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Global Depository Receipt (GDR) is an instrument in which a company located in domestic country issues one or more of its shares or convertibles bonds outside the domestic country. In GDR, an overseas depository bank i.e. bank outside the domestic territory of a company, issues shares of the company to residents outside the domestic territory. Such shares are in the form of depository receipt or certificate created by overseas the depository bank.
GLOBAL DEPOSITORY RECEIPT MECHANISM
- The domestic company enters into an agreement with the overseas depository bank for the purpose of issue of GDR.
- The overseas depository bank then enters into a custodian agreement with the domestic custodian of such company.
- The domestic custodian holds the equity shares of the company.
- On the instruction of domestic custodian, the overseas depository bank issues shares to foreign investors.
- The whole process is carried out under strict guidelines.
- GDRs are usually denominated in U.S. dollars
ADVANTAGES OF GDR
The following are the advantages of Global Depository Receipts:
- GDR provides access to foreign capital markets.
- A company can get itself registered on an overseas stock exchange or over the counter and its shares can be traded in more than one currency.
- GDR expands the global presence of the company which helps in getting international attention and coverage.
- GDR are liquid in nature as they are based on demand and supply which can be regulated.
- The valuation of shares in the domestic market increase, on listing in the international market.
- With GDR, the non-residents can invest in shares of the foreign company.
- GDR can be freely transferred.
- Foreign Institutional investors can buy the shares of company issuing GDR in their country even if they are restricted to buy shares of foreign company.
- GDR increases the shareholders base of the company.
- GDR saves the taxes of an investor. An investor would need to pay tax if he purchases shares in the foreign company, whereas in GDR same is not the case.
DISADVANTAGES
The following are the disadvantages of Global Depository Receipts:
- Violating any regulation can lead to serious consequences against the company.
- Dividends are paid in domestic country’s currency which is subject to volatility in the forex market.
- It is mostly beneficial to High Net-Worth Individual (HNI) investors due to their capacity to invest high amount in GDR.
- GDR is one of the expensive sources of finance.
