Shareholder FAQ

Q. How can I change my address?

There are three ways to change your address.

  1. Address changes can be made by completing the Address Change Notification Form, and returning it to Columbia Stock Transfer Company. To ensure proper changes are made on your account, please complete all sections of the form.
  2. Address changes can be done by calling us.
  3. Address changes can be done by email.

 

Q. What is a Medallion Guarantee?

A signature guarantee is a warranty by the signature guarantor that the endorser of a stock certificate or stock power form is an appropriate person to endorse and thus transfer the security. Signatures on a stock certificate or stock power must have the Medallion Guarantee.

A Medallion Guarantee is also used to validate the genuineness of a document. It is backed by a bond and protects the issuer of the security and their transfer agent from fraudulently transferred securities. A Medallion Guarantee may be obtained from most major banks, brokerage firms or credit unions.

 

Q. How do I transfer my stock certificate to another person or entity?

You will need the following documents to transfer your stock certificate:

  1. Your stock certificate(s)
  2. Completed Stock Power Form and be sure to include signatures from all registered owners (signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible financial institution that participates in a Medallion Signature Guarantee Program)
  3. Instructions for transfer: you need to provide the complete name, mailing address and Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number of all transferees
  4. Legal documents such as birth or death certificates, court appointments, corporate resolutions or incumbencies (all documents must be original or Medallion Signature Guaranteed and currently dated)

 

Q. How can I register my stock certificate?

There are various types of stock certificate ownership. We will register or re-register your certificate according to the instructions that you provide. Some of the more common, acceptable forms of stock certificate registration are as follows:

Individual Registration - shares are registered to an individual person or entity, such as a corporation or partnership.

Joint Tenant registration - Shares are registered to two or more individuals with right of survivorship. In the event that one of the registered owners dies, the entire ownership of shares remains with the surviving tenant(s).

Tenants in common registration - Shares are registered to two or more individuals and each tenant owns an undivided interest in the property. Upon the death of one tenant, the undivided interest will pass to the estate of the decedent, not the surviving tenant(s).

Transfer on death (TOD) registration - Shares are registered to an individual who designates a beneficiary in the registration. The shareholder retains all traditional rights of stock ownership during his/her lifetime. Upon the death of the shareholder, the share ownership passes automatically to the named beneficiary. During the lifetime of the shareholder, the beneficiary has no rights in, to or with respect to the shares. The shareholder can transfer the shares without the signature or consent of the beneficiary.

Custodial registration - Shares are registered to a person or entity who serves as custodian for a minor. A custodian is named under the Uniform Transfer to Minors Act (UTMA) or the Uniform Gift to Minors Act (UGMA) for your state. The custodian acts on behalf of the minor until the minor reaches the age of majority in their respective state of residence.

Trust registration - Shares are registered in the name of a trust and are consequently governed by a trust agreement. Trust registrations must include:

  1. the name of the trust,
  2. the name(s) of the trustee(s)
  3. and the date of the trust agreement

 

Q. I have changed my name due to marriage, or divorce. How do I change the registration on my stock certificate?

You will need the following documents to re-register your stock certificate to reflect a name change:

  1. the stock certificate(s)
  2. a completed Stock Power Form and be sure to sign your name as it appears on the stock certificate (former name) and sign your name to reflect the name change. Indicate which name is the new and current name (signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible financial institution that participates in a Medallion Signature Guarantee Program)
  3. Instructions for re-registration: you need to indicate clearly that you have changed your name and provide us with your former name and current name.

 

Q. I have reached the age of majority in my state. How can I remove the custodian from the registration on my certificate?

You will need the following documents to remove a custodian from the registration when a minor has reached the age of majority:

  1. the stock certificate(s)
  2. a completed Stock Power Form and be sure to include signature of either the custodian or the former minor (signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible financial institution that participates in a Medallion Signature Guarantee Program)
  3. If the former minor is signing the stock power, then you will need to present a certified copy of the birth certificate of the former minor
  4. Instructions for re-registration: you need to indicate that you would like the custodian removed from the registration

 

Q. How can I register shares to a minor so that a custodian is named?

You will need the following documents to register shares to a minor:

  1. Your stock certificate(s)
  2. A completed Stock Power Form and be sure to include signatures from all registered owners (signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible financial institution that participates in a Medallion Signature Guarantee Program)
  3. Instructions for transfer: you need to indicate that you would like shares held in a custodial registration and provide clear instructions regarding which registrant is the custodian and which registrant is the minor
  4. Legal documents such as birth or death certificates, court appointments, corporate resolutions or incumbencies (all documents must be original or Medallion Signature Guaranteed and currently dated)

 

Q. How do I transfer shares that are registered to a trust?

You will need the following documents to transfer shares from a trust:

  1. the stock certificate(s)
  2. a completed Stock Power Form and be sure to include signatures of all trustees (signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible financial institution that participates in a Medallion Signature Guarantee Program)
  3. Instructions for transfer: you need to provide the complete name, mailing address and taxpayer ID of all transferees

 

Q. How do I transfer shares that are registered to a deceased shareholder?

You will need the following documents to transfer shares that are registered to a deceased shareholder:

  1. the stock certificate(s)
  2. A completed Stock Power Form and be sure to include the signature of the representative of the estate of the deceased shareholder (signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible financial institution that participates in a Medallion Signature Guarantee Program)
  3. court certified document naming the estate representative dated within sixty days of the current date
  4. Affidavit of Domicile , properly notarized
  5. Instructions for transfer: you need to provide the complete name, mailing address and Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number of all transferees

 

Q. What do I do with my restricted stock certificate?

If you want to sell your restricted or control securities to the public, you can follow the applicable conditions set forth in Rule 144. The rule is not the exclusive means for selling restricted or control securities, but provides a "safe harbor" exemption to sellers. The rule's five conditions are summarized below:

1. Holding Period. Before you may sell any restricted securities in the marketplace, you must hold them for a certain period of time. If the company that issued the securities is subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, then you must hold the securities for at least six months. If the issuer of the securities is not subject to the reporting requirements, then you must hold the securities for at least one year. The relevant holding period begins when the securities were bought and fully paid for. The holding period only applies to restricted securities. Because securities acquired in the public market are not restricted, there is no holding period for an affiliate who purchases securities of the issuer in the marketplace. But the resale of an affiliate's shares is subject to the other conditions of the rule.
Additional securities purchased from the issuer do not affect the holding period of previously purchased securities of the same class. If you purchased restricted securities from another non-affiliate, you can tack on that non-affiliate's holding period to your holding period. For gifts made by an affiliate, the holding period begins when the affiliate acquired the securities and not on the date of the gift. In the case of a stock option, such as one an employee receives, the holding period begins as of the date the option is exercised and not the date it is granted.

2. Adequate Current Information. There must be adequate current information about the issuer of the securities before the sale can be made. This generally means that the issuer has complied with the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act.

3. Trading Volume Formula. If you are an affiliate, the number of equity securities you may sell during any three-month period cannot exceed the greater of 1% of the outstanding shares of the same class being sold, or if the class is listed on a stock exchange or quoted on Nasdaq, the greater of 1% or the average reported weekly trading volume during the four weeks preceding the filing a notice of sale on Form 144. Over-the-counter stocks, including those quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board and the Pink Sheets, can only be sold using the 1% measurement.

4. Ordinary Brokerage Transactions. If you are an affiliate, the sales must be handled in all respects as routine trading transactions, and brokers may not receive more than a normal commission. Neither the seller nor the broker can solicit orders to buy the securities.

5. Filing a Notice of Proposed Sale With the SEC. If you are an affiliate, you must file a notice with the SEC on Form 144 if the sale involves more than 5,000 shares or the aggregate dollar amount is greater than $50,000 in any three-month period. The sale must take place within three months of filing the Form and, if the securities have not been sold, you must file an amended notice.

If you are not an affiliate of the issuer and have held restricted securities for two years, you can sell them with the Rule 144k Requirements as summarized below:

  1. After a one year holding period, many of the conditions of 144 are relieved by Rule 144b and the restrictive legend may be permanently removed.
  2. The Rule 144b (download form) must be filled out
  3. The Certificate must be Medallion Signature Guaranteed,
  4. When all items are completed, you can send the certificate to Columbia Stock Transfer Company to have the restriction removed from there you can sell your stock at the brokerage firm of our choice

 

Q. What are the transfer fees for reregistering my stock certificate?

Standard Fees:
$25 for each new certificate issued
$8 for each certificate cancelled
$35 for restriction removal fee or estate fee

Optional fees
$7.00 for certified mail with signature confirmation
$30 for FedEx

All checks should be made out to: Columbia Stock Transfer Company

 

Q. Where should I send my transfer request?

The transfer should be sent to one of the addresses listed. Please send the stock certificate by certified mail or by a courier service to ensure safety of delivery.

Mail:
Columbia Stock Transfer Company
601 E. Seltice Way Suite 202
Post Falls ID 83854

Courier:
Columbia Stock Transfer Company
601 E. Seltice Way Suite 202
Post Falls ID 83854