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An ADR is a negotiable U.S. certificate representing ownership of shares in a non-U.S. corporation. ADRs are quoted and traded in U.S. dollars in the U.S. securities market. Also, the dividends are paid to investors in U.S.dollars. ADRs were specifically designed to facilitate the purchase, holding and sale of non-U.S. securities by U.S. investors, and to provide a corporate finance vehicle for non-U.S. companies.
US investors generally prefer to purchase ADRs rather than ordinary shares in the issuer's home market because ADRs trade, clear and settle according to US market conventions. One of ADRs' main advantages is the facilitation of diversification into foreign securities. ADRs also allow easy comparison to securities of similar companies as well as access to price and trading information, if listed. ADR holders also appreciate dollar dividend payments and receiving corporate action notifications.
ADR issuers are typically large multinational corporations. Any non-U.S. company seeking to raise capital in the U.S. or increase their base of U.S. investors can issue ADRs.
Investors receive annual reports and proxy materials in English. ADR issuers generally have full information in English about themselves on their websites, as well as on the main depositary bank websites, and are better tracked by the main U.S. financial websites. ADRs listed on U.S. exchanges provide holders with the same level of information as any other U.S. security. Trading information is readily available, financials are reconciled to U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and the SEC regulates the Company's disclosure to investors. Imperial Holding's ADRs are not listed on a US exchange, but are traded over-the-counter and accordingly Imperial does not provide US GAAP financial statements.
The ADRs are traded Over-The-Counter. The trading code is IHSAY. The CUSIP number is 452833106. The ratio between the ordinary share and the ADR is 1:1.
The Bank of New York. The depositary bank plays a key role in the process of issuance and cancellation of ADRs. It also maintains the ADR holder register and distributes the dividends in US dollars. For additional information, please visit The Bank of New York's website at https://www.adrbny.com/
A registered holder is one whose name appears on the books of the depositary. The registered holder is considered the owner of record. A beneficial holder is one whose holdings are registered in a name other than their own, such as in the name of a broker, bank or nominee.
Dividends are paid in U.S. dollars and are generally taxable, just like dividends on U.S. shares. In addition, taxes may be withheld by the ADR company's local government. Depending on individual circumstances, foreign taxes withheld might be applied as a credit against U.S. taxes, or tax reclaim opportunities may be offered
For dividend and corporate action information, please visit www.adrbny.com. Go to the DR Corporate Actions or DR Dividends & Distribution buttons on the vertical scroll bar on the left and then enter company name, CUSIP or symbol.
You can buy an ADR through a broker, just as you would U.S. securities. You can purchase Depositary Receipts through BNY Brokerage, Inc. BNY Brokerage Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Bank of New York Company and provides professional trade execution to meet all of your investing needs. BNY Brokerage, Inc. is a member NASD/SIPC, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Bank of New York Company, Inc. Securities are not FDIC insured and may lose value.
BNY Brokerage, Inc.
101 Barclay St. - Fl. 12W
New York, NY 10286
Tel :1-800-255-8282
A shareholder wishing to convert Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed ordinary shares into ADRs should, in the first instance, request that their broker contact the ADR Broker Desk at The Bank of New York. Contact details can be found below; Contacts
UK
Mark Lewis
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7964 6089
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7964 6024
E-mail: mlewis@bankofny.com
US
Jason Paltrowitz
Tel: +1 212 815 2077
Fax: +1 212 5713050
E-mail: jpaltrowitz@bankofny.com
Alternatively, the shareholder may contact the ADR Broker Desk at The Bank of New York direct.
1. When contacting the ADR Broker Desk, the broker will be asked to confirm the following information:
a. the number of ordinary shares the shareholder wishes to convert into ADRs (based on the current ratio of 1ordinary share equals 1 ADR);
b. the custodian name, account name and account number of the account in South Africa from which the ordinary shares will be delivered;
c. the number of the DTC account in the US to which the shareholder wishes their ADRs to be credited. If the shareholder does not have a DTC account, they will need to appoint a nominee (e.g. a broker) to hold the ADRs on their behalf.
2. Once these details have been confirmed, the broker (or shareholder) should instruct the delivery of the ordinary shares from their custody account in South Africa
3. On the day that the local custodian confirms to The Bank of New York that the ordinary shares have settled in The Bank of New York account, The Bank of New York will instruct the delivery of the equivalent amount of ADRs to the requested DTC account.
4. A fee per ADR issued is payable to The Bank of New York upon the delivery of the ADRs. Most commonly, when The Bank of New York delivers the ADRs to the specified DTC account, this is done on a delivery versus payment (DVP) instruction against the conversion fee. If an alternative method of payment is required, please contact the Broker Desk for further details. Where the DTC account is operated by a broker on behalf of a shareholder, the broker should confirm to the shareholder that it has received the ADRs and is holding them on his/her behalf.
