The UK is moving towards a more digital shareholder framework, with the proposed removal of paper share certificates and the introduction of digital share registers representing an important change for issuers, shareholders and the wider market.
But what will dematerialisation mean in practice? What should companies be considering now, and how can they prepare their shareholders for the transition?
In this on-demand discussion, Kit Atkinson, CEO, EFSL, from Equiniti was joined by Gareth Jones, Partner, Addleshaw Goddard to examine the roadmap for dematerialisation and the practical implications of the reforms.
The panel explores the first stage of the transition, under which paper share certificates would cease to serve as legal evidence of title and ownership would instead be evidenced through a digital register. Existing certificated shareholders would remain directly registered, while the way their ownership is recorded would change from paper to digital.
What does the recording cover?
Access the recording for insight into:
- What dematerialisation means for issuers and shareholders
- The proposed roadmap towards digital share registers
- Which UK-listed companies are expected to fall within scope
- The potential benefits of moving away from paper share certificates
- How shareholder transfers and access to holdings could change
- Legal, operational and security considerations
- The importance of consistent shareholder communications
- Supporting vulnerable and non-digitally enabled shareholders
- What the later stages of dematerialisation could involve
- How boards, governance teams and issuers can begin preparing
The discussion also considers the longer-term direction of travel. The first stage is presented as an interim step before potential improvements to the intermediated holding system and a later move of remaining directly held shares into that system.
Access the recording
Complete the form to watch the discussion on demand and hear practical perspectives on the move towards digital share ownership in the UK.