depositary may sell the deposited securities and thereafter hold uninvested the net proceeds, together with any other cash then held by it without liability for interest for the pro rata benefit of the holders of ADRs not theretofore surrendered. Thereafter, the depositary shall be discharged from all obligations under the deposit agreement with respect to the ADRs, the Shares, the deposited securities and the ADSs, except to account for such net proceeds and other cash (after deducting, or charging, as the case may be, in each case, the charges of the depositary for the surrender of an ADR, any expenses for the account of the holder in accordance with the terms and conditions of the deposit agreement and any applicable taxes or governmental charges or assessments). Upon the termination of the deposit agreement, we will be discharged from all obligations under the deposit agreement as to the ADRs, the Shares, the deposited securities and the ADSs except for certain specified obligations to the depositary under the terms of the deposit agreement.
Limitations on Obligations and Liability to ADS holders
Limits on our obligations and the obligations of the depositary; limits on liability to ADS holders and holders of ADSs
Prior to the issue, registration, registration of transfer, split-up, combination, or cancellation of any ADSs, or the delivery of any distribution in respect thereof, and from time to time in the case of the production of proofs as described below, we or the depositary or its custodian may require:
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payment with respect thereto of (i) any stock transfer or other tax or other governmental charge, (ii) any stock transfer or registration fees in effect for the registration of transfers of shares or other deposited securities upon any applicable register and (iii) any applicable fees and expenses described in the deposit agreement;
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the production of proof satisfactory to it of (i) the identity of any signatory and genuineness of any signature and (ii) such other information, including without limitation information as to citizenship, residence, exchange control approval, beneficial ownership of any securities, compliance with applicable law, regulations, provisions of or governing deposited securities and terms of the deposit agreement and the ADRs, as it may deem necessary or proper; and
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compliance with such regulations as the depositary may establish consistent with the deposit agreement.
The issuance of ADSs, the acceptance of deposits of shares, the registration, registration of transfer, split-up or combination of ADSs or the withdrawal of shares, may be suspended, generally or in particular instances, when the ADS register or any register for deposited securities is closed or when any such action is deemed advisable by the depositary; provided that the ability to withdraw shares may only be limited under the following circumstances: (i) temporary delays caused by closing transfer books of the depositary or our transfer books 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 laws or governmental regulations relating to ADSs or to the withdrawal of deposited securities.
The deposit agreement expressly limits the obligations and liability of the depositary, ourselves and our respective agents, provided, however, that no such disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act is intended by any of the limitations of liabilities provisions of the deposit agreement. In the deposit agreement it provides that neither we nor the depositary nor any such agent will be liable if:
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any present or future law, rule, regulation, fiat, order or decree of the United States, the Cayman Islands, the People’s Republic of China or any other country, or of any governmental or regulatory authority or securities exchange or market or automated quotation system, the provisions of or governing any deposited securities, any present or future provision of our charter, any act of God, war, terrorism, nationalization or other circumstance beyond our, the depositary’s or our respective agents’ control shall prevent or delay, or shall cause any of them to be subject to any civil or criminal penalty in connection with, any act which the deposit agreement or the ADRs provide shall be done or performed by us, the depositary or our respective agents (including, without limitation, voting);
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the depositary exercises or fails to exercise discretion under the deposit agreement or the ADR including, without limitation, any failure to determine that any distribution or action may be lawful or reasonably practicable;