Section 41 Of Companies Act 2013: Global Depository Receipt

Global Depository Receipt as under Section 41

What is a Depository Receipt?

A depository receipt is an instrument that is denominated in a foreign currency. It is issued by a foreign depository to a domestic administrator and is listed on an international exchange. A Global Depository Receipt ('GDR') is an instrument in the form of a depository receipt generated by a foreign depository outside India and authorized by a firm issuing such depository receipts, according to Section 2(44) of the Companies Act, 2013. Essentially, it provides Indian enterprises with greater access to overseas finances via GDRs by allowing them to raise cash in foreign currencies that are listed and traded on international exchanges.

The 2013 Companies Act introduces the new section of global depository receipts which enables issuance of depository receipts in any foreign country subject to certain conditions. At present the provisions of section 81 of the 1956 Companies Act are in place, they relate to further issue of shares which are being used in conjunction with the requirements mandated by SEBI for the issuance of depository receipts. Through section 41, the companies act 2013 maintains the trend of it supplementing the powers of SEBI by incorporating requirements that have already been mandated by SEBI.

To be clearly understood here we will refer to Section 2(44) which defines the concept of “Global Depository Receipt” as any instrument in the form of a depository receipt, by whatever name called, created by a foreign depository outside India and authorized by a company making an issue of such depository receipts;

Section 41 of the Companies Act 2013

“A company may, after passing a special resolution in its general meeting, issue depository receipts in any foreign country in such manner, and subject to such conditions, as may be prescribed.”

Issuance of Global Depository Receipt

i. Equity shares are issued by Indian companies to a depository bank oversees via a national or domestic custodian bank.

ii. The custodian domestic bank now acting as an agent of the depository bank which is oversees keeps in its custody the equity shares.

iii. Global Deposit repositories are then issued in thee form of foreign currency by the overseas depository bank.

Features of Global Depository Receipt

1. Voting rights are held by the foreign depository associated with the permitted securities.

2. Under the Securities Contracts (Regulations) Rules 1957, the shares of a company that are underlying the depository receipts become part of the company's public shareholding, and the depository receipts are listed on an international exchange.

3. Other than in the instances indicated in sub-paragraph 2, shares of the company underlying depository receipts should not be included in the total shareholding or the public ownership when calculating the business's public shareholding.

4. Holders of depository receipts based on a company's equity shares are subject to the same obligations as holders of the underlying equity shares.

Amendments to the Global Depository Receipt Rules

The Central government through a notification dated 13th February 2020, the new amended rules will now be called Companies (Issue of Global Depository Receipts) Amendment Rules 2020 instead of Companies (Issue of Global Depository Receipts) Rules, 2014. The notification has introduced minor insertions in the old rules namely-

1.The depository receipts can now be issued as a private or a public offering and can also be issued in any legal manner that can be traded in the trading platform of that country’s jurisdiction.

2.Payment or considerations of the proceeds of the depository receipts may be made to an International Financial Services Centre Banking Unit and funds should be utilized as per RBI instructions.