What are the two types of depository receipts?
Christopher Davis
Updated on February 07, 2026
Types of Depositary Receipts
- American Depositary Receipt (ADR)
- European Depositary Receipt (EDR)
- Global Depositary Receipt (GDR)
- Exposure to international securities.
- Additional sources of capital.
- Less international regulation.
- Higher administrative and processing fees, and taxes.
What are ADRs and GDRs What are the similarities between them?
ADRs are shares of a single foreign company issued in the U.S. GDRs are shares of a single foreign company issued in more than one country as part of a GDR program. Companies can issue depositary receipts in individual countries or they may choose to issue their shares in multiple foreign markets at once through a GDR.
What is the difference between sponsored and unsponsored ADR?
A sponsored one is issued in collaboration with the foreign company, while an unsponsored ADR is established without the company’s cooperation. Because they’re issued without the consent or cooperation of the foreign company, unsponsored ADRs generally trade over-the-counter (OTC)—rather than on a stock exchange.
How do American Depositary Receipts work?
An American depositary receipt (ADR) is a certificate issued by a U.S. bank that represents shares in foreign stock. ADRs trade on American stock exchanges. ADRs and their dividends are priced in U.S. dollars. ADRs represent an easy, liquid way for U.S. investors to own foreign stocks.
What is depository receipt example?
A common example of a depositary receipt is the American depositary receipt, which often trade on a national exchange such as the NYSE. Depositary receipts allow foreign companies to tap global capital markets, while giving investors access to international investment opportunities.
Who can issue depository receipts?
A depositary receipt (DR) is a negotiable certificate issued by a bank representing shares in a foreign company traded on a local stock exchange. The depositary receipt gives investors the opportunity to hold shares in the equity of foreign countries and gives them an alternative to trading on an international market.
What is the difference between Gdrs and ADRs?
ADR is an abbreviation for American Depository Receipt whereas GDR is an acronym for Global Depository Receipt. On the other hand, GDR helps foreign companies to trade in any country’s stock market other than the US stock market, through ODB’s branches. ADR is issued in America while GDR is issued in Europe.
What are the advantages of American Depository Receipts ADRs?
ADRs provide the US investors with ability to trade in foreign companies shares. ADR makes it easier and convenient for the domestic investors in US to trade in foreign companies shares. ADR provides the investors an opportunity to diversify their portfolio by investing in companies which are not located in America.
What is ADR fee?
ADR Fees are custody fees, sometimes referred to as Depositary Services Fees, to compensate the depositary banks for inventorying the non-U.S. shares and performing registration, compliance, dividend payment, communication, and record keeping services.
How are American Depositary Receipts ( ADRs ) used?
American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) are the stocks of the foreign companies which are traded in the American markets. ADRs are purchased by the investors in U.S. dollars during the normal trading hours in the U.S. market through the brokers of U.S. which allows the people of America to invest in foreign companies.
What does an unsponsored American depositary receipt mean?
An unsponsored ADR is an American depositary receipt (ADR) that a depositary bank issues without the involvement, participation – or even the consent – of the foreign issuer whose stock underlies the ADR.
Are there higher fees for American Depositary Receipts?
So if you don’t have enough investment capital to spread around, say 25 to 30 ADRs (or more), you won’t be able to create a truly diversified portfolio on your own. Higher fees: ADRs can carry higher fees than traditional stocks. There are three levels of ADR programs: Level 1 ADRs, available over the counter, are the most risky.
What’s the difference between a GDR and an ADR?
A global depositary receipt (GDR) is a financial instrument representing shares in a foreign company. An American depositary receipt (ADR) is a certificate issued by a U.S. bank that represents shares in a foreign stock, used to trade on American stock exchanges.