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American Depositary Receipts (ADRs)

Synopsis:

American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) enable investors in the US to gain exposure to shares of foreign companies without having to invest in a foreign currency or deal in a foreign market. Read more..Such instruments are issued by a US depository bank to investors in the US and are denominated in the US Dollar. They help American investors gain exposure to foreign companies and diversify their portfolios. But, they can also expose them to currency and market risks. Read less


American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) are those financial instruments that enable investors in the US to invest in foreign companies. Such instruments are issued by a depositary bank in the US. They represent a specific number of shares of a foreign company.
 

ADRs provide an opportunity for investors in the US to buy shares of foreign companies. They help foreign companies raise capital from American investors. When ADRs pay dividends, they do so in the US Dollar, which helps American investors. Besides, ADRs trade in the stock markets in the US the way any domestic stock trades. 

How Do ADRs Work?

A US financial institution holds the underlying security when it comes to ADRs. Such securities are denominated in the US Dollar. However, before a US bank offers ADRs to investors in the US, it has to buy shares on a foreign exchange.
 

After completing the purchase of such shares, a US Bank holds them as inventory and issues ADRs for investors in the US. ADRs can be listed on many stock exchanges in the US, like the Nasdaq or the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
 

However, to access the ADR route to raise finance, foreign companies have to provide detailed financial information to US banks, which helps American investors analyse their financial condition, thereby enabling them to decide whether to invest in ADRs.
 

Meanwhile, American investors can buy or sell ADRs the way they would any other listed stock. The value of ADRs is a function of the value of underlying shares in a foreign market. However, that value needs to be adjusted for currency exchange rates and other fees.
 

ADRs make it easier for American investors to invest in foreign companies. To trade in them, American investors do not have to deal in foreign markets or foreign currencies. Having learnt what ADRs in the stock market mean, let us dig deeper into this topic.

Types of ADRs: Sponsored vs. Unsponsored

Sponsored ADRs: When a foreign company enters into an agreement with a US depositary bank to sell its shares to American investors, it is called a sponsored ADR. In this case, a US depositary bank has the primary responsibility to keep records, sell, and distribute shares and dividends to the public. Meanwhile, foreign companies pay the expenses related to issuing an ADR. Sponsored ADRs can be listed on the US stock exchanges.
 

Unsponsored ADRs: When a US bank issues ADRs without directly involving a foreign company, it is called an unsponsored ADR. In the case of unsponsored ADRs, foreign companies do not provide their permission. They do not even directly participate in the process. It is possible that different US depositary banks issue different unsponsored ADRs for the same foreign company and offer different dividends. Such ADRs trade in over-the-counter (OTC) markets in the US. They do not need to be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Benefits of Investing in ADRs

The main benefits of investing in ADRs are explained below:
 

  1. Provide access to foreign companies: ADRs allow American investors to invest in the shares of foreign companies. They do not have to go to a foreign market or deal in a foreign currency to invest in such instruments. Hence, the ease of investing in ADR is a huge advantage.

  2. Portfolio diversification: Investors in the US can diversify their portfolio by investing in ADRs, as such instruments allow them to invest in foreign companies, which are located outside of their own country. Such diversification helps in reducing their portfolio’s risk.

  3. Transparency: ADRs have to follow the same regulations concerning their reporting as followed by American companies, which ensures a high degree of transparency. If not for ADRs, American investors may not know what kind of disclosures are made by foreign companies.

  4. Ability to generate higher returns: As the US is a mature financial market, American investors at times find it difficult to achieve high returns by investing only in domestic companies. However, they can possibly achieve higher returns by investing in ADRs, as such instruments provide them exposure to foreign companies, which could grow at a higher rate.

Risks Associated with ADR Investments

While ADRs have their advantages, they also pose certain challenges and risks to investors, which are explained below:
 

  1. Risk of a foreign market: ADRs belong to companies that are based out of a foreign market, which may or may not be as mature as the US market. Hence, there is an element of market risk in ADRs.

  2. Currency risk: As ADRs represent shares of foreign companies, their value may change based on fluctuations in currency exchange rates. When a foreign currency depreciates against the US dollar, the value of ADR investments may decrease.

  3. High costs: Certain costs are associated with ADRs, which can make them a relatively expensive investment option. Such costs include depositary bank fees and maintenance fees.

  4. Limited voting rights: ADRs may not offer you full voting rights, which you can get by directly owning the shares of a foreign company. As a result, you may not have any control over the important decisions made by a foreign firm in which you are investing.

How to Invest in ADRs?

You need to follow these steps to invest in ADRs:

  1. Select a brokerage: The first thing you should do is open a brokerage account. Several brokers offer accounts that can help you invest in ADRs. You need to find one such broker that meets your requirements.

  2. Research ADRs: You need to thoroughly research foreign companies that offer ADRs in the US. For this purpose, you should analyse their data from their filings.

  3. Search for the ADR symbol: Just as regular stocks have their unique symbol, each ADR too has its unique symbol. Hence, you must search for the symbol of the ADR you want to invest in.

  4. Place your order: After selecting an ADR, you have to place an order using your brokerage account. It is just like buying a share. Hence, you can either purchase an ADR at its current market price or you can set a limit order specifying the price at which you would like to buy.  

  5. Track your investment: You should start monitoring your investment in an ADR after making it. Hence, you must observe how the value of an ADR changes based on the performance of a foreign company and other factors, like currency exchange rates.

Comparison: American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) vs. Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs)

The following table explains the difference between ADRs and GDRs:

Criteria

ADRs

GDRs

Definition

Financial instruments issued by a foreign company through a US depositary bank to investors in the US are called ADRs.

Financial instruments issued by a company in more than one foreign country through a depositary bank in those countries to investors in those countries are called GDRs.

Who can be the issuer?

A non-US company can issue an ADR.

Any company can issue a GDR.

Currency of the instrument

ADRs are issued in US Dollars.

GDRs are typically issued in multiple currencies, like the Euro, the US Dollar, etc.

Who can invest?

ADRs are meant for investors in the US.

GDRs are meant for the investors of countries in which they are issued.

Where do these instruments trade?

ADRs trade on US stock exchanges, like the NYSE and Nasdaq.

GDRs trade on the exchanges of countries where they are issued. Hence, they can trade on exchanges of multiple countries.

Tax Implications for ADR Investors

Investing in ADRs is seen as a foreign investment from the viewpoint of Indian tax laws. If an Indian resident invests in ADRs, he needs to follow the regulations of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regarding outward remittances. In other words, he should have a tax registration number and a valid bank account.
 

When an Indian resident receives dividends on ADRs, he has to pay tax at the applicable rates in India. Moreover, he also has to pay tax on capital gains arising out of the sale of ADRs. That said, he could get foreign tax credits, which can offset the taxes he pays on ADRs in a foreign country.
 

If you are an Indian investor who holds ADRs, you must report your foreign investments and also income earned on them on your tax returns. Otherwise, you may have to pay penalties and fines.

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Disclaimer: Investments in the securities market are subject to market risk, read all related documents carefully before investing.

This content is for educational purposes only. Securities quoted are exemplary and not recommendatory.

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