Rule 424(b)(3) 333-203221
THE RIGHTS OF OWNERS TO DIRECT THE VOTING
OF SHARES MAY BE RESTRICTED AS
DESCRIBED IN ARTICLE 16 BELOW.
No. _________________________________
[Sponsored-Exempt]
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
(Each American Depositary Share represents one deposited Share)
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
FOR ORDINARY SHARES
OF
PHAROL , SGPS S.A.
(INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF PORTUGAL)
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as depositary (hereinafter called the "Depositary"), hereby certifies that __________________________________, or registered assigns IS THE OWNER OF ______________________ AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES representing deposited ordinary shares (herein called "Shares"), of PHAROL , SGPS S.A., incorporated under the laws of Portugal (herein called the "Company"). At the date hereof, each American Depositary Share represents one Share which is either deposited or subject to deposit under the deposit agreement at the Amsterdam, Netherlands branch of Deutsche Bank AG (herein called the "Custodian"). The Depositary’s Principal Office is located at 60 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005, U.S.A.
1. THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT.
This American Depositary Receipt is one of an issue (herein called "Receipts"), all issued and to be issued upon the terms and conditions set forth in the fourth amended and restated deposit agreement, dated as of January 25, 2013 (herein called the "Deposit Agreement"), by and among the Company, the Depositary, and all Owners and holders from time to time of Shares 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 holders of the Receipts and the rights and duties of the Depositary in respect of the Shares deposited thereunder and any and all other securities, property and cash from time to time received in respect of such Shares and held thereunder (such Shares, securities, property, and cash are herein called "Deposited Securities"). Copies of the Deposit Agreement are on file at the Depositary's Principal Office in New York City and at the office of the Custodian.
The statements made on the face and reverse of this Receipt are summaries of certain provisions of the Deposit Agreement and are qualified by and subject to the detailed provisions of the Deposit Agreement, to which reference is hereby made. Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Deposit Agreement.
2. SURRENDER OF RECEIPTS AND WITHDRAWAL OF SHARES.
Upon surrender at the Principal Office of the Depositary of this Receipt, and upon payment of the fee of the Depositary provided in this Receipt, and subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, the Owner hereof is entitled to electronic delivery, to him or upon his order, of the Deposited Securities at the time represented by the American Depositary Shares for which this Receipt is issued. Delivery of such Deposited Securities may be made by the electronic delivery of such Deposited Securities to such Owner hereof or as ordered by him through an account with an institution recognized by the Foreign Registrar or delivery by other means approved by the Company in accordance with Portuguese law, and delivery of any other securities, property and cash to which such Owner is then entitled in respect of this Receipt. Such delivery shall be made, as hereinafter provided, without unreasonable delay, subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, the Company's constituent documents, any provisions of or governing the Deposited Securities and other applicable laws.
A Receipt surrendered 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 hereof shall execute and deliver to the Depositary a written order directing the Depositary to cause the Deposited Securities being withdrawn to be electronically delivered to or upon the written order of a person or persons designated in such order through an account with an institution recognized by the Foreign Registrar, or delivery by other means approved by the Company in accordance with Portuguese law, except that the Depositary may make delivery to such person or persons at the Principal Office of the Depositary of any dividends or distributions with respect to the Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt, or of any proceeds of sale of any dividends, distributions or rights, which may at the time be held by the Depositary.
At the request, risk and expense of any Owner so surrendering a Receipt, and for the account of such Owner, the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to forward any cash or other property (other than rights) comprising, and forward a certificate or certificates (if any) and other proper documents of title (if any) for, the Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by this Receipt to the Depositary for delivery at the Principal Office of the Depositary. Such direction shall be given by letter or, at the request, risk and expense of such Owner, by facsimile transmission. Rights, if any, shall be delivered to such Owner pursuant to Section 4.4 of the Deposit Agreement and Article 14 of this Receipt.
3. TRANSFERS, SPLIT-UPS, AND COMBINATIONS OF RECEIPTS.
The transfer of this Receipt is registrable on the books of the Depositary at its Principal Office by the Owner hereof in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Receipt properly endorsed for transfer or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, and duly stamped as may be required by the laws of the State of New York and of the United States of America and funds sufficient to pay any applicable transfer taxes and the expenses of the Depositary and upon compliance with such regulations, if any, as the Depositary may establish for such purpose. This Receipt may be split into other such Receipts, or may be combined with other such Receipts into one Receipt, evidencing the same aggregate number of American Depositary Shares as the Receipt or Receipts surrendered. As a condition precedent to the execution and delivery, registration of transfer, split-up, combination, or surrender of any Receipt or withdrawal of any Deposited Securities, the Depositary may require payment from the presentor of the Receipt of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or other governmental charge and any stock transfer or registration fee with respect thereto (including any such tax or charge and fee with respect to Shares being deposited or withdrawn) and payment of any applicable fees as provided in this Receipt, may require the production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature and may also require compliance with any regulations the Depositary may establish consistent with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt.
The delivery of Receipts against deposits of Shares generally or against deposits of particular Shares may be suspended, or the transfer of Receipts in particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer of outstanding Receipts generally may be suspended, during any period when the transfer books of the Depositary are closed, or if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary or the Company at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body or commission, or under any provision of the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, or for any other reason, subject to the provisions of the following sentence. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, the surrender of outstanding Receipts and withdrawal of Deposited Securities may not be suspended subject only to (i) temporary delays caused by closing the transfer books of the Depositary or the Company or the deposit of Shares in connection with voting at a shareholders' meeting, or the payment of dividends, (ii) the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges, and (iii) compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating to the Receipts or to the withdrawal of the Deposited Securities. 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 by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt, such tax or other governmental charge shall be payable by the Owner hereof to the Depositary. The Depositary may refuse to effect any transfer of this Receipt or any withdrawal of Deposited Securities represented by American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt until such payment is made, and may withhold any dividends or other distributions, or may sell for the account of the Owner hereof any part or all of the Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by this Receipt, and may apply such dividends or other distributions or the proceeds of any such sale in payment of such tax or other governmental charge and the Owner hereof shall remain liable for any deficiency. Every Owner and Beneficial Owner agrees to, and shall, indemnify the Depositary, the Company, the Custodian and each and every of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and affiliates against, and hold each of them harmless from, any claims with respect to taxes, additions to tax (including applicable interest and penalties thereon) arising out of any refund of taxes, reduced rate of withholding at source or other tax benefit obtained for or by such Owner and/or Beneficial Owner. The obligations of Owners and Beneficial Owners under this Article 4 and Section 3.2 of the Deposit Agreement shall survive any transfer of Receipts, any surrender of Receipts and withdrawal of Deposited Securities, or the termination of the Deposit Agreement.
The Depositary is under no obligation to provide the Owners and Beneficial Owners with any information about the tax status of the Company. The Depositary shall not incur any liability for any tax consequences that may be incurred by Owners and Beneficial Owners on account of their ownership of the American Depositary Shares, including without limitation, tax consequences resulting from the Company (or any of its subsidiaries) being treated as a "Passive Foreign Investment Company" (as defined in the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and the regulations issued thereunder) or otherwise.
5. WARRANTIES OF DEPOSITORS.
Each person depositing Shares under the Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to represent and warrant that (i) such Shares and the certificates therefor, if applicable, are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable and were legally obtained by such person, (ii) all preemptive (and similar) rights, if any, with respect to such Shares have been validly waived or exercised, (iii) the person making such deposit is duly authorized so to do, (iv) the Shares presented for deposit are free and clear of any lien, encumbrance, security interest, charge, mortgage or adverse claim, and are not, and the American Depositary Shares issuable upon such deposit will not be, Restricted Securities and (v) the Shares presented for deposit have not been stripped of any rights or entitlements. Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit and withdrawal of Shares, the issuance and cancellation of American Depositary Shares in respect thereof and the transfer of such American Depositary Shares. If any such representations or warranties are false in any way, the Company and the Depositary shall be authorized, at the cost and expense of the person depositing Shares, to take any and all actions necessary to correct the consequences thereof.
6. FILING PROOFS, CERTIFICATES, AND OTHER INFORMATION.
Any person presenting Shares for deposit or any Owner or Beneficial Owner of a Receipt may be required, and every Owner and Beneficial Owner agrees, from time to time to file with the Depositary or the Custodian such proof of citizenship or residence, exchange control approval, proof of the identity of any person legally or beneficially interested in this Receipt and the nature of such interest, proof of compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and provisions of or governing Deposited Securities and the terms of the Deposit Agreement 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, and to provide such other information and documents, in all cases as the Depositary may deem necessary or proper. The Depositary may withhold the delivery or registration of transfer of any Receipt or the distribution of any dividend or sale or distribution of rights or of the proceeds thereof or the delivery of any Deposited Securities until such proof or other information is filed or such certificates are executed or such representations and warranties made and such other documentation or information provided, in each case to the Depositary’s satisfaction. No Share shall be accepted for deposit unless accompanied by evidence satisfactory to the Depositary that any necessary approval has been granted by any governmental body in Portugal which is then performing the function of the regulation of currency exchange or any other function which requires approval for the deposit of Shares.
7. CHARGES OF DEPOSITARY.
The Company agrees to pay the fees, reasonable expenses and out-of-pocket charges of the Depositary and those of any Registrar only in accordance with agreements in writing entered into between the Depositary and the Company from time to time. The Depositary shall present its statement for such charges and expenses to the Company once every three months. The charges and expenses of the Custodian are for the sole account of the Depositary.
When applicable, the following charges shall be incurred by any party 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 evidenced by Receipts or Deposited Securities or a distribution of Receipts pursuant to Section 4.3 of the Deposit Agreement) or by any party presenting Receipts pursuant to Section 2.4 or 2.5 of the Deposit Agreement, and shall be payable to the Depositary: (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 Deposit Agreement, (3) such facsimile transmission expenses as are expressly provided in the Deposit Agreement, (4) such expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in the conversion of foreign currency pursuant to Section 4.5 of the Deposit Agreement, (5) a fee of $5.00 or less per 100 American Depositary Shares (or portion thereof) for the execution and delivery of Receipts pursuant to Section 2.3, 4.3 or 4.4 of the Deposit Agreement, and the surrender of Receipts pursuant to Section 2.5 or 6.2 of the Deposit Agreement, and (6) a fee for, and deducted from, the distribution of proceeds of the sale of rights pursuant to Section 4.4 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 Shares received upon the exercise of such rights, but which rights are instead sold and the proceeds of such sale distributed by the Depositary to Owners, (7) a fee of $.02 or less per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) for any cash distribution made pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, including but not limited to Sections 4.1 through 4.3 of the Deposit Agreement, (8) in addition to any fee charged under clause 7, a fee of $.02 or less per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) per annum for depositary services, which will be payable as provided in clause 9 below, and (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 4.6 of the Deposit Agreement and shall be payable at the sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such Owners for such charge or by deducting such charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions).
The Depositary, subject to Article 8 hereof, may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in Receipts.
8. PRE-RELEASE OF RECEIPTS.
The Depositary shall not execute and deliver Receipts unless Shares have been deposited as set forth in the Deposit Agreement, except as provided in Section 2.9 of the Deposit Agreement and this Article 8.
The Depositary may, notwithstanding Section 2.3 of the Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver Receipts prior to the receipt of Shares pursuant to Section 2.2 of the Deposit Agreement ("Pre-Release"). The Depositary may, pursuant to Section 2.5 of the Deposit Agreement, deliver Shares upon the receipt and cancellation of Receipts which have been Pre-Released, whether or not such cancellation is prior to the termination of such Pre-Release or the Depositary knows that such Receipt has been Pre-Released. The Depositary may receive Receipts in lieu of Shares in satisfaction of a Pre-Release. Each Pre-Release will be (a) subject to a written agreement whereby the person or entity (the "Applicant") to whom American Depositary Shares or Shares are to be delivered (1) represents that at the time of the Pre-Release transaction the Applicant or its customer owns the Shares or American Depositary Shares that are to be delivered by the Applicant under such Pre-Release transaction, (2) agrees to indicate the Depositary as owner of such Shares or American Depositary Shares in its records and to hold such Shares or American Depositary Shares in trust for the Depositary until such Shares or American Depositary Shares are delivered to the Depositary or the Custodian, (3) unconditionally guarantees to deliver to the Depositary or the Custodian, as applicable, such Shares or American Depositary Shares, and (4) agrees to any additional restrictions or requirements that the Depositary deems appropriate, (b) at all times fully collateralized with cash, United States government securities or such other collateral as the Depositary deems appropriate, (c) terminable by the Depositary on not more than five (5) business days' notice and (d) subject to such further indemnities and credit regulations as the Depositary deems appropriate. The Depositary will normally limit the number of American Depositary Shares and Shares involved in such Pre-Release transactions at any one time to thirty percent (30%) of the American Depositary Shares outstanding (without giving effect to American Depositary Shares outstanding under (a) above), provided, however, that the Depositary reserves the right to disregard such limit from time to time as it deems appropriate. The Depositary will also set Dollar limits with respect to Pre-Release transactions to be entered into under the Deposit Agreement 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 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 (and to the American Depositary Shares evidenced hereby) when properly endorsed (in the case of certificated Receipts) 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, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the person in whose name this Receipt is registered on the books of the Depositary as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of determining the person entitled to distribution of dividends or other distributions or to any notice provided for in the Deposit Agreement or for all other purposes, and neither the Depositary nor the Issuer shall have any obligation or be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement to any Beneficial Owner of American Depositary Shares unless that Beneficial Owner is the Owner of those American Depositary Shares.
10. VALIDITY OF RECEIPT.
This Receipt shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Deposit Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless this Receipt shall have been executed by the Depositary by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary and, if a Registrar (other than the Depositary) for the Receipts shall have been appointed, countersigned by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer of the Registrar.
11. REPORTS; INSPECTION OF TRANSFER BOOKS.
The Company is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and, accordingly, files certain reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (hereinafter called the "Commission"). Such reports and communications shall be available for inspection and copying through the Commission's EDGAR system or at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission located at 100 F Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549.
The Depositary shall make available for inspection by Owners at its Principal Office any reports and communications, including any proxy soliciting material, received from the Company which are both (a) received by the Depositary as the holder of the Deposited Securities and (b) made generally available to the holders of such Deposited Securities by the Company. The Depositary shall also send to Owners of Receipts copies of such reports when furnished by the Company pursuant to the Deposit Agreement. Any such reports and communications, including any such proxy soliciting material, furnished to the Depositary by the Company shall be furnished in English to the extent such materials are required to be translated into English pursuant to any regulations of the Commission.
The Depositary will keep books for the registration of Receipts and transfers of Receipts which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by Owners provided that such inspection shall not be for the purpose of communicating with Owners in the interest of a business or object other than the business of the Company or a matter related to the Deposit Agreement or the Receipts.
12. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS.
Whenever the Depositary receives any cash dividend or other cash distribution on any Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall, 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 Dollars transferable to the United States, and subject to Article 13 of this Receipt and the Deposit Agreement, convert such dividend or distribution into Dollars and shall distribute the amount thus received (net of the fees of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement) to the Owners entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by them respectively; provided, however, that in the event that the Company or the Depositary is required to withhold and does withhold from any cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of any Deposited Securities an amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges, the amount distributed to the Owners of the Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities shall be reduced accordingly.
Subject to the provisions of Section 4.11 and 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement, whenever the Depositary receives any distribution other than a distribution described in Sections 4.1, 4.3 or 4.4 of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall cause the securities or property received by it to be distributed to the Owners entitled thereto, after the deduction or upon payment of any fees and expenses of the Depositary or any taxes or other governmental charges, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by them respectively, in any manner that the Depositary may deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing such distribution; provided, however, that if in the opinion of the Depositary such distribution cannot be made proportionately among the Owners entitled thereto, or if for any other reason (including, but not limited to, any requirement that the Company or the Depositary withhold an amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges or that such securities must be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 in order to be distributed to Owners or holders) the Depositary deems such distribution not to be feasible, the Depositary may 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, applicable taxes and other charges as provided in Section 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement) shall be distributed by the Depositary to the Owners entitled thereto as in the case of a distribution received in cash.
If any distribution upon any Deposited Securities consists of a dividend in, or free distribution of, Shares, the Depositary may, and shall if the Company shall so request, distribute to the Owners of outstanding Receipts entitled thereto, in portion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by them respectively, additional Receipts evidencing an aggregate number of American Depositary Shares representing the amount of Shares received as such dividend or free distribution, subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement with respect to the deposit of Shares and the issuance of American Depositary Shares evidenced by Receipts, including the withholding of any tax or other governmental charge as provided in Section 4.11 of the Deposit Agreement and the payment of the fees of the Depositary, applicable taxes and other charges as provided in Section 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement. In lieu of delivering Receipts for fractional American Depositary Shares in any such case, the Depositary 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 set forth in the Deposit Agreement. If additional Receipts are not so distributed, each American Depositary Share shall thenceforth also represent the additional Shares distributed upon the Deposited Securities represented thereby.
In the event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) is subject to any tax or other governmental charge which the Depositary is obligated to withhold, the Depositary shall withhold the amount required to be withheld and may by public or private sale dispose of all or a portion of such property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) in such amounts and in such manner as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay such taxes and charges, and the Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds of any such sale after deduction of such taxes and charges to the Owners entitled thereto in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by them respectively.
The Depositary shall use all reasonable efforts to follow any procedures in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Company that may be established by the Portuguese tax authorities for eligible Owners to obtain any reduced rates of withholding tax or substitute gift and inheritance tax as provided under applicable tax treaties at the time dividends are paid and to facilitate the recovery by eligible Owners of amounts of Portuguese withholding tax or substitute gift and inheritance tax withheld in excess of applicable tax treaty rates, if any. In connection therewith, the Depositary shall take reasonable steps to provide eligible Owners with such forms as may be prescribed by the Portuguese tax authorities and to take all such other reasonable steps as may be required to file such forms with the appropriate Portuguese tax authorities.
13. CONVERSION OF FOREIGN CURRENCY.
Whenever the Depositary shall receive foreign currency, by way of dividends or other distributions or the net proceeds from the sale of securities, property or rights, and if at the time of the receipt thereof the foreign currency so received can in the judgment of the Depositary be converted on a reasonable basis into Dollars and the resulting Dollars transferred to the United States, the Depositary shall convert or cause to be converted, by sale or in any other manner that it may determine, such foreign currency into Dollars, and such Dollars shall be distributed to the Owners entitled thereto or, if the Depositary shall have distributed any warrants or other instruments which entitle the holders thereof to such Dollars, then to the holders of such warrants and/or instruments upon surrender thereof for cancellation. Such distribution may be made upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among Owners on account of exchange restrictions, the date of delivery of any Receipt or otherwise and shall be net of any expenses of conversion into Dollars incurred by the Depositary as provided in Section 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement and fees and/or other governmental charges incurred in the process. If such conversion or distribution can be effected only with the approval or license of any government or agency thereof, the Depositary shall file such application for approval or license, if any, as it may deem desirable.
Owners and Beneficial Owners understand that in converting foreign currency, amounts received on conversion are calculated at a rate which may exceed the number of decimal places used by the Depositary to report distribution rates (which in any case will not be less than two decimal places). Any excess amount may be retained by the Depositary as an additional cost of conversion, irrespective of any other fees and expenses payable or owing under the Deposit Agreement, and shall not be subject to escheatment.
If at any time the Depositary shall determine that in its judgment any foreign currency received by the Depositary is not convertible on a reasonable basis into Dollars transferable to the United States, or if any approval or license of any government or agency thereof which is required for such conversion is denied or in the opinion of the Depositary is not obtainable at a reasonable cost, or if any such approval or license is not obtained within a reasonable period as determined by the Depositary, the Depositary may distribute the foreign currency (or an appropriate document evidencing the right to receive such foreign currency) received by the Depositary to, or in its discretion may hold such foreign currency uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of, the Owners entitled to receive the same.
If any such conversion of foreign currency, in whole or in part, cannot be effected for distribution to some of the Owners entitled thereto, the Depositary may in its discretion make such conversion and distribution in Dollars to the extent permissible to the Owners entitled thereto and may distribute the balance of the foreign currency received by the Depositary to, or hold such balance uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of, the Owners entitled thereto.
14. RIGHTS.
In the event that the Company shall offer or cause to be offered to the holders of any Deposited Securities any rights to subscribe for additional Shares or any rights of any other nature, the Depositary shall have discretion as to the procedure to be followed in making such rights available to any Owners or in disposing of such rights on behalf of any Owners and making the net proceeds available in Dollars to such Owners or, if by the terms of such rights offering or, for any other reason, the Depositary may not either make such rights available to any Owners or dispose of such rights and make the net proceeds available to such Owners, then the Depositary shall allow the rights to lapse. If at the time of the offering of any rights the Depositary determines in its discretion that it is lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all Owners or to certain Owners but not to other Owners, the Depositary may distribute, to any Owner to whom it determines the distribution to be lawful and feasible, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by such Owner, warrants or other instruments therefor in such form as it deems appropriate.
In circumstances in which rights would otherwise not be distributed, if an Owner of Receipts requests the distribution of warrants or other instruments in order to exercise the rights allocable to the American Depositary Shares of such Owner under the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall make such rights available to such Owner upon written notice from the Company to the Depositary that (a) the Company has elected in its sole discretion to permit such rights to be exercised and (b) such Owner has executed such documents as the Company has determined in its sole discretion are reasonably required under applicable law.
If the Depositary has distributed warrants or other instruments for rights to all or certain Owners, then upon instruction from such an Owner pursuant to such warrants or other instruments to the Depositary from such Owner to exercise such rights, upon payment by such Owner to the Depositary for the account of such Owner of an amount equal to the purchase price of the Shares to be received upon the exercise of the rights, and upon payment of the fees and expenses of the Depositary and any other charges as set forth in such warrants or other instruments, the Depositary shall, on behalf of such Owner, exercise the rights and purchase the Shares, and the Company shall cause the Shares so purchased to be delivered to the Depositary on behalf of such Owner. As agent for such Owner, the Depositary shall cause the Shares so purchased to be deposited pursuant to Section 2.2 of the Deposit Agreement, and shall, pursuant to Section 2.3 of the Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver Receipts to such Owner. In the case of a distribution pursuant to the second paragraph of this Article, such Receipts shall be legended in accordance with applicable U.S. laws, and shall be subject to the appropriate restrictions on sale, deposit, cancellation, and transfer under such laws.
If the Depositary determines in its discretion that it is not lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all or certain Owners, it may sell the rights, warrants or other instruments in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by the Owners to whom it has determined it may not lawfully or feasibly make such rights available, and allocate the net proceeds of such sales (net of the fees of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement and all taxes and governmental charges payable in connection with such rights and subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement) for the account of such Owners otherwise entitled to such rights, warrants or other instruments, upon an averaged or other practical basis without regard to any distinctions among such Owners because of exchange restrictions or the date of delivery of any Receipt or otherwise.
The Depositary shall not offer rights to Owners unless both the rights and the securities to which such rights relate are either exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to a distribution to Owners or are registered under the provisions of such Act; provided, that nothing in the Deposit Agreement shall create any obligation on the part of the Company to file a registration statement with respect to such rights or underlying securities or to endeavor to have such a registration statement declared effective. If an Owner of Receipts requests distribution of warrants or other instruments, notwithstanding that there has been no such registration under such Act, the Depositary shall not effect such distribution unless it has received an opinion from recognized counsel in the United States for the Company upon which the Depositary may rely that such distribution to such Owner is exempt from such registration.
The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to determine that it may be lawful or feasible to make such rights available to Owners in general or any Owner in particular.
15. RECORD DATES.
Whenever any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable or any distribution other than cash shall be made, or whenever rights shall be issued with respect to the Deposited Securities, or whenever for any reason the Depositary causes a change in the number of Shares that are represented by each American Depositary Share, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall fix a record date which date shall be to the extent practicable the same date as the record date fixed by the Company, or if different from the record date fixed by the Company, fixed after consultation with the Company to the extent to which such consultation is practicable (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, subject to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement or (c) for any other reason.
16. VOTING OF DEPOSITED SECURITIES AND LIMITATIONS ON VOTING.
(a) Each Owner by accepting this Receipt agrees that it shall be bound by, and subject to, the following provision:
Voting instructions issued by an Owner, either given personally or through a representative, in the Owner's own name or as the representative of another Owner, will not be entitled to be effected as votes of Shares to the extent that such votes, together with any votes that under Portuguese law are deemed to be cast by such Owner as a holder of Shares, exceed 10% of the total number of votes of the Company's share capital, and the Depositary shall not effect any voting instructions in respect of such excess votes. Determinations of American Depositary Share and Share ownership shall be made pursuant to Portuguese law.
The Depositary has been advised that, under Portuguese Law and the Articles of the Company, provided that the Depositary complies with the terms of the previous paragraph, the Depositary may vote or cause to be voted (or grant a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company to vote) the aggregate number of Shares represented by the American Depositary Shares of all of the Owners, notwithstanding that such aggregate votes exceed 10% of the total number of votes of the Company's share capital.
(b) Upon receipt of notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall, if requested by the Company in writing in a timely manner (the Depositary having no obligation to take any further action if the request shall not have been received by the Depositary at least 30 days prior to the date of such vote or meeting), as soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the Owners a notice, the form of which notice shall be in the sole discretion of the Depositary, which shall contain (a) such information as is contained in such notice of meeting, and (b) a statement that the Owners as of the close of business on a specified record date will be entitled, subject to any applicable provision of Portuguese law and of the Articles, 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 be deemed given in accordance with the last sentence of this paragraph if no instruction is received) to the Depositary to vote or 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 "Instruction Date"), the Depositary shall endeavor insofar as practicable and permitted under the applicable provisions of law or of the Articles governing Shares or other Deposited Securities, to vote or cause to be voted (or to grant a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company to vote) the amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Owner's Receipts in accordance with any instructions set forth in such request. The Depositary shall not itself exercise any voting discretion over any Shares or other Deposited Securities. To the extent voting instructions are sought from Owners, if no instructions are received by the Depositary from an Owner with respect to any of the Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Owner's Receipts on or before the Instruction Date, the Company shall deem, and the Depositary is instructed to so deem, such Owner to have instructed the Depositary to vote or cause to be voted such Shares or other Deposited Securities in favor of any proposals supported by the Board of Directors of the Company, or, when practicable and permitted, to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company with respect to such Shares or Deposited Securities and the Depositary shall so vote or so give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company to vote such Shares or Deposited Securities, provided that no such instruction shall be deemed given and no such favorable vote or discretionary proxy shall be given with respect to any proposal as to which the Company informs the Depositary (and the Company agrees to provide such information promptly in writing) that (x) the Company does not wish such proxy given, (y) substantial opposition, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, exists with respect to such proposal or (z) such proposal would, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, materially and adversely affect the rights of Owners.
There can be no assurance that Owners generally or any Owner in particular will receive the notice described in the preceding paragraph sufficiently prior to the Instruction Date to ensure that the Depositary will vote or cause to be voted the Shares or Deposited Securities in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Article 16 and Section 4.7 of the Deposit Agreement.
The Depositary may effect the voting instructions of an Owner only to the extent that such instructions would not violate the terms of Section 4.7 of the Deposit Agreement.
The Depositary shall establish such nominees (which nominees shall be wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by the Depositary) or mechanisms as may be necessary to effect the voting instructions of Owners given in accordance with Section 4.7 of the Deposit Agreement.
The Company agrees, without increasing its obligations or potential liability to the Owners or Beneficial Owners, to provide notice, to the extent practicable, of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities to the Depositary sufficiently in advance of such meeting in order to enable the Depositary or its nominee to vote or cause to be voted any such Shares or Deposited Securities in accordance with the terms of Section 4.7 of the Deposit Agreement.
17. CHANGES AFFECTING DEPOSITED SECURITIES.
In circumstances where the provisions of Section 4.3 of the Deposit Agreement do not apply, upon any change in nominal value, change in par value, split-up, consolidation, or any other reclassification of Deposited Securities, or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or sale of assets affecting the Company or to which it is a party, any securities which shall be received by the Depositary or its nominee 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 on the Shares, or call for the surrender of outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts specifically describing such new Deposited Securities.
18. LIABILITY OF THE COMPANY AND DEPOSITARY.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company, nor any of their respective directors, employees, agents or affiliates shall incur any liability to any Owner or holder of any Receipt, if by reason of any provision of any present or future law or regulation of the United States or any other country, or of any governmental or regulatory authority or stock exchange, or by reason of any provision, present or future, of the Articles, or by reason of any provision of any securities issued or distributed by the Company, or any offering or distribution thereof, or by reason of any act of God or war or terrorism or other circumstances beyond its control, the Depositary or the Company shall be prevented, delayed or forbidden from, or be subject to any civil or criminal penalty on account of, doing or performing any act or thing which by the terms of the Deposit Agreement it is provided shall be done or performed; nor shall the Depositary or the Company or any of their respective directors, employees, agents or affiliates incur any liability to any Owner or holder of any 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, or for the inability of any Owner or holder to benefit from any distribution, offering, right or other benefit which is made available to holders of Deposited Securities but is not, under the terms of the Deposit Agreement, made available to Owners or holders. Where, by the terms of a distribution pursuant to Sections 4.1, 4.2, or 4.3 of the Deposit Agreement, or an offering or distribution pursuant to Section 4.4 of the Deposit Agreement, or for any other reason, such distribution or offering may not be made available to Owners, and the Depositary may not dispose of such distribution or offering on behalf of such Owners and make the net proceeds available to such Owners, then the Depositary shall not make such distribution or offering, and shall allow any rights, if applicable, to lapse.
The Company assumes no obligation, nor shall it be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement to Owners or holders of Receipts, except that it agrees to perform its obligations specifically set forth in the Deposit Agreement without negligence or bad faith. The Depositary assumes no obligation nor shall it be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement to any Owner or holder of any Receipt (including, without limitation, liability with respect to the validity or worth of the Deposited Securities), except that it agrees to perform its obligations specifically set forth in the Deposit Agreement without negligence or bad faith. Neither the Depositary, nor the Company, nor any of their respective controlling persons, directors, officers, affiliates, employees or agents, shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any Deposited Securities or in respect of the 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 opinion, advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares for deposit, any Owner or Beneficial Owner or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information. The Depositary, its controlling persons, its agents, the Custodian, and the Company, its controlling persons and its agents may rely and shall be protected in acting upon any written notice, request, opinion or other document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties. The Depositary and its agents 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 liable for the acts or omissions of any securities depository, clearing agency or settlement system in connection with or arising out of book-entry settlement of Deposited Securities or otherwise. 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, provided that any such action or nonaction is in good faith, or the effect of any such vote. In no event shall the Depositary or any of its directors, officers, employees, agents and/or affiliates, or any of them, be liable for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential damages for any breach of the terms of the Deposit Agreement or otherwise. None of the Company, the Depositary or the Custodian shall be liable for the failure by any Owner or Beneficial Owner to obtain the benefits of credits on the basis of non-U.S. tax paid against such Owner's or Beneficial Owner's income tax liability. No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act of 1933 is intended by any provision of the Deposit Agreement.
19. RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF THE DEPOSITARY.
The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary under the Deposit Agreement by written notice of its election so to do delivered to the Company, such resignation 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 interest of the Owners of Receipts to do so, it may appoint a substitute or additional custodian or custodians.
20. AMENDMENT.
The form of the Receipts and any provisions of the Deposit Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended by agreement between the Company and the Depositary in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable. Any amendment which shall impose or increase any fees or charges (other than taxes and other governmental charges, registration fees, facsimile transmission costs, delivery costs or other such expenses), or which shall otherwise prejudice any substantial existing right of Owners of Receipts, shall, however, not become effective as to outstanding Receipts until the expiration of thirty days after notice of such amendment shall have been given to the Owners of outstanding Receipts. Every Owner 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any governmental body should adopt new laws, rules or regulations which would require amendment or supplement of the Deposit Agreement to ensure compliance therewith, the Company and the Depositary may amend or supplement the Deposit Agreement and the Receipt at any time in accordance with such changed laws, rules or regulations. Such amendment or supplement to the Deposit Agreement in such circumstances may become effective before a notice of such amendment or supplement is given to Owners or within any other period of time as required for compliance with such laws, rules or regulations.
The Company and the Depositary shall each use their best efforts to amend the Deposit Agreement and the Receipts as necessary to reflect changes in Portuguese law and in the Articles.
21. TERMINATION OF DEPOSIT AGREEMENT.
The Depositary shall at any time at the direction of the Company terminate the Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the Owners of all Receipts then outstanding at least 90 days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination. The Depositary may likewise terminate the Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the Company and the Owners of all Receipts then outstanding if at any time 90 days shall have expired after the Depositary shall have delivered to the Company a written notice of its election to resign and a successor depositary shall not have been appointed and accepted its appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. On and after the date of termination, the Owner of a Receipt will, upon (a) surrender of such Receipt at the Principal Office of the Depositary, (b) payment of the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of Receipts referred to in Section 2.5 of the Deposit Agreement, and (c) payment of any applicable taxes or governmental charges, be entitled to delivery, to him or upon his order, of the amount of Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt. If any Receipts shall remain outstanding after the date of termination, the Depositary thereafter shall discontinue the registration of transfers of Receipts, shall suspend the distribution of dividends to the Owners thereof, and shall not give any further notices or perform any further acts under the Deposit Agreement, except that the Depositary shall continue to collect dividends and other distributions pertaining to Deposited Securities, shall sell rights as provided in the Deposit Agreement, and shall continue to deliver Deposited Securities, together with any dividends or other distributions received with respect thereto and the net proceeds of the sale of any rights or other property, in exchange for Receipts surrendered to the Depositary (after deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of a Receipt, any expenses for the account of the Owner of such Receipt in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental charges). At any time after the expiration of six months from the date of termination, the Depositary may sell the Deposited Securities then held under the Deposit Agreement and may thereafter hold uninvested the net proceeds of any such sale, together with any other cash then held by it thereunder, unsegregated and without liability for interest, for the pro rata benefit of the Owners of Receipts which have not theretofore been surrendered, such Owners thereupon becoming general creditors of the Depositary with respect to such net proceeds. After making such sale, the Depositary shall be discharged from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement, except to account for such net proceeds and other cash (after deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of a Receipt, any expenses for the account of the Owner of such Receipt in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental charges). 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 under Sections 4.11, 5.8 and 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement. The obligations under the terms of the Deposit Agreement and the Receipts of Owners and Beneficial Owners outstanding as of the effective date of any termination shall survive such effective date of termination and shall be discharged only when the applicable American Depositary Shares are presented by their Owners to the Depositary for cancellation under the terms of the Deposit Agreement and the Owners have each satisfied any and all of their obligations hereunder (including, but not limited to, any payment and/or reimbursement obligations which relate to prior to the effective date of termination but which payment and/or reimbursement is claimed after such effective date of termination).
22. DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS; LIMITATIONS ON HOLDINGS.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Deposit Agreement, the constituent documents of the Company and applicable law, each Owner and Beneficial Owner agrees to (a) provide such information as the Company or the Depositary may request pursuant to law (including, without limitation, relevant Portuguese law and any applicable law of the United States), the constituent documents of the Company, any resolutions of the Company's Board of Directors adopted pursuant to such constituent documents, the requirements of any markets or exchanges upon which the Shares, American Depositary Shares or Receipts are listed or traded, or to any requirements of any electronic book-entry system by which the American Depositary Shares or Receipts may be transferred, regarding the capacity in which they own or owned Receipts, the identity of any other persons then or previously interested in such Receipts and the nature of such interest, and any other applicable matters, and (b) be bound by and subject to applicable provisions of the laws of Portugal, the constituent documents of the Company and the requirements of any markets or exchanges upon which the American Depositary Shares, Receipts or Shares are listed or traded, or pursuant to any requirements of any electronic book-entry system by which the American Depositary Shares, Receipts or Shares may be transferred, to the same extent as if such Owner and Beneficial Owner held Shares directly, in each case irrespective of whether or not they are Owners or Beneficial Owners at the time such request is made and (c) without limiting the generality of the foregoing, comply with all applicable provisions of Portuguese law, the rules and requirements of any stock exchange on which the Shares are registered, traded or listed and the Company's constituent documents regarding any such Owner or Beneficial Owner's interest in Shares (including the aggregate of American Depositary Shares and Shares held by each such Owner or Beneficial Owner) and/or the disclosure of interests therein, whether or not the same may be enforceable against such Owner or Beneficial Owner. Each Owner and Beneficial Owner of American Depositary Shares further agrees to furnish the Company and the Depositary with any such notification made in accordance with this Article 22 and Section 3.5 of the Deposit Agreement and to comply with requests for information from the Company or the Depositary pursuant to the laws of Portugal, the rules and requirements of any stock exchange on which the Shares are registered, traded or listed, and the Company's constituent documents, whether or not they are Owners and/or Beneficial Owners at the time of such request. The Depositary agrees to use its reasonable efforts to forward upon the request of the Company, and at the Company's expense, any such request from the Company to the Owners and to forward to the Company any such responses to such requests received by the Depositary.
(b) Each Owner by accepting a Receipt agrees that it shall be bound by, and subject to, the following provision:
No Owner performing, directly or indirectly, an activity which is competitive with that of the Company activities performed by companies with which the Company is in a “control relationship,” as such term is interpreted under Portuguese law, may, unless previously authorized at a meeting of holders of Shares, hold or control (or be deemed under Portuguese law to hold or control) American Depositary Shares or Shares representing in the aggregate more than 10% of the share capital of the Company. An entity shall be deemed to be performing an activity which is competitive with that of activities performed by companies with which the Company is in a control relationship if such entity, a company of which such entity owns more than at least 10% of the share capital, or a company that owns more than at least 10% of the share capital of such entity, offers, in or outside of Portugal, "public use telecommunications services", with the exception of "value added audio text services", or "network capacity services", as such terms are defined under Portuguese law, or engages in any other activity of the same type and nature as that being performed by companies with which the Company is in a control relationship. If any Owner performing an activity which is competitive with that of activities performed by companies with which the Company is in a control relationship holds or controls, or is deemed under Portuguese law to hold or control, American Depositary Shares or Shares in excess of 10% of the share capital of the Company without authorization at a shareholders’ meeting, the holders of Shares may decide at a meeting of holders of Shares to require the cancellation of Shares of, or represented by the American Depositary Shares of, such Owner to the extent necessary to enforce compliance with the 10% limit. In such case, the Company shall compensate the Owner in an amount equal to the nominal value of the cancelled Shares or, if less, their market value. Within five days of receipt of notice of such a decision taken at the meeting of holders of Shares, however, such Owner may request the permission of the board of directors of the Company to sell or otherwise dispose within thirty days of such request the number of American Depositary Shares or Shares necessary to comply with the 10% limit and suspend the cancellation of such American Depositary Shares or Shares. By making such request, such Owner renounces, pending the conclusion of such sale or disposition, all voting and preemptive subscription rights with respect to such American Depositary Shares or Shares.
(c) Any American Depositary Shares cancelled pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Article 22 and Section 3.4 of the Deposit Agreement shall be solely those of, or represented by the American Depositary representing the Shares of, the Owner deemed to be performing an activity which is competitive with that of activities performed by companies with which the Company is in a control relationship.
(d) The Depositary and the Company shall consult with and provide information to one another as necessary to effect the terms of this Article 22 and Section 3.4 of the Deposit Agreement.
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. This form of Receipt 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 Principal 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 Principal Office of an instruction to surrender American Depositary Shares not evidenced by a Receipt or (C) surrender to the Depositary at its Principal 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 5.3 and 5.8 of the Deposit Agreement shall apply to the matters arising from the use of the DRS. The parties agree that the 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.
24. COMPLIANCE WITH U.S. SECURITIES LAWS.
Notwithstanding anything in the Deposit Agreement to the contrary, the Company and the Depositary each agrees that it will not exercise any rights it has under the Deposit Agreement to permit the withdrawal or delivery of Deposited Securities in a manner which would violate the U.S. securities laws, including, but not limited to, Section I.A.(1) of the General Instructions to Form F-6, as amended from time to time, under the Securities Act of 1933.