As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 11, 2017         

Registration No. 333 -         

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM F-6

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 FOR AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES EVIDENCED BY 

AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS

 

 

 

BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO P.L.C.  

(Exact name of issuer of deposited securities as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

N/A

(Translation of issuer’s name into English)

 

 

 

ENGLAND AND WALES 

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization of issuer )

 

 

 

CITIBANK, N.A. 

(Exact name of depositary as specified in its charter )

 

 

 

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

(877) 248-4237

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of depositary’s principal executive offices)

 

 

 

Puglisi & Associates

850 Library Avenue

Suite 204

Newark, DE 19711

(302) 738-6680

Attention: Service of Process Department  

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

 

Copies to:

 

Philip A. Gelston, Esq.

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP

Worldwide Plaza

825 Eighth Avenue

New York, New York 10019

(212) 474-1000

 

Herman H. Raspé, Esq.

Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP
1133 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036

 

 

 

It is proposed that this filing become effective under Rule 466:

 ☒

immediately upon filing.

   ☐

on (Date) at (Time).

 

If a separate registration statement has been filed to register the deposited shares, check the following box:  ☐

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of Each Class of

Securities to be Registered

Amount to be

Registered

Proposed Maximum

Aggregate Price Per Unit*

Proposed Maximum

Aggregate

Offering Price**  

Amount of

Registration Fee 

American Depositary Shares ( ADS(s) ), each ADS representing the right to receive one (1) ordinary share of British American Tobacco p.l.c.

200,000,000 ADSs

$5.00

$10,000,000.00

$1,245.00

*

Each unit represents 100 ADSs.

**

Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee. Pursuant to Rule 457(k), such estimate is computed on the basis of the maximum aggregate fees or charges to be imposed in connection with the issuance of ADSs.

 

 

 

 

 

  

This Registration Statement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of such counterparts together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

 

ii

 

 

PART I

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Cross Reference Sheet

 

Item 1.       DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED

 

Item Number and Caption

 

Location in Form of American

Depositary Receipt (“ Receipt ”)
Filed Herewith as Prospectus

       
1. Name of Depositary and address of its principal executive office   Face of Receipt -  Introductory Article.
       
2. Title of Receipts and identity of deposited securities   Face of Receipt   - Top Center.
         
Terms of Deposit:    
     
  (i) The amount of deposited securities represented by one American Depositary Share ("ADSs")   Face of Receipt   - Upper right corner.
         
  (ii) The procedure for voting, if any, the deposited securities   Reverse of Receipt   - Paragraphs (16)
and (17).
         
  (iii) The collection and distribution of dividends   Reverse of Receipt - Paragraph (14).
         
  (iv) The transmission of notices, reports and proxy soliciting material   Face of Receipt   - Paragraph (13);
Reverse of Receipt - Paragraph (16).
         
  (v) The sale or exercise of rights  

Reverse of Receipt – Paragraphs (14)

and (16).

         
  (vi) The deposit or sale of securities resulting from dividends, splits or plans of reorganization  

Face of Receipt - Paragraphs (3) and (6);

Reverse of Receipt - Paragraphs (14) and (18).

         
  (vii) Amendment, extension or termination of the deposit agreement   Reverse of Receipt - Paragraphs (22) and (23) (no provision for extensions).
         
  (viii) Rights of holders of Receipts to inspect the transfer books of the Depositary and the list of holders of ADSs   Face of Receipt - Paragraph (13).
         
  (ix) Restrictions upon the right to deposit or withdraw the underlying securities   Face of Receipt – Paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (6), (7), (9) and (10).

 

I- 1  

 

 

Item Number and Caption  

Location in Form of American

Depositary Receipt (“ Receipt ”)
Filed Herewith as Prospectus  

         
  (x) Limitation upon the liability of the Depositary  

Face of Receipt - Paragraph (7);

Reverse of Receipt - Paragraphs (19) and (20).

         
3.     Fees and charges which may be imposed directly or indirectly on holders of ADSs   Face of Receipt - Paragraph (10).
         
Item 2.           AVAILABLE INFORMATION   Face of Receipt - Paragraph (13).

 

British American Tobacco p.l.c. (the “Company”) is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and, accordingly, files certain reports with, and submits certain reports to, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”). These reports can be retrieved from the Commission’s internet website (www.sec.gov), and can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20549.

 

I- 2

 

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

The Prospectus consists of the American Depositary Receipt included as Exhibit A to Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement filed as Exhibit (a)(i) to this Registration Statement on Form F-6 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

I- 3

 

 

PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 3.      EXHIBITS

 

(a)(i) Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of June 14, 2017, by and among British American Tobacco p.l.c. (the “Company”), Citibank, N.A., as depositary (the “Depositary”), and all Holders and Beneficial Owners of American Depositary Shares issued under the terms of the Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2008, and as amended as of February 14, 2017. ___ Filed herewith as Exhibit (a)(i).

 

(a)(ii) Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2017, by and among the Company, the Depositary, and all Holders and Beneficial Owners of American Depositary Shares issued under the terms of the Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2008. ___ Previously filed (Registration Statement on Form F-6, Reg. No. 333-217967 filed on May 12, 2017).

 

(a)(iii) Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2008, by and among the Company, the Depositary, and all Holders and Beneficial Owners of American Depositary Shares issued thereunder. ___ Previously filed (Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form F-6, Reg. No. 333-155563 filed on January 13, 2017).

 

(b) Any other agreement to which the Depositary is a party relating to the issuance of the American Depositary Shares registered hereunder or the custody of the deposited securities represented thereby. ___ None.

 

(c) Every material contract relating to the deposited securities between the Depositary and the issuer of the deposited securities in effect at any time within the last three years. ___ None.

 

(d) Opinion of counsel for the Depositary as to the legality of the securities to be registered. ___ Filed herewith as Exhibit (d).

 

(e) Certificate under Rule 466. ___ Filed herewith as Exhibit (e).

 

(f) Powers of Attorney for certain officers and directors and the authorized representative of the Company. ___ Set forth on the signature pages hereto.

 

 

II-1

 

 

Item 4.      UNDERTAKINGS

 

(a) The Depositary hereby undertakes to make available at the principal office of the Depositary in the United States, for inspection by holders of ADSs, any reports and communications received from the issuer of the deposited securities which are both (1) received by the Depositary as the holder of the deposited securities; and (2) made generally available to the holders of the underlying securities by the issuer.

 

(b) If the amounts of fees charged are not disclosed in the prospectus, the Depositary undertakes to prepare a separate document stating the amount of any fee charged and describing the service for which it is charged and to deliver promptly a copy of such fee schedule without charge to anyone upon request. The Depositary undertakes to notify each registered holder of an ADS thirty (30) days before any change in the fee schedule.

 

II-2

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Citibank, N.A., acting solely on behalf of the legal entity created by the Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2008, as previously amended by Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2017 and further amended by Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of June 14, 2017, by and among British American Tobacco p.l.c., Citibank, N.A., as depositary, and all Holders and Beneficial Owners from time to time of American Depositary Shares outstanding thereunder, certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that all the requirements for filing on Form F-6 are met and has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form F-6 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on December 11, 2017.

  

 

Legal entity created by the Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement (as amended) under which the American Depositary Shares registered hereunder are to be issued, each American Depositary Share representing the right to receive one (1) ordinary share, nominal value 25 Pence per share, of British American Tobacco p.l.c.

 

CITIBANK, N.A., solely in its capacity as Depositary

     
  By:   /s/ Thomas Crane
   

Name: Thomas Crane

Title: Vice President

 

II-3

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, British American Tobacco p.l.c. certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that all the requirements for filing on Form F-6 are met and has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form F-6 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized, in London, England, on December 11, 2017.

 

  BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO P.L.C.
     
  By:    /s/ John Benedict Stevens
   

Name: John Benedict Stevens

Title: Executive Director – Finance Director

 

 II- 4

 

 

POWERS OF ATTORNEY

 

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Richard Burrows, Nicandro Durante, John Benedict Stevens, Paul McCrory and Bridget Creegan to act as his/her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution, for him/her and in his/her name, place and stead, in any and all such capacities, to sign any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as s/he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his/her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This appointment shall be valid for the duration of the American depositary receipts program to which this Registration Statement relates.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement on Form F-6 has been signed by the following persons in the following capacities on December 11, 2017.

 

Signature   Title
     
     

 /s/ Richard Burrows

 

Chairman

Name: Richard Burrows    
     

/s/ Nicandro Durante

 

Executive Director - Chief Executive

Name: Nicandro Durante   (Principal Executive Officer)
     

/s/ John Benedict Stevens

 

Executive Director - Finance Director

Name: John Benedict Stevens   (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
     

/s/ Kieran Poynter

 

Senior Independent Director

Name: Kieran Poynter    

 

 II- 5

 

 

Signature

  Title

   

/s/ Susan Farr

 

Non-Executive Director

Name: Susan Farr    
     

/s/ Ann Godbehere

 

Non-Executive Director

Name: Ann Godbehere    
     

/s/ Dr. Marion Helmes

 

Non-Executive Director

Name: Dr. Marion Helmes    
     

/s/ Luc Jobin

 

Non-Executive Director

Name: Luc Jobin    
     

/s/ Savio Kwan

 

Non-Executive Director

Name: Savio Kwan    
     

/s/ Holly Keller Koeppel

 

Non-Executive Director

Name: Holly Keller Koeppel    
     

/s/ Dr. Pedro Malan

 

Non-Executive Director

Name: Dr. Pedro Malan    
     
 

Non-Executive Director

Name: Lionel L. Nowell, III     
     

/s/ Dimitri Panayotopoulos

 

Non-Executive Director

Name: Dimitri Panayotopoulos    
     

 

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE


 

 

By:  /s/ Greg Lavelle   Authorized Representative in the United States
  Name: Greg Lavelle    
  Managing Director    
  Puglisi & Associates    

 

 II- 6

 

 

Index to Exhibits

 

Exhibit Document

Sequentially

Numbered Page

     
(a)(i) Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement  
     
(d) Opinion of counsel for the Depositary  
     
(e) Certificate under Rule 466  
     
     

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit (a)

 

 

 

 

 

BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO P.L.C.

 

AND

 

CITIBANK, N.A.,

 

As Depositary,

 

AND

 

ALL HOLDERS AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
OUTSTANDING UNDER THE TERMS OF THE
AMENDED AND RESTATED DEPOSIT AGREEMENT,
DATED AS OF DECEMBER 1, 2008,
AS PREVIOUSLY AMENDED

 

 

 

Amendment No. 2
to
Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement

 

 

 

Dated as of June 14, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

Page

  

ARTICLE I   DEFINITIONS 1
   
SECTION 1.01   Definitions 1
SECTION 1.02   Effective Date 2
   
ARTICLE II   AMENDMENTS TO DEPOSIT AGREEMENT 2
   
SECTION 2.01   Deposit Agreement 2
SECTION 2.02   Change of Company’s Reporting Status 2
SECTION 2.03   Amendments Binding on all Holders and Beneficial Owners 2
   
ARTICLE III   AMENDMENTS TO THE FORM OF ADR 2
   
SECTION 3.01   Amendment to Paragraph (1) of ADR 2
SECTION 3.02   Change of Company’s Reporting Status 3
   
ARTICLE IV   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES 3
   
SECTION 4.01   Representations and Warranties 3
   
ARTICLE V   MISCELLANEOUS 3
   
SECTION 5.01   New ADRs 3
SECTION 5.02   Notice of Amendment to Holders of ADSs 4
SECTION 5.03   Indemnification 4
SECTION 5.04   Ratification 4
SECTION 5.05   Governing Law 4
SECTION 5.06   Counterparts 4

 

 

 

 

AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO AMENDED AND RESTATED DEPOSIT AGREEMENT

 

AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO AMENDED AND RESTATED DEPOSIT AGREEMENT, dated as of June 14, 2017 (the “ Amendment ”), by and among BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO P.L.C., a public limited liability company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales, 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 and Beneficial Owners of American Depositary Shares outstanding under the Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2008, and as amended prior to the date hereof, among the Company, the Depositary and all Holders and Beneficial Owners of American Depositary Shares issued thereunder (as amended, the “ Deposit Agreement ”).

 

WITNESSETH THAT:

 

WHEREAS, the parties to the Deposit Agreement entered into the Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2008, and as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2017 (as so amended, the “ Deposit Agreement ”), for the creation of American Depositary Shares (“ ADSs ”) representing deposited Shares (as defined in the Deposit Agreement) and for the execution and delivery of American Depositary Receipts (“ ADRs ”) evidencing such ADSs;

 

WHEREAS, the Company expects to become a reporting company under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time (the “ Exchange Act ”), and desires to (x) amend the Deposit Agreement, the ADRs currently outstanding and the form of ADR annexed as Exhibit A to the Deposit Agreement to reflect such change, and (y) give notice thereof to all Holders (as defined in the Deposit Agreement) of ADSs; and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, the Company and the Depositary deem it necessary and desirable to amend the Deposit Agreement, the ADRs currently outstanding and the form of ADR annexed to the Deposit Agreement as Exhibit A for the purposes set forth herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, in accordance with Section 6.1 of the Deposit Agreement, the Company and the Depositary hereby agree to amend the Deposit Agreement, the ADRs currently outstanding and the form of ADR annexed as Exhibit A to the Deposit Agreement as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

SECTION 1.01        Definitions . Unless otherwise specified in this Amendment, all capitalized terms used, but not defined, herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Deposit Agreement.

 

1  

 

 

SECTION 1.02        Effective Date . The term “ Effective Date ” shall mean the date set forth above and as of which this Amendment shall become effective.

 

ARTICLE II

 


AMENDMENTS TO DEPOSIT AGREEMENT

 

SECTION 2.01        Deposit Agreement . All references in the Deposit Agreement to the term “ Deposit Agreement ” shall, as of the Effective Date, refer to the Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2008, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2017, and by this Amendment, and as further amended and supplemented after the Effective Date.

 

SECTION 2.02        Change of Company’s Reporting Status . Section 4.12 of the Deposit Agreement is hereby amended as of the Effective Date by deleting such section in its entirety and inserting the following in its stead:

 

“The Company is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and, accordingly, files certain reports with, and submits certain reports to, the Commission. These reports can be retrieved from the Commission’s internet website (www.sec.gov), and can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20549.”

 

SECTION 2.03        Amendments Binding on all Holders and Beneficial Owners . From and after the Effective Date, the amendments to the Deposit Agreement effected hereby shall be binding on all Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs issued and outstanding as of the Effective Date and on all Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs issued after the Effective Date.

 

ARTICLE III

 


AMENDMENTS TO THE FORM OF ADR

 

SECTION 3.01        Amendment to Paragraph (1) of ADR . The first sentence of paragraph (1) of the form of ADR attached as Exhibit A to the Deposit Agreement and in each of the ADRs issued and outstanding under the terms of the Deposit Agreement is hereby amended as of the Effective Date by deleting such sentence in its entirety and inserting the following in its stead:

 

“This American Depositary Receipt is one of an issue of American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), all issued and to be issued upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2008, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2017, and as further amended by Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of June 14, 2017 (as so amended and as further amended and supplemented from time to time, the “Deposit Agreement”), by and among the Company, the Depositary, and all Holders and Beneficial Owners from time to time of ADSs issued thereunder.”

 

2  

 

 

SECTION 3.02        Change of Company’s Reporting Status . The first five sentences of the first paragraph of paragraph 13 of the form of ADR attached as Exhibit A to the Deposit Agreement and in each of the ADRs issued and outstanding under the terms of the Deposit Agreement prior to the Effective Date are hereby amended as of the Effective Date by deleting such sentences in their entirety and inserting the following in their stead:

 

“The Company is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and, accordingly, files certain reports with, and submits certain reports to, the Commission. These reports can be retrieved from the Commission’s internet website (www.sec.gov), and can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20549.”

 

ARTICLE IV

 


REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

SECTION 4.01        Representations and Warranties . The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Depositary and the Holders and Beneficial Owners, that:

 

(1)                this Amendment, when executed and delivered by the Company, will have been, and the Deposit Agreement has been, duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and each constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its respective terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles;

 

(2)                in order to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility into evidence of this Amendment or the Deposit Agreement as amended hereby, and other document furnished hereunder or thereunder in England and Wales, neither of such agreements need to be filed or recorded with any court or other authority in England and Wales, nor does any stamp or similar tax need be paid in England and Wales on or in respect of such agreements; and

 

(3)                all of the information provided to the Depositary by the Company in connection with this Amendment is true, accurate and correct.

 

ARTICLE V

 


MISCELLANEOUS

 

SECTION 5.01        New ADRs . From and after the Effective Date, the Depositary shall arrange to have new ADRs printed or amended that reflect the changes to the form of ADR effected by this Amendment. All ADRs issued hereunder after the Effective Date, once such new ADRs are available, whether upon the deposit of Shares or other Deposited Securities or upon the transfer, combination or split up of existing ADRs, shall be substantially in the form of the specimen ADR attached as Exhibit A hereto. The Depositary is authorized and directed to take any and all actions deemed necessary to effect the foregoing.

 

3  

 

 

SECTION 5.02        Notice of Amendment to Holders of ADSs . The Depositary shall, after the Effective Date, send to Holders of ADSs the notice in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto, informing the Holders of ADSs (i) of the terms of this Amendment, (ii) of the Effective Date of this Amendment, (iii) that Holders do not need to take any action in connection with this Amendment, and (iv) that copies of this Amendment may be retrieved from the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov and may be obtained from the Depositary and the Company upon request.

 

SECTION 5.03        Indemnification . Each of the Company and the Depositary hereby acknowledges that Section 5.8 of the Deposit Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and that the terms thereof, to the extent set forth therein, shall apply to this Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

SECTION 5.04        Ratification . Except as expressly amended hereby, the terms, covenants and conditions of the Deposit Agreement as originally executed shall remain in full force and effect.

 

SECTION 5.05        Governing Law . This Amendment 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 the State of New York.

 

SECTION 5.06        Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of such counterparts together shall be deemed an original, and all such counterparts together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

4  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Depositary have caused this Amendment to be executed by representatives thereunto duly authorized as of the date set forth above.

  

  BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO P.L.C.
     
  By: /s/ John Benedict Stevens
    Name: John Benedict Stevens
    Title: Executive Director – Finance Director

  

  CITIBANK, N.A., as Depositary
     
  By: /s/ Keith Galfo
    Name: Keith Galfo
    Title: Vice President


5  

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

[FORM OF FACE OF ADR]

 

Number CUSIP NUMBER:
_____________  
  American Depositary Shares (each American Depositary Share representing the right to receive one (1) fully paid ordinary share)

 

AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPT

 

evidencing

 

AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES

 

representing

 

DEPOSITED ORDINARY SHARES

 

of

 

BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO P.L.C.

 

(Incorporated under the laws of England and Wales)

 

CITIBANK, N.A., a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, as depositary (the “Depositary”), hereby certifies that _____________is the owner of ______________ American Depositary Shares (hereinafter “ADS”), representing deposited ordinary shares, including evidence of rights to receive such ordinary shares (the “Shares”), of BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO P.L.C., a public limited liability corporation incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (the “Company”). As of the date hereof, each ADS represents the right to receive one (1) Share deposited under the Deposit Agreement with the Custodian, which at the date hereof is Citibank, N.A., London Branch (the “Custodian”). The ADS(s)-to-Share(s) ratio is subject to amendment as provided in Articles IV and VI of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary’s Principal Office is located at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013, U.S.A.

 

 A- 1

 

 

(1)                The Deposit Agreement . This American Depositary Receipt is one of an issue of American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), all issued and to be issued upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2008, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2017, and as further amended by Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of June 14, 2017 (as so amended and as further amended and supplemented from time to time, the “Deposit Agreement”), by and among the Company, the Depositary, and all Holders and Beneficial Owners from time to time of ADSs issued thereunder. The Deposit Agreement sets forth the rights and obligations of Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs and the rights and duties of the Depositary in respect of the Shares deposited thereunder and any and all other securities, property and cash from time to time received in respect of such Shares and held thereunder (such Shares, securities, property and cash are herein called “Deposited Securities”). Copies of the Deposit Agreement are on file at the Principal Office of the Depositary and with the Custodian. Each Holder and each Beneficial Owner, upon acceptance of any ADSs (or any interest therein) 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 applicable ADR(s), and (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.

 

The statements made on the face and reverse of this ADR are summaries of certain provisions of the Deposit Agreement and the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company (as in effect on the date of the signing of the Deposit Agreement) and are qualified by and subject to the detailed provisions of the Deposit Agreement and the Memorandum and Articles of Association, to which reference is hereby made. All capitalized terms used herein which are not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary makes no representation or warranty as to the validity or worth of the Deposited Securities. The Depositary has made arrangements for the acceptance of the ADSs into DTC. Each Beneficial Owner of ADSs held through DTC must rely on the procedures of DTC and the DTC Participants to exercise and be entitled to any rights attributable to such ADSs. The Depositary may issue Uncertificated ADSs subject, however, to the terms and conditions of Section 2.13 of the Deposit Agreement.

 

(2)                Withdrawal of Deposited Securities . The Holder of this ADR (and of the ADSs evidenced hereby) shall be entitled to Delivery (at the Custodian’s designated office) of the Deposited Securities at the time represented by the ADSs evidenced hereby upon satisfaction of each of the following conditions: (i) the Holder (or a duly authorized attorney of the Holder) has duly Delivered to the Depositary at its Principal Office the ADSs evidenced hereby (and, if applicable, this ADR) for the purpose of withdrawal of the Deposited Securities represented thereby, (ii) if applicable and so required by the Depositary, this ADR Delivered to the Depositary for such purpose has been properly endorsed in blank or is 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 fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and all applicable taxes and governmental charges (as are set forth in Section 5.9 of, and Exhibit B to, the Deposit Agreement) have been paid, subject, however, in each case , to the terms and conditions of this ADR evidencing the surrendered ADSs, of the Deposit Agreement, of the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, of any applicable laws and the rules of CREST, 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 ADRs 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 this ADR evidencing the ADS so cancelled, of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, of any applicable laws and of the rules of CREST, 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. Notwithstanding anything else contained in this ADR or the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may make delivery at the Principal Office of the Depositary of (i) any cash dividends or cash distributions, or (ii) any proceeds from the sale of any distributions of shares or rights, 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 Holder so surrendering ADSs represented by this ADR, and for the account of such Holder, the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to forward (to the extent permitted by law) any cash or other property (other than securities) held by the Custodian in respect of the Deposited Securities represented by 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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(3)                Transfer, Combination and Split-Up of ADRs . The Registrar shall register the transfer of this ADR (and of the ADSs represented hereby) on the books maintained for such purpose and the Depositary shall (x) cancel this ADR and execute new ADRs in the name of the transferee evidencing the same aggregate number of ADSs as those evidenced by this ADR when canceled by the Depositary, (y) cause the Registrar to countersign such new ADRs and (z) Deliver such new ADRs to or upon the order of the person entitled thereto, if each of the following conditions has been satisfied: (i) this ADR has been duly Delivered by the Holder (or by a duly authorized attorney of the Holder) to the Depositary at its Principal Office for the purpose of effecting a transfer thereof, (ii) this surrendered ADR has been properly endorsed or is accompanied by proper instruments of transfer (including signature guarantees in accordance with standard securities industry practice), (iii) this surrendered ADR has been duly stamped (if required by the laws of the State of New York or of the United States), and (iv) all applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and all applicable taxes and governmental charges (as are set forth in Section 5.9 of, and Exhibit B to, the Deposit Agreement) have been paid, subject, however, in each case, to the terms and conditions of this ADR, of the Deposit Agreement and of applicable law, in each case as in effect at the time thereof.

 

The Registrar shall register the split-up or combination of this ADR (and of the ADSs represented hereby) on the books maintained for such purpose and the Depositary shall (x) cancel this ADR and execute new ADRs for the number of ADSs requested, but in the aggregate not exceeding the number of ADSs evidenced by this ADR canceled by the Depositary, (y) cause the Registrar to countersign such new ADRs and (z) Deliver such new ADRs to or upon the order of the Holder hereof, if each of the following conditions has been satisfied: (i) this ADR has been duly Delivered by the Holder (or by a duly authorized attorney of the Holder) to the Depositary at its Principal Office for the purpose of effecting a split-up or combination hereof, and (ii) all applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and all applicable taxes and government charges (as are set forth in Section 5.9 of, and Exhibit B to, the Deposit Agreement) have been paid, subject, however, in each case , to the terms and conditions of this ADR, of the Deposit Agreement and of applicable law, in each case as in effect at the time thereof.

 

(4)                Pre-Conditions to Registration, Transfer, Etc . As a condition precedent to the execution and delivery, registration of issuance, transfer, split-up, combination or surrender, of any ADS, the delivery of any distribution thereon, or the withdrawal of any Deposited Securities, the Company, 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 Section 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement and Exhibit B to the Deposit Agreement and in this ADR, (ii) the production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature or any other matter contemplated in Section 3.1 of the Deposit Agreement, 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 this ADR, if applicable, the Deposit Agreement and applicable law.

 

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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 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 Shares or ADSs are listed, or under any provision of the Deposit Agreement or this ADR, 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 (24) and Section 7.8 of the Deposit Agreement. Notwithstanding any provision of the Deposit Agreement or this ADR to the contrary, Holders are entitled to surrender outstanding ADSs to withdraw the Deposited Securities associated therewith 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 the withdrawal 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).

 

(5)                Compliance With Information Requests . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Deposit Agreement or this ADR to the contrary, each Holder and Beneficial Owner of the ADSs represented hereby agrees to comply with requests from the Company pursuant to applicable law, the rules and requirements of the London Stock Exchange, the UK Financial Conduct Authority and Listing Authority, the New York Stock Exchange and any other stock exchange on which Shares or ADSs are, or will be, registered, traded or listed, or the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, which are made to provide information, inter alia , as to the capacity in which such Holder or Beneficial Owner owns ADSs (and Shares, as the case may be) and regarding the identity of any other person(s) interested in such ADSs and the nature of such interest and various other matters, whether or not they are Holders and/or Beneficial Owners at the time of such request. The Depositary agrees to use its reasonable efforts to assist the Company in obtaining such information, including agreeing to forward, upon the request of the Company and at the Company’s expense, any such request from the Company to the Holders and to forward to the Company any such responses to such requests received by the Depositary .

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Deposit Agreement or any ADR to the contrary and without limiting the foregoing, each Holder and Beneficial Owner agrees to provide such information as the Company may request in a disclosure notice (a “Disclosure Notice”) given pursuant to the United Kingdom Companies Act 2006 (as amended from time to time and including any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof, the “Companies Act”), including pursuant to Section 793 thereof, or the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company. Each Holder and Beneficial Owner acknowledges that it understands that failure to comply with a Disclosure Notice may result in the imposition of sanctions against the holder of Shares in respect of which the non-complying person is or was, or appears to be or has been, interested as provided in the Companies Act and the Memorandum and Articles of Association which currently include, the withdrawal of voting rights of such Shares and the imposition of restrictions on the rights to receive dividends on and to transfer such Shares. In addition, each Holder and Beneficial Owner agrees to comply with the provisions of the Transparency Directive as amended (2004/109/EC) and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules sourcebook (“DTR”), including Chapter 5 thereof (“DTR 5, Vote holder and issuer notification rules”) with regard to the notification to the Company of interests in Shares, which currently provide, inter alia, that a person must notify the issuer of the percentage of its voting rights he holds as shareholder or through his direct or indirect holding of financial instruments falling within DTR 5.3.1 R (or a combination of such holdings) if the percentage of those voting rights reaches, exceeds or falls below 3% as a result of an acquisition or disposal of shares or financial instruments falling within DTR 5.3.1 R. The Company may, in its sole discretion but subject to applicable law, instruct the Depositary to take action with respect to the ownership interest of any Holder or Beneficial Owner who has not complied with any information request of the Company.

 

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Notwithstanding any other provision of the Deposit Agreement or any ADR to the contrary and without limiting the foregoing, each Holder and Beneficial Owner agrees that, to the extent such Holder or Beneficial Owner is a “person discharging managerial responsibilities” or a “person closely associated”, each as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation (2014/596/EC) (“MAR”), such individual shall comply with the obligations under MAR, including to make a notification to the Company and the national competent authority of any transaction in the Shares they hold or financial instruments relating to those Shares within three business days of any transaction or such earlier period as may be applied by the Company.

 

(6)                Ownership Restrictions . Notwithstanding any provision of this ADR or of the Deposit Agreement, the Company may restrict transfers of the Shares where such transfer might result in ownership of Shares exceeding limits imposed by applicable law or the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company. The Company may also restrict, in such manner as it deems appropriate, transfers of the ADSs where such transfer may result in the total number of Shares represented by the ADSs owned by a single Holder or Beneficial Owner to exceed any such limits. The Company may, in its sole discretion but subject to applicable law, instruct the Depositary to take action with respect to the ownership interest of any Holder or Beneficial Owner in excess of the limits set forth in the preceding sentence, including but not limited to, the imposition of restrictions on the transfer of ADSs, the removal or limitation of voting rights or mandatory sale or disposition on behalf of a Holder or Beneficial Owner of the Shares represented by the ADSs held by such Holder or Beneficial Owner in excess of such limitations, if and to the extent such disposition is permitted by applicable law and the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company. Nothing herein or in the Deposit Agreement shall be interpreted as obligating the Depositary or the Company to ensure compliance with the ownership restrictions described herein or in Section 3.5 of the Deposit Agreement.

 

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Applicable laws and regulations may require holders and beneficial owners of Shares, including the Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs, to satisfy reporting requirements and obtain regulatory approvals in certain circumstances. Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs are solely responsible for determining and complying with such reporting requirements and obtaining such approvals. Each Holder and each Beneficial Owner hereby agrees to make such determination, file such reports, and obtain such approvals to the extent and in the form required by applicable laws and regulations as in effect from time to time. Neither the Depositary, the Custodian, the Company or any of their respective agents or affiliates shall be required to take any actions whatsoever on behalf of Holders or Beneficial Owners to determine or satisfy such reporting requirements or obtain such regulatory approvals under applicable laws and regulations.

 

(7)                Liability of Holder for Taxes and Other Charges . Any tax or other governmental charge payable by the Custodian or by the Depositary with respect to any ADR or any Deposited Securities or ADSs shall be payable by the Holders and Beneficial Owners to the Depositary. The Company, the Custodian and/or Depositary may withhold or deduct from any distributions made in respect of Deposited Securities and may sell for the account of a Holder and/or Beneficial Owner any or all of the Deposited Securities and apply such distributions and sale proceeds in payment of such taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) or charges, 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 paragraph (24) hereof and Section 7.8 of the Deposit Agreement) the withdrawal of Deposited Securities 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 any tax benefit obtained for such Holder and/or Beneficial Owner.

 

(8)                Representations and Warranties of Depositors . Each person depositing Shares under the Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to represent and warrant that (i) such Shares and the certificates therefor are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable and legally obtained by such person, (ii) all preemptive (and similar) rights, if any, with respect to such Shares have been validly waived or exercised, (iii) the person making such deposit is duly authorized so to do, (iv) the Shares presented for deposit are free and clear of any lien, encumbrance, security interest, charge, mortgage or adverse claim, and (v) the Shares presented for deposit are not, and the ADSs issuable upon such deposit will not be, Restricted Securities (except as contemplated in Section 2.14 of the Deposit Agreement), and (vi) the Shares presented for deposit have not been stripped of any rights or entitlements. Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit and withdrawal of Shares, the issuance and cancellation of 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.

 

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(9)                Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information . Any person presenting Shares for deposit, and any Holder and any Beneficial Owner may be required, and every Holder and Beneficial Owner agrees, from time to time to provide to the Company, 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 Securities, 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 Securities, 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 reasonably 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 paragraph (24) and Section 7.8 of the Deposit Agreement, the delivery of any Deposited Securities until such proof or other information is filed or such certifications are executed, or such representations and warranties are made or such other information or documentation are provided, in each case to the Depositary’s, the Registrar’s and the Company’s satisfaction.

 

(10)          Charges of Depositary . The Depositary shall charge the following fees:

 

(i) Issuance Fee : to any person depositing Shares or to whom ADSs are issued upon the deposit of Shares (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) so issued under the terms of the Deposit Agreement; 

 

(ii) Cancellation Fee : to any person surrendering ADSs for cancellation and withdrawal of Deposited Securities, a fee not in excess of U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) surrendered;

 

(iii) Cash Distribution Fee : to 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 ( i.e. , sale of rights and other entitlements);

 

(iv) Stock Distribution /Rights Exercise Fee : to any Holder of ADS(s), a fee not in excess of U.S. $5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) held for (i)  stock dividends or other free stock distributions or (ii) the exercise of rights to purchase additional ADSs;

 

(v) Other Distribution Fee : to 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 securities other than ADSs or rights to purchase additional ADSs (i.e., spin-off shares); and

 

(vi) Depositary Services Fee : to 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.

 

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Holders, Beneficial Owners, persons depositing Shares and persons surrendering ADSs for cancellation and for the purpose of withdrawing Deposited Securities shall be responsible for the following charges:

 

(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 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 or withdrawing Shares or Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs;

 

(d)       the expenses and charges incurred by the Depositary in the conversion of foreign currency;

 

(e)       such fees and expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in connection with compliance with exchange control regulations and other regulatory requirements applicable to Shares, Deposited Securities, ADSs and ADRs; and

 

(f)       the fees and expenses incurred by the Depositary, the Custodian, or any nominee in connection with the delivery or servicing of Deposited Securities.

 

All fees and charges so payable may, at any time and from time to time, be changed by agreement between the Depositary and the Company but, in the case of fees and charges payable by Holders or Beneficial Owners, only in the manner contemplated by paragraph (22) of this ADR and as contemplated in Section 6.1 of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary shall provide, without charge, a copy of its latest fee schedule to anyone upon request.

 

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Depositary Fees payable upon (i) deposit of Shares against issuance of ADSs and (ii) surrender of ADSs for cancellation and withdrawal of Deposited Securities will be charged by the Depositary to the person to whom the ADSs so issued are delivered (in the case of ADS issuances) and to the person who delivers the ADSs for cancellation to the Depositary (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 will be payable to the Depositary by the DTC Participant(s) receiving the ADSs from the Depositary or the DTC Participant(s) surrendering the ADSs to the Depositary for cancellation, 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. Depositary fees in respect of distributions and the Depositary services fee are payable to the Depositary 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 Depositary fees is deducted by the Depositary from the funds being distributed. In the case of distributions other than cash and the Depositary service fee, the Depositary will invoice the applicable Holders as of the ADS Record Date established by the Depositary. For ADSs held through DTC, the Depositary fees for distributions other than cash and the Depositary service fee are charged by the Depositary 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 fees to the Beneficial Owners for whom they hold ADSs.

 

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 upon such terms and conditions as the Company and the Depositary may agree to in writing 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 charges and reimbursements may from time to time be changed by agreement between the Company and the Depositary. Unless otherwise agreed, the Depositary shall present its statement for such expenses and fees or charges to the Company once every three months. The charges and expenses of the Custodian are for the sole account of the Depositary.

 

The right of the Depositary to receive payment of fees, charges and expenses as provided above shall survive the termination of the Deposit Agreement. As to any Depositary, upon the resignation or removal of such Depositary as described in Section 5.4 of the Deposit Agreement, such right shall extend for those fees, charges and expenses incurred prior to the effectiveness of such resignation or removal.

 

(11)            Title to ADRs . It is a condition of this ADR, and every successive Holder of this ADR by accepting or holding the same consents and agrees, that title to this ADR (and to each ADS evidenced hereby) 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 this ADR (that is, the person in whose name this ADR 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 this ADR to any holder of this ADR or any Beneficial Owner unless, in the case of a holder of ADSs, such holder is the Holder of this ADR 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.

 

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(12)            Validity of ADR . The Holder(s) of this ADR (and the ADSs represented hereby) 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 this ADR has been (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 ADRs. An ADR 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.

 

(13)            Available Information; Reports; Inspection of Transfer Books .

 

The Company is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and, accordingly, files certain reports with, and submits certain reports to, the Commission. These reports can be retrieved from the Commission’s internet website (www.sec.gov), and can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20549. The Depositary shall make available for inspection by Holders at its Principal Office any reports and communications, including any proxy soliciting materials, received from the Company which are both (a) received by the Depositary, the Custodian, or the nominee of either of them as the holder of the Deposited Securities and (b) made generally available to the holders of such Deposited Securities by the Company. The Depositary shall also provide or make available to Holders copies of such reports when furnished by the Company pursuant to Section 5.6 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 (24) and Section 7.8 of the Deposit Agreement.

 

Dated:

 

CITIBANK, N.A.
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 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013, U.S.A.

 

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[FORM OF REVERSE OF ADR]

 

SUMMARY OF CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS

 

OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT

 

(14)            Dividends and Distributions in Cash, Shares, etc . Upon the timely receipt by the Depositary of a notice from the Company that it intends to make a distribution of a cash dividend or other cash distribution, the Depositary shall establish an ADS Record Date upon the terms described in Section 4.9. Upon receipt of confirmation from the Custodian of receipt of any cash dividend or other cash distribution on any Deposited Securities, or upon receipt of proceeds from the sale of any Deposited Securities or of any entitlements held in respect of Deposited Securities under the terms of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary will (i) if at the time of receipt thereof any amounts received in a Foreign Currency can in the judgment of the Depositary (upon the terms of Section 4.8 of the Deposit Agreement), be converted on a practicable basis into Dollars transferable to the United States, promptly convert or cause to be converted such cash dividend, distribution or proceeds into Dollars (upon the terms of Section 4.8 of the Deposit Agreement), (ii) if applicable and unless previously established, establish the ADS Record Date upon the terms described in Section 4.9 of the Deposit Agreement, and (iii) distribute promptly the amount thus received (net of (a) applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary and (b) 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 an amount on account of taxes, duties or other governmental charges, the amount distributed to Holders on the ADSs representing such Deposited Securities 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, the Custodian or the Depositary, as applicable shall be forwarded by the Company, the Custodian or the Depositary, as applicable to the Depositary or the Company, as applicable, upon request.

 

Upon the timely receipt by the Depositary of a notice from the Company that it intends to make a distribution that consists of a dividend in, or free distribution of Shares, the Depositary shall establish an ADS Record Date upon the terms described in Section 4.9 of the Deposit Agreement. 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 Section 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement, 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 interest 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 set forth in Section 4.1 of the Deposit Agreement.

 

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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 in the fulfillment of its obligations under Section 5.7 of the Deposit Agreement, has furnished an opinion of U.S. counsel determining that Shares must be registered under the Securities Act 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 the expenses incurred by, the Depositary) to Holders entitled thereto upon the terms of Section 4.1 of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary shall hold and/or distribute any unsold balance of such property in accordance with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement.

 

Upon the timely receipt of a notice indicating that the Company wishes an elective distribution in cash or Shares to be made available to Holders of ADSs upon the terms described in the Deposit Agreement, the Company and the Depositary shall determine whether such distribution is lawful and reasonably practicable. If so, the Depositary shall, subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, establish an ADS Record Date according to paragraph (16) and establish procedures to enable the Holder hereof to elect to receive the proposed distribution in cash or in additional ADSs. If a Holder elects to receive the distribution in cash, the distribution shall be made as in the case of a distribution in cash. If the Holder hereof elects to receive the distribution in additional ADSs, the distribution shall be made as in the case of a distribution in Shares upon the terms described in the Deposit Agreement. If such elective distribution is not reasonably practicable or if the Depositary did not receive satisfactory documentation set forth in the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall establish an ADS Record Date upon the terms of Section 4.9 of the Deposit Agreement and, to the extent permitted by law, distribute to Holders, on the basis of the same determination as is made in England and Wales in respect of the Shares for which no election is made, either (x) cash or (y) additional ADSs representing such additional Shares, in each case, upon the terms described in the Deposit Agreement. Nothing herein or in the Deposit Agreement shall obligate the Depositary to make available to the Holder hereof a method to receive the elective distribution in Shares (rather than ADSs). There can be no assurance that the Holder hereof will be given the opportunity to receive elective distributions on the same terms and conditions as the holders of Shares.

 

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Upon the timely receipt by the Depositary of a notice indicating that the Company wishes rights to subscribe for additional Shares to be made available to Holders of ADSs, the Depositary upon consultation with the Company, shall determine, whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable to make such rights available to the Holders. The Depositary shall make such rights available to any Holders only if (i) the Company shall have timely requested that such rights be made available to Holders, (ii) the Depositary shall have received the documentation contemplated in the Deposit Agreement, and (iii) the Depositary shall have determined that such distribution of rights is reasonably practicable. If such conditions are not satisfied, the Depositary shall sell the rights as described below. In the event all conditions set forth above are satisfied, the Depositary shall establish an ADS Record Date (upon the terms described in Section 4.9 of the Deposit Agreement) and establish procedures (x) to distribute rights to purchase additional ADSs (by means of warrants or otherwise), (y) to 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) to deliver ADSs upon the valid exercise of such rights. Nothing herein or in the Deposit Agreement shall obligate the Depositary to make available to the Holders a method to exercise rights to subscribe for Shares (rather than ADSs). 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 satisfactory documentation within the terms of Section 5,7 of the Deposit Agreement or determines, upon consultation with the Company, 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, upon consultation with the Company, 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 and private sale) as it may deem practicable. 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 hereof and of Section 4.1 of the Deposit Agreement. If the Depositary is unable to make any rights available to Holders upon the terms described in Section 4.4(a) of the Deposit Agreement or to arrange for the sale of the rights upon the terms described in Section 4.4(b) of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall allow such rights to lapse. Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall not be responsible for (i) any failure to determine that it may be lawful or practicable to make such rights available to Holders in general or any Holders in particular, nor (ii) any foreign exchange exposure or loss incurred in connection with such sale or exercise. The Depositary shall not be responsible for the content of any materials forwarded to the ADS Holders on behalf of the Company in connection with the rights distribution.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein or in the Deposit Agreement to the contrary, if registration (under the Securities Act 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 (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 reasonably 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 or any other 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 property (including rights) an amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges, the amount distributed to the Holders of ADSs representing such Deposited Securities shall be reduced accordingly. In the event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) is subject to any tax or other governmental charges which the Depositary is obligated to withhold, 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 to pay any such taxes or charges.

 

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There can be no assurance that Holders generally, or any Holder in particular, will be given the opportunity to exercise rights on the same terms and conditions as the holders of Shares or be able to exercise such rights. Nothing herein or in the Deposit Agreement 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.

 

Upon receipt of a notice indicating that the Company wishes property other than cash, Shares or rights to purchase additional Shares, to be made to Holders of ADSs, the Depositary shall 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 the documentation contemplated in the Deposit Agreement, and (iii) the Depositary shall have determined, after consultation with the Company, that such distribution is reasonably practicable. Upon satisfaction of such conditions, 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.

 

If the conditions above are 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 in a Foreign Currency, 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 hereof and of the Deposit Agreement. 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. Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be responsible for (i) any failure to determine whether it is lawful or practicable to make the property described in Section 4.5 of the Deposit Agreement available to Holders in general or any Holder in particular, nor (ii) any foreign exchange exposure or loss incurred in connection with the sale or disposal of such property. The Depositary shall not be responsible for the content of any materials forwarded to the Holders on behalf of the Company in connection with the distribution or sale of such property.

 

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(15)            Redemption . Upon timely receipt of notice from the Company that it intends to exercise its right of redemption in respect of any of the Deposited Securities, and a satisfactory opinion of counsel, and upon determining that such proposed redemption is practicable, the Depositary shall (to the extent practicable) provide to each Holder a notice setting forth the Company’s intention to exercise the redemption rights and any other particulars set forth in the Company’s notice to the Depositary. Upon receipt of confirmation that the redemption has taken place and that funds representing the redemption price have been received, the Depositary shall convert, transfer, distribute the proceeds (net of applicable (a) fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary, and (b) taxes), retire ADSs and cancel ADRs , if applicable, upon delivery of such ADSs by Holders thereof upon the terms set forth in Sections 4.1 and 6.2 of the Deposit Agreement. If less than all outstanding Deposited Securities are redeemed, the ADSs to be retired will be selected by lot or on a pro rata basis, as may be determined by the Depositary. The redemption price per ADS shall be the dollar equivalent of the per share amount received by the Depositary (adjusted to reflect the ADS(s)-to-Share(s) ratio) upon the redemption of the Deposited Securities represented by ADSs (subject to the terms of Section 4.8 of the Deposit Agreement and the applicable fees and charges of, and expenses incurred by, the Depositary, and taxes) multiplied by the number of Deposited Securities represented by each ADS redeemed.

 

(16)            Fixing of ADS Record Date . Whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of the fixing of a record date by the Company for the determination of holders of Deposited Securities entitled to receive any distribution (whether in cash, Shares, rights or other distribution), or whenever for any reason the Depositary causes a change in the number of Shares that are represented by each ADS, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting of, or solicitation of consents or proxies of, holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, or whenever the Depositary shall find it necessary or convenient in connection with the giving of any notice, solicitation of any consent or any other matter, the Depositary shall fix a record date (“ ADS Record Date ”) for the determination of the Holders of ADSs who shall be entitled to receive such distribution, to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting, to give or withhold such consent, to receive such notice or solicitation or to otherwise take action, or to exercise the rights of Holders with respect to such changed number of Shares represented by each ADS. The Depositary shall make reasonable efforts to establish the ADS Record Date as closely as possible to the applicable record date for the Deposited Securities (if any) set by the Company in England and Wales. If the ADSs are listed on any securities exchange, such record date shall be fixed in compliance with any applicable rules or such securities exchange. Subject to applicable law and the terms and conditions of this ADR and Sections 4.1 through 4.8 and to the other terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, only the Holders of ADSs at the close of business in New York on such ADS Record Date shall be entitled to receive such distributions, to give such instructions, to receive such notice or solicitation, or otherwise take action. Subject to applicable law and the terms and conditions of this ADR and Sections 4.1 through 4.8 and to the other terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, only the Holders of ADSs at the close of business in New York on such ADS Record Date shall be entitled to receive such distributions, to give such instructions, to receive such notice or solicitation, or otherwise take action.

 

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(17)            Voting of Deposited Securities . As soon as practicable after receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of Deposited Securities are entitled to vote, or of solicitation of consents or proxies from holders of Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall fix the ADS Record Date in respect of such meeting or solicitation of such consent or proxy in accordance with Section 4.9 of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary shall, if requested by the Company in writing in a timely manner (the Depositary having no obligation to take any further action if the request shall not have been received by the Depositary at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of such vote or meeting), at the Company’s expense and provided no U.S. legal prohibitions exist, distribute to Holders as of the ADS Record Date: (a) such notice of meeting or solicitation of consent or proxies, (b) a statement that the Holders at the close of business on the ADS Record Date will be entitled, subject to any applicable law, the provisions of the Deposit Agreement, the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association and the provisions of or governing Deposited Securities (which provisions, if any, shall be summarized in pertinent part by the Company), to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the Deposited Securities represented by such Holder’s ADSs and (c) a brief statement as to the manner in which such voting instructions may be given.

 

Notwithstanding anything contained in the Deposit Agreement or any ADR, the Depositary may, to the extent not prohibited by law or regulations, or by the 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).

 

Voting instructions may be given only in respect of a number of ADSs representing an integral number of Deposited Securities. Upon the timely receipt from a Holder of ADSs as of the ADS Record Date of voting instructions in the manner specified by the Depositary, the Depositary shall endeavor, insofar as practicable and permitted under applicable law, the provisions of the Deposit Agreement, Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company and the provisions of the Deposited Securities, to vote, or cause the Custodian to vote, the Deposited Securities (in person or by proxy) represented by such Holder’s ADSs in accordance with such voting instructions, either on a show of hands, in which case, the Depositary shall vote or shall instruct the Custodian to vote in accordance with instructions received from a majority of Holders giving instructions, or on a poll, in which case the Depositary shall vote or cause the Custodian to vote in accordance with the instructions as received from the Holders giving instructions.

 

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Neither the Depositary nor the Custodian shall under any circumstances exercise any discretion as to voting and neither the Depositary nor the Custodian shall vote, attempt to exercise the right to vote, or in any way make use of, for purposes of establishing a quorum or otherwise, of the Deposited Securities represented by ADSs, except pursuant to and in accordance with the voting instructions timely received from Holders or as otherwise contemplated herein. If the Depositary timely receives voting instructions from a Holder which fail to specify the manner in which the Depositary is to vote the Deposited Securities represented by such Holder’s ADSs, the Depositary will deem such Holder (unless otherwise specified in the notice distributed to Holders) to have instructed the Depositary to vote in favor of the items set forth in such instructions. Deposited Securities represented by ADSs for which no timely voting instructions are received by the Depositary from the Holder shall not be voted. Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, the Depositary shall, if so requested in writing by the Company, represent all Deposited Securities (whether or not voting instructions have been received in respect of such Deposited Securities from Holders as of the ADS Record Date) for the sole purpose of establishing quorum at a meeting of shareholders. Unless otherwise reasonably requested by the Company, on the business day following the date fixed by the Depositary as the last date for delivery of voting instructions, the Depositary shall give notice to the Company of the voting instructions received by the Depositary from the Holders. Notwithstanding anything else contained in the Deposit Agreement or this ADR, the Depositary shall not have any obligation to take any action with respect to any meeting, or solicitation of consents or proxies, of holders of Deposited Securities if the taking of such action would violate U.S. laws. The Company agrees to take any and all actions reasonably necessary to enable Holders and Beneficial Owners to exercise the voting rights accruing to the Deposited Securities and to deliver to the Depositary an opinion of U.S. counsel addressing any actions requested to be taken if so reasonably requested by the Depositary. There can be no assurance that Holders generally or any Holder in particular will receive the notice described above with sufficient time to enable the Holder to return voting instructions to the Depositary in a timely manner.

 

(18)            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 securities 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 Securities under the Deposit Agreement, and the ADRs shall, subject to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement and applicable law, evidence ADSs representing the right to receive such additional securities. 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 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 reasonably requested by the Company or as the Depositary, in consultation with the Company, considers are appropriate to reflect the transaction with respect to the ADSs. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any security so received may not be, in the reasonable judgment of the Depositary, upon consultation with the Company, 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 reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary that such action is not in violation of any applicable laws or regulations, sell such securities 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 securities 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 Section 4.1 of the Deposit Agreement. Neither the Company nor the Depositary shall be responsible for (i) any failure to determine that it may be lawful or feasible to make such securities available to Holders in general or any Holder in particular, nor (ii) any foreign exchange exposure or loss incurred in connection with such sale. The Depositary shall not be responsible for any liability to the purchaser of such securities.

 

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(19)            Exoneration . Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be obligated to do or perform any act which is inconsistent with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement or incur any liability (i) if the Depositary or the Company shall be prevented or forbidden from, or subjected to any civil or criminal penalty or restraint on account of, or delayed in, doing or performing any act or thing required by the terms of the Deposit Agreement and this ADR, by reason of any provision of any present or future law or regulation of the United States, England and Wales or any other country, or of any other governmental authority or regulatory authority or stock exchange, or on account of the possible criminal or civil penalties or restraint, or by reason of any provision, present or future, of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company or any provision of or governing any Deposited Securities, or by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstances beyond its control (including, without limitation, nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, work stoppage, strikes, civil unrest, acts of terrorism, revolutions, rebellions, explosions and computer failure), (ii) by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in the Deposit Agreement or in the Memorandum and Articles of Association 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 (v) for any consequential or punitive damages for any breach of the terms of the Deposit Agreement. 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. No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act is intended by any provision of the Deposit Agreement or this ADR.

 

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(20)            Standard of Care . The Company and the Depositary assume no obligation and shall not be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement or this ADR to any Holder(s) or Beneficial Owner(s), except that the Company and Depositary agree to perform their respective obligations specifically set forth in the Deposit Agreement and this ADR without negligence or bad faith. Without limitation of the foregoing, neither the Depositary, nor the Company, nor any of their respective directors, officers, controlling persons, employees or agents, shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any Deposited Securities or in respect of the ADSs, 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). Neither the Depositary and its directors, officers, controlling persons, employees or agents nor the Company and its directors, officers, controlling persons, employees or agents shall 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 in accordance with the terms of the Deposit Agreement. Neither the Company nor the Depositary shall incur any liability for any failure to determine that any distribution or action may be lawful or reasonably practicable, for any investment risk associated with acquiring an interest in the Deposited Securities, for the validity or worth of the Deposited Securities or for any tax consequences that may result from the ownership of ADSs, Shares or Deposited Securities, or for the credit-worthiness of any third party. The Depositary shall not incur any liability 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 allowing any rights to lapse upon the terms of the Deposit Agreement, for the failure or timeliness of any notice from the Company, or for any action or failure to act by, or any information provided or not provided by, DTC or any DTC participant. No waiver of any rights of any Holder or Beneficial Owner under the U.S. securities laws is intended by any provision of this paragraph.

 

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(21)            Resignation and Removal of the Depositary; Appointment of Successor Depositary . The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary under the Deposit Agreement 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 Section 6.2 of the Deposit Agreement), or (ii) upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by written notice of such removal, 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 of the Deposit Agreement), or (ii) upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. 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 Sections 5.8 and 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement). 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 Sections 5.8 and 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement), (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 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 corporation into or with which the Depositary may be merged or consolidated shall be the successor of the Depositary without the execution or filing of any document or any further act.

 

(22)            Amendment/Supplement . Subject to the terms and conditions of this paragraph 22, and Section 6.1 of the Deposit Agreement and applicable law, this ADR and any provisions of the Deposit Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended or supplemented by written agreement between the Company and the Depositary in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable without the prior written consent of the Holders or Beneficial Owners. Any amendment or supplement which shall impose or increase any fees or charges (other than charges in connection with foreign exchange control regulations, and taxes and other governmental charges, delivery and other such expenses), or which shall otherwise materially prejudice any substantial existing right of Holders or Beneficial Owners, shall not, however, become effective as to outstanding ADSs until the expiration of thirty (30) days after notice of such amendment or supplement shall have been given to the Holders of outstanding ADSs. Notice of any amendment to the Deposit Agreement or any ADR 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 ( i.e. , upon retrieval from the Commission’s, the Depositary’s or the Company’s website or upon request from the Depositary). The parties hereto agree that any amendments or supplements which (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 or (b) the ADSs to be settled 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 materially prejudice any substantial rights of Holders or Beneficial Owners. Every Holder and Beneficial Owner at the time any amendment or supplement so becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such ADSs, to consent and agree to such amendment or supplement and to be bound by the Deposit Agreement and this ADR, if applicable, as amended or supplemented thereby. In no event shall any amendment or supplement impair the right of the Holder to surrender such ADS and receive therefor the Deposited Securities represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any governmental body should adopt new laws, rules or regulations which would require an amendment of, or supplement to, the Deposit Agreement to ensure compliance therewith, the Company and the Depositary may amend or supplement the Deposit Agreement and this ADR at any time in accordance with such changed laws, rules or regulations. Such amendment or supplement to the Deposit Agreement and this ADR 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 with such laws, rules or regulations.

 

 A- 21

 

 

(23)            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 ninety (90) days shall have expired after (i) the Depositary shall have delivered to the Company a written notice of its election to resign, or (ii) 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 Section 5.4 of the Deposit Agreement, 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. If any ADSs shall remain outstanding after the Termination Date, the Registrar and 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 securities and other property received in respect of Deposited Securities, (iii) deliver Deposited Securities, subject to the conditions and restrictions set forth in Section 2.7 of the Deposit Agreement, together with any dividends or other distributions received with respect thereto and the net proceeds of the sale of any securities or other 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 Section 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement), 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 Securities then held under the Deposit Agreement and shall after such sale 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 Section 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement), and (ii) as may be required at law in connection with the termination of the Deposit Agreement. After the Termination Date, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement, except for its obligations to the Depositary under Sections 5.8, 5.9 and 7.6 of the Deposit Agreement. The obligations under the terms of the Deposit Agreement of Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs outstanding as of the Termination Date shall survive the Termination Date and shall be discharged only when the applicable ADSs are presented by their Holders to the Depositary for cancellation under the terms of the Deposit Agreement.

 

 A- 22

 

 

(24)            Compliance with U.S. Securities Laws . Notwithstanding any provisions in this ADR or the Deposit Agreement to the contrary, the withdrawal or delivery of Deposited Securities will not be suspended by the Company or the Depositary except as would be permitted by Instruction I.A.(1) of the General Instructions to the Form F-6 Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, under the Securities Act.

 

(25)            Certain Rights of the Depositary; Limitations . Subject to the further terms and provisions of this paragraph (25) and Section 5.10 of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary, its Affiliates and their agents, on their own behalf, may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its Affiliates and in ADSs. In its capacity as Depositary, the Depositary shall not lend Shares or ADSs; provided , however , that the Depositary may, except in the case of Restricted ADSs, (i) issue ADSs prior to the receipt of Shares pursuant to Section 2.3 of the Deposit Agreement and (ii) deliver Shares prior to the receipt of ADSs for withdrawal of Deposited Securities pursuant to Section 2.7 of the Deposit Agreement, including ADSs which were issued under (i) above but for which Shares may not have been received (each such transaction a “ Pre-Release Transaction ”). The Depositary may receive ADSs in lieu of Shares under (i) above and receive Shares in lieu of ADSs under (ii) above. Each such Pre-Release Transaction will be (a) subject to a written agreement whereby the person or entity (the “ Applicant ”) to whom ADSs or Shares are to be delivered (w) represents that at the time of the Pre-Release Transaction the Applicant or its customer owns the Shares or ADSs that are to be delivered by the Applicant under such Pre-Release Transaction, (x) agrees to indicate the Depositary as owner of such Shares or ADSs in its records and to hold such Shares or ADSs in trust for the Depositary until such Shares or ADSs are delivered to the Depositary or the Custodian, (y) unconditionally guarantees to deliver to the Depositary or the Custodian, as applicable, such Shares or ADSs and (z) agrees to any additional restrictions or requirements that the Depositary deems appropriate, (b) at all times fully collateralized with cash, U.S. government securities or such other collateral as the Depositary deems appropriate, (c) terminable by the Depositary on not more than five (5) business days’ notice and (d) subject to such further indemnities and credit regulations as the Depositary deems appropriate. The Depositary will normally limit the number of ADSs and Shares involved in such Pre-Release Transactions at any one time to thirty percent (30%) of the ADSs outstanding (without giving effect to ADSs outstanding under (i) above), provided , however , that the Depositary reserves the right to change or disregard such limit from time to time as it deems appropriate. The Depositary may also set limits with respect to the number of ADSs and Shares involved in Pre-Release Transactions with any one person on a case by case basis as it deems appropriate. The Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received by it in conjunction with the foregoing. Collateral provided pursuant to (b) above, but not earnings thereon, shall be held for the benefit of the Holders (other than the Applicant).

 

 A- 23

 

 

(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 ADS and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing ________________________ attorney-in-fact to transfer said ADS 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 be 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.

 

Legends

 

[The ADRs issued in respect of Partial Entitlement American Depositary Shares shall bear the following legend on the face of the ADR: “This ADR evidences ADSs representing ‘partial entitlement’ [type of shares] of [Company] and as such do not entitle the holders thereof to the same per-share entitlement as other [type of shares] Shares (which are ‘full entitlement’ Ordinary Shares) issued and outstanding at such time. The ADSs represented by this ADR shall entitle holders to distributions and entitlements identical to other ADSs when the Ordinary Shares represented by such ADSs become ‘full entitlement’ Ordinary Shares.”]

 

 A- 24

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

NOTICE OF CHANGE OF REPORTING STATUS

 

To the Holders of American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”) representing the right to receive Deposited Securities of the Company

 

Company: British American Tobacco p.l.c., a public limited liability company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales.
Depositary: Citibank, N.A., as depositary (the “ Depositary ”).
Custodian: Citibank, N.A. (London Branch).
Deposited Securities: Ordinary shares (“ Shares ”) of the Company.
Deposit Agreement: Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2008, by and among the Company, the Depositary, and all Holders and Beneficial Owners of ADSs issued thereunder, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2017, and as further amended by Amendment No. 2 to Amendment and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of June 14, 2017.
ADS CUSIP No. 110448107.
ADS Effective Date: June 14, 2017.


The Company and the Depositary have agreed to amend the Deposit Agreement, the form of ADR attached as Exhibit A to the Deposit Agreement, and all outstanding ADRs to reflect a change in reporting status of the Company under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

A draft copy of the Amendment No. 2 has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“ SEC ”) under cover of a Registration Statement on Form F-6 (Registration No. 333-217967). No action on the part of Holders or Beneficial Owners is required.

 

Copies of the Deposit Agreement and the form of the Amendment No. 2 are available from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and from the Depositary’s office located at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013. If you have any questions regarding Amendment No.2, please call Citibank, N.A. — ADS Holder Services at 1-888-985-2055.

 

Citibank, N.A., as Depositary

 

June 14, 2017

 

B-1

 

 

Exhibit (d)

 


 
        December 11, 2017

 

Citibank, N.A. – ADR Department
388 Greenwich Street
New York, New York 10013

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We refer to the Registration Statement on Form F-6 (the “ Registration Statement ”) to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) by the legal entity created by the Deposit Agreement (as hereinafter defined) for the purpose of registering under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), 200,000,000 American Depositary Shares (the “ ADSs ”) to be issued under the Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2008, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2017 and as further amended by Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of June 14, 2017 (as so amended, the “ Deposit Agreement ”), by and among Citibank, N.A., as Depositary, British American Tobacco p.l.c., a public limited liability company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (the “ Company ”), and all Holders and Beneficial Owners (each as defined in the Deposit Agreement and hereinafter used as so defined) of ADSs issued thereunder. A copy of Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement is being filed as Exhibit (a)(i) to the Registration Statement. A copy of the Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2017, was previously filed as Exhibit (a)(ii) to the Registration Statement on Form F-6 (Reg. No. 333-217967) and is being incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement. A copy of the Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2008, was previously filed as Exhibit (a)(ii) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement (Reg. No. 333-155563) and is being incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement. Each ADS will represent, subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, the laws of England and Wales and, if applicable, the American Depositary Receipt (“ ADR ”) evidencing such ADS, the right to receive one (1) ordinary share of the Company (the “ Shares ”).

 

Nothing contained herein or in any document referred to herein is intended by this firm to be used, and the addressees hereof cannot use anything contained herein or in any document referred to herein, as “tax advice” (within the meaning given to such term by the United States Internal Revenue Service (“ IRS ”) in IRS Circular 230 and any related interpretative advice issued by the IRS in respect of IRS Circular 230 prior to the date hereof, and hereinafter used within such meaning and interpretative advice). Without admitting that anything contained herein or in any document referred to herein constitutes “tax advice” for any purpose, notice is hereby given that, to the extent anything contained herein or in any document referred to herein constitutes, or is or may be interpreted by any court, by the IRS or by any other administrative body to constitute, “tax advice,” such “tax advice” is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to any party any transaction or matter addressed herein.

 

 

 

 

Assuming that, at the time of their issuance, the Registration Statement will be effective, the Deposit Agreement has been duly executed and delivered, and the Shares will have been legally issued, we are of the opinion that the ADSs, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Deposit Agreement and the Registration Statement, will be legally issued and will entitle the Holders to the rights specified in the Deposit Agreement and, if applicable, the ADR(s) evidencing the ADS(s).

 

This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of New York and the Federal laws of the United States. Without admitting that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act, we hereby consent to the use of this opinion as Exhibit (d) to the Registration Statement.

  

  Very truly yours,

PATTERSON BELKNAP WEBB & TYLER LLP
     
  By:   /s/ Herman H. Raspé
   

A Member of the Firm



       

 

 

 

Exhibit (e)

 

Rule 466 Certification

 

The depositary, Citibank, N.A., represents and certifies the following:

 

(i) That it previously had filed a registration statement on Form F-6 (Registration No. 333-217967), which the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission declared effective, with terms of deposit identical to the terms of deposit of this Form F-6 Registration Statement; and

 

(ii) That its ability to designate the date and time of effectiveness under Rule 466 has not been suspended.

 

  CITIBANK, N.A., as Depositary
     
  By:   /s/ Thomas Crane
    Name: Thomas Crane
    Title: Vice President