EX-2.3 2 nvx-ex2_3.htm EX-2.3 EX-2.3

 

Exhibit 2.3

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

REGISTERED UNDER SECTION 12 OF THE EXCHANGE ACT

 

Memorandum and Articles of Association

 

Our Constitution

 

Our Constitution governs our internal management and is similar in nature to the bylaws of a U.S. corporation. It does not provide for or prescribe any specific objectives or purposes of our company. It provides that our company may exercise any power, take any action or engage in any conduct which the Corporations Act permits a company limited by shares to exercise, take or engage in. Under the Corporations Act, a company has the legal capacity and powers of an individual both within and outside Australia, as well as a number of other powers specific to companies.

 

Our Constitution is subject to the terms of the Corporations Act. It may be amended or repealed and replaced by special resolution of shareholders, which is a resolution passed by at least 75% of the votes cast by shareholders (in person or by proxy) entitled to vote on the resolution.

 

The material provisions of our Constitution are summarized below. This summary is not intended to and does not constitute a complete statement of the rights and liabilities of our shareholders, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of our Constitution, a copy of which is included as an exhibit to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended June 30, 2022 (the “Annual Report”).

 

Interested Directors

 

Unless a relevant exception applies, the Corporations Act requires our directors to disclose any material personal interest in a matter that relates to the affairs of our company and prohibits them from voting on those matters and from being present at the meeting while the matter is being considered. However, a director with a material personal interest may be present at the meeting and vote on the matter if directors who do not have a material personal interest in the relevant matter have passed a resolution:

 

identifying that director, the nature and extent of the director’s interest in the matter and its relation to our affairs; and

 

 

stating that those directors are satisfied that the interest should not disqualify the director from voting or being present.

 

If a director has an interest in a matter, then under our Constitution that director may:

 

subject to the requirements under the Corporations Act described above, participate in and vote on that matter;

 

 

be counted in determining whether a quorum is present at any directors’ meeting considering that matter, provided they are entitled to vote on at least one of the resolutions to be proposed at that meeting;

 

execute any document relating to that matter; and

 

 

 

provided their interest has been disclosed (where required by Australian law) prior to the relevant transaction being entered into, retain the benefits under any transaction that relates to the interest.

 

 


 

In addition, the Corporations Act and the ASX Listing Rules require shareholder approval of the provision of financial benefits by our company to our directors, unless a relevant exception applies.

 

 

Remuneration of Our Directors and Senior Management During the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2022

 

Details of the remuneration of our directors and senior management for our fiscal year ended June 30, 2022, are set forth below.


 


 


 


 

Fixed remuneration


 

Variable remuneration


 


 

Name


 

Year


 

Cash salary


 

Post- employment benefits


 

Termination payments


 

Non-monetary benefits1


 

STI2


 

Discretionary payment3


 

Performance/Share rights4


 

Options4


 

Total

Key management personnel (Group)


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

C Burns


 

2022


 

879,884


 

17,598


 


 

2,651


 

938,377


 


 

4,152,013


 

303,145


 

6,293,668

N Liveris


 

2022


 

552,588


 

65,712


 


 


 

580,320


 


 

2,653,426


 

106,693


 

3,958,739

R Buttar (appointed 22/04/2021)


 

2022


 

499,374


 

73,499


 


 


 

262,232


 


 

681,601


 


 

1,516,706

_________________

1 Short-term benefits as per Corporations Regulation 2M.3.03(1) Item 6, primarily health insurance.

2 C Burns and N Liveris were both entitled to an STI equivalent to 100% of their cash salary for fiscal year 2022. The amount disclosed for STI differs to the amount disclosed as cash salary due to movements in foreign currency as STI’s for fiscal year 2022 have been accrued in USD and translated at the closing ASD:USD spot rate.

3 During the prior financial year some KMP were paid discretionary payments to reflect their contribution which in the opinion of the directors is outside the scope of the ordinary duties of their roles as KMP.

4 Performance rights, share rights and options are expensed over the performance period, which includes the year in which the rights and options are awarded / granted and the subsequent vesting period.

 


 


 


 


 

Fixed remuneration


 

Variable remuneration


 

Name


 

Year


 

Cash salary


 

Post- employment benefits


 

Termination payments


 

Non-monetary benefits


 

STI


 

Discretionary payment1


 

Performance/Share rights2


 

Options2

 


 

Total

Non-executive Directors


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

R Natter (exec from 24/9/2020 to 30/11/2021)


 

2022


 

171,543


 


 


 


 


 


 

2,390,000


 

56,522


 

2,618,065

A Bellas


 

2022


 

170,992


 

17,099


 


 


 


 


 

3,178,700


 


 

3,366,791

G A J Baynton (ceased 30/11/2021)


 

2022


 

31,078


 

3,108


 


 


 


 


 

328,625


 


 

362,811

R Cooper


 

2022


 

96,368


 

9,637


 


 


 


 


 

788,700


 


 

894,705

A Liveris


 

2022


 

71,083


 

7,108


 


 


 


 


 

788,700


 

508,697


 

1,375,588

Z Golodryga (appointed 20/10/2021)


 

2022


 

59,529


 


 


 


 


 


 

209,711


 


 

269,240

J Oelwang (appointed 2/3/2022)


 

2022


 

19,431


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

19,431

T St Baker (ceased

26/5/2022)


 

2022


 

57,365


 

5,736


 


 


 


 


 

710,905


 


 

774,006

__________________

1 During the prior financial year some KMP were paid discretionary payments to reflect their contribution which in the opinion of the directors is outside the scope of the ordinary duties of their roles as KMP.

2 Performance rights, share rights and options are expensed over the performance period, which includes the year in which the rights and options are awarded / granted and the subsequent vesting period.

 

 

Borrowing Powers Exercisable by Directors

 

Pursuant to our Constitution, the management and control of our business affairs are vested in our board of directors. Our board of directors has the power to borrow or raise money in any other way for the purposes of the company, and may grant security for the repayment, performance or fulfilment of any debts, liabilities, contracts or obligations incurred or undertaken by the company in any manner and upon any terms and conditions as our board of directors deems appropriate.

 

Retirement of Directors

 

Pursuant to the ASX Listing Rules, we must hold an election of directors at each annual general meeting, at which at least one director must stand for election or re-election. If there would not otherwise be a vacancy on the

 


 

board, and no director is required to retire (as described below), then the director who has been longest in office since last being elected must retire.

 

A director will be required to retire if: (i) they have been appointed by the other directors since the previous annual general meeting (as an addition to the board or to fill a casual vacancy), or (ii) they would hold office without re-election beyond the third annual general meeting following their appointment. Retirement based on the latter rule does not apply to the managing director.

 

The retirement of a director from office, and the re-election of a director or the election of another person to that office, takes effect at the conclusion of the relevant annual general meeting.

 

Rights and Restrictions on Classes of Shares

 

The rights attaching to our ordinary shares are detailed in our Constitution. Our Constitution provides that, subject to the Corporations Act, the ASX Listing Rules and our Constitution, our directors may issue shares (including shares with certain preferential rights, as described below) and grant options over unissued shares to such persons, on such terms and with such rights and restrictions as they may determine.

 

Preference shares issued by our company may be liable to be redeemed or converted to ordinary shares and will have limited voting rights. They would also receive a preferential dividend, in priority to the payment of any dividend on the ordinary shares, at a rate (fixed or variable) and on the basis (including whether cumulative or not) decided by the directors.

 

As of the date of the Annual Report, our outstanding share capital consists of only one class of ordinary shares.

 

Dividend Rights

 

Under the Corporations Act, a company must not pay a dividend unless:

 

the company’s assets exceed its liabilities immediately before the dividend is declared and the excess is sufficient for the payment of the dividend;

 

 

the payment of the dividend is fair and reasonable to the company’s shareholders as a whole; and

 

 

 

the payment of the dividend does not materially prejudice the company’s ability to pay its creditors.

Subject to this requirement, our board of directors may from time to time determine to pay dividends to shareholders. All unclaimed dividends may be invested by our board of directors for our benefit until claimed or until required to be dealt with under any law relating to unclaimed moneys.

 

Voting Rights

 

Under our Constitution, and subject to any voting exclusions imposed under the ASX Listing Rules (which typically exclude parties from voting on resolutions in which they have an interest) and any rights and restrictions attaching to a class of shares (such as voting rights for preference shares, if any were issued), each shareholder has one vote on a show of hands at a meeting of the shareholders. If a poll is demanded under the Constitution or the Corporations Act, each shareholder shall have one vote for each fully paid share and a fractional vote for each share held by that shareholder that is not fully paid, such fraction being equivalent to the proportion of the amount that has been paid to such date on that share. Shareholders may vote in person or by proxy, attorney or representative. Under Australian law, shareholders of a public company are generally not permitted to approve corporate matters by written consent. Our Constitution does not provide for cumulative voting.

 

 


 

Under Australian law, an ordinary resolution is passed if a majority of the votes cast on the resolution (in person or by proxy) by members entitled to vote on the resolution are in favor of the resolution. Under our Constitution, if the votes are equal on a proposed resolution, the chair of the meeting has a casting vote in addition to any deliberative vote. Under Australian law, a special resolution (which is required to amend our Constitution, among other things) is passed if at least 75% of the votes cast on the resolution (in person or by proxy) by members entitled to vote on the resolution are in favor of the resolution.

 

ADS holders may not directly vote at a meeting of the shareholders but may instruct the depositary to vote the number of deposited ordinary shares which their ADSs represent. See “American Depositary Shares—Voting Rights” below.

 

Right to Share in Our Profits

 

Pursuant to our Constitution, our shareholders are entitled to participate in our profits only by payment of dividends. Our board of directors may from time to time determine to pay dividends to the shareholders. However, any such dividend is only payable in accordance with the requirements set out in the Corporations Act described above under “—Dividend Rights”.

 

Rights to Share in the Surplus in the Event of Winding Up

 

Our Constitution provides for the right of shareholders to participate in a surplus in the event of our winding up, subject to the rights attaching to a class of shares.

 

No Redemption Provision for Ordinary Shares

 

There are no redemption provisions in our Constitution in relation to ordinary shares. Under our Constitution, shares may be issued and allotted, which are liable to be redeemed (i.e. redeemable preference shares). Under the Corporations Act, redeemable preference shares may only be redeemed if those preference shares are fully paid-up and payment in satisfaction of redemption is out of profits or the proceeds of a new issue of shares made for the purpose of the redemption.

 

Variation or Cancellation of Share Rights

 

Subject to the Corporations Act, the ASX Listing Rules and the terms of issue of shares of that class, the rights and privileges attached to shares in a class of shares may only be varied or cancelled by a special resolution, together with either:

a special resolution passed at a meeting of members holding shares in the class; or

 

 

 

the written consent of members with at least 75% of the votes in the class.

 

Directors May Make Calls

 

Our Constitution provides that subject to the terms on which partly paid shares are issued, directors may make calls on the holders of the ordinary shares for any money unpaid on them.

 

General Meetings of Shareholders

 

General meetings of shareholders may be called by our board of directors. Except as permitted under the Corporations Act, shareholders may not convene a meeting. The Corporations Act requires the directors to call and arrange to hold a general meeting on the request of shareholders with at least 5% of the votes that may be cast at a general meeting. Notice of the proposed meeting of our shareholders is required to be given to shareholders at least 28 days prior to such meeting under the Corporations Act.

 

Foreign Ownership Regulation

 

 


 

Our Constitution does not impose specific limitations on the rights of non-Australian residents to hold or acquire our securities. However, proposed acquisitions of securities in Australian companies by foreign persons may be subject to review by the Australian Federal Treasurer (who is advised by Australia’s Foreign Investment Review Board, or FIRB) under the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 (Cth), or the FATA.

 

Foreign investment actions which qualify for review under the FATA can be classified in one of two ways: there are actions which must be notified to FIRB and actions which may be notified to FIRB. Generally, an acquisition of securities in an Australian company by a foreign person must be notified to FIRB if: (i) the foreign person and any of their associates would together hold an interest in 20% or more of the issued securities of, or would be in a position to control 20% or more of the voting power in, that company, and (ii) the relevant monetary threshold is satisfied. As an example of the monetary threshold which may apply, for a U.S. person acquiring an equity interest in an Australian company which does not operate a “sensitive” business (e.g. media, telecommunications, transport, defence etc.), the transaction would generally only qualify for review under the FATA if the total asset value of the company or its total issued securities value was greater than A$1.216 billion (indexed).

 

The Australian Federal Treasurer has broad powers in relation to proposed acquisitions. The Treasurer may prevent proposed acquisitions or impose conditions on them. If a qualifying action is not voluntarily submitted to FIRB for review, a foreign person who proceeds with the acquisition is subject to the risk that the Treasurer may subsequently consider the transaction to be contrary to Australia’s national interest or its national security and may, accordingly, make adverse orders in respect of the action (including divestment orders). Divestment orders may also be made if a foreign person acquires an interest in securities in an Australian company in contravention of the FATA.

 

Foreign investment is a complex area of Australian law. Whether actions qualify for review under the FATA, and whether the Australian Federal Treasurer will exercise their power to prohibit or impose conditions on a foreign person’s proposed acquisition, will depend on, among other things, the identity of the foreign person (such as whether they are a government or non-government investor, whether they have any associates and their nationality), the nature of the Australian company and its business and the proposed structure and value of the transaction. Given this complexity, this section of this exhibit does not, and does not intend to, exhaustively describe Australia’s foreign investment laws or the various regulations which may apply in respect of a particular transaction. Australian law advice should be sought in respect of specific foreign investment issues.

 

Issues of Shares and Change in Capital

 

Subject to our Constitution, the Corporations Act, the ASX Listing Rules and any other applicable law, we may at any time issue shares and grant any person options over unissued shares on any terms, and with such rights and restrictions, as the directors may determine.

 

The directors may issue preference shares, as described above under “—Rights and Restrictions on Classes of Shares”.

 

Subject to the requirements of our Constitution, the Corporations Act, the ASX Listing Rules and any other applicable law, including relevant shareholder approvals, we may consolidate or divide our share capital into a larger or smaller number by resolution, reduce our share capital in any manner (provided that the reduction is fair and reasonable to our shareholders as a whole and does not materially prejudice our ability to pay creditors) or buy back our ordinary shares, whether under an equal access buy-back or on a selective basis.

 

Ownership Threshold

 

There are no specific provisions in our Constitution that require a person to disclose ownership above a certain threshold. The Corporations Act, however, requires a person to notify us and the ASX once the person, together with their associates, acquires a 5% “relevant interest” in our ordinary shares, at which point the person will be considered to be a “substantial” holder. See “—Change of Control” below regarding when a person has a “relevant interest”. Further, once a person holds (alone or together with associates) a 5% relevant interest in us, such person

 


 

must notify us and the ASX of any increase or decrease of 1% or more in their holding of our ordinary shares, and must also notify us and the ASX upon their ceasing to be a “substantial” holder.

 

Change of Control

 

Takeovers of listed Australian public companies, including us, are regulated by the Corporations Act, which prohibits the acquisition of a “relevant interest” in issued voting shares in a listed company if the acquisition will lead to that person’s or someone else’s voting power in our company increasing from 20% or below to more than 20% or increasing from a starting point that is above 20% and below 90%, which we refer to as the Takeovers Prohibition, which is subject to a range of exceptions.

 

Generally, a person will have a relevant interest in securities if the person:

 

is the holder of the securities (other than if the person holds those securities as a bare trustee);

 

 

 

has power to exercise, or control the exercise of, a right to vote attached to the securities; or

 

 

 

has the power to dispose of, or control the exercise of a power to dispose of, the securities.

 

If, at a particular time,

 

a person has a relevant interest in issued securities; and

 

 

 

the person (whether before or after acquiring the relevant interest) has:

 

 

 

entered or enters into an agreement with another person with respect to the securities;

 

 

 

given or gives another person an enforceable right, or has been or is given an enforceable right by another person, in relation to the securities (whether the right is enforceable presently or in the future and whether or not on the fulfillment of a condition); or

 

 

granted or grants an option to, or has been or is granted an option by, another person with respect to the securities; and

 

 

the other person would have a relevant interest in the securities if the agreement were performed, the right enforced or the option exercised,

 

then the other person is taken to have a relevant interest in the relevant securities.

 

There are a number of exceptions to the Takeover Prohibition. In general terms, some of the more significant exceptions include:

 

when the acquisition results from the acceptance of an offer under a formal takeover bid;

 

 

 

 


 

when the acquisition is conducted on market by or on behalf of the bidder during the bid period for a full takeover bid that is unconditional or only conditional on certain ‘prescribed’ matters set out in the Corporations Act;

 

 

when the acquisition has been previously approved by our shareholders by resolution passed in a general meeting;

 

 

an acquisition by a person if, throughout the six months before the acquisition, that person or any other person has had voting power in our company of at least 19% and, as a result of the acquisition, none of the relevant persons would have voting power in our company more than three percentage points higher than they had six months before the acquisition;

 

 

when the acquisition results from the issue of securities under a rights issue;

 

 

 

when the acquisition results from the issue of securities under a dividend reinvestment scheme or bonus share plan;

 

 

when the acquisition results from the issue of securities under certain underwriting arrangements;

 

 

 

when the acquisition results from the issue of securities through a will or through operation of law;

 

 

 

an acquisition that arises through the acquisition of a relevant interest in another listed company which is listed on a prescribed financial market or a financial market approved by ASIC;

 

 

an acquisition arising from an auction of forfeited shares conducted on-market; or

 

 

 

an acquisition arising through a compromise, arrangement, liquidation or buy-back.

Breaches of the takeovers provisions of the Corporations Act are criminal offenses. ASIC and the Australian Takeover Panel have a wide range of powers relating to breaches of the takeovers provisions, including the ability to make orders, canceling contracts, freezing transfers of, and rights attached to, securities and forcing a party to dispose of securities. There are certain defenses to breaches of the takeovers provisions provided in the Corporations Act.

 

Access to and Inspection of Documents

 

Any shareholder of the Company has the right to inspect or obtain copies of our share register on the payment of a prescribed fee. Our books containing the minutes of general meetings will be kept at our registered office and will be open to inspection of shareholders at all times when the office is required to be open to the public. Other corporate records, including minutes of directors’ meetings, financial records and other documents, are not open for inspection by shareholders (who are not directors).

 

American Depository Shares

 

 


 

The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary, will register and deliver American Depositary Shares, also referred to as ADSs. Each ADS will represent four shares (or a right to receive four shares) deposited with The Honk Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, as custodian for the depositary in Australia. Each ADS will also represent any other securities, cash or other property that may be held by the depositary. The deposited shares together with any other securities, cash or other property held by the depositary are referred to as the deposited securities. The depositary’s office at which the ADSs will be administered and its principal executive office are located at 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286.

 

You may hold ADSs either (A) directly (i) by having an American Depositary Receipt, also referred to as an ADR, which is a certificate evidencing a specific number of ADSs, registered in your name, or (ii) by having uncertificated ADSs registered in your name, or (B) indirectly by holding a security entitlement in ADSs through your broker or other financial institution that is a direct or indirect participant in The Depository Trust Company, also called DTC. If you hold ADSs directly, you are a registered ADS holder, also referred to as an ADS holder. This description assumes you are an ADS holder. If you hold the ADSs indirectly, you must rely on the procedures of your broker or other financial institution to assert the rights of 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 ADSs will receive statements from the depositary confirming their holdings.

 

As an ADS holder, we will not treat you as one of our shareholders and you will not have shareholder rights. Australian law governs shareholder rights. The depositary will be the holder of the shares underlying your ADSs. As a registered holder of ADSs, you will have ADS holder rights. A deposit agreement among us, the depositary, ADS holders and all other persons indirectly or beneficially holding ADSs sets out ADS holder rights as well as the rights and obligations of the depositary. New York law governs the deposit agreement and the ADSs.

 

The following is a summary of the material provisions of the deposit agreement. For more complete information, you should read the entire deposit agreement and the form of ADR. Directions on how to obtain copies of those documents are provided in the Annual Report.

 

Dividends and Other Distributions

How will you receive dividends and other distributions on the shares?

 

The depositary has agreed to pay or distribute to ADS holders the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on 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 shares your ADSs represent.

 

Cash. The depositary will convert any cash dividend or other cash distribution we pay on the 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 depositary to distribute the foreign currency only to those ADS holders to whom it is possible to do so. It will hold the foreign currency it cannot convert for the account of the ADS holders who have not been paid. It will not invest the foreign currency and it will not be liable for any interest.

 

Before making a distribution, any withholding taxes, or other governmental charges that must be paid will be deducted. The depositary will distribute only whole U.S. dollars and cents and will round fractional cents to the nearest whole cent. If the exchange rates fluctuate during a time when the depositary cannot convert the foreign currency, you may lose some of the value of the distribution.

 

Shares. The depositary may distribute additional ADSs representing any shares we distribute as a dividend or free distribution. The depositary will only distribute whole ADSs. It will sell shares which would require it to deliver a fraction of an ADS (or ADSs representing those shares) and distribute the net proceeds in the same way as it does with cash. If the depositary does not distribute additional ADSs, the outstanding ADSs will also represent the new shares. The depositary may sell a portion of the distributed shares (or ADSs representing those shares) sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in connection with that distribution.

 


 

 

Rights to purchase additional shares. If we offer holders of our securities any rights to subscribe for additional shares or any other rights, the depositary may (i) exercise those rights on behalf of ADS holders, (ii) distribute those rights to ADS holders or (iii) sell those rights and distribute the net proceeds to ADS holders, in each case after deduction or upon payment of its fees and expenses. To the extent the depositary does not do any of those things, it will allow the rights to lapse. In that case, you will receive no value for them. The depositary will exercise or distribute rights only if we ask it to and provide satisfactory assurances to the depositary that it is legal to do so. If the depositary will exercise rights, it will purchase the securities to which the rights relate and distribute those securities or, in the case of shares, new ADSs representing the new shares, to subscribing ADS holders, but only if ADS holders have paid the exercise price to the depositary. U.S. securities laws may restrict the ability of the depositary to distribute rights or ADSs or other securities issued on exercise of rights to all or certain ADS holders, and the securities distributed may be subject to restrictions on transfer.

Other Distributions. The depositary will send to ADS holders anything else we distribute on deposited securities by any means it thinks is legal, fair and practical. If it cannot make the distribution in that way, the depositary has a choice. It may decide to sell what we distributed and distribute the net proceeds, in the same way as it does with cash. Or, it may decide to hold what we distributed, in which case ADSs will also represent the newly distributed property. However, the depositary is not required to distribute any securities (other than ADSs) to ADS holders unless it receives satisfactory evidence from us that it is legal to make that distribution. The depositary may sell a portion of the distributed securities or property sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in connection with that distribution. U.S. securities laws may restrict the ability of the depositary to distribute securities to all or certain ADS holders, and the securities distributed may be subject to restrictions on transfer.

 

The depositary is not responsible if it decides that it is unlawful or impractical to make a distribution available to any ADS holders. We have no obligation to register ADSs, shares, rights or other securities under the Securities Act. We also have no obligation to take any other action to permit the distribution of ADSs, shares, rights or anything else to ADS holders. This means that you may not receive the distributions we make on our shares or any value for them if it is illegal or impractical for us to make them available to you.

 

Deposit, Withdrawal and Cancellation

 

How are ADSs issued?

 

The depositary will deliver ADSs if you or your broker deposits shares with the custodian. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees, the depositary will register the appropriate number of ADSs in the names you request and will deliver the ADSs to the person or persons that made the deposit.

 

How can ADS holders withdraw the deposited securities?

You may surrender your ADSs to the depositary for the purpose of withdrawal. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees, the depositary will deliver the shares and any other deposited securities underlying the ADSs to the ADS holder or a person the ADS holder designates at the office of the custodian. Or, at your request, risk and expense, the depositary will deliver the deposited securities at its office, if feasible. However, the depositary is not required to accept surrender of ADSs to the extent it would require delivery of a fraction of a deposited share or other security. The depositary may charge you a fee and its expenses for instructing the custodian regarding delivery of deposited securities.

 

How do ADS holders interchange between certificated ADSs and uncertificated ADSs?

 

You may surrender your ADR to the depositary for the purpose of exchanging your ADR for uncertificated ADSs. The depositary will cancel that ADR and will send to the ADS holder a statement confirming that the ADS holder is the registered holder of uncertificated ADSs. Upon receipt by the depositary of a proper instruction from a registered holder of uncertificated ADSs requesting the exchange of uncertificated ADSs for certificated ADSs, the depositary will execute and deliver to the ADS holder an ADR evidencing those ADSs.

 

Voting Rights

 


 

 

How do you vote?

 

ADS holders may instruct the depositary how to vote the number of deposited shares their ADSs represent. If we request the depositary to solicit your voting instructions (and we are not required to do so), the depositary will notify you of a shareholders’ meeting and send or make voting materials available to you. Those materials will describe the matters to be voted on and explain how ADS holders may instruct the depositary how to vote. For instructions to be valid, they must reach the depositary by a date set by the depositary. The depositary will try, as far as practical, subject to the laws of Australia and the provisions of our articles of association or similar documents, to vote or to have its agents vote the shares or other deposited securities as instructed by ADS holders. If we do not request the depositary to solicit your voting instructions, you can still send voting instructions, and, in that case, the depositary may try to vote as you instruct, but it is not required to do so.

Except by instructing the depositary as described above, you won’t be able to exercise voting rights unless you surrender your ADSs and withdraw the shares. However, you may not know about the meeting enough in advance to withdraw the shares. In any event, the depositary will not exercise any discretion in voting deposited securities and it will only vote or attempt to vote as instructed.

 

We cannot assure you that you will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that you can instruct the depositary to vote the shares represented by your ADSs. In addition, the depositary and its agents are not responsible for failing to carry out voting instructions or for the manner of carrying out voting instructions. This means that you may not be able to exercise voting rights and there may be nothing you can do if the shares represented by your ADSs are not voted as you requested.

 

In order to give you a reasonable opportunity to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of voting rights relating to Deposited Securities, if we request the Depositary to act, we agree to give the depositary notice of any such meeting and details concerning the matters to be voted upon at least 45 days in advance of the meeting date.

 

Fees and Expenses

 


 

 Persons depositing or withdrawing shares or ADS holders must pay:

 For:

 $5.00 (or less) per 100 ADSs (or portion of 100 ADSs)

 Issuance of ADSs, including issuances resulting from a distribution of shares or rights or other property

 

 Cancellation of ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal, including if the deposit agreement terminates

 $.05 (or less) per ADS

 Any cash distribution to ADS holders

 A fee equivalent to the fee that would be payable if securities distributed to you had been shares and the shares had been deposited for issuance of ADSs

 Distribution of securities distributed to holders of deposited securities (including rights) that are distributed by the depositary to ADS holders

 $.05 (or less) per ADS per calendar year

 Depositary services

 Registration or transfer fees

 Transfer and registration of shares on our share register to or from the name of the depositary or its agent when you deposit or withdraw shares

 Expenses of the depositary

 Cable (including SWIFT) and facsimile transmissions (when expressly provided in the deposit agreement)

 Converting foreign currency to U.S. dollars

 

Taxes and other governmental charges the depositary or the custodian has to pay on any ADSs or shares underlying ADSs, such as stock transfer taxes, stamp duty or withholding taxes

 As necessary

 

 

 Any charges incurred by the depositary or its agents for servicing the deposited securities

 As necessary

 

 

 

The depositary collects its fees for delivery and surrender of ADSs directly from investors depositing shares or surrendering ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal or from intermediaries acting for them. The depositary collects fees for making distributions to investors by deducting those fees from the amounts distributed or by selling a portion of distributable property to pay the fees. The depositary may collect its annual fee for depositary services by deduction from cash distributions or by directly billing investors or by charging the book-entry system accounts of participants acting for them. The depositary may collect any of its fees by deduction from any cash distribution payable (or by selling a portion of securities or other property distributable) to ADS holders that are obligated to pay those fees. The depositary may generally refuse to provide fee-attracting services until its fees for those services are paid.

From time to time, the depositary may make payments to us to reimburse us for costs and expenses generally arising out of establishment and maintenance of the ADS program, waive fees and expenses for services provided to us by the depositary or share revenue from the fees collected from ADS 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.

 

The depositary may convert currency itself or through any of its affiliates, or the custodian or we may convert currency and pay U.S. dollars to the depositary. Where the depositary converts currency itself or through any of its

 


 

affiliates, the depositary 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 by it or its affiliate 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 ADS holders, subject to the depositary’s obligation to act without negligence or bad faith. The methodology used to determine exchange rates used in currency conversions made by the depositary is available upon request. Where the custodian converts currency, the custodian has no obligation to obtain the most favorable rate that could be obtained at the time or to ensure that the method by which that rate will be determined will be the most favorable to ADS holders, and the depositary makes no representation that the rate is the most favorable rate and will not be liable for any direct or indirect losses associated with the rate. In certain instances, the depositary may receive dividends or other distributions from us in U.S. dollars that represent the proceeds of a conversion of foreign currency or translation from foreign currency at a rate that was obtained or determined by us and, in such cases, the depositary will not engage in, or be responsible for, any foreign currency transactions and neither it nor we make any representation that the rate obtained or determined by us is the most favorable rate and neither it nor we will be liable for any direct or indirect losses associated with the rate.

 

Payment of Taxes

 

You will be responsible for any taxes or other governmental charges payable on your ADSs or on the deposited securities represented by any of your ADSs. The depositary may refuse to register any transfer of your ADSs or allow you to withdraw the deposited securities represented by your ADSs until those taxes or other charges are paid. It may apply payments owed to you or sell deposited securities represented by your ADSs to pay any taxes owed and you will remain liable for any deficiency. If the depositary sells deposited securities, it will, if appropriate, reduce the number of ADSs to reflect the sale and pay to ADS holders any proceeds, or send to ADS holders any property, remaining after it has paid the taxes.

 

Tender and Exchange Offers; Redemption, Replacement or Cancellation of Deposited Securities

 

The depositary will not tender deposited securities in any voluntary tender or exchange offer unless instructed to do so by an ADS holder surrendering ADSs and subject to any conditions or procedures the depositary may establish.

 

If deposited securities are redeemed for cash in a transaction that is mandatory for the depositary as a holder of deposited securities, the depositary will call for surrender of a corresponding number of ADSs and distribute the net redemption money to the holders of called ADSs upon surrender of those ADSs.

 

If there is any change in the deposited securities such as a sub-division, combination or other reclassification, or any merger, consolidation, recapitalization or reorganization affecting the issuer of deposited securities in which the depositary receives new securities in exchange for or in lieu of the old deposited securities, the depositary will hold those replacement securities as deposited securities under the deposit

agreement. However, if the depositary decides it would not be lawful and practical to hold the replacement securities because those securities could not be distributed to ADS holders or for any other reason, the depositary may instead sell the replacement securities and distribute the net proceeds upon surrender of the ADSs.

 

If there is a replacement of the deposited securities and the depositary will continue to hold the replacement securities, the depositary may distribute new ADSs representing the new deposited securities or ask you to surrender your outstanding ADSs in exchange for new ADSs identifying the new deposited securities.

 

If there are no deposited securities underlying ADSs, including if the deposited securities are cancelled, or if the deposited securities underlying ADSs have become apparently worthless, the depositary may call for surrender of those ADSs or cancel those ADSs upon notice to the ADS holders.

 

 


 

Amendment and Termination

 

How may the deposit agreement be amended?

 

We may agree with the depositary to amend the deposit agreement and the ADRs without your consent for any reason. If an amendment adds or increases fees or charges, except for taxes and other governmental charges or expenses of the depositary for registration fees, facsimile costs, delivery charges or similar items, or prejudices a substantial right of ADS holders, it will not become effective for outstanding ADSs until 30 days after the depositary notifies ADS holders of the amendment. At the time an amendment becomes effective, you are considered, by continuing to hold your ADSs, to agree to the amendment and to be bound by the ADRs and the deposit agreement as amended.

 

How may the deposit agreement be terminated?

 

The depositary will initiate termination of the deposit agreement if we instruct it to do so. The depositary may initiate termination of the deposit agreement if

60 days have passed since the depositary told us it wants to resign but a successor depositary has not been appointed and accepted its appointment;

 

we delist the ADSs from an exchange in the United States on which they were listed and do not list the ADSs on another exchange in the United States or make arrangements for trading of ADSs on the U.S. over-the-counter market;

 

we delist our shares from an exchange outside the United States on which they were listed and do not list the shares on another exchange outside the United States;

 

the depositary has reason to believe the ADSs have become, or will become, ineligible for registration on Form F-6 under the Securities Act of 1933;

 

we appear to be insolvent or enter insolvency proceedings;

 

all or substantially all the value of the deposited securities has been distributed either in cash or in the form of securities;

 

there are no deposited securities underlying the ADSs or the underlying deposited securities have become apparently worthless; or

 

there has been a replacement of deposited securities.

 

If the deposit agreement will terminate, the depositary will notify ADS holders at least 90 days before the termination date. At any time after the termination date, the depositary may sell the deposited securities. After that, the depositary will hold the money it received on the sale, as well as any other cash it is holding under the deposit agreement, unsegregated and without liability for interest, for the pro rata benefit of the ADS holders that have not surrendered their ADSs. Normally, the depositary will sell as soon as practicable after the termination date.

 


 

 

After the termination date and before the depositary sells, ADS holders can still surrender their ADSs and receive delivery of deposited securities, except that the depositary may refuse to accept a surrender for the purpose of withdrawing deposited securities or reverse previously accepted surrenders of that kind that have not settled if it would interfere with the selling process. The depositary may refuse to accept a surrender for the purpose of withdrawing sale proceeds until all the deposited securities have been sold. The depositary will continue to collect distributions on deposited securities, but, after the termination date, the depositary is not required to register any transfer of ADSs or distribute any dividends or other distributions on deposited securities to the ADSs holder (until they surrender their ADSs) or give any notices or perform any other duties under the deposit agreement except as described in this paragraph.

Limitations on Obligations and Liability

 

Limits on our Obligations and the Obligations of the Depositary; Limits on Liability to Holders of ADSs

 

The deposit agreement expressly limits our obligations and the obligations of the depositary. It also limits our liability and the liability of the depositary. We and the depositary:

 

are only obligated to take the actions specifically set forth in the deposit agreement without negligence or bad faith, and the depositary will not be a fiduciary or have any fiduciary duty to holders of ADSs;

 

are not liable if we are or it is prevented or delayed by law or by events or circumstances beyond our or its ability to prevent or counteract with reasonable care or effort from performing our or its obligations under the deposit agreement;

 

are not liable if we or it exercises discretion permitted under the deposit agreement;

 

are not liable for the inability of any holder of ADSs to benefit from any distribution on deposited securities that is not made available to holders of ADSs under the terms of the deposit agreement, or for any special, consequential or punitive damages for any breach of the terms of the deposit agreement;

 

have no obligation to become involved in a lawsuit or other proceeding related to the ADSs or the deposit agreement on your behalf or on behalf of any other person;

 

may rely upon any documents we believe or it believes in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person;

 

are not liable for the acts or omissions of any securities depository, clearing agency or settlement system; and

 

the depositary has no duty to make any determination or provide any information as to our tax status, or any liability for any tax consequences that may be incurred by ADS holders as a result of owning or holding ADSs or be liable for the inability or failure of an ADS 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.

 

In the deposit agreement, we and the depositary agree to indemnify each other under certain circumstances.

 

Requirements for Depositary Actions

 

Before the depositary will deliver or register a transfer of ADSs, make a distribution on ADSs, or permit withdrawal of shares, the depositary may require:

payment of stock transfer or other taxes or other governmental charges and transfer or registration fees charged by third parties for the transfer of any shares or other deposited securities;

 

 


 

satisfactory proof of the identity and genuineness of any signature or other information it deems necessary; and

 

compliance with regulations it may establish, from time to time, consistent with the deposit agreement, including presentation of transfer documents.

 

 

The depositary may refuse to deliver ADSs or register transfers of ADSs when the transfer books of the depositary or our transfer books are closed or at any time if the depositary or we think it advisable to do so.

 

Your Right to Receive the Shares Underlying your ADSs

 

ADS holders have the right to cancel their ADSs and withdraw the underlying shares at any time except:

when temporary delays arise because: (i) the depositary has closed its transfer books or we have closed our transfer books; (ii) the transfer of shares is blocked to permit voting at a shareholders' meeting; or (iii) we are paying a dividend on our 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 ADSs or to the withdrawal of 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 Direct Registration System, also referred to as DRS, and Profile Modification System, also referred to as Profile, will apply to the ADSs. DRS is a system administered by DTC that facilitates interchange between registered holding of uncertificated ADSs and holding of security entitlements in ADSs through DTC and a DTC participant. Profile is a feature of DRS that allows a DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf of a registered holder of uncertificated ADSs, to direct the depositary to register a transfer of those ADSs to DTC or its nominee and to deliver those ADSs to the DTC account of that DTC participant without receipt by the depositary of prior authorization from the 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 depositary will not determine whether the DTC participant that is claiming to be acting on behalf of an 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 ADS holder (notwithstanding any requirements under the Uniform Commercial Code). In the deposit agreement, the parties agree that the depositary’s reliance on and compliance with instructions received by the 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 depositary.

 

Shareholder Communications; Inspection of Register of Holders of ADSs

 

The depositary will make available for your inspection at its office all communications that it receives from us as a holder of deposited securities that we make generally available to holders of deposited securities. The depositary will send you copies of those communications or otherwise make those communications available to you if we ask it to. You have a right to inspect the register of holders of ADSs, but not for the purpose of contacting those holders about a matter unrelated to our business or the ADSs.

 


 

 

Jury Trial Waiver

 

The deposit agreement provides that, to the extent permitted by law, ADS holders waive the right to a jury trial of any claim they may have against us or the depositary arising out of or relating to our shares, the ADSs or the deposit agreement, including any claim under the U.S. federal securities laws. If we or the 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 depositary’s compliance with U.S. federal securities laws or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.