DVR or differential voting rights shares are like ordinary equity shares but with differential voting rights. Shares can have higher or lower voting rights as compared to the ordinary equity shares. However, Indian regulations do not permit companies to issue equity shares with higher voting rights. Hence, Indian DVR shares provide for lower voting rights as compared to ordinary equity shares.
Companies issue DVRs for several reasons such as prevention of a hostile takeover, bringing in a passive strategic investor or dilution of voting rights. DVR investors are generally compensated with a higher dividend rate. This makes the DVRs attractive for retail investors who do not want control in the company, but are looking at the long-term growth prospects.
DVR shares are listed on the stock exchanges and are traded in the same manner as ordinary equity shares, but they mostly trade at a discount, sometimes as high as 30%, due to fewer voting rights.
Tata Motors, Gujarat NRE Coke and Pantaloon Retail have issued DVR shares.
E.g.: Tata Motors’ DVR shares carry voting rights which are one-tenth of the ordinary equity shares. The DVR shareholders are entitled to an additional 5% dividend, over and above the ordinary equity shareholders. Tata Motors DVR shares are trading at 800 or 36% discount to the ordinary shares, which are at trading at Rs 1,245 (as of 23rd November 2010).
source: from an email I got...
