What are ADRs : American Depository Receipts popularly known as ADRs were introduced in the American market in 1927.

ADR is a security issued by a company outside the U.S. which physically remains in the country of issue, usually in the custody of a bank, but is traded on U.S. stock exchanges. In other words, ADR is a stock that trades in the United States but represents a specified number of shares in a foreign corporation. Thus, we can say ADRs are one or more units of a foreign security traded in American market. They are traded just like regular stocks of other corporate but are issued / sponsored in the U.S. by a bank or brokerage. ADRs were introduced with a view to simplify the physical handling and legal technicalities governing foreign securities as a result of the complexities involved in buying shares in foreign countries. Trading in foreign securities is prone to number of difficulties like different prices and in different currency values, which keep in changing almost on daily basis. In view of such problems, U.S. banks found a simple methodology wherein they purchase a bulk lot of shares from foreign company and then bundle these shares into groups, and reissue them and get these quoted on American stock markets. For the American public ADRs simplify investing. So when Americans purchase Infy (the Infosys Technologies ADR) stocks listed on Nasdaq, they do so directly in dollars, without converting them from rupees. Such companies are required to declqare financial results according to a standard accounting principle, thus, making their earnings more transparent. An American investor holding an ADR does not have voting rights in the company. The above indicates that ADRs are issued to offer investment routes that avoid the expensive and cumbersome laws that apply sometimes to non-citizens buying shares on local exchanges. ADRs are listed on the NYSE, AMEX, or NASDAQ. Global Depository Receipt (GDR): These are similar to the ADR but are usually listed on exchanges outside the U.S., such as Luxembourg or London. Dividends are usually paid in U.S. dollars. The first GDR was issued in 1990. ADVANTAGES OF ADRs: There are many advantages of ADRs. For individuals, ADRs are an easy and cost effective way to buy shares of a foreign company. The individuals are able to save considerable money and energy by trading in ADRs, as it reduces administrative costs and avoids foreign taxes on each transaction. Foreign entities prefer ADRs, because they get more U.S. exposure and it allows them to tap the American equity markets. . The shares represented by ADRs are without voting rights. However, any foreigner can purchase these securities whereas shares in India can be purchased on Indian Stock Exchanges only by NRIs or PIOs or FIIs. The purchaser has a theoretical right to exchange the receipt without voting rights for the shares with voting rights (RBI permission required) but in practice, no one

appears to be interested in exercising this right. How ADR Operates Indian companies have direct access to raise funds from Indian public by way of issuing Shares, Debentures etc. However Indian companies cannot do so, in such a direct manner, when it comes to raising funds from American people. That would entail the Indian companies to adopt US Accounting Norms which is also called as GAAP, maintain accounting practices as per American Financial Year (Which starts in January and ends in December of any particular year), as also follow variety of stringent standards as per American norms. Effectively, it would mean that the Indian company would have to follow two different set of rules simultaneously, one to comply with the laws of Indian Companies Act, and the other to comply with the American Laws. The method to circumvent the American norms, but still raise funds from American people is available by way of ADR or American Depository Receipts. In this system, the Indian company deposits certain amount of its Indian shares with designated American Banks. The banks, in turn, issues receipts that are equivalent in values (And also based on the intrinsic value the Indian Companys shares would fetch in the American market) to the Indian Company. These receipts essentially would be in number of receipts. Then these Indian Companies can trade these ADRs or American Depository Receipts with the American public. These ADRs can be purchased and traded freely without any encumbrances in the American Stocks and Shares Market. This way the Indian company is able to enter into the American Stocks and Shares market, and raise funds from the American public. The role of the American bank which has issued these receipts is very crucial, since it is they who stand guarantee to the issued receipts. Hence they do exhaustive study of the Indian company from all perspectives, and only then issue the ADR to the Indian company. Some Major ADRs issued by Indian Companies : Among the Indian ADRs listed on the US markets, are Infy (the Infosys Technologies ADR), WIT (the Wipro ADR), Rdy(the Dr Reddys Lab ADR), and Say (the Satyam Computer ADS)