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as at October 2007

Basic rules for business relations between client and Bank Winter & Co. Aktiengesellschaft following named ’bank’
I. GENERAL PROVISIONS
A. Scope of application of and modifications of or amendments to these General Terms and Conditions
1. Scope of application
Section 1. (1) These General Terms and Conditions (hereinafter referred to as GTC) shall apply to the overall business relation between the customer and all branch offices of the bank in Austria and abroad. Terms and conditions of agreements concluded with the customer or of special terms and conditions shall prevail.
(2) The terms “consumer” and “entrepreneur” are used hereinafter in the meaning they have in the Consumer Protection Act.
2. Modifications or amendments
Section 2. (1) Modifications of or amendments to these GTC shall enter into force at the beginning of the second month following the notification to the customer with effect on all present and future business relations between the customer and the bank unless the bank has received a written objection from the customer by that time. Such notification may be effected in any form agreed with the customer within the scope of the business relation. The agreed form of service of statements of the bank shall also apply to the notification of modifications of or amendments to the GTC. If the customer's identity is not known to the bank and no agreement on the form of service has been concluded, the modified GTC which are displayed in the front office of the bank shall be relevant. The first sentence of this paragraph shall apply accordingly.
(2) By means of the notification the bank shall inform the customer about the fact that the GTC have been amended and shall point out that after expiration of the month following the notification pursuant to para 1 his/her acquiescence shall be deemed a consent to the modification or amendment. As regards customers whose identity is not known to the bank a respective note shall be included in the changed GTC displayed.
B. Statements
1. Customer orders and instructions
Section 3. (1) Instructions shall be given in writing.
(2) The bank shall, however, also be entitled to carry out instructions given via telecommunications (in particular over the phone, via cable, telex, telefax or data communication). Subject to the fulfilment of all other prerequisites the bank shall only be obliged to carry out such orders if agreed upon by the customer and the bank.
(3) The bank shall be entitled to carry out instructions of any kind given by an entrepreneur within the scope of the business relation on the customer's account if the bank is, without fault, of the opinion that they originate from the entrepreneur and if the ineffective order cannot be attributed to the bank.
2. Obtaining of confirmations by the bank
Section 4. For security reasons the bank shall be entitled, in particular in case of instructions given via telecommunications, to obtain a confirmation of the order via the same or a different means of communication, as the case may be.
3. Statements of the bank
Section 5. (1) The notifications and statements of the bank made via telecommunications shall be effective subject to written confirmation unless otherwise agreed in writing or other banking practices exist in this respect.
(2) The provision under para 1 shall not apply to consumer transactions.
C. Right of disposal upon the death of a customer
Section 6. (1) As soon as it receives notice of the death of a customer the bank shall permit dispositions on the basis of a decision rendered by the probate court or the certificate of inheritance. In case of joint accounts/joint securities accounts dispositions made by an account holder holding individual authority to dispose of the account shall not be affected by this provision.
(2) No authority to sign on an account granted by an entrepreneur for a business account shall terminate upon the death of a customer. In case of any doubt the accounts of an entrepreneur shall be considered business accounts.
D. Obligations and liability of the bank
1. Information duties
Section 7. Apart from the statutory duties to provide information, the bank shall have no other duties to provide information in addition to those stated in its terms and conditions unless separately agreed. For this reason the bank shall not be obliged – unless there is a legal or contractual obligation - to inform the customer of imminent price or exchange losses, of the value or worthlessness of objects entrusted to the bank, or of any facts or circumstances likely to affect or jeopardise the value of such objects. Nor shall the bank be obliged to provide other advice or information to the customer.
2. Carrying out of orders
Section 8. (1) The bank shall carry out an order which, due to its nature, requires the assistance of a third party, by calling in a third party in its own name. If the bank selects the third party it shall be liable for diligent selection.
(2) The bank shall be obliged to assign claims vis-à-vis the third party, if any, to the customer upon his/her request. The bank's obligations vis-à-vis the customer under the Credit Transfers Act of 1999 shall not be restricted by these Terms and Conditions.
Section 9. no longer applicable
E. Obligations to co-operate and liability of the customer
1. Introduction
Section 10. In his/her dealings with the bank the customer shall, in particular, observe the obligations to co-operate stated below. Any violation thereof shall lead to an obligation to pay damages on the part of the customer or to a reduction in his/her claims for damages vis-à-vis the bank.
2. Notification of important changes
a) Name or address
Section 11. (1) The customer shall immediately notify the bank in writing of any changes in his/her name, company name, address or the service address advised by him/her.
(2) If the customer fails to notify changes in the address, written communications of the bank shall be deemed received if they were sent to the address most recently advised to the bank.
b) Power of representation
Section 12. (1) The customer shall immediately notify the bank in writing of any cancellation or of changes of any power of representation advised to it, including an authority to operate and sign on an account (Sections 31 and 32), and shall provide appropriate documentary evidence in this regard.
(2) Any power of representation advised to the bank shall continue to be effective until written notification of cancellation of the same or of a change in its current scope, unless the bank had knowledge of such cancellation or change or was not aware thereof due to gross negligence. The same shall, in particular, also apply if the cancellation or change in the power of representation is registered in a public register and was duly published.
c) Capacity to enter into legal transactions; dissolution of the company
Section 13. The bank shall immediately be notified in writing of any loss of or reduction in the customer's capacity to enter into legal transactions. If the customer is a company or legal entity, a dissolution of the same shall be immediately notified to the bank.
3. Clarity of orders
Section 14. (1) The customer shall ensure that his/her orders/instructions to the bank are clear and unambiguous. Modifications, confirmations or reminders shall expressly be marked as such.
(2) If the customer wishes to give special instructions to the bank regarding the carrying out of orders she/he shall inform the bank thereof separately and explicitly, and in case of orders given by means of forms, the instructions shall be given separately, i.e. not on the form. This shall, above all, apply if the carrying out of the order is extremely urgent or subject to certain periods and deadlines.
4. Due care and diligence in using means of telecommunication
Section 15. If the customer makes orders or other statements via telecommunication she/he shall take appropriate precautions in order to avoid transmission errors and abuse.
5. Raising of objections
Section 16. (1) The customer shall immediately verify statements of the bank, such as confirmations of his/her orders, communications about the carrying out of the same, statements of account, statements of securities accounts, closing statements and any other accounts as well as mail and payments of the bank immediately as to their completeness and correctness and shall raise objections, if any, without delay.
(2) If the bank receives no written objections within a period of six weeks the statements and services of the bank stated shall be deemed approved. The bank shall in each case inform the customer about the significance of his/her behaviour at the beginning of the period. It shall be sufficient if such information is provided on the statement of account.
6. Notification in case of non-receipt of communications
Section 17. The customer shall notify the bank immediately if she/he does not receive regular com-munications from the bank (such as closing statements or statements of securities) or other communications or mail from the bank which the customer would have had to expect in his/her circumstances within the period of time normally to be expected with respect to the agreed form of transmission.
7. Translations
Section 18. Any foreign-language instruments shall be presented to the bank also in a German translation of a court-appointed and certified interpreter if the bank so requires.
F. Place of performance; choice of law; legal venue
1. Place of performance
Section 19. The place of performance for both parties shall be the offices of that branch of the bank with which the transaction was concluded.
2. Choice of law
Section 20. All legal relations between the customer and the bank shall be subject to Austrian law.
3. Legal venue
Section 21. (1) Legal actions of an entrepreneur against the bank may only be taken in the court having subject-matter jurisdiction at the place of the bank's registered office. This shall also be the legal venue in case of legal actions of the bank against an entrepreneur, with the bank being entitled to assert its rights in every court having local jurisdiction and jurisdiction over the subject-matter.
(2) The general legal venue in Austria provided for by law in case of legal actions of a consumer or against a consumer regarding agreements with a bank shall remain the same even if the consumer, after conclusion of the agreement, transfers his/her domicile abroad and Austrian court decisions are enforceable in that country.
G. Termination of the business relation
1. Termination by the bank
a) Ordinary termination
Section 22. Unless the agreement has been concluded for a definite period of time the bank and the customer shall be entitled to terminate the entire business relation or individual parts thereof at any time by observing an appropriate period of notice.
b) Termination for important reason
Section 23. (1) The bank and the customer shall be entitled to terminate the entire business relation or individual parts thereof at any time with immediate effect for important reason notwithstanding any agreements to the contrary.
(2) Important reasons entitling the bank to terminate the business relation are, in particular, if
• the financial situation of the customer or of a co-debtor deteriorates or is put at risk and the fulfilment of obligations vis-à-vis the bank is jeopardised as a result thereof
• the customer furnishes incorrect information about his/her financial situation or other essential facts and circumstances
• the customer fails or is unable to fulfil the obligation to provide or increase collateral.
2. Legal consequences
Section 24. (1) Upon termination of the entire business relation or individual parts thereof the amounts owed thereunder will immediately become due and payable. In addition, the customer shall be obliged to release the bank from all liabilities assumed for him/her.
(2) In addition, the bank shall be entitled to terminate all liabilities assumed for the customer and to settle the same on behalf of the customer as well as to immediately redebit credited amounts, subject to collection. Claims arising from securities, in particular bills of exchange or cheques, may be asserted by the bank until potential debit balances, if any, are covered.
(3) These General Terms and Conditions shall continue to apply even after termination of the business relation until complete settlement.
II. BANK INFORMATION
Bank information
Section 25. General information about the financial situation of an enterprise which is customary in banking practice will only be provided in a non-binding manner and, vis-à-vis entrepreneurs, only in writing unless an obligation to provide such information exists.
Section 26. no longer applicable
Section 27. no longer applicable
III. OPENING AND KEEPING OF ACCOUNTS AND SECURITIES ACCOUNTS
A. Scope of application
Section 28. Unless otherwise provided the following regulations regarding accounts shall also apply to securities accounts.
B. Opening of accounts
Section 29. When opening an account the future account holder shall prove his/her identity. Accounts shall be kept under the name of the account holder or the company name together with an account number.
C. Specimen signature
Section 30. Persons who are to be authorised to operate or sign on an account or securities account shall deposit their signature with the bank. Based on the signatures deposited the bank shall permit written disposition within the scope of the account.
D. Authority to operate and sign
1. Authority to operate
Section 31. Only the account holder shall be entitled to make dispositions regarding the account. Only persons whose power of representation is provided for by law or persons who hold an express written power of attorney to operate the account shall be entitled to represent the account holder. They shall be obliged to prove their identity and power of representation.
In the case of powers of attorney issued as a precaution, a general power of attorney to operate the accounts of the grantor of the power of attorney shall suffice.
2. Authority to sign
Section 32. (1) The account holder may expressly and in writing grant third parties authority to sign on an account. The person authorised to sign shall be exclusively entitled to make and revoke dispositions on the account.
(2) The authority to sign on a securities account also includes the power to buy and sell securities within the scope of the coverage available and in accordance with the investment objective of the security deposit holder pursuant to the Statute on the Supervision of the Securities Market.
E. Special types of accounts
1. Sub-account
Section 33. An account may also include sub-accounts. Even if they are given sub-account names the account holder shall be exclusively entitled and obligated vis-à-vis the bank in connection with the same.
2. Escrow account
Section 34. In case of escrow accounts the escrow agent shall be exclusively entitled and obligated vis-à-vis the bank as account holder.
3. Joint account
Section 35. (1) An account may also be opened for several account holders (joint account). Dispositions regarding the claim underlying the account, in particular the closing thereof and the granting of authority to sign, may only be made by all account holders jointly. Every account holder may be represented by an authorised representative in the individual case.
(2) The account holders shall be liable jointly and severally for obligations arising out of the account.
(3) Unless otherwise expressly agreed every joint account holder shall have individual power to make dispositions regarding the account. Such authority also includes the power to buy and sell securities within the scope of the coverage available and the joint investment objective of all security deposit holders in accordance with the Statute on the Supervision of the Securities Market. The authority will, however, be terminated by the express objection of another account holder. In such case the joint account holders shall only be authorised to act jointly.
(4) Authorisations to sign may be revoked by each individual joint account holder.
Section 36. no longer applicable
4. Foreign currency account
Section 37. (1) If the bank keeps a foreign currency account for the customer, transfers in the respective foreign currency shall be credited to such account unless a different transfer instruction has been given. If no foreign currency account exists the bank shall be entitled to credit foreign currency amounts in national currency unless expressly instructed to the contrary by the customer. The amount shall be converted at the conversion rate of the day on which the amount in foreign currency is at the bank's disposal and may be used by it.
(2) Holders of credit balances in foreign currency shall bear any and all financial and legal consequences and damages affecting the total credit balance in the respective currency held by the bank in Austria and abroad which were caused by measures or events for which the bank is not responsible pro rata up to their respective credit balances.
F. Balancing of accounts and lists of securities
Section 38. (1) Unless otherwise agreed the bank shall balance the account on a quarterly basis All interests and consideration accrued in a quarter form part of the closing balance which in turn will be subject to further interest paid thereafter (compound interest). Lists of securities shall be prepared once a year.
(2) The statement of account including the balance of account/the lists of securities shall be kept available for the customer at the account-keeping branch office of the bank.
IV. GIRO TRANSACTIONS
A. Transfer instructions
Section 39. (1) Transfer instructions shall state the receiving bank, the account number and the complete name of the beneficiary's account.
(2) The designated purpose stated in the transfer instruction shall be irrelevant to the bank.
(3) Acceptance of a transfer instruction by the bank alone shall not lead to any rights of a third party vis-à-vis the bank.
(4) The bank shall only be obliged to carry out a transfer instruction if sufficient funds to cover the total amount are available in the customer's account stated therein (credit balance, credit line granted).
B. Credit entries and right to cancel
Section 40. (1) In case of a valid existing account maintenance agreement, the bank shall be obliged and irrevocably entitled to accept amounts of money on behalf of the customer and credit the same to his/her account. Even after termination of the account maintenance agreement the bank shall be entitled to accept amounts of money on behalf of the customer to the extent obligations of the customer exist in connection with the account. The instruction to provide a customer with an amount of money shall be carried out by the bank by crediting the amount to the account of the beneficiary unless otherwise indicated in the instruction.
(2) The bank shall be entitled to cancel any credit entries made due to an error on its part at any time. In other cases the bank will only cancel the credit entry if the ineffectiveness of the transfer instruction is clearly proven to it. The right to cancel shall not be eliminated by a balancing of the account which took place in the meantime. If the right to cancel exists the bank may deny disposal of the amounts credited.
C. Credit entry - subject to collection
Section 41. (1) If the bank credits amounts which it has to collect on behalf of the customer (in particular, within the scope of collecting cheques, bills of exchange and other securities, debit notes, etc.) to the customer's account before the amount to be collected is received by the bank, the credit entry is only made subject to actual receipt of the credited amount by the bank. This shall also apply if the amount to be collected should be payable to the bank.
(2) Due to this reservation the bank shall be obliged to reverse the credit entry by means of a simple entry if the collection has failed or if due to the economic situation of a debtor, intervention by a public authority or for other reasons it is to be expected that the bank will not obtain the unrestricted right of disposition of the amount to be collected.
(3) The reservation may also be exercised if the amount credited was collected abroad and the bank is redebited the amount by a third party pursuant to foreign law or on the basis of an agreement entered into with a foreign bank.
(4) If the reservation is in force the bank shall also be entitled to deny the customer the right to dispose of the credited amounts. The reservation will not be eliminated by the balancing of accounts.
D. Debit entries
Section 42. (1) In the event of transfer instructions, debit entries shall only be considered as confirmation that the instruction has been carried out if the debit entry was not reversed within two banking days (Saturdays, Good Friday and 24 December are not considered banking days).
(2) Cheques and other payment instructions as well as debit entries are deemed collected/cashed/honoured if the debit entry has not been cancelled on the debited account of the customer within two banking days unless the bank has informed the presenter or paid him/her the amount in cash already prior thereto.
V. CONSIDERATION OF SERVICES AND REIMBURSE-MENT OF EXPENSES
A. Consideration
1. Principle that services are rendered subject to payment of consideration
Section 43. (1) The bank is entitled to demand for consideration from the customer for its services, in particular, interest, fees and commissions.
(2) This shall also apply to expedient services rendered by the bank without instruction but in the case of emergency or to the benefit of the customer or in connection with the settlement of the estate of the deceased customer.
2. Amount of consideration
Section 44. The bank is entitled to receive adequate consideration for its services, the amount of which will be determined by the bank and displayed in the form of a cost list containing the cost for certain typical services. The legal obligation to state such prices in a consumer credit agreement or a consumer current account agreement shall remain unaffected thereby.
3. Change of consideration of permanent services
Section 45. (1) Vis-à-vis entrepreneurs the bank shall be entitled to amend the consideration for permanent services (interest, account keeping fee, etc.) by taking into account all relevant circumstances (in particular, changes in the legal framework conditions, changes in the money market or capital market, changes in the refinancing costs, changes in the staff expenses and operating expenditure, changes in the Consumer Price Index, etc.) at its reasonable discretion.
(2) In case of legal transactions with consumers the consideration of the permanent services rendered by the bank may be changed in accordance with an adjustment clause contained in the agreement or in the cost list displayed at the time of conclusion of the agreement. The statutory obligation to include the said adjustment clause in a consumer credit agreement shall remain unaffected.
B. Reimbursement of expenses
Section 46. (1) The customer shall bear all expenses, disbursements and costs, in particular stamp duties and legal transaction charges, taxes, postage, cost of insurance, legal counsel, collection, consultancy services in business administration matters, telecommunications as well as provision, administration and utilisation or release of collateral incurred in connection with the business relation between him/her and the bank. If the bank is unable to carry out a payment order by the customer due to lack of coverage or if it has to take action vis-à-vis the customer due to enforcement measures of third parties, it shall be entitled to collect an appropriate lump-sum expense allowance pursuant to the displayed cost list.
(2) The bank shall be entitled to charge such expenses as a lump-sum amount without specifying the individual amounts unless the customer expressly demands itemisation of the individual amounts.
VI. COLLATERAL
A. Provision and increasing of collateral
1. Right of collateral
Section 47. The bank shall be entitled to demand from the customer the provision of appropriate collateral for all claims under the business relationship with him/her within an appropriate period of time, i.e. even then if the claims are conditional, limited or not yet due.
2. Change of risk
Section 48. (1) If circumstances occur or become known subsequently which justify an increased risk assessment of the claims vis-à-vis the customer, the bank shall be entitled to demand the provision or increase of collateral within a reasonable period of time. This shall, in particular, be the case if the economic situation of the customer has deteriorated or threatens to deteriorate or if the collateral available has deteriorated in value or threatens to deteriorate.
(2) This shall also apply if no collateral was required at the time the claims came into existence.
B. Bank's lien
1. Scope and coming into existence
Section 49. (1) The customer shall grant the bank a lien on any items and rights which come into the possession of the bank.
(2) The lien shall, in particular, also exist on all distrainable claims of the customer vis-à-vis the bank, such as under credit balances. If securities are subject to the lien, the lien shall also extend to the interest and dividend coupons pertaining to such securities.
Section 50. (1) The lien shall secure the bank's claims vis-à-vis the customer under the business relation, including joint accounts, even if the claims are conditional or limited or not yet due.
(2) The lien shall come into existence upon the bank's taking possession of the item to the extent claims pursuant to para 1 exist; otherwise at any future point in time when such claims arise.
2. Exemptions from the lien
Section 51. (1) The lien shall not include items and rights which have been assigned by the customer to a certain instruction prior to coming into existence of the lien, such as amounts designated for the cashing of a certain cheque or honouring of a certain bill of exchange as well as for the carrying out of a certain transfer. This shall, however, apply only as long as the assignment is effective.
(2) Notwithstanding the existing lien the bank will carry out dispositions of the customer regarding credit balances on current accounts in favour of third parties as long as the customer has not received a notification by the bank of the assertion of the lien. Distraint of the credit balance shall not be considered as a disposition by the customer.
(3) The lien shall not include assets which the customer has disclosed in writing to the bank as escrow assets prior to the coming into existence of the lien or which have come into the possession of the bank without the customer's will.
C. Release of collateral
Section 52. Upon the customer's request the bank will release collateral to the extent it has no justified interest in keeping it as security.
D. Realisation of collateral
1. Sale
Section 53. Collateral having a market price or stock exchange price shall be realised by the bank in compliance with the relevant statutory provisions by selling them at that price in the open market.
Section 54. The bank shall have assessed by an expert collateral having no market price or stock exchange price. The bank shall notify the customer of the result of the assessment and at the same time ask the customer to nominate a party interested in purchasing the same within a reasonable period of time who will pay the assessed value as purchase price to the bank within such period. If the customer fails to nominate an interested party within such period or if the purchase price is not paid by the interested party nominated, the bank shall irrevocably be entitled to sell the collateral in the name of the customer for not less than the assessed value. The proceeds from the sale shall be used for redemption of the secured claims, while the customer is being entitled for the surplus, if any.
2. Realisation and out-of-court auction
Section 55. The bank shall also be entitled to realise the collateral by enforcement or - to the extent it has no market price or stock exchange price - to sell it at an out-of-court auction.
3. Collection
Section 56. (1) The bank shall be entitled to terminate and collect the claims provided to it as collateral (including securities) at the time the secured claim becomes due. Prior thereto it shall be entitled to collect the claim serving as collateral when it becomes due. In case of an imminent loss in value of the claim serving as collateral the bank shall be entitled to terminate the same already prior becoming due. To the extent possible the customer shall be informed thereof in advance. Amounts collected prior to the due date of the secured claim shall serve as pledge instead of the claim collected.
(2) The provisions under para 1 shall not apply to salary claims of consumers which have been provided as security for claims not yet due.
4. Admissibility of realisation
Section 57. Even if the purchaser does not immediately pay the purchase price in cash, the bank shall be entitled to realise the collateral nevertheless to the extent that no or no equivalent offer for immediate payment in cash has been made and payment at a later point in time is secured.
E. Right of retention
Section 58. The bank shall be entitled to retain services to be rendered by it to the customer due to claims arising out of the business relationship even if they are not based on the same legal relationship. Sections 46 and 47 shall apply accordingly.
VII. OFFSETTING AND CREDITING
A. Offsetting
1. by the bank
Section 59. (1) The bank shall be entitled to offset all of the customer's claims to the extent they are distrainable against all liabilities of the customer vis-à-vis the bank.
(2) Notwithstanding the existing right to offset the bank shall carry out dispositions of the customer in favour of third parties regarding credit balances on current accounts as long as the customer has not received an offsetting statement. Distraint of the credit balance shall not be considered as a disposition by the customer.
2. by the customer
Section 60. The customer shall only be entitled to offset his/her liabilities if the bank is insolvent or if the claim of the customer is related to his/her liability or has been ascertained by court decision or recognised by the bank.
B. Credit
Section 61. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1416 ABGB [Austrian General Civil Code] the bank may initially credit payments to accounts payable to the bank to the extent no collateral has been provided for the same or if the value of the collateral provided does not cover the claims. In this respect it is irrelevant at which time the individual claims have become due. This shall also apply to a current account relationship.
Special Types of Business Transactions
I. TRADE IN SECURITIES AND OTHER ASSETS
A. Scope of application
Section 62. The terms and conditions under Sections 59 to 63 shall apply to securities and other assets even if they are not certificated.
B. Carrying out of instructions
Section 63. (1) In principle, the bank carries out customer instructions for the purchase and sale of securities as commission agent.
(2) However, if the bank agrees on a fixed price with the customer, it concludes a purchase agreement.
(3) The customer hereby gives his/her consent to the bank’s execution policy, on the basis of which the bank – in the absence of other instructions – will execute the customer’s orders. The bank shall inform the customer of any material changes in the execution policy.
(3) The bank may also carry out orders for the purchase and sale of securities in part if the market situation does not allow that the same be carried out in full.
C. Market practice at the place of execution of an order
Section 64. The statutory provisions and market practice applicable at the place of execution shall apply to the execution of an order.
D. Date of carrying out instructions
Section 65. If an instruction which is to be carried out on the same day has not been received early enough to be carried out that day within the scope of ordinary workflow, it shall be scheduled to be carried out on the next trading day.
E. Insufficient coverage
Section 66. (1) The bank shall be entitled to refrain from carrying out transactions in securities in whole or in part if no sufficient coverage is available.
(2) However, the bank shall be entitled to execute such securities transactions if it is unable to note that the customer wants the order to be carried out only on the condition that coverage is available.
(3) If the customer does not provide coverage despite of demand the bank shall be entitled to enter into a closing transaction for account of the customer at the best possible price.
F. Transactions abroad
Section 67. If a customer is credited for securities held abroad the customer's claim vis-à-vis the bank equals the share in the overall portfolio of securities of the same type maintained abroad which is held by the bank for account of its customers in compliance with the relevant statutory provisions and market practices.
G. Transactions in stocks
Section 68. In case of transactions in stocks the physical securities of which are not being traded yet the bank shall neither be liable for the issuance of the securities on the part of the joint-stock company nor for the possibility of exercising the shareholders rights prior to the issuance of the securities.
II. SAFEKEEPING OF SECURITIES AND OTHER VALUABLES
A. Safekeeping of securities
Section 69. (1) The bank shall be entitled to place securities deposited with it in the safekeeping deposit of the beneficiary.
(2) The bank is hereby expressly authorised to keep securities issued in Austria abroad and securities issued abroad in Austria. Likewise it shall be authorised to cause registered securities issued abroad to be registered in the name of the domestic depositary or in that of the nominee of the foreign depositary ("nominee").
(3) Vis-à-vis an entrepreneur the bank shall exclusively be liable for careful selection of the third-party depositary.
B. Redemption of shares, renewal of coupons, drawing, termination
Section 70. (1) The bank shall ensure detachment of due interest coupons, profit participation certificates and dividend coupons and collect their counter value. The bank shall procure new interest coupons, profit participation certifications and dividend coupons without specific instruction.
(2) Drawings, terminations and other comparable measures in respect of the securities held in safekeeping shall be monitored by the bank insofar as they are published in the official gazette "Amtsblatt zur Wiener Zeitung" or in "Mercur, Authentischer Verlosungs-anzeiger". The bank shall redeem raffled and terminated securities as well as interest coupons, profit participation certificates and dividend coupons.
(3) In case of securities deposited with a third-party depositary the same shall assume the obligations described in paras 1 and 2 above. In case of securities held abroad the bank shall not be obliged to inform the customer about the numbers of the securities credited and in particular of securities redeemable by drawings. The bank shall then determine by drawing what customers are to be allotted the securities drawn. If, however, numbers of securities redeemable by drawings are advised, they shall only be relevant to the drawing and redemption and only for as long as this is the practice abroad. If, according to the practice abroad, the collection amounts of the drawn securities would have to be distributed pro-rata and if in doing so it would not be possible to represent the remaining parts for individual customers in securities, the customers whose securities are to be redeemed shall be determined by means of a drawing.
C. The bank's obligation to examine
Section 71. The bank shall examine whether Austrian securities are affected by public notification procedures, payment stops and the like on the basis of the Austrian documents available to it once, namely on the occasion of delivery of the securities to the bank. Also the examination regarding invalidation procedures for securities lost or stolen shall be carried out upon delivery.
D. Notification of conversion or other measures
Section 72. In case of conversion, capital increase, capital reduction, merger, exercise or realisation of subscription rights, request for payment, grouping, change, exchange/conversion offer, coupon increase or other important measures regarding securities the bank shall, to the extent a respective notification has been published in the official gazette "Amtsblatt zur Wiener Zeitung" or communicated in time by the issuing house or the foreign depositary, try to notify the customer thereof. If the customer fails to provide instructions in time the bank shall act to the best of its knowledge by taking into account the customer's interests and, in particular, realise rights which would otherwise forfeit at the latest point in time possible.
III. TRADE IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE AND FOREIGN CURRENCY
A. Procedure
Section 73. The bank shall conclude a purchase agreement with the customer on foreign exchange and foreign currency. If it is agreed that the bank acts as commission agent for the customer, the provisions on commission transactions contained in the section on trade in securities shall apply accordingly. In case the bank contracts in its own name no express notification pursuant to Section 405 HGB [Austrian Commercial Code] shall be required.
B. Forward transactions
Section 74. (1) In case of forward transactions the bank shall be entitled to demand from the customer at a reasonable date before the due date evidence on the fact that the amount owed by the customer will be received in the agreed account in time. If such evidence is not provided or if due to other circumstances it is obvious that the customer will not fulfil his obligations, the bank shall be entitled to conclude a closing transaction at the best possible price already prior to the agreed due date.
(2) Even without prior agreement the bank shall be entitled to demand coverage for the risk of loss if according to the opinion of an expert such risk has increased or if the assets situation of the customer has deteriorated. Unless otherwise agreed coverage shall be provided in cash. The bank shall hold a lien on the assets deposited as coverage. If the customer fails to provide coverage the bank shall be entitled to conclude a closing transaction at the best possible price.
(3) If the bank concludes a closing transaction pursuant to paras 1 or 2, any resulting price difference shall be debited or credited to the customer, respectively. Any and all expenses incurred in connection therewith shall be borne by the customer.
IV. FOREIGN CURRENCY LOANS
Section 75. Loans in foreign currency shall be repaid in the currency in which they were granted by the bank. Payments made in other currencies shall be considered as security payments unless the bank informs the customer that they will be used for redemption of the loan. The bank shall also be entitled to convert an outstanding debit balance in foreign currency into local currency upon notification of the customer, if
• the credit risk increases due to the price development of the foreign currency and the bank does not receive sufficient security within a reasonable period of time or
• pursuant to statutory or other circumstances for which the bank is not responsible refinancing in the foreign currency is not anymore possible or
• the entire loan is due for repayment and is not repaid despite reminder.
V. COLLECTION, DISCOUNT BUSINESS, BILL OF EXCHANGE AND CHEQUE OPERATIONS
A. Scope of application
Section 76. These terms and conditions shall apply to bills of exchange, cheques and other collection documents (such as commercial instructions and certificates of obligation).
B. Collection or negotiation of documents
Section 77. In principle, such documents shall be accepted by the bank for collection unless negotiation (discounting) of the same has been agreed upon.
C. Timeliness of orders
Section 78. Orders for collection have to be received in due time that they may be executed in the ordinary course of business without use of special means of express handling.
D. Rights and obligations of the bank
Section 79. In case of discounting as defined under Sections 37 (2) and (3) the bank shall be entitled to debit the seller with the full nominal amount plus all expenses incurred by the bank; in case of documents denominated in foreign currency the customer shall also bear the exchange risk.
Section 80. In the events stated above as well as in case of redebits of "subject to collection" credits (Section 41) the claims under security law for payment of the full amount plus ancillary expenses vis-à-vis the customer and any party obligated under the document shall remain with the bank until coverage of the debit balance which results from such redebit.
Section 81. The bank may demand from the customer that the claim on which the document or acquisition of the same by the customer is based as well as all present and future rights arising from the underlying transactions including the collateral pertaining thereto be transferred. The bank shall only be obliged to cash documents which are due for payment with it if it has received an order from the customer in time and if sufficient coverage is ensured.