Owners, provided that such inspection shall not be for the purpose of communicating with Owners for an object other than the business of the Company, including without limitation a matter related to this Deposit Agreement, the Receipts or the Deposited Securities. The Depositary may close the transfer books after consultation with the Company to the extent practicable, at any time or from time to time, when deemed expedient by it in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder.
The Company shall have the right, upon reasonable request, to inspect the transfer and registration records of the Depositary relating to the Receipts, to take copies thereof and to require the Depositary and any co-registrars to supply copies of such portions of such records as the Company may request.
Section 5.02
Prevention or Delay in Performance by the Depositary or the Company.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company 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, Brazil 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 Charter or the Deposited Securities, or by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstance beyond its control, the Depositary or the Company shall be prevented or forbidden from, or be subject to any civil or criminal penalty on account of, doing or performing any act or thing which by the terms of this Deposit Agreement it is provided shall be done or performed nor shall the Depositary or the Company incur any liability to any Owner or Beneficial Owner 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 Sections 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, or for any other reason, the Depositary is prevented or prohibited from making such distribution or offering available to Owners, and the Depositary is prevented or prohibited from disposing of such distribution or offering on behalf of such owners and making the net proceeds available to such owners, then the Depositary, after consultation with the Company, shall not make such distribution or offering, and shall allow any rights, if applicable, to lapse.
Section 5.03
Obligations of the Depositary, the Custodian and the Company.
The Company assumes no obligation nor shall it be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement to Owners or Beneficial Owners, except that it agrees to perform its obligations specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement without negligence or bad faith.
The Depositary assumes no obligation nor shall it 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 it agrees to per form its obligations specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement without negligence or bad faith.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any Deposited Securities or in respect of the Receipts, which in its opinion may involve it in expense or liability, unless indemnity satisfactory to it against all expense and liability shall be furnished as often as may be required, and the Custodian shall not be under any obligation whatsoever with respect to such proceedings, the responsibility of the Custodian being solely to the Depositary.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be liable for any action or nonaction by it in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares for deposit, any Owner or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information.
The Depositary shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by a successor depositary whether in connection with a previous act or omission of the Depositary or in connection with any matter arising wholly after the removal or resignation of the Depositary, provided that in connection with the issue out of which such potential liability arises the Depositary performed its obligations without negligence or bad faith while it acted as Depositary.
The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any of the Deposited Securities, or for the manner in which any such vote is cast or the effect of any such vote, provided that any such action or nonaction is in good faith.
No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act is intended by any provision of this Deposit Agreement.
The Depositary, subject to Sections 2.05 and 2.09 hereof and as permitted by the Charter, may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in Receipts.
Section 5.04
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 of such removal 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 here under shall resign or be removed, the Company shall use its best efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances 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 5.05
The Custodian.
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 and the Depositary shall be responsible for the compliance by the Custodian with the applicable provisions of this Deposit Agreement. Any Custodian may resign from its duties hereunder by notice of such resignation delivered to the Depositary at least 30 days prior to the date on which such resignation is to become effective. If upon the effectiveness of such resignation there shall be no Custodian acting hereunder, the Depositary shall, promptly after receiving such notice, appoint a substitute custodian or custodians approved by the Company (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld), each of which shall thereafter be a Custodian hereunder. The Depositary may discharge any Custodian at any time upon notice to the Custodian being discharged with the approval of the Company (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld). Whenever the Depositary in its discretion determines that it is in the best interests of the Owners to do so, it may appoint substitute or additional custodian or custodians, each of which shall thereafter be one of the Custodians hereunder. The Depositary shall notify the Company of the appointment of a substitute or additional Custodian at least 30 days prior to the date on which such appointment is to become effective. Upon demand of the Depositary any Custodian shall deliver such of the Deposited Securities held by it as are requested of it to any other Custodian or such substitute or additional custodian or custodians. Each such substitute or additional custodian shall deliver to the Depositary, forthwith upon its appointment, an acceptance of such appointment satisfactory in form and substance to the Depositary. Promptly after any such change, the Depositary shall give notice thereof in writing to all Owners.
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 5.06
Notices and Reports.
On or before the first date on which the Company gives notice, by publication or otherwise, of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, or of any adjourned meeting of such holders, or of the taking of any action in respect of any cash or other distributions or the offering of any rights, the Company agrees to transmit to the Depositary and the Custodian a copy of the notice thereof in the form given or to be given to holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities.
The Company will arrange for the translation into English, if not already in English, to the extent required pursuant to any regulations of the Commission applicable to the Company, 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.
The Depositary will promptly make such notices, reports and other communications available to all Owners on a basis similar to that for holders of Shares or other Deposited securities, or on such other basis as the Company may advise the Depositary may be required by any applicable law, regulation or stock exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system requirement or, at the written request and expense of the Company, promptly arrange for the mailing of copies thereof (or if requested by the Company, a summary of any such notice provided by the Company) to all Owners. The Company will timely provide the Depositary with the quantity of such notices, reports, and communications, as requested by the Depositary from time to time, in order for the Depositary to effect any such mailings.
Section 5.07
Distribution of Additional Shares, Rights, etc.
The Company agrees that in the event of any issuance or distribution of (1) additional Shares or distributions, (2) rights to subscribe for Shares or distributions, (3) securities convertible into or exchangeable for Shares, or (4) rights to subscribe for such securities as a dividend or distribution with respect to the Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares issued hereunder, the Company will (i) forward to the Depositary written instructions as to the manner in which the Depositary is to effect actual delivery, and (ii) take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that no violation by the Company or the Depositary of the Securities Act will result from such issuance or distribution. The Company agrees with the Depositary that neither the Company nor any company controlled by 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 or the company furnishes to the Depositary a written opinion from U.S. counsel for the company, which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary, stating that the offer and sale of the Receipts evidencing the American Depositary Shares representing such Shares are exempt from registration under that Act. The Company will advise each person who, to the best knowledge of the Company, controls, or is under common control with, the Company that such person is subject to the same restrictions on the deposit of Shares as the Company and persons controlled by the Company.
Section 5.08
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 acts performed or omitted, in accordance with 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, except for any liability or expense arising out of the negligence or bad faith of either of them, and except to the extent that such liability or expense arises out of information relating to the Depositary or the Custodian, as applicable, furnished in writing to the Company by the Depositary or the Custodian, as applicable, expressly for use in any registration statement, proxy statement, prospectus (or placement memorandum) or preliminary prospectus (or preliminary placement memorandum) relating to the Shares, or omissions from such information; or (ii) by the Company or any of its directors, employees, agents and affiliates.
The indemnities contained in the preceding paragraph shall not extend to any liability or expense which may arise out of any Pre-Release (as defined in Section 2.09) to the extent that any such liability or expense arises in connection with (a) any United States federal, state or local income tax laws or (b) the failure of the Depositary to deliver Deposited Securities when required under the terms of Section 2.05 hereof. However, for the avoidance of doubt, the indemnities contained in the preceding paragraph shall apply to any liability or expense which may arise out of any misstatement or alleged misstatement or omission or alleged omission in any registration statement, proxy statement, prospectus (or placement memorandum) or preliminary prospectus (or preliminary placement memorandum) relating to the offer or sale of Shares, except to the extent any such liability arises out of (1) information relating to the Depositary or any Custodian, as applicable, furnished in writing to the Company by the Depositary or any Custodian, as applicable, expressly for use in any of the foregoing documents, or, (ii) material omissions from such information furnished by the Depositary or any Custodian.
The Depositary agrees to indemnify the Company, its directors, employees, agents and affiliatee and hold them harmless from any liability or expense (including, but not limited to, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) which may arise out of acts performed or omitted, in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement and of the Receipts, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, by the Depositary or its Custodian or their respective directors, employees, agents and affiliates due to their negligence or bad faith. The obligations set forth in this Section 5.08 shall survive the termination of this Deposit Agreement and the succession or substitution of any indemnified person. Any person seeking indemnification hereunder (an “Indemnified Person”) shall notify the person from whom it is seeking indemnification (the “Indemnifying Person”) of the commencement of any indemnifiable action or claim promptly after such Indemnified Person becomes aware of such commencement and shall consult in good faith with the Indemnifying Person as to the conduct of the defense of such action or claim, which defense shall be reasonable under the circumstances. No Indemnified Person shall compromise or settle any such action or claim without the consent in writing of the Indemnifying Person.
Section 5.09
Charges of Depositary.
The following charges shall be incurred by any party depositing or withdrawing Shares or by any party surrendering American Depositary Shares or to whom American Depositary Shares 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 American Depositary Shares or Deposited Securities or a delivery of American Depositary Shares 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 delivery of American Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 2.03, 4.03 or 4.04 and the surrender of American Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 2.05 or 6.02, (6) a fee of up to $.02 per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) for any cash distribution made pursuant to this Deposit Agreement, including, but not limited to Sections 4.01 through 4.04 hereof, (7) 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 7 treating all such securities as if they were Shares) but which securities are instead distributed by the Depositary to Owners, (8) in addition to any fee charged under clause 6, a fee of up to $.02 per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) per annum for depositary services, which will be payable as provided in clause 9 below, (9) any other charges payable by the Depositary, any of the Depositary's agents, including the Custodian, or the agents of the Depositary's agents in connection with the servicing of Shares or other Deposited Securities (which charge shall be assessed against Owners as of the date or dates set by the Depositary in accordance with Section 4.06 and shall be payable at the sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such Owners for such charge or by deducting such charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions).
The Depositary, subject to Section 2.09 hereof, may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in American Depositary Shares.
Section 5.10
Exclusivity.
The Company agrees not to appoint any other depositary for issuance of American Depositary Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares so long as The Bank of New York is acting as Depositary hereunder, subject, however, to the rights of the Company under Section 5.04.
Section 5.11
Available Information.
If at any time prior to the termination of this Agreement the Company is neither a reporting company under Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act nor exempt from the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act by reason of Rule 12g3-2(b) thereunder, the Company will provide, at its expense, to any Owner or Beneficial Owner or any holder of Shares, and to any prospective purchaser of American Depositary Shares or Shares, upon request of such Owner, Beneficial Owner, holder or prospective purchaser, the information required by Rule 144A(d) (4) (i) and otherwise comply with Rule 144A(d) (4). If at any time the Company is neither subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act nor exempt pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act (as determined by the Office of International Corporate Finance of the Commission), the Company shall immediately so notify the Depositary, and the Depositary may so notify the Owners in writing at the Company’s expense. The Company hereby authorizes the Depositary to deliver such information as furnished by the Company to the Depositary during any period in which the Company informs the Depositary it is subject to the information delivery requirements of Rule 144A(d) (4) to any such Owner, Beneficial Owner, holder of Shares or prospective purchaser at the request of such person. The Company agrees to reimburse the Depositary for its reasonable expenses in connection with such deliveries and to provide the Depositary with such information in such quantities as the Depositary may from time to time reasonably request.
ARTICLE 6
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
Section 6.01
Amendment.
The form of the Receipts and any provisions of this Deposit Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended by agreement between the Company and the Depositary in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable. Any amendment which shall impose or increase any fees or charges (other than taxes and other governmental charges), 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 at the time any amendment so becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such Receipt, to consent and agree to such amendment and to be bound by the Deposit Agreement as amended thereby. In no event shall any amendment impair the right of the Owner of any Receipt to surrender such Receipt and receive therefor the Deposited Securities represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law.
Section 6.02
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, such termination to be effective on a date specified in such notice not less than 30 days after the date thereof, 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 Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary, (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 the Owner or upon the Owner’s 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 as provided in this Deposit Agreement, and shall continue to deliver Deposited Securities, together with any dividends or other distributions received with respect thereto and the net proceeds of the sale of any rights or other property, in exchange for Receipts surrendered to the Depositary (after deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of a Receipt, any expenses for the account of the Owner of such Receipt in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental charges). At any time after the expiration of one year from the date of termination, the Depositary may sell the Deposited Securities then held hereunder and may thereafter hold uninvested the net proceeds of any such sale, together with any other cash then held by it hereunder, unsegregated and without liability for interest, for the pro rata benefit of the Owners of Receipts which have not theretofore been surrendered, such Owners thereupon becoming general creditors of the Depositary with respect to such net proceeds and such other cash. 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 except as provided in Section 5.08. 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 hereof.
ARTICLE 7
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 7.01
Counterparts.
This Deposit Agreement may he 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 during business hours.
Section 7.02
No Third Party Beneficiaries.
This Deposit Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and shall not be deemed to give any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim whatsoever to any other person.
Section 7.03
Severability.
In case anyone or more of the provisions contained in this Deposit Agreement or in the Receipts should be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein or therein shall in no way be affected, prejudiced or disturbed thereby.
Section 7.04
Regulatory Compliance.
The Depositary and the Company hereby confirm to each other that, for as long as this Deposit Agreement is in effect, they shall comply with any requirements for registration of the amount of Deposited Securities with the Central Bank and furnish to the CVM and the Central Bank any information and documents related to the Deposited Securities, the Receipts and the Depositary’s obligations hereunder whenever required pursuant to applicable law or regulation or as may be requested by such authorities from time to time, whether such information and documents are requested from the Depositary or the Company. In the event that the Depositary or the Custodian shall be advised (in writing) by reputable independent Brazilian counsel (the “Legal Warning”) that the Depositary or Custodian reasonably could be subject to criminal or material, as reasonably determined by the Depositary, civil liabilities as a result of the Company having failed to provide to the CVM or the Central Bank such information or documents reasonably available only through the Company, the Depositary will immediately send a copy of the Legal Warning to the Company, shall have the right to immediately resign as Depositary by written notice to the Company and will not be subject to any liability hereunder for such resignation or such determination, except that (1) the Depositary shall promptly, but in no event later than three (3) business days, if permitted by applicable law, duly assign, transfer and deliver all right, title and interest in and to the Deposited Securities held on account or on behalf of Owners to the Company or its nominee and (ii) to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, the Depositary shall provide the Company or any successor depositary hereunder with access, during normal business hours, to such records as may be reasonably necessary to enable the Company or such successor depositary to fulfill the obligations that the Depositary would have had hereunder but for such resignation. Upon effectiveness of such resignation the Deposit shall otherwise be discharged from all of its obligations under this Deposit Agreement. In the event that the Depositary resigns pursuant to this paragraph either (i) the Company will appoint a new depositary, in which case the Company will assume the obligations stated as the obligations of the Depositary under Section 5.04 herein or (ii) if the Company fails to appoint a new depositary within 60 days of such resignation, this Deposit Agreement shall be terminated in accordance with Section 6.02 herein and the Company or its designated agent will assume the obligations stated as the obligations of the Depositary in such section.
Section 7.05
Binding Effect on Owners and Beneficial Owners.
The Owners and Beneficial Owners shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement and of the Receipts by acceptance thereof.
Section 7.06
Notices.
Any and all notices to be given to the Company shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile transmission confirmed by letter, addressed to:
▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Director Economico-Financeiro e de Relacões com ▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Companhia Paranaense de Energia--COPEL, Rua ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, 800-8. andar, CEP ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, facsimile number ▇▇-▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ or any other place to which the Company may have transferred its principal office.
Any and all notices to be given to the Depositary shall be deemed to have been duly given if in English and personally delivered or sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile transmission confirmed by letter, addressed to The Bank of New York, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, facsimile number (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, Attention: American Depositary Receipt Administration, or any other place to which the Depositary may have transferred its Corporate Trust Office.
Any and all notices to be given to any Owner shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile transmission confirmed by letter, addressed to such 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; provided, however, that delivery of a notice to the Company or the Depositary shall be deemed to be effective when actually received by the Company or the Depositary, as the case may be. The Depositary or the Company may, however, act upon any cable or telex received by it, notwithstanding that such cable or telex transmission shall not subsequently be confirmed by letter as aforesaid.
Section 7.07
Submission to Jurisdiction; Appointment of Agent for Service of Process.
The Company (i) irrevocably designates and appoints CT Corporation System, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, as the Company's authorized agent upon which process may be served in any suit or proceeding arising out of or based upon the Shares or Deposited Securities, the American Depositary Shares, the Receipts or this Agreement which may be instituted in any United States federal or New York State court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, (ii) consents and submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such court in the State of New York with respect to any such suit or proceeding, and (iii) agrees that service of process upon said authorized agent shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company in any such suit or proceeding. The Company agrees to deliver, upon the execution and delivery of this Deposit Agreement, a written acceptance by such agent of its appointment as such agent. The Company further agrees to take any and all action, including the filing of any and all such documents and instruments, as may be necessary to continue such designation and appointment in full force and effect for so long as any American Depositary Shares or Receipts remain outstanding or this Agreement remains in force. If said authorized agent shall cease to act as the Company's agent for service of process, the Company shall appoint without delay another such agent and promptly notify the Depositary of such appointment.
Section 7.08
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 law of the State of New York.
Section 7.09
Headings.
Headings contained herein are included for convenience only and are not to be used in construing or interpreting any provision hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, COMPANHIA PARANAENSE DE ENERGIA--COPEL and THE BANK OF NEW YORK have duly executed this agreement as of the day and year first set forth above and all Owners shall become parties hereto upon acceptance by them of Receipts issued in accordance with the terms hereof.
COMPANHIA PARANAENSE DE
ENERGIA--COPEL
By:
Name:
Title:
By:
Name:
Title:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as Depositary
By:
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT A
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
(Each American Depositary Share represents the right
to receive one (1) Deposited Share)
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
FOR COMMON SHARES
WITHOUT PAR VALUE OF
COMPANHIA PARANAENSE DE ENERGIA--COPEL
(ORGANIZED UNDER THE LAWS OF
THE FEDERATIVE REPUBLIC OF BRAZIL)
The Bank of New York, as depositary (hereinafter called the “Depositary”), hereby certifies that __________________ or registered assigns IS THE OWNER OF _________________
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
representing ações ordinárias, without par value (herein called “Shares”) of COMPANHIA PARANAENSE DE ENERGIA--COPEL, a mixed-capital corporation with limited liability organized under the laws of The Federative Republic of Brazil (herein called the “Company”). At the date hereof, each American Depositary Share represents one (1) Share deposited or subject to deposit under the Deposit Agreement (as such term is hereinafter defined) at the São Paulo office of [Banco Itaú S/A] (herein called the “Custodian”).
The Depositary’s Corporate Trust Office is located at a different address than its principal executive office. The address of the Principal Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary is ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, and its principal executive office is located at ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇.
THE DEPOSITARY'S CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE ADDRESS IS
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
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 March 21, 1996, as amended and restated as of November 21, 2007 (herein called the “Deposit Agreement”), by and among the Company, the Depositary, and all Owners and Beneficial Owners from time to time of Receipts issued thereunder, each of whom by accepting a Receipt agrees to become a party thereto and become bound by all the terms and conditions thereof. The Deposit Agreement sets forth the rights of 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 Corporate Trust Office in New York City and at the office of the Custodian. The statements made on the face and reverse of this Receipt are summaries of certain provisions of the Deposit Agreement and are qualified by and subject to the detailed provisions of the Deposit Agreement, to which reference is hereby made. Capitalized terms 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 Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary of this Receipt for the purpose of withdrawal of the Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced hereby, and upon payment of the fee of the Depositary provided in this Receipt, and subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, the Charter, the provisions of or governing the Deposited Securities and applicable 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 this Receipt is issued. Delivery of such Deposited Securities may be made by (a) (1) the delivery of certificates in the name of the Owner hereof or as ordered by him or certificates properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer to such Owner or as ordered by him, or (ii) book-entry transfer of the Shares represented by this Receipt to an account in the name of such Owner or as ordered by him, and (b) delivery of any other securities, property and cash to which such Owner is then entitled in respect of this Receipt 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 Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary, as provided in the Deposit Agreement; provided that the forwarding of certificates for Shares or other Deposited Securities for such delivery at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary shall be at the risk and expense of the Owner hereof. Neither the Depositary nor the custodian shall deliver Shares, by physical delivery, book-entry or otherwise (other than to the Company or its agent as contemplated by Section 4.08 of the Deposit Agreement), or otherwise permit Shares to be withdrawn from the facility created by the Deposit Agreement, except upon the receipt and cancellation of Receipts.
3. TRANSFERS, SPLIT-UPS, AND COMBINATIONS OF RECEIPTS.
The transfer of this Receipt is registrable on the books of the Depositary at its Corporate Trust Office by the Owner hereof in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Receipt properly endorsed for transfer or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer and funds sufficient to pay any applicable transfer taxes and the expenses of the Depositary and upon compliance with such regulations, if any, as the Depositary may establish for such purpose. This Receipt may be split into other such Receipts, or may be combined with other such receipts into one Receipt, evidencing the same aggregate number of American Depositary Shares as the Receipt or Receipts surrendered. As a condition precedent to the execution and delivery, registration of transfer, split-up, combination, or surrender of any Receipt, the delivery of any distribution thereon, or withdrawal of any Deposited Securities, the Company, 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 such reasonable regulations as the Depositary and the Company may establish consistent with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, including, without limitation, this Article 3 and any regulations deemed necessary or desirable by the Depositary or the Custodian to facilitate compliance with any applicable rules or regulations of the Central Bank or the CVM. The delivery of Receipts against deposits of Shares generally or against deposits of particular Shares may be suspended, or the transfer of Receipts in particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer of outstanding Receipts, or the combination or split-up of 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 govern mental body or commission, or under any provision of the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, or for any other reason, subject to the provisions of the following sentence. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Deposit Agreement or the Receipts, the surrender of outstanding Receipts and withdrawal of Deposited Securities may be suspended only for (i) temporary delays caused by closing the transfer books of the Depositary or the Company or the deposit of Shares in connection with voting at a shareholders’ meeting, or the payment of dividends, (ii) the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges, (iii) compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating to the Receipts or to the withdrawal of the Deposited Securities, or (iv) any other reason that may at any time be specified in paragraph (A) (1) of the General Instructions to Form F-6, as from time to time in effect, or any successor provision thereto. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under the Deposit Agreement any Shares required to be registered under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, unless a registration statement is in effect as to such Shares.
4. LIABILITY OF OWNER FOR TAXES.
If any tax or other governmental charge shall become payable with respect to any Receipt or any Deposited Securities represented hereby, such tax or other govern mental charge shall be payable by the Owner hereof. The Depositary may refuse to effect any transfer of this Receipt or any combination or split-up hereof or any withdrawal of Deposited Securities represented by American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt until such payment is made, and may withhold any dividends or other distributions, or may sell for the account of the Owner hereof any part or all of the Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by this Receipt, and may apply such dividends or other distributions or the proceeds of any such sale in payment of such tax or other governmental charge (and any taxes or expenses arising out of such sale), and the Owner hereof shall remain liable for any deficiency.
5. WARRANTIES OF DEPOSITORS.
Every person depositing Shares hereunder and under the Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to represent and warrant that such Shares and each certificate therefor, if any, are validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable, and free of any preemptive 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 and warrant that, except with respect to the initial deposit and any deposit permitted pursuant to Section 4.03, 4.04 or 4.09 of the Deposit Agreement, such person is not and shall not become at any time while such person holds Receipts or any beneficial interest therein an affiliate of the Company. In addition, every person depositing Shares under this Deposit Agreement shall also be deemed thereby to represent and warrant that such Shares and the Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares representing such Shares would not be Restricted Securities. Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit of Shares and issuance of Receipts.
6. FILING PROOFS, CERTIFICATES, AND OTHER INFORMATION.
Any person presenting Shares for deposit or any Owner of a Receipt may be required from time to time to file with the Depositary or the Custodian such proof of citizenship or residence, exchange control approval, legal or beneficial ownership of Receipts, Deposited Securities or other securities, compliance with all applicable laws or regulations or terms of the Deposit Agreement or such Receipt, 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 reasonably deem necessary or proper or as the company reasonably may require. 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 from time to time advise the Company 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.
7. CHARGES OF DEPOSITARY.
The Company agrees to pay the fees and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses 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 detailed statement for such expenses to the Company at least once every three months. The charges and expenses of the Custodian are for the sole account of the Depositary.
The following charges, to the extent permitted by applicable law and stock exchange regulations, 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 American Depositary Shares or Deposited Securities or a delivery of American Depositary Shares 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 delivery of American Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 2.03, 4.03 or 4.04 of the Deposit Agreement and the surrender of American Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 2.05 or 6.02 of the Deposit Agreement, (6) a fee of up to $.02 per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) for any cash distribution made pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, including, but not limited to Sections 4.01 through 4.04 of the Deposit Agreement, (7) 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, (8) in addition to any fee charged under clause 6, a fee of up to $.02 per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) per annum for depositary services, which will be payable as provided in clause 9 below, (9) any other charges payable by the Depositary, any of the Depositary's agents, including the Custodian, or the agents of the Depositary's agents in connection with the servicing of Shares or other Deposited Securities (which charge shall be assessed against Owners as of the date or dates set by the Depositary in accordance with Section 4.06 of the Deposit Agreement and shall be payable at the sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such Owners for such charge or by deducting such charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions).
The Depositary, subject to Articles 2 and 8 hereof and as permitted by the Charter, may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in American Depositary Shares.
8. PRE-RELEASE OF RECEIPTS.
Neither the Depositary nor the Custodian shall deliver Shares, by physical delivery, book entry or otherwise (other than to the Company or its agent as contemplated by Section 4.08 of the Deposit Agreement), or otherwise permit Shares to be withdrawn from the facility created hereby, except upon the receipt and cancellation of Receipts.
The Depositary may issue Receipts against rights to receive Shares from the Company (or any agent of the Company recording Share ownership). No such issue of Receipts will be deemed a “Pre-Release” subject to the restrictions of the following paragraph.
In its capacity as Depositary, the Depositary will not deliver Shares held under the Deposit Agreement prior to the receipt and cancellation by the Depositary of Receipts. The Depositary may execute and deliver Receipts prior to the receipt of Shares pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Deposit Agreement (“Pre-Release”). The Depositary may, pursuant to Section 2.05 of the Deposit Agreement, deliver Shares upon the receipt and cancellation of Receipts which have been Pre-Released, whether or not such cancellation is prior to the termination of such Pre-Release or the Depositary knows that such Receipt has been Pre-Released. The Depositary may receive Receipts in lieu of Shares in satisfaction of a Pre-Release. Each Pre-Release will be (a) preceded or accompanied by a written representation and agreement from the person to whom Receipts or Shares are to be delivered (the “Pre-Releasee”) that the Pre-Releasee, or its customer, (i) owns the Shares or Receipts to be remitted, as the case may be, (ii) assigns all beneficial right, title and interest in such Shares or Receipts, as the case may be, to the Depositary in its capacity as such and for the benefit of the Owners, and (iii) will not take any action with respect to such Shares or Receipts, as the case may be, that is inconsistent with the transfer of beneficial ownership (including, without the consent of the Depositary, disposing of such Shares or Receipts as the case may be, other than in satisfaction of such Pre-Release), (b) at all times fully collateralized with cash, U.S. government securities, or such other collateral as the Depositary determines, in good faith, will provide substantially similar liquidity and security, (c) terminable by the Depositary on not more than five (5) Business Days’ notice, and (d) subject to such further indemnities and credit regulations as the Depositary deems appropriate. The number of Shares not deposited but represented by American Depositary Shares outstanding at any time as a result of Pre-Releases will not normally exceed thirty percent (30%) of the Shares deposited under the Deposit Agreement; provided, however, that the Depositary reserves the right to disregard such limit from time to time as it deems reasonably appropriate, and may, with the prior written consent of the Company, change such limit for purposes of general application. The Depositary will also set Dollar limits with respect to Pre-Release transactions to be entered into hereunder with any particular Pre-Releasee on a case-by-case basis as the Depositary deems appropriate. For purposes of enabling the Depositary to fulfill its obligations to the owners under the Deposit Agreement, the collateral referred to in clause (b) above shall be held by the Depositary as security for the performance of the Pre-Releasee’s obligations to the Depositary in connection with a Pre-Releasee’s obligation to deliver Shares or Receipts upon termination of a Pre-Release transaction (and shall not, for the avoidance of doubt, constitute Deposited Securities under the Deposit Agreement). The Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received by it in connection with the foregoing.
9. TITLE TO RECEIPTS.
It is a condition of this Receipt, and every successive holder and Owner of this Receipt by accepting or holding the same consents and agrees, that title to this Receipt when properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, is transferable by delivery with the same effect as in the case of a negotiable instrument; provided, however, that the Depositary and the Company, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the person in whose name this Receipt is registered on the books of the Depositary as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of determining the person entitled to distribution of dividends or other distributions or to any notice provided for in the Deposit Agreement and for all other purposes and neither the Company nor the Depositary shall have any obligation or be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement to any Beneficial Owner of a Receipt unless such Beneficial Owner is the Owner thereof.
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 has agreed that, if at any time prior to the termination of the Deposit Agreement the Company is neither a reporting company under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act nor exempt from the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act by reason of Rule 12g3-2(b) thereunder, the Company will provide, at its expense, to any Owner or Beneficial Owner or any holder of Shares, and to any prospective purchaser of American Depositary Shares or Shares, upon request of such Owner, Beneficial Owner, holder or prospective purchaser, the information required by Rule 144A(d) (4) (i) and otherwise comply with Rule 144A(d) (4). If at any time the Company is neither subject to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act nor exempt pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(h) under the securities Exchange Act (as determined by the Office of International Corporate Finance of the Commission), the Company has agreed to immediately so notify the Depositary, and the Depositary may so notify the Owners in writing at the company’s expense.
The Company has authorized the Depositary to deliver such information as furnished by the Company to the Depositary during any period in which the Company informs the Depositary it is subject to the information delivery requirements of Rule 144A(d) (4) to any such Owner, Beneficial owner, holder of Shares or prospective purchaser at the request of such person. The Company has agreed to reimburse the Depositary for its reasonable expenses in connection with such deliveries and to provide the Depositary with such information in such quantities as the Depositary may from time to time reasonably request.
The Depositary will make available for inspection by Owners of Receipts at its Corporate Trust Office any reports, notices and communications, including any proxy soliciting material, received from the Company which are both (a) received by the Depositary, the Custodian or a nominee of either 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 make available for inspection by Owners copies of such reports, notices and communications when furnished by the Company pursuant to the Deposit Agreement. Any such reports, notices 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 applicable to the company. The Company has agreed to provide to the Depositary, at the Company’s expense (unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Company and the Depositary), all documents that it provides to the Custodian.
The Company will promptly transmit to the Depositary and the Custodian any reports, notices and other communications that are made generally available by the Company to holders of its Shares. The Depositary will promptly make such notices, reports and other communications available to all Owners on a basis similar to that for holders of shares or other Deposited Securities, or on such other basis as the Company may advise the Depositary may be required by any applicable law, regulation or stock exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system requirement or, at the written request and expense of the Company, promptly arrange for the mailing of copies thereof (or if requested by the Company, a summary of any such notice provided by the Company) to all Owners. The Company will timely provide the Depositary with the quantity of such notices, reports and other communications, as requested by the Depositary from time to time, in order for the Depositary to effect any such mailings. The Company has delivered to the Depositary and the Custodian a copy of the provisions of or governing the Shares and any other Deposited Securities issued by the Company or any affiliate of the Company, and promptly upon any amendment thereto or change therein, the Company shall deliver to the Depositary and the Custodian a copy of such provisions as so amended or changed. The Depositary may rely upon such copy for all purposes of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary will, at the expense of the Company (unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Company and the Depositary), make such copy and such notices, reports and other communications available for inspection by Owners at the Depositary’s office, at the office of the Custodian and at any other designated transfer offices.
The Depositary will keep books for the registration of Receipts and transfers of Receipts which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Owners of Receipts, provided that such inspection shall not be for the purpose of communicating with Owners of Receipts for an object other than the business of the Company, including, without limitation, a matter related to the Deposit Agreement, the Receipts or the Deposited Securities.
The Depositary may close the transfer books after consultation with the Company to the extent practicable, at any time or from time to time, when deemed expedient by it in connection with the performance of its duties under the Deposit Agreement.
12. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS.
Whenever the Depositary or on its behalf, its agent, receives any cash dividend or other cash distribution on any Deposited Securities, the Depositary will, if at the time of receipt thereof any amounts received in a Foreign Currency can in the judgment of the Depositary be converted on a reasonable basis into United States dollars transferable to the United States, and subject to the Deposit Agreement, convert or will cause its agent to convert, as promptly as practicable (and in any event within one (1) Business Day) after its receipt of such dividend or distribution (unless otherwise prohibited or prevented by law), such dividend or distribution into dollars, transfer such dollars to the United States and will, as promptly as practicable, distribute the amount thus received (net of the 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, the Depositary or the Custodian is required to withhold and does withhold from such cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of any Deposited Securities an amount on account of taxes, the amount distributed to the Owners of the Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities shall be reduced accordingly.
Subject to the provisions of Section 4.11 and 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement, whenever the Depositary receives any distribution other than a distribution described in Sections 4.01, 4.03 or 4.04 of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may, as promptly as practicable, cause the securities or property received by it to be distributed to the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited securities held by each of them respectively, in any manner that the Depositary may deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing such distribution; provided, however, that if in the opinion of the Depositary such distribution cannot be made proportionately among the 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 of the Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement and any expenses in connection with such sale) shall be distributed by the Depositary to the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto as in the case of a distribution received in cash, all in the manner and subject to the conditions set forth in the Deposit Agreement. To the extent such securities or property or the net proceeds thereof are not distributed to Owners as provided in Section 4.02 of the Deposit Agreement, the same shall constitute Deposited Securities and each American Depositary Share shall thereafter also represent its proportionate interest in such securities, property or net proceeds.
If any distribution consists of a dividend in, or free distribution of, Shares, the Depositary may distribute, as promptly as practicable, to the Owners of outstanding Receipts entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by each of 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 of the Deposit Agreement and the payment of the fees of the Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement. In lieu of delivering Receipts for fractional American Depositary Shares in any such caser the Depositary will sell the amount of Shares represented by the aggregate of such fractions and distribute the net proceeds, all in the manner and subject to the conditions set forth in the Deposit Agreement. If additional Receipts are not so distributed, each American Depositary Share shall thenceforth also represent the additional Shares distributed upon the Deposited Securities represented thereby. Each beneficial owner of Receipts or Shares so distributed shall be deemed to have acknowledged that the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act and to have agreed to comply with the restrictions on transfer described in the legend set forth on the face hereof. In addition, the Depositary may withhold any distribution of Receipts under Section 4.03 of the Deposit Agreement if it has not received satisfactory assurances from the Company that such distribution does not require registration under the Securities Act or is exempt from registration under the provisions of such Act.
In the event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in property other than cash (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) is subject to any tax or other governmental charge which the Depositary is obligated to withhold, the Depositary may by public or private sale dispose of all or a portion of such property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) in such amounts and in such manner as the Depositary deems reasonably 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 it would-be unlawful for the Depositary either to make such rights available to any Owners or to dispose of such rights and make the net proceeds available to such Owners, then the Depositary shall allow the rights to lapse. If at the time of the offering of any rights the Depositary determines that it is lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all or certain Owners but not to other Owners, the Depositary 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 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 promptly make such rights available to such Owner upon written notice from the Company to the Depositary that (a) the Company has elected in its sale 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 to exercise such rights, upon payment by such Owner to the Depositary for the account of such Owner of an amount equal to the purchase price of the Shares to be received upon the exercise of the rights, and upon payment of the fees of the Depositary and any other charges as set forth in such warrants or other instruments, the Depositary shall, on behalf of such Owner, exercise the rights and purchase the Shares, and the Company shall cause the Shares so purchased to be delivered to the Depositary on behalf of such Owner. As agent for such Owner, the Depositary will cause the Shares so purchased to be deposited pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Deposit Agreement, and shall, pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver Receipts to such Owner. In the case of a distribution pursuant to this paragraph, such Receipts shall be legended in accordance with applicable U.S. laws, and shall be subject to the appropriate restrictions on sale, deposit, cancellation, and transfer under such laws.
If the Depositary determines that it is not lawful or feasible to make such rights available to all or certain Owners, it will use its best efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to, sell the rights, warrants or other instruments in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by the Owners to whom it has determined it may not lawfully or feasibly make such rights available, and allocate the net proceeds of such sales (net of the fees of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement, any expenses in connection with such sale 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. Such proceeds shall be distributed as promptly as practicable in accordance with Section 4.01 of the Deposit Agreement. If a registration statement under the Securities Act is required with respect to the securities to which any rights relate in order for the Company to offer such rights to owners and sell the securities represented by such rights, the Depositary will not offer such rights to Owners unless and until such a registration statement is in effect, or unless the offering and sale of such securities and such rights to such Owners are exempt from, or not subject to, registration under the provisions of such Act. 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, and if at the time of the receipt thereof the Foreign Currency so received can, pursuant to applicable law, be converted on a reasonable basis into Dollars and the resulting Dollars transferred to the United States, the Depositary or the Custodian shall convert or cause to be converted as promptly as practicable (and in any event within one Business Day of its or its agent’s receipt of such Foreign Currency), by sale or in any other manner that it may determine in accordance with applicable law, such Foreign Currency into Dollars. If, at the time of conversion of such Foreign Currency into Dollars, such Dollars can, pursuant to applicable law, be transferred outside of Brazil for distribution to Owners entitled thereto, such Dollars shall be distributed as promptly as practicable to the Owners entitled thereto or, if the Depositary or the Custodian shall have distributed any rights, warrants or other instruments which entitle the holders thereof to such Dollars, then to the holders of such rights, warrants and/or instruments upon surrender thereof for cancellation. Such distribution or conversion 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 or the Custodian as provided in Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement.
If such conversion, transfer or distribution can be effected only with the approval or license of any government or agency thereof, the Depositary or the Custodian shall file as promptly as practicable such application for approval or license; however, the Depositary or the Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon Brazilian local counsel in such matters, which counsel shall be instructed to act as promptly as possible.
If at any time Foreign Currency received by the Depositary or the Custodian is not, pursuant to applicable law, convertible, in whole or in part, into Dollars transferable into the United States, or if any approval or license of any government or agency thereof which is required for such conversion is denied or in the opinion of the Depositary cannot be promptly obtained at a reasonable cost, the Depositary or the Custodian shall, (a) as to that portion of the Foreign Currency that is convertible into Dollars, make such conversion and, if permitted by applicable law, transfer such Dollars to the United States for distribution to Owners in accordance with the first paragraph of this Article 13 or, if such transfer is not so permitted, hold such Dollars uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of the Owners entitled to receive the same, and (b) as to the nonconvertible balance, if any, (i) if requested in writing by an Owner, distribute or cause the Custodian to distribute the Foreign Currency (or an appropriate document evidencing the right to receive such Foreign Currency) received by the Depositary or Custodian in respect of the American Depositary Shares evidenced by Receipts held by such Owner (as the same may be adjusted as a consequence of subclause (ii) below) to such owner (x) if such request is received before the 15th day of a calendar month, on such 15th day, or (y) if not, on the last day of such month (or, in either case, if such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day) and (ii) the Depositary shall cause the custodian to hold any amounts of nonconvertible Foreign Currency not distributed pursuant to the immediately preceding subclause (i) for the respective accounts of the Owners entitled to receive the same, uninvested and without liability for interest thereon, on demand and, if and to the extent reasonably practicable and permitted by applicable law, in a manner designed to protect such Owners against the effects of inflation; provided that, at such time, at the reasonable request of the Depositary, the Company shall furnish the Depositary, at the Company’s expense, with a written opinion from recognized United States counsel for the Company confirming that the manner in which the Depositary proposes to hold such amounts of non-convertible Foreign Currency will not violate the Investment Company Act of 1940.
15.
RECORD DATES.
Whenever any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable or any distribution other than cash shall be made, or whenever rights shall be issued with respect to the Deposited Securities, or whenever for any reason the Depositary causes a change in the number of Shares that are represented by each American Depositary Share, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall fix a record date, which date shall, (x) be the same date as the record date fixed by the Company, if any, to the extent practicable, or (y) if different from the record date fixed by the Company, be as near as practicable to the record date fixed by the Company or, if more than five (5) Business Days after such record date, be fixed after consultation with the Company (a) for the determination of the Owners of Receipts who shall be (i) entitled to receive such dividend, distribution or rights or the net proceeds of the sale thereof or (ii) entitled to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting, (b) on or after which each American Depositary Share will represent the changed number of Shares, or (c) for any other reason, subject to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement.
16.
VOTING OF DEPOSITED SECURITIES.
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting or solicitation of proxies 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 Receipts a notice, the form of which notice shall be in the sole discretion of the Depositary, which shall contain (a) such information as is contained in such notice of meeting, (or, if requested by the Company a summary in English of such information provided by the Company), (b) a statement that the Owners of Receipts as of the close of business on a specified record date will be entitled, subject to any applicable provision of Brazilian law, the Charter and the provisions of the Deposited Securities, to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by their respective American Depositary Shares and (c) a statement as to the manner in which such instructions may be given, including an express indication that instructions may be given or deemed given in accordance with the last sentence of this paragraph if no instruction is received, to the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company. Upon the written request of an Owner of a Receipt on such record date, received on or before the date established by the Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall endeavor insofar as practicable and permitted under Brazilian law, the Charter and the Deposited Securities, to vote or cause to be voted the amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by such American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt in accordance with the instructions set forth in such request. The Depositary shall not itself exercise any voting discretion over any Deposited Securities. If no instructions are received by the Depositary from any Owner with respect to any of the Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Owner’s Receipts on or before the date established by the Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall deem such Owner to have instructed the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company with respect to such Deposited Securities and the Depositary shall give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company to vote such Deposited Securities, provided that no such instruction shall be deemed given and no such discretionary proxy shall be given with respect to any matter as to which the Company informs the Depositary (and the Company agrees to provide such information as promptly as practicable in writing) that (x) the Company does not wish such proxy given, (y) substantial opposition exists or (z) such matter materially or adversely affects the rights of holders of Shares.
Subject to the rules of any securities exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system on which American Depositary Shares or the Deposited Securities represented thereby are listed or quoted, the Depositary shall deliver, at least two Business Days prior to the date of such meeting, to the Company, to the attention of its Chief Financial Officer, copies of all instructions received from Owners in accordance with which the Depositary will vote, or cause to be voted, the Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipts at such meeting. Delivery of instructions will be made at the expense of the Company (unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Company and the Depositary), provided that payment of such expenses shall not be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Depositary under Section 4.07 of the Deposit Agreement.
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 the new Deposited Securities so received in exchange or conversion, unless additional Receipts are delivered pursuant to the following sentence. In any such case the Depositary may, and shall if the Company shall so request, execute and deliver additional Receipts as in the case of a dividend in Shares, or call for the surrender of outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts specifically describing such new Deposited Securities.
18. LIABILITY OF THE COMPANY AND DEPOSITARY.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall incur any liability to any Owner or Beneficial Owner, if by reason of any provision of any present or future law or regulation of the united States, Brazil or any other country, or of any other governmental or regulatory authority or stock exchange, or by reason of any provision, present or future, of the Charter or the Deposited Securities, or by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstances beyond its control, the Depositary or the Company shall be prevented or forbidden from or be subject to any civil or criminal penalty on account of doing or performing any act or thing which by the terms of the Deposit Agreement it is provided shall be done or performed; nor shall the Depositary or the Company 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 Sections 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, or for any other reason, the Depositary is prevented or prohibited from making such distribution or offering available to Owners, and the Depositary is prevented or prohibited from disposing of such distribution or offering on behalf of such Owners and making the net proceeds available to such Owners, then the Depositary, after consultation with the company, 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 shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit, or other proceeding in respect of any Deposited Securities or in respect of the Receipts, which in its opinion may involve it in expense or liability, unless indemnity satisfactory to it against all expenses and liability shall be furnished as often as may be required, and the Custodian shall not be under any obligation whatsoever with respect to such proceedings, the responsibility of the Custodian being solely to the Depositary. Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be liable for any action or nonaction by it in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares for deposit, any Owner or Beneficial Owner of a Receipt, or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information. The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any of the Deposited Securities, or for the manner in which any such vote is cast or the effect of any such vote, provided that any such action or nonaction is in good faith. The Depositary shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by a successor depositary whether in connection with a previous act or omission of the Depositary or in connection with a matter arising wholly after the removal or resignation of the Depositary, provided that in connection with the issue out of which such potential liability arises, the Depositary performed its obligations without negligence or bad faith while it acted as Depositary. The Company agrees to indemnify the Depositary, its directors, employees, agents and affiliates and any Custodian against, and hold each of them harmless from, any liability or expense (including, but not limited to, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) which may arise out of acts performed or omitted, in accordance with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement and of the Receipts, as the same may be amended, modified, or” supplemented from time to time, (i) by either the Depositary or a Custodian or their respective directors, employees, agents and affiliates, except for any liability or expense arising out of the negligence or bad faith of either of them, and except to the extent that such liability or expense arises out of information relating to the Depositary or the Custodian, as applicable, furnished in writing to the Company by the Depositary or the Custodian, as applicable, expressly for use in any registration statement, proxy statement, prospectus (or placement memorandum) or preliminary prospectus (or preliminary placement memorandum) relating to the Shares, or omissions from such information; or (ii) by the Company or any of its directors, employees, agents and affiliates. The indemnities contained in this paragraph shall not extend to any liability or expense which may arise out of any Pre-Release (as defined in Section 2.09) to the extent that any such liability or expense arises in connection with (a) any United States federal, state or local income tax laws or (b) the failure of the Depositary to deliver Deposited securities when required under the terms of Section 2.05 hereof. However, for the avoidance of doubt, the indemnities contained in the preceding paragraph shall apply to any liability or expense which may arise out of any misstatement or alleged misstatement or omission or alleged omission in any registration statement, proxy statement, prospectus (or placement memorandum) or preliminary prospectus (or preliminary placement memorandum) relating to the offer or sale of Shares, except to the extent any such liability arises out of (i) information relating to the Depositary or any Custodian, as applicable, furnished in writing to the Company by the Depositary or any Custodian, as applicable, expressly for use in any of the foregoing documents, or, (ii) material omissions from such information furnished by the Depositary or any Custodian.
No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act is intended by any provisions of the Deposit Agreement.
The Depositary, subject to Sections 2.05 and 2.09 of the Deposit Agreement, may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in Receipts.
19. RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF THE DEPOSITARY; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN.
The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary under the Deposit Agreement by written notice of its election so to do delivered to the Company, such resignation 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 of such removal, 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 discretion determines that it is in the best interests of the Owners of Receipts to do so, it may appoint a substitute or additional custodian or custodians.
20.
AMENDMENT.
The form of the Receipts and any provisions of the Deposit Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended by agreement between the Company and the Depositary in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable. Any amendment which shall impose or increase any fees or charges (other than taxes and other governmental charges), 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 30 days after notice of such amendment shall have been given to the Owners of outstanding Receipts. Every Owner of a Receipt at the time any amendment so becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such Receipt, to consent and agree to such amendment and to be bound by the Deposit Agreement as amended thereby. In no event shall any amendment impair the right of the Owner of any Receipt to surrender such Receipt and receive therefor the Deposited securities represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law.
21.
TERMINATION OF DEPOSIT AGREEMENT.
The Depositary 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, such termination to be effective on a date specified in such notice not less than 30 days after the date thereof, 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 Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary, (b) payment of the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of Receipts referred to in Section 2.05 of the Deposit Agreement, and (c) payment of any applicable taxes or governmental charges, be entitled to delivery, to the Owner or upon the Owner’s order, of the amount of Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt. If any Receipts shall remain outstanding after the date of termination, the Depositary thereafter shall discontinue the registration of transfers of Receipts, shall suspend the distribution of dividends to the Owners thereof, and shall not give any further notices or perform any further acts under the Deposit Agreement, except that the Depositary shall continue to collect dividends and other “distributions pertaining to Deposited Securities, shall sell rights as provided in the Deposit Agreement, and shall continue to deliver Deposited Securities, together with any dividends or other distributions received with respect thereto and the net proceeds of the sale of any rights or other property, in exchange for Receipts surrendered to the Depositary (after deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of a Receipt, any expenses for the account of the Owner of such Receipt in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental charges). At any time after the expiration of one year from the date of termination, the Depositary may sell the Deposited Securities then held under the Deposit Agreement and may thereafter hold uninvested the net proceeds of any such sale, together with any other cash then held by it thereunder, unsegregated and without liability for interest, for the pro rata benefit of the Owners of Receipts which have not theretofore been surrendered, such Owners thereupon becoming general creditors of the Depositary with respect to such net proceeds and such other cash. 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 except as provided in 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.
SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; APPOINTMENT OF AGENT FOR PROCESS.
The Company (i) irrevocably designates and appoints CT Corporation System, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, as the Company's authorized agent upon which process may be served in any suit or proceeding arising out of or based upon the Shares or Deposited Securities, the American Depositary Shares, the Receipts or this Agreement which may be instituted in any United States federal or New York State court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, (ii) consents and submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such court in the State of New York with respect to any such suit or proceeding, and (iii) agrees that service of process upon said authorized agent shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company in any such suit or proceeding. The Company agrees to deliver, upon the execution and delivery of this Deposit Agreement, a written acceptance by such agent of its appointment as such agent. The Company further agrees to take any and all action, including the filing of any and all such documents and instruments, as may be necessary to continue such designation and appointment in full force and effect for so long as any American Depositary Shares or Receipts remain outstanding or the Agreement remains in force. If said authorized agent shall cease to act as the Company's agent for service of process, the Company shall appoint without delay another such agent and promptly notify the Depositary of such appointment.
23.
UNCERTIFICATED AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES; DTC DIRECT REGISTRATION SYSTEM.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Deposit Agreement:
(a)
American Depositary Shares may be certificated securities evidenced by Receipts or uncertificated securities. The form of Receipt annexed as Exhibit A to the Deposit Agreement summarizes the terms and conditions of, and will be the prospectus required under the Securities Act of 1933 for, both certificated and uncertificated American Depositary Shares. Except for those provisions of the Deposit Agreement that by their nature do not apply to uncertificated American Depositary Shares, all the provisions of the Deposit Agreement shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to both certificated and uncertificated American Depositary Shares.
(b)
(i)
The term "deliver", or its noun form, when used with respect to Receipts, shall mean (A) book-entry transfer of American Depositary Shares to an account at The Depository Trust Company, or its successor ("DTC"), designated by the person entitled to such delivery, evidencing American Depositary Shares registered in the name requested by that person, (B) registration of American Depositary Shares not evidenced by a Receipt on the books of the Depositary in the name requested by the person entitled to such delivery and mailing to that person of a statement confirming that registration or (C) if requested by the person entitled to such delivery, delivery at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary to the person entitled to such delivery of one or more Receipts.
(ii)
The term "surrender", when used with respect to Receipts, shall mean (A) one or more book-entry transfers of American Depositary Shares to the DTC account of the Depositary, (B) delivery to the Depositary at its Corporate Trust Office of an instruction to surrender American Depositary Shares not evidenced by a Receipt or (C) surrender to the Depositary at its Corporate Trust Office of one or more Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares.
(c)
American Depositary Shares not evidenced by Receipts shall be transferable as uncertificated registered securities under the laws of New York.
(d)
The Depositary shall have a duty to register a transfer, in the case of uncertificated American Depositary Shares, upon receipt from the Owner of a proper instruction (including, for the avoidance of doubt, instructions through DRS and Profile as provided in subsection (f) below). The Depositary, upon surrender of a Receipt for the purpose of exchanging it for uncertificated American Depositary Shares, shall cancel that Receipt and send the Owner a statement confirming that the Owner is the owner of the same number of uncertificated American Depositary Shares that the surrendered Receipt evidenced. The Depositary, upon receipt of a proper instruction (including, for the avoidance of doubt, instructions through DRS and Profile as provided in subsection (f) below) from the Owner of uncertificated American Depositary Shares for the purpose of exchanging them for certificated American Depositary Shares, shall execute and deliver to the Owner a Receipt evidencing the same number of certificated American Depositary Shares.
(e)
Upon satisfaction of the conditions for replacement of a Receipt that is mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen, the Depositary shall deliver to the Owner the American Depositary Shares evidenced by that Receipt in uncertificated form unless otherwise requested by the Owner.
(f)
(i) The parties acknowledge that the Direct Registration System ("DRS") and Profile Modification System ("Profile") shall apply to uncertificated American Depositary Shares upon acceptance thereof to DRS by DTC. DRS is the system administered by DTC pursuant to which the Depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated American Depositary Shares, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic statements issued by the Depositary to the Owners entitled thereto. Profile is a required feature of DRS which allows a DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf of an Owner of American Depositary Shares, to direct the Depositary to register a transfer of those American Depositary Shares to DTC or its nominee and to deliver those American Depositary Shares to the DTC account of that DTC participant without receipt by the Depositary of prior authorization from the Owner to register such transfer.
(ii) In connection with and in accordance with the arrangements and procedures relating to DRS/Profile, the parties understand that the Depositary will not verify, determine or otherwise ascertain that the DTC participant which is claiming to be acting on behalf of an Owner in requesting a registration of transfer and delivery as described in subsection (i) above has the actual authority to act on behalf of the Owner (notwithstanding any requirements under the Uniform Commercial Code). For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Sections 5.03 and 5.08 of the Deposit Agreement shall apply to the matters arising from the use of the DRS. The parties agree that the Depositary's reliance on and compliance with instructions received by the Depositary through the DRS/Profile System and in accordance with the Deposit Agreement shall not constitute negligence or bad faith on the part of the Depositary.