Issue of ADR/ GDR in India
Indian companies are allowed to raise capital in the international market through the issue of ADRs/GDRs. They can issue ADRs/GDRs without obtaining prior approval from RBI if it is eligible to issue ADRs/GDRs in terms of the Scheme for Issue of Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds and Ordinary Shares (Through Depository Receipt Mechanism) Scheme, 1993 and subsequent guidelines issued by Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
After the issue of ADRs/GDRs, the company has to file a return in the proforma given in Annexure C' to the RBI Notification No.FEMA.20/ 2000-RB dated May 3, 2000. The company is also required to file a quarterly return in a form specified in AnnexureD’ of the same regulations.
There are no end-use restrictions on GDR/ADR issue proceeds, except for an express ban on investment in real estate and stock markets.
Sponsored ADR & Two-way fungibility Scheme of ADR/GDR
Sponsored ADR/GDR: An Indian company may sponsor an issue of ADR/GDR with an overseas depository against shares held by its shareholders at a price to be determined by the Lead Manager. The Operative guidelines for the same have been issued vide A.P.(DIR Series) circular No.52 dated November 23, 2002.
Two-way fungibility Scheme: Under the limited two-way fungibility Scheme, a registered broker in India can purchase shares of an Indian company on behalf of a person resident outside India for the purpose of converting the shares so purchased into ADRs/GDRs. The operative guidelines for the same have been issued vide A.P.(DIR Series) Circular No.21 dated February 13, 2002.
The Scheme provides for purchase and re-conversion of only as many shares into ADRs/GDRs which are equal to or less than the number of shares emerging on surrender of ADRs/GDRs which have been actually sold in the market. Thus, it is only a limited two-way fungibility wherein the headroom available for fresh purchase of shares from domestic market is restricted to the number of converted shares sold in the domestic market by non-resident investors. So long ADRs/GDRs are quoted at discounts to the value of shares in domestic market, an investor will gain by converting the ADRs/GDRs into underlying shares and selling them in the domestic market. In case of ADRs/GDRs being quoted at premium, there will be demand for reverse fungibility, i.e. purchase of shares in domestic market for re-conversion into ADRs/GDRs. The scheme is operationalised through the Custodians of securities and stockbrokers under SEBI.
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