Exhibit (a) THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED DEPOSIT AGREEMENT AMONG HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., CITIBANK, N.A., AS DEPOSITARY AND HOLDERS AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES ISSUED HEREUNDER
Exhibit (a)
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
AMONG
HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.,
CITIBANK, N.A.,
AS DEPOSITARY
AND
HOLDERS AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES ISSUED HEREUNDER
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
| Section 1. | Certain Definitions | 1 |
| (a) | “ADS Register” | 1 |
| (b) | “ADS Record Date” | 1 |
| (c) | “American Depositary Receipts(s)”, and “ADR(s)” | 1 |
| (d) | “American Depositary Share(s)” and “ADSs” | 2 |
| (e) | “Affiliate” | 2 |
| (f) | “Authorized Agent” | 3 |
| (g) | “Beneficial Owner(s)” | 3 |
| (h) | “Certificated ADS(s)” and “Uncertificated ADS(s)” | 3 |
| (i) | “Company Indemnified Parties” | 3 |
| (j) | “Custodian” | 3 |
| (k) | “Commission” | 4 |
| (l) | “Deliver,” “Delivery,” “execute,” “issue,” “register,” “surrender,” “transfer” or “cancel” | 4 |
| (m) | “Delivery Order” | 4 |
| (n) | “Deposited Property” | 4 |
| (o) | “Deposited Securities” | 4 |
| (p) | “Direct Registration System” | 4 |
| (q) | “Dollars” | 4 |
| (r) | “DTC” | 4 |
| (s) | “DTC Participant” | 5 |
| (t) | “Foreign Currency” | 5 |
| (u) | “Holder” | 5 |
| (v) | “JASDEC” | 5 |
| (w) | “Restricted Securities” | 5 |
| (x) | “Principal Office” | 6 |
| (y) | “Registrar” | 6 |
| (z) | “Restricted ADR(s)”, “Restricted ADS(s)” and “Restricted Shares” | 6 |
| (aa) | “Securities Act of 1933” | 6 |
| (bb) | “Securities Exchange Act of 1934” | 6 |
| (cc) | “Shares” | 6 |
| (dd) | “Special Damages” | 6 |
| (ee) | “Transfer Office” | 6 |
| (ff) | “Uncertificated Restricted ADSs” | 6 |
| Section 2. | Form of ADRs | 6 |
| Section 3. | Deposit of Shares | 8 |
| Section 4. | Registration and Safekeeping of Deposited Securities | 9 |
| Section 5. | Issue of ADRs | 10 |
| Section 6. | Certificated / Uncertificated ADSs | 10 |
| Section 7. | Restricted ADSs | 11 |
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| Section 8. | Distributions on Deposited Securities | 13 |
| Section 9. | Withdrawal of Deposited Securities | 13 |
| Section 10. | Taxation | 15 |
| Section 11. | Maintenance of Office and Transfer Books by the Registrar | 16 |
| Section 12. | Substitution of ADRs | 16 |
| Section 13. | Cancellation and Destruction of ADRs | 16 |
| Section 14. | The Custodian | 16 |
| Section 15. | Lists of Holders | 17 |
| Section 16. | Depositary’s Agents | 17 |
| Section 17. | Resignation and Removal of the Depositary; Appointment of Successor Depositary | 17 |
| Section 18. | Compliance with Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Reporting and Other Requirements; Reports | 18 |
| Section 19. | Additional Shares | 19 |
| Section 20. | Indemnification | 19 |
| Section 21. | Notices | 20 |
| Section 22. | Counterparts | 21 |
| Section 23. | No Third-Party Beneficiaries; Holders and Beneficial Owners as Parties; Binding Effect | 21 |
| Section 24. | Severability | 21 |
| Section 25. | Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction | 21 |
| Section 26. | Agent for Service | 22 |
| Section 27. | Waiver of Immunities | 23 |
| Section 28. | Waiver of Jury Trial | 23 |
| Section 29. | Amendment and Restatement of Original Deposit Agreement and Prior Receipts | 24 |
| Exhibit A: | Form of ADR | A-1 |
| Exhibit B: | Fee Schedule | B-1 |
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THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED DEPOSIT AGREEMENT, dated as of [●], 2026 (the “Deposit Agreement”), among HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., a joint stock corporation incorporated under the laws of Japan, and its successors (the “Company”), CITIBANK, N.A., a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States of America (the “Depositary”), and all Holders (as hereinafter defined) and Beneficial Owners (as hereinafter defined) from time to time of American Depositary Receipts (as hereinafter defined) issued hereunder evidencing American Depositary Shares (as hereinafter defined) representing deposited Shares (as hereinafter defined). The Company hereby appoints the Depositary as depositary for the Deposited Property (as hereinafter defined) and hereby authorizes and directs the Depositary to act in accordance with the terms set forth in this Deposit Agreement. All capitalized terms used herein have the meanings ascribed to them in Section 1 or elsewhere in this Deposit Agreement.
WHEREAS, the Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. previously entered into that certain Second Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of March 29, 2022 (the “Original Deposit Agreement”), for the deposit of existing Shares, the creation of American depositary shares issued under the terms of the Original Deposit Agreement and outstanding as of the date hereof and representing such existing Shares so deposited, and for the execution and Delivery (as hereinafter defined) of American depositary receipts evidencing such American depositary shares issued under the terms of the Original Deposit Agreement and outstanding as of the date hereof (“Prior Receipts”); and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to amend and restate the Original Deposit Agreement and to transfer to the successor Depositary the ADR (as hereinafter defined) facility currently existing under the Original Deposit Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to amend and restate the Original Deposit Agreement and provide in such transferred ADR facility, inter alia, for the deposit of the Shares and the creation of ADSs representing the Shares so deposited and for the execution and Delivery of American Depositary Receipts evidencing such American Depositary Shares; and
WHEREAS, the Depositary is willing to act as the Depositary for such ADR facility upon the terms set forth in the Deposit Agreement; and
NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby amend and restate the Original Deposit Agreement and the Prior Receipts in their entirety as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions.
(a) “ADS Register” is defined in paragraph (3) of the form of ADR (Transfers, Split-Ups and Combinations of ADRs).
(b) “ADS Record Date” is defined in Section (12) of the form of ADR.
(c) “American Depositary Receipts(s)”, and “ADR(s)” mean the American Depositary Receipts executed and delivered hereunder. ADRs may be either in physical certificated form or Direct Registration ADSs (as hereinafter defined). ADRs in physical certificated form, and the terms and conditions governing the Direct Registration ADSs, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A annexed hereto, as amended from time to time (the “form of ADR”). The term “Direct Registration ADS” means an ADS, the ownership of which is recorded on the Direct Registration System. References to “ADRs” shall include certificated ADRs and Direct Registration ADSs, unless the context otherwise requires. The form of ADR is hereby incorporated herein and made a part hereof; the provisions of the form of ADR shall be binding upon the parties hereto. Notwithstanding anything else contained herein or therein to the contrary, any Prior Receipts shall, from and after the date hereof, be treated as ADRs issued hereunder and shall, from and after the date hereof, be subject to the terms hereof in all respects.
(d) “American Depositary Share(s)” and “ADSs” shall mean the rights and interests in the Deposited Property granted to the Holders and Beneficial Owners pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement and, if issued as Certificated ADS(s) (as hereinafter defined), the ADR(s) issued to evidence such ADSs. ADS(s) may be issued under the terms of the Deposit Agreement in the form of (a) Certificated ADS(s), in which case the ADS(s) are evidenced by ADR(s), or (b) Uncertificated ADS(s) (as hereinafter defined), in which case the ADS(s) are not evidenced by physical certificated ADR(s) but are reflected on the Direct Registration System in the form of a Direct Registration ADS for such purposes under the terms of Section 6. Unless otherwise specified in the Deposit Agreement or in any ADR, or unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to ADS(s) shall include Certificated ADS(s) and Uncertificated ADS(s), individually or collectively, as the context may require. Each ADS shall represent the right to receive, and to exercise the beneficial ownership interests in, the number of Shares specified in the form of ADR that are on deposit with the Depositary and/or the Custodian, subject, in each case, to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR, until there shall occur a distribution upon Deposited Securities referred to in Paragraph (11) of the form ADR or a change in Deposited Securities referred to in Paragraph (14) of the form ADR with respect to which additional ADSs are not issued, and thereafter each ADS shall represent the right to receive, and to exercise the beneficial ownership interests in, the applicable Deposited Property on deposit with the Depositary and the Custodian determined in accordance with the terms of such Sections, subject, in each case, to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR. In addition, the ADS(s)-to-Share(s) ratio is subject to amendment as provided herein (which may give rise to Depositary fees).
(e) “Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to such term by the Commission (as hereinafter defined) (or any successor governmental agency thereto in the United States) under Regulation C promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933 (as hereinafter defined), or under any successor regulation thereto.
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(f) “Authorized Agent” is defined in Section 26(a).
(g) “Beneficial Owner(s)” means as to any ADS, the person(s) having a beneficial interest deriving from the ownership of such ADS. Notwithstanding anything else contained in the Deposit Agreement, any ADR(s) or any other instruments or agreements relating to the ADSs and the corresponding Deposited Property, the Depositary, the Custodian and their respective nominees are intended to be, and shall at all times during the term of the Deposit Agreement be, the record holders only of the Deposited Property represented by the ADSs for the benefit of the Holders and Beneficial Owners of the corresponding ADSs. The Depositary, on its own behalf and on behalf of the Custodian and their respective nominees, disclaims any beneficial ownership interest in the Deposited Property held on behalf of the Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs. The beneficial ownership interests in the Deposited Property are intended to be, and shall at all times during the term of the Deposit Agreement continue to be, vested in the Beneficial Owners of the ADSs. The beneficial ownership interests in the Deposited Property shall, unless otherwise agreed by the Depositary, be exercisable by the Beneficial Owners of the ADSs only through the Holders of such ADSs, by the Holders of the ADSs (on behalf of the applicable Beneficial Owners) only through the Depositary, and by the Depositary (on behalf of the Holders and Beneficial Owners of the corresponding ADSs) directly, or indirectly through the Custodian or their respective nominees, in each case upon the terms of the Deposit Agreement and, if applicable, the terms of the ADR(s) evidencing the ADSs. A Beneficial Owner of ADSs may or may not be the Holder of such ADSs. A Beneficial Owner shall be able to exercise any right or receive any benefit hereunder solely through the person who is the Holder of the ADSs owned by such Beneficial Owner. Unless otherwise identified to the Depositary, a Holder shall be deemed to be the Beneficial Owner of all the ADSs registered in his/her/its name. The Beneficial Owners acknowledge and accept that the manner in which Beneficial Owners own and/or hold ADSs (e.g., in a brokerage account vs. as registered Holders on the ADS Register maintained by the Depositary), the type of ADSs held (e.g., freely transferable ADSs vs. Restricted ADSs), the timeframe of issuance and ownership of ADSs (e.g., as of an ADS Record Date vs. before and/or after an ADS Record Date), and the number of ADSs held, may affect the rights and obligations of Beneficial Owners (including, without limitation, the ADS fees payable by Beneficial Owners), and the manner in which, and the extent to which, services are made available to, Beneficial Owners, in each case pursuant to the terms of the Deposit Agreement. Persons who own beneficial interests in the American depositary shares issued under the terms of the Original Deposit Agreement and outstanding as of the date hereof shall, from and after the date hereof, be treated as Beneficial Owners of ADS(s) under the terms hereof.
(h) “Certificated ADS(s)” and “Uncertificated ADS(s)” are defined in Section 6.
(i) “Company Indemnified Parties” is defined in Section 20(b).
(j) “Custodian” means (i) as of the date hereof, MUFG Bank, Ltd., a bank organized under the laws of Japan and having its principal office at ▇-▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇-▇▇, ▇▇▇▇-▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, as the custodian of Deposited Property for the purposes of the Deposit Agreement, (ii) Citibank, N.A., acting as custodian of Deposited Property pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, and (iii) any other entity that may be appointed by the Depositary pursuant to the terms of Section 14 as successor, substitute or additional custodian hereunder. The term “Custodian” shall mean any Custodian individually or all Custodians collectively, as the context requires.
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(k) “Commission” is defined in Section 18.
(l) The terms “Deliver,” “Delivery,” “execute,” “issue,” “register,” “surrender,” “transfer” or “cancel,” when used with respect to (i) Shares or ADSs refers, where the context requires, to an entry or entries or an electronic transfer or transfers in an account or accounts maintained by institutions authorized under applicable law to effect transfers of securities (which may include JASDEC) and not to the physical transfer of certificates representing the Shares or ADSs and (ii) Direct Registration ADSs, shall refer to an entry or entries or an electronic transfer or transfers in the Direct Registration System, and, when used with respect to ADRs in physical certificated form, shall refer to the physical delivery, execution, issuance, registration, surrender, transfer or cancellation of certificates representing such ADRs.
(m) “Delivery Order” is defined in Section 3.
(n) “Deposited Property” means the Deposited Securities and any cash and other property held on deposit by the Depositary and the Custodian in respect of the ADSs under the terms of the Deposit Agreement, subject, in the case of cash, to the provisions of Paragraph (8) of the form of ADR. All Deposited Property shall be held by the Custodian, the Depositary and their respective nominees for the benefit of the Holders and Beneficial Owners of the ADSs representing the Deposited Property. The Deposited Property is not intended to, and shall not, constitute proprietary assets of the Depositary, the Custodian or their nominees. Beneficial ownership in the Deposited Property is intended to be, and shall at all times during the term of the Deposit Agreement continue to be, vested in the Beneficial Owners of the ADSs representing the Deposited Property.
(o) “Deposited Securities” as of any time means the Shares and any other securities held on deposit by the Custodian from time to time in respect of the ADSs under the Deposit Agreement and constituting Deposited Property.
(p) “Direct Registration System” means the system for the uncertificated registration of ownership of securities established by DTC and utilized by the Depositary pursuant to which the Depositary may record the ownership of ADSs without the issuance of a certificate, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic statements issued by the Depositary to the Holders entitled thereto. For purposes hereof, the Direct Registration System shall include access to the Profile Modification System maintained by DTC, which provides for automated transfer of ownership between DTC and the Depositary.
(q) “Dollars” means the lawful currency of the United States of America.
(r) “DTC” means The Depository Trust Company, a national clearinghouse and the central book-entry settlement system for securities traded in the United States and, as such, the custodian for the securities of DTC Participants (as hereinafter defined) maintained in DTC, and any successor thereto.
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(s) “DTC Participant” means any financial institution (or any nominee of such institution) having one or more participant accounts with DTC for receiving, holding and Delivering the securities and cash held in DTC. A DTC Participant may or may not be a Beneficial Owner. If a DTC Participant is not the Beneficial Owner of the ADSs credited to its account at DTC, or of the ADSs in respect of which the DTC Participant is otherwise acting, such DTC Participant shall be deemed, for all purposes hereunder, to have all requisite authority to act on behalf of the Beneficial Owner(s) of the ADSs credited to its account at DTC or in respect of which the DTC Participant is so acting. A DTC Participant, upon acceptance in any one of its DTC accounts of any ADSs (or any interest therein) issued in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, or by continuing to hold in any one of its DTC accounts, from and after the date hereof, any American depositary shares issued and outstanding under the Original Deposit Agreement, shall (notwithstanding any explicit or implicit disclosure that it may be acting on behalf of another party) be deemed for all purposes to be a party to, and bound by, the terms of the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR(s) to the same extent as, and as if the DTC Participant were, the Holder of such ADSs.
(t) “Foreign Currency” means any currency other than Dollars.
(u) “Holder” means the person(s) in whose name the ADSs are registered on the books of the Depositary (or the Registrar, if any) maintained for such purpose. A Holder may or may not be a Beneficial Owner. If a Holder is not the Beneficial Owner of the ADS(s) registered in its name, such person shall be deemed, for all purposes hereunder, to have all requisite authority to act on behalf of the Beneficial Owners of the ADSs registered in its name. The manner in which Holders hold ADSs (e.g., in a brokerage account vs. as registered holders), the type of ADSs held (e.g., freely transferable ADSs vs. Restricted ADSs), the timeframe of issuance and ownership of ADSs (e.g., as of an ADS Record Date vs. before and/or after an ADS Record Date), and the number of ADSs held, may affect the rights and obligations of Holders (including, without limitation, the ADS fees payable by Holders), and the manner in which, and the extent to which, services are made available to, Holders, in each case pursuant to the terms of the Deposit Agreement. The “Holders” (as defined in the Original Deposit Agreement) of American depositary shares issued under the terms of the Original Deposit Agreement and outstanding as of the date hereof shall from and after the date hereof, become Holders under the terms of the Deposit Agreement.
(v) “JASDEC” means Japan Securities Depositary Center, Inc., which provides the book-entry settlement system for equity securities in Japan, or any successor entity thereto.
(w) “Restricted Securities” means mean Shares, Deposited Securities or ADSs which (i) have been acquired directly or indirectly from the Company or any of its Affiliates in a transaction or chain of transactions not involving any public offering and are subject to resale limitations under the Securities Act of 1933 or the rules promulgated thereunder, or (ii) are held by an executive officer or director (or persons performing similar functions) or other Affiliate of the Company, or (iii) are subject to other restrictions on sale or deposit under the laws of the United States, Japan, or under a shareholder agreement or the Articles of Incorporation of the Company or under the regulations of an applicable securities exchange unless, in each case, such Shares, Deposited Securities or ADSs are being transferred or sold to persons other than an Affiliate of the Company in a transaction (a) covered by an effective resale registration statement, or (b) exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, and the Shares, Deposited Securities or ADSs are not, when held by such person(s), Restricted Securities.
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(x) “Principal Office” means, when used with respect to the Depositary, the principal office of the Depositary at which at any particular time its depositary receipts business shall be administered, which, at the date of the Deposit Agreement, is located at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇.▇.
(y) “Registrar” means the Depositary or any bank or trust company having an office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, which shall be appointed by the Depositary to register issuances, transfers and cancellations of ADSs as herein provided, and shall include any co-registrar appointed by the Depositary for such purposes. Registrars (other than the Depositary) may be removed and substitutes appointed by the Depositary. Each Registrar (other than the Depositary) appointed pursuant to the Deposit Agreement shall be required to give notice in writing to the Depositary accepting such appointment and agreeing to be bound by the applicable terms of the Deposit Agreement.
(z) “Restricted ADR(s)”, “Restricted ADS(s)” and “Restricted Shares” have the respective meanings set forth in Section 7.
(aa) “Securities Act of 1933” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as from time to time amended.
(bb) “Securities Exchange Act of 1934” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as from time to time amended.
(cc) “Shares” mean the shares of common stock of the Company, and shall include the rights to receive Shares specified in Paragraph (1) of the form of ADR (Issuance of ADSs).
(dd) “Special Damages” is defined in Section 20(c).
(ee) “Transfer Office” is defined in Paragraph (3) of the form of ADR (Transfers, Split-Ups and Combinations of ADRs).
(ff) “Uncertificated Restricted ADSs” is defined in Section 7.
Section 2. Form of ADRs.
(a) Form. Certificated ADSs shall be evidenced by definitive ADRs which shall be engraved, printed, lithographed or produced in such other manner as may be agreed upon by the Company and the Depositary. ADRs may be issued under the Deposit Agreement in denominations of any whole number of ADSs. The ADRs shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A to the Deposit Agreement, with any appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, in each case as otherwise contemplated in the Deposit Agreement or required by law. ADRs shall be (i) dated, (ii) signed by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary, (iii) countersigned by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Registrar, and (iv) registered in the books maintained by the Registrar for the registration of issuances and transfers of ADSs. No ADR and no Certificated ADS evidenced thereby (other than an American depositary receipt issued and outstanding as of the date hereof under the terms of the Original Deposit Agreement which from and after the date hereof becomes subject to the terms of the Deposit Agreement in all respects) shall be entitled to any benefits under the Deposit Agreement or be valid or enforceable for any purpose against the Depositary or the Company, unless such ADR shall have been so dated, signed, countersigned and registered. ADRs bearing the facsimile signature of a duly-authorized signatory of the Depositary or the Registrar, who at the time of signature was a duly-authorized signatory of the Depositary or the Registrar, as the case may be, shall bind the Depositary, notwithstanding the fact that such signatory has ceased to be so authorized prior to the Delivery of such ADR by the Depositary. The ADRs shall bear a CUSIP number that is different from any CUSIP number that was, is or may be assigned to any depositary receipts previously or subsequently issued pursuant to any other arrangement between the Depositary (or any other depositary) and the Company and which are not ADRs outstanding hereunder.
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(b) Legends. The ADRs may be endorsed with, or have incorporated in the text thereof, such legends or recitals not inconsistent with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement as may be (i) necessary to enable the Depositary and the Company to perform their respective obligations hereunder, (ii) required to comply with any applicable laws or regulations, or with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or market upon which ADSs may be traded, listed or quoted, or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, (iii) necessary to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular ADRs or ADSs are subject by reason of the date of issuance of the Deposited Securities or otherwise, or (iv) required by any book-entry system in which the ADSs are held. Holders and Beneficial Owners shall be deemed, for all purposes, to have notice of, and to be bound by, the terms and conditions of the legends set forth, in the case of Holders, on the ADR registered in the name of the applicable Holders or, in the case of Beneficial Owners, on the ADR representing the ADSs owned by such Beneficial Owners.
(c) Title. Subject to the limitations contained herein and in the ADR, title to an ADR (and to each Certificated ADS evidenced thereby) shall be transferable upon the same terms as a certificated security under the laws of the State of New York, provided that, in the case of Certificated ADSs, such ADR has been properly endorsed or is accompanied by proper instruments of transfer. Notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, the Depositary and the Company may deem and treat the Holder of an ADS (that is, the person in whose name an ADS is registered on the books of the Depositary) as the absolute owner thereof for all purposes. Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall have any obligation nor be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement or any ADR to any Holder or any Beneficial Owner unless, in the case of a Holder of ADSs, such Holder is the Holder registered on the books of the Depositary or, in the case of a Beneficial Owner, such Beneficial Owner, or the Beneficial Owner’s representative, is the Holder registered on the books of the Depositary.
(d) Book-Entry Systems. The Depositary shall make arrangements for the acceptance of the ADSs into DTC. All ADSs held through DTC will be registered in the name of the nominee for DTC (currently “Cede & Co.”). As such, the nominee for DTC will be the only “Holder” of all ADSs held through DTC. Unless issued by the Depositary as Uncertificated ADSs, the ADSs registered in the name of Cede & Co. will be evidenced by one or more ADR(s) in the form of a “Balance Certificate,” which will provide that it represents the aggregate number of ADSs from time to time indicated in the records of the Depositary as being issued hereunder and that the aggregate number of ADSs represented thereby may from time to time be increased or decreased by making adjustments on such records of the Depositary and of DTC or its nominee as hereinafter provided. Citibank, N.A. (or such other entity as is appointed by DTC or its nominee) may hold the “Balance Certificate” as custodian for DTC. Each Beneficial Owner of ADSs held through DTC must rely upon the procedures of DTC and the DTC Participants to exercise or be entitled to any rights attributable to such ADSs. The DTC Participants shall for all purposes be deemed to have all requisite power and authority to act on behalf of the Beneficial Owners of the ADSs held in the DTC Participants’ respective accounts in DTC and the Depositary shall for all purposes be authorized to rely upon any instructions and information given to it by DTC Participants. So long as ADSs are held through DTC or unless otherwise required by law, ownership of beneficial interests in the ADSs registered in the name of the nominee for DTC will be shown on, and transfers of such ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by (i) DTC or its nominee (with respect to the interests of DTC Participants), or (ii) DTC Participants or their nominees (with respect to the interests of clients of DTC Participants). Any distributions made, and any notices given, by the Depositary to DTC under the terms of the Deposit Agreement shall (unless otherwise specified by the Depositary) satisfy the Depositary’s obligations under the Deposit Agreement to make such distributions, and give such notices, in respect of the ADSs held in DTC (including, for avoidance of doubt, to the DTC Participants holding the ADSs in their DTC accounts and to the Beneficial Owners of such ADSs).
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Section 3. Deposit of Shares. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement and applicable law, Shares or evidence of rights to receive Shares (other than Restricted Securities) may be deposited by any person (including the Depositary in its individual capacity but subject, however, in the case of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company to Section 19) at any time, whether or not the transfer books of the Company or its share registrar, if any, are closed, by Delivery of the Shares to the Custodian. Every deposit of Shares shall be accompanied by the following: (A) (i) in the case of Shares represented by certificates issued in registered form, appropriate instruments of transfer or endorsement, in a form satisfactory to the Custodian, (ii) in the case of Shares represented by certificates in bearer form, the requisite coupons and talons pertaining thereto, and (iii) in the case of Shares Delivered by book-entry transfer and recordation, confirmation of such book-entry transfer and recordation in the books of the Company’s share registrar or of the JASDEC, as applicable, to the Custodian or that irrevocable instructions have been given to cause such Shares to be so transferred and recorded, (B) such certifications and payments (including, without limitation, the Depositary’s fees and related charges) and evidence of such payments (including, without limitation, stamping or otherwise marking such Shares by way of receipt) as may be required by the Depositary or the Custodian in accordance with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement and applicable law, (C) if the Depositary so requires, a written order directing the Depositary to issue and Deliver, to or upon the written order of the person(s) stated in such order, the number of ADSs representing the Shares so deposited (a “Delivery Order”), (D) evidence satisfactory to the Depositary (which may be an opinion of counsel) that all necessary approvals have been granted by, or there has been compliance with the rules and regulations of, any applicable governmental agency in Japan, and (E) if the Depositary so requires, (i) an agreement, assignment or instrument satisfactory to the Depositary or the Custodian which provides for the prompt transfer by any person in whose name the Shares are or have been recorded to the Custodian of any distribution, or right to subscribe for additional Shares or to receive other property in respect of any such deposited Shares or, in lieu thereof, such indemnity or other agreement as shall be satisfactory to the Depositary or the Custodian 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 exercise voting rights in respect of the Shares for any and all purposes until the Shares so deposited are registered in the name of the Depositary, the Custodian or any nominee.
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Without limiting any other provision of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall instruct the Custodian not to, and the Depositary shall not knowingly, accept for deposit (a) any Restricted Securities (except as contemplated by Section 7) nor (b) any fractional Shares or fractional Deposited Securities nor (c) a number of Shares or Deposited Securities which upon application of the ADS to Shares ratio would give rise to fractional ADSs. No Shares shall be accepted for deposit unless accompanied by evidence, if any is required by the Depositary, that is reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary or the Custodian that all conditions to such deposit have been satisfied by the person depositing such Shares under the laws and regulations of Japan and any necessary approval has been granted by any applicable governmental body in Japan, if any. The Depositary may issue ADSs against evidence of rights to receive Shares from the Company, any agent of the Company or any custodian, registrar, transfer agent, clearing agency or other entity involved in ownership or transaction records in respect of the Shares. Such evidence of rights shall consist of written blanket or specific guarantees of ownership of Shares furnished by the Company or any such custodian, registrar, transfer agent, clearing agency or other entity involved in ownership or transaction records in respect of the Shares.
Without limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under the Deposit Agreement (A) any Shares or other securities required to be registered under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, unless (i) a registration statement is in effect as to such Shares or other securities or (ii) the deposit is made upon terms contemplated in Section 7, or (B) any Shares or other securities the deposit of which would violate any provisions of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the Depositary shall be entitled to rely upon representations and warranties made or deemed made pursuant to the Deposit Agreement and shall not be required to make any further investigation. The Depositary will comply with written instructions of the Company (received by the Depositary reasonably in advance) not to 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 of the United States.
Section 4. Registration and Safekeeping of Deposited Securities. The Depositary shall instruct the Custodian upon each Delivery of Shares being deposited hereunder with the Custodian (or other Deposited Securities pursuant to the terms hereof), together with the other documents above specified, to present such Shares, together with the appropriate instrument(s) of transfer or endorsement, duly stamped, to the Company’s share registrar for transfer and registration of the Shares (as soon as transfer and registration can be accomplished and at the expense of the person for whom the deposit is made) in the name of the Depositary, the Custodian or a nominee of either. Deposited Securities shall be held by the Depositary, or by a Custodian for the account and to the order of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary, in each case, on behalf of the Holders and Beneficial Owners, at such place(s) as the Depositary or the Custodian shall determine. Notwithstanding anything else contained in the Deposit Agreement, any ADR(s), or any other instruments or agreements relating to the ADSs and the corresponding Deposited Property, the registration of the Deposited Securities in the name of the Depositary, the Custodian or any of their respective nominees, shall, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, vest in the Depositary, the Custodian or the applicable nominee the record ownership in the applicable Deposited Securities with the beneficial ownership rights and interests in such Deposited Securities being at all times vested with the Beneficial Owners of the ADSs representing the Deposited Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Depositary, the Custodian and the applicable nominee shall at all times be entitled to exercise the beneficial ownership rights in all Deposited Property, in each case only on behalf of the Holders and Beneficial Owners of the ADSs representing the Deposited Property, upon the terms set forth in the Deposit Agreement and, if applicable, the ADR(s) representing the ADSs. The Depositary, the Custodian and their respective nominees shall for all purposes be deemed to have all requisite power and authority to act in respect of Deposited Property on behalf of the Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs representing the Deposited Property, and upon making payments to, or acting upon instructions from, or information provided by, the Depositary, the Custodian or their respective nominees, all persons shall be authorized to rely upon such power and authority.
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Section 5. Issue of ADRs. After any deposit of Shares for the issuance of ADSs as contemplated herein, the Custodian shall notify the Depositary of such deposit and of the information contained in any related Delivery Order by letter, first class airmail postage prepaid, or, at the request, risk and expense of the person making the deposit, by SWIFT, cable, telex or facsimile transmission. After receiving such notice from the Custodian, the Depositary, subject to this Deposit Agreement, shall properly issue at the Transfer Office, to or upon the order of any person named in such notice, an ADR or ADRs registered as requested and evidencing the aggregate ADSs to which such person is entitled.
Section 6. Certificated / Uncertificated ADSs. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may, at any time and from time to time, issue ADSs that are not evidenced by ADRs (such ADSs, the “Uncertificated ADS(s)” and the ADS(s) evidenced by ADR(s), the “Certificated ADS(s)”). When issuing and maintaining Uncertificated ADS(s) under the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall at all times be subject to (i) the standards applicable to registrars and transfer agents maintaining direct registration systems for equity securities in New York and issuing uncertificated securities under New York law, and (ii) the terms of New York law applicable to uncertificated equity securities. Uncertificated ADSs shall not be represented by any instruments but shall be evidenced by registration in the books of the Depositary maintained for such purpose. Holders of Uncertificated ADSs, that are not subject to any registered pledges, liens, restrictions or adverse claims of which the Depositary has notice at such time, shall at all times have the right to exchange the Uncertificated ADS(s) for Certificated ADS(s) of the same type and class, subject in each case to (x) applicable laws and any rules and regulations the Depositary may have established in respect of the Uncertificated ADSs, and (y) the continued availability of Certificated ADSs in the U.S. Holders of Certificated ADSs shall, if the Depositary maintains a direct registration system for the ADSs, have the right to exchange the Certificated ADSs for Uncertificated ADSs upon (i) the due surrender of the Certificated ADS(s) to the Depositary for such purpose and (ii) the presentation of a written request to that effect to the Depositary, subject in each case to (a) all liens and restrictions noted on the ADR evidencing the Certificated ADS(s) and all adverse claims of which the Depositary then has notice, (b) the terms of the Deposit Agreement and the rules and regulations that the Depositary may establish for such purposes hereunder, (c) applicable law, and (d) payment of the Depositary fees and expenses applicable to such exchange of Certificated ADS(s) for Uncertificated ADS(s). Uncertificated ADSs shall in all material respects be identical to Certificated ADS(s) of the same type and class, except that (i) no ADR(s) shall be, or shall need to be, issued to evidence Uncertificated ADS(s), (ii) Uncertificated ADS(s) shall, subject to the terms of the Deposit Agreement, be transferable upon the same terms and conditions as uncertificated securities under New York law, (iii) the ownership of Uncertificated ADS(s) shall be recorded on the books of the Depositary maintained for such purpose and evidence of such ownership shall be reflected in periodic statements provided by the Depositary to the Holder(s) in accordance with applicable New York law, (iv) the Depositary may from time to time, upon notice to the Holders of Uncertificated ADSs affected thereby, establish rules and regulations, and amend or supplement existing rules and regulations, as may be deemed reasonably necessary to maintain Uncertificated ADS(s) on behalf of Holders, provided that (a) such rules and regulations do not conflict with the terms of the Deposit Agreement and applicable law, and (b) the terms of such rules and regulations are readily available to Holders upon request, (v) the Uncertificated ADS(s) shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Deposit Agreement or be valid or enforceable for any purpose against the Depositary or the Company unless such Uncertificated ADS(s) is/are registered on the books of the Depositary maintained for such purpose, (vi) the Depositary may, in connection with any deposit of Shares resulting in the issuance of Uncertificated ADSs and with any transfer, pledge, release and cancellation of Uncertificated ADSs, require the prior receipt of such documentation as the Depositary may deem reasonably appropriate, and (vii) upon termination of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall not require Holders of Uncertificated ADSs to affirmatively instruct the Depositary before remitting proceeds from the sale of the Deposited Property represented by such Holders’ Uncertificated ADSs under the terms of Paragraph (19) of the form of ADR. When issuing ADSs under the terms of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may in its discretion determine to issue Uncertificated ADSs rather than Certificated ADSs, unless otherwise specifically instructed by the applicable Holder to issue Certificated ADSs. All provisions and conditions of the Deposit Agreement shall apply to Uncertificated ADSs to the same extent as to Certificated ADSs, except as contemplated by this Section 6. The Depositary is authorized and directed to take any and all actions and establish any and all procedures deemed reasonably necessary to give effect to the terms of this Section 6. Any references in the Deposit Agreement or any ADR(s) to the terms “American Depositary Share(s)” or “ADS(s)” shall, unless the context otherwise requires, include Certificated ADS(s) and Uncertificated ADS(s). Except as set forth in this Section 6 and except as required by applicable law, the Uncertificated ADSs shall be treated as ADSs issued and outstanding under the terms of the Deposit Agreement. In the event that, in determining the rights and obligations of parties hereto with respect to any Uncertificated ADSs, any conflict arises between (a) the terms of the Deposit Agreement (other than this Section 6) and (b) the terms of this Section 6, the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 6 shall be controlling and shall govern the rights and obligations of the parties to the Deposit Agreement pertaining to the Uncertificated ADSs.
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Section 7. Restricted ADSs. The Depositary shall, at the request and expense of the Company, establish procedures enabling the deposit hereunder of Shares that are Restricted Securities in order to enable the holder of such Shares to hold its ownership interests in such Restricted Securities in the form of ADSs issued under the terms hereof (such Shares, “Restricted Shares”). Upon receipt of a written request from the Company to accept Restricted Shares for deposit hereunder, the Depositary agrees to establish procedures permitting the deposit of such Restricted Shares and the issuance of ADSs representing the right to receive, subject to the terms of the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR, such deposited Restricted Shares (such ADSs, the “Restricted ADSs,” and the ADRs evidencing such Restricted ADSs, the “Restricted ADRs”). Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 7, the Depositary and the Company may, to the extent not prohibited by law, agree to issue the Restricted ADSs in uncertificated form (“Uncertificated Restricted ADSs”) upon such terms and conditions as the Company and the Depositary may deem necessary and appropriate. The Company shall assist the Depositary in the establishment of such procedures and agrees that it shall take all steps necessary and satisfactory to the Depositary to ensure that the establishment of such procedures does not violate the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 or any other applicable laws. The depositors of such Restricted Shares and the Holders of the Restricted ADSs may be required prior to the deposit of such Restricted Shares, the transfer of the Restricted ADRs and Restricted ADSs or the withdrawal of the Restricted Shares represented by Restricted ADSs to provide such written certifications or agreements as the Depositary or the Company may require. The Company shall provide to the Depositary in writing the legend(s) to be affixed to the Restricted ADRs (if the Restricted ADSs are to be issued as Certificated ADSs), or to be included in the statements issued from time to time to Holders of Uncertificated ADSs (if issued as Uncertificated Restricted ADSs), which legends shall (i) be in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary and (ii) contain the specific circumstances under which the Restricted ADSs, and, if applicable, the Restricted ADRs evidencing the Restricted ADSs, may be transferred or the Restricted Shares withdrawn. The Restricted ADSs issued upon the deposit of Restricted Shares shall be separately identified on the books of the Depositary and the Restricted Shares so deposited shall, to the extent required by law, be held separate and distinct from the other Deposited Securities held hereunder. The Restricted ADSs shall not be eligible for inclusion in any book-entry settlement system, including, without limitation, DTC (unless (x) otherwise agreed by the Company and the Depositary, (y) the inclusion of Restricted ADSs is acceptable to the applicable clearing system, and (z) the terms of such inclusion are generally accepted by the Commission (as hereinafter defined) for Restricted Securities of that type), and shall not in any way be fungible with the ADSs issued under the terms hereof that are not Restricted ADSs. The Restricted ADSs, and, if applicable, the Restricted ADRs evidencing the Restricted ADSs, shall be transferable only by the Holder thereof upon delivery to the Depositary of (i) all documentation otherwise contemplated by the Deposit Agreement and (ii) an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Depositary setting forth, inter alia, the conditions upon which the Restricted ADSs presented, and, if applicable, the Restricted ADRs evidencing the Restricted ADSs, are transferable by the Holder thereof under applicable securities laws and the transfer restrictions contained in the legend applicable to the Restricted ADSs presented for transfer. Except as set forth in this Section 7 and except as required by applicable law, the Restricted ADSs and the Restricted ADRs evidencing Restricted ADSs shall be treated as ADSs and ADRs issued and outstanding under the terms of the Deposit Agreement. In the event that, in determining the rights and obligations of parties hereto with respect to any Restricted ADSs, any conflict arises between (a) the terms of the Deposit Agreement (other than this Section 7) and (b) the terms of (i) this Section 7 or (ii) the applicable Restricted ADR, the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 7 and of the Restricted ADR shall be controlling and shall govern the rights and obligations of the parties to the Deposit Agreement pertaining to the deposited Restricted Shares, the Restricted ADSs and Restricted ADRs.
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If the Restricted ADRs, the Restricted ADSs and the Restricted Shares cease to be Restricted Securities, the Depositary, upon receipt of (x) an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Depositary setting forth, inter alia, that the Restricted ADRs, the Restricted ADSs and the Restricted Shares are not as of such time, or in connection with a transaction will not be, Restricted Securities, (y) instructions from the Company and/or the applicable ADS Holder to remove the restrictions applicable to the Restricted ADRs, the Restricted ADSs and the Restricted Shares, and (z) payment of applicable taxes and the ADS fees and charges of the Depositary (as set forth in Paragraph (7) of the form of ADR and in Exhibit B attached hereto) for each of the issuance, cancellation, transfer and conversion processes undertaken in connection with the removal of the restrictions applicable to the Restricted ADRs, Restricted ADSs and/or Restricted Shares (as the case may be), shall (i) eliminate the distinctions and separations that may have been established between the applicable Restricted Shares held on deposit under this Section 7 and the other Shares held on deposit under the terms of the Deposit Agreement that are not Restricted Shares by converting the Restricted ADSs into freely transferable ADSs (which shall entail, inter alia, the cancellation of the Restricted ADSs and the issuance of the corresponding freely transferable ADSs, and instructing the Custodian to transfer the corresponding Shares from and into the applicable custody accounts maintained for the applicable ADS series), (ii) treat the newly unrestricted ADRs and ADSs on the same terms as, and fully fungible with, the other ADRs and ADSs issued and outstanding under the terms of the Deposit Agreement that are not Restricted ADRs or Restricted ADSs, and (iii) take all actions necessary to remove any distinctions, limitations and restrictions previously existing under this Section 7 between the applicable Restricted ADRs and Restricted ADSs, respectively, on the one hand, and the other ADRs and ADSs that are not Restricted ADRs or Restricted ADSs, respectively, on the other hand, including, without limitation, by making the newly-unrestricted ADSs eligible for inclusion in the applicable book-entry settlement systems.
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Section 8. Distributions on Deposited Securities. To the extent that the Depositary determines in its discretion that any distribution pursuant to Paragraph (11) of the form of ADR (Distributions on Deposited Securities) is not practicable with respect to any Holder, the Depositary may make such distribution as it so deems practicable, including the distribution of Foreign Currency, securities or property (or appropriate documents evidencing the right to receive Foreign Currency, securities or property) or the retention thereof as Deposited Securities with respect to such Holder’s ADSs (without liability for interest thereon or the investment thereof).
Section 9. Withdrawal of Deposited Securities. The Holder of ADSs shall be entitled to Delivery (at the Custodian’s designated office) of the Deposited Securities at the time represented by the ADSs upon satisfaction of each of the following conditions: (i) the Holder (or a duly-authorized attorney of the Holder) has duly Delivered ADSs to the Depositary at its Principal Office (and if applicable, the ADRs evidencing such ADSs) for the purpose of withdrawal of the Deposited Securities represented thereby, (ii) if applicable and so required by the Depositary, the ADRs Delivered to the Depositary for such purpose have been properly endorsed in blank or are accompanied by proper instruments of transfer in blank (including signature guarantees in accordance with standard securities industry practice), (iii) if so required by the Depositary, the Holder of the ADSs has executed and delivered 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 the person(s) designated in such order, and (iv) all applicable ADS fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and all applicable taxes and governmental charges (as are set forth in Paragraph (7) of the form of ADR and in Exhibit B attached hereto) have been paid, subject, however, in each case, to the terms and conditions of the ADRs evidencing the surrendered ADSs, of the Deposit Agreement, of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and of any applicable laws and the rules of JASDEC, and to any provisions of or governing the Deposited Securities, in each case as in effect at the time thereof.
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Upon satisfaction of each of the conditions specified above, the Depositary (i) shall cancel the ADSs Delivered to it (and, if applicable, the ADR(s) evidencing the ADSs so Delivered), (ii) shall direct the Registrar to record the cancellation of the ADSs so Delivered on the books maintained for such purpose, and (iii) shall direct the Custodian to Deliver, or cause the Delivery of, in each case, without unreasonable delay, the Deposited Securities represented by the ADSs so canceled together with any certificate or other document of title for the Deposited Securities, or evidence of the electronic transfer thereof (if available), as the case may be, to or upon the written order of the person(s) designated in the order delivered to the Depositary for such purpose, subject however, in each case, to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, of the ADRs evidencing the ADSs so canceled, of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, of any applicable laws and of the rules of the JASDEC, and to the terms and conditions of or governing the Deposited Securities, in each case as in effect at the time thereof.
The Depositary shall not accept for surrender ADSs representing less than one (1) Share. In the case of Delivery to it of ADSs representing a number other than a whole number of Shares, the Depositary shall cause ownership of the appropriate whole number of Shares to be Delivered in accordance with the terms hereof, and shall, at the discretion of the Depositary, either (i) return to the person surrendering such ADSs the number of ADSs representing any remaining fractional Share, or (ii) sell or cause to be sold the fractional Share represented by the ADSs so surrendered and remit the proceeds of such sale (net of (a) applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes withheld) to the person surrendering the ADSs.
Upon receipt of satisfactory instructions from ADS Holders and payment of applicable taxes and the ADS fees and charges of the Depositary for the issuance, cancellation, and conversion of ADSs (as set forth in Paragraph (7) of the form of ADR and in Exhibit B attached hereto), the Depositary shall also, subject to the applicable terms and conditions of, and contemplated in, the Deposit Agreement and applicable law, cancel ADSs in connection with the conversion of ADSs of one series for ADSs of another series (e.g., in connection with the conversion of Restricted ADSs into freely transferable ADSs), in which case, (i) the number of ADSs of one series so cancelled shall equal the number of ADSs issued of the corresponding series, and (ii) the Depositary shall to the extent applicable direct the Custodian to transfer the corresponding Shares from and into the applicable custody accounts maintained for the applicable ADS series.
Notwithstanding anything else contained in any ADR or the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may make delivery at the Principal Office of the Depositary of Deposited Property consisting of (i) any cash dividends or cash distributions, or (ii) any proceeds from the sale of any non-cash distributions, which are at the time held by the Depositary in respect of the Deposited Securities represented by the ADSs surrendered for cancellation and withdrawal. At the request, risk and expense of any such Holder so surrendering ADSs, and for the account of such Holder, the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to forward (to the extent permitted by law) any Deposited Property (other than Deposited Securities) held by the Custodian in respect of such ADSs 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 Holder, by cable, telex or facsimile transmission.
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Section 10. Taxation. The Depositary will, and will instruct the Custodian to, forward to the Company or its agents such information from its records as the Company may reasonably request to enable the Company or its agents to file the necessary tax reports with governmental authorities or agencies. The Depositary, the Custodian or the Company and its agents may file such reports as are necessary to reduce or eliminate applicable taxes on dividends and on other distributions in respect of Deposited Property under applicable tax treaties or laws for the Holders and Beneficial Owners. In accordance with instructions from the Company and to the extent practicable, the Depositary or the Custodian will take reasonable administrative actions to obtain tax refunds, reduced withholding of tax at source on dividends and other benefits under applicable tax treaties or laws with respect to dividends and other distributions on the Deposited Property. As a condition to receiving such benefits, Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs may be required from time to time, and in a timely manner, to file such proof of taxpayer status, residence and beneficial ownership (as applicable), to execute such certificates and to make such representations and warranties, or to provide any other information or documents, as the Depositary or the Custodian may deem necessary or proper to fulfill the Depositary’s or the Custodian’s obligations under applicable law. The Depositary and the Company shall have no obligation or liability to any person if any Holder or Beneficial Owner fails to provide such information or if such information does not reach the relevant tax authorities in time for any Holder or Beneficial Owner to obtain the benefits of any tax treatment. The Holders and Beneficial Owners shall indemnify the Depositary, the Company, the Custodian and any of their respective directors, employees, agents and Affiliates against, and hold each of them harmless from, any claims by any governmental authority with respect to taxes, additions to tax, penalties or interest arising out of any refund of taxes, reduced rate of withholding at source or other tax benefit obtained.
If the Company (or any of its agents) withholds from any distribution any amount on account of taxes or governmental charges, or pays any other tax in respect of such distribution (e.g., stamp duty tax, capital gains or other similar tax), the Company shall (and shall cause such agent to) remit promptly to the Depositary information about such taxes or governmental charges withheld or paid, and, if so requested, the tax receipt (or other proof of payment to the applicable governmental authority) therefor, in each case, in a form satisfactory to the Depositary. The Depositary shall, to the extent required by U.S. law, report to Holders any taxes withheld by it or the Custodian, and, if such information is provided to it by the Company, any taxes withheld by the Company. The Depositary and the Custodian shall not be required to provide the Holders with any evidence of the remittance by the Company (or its agents) of any taxes withheld, or of the payment of taxes by the Company, except to the extent the evidence is provided by the Company to the Depositary or the Custodian, as applicable. Neither the Depositary nor the Custodian shall be liable for the failure by any Holder or Beneficial Owner to obtain the benefits of credits on the basis of non-U.S. tax paid against such ▇▇▇▇▇▇’s or Beneficial Owner’s income tax liability.
The Depositary is under no obligation to provide the Holders 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 Holders and Beneficial Owners on account of their ownership of the ADSs, including without limitation, tax consequences resulting from the Company (or any of its subsidiaries) being treated as a “Passive Foreign Investment Company” (in each case as defined in the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations issued thereunder) or otherwise.
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Section 11. Maintenance of Office and Transfer Books by the Registrar. Until termination of the Deposit Agreement in accordance with its terms, the Registrar shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, an office and facilities for the issuance and Delivery of ADSs, the acceptance for surrender of ADS(s) for the purpose of withdrawal of Deposited Securities, the registration of issuances, cancellations, transfers, combinations and split-ups of ADS(s) and, if applicable, to countersign ADRs evidencing the ADSs so issued, transferred, combined or split-up, in each case in accordance with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement.
The Registrar shall keep books for the registration of ADSs which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Company and by the Holders of such ADSs, provided that such inspection shall not be, to the Registrar’s knowledge, for the purpose of communicating with Holders of such ADSs in the interest of a business or object other than the business of the Company or other than a matter related to the Deposit Agreement or the ADSs.
The Registrar may close the transfer books with respect to the ADSs, at any time or from time to time, when deemed necessary or advisable by it in good faith in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder, or at the reasonable written request of the Company subject, in all cases, to Paragraph (2) of the form of ADR.
If any ADSs are listed on one or more stock exchanges or automated quotation systems in the United States, the Depositary shall act as Registrar or appoint a Registrar or one or more co-registrars for registration of issuances, cancellations, transfers, combinations and split-ups of ADSs and, if applicable, to countersign ADRs evidencing the ADSs so issued, transferred, combined or split-up, in accordance with any requirements of such exchanges or systems. Such Registrar or co-registrars may be removed and a substitute or substitutes appointed by the Depositary.
Section 12. Substitution of ADRs. The Depositary shall execute and Deliver a new Direct Registration ADS in exchange and substitution for any mutilated certificated ADR upon cancellation thereof or in lieu of and in substitution for such destroyed, lost or stolen certificated ADR, unless the Depositary has notice that such ADR has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, upon the Holder thereof filing with the Depositary a request for such execution and Delivery and a sufficient indemnity bond and satisfying any other reasonable requirements imposed by the Depositary.
Section 13. Cancellation and Destruction of ADRs. All ADRs surrendered to the Depositary shall be cancelled by the Depositary. The Depositary is authorized to destroy ADRs in certificated form so cancelled in accordance with its customary practices.
Section 14. The Custodian. The Depositary has initially appointed MUFG Bank, Ltd. as Custodian for the purpose of the Deposit Agreement. The Custodian or its successors in acting hereunder shall be authorized to act as custodian in Japan and shall be subject at all times and in all respects to the direction of the Depositary for the Deposited Property for which the Custodian acts as custodian and shall be responsible solely to it. If any Custodian resigns or is discharged from its duties hereunder with respect to any Deposited Property and no other Custodian has previously been appointed hereunder, the Depositary shall promptly appoint a substitute custodian. The Depositary shall require such resigning or discharged Custodian to Deliver, or cause the Delivery of, the Deposited Property held by it, together with all such records maintained by it as Custodian with respect to such Deposited Property as the Depositary may request, to the Custodian designated by the Depositary. Whenever the Depositary determines, in its discretion, that it is appropriate to do so, it may appoint an additional custodian with respect to any Deposited Property, or discharge the Custodian with respect to any Deposited Property and appoint a substitute custodian, which shall thereafter be Custodian hereunder with respect to the Deposited Property. Immediately upon any such change, the Depositary shall give notice thereof in writing to all Holders of ADSs, each other Custodian and the Company.
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Citibank may at any time act as Custodian of the Deposited Property pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, in which case any reference to Custodian shall mean Citibank solely in its capacity as Custodian pursuant to the Deposit Agreement. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement or any ADR to the contrary, the Depositary shall not be obligated to give prior notice to any Holders of ADSs or any other Custodian of its acting as Custodian pursuant to the Deposit Agreement.
Section 15. Lists of Holders. The Company shall have the right to inspect transfer records of the Depositary and its agents and the ADS Register, take copies thereof and require the Depositary and its agents to supply copies of such portions of such records as the Company may request. The Depositary or its agents shall furnish to the Company promptly upon the written request of the Company, a list of the names, addresses and holdings of ADSs by all Holders as of a date within seven days of the Depositary’s receipt of such request.
Section 16. Depositary’s Agents. The Depositary may perform its obligations under this Deposit Agreement through any agent appointed by it, provided that the Depositary shall notify the Company of such appointment and shall remain responsible for the performance of such obligations as if no agent were appointed, subject to Paragraph (15) of the form of ADR (Exoneration).
Section 17. Resignation and Removal of the Depositary; Appointment of Successor Depositary.
(a) Resignation of the Depositary. The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary hereunder by written notice of its election to do so 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.
(b) Removal of the Depositary. The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by providing no less than 90 days’ prior written notice of such removal to the Depositary, such removal to take effect on the later of (i) the 90th day after such notice of removal is first provided and (ii) the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if upon the resignation or removal of the Depositary a successor depositary is not appointed within the applicable 90-day period as specified in Paragraph (19) of the form of ADR (Termination), then the Depositary may elect to terminate this Deposit Agreement and the ADR and the provisions of said Paragraph (19) shall thereafter govern the Depositary’s obligations hereunder.
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(c) Appointment of Successor Depositary. In case at any time the Depositary acting hereunder shall resign or be removed, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to appoint a successor depositary, which shall be a bank or trust company having an office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York. Every successor depositary shall execute and deliver to its predecessor and to the Company an instrument in writing accepting its appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor depositary, without any further act or deed, shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor. The predecessor depositary, only upon payment of all sums due to it and on the written request of the Company, shall (i) execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor all rights and powers of such predecessor hereunder (other than its rights to indemnification and fees owing, each of which shall survive any such removal and/or resignation), (ii) duly assign, transfer and deliver all right, title and interest to the Deposited Securities to such successor, and (iii) deliver to such successor a list of the Holders of all outstanding ADRs. Any such successor depositary shall promptly mail notice of its appointment to such Holders. Any bank or trust company into or with which the Depositary may be merged or consolidated, or to which the Depositary shall transfer substantially all its American depositary receipt business, shall be the successor of the Depositary without the execution or filing of any document or any further act.
Section 18. Compliance with Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Reporting and Other Requirements; Reports.
(a) Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and, accordingly, files certain reports with the Securities Exchange Commission (the “Commission”). Such reports and other information may be inspected and copied through the Commission’s ▇▇▇▇▇ system or at public reference facilities maintained by the Commission, currently located at ▇▇▇ ▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇. The Company represents and warrants that as of the date of the Deposit Agreement, it is in compliance with the registration, reporting and other requirements of the Securities Act of 1934 and hereby covenants and agrees to publish and file all reports, and to take all other actions, necessary and/or required to remain in compliance with the registration, reporting and other requirements of the Securities Act of 1934 as and when required at all times hereafter in order to remain in compliance with such registration, reporting and other requirements. The Company agrees to promptly notify the Depositary and all Holders in the event of any change in the truth of any such representations, warranties, covenants and agreements. The Company, and each Holder and Beneficial Owner of an ADR and/or an interest therein by so holding or owning an ADR and/or an interest therein, acknowledges and agrees that (i) the Depositary does not assume any duty or responsibility to determine if the Company is in compliance with the current registration, reporting and other requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or to take any action if the Company is not complying with those requirements, and (ii) the Depositary is relying solely on the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Company in this Section 18(a) in connection therewith and may, and is expressly authorized by the Company to, so rely on, and represent, warrant and certify that the Company is compliant with the registration, reporting and other requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 based on the foregoing representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Company.
(b) Reports. On or before the first date on which the Company makes any communication available to holders of Deposited Securities or any securities regulatory authority or stock exchange, by publication or otherwise, the Company shall transmit to the Depositary a copy thereof in English or with an English translation or summary. The Company has delivered to the Depositary, the Custodian and any Transfer Office, a copy of all 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 change thereto, the Company shall deliver to the Depositary, the Custodian and any Transfer Office, a copy (in English or with an English translation) of such provisions as so changed. The Depositary and its agents may rely upon the Company’s delivery of all such communications, information and provisions for all purposes of this Deposit Agreement and the Depositary shall have no liability for the accuracy or completeness of any thereof.
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Section 19. Additional Shares. The Company agrees with the Depositary that neither the Company nor any company controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company shall (a) issue (i) additional Shares, (ii) rights to subscribe for Shares, (iii) securities convertible into or exchangeable for Shares or (iv) rights to subscribe for any such securities or (b) deposit any Shares under this Deposit Agreement, except, in each case, under circumstances complying in all respects with the Securities Act of 1933. At the reasonable request of the Depositary where it deems necessary, the Company will furnish the Depositary with legal opinions, in forms and from counsels reasonably acceptable to the Depositary, dealing with such issues requested by the Depositary. The Depositary will not knowingly accept for deposit hereunder any Shares required to be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 unless a registration statement is in effect and will use reasonable efforts to comply with written instructions of the Company not to 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 requirements of the securities laws, rules and regulations in the United States.
Section 20. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall indemnify, defend and save harmless each of the Depositary, the Custodian and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and affiliates against any loss, liability or expense (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) that may arise out of acts performed or omitted, in connection with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement and of the ADRs, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance herewith (i) by either the Depositary or a Custodian or their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and affiliates, except for any liability or expense directly arising out of the negligence or willful misconduct of either the Depositary or the Custodian or their respective directors, officers or employees, agents or affiliates acting in their capacities as such hereunder, or (ii) by the Company or any of its directors, officers, employees, agents and affiliates, including, without limitation, if any of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 18 hereof and/or Paragraph 9 of the Form of ADR (Available Information) were or are incorrect in any respect and/or if the Company violates or breaches any of its covenants or agreements contained therein with respect to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise.
The indemnities set forth in the preceding paragraph shall also apply to any liability or expense that 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, issuance, withdrawal or sale of ADSs or the deposit, withdrawal, offer or sale of Shares, except to the extent any such liability or expense arises out of information relating to the Depositary or its agents (other than the Company), as applicable, furnished in writing by the Depositary expressly for use in any of the foregoing documents and not changed or altered by the Company.
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(b) Indemnification by the Depositary. Subject to the limitations provided for in Section 20(c) below, the Depositary shall indemnify, defend and save harmless the Company, its directors, officers, employees, agents and affiliates (the “Company Indemnified Parties”) against any direct loss, liability or expense (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) incurred by the Company Indemnified Parties in respect of this Deposit Agreement to the extent such loss, liability or expense is due to the negligence or willful misconduct of the Depositary acting in its capacity as such hereunder or its directors, officers, employees and affiliates acting in their capacities as such hereunder on behalf of the Depositary.
(c) Damages or Lost Profits. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Deposit Agreement or the ADRs to the contrary, neither the Depositary, and its agents, on the one hand, nor the Company and its agents, on the other hand, shall be liable to the other for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential damages (excluding reasonable legal fees and expenses of counsel) or lost profits, in each case of any form (collectively, “Special Damages”) incurred by of them or liable to any person or entity (including, without limitation, Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADRs and ADSs), for any Special Damages, or any legal fees and expenses in connection therewith, whether or not foreseeable and regardless of the type of action in which such a claim may be brought provided, however, that (i) notwithstanding the foregoing and, for the avoidance of doubt, the Depositary and its agents shall be entitled to reasonable legal fees and expenses of counsel in defending against any claim for Special Damages and (ii) to the extent Special Damages arise from or out of a claim brought by a third party (including, without limitation, Holders and Beneficial Owners) against the Depositary or any of its agents, the Depositary and its agents shall be entitled to full indemnification from the Company for all such Special Damages, and reasonable fees and expenses of counsel in connection therewith, unless such Special Damages are found to have been a direct result of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the party seeking indemnification.
(d) Survival. The obligations set forth in this Section 20 shall survive the termination of this Deposit Agreement and the succession or substitution of any indemnified person.
Section 21. Notices.
(a) Notice to Holders. Notice to any Holder shall be deemed given when first mailed, first class postage prepaid, to the address of such Holder on the ADS Register or received by such Holder. Failure to notify a Holder or any defect in the notification to a Holder shall not affect the sufficiency of notification to other Holders or to the Beneficial Owners of the ADSs evidenced by the ADRs held by such other Holders. For the avoidance of doubt, where the Depositary is required to give notice under any section of this Deposit Agreement or the ADRs to the Holders, the Depositary will be under no requirement to separately give notice to any Beneficial Owner the Depositary’s only such notice obligations being to the Holders. Notice to a Holder shall be deemed, for all purposes of the Deposit Agreement and the ADRs, to constitute notice to any and all Beneficial Owners of the ADSs evidenced by such ▇▇▇▇▇▇’s ADRs. Any notices given to DTC under the terms of the Deposit Agreement shall (unless otherwise specified by the Depositary) constitute notice to the DTC Participants who hold the ADSs in their DTC accounts and to the Beneficial Owners of such ADSs.
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(b) Notice to the Depositary or the Company. Notice to the Depositary or the Company shall be deemed given when first received by it at the address or by electronic transmission to the e-mail address set forth in (i) or (ii), respectively, or at such other address or email address provided by the Depositary or the Company to the other, respectively, in the same manner as notices are required to be provided in this Section 21:
| (i) | Citibank, N.A. |
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
New York, New York 10013, U.S.A.
Attention: Depositary Receipts Department
| (ii) | Honda Motor Co., Ltd. ▇▇. ▇-▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇-▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ Attention: Manager of Investor Relations Department E-mail Address: ▇▇▇_▇_▇▇▇@▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇.▇▇ |
Delivery of a notice by means of electronic messaging shall be deemed to be effective at the time of the initiation of the transmission by the sender (as shown on the sender’s records) to the email address set forth above, notwithstanding that the intended recipient retrieves the message at a later date, fails to retrieve such message, or fails to receive such notice on account of its failure to maintain the designated e-mail address, its failure to designate a substitute e-mail address or for any other reason.
Section 22. Counterparts. This Deposit Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Deposit Agreement by facsimile or other electronic transmission (including “.pdf”, “.tif” or similar format) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.
Section 23. No Third-Party Beneficiaries; Holders and Beneficial Owners as Parties; Binding Effect. This Deposit Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the Company, the Depositary and the Holders and their respective successors hereunder, and, except to the extent specifically set forth in Section 20 of this Deposit Agreement, shall not give any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim whatsoever to any other person. The Holders and Beneficial Owners from time to time shall be parties to this Deposit Agreement and shall be bound by all of the provisions hereof.
Section 24. Severability. If any provision contained in this Deposit Agreement or in the ADRs is, or becomes, invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the remaining provisions contained herein and therein shall in no way be affected thereby.
Section 25. Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction.
(a) Governing Law. The Deposit Agreement, the ADSs and the ADRs shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be wholly performed in that State.
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(b) By the Company. The Company irrevocably agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding against or involving the Company brought by the Depositary arising out of or based upon this Deposit Agreement, the ADSs, the ADRs or the transactions contemplated herein, therein, hereby or thereby, may be instituted in any state or federal court in New York, New York, and irrevocably waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding, and irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. The Company also irrevocably agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding against or involving the Depositary brought by the Company, arising out of or based upon this Deposit Agreement, the ADSs, the ADRs or the transactions contemplated herein, therein, hereby or thereby, may be instituted only in a state or federal court in New York, New York.
(c) By Holders and Beneficial Owners. By holding or owning an ADR or ADS or an interest therein, Holders and Beneficial Owners each irrevocably agree that any legal suit, action or proceeding against or involving Holders or Beneficial Owners brought by the Company or the Depositary, arising out of or based upon this Deposit Agreement, the ADSs, the ADRs or the transactions contemplated herein, therein, hereby or thereby, may be instituted in a state or federal court in New York, New York, and by holding or owning an ADR or ADS or an interest therein each irrevocably waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding, and irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. By holding or owning an ADR or ADS or an interest therein, Holders and Beneficial Owners each also irrevocably agree that any legal suit, action or proceeding against or involving the Depositary and/or the Company brought by Holders or Beneficial Owners, arising out of or based upon this Deposit Agreement, the ADSs, the ADRs or the transactions contemplated herein, therein, hereby or thereby, including, without limitation, claims under the Securities Act of 1933, may only be instituted in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (or in the state courts of New York County in New York if either (i) the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York lacks subject matter jurisdiction over a particular dispute or (ii) the designation of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York as the exclusive forum for any particular dispute is, or becomes, invalid, illegal or unenforceable).
(d) The provisions of this Section 25 shall survive any termination of the Deposit Agreement, in whole or in part.
Section 26. Agent for Service.
(a) Appointment. The Company has appointed American Honda Motor Co., Inc., currently located at ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇., ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇.▇., as its authorized agent (the “Authorized Agent”) upon which process may be served in any such suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based on this Deposit Agreement, the ADSs, the ADRs or the transactions contemplated herein, therein, hereby or thereby which may be instituted in any state or federal court in New York, New York by the Depositary or any Holder, and waives any other requirements of or objections to personal jurisdiction with respect thereto. Subject to the Company’s rights to replace the Authorized Agent with another entity in the manner required were the Authorized Agent to have resigned, such appointment shall be irrevocable. The Company shall promptly notify the Depositary if the address of the Authorized Agent shall change.
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(b) Agent for Service of Process. The Company represents and warrants that the Authorized Agent has agreed to act as said agent for service of process, and the Company agrees to take any and all action, including the filing of any and all documents and instruments, that may be necessary to continue such appointment in full force and effect as aforesaid. The Company further hereby irrevocably consents and agrees to the service of any and all legal process, summons, notices and documents in any suit, action or proceeding against the Company, by service by mail of a copy thereof upon the Authorized Agent (whether or not the appointment of such Authorized Agent shall for any reason prove to be ineffective or such Authorized Agent shall fail to accept or acknowledge such service), with a copy mailed to the Company by registered or certified air mail, postage prepaid, to its address provided in Section 21(b) hereof. The Company agrees that the failure of the Authorized Agent to give any notice of such service to it shall not impair or affect in any way the validity of such service or any judgment or award rendered in any suit, action or proceeding based thereon. If, for any reason, the Authorized Agent named above or its successor shall no longer serve as agent of the Company to receive service of process, notice or papers in New York, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor that is a legal entity with offices in New York, New York, so as to serve and will promptly advise the Depositary thereof.
(c) Waiver of Personal Service of Process. In the event the Company fails to continue such designation and appointment in full force and effect, the Company hereby waives personal service of process upon it and consents that any such service of process may be made by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, directed to the Company at its address last specified for notices hereunder, and service so made shall be deemed completed five (5) days after the same shall have been so mailed.
Section 27. Waiver of Immunities. To the extent that the Company or any of its properties, assets or revenues may have or may hereafter be entitled to, or have attributed to it, any right of immunity, on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise, from any legal action, suit or proceeding, from the giving of any relief in any respect thereof, from setoff or counterclaim, from the jurisdiction of any court, from service of process, from attachment upon or prior to judgment, from attachment in aid of execution or judgment, or from execution of judgment, or other legal process or proceeding for the giving of any relief or for the enforcement of any judgment, in any jurisdiction in which proceedings may at any time be commenced, with respect to its obligations, liabilities or other matters under or arising out of or in connection with the Shares or Deposited Securities, the ADSs, the ADRs or this Deposit Agreement, the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to plead or claim, any such immunity and consents to such relief and enforcement.
Section 28. Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY TO THIS DEPOSIT AGREEMENT (INCLUDING, FOR AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, EACH HOLDER AND BENEFICIAL OWNER OF, AND/OR HOLDER OF INTERESTS IN, ADSs OR ADRs) HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING AGAINST THE DEPOSITARY AND/OR THE COMPANY DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, BASED ON OR RELATING IN ANY WAY TO THE SHARES OR OTHER DEPOSITED SECURITIES, THE ADSs OR THE ADRs, THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREIN OR THEREIN, OR THE BREACH HEREOF OR THEREOF (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, COMMON LAW OR ANY OTHER THEORY), INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY SUIT, ACTION, CLAIM OR PROCEEDING UNDER THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS.
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No provision of this Deposit Agreement or any ADR is intended to constitute a waiver, disclaimer or limitation of any rights which a Holder or any Beneficial Owner may have under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, to the extent applicable.
Section 29. Amendment and Restatement of Original Deposit Agreement and Prior Receipts. The Deposit Agreement amends and restates the Original Deposit Agreement in its entirety to consist exclusively of the Deposit Agreement, and each Prior Receipt is hereby deemed amended and restated to substantially conform to the form of ADR set forth in Exhibit A annexed hereto, except that, to the extent any portion of such amendment and restatement imposes or has the effect of increasing any fees or charges payable by the Holders of Prior Receipts (other than taxes or other governmental charges, registration fees and cable, telex or facsimile transmission and delivery expenses), or which shall otherwise prejudice any substantial existing right of Holders of Prior Receipts or Beneficial Owners of ADSs evidenced by such Prior Receipt, such portion shall not become effective as to such Holders or Beneficial Owners with respect to such Prior Receipt until thirty (30) days after such Holders of Prior Receipts shall have received notice thereof, such notice to be conclusively deemed given upon the mailing to such Holders or Beneficial Owners of notice of such amendment and restatement which notice contains a provision whereby such Holders of Prior Receipts can receive a copy of the form of ADR.
[Signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD. and CITIBANK, N.A. have duly executed this Deposit Agreement as of the day and year first above set forth and all Holders and Beneficial Owners shall become parties hereto upon acceptance by them of ADSs issued in accordance with the terms hereof, or upon acquisition of any beneficial interest therein.
| HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD. | |
| (Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha) | |
| By: _______________________________ | |
| Name: | |
| Title: | |
| citibank, N.A. | |
| By: _______________________________ | |
| Name: | |
| Title: |
[Signature Page to Deposit Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
ANNEXED TO AND INCORPORATED IN DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
THE RIGHT OF HOLDERS OF ADRS AND ADSS TO DIRECT THE VOTING OF SHARES MAY BE RESTRICTED AS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPHS (6) AND (13) BELOW.
[FORM OF FACE OF ADR]
| ______ | No. of ADSs: |
| Number | |
| Each ADS represents | |
| Three Shares | |
| CUSIP: |
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
evidencing
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
representing
SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
of
HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
(Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha)
(Incorporated under the laws of Japan)
CITIBANK, N.A., a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States of America, as depositary hereunder (the “Depositary”), hereby certifies that __________ is the registered owner (a “Holder”) of __________ American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), each (subject to Paragraph (14) (Changes Affecting Deposited Securities)) representing three shares of common stock (including the rights to receive Shares described in Paragraph (1) (Issuance of ADSs)), of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., a joint stock corporation incorporated under the laws of Japan (the “Company”), deposited under the Third Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of [●], 2026 (as amended from time to time, the “Deposit Agreement”), among the Company, the Depositary and all Holders and Beneficial Owners from time to time of ADSs. The Deposit Agreement and this ADR (which includes the provisions set forth on the reverse hereof) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be wholly performed in that State. All capitalized terms used herein, and not defined herein, shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Deposit Agreement.
A-1
(1) Issuance of ADSs.
(a) Issuance. This ADR is one of the ADRs issued under the Deposit Agreement. Subject to the other provisions hereof, the Depositary may so issue ADRs for Delivery at the Transfer Office (as hereinafter defined) only against deposit of: (i) Shares in a form satisfactory to the Custodian; or (ii) rights to receive Shares from the Company or any registrar, transfer agent, clearing agent or other entity recording Share ownership or transactions. At the request, risk and expense of the person depositing Shares, the Depositary may accept deposits for forwarding to the Custodian and may Deliver ADRs at a place other than its office. Shares or evidence of rights to receive Shares may be deposited through (x) electronic transfer of such Shares to the account maintained by the Custodian for such purpose at JASDEC, (y) evidence satisfactory to the Custodian of irrevocable instructions to cause such Shares to be transferred to such account or (z) Delivery of the certificates representing such Shares. If use of the JASDEC book-entry system in connection with the Shares is discontinued at any time for any reason, the Company shall make other book-entry arrangements (if any) that it determines, after consultation with the Depositary, are reasonable.
(b) Lending. In its capacity as Depositary, the Depositary shall not lend Shares or ADSs.
(c) Representations and Warranties of Depositors. Every person depositing Shares under the Deposit Agreement represents and warrants that:
(i) such Shares and the certificates therefor are duly authorized, validly issued and outstanding, fully paid, nonassessable and legally obtained by such person,
(ii) all pre-emptive and comparable 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,
(v) the Shares presented for deposit have not been stripped of any rights or entitlements, and
(vi) the Shares presented for deposit are not, and the ADSs issuable upon such deposit will not be, Restricted Securities (except as contemplated in Section 7 of the Deposit Agreement).
Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit and withdrawal of Shares and the issuance and cancellation of ADSs in respect thereof and the transfer of such ADSs. 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.
A-2
(d) The Depositary may refuse to accept for such deposit any Shares identified by the Company in order to facilitate compliance with the requirements of the securities laws, rules and regulations of the United States, including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations made thereunder.
(2) Withdrawal of Deposited Securities. Subject to Paragraphs (4) (Certain Limitations to Registration, Transfer etc.) and (5) (Liability of Holder or Beneficial Owner for Taxes, Duties and Other Charges), upon surrender of (a) a certificated ADR in a form satisfactory to the Depositary at the Transfer Office or (b) proper instructions and documentation in the case of a Direct Registration ADS, the Holder hereof is entitled to Delivery at, or to the extent in dematerialized form from, the Custodian’s office of the Deposited Securities at the time represented by the ADSs evidenced by this ADR. At the request, risk and expense of the Holder hereof, the Depositary may Deliver such Deposited Securities at such other place as may have been requested by the Holder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent Japanese law or the Company’s Articles of Incorporation limit the Delivery of Deposited Securities in the Japanese market to a unit consisting of a specified number of Deposited Securities, cancellations of ADSs will only be permitted in a number that would allow for Delivery of one or more multiples of such unit of Deposited Securities. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Deposit Agreement or this ADR and subject to any limitations resulting from the immediately preceding sentence, the withdrawal or Delivery of Deposited Securities may be restricted only for the reasons set forth in General Instruction I.A.(1) of Form F-6 (as such instructions may be amended from time to time) under the Securities Act of 1933.
(3) Transfers, Split-Ups and Combinations of ADRs. The Depositary or its agent will keep, at a designated transfer office (the “Transfer Office”), (a) a register (the “ADS Register”) for the registration, registration of transfer, combination and split-up of ADSs, and, in the case of Direct Registration ADSs, shall include the Direct Registration System, which at all reasonable times will be open for inspection by Holders and the Company for the purpose of communicating with Holders in the interest of the business of the Company or a matter relating to the Deposit Agreement and (b) facilities for the Delivery and receipt of ADRs. Title to this ADR (and to the Deposited Property represented by the ADSs evidenced hereby), when properly endorsed (in the case of ADRs in certificated form) or upon Delivery to the Depositary of proper instruments of transfer, is transferable by Delivery with the same effect as in the case of negotiable instruments under the laws of the State of New York; provided that the Depositary, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the person in whose name this ADR is registered on the ADS Register as the absolute owner hereof for all purposes and neither the Depositary nor the Company will have any obligation or be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement or any ADR to any Beneficial Owner, unless such Beneficial Owner is the Holder hereof. Subject to Paragraphs (4) and (5) hereof, this ADR is transferable on the ADS Register and may be split into other ADRs or combined with other ADRs into one ADR, evidencing the aggregate number of ADSs surrendered for split-up or combination, by the Holder hereof or by duly authorized attorney upon surrender of this ADR at the Transfer Office properly endorsed (in the case of ADRs in certificated form) or upon delivery to the Depositary of proper instruments of transfer and duly stamped as may be required by applicable law; provided that the Depositary may close the ADS Register at any time or from time to time when deemed expedient by it. At the request of a Holder, the Depositary shall, for the purpose of substituting a certificated ADR with a Direct Registration ADS, or vice versa, execute and Deliver a certificated ADR or a Direct Registration ADS, as the case may be, for any authorized number of ADSs requested, evidencing the same aggregate number of ADSs as those evidenced by the certificated ADR or Direct Registration ADS, as the case may be, substituted.
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(4) Certain Limitations to Registration, Transfer, etc.
(a) Additional Requirements. As a condition precedent to the execution and Delivery, the registration of issuance, transfer, split-up, combination or surrender, of any ADS, the delivery of any distribution thereon, or the withdrawal of any Deposited Property, the Depositary or the Custodian may require (i) payment from the depositor of Shares or presenter of ADSs or of an ADR 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 and charges of the Depositary as provided in Paragraph (7) hereof and in Exhibit B attached to the Deposit Agreement, (ii) the production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity of any signatory and genuineness of any signature or any other matter contemplated by Paragraph (6)(c), and (iii) compliance with (A) any laws or governmental regulations relating to the execution and Delivery of ADRs or ADSs or to the withdrawal of Deposited Securities and (B) such reasonable regulations as the Depositary and the Company may establish consistent with the provisions of the representative ADR, if applicable, the Deposit Agreement and applicable law.
(b) Additional Limitations. The issuance of ADSs against deposits of Shares generally or against deposits of particular Shares may be suspended, or the deposit of particular Shares may be refused, or the registration of transfer of ADSs in particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfers of ADSs generally may be suspended, during any period when the transfer books of the Company, the Depositary, a Registrar or the Company’s share registrar are closed or if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary or the Company, in good faith, at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law or regulation, any government or governmental body or commission or any securities exchange on which the ADSs or Shares are listed, or under any provision of the Deposit Agreement or the representative ADR(s), if applicable, or under any provision of, or governing, the Deposited Securities, or because of a meeting of shareholders of the Company or for any other reason, subject, in all cases, to Paragraph (2) hereof.
(c) Regulatory Restrictions. Notwithstanding any provision of the Deposit Agreement or any ADR(s) to the contrary, Holders are entitled to surrender outstanding ADSs to withdraw the Deposited Securities associated herewith at any time subject only to (i) temporary delays caused by closing the transfer books of the Depositary or the Company or the deposit of Shares in connection with voting at a shareholders’ meeting or the payment of dividends, (ii) the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges, (iii) compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating to the ADSs or to the withdrawal or Delivery of the Deposited Securities, and (iv) other circumstances specifically contemplated by Instruction I.A.(l) of the General Instructions to Form F-6 (as such General Instructions may be amended from time to time).
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(5) Liability of Holder or Beneficial Owner for Taxes, Duties and Other Charges. Any tax or other governmental charge payable by the Custodian or by the Depositary with respect to any Deposited Property, ADSs or this ADR shall be payable by the Holders and Beneficial Owners to the Depositary. The Company, the Custodian and/or the Depositary may withhold or deduct from any distributions made in respect of Deposited Property held on behalf of such Holder and/or Beneficial Owner, and may sell for the account of a Holder and/or Beneficial Owner any or all of such Deposited Property and apply such distributions and sale proceeds in payment of, any taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) or charges that are or may be payable by Holders or Beneficial Owners in respect of the ADSs, Deposited Property and this ADR, the Holder and the Beneficial Owner hereof remaining liable for any deficiency. The Custodian may refuse the deposit of Shares and the Depositary may refuse to issue ADSs, to Deliver ADRs, register the transfer of ADSs, register the split-up or combination of ADRs and (subject to Section 2 of the Deposit Agreement) the withdrawal of Deposited Property until payment in full of such tax, charge, penalty or interest is received. Every Holder and Beneficial Owner agrees to indemnify the Depositary, the Company, the Custodian, and any of their agents, officers, employees and Affiliates for, and to hold each of them harmless from, any claims with respect to taxes (including applicable interest and penalties thereon) arising from (i) any ADS held by such Holder and/or owned by such Beneficial Owner, (ii) the Deposited Property represented by the ADSs, and (iii) any transaction entered into by such Holder and/or Beneficial Owner in respect of the ADSs and/or the Deposited Property represented thereby. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Deposit Agreement or any ADR, the obligations of Holders and Beneficial Owners under this Section 5 shall survive any transfer of ADSs, any cancellation of ADSs and withdrawal of Deposited Securities, and the termination of the Deposit Agreement.
(6) Disclosure of Interests.
(a) General. To the extent that the provisions of or governing any Deposited Securities may require disclosure of or impose limits on beneficial or other ownership of, or interest in, Deposited Securities, other Shares and other securities and may provide for blocking transfer, voting or other rights to enforce such disclosure or limits, Holders and Beneficial Owners agree to comply with all such disclosure requirements and ownership limitations and to comply with any reasonable Company instructions in respect thereof.
(b) Jurisdiction Specific. Without prejudice to the requirements of applicable law concerning disclosure of beneficial ownership of Shares, any Beneficial Owner (as defined in Section 1 of the Deposit Agreement) of ADSs that holds, acquires, or ceases to hold, directly or indirectly, Beneficial Share Ownership (as hereinafter defined) of more than 5% of all outstanding Shares (whether such Beneficial Share Ownership is held in whole or only in part through ADRs) shall, within five days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays in Japan) following such event, send written notice to the Company at its principal office in Japan currently at ▇▇. ▇-▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇-▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇, containing the following information:
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(i) the name, address and nationality of such Beneficial Owner and all other persons by whom or on whose behalf such Shares have been acquired or are held; the number of ADSs beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by such Beneficial Owner and the total number of Shares and Share equivalents (as hereinafter defined) (including ADSs) in which such Beneficial Owner has Beneficial Share Ownership, in each case immediately before and immediately after the event requiring notification; the names and addresses of any persons other than the Depositary, the Custodian, or either of their nominees, through whom such Beneficial Share Ownership (including Beneficial Share Ownership of any Share equivalents; in this Paragraph (6) the same shall apply hereafter as the context so requires) is held, or in whose name any of the applicable Shares are registered in the Company’s shareholders’ register, and the respective numbers of Shares in which each such person has Beneficial Share Ownership; the date or dates of acquisition of Beneficial Share Ownership in such Shares; and the number of any Shares in which such Beneficial Owner has the right to acquire, directly or indirectly, Beneficial Share Ownership and material information as to such right(s) of acquisition; and
(ii) the names, addresses and nationalities of any persons with whom such Beneficial Owner is acting as a partnership, limited partnership, syndicate or other group for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of Beneficial Share Ownership in any Shares; and the number of Shares being acquired, held, voted or disposed of as a result of such association (being the total number held by such group).
Any Beneficial Owner who has Beneficial Share Ownership of more than 5% of all outstanding Shares shall promptly notify the Company as provided above of any material change in the information previously notified, including, without limitation, a change of 1% or more of the percentage of total Shares to which the Beneficial Share Ownership relates.
As used in this Paragraph (6)(b): (i) “Beneficial Share Ownership” means any interest in any Shares, whether held directly or indirectly, through any contract, trust, arrangement, understanding, relationship, or otherwise, including any interest in Shares which underlie any ADS issued under the Deposit Agreement (including having the right to exercise or control the exercise of any right conferred by the holding of such Shares or the power to vote or to direct voting or the power to dispose or to direct disposition); and (ii) “Beneficial Shareholder” means a person who has Beneficial Share Ownership in any Shares, including any Holder or Beneficial Owner of any ADS(s).
Without prejudice to the requirements of applicable law and the provisions of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, if so requested in writing by the Company any Beneficial Shareholder shall provide such information with respect to its Beneficial Share Ownership (including information regarding not only Shares underlying ADSs, but also any other Shares in which such Beneficial Shareholder has an interest and including any security convertible into, exchangeable for or exercisable for Shares) as is requested by the Company. Such Beneficial Shareholder shall provide such information to the Company in writing within the time specified by the Company.
As used herein, “Share equivalent” means securities convertible into, exchangeable for Shares, bonds with stock acquisition rights and stock acquisition rights to acquire Shares, and the number of Shares attributable to such Share equivalent shall be the number of Shares into which such securities are convertible or exchangeable or which are acquired upon exercising the stock acquisition rights, at the conversion, exchange or exercise price or rate applicable at the time of determination of the relevant Beneficial Share Ownership.
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In calculating the percentage ownership of the Beneficial Shareholder, the number of Shares which are issuable upon conversion or exchange of securities or upon exercise of the stock acquisition rights beneficially owned by the Beneficial Shareholder shall be added to both the numerator and the denominator of the fraction of which the numerator is the total number of Shares in which the Beneficial Shareholder has Beneficial Share Ownership, and the denominator of which is the total number of the outstanding Shares.
If the Company notifies the Depositary in writing that a particular Beneficial Owner has not complied with the above provisions, at the Company’s written request, and so long as the Company has provided the Depositary with Beneficial Owner contact details, the Depositary shall instruct the Beneficial Owner to surrender its ADSs for cancellation so as to permit the Company to deal directly with such Beneficial Owner as a shareholder of the Company. Holders and Beneficial Owners agree to comply with such requests.
Any summary of the laws and regulations of Japan and of the terms of the Company’s constituent documents has been provided by the Company solely for the convenience of Holders, Beneficial Owners and the Depositary. While such summaries are believed by the Company to be accurate as of the date of the Deposit Agreement, they are (i) summaries and as such may not include all aspects of the materials summarized as applicable to a Holder or Beneficial Owner, and (ii) provided by the Company as of the date of the Deposit Agreement. The Holder or Beneficial Owner acknowledges that these laws and regulations and the Company’s constituent documents may change after the date of the Deposit Agreement. Neither the Depositary nor the Company has any obligation to update any such summaries.
(c) Proofs, Certificates and Other Information. Any person presenting Shares for deposit, any Holder and any Beneficial Owner may be required, and every Holder and Beneficial Owner agrees, from time to time to provide to the Depositary and the Custodian such proof of citizenship or residence, taxpayer status, payment of all applicable taxes or other governmental charges, exchange control approval, legal or beneficial ownership of ADSs and Deposited Property, compliance with applicable laws, the terms of the Deposit Agreement or the ADR(s) evidencing the ADSs and the provisions of, or governing, the Deposited Property, to execute such certifications and to make such representations and warranties, and to provide such other information and documentation (or, in the case of Shares in registered form presented for deposit, such information relating to the registration on the books of the Company or of the share registrar) as the Depositary or the Custodian may deem necessary or proper or as the Company may reasonably require by written request to the Depositary consistent with its obligations under the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR(s). The Depositary and the Registrar, as applicable, may withhold the execution or Delivery or registration of transfer of any ADR or ADS or the distribution or sale of any dividend or distribution of rights or of the proceeds thereof or, to the extent not limited by the terms of Section 2, the Delivery of any Deposited Property until such proof or other information is filed or such certifications are executed, or such representations and warranties are made, or such other documentation or information provided, in each case to the Depositary’s, the Registrar’s and the Company’s satisfaction. The Depositary shall provide the Company, in a timely manner, with copies or originals if necessary and appropriate of (i) any such proofs of citizenship or residence, taxpayer status, or exchange control approval or copies of written representations and warranties which it receives from Holders and Beneficial Owners, and (ii) any other information or documents which the Company may reasonably request and which the Depositary shall request and receive from any Holder or Beneficial Owner or any person presenting Shares for deposit or ADSs for cancellation, transfer or withdrawal. Nothing herein shall obligate the Depositary to (i) obtain any information for the Company if not provided by the Holders or Beneficial Owners, or (ii) verify or vouch for the accuracy of the information so provided by the Holders or Beneficial Owners.
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(7) Charges of Depositary. The following ADS fees (some of which may be cumulative) are payable under the terms of the Deposit Agreement:
| (i) | ADS Issuance Fee: by any person for whom ADSs are issued (e.g., an issuance upon a deposit of Shares, upon a change in the ADS(s)-to-Share(s) ratio, ADS conversions, or for any other reason), excluding issuances as a result of distributions described in paragraph (iv) below, a fee not in excess of U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) issued under the terms of the Deposit Agreement; |
| (ii) | ADS Cancellation Fee: by any person for whom ADSs are being cancelled (e.g., a cancellation of ADSs for Delivery of deposited Shares, upon a change in the ADS(s)-to-Share(s) ratio, ADS conversions, upon termination of the Deposit Agreement, or for any other reason), a fee not in excess of U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) cancelled; |
| (iii) | Cash Distribution Fee: by any Holder of ADSs, a fee not in excess of U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) held for the distribution of cash dividends or other cash distributions (e.g., upon a sale of rights and other entitlements); |
| (iv) | Stock Distribution /Rights Exercise Fee: by any Holder of ADS(s), a fee not in excess of U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) held for the distribution of ADSs pursuant to (a) stock dividends or other free stock distributions, or (b) an exercise of rights to purchase additional ADSs; |
| (v) | Other Distribution Fee: by any Holder of ADS(s), a fee not in excess of U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) held for the distribution of financial instruments, including, without limitation, securities, other than ADSs or rights to purchase additional ADSs (e.g., spin-off shares and contingent value rights); |
| (vi) | Depositary Services Fee: by any Holder of ADS(s), a fee not in excess of U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) held on the applicable record date(s) established by the Depositary; |
| (vii) | Registration of ADS Transfer Fee: by any Holder of ADS(s) being transferred or by any person to whom ADSs are transferred, a fee not in excess of U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) transferred; and |
| (viii) | ADS Conversion Fee: by any Holder of ADS(s) being converted or by any person to whom the converted ADSs are Delivered, a fee not in excess of U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) converted from one ADS series to another ADS series (e.g., upon conversion of Restricted ADSs into freely transferrable ADSs, and vice versa) or conversion of ADSs for unsponsored American Depositary Shares (e.g., upon termination of the Deposit Agreement). |
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The Company, Holders, Beneficial Owners, persons depositing Shares or withdrawing Deposited Securities in connection with ADS issuances and cancellations, and persons for whom ADSs are issued or cancelled shall be responsible for the following ADS charges (some of which may be cumulative) under the terms of the Deposit Agreement:
| (a) | taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) and other governmental charges; |
| (b) | such registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the registration of Shares or other Deposited Securities on the share register and applicable to transfers of Shares or other Deposited Securities to or from the name of the Custodian, the Depositary or any nominees upon the making of deposits and withdrawals, respectively; |
| (c) | such SWIFT cable, telex and facsimile transmission and delivery expenses as are expressly provided in the Deposit Agreement to be at the expense of the person depositing Shares or withdrawing Deposited Securities or of the Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs; |
| (d) | in connection with the conversion of Foreign Currency, the fees, expenses, spreads, taxes and other charges of the Depositary and/or conversion service providers (which may be a division, branch or Affiliate of the Depositary). Such fees, expenses, spreads, taxes and other charges shall be deducted from the Foreign Currency; |
| (e) | any reasonable and customary out-of-pocket expenses incurred in such conversion and/or on behalf of the Holders and Beneficial Owners in complying with currency exchange control or other governmental requirements; |
| (f) | the fees, charges, costs and expenses incurred by the Depositary, the Custodian, or any nominee in connection with the ADR program; and | |
| (g) | the amounts payable to the Depositary by any party to the Deposit Agreement pursuant to any ancillary agreement to the Deposit Agreement in respect of the ADR program, the ADSs and the ADRs. |
All ADS fees and charges may, at any time and from time to time, be changed by agreement between the Depositary and Company but, in the case of ADS fees and charges payable by Holders and Beneficial Owners, only in the manner contemplated by Paragraph (7) and Paragraph (18). The Depositary shall provide, without charge, a copy of its latest ADS fee schedule to anyone upon request.
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ADS fees and charges for (i) the issuance of ADSs and (ii) the cancellation of ADSs will be payable by the person for whom the ADSs are so issued by the Depositary (in the case of ADS issuances) and by the person for whom ADSs are being cancelled (in the case of ADS cancellations). In the case of ADSs issued by the Depositary into DTC or presented to the Depositary via DTC, the ADS issuance and cancellation fees and charges will be payable by the DTC Participant(s) receiving the ADSs from the Depositary or the DTC Participant(s) holding the ADSs being cancelled, as the case may be, on behalf of the Beneficial Owner(s) and will be charged by the DTC Participant(s) to the account(s) of the applicable Beneficial Owner(s) in accordance with the procedures and practices of the DTC Participant(s) as in effect at the time. ADS fees and charges in respect of distributions and the ADS service fee are payable by Holders as of the applicable ADS Record Date established by the Depositary. In the case of distributions of cash, the amount of the applicable ADS fees and charges is deducted from the funds being distributed. In the case of (i) distributions other than cash and (ii) the ADS service fee, the applicable Holders as of the ADS Record Date established by the Depositary will be invoiced for the amount of the ADS fees and charges and such ADS fees may be deducted from distributions made to Holders. For ADSs held through DTC, the ADS fees and charges for distributions other than cash and the ADS service fee may be deducted from distributions made through DTC and may be charged to the DTC Participants in accordance with the procedures and practices prescribed by DTC from time to time and the DTC Participants in turn charge the amount of such ADS fees and charges to the Beneficial Owners for whom they hold ADSs. In the case of (i) registration of ADS transfers, the ADS transfer fee will be payable by the ADS Holder whose ADSs are being transferred or by the person to whom the ADSs are transferred, and (ii) conversion of ADSs of one series for ADSs of another series (which may entail the cancellation, issuance and transfer of ADSs and the conversion of ADSs from one series to another series), the applicable ADS issuance, cancellation, transfer and conversion fees will be payable by the Holder whose ADSs are converted or by the person to whom the converted ADSs are Delivered.
The Depositary may reimburse the Company for certain expenses incurred by the Company in respect of the ADR program established pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, by making available a portion of the ADS fees charged in respect of the ADR program or otherwise, upon such terms and conditions as the Company and the Depositary agree from time to time. The Company shall pay to the Depositary such fees and charges, and reimburse the Depositary for such out-of-pocket expenses, as the Depositary and the Company may agree from time to time. Responsibility for payment of such fees, charges and reimbursements may from time to time be changed by agreement between the Company and the Depositary. Any failure by the Company to timely pay any fees, charges and reimbursements of the Depositary for which the Company is responsible pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, or any ancillary agreement between the Depositary and the Company, may suspend the obligation of the Depositary to provide the services contemplated in the Deposit Agreement at the expense of the Company (including services being made available to Holders and Beneficial Owners), and the Depositary shall have no obligation to provide any such services made available at the Company’s expense (including services being made available to Holders and Beneficial Owners) unless and until payment has been made in full by the Company. Unless otherwise agreed, the Depositary shall present its statement for such fees, charges and reimbursements to the Company once every three months. The charges and expenses of the Custodian are for the sole account of the Depositary.
The obligations of Holders and Beneficial Owners to pay ADS fees and charges shall survive the termination of the Deposit Agreement. As to any Depositary, upon the resignation or removal of such Depositary as described in Section 17 of the Deposit Agreement, the right to collect ADS fees and charges shall extend for those ADS fees and charges incurred prior to the effectiveness of such resignation or removal.
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(8) 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 Deposited Property, which in the judgment of the Depositary can at such time be converted on a practicable basis, by sale or in any other manner that it may determine in accordance with applicable law, into Dollars transferable to the United States and distributable to the Holders entitled thereto, the Depositary shall convert or cause to be converted, by sale or in any other manner that it may reasonably determine, such Foreign Currency into Dollars, and shall distribute such Dollars (net of the fees and charges set forth in the Fee Schedule attached to the Deposit Agreement as Exhibit B, and applicable taxes withheld) in accordance with the terms of the applicable sections of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary and/or its agent (which may be a division, branch or Affiliate of the Depositary) may act as principal for any conversion of Foreign Currency. If the Depositary shall have distributed warrants or other instruments that entitle the holders thereof to such Dollars, the Depositary shall distribute such Dollars to the holders of such warrants and/or instruments upon surrender thereof for cancellation, in either case without liability for interest thereon. Such distribution may be made upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among Holders on account of any application of exchange restrictions or otherwise.
If such conversion or distribution generally or with regard to a particular Holder can be effected only with the approval or license of any government or agency thereof, the Depositary shall have authority to file such application for approval or license, if any, as it may deem desirable. In no event, however, shall the Depositary be obligated to make such a filing.
If at any time the Depositary shall determine that in its judgment the conversion of any Foreign Currency and the transfer and distribution of proceeds of such conversion received by the Depositary is not practicable or lawful, or if any approval or license of any governmental authority or agency thereof that is required for such conversion, transfer and distribution is denied or, in the opinion of the Depositary, not obtainable at a reasonable cost or within a reasonable period, the Depositary may, in its discretion, (i) make such conversion and distribution in Dollars to the Holders for whom such conversion, transfer and distribution is lawful and practicable, (ii) distribute the Foreign Currency (or an appropriate document evidencing the right to receive such Foreign Currency) to Holders for whom this is lawful and practicable, or (iii) hold (or cause the Custodian to hold) such Foreign Currency (without liability for interest thereon) for the respective accounts of the Holders entitled to receive the same.
(9) Available Information. The Deposit Agreement, the provisions of or governing Deposited Securities and any written communications from the Company, which are both received by the Custodian or its nominee as a holder of Deposited Securities and made generally available to the holders of Deposited Securities, are available for inspection by Holders at the offices of the Depositary and the Custodian, at the Transfer Office, on the website of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), or upon request from the Depositary (which request may be refused by the Depositary at its discretion). The Depositary will distribute copies of such communications (or English translations or summaries thereof) to Holders when furnished by the Company. The Company is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and accordingly files certain reports with the Commission. Such reports and other information may be inspected and copied through the Commission’s ▇▇▇▇▇ system or at public reference facilities maintained by the Commission located at the date hereof at ▇▇▇ ▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.
(10) Execution. This ADR shall not be valid for any purpose unless executed by the Depositary by the manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer of the Depositary.
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Dated:
| CITIBANK, N.A., as Transfer Agent and Registrar |
CITIBANK, N.A., as Depositary |
| By: __________________________________ | By: __________________________________ |
| Authorized Signatory | Authorized Signatory |
The address of the Principal Office of the Depositary is ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇.▇.
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[FORM OF REVERSE OF ADR]
(11) Distributions on Deposited Securities. Subject to Paragraphs (4) (Certain Limitations to Registration, Transfer etc.) and (5) (Liability of Holder or Beneficial Owner for Taxes, Duties and other Charges), to the extent practicable, the Depositary will distribute to each Holder entitled thereto on the record date set by the Depositary therefor at such Holder’s address shown on the ADS Register, in proportion to the number of Deposited Securities (on which the following distributions on Deposited Securities are received by the Custodian) represented by ADSs evidenced by such Holder’s ADRs:
(a) Cash. Whenever the Company intends to make a distribution of a cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of any Deposited Securities, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Depositary at least twenty (20) days (or such shorter period as the Company and the Depositary may agree on from time to time) prior to the proposed distribution specifying, inter alia, the record date applicable for determining the holders of Deposited Securities entitled to receive such distribution. Upon the timely receipt of such notice, the Depositary shall establish the ADS Record Date upon the terms described in Paragraph (12) hereof. Upon confirmation of the receipt of (x) any cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of any Deposited Property (whether from the Company or otherwise), or (y) proceeds from the sale of any Deposited Property held in respect of the ADSs under the terms hereof, the Depositary will (i) if any amounts are received in a Foreign Currency, promptly convert or cause to be converted such cash dividend, distribution or proceeds into Dollars (subject to the terms and conditions of Paragraph (8) hereof), (ii) if applicable and unless previously established, establish the ADS Record Date upon the terms described in Paragraph (12) hereof, and (iii) distribute promptly the amount thus received (net of (a) the applicable fees and charges set forth in the Fee Schedule attached to the Deposit Agreement as Exhibit B, and (b) applicable taxes withheld) to the Holders entitled thereto as of the ADS Record Date in proportion to the number of ADSs held as of the ADS Record Date. The Depositary shall distribute only such amount, however, as can be distributed without attributing to any Holder a fraction of one cent, and any balance not so distributed shall be held by the Depositary (without liability for interest thereon) and shall be added to and become part of the next sum received by the Depositary for distribution to Holders of ADSs outstanding at the time of the next distribution. If the Company, the Custodian or the Depositary is required to withhold and does withhold from any cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of any Deposited Securities, or from any cash proceeds from the sales of Deposited Property, an amount on account of taxes, duties or other governmental charges, the amount distributed to Holders on the ADSs shall be reduced accordingly. Such withheld amounts shall be forwarded by the Company, the Custodian or the Depositary to the relevant governmental authority. Evidence of payment thereof by the Company shall be forwarded by the Company to the Depositary upon request. The Depositary will hold any cash amounts it is unable to distribute in a non-interest bearing account for the benefit of the applicable Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs until the distribution can be effected or the funds that the Depositary holds must be escheated as unclaimed property in accordance with the laws of the relevant states of the United States. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement to the contrary, in the event the Company fails to give the Depositary timely notice of the proposed distribution provided for in this Paragraph 11(a), the Depositary agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to perform the actions contemplated in this Paragraph 11(a), and the Company, the Holders and the Beneficial Owners acknowledge that the Depositary shall have no liability for the Depositary’s failure to perform the actions contemplated in this Paragraph 11(a) where such notice has not been so timely given, other than its failure to use commercially reasonable efforts, as provided herein.
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(b) Shares. Whenever the Company intends to make a distribution that consists of a dividend in, or free distribution of, Shares, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Depositary at least twenty (20) days (or such shorter period as the Company and the Depositary may agree on from time to time) prior to the proposed distribution, specifying, inter alia, the record date applicable to holders of Deposited Securities entitled to receive such distribution. Upon the timely receipt of such notice from the Company, the Depositary shall establish the ADS Record Date upon the terms described in Paragraph (12) hereof. Upon receipt of confirmation from the Custodian of the receipt of the Shares so distributed by the Company, the Depositary shall either (i) subject to Paragraph (7) hereof, distribute to the Holders as of the ADS Record Date in proportion to the number of ADSs held as of the ADS Record Date, additional ADSs, which represent in the aggregate the number of Shares received as such dividend, or free distribution, subject to the other terms of the Deposit Agreement (including, without limitation, (a) the applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes), or (ii) if additional ADSs are not so distributed, take all actions necessary so that each ADS issued and outstanding after the ADS Record Date shall, to the extent permissible by law, thenceforth also represent rights and interests in the additional integral number of Shares distributed upon the Deposited Securities represented thereby (net of (a) the applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes). In lieu of Delivering fractional ADSs, the Depositary shall sell the number of Shares or ADSs, as the case may be, represented by the aggregate of such fractions and distribute the net proceeds upon the terms described in Paragraph 11(a). In the event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in property (including Shares) is subject to any tax or other governmental charges which the Depositary is obligated to withhold, or, if the Company has furnished an opinion of U.S. counsel determining that Shares must be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or other laws in order to be distributed to Holders (and no such registration statement has been declared effective), the Depositary may dispose of all or a portion of such property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) in such amounts and in such manner, including by public or private sale, as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable, and the Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds of any such sale (after deduction of (a) taxes and (b) fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary) to Holders entitled thereto upon the terms described in Paragraph 11(a). The Depositary shall hold and/or distribute any unsold balance of such property in accordance with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement to the contrary, in the event the Company fails to give the Depositary timely notice of the proposed distribution provided for in this Paragraph 11(b), the Depositary agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to perform the actions contemplated in this Paragraph 11(b), and the Company, the Holders and the Beneficial Owners acknowledge that the Depositary shall have no liability for the Depositary’s failure to perform the actions contemplated in this Paragraph 11(b) where such notice has not been so timely given, other than its failure to use commercially reasonable efforts, as provided herein.
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(c) Rights.
(i) Distribution to ADS Holders. Whenever the Company intends to distribute to the holders of the Deposited Securities rights to subscribe for additional Shares, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Depositary at least forty-five (45) days (or such shorter period as the Company and the Depositary may agree on from time to time) prior to the proposed distribution specifying, inter alia, the record date applicable to holders of Deposited Securities entitled to receive such distribution and whether or not it wishes such rights to be made available to Holders of ADSs. Upon the timely receipt of a notice indicating that the Company wishes such rights to be made available to Holders of ADSs, the Depositary shall consult with the Company to determine, and the Company shall assist the Depositary in its determination, whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable to make such rights available to the Holders. The Depositary shall make such rights available to Holders only if (i) the Company shall have timely requested that such rights be made available to Holders, (ii) the Depositary shall have received (A) a written opinion of U.S. counsel (reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary) stating whether such transaction (1) requires a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 to be in effect or (2) is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, and (B) an opinion of Japanese counsel stating that (1) making the transaction available to Holders and Beneficial Owners does not violate the laws or regulations of Japan typically applicable to the contemplated transactions and (2) all requisite regulatory consents and approvals have been obtained in Japan, and (iii) the Depositary shall have determined that such distribution of rights is reasonably practicable. In the event any of the conditions set forth above are not satisfied or if the Company requests that the rights not be made available to Holders of ADSs, the Depositary shall proceed with the sale of the rights as contemplated in Paragraph 11(c)(ii), below. In the event all conditions set forth above are satisfied, the Depositary shall establish the ADS Record Date (upon the terms described in Paragraph (12) hereof) and establish procedures to (x) distribute rights to purchase additional ADSs (by means of warrants or otherwise), (y) enable the Holders to exercise such rights (upon payment of the subscription price and of the applicable (a) fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes), and (z) Deliver ADSs upon the valid exercise of such rights. The Company shall assist the Depositary to the extent necessary in establishing such procedures. Nothing herein shall obligate the Depositary to make available to the Holders a method to exercise rights to subscribe for Shares (rather than ADSs).
(ii) Sale of Rights. If (i) the Company does not timely request the Depositary to make the rights available to Holders or requests that the rights not be made available to Holders, (ii) the Depositary fails to receive (A) a written opinion of U.S. counsel (reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary) stating whether such transaction (1) requires a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 to be in effect or (2) is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, and (B) an opinion of Japanese counsel stating that (1) making the transaction available to Holders and Beneficial Owners does not violate the laws or regulations of Japan typically applicable to the contemplated transactions and (2) all requisite regulatory consents and approvals have been obtained in Japan, or determines it is not reasonably practicable to make the rights available to Holders, or (iii) any rights made available are not exercised and appear to be about to lapse, the Depositary shall determine whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable to sell such rights, in a riskless principal capacity, at such place and upon such terms (including public or private sale) as it may deem practicable. The Company shall assist the Depositary to the extent necessary to determine such legality and practicability. The Depositary shall, upon such sale, convert and distribute proceeds of such sale (net of applicable (a) fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes) upon the terms set forth in Paragraph 11(a).
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(iii) Lapse of Rights. If the Depositary is unable to make any rights available to Holders upon the terms described in Paragraph 11(c)(i) hereof or to arrange for the sale of the rights upon the terms described in Paragraph 11(b), the Depositary shall allow such rights to lapse.
The Depositary shall not be liable for (i) any failure to accurately determine whether it may be lawful or practicable to make such rights available to Holders in general or any Holders in particular, (ii) any foreign exchange exposure or loss incurred in connection with such sale, or exercise, or (iii) the content of any materials forwarded to the Holders on behalf of the Company in connection with the rights distribution.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Paragraph 11(c)(iii), if registration (under the Securities Act of 1933 or any other applicable law) of the rights or the securities to which any rights relate may be required in order for the Company to offer such rights or such securities to Holders and to sell the securities represented by such rights, the Depositary will not distribute such rights to the Holders (i) unless and until a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 (or other applicable law) covering such offering is in effect or (ii) unless the Company furnishes the Depositary opinion(s) of counsel for the Company in the United States and counsel to the Company in any other applicable country in which rights would be distributed, in each case satisfactory to the Depositary, to the effect that the offering and sale of such securities to Holders and Beneficial Owners are exempt from, or do not require registration under, the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 or any other similar applicable laws.
In the event that the Company, the Depositary or the Custodian shall be required to withhold and does withhold from any distribution of Deposited Property (including rights) an amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges, the amount distributed to the Holders of ADSs shall be reduced accordingly. In the event that the Depositary determines that any distribution of Deposited Property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) is subject to any tax or other governmental charges which the Depositary is obligated to withhold, the Depositary may dispose of all or a portion of such Deposited Property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) in such amounts and in such manner, including by public or private sale, as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay any such taxes or charges.
There can be no assurance that Holders generally, or any Holder in particular, will be given the opportunity to receive or exercise rights on the same terms and conditions as the Holders of Shares or be able to exercise such rights. Nothing herein shall obligate the Company to file any registration statement in respect of any rights or Shares or other securities to be acquired upon the exercise of such rights.
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(d) Other Distributions.
(i) Whenever the Company intends to distribute to the holders of Deposited Securities property other than cash, Shares or rights to purchase additional Shares, the Company shall give timely notice thereof to the Depositary and shall indicate whether or not it wishes such distribution to be made to Holders of ADSs. Upon receipt of a notice indicating that the Company wishes such distribution to be made to Holders of ADSs, the Depositary shall consult with the Company, and the Company shall assist the Depositary, to determine whether such distribution to Holders is lawful and reasonably practicable. The Depositary shall not make such distribution unless (i) the Company shall have requested the Depositary to make such distribution to Holders, (ii) the Depositary shall have received (A) to the extent the property to be distributed is a security within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, (1) a written opinion of U.S. counsel (reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary) stating whether such transaction (a) requires a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 to be in effect or (b) is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, and (2) a written opinion of Japanese counsel stating that (a) making the transaction available to Holders and Beneficial Owners does not violate the laws or regulations of Japan typically applicable to the contemplated transaction and (b) all requisite regulatory consents and approvals have been obtained in Japan, or (B) to the extent the property to be distributed is not a security within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, (1) a written opinion of U.S. counsel (reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary) stating that the transaction is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, and (2) a written opinion of Japanese counsel stating that (a) making the transaction available to Holders and Beneficial Owners does not violate the laws or regulations of Japan typically applicable to the contemplated transaction and (b) all requisite regulatory consents and approvals have been obtained in Japan, and (iii) the Depositary shall have determined that such distribution is reasonably practicable.
(ii) Upon receipt of satisfactory documentation and the request of the Company to distribute property to Holders of ADSs and after making the requisite determinations set forth in (a) above, the Depositary shall distribute the property so received to the Holders of record, as of the ADS Record Date, in proportion to the number of ADSs held by them respectively and in such manner as the Depositary may deem practicable for accomplishing such distribution (i) upon receipt of payment or net of the applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary, and (ii) net of any taxes withheld. The Depositary may dispose of all or a portion of the property so distributed and deposited, in such amounts and in such manner (including public or private sale) as the Depositary may deem practicable or necessary to satisfy any taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) or other governmental charges applicable to the distribution.
(iii) If either of (i) or (ii) of Paragraph 11(d)(i) is not satisfied, the Depositary shall sell or cause such property to be sold in a public or private sale, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem practicable and shall (i) cause the proceeds of such sale, if any, to be converted into Dollars and (ii) distribute the proceeds of such conversion received by the Depositary (net of applicable (a) fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes) to the Holders as of the ADS Record Date upon the terms of Paragraph 11(a). If the Depositary is unable to sell such property, the Depositary may dispose of such property for the account of the Holders in any way it deems reasonably practicable under the circumstances.
(iv) Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be liable for (i) any failure to accurately determine whether it is lawful or practicable to make the property described in this Paragraph 11(d) available to Holders in general or any Holders in particular, nor (ii) any loss incurred in connection with the sale or disposal of such property.
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(12) Record Dates. The Depositary may, after consultation with the Company if practicable, fix a record date (which, to the extent applicable, shall be as near as practicable to any corresponding record date set by the Company) for the determination of the Holders who shall be responsible for the fee assessed by the Depositary for administration of the ADR program and for any expenses provided for in Paragraph (7) hereof as well as for the determination of the Holders who shall be entitled to receive any distribution on or in respect of Deposited Securities or from any cash proceeds from the sales of Deposited Property (any such record date related to the distribution of cash proceeds will be established by the Depositary on a date it deems practicable), to give instructions for the exercise of any voting rights, to receive any notice or to act in respect of other matters and only such Holders shall be so entitled or obligated (an “ADS Record Date”).
(13) Voting of Deposited Securities.
(a) Notice of Any Meeting or Solicitation. As soon as practicable after receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of Shares are entitled to vote, or of solicitation of consents or proxies from holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall fix the ADS Record Date in accordance with Paragraph (12) above provided that if the Depositary receives a written request from the Company in a timely manner promptly after the approval by the Board of Directors of the convocation of such meeting or the solicitation of such consents or proxies, or promptly after any other party authorized to do so has called such meeting or initiated the solicitation of such consents or proxies, the Depositary shall, at the Company’s expense, distribute to Holders a notice (the “Voting Notice”) stating (i) final information particular to such vote and meeting and any solicitation materials, (ii) that each Holder on the record date set by the Depositary will, subject to any applicable provisions of Japanese law, be entitled to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the Deposited Securities represented by the ADSs evidenced by such ▇▇▇▇▇▇’s ADRs and (iii) the manner in which such instructions may be given or deemed given in accordance with Paragraph 13(b)(ii) below, including instructions to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company. Each Holder shall be solely responsible for the forwarding of Voting Notices to the Beneficial Owners of ADSs registered in such Holder’s name. There is no guarantee that Holders and Beneficial Owners generally or any Holder or Beneficial Owner in particular will receive the notice described above or, to the extent any such notice is distributed, that such notice will be distributed or received with sufficient time to enable such Holder or Beneficial Owner to return any voting instructions to the Depositary in a timely manner.
(b) Voting of Deposited Securities. (i) Following actual receipt by the Depositary of Holders’ instructions (including, without limitation, instructions of any entity or entities acting on behalf of the nominee for DTC), the Depositary shall, in the manner and on or before the time established by the Depositary for such purpose, endeavor to vote or cause to be voted the Deposited Securities represented by the ADSs evidenced by such Holders’ ADRs in accordance with such instructions insofar as practicable and permitted under the provisions of or governing Deposited Securities. The Depositary will not itself exercise any voting discretion in respect of any Deposited Securities. The Company has advised the Depositary that, under current Japanese law and the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, voting rights can only be exercised with respect to units consisting of 100 Shares. Accordingly, Holders and Beneficial Owners are advised that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Depositary will only be able to endeavor to vote or cause to be voted such number of Deposited Securities that shall equal a multiple of 100 Shares (or such other number as the Company’s Articles of Incorporation may specify from time to time) and, as a result, if the Depositary receives voting instructions for such number of Deposited Securities (the “Instructed Shares”) that is not a multiple of the requisite number of Shares, then the Depositary shall only endeavor to vote, or cause to be voted, such number of Instructed Shares that represents the highest applicable multiple of the requisite number of Shares, taking into account a pro-ration of the voting instructions received from Holders, and any remaining Instructed Shares shall not be voted.
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(ii) To the extent that the Depositary (A) receives the Company’s written request pursuant to Paragraph 13(a) hereof in a timely manner as provided therein, (B) reasonably believes that it has been provided with notice of a meeting in sufficient time to ensure that the Voting Notice will be received by all Holders and Beneficial Owners no less than 10 days prior to the date of the meeting and/or the cut-off date for the solicitation of consents, and (C) does not receive instructions on a particular agenda item from a Holder (including, without limitation, any entity or entities acting on behalf of the nominee for DTC) in a timely manner, such Holder shall be deemed, and the Depositary is instructed to deem such Holder, to have instructed the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy for such agenda item(s) to a person designated by the Company to vote the Deposited Securities represented by the ADSs for which actual instructions were not so given by all such Holders on such agenda item(s), provided that no such instruction shall be deemed given and no discretionary proxy shall be given unless (1) to the best of Company’s knowledge after reasonable inquiry, there is no substantial opposition existing with respect to such agenda item(s), and such agenda item(s), if approved, would not materially or adversely affect the rights of holders of Shares, (2) the Company informs the Depositary in writing (and the Company agrees to provide the Depositary with such instruction promptly in writing) that (i) it wishes such proxy to be given with respect to such agenda item(s), (ii) to the best of Company’s knowledge after reasonable inquiry, there is no substantial opposition existing with respect to such agenda item(s), and such agenda item(s), if approved, would not materially or adversely affect the rights of holders of Shares, and (3) the Depositary has obtained an opinion of counsel, in form and substance satisfactory to the Depositary, confirming that (i) the granting of such discretionary proxy does not subject the Depositary to any reporting obligations in Japan, (ii) the granting of such proxy will not result in a violation of the laws, rules, regulations or permits of Japan, (iii) the voting arrangement and deemed instruction as contemplated herein will be given effect under the laws, rules and regulations of Japan, and (iv) the granting of such discretionary proxy will not under any circumstances result in the Shares represented by the ADSs being treated as assets of the Depositary under the laws, rules or regulations of Japan.
(iii) The Depositary may from time to time access information available to it to consider whether any of the circumstances described in (1) of subsection (ii) above exist, or request additional information from the Company in respect thereto. By taking any such action, the Depositary shall not in any way be deemed or inferred to have been required, or have had any duty or responsibility (contractual or otherwise), to monitor or inquire whether any of the circumstances described in (1) of subsection (ii) above existed. In addition to the limitations provided for in Paragraph (15) hereof, Holders and Beneficial Owners are advised and agree that (a) the Depositary will rely fully and exclusively on the Company to inform the Depositary of any of the circumstances set forth in (1) of subsection (ii) above, (b) neither the Depositary, the Custodian nor any of their respective agents shall be obliged to inquire or investigate whether any of the circumstances described in (1) of subsection (ii) above exist and/or whether the Company complied with its obligation to timely inform the Depositary of such circumstances, and (c) neither the Depositary, the Custodian nor any of their respective agents shall be obliged to inquire or investigate whether the circumstances described in the last sentence of subsection (ii) above exist and/or whether the Company complied with its obligations under such sentence. Neither the Depositary, the Custodian nor any of their respective agents shall incur any liability to Holders or Beneficial Owners (i) as a result of the Company’s failure to determine that any of the circumstances described in (1) of subsection (ii) above exist or its failure to timely notify the Depositary of any such circumstances or (ii) if any agenda item which is approved at a meeting has, or is claimed to have, a material or adverse effect on the rights of holders of Shares or (iii) as a result of the Company’s failure to comply with the last sentence of subsection (ii) above. Because there is no guarantee that Holders and Beneficial Owners will receive the notices described above with sufficient time to enable such Holders or Beneficial Owners to return any voting instructions to the Depositary in a timely manner, Holders and Beneficial Owners may be deemed to have instructed the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company in such circumstances, and neither the Depositary, the Custodian nor any of their respective agents shall incur any liability to Holders or Beneficial Owners in such circumstances.
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(c) Alternative Methods of Distributing Materials. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement or any ADR, the Depositary may, to the extent not prohibited by any law, rule or regulation or by the rules, regulations or requirements of the stock exchange on which the ADSs are listed, in lieu of distribution of the materials provided to the Depositary in connection with any meeting of or solicitation of consents or proxies from holders of Deposited Securities, distribute to the Holders a notice that provides Holders with or otherwise publicizes to Holders instructions on how to retrieve such materials or receive such materials upon request (i.e., by reference to a website containing the materials for retrieval or a contact for requesting copies of the materials). Holders are strongly encouraged to forward their voting instructions as soon as possible. Voting instructions will not be deemed received until such time as the Depositary has physically received such instructions.
(14) Changes Affecting Deposited Securities. Upon any change in nominal or par value, split-up, cancellation, consolidation or any other reclassification of Deposited Securities, or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale of assets affecting the Company or to which it is a party, any property which shall be received by the Depositary or the Custodian in exchange for, or in conversion of, or replacement of, or otherwise in respect of, such Deposited Securities shall, to the extent permitted by law, be treated as new Deposited Property under the Deposit Agreement, and the ADSs shall, subject to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement, any ADR(s) evidencing such ADSs and applicable law, represent the right to receive such additional or replacement Deposited Property. In giving effect to such change, split-up, cancellation, consolidation or other reclassification of Deposited Securities, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale of assets, the Depositary may, with the Company’s approval, and shall, if the Company shall so request, subject to the terms of the Deposit Agreement (including, without limitation, (a) the applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary, and (b) taxes) and receipt of an opinion of counsel to the Company satisfactory to the Depositary that such actions are not in violation of any applicable laws or regulations, (i) issue and Deliver additional ADSs as in the case of a stock dividend on the Shares, (ii) amend the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADRs, (iii) amend the applicable Registration Statement(s) on Form F-6 as filed with the Commission in respect of the ADSs, (iv) call for the surrender of outstanding ADRs to be exchanged for new ADRs, and (v) take such other actions as are appropriate to reflect the transaction with respect to the ADSs. The Company agrees to, jointly with the Depositary, amend the Registration Statement on Form F-6 as filed with the Commission to permit the issuance of such new form of ADRs. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any Deposited Property so received may not be lawfully distributed to some or all Holders, the Depositary may, with the Company’s approval, and shall, if the Company requests, subject to receipt of an opinion of Company’s counsel satisfactory to the Depositary that such action is not in violation of any applicable laws or regulations, sell such Deposited Property at public or private sale, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem proper and may allocate the net proceeds of such sales (net of (a) fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) taxes) for the account of the Holders otherwise entitled to such Deposited Property upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among such Holders and distribute the net proceeds so allocated to the extent practicable as in the case of a distribution received in cash pursuant to Paragraph 11(a). The Depositary shall not be responsible for (i) any failure to determine that it may be lawful or practicable to make such Deposited Property available to Holders in general or to any Holder in particular, (ii) any foreign exchange exposure or loss incurred in connection with such sale, or (iii) any liability to the purchaser of such Deposited Property.
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(15) Exoneration. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement or any ADR, neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be obligated to do or perform any act or thing which is inconsistent with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement, be deemed to be in breach of the Deposit Agreement or any ADR or incur any liability (to the extent not limited by Section 21(b)) (i) if the Depositary, the Custodian, the Company or their respective agents shall be prevented or forbidden from, hindered or delayed in, doing or performing any act or thing required or contemplated by the terms of the Deposit Agreement, by reason of any provision of any present or future law or regulation of the United States, Japan or any other country, or of any other governmental authority or regulatory authority or stock exchange, or on account of potential criminal or civil penalties or restraint, or by reason of any provision, present or future, of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company or any provision of or governing any Deposited Securities, or by reason of any act of God or other event or circumstance beyond its control (including, without limitation, fire, flood, earthquake, tornado, hurricane, tsunami, explosion, or other natural disaster, nationalization, expropriation, currency restriction, work stoppage, strikes, civil unrest, act of war (whether declared or not) or terrorism, revolution, rebellion, embargo, computer failure, failure of public infrastructure (including communication or utility failure), failure of common carriers, nuclear, cyber or biochemical incident, any pandemic, epidemic or other prevalent disease or illness with an actual or probable threat to human life, any quarantine order or travel restriction imposed by a governmental authority or other competent public health authority, or the failure or unavailability of the United States Federal Reserve Bank (or other central banking system) or DTC (or other clearing system)), (ii) by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in the Deposit Agreement, any ADR or in the Articles of Incorporation of the Company or provisions of or governing Deposited Securities, (iii) for any action or inaction in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares for deposit, any Holder, any Beneficial Owner or authorized representative thereof, or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information, (iv) for the inability by a Holder or Beneficial Owner 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 Holders of ADSs or ADRs, (v) for any action or inaction of any clearing or settlement system (and any participant thereof) for the Deposited Property or the ADSs, or (vi) for any consequential or punitive damages (including lost profits) for any breach of the terms of the Deposit Agreement or any ADR.
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The Depositary, its controlling persons, its agents, any Custodian and the Company, its controlling persons and its agents may rely and shall be protected in acting upon any written notice, request or other document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
(16) Standard of Care. The Company and the Depositary assume no obligation and shall not be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement or any ADRs to any Holder(s) or Beneficial Owner(s), except that the Company and the Depositary agree to perform their respective obligations specifically set forth in the Deposit Agreement or the applicable ADRs without negligence or bad faith.
Without limitation of the foregoing, neither the Depositary, nor the Company, nor any of their respective controlling persons, or agents, shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any Deposited Property or in respect of the ADSs or ADRs, which in its opinion may involve it in expense or liability, unless indemnity satisfactory to it against all expense (including fees and disbursements of counsel) and liability be furnished as often as may be required (and no Custodian shall be under any obligation whatsoever with respect to such proceedings, the responsibility of the Custodian being solely to the Depositary).
The Depositary and its agents shall not be liable for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any of the Deposited Securities, or for the manner in which any vote is cast or the effect of any vote, provided that any such action or omission is in good faith and without negligence and in accordance with the terms of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary shall not incur any liability for any failure to accurately determine that any distribution or action may be lawful or reasonably practicable, for the content of any information submitted to it by the Company for distribution to the Holders or for any inaccuracy of any translation thereof, for any investment risk associated with acquiring interests in the Deposited Property (or the manner in which such interests are acquired or held), for the validity or worth of the Deposited Property, for the value of any Deposited Property or any distribution thereon, for any interest on Deposited Property, for any financial transaction entered into by any person in respect of the ADSs or any Deposited Property, for any tax consequences that may result from the ownership of, or any transaction involving, ADSs or Deposited Property, for the credit-worthiness of any third party, for allowing any rights to lapse upon the terms of the Deposit Agreement, for the failure or timeliness of any notice from the Company, for the manner in which a Holder or Beneficial Owner elects to own and/or hold ADSs (e.g., in a brokerage account vs. as registered Holder on the register of ADSs maintained by the Depositary), the type of ADSs a Holder or Beneficial Owner holds or owns (e.g., freely transferable ADSs vs. Restricted ADSs), the timeframe of issuance and ownership of ADSs (e.g., as of an ADS Record Date vs. before and/or after an ADS Record Date), or for any action of or failure to act by, or any information provided or not provided by, DTC or any DTC Participant.
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.
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The Depositary shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by a predecessor depositary whether in connection with an act or omission of the Depositary or in connection with any matter arising wholly prior to the appointment of the Depositary or 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.
(17) Resignation and Removal of Depositary. The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary hereunder by written notice of resignation delivered to the Company, such resignation to be effective on the earlier of (i) the 90th day after delivery thereof to the Company (whereupon the Depositary shall be entitled to take the actions contemplated in Paragraph (19) of this form of ADR), or (ii) the appointment by the Company 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, which removal shall be effective on the later of (i) the 90th day after delivery thereof to the Depositary (whereupon the Depositary shall be entitled to take the actions contemplated in Section 6.2), or (ii) upon the appointment by the Company of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided.
In case at any time the Depositary acting hereunder shall resign or be removed, the Company shall use its best efforts to appoint a successor depositary, which shall be a bank or trust company having an office in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York. Every successor depositary shall be required by the Company to 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 (except as required by applicable law), shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor (other than as contemplated in Section 20 and Paragraph (7) hereof). The predecessor depositary, upon payment of all sums due it and on the written request of the Company, shall, (i) execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor all rights and powers of such predecessor hereunder (other than as contemplated in Section 20 of the Deposit Agreement and Paragraph (7) hereof), (ii) duly assign, transfer and deliver all of the Depositary’s right, title and interest to the Deposited Property to such successor, and (iii) deliver to such successor a list of the Holders of all outstanding ADSs and such other information relating to ADSs and Holders thereof as the successor may reasonably request. Any such successor depositary shall promptly provide notice of its appointment to such Holders.
Any entity 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.
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(18) Amendment. Subject to the last sentence of Paragraph (2) (Withdrawal of Deposited Securities), the ADRs and the Deposit Agreement may be amended by the Company and the Depositary, provided that any amendment that imposes or increases any fees or charges on a per ADS basis (other than stock transfer or other taxes and other governmental charges, transfer or registration fees, SWIFT, cable, telex or facsimile transmission costs, delivery costs or other such expenses), or that shall otherwise prejudice any substantial existing right of Holders or Beneficial Owners, shall become effective thirty (30) days after notice of such amendment shall have been given to the Holders. Every Holder and Beneficial Owner at the time any amendment to the Deposit Agreement so becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such ADR or any ADSs, 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 Holder of any ADR or ADSs to surrender such ADR or ADSs, as the case may be, and receive the Deposited Securities represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law. Any amendments or supplements that (i) are reasonably necessary (as agreed by the Company and the Depositary) in order for (a) the ADSs to be registered on Form F-6 under the Securities Act of 1933 or (b) the ADSs or Shares to be traded solely in electronic book-entry form and (ii) do not in either such case impose or increase any fees or charges to be borne by Holders, shall be deemed not to prejudice any substantial rights of Holders or Beneficial Owners. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any governmental body or regulatory body should adopt new laws, rules or regulations which would require amendment or supplement of the Deposit Agreement or the form of ADR to ensure compliance therewith, the Company and the Depositary may amend or supplement the Deposit Agreement and the ADR 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 Holders or within any other period of time as required for compliance. Notice of any amendment to the Deposit Agreement or form of ADRs shall not need to describe in detail the specific amendments effectuated thereby, and failure to describe the specific amendments in any such notice shall not render such notice invalid, provided, however, that, in each such case, the notice given to the Holders identifies a means for Holders and Beneficial Owners to retrieve or receive the text of such amendment (e.g., upon retrieval from the Commission’s, the Depositary’s or the Company’s website or upon request to the Depositary).
(19) Termination. The Depositary shall, at any time at the written direction of the Company, terminate the Deposit Agreement by distributing notice of such termination to the Holders of all ADSs then outstanding at least thirty (30) days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination. If (i) ninety (90) days shall have expired after the Depositary shall have delivered to the Company a written notice of its election to resign, or (ii) ninety (90) days shall have expired after the Company shall have delivered to the Depositary a written notice of the removal of the Depositary, and, in either case, a successor depositary shall not have been appointed and accepted its appointment as provided in Paragraph (17) hereof, the Depositary may terminate the Deposit Agreement by distributing notice of such termination to the Holders of all ADSs then outstanding at least thirty (30) days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination. The date so fixed for termination of the Deposit Agreement in any termination notice so distributed by the Depositary to the Holders of ADSs is referred to as the “Termination Date”. Until the Termination Date, the Depositary shall continue to perform all of its obligations under the Deposit Agreement, and the Holders and Beneficial Owners will be entitled to all of their rights under the Deposit Agreement.
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If any ADSs shall remain outstanding after the Termination Date, the Depositary shall not, after the Termination Date, have any obligation to perform any further acts under the Deposit Agreement, except that the Depositary shall, subject, in each case, to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, continue to (i) collect dividends and other distributions pertaining to Deposited Securities, (ii) sell Deposited Property received in respect of Deposited Securities, (iii) Deliver Deposited Securities, together with any dividends or other distributions received with respect thereto and the net proceeds of the sale of any other Deposited Property, in exchange for ADSs surrendered to the Depositary (after deducting, or charging, as the case may be, in each case, the fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary, and all applicable taxes or governmental charges for the account of the Holders and Beneficial Owners, in each case upon the terms set forth in Paragraph (7) hereof), and (iv) take such actions as may be required under applicable law in connection with its role as Depositary under the Deposit Agreement.
At any time after the Termination Date, the Depositary may sell the Deposited Property then held under the Deposit Agreement and shall, after such sale and remittance of proceeds to Holders of Uncertificated ADSs pursuant to Section 6(vii) of the Deposit Agreement, hold un-invested the net proceeds of such sale, together with any other cash then held by it under the Deposit Agreement, in an un-segregated account and without liability for interest, for the pro rata benefit of the Holders whose ADSs have not theretofore been surrendered. After making such sale, the Depositary shall be discharged from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement except (i) to account for such net proceeds and other cash (after deducting, or charging, as the case may be, in each case, the fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary, and all applicable taxes or governmental charges for the account of the Holders and Beneficial Owners, in each case upon the terms set forth in Paragraph (7) hereof), and (ii) as may be required at law in connection with the termination of the Deposit Agreement. After the date so fixed for termination, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement except for its obligations to the Depositary and its agents.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in connection with any termination pursuant to this Paragraph (19), the Depositary hereby notifies the Holders that the Depositary may, in its sole discretion and without notice to or consent from the Company, establish an unsponsored American depositary share program (on such terms as the Depositary may determine) for the Shares and make available to Holders a means to withdraw the Shares represented by the ADSs issued under the Deposit Agreement and to direct the deposit of such Shares into such unsponsored American depositary share program, subject, in each case, to receipt by the Depositary, at its discretion, of the fees, charges and expenses provided for in Paragraph (7) hereof and the fees, charges and expenses applicable to the unsponsored American depositary share program.
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(20) Appointment; Acknowledgements and Agreements. Each Holder and each Beneficial Owner, upon acceptance of any ADSs or ADRs (or any interest in any of them) issued in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement shall be deemed for all purposes to (a) be a party to and bound by the terms of the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR(s), (b) appoint the Depositary its attorney-in-fact, with full power to delegate, to act on its behalf and to take any and all actions contemplated in the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR(s), to adopt any and all procedures necessary to comply with applicable law and to take such action as the Depositary in its sole discretion may deem necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Deposit Agreement and the applicable ADR(s), the taking of such actions to be the conclusive determinant of the necessity and appropriateness thereof, and (c) acknowledge and agree that (i) nothing in the Deposit Agreement or any ADR shall give rise to a partnership or joint venture among the parties thereto, nor establish a fiduciary or similar relationship among such parties, (ii) the Depositary, its divisions, branches and affiliates, and their respective agents, may from time to time be in the possession of non-public information about the Company, Holders, Beneficial Owners and/or their respective affiliates, (iii) the Depositary and its divisions, branches and affiliates may at any time have multiple banking relationships with the Company, Holders, Beneficial Owners and/or the affiliates of any of them, (iv) the Depositary and its divisions, branches and affiliates may, from time to time, be engaged in transactions in which parties adverse to the Company or the Holders or Beneficial Owners and/or their respective affiliates may have interests, (v) nothing contained in the Deposit Agreement or any ADR(s) shall (A) preclude the Depositary or any of its divisions, branches or affiliates from engaging in any such transactions or establishing or maintaining any such relationships, or (B) obligate the Depositary or any of its divisions, branches or affiliates to disclose any such transactions or relationships or to account for any profit made or payment received in any such transactions or relationships, (vi) the Depositary shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any information held by any branch, division or affiliate of the Depositary and (vii) notice to a Holder shall be deemed, for all purposes of the Deposit Agreement and this ADR, to constitute notice to any and all Beneficial Owners of the ADSs evidenced by such ▇▇▇▇▇▇’s ADRs. For all purposes under the Deposit Agreement and this ADR, the Holder hereof shall be deemed to have all requisite authority to act on behalf of any and all Beneficial Owners of the ADSs evidenced by this ADR.
(21) Waiver.
(a) EACH PARTY TO THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT (INCLUDING, FOR AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, EACH HOLDER AND BENEFICIAL OWNER OF, AND/OR HOLDER OF INTERESTS IN, ADSS OR ADRS) HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING AGAINST THE DEPOSITARY AND/OR THE COMPANY DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, BASED ON OR RELATING IN ANY WAY TO THE SHARES OR OTHER DEPOSITED SECURITIES, THE ADSs OR THE ADRs, THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREIN OR THEREIN, OR THE BREACH HEREOF OR THEREOF (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, COMMON LAW OR ANY OTHER THEORY), INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY SUIT, ACTION, CLAIM OR PROCEEDING UNDER THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS.
(b) No provision of the Deposit Agreement or this ADR is intended to constitute a waiver or limitation of any rights which a Holder or any Beneficial Owner may have under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, to the extent applicable.
(22) Jurisdiction. By holding or owning an ADR or ADS or an interest therein, Holders and Beneficial Owners each irrevocably agree that any legal suit, action or proceeding against or involving Holders or Beneficial Owners brought by the Company or the Depositary, arising out of or based upon the Deposit Agreement, the ADSs, the ADRs or the transactions contemplated therein, herein, thereby or hereby, may be instituted in a federal or state court in New York, New York, and by holding or owning an ADR or ADS or an interest therein each irrevocably waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding, and irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. By holding or owning an ADR or ADS or an interest therein, Holders and Beneficial Owners each also irrevocably agree that any legal suit, action or proceeding against or involving the Depositary brought by Holders or Beneficial Owners, arising out of or based upon the Deposit Agreement, the ADSs, the ADRs or the transactions contemplated therein, herein, thereby or hereby, including, without limitation, claims under the Securities Act of 1933, may be instituted only in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (or in the state courts of New York County in New York if either (i) the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York lacks subject matter jurisdiction over a particular dispute or (ii) the designation of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York as the exclusive forum for any particular dispute is, or becomes, invalid, illegal or unenforceable).
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(ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER SIGNATURE LINES)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned Holder hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto ______________________________ whose taxpayer identification number is _______________________ and whose address including postal zip code is ________________, the within ADR and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing ________________________ attorney-in-fact to transfer said ADR on the books of the Depositary with full power of substitution in the premises.
| Dated: | Name: ________________________________ |
| By: | |
| Title: | |
| NOTICE: The signature of the Holder to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever. | |
| If the endorsement is executed by an attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, the person executing the endorsement must give his/her full title in such capacity and proper evidence of authority to act in such capacity, if not on file with the Depositary, must be forwarded with this ADR. | |
| __________________________ | |
| SIGNATURE GUARANTEED | |
| All endorsements or assignments of ADRs must be guaranteed by a member of a Medallion Signature Program approved by the Securities Transfer Association, Inc. |
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EXHIBIT B
ADS FEES AND RELATED CHARGES
All capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning given to such terms in the Deposit Agreement. Except as otherwise specified herein, any reference to ADSs herein includes Certificated ADSs, Uncertificated ADSs, and Restricted ADSs.
I. ADS Fees
The following ADS fees (some of which may be cumulative) are payable under the terms of the Deposit Agreement:
| Service | Rate | By Whom Paid |
| (1) Issuance of ADSs (e.g., an issuance upon a deposit of Shares, upon a change in the ADS(s)-to-Share(s) ratio, ADS conversions, or for any other reason), excluding issuances as a result of distributions described in paragraph (4) below. | Up to U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) issued. | Person for whom ADSs are issued. |
| (2) Cancellation of ADSs (e.g., a cancellation of ADSs for Delivery of deposited Shares, upon a change in the ADS(s)-to-Share(s) ratio, ADS conversions, upon termination of the Deposit Agreement, or for any other reason). | Up to U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) cancelled. | Person for whom ADSs are being cancelled. |
| (3) Distribution of cash dividends or other cash distributions (e.g., upon a sale of rights and other entitlements). | Up to U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) held. | Person to whom the distribution is made. |
| (4) Distribution of ADSs pursuant to (i) stock dividends or other free stock distributions, or (ii) an exercise of rights to purchase additional ADSs. | Up to U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) held. | Person to whom the distribution is made. |
| (5) Distribution of financial instruments, including, without limitation, securities, other than ADSs or rights to purchase additional ADSs (e.g., spin-off shares and contingent value rights). | Up to U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) held. | Person to whom the distribution is made. |
| (6) ADS Services. | Up to U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) held on the applicable record date(s) established by the Depositary. | Person holding ADSs on the applicable record date(s) established by the Depositary. |
| (7) Registration of ADS Transfers (e.g., upon a registration of the transfer of registered ownership of ADSs, upon a transfer of ADSs into DTC and vice versa, or for any other reason). | Up to U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) transferred. | Person for whom or to whom ADSs are transferred. |
| (8) Conversion of ADSs of one series for ADSs of another series (e.g., upon conversion of Restricted ADSs into freely transferable ADSs, and vice versa) or conversion of ADSs for unsponsored American Depositary Shares (e.g., upon termination of the Deposit Agreement). | Up to U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) converted. | Person for whom ADSs are converted or to whom the converted ADSs are Delivered. |
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II. Charges
The Company, Holders, Beneficial Owners, persons depositing Shares or withdrawing Deposited Securities in connection with ADS issuances and cancellations, and persons for whom ADSs are issued or cancelled shall be responsible for the following ADS charges (some of which may be cumulative) under the terms of the Deposit Agreement:
| (i) | taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) and other governmental charges; |
| (ii) | such registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the registration of Shares or other Deposited Securities on the share register and applicable to transfers of Shares or other Deposited Securities to or from the name of the Custodian, the Depositary or any nominees upon the making of deposits and withdrawals, respectively; |
| (iii) | such SWIFT cable, telex and facsimile transmission and delivery expenses as are expressly provided in the Deposit Agreement to be at the expense of (x) the person depositing Shares or withdrawing Deposited Property or (y) the Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs; |
| (iv) | in connection with the conversion of Foreign Currency, the fees, expenses, spreads, taxes and other charges of the Depositary and/or conversion service providers (which may be a division, branch or Affiliate of the Depositary). Such fees, expenses, spreads, taxes, and other charges shall be deducted from the Foreign Currency; |
| (v) | any reasonable and customary out-of-pocket expenses incurred in such conversion and/or on behalf of the Holders and Beneficial Owners in complying with currency exchange control or other governmental requirements; |
| (vi) | the fees, charges, costs and expenses incurred by the Depositary, the Custodian, or any nominee in connection with the ADR program; and |
| (vii) | the amounts payable to the Depositary by any party to the Deposit Agreement pursuant to any ancillary agreement to the Deposit Agreement in respect of the ADR program, the ADSs and the ADRs. |
The above fees and charges may at any time and from time to time be changed by agreement between the Company and the Depositary and may be assessed cumulatively based on cumulative functions of services rendered.
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