EX-1 2 exhibita.txt Rule 424(b)(3) 333-8876 EXHIBIT A TO DEPOSIT AGREEMENT EFFECTIVE JULY 9, 2004, THE PAR VALUE OF THE COMPANY HAS CHANGED FROM EUR 1.25 TO EUR 0.35 EFFECTIVE JULY 2, 2003, THE PAR VALUE OF THE COMPANY HAS CHANGED FROM EUR 6 TO EUR 1.25 EFFECTIVE JULY 20, 1999, THE PAR VALUE OF THE COMPANY HAS CHANGED FROM FRF 40 TO EUR 6 AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES Each American Depositary Share represents one deposited Share) THE BANK OF NEW YORK AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPT FOR ORDINARY SHARES OF THE NOMINAL VALUE OF FRANCS 40 EACH OF ALSTOM (ORGANIZED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE REPUBLIC OF FRANCE) The Bank of New York, as depositary (hereinafter called the "Depositary"), hereby certifies that___________ ________________________ ____________________, or registered assigns IS THE OWNER OF ________________________ _____ AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES representing deposited ordinary shares, nominal value 40 francs per share (herein called "Shares"), of ALSTOM, a societe anonyme organized under the laws of The Republic of France (herein called the "Company"). At the date hereof, each American Depositary Share represents one Share deposited or subject to deposit under the Deposit Agreement (hereinafter defined) at the Paris, France office of Banque Paribas (herein called the "Custodian"). The Depositary's Corporate Trust Office is located at a different address than its principal executive office. Its Corporate Trust Office is located at 101 Barclay Street, New York, N.Y. 10286, and its principal executive office is located at 48 Wall Street, New York, N.Y. 10286. THE DEPOSITARY'S CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE ADDRESS IS 101 BARCLAY STREET, NEW YORK, N.Y. 10286 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 deposit agreement, dated as of June 25, 1998, as it may be amended from time to time (the "Deposit Agreement"), by and among the Company, the Depositary and all Owners and Beneficial Owners from time to time of Receipts issued thereunder, each of whom by accepting a Receipt agrees to become a party thereto and becomes bound by all the terms and provisions thereof and hereof. The Deposit Agreement sets forth the rights and obligations of Owners and Beneficial Owners of Receipts and the rights and duties of the Depositary in respect of the Shares deposited thereunder and any and all other securities, property and cash from time to time received in respect of or in lieu of such Shares and held thereunder (such Shares, securities, property and cash are herein called the "Deposited Securities"). Copies of the Deposit Agreement are on file at the Depositary's Corporate Trust 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 thereof, 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 RECEIPTS AND WITHDRAWAL OF SHARES. Upon surrender at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary of this Receipt and upon payment of the fee of the Depositary provided in this Receipt and subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, the Company's statuts and the Deposited Securities, the Owner hereof is entitled to the transfer of the Deposited Securities to an account in the name of such Owner or such name as shall be designated by such Owner maintained by the Company or its agent for registration and transfer of Shares in the case of Shares in registered form, or maintained by an accredited financial intermediary in the case of Shares in bearer form, of the amount of Deposited Securities at the time represented by the American Depositary Shares for which this Receipt is issued. Such delivery will be made at the option of the Owner hereof, either at the office of the Custodian or at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary, provided that the forwarding of certificates for Shares or other Deposited Securities for such delivery at the Cor- porate Trust Office of the Depositary shall be at the risk and expense of the Owner hereof. 3. TRANSFER, SPLIT-UPS AND COMBINATIONS OF RECEIPTS. The transfer of this Receipt is registrable on the books of the Depositary at its Corporate Trust Office by the Owner hereof, in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender, of this Receipt properly endorsed for transfer or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer and funds sufficient to pay any applicable transfer taxes and expenses of the Depositary and upon compliance with such regulations, if any, as the Depositary may establish for such purpose. This Receipt may be split into other such Receipts, or may be combined with other such Receipts into one Receipt, evidencing the same aggregate number of American Depositary Shares as the Receipt or Receipts surrendered. As a condition precedent to the execution and delivery, registration of transfer, split-up, combination, or surrender of any Receipt, the delivery of any distribution thereon or the withdrawal of any Deposited Securities, the Depositary, the Custodian, or the Registrar may require payment from the depositor of the Shares or the presentor of the Receipt of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or other governmental charge and any stock transfer or registration fee with respect thereto (including any such tax or charge and fee with respect to Shares being deposited or withdrawn) and payment of any applicable fees as provided in this Receipt, may require the production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature and may also require compliance with any regulations the Depositary may establish consistent with the pro- visions of the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, including, without limitation, this Article 3. The delivery of Receipts against deposit of Shares generally, or against deposit of particular Shares may be suspended or the transfer of Receipts in particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer of outstanding Receipts generally may be suspended, during any period when the transfer books of the Depositary are closed, or if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary or the Company at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body or commission, or under any provision of the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, or for any other reason, subject to the provisions of the following sentence. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, the surrender of outstanding Receipts and withdrawal of Deposited Securities may not be suspended subject only to (i) temporary delays caused by closing the transfer books of the Depositary or the Company or the deposit of Shares in connection with voting at a shareholders' meeting or the payment of dividends, (ii) the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges and (iii) compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating to the Receipts or the withdrawal of the Deposited Securities. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under the Deposit Agreement any Shares or rights required to be registered under the provisions of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless a registration statement is in effect as to such Shares. The Depositary will comply with written instructions from the Company requesting that the Depositary not accept for deposit here- under any Shares or rights identified in such instructions in order to facilitate the Company's compliance with U.S. and state securities laws or the laws of the Republic of France. 4. LIABILITY OF OWNER OR BENEFICIAL OWNER FOR TAXES. If any tax or other governmental charge shall become payable by the Custodian or the Depositary with respect to any Receipt or any Deposited Securities represented hereby, such tax or other governmental charge shall be payable by the Owner or Beneficial Owner hereof to the Depositary. The Depositary may refuse to effect any transfer of this Receipt or any withdrawal of Deposited Securities represented by American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt until such payment is made, and may withhold any dividends or other distributions, or may sell for the account of the Owner or Beneficial Owner hereof any part or all of the Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by this Receipt, and may apply such dividends or other distributions or the proceeds of any such sale in payment of such tax or other governmental charge and the Owner or Beneficial Owner hereof shall remain liable for any deficiency. 5. WARRANTIES ON DEPOSIT OF SHARES. Every person depositing Shares under the Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to represent and warrant that such Shares are validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable and free of any preemptive rights of holders of outstanding Shares and that the person making such deposit is duly authorized so to do. Every such person shall also be deemed to represent that such Shares and the Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares representing such Shares would not be Restricted Securities. Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit of Shares and issuance of Receipts therefor. 6. FILING PROOFS, CERTIFICATES, AND OTHER INFORMATION. Any person presenting Shares for deposit or any Owner or Beneficial Owner 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 Receipt or the distribution of any dividend or sale or distribution of rights or of the proceeds thereof or the delivery of any Deposited Securities until such proof or other information is filed or such certificates are executed or such representations and warranties made. The Depositary will provide the Company upon its written request with copies of any such proofs, other information and certifi- cates which it receives unless such disclosure is prohibited by law. 7. CHARGES OF DEPOSITARY. The Company will pay the fees, reasonable expenses and out-of-pocket charges of the Depositary and those of any Registrar only in accordance with agreements in writing entered into between the Depositary and the Company from time to time. The Depositary will present its statement for such charges and expenses to the Company once every three months. The charges and expenses of the Custodian are for the sole account of the Depositary. The following charges will be incurred by any party depositing or withdrawing Shares or by any party surrendering Receipts or to whom Receipts are issued (including, without limitation, issuance pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split declared by the Company or an exchange of stock regarding the Receipts or Deposited Securities or a distribution of Receipts pursuant to Section 4.3 of the Deposit Agreement), whichever applicable: (1) taxes and other governmental charges, (2) such regis- tration 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 the name of the Depositary or its nominee or the Custodian or its nominee on the making of deposits or withdrawals under the Deposit Agreement, (3) such cable, telex and facsimile transmission expenses as are expressly provided in the Deposit Agreement, (4) such expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in the conversion of foreign currency pursuant to Section 4.5 of the Deposit Agreement, (5) a fee of $5.00 or less per 100 American Depositary Shares (or portion thereof) for the execution and delivery of Receipts pursuant to Section 2.3, 4.3 or 4.4 of the Deposit Agreement and the surrender of Receipts pursuant to Section 2.5 or 6.2 of the Deposit Agreement, (6) a fee of $.02 or less per American Depositary Share for any cash distribution made pursuant to the Deposit Agreement including, but not limited to, Sections 4.1 through 4.4 thereof, (7) a fee for the distribution of securities pursuant to Section 4.2 of the Deposit Agreement, such fee being in an amount equal to the fee for the execution and delivery of American Depositary Shares referred to above which would have been charged as a result of the deposit of such securities (for purposes of this clause 7 treating all such securities as if they were Shares) but which securities are instead distributed by the Depositary to Owners, and (8) any other charges payable by the Depositary, any of the Depositary's agents, including the Custodian, or the agents of the Depositary's agents in connection with the servicing of Shares or other Deposited Securities (which charge shall be assessed against Owners as of the date or dates set by the Depositary in accordance with Article 15 hereof and Section 4.6 of the Deposit Agreement and shall be collected at the sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such Owners for such charge or by deducting such charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions). The Depositary, subject to Article 8 hereof, may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in Receipts. 8. PRE- RELEASE OF RECEIPTS. Unless requested in writing by the Company to cease doing so, the Depositary may, notwithstanding Section 2.3 of the Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver Receipts prior to the receipt of Shares pursuant to Section 2.2 of the Deposit Agreement (a "Pre-Release"). The Depositary may, pursuant to Section 2.5 of the Deposit Agreement, deliver Shares upon the receipt and cancellation of Receipts which have been Pre-Released, whether or not such cancellation is prior to the termination of such Pre-Release or the Depositary knows that such Receipt has been Pre-Released. The Depositary may receive Receipts in lieu of Shares in satisfaction of a Pre-Release. Each Pre-Release will be (a) preceded or accompanied by a written representation from the person to whom Receipts or Shares are to be delivered that such person, or its customer, (i) beneficially owns the Shares or Receipts to be remitted, as the case may be, (ii) assigns all beneficial rights, title and interest in such Shares or Receipts, as the case may be, to the Depositary in its capacity as such and for the benefit of the Owners or Beneficial Owners, and (iii) will not take any action with respect to such Shares or Receipts, as the case may be, that is inconsistent with the transfer of beneficial ownership (including, without the consent of the Depositary, disposing of such Shares or Receipts, as the case may be, other than in satisfaction of such Pre-Release), (b) at all times fully collateralized with cash or such other collateral as the Depositary deems appropriate, (c) terminable by the Depositary on not more than five (5) business days notice, and (d) subject to such further indemnities and credit regulations as the Depositary deems appropriate. The number of American Depositary Shares which are outstanding at any time as a result of Pre- Releases will not normally exceed thirty percent (30%) of the Shares deposited under the Deposit Agreement; provided, however, that the Depositary reserves the right to change or disregard such limit from time to time as it deems reasonably appropriate. For purposes of enabling the Depositary to fulfill its obligations to the Owners under the Deposit Agreement, the collateral referred to in clause (b) above shall be held by the Depositary as security for the performance of the Pre-Release's obligations to the Depositary in connection with a Pre-Release transaction, including the Pre-Releasee's obligation to deliver Shares or Receipts upon termination of a Pre- Release transaction (and shall not, for the avoidance of doubt, constitute Deposited Securities under the Deposit Agreement). The Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received by it in connection with the foregoing. 9. TITLE TO RECEIPTS. It is a condition of this Receipt, and every successive Owner and Beneficial Owner hereof by accepting or holding the same consents and agrees, that title to this Receipt (and to the American Depositary Shares evidenced hereby), when properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, is transferable by delivery with the same effect as in the case of a negotiable instrument in accordance with the laws of the State of New York; provided, however, that the Depositary, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the Owner of this Receipt as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of determining the person entitled to distribution of dividends or other distributions or to any notice provided for in the Deposit Agreement 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 a Receipt unless such holder is the Owner thereof. 10. VALIDITY OF RECEIPT. This Receipt shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Deposit Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless this Receipt shall have been executed by the Depositary by the manual signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary; provided, however, that such signature may be a facsimile, if a Registrar for the Receipts shall have been appointed and such Receipt is countersigned by the manual signature of a duly authorized officer of such 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 Commission. Such reports will be available for inspection and copying by Owners and Beneficial Owners of Receipts at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission located at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. The Depositary will make available for inspection by Owners at its Corporate Trust Office any reports and communications, including any proxy solicitation material, received from the Company which are both (a) received by the Depositary as the holder of the Deposited Securities and (b) made generally available to the holders of such Deposited Securities by the Company. The Depositary will also send to Owners copies of such reports and communications when fur- nished by the Company as provided in the Deposit Agreement. Any such reports and communications, including any such proxy solicitation material, furnished to the Depositary by the Company will be furnished in English, to the extent such materials are required to be translated into English pursuant to any regulations of the Commission. The Depositary will keep books at its Corporate Trust Office for the registration of Receipts and transfer of Receipts which at all reasonable times will be open for inspection by the Owners, provided that such inspection shall not be for the purpose of communicating with Owners in the interest of a business or object other than the business of the Company or a matter related to the Deposit Agreement or the Receipts. 12. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. Whenever the Depositary receives any cash dividend or other cash distribution on any Deposited Securities, the Depositary will, if at the time of receipt thereof any amounts received in foreign currency can in the judgment of the Depositary be converted on a reasonable basis into United States dollars transferable to the United States, and subject to the Deposit Agreement, convert such dividend or distribution into dollars and will distribute the amount thus received (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 of Receipts entitled thereto; provided, however, that in the event that the Company or the Depositary is required to withhold and does withhold from any cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of any Deposited Securities an amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges, the amount dis- tributed to the Owners of the Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities shall be reduced accordingly. Subject to the provisions of Sections 4.11 and 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement, whenever the Depositary receives any distribution other than a distribution described in Sections 4.1, 4.3 or 4.4 of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary will cause the securities or property received by it to be distributed to the Owners entitled thereto, after deduction or upon payment of any fees and expenses of the Depositary or any taxes or other governmental charges, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by them respec- tively, in any manner that the Depositary, after consultation with the Company, may deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing such distribution; provided, however, that if in the opinion of the Depositary such distribution cannot be made proportionately among the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto, or if for any other reason (including, but not limited to, any requirement that the Company or the Depositary withhold an amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges or that such securities must be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 in order to be distributed to Owners or Beneficial Owners) the Depositary deems such distribution not to be feasible, the Depositary may, after consultation with the Company, adopt such method as it may deem equitable and practicable for the purpose of effecting such distribution, including, but not limited to, the public or private sale of the securities or property thus received, or any part thereof, and the net proceeds of any such sale (net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and Section 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement) will be distributed by the Depositary to the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto, all in the manner and subject to the conditions described in Section 4.1 of the Deposit Agreement. If any distribution consists of a dividend in, or free distribution of, Shares, the Depositary may, upon prior consultation with and the approval of the Company and will, if the Company so requests, distribute to the Owners of outstanding Receipts entitled thereto, additional Receipts evidencing an aggregate number of American Depositary Shares representing the amount of Shares received as such dividend or free distribution, subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement with respect to the deposit of Shares and the issuance of American Depositary Shares evidenced by Receipts, including the withholding of any tax or other governmental charge as provided in Section 4.11 of the Deposit Agreement and the payment of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and Section 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary may withhold any such distribution of Receipts if it has not received satisfactory assurances from the Company that such distribution does not require registration under the Securities Act or is exempt from registration under the provisions of such Act. In lieu of delivering Receipts for fractional American Depositary Shares in any such case, the Depositary will sell the amount of Shares represented by the aggregate of such fractions and distribute the net proceeds, all in the manner and subject to the conditions described in Section 4.1 of the Deposit Agreement. If additional Receipts are not so distributed, each American Depositary Share shall thenceforth also represent the additional Shares distributed upon the Deposited Securities represented thereby. In the event that the Company declares a dividend or other distribution without payment of any subscription price on Deposited Securities payable in Shares or cash at the election of each holder of Shares, the Depositary may and, at the request of the Company, shall make such option available to any Owner to whom it determines the granting of such option to be lawful and feasible. If such option is made available to the Owners, the Depositary shall mail to the Owners a notice, the form of which shall be in the sole discretion of the Depositary, which shall contain (a) such information as is contained in the notice received by the Depositary from the Company and (b) a statement that each of the Owners as of the close of business on a specified date will be entitled, subject to any applicable provisions of French law, the statuts of the Company or the instruments governing such dividend or distribution, to instruct the Depositary as to the manner in which such Owner elects to receive such dividend or distribution. Upon the written request of an Owner on such record date, received on or before the date established by the Depositary for such pur- pose, the Depositary shall endeavor, insofar as practicable to make the election in accordance with the instructions set forth in such request, and to distribute cash or Shares, as the case may be, in accordance with the terms of Section 4.1 or Section 4.3 of the Deposit Agreement, respectively, to the Owners entitled thereto. If the Depositary does not receive timely instructions from any Owner as to such Owner's election, the Depositary shall make no election with respect to the Deposited Securities represented by such Owner's American Depositary Shares and shall distribute such Shares or cash as it receives, if any, in respect of such Deposited Securities in accordance with the terms of Section 4.1 or Section 4.3 of the Deposit Agreement, respectively, to the Owners entitled thereto. In the event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) is subject to any tax or other govern- mental charge which the Depositary is obligated to withhold, the Depositary may by public or private sale dispose of all or a portion of such property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) in such amounts and in such manner as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay any such taxes or charges, and the Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds of any such sale after deduction of such taxes or charges to the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto. 13. RIGHTS. In the event that the Company shall offer or cause to be offered to the holders of any Deposited Securities any rights to subscribe for additional Shares or any rights of any other nature, the Depositary, after consultation with the Company, shall have discretion as to the procedure to be followed in making such rights available to any Owners or in disposing of such rights on behalf of any Owners and making the net proceeds available in Dollars to such Owners. If by the terms of such rights offering or for any other reason, the Depositary may not either make such rights available to any Owners or dispose of such rights and make the net proceeds available to such Owners, then the Depositary shall allow the rights to lapse. If at the time of the offering of any rights the Depositary determines in its discretion that it is lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all or certain Owners but not to other Owners, the Depositary may, and at the request of the Company shall, distribute to any Owner to whom it determines the distribution to be lawful and feasible, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by such Owner, warrants or other instruments therefor in such form as it deems appropriate. In circumstances in which rights would otherwise not be distributed, if an Owner of Receipts requests the distribution of warrants or other instruments in order to exercise the rights allocable to the American Depositary Shares of such Owner hereunder, the Depositary will make such rights available to such Owner upon written notice from the Company to the Depositary that (a) the Company has elected in its sole discretion to permit such rights to be exercised and (b) such Owner has executed such documents as the Company has determined in its sole discretion are reasonably required under applicable law. If the Depositary has distributed warrants or other instruments for rights to all or certain Owners, then upon instruction from such an Owner pursuant to such warrants or other instruments to the Depositary from such Owner to exercise such rights, upon payment by such Owner to the Depositary for the account of such Owner of an amount equal to the purchase price of the Shares to be received upon the exercise of the rights, and upon payment of the fees and expenses of the Depositary and any other charges as set forth in such warrants or other instruments, the Depositary shall, on behalf of such Owner, exercise the rights and purchase the Shares, and the Company shall cause the Shares so purchased to be delivered to the Depositary on behalf of such Owner. As agent for such Owner, the Depositary will cause the Shares so purchased to be deposited pursuant to Section 2.2 of the Deposit Agreement, and shall, pursuant to Section 2.3 of the Deposit Agreement, execute and deliver Receipts to such Owner. In the case of a distribution pursuant to the second paragraph of this Article 13, such Receipts shall be legended in accordance with applicable U.S. laws, and shall be subject to the appropriate restrictions on sale, deposit, cancellation, and transfer under such laws. If the Depositary determines in its discretion that it is not lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all or certain Owners, it may sell the rights, warrants or other instruments in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by the Owners to whom it has determined it may not lawfully or feasibly make such rights available, and allocate the net proceeds of such sales (net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement and all taxes and governmental charges payable in connection with such rights and subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement) for the account of such Owners otherwise entitled to such rights, warrants or other instruments, upon an averaged or other practical basis without regard to any distinctions among such Owners because of exchange restrictions or the date of delivery of any Receipt or otherwise. Such proceeds shall be distributed in accordance with Section 4.1 of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary will not offer rights to Owners unless both the rights and the securities to which such rights relate are either exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to a distribution to all Owners or are registered under the provisions of such Act; provided, that nothing in the Deposit Agreement shall create any obligation on the part of the Company to file a registration statement with respect to such rights or underlying securities or to endeavor to have such a registration statement declared effective. If an Owner of Receipts requests the distribution of warrants or other instruments, notwithstanding that there has been no such registration under such Act, the Depositary shall not effect such distribution unless it has received an opinion from recognized counsel in the United States for the Company upon which the Depositary may rely that such distribution to such Owner is exempt from such registration requirements, it being understood that the Company shall have no obligation to furnish any such opinion. The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to determine that it may be lawful or feasible to make such rights available to Owners in general or any Owner in particular. Notwithstandin g any other term of the Deposit Agreement, the Company shall have no obligation to prepare and file a registration statement for any purpose. 14. CONVERSION OF FOREIGN CURRENCY. Whenever the Depositary or the Custodian shall receive foreign currency, by way of dividends or other distributions or the net proceeds from the sale of securities, property or rights, and if at the time of the receipt thereof the foreign currency so received can in the judgment of the Depositary be converted on a reasonable basis into Dollars and the resulting Dollars transferred to the United States, the Depositary will convert or cause to be con- verted, by sale or in any other manner that it may determine in accordance with applicable law, such foreign currency into Dollars, and such Dollars will be distributed to the Owners entitled thereto or, if the Depositary shall have distributed any warrants or other instruments which entitle the holders thereof to such Dollars, then to the holders of such warrants and/or instruments upon surrender thereof for cancellation. Such distribution may be made upon an averaged or other practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among Owners on account of exchange restrictions, the date of delivery of any Receipt or otherwise and shall be net of any expenses of conversion into Dollars incurred by the Depositary as provided in Section 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement. If such conversion or distribution can be effected only with the approval or license of any government or agency thereof, the Depositary will file such application for approval or license, if any, as it may deem desirable, provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to make any such filing. If at any time 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 which is required for such conversion is denied or in the opinion of the Depositary is not obtainable, or if any such approval or license is not obtained within a reasonable period as determined by the Depositary, the Depositary may distribute the foreign currency (or an appropriate document evidencing the right to receive such foreign currency) received by the Depositary to, or in its discretion may hold such foreign currency uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of, the Owners entitled to receive the same. If any such conversion of foreign currency, in whole or in part, cannot be effected for distribution to some of the Owners entitled thereto, the Depositary may in its discretion make such conversion and distribution in Dollars to the extent permissible to the Owners entitled thereto and may distribute the balance of the foreign currency received by the Depositary to, or hold, such balance uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of, the Owners entitled thereto. 15. FIXING OF RECORD DATE. Whenever any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable or any distribution other than cash shall be made, or whenever rights shall be issued, with respect to the Deposited Securities, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, or whenever for any reason the Depositary causes a change in the number of Shares that are represented by each American Depositary Share, or whenever the Depositary shall find it necessary or convenient, the Depositary will fix a record date, after consultation with and with the prior approval of the Company, when practicable, which will be, to the extent practicable, the same as the corresponding record date for the Shares (a) for the determination of the Owners who shall be (i) entitled to receive such dividend, distribution or rights, or the net proceeds of the sale thereof, (ii) entitled to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting, or (iii) obligated to pay any charges in connection with the servicing of the Shares or other Deposited Securities, or (b) on or after which each American Depositary Share will represent the changed number of Shares, subject to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement. 16. VOTING OF DEPOSITED SECURITIES. The Depositary shall, as soon as practicable after receipt by the Depositary of a notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities sent by the Company at least 30 days prior to the date of such meeting, mail to the Owners (i) a summary in English or an English version of the notice of such meeting sent by the Company to the Depositary pursuant to Section 5.6 of the Deposit Agreement, (ii) a statement in a form provided by the Company that the Owners and Beneficial Owners as of the close of business on a record date established by the Depositary pursuant to Article 15 hereof and Section 4.6 of the Deposit Agreement ("Voters") will be entitled, subject to any applicable provisions of French law, the statuts of the Company and the Deposited Securities (which provisions, if any, will be summarized in pertinent part in such statement), to exercise the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by such Owner's American Depositary Shares, (iii) summaries in English of any materials or other documents provided by the Company for the purpose of enabling Voters who are Owners to exercise such voting rights, by means of voting by mail (formulaire de vote par correspondance) or by proxy (formulaire de vote par procuration) or otherwise and (iv) a voting instruction card (which may include a formulaire de vote par correspondance or par procuration (when applicable) and all other information, authorizations and certifications required under French law to vote Shares in registered form and Shares in bearer form) to be prepared by the Depositary and the Company (a "Voting Instruction Card") (including a statement as to the manner in which Shares with respect to which the Depositary receives an incomplete Voting Instruction Card will be voted) and setting forth the date established by the Depositary for the receipt of such Voting Instruction Card (the "Receipt Date"). Voting instructions may be given only in respect of a number of American Depositary Shares representing an integral number of Shares. In addition, a precondition for exercising any voting rights with respect to any holders of American Depositary Shares who are not Owners of the Receipts evidencing such American Depositary Shares on the books of the Depositary is that such holders arrange for deposit in a blocked account estab- lished for such purpose of the relevant number of American Depositary Shares for a period to commence on a date to be fixed by the Depositary (which date will be at least five days prior to the date of the shareholders' meeting) until the completion of such meeting (the "Blocked Period"). The Depositary shall use its best efforts to implement and maintain procedures to allow for blocking of American Depositary Shares as contemplated by the previous sentence. Owners exercising voting rights who hold certificated Receipts will also be required to instruct the Depositary not to transfer such Receipts, and the Depositary shall not transfer such Receipts, during the Blocked Period. The parties hereto acknowledge that, under French company law and the Company's statuts, a precondition for exercising any voting rights is that, in the case of a holder of Shares in registered form, such holder be registered in the share register of the Company at least five days prior to the date of the stockholders' meeting or, in the case of a holder of Shares in bearer form, such holder shall request its accredited financial intermediary (intermediare financier habilite) to issue a certificat d'immobilisation de titres au porteur for such Shares evidencing the immobilization of its shares until the time fixed for such meeting, at least five days prior to the date of the meeting. Upon receipt by the Depositary of a properly completed Voting Instruction Card on or before the Receipt Date and provided such Voter has (i) become, on or before the Receipt Date and has remained until the Receipt Date, the Owner on the books of the Depositary of the American Depositary Shares corresponding to the Shares in respect of which such Voting Instruction Card is provided, or (ii) has arranged for deposit in a blocked account of the relevant American Depositary Shares for the relevant period, the Depositary will either, in its discretion, vote such Deposited Securities, in accordance with the Voting Instruction Card or forward such instructions to the Custodian, and the Custodian will endeavor, insofar as practicable and permitted under any applicable provisions of French law, the statuts of the Company and the Deposited Securities, to vote or cause to be voted the Deposited Securities in accordance with any instructions set forth in the Voting Instruction Card. The Depositary will not vote or attempt to exercise the right to vote that attaches to the Shares or other Deposited Securities other than in accordance with such instructions or in accordance with the statement under (iv) above in the first paragraph of this Article 16 as to the manner in which Shares with respect to which the Depositary receives an incomplete Voting Instruction Card or receives a blank proxy will be voted. The parties hereto acknowledge that, under French company law, shareholders at ordinary and extraordinary shareholders meetings may modify the resolutions presented by the Board of Directors to the shareholders for their approval. In such case, Voters will be deemed to have voted against the modified resolution. Notwithstandin g anything in this Article or Section 4.7 of the Deposit Agreement to the contrary, the Depositary and the Company may modify, amend or adopt addi- tional voting procedures from time to time as they determine may be necessary or appropriate (which modifications, amendments or additional procedures may not be applicable to Shares). 17. CHANGES AFFECTING DEPOSITED SECURITIES. In circumstances where the provisions of Section 4.3 of the Deposit Agreement do not apply, upon any change in nominal value, change in par value, split-up, consolidation, or any other reclassification of Deposited Securities, or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or sale of assets affecting the Company or to which it is a party, any securities which shall be received by the Depositary or a Custodian in exchange for or in conversion of or in respect of Deposited Securities shall be treated as new Deposited Securities under the Deposit Agree- ment, and each American Depositary Share shall thenceforth represent the right to receive a proportional interest in the Deposited Securities so received, unless additional Receipts are delivered pursuant to the following sentence. In any such case the Depositary may, and shall if the Company so requests, execute and deliver additional Receipts as in the case of a distribution in Shares, or call for the surrender of outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts specifically describing such new Deposited Securities. 18. LIABILITY OF THE COMPANY AND 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 Beneficial Owner of any Receipt if by reason of any provision of any present or future law or regulation of the United States, The Republic of France or any other country, or of any other governmental or regulatory authority or stock exchange, or by reason of any provision, present or future, of the statuts 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 by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstances beyond its control, the Depositary or the Company shall be prevented, delayed or forbidden from, or be subject to any civil or criminal penalty on account of, doing or performing any act or thing which by the terms of the Deposit Agreement or Deposited Securities it is provided shall be done or performed; nor shall the Depositary or the Company or any of their respective directors, employees, agents or affiliates incur any liability to any Owner or Beneficial Owner of a Receipt by reason of any non-performance or delay, caused as aforesaid, in the performance of any act or thing which by the terms of the Deposit Agreement it is provided shall or may be done or performed, or by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in the Deposit Agree- ment. Where, by the terms of a distribution pursuant to Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 of the Deposit Agreement, or an offering or distribution pursuant to Section 4.4 of the Deposit Agreement, or for any other reason, such distribution or offering may not be made available to Owners of Receipts, and the Depositary may not dispose of such dis- tribution or offering on behalf of such Owners and make the net proceeds available to such Owners, then the Depositary shall not make such distribution or offering, and shall allow any rights, if applicable, to lapse. Neither the Company nor the Depositary assumes any obligation or shall be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement to Owners or Beneficial Owners of Receipts, 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 subject to any liability with respect to the validity or worth of the Deposited Securi- ties. 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 Receipts, which in its opinion may involve it in expense or liability, unless indem- nity satisfactory to it against all expense and liability shall be furnished as often as may be required, and the Custodian shall not be under any obligation whatsoever with respect to such proceedings, the responsibility of the Custodian being solely to the Depositary. Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall be liable for any action or 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 Beneficial Owner of a Receipt, or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information. The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any of the Deposited Securi- ties, or for the manner in which any such vote is cast or the effect of any such vote, provided that any such action or non-action is in good faith. 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 Company agrees to indemnify the Depositary, its directors, employees, agents and affiliates and any Custodian against, and hold each of them harmless from, any liability or expense (including, but not limited to, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) which may arise out of any registration with the Commission of Receipts, American Depositary Shares or Deposited Securities or the offer or sale thereof in the United States, or out of acts performed or omitted, in accordance with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement and of the Receipts, as the same may be amended, modified, or supplemented from time to time, (i) by either the Depositary or a Custodian or their respective directors, employees, agents and affiliates, except for any liability or expense arising out of the negligence or bad faith of any of them, and except to the extent that such liability or expense arises out of information relating to the Depositary or the Custodian, as applicable, furnished in writing to the Company by the Depositary or the Custodian, as applicable, expressly for use in any registration statement, proxy statement, prospectus (or placement memorandum) or preliminary prospectus (or preliminary placement memorandum) relating to the Shares represented by the American Depositary Shares or omissions from such information, or (ii) by the Company or any of its directors, employees, agents and affiliates. The indemnities contained in the preceding paragraph shall not extend to any liability or expense which may arise out of any Pre-Release (as defined in Article 8 hereof and Section 2.9 of the Deposit Agreement) to the extent that any such liability or expense arises in connection with (a) any United States Federal, state or local income tax laws,(b) the failure of the Depositary to deliver Deposited Securities when required under the terms of Section 2.5 of the Deposit Agreement or (c) the non-performance by the Depositary or any Custodian of any obligations relating to any Pre-Release under Article 8 hereof and Section 2.9 of the Deposit Agreement or any other agreement between the Depositary and the Company relating to Pre- Release. However, the indemnities contained in the preceding paragraph shall apply to any liability or expense which may arise out of any misstatement or alleged misstatement or omission or alleged omission in any registration statement, proxy statement, prospectus (or placement memorandum) or preliminary prospectus (or preliminary placement memorandum) relating to the offer or sale of American Depositary Shares, except to the extent any such liability or expense arises out of (i) information relating to the Depositary or any Custodian, as applicable, furnished in writing to the Company (and not materially changed or altered) by the Depositary or any Custodian, as applicable, expressly for use in any of the foregoing documents, or (ii) if such information is provided, the failure to state a material fact necessary to make the information provided not misleading. 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; SUBSTITUTION AND ADDITION OF CUSTODIAN. The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary under the Deposit Agreement by written notice of its election to do so delivered to the Company, such resignation to take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by written notice of such removal, effective upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. Whenever the Depositary in its discretion determines that it is in the best interest of the Owners to do so, it may appoint a substitute or additional custodian or custodians. 20. AMENDMENT OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT AND RECEIPTS. 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 Beneficial Owners of Receipts in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable. Any amendment which shall impose or increase any fees or charges (other than taxes and other governmental charges, registration fees, cable, telex or facsimile transmission costs, delivery costs or other such expenses), or which shall otherwise prejudice any substantial existing right of Owners of Receipts, shall, however, not become effective as to outstanding Receipts until the expiration of 90 days after notice of such amendment shall have been given to the Owners of outstanding Receipts. Every Owner of a Receipt, at the time any amendment so becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such Receipt, to consent and agree to such amendment and to be bound by the Deposit Agreement as amended thereby. In no event shall any amendment impair the right of the Owner of any Receipt to surrender such Receipt and receive therefor the Deposited Securities represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law. 21. TERMINATION OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT. The Depositary at, any time at the direction of the Company, shall terminate the Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the Owners of all Receipts then outstanding at least 30 days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination. The Depositary may likewise terminate the Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the Company and the Owners of all Receipts then outstanding, if at any time 30 days shall have expired after the Depositary shall have delivered to the Company a written notice of its election to resign and a successor depositary shall not have been appointed and accepted its appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement. On and after the date of termination, the Owner of a Receipt will, upon (a) surrender of such Receipt at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary, (b) payment of the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of Receipts referred to in Section 2.5 of the Deposit Agreement, and (c) payment of any applicable taxes or governmental charges, be entitled to delivery, to him or upon his order, of the amount of Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt. If any Receipts shall remain outstanding after the date of termination, the Depositary thereafter will discontinue the registration of transfers of Receipts, will suspend the distribution of dividends to the Owners thereof, and will not give any further notices or perform any further acts under the Deposit Agreement, except that the Depositary shall continue to collect dividends and other distributions pertaining to Deposited Securities, shall sell rights and other property as provided in the Deposit Agreement, and shall continue to deliver Deposited Securities, together with any dividends or other distributions received with respect thereto and the net proceeds of the sale of any rights or other property, in exchange for Receipts surrendered to the Depositary (after deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of a Receipt, any expenses for the account of the Owner of such Receipt in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental charges). At any time after the expiration of one year from the date of termination, the Depositary may sell the Deposited Securities then held under the Deposit Agreement and may thereafter hold uninvested the net pro- ceeds of any such sale, together with any other cash then held by it thereunder, unsegregated and without liability for interest, for the pro rata benefit of the Owners of Receipts which have not theretofore been surrendered, such Owners thereupon becoming general creditors of the Deposi- tary with respect to such net proceeds. After making such sale, the Depositary will be discharged from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement, except to account for such net proceeds and other cash (after deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of a Receipt, any expenses for the account of the Owner of such Receipt in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental charges). Upon the termination of the Deposit Agreement, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement except for its obligations to the Depositary with respect to indemnification, charges, and expenses. 22. SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION In the Deposit Agreement, the Company has (i) appointed T.J. Smith, GEC Alsthom, Inc., 4 Skyline Drive, Hawthorne, NY 10532- 2162, in the State of New York, as the Company's authorized agent upon which process may be served in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Shares or Deposited Securities, the American Depositary Shares, the Receipts or this Agreement, (ii) consented and submitted to the jurisdiction of any state or federal court 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. 23. DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS. Notwithstandin g any other provision of the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, each Owner and holder agrees, and the Depositary agrees, to comply with the Company's statuts, as they may be amended from time to time, and the laws of The Republic of France with respect to the disclosure requirements regarding ownership of Shares, all as if the Receipts were the Shares represented thereby. As of the date of the Deposit Agreement, such disclosure requirements are as follows: Pursuant to French law and the Company's statuts, any person or entity that becomes the owner, directly or indirectly, alone or in concert with other persons, of more than one-twentieth, one- tenth, one-fifth, one- third, one-half or two- thirds of the share capital or voting rights of the Company (or securities or voting rights representing Shares (which includes American Depositary Shares)), as discussed below in this Article 23, must so notify the Company by registered letter within 15 calendar days, and the Conseil des Marches Financiers within five trading days, of the date such threshold has been crossed, of the number of Shares it holds and the voting rights attached thereto. A holder of Shares is also required to notify the Company and the Conseil des Marches Financiers if the percentage of Shares or voting rights owned by such holder falls below the levels described in the previous sentence. In order to permit holders of Shares or voting rights to give the notice required by law, the Company is obligated to publish with the Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires ("BALO") and with the Conseil des Marches Financiers, within 15 calendar days of the Company's annual ordinary general meeting, information with respect to the total number of votes available as of the date of such meeting (and, in addition, the Company agrees to give such notice in English to the Depositary). In addition, if the number of available votes changes by 5% or more between two ordinary general meetings, the Company is required to publish in the BALO, and to file with the Conseil des Marches Financiers within 15 calendar days of such change, a notification of the number of votes then available. In the event that an Owner or Beneficial Owner fails to comply with the requirements set forth in the preceding paragraph, such Owner or Beneficial Owner shall not be permitted to exercise voting rights with respect to any Shares or securities representing Shares exceeding the above- referenced thresholds as to which any required disclosure (as set forth in the preceding paragraph) has not been made until the end of a two-year period following the date on which such Owner or Beneficial Owner has complied with such disclosure requirement. In addition, a French court may, under certain circumstances, eliminate all or part of the voting rights of such Owner or Beneficial Owner for a period not to exceed five years, and such Owner or Beneficial Owner may be subject to criminal penalties. In addition, the Company's statuts, as in effect as of the date hereof, provide that any shareholder who directly or indirectly, acting alone or in concert with others, acquires ownership or control of Shares representing 0.5% or any multiple thereof of the Company's share capital, or whose shareholding falls below any such limit, must inform the Company, within 15 days of the crossing of the relevant threshold, of the number of Shares then owned by such shareholder. Failure to comply with these notification requirements results in the Shares in excess of the relevant threshold being deprived of voting rights for all shareholder meetings if requested by one or more shareholders holding Shares representing at least 3% of the Company's share capital or voting rights until the end of a two-year period following the date on which the owner thereof has complied with such notification requirements. The above provisions relating to Shares or voting rights held by a person or an entity also apply to (i) Shares or voting rights held by another person or entity on behalf of such person or entity, (ii) Shares or voting rights held by any company which is directly or indirectly controlled by such person or entity, (iii) Shares or voting rights held by a third party acting in concert with such person or entity or (iv) Shares or voting rights that such person or entity, or any person or entity referred to in (i), (ii) or (iii) above, is entitled to acquire at its sole option by virtue of an agreement. In order to facilitate compliance with the notification requirements, an Owner or Beneficial Owner may deliver any notification to the Depositary with respect to Shares represented by American Depositary Shares evidenced by Receipts, and the Depositary shall, as soon as practicable, forward such notification to the Company and, if applicable, the Conseil des Marches Financiers or any other authorities in The Republic of France. The Depositary agrees to furnish to the Company upon request a list of the names, addresses, and holdings of American Depositary Shares by all persons in whose names receipts are registered on the books of the Depositary maintained for such purpose, in accordance with this Article and Section 4.10 of the Deposit Agreement. NY12529: 258523.7 NY12529: 258523.7 A-4