FAQs
- I own shares in Hays plc, what does this mean?
- Who are the Company’s Registrars and how can they be contacted?
- How can I check how many shares I own?
- Do I need a share certificate?
- How do I change the name on my shareholding?
- How do I change my address?
- My share certificate is lost/has been stolen. How do I get a replacement?
- How do I transfer some or all of my shares to someone else?
- How do I register the death of a shareholder?
- How can I make sure I receive a paper version of the Annual Report and Accounts?
- Why have I received more than one set of documentation?
- I hold my shares in a nominee account, how can I ensure I receive a copy of shareholder communications?
- What is the Annual General Meeting (“AGM”)?
- If I am not able to attend the AGM can I still vote?
- What other types of meetings are there?
- What is a dividend?
- Who is entitled to receive a dividend?
- When do I receive dividends?
- How can I receive my dividends?
- How do I arrange to have my dividend paid directly into my bank or building society account?
- How can I join the DRIP and receive my dividend in the form of shares?
- I have not received or have lost my latest dividend cheque or tax voucher, what should I do?
- I have found an out of date dividend cheque. What should I do?
- Do I pay tax on my dividends?
- How can I sell my shares or buy more shares?
- I have been contacted by a company about selling my shares, what should I do?
I own shares in Hays plc, what does this mean?
As you own shares in Hays plc you are a shareholder of the Company, which means you own a portion of the Company. As a shareholder, you have the right to attend and vote at shareholder meetings and a right to receive any dividends that are paid.
Who are the Company’s Registrars and how can they be contacted?
The Company’s Registrars are Equiniti and they maintain the register of shareholders on behalf of the Company. Equiniti can be contacted in the following ways:
In writing to:
Equiniti
Aspect House
Spencer Road
Lancing
West Sussex
BN99 6DA
By telephone on 0871 384 2843* or +44 (0)121 415 7047 if calling from outside the UK.
By Textel for the hard of hearing on 0871 384 2255*.
By fax on 0871 384 2100 or +44 (0)1903 702424 if faxing from outside the UK.
Please quote your Hays shareholder account number on all correspondence with Equiniti, as well as the name and address in which all your shares are held.
Further information is also available on Equiniti’s website on www.shareview.co.uk
* calls to this number are charged at 8 pence per minute from a BT landline. Charges from other telephone providers may vary.
How can I check how many shares I own?
You can contact Equiniti to find out how many shares you own.
Alternatively, if you register on Equiniti’s website www.shareview.co.uk you will have online access to a range of information and services regarding your Hays shareholding.
This service allows you to:
- check share balances and provides an indicative value of your investment;
- view recent movements in your shareholding;
- change your address online;
- make arrangements for your dividend to be paid directly into your bank or building society account;
- express a preference to receive company mailings electronically;
- access a comprehensive range of shareholder related information; and
- access information of your holdings in the Hays Equiniti Investment Account ISA (Investment Account ISA)
To register for this service go to www.shareview.co.uk and follow the simple on-screen registration instructions.
Do I need a share certificate?
Yes, when you buy shares you will be sent a share certificate representing the number of shares that you have purchased
in the Company and is evidence of your ownership of the shares and therefore should be kept in a safe place (unless you
choose to hold shares in electronic form through a CREST account or through a nominee).
When you first buy shares in Hays plc you are given a unique account number shown in the top left-hand corner of the share
certificate. This account number should be quoted in all correspondence with Equiniti.
We recommend that you keep a separate record of your account number, certificate numbers and the number of shares each
certificate covers in case of loss or damage.
Share certificates are posted to shareholders at their own risk.
How do I change the name on my shareholding?
To change the names on your shareholding you will need to send a copy of your marriage certificate or change of name deed, together with your share certificate(s) to Equiniti. They will then change the name on the share register and will send you a new share certificate.
How do I change my address?
To change your address on the share register you should complete a change of address form which can be downloaded from the downloadable forms section and send this to Equiniti.*
My share certificate is lost/has been stolen. How do I get a replacement?
Equiniti keep a record of your name, address and the number of shares you own in the Company. If you lose your share certificate or it has been stolen, you should inform Equiniti immediately quoting your account number if possible. You will need to tell them about any certificates you still hold so that they can identify which share certificate is missing.
Equiniti will arrange for you to complete an indemnity covering the company for any loss arising from use of the lost/stolen share certificate and there may be a fee payable for this indemnity.
How do I transfer some or all of my shares to someone else?
If you want to give or sell some or all of your shares to someone that you know, you will need to complete a stock transfer form, which can be downloaded from the downloadable forms section, or can be obtained by contacting Equiniti.
The stock transfer form should be completed and sent with your share certificate to Equiniti, who will process the transfer and issue the appropriate share certificate(s). Equiniti will be able to help you with any questions you may have about completing the stock transfer form.
How do I register the death of a shareholder?
If the shares were held solely in the name of the deceased, Equiniti will require a copy of the death certificate and either the probate or letter of administration. If you are unsure of what you need to send, please contact Equiniti who will be pleased to assist you.
The name of the legal personal representative will then be put on the Hays plc share register. The shares can then be sold by the personal representative or they can use a stock transfer form, which can be downloaded from the downloadable forms section, to have the shares registered in the name of the deceased's beneficiary.
If the shares were held jointly, Equiniti will remove the deceased's name from the share register on receipt of a copy of the death certificate. The shares can then be registered in the names of the surviving holder(s) and the relevant share certificates can be amended to reflect the change.
For further information, please contact Equiniti and they will assist you with the documentation and will be able to make the process as straightforward as possible for you.
How can I make sure I receive a paper version of the Annual Report and Accounts?
You can elect to receive the Annual Report and Accounts in paper form at any time by contacting Equiniti. Following your request Equiniti, will ensure you receive a hard copy every year.
Why have I received more than one set of documentation?
If you have more than one account on the share register you will be sent a set of documentation for each account. To arrange for your share accounts to be amalgamated please contact Equiniti.
I hold my shares in a nominee account, how can I ensure I receive a copy of shareholder communications?
You will need to contact the nominee that your shares are held with and request that you receive a copy of the shareholder communications.
What is the Annual General Meeting (“AGM”)?
As a public limited company, Hays plc is required to hold an AGM at which decisions are taken on the company's business. The 'ordinary' business of the AGM is repeated every year and includes receiving the company's report and accounts for the year and approving the proportion of a company's profits that will be paid back to shareholders as a final dividend.
Whenever an AGM is held you will be contacted to let you know when and where the meeting will be held and the details of the business to be voted on.
If I am not able to attend the AGM can I still vote?
If you cannot attend the meeting yourself, you can appoint someone else, known as a proxy, to go in your place. To do this, you must either complete the proxy card that is sent to you with the notice of meeting and return it to Equiniti in advance of the meeting or you can register your proxy at www.sharevote.co.uk. Your proxy will then be able to attend the meeting, cast your vote on your behalf and speak on your behalf.
If you cannot appoint a proxy to attend the meeting in person, you can still send the proxy form to Equiniti and in the event of a poll on any resolution, the Chairman will cast your vote for you in line with the instructions you give on the proxy form.
What other types of meetings are there?
The other type of shareholder meetings is a General Meeting which is held if there is urgent business requiring shareholder approval that cannot wait until the next Annual General Meeting.
What is a dividend?
A dividend is a payment made to shareholders, the level of which is decided by the directors of the Company based upon the Group’s financial results.
Who is entitled to receive a dividend?
The dividend is paid to everyone who holds shares at a deadline date known as the record date, and the dividend paid is based on the number of shares held on the share register at the record date.
When do I receive dividends?
The Company currently pays dividends twice a year – the interim dividend is usually paid in May and the final dividend is usually paid in November after it has been approved by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting.
How can I receive my dividends?
You can choose to have your dividend paid in one of the following ways:
- In the form of cash paid directly into your bank or building society account. By having your dividend paid directly into your bank or building society account it avoids the risk of your cheque being lost or intercepted in the post and means your dividend will be credited to your account on the dividend payment date.
- In the form of shares under the Hays plc Dividend Re-investment Plan (“DRIP”). By joining the DRIP you will be able to build up your shareholding in the Company at a competitive dealing cost.
- In the form of cash by cheque to your registered address.
At the time of each payment you will receive a tax voucher from Equiniti confirming the amount of the dividend paid and the amount of tax.
How do I arrange to have my dividend paid directly into my bank or building society account?
To have your dividend paid directly into a UK bank or building society account you will need to complete the dividend mandate form which can be downloaded from the downloadable forms section or from www.shareview.co.uk and return this to Equiniti.
To have your dividend paid into an overseas bank account please contact Equiniti for the relevant form.
Please note that you should inform Equiniti of any changes to your bank account.
How can I join the DRIP and receive my dividend in the form of shares?
The Hays plc Dividend Re-investment Plan (“DRIP”) enables shareholders to re-invest their cash dividend in Hays plc shares on competitive dealing terms and is operated by Equiniti.
If you decide to join the DRIP, your cash dividend is used to buy additional Hays plc shares on the stock market. Equiniti then allocates the shares to you and will send you a share certificate and tax voucher. Any cash balance remaining after the purchase of shares will be retained and added to your next dividend.
If you wish to join the DRIP please contact Equiniti, who will send you a DRIP pack and application form.
The DRIP is not available to investors based in the USA or Canada as they are prohibited by local legislation.
I have not received or have lost my latest dividend cheque or tax voucher, what should I do?
If you think you have not received or have lost a dividend cheque, you should contact Equiniti as soon as possible, confirming which payment has not been received/lost. Equiniti will then arrange for the cheque to be stopped and issue you with a duplicate. An administration fee is normally payable for this service.
If you have lost your tax voucher(s), you should notify Equiniti, confirming which tax voucher(s) has been lost and they will arrange to issue you with a duplicate(s).
I have found an out of date dividend cheque. What should I do?
Dividend cheques are normally valid for twelve months from the date of payment. After this time you should return any cheques that have not been cashed to Equiniti, who will then issue you with a replacement cheque (as above).<,/p>
Do I pay tax on my dividends?
When you are paid a dividend, you will receive a tax voucher showing the net amount of dividend received and the tax you are deemed to have paid. This credit is currently set at 10% and, generally, cannot be refunded to non-taxpayers. You should retain your dividend voucher as it may be requested by HM Revenue and Customs.
The dividend received on your shareholding is treated as though it has been paid after deduction of income tax. Therefore, if you are an individual resident in the UK whose income does not exceed the basic rate limit, then that tax credit attaching to the dividend will be regarded as the full extent of your tax liability. However, if you pay tax at the higher rate, you will have an additional tax liability to pay. For more information on your personal tax position you should consult a professional financial adviser or contact your Tax Office.
When you sell any of your Hays shares, you may have to pay Capital Gains Tax if they are sold at a profit. The rules can be complex and it may be worth seeking professional financial advice before you sell your shares.
How can I sell my shares or buy more shares?
Details on how to sell your shares or buy more shares can be found in the share dealing service section.
I have been contacted by a company about selling my shares, what should I do?
Over the last year, shareholders have received unsolicited phone calls or correspondence concerning investment matters. These are typically from overseas based ‘brokers’ who target UK shareholders, offering to sell them what often turns out to be worthless or high risk shares in US or UK investments. These ‘brokers’ can be very persistent and extremely persuasive, and a 2006 survey by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) has reported that the average amount lost by investors is around £20,000. It is not just the novice investor that has been duped in this way, many of the victims had been successfully investing for several years.
You should be very wary of any unsolicited advice, offers to buy shares at a discount or offers of free company reports. If you receive any unsolicited investment advice you should:
- Make sure you get the correct name of the person and organisation;
- Check that they are properly authorised by the FSA before getting involved by visiting www.fsa.gov.uk/register;
- Report the matter to the FSA either by calling 0845 606 1234 or visiting www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk; and
- If the calls persist, hang up.
If you deal with an unauthorised firm, you will not be eligible to receive payment under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. The FSA can be contacted by completing an online form at www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/doing/regulated/law/alerts/overseas.shtml.
Details of any share dealing facilities that the Company endorses will be included in company mailings.
* Equiniti is the name of the former Lloyds TSB Registrars business
Most computers will open
Share price
-0.05
29/07/2010 16:49 BST
Delayed by 15 mins
Stay informed
Keep up to date with latest news and publications
