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Gift Registered Shares

Step-by-step to buy registered shares for another person

There are two ways to give a share to another person as a gift - one through Computershare, where you gift a share you already own, and one where you purchase a share to be delivered to the recipient.

 

Computershare has a fantastic user guide for gifting shares located at https://www.computershare.com/us/giving-stock.

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Note: In order to use this guide, you'll need a Computershare account, the shares you would like to gift registered in your name, and some personal information about the person receiving gift shares. You will need a medallion stamp to authorize it. You can get a medallion stamp for free at most Credit Unions, or you can include a $50 check with the form and Computershare will handle it for you. Please note: There is a limit to one gift per month (no matter how many shares are gifted).

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The second method we will go through is to use Give A Share, which is available globally and can be used as many times a month as you like.

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How to gift a share through Give A Share:

Anyone can buy a share from anywhere in the world by using GiveAShare.com. All you need is a debit or credit card. The cost is an extra $50-$100 on top of the share price, depending on what option you choose. This is because they make the Computershare account for you and they need a $10 buffer for the price fluctuations.

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You can also opt to get a replica paper certificate, with the option of framing it and including an engraving. A pretty sweet souvenir! Choosing this option adds the shipping fees and maybe customs fees to the total amount to be paid. Once you've decided if you want the replica certificate or not, pick your option from your chosen stock page (example: this is the Give A Share GameStop page).

 

Customize Your Stock Gift:

  • Frame Type:

    • Paper Frame

    • Premium Frame

    • DRS Registration Only (this option is just for opening an account at Computershare)

  • Engraved Plaque: Yes or No. Up to 3 lines of 35 characters each including spaces. They automatically center and engrave in all CAPS. They can also engrave emojis.

  • Shareholder Book: Yes or No. A 43 page, vividly colored book with activities that teaches kids/young adults ages 8-25 about stocks and what to expect as a shareholder.

  • Gift Wrap: Yes or No

  • Gift Message: Optional: This message will print on the packing slip that accompanies the item when shipped.

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Shareholder Information:

Please Note: Shareholder information is transmitted directly to Computershare. The details below will be used to create your Computershare account.

  • Who Is This Stock For? One adult (if it is for 1 person).

  • Shareholder Name: Enter the shareholders legal name. First, middle (if desired), last. These details have to be correct 100% because they cannot be changed once the order is sent.

  • Shareholder Address: This is where all future shareholder mail (dividends, annual reports etc.) will be sent to from the transfer agent, and could appear on the registered stock certificate.

  • Shareholder State or Region: State/Region will be auto populated for U.S. and Canada. Until Give a Share can do this for all countries, please select whichever is applicable: Other or None.

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Processing & Timing:

  • Order Processing: Choose the option available.

  • Choose the number of certificates that you want to order.

  • After double checking all the text boxes, click on "ADD TO CART".

  • The next page will check if you have an account on GiveAShare.com website. If needed, create a new account.

  • After logging into your account, select the cart and review your order.

  • Here, GiveAShare will break down your order and how it will be processed. This includes when you can expect to have the share registered with Computershare, and when Computershare will send the first and second letter out to you.

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Checkout:

  • If you're happy you can click "Check Out".

  • On the Checkout page you need to:

    • Fill in Billing address

    • Select Payment Method

    • Select Shipping Method. For the differences between USPS and UPS please check: https://www.giveashare.com/shipping

    • Agree to the Terms & Conditions and click on Continue

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The final page is the Confirm Order page. Here, GiveAShare will break down again your order and how it will be processed. This includes when you can expect to have the share registered with Computershare, and when Computershare will send the first and second letter out to you.

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  • You will need to provide, at the bottom of the page, the debit or credit card details you wish to use to pay. Click "Pay".

  • That completes your order with GiveAShare! GiveAShare will email you with updates as your order progresses.

  • If you have chosen to get a replica certificate, it will dispatch in 2 business days. Delivery time is dependent on which option you choose.

  • Your GME share will be registered with Computershare in 1-2 weeks. Give a Share will email to let you know when this has been done.

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How to contact GiveAShare.com, in case you need assistance:

                   +1 866 291 9918 (toll free)

  • Address: Leading Edge Gifts, LLC

                     2537 E. Via Del Arboles

                     Gilbert, AZ 85298, USA

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How to open the recipient's Computershare account:

  • When their share is registered, the first Computershare letter will be dispatched. It will take between 3 to 5 weeks to arrive depending where they are in the world. This is the DRS Account Statement.

  • If you don't want to wait around 5 weeks, you have a couple of options:

    • If you have transferred less than 10 shares, Computershare can give you the account number over the phone. Skipping the need for the first letter.

    • You can expedite the letter for $45 by giving payment details to Computershare over the phone. The letter will arrive within a week.

  • To check if the share has successfully been transferred over from your broker, you may call Computershare to check this information with them over the phone.

  • Computershare's non-US GME relations number is + 800-3823-3823. This number works worldwide.

  • Computershare's non-US GME contact number is +800-3823-3823. This is a free number that can only be called from landlines in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, and the UK.

    • Please note: The number is only available between 08:00 and 14:00 (GMT). Otherwise you will be put through to Computershare headquarters in the USA without notice.

  • Otherwise, the US toll-free number is: +1 800-522-6645 and the US toll number is: +1 (201) 680 6578 (taxes may apply). If you're outside the US, you can get a free trial month of Skype to call these numbers.

    • If you don't hear any relevant options with the automated menu, you can keep pressing 0 to get through to a human.

    • If you are asked to verify your address and live outside of the US, you will have to use an ISO code instead of your country. For example, London in the UK is GB-LDN and Barcelona in Spain is ES-B. You can find your country's ISO codes through this wikipedia page.

  • At this point, you may also want to set up your USD Foreign Currency Account either with your bank or Wise and have these details ready.

  • Once you have your Computershare account number from your DRS Account Statement, you can create your Computershare account online.

  • To do this, go to Computershare.com/us.

  • Click on “Login to Investor Center”.

  • Click on “Register Now”.

  • Make sure to select the “Holder Account Number” tab, instead of “Social Security Number”.

  • Select “I am not a U.S. Resident”.

  • Provide the Computershare account number (starts with “C”).

  • Provide your last name, surname, or business name.

  • Enter the name of the stock that you hold (GameStop).

  • Computershare will then prompt you to create your username, password and security questions.

  • Once your account is created, Computershare will send you an auto-generated verification code letter in the mail. This will arrive in 2 to 4 weeks.

  • If you'd like it sooner you can:

    • Call Computershare and pay a $30 fee to get the verification code via email within 48 hours.

    • Europeans can request the letter be sent from Computershare's UK office instead.

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When you receive the verification code letter:

  • Return to Computershare.com/us.

  • Click on “Login to Investor Center”.

  • Login using the username, and password that was created.

  • Then they can enter the verification code.

  • They now have full access to your Computershare account to conduct transactions.

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W-8 BEN Tax Form:

At this point, it is important to verify their tax status if they're a non-US citizen. While logged into Computershare, go to the My Profile tab, then “Tax Details”. A guide on how to fill in the W-8 BEN form is linked here.

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They must fill in the W-8 BEN form before you buy any shares through Computershare, or add your banking information (especially if it's a US dollar account). Otherwise they will be assumed to be a US citizen.

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Adding currency information for non-US investors:

After submitting the W-8 BEN tax form, they can enter their Foreign Currency Account information into their Computershare account (this is for sales only):

  • Click on "My Profile". 

  • Click on "Banking Details".

  • Under "Payment Method", select: "International Wire".

  • Under "Country", enter the country where they bank from.

  • Under "Currency", select their local currency.

  • Then enter their SWIFT code and account number according to their bank account.

Please note: If they wish to use a Wise USD account here, Wise has daily and yearly limits for deposits, so it's probably best to use an actual bank instead of a currency conversion platform for withdrawals.

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Converting Plan holdings to Book holdings:

When you purchase shares directly through Computershare's DirectStock plan, shares are held in the Plan pool, which is managed and maintained by Computershare. If you wish to hold the sole legal title to the shares you have just purchased, you may want to convert your Plan holdings into Book holdings, or terminate the DirectStock plan entirely. We have guides for both options available on the links below:

Converting from Plan to Book

Terminating from DirectStock

If you have any corrections, or know of any other brokers, please let us know through the feedback page!

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