An American depositary share (ADS) is a foreign-owned U.S. equity share that is held in the name of a custodian bank and controlled by the issuer's depositary bank (ADB), which issues its own shares to U.S. investors. The ADS is only available to U.S. investors who are qualified to make qualified investor offerings under Rule 144A of the Securities Act.* An ADS is traded on an exchange designated by its ADB, which charges fees for holding and transferring such shares, as well as other administrative requirements.