Suzano S.A F-3ASR, filed Sep 18, 2020
Suzano S.A. (SUZ)
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 18, 2020
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
Form F-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Suzano S.A.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Suzano Inc.
(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)
The Federative Republic of Brazil
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
Not Applicable
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
Av. Professor Magalhães Neto, 1,752
10th Floor, Rooms 1010 and 1011
Salvador, Brazil 41 810-012
Telephone: +55 (11) 3503-9000
(Address and telephone number of Registrant’s principal executive offices)
Suzano Pulp and Paper America, Inc.
800, Corporative Drive, Suite 320
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33334
United States
Telephone: +1 (954) 772-7716
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
Copy to:
Juan G. Giráldez, Esq.
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
One Liberty Plaza
New York, New York 10006
United States
Telephone: +1 (212) 225-2000
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective.
If only securities being registered on this Form are to be offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: ¨
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box: x
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering: ¨
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering: ¨
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.C. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box: x
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.C. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box: ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933.
Emerging growth company ¨
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ¨
| † | The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012. |
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
| Title of Securities to be Registered |
Amount to be Registered/ Proposed Maximum Offering Price per Common Share/ Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price/ Amount of Registration Fee |
|
| Common Shares, without par value, which may be represented by American Depositary Shares | (1) (2) (3) |
| (1) | Common ADSs, each representing one common share, issuable upon deposit of the common shares being registered hereby, have been or will be registered under a separate registration statement on Form F-6 (SEC File No. 333-228609). |
| (2) | The Registrant is registering an indeterminate amount of securities for offer and sale from time to time at indeterminate offering prices. The Registrant is deferring payment of registration fees in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r). |
| (3) | The securities to be registered include common shares that may be offered and sold outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Such common shares, however, may be resold from time to time in the United States under circumstances requiring registration under the Securities Act. |
P R O S P E C T U S
Suzano S.A.
Common Shares, which may be represented by American Depositary Shares, of Suzano S.A., offered by the Selling Shareholder
The selling shareholder named in the relevant prospectus supplement (the “Selling Shareholder”) may from time to time offer common shares of Suzano (our “common shares”), which may be represented by American Depositary Shares (the “common ADSs”), covered by this prospectus. This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to our common shares and the common ADSs and the general manner in which they may be offered. When the Selling Shareholder offers these securities, the specific terms of these securities, including the offering price, and the specific manner in which they may be offered, will be described in supplements to this prospectus.
Our common shares are listed on the São Paulo Stock Exchange (B3 S.A. – Brasil, Bolsa, Balcão, or the “B3”) under the ticker symbol “SUZB3.” Common ADSs representing our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the ticker symbol “SUZ.”
You should carefully read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, together with any documents we incorporate by reference, before you invest in our common shares or the common ADSs.
Investing in these securities involves risks. See the “Risk Factors” section beginning on page 10 of Suzano’s annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 31, 2020 (our “2019 Form 20-F”), which is incorporated by reference herein, and in the relevant prospectus supplement, if any.
Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
September 18, 2020
1
Table of Contents
2
In this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires, references to “Suzano, ” the “Company, ” “we, ” “us” or “our” mean Suzano S.A. and its consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole, unless the context requires otherwise.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, the Selling Shareholder may sell our common shares, which may be represented by common ADSs, in one or more offerings.
We are responsible for the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us. Neither we nor the Selling Shareholder have authorized anyone to provide you with additional or different information. We and the Selling Shareholder take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurances as to the reliability of, additional, different or inconsistent information that others may give you. If you are in a jurisdiction where offers to sell, or solicitations of offers to purchase, our common shares are unlawful, or if you are a person to whom it is unlawful to direct these types of activities, then the offer presented in this document does not extend to you. You should assume the information appearing in this prospectus is accurate only as of the respective dates of such information. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
This prospectus only provides a general description of the securities that the Selling Shareholder may offer. Each time the Selling Shareholder offers securities, we will prepare a prospectus supplement containing specific information about the particular offering and the terms of those securities. We may also add, update or change other information contained in this prospectus by means of a prospectus supplement or by incorporating by reference information we file with the SEC. The registration statement that we filed with the SEC includes exhibits that provide more detail on the matters discussed in this prospectus. Before you invest in any securities offered by this prospectus, you should read this prospectus, any related prospectus supplement and the related exhibits filed with the SEC, together with the additional information described under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.”
3
Some of the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus are forward-looking statements that are not based on historical facts and are not assurances of future results. The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus, which address our expected business and financial performance, among other matters, contain words such as “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “aim,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “likely,” “potential” and similar expressions.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. There is no assurance that the expected events, trends or results will actually occur.
We have made forward-looking statements that address, among other things:
| · | the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on the sanitary and health conditions in Brazil and in our principal export markets; |
| · | our management and future operation; |
| · | the implementation of our main operational strategies, including our potential participation in acquisitions, joint venture transactions or other investment opportunities; |
| · | general economic, political and business conditions, both in Brazil and in our principal export markets; |
| · | industry trends and the general level of demand for, and change in the market prices of, our products; |
| · | existing and future governmental regulation, including tax, labor, pension and environmental laws and regulations and import tariffs in Brazil and in other markets in which we operate or to which we export our products; |
| · | the competitive nature of the industries in which we operate; |
| · | our level of capitalization, including the levels of our indebtedness and overall leverage; |
| · | the cost and availability of financing; |
| · | our compliance with the covenants contained in the instruments governing our indebtedness; |
| · | the implementation of our financing strategy and capital expenditure plans; |
| · | inflation and fluctuations in currency exchange rates, including reais and the U.S. dollar; |
| · | legal and administrative proceedings to which we are or may become a party; |
| · | the volatility of the prices of the raw materials we sell or purchase to use in our business; |
| · | other statements included in this prospectus that are not historical; and |
| · | other factors or trends affecting our financial condition or results of operations, including those factors identified or discussed under “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors” in our 2019 Form 20-F, which is incorporated by reference herein. |
All forward-looking statements attributed to us or a person acting on our behalf are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement included in this prospectus. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or future events or for any other reason.
4
With more than 90 years of experience, we operate mainly in the pulp (paper grade and fluff) and paper (paperboard, printing and writing and tissue) segments. We believe that we are one of the largest vertically integrated producers of pulp and paper in Latin America. According to Hawkins Wright, upon completion of the merger of shares (incorporação de ações) with Fibria S.A. (“Fibria”) in January, 2019 (the “Merger”), we became the world’s largest producer of virgin market pulp, with an aggregate installed capacity of 10.9 million metric tons of eucalyptus pulp per year and a broad and diversified forest base. Along with other Brazilian eucalyptus pulp producers, we believe that we have the lowest cost of pulp production in the world. We believe our modern technology of plantation and harvesting, our strategic location for plantation facilities and our low cost of pulp production are among our competitive strengths.
We believe we are one of Brazil’s largest paper producers, and based on data from Indústria Brasileira de Árvores (“IBÁ”), we accounted for nearly 40% of the printing and writing paper and 25% of the paperboard produced in Brazil in 2019. Our share of Brazilian paper production remained unchanged following the Merger, as Fibria did not have any paper production.
Our eucalyptus pulp production satisfies 100% of our requirements for paper production, and we sell the remaining production as market pulp. As of December 31, 2019, our total eucalyptus pulp installed production capacity was 11.5 million tons per year of market pulp, and our total production volume was 9.7 million tons, of which 8.8 million tons were produced as market pulp and the remainder was used for the production of 1.2 million tons of paper and paperboard.
Our structure includes administrative offices in Salvador and São Paulo, two integrated pulp and paper production facilities in the state of São Paulo (Suzano and Limeira units), a non-integrated paper production facility in the state of São Paulo (Rio Verde unit), an integrated pulp, paper and tissue facility in the state of Bahia (Mucuri unit), an integrated pulp and tissue facility in the state of Maranhão (Imperatriz unit), and FuturaGene, a biotechnology research and development subsidiary. We own one of the largest distribution structures for paper and graphic products in South America. Following the Merger, we also own pulp production facilities in the state of Espírito Santo (Aracruz unit), in the state of São Paulo state (Jacareí Unit), one unit with two production lines in Três Lagoas (in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul) and 50% interest in Veracel, a joint operation with Stora Enso, an industrial unit located in Eunápolis (in the state of Bahia).
The scale of our production capacity, the proximity of our planted forests to our mills and the integration of our pulp and paper production process allow us to benefit from substantial economies of scale and low production costs.
Our Limeira, Suzano, Rio Verde and Jacareí mills are located near the city of São Paulo, the largest consumer market in Brazil according to data from IBÁ and Fastmarkets RISI. These mills are located approximately 90 km from the port of Santos, an important export hub, and approximately 190 km from our planted forests. They can supply both domestic and international markets in a competitive manner.
Our Mucuri and Aracruz units are focused primarily on export markets. Mucuri is located approximately 250 km from Portocel, a port specialized in exporting pulp located in the state of Espírito Santo, in which Suzano holds a 51% stake, while Aracruz is located only 3 km from Portocel.
The Imperatriz unit, in Maranhão, is also focused primarily on export markets. Its gateway for the external market is the Port of Itaqui, 600 km far from Imperatriz. Exports are carried from our mill to the ports by train, which allows for very competitive transportation costs.
The Três Lagoas unit, in Mato Grosso do Sul, is focused on export markets, and most of its volume is transported by train to the Port of Santos, where all exporting volumes are shipped. The relatively short distances between our planted forests, our mills and most of our Brazilian customers or export facilities provide us with relatively low transportation costs.
Our shares are traded on the special listing segment of the B3, which provides for the highest level of corporate governance in the Brazilian market, and the common ADSs are traded on the NYSE.
5
All of the securities offered by this prospectus and any prospectus supplement will be sold by the Selling Shareholder for its own account. Suzano will not receive any of the proceeds from these sales.
6
The Selling Shareholder
may from time to time offer under this prospectus our common shares, which may be represented by common ADSs.
7
Description of COMMON SHARES AND American Depositary SHARES
Common Shares
The following description of our share capital and certain material provisions of our corporate rules is a summary and does not purport to be complete. It is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, our bylaws, Brazilian corporate law and any other applicable law concerning Brazilian companies, as amended from time to time.
A copy of our bylaws is attached to our 2019 Form 20-F as Exhibit 1.1. We encourage you to read our bylaws and the applicable sections our 2019 Form 20-F for additional information.
Share Capital
Our capital stock is composed of common shares, all without par value and denominated in reais. As of June 30, 2020 our share capital, including common shares in treasury, was represented by 1,361,263,584 common shares.
Our common shares are listed on the B3 (ticker symbol SUZB3). All of our common shares are registered in book-entry form on behalf of their holders, without share certificates, and Itaú Corretora de Valores S.A. performs services of safe-keeping and transfer of our common shares. Itaú Corretora de Valores S.A. reflects transfers of our common shares by making entries in the register, debiting the share account of the transferor and crediting the share account of the transferee.
Pursuant to CVM regulations, any Brazilian public company’s (i) direct or indirect controlling shareholders, (ii) shareholders who have elected members of such company’s board of directors or fiscal council, as well as (iii) any person or group of persons representing the same interest, in each case that has directly or indirectly acquired or sold an interest that exceeds (either upward or downward) the threshold of 5%, or any multiple thereof, of the total number of common shares of any type or class, must disclose such shareholder’s or person’s share ownership or divestment, immediately after the acquisition or sale, to the CVM and the B3.
Changes to Our Share Capital
Each of our shareholders has a general preemptive right to subscribe for common shares or securities convertible into common shares in any capital increase, in proportion to its shareholding, except (i) in a sale on a stock exchange or by public subscription, (ii) pursuant to an exchange for common shares in a public offer for the acquisition of control, in accordance with the Brazilian corporate law, (iii) for subscription of common shares in accordance with the special law for tax incentives, (iv) conversion of debentures and other securities into common shares, since, in these cases, the preemptive right must be exercised when the security is issued, (iv) in the event of the grant and exercise of any stock option to acquire or subscribe for common shares of our capital stock; and (v) in the context of a capital increase derived from merger, merger of shares and/or spin-off implemented according to Law No. 6,404/1976, as amended. A minimum period of 30 days following the publication of notice of the issuance of common shares or securities convertible into common shares is allowed for exercise of the right, and the right is negotiable. However, according to our bylaws, our board of directors can eliminate this preemptive right or reduce the 30-day period if we issue debentures that are convertible into shares, warrants (bônus de subscrição) or common shares within the limits authorized by our bylaws and Brazilian corporate law: (i) through a stock exchange or through a public offering or (ii) through an exchange of common shares in a public offering to acquire control of another publicly-held company.
Any shareholders’ resolution must satisfy the quorum and all other legal requirements established in Brazilian corporate law and in our bylaws. No shareholder is liable to make any further contribution to our capital stock other than with respect to the liability to pay the issue price of the common shares subscribed or acquired by such shareholder.
Dividends
Our dividend payments are subject to the provisions of Brazilian corporate law, applicable local laws and regulations and our bylaws. Our distributions can include dividends or interest on net equity (juros sobre capital próprio). The payment of interest on net equity is subject to withholding income tax, pursuant to Brazilian tax law, which is not levied upon payments of dividends.
8
Profits are distributed in proportion to the number of common shares owned by each shareholder on the applicable record date. In accordance with Brazilian corporate law, our bylaws require that we distribute annually to our shareholders a mandatory minimum dividend, which we refer to as the mandatory dividend, and which shall be equivalent to the lowest amount between: (i) 25% of the annual net income adjusted in accordance with article 202 of the Brazilian corporate law; or (ii) 10% of the consolidated operational cash flow generation in the respective fiscal year, calculated in accordance with Section 26, Paragraph 3 of our bylaws.
Payments of dividends for each fiscal year or payment of interest on net equity must be within 60 days from the shareholders’ meeting in which the distribution was approved, unless a shareholders’ resolution determines another date, not later than the end of the fiscal year in which such dividend was declared.
Brazilian corporate law permits, however, a company to suspend the mandatory distribution of dividends if its board of directors reports to the shareholders’ meeting that the distribution would be incompatible with the financial condition of the company, subject to approval by the shareholders’ meeting and review by the fiscal council.
The amounts available for distribution are determined on the basis of financial statements prepared in accordance with the requirements of Brazilian corporate law. In addition, amounts arising from tax incentive benefits or rebates are appropriated to a separate capital reserve in accordance with Brazilian corporate law. This investment incentive reserve is not normally available for distribution, although it can be used to absorb losses under certain circumstances or be capitalized. Amounts appropriated to this reserve are not available for distribution as dividends.
The Brazilian corporate law permits a company to pay interim dividends out of preexisting and accumulated profits for the preceding fiscal year or semester, based on financial statements approved by its shareholders. We may prepare financial statements semiannually or for shorter periods. Our board of directors may declare a distribution of dividends based on the profits reported in semiannual financial statements. Our board of directors may also declare a distribution of interim dividends based on profits previously accumulated or in profits reserve, which are reported in such financial statements or in the last annual financial statement approved by resolution taken at a shareholders’ meeting.
If any dividend has not been claimed for three years after the date such dividend became due for payment, it will be forfeited and will revert to us.
Voting Rights
Our annual shareholders’ meeting takes place at our headquarter, in Bahia, Brazil, in April of each year. Additionally, our board of directors or, in some specific situations set forth in Brazilian corporate law, our shareholders or our fiscal council, may call our extraordinary shareholders’ meetings.
Holders of our common shares are entitled to one voting right for each common share held.
Generally, the quorum required to hold shareholders’ meetings is at least ¼ of our issued and outstanding common shares, except as provided for by Brazilian corporate law and our bylaws in relation to decisions regarding certain matters. Decisions are made by simple majority, except where Brazilian corporate law or our bylaws provide for a different quorum.
Certain matters require majority quorum for approval, including any amendment to our bylaws and the issuance of new common shares. In addition, the appointment of a specialized firm to prepare an appraisal report of our common shares in case of cancellation of our registration as a publicly-held company requires a special quorum, pursuant to the terms of B3 regulations.
Under Brazilian corporate law, minority shareholders representing at least 5% of our voting capital stock have the right to demand a cumulative voting procedure to elect a member of our board of directors.
9
Restrictions on Non-Brazilian Holders
There are no restrictions on ownership of our common shares by individuals or legal entities domiciled outside Brazil. Foreign investors may trade their common shares directly on the B3.
However, the right to convert dividend payments and proceeds from the sale of common shares into foreign currency and to remit such amounts outside Brazil is subject to exchange control restrictions and foreign investment legislation, which generally require, among other things, obtaining an electronic registration with the Central Bank of Brazil. Nonetheless, any non-Brazilian holder who registers with the CVM may use the dividend payments and proceeds from the sale of common shares to buy and sell securities directly on the B3.
Liquidation Rights
We can only be dissolved by shareholders’ resolution passed by at least 50% of our share capital. In the event of our liquidation, after payment of all liabilities, the balance of assets available for distribution will be distributed among the shareholders, each receiving a sum on a pro rata basis.
Right to Withdraw
Subject to Brazilian corporate law, our shareholders have the right to withdraw their equity interests and receive the relevant payment for their common shares in case such shareholders are adversely affected by specific resolutions from shareholders’ meeting, as well as if after a corporate reorganization involving us, the resulted entity does not negotiate new common shares in the secondary market. This withdraw right may be exercised by dissenting or non-voting shareholders, if the relevant resolution is authorized by the vote of at least 50% of voting shares.
The right of withdrawal lapses 30 days after publication of the minutes of the relevant shareholders’ meeting. We would be entitled to reconsider any action giving rise to withdrawal rights within 10 days following the expiration of such rights if the withdrawal of common shares of dissenting shareholders would jeopardize our financial stability.
Given that our bylaws do not provide for rules to determine any value for redemption, any redemption of common shares arising out of the exercise of such withdrawal rights would be made generally based on the book value per share, determined on the basis of the last balance sheet approved by our shareholders. However, if a shareholders’ meeting giving rise to redemption rights occurred more than 60 days after the latest approved balance sheet, the shareholders would be entitled to demand that their common shares be valued based on a more updated balance sheet.
Anti-Takeover Provision
Any person who, individually or jointly with another person representing the same interests or bound by a voting agreement, subscribes, acquires or in any way becomes a direct or indirect holder in Brazil or elsewhere of a material participation in our share capital shall, within 30 days of the date of the event that results in such person holding a material participation, commence a public tender offer for all of the outstanding common shares. A material participation is defined in our bylaws as a stake equal to 20% or more of the total number of common shares.
The price per share of a tender offer in the event of the acquisition of a material participation will correspond to the higher of the following values: (i) the economic value of our common shares determined in a valuation report; and (ii) 145% of the highest price per common share during the 24-month period prior to the tender offer, corrected by the Sistema Especial de Liquidação e Custódia (Special System for Settlement and Custody, or SELIC) rate up to the time of payment.
Carrying out the tender offer above will not exclude the possibility of a third party submitting a competing tender offer, in accordance with applicable law.
For the purposes of calculating the percentage of 20% of the total of our common shares issued by us, involuntary increases of equity interest resulting from the cancellation of our common shares in treasury or redemption of our common shares will not be computed. The tender offer will not be applicable to direct and indirect controlling shareholders on September 29, 2017 and their successors (as defined in our bylaws).
10
In the event that a person does not comply with the tender offer obligations described above, our board of directors must call an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting, in which such person is not allowed to vote, in order to resolve on the suspension of the rights held by such person.
American Depositary Shares
The Bank of New York Mellon, as ADS depositary, will register and deliver common ADSs. Each common ADS will represent one common share (or a right to receive one common share), deposited with Itau Unibanco S.A., as custodian for the depositary in Brazil. Each common ADS will also represent any other securities, cash or other property which may be held by the ADS depositary. The deposited common shares together with any other securities, cash or other property held by the ADS depositary are referred to as the “deposited securities.” The depositary’s office at which the common ADSs will be administered and its principal executive office are located at 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286.
You may hold common ADSs either (A) directly (i) by having an American Depositary Receipt (“ADR”), which is a certificate evidencing a specific number of common ADSs, registered in your name, or (ii) by having uncertificated common ADSs registered in your name, or (B) indirectly by holding a security entitlement in common ADSs through your broker or other financial institution that is a direct or indirect participant in The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”). If you hold common ADSs directly, you are a registered common ADS holder, also referred to in this description as a common ADS holder. This description assumes you are a common ADS holder. If you hold common ADSs indirectly, you must rely on the procedures of your broker or other financial institution to assert the rights of common ADS holders described in this section. You should consult with your broker or financial institution to find out what those procedures are.
Registered holders of uncertificated common ADSs will receive statements from the ADS depositary confirming their holdings.
As a common ADS holder, we will not treat you as one of our shareholders and you will not have shareholder rights. Brazilian law governs shareholder rights. The ADS depositary will be the holder of the common shares underlying your common ADSs. As a registered holder of common ADSs, you will have common ADS holder rights. The deposit agreement among us, the ADS depositary, common ADS holders and all other persons indirectly or beneficially holding common ADSs sets out common ADS holder rights as well as the rights and obligations of the ADS depositary. New York law governs the deposit agreement and the common ADSs.
The following is a summary of some of the material provisions of the deposit agreement entered into by Suzano and the ADS depositary in 2018. For more complete information, you should read the entire deposit agreement and the form of ADR, included herein as Exhibit 4.1. For directions on how to obtain copies of those documents, see “Where You Can Find More Information.”
Dividends and Other Distributions
How will you receive dividends and other distributions on the common shares or other deposited securities?
The ADS depositary has agreed to pay or distribute to common ADS holders the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on common shares or other deposited securities, upon payment or deduction of its fees and expenses. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of common shares your common ADSs represent.
Cash. The ADS depositary will convert any cash dividend or other cash distribution we pay on the common shares into U.S. dollars, if it can do so on a reasonable basis and can transfer the U.S. dollars to the United States. If that is not possible or if any government approval is needed and cannot be obtained, the deposit agreement allows the ADS depositary to distribute the foreign currency only to those common ADS holders to whom it is possible to do so. It will hold the foreign currency it cannot convert for the account of the common ADS holders who have not been paid. It will not invest the foreign currency and it will not be liable for any interest.
11
Your Right to Receive the Common Shares Underlying your Common ADSs
Common ADS holders have the right to cancel their common ADSs and withdraw the underlying common shares at any time except:
| · | when temporary delays arise because: (i) the ADS depositary has closed its transfer books or we have closed our transfer books; (ii) the transfer of common shares is blocked to permit voting at a shareholders’ meeting; or (iii) we are paying a dividend on our common shares; |
| · | when you owe money to pay fees, taxes and similar charges; or |
| · | when it is necessary to prohibit withdrawals in order to comply with any laws or governmental regulations that apply to common ADSs or to the withdrawal of common shares or other deposited securities. |
This right of withdrawal may not be limited by any other provision of the deposit agreement.
Direct Registration System
In the deposit agreement, all parties to the deposit agreement acknowledge that the DTC’s Direct Registration System (“DRS”), and the Profile Modification System (“Profile”), will apply to the common ADSs. DRS is a system administered by DTC that facilitates interchange between registered holding of uncertificated common ADSs and holding of security entitlements in common ADSs through DTC and a DTC participant. Profile is feature of DRS that allows a DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf of a registered holder of uncertificated common ADSs, to direct the ADS depositary to register a transfer of those common ADSs to DTC or its nominee and to deliver those common ADSs to the DTC account of that DTC participant without receipt by the ADS depositary of prior authorization from the common ADS holder to register that transfer.
In connection with and in accordance with the arrangements and procedures relating to DRS/Profile, the parties to the deposit agreement understand that the ADS depositary will not determine whether the DTC participant that is claiming to be acting on behalf of a common ADS holder in requesting registration of transfer and delivery as described in the paragraph above has the actual authority to act on behalf of the common ADS holder (notwithstanding any requirements under the Uniform Commercial Code). In the deposit agreement, the parties agree that the ADS depositary’s reliance on and compliance with instructions received by the ADS depositary through the DRS/Profile system and in accordance with the deposit agreement will not constitute negligence or bad faith on the part of the ADS depositary.
Jury Trial Waiver
The deposit agreement provides that, to the extent permitted by law, common ADS holders waive the right to a jury trial of any claim they may have against us or the ADS depositary arising out of or relating to our common shares, the ADSs or the deposit agreement, including any claim under the U.S. federal securities laws. If we or the ADS depositary opposed a jury trial demand based on the waiver, the court would determine whether the waiver was enforceable in the facts and circumstances of that case in accordance with applicable case law.
You will not, by agreeing to the terms of the deposit agreement, be deemed to have waived our or the ADS depositary’s compliance with U.S. federal securities laws or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
12
At the time of offering any securities, we will supplement the following summary of the plan of distribution with a description of the offering, including the particular terms and conditions thereof, set forth in a prospectus supplement relating to those securities.
Each prospectus supplement with respect to our securities will set forth the terms of the offering of those securities, including the name or names of any underwriters or agents, the price of such securities and the net proceeds to the Selling Shareholder from such sale, any underwriting discounts, commissions or other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation, any discount or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers and any securities exchanges on which those securities may be listed.
The Selling Shareholder may sell the securities from time to time in their initial offering as follows:
| ● | through agents; |
| ● | to dealers or underwriters for resale; |
| ● | directly to purchasers; or |
| ● | through a combination of any of these methods of sale. |
This prospectus may be used in connection with any offering of our securities through any of these methods or other methods described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The securities the Selling Shareholder distributes by any of these methods may be sold to the public, in one or more transactions, either:
| ● | at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed; |
| ● | at market prices prevailing at the time of sale; |
| ● | at prices related to prevailing market prices; or |
| ● | at negotiated prices. |
The Selling Shareholder may from time to time solicit directly from the public offers to purchase the securities. The Selling Shareholder may also designate agents from time to time to solicit on its behalf from the public offers to purchase the securities. The prospectus supplement relating to any particular offering of securities will name any agents designated to solicit offers, and will include information about any commissions the Selling Shareholder may pay the agents, in that offering. Agents may be deemed to be “underwriters” as that term is defined in the Securities Act.
From time to time, the Selling Shareholder may sell securities to one or more dealers acting as principals. The dealers, who may be deemed to be “underwriters” as that term is defined in the Securities Act, may then resell those securities to the public.
The Selling Shareholder may sell securities from time to time to one or more underwriters, who would purchase the securities as principal for resale to the public, either on a firm-commitment or best-efforts basis. If the Selling Shareholder sells securities to underwriters, we may execute an underwriting agreement with them at the time of sale and will name them in the applicable prospectus supplement. In connection with those sales, underwriters may be deemed to have received compensation from the Selling Shareholder in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions from purchasers of the securities for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters may resell the securities to or through dealers, and those dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from purchasers for whom they may act as agents. The applicable prospectus supplement will include any required information about underwriting compensation we pay to underwriters, and any discounts, concessions or commissions underwriters allow to participating dealers, in connection with an offering of securities.
The Selling Shareholder may authorize underwriters, dealers and agents to solicit from third parties offers to purchase securities under contracts providing for payment and delivery on future dates. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the material terms of these contracts, including any conditions to the purchasers’ obligations, and will include any required information about commissions the Selling Shareholder may pay for soliciting these contracts.
13
Underwriters, dealers, agents and other persons may be entitled, under agreements that they may enter into with us, to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
14
The consolidated financial statements of Suzano S.A. as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2019 and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) as of December 31, 2019 of Suzano incorporated herein by reference to Suzano’s 2019 Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2019 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers Auditores Independentes, an independent registered public accounting firm given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The consolidated financial statements of Fibria S.A. as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018 and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) as of December 31, 2018 of Fibria, incorporated herein by reference to the Fibria’s report on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on February 22, 2019, have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers Auditores Independentes, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
15
The validity of the common shares will be passed upon for us by Pinheiro Guimarães Advogados or any other law firm named in the applicable prospectus supplement as to certain matters of Brazilian law.
16
Enforceability of Civil Liabilities
Brazil
All, or substantially all, of Suzano’s directors and officers and certain advisors named herein reside outside the United States. As a result, it may not be possible, or it may be difficult, for you to effect service of process upon us or these other persons within the United States, or to enforce judgments obtained in United States courts against us or them, including those predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States.
Pinheiro Guimarães Advogados, Suzano’s special counsel, has advised Suzano that, subject to the requirements described below, a judgment of a United States court for civil liabilities predicated upon the federal securities laws of the United States may be enforced in Brazil. Such counsel has advised us that a judgment obtained outside Brazil against Suzano or the persons described above would be enforceable in Brazil without retrial or re-examination of the merits of the original action including, without limitation, any final judgment for payment of a sum certain of money rendered by any such court, provided that such judgment has been previously recognized by the Superior Court of Justice of Brazil (Superior Tribunal de Justiça, or “STJ”); provided that such confirmation will be granted, in accordance with Articles 963 and 964 of the Brazilian Code of Civil Procedure (Código de Processo Civil), only if the judgment:
| · | it must comply with all formalities necessary for its enforcement under the laws of the jurisdiction where it was rendered; |
| · | it must have been issued by a competent court after proper service of process on the parties, which service must be in accordance with Brazilian law if made in Brazil, or after sufficient evidence of the parties’ absence (revelia) has been given, in accordance with applicable law; |
| · | it must be final and therefore not be subject to appeal; |
| · | it must be effective under the laws of the country where the foreign judgment is granted; |
| · | it must not be contrary to Brazilian national sovereignty, or public policy or good morals or violate human dignity; |
| · | it must not violate a final and unappealable decision issued by a Brazilian court; |
| · | does not conflict with a previous final and unappealable decision issued by a Brazilian court on the same matter and involving the same parties (res judicata); |
| · | it must not violate the exclusive jurisdiction of the Brazilian courts; and |
| · | it must be (i) duly authenticated by a Brazilian consulate in the United States or (ii) if the place of signing is a contracting state to the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents dated October 5, 1961, apostilled, and, in either case, must be accompanied by a sworn translation into Portuguese, unless an exemption is provided by an international treaty to which Brazil is a signatory. |
The recognition process may be time-consuming and may also give rise to difficulties in enforcing the foreign judgment in Brazil. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that recognition would be obtained, that the recognition process would be conducted in a timely manner or that a Brazilian court would enforce a monetary judgment, including for violation of the securities laws of countries other than Brazil, including the federal securities laws of the United States.
17
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed a registration statement with the SEC on Form F-3 under the Securities Act relating to the securities offered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which is a part of that registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement. For more information with respect to our company and the securities offered by this prospectus, you should refer to the registration statement and to the exhibits filed with it. Statements contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus regarding the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete, and, where the contract or other document is an exhibit to the registration statement or incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference, each of these statements is qualified in all respects by the provisions of the actual contract or other document.
We are subject to the information requirements of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), applicable to a foreign private issuer, and accordingly file or furnish reports, including annual reports on Form 20-F, reports on Form 6-K, and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any materials filed with the SEC at its Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Any filings we make electronically will be available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. These reports and other information may also be inspected and copied at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
We will provide without charge, a copy of any and all of the documents referred to herein, to each person who makes a written or oral request, by writing or calling us at the following address or telephone number: ri@suzano.com.br / 55 11 3503-9330.
18
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
This prospectus incorporates important business and financial information about us that is not included in or delivered with this prospectus. The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information filed with and/or furnished to the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and certain later information that we file with and/or furnish to the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the following documents:
| (1) | Suzano’s annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2020 (SEC File No. 001-38755) (our “2019 Form 20-F”); |
| (5) | Any future annual reports of Suzano on Form 20-F filed with, and all reports on Form 6-K that are designated in such reports as being incorporated by reference into this prospectus furnished to, the SEC after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering. |
We will provide without charge to any person to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, upon the written or oral request of any such person, a copy of any or all of the documents referred to above which have been or may be incorporated herein by reference, other than exhibits to such documents (unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in such documents). Requests should be directed to Suzano’s Investor Relations Department located at Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 1,355, 7th floor, São Paulo, SP, 01452-919, Brazil (telephone: +55 (11) 3503-9000), e-mail: ri@suzano.com.br).
19
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 8. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Neither the laws of Brazil nor the bylaws of Suzano provide for indemnification of any controlling persons, directors or officers of Suzano. However, Suzano’s directors and officers benefit from insurance against civil liabilities, including civil liabilities in connection with the registration, offering and sale of the debt securities.
Item 9. Exhibits.
† To be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference.
* Filed herewith.
Item 10. Undertakings.
| (a) | The registrant hereby undertakes: |
| (1) | To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: |
| i. | To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; |
| ii. | To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; |
II-1
| iii. | To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; |
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of this registration statement.
| (2) | That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; |
| (3) | To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering; |
| (4) | To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A. of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 need not be furnished, provided that the registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (a)(4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 or Item 8.A. of Form 20-F if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement; |
| (5) | That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser: |
| (A) | Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and |
| (B) | Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of the registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section (10)(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which the prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date. |
(b) The registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
II-2
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of such registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
II-3
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration statements to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of São Paulo, Brazil, on September 18, 2020.
| SUZANO S.A. | ||
| By: | /s/ Walter Schalka | |
| Name: Walter Schalka | ||
| Title: Chief Executive Officer | ||
| By: | /s/ Marcelo Feriozzi Bacci | |
| Name: Marcelo Feriozzi Bacci | ||
| Title: Chief Financial and Investor Relations Officer | ||
II-4
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENT, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Walter Schalka, Marcelo Feriozzi Bacci and Pablo F. Gimenez Machado, and each of them, his/her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him/her and in his/her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, acting individually, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement on Form F-3, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, 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 he/she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or their or his/her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated in respect of Suzano S.A. on September 18, 2020.
| Signature | Title | ||
|
/s/ Walter Schalka |
Chief Executive Officer | ||
| Walter Schalka | |||
| /s/ Marcelo Feriozzi Bacci | Chief Financial and Investor Relations Officer | ||
| Marcelo Feriozzi Bacci | |||
| /s/ Arvelino Cassaro | Principal Accounting Officer | ||
| Arvelino Cassaro | |||
| /s/ David Feffer | President of Board of Directors | ||
| David Feffer | |||
| /s/ Claudio Thomaz Lobo Sonder | Vice-President of Board of Directors | ||
| Claudio Thomaz Lobo Sonder | |||
| /s/ Daniel Feffer | Vice-President of Board of Directors | ||
| Daniel Feffer | |||
| /s/ Ana Paula Pessoa | Member of Board of Directors | ||
| Ana Paula Pessoa |
| /s/ Maria Priscila Rodini Vansetti Machado | Member of Board of Directors | ||
| Maria Priscila Rodini Vansetti Machado |
| /s/ Nildemar Secches | Member of Board of Directors | ||
| Nildemar Secches |
| /s/ Rodrigo Kede de Freitas Lima | Member of Board of Directors | ||
| Rodrigo Kede de Freitas Lima |
| /s/ Rodrigo Calvo Galindo | Member of Board of Directors | ||
| Rodrigo Calvo Galindo |
| /s/ Paulo Rogerio Caffarelli | Member of Board of Directors | ||
| Paulo Rogerio Caffarelli | |||
| /s/ Hélio Lima Magalhães | Member of Board of Directors | ||
| Hélio Lima Magalhães |
II-5
SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF SUZANO S.A.
Pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Suzano S.A., has signed this registration statement or amendment thereto, as the case may be, in São Paulo, Brazil., on September 18, 2020.
| Signature | Title | ||
| Suzano Pulp and Paper America, Inc. | Authorized Representative in the United States | ||
| By: | /s/ Walter Schalka | ||
| Name: | Walter Schalka | ||
| Title: | Director | ||
| By: | /s/ Marcelo Feriozzi Bacci | ||
| Name: | Marcelo Feriozzi Bacci | ||
| Title: | Director | ||
II-6
Exhibit 4.1
Execution Version
===============================================================
SUZANO PAPEL E CELULOSE S.A.
AND
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
As Depositary
AND
OWNERS AND HOLDERS OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement
December 10, 2018
===============================================================
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS | ||
| SECTION 1.1. | American Depositary Shares | 2 |
| SECTION 1.2. | Brazil | 2 |
| SECTION 1.3. | Central Bank | 2 |
| SECTION 1.4. | Commission | 2 |
| SECTION 1.5. | Company | 2 |
| SECTION 1.6. | Custodian | 2 |
| SECTION 1.7. | CVM | 3 |
| SECTION 1.8. | Delisting Event | 3 |
| SECTION 1.9. | Deliver; Surrender | 3 |
| SECTION 1.10. | Deposit Agreement | 4 |
| SECTION 1.11. | Depositary; Depositary’s Office | 4 |
| SECTION 1.12. | Deposited Securities | 4 |
| SECTION 1.13. | Disseminate | 4 |
| SECTION 1.14. | Dollars | 4 |
| SECTION 1.15. | DTC | 4 |
| SECTION 1.16. | Foreign Registrar | 5 |
| SECTION 1.17. | Holder | 5 |
| SECTION 1.18. | Insolvency Event | 5 |
| SECTION 1.19. | Owner | 5 |
| SECTION 1.20. | Receipts | 5 |
| SECTION 1.21. | Registrar | 5 |
| SECTION 1.22. | Restricted Securities | 6 |
| SECTION 1.23. | Securities Act of 1933 | 6 |
| SECTION 1.24. | Shares | 6 |
| SECTION 1.25. | SWIFT | 6 |
| SECTION 1.26. | Termination Option Event | 6 |
| ARTICLE 2 | FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF SHARES, DELIVERY, TRANSFER AND SURRENDER OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES |
| SECTION 2.1. | Form of Receipts; Registration and Transferability of American Depositary Shares | 7 |
| SECTION 2.2. | Deposit of Shares | 8 |
| SECTION 2.3. | Delivery of American Depositary Shares | 9 |
| SECTION 2.4. | Registration of Transfer of American Depositary Shares; Combination and Split-up of Receipts; Interchange of Certificated and Uncertificated American Depositary Shares | 9 |
- i -
| SECTION 2.5. | Surrender of American Depositary Shares and Withdrawal of Deposited Securities | 10 |
| SECTION 2.6. | Limitations on Delivery, Transfer and Surrender of American Depositary Shares | 11 |
| SECTION 2.7. | Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Receipts | 12 |
| SECTION 2.8. | Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts | 12 |
| SECTION 2.9. | DTC Direct Registration System and Profile Modification System | 12 |
| SECTION 2.10. | Maintenance of Records | 13 |
| ARTICLE 3. CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF OWNERS AND HOLDERS OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES | ||
| SECTION 3.1. | Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information | 13 |
| SECTION 3.2. | Liability of Owner for Taxes | 14 |
| SECTION 3.3. | Warranties on Deposit of Shares | 14 |
| SECTION 3.4. | Disclosure of Interests | 14 |
| SECTION 3.5. | Delivery of Information to the CVM and the Central Bank | 15 |
| ARTICLE 4. THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES | ||
| SECTION 4.1. | Cash Distributions | 15 |
| SECTION 4.2. | Distributions Other Than Cash, Shares or Rights | 16 |
| SECTION 4.3. | Distributions in Shares | 17 |
| SECTION 4.4. | Rights | 17 |
| SECTION 4.5. | Conversion of Foreign Currency | 19 |
| SECTION 4.6. | Fixing of Record Date | 20 |
| SECTION 4.7. | Voting of Deposited Shares | 20 |
| SECTION 4.8. | Tender and Exchange Offers; Redemption, Replacement or Cancellation of Deposited Securities | 22 |
| SECTION 4.9. | Reports | 24 |
| SECTION 4.10. | Lists of Owners | 24 |
| SECTION 4.11. | Withholding | 24 |
- ii -
| ARTICLE 5. THE DEPOSITARY, THE CUSTODIANS AND THE COMPANY | ||
| SECTION 5.1. | Maintenance of Office and Transfer Books by the Depositary | 25 |
| SECTION 5.2. | Prevention or Delay of Performance by the Company or the Depositary | 25 |
| SECTION 5.3. | Obligations of the Depositary and the Company | 26 |
| SECTION 5.4. | Resignation and Removal of the Depositary | 28 |
| SECTION 5.5. | The Custodian | 28 |
| SECTION 5.6. | Notices and Reports | 29 |
| SECTION 5.7. | Distribution of Additional Shares, Rights, etc. | 29 |
| SECTION 5.8. | Indemnification | 30 |
| SECTION 5.9. | Charges of Depositary | 31 |
| SECTION 5.10. | Retention of Depositary Documents | 32 |
| SECTION 5.11. | Exclusivity | 32 |
| SECTION 5.12. | Information for Regulatory Compliance | 32 |
| ARTICLE 6. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION | ||
| SECTION 6.1. | Amendment | 33 |
| SECTION 6.2. | Termination | 33 |
| ARTICLE 7. MISCELLANEOUS | ||
| SECTION 7.1. | Counterparts; Signatures | 34 |
| SECTION 7.2. | No Third-Party Beneficiaries | 35 |
| SECTION 7.3. | Severability | 35 |
| SECTION 7.4. | Owners and Holders as Parties; Binding Effect | 35 |
| SECTION 7.5. | Notices | 35 |
| SECTION 7.6. | Appointment of Agent for Service of Process; Submission to Jurisdiction; Jury Trial Waiver | 36 |
| SECTION 7.7. | Waiver of Immunities | 37 |
| SECTION 7.8. | Governing Law | 37 |
- iii -
AMENDED AND RESTATED DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
AMENDED AND RESTATED DEPOSIT AGREEMENT dated as of December 10, 2018 among SUZANO PAPEL E CELULOSE S.A., a company incorporated under the laws of Brazil (herein called the Company), THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, a New York banking corporation (herein called the Depositary), and all Owners and Holders (each as hereinafter defined) from time to time of American Depositary Shares issued hereunder.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company and the Depositary entered into a deposit agreement dated as of November 1, 1993 for the purposes stated in that agreement and subsequently amended and restated that agreement as of September 23, 2004 and August 20, 2014 and revised the form of American Depositary Receipt included as an exhibit to that agreement on December 8, 2017 to reflect that the preferred shares of the Company had been exchanged into common shares (that agreement, as so amended and restated and supplemented, the “Prior Deposit Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Depositary now wish to amend and restate the Prior Deposit Agreement in various respects in the form of this Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide, as set forth in this Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, for the deposit of Shares (as hereinafter defined) of the Company from time to time with the Depositary or with the Custodian (as hereinafter defined) under this Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, for the creation of American Depositary Shares representing the Shares so deposited and for the execution and delivery of American Depositary Receipts evidencing the American Depositary Shares; and
WHEREAS, the American Depositary Receipts are to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A annexed to this Deposit Agreement, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as set forth in this Deposit Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, it is agreed by and between the parties hereto that the Prior Deposit Agreement is hereby amended and restated as follows:
-1-
ARTICLE 1.
DEFINITIONS
The following definitions shall for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated, apply to the respective terms used in this Deposit Agreement:
SECTION 1.1. American Depositary Shares.
The term “American Depositary Shares” shall mean the securities created under this Deposit Agreement representing rights with respect to the Deposited Securities. American Depositary Shares may be certificated securities evidenced by Receipts or uncertificated securities. The form of Receipt annexed as Exhibit A to this Deposit Agreement shall be the prospectus required under the Securities Act of 1933 for sales of both certificated and uncertificated American Depositary Shares. Except for those provisions of this Deposit Agreement that refer specifically to Receipts, all the provisions of this Deposit Agreement shall apply to both certificated and uncertificated American Depositary Shares.
Each American Depositary Share shall represent the number of Shares specified in Exhibit A to this Deposit Agreement, except that, if there is a distribution upon Deposited Securities covered by Section 4.3, a change in Deposited Securities covered by Section 4.8 with respect to which additional American Depositary Shares are not delivered or a sale of Deposited Securities under Sections 3.2 or 4.8, each American Depositary Share shall thereafter represent the amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities that are then on deposit per American Depositary Share after giving effect to that distribution, change or sale.
SECTION 1.2. Brazil.
The term “Brazil” shall mean the Federative Republic of Brazil.
SECTION 1.3. Central Bank.
The term “Central Bank” shall mean the Banco Central do Brasil or any successor governmental agency in Brazil.
SECTION 1.4. Commission.
The term “Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States or any successor governmental agency in the United States.
SECTION 1.5. Company.
The term “Company” shall mean Suzano Papel e Celulose S.A., a company incorporated under the laws of Brazil, and its successors.
SECTION 1.6. Custodian.
The term “Custodian” shall mean Itau Unibanco S.A., as custodian for the Depositary in Brazil for the purposes of this Deposit Agreement, and any other firm or corporation the Depositary appoints under Section 5.5 as a substitute custodian under this Deposit Agreement.
-2-
SECTION 1.7. CVM.
The term “CVM” shall mean the Comissão de Valores Mobiliários, the Brazilian National Securities Commission, or any successor governmental agency in Brazil.
SECTION 1.8. Delisting Event.
A “Delisting Event” occurs if the American Depositary Shares are delisted from a securities exchange on which the American Depositary Shares were listed and the Company has not listed or applied to list the American Depositary Shares on any other securities exchange.
SECTION 1.9. Deliver; Surrender.
(a) The term “deliver”, or its noun form, when used with respect to Shares or other Deposited Securities, shall mean (i) book-entry transfer of those Shares or other Deposited Securities to an account maintained by an institution authorized under applicable law to effect transfers of such securities designated by the person entitled to that delivery or (ii) physical transfer of certificates evidencing those Shares or other Deposited Securities registered in the name of, or duly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer to, the person entitled to that delivery.
(b) The term “deliver”, or its noun form, when used with respect to American Depositary Shares, shall mean (i) registration of those American Depositary Shares in the name of DTC or its nominee and book-entry transfer of those American Depositary Shares to an account at DTC designated by the person entitled to that delivery, (ii) registration of those American Depositary Shares not evidenced by a Receipt on the books of the Depositary in the name requested by the person entitled to that delivery and mailing to that person of a statement confirming that registration or (iii) if requested by the person entitled to that delivery, execution and delivery at the Depositary’s Office to the person entitled to that delivery of one or more Receipts evidencing those American Depositary Shares registered in the name requested by that person.
(c) The term “surrender”, when used with respect to American Depositary Shares, shall mean (i) one or more book-entry transfers of American Depositary Shares to the DTC account of the Depositary, (ii) delivery to the Depositary at its Office of an instruction to surrender American Depositary Shares not evidenced by a Receipt or (iii) surrender to the Depositary at its Office of one or more Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares.
-3-
SECTION 1.10. Deposit Agreement.
The term “Deposit Agreement” shall mean this Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, as it may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement.
SECTION 1.11. Depositary; Depositary’s Office.
The term “Depositary” shall mean The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York banking corporation, and any successor as depositary under this Deposit Agreement. The term “Office”, when used with respect to the Depositary, shall mean the office at which its depositary receipts business is administered, which, at the date of this Deposit Agreement, is located at 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286.
SECTION 1.12. Deposited Securities.
The term “Deposited Securities” as of any time shall mean Shares at such time deposited or deemed to be deposited under this Deposit Agreement, including without limitation, Shares that have not been successfully delivered upon surrender of American Depositary Shares, and any and all other securities, property and cash received by the Depositary or the Custodian in respect of Deposited Securities and at that time held under this Deposit Agreement.
SECTION 1.13. Disseminate.
The term “Disseminate,” when referring to a notice or other information to be sent by the Depositary to Owners, shall mean (i) sending that information to Owners in paper form by mail or another means or (ii) with the consent of Owners, another procedure that has the effect of making the information available to Owners, which may include (A) sending the information by electronic mail or electronic messaging or (B) sending in paper form or by electronic mail or messaging a statement that the information is available and may be accessed by the Owner on an internet website and that it will be sent in paper form upon request by the Owner, when that information is so available and is sent in paper form as promptly as practicable upon request.
SECTION 1.14. Dollars.
The term “Dollars” shall mean United States dollars.
SECTION 1.15. DTC.
The term “DTC” shall mean The Depository Trust Company or its successor.
-4-
SECTION 1.16. Foreign Registrar.
The term “Foreign Registrar” shall mean the entity that carries out the duties of registrar for the Shares and any other agent of the Company for the transfer and registration of Shares, including, without limitation, any securities depository for the Shares.
SECTION 1.17. Holder.
The term “Holder” shall mean any person holding a Receipt or a security entitlement or other interest in American Depositary Shares, whether for its own account or for the account of another person, but that is not the Owner of that Receipt or those American Depositary Shares.
SECTION 1.18. Insolvency Event.
An “Insolvency Event” occurs if the Company institutes proceedings to be adjudicated as bankrupt or insolvent, consents to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, files a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable law in respect of bankruptcy or insolvency, consents to the filing of any petition of that kind or to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian or sequestrator (or other similar official) of it or any substantial part of its property or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or if the Company publicly admits its inability to pay its debts as they come due in the ordinary course of business.
SECTION 1.19. Owner.
The term “Owner” shall mean the person in whose name American Depositary Shares are registered on the books of the Depositary maintained for that purpose.
SECTION 1.20. Receipts.
The term “Receipts” shall mean the American Depositary Receipts issued under this Deposit Agreement evidencing certificated American Depositary Shares, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement.
SECTION 1.21. Registrar.
The term “Registrar” shall mean any corporation or other entity that is appointed by the Depositary to register American Depositary Shares and transfers of American Depositary Shares as provided in this Deposit Agreement.
-5-
SECTION 1.22. Restricted Securities.
The term “Restricted Securities” shall mean Shares that (i) are “restricted securities,” as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, except for Shares that could be resold in reliance on Rule 144 without any conditions, (ii) are beneficially owned by an officer, director (or person performing similar functions) or other affiliate of the Company, (iii) otherwise would require registration under the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with the public offer and sale thereof in the United States or (iv) are subject to other restrictions on sale or deposit under the laws of the Federative Republic of Brazil, a shareholder agreement or the articles of association or similar document of the Company.
SECTION 1.23. Securities Act of 1933.
The term “Securities Act of 1933” shall mean the United States Securities Act of 1933, as from time to time amended.
SECTION 1.24. Shares.
The term “Shares” shall mean common shares of the Company that are validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable and that were not issued in violation of any pre-emptive or similar rights of the holders of outstanding securities of the Company; provided, however, that, if there shall occur any change in nominal or par value, a split-up or consolidation or any other reclassification or, upon the occurrence of an event described in Section 4.8, an exchange or conversion in respect of the Shares of the Company, the term “Shares” shall thereafter also mean the successor securities resulting from such change in nominal value, split-up or consolidation or such other reclassification or such exchange or conversion.
SECTION 1.25. SWIFT.
The term “SWIFT” shall mean the financial messaging network operated by the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, or its successor.
SECTION 1.26. Termination Option Event.
The term “Termination Option Event” shall mean an event of a kind defined as such in Section 4.1, 4.2 or 4.8.
-6-
ARTICLE 2.
FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF SHARES, DELIVERY, TRANSFER AND SURRENDER OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
SECTION 2.1. Form of Receipts; Registration and Transferability of American Depositary Shares.
Definitive Receipts shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A to this Deposit Agreement, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as permitted under this Deposit Agreement. No Receipt shall be entitled to any benefits under this Deposit Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless that Receipt has been (i) executed by the Depositary by the manual signature of a duly authorized officer of the Depositary or (ii) executed by the facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer of the Depositary and countersigned by the manual signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary or the Registrar or a co-registrar. The Depositary shall maintain books on which (x) each Receipt so executed and delivered as provided in this Deposit Agreement and each transfer of that Receipt and (y) all American Depositary Shares delivered as provided in this Deposit Agreement and all registrations of transfer of American Depositary Shares, shall be registered. A Receipt bearing the facsimile signature of a person that was at any time a proper officer of the Depositary shall, subject to the other provisions of this paragraph, bind the Depositary, even if that person has ceased to hold office at the Depositary prior to the execution and delivery of that Receipt by the Registrar or was not a proper officer of the Depositary on the date of issuance of that Receipt.
The Receipts and statements confirming registration of American Depositary Shares may have incorporated in or attached to them such legends or recitals or modifications not inconsistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement as may be required by the Depositary or required to comply with any applicable law or regulations thereunder or with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange upon which American Depositary Shares may be listed or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Receipts and American Depositary Shares are subject by reason of the date of issuance of the underlying Deposited Securities or otherwise.
American Depositary Shares evidenced by a Receipt, when the Receipt is properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, shall be transferable as certificated registered securities under the laws of the State of New York. American Depositary Shares not evidenced by Receipts shall be transferable as uncertificated registered securities under the laws of the State of New York. The Depositary, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the Owner of American Depositary Shares as the absolute owner thereof for the purpose of determining the person entitled to distribution of dividends or other distributions or to any notice provided for in this Deposit Agreement and for all other purposes, and neither the Depositary nor the Company shall have any obligation or be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement to any Holder of American Depositary Shares (but only to the Owner of those American Depositary Shares).
-7-
SECTION 2.2. Deposit of Shares.
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, Shares or evidence of rights to receive Shares may be deposited under this Deposit Agreement by delivery thereof to any Custodian, accompanied by any appropriate instruments or instructions for transfer, or endorsement, in form satisfactory to the Custodian.
As conditions of accepting Shares for deposit, the Depositary may require (i) any certification required by the Depositary or the Custodian in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, (ii) a written order directing the Depositary to deliver to, or upon the written order of, the person or persons stated in that order American Depositary Shares representing those deposited Shares, (iii) evidence satisfactory to the Depositary that those Shares have been re-registered in the books of the Company or the Foreign Registrar in the name of the Depositary, a Custodian or a nominee of the Depositary or a Custodian, (iv) evidence satisfactory to the Depositary that any necessary approval has been granted by any governmental body in each applicable jurisdiction and (v) an agreement or assignment, or other instrument satisfactory to the Depositary, that provides for the prompt transfer to the Custodian of any dividend, or right to subscribe for additional Shares or to receive other property, that any person in whose name those Shares are or have been recorded may thereafter receive upon or in respect of those Shares, or, in lieu thereof, such agreement of indemnity or other agreement as shall be satisfactory to the Depositary.
At the request and risk and expense of a person proposing to deposit Shares, and for the account of that person, the Depositary may receive certificates for Shares to be deposited, together with the other instruments specified in this Section, for the purpose of forwarding the Share certificates to the Custodian for deposit under this Deposit Agreement.
The Depositary shall instruct the Custodian that, upon each delivery to a Custodian of a certificate or certificates for Shares to be deposited under this Deposit Agreement, together with the other documents specified in this Section, that Custodian shall, as soon as transfer and recordation can be accomplished, present that certificate or those certificates to the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, for transfer and recordation of the Shares being deposited in the name of the Depositary or its nominee or that Custodian or its nominee.
Deposited Securities shall be held by the Depositary or by a Custodian for the account and to the order of the Depositary or at such other place or places as the Depositary shall determine.
-8-
SECTION 2.3. Delivery of American Depositary Shares.
The Depositary shall instruct the Custodian that, upon receipt by that Custodian of any deposit pursuant to Section 2.2, together with the other documents or evidence required under that Section, that Custodian shall notify the Depositary of that deposit and the person or persons to whom or upon whose written order American Depositary Shares are deliverable in respect of that deposit. Upon receiving a notice of a deposit from a Custodian, or upon the receipt of Shares or evidence of the right to receive Shares by the Depositary, the Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall deliver, to or upon the order of the person or persons entitled thereto, the number of American Depositary Shares issuable in respect of that deposit, but only upon payment to the Depositary of the fees and expenses of the Depositary for the delivery of those American Depositary Shares as provided in Section 5.9, and of all taxes and governmental charges and fees payable in connection with that deposit and the transfer of the deposited Shares. However, the Depositary shall deliver only whole numbers of American Depositary Shares.
SECTION 2.4. Registration of Transfer of American Depositary Shares; Combination and Split-up of Receipts; Interchange of Certificated and Uncertificated American Depositary Shares.
The Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall, without unreasonable delay, register a transfer of American Depositary Shares on its transfer books upon (i) in the case of certificated American Depositary Shares, surrender of the Receipt evidencing those American Depositary Shares, by the Owner or by a duly authorized attorney, properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer or (ii) in the case of uncertificated American Depositary Shares, receipt from the Owner of a proper instruction (including, for the avoidance of doubt, instructions through DRS and Profile as provided in Section 2.9), and, in either case, duly stamped as may be required by the laws of the State of New York and of the United States of America. Upon registration of a transfer, the Depositary shall deliver the transferred American Depositary Shares to or upon the order of the person entitled thereto.
The Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall upon surrender of a Receipt or Receipts for the purpose of effecting a split-up or combination of such Receipt or Receipts, execute and deliver a new Receipt or Receipts for any authorized number of American Depositary Shares requested, evidencing the same aggregate number of American Depositary Shares as the Receipt or Receipts surrendered.
The Depositary, upon surrender of certificated American Depositary Shares for the purpose of exchanging for uncertificated American Depositary Shares, shall cancel the Receipt evidencing those certificated American Depositary Shares and send the Owner a statement confirming that the Owner is the owner of the same number of uncertificated American Depositary Shares. The Depositary, upon receipt of a proper instruction (including, for the avoidance of doubt, instructions through DRS and Profile as provided in Section 2.9) from the Owner of uncertificated American Depositary Shares for the purpose of exchanging for certificated American Depositary Shares, shall cancel those uncertificated American Depositary Shares and register and deliver to the Owner a Receipt evidencing the same number of certificated American Depositary Shares.
-9-
The Depositary may appoint one or more co-transfer agents for the purpose of effecting registration of transfers of American Depositary Shares and combinations and split-ups of Receipts at designated transfer offices on behalf of the Depositary. The Depositary shall require each co-transfer agent it appoints under this paragraph to give notice in writing to the Depositary accepting its appointment and agreeing to be bound by the applicable terms of this Deposit Agreement. In carrying out its functions, a co-transfer agent may require evidence of authority and compliance with applicable laws and other requirements by Owners or persons entitled to American Depositary Shares and will be entitled to protection and indemnity to the same extent as the Depositary. If the Depositary appoints a co-transfer agent under this paragraph, it shall notify the Company as soon as practicable and, if practicable, prior to the effective date of that appointment.
SECTION 2.5. Surrender of American Depositary Shares and Withdrawal of Deposited Securities.
Upon surrender of American Depositary Shares for the purpose of withdrawal of the Deposited Securities represented thereby and payment of the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of American Depositary Shares as provided in Section 5.9 and payment of all taxes and governmental charges payable in connection with that surrender and withdrawal of the Deposited Securities, and subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Owner of those American Depositary Shares shall be entitled to delivery (to the extent delivery can then be lawfully and practicably made), to or as instructed by that Owner, of the amount of Deposited Securities at the time represented by those American Depositary Shares, but not any money or other property as to which a record date for distribution to Owners has passed (since money or other property of that kind will be delivered or paid on the scheduled payment date to the Owner as of that record date), and except that the Depositary shall not be required to accept surrender of American Depositary Shares for the purpose withdrawal to the extent it would require delivery of a fraction of a Deposited Security. That delivery shall be made, as provided in this Section, without unreasonable delay.
As a condition of accepting a surrender of American Depositary Shares for the purpose of withdrawal of Deposited Securities, the Depositary may require (i) that each surrendered Receipt be properly endorsed in blank or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer in blank and (ii) that the surrendering Owner execute and deliver to the Depositary a written order directing the Depositary to cause the Deposited Securities being withdrawn to be delivered to or upon the written order of a person or persons designated in that order.
-10-
Thereupon, the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to deliver, subject to Sections 2.6, 3.1 and 3.2, the other terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement and local market rules and practices, to the surrendering Owner or to or upon the written order of the person or persons designated in the order delivered to the Depositary as above provided, the amount of Deposited Securities represented by the surrendered American Depositary Shares, and the Depositary may charge the surrendering Owner a fee and its expenses for giving that direction by cable (including SWIFT) or facsimile transmission.
If Deposited Securities are delivered physically upon surrender of American Depositary Shares for the purpose of withdrawal, that delivery will be made at the Custodian’s office, except that, at the request, risk and expense of an Owner surrendering American Depositary Shares for withdrawal of Deposited Securities, and for the account of that Owner, the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to forward any cash or other property comprising, and forward a certificate or certificates, if applicable, and other proper documents of title, if any, for, the Deposited Securities represented by the surrendered American Depositary Shares to the Depositary for delivery at the Depositary’s Office or to another address specified in the order received from the surrendering Owner.
SECTION 2.6. Limitations on Delivery, Transfer and Surrender of American Depositary Shares.
As a condition precedent to the delivery, registration of transfer or surrender of any American Depositary Shares or split-up or combination of any Receipt or withdrawal of any Deposited Securities, the Depositary, Custodian or Registrar may require payment from the depositor of Shares or the presenter of the Receipt or instruction for registration of transfer or surrender of American Depositary Shares not evidenced by a Receipt of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or other governmental charge and any stock transfer or registration fee with respect thereto (including any such tax or charge and fee with respect to Shares being deposited or withdrawn) and payment of any applicable fees as provided in this Deposit Agreement, may require the production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature and may also require compliance with any regulations the Depositary may establish consistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, including, without limitation, this Section 2.6.
The delivery of American Depositary Shares against deposit of Shares generally or against deposit of particular Shares may be suspended, or the registration of transfer of American Depositary Shares in particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer of outstanding American Depositary Shares generally may be suspended, during any period when the transfer books of the Depositary are closed, or if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary or the Company at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body or commission, or under any provision of this Deposit Agreement, or for any other reason. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Deposit Agreement, the surrender of outstanding American Depositary Shares and withdrawal of Deposited Securities may not be suspended, subject only to (i) temporary delays caused by closing of the transfer books of the Depositary or the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, or the deposit of Shares in connection with voting at a shareholders’ meeting, or the payment of dividends, (ii) the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges, and (iii) compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating to the American Depositary Shares or to the withdrawal of the Deposited Securities.
-11-
The Depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under this Deposit Agreement any Shares that, at the time of deposit, are Restricted Securities. The Depositary will comply with the written instructions of the Company not to accept for deposit under this Deposit Agreement any Shares identified in such instruction and under such circumstances as may be reasonably be specified in such instructions in order to facilitate the Company’s compliance with U.S. securities laws.
SECTION 2.7. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Receipts.
If a Receipt is mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen, the Depositary shall deliver to the Owner the American Depositary Shares evidenced by that Receipt in uncertificated form or, if requested by the Owner, execute and deliver a new Receipt of like tenor in exchange and substitution for such mutilated Receipt, upon surrender and cancellation of that mutilated Receipt, or in lieu of and in substitution for that destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt. However, before the Depositary will deliver American Depositary Shares in uncertificated form or execute and deliver a new Receipt, in substitution for a destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt, the Owner must (a) file with the Depositary (i) a request for that replacement before the Depositary has notice that the Receipt has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser and (ii) a sufficient indemnity bond and (b) satisfy any other reasonable requirements imposed by the Depositary.
SECTION 2.8. Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts.
The Depositary shall cancel all Receipts surrendered to it and is authorized to destroy Receipts so cancelled. Cancelled Receipts shall not be entitled to any benefits under this Deposit Agreement.
SECTION 2.9. DTC Direct Registration System and Profile Modification System.
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.4, the parties acknowledge that DTC’s Direct Registration System (“DRS”) and Profile Modification System (“Profile”) apply to the American Depositary Shares upon acceptance thereof to DRS by DTC. DRS is the system administered by DTC that facilitates interchange between registered holding of uncertificated securities and holding of security entitlements in those securities through DTC and a DTC participant. Profile is a required feature of DRS that allows a DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf of an Owner of American Depositary Shares, to direct the Depositary to register a transfer of those American Depositary Shares to DTC or its nominee and to deliver those American Depositary Shares to the DTC account of that DTC participant without receipt by the Depositary of prior authorization from the Owner to register that transfer.
-12-
(b) In connection with DRS/Profile, the parties acknowledge that the Depositary will not determine whether the DTC participant that is claiming to be acting on behalf of an Owner in requesting a registration of transfer and delivery as described in paragraph (a) above has the actual authority to act on behalf of that Owner (notwithstanding any requirements under the Uniform Commercial Code). For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Sections 5.3 and 5.8 apply to the matters arising from the use of the DRS/Profile. The parties agree that the Depositary’s reliance on and compliance with instructions received by the Depositary through the DRS/Profile system and otherwise in accordance with this Deposit Agreement shall not constitute negligence or bad faith on the part of the Depositary.
SECTION 2.10. Maintenance of Records.
The Depositary agrees to maintain records of all American Depositary Shares surrendered and Deposited Securities withdrawn under Section 2.5, substitute Receipts delivered under Section 2.7, and cancelled or destroyed Receipts under Section 2.8, in keeping with procedures ordinarily followed by stock transfer agents located in the United States.
ARTICLE 3.
CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF OWNERS AND HOLDERS OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
SECTION 3.1. Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information.
Any person presenting Shares for deposit or any Owner or Holder may be required from time to time to file with the Depositary or the Custodian such proof of citizenship or residence, exchange control approval, or such information relating to the registration on the books of the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, to execute such certificates and to make such representations and warranties, as the Depositary may deem necessary or proper. The Depositary may withhold the delivery or registration of transfer of American Depositary Shares, the distribution of any dividend or other distribution or of the proceeds thereof or the delivery of any Deposited Securities until that proof or other information is filed or those certificates are executed or those representations and warranties are made. Upon the written request and at the expense of the Company, the Depositary shall provide the Company with copies of all such certificates and such written representations and warranties provided to the Depositary under this Section 3.1, to the extent that disclosure is permitted under applicable law.
-13-
SECTION 3.2. Liability of Owner for Taxes.
If any tax or other governmental charge shall become payable by the Custodian or the Depositary with respect to or in connection with any American Depositary Shares or any Deposited Securities represented by any American Depositary Shares or in connection with a transaction to which Section 4.8 applies, that tax or other governmental charge shall be payable by the Owner of those American Depositary Shares to the Depositary. The Depositary may refuse to register any transfer of those American Depositary Shares or any withdrawal of Deposited Securities represented by those American Depositary Shares until that payment is made, and may withhold any dividends or other distributions or the proceeds thereof, or may sell for the account of the Owner any part or all of the Deposited Securities represented by those American Depositary Shares and apply those dividends or other distributions or the net proceeds of any sale of that kind in payment of that tax or other governmental charge but, even after a sale of that kind, the Owner of those American Depositary Shares shall remain liable for any deficiency. The Depositary shall distribute any net proceeds of a sale made under this Section that are not used to pay taxes or governmental charges to the Owners entitled to them in accordance with Section 4.1. If the number of Shares represented by each American Depositary Share decreases as a result of a sale of Deposited Securities under this Section, the Depositary may call for surrender of the American Depositary Shares to be exchanged on a mandatory basis for a lesser number of American Depositary Shares and may sell American Depositary Shares to the extent necessary to avoid distributing fractions of American Depositary Shares in that exchange and distribute the net proceeds of that sale to the Owners entitled to them.
SECTION 3.3. Warranties on Deposit of Shares.
Every person depositing Shares under this Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to represent and warrant that those Shares and each certificate therefor, if applicable, are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and were not issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights of the holders of outstanding securities of the Company and that the person making that deposit is duly authorized so to do. Every depositing person shall also be deemed to represent that the Shares, at the time of deposit, are not Restricted Securities. All representations and warranties deemed made under this Section shall survive the deposit of Shares and delivery of American Depositary Shares.
SECTION 3.4. Disclosure of Interests.
When required in order to comply with applicable laws and regulations or the articles of association or similar document of the Company, the Company may from time to time request each Owner and Holder to provide to the Depositary information relating to: (a) the capacity in which it holds American Depositary Shares, (b) the identity of any Holders or other persons or entities then or previously interested in those American Depositary Shares and the nature of those interests and (c) any other matter where disclosure of such matter is required for that compliance. Each Owner and Holder agrees to provide all information known to it in response to a request made pursuant to this Section. Each Holder consents to the disclosure by the Depositary and the Owner or any other Holder through which it holds American Depositary Shares, directly or indirectly, of all information responsive to a request made pursuant to this Section relating to that Holder that is known to that Owner or other Holder. The Depositary agrees to use reasonable efforts to comply with written instructions requesting that the Depositary forward any request authorized under this Section to the Owners and to forward to the Company any responses it receives in response to that request. The Depositary may charge the Company a fee and its expenses for complying with requests under this Section 3.4.
-14-
SECTION 3.5. Delivery of Information to the CVM and the Central Bank.
Each of the Depositary and the Company hereby confirms to the other that for as long as this Deposit Agreement is in effect, it shall furnish the CVM and the Central Bank, at any time and within the period that may be determined, with any information and documents related to the American Depositary Share program and the American Depositary Shares issued hereunder. In the event that the Depositary or the Custodian is advised in writing by reputable independent Brazilian counsel that the Depositary or Custodian reasonably could be subject to criminal, or material, as reasonably determined by the Depositary, civil, liabilities as a result of the Company having failed to provide such information or documents reasonably available only through the Company, the Depositary shall have the right to terminate this Deposit Agreement, upon at least 15 days’ prior notice to the Owners and the Company, and the Depositary shall not be subject to any liability hereunder on account of that termination or that determination. The effect of any termination of this Deposit Agreement shall be as provided in Section 6.2.
ARTICLE 4.
THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES
SECTION 4.1. Cash Distributions.
Whenever the Depositary or the Custodian receives any cash dividend or other cash distribution on Deposited Securities, the Depositary or the Custodian shall, subject to the provisions of Section 4.5, convert that dividend or other distribution into Dollars, in accordance with applicable law, and the Depositary shall distribute the amount thus received (in each case net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.9) to the Owners entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing those Deposited Securities held by them respectively; provided, however, that if the Custodian or the Depositary shall be required to withhold and does withhold from that cash dividend or other cash distribution an amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges, the amount distributed to the Owners of the American Depositary Shares representing those Deposited Securities shall be reduced accordingly. However, the Depositary will not pay any Owner a fraction of one cent, but will round each Owner’s entitlement to the nearest whole cent.
-15-
The Company or its agent will remit to the appropriate governmental agency in each applicable jurisdiction all amounts withheld and owing to such agency. The Depositary will forward to the Company or its agent such information from its records as the Company may reasonably request to enable the Company or its agent to file necessary reports with governmental agencies.
If a cash distribution would represent a return of all or substantially all the value of the Deposited Securities underlying American Depositary Shares, the Depositary may require surrender of those American Depositary Shares and may require payment of or deduct the fee for surrender of American Depositary Shares (whether or not it is also requiring surrender of American Depositary Shares) as a condition of making that cash distribution. A distribution of that kind shall be a Termination Option Event.
SECTION 4.2. Distributions Other Than Cash, Shares or Rights.
Subject to the provisions of Sections 4.11 and 5.9, whenever the Depositary receives any distribution other than a distribution described in Section 4.1, 4.3 or 4.4 on Deposited Securities (but not in exchange for or in conversion or in lieu of Deposited Securities), the Depositary shall cause the securities or property received by it or the Custodian to be distributed to the Owners entitled thereto, after deduction or upon payment of any fees and expenses of the Depositary and any taxes or other governmental charges, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by them respectively, in any manner that the Depositary deems equitable and practicable for accomplishing that distribution (which may be a distribution of depositary shares representing the securities received); provided, however, that if in the opinion of the Depositary such distribution cannot be made proportionately among the Owners entitled thereto, or if for any other reason (including, but not limited to, any requirement that the Company or the Depositary withhold an amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges or that securities received must be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 in order to be distributed to Owners or Holders) the Depositary deems such distribution not to be lawful and feasible, the Depositary may adopt such other method as it may deem equitable and practicable for the purpose of effecting such distribution, including, but not limited to, the public or private sale of the securities or property thus received, or any part thereof, and distribution of the net proceeds of any such sale (net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.9) to the Owners entitled thereto, all in the manner and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.1. The Depositary may withhold any distribution of securities under this Section 4.2 if it has not received reasonably satisfactory assurances from the Company that the distribution does not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933. The Depositary may sell, by public or private sale, an amount of securities or other property it would otherwise distribute under this Section 4.2 that is sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in respect of that distribution.
-16-
If a distribution under this Section 4.2 would represent a return of all or substantially all the value of the Deposited Securities underlying American Depositary Shares, the Depositary may require surrender of those American Depositary Shares and may require payment of or deduct the fee for surrender of American Depositary Shares (whether or not it is also requiring surrender of American Depositary Shares) as a condition of making that distribution. A distribution of that kind shall be a Termination Option Event.
SECTION 4.3. Distributions in Shares.
Whenever the Depositary receives any distribution on Deposited Securities consisting of a dividend in, or free distribution of, Shares, the Depositary may, and shall if the Company shall so request in writing, deliver to the Owners entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing those Deposited Securities held by them respectively, an aggregate number of American Depositary Shares representing the amount of Shares received as that dividend or free distribution, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement with respect to the deposit of Shares and issuance of American Depositary Shares, including withholding of any tax or governmental charge as provided in Section 4.11 and payment of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.9 (and the Depositary may sell, by public or private sale, an amount of the Shares received (or American Depositary Shares representing those Shares) sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in respect of that distribution). In lieu of delivering fractional American Depositary Shares, the Depositary may sell the amount of Shares represented by the aggregate of those fractions (or American Depositary Shares representing those Shares) and distribute the net proceeds, all in the manner and subject to the conditions described in Section 4.1. If and to the extent that additional American Depositary Shares are not delivered and Shares or American Depositary Shares are not sold, each American Depositary Share shall thenceforth also represent the additional Shares distributed on the Deposited Securities represented thereby.
If the Company declares a distribution in which holders of Deposited Securities have a right to elect whether to receive cash, Shares or other securities or a combination of those things, or a right to elect to have a distribution sold on their behalf, the Depositary may, after consultation with the Company, make that right of election available for exercise by Owners in any manner the Depositary considers to be lawful and practical. As a condition of making a distribution election right available to Owners, the Depositary may require satisfactory assurances from the Company that doing so does not require registration of any securities under the Securities Act of 1933.
SECTION 4.4. Rights.
(a) If rights are granted to the Depositary in respect of deposited Shares to purchase additional Shares or other securities, the Company and the Depositary shall endeavor to consult as to the actions, if any, the Depositary should take in connection with that grant of rights. The Depositary may, to the extent deemed by it to be lawful and practical, (i) if requested in writing by the Company, grant to all or certain Owners rights to instruct the Depositary to purchase the securities to which the rights relate and deliver those securities or American Depositary Shares representing those securities to Owners, (ii) if requested in writing by the Company, deliver the rights to or to the order of certain Owners, or (iii) sell the rights to the extent lawful and practicable and distribute the net proceeds of that sale to Owners entitled to those proceeds. To the extent rights are not exercised, delivered or disposed of under (i), (ii) or (iii) above, the Depositary shall permit the rights to lapse unexercised.
-17-
(b) If the Depositary will act under (a)(i) above, the Company and the Depositary will enter into a separate agreement setting forth the conditions and procedures applicable to the particular offering. Upon instruction from an applicable Owner in the form the Depositary specified and upon payment by that Owner to the Depositary of an amount equal to the purchase price of the securities to be received upon the exercise of the rights, the Depositary shall, on behalf of that Owner, exercise the rights and purchase the securities. The purchased securities shall be delivered to, or as instructed by, the Depositary. The Depositary shall (i) deposit the purchased Shares under this Deposit Agreement and deliver American Depositary Shares representing those Shares to that Owner or (ii) deliver or cause the purchased Shares or other securities to be delivered to or to the order of that Owner. The Depositary will not act under (a)(i) above unless the offer and sale of the securities to which the rights relate are registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Depositary has received an opinion of United States counsel that is satisfactory to it to the effect that those securities may be sold and delivered to the applicable Owners without registration under the Securities Act of 1933.
(c) If the Depositary will act under (a)(ii) above, the Company and the Depositary will enter into a separate agreement setting forth the conditions and procedures applicable to the particular offering. Upon (i) the request of an applicable Owner to deliver the rights allocable to the American Depositary Shares of that Owner to an account specified by that Owner to which the rights can be delivered and (ii) receipt of such documents as the Company and the Depositary agreed to require to comply with applicable law, the Depositary will deliver those rights as requested by that Owner.
(d) If the Depositary will act under (a)(iii) above, the Depositary will use reasonable efforts to sell the rights in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by the applicable Owners and pay the net proceeds to the Owners otherwise entitled to the rights that were sold, upon an averaged or other practical basis without regard to any distinctions among such Owners because of exchange restrictions or the date of delivery of any American Depositary Shares or otherwise.
(e) Payment or deduction of the fees of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.9 and payment or deduction of the expenses of the Depositary and any applicable taxes or other governmental charges shall be conditions of any delivery of securities or payment of cash proceeds under this Section 4.4.
-18-
(f) The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to determine that it may be lawful or feasible to make rights available to or exercise rights on behalf of Owners in general or any Owner in particular, or to sell rights.
SECTION 4.5. Conversion of Foreign Currency.
Whenever the Depositary or the Custodian receives foreign currency, by way of dividends or other distributions or the net proceeds from the sale of securities, property or rights, and if at the time of the receipt thereof the foreign currency so received can, in the reasonable judgment of the Depositary, be converted on a reasonable basis into Dollars and the resulting Dollars transferred to the United States, the Depositary shall, as promptly as practicable, convert or cause to be converted, by sale or in any other manner that it may determine in accordance with applicable law, that foreign currency into Dollars, and those Dollars shall be distributed, as promptly as practicable, to the Owners entitled thereto. A cash distribution may be made upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among Owners based on exchange restrictions, the date of delivery of any American Depositary Shares or otherwise and shall be net of any expenses of conversion into Dollars incurred by the Depositary as provided in Section 5.9.
If a conversion of foreign currency or the repatriation or distribution of Dollars can be effected only with the approval or license of any government or agency thereof, the Depositary may, but will not be required to, file an application for that approval or license.
If the Depositary determines that in its judgment any foreign currency received by the Depositary or the Custodian is not convertible on a reasonable basis into Dollars transferable to the United States, or if any approval or license of any government or agency thereof that is required for such conversion is not filed or sought by the Depositary or is not obtained within a reasonable period as determined by the Depositary, the Depositary may distribute the foreign currency received by the Depositary to, or in its discretion may hold such foreign currency uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of, the Owners entitled to receive the same.
If any conversion of foreign currency, in whole or in part, cannot be effected for distribution to some of the Owners entitled thereto, the Depositary may in its discretion make that conversion and distribution in Dollars to the extent practicable and permissible to the Owners entitled thereto and may distribute the balance of the foreign currency received by the Depositary to, or hold that balance uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the account of, the Owners entitled thereto.
The Depositary may convert currency itself or through any of its affiliates and, in those cases, acts as principal for its own account and not as agent, advisor, broker or fiduciary on behalf of any other person and earns revenue, including, without limitation, transaction spreads, that it will retain for its own account. The revenue is based on, among other things, the difference between the exchange rate assigned to the currency conversion made under this Deposit Agreement and the rate that the Depositary or its affiliate receives when buying or selling foreign currency for its own account. The Depositary makes no representation that the exchange rate used or obtained in any currency conversion under this Deposit Agreement will be the most favorable rate that could be obtained at the time or that the method by which that rate will be determined will be the most favorable to Owners, subject to the Depositary’s obligations under Section 5.3. The methodology used to determine exchange rates used in currency conversions is available upon request.
-19-
SECTION 4.6. Fixing of Record Date.
Whenever a cash dividend, cash distribution or any other distribution is made on Deposited Securities or rights to purchase Shares or other securities are issued with respect to Deposited Securities (which rights will be delivered to or exercised or sold on behalf of Owners in accordance with Section 4.4) or the Depositary receives notice that a distribution or issuance of that kind will be made, or whenever the Depositary receives notice that a meeting of holders of Shares will be held in respect of which the Company has requested the Depositary to send a notice under Section 4.7, or whenever the Depositary will assess a fee or charge against the Owners, or whenever the Depositary causes a change in the number of Shares that are represented by each American Depositary Share, or whenever the Depositary otherwise finds it necessary or convenient, the Depositary shall fix a record date, which shall be the same as, or as near as practicable to, any corresponding record date set by the Company with respect to Shares, (a) for the determination of the Owners (i) who shall be entitled to receive the benefit of that dividend or other distribution or those rights, (ii) who shall be entitled to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at that meeting, (iii) who shall be responsible for that fee or charge or (iv) for any other purpose for which the record date was set, or (b) on or after which each American Depositary Share will represent the changed number of Shares. Subject to the provisions of Sections 4.1 through 4.5 and to the other terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Owners on a record date fixed by the Depositary shall be entitled to receive the amount distributable by the Depositary with respect to that dividend or other distribution or those rights or the net proceeds of sale thereof in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by them respectively, to give voting instructions or to act in respect of the other matter for which that record date was fixed, or be responsible for that fee or charge, as the case may be.
SECTION 4.7. Voting of Deposited Shares.
(a) Upon receipt of notice of any meeting of holders of Shares at which holders of Shares will be entitled to vote, if requested in writing by the Company, the Depositary shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, Disseminate to the Owners a notice, the form of which shall be in the reasonable discretion of the Depositary, that shall contain (i) the information contained in the notice of meeting received by the Depositary from the Company, (ii) a statement that the Owners as of the close of business on a specified record date will be entitled, subject to any applicable provision of Brazilian law and of the bylaws of the Company, to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the amount of Shares represented by their respective American Depositary Shares, (iii) a statement as to the manner in which those instructions may be given, including, when applicable, an express indication that instructions may be given (or, if applicable, deemed given in accordance with paragraph (b) below if no instruction is received) to the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company and (iv) the last date on which the Depositary will accept instructions (the “Instruction Cutoff Date”).
-20-
(b) Upon the written request of an Owner of American Depositary Shares, as of the date of the request or, if a record date was specified by the Depositary, as of that record date, received on or before any Instruction Cutoff Date established by the Depositary, the Depositary may, and if the Depositary sent a notice under the preceding paragraph shall, endeavor, in so far as practicable, to vote or cause to be voted the amount of deposited Shares represented by those American Depositary Shares in accordance with the instructions set forth in that request. The Depositary shall give notice to the Company of the voting instructions received by the Depositary from Owners in accordance with applicable Brazilian law. The Depositary shall not vote or attempt to exercise the right to vote that attaches to the deposited Shares other than in accordance with instructions given by Owners and received by the Depositary or as provided in the following sentence. If
(i) the Company instructed the Depositary to Disseminate a notice under paragraph (a) above and complied with paragraph (d) below,
(ii) no instructions are received by the Depositary from an Owner with respect to a matter and an amount of American Depositary Shares of that Owner on or before the Instruction Cutoff Date and
(iii) the Depositary has received from the Company, by the New York business day following the Instruction Cutoff Date, a written confirmation that, as of the Instruction Cutoff Date, (x) the Company wishes a proxy to be given under this sentence, (y) the Company reasonably does not know of any substantial opposition to the matter and (z) the matter is not materially adverse to the interests of shareholders,
then, the Depositary shall deem that Owner to have instructed the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company with respect to that matter and the amount of deposited Shares represented by that amount of American Depositary Shares and the Depositary shall give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company to vote that amount of deposited Shares as to that matter.
(c) There can be no assurance that Owners generally or any Owner in particular will receive the notice described in paragraph (a) above in time to enable Owners to give instructions to the Depositary prior to the Instruction Cutoff Date.
-21-
(d) If the Company will request the Depositary to Disseminate a notice under paragraph (a) above, the Company shall give the Depositary notice of the meeting, details concerning the matters to be voted upon and copies of materials to be made available to holders of Shares in connection with the meeting not less than 30 days prior to the meeting date. The instructions received by the Depositary in connection with a certain vote or meeting shall also be applicable to any adjournment or postponement of that vote or meeting.
(e) Without limiting any of the foregoing, to the extent the Depositary does not receive voting instructions from Owners, the Depositary shall take such actions as are necessary, upon the written request of the Company and subject to applicable law and the terms of the Deposited Securities, to cause the amount of Shares represented by the American Depositary Shares of those Owners to be counted for the purpose of satisfying applicable quorum requirements.
SECTION 4.8. Tender and Exchange Offers; Redemption, Replacement or Cancellation of Deposited Securities.
(a) The Depositary shall not tender any Deposited Securities in response to any voluntary cash tender offer, exchange offer or similar offer made to holders of Deposited Securities (a “Voluntary Offer”), except when instructed in writing to do so by an Owner surrendering American Depositary Shares and subject to any conditions or procedures the Depositary may require.
(b) If the Depositary receives a written notice that Deposited Securities have been redeemed for cash or otherwise purchased for cash in a transaction that is mandatory and binding on the Depositary as a holder of those Deposited Securities (a “Redemption”), the Depositary, at the expense of the Company, shall (i) if required by the Company, surrender Deposited Securities that have been redeemed to the issuer of those securities or its agent on the redemption date, (ii) Disseminate a notice to Owners (A) notifying them of that Redemption, (B) calling for surrender of a corresponding number of American Depositary Shares and (C) notifying them that the called American Depositary Shares have been converted into a right only to receive the money received by the Depositary upon that Redemption and those net proceeds shall be the Deposited Securities to which Owners of those converted American Depositary Shares shall be entitled upon surrenders of those American Depositary Shares in accordance with Section 2.5 or 6.2 and (iii) distribute the money received upon that Redemption to the Owners entitled to it upon surrender by them of called American Depositary Shares in accordance with Section 2.5 (and, for the avoidance of doubt, Owners shall not be entitled to receive that money under Section 4.1). If the Redemption affects less than all the Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall call for surrender a corresponding portion of the outstanding American Depositary Shares and only those American Depositary Shares will automatically be converted into a right to receive the net proceeds of the Redemption. The Depositary shall allocate the American Depositary Shares converted under the preceding sentence among the Owners pro-rata to their respective holdings of American Depositary Shares immediately prior to the Redemption, except that the allocations may be adjusted so that no fraction of a converted American Depositary Share is allocated to any Owner. A Redemption of all or substantially all of the Deposited Securities shall be a Termination Option Event.
-22-
(c) If the Depositary is notified of or there occurs any change in nominal value or any subdivision, combination or any other reclassification of the Deposited Securities or any recapitalization, reorganization, sale of assets substantially as an entirety, merger or consolidation affecting the issuer of the Deposited Securities or to which it is a party that is mandatory and binding on the Depositary as a holder of Deposited Securities and, as a result, securities or other property have been or will be delivered in exchange, conversion, replacement or in lieu of, Deposited Securities (a “Replacement”), the Depositary shall, if required by the Company, surrender the old Deposited Securities affected by that Replacement of Shares and hold, as new Deposited Securities under this Deposit Agreement, the new securities or other property delivered to it in that Replacement. However, the Depositary may elect to sell those new Deposited Securities if in the opinion of the Depositary it is not lawful for it to hold those new Deposited Securities under this Deposit Agreement because those new Deposited Securities may not be distributed to Owners without registration under the Securities Act of 1933 or for any other reason, at public or private sale, at such places and on such terms as it deems proper and proceed as if those new Deposited Securities had been Redeemed under paragraph (b) above. A Replacement shall be a Termination Option Event.
(d) In the case of a Replacement where the new Deposited Securities will continue to be held under this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may call for the surrender of outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts specifically describing the new Deposited Securities and the number of those new Deposited Securities represented by each American Depositary Share. If the number of Shares represented by each American Depositary Share decreases as a result of a Replacement, the Depositary may call for surrender of the American Depositary Shares to be exchanged on a mandatory basis for a lesser number of American Depositary Shares and may sell American Depositary Shares to the extent necessary to avoid distributing fractions of American Depositary Shares in that exchange and distribute the net proceeds of that sale to the Owners entitled to them.
(e) If there are no Deposited Securities with respect to American Depositary Shares, including if the Deposited Securities are cancelled, or the Deposited Securities with respect to American Depositary Shares have become apparently worthless, the Depositary may call for surrender of those American Depositary Shares or may cancel those American Depositary Shares, upon notice to Owners, and a Termination Option Event occurs.
-23-
SECTION 4.9. Reports.
The Depositary shall make available for inspection by Owners at its Office any reports and communications, including any proxy solicitation material, received from the Company which are both (a) received by the Depositary or its nominee as the holder of the Deposited Securities and (b) made generally available to the holders of those Deposited Securities by the Company. The Company shall furnish reports and communications, including any proxy soliciting material to which this Section applies, to the Depositary in English, to the extent those materials are required to be translated into English pursuant to any regulations of the Commission.
SECTION 4.10. Lists of Owners.
As promptly as practicable upon written request by the Company, the Depositary shall, at the expense of the Company, furnish to it a list, as of the most recent practicable date, of the names, addresses and American Depositary Share holdings of all Owners.
SECTION 4.11. Withholding.
If the Depositary determines that any distribution received or to be made by the Depositary (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) is subject to any tax or other governmental charge that the Depositary is obligated to withhold, the Depositary may sell, by public or private sale, all or a portion of the distributed property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) in the amounts and manner the Depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay those taxes or charges, and the Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds of that sale, after deduction of those taxes or charges, to the Owners entitled thereto in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by them respectively.
The Depositary or its agent shall remit to appropriate governmental authorities and agencies in the United States all amounts, if any, withheld and owing to such authorities and agencies by the Depositary.
Services for Owners and Holders that may permit them to obtain reduced rates of tax withholding at source or reclaim excess tax withheld, and the fees and costs associated with using services of that kind, are not provided under, and are outside the scope of, this Deposit Agreement.
Each Owner and Holder agrees to indemnify the Company, the Depositary, the Custodian and their respective directors, employees, agents and affiliates for, and hold each of them harmless against, any claim by any governmental authority with respect to taxes, additions to tax, penalties or interest arising out of any refund of taxes, reduced withholding at source or other tax benefit received by it.
-24-
ARTICLE 5.
THE DEPOSITARY, THE CUSTODIANS AND THE COMPANY
SECTION 5.1. Maintenance of Office and Transfer Books by the Depositary.
Until termination of this Deposit Agreement in accordance with its terms, the Depositary shall maintain facilities for the execution and delivery, registration, registration of transfers and surrender of American Depositary Shares in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement.
The Depositary shall keep books for the registration and transfers of American Depositary Shares, which shall be open for inspection by the Owners at the Depositary’s Office during regular business hours, provided that such inspection is not for the purpose of communicating with Owners in the interest of a business or object other than the business of the Company or a matter related to this Deposit Agreement or the American Depositary Shares.
The Depositary may close the transfer books, at any time or from time to time, when deemed expedient by it in connection with the performance of its duties under this Deposit Agreement or at the written request of the Company.
If any American Depositary Shares are listed on one or more stock exchanges in the United States, the Depositary shall act as Registrar or appoint a Registrar or one or more co-registrars for registry of those American Depositary Shares in accordance with any requirements of that exchange or those exchanges. The Depositary shall require each Registrar and co-registrar it appoints to give notice in writing to the Depositary accepting its appointment and agreeing to be bound by the applicable terms of this Deposit Agreement.
The Company shall have the right, at all reasonable times, to inspect transfer and registration records of the Depositary, the Registrar and any co-transfer agents or co-registrars and to require them to supply copies of such portions of their records as the Company may reasonably request.
SECTION 5.2. Prevention or Delay of Performance by the Company or the Depositary.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their respective directors, employees, agents or affiliates shall incur any liability to any Owner or Holder:
-25-
(i) if by reason of (A) any provision of any present or future law or regulation or other act of the government of the United States, any State of the United States, Brazil or any other state or jurisdiction, or of any governmental or regulatory authority or stock exchange; (B) any provision, present or future, of the bylaws (estatuto social) of the Company, or by reason of any provision of any securities issued or distributed by the Company, or any offering or distribution thereof; or (C) any event or circumstance, whether natural or caused by a person or persons, that is beyond the ability of the Depositary or the Company, as the case may be, to prevent or counteract by reasonable care or effort (including, but not limited to, earthquakes, floods, severe storms, fires, explosions, war, terrorism, civil unrest, labor disputes or criminal acts; interruptions or malfunctions of utility services, Internet or other communications lines or systems; unauthorized access to or attacks on computer systems or websites; or other failures or malfunctions of computer hardware or software or other systems or equipment), the Depositary or the Company is, directly or indirectly, prevented from, forbidden to or delayed in, or could be subject to any civil or criminal penalty on account of doing or performing and therefore does not do or perform, any act or thing that, by the terms of this Deposit Agreement or the Deposited Securities, it is provided shall be done or performed;
(ii) for any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in this Deposit Agreement (including any determination by the Depositary to take, or not take, any action that this Deposit Agreement provides the Depositary may take);
(iii) for the inability of any Owner or Holder to benefit from any distribution, offering, right or other benefit that is made available to holders of Deposited Securities but is not, under the terms of this Deposit Agreement, made available to Owners or Holders; or
(iv) for any special, consequential or punitive damages for any breach of the terms of this Deposit Agreement.
Where, by the terms of a distribution to which Section 4.1, 4.2 or 4.3 applies, or an offering to which Section 4.4 applies, or for any other reason, that distribution or offering may not be made available to Owners, and the Depositary may not dispose of that distribution or offering on behalf of Owners and make the net proceeds available to Owners, then the Depositary shall not make that distribution or offering available to Owners, and shall allow any rights, if applicable, to lapse.
SECTION 5.3. Obligations of the Depositary and the Company.
The Company assumes no obligation nor shall it be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement to any Owner or Holder, except that the Company agrees to perform its obligations specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement without negligence or bad faith.
The Depositary assumes no obligation nor shall it be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement to any Owner or Holder (including, without limitation, liability with respect to the validity or worth of the Deposited Securities), except that the Depositary agrees to perform its obligations specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement without negligence or bad faith, and the Depositary shall not be a fiduciary or have any fiduciary duty to Owners or Holders.
-26-
Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any Deposited Securities or in respect of the American Depositary Shares on behalf of any Owner or Holder or any other person.
Each of the Depositary and the Company may rely, and shall be protected in relying upon, any written notice, request, direction or other document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be liable for any action or non-action by it in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares for deposit, any Owner or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information.
The Depositary shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by a successor depositary whether in connection with a previous act or omission of the Depositary or in connection with any matter arising wholly after the removal or resignation of the Depositary, provided that in connection with the issue out of which such potential liability arises the Depositary performed its obligations without negligence or bad faith while it acted as Depositary.
The Depositary shall not be liable for the acts or omissions of any securities depository, clearing agency or settlement system in connection with or arising out of book-entry settlement of American Depositary Shares or Deposited Securities or otherwise.
In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any of the Deposited Securities, or for the manner in which any such vote is cast or the effect of any such vote.
The Depositary shall have no duty to make any determination or provide any information as to the tax status of the Company or any liability for any tax consequences that may be incurred by Owners or Holders as a result of owning or holding American Depositary Shares. The Depositary shall not be liable for the inability or failure of an Owner or Holder to obtain the benefit of a foreign tax credit, reduced rate of withholding or refund of amounts withheld in respect of tax or any other tax benefit.
No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act of 1933 is intended by any provision of this Deposit Agreement.
-27-
SECTION 5.4. Resignation and Removal of the Depositary.
The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary hereunder by written notice of its election so to do delivered to the Company, to become effective upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of that appointment as provided in this Section. The effect of resignation if a successor depositary is not appointed is provided for in Section 6.2.
The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by 90 days’ prior written notice of that removal, to become effective upon the later of (i) the 90th day after delivery of the notice to the Depositary and (ii) the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of its appointment as provided in this Section.
If the Depositary resigns or is 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 execute and deliver to the Company an instrument in writing accepting its appointment under this Deposit Agreement. If the Depositary receives notice from the Company that a successor depositary has been appointed following its resignation or removal, the Depositary, upon payment of all sums due it from the Company, shall deliver to its successor a register listing all the Owners and their respective holdings of outstanding American Depositary Shares and shall deliver the Deposited Securities to or to the order of its successor. When the Depositary has taken the actions specified in the preceding sentence (i) the successor shall become the Depositary and shall have all the rights and shall assume all the duties of the Depositary under this Deposit Agreement and (ii) the predecessor depositary shall cease to be the Depositary and shall be discharged and released from all obligations under this Deposit Agreement, except for its duties under Section 5.8 with respect to the time before that discharge. A successor depositary shall notify the Owners of its appointment as soon as practical after assuming the duties of Depositary.
Any corporation or other entity into or with which the Depositary may be merged or consolidated shall be the successor of the Depositary without the execution or filing of any document or any further act.
SECTION 5.5. The Custodian.
The Custodian shall be subject at all times and in all respects to the directions of the Depositary and shall be responsible solely to it. The Depositary in its discretion may at any time appoint a substitute custodian, which shall thereafter be the Custodian under this Deposit Agreement. If the Depositary receives notice that a Custodian is resigning, the Depositary shall, as promptly as practicable after receiving that notice, appoint a substitute custodian,which shall thereafter be the Custodian under this Deposit Agreement. The Depositary shall require the Custodian that resigns or is removed to deliver all Deposited Securities held by it to the substitute Custodian. The Depositary agrees with the Company that at no time shall there be more than one Custodian acting in connection with this Deposit Agreement.
-28-
SECTION 5.6. Notices and Reports.
If the Company takes or decides to take any corporate action of a kind that is addressed in Sections 4.1 to 4.4, or 4.6 to 4.8, or that effects or will effect a change of the name or legal structure of the Company, or that effects or will effect a change to the Shares, the Company shall notify the Depositary and the Custodian of that action or decision as soon as it is lawful and practical to give that notice. The notice shall be in English and shall include all details that the Company is required to include in any notice to any governmental or regulatory authority or securities exchange or is required to make available generally to holders of Shares by publication or otherwise.
The Company will arrange for the translation into English, if not already in English, to the extent required pursuant to any regulations of the Commission, and the prompt transmittal by the Company to the Depositary and the Custodian of all notices and any other reports and communications which are made generally available by the Company to holders of its Shares. If requested in writing by the Company, the Depositary will Disseminate, at the Company’s expense, those notices, reports and communications to all Owners or otherwise make them available to Owners in a manner that the Company specifies as substantially equivalent to the manner in which those communications are made available to holders of Shares and compliant with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the American Depositary Shares are listed. The Company will timely provide the Depositary with the quantity of such notices, reports, and communications, as requested by the Depositary from time to time, in order for the Depositary to effect that Dissemination.
The Company represents that as of the date of this Deposit Agreement, the statements in Article 11 of the Receipt with respect to the Company’s obligation to file periodic reports under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, are true and correct. The Company agrees to promptly notify the Depositary upon becoming aware of any change in the truth of any of those statements.
SECTION 5.7. Distribution of Additional Shares, Rights, etc.
If the Company determines or the Company knows that an affiliate of the Company determines to make any issuance or distribution of (1) additional Shares, (2) rights to subscribe for Shares, (3) securities convertible into Shares, or (4) rights to subscribe for such securities (each a “Distribution”), the Company shall notify the Depositary in writing in English as promptly as practicable and in any event before the Distribution starts and, if requested in writing by the Depositary, the Company shall promptly furnish to the Depositary either (i) evidence satisfactory to the Depositary that the Distribution is registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or (ii) a written opinion from U.S. counsel for the Company that is reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary, stating that the Distribution does not require, or, if made in the United States, would not require, registration under the Securities Act of 1933.
-29-
In the event that registration under the Securities Act of 1933 would be required in connection with any Distribution, the Company shall have no obligation to effect such registration.
In the event of any issuance of additional securities, the Company shall have no obligation to register such additional securities under the Securities Act of 1933 and, to the extent the Company in its discretion deems it necessary or advisable in order to avoid any requirement to register the additional securities under the Securities Act of 1933, may prevent Owners in the United States from purchasing any such additional securities (whether pursuant to pre-emptive rights or otherwise) and direct the Depositary not to accept any Shares for deposit for such period of time following the issuance of the additional securities and to adopt such other specific measures as the Company may reasonably request in writing.
The Company agrees with the Depositary that neither the Company nor any entity controlled by the Company will deposit any Shares that, at the time of deposit, are Restricted Securities. The Depositary will comply with the written instructions of the Company not to accept knowingly for deposit hereunder any Shares identified in such instructions at such times and under such circumstances as may be specified in such instructions in order to facilitate the Company’s compliance with the securities laws of the United States.
SECTION 5.8. Indemnification.
The Company agrees to indemnify the Depositary, its directors, employees, agents and affiliates and the Custodian against, and hold each of them harmless from, any liability or expense (including, but not limited to any fees and expenses incurred in seeking, enforcing or collecting such indemnity and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) that may arise out of or in connection with (a) any registration with the Commission of American Depositary Shares or Deposited Securities or the offer or sale thereof in the United States or (b) acts performed or omitted, pursuant to the provisions of or in connection with this Deposit Agreement and the American Depositary Shares, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, (i) by either the Depositary or the Custodian or their respective directors, employees, agents and affiliates, except for any liability or expense arising out of the negligence or bad faith of either of them, or (ii) by the Company or any of its directors, employees, agents and affiliates.
The Company shall not indemnify the Depositary or the Custodian against any liability or expense arising out of information relating to the Depositary or the Custodian, as the case may be, furnished in writing to the Company and executed by the Depositary or the Custodian expressly for the use in any registration statement, prospectus (or placement memorandum) or preliminary prospectus (or preliminary placement memorandum) relating to the Shares evidenced by the American Depositary Shares (it being agreed that, as of the date of this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary has not furnished any information of that kind).
-30-
The Depositary agrees to indemnify the Company, its directors, employees, agents and affiliates and hold them harmless from any liability or expense (including, but not limited to, any fees and expenses incurred in seeking, enforcing or collecting such indemnity and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) that may arise out of acts performed or omitted by the Depositary or any Custodian or their respective directors, employees, agents and affiliates due to their negligence or failure to add in good faith.
Any person seeking indemnification hereunder (an “indemnified person”) shall notify the person from whom it is seeking indemnification (the “indemnifying person”) of a commencement of any indemnifiable action or claim promptly after such indemnified person becomes aware of such commencement and shall consult in good faith with the indemnifying person as to the conduct of the defense of such action or claim, which defense shall be reasonable under the circumstances. No indemnified person shall compromise or settle any action or claim without the consent of the indemnifying person.
SECTION 5.9. Charges of Depositary.
Except to the extent that the Company is a depositor of Shares or an Owner, the Company shall not be responsible to pay the fees and expenses of the Depositary provided for in this Section.
The following charges shall be incurred by any party depositing or withdrawing Shares or by any party surrendering American Depositary Shares or to whom American Depositary Shares are issued (including, without limitation, issuance pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split declared by the Company or an exchange of stock regarding the American Depositary Shares or Deposited Securities or a delivery of American Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 4.3), or by Owners, as applicable: (1) taxes and other governmental charges, (2) such registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the registration of transfers of Shares generally on the Share register of the Company or Foreign Registrar and applicable to transfers of Shares to or from the name of the Depositary or its nominee or the Custodian or its nominee on the making of deposits or withdrawals hereunder, (3) such cable (including SWIFT) and facsimile transmission fees and expenses as are expressly provided in this Deposit Agreement, (4) such expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in the conversion of foreign currency pursuant to Section 4.5, (5) a fee of $5.00 or less per 100 American Depositary Shares (or portion thereof) for the delivery of American Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 2.3, 4.3 or 4.4 and the surrender of American Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 2.5 or 6.2, (6) a fee of $.05 or less per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) for any cash distribution made pursuant to this Deposit Agreement, including, but not limited to Sections 4.1 through 4.4 and Section 4.8, (7) a fee for the distribution of securities pursuant to Section 4.2 or of rights pursuant to Section 4.4 (where the Depositary will not exercise or sell those rights on behalf of Owners), such fee being in an amount equal to the fee for the execution and delivery of American Depositary Shares referred to above which would have been charged as a result of the deposit of such securities under this Deposit Agreement (for purposes of this item 7 treating all such securities as if they were Shares) but which securities are instead distributed by the Depositary to Owners, (8) in addition to any fee charged under item 6 above, a fee of $.05 or less per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) per annum for depositary services, which will be payable as provided in item 9 below, and (9) any other charges payable by the Depositary or the Custodian, any of the Depositary's or Custodian’s agents or the agents of the Depositary's or Custodian’s agents, in connection with the servicing of Shares or other Deposited Securities (which charges shall be assessed against Owners as of the date or dates set by the Depositary in accordance with Section 4.6 and shall be payable at the sole discretion of the Depositary by billing those Owners for those charges or by deducting those charges from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions).
-31-
The Depositary may collect any of its fees by deduction from any cash distribution payable, or by selling a portion of any securities to be distributed, to Owners that are obligated to pay those fees.
The Depositary, subject to Section 2.9, may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in American Depositary Shares.
SECTION 5.10. Retention of Depositary Documents.
Except as otherwise explicitly provided in this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary is authorized to destroy those documents, records, bills and other data compiled during the term of this Deposit Agreement at the times permitted by the laws or regulations governing the Depositary unless the Company requests that such papers be retained for a different period or turned over to the Company or to a successor depositary.
SECTION 5.11. Exclusivity.
Without prejudice to the Company’s rights under Section 5.4, the Company agrees not to appoint any other depositary for issuance of depositary shares, depositary receipts or any similar securities or instruments so long as The Bank of New York Mellon is acting as Depositary under this Deposit Agreement.
SECTION 5.12. Information for Regulatory Compliance.
Each of the Company and the Depositary shall provide to the other, as promptly as practicable, information from its records or otherwise available to it that is reasonably requested by the other to permit the other to comply with applicable law or requirements of governmental or regulatory authorities.
-32-
ARTICLE 6.
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
SECTION 6.1. Amendment.
The form of the Receipts and any provisions of this Deposit Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended by agreement between the Company and the Depositary without the consent of Owners or Holders in any respect that they may deem necessary or desirable. Any amendment that would impose or increase any fees or charges (other than taxes and other governmental charges, registration fees, cable, telex or facsimile transmission costs, delivery costs or other such expenses), or that would otherwise prejudice any substantial existing right of Owners, shall, however, not become effective as to outstanding American Depositary Shares until the expiration of 30 days after notice of that amendment has been Disseminated to the Owners of outstanding American Depositary Shares. Every Owner and Holder, at the time any amendment so becomes effective, shall be deemed, by continuing to hold American Depositary Shares or any interest therein, to consent and agree to that amendment and to be bound by this Deposit Agreement as amended thereby. Upon the effectiveness of an amendment to the form of Receipt, including a change in the number of Shares represented by each American Depositary Share, the Depositary may call for surrender of Receipts to be replaced with new Receipts in the amended form or call for surrender of American Depositary Shares to effect that change of ratio. In no event shall any amendment impair the right of the Owner to surrender American Depositary Shares and receive delivery of the Deposited Securities represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law.
SECTION 6.2. Termination.
(a) The Company may initiate termination of this Deposit Agreement at any time by notice to the Depositary. The Depositary may initiate termination of this Deposit Agreement if (i) at any time 60 days shall have expired after the Depositary delivered to the Company a written resignation notice and a successor depositary has not been appointed and accepted its appointment as provided in Section 5.4, (ii) an Insolvency Event or Delisting Event occurs with respect to the Company or (iii) a Termination Option Event has occurred. If termination of this Deposit Agreement is initiated, the Depositary shall Disseminate a notice of termination to the Owners of all American Depositary Shares then outstanding setting a date for termination (the “Termination Date”), which shall be at least 90 days after the date of that notice, and this Deposit Agreement shall terminate on that Termination Date. After the Termination Date, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations under this Deposit Agreement except for its obligations to the Depositary under Sections 5.8 and 5.9.
-33-
(b) At any time after the Termination Date, the Depositary may sell the Deposited Securities then held under this Deposit Agreement and may thereafter hold uninvested the net proceeds of any such sale, together with any other cash then held by it hereunder, unsegregated and without liability for interest, for the pro rata benefit of the Owners of American Depositary Shares that remain outstanding, and those Owners will be general creditors of the Depositary with respect to those net proceeds and that other cash. After making that sale, the Depositary shall be discharged from all obligations under this Deposit Agreement, except (i) to account for the net proceeds and other cash (after deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of American Depositary Shares, any expenses for the account of the Owner of such American Depositary Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement and any applicable taxes or governmental charges) and (ii) for its obligations under Section 5.8 and (iii) to act as provided in paragraph (d) below.
(c) After the Termination Date, the Depositary shall continue to receive dividends and other distributions pertaining to Deposited Securities (that have not been sold), may sell rights and other property as provided in this Deposit Agreement and shall deliver Deposited Securities (or sale proceeds) upon surrender of American Depositary Shares (after payment or upon deduction, in each case, of the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of American Depositary Shares, any expenses for the account of the Owner of those American Depositary Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement and any applicable taxes or governmental charges). After the Termination Date, the Depositary shall not accept deposits of Shares or deliver American Depositary Shares. After the Termination Date, (i) the Depositary may refuse to accept surrenders of American Depositary Shares for the purpose of withdrawal of Deposited Securities (that have not been sold) or reverse previously accepted surrenders of that kind that have not settled if in its judgment the requested withdrawal would interfere with its efforts to sell the Deposited Securities, (ii) the Depositary will not be required to deliver cash proceeds of the sale of Deposited Securities until all Deposited Securities have been sold and (iii) the Depositary may discontinue the registration of transfers of American Depositary Shares and suspend the distribution of dividends and other distributions on Deposited Securities to the Owners and need not give any further notices or perform any further acts under this Deposit Agreement except as provided in this Section.
ARTICLE 7.
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 7.1. Counterparts; Signatures.
This Deposit Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of those counterparts shall constitute one and the same instrument. Copies of this Deposit Agreement shall be retained by the Depositary and filed with the Custodian and shall be open to inspection by any Owner or Holder during regular business hours.
Any manual signature on this Deposit Agreement that is faxed, scanned or photocopied, and any electronic signature valid under the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. § 7001, et. seq., shall for all purposes have the same validity, legal effect and admissibility in evidence as an original manual signature, and the parties hereby waive any objection to the contrary.
-34-
SECTION 7.2. No Third-Party Beneficiaries.
This Deposit Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the Company, the Depositary, the Owners and the Holders and their respective successors and shall not be deemed to give any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim whatsoever to any other person.
SECTION 7.3. Severability.
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Deposit Agreement or in a Receipt should be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained in this Deposit Agreement or that Receipt shall in no way be affected, prejudiced or disturbed thereby.
SECTION 7.4. Owners and Holders as Parties; Binding Effect.
The Owners and Holders from time to time shall be parties to this Deposit Agreement and shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement and of the Receipts by acceptance of American Depositary Shares or any interest therein.
SECTION 7.5. Notices.
Any and all notices to be given to the Company shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by domestic first class or international air mail or air courier or sent by facsimile transmission or email attaching a pdf or similar bit-mapped image of a signed writing, provided that receipt of the facsimile transmission or email has been confirmed by the recipient, addressed to Suzano Papel e Celulose S.A., Brigadeiro Faria Lima 1355, 8th Floor, São Paulo, SP CEP 01452-919, Brazil, Attention: Managing Officer, or any other place to which the Company may have transferred its principal office with notice to the Depositary.
Any and all notices to be given to the Depositary shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if in English and personally delivered or sent by first class domestic or international air mail or air courier or sent by facsimile transmission or email attaching a pdf or similar bit-mapped image of a signed writing, addressed to The Bank of New York Mellon, 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286, Attention: Depositary Receipt Administration, or any other place to which the Depositary may have transferred its Office with notice to the Company.
-35-
Delivery of a notice to the Company or Depositary by mail or air courier shall be deemed effected when deposited, postage prepaid, in a post-office letter box or received by an air courier service. Delivery of a notice to the Company or Depositary sent by facsimile transmission or email shall be deemed effected when the recipient acknowledges receipt of that notice.
A notice to be given to an Owner shall be deemed to have been duly given when Disseminated to that Owner. Dissemination in paper form will be effective when personally delivered or sent by first class domestic or international air mail or air courier, addressed to that Owner at the address of that Owner as it appears on the transfer books for American Depositary Shares of the Depositary, or, if that Owner has filed with the Depositary a written request that notices intended for that Owner be mailed to some other address, at the address designated in that request. Dissemination in electronic form will be effective when sent in the manner consented to by the Owner to the electronic address most recently provided by the Owner for that purpose.
SECTION 7.6. Appointment of Agent for Service of Process; Submission to Jurisdiction; Jury Trial Waiver.
The Company hereby (i) designates and appoints the person named in Exhibit A to this Deposit Agreement as the Company's authorized agent in the United States upon which process may be served in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Deposited Securities, the American Depositary Shares, the Receipts or this Deposit Agreement (a “Proceeding”), (ii) consents and submits to the jurisdiction of any state or federal court located in the State of New York in which any Proceeding may be instituted and (iii) agrees that service of process upon said authorized agent shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company in any Proceeding. The Company agrees to deliver to the Depositary, promptly following the execution and delivery of this Deposit Agreement, a written acceptance by the agent named in Exhibit A to this Deposit Agreement of its appointment as process agent. The Company further agrees to take any and all action, including the filing of any and all such documents and instruments, as may be necessary to continue that designation and appointment in full force and effect, or to appoint and maintain the appointment of another process agent located in the United States as required above, and to deliver to the Depositary a written acceptance by that agent of that appointment, for so long as any American Depositary Shares or Receipts remain outstanding or this Deposit Agreement remains in force. In the event the Company fails to maintain the designation and appointment of a process agent in the United States in full force and effect, the Company hereby waives personal service of process upon it and consents that a service of process in connection with a Proceeding may be made by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, directed to the Company at its address last specified for notices under this Deposit Agreement, and service so made shall be deemed completed five (5) days after the same shall have been so mailed.
-36-
EACH PARTY TO THIS DEPOSIT AGREEMENT (INCLUDING, FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, EACH OWNER AND HOLDER) HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING AGAINST THE COMPANY AND/OR THE DEPOSITARY DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SHARES OR OTHER DEPOSITED SECURITIES, THE AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES OR THE RECEIPTS, THIS DEPOSIT AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREIN OR THEREIN, OR THE BREACH HEREOF OR THEREOF, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY QUESTION REGARDING EXISTENCE, VALIDITY OR TERMINATION (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).
SECTION 7.7. Waiver of Immunities.
To the extent that the Company or any of its properties, assets or revenues may have or may hereafter become entitled to, or have attributed to it, any right of immunity, on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise, from any legal action, suit or proceeding, from the giving of any relief in any respect thereof, from setoff or counterclaim, from the jurisdiction of any court, from service of process, from attachment upon or prior to judgment, from attachment in aid of execution or judgment, or from execution of judgment, or other legal process or proceeding for the giving of any relief or for the enforcement of any judgment, in any jurisdiction in which proceedings may at any time be commenced, with respect to its obligations, liabilities or any other matter under or arising out of or in connection with the Shares or Deposited Securities, the American Depositary Shares, the Receipts or this Deposit Agreement, the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to plead or claim, any immunity of that kind and consents to relief and enforcement as provided above.
SECTION 7.8. Governing Law.
This Deposit Agreement and the Receipts shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with, and all rights hereunder and thereunder and provisions hereof and thereof shall be governed by, the laws of the State of New York, other than its conflicts of laws rules.
-37-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, SUZANO PAPEL E CELULOSE S.A. and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON have duly executed this Deposit Agreement as of the day and year first set forth above and all Owners and Holders shall become parties hereto upon acceptance by them of American Depositary Shares or any interest therein.
| SUZANO PAPEL E CELULOSE S.A | ||
| By: | /s/ Marcelo Feriozzi Bacci | |
| Name: Marcelo Feriozzi Bacci | ||
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
| THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, | ||
| as Depositary | ||
| By: | /s/ Slawomir Soltowski | |
| Name: Slawomir Soltowski | ||
| Title: Managing Director | ||
-38-
EXHIBIT A
| AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES | |
| (Each American Depositary Share represents two deposited Shares) |
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPT
FOR COMMON SHARES OF
SUZANO PAPEL E CELULOSE S.A.
(INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE FEDERATIVE REPUBLIC OF BRAZIL)
The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary (hereinafter called the “Depositary”), hereby certifies that , or registered assigns IS THE OWNER OF ____________________________________
AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
representing deposited common shares (herein called “Shares”) of Suzano Papel e Celulose S.A., incorporated under the laws of the Federative Republic of Brazil (herein called the “Company”). At the date hereof, each American Depositary Share represents two Shares deposited or subject to deposit under the Deposit Agreement (as such term is hereinafter defined) with a custodian for the Depositary (herein called the “Custodian”) that, as of the date of the Deposit Agreement, was Itaú Unibanco S.A. located in Brazil. The Depositary's Office is located at a different address than its principal executive office. Its Office and its principal executive office are located at 240 Greenwich Street, New York, N.Y. 10286.
THE DEPOSITARY'S OFFICE ADDRESS IS
240 GREENWICH STREET, NEW YORK, N.Y. 10286
A-1
| 1. | THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT. |
This American Depositary Receipt is one of an issue (herein called “Receipts”), all issued and to be issued upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement dated as of __________, 2018 (herein called the “Deposit Agreement”) among the Company, the Depositary, and all Owners and Holders from time to time of American Depositary Shares issued thereunder, each of whom by accepting American Depositary Shares agrees to become a party thereto and become bound by all the terms and conditions thereof. The Deposit Agreement sets forth the rights of Owners and Holders 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 those Shares and held thereunder (those Shares, securities, property, and cash are herein called “Deposited Securities”). Copies of the Deposit Agreement are on file at the Depositary's Office in New York City and at the office of the Custodian.
The statements made on the face and reverse of this Receipt are summaries of certain provisions of the Deposit Agreement and are qualified by and subject to the detailed provisions of the Deposit Agreement, to which reference is hereby made. Capitalized terms defined in the Deposit Agreement and not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Deposit Agreement.
| 2. | SURRENDER OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES AND WITHDRAWAL OF SHARES. |
Upon surrender of American Depositary Shares for the purpose of withdrawal of the Deposited Securities represented thereby and payment of the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of American Depositary Shares as provided in Section 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement and payment of all taxes and governmental charges payable in connection with that surrender and withdrawal of the Deposited Securities, and subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, the Owner of those American Depositary Shares shall be entitled to delivery (to the extent delivery can then be lawfully and practicably made), to or as instructed by that Owner, of the amount of Deposited Securities at the time represented by those American Depositary Shares, but not any money or other property as to which a record date for distribution to Owners has passed (since money or other property of that kind will be delivered or paid on the scheduled payment date to the Owner as of that record date), and except that the Depositary shall not be required to accept surrender of American Depositary Shares for the purpose withdrawal to the extent it would require delivery of a fraction of a Deposited Security. The Depositary shall direct the Custodian with respect to delivery of Deposited Securities and may charge the surrendering Owner a fee and its expenses for giving that direction by cable (including SWIFT) or facsimile transmission. If Deposited Securities are delivered physically upon surrender of American Depositary Shares for the purpose of withdrawal, that delivery will be made at the Custodian’s office, except that, at the request, risk and expense of the surrendering Owner, and for the account of that Owner, the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to forward any cash or other property comprising, and forward a certificate or certificates, if applicable, and other proper documents of title, if any, for, the Deposited Securities represented by the surrendered American Depositary Shares to the Depositary for delivery at the Depositary’s Office or to another address specified in the order received from the surrendering Owner.
A-2
| 3. | REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES; COMBINATION AND SPLIT-UP OF RECEIPTS; INTERCHANGE OF CERTIFICATED AND UNCERTIFICATED AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES. |
The Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, shall, without unreasonable delay, register a transfer of American Depositary Shares on its transfer books upon (i) in the case of certificated American Depositary Shares, surrender of the Receipt evidencing those American Depositary Shares, by the Owner in person or by a duly authorized attorney, properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer or (ii) in the case of uncertificated American Depositary Shares, receipt from the Owner of a proper instruction (including, for the avoidance of doubt, instructions through DRS and Profile as provided in Section 2.9 of the Deposit Agreement), and, in either case, duly stamped as may be required by the laws of the State of New York and of the United States of America. Upon registration of a transfer, the Depositary shall deliver the transferred American Depositary Shares to or upon the order of the person entitled thereto.
The Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, shall upon surrender of a Receipt or Receipts for the purpose of effecting a split-up or combination of such Receipt or Receipts, execute and deliver a new Receipt or Receipts for any authorized number of American Depositary Shares requested, evidencing the same aggregate number of American Depositary Shares as the Receipt or Receipts surrendered.
The Depositary, upon surrender of certificated American Depositary Shares for the purpose of exchanging for uncertificated American Depositary Shares, shall cancel the Receipt evidencing those certificated American Depositary Shares and send the Owner a statement confirming that the Owner is the owner of the same number of uncertificated American Depositary Shares. The Depositary, upon receipt of a proper instruction (including, for the avoidance of doubt, instructions through DRS and Profile as provided in Section 2.9 of the Deposit Agreement) from the Owner of uncertificated American Depositary Shares for the purpose of exchanging for certificated American Depositary Shares, shall cancel those uncertificated American Depositary Shares and register and deliver to the Owner a Receipt evidencing the same number of certificated American Depositary Shares.
As a condition precedent to the delivery, registration of transfer, or surrender of any American Depositary Shares or split-up or combination of any Receipt or withdrawal of any Deposited Securities, the Depositary, the Custodian, or Registrar may require payment from the depositor of the Shares or the presenter of the Receipt or instruction for registration of transfer or surrender of American Depositary Shares not evidenced by a Receipt of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or other governmental charge and any stock transfer or registration fee with respect thereto (including any such tax or charge and fee with respect to Shares being deposited or withdrawn) and payment of any applicable fees as provided in the Deposit Agreement, may require the production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature and may also require compliance with any regulations the Depositary may establish consistent with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement.
A-3
The delivery of American Depositary Shares against deposit of Shares generally or against deposit of particular Shares may be suspended, or the registration of transfer of American Depositary Shares in particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer of outstanding American Depositary Shares generally may be suspended, during any period when the transfer books of the Depositary are closed, or if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary or the Company at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body or commission, or under any provision of the Deposit Agreement, or for any other reason. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, the surrender of outstanding American Depositary Shares and withdrawal of Deposited Securities may not be suspended subject only to (i) temporary delays caused by closing the transfer books of the Depositary or the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, or the deposit of Shares in connection with voting at a shareholders’ meeting, or the payment of dividends, (ii) the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges, and (iii) compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating to the American Depositary Shares or to the withdrawal of the Deposited Securities. The Depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under the Deposit Agreement any Shares that, at the time of deposit, are Restricted Securities.
| 4. | LIABILITY OF OWNER FOR TAXES. |
If any tax or other governmental charge shall become payable by the Custodian or the Depositary with respect to or in connection with any American Depositary Shares or any Deposited Securities represented by any American Depositary Shares or in connection with a transaction to which Section 4.8 of the Deposit Agreement applies, that tax or other governmental charge shall be payable by the Owner of those American Depositary Shares to the Depositary. The Depositary may refuse to register any transfer of those American Depositary Shares or any withdrawal of Deposited Securities represented by those American Depositary Shares until that payment is made, and may withhold any dividends or other distributions or the proceeds thereof, or may sell for the account of the Owner any part or all of the Deposited Securities represented by those American Depositary Shares, and may apply those dividends or other distributions or the net proceeds of any sale of that kind in payment of that tax or other governmental charge but, even after a sale of that kind, the Owner shall remain liable for any deficiency. The Depositary shall distribute any net proceeds of a sale made under Section 3.2 of the Deposit Agreement that are not used to pay taxes or governmental charges to the Owners entitled to them in accordance with Section 4.1 of the Deposit Agreement. If the number of Shares represented by each American Depositary Share decreases as a result of a sale of Deposited Securities under Section 3.2 of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may call for surrender of the American Depositary Shares to be exchanged on a mandatory basis for a lesser number of American Depositary Shares and may sell American Depositary Shares to the extent necessary to avoid distributing fractions of American Depositary Shares in that exchange and distribute the net proceeds of that sale to the Owners entitled to them.
A-4
| 5. | WARRANTIES ON DEPOSIT OF SHARES. |
Every person depositing Shares under the Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to represent and warrant that those Shares and each certificate therefor, if applicable, are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and were not issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights of the holders of outstanding securities of the Company and that the person making that deposit is duly authorized so to do. Every depositing person shall also be deemed to represent that the Shares, at the time of deposit, are not Restricted Securities. All representations and warranties deemed made under Section 3.3 of the Deposit Agreement shall survive the deposit of Shares and delivery of American Depositary Shares.
| 6. | FILING PROOFS, CERTIFICATES, AND OTHER INFORMATION. |
Any person presenting Shares for deposit or any Owner or Holder may be required from time to time to file with the Depositary or the Custodian such proof of citizenship or residence, exchange control approval, or such information relating to the registration on the books of the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, to execute such certificates and to make such representations and warranties, as the Depositary may deem necessary or proper. The Depositary may withhold the delivery or registration of transfer of any American Depositary Shares, the distribution of any dividend or other distribution or of the proceeds thereof or the delivery of any Deposited Securities until that proof or other information is filed or those certificates are executed or those representations and warranties are made. Each Owner agrees to provide any information requested by the Company or the Depositary pursuant to this paragraph. As conditions of accepting Shares for deposit, the Depositary may require (i) any certification required by the Depositary or the Custodian in accordance with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement, (ii) a written order directing the Depositary to deliver to, or upon the written order of, the person or persons stated in that order, the number of American Depositary Shares representing those deposited Shares, (iii) evidence satisfactory to the Depositary that those Shares have been re-registered in the books of the Company or the Foreign Registrar in the name of the Depositary, a Custodian or a nominee of the Depositary or a Custodian, (iv) evidence satisfactory to the Depositary that any necessary approval has been granted by any governmental body in each applicable jurisdiction and (v) an agreement or assignment, or other instrument satisfactory to the Depositary, that provides for the prompt transfer to the Custodian of any dividend, or right to subscribe for additional Shares or to receive other property, that any person in whose name those Shares are or have been recorded may thereafter receive upon or in respect of those Shares, or, in lieu thereof, such agreement of indemnity or other agreement as shall be satisfactory to the Depositary.
A-5
| 7. | CHARGES OF DEPOSITARY. |
The following charges shall be incurred by any party depositing or withdrawing Shares or by any party surrendering American Depositary Shares or to whom American Depositary Shares are issued (including, without limitation, issuance pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split declared by the Company or an exchange of stock regarding the American Depositary Shares or Deposited Securities or a delivery of American Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 4.3 of the Deposit Agreement), or by Owners, as applicable: (1) taxes and other governmental charges, (2) such registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the registration of transfers of Shares generally on the Share register of the Company or Foreign Registrar and applicable to transfers of Shares to or from the name of the Depositary or its nominee or the Custodian or its nominee on the making of deposits or withdrawals hereunder, (3) such cable (including SWIFT) and facsimile transmission fees and expenses as are expressly provided in the Deposit Agreement, (4) such expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in the conversion of foreign currency pursuant to Section 4.5 of the Deposit Agreement, (5) a fee of $5.00 or less per 100 American Depositary Shares (or portion thereof) for the delivery of American Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 2.3, 4.3 or 4.4 of the Deposit Agreement and the surrender of American Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 2.5 or 6.2 of the Deposit Agreement, (6) a fee of $.05 or less per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) for any cash distribution made pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, including, but not limited to Sections 4.1 through 4.4 and 4.8 of the Deposit Agreement, (7) a fee for the distribution of securities pursuant to Section 4.2 of the Deposit Agreement or of rights pursuant to Section 4.4 of the Deposit Agreement (where the Depositary will not exercise or sell those rights on behalf of Owners), such fee being in an amount equal to the fee for the execution and delivery of American Depositary Shares referred to above which would have been charged as a result of the deposit of such securities under the Deposit Agreement (for purposes of this item 7 treating all such securities as if they were Shares) but which securities are instead distributed by the Depositary to Owners, (8) in addition to any fee charged under item 6, a fee of $.05 or less per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) per annum for depositary services, which will be payable as provided in item 9 below, and (9) any other charges payable by the Depositary or the Custodian, any of the Depositary's or Custodian’s agents or the agents of the Depositary's or Custodian’s agents, in connection with the servicing of Shares or other Deposited Securities (which charges shall be assessed against Owners as of the date or dates set by the Depositary in accordance with Section 4.6 of the Deposit Agreement and shall be payable at the sole discretion of the Depositary by billing those Owners for those charges or by deducting those charges from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions).
A-6
The Depositary may collect any of its fees by deduction from any cash distribution payable, or by selling a portion of any securities to be distributed, to Owners that are obligated to pay those fees.
The Depositary, subject to Article 8 hereof, may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in American Depositary Shares.
From time to time, the Depositary may make payments to the Company to reimburse the Company for costs and expenses generally arising out of establishment and maintenance of the American Depositary Shares program, waive fees and expenses for services provided by the Depositary or share revenue from the fees collected from Owners or Holders. In performing its duties under the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may use brokers, dealers, foreign currency dealers or other service providers that are owned by or affiliated with the Depositary and that may earn or share fees, spreads or commissions.
| 8. | DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS. |
When required in order to comply with applicable laws and regulations or the articles of association or similar document of the Company, the Company may from time to time request each Owner and Holder to provide to the Depositary information relating to: (a) the capacity in which it holds American Depositary Shares, (b) the identity of any Holders or other persons or entities then or previously interested in those American Depositary Shares and the nature of those interests and (c) any other matter where disclosure of such matter is required for that compliance. Each Owner and Holder agrees to provide all information known to it in response to a request made pursuant to Section 3.4 of the Deposit Agreement. Each Holder consents to the disclosure by the Depositary and the Owner or other Holder through which it holds American Depositary Shares, directly or indirectly, of all information responsive to a request made pursuant to that Section relating to that Holder that is known to that Owner or other Holder.
| 9. | TITLE TO AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES. |
It is a condition of the American Depositary Shares, and every successive Owner and Holder of American Depositary Shares, by accepting or holding the same, consents and agrees that American Depositary Shares evidenced by a Receipt, when the Receipt is properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, shall be transferable as certificated registered securities under the laws of the State of New York, and that American Depositary Shares not evidenced by Receipts shall be transferable as uncertificated registered securities under the laws of the State of New York. The Depositary, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the Owner of American Depositary Shares as the absolute owner thereof for the purpose of determining the person entitled to distribution of dividends or other distributions or to any notice provided for in the Deposit Agreement and for all other purposes, and neither the Depositary nor the Company shall have any obligation or be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement to any Holder of American Depositary Shares, but only to the Owner.
A-7
| 10. | VALIDITY OF RECEIPT. |
This Receipt shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Deposit Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless this Receipt shall have been (i) executed by the Depositary by the manual signature of a duly authorized officer of the Depositary or (ii) executed by the facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer of the Depositary and countersigned by the manual signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary or the Registrar or a co-registrar.
| 11. | REPORTS; INSPECTION OF TRANSFER BOOKS. |
The Company is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and, accordingly, files certain reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Those reports will be available for inspection and copying through the Commission's EDGAR system or at public reference facilities maintained by the Commission in Washington, D.C.
The Depositary will make available for inspection by Owners at its Office any reports, notices and other communications, including any proxy soliciting material, received from the Company which are both (a) received by the Depositary as the holder of the Deposited Securities and (b) made generally available to the holders of those Deposited Securities by the Company. The Company shall furnish reports and communications, including any proxy soliciting material to which Section 4.9 of the Deposit Agreement applies, to the Depositary in English, to the extent such materials are required to be translated into English pursuant to any regulations of the Commission.
The Depositary will keep books for the registration and transfers of American Depositary Shares, which shall be open for inspection by the Owners at the Depositary’s Office during regular business hours, provided that such inspection shall not be for the purpose of communicating with Owners in the interest of a business or object other than the business of the Company or a matter related to the Deposit Agreement or the American Depositary Shares.
| 12. | DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. |
Whenever the Depositary or the Custodian receives any cash dividend or other cash distribution on Deposited Securities, the Depositary or the Custodian will, if at the time of receipt thereof any amounts received in a foreign currency can, in the reasonable judgment of the Depositary, be converted on a reasonable basis into Dollars and the resulting Dollars transferred to the United States, and subject to the Deposit Agreement, convert, as promptly as practicable, that dividend or other cash distribution into Dollars and the Depositary will distribute the amount thus received (in each case net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and Section 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement), to the Owners entitled thereto; provided, however, that if the Custodian or the Depositary is required to withhold and does withhold from that cash dividend or other cash distribution an amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges, the amount distributed to the Owners of the American Depositary Shares representing those Deposited Securities shall be reduced accordingly. If a cash distribution would represent a return of all or substantially all the value of the Deposited Securities underlying American Depositary Shares, the Depositary may require surrender of those American Depositary Shares and may require payment of or deduct the fee for surrender of American Depositary Shares (whether or not it is also requiring surrender of American Depositary Shares) as a condition of making that cash distribution. A distribution of that kind shall be a Termination Option Event.
A-8
Subject to the provisions of Section 4.11 and 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement, whenever the Depositary receives any distribution other than a distribution described in Section 4.1, 4.3 or 4.4 of the Deposit Agreement on Deposited Securities (but not in exchange for or in conversion or in lieu of Deposited Securities), the Depositary will cause the securities or property received by it or the Custodian to be distributed to the Owners entitled thereto, after deduction or upon payment of any fees and expenses of the Depositary and any taxes or other governmental charges, in any manner that the Depositary deems equitable and practicable for accomplishing that distribution (which may be a distribution of depositary shares representing the securities received); provided, however, that if in the opinion of the Depositary such distribution cannot be made proportionately among the Owners entitled thereto, or if for any other reason the Depositary deems such distribution not to be lawful and feasible, the Depositary may adopt such other method as it may deem equitable and practicable for the purpose of effecting such distribution, including, but not limited to, the public or private sale of the securities or property thus received, or any part thereof, and distribution of the net proceeds of any such sale (net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and Section 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement) to the Owners entitled thereto, all in the manner and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.1 of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary may withhold any distribution of securities under Section 4.2 of the Deposit Agreement if it has not received reasonably satisfactory assurances from the Company that the distribution does not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933. The Depositary may sell, by public or private sale, an amount of securities or other property it would otherwise distribute under this Article that is sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in respect of that distribution. If a distribution under Section 4.2 of the Deposit Agreement would represent a return of all of substantially all the value of the Deposited Securities underlying American Depositary Shares, the Depositary may require surrender of those American Depositary Shares and may require payment of or deduct the fee for surrender of American Depositary Shares (whether or not it is also requiring surrender of American Depositary Shares) as a condition of making that distribution. A distribution of that kind shall be a Termination Option Event.
Whenever the Depositary receives any distribution consisting of a dividend in, or free distribution of, Shares, the Depositary may, and shall if the Company shall so request in writing, deliver to the Owners entitled thereto, an aggregate number of American Depositary Shares representing the amount of Shares received as that dividend or free distribution, subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement with respect to the deposit of Shares and issuance of American Depositary Shares, including the withholding of any tax or other governmental charge as provided in Section 4.11 of the Deposit Agreement and the payment of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and Section 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement (and the Depositary may sell, by public or private sale, an amount of Shares received (or American Depositary Shares representing those Shares) sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in respect of that distribution). In lieu of delivering fractional American Depositary Shares, the Depositary may sell the amount of Shares represented by the aggregate of those fractions (or American Depositary Shares representing those Shares) and distribute the net proceeds, all in the manner and subject to the conditions described in Section 4.1of the Deposit Agreement. If and to the extent that additional American Depositary Shares are not delivered and Shares or American Depositary Shares are not sold, each American Depositary Share shall thenceforth also represent the additional Shares distributed on the Deposited Securities represented thereby.
A-9
If the Company declares a distribution in which holders of Deposited Securities have a right to elect whether to receive cash, Shares or other securities or a combination of those things, or a right to elect to have a distribution sold on their behalf, the Depositary may, after consultation with the Company, make that right of election available for exercise by Owners any manner the Depositary considers to be lawful and practical. As a condition of making a distribution election right available to Owners, the Depositary may require satisfactory assurances from the Company that doing so does not require registration of any securities under the Securities Act of 1933.
If the Depositary determines that any distribution received or to be made by the Depositary (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) is subject to any tax or other governmental charge that the Depositary is obligated to withhold, the Depositary may sell, by public or private sale, all or a portion of the distributed property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) in the amounts and manner the Depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay any those taxes or charges, and the Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds of that sale, after deduction of those taxes or charges, to the Owners entitled thereto in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by them respectively.
Each Owner and Holder agrees to indemnify the Company, the Depositary, the Custodian and their respective directors, employees, agents and affiliates for, and hold each of them harmless against, any claim by any governmental authority with respect to taxes, additions to tax, penalties or interest arising out of any refund of taxes, reduced withholding at source or other tax benefit received by it. Services for Owners and Holders that may permit them to obtain reduced rates of tax withholding at source or reclaim excess tax withheld, and the fees and costs associated with using services of that kind, are not provided under, and are outside the scope of, the Deposit Agreement.
A-10
| 13. | RIGHTS. |
(a) If rights are granted to the Depositary in respect of deposited Shares to purchase additional Shares or other securities, the Company and the Depositary shall endeavor to consult as to the actions, if any, the Depositary should take in connection with that grant of rights. The Depositary may, to the extent deemed by it to be lawful and practical, (i) if requested in writing by the Company, grant to all or certain Owners rights to instruct the Depositary to purchase the securities to which the rights relate and deliver those securities or American Depositary Shares representing those securities to Owners, (ii) if requested in writing by the Company, deliver the rights to or to the order of certain Owners, or (iii) sell the rights to the extent lawful and practicable and distribute the net proceeds of that sale to Owners entitled to those proceeds. To the extent rights are not exercised, delivered or disposed of under (i), (ii) or (iii) above, the Depositary shall permit the rights to lapse unexercised.
(b) If the Depositary will act under (a)(i) above, the Company and the Depositary will enter into a separate agreement setting forth the conditions and procedures applicable to the particular offering. Upon instruction from an applicable Owner in the form the Depositary specified and upon payment by that Owner to the Depositary of an amount equal to the purchase price of the securities to be received upon the exercise of the rights, the Depositary shall, on behalf of that Owner, exercise the rights and purchase the securities. The purchased securities shall be delivered to, or as instructed by, the Depositary. The Depositary shall (i) deposit the purchased Shares under the Deposit Agreement and deliver American Depositary Shares representing those Shares to that Owner or (ii) deliver or cause the purchased Shares or other securities to be delivered to or to the order of that Owner. The Depositary will not act under (a)(i) above unless the offer and sale of the securities to which the rights relate are registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Depositary has received an opinion of United States counsel that is satisfactory to it to the effect that those securities may be sold and delivered to the applicable Owners without registration under the Securities Act of 1933.
(c) If the Depositary will act under (a)(ii) above, the Company and the Depositary will enter into a separate agreement setting forth the conditions and procedures applicable to the particular offering. Upon (i) the request of an applicable Owner to deliver the rights allocable to the American Depositary Shares of that Owner to an account specified by that Owner to which the rights can be delivered and (ii) receipt of such documents as the Company and the Depositary agreed to require to comply with applicable law, the Depositary will deliver those rights as requested by that Owner.
(d) If the Depositary will act under (a)(iii) above, the Depositary will use reasonable efforts to sell the rights in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by the applicable Owners and pay the net proceeds to the Owners otherwise entitled to the rights that were sold, upon an averaged or other practical basis without regard to any distinctions among such Owners because of exchange restrictions or the date of delivery of any American Depositary Shares or otherwise.
A-11
(e) Payment or deduction of the fees of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement and payment or deduction of the expenses of the Depositary and any applicable taxes or other governmental charges shall be conditions of any delivery of securities or payment of cash proceeds under Section 4.4 of the Deposit Agreement.
(f) The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to determine that it may be lawful or feasible to make rights available to or exercise rights on behalf of Owners in general or any Owner in particular, or to sell rights.
| 14. | CONVERSION OF FOREIGN CURRENCY. |
Whenever the Depositary or the Custodian receives foreign currency, by way of dividends or other distributions or the net proceeds from the sale of securities, property or rights, and if at the time of the receipt thereof the foreign currency so received can in the reasonable judgment of the Depositary be converted on a reasonable basis into Dollars and the resulting Dollars transferred to the United States, the Depositary shall convert or cause to be converted by sale or in any other manner that it may determine that foreign currency into Dollars, and those Dollars shall be distributed to the Owners entitled thereto. A cash distribution may be made upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among Owners based on exchange restrictions, the date of delivery of any American Depositary Shares or otherwise and shall be net of any expenses of conversion into Dollars incurred by the Depositary as provided in Section 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement.
If a conversion of foreign currency or the repatriation or distribution of Dollars can be effected only with the approval or license of any government or agency thereof, the Depositary may, but will not be required to, file an application for that approval or license.
If the Depositary determines that in its judgment any foreign currency received by the Depositary or the Custodian is not convertible on a reasonable basis into Dollars transferable to the United States, or if any approval or license of any government or agency thereof that is required for such conversion is not filed or sought by the Depositary or is not obtained within a reasonable period as determined by the Depositary, the Depositary may distribute the foreign currency received by the Depositary to, or in its discretion may hold such foreign currency uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of, the Owners entitled to receive the same.
If any conversion of foreign currency, in whole or in part, cannot be effected for distribution to some of the Owners entitled thereto, the Depositary may in its discretion make that conversion and distribution in Dollars to the extent practicable and permissible to the Owners entitled thereto and may distribute the balance of the foreign currency received by the Depositary to, or hold that balance uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the account of, the Owners entitled thereto.
A-12
The Depositary may convert currency itself or through any of its affiliates and, in those cases, acts as principal for its own account and not as agent, advisor, broker or fiduciary on behalf of any other person and earns revenue, including, without limitation, transaction spreads, that it will retain for its own account. The revenue is based on, among other things, the difference between the exchange rate assigned to the currency conversion made under the Deposit Agreement and the rate that the Depositary or its affiliate receives when buying or selling foreign currency for its own account. The Depositary makes no representation that the exchange rate used or obtained in any currency conversion under the Deposit Agreement will be the most favorable rate that could be obtained at the time or that the method by which that rate will be determined will be the most favorable to Owners, subject to the Depositary’s obligations under Section 5.3 of that Agreement. The methodology used to determine exchange rates used in currency conversions is available upon request.
| 15. | RECORD DATES. |
Whenever a cash dividend, cash distribution or any other distribution is made on Deposited Securities or rights to purchase Shares or other securities are issued with respect to Deposited Securities (which rights will be delivered to or exercised or sold on behalf of Owners in accordance with Section 4.4 of the Deposit Agreement) or the Depositary receives notice that a distribution or issuance of that kind will be made, or whenever the Depositary receives notice that a meeting of holders of Shares will be held in respect of which the Company has requested the Depositary to send a notice under Section 4.7 of the Deposit Agreement, or whenever the Depositary will assess a fee or charge against the Owners, or whenever the Depositary causes a change in the number of Shares that are represented by each American Depositary Share, or whenever the Depositary otherwise finds it necessary or convenient, the Depositary shall fix a record date, which shall be the same as, or as near as practicable to, any corresponding record date set by the Company with respect to Shares, (a) for the determination of the Owners (i) who shall be entitled to receive the benefit of that dividend or other distribution or those rights, (ii) who shall be entitled to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at that meeting, (iii) who shall be responsible for that fee or charge or (iv) for any other purpose for which the record date was set, or (b) on or after which each American Depositary Share will represent the changed number of Shares. Subject to the provisions of Sections 4.1 through 4.5 of the Deposit Agreement and to the other terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, the Owners on a record date fixed by the Depositary shall be entitled to receive the amount distributable by the Depositary with respect to that dividend or other distribution or those rights or the net proceeds of sale thereof in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by them respectively, to give voting instructions or to act in respect of the other matter for which that record date was fixed, or be responsible for that fee or charge, as the case may be.
A-13
| 16. | VOTING OF DEPOSITED SHARES. |
(a) Upon receipt of notice of any meeting of holders of Shares at which holders of Shares will be entitled to vote, if requested in writing by the Company, the Depositary shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, Disseminate to the Owners a notice, the form of which shall be in the reasonable discretion of the Depositary, that shall contain (i) the information contained in the notice of meeting received by the Depositary from the Company, (ii) a statement that the Owners as of the close of business on a specified record date will be entitled, subject to any applicable provision of Brazilian law and of the bylaws of the Company, to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the amount of Shares represented by their respective American Depositary Shares, (iii) a statement as to the manner in which those instructions may be given including, when applicable, an express indication that instructions may be given (or, if applicable, deemed given in accordance with the following paragraph if no instruction is received) to the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company and (iv) the last date on which the Depositary will accept instructions (the “Instruction Cutoff Date”).
(b) Upon the written request of an Owner of American Depositary Shares, as of the date of the request or, if a record date was specified by the Depositary, as of that record date, received on or before any Instruction Cutoff Date established by the Depositary, the Depositary may, and if the Depositary sent a notice under the preceding paragraph shall, endeavor, in so far as practicable, to vote or cause to be voted the amount of deposited Shares represented by those American Depositary Shares in accordance with the instructions set forth in that request. The Depositary shall give notice to the Company of the voting instructions received by the Delpositary from Owners in accordance with applicable Brazilian law. The Depositary shall not vote or attempt to exercise the right to vote that attaches to the deposited Shares other than in accordance with instructions given by Owners and received by the Depositary or as provided in the following sentence. If
(i) the Company instructed the Depositary to Disseminate a notice under paragraph (a) above and complied with paragraph (d) below,
(ii) no instructions are received by the Depositary from an Owner with respect to a matter and an amount of American Depositary Shares of that Owner on or before the Instruction Cutoff Date and
(iii) the Depositary has received from the Company, by the New York business day following the Instruction Cutoff Date, a written confirmation that, as of the Instruction Cutoff Date, (x) the Company wishes a proxy to be given under this sentence, (y) the Company reasonably does not know of any substantial opposition to the matter and (z) the matter is not materially adverse to the interests of shareholders,
A-14
then, the Depositary shall deem that Owner to have instructed the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company with respect to that matter and the amount of deposited Shares represented by that amount of American Depositary Shares and the Depositary shall give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company to vote that amount of deposited Shares as to that matter.
(c) There can be no assurance that Owners generally or any Owner in particular will receive the notice described in paragraph (a) above in time to enable Owners to give instructions to the Depositary prior to the Instruction Cutoff Date.
(d) In order to give Owners a reasonable opportunity to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of voting rights relating to Shares, if the Company will request the Depositary to Disseminate a notice under paragraph (a) above, the Company shall give the Depositary notice of the meeting, details concerning the matters to be voted upon and copies of materials to be made available to holders of Shares in connection with the meeting not less than 30 days prior to the meeting date. The instructions received by the Depositary in connection with a certain vote or meeting shall also be applicable to any adjournment or postponement of that vote or meeting.
(e) Without limiting any of the foregoing, to the extent the Depositary does not receive voting instructions from Owners, the Depositary shall take such actions as are necessary, upon the written request of the Company and subject to applicable law and the terms of the Deposited Securities, to cause the amount of Shares represented by the American Depositary Shares of those Owners to be counted for the purpose of satisfying applicable quorum requirements.
| 17. | TENDER AND EXCHANGE OFFERS; REDEMPTION, REPLACEMENT OR CANCELLATION OF DEPOSITED SECURITIES. |
(a) The Depositary shall not tender any Deposited Securities in response to any voluntary cash tender offer, exchange offer or similar offer made to holders of Deposited Securities (a “Voluntary Offer”), except when instructed in writing to do so by an Owner surrendering American Depositary Shares and subject to any conditions or procedures the Depositary may require.
A-15
(b) If the Depositary receives a written notice that Deposited Securities have been redeemed for cash or otherwise purchased for cash in a transaction that is mandatory and binding on the Depositary as a holder of those Deposited Securities (a “Redemption”), the Depositary, at the expense of the Company, shall (i) if required by the Company, surrender Deposited Securities that have been redeemed to the issuer of those securities or its agent on the redemption date, (ii) Disseminate a notice to Owners (A) notifying them of that Redemption, (B) calling for surrender of a corresponding number of American Depositary Shares and (C) notifying them that the called American Depositary Shares have been converted into a right only to receive the money received by the Depositary upon that Redemption and those net proceeds shall be the Deposited Securities to which Owners of those converted American Depositary Shares shall be entitled upon surrenders of those American Depositary Shares in accordance with Section 2.5 or 6.2 of the Deposit Agreement and (iii) distribute the money received upon that Redemption to the Owners entitled to it upon surrender by them of called American Depositary Shares in accordance with Section 2.5 of the Deposit Agreement (and, for the avoidance of doubt, Owners shall not be entitled to receive that money under Section 4.1 of the Deposit Agreement). If the Redemption affects less than all the Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall call for surrender a corresponding portion of the outstanding American Depositary Shares and only those American Depositary Shares will automatically be converted into a right to receive the net proceeds of the Redemption. The Depositary shall allocate the American Depositary Shares converted under the preceding sentence among the Owners pro-rata to their respective holdings of American Depositary Shares immediately prior to the Redemption, except that the allocations may be adjusted so that no fraction of a converted American Depositary Share is allocated to any Owner. A Redemption of all or substantially all of the Deposited Securities shall be a Termination Option Event.
(c) If the Depositary is notified of or there occurs any change in nominal value or any subdivision, combination or any other reclassification of the Deposited Securities or any recapitalization, reorganization, sale of assets substantially as an entirety, merger or consolidation affecting the issuer of the Deposited Securities or to which it is a party that is mandatory and binding on the Depositary as a holder of Deposited Securities and, as a result, securities or other property have been or will be delivered in exchange, conversion, replacement or in lieu of, Deposited Securities (a “Replacement”), the Depositary shall, if required, surrender the old Deposited Securities affected by that Replacement of Shares and hold, as new Deposited Securities under the Deposit Agreement, the new securities or other property delivered to it in that Replacement. However, the Depositary may elect to sell those new Deposited Securities if in the opinion of the Depositary it is not lawful for it to hold those new Deposited Securities under the Deposit Agreement because those new Deposited Securities may not be distributed to Owners without registration under the Securities Act of 1933 or for any other reason, at public or private sale, at such places and on such terms as it deems proper and proceed as if those new Deposited Securities had been Redeemed under paragraph (b) above. A Replacement shall be a Termination Option Event.
(d) In the case of a Replacement where the new Deposited Securities will continue to be held under the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may call for the surrender of outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts specifically describing the new Deposited Securities and the number of those new Deposited Securities represented by each American Depositary Share. If the number of Shares represented by each American Depositary Share decreases as a result of a Replacement, the Depositary may call for surrender of the American Depositary Shares to be exchanged on a mandatory basis for a lesser number of American Depositary Shares and may sell American Depositary Shares to the extent necessary to avoid distributing fractions of American Depositary Shares in that exchange and distribute the net proceeds of that sale to the Owners entitled to them.
A-16
(e) If there are no Deposited Securities with respect to American Depositary Shares, including if the Deposited Securities are cancelled, or the Deposited Securities with respect to American Depositary Shares become apparently worthless, the Depositary may call for surrender of those American Depositary Shares or may cancel those American Depositary Shares, upon notice to Owners, and a Termination Option Event occurs.
| 18. | LIABILITY OF THE COMPANY AND DEPOSITARY. |
Neither the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their respective directors, employees, agents or affiliates shall incur any liability to any Owner or Holder:
(i) if by reason of (A) any provision of any present or future law or regulation or other act of the government of the United States, any State of the United States or any other state or jurisdiction, or of any governmental or regulatory authority or stock exchange; (B) any provision, present or future, of the bylaws (estatuto social) of the Company, or by reason of any provision of any securities issued or distributed by the Company, or any offering or distribution thereof; or (C) any event or circumstance, whether natural or caused by a person or persons, that is beyond the ability of the Depositary or the Company, as the case may be, to prevent or counteract by reasonable care or effort (including, but not limited to earthquakes, floods, severe storms, fires, explosions, war, terrorism, civil unrest, labor disputes or criminal acts; interruptions or malfunctions of utility services, Internet or other communications lines or systems; unauthorized access to or attacks on computer systems or websites; or other failures or malfunctions of computer hardware or software or other systems or equipment), the Depositary or the Company is, directly or indirectly, prevented from, forbidden to or delayed in, or could be subject to any civil or criminal penalty on account of doing or performing and therefore does not do or perform, any act or thing that, by the terms of the Deposit Agreement or the Deposited Securities, it is provided shall be done or performed;
(ii) for any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in the Deposit Agreement (including any determination by the Depositary to take, or not take, any action that the Deposit Agreement provides the Depositary may take);
(iii) for the inability of any Owner or Holder to benefit from any distribution, offering, right or other benefit that is made available to holders of Deposited Securities but is not, under the terms of the Deposit Agreement, made available to Owners or Holders; or
(iv) for any special, consequential or punitive damages for any breach of the terms of the Deposit Agreement.
Where, by the terms of a distribution to which Section 4.1, 4.2 or 4.3 of the Deposit Agreement applies, or an offering to which Section 4.4 of the Deposit Agreement applies, or for any other reason, that distribution or offering may not be made available to Owners, and the Depositary may not dispose of that distribution or offering on behalf of Owners and make the net proceeds available to Owners, then the Depositary shall not make that distribution or offering available to Owners, and shall allow any rights, if applicable, to lapse.
A-17
Neither the Company nor the Depositary assumes any obligation or shall be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement to Owners or Holders, except that they agree to perform their obligations specifically set forth in the Deposit Agreement without negligence or bad faith. The Depositary shall not be a fiduciary or have any fiduciary duty to Owners or Holders. The Depositary shall not be subject to any liability with respect to the validity or worth of the Deposited Securities. Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit, or other proceeding in respect of any Deposited Securities or in respect of the American Depositary Shares, on behalf of any Owner or Holder or other person. Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be liable for any action or non-action by it in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares for deposit, any Owner or Holder, or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information. Each of the Depositary and the Company may rely, and shall be protected in relying upon, any written notice, request, direction or other document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties. The Depositary shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by a successor depositary whether in connection with a previous act or omission of the Depositary or in connection with a matter arising wholly after the removal or resignation of the Depositary, provided that in connection with the issue out of which such potential liability arises, the Depositary performed its obligations without negligence or bad faith while it acted as Depositary. The Depositary shall not be liable for the acts or omissions of any securities depository, clearing agency or settlement system in connection with or arising out of book-entry settlement of American Depositary Shares or Deposited Securities or otherwise. In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any of the Deposited Securities or for the manner in which any such vote is cast or the effect of any such vote. The Depositary shall have no duty to make any determination or provide any information as to the tax status of the Company or any liability for any tax consequences that may be incurred by Owners or Holders as a result of owning or holding American Depositary Shares. The Depositary shall not be liable for the inability or failure of an Owner or Holder to obtain the benefit of a foreign tax credit, reduced rate of withholding or refund of amounts withheld in respect of tax or any other tax benefit. No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act of 1933 is intended by any provision of the Deposit Agreement.
| 19. | RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF THE DEPOSITARY; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN. |
The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary under the Deposit Agreement by written notice of its election so to do delivered to the Company, to become effective 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 90 days’ prior written notice of that removal, to become effective upon the later of (i) the 90th day after delivery of the notice to the Depositary and (ii) the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of its appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary in its discretion may at any time appoint a substitute custodian.
A-18
| 20. | AMENDMENT. |
The form of the Receipts and any provisions of the Deposit Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended by agreement between the Company and the Depositary without the consent of Owners or Holders in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable. Any amendment that would impose or increase any fees or charges (other than taxes and other governmental charges, registration fees, cable, telex or facsimile transmission costs, delivery costs or other such expenses), or that would otherwise prejudice any substantial existing right of Owners, shall, however, not become effective as to outstanding American Depositary Shares until the expiration of 30 days after notice of that amendment has been Disseminated to the Owners of outstanding American Depositary Shares. Every Owner and Holder, at the time any amendment so becomes effective, shall be deemed, by continuing to hold American Depositary Shares or any interest therein, to consent and agree to that amendment and to be bound by the Deposit Agreement as amended thereby. Upon the effectiveness of an amendment to the form of Receipt, including a change in the number of Shares represented by each American Depositary Share, the Depositary may call for surrender of Receipts to be replaced with new Receipts in the amended form or call for surrender of American Depositary Shares to effect that change of ratio. In no event shall any amendment impair the right of the Owner to surrender American Depositary Shares and receive delivery of the Deposited Securities represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law.
| 21. | TERMINATION OF DEPOSIT AGREEMENT. |
(a) The Company may initiate termination of the Deposit Agreement at any time by notice to the Depositary. The Depositary may initiate termination of the Deposit Agreement if (i) 60 days shall have expired after the Depositary delivered to the Company a written resignation notice and a successor depositary has not been appointed and accepted its appointment as provided in Section 5.4 of the Deposit Agreement, (ii) an Insolvency Event or Delisting Event occurs with respect to the Company or (iii) a Termination Option Event has occurred. If termination of the Deposit Agreement is initiated, the Depositary shall Disseminate a notice of termination to the Owners of all American Depositary Shares then outstanding setting a date for termination (the “Termination Date”), which shall be at least 30 days after the date of that notice, and the Deposit Agreement shall terminate on that Termination Date.
(b) 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 and 5.9 of the Agreement.
A-19
(c) At any time after the Termination Date, the Depositary may sell the Deposited Securities then held under the Deposit Agreement and may thereafter hold uninvested the net proceeds of any such sale, together with any other cash then held by it hereunder, unsegregated and without liability for interest, for the pro rata benefit of the Owners of American Depositary Shares that remain outstanding, and those Owners will be general creditors of the Depositary with respect to those net proceeds and that other cash. After making that sale, the Depositary shall be discharged from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement, except (i) to account for the net proceeds and other cash (after deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of American Depositary Shares, any expenses for the account of the Owner of such American Depositary Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement and any applicable taxes or governmental charges) and (ii) for its obligations under Section 5.8 of the Deposit Agreement and (iii) to act as provided in paragraph (d) below.
(d) After the Termination Date, the Depositary shall continue to receive dividends and other distributions pertaining to Deposited Securities (that have not been sold), may sell rights and other property as provided in the Deposit Agreement and shall deliver Deposited Securities (or sale proceeds) upon surrender of American Depositary Shares (after payment or upon deduction, in each case, of the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of American Depositary Shares, any expenses for the account of the Owner of those American Depositary Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement and any applicable taxes or governmental charges). After the Termination Date, the Depositary shall not accept deposits of Shares or deliver American Depositary Shares. After the Termination Date, (i) the Depositary may refuse to accept surrenders of American Depositary Shares for the purpose of withdrawal of Deposited Securities (that have not been sold) or reverse previously accepted surrenders of that kind that have not settled if in its judgment the requested withdrawal would interfere with its efforts to sell the Deposited Securities, (ii) the Depositary will not be required to deliver cash proceeds of the sale of Deposited Securities until all Deposited Securities have been sold and (iii) the Depositary may discontinue the registration of transfers of American Depositary Shares and suspend the distribution of dividends and other distributions on Deposited Securities to the Owners and need not give any further notices or perform any further acts under the Deposit Agreement except as provided in Section 6.2 of the Deposit Agreement.
| 22. | DTC DIRECT REGISTRATION SYSTEM AND PROFILE MODIFICATION SYSTEM. |
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.4 of the Deposit Agreement, the parties acknowledge that DTC’s Direct Registration System (“DRS”) and Profile Modification System (“Profile”) apply to the American Depositary Shares upon acceptance thereof to DRS by DTC. DRS is the system administered by DTC that facilitates interchange between registered holding of uncertificated securities and holding of security entitlements in those securities through DTC and a DTC participant. Profile is a required feature of DRS that allows a DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf of an Owner of American Depositary Shares, to direct the Depositary to register a transfer of those American Depositary Shares to DTC or its nominee and to deliver those American Depositary Shares to the DTC account of that DTC participant without receipt by the Depositary of prior authorization from the Owner to register that transfer.
A-20
(b) In connection with DRS/Profile, the parties acknowledge that the Depositary will not determine whether the DTC participant that is claiming to be acting on behalf of an Owner in requesting registration of transfer and delivery described in paragraph (a) above has the actual authority to act on behalf of that Owner (notwithstanding any requirements under the Uniform Commercial Code). For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Sections 5.3 and 5.8 of the Deposit Agreement apply to the matters arising from the use of the DRS/Profile. The parties agree that the Depositary’s reliance on and compliance with instructions received by the Depositary through the DRS/Profile system and otherwise in accordance with the Deposit Agreement, shall not constitute negligence or bad faith on the part of the Depositary.
| 23. | APPOINTMENT OF AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; JURY TRIAL WAIVER; WAIVER OF IMMUNITIES. |
The Company has (i) appointed ______________________________________, as the Company's authorized agent in the United States upon which process may be served in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Deposited Securities, the American Depositary Shares, the Receipts or the Deposit Agreement, (ii) consented and submitted to the jurisdiction of any state or federal court located in the State of New York in which any such suit or proceeding may be instituted, and (iii) agreed that service of process upon said authorized agent shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company in any such suit or proceeding.
EACH PARTY TO THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT (INCLUDING, FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, EACH OWNER AND HOLDER) THEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING AGAINST THE COMPANY AND/OR THE DEPOSITARY DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SHARES OR OTHER DEPOSITED SECURITIES, THE AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES OR THE RECEIPTS, THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREIN OR THEREIN, OR THE BREACH HEREOF OR THEREOF, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY QUESTION REGARDING EXISTENCE, VALIDITY OR TERMINATION (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).
A-21
To the extent that the Company or any of its properties, assets or revenues may have or hereafter become entitled to, or have attributed to it, any right of immunity, on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise, from any legal action, suit or proceeding, from the giving of any relief in any respect thereof, from setoff or counterclaim, from the jurisdiction of any court, from service of process, from attachment upon or prior to judgment, from attachment in aid of execution or judgment, or other legal process or proceeding for the giving of any relief or for the enforcement of any judgment, in any jurisdiction in which proceedings may at any time be commenced, with respect to its obligations, liabilities or any other matter under or arising out of or in connection with the Shares or Deposited Securities, the American Depositary Shares, the Receipts or the Deposit Agreement, the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to plead or claim, any such immunity and consents to such relief and enforcement.
| 24. | DELIVERY OF INFORMATION TO THE CVM AND THE CENTRAL BANK. |
Each of the Depositary and the Company hereby confirms to the other that for as long as the Deposit Agreement is in effect, it shall furnish the CVM and the Central Bank, at any time and within the period that may be determined, with any information and documents related to the American Depositary Share program and the American Depositary Shares issued hereunder. In the event that the Depositary or the Custodian is advised in writing by reputable independent Brazilian counsel that the Depositary or Custodian reasonably could be subject to criminal, or material, as reasonably determined by the Depositary, civil, liabilities as a result of the Company having failed to provide such information or documents reasonably available only through the Company, the Depositary shall have the right to terminate the Deposit Agreement, upon at least 15 days’ prior notice to the Owners and the Company, and the Depositary shall not be subject to any liability hereunder on account of that termination or that determination. The effect of any termination of the Deposit Agreement shall be as provided in Section 6.2 of the Deposit Agreement.
A-22
Exhibit 5.1
São Paulo, September 18, 2020.
Suzano S.A.
Avenida Professor Magalhães Neto 1752, 10th floor, rooms 1010 and 1011
41810-012 Salvador, BA, Brazil
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special Brazilian counsel to Suzano S.A., a corporation (sociedade por ações) organized and existing under the laws of the Federative Republic of Brazil ("Brazil") ("Suzano"), in connection with the preparation and filing by Suzano, under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("Securities Act"), of a registration statement on Form F-3 ("Registration Statement") with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") with respect to 150,217,425 common shares of Suzano, including common shares that may be represented by American Depositary Shares (collectively, "Common Shares") to be offered and sold from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis by the selling shareholder named therein ("Selling Shareholder") at offering prices to be determined from time to time.
In rendering the opinions expressed herein, we have examined:
| (i) | an electronic copy of the Registration Statement filed with the SEC as of the date hereof; |
| (ii) | a copy of the Suzano’s by-laws (estatuto social), as in effect on the date hereof; and |
| (iii) | such other documents, certificates and information and such matters of law as we have deemed necessary or appropriate in connection with the opinions expressed herein. |
In rendering the opinions below, we have made the following assumptions:
| (i) | the signatures on the originals, certified copies or copies of all documents submitted to us are genuine; |
| (ii) | the Registration Statement and any amendments or supplements thereto (including any of the documents incorporated by reference therein) will be effective and will comply with all applicable laws at the time the Common Shares are offered as contemplated by the Registration Statement; |
| (iii) | the Common Shares will be sold and delivered to, and paid for by, the purchasers at the price specified in, and in accordance with the terms of, an agreement or agreements duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto; |
| (iv) | the Selling Shareholder will authorize the offering of the Common Shares, and the Selling Shareholder and Suzano, if applicable, will take any other appropriate corporate action; |
| (v) | all factual representations made in documents reviewed by us, other than those dealing with matters of Brazilian law, are accurate and complete; and |
| (vi) | except as specifically otherwise mentioned herein, there is no provision of the law of any jurisdiction other than Brazil that has any implication in relation to the opinions expressed herein |
We express no opinion as to any laws other than the laws of Brazil as in effect on the date hereof and we have not made any investigation of the laws of any jurisdiction outside of Brazil. In particular, we have made no independent investigation of the laws of the State of New York as a basis for the opinions expressed herein and do not express or imply any opinion on such laws. This opinion is to be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Brazil in effect as of the date hereof. This opinion is issued solely for the purposes of the filing of the Registration Statement and the offering of the Common Shares by the Selling Shareholder and is not to be relied upon in respect of any other matter.
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications set forth below, we are of the opinion that:
1. Suzano is validly existing as a corporation (sociedade por ações) under the laws of Brazil.
2. Upon the sale of the Common Shares by the Selling Shareholder, in accordance with a definitive underwriting, purchase or similar agreement relating to the offer and sale of the Common Shares, duly authorized, executed and delivered by all parties thereto, including Suzano, the Common Shares will continue to be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable (meaning that no further sums will be payable to Suzano on such Common Shares).
2
The limitations inherent in the independent verification of factual matters and the character of determinations involved in the preparation of a disclosure document are such, however, that we do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement or any amendments or supplements thereto (including any of the documents incorporated by reference therein).
This opinion letter is limited to the matters and transactions expressly stated and speaks only as of the date hereof. We expressly disclaim any responsibility to advise you of any development or circumstance of any kind including any change of law or fact that may occur after the date of this opinion letter even though such development, circumstance or change may affect the legal analysis, a legal conclusion or any other matter set forth in or relating to this opinion letter.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the references to our firm in the prospectus constituting a part of the Registration Statement, as it may be amended from time to time, under the captions "Validity of Securities" and "Enforceability of Civil Liabilities." In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
| Very truly yours, | |
| /s/ Francisco J. Pinheiro Guimarães | |
| Francisco J. Pinheiro Guimarães | |
| Pinheiro Guimarães |
3
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form F-3 of Suzano S.A. (“Suzano”) of our report dated March 4, 2020 relating to the consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in Suzano’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2019. We also consent to the references to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
We also consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form F-3 of Suzano of our report dated February 21, 2019 relating to the consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Fibria Celulose S.A., included in Fibria Celulose S.A.’s submission on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on February 22, 2019. We also consent to the references to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers Auditores Independentes
São Paulo, Brazil
September 18, 2020