The registered owner of shares is the shareholder of record on the books of the corporation, generally kept by the transfer agent. The registered owner may be an individual, a trust, a broker or another entity. Registered owners receive communications, proxies, dividends and related materials directly from the corporation through the transfer agent. A registered owner differs from a “street name” owner. The Registered shares are represented by a physical stock certificate or a DRS, DRIP or Book Statement issued by the Transfer Agent.

Securities held in a broker account and registered in the name of the broker or other institutions are referred to as being held “in street name.” If you keep your shares with your broker in a broker account, you are a street name or beneficial shareholder and are not directly registered on the company’s shareholder file maintained by the transfer agent.

If you are a street name or beneficial shareholder, company mailings, Annual Meeting reports, dividend checks, dividend shares etc. will not be delivered to you directly. They will be delivered to the broker that holds your shares who will then credit your account.

Should you wish to become a registered holder, request your broker to have your shares issued in certificate or DRS form, registered in your name. Please note that a transfer agent can assist you with questions about your security account only if you are a registered holder.

A guarantor is an eligible institution, such as a Commercial Bank, Broker or Trust Company or Financial Institution that is a member of the Medallion Guarantee Program. A guarantor guarantees that the signature on a certificate or stock power is genuine and that the person signing is the appropriate person to endorse the security and has the legal capacity to do so.

A Medallion Guarantee takes the form of a stamp and signature on a stock certificate or stock power. A Medallion Guarantee is obtained from an eligible institution, such as a Commercial Bank, Broker or Trust Company. The Guarantee provides transfer agents with the assurance that the person signing a stock certificate or stock power is the authorized individual. Only institutions participating in an officially recognized Medallion Guarantee Program may provide this Medallion Guarantee. You must obtain a Guarantee on your transfer documents prior to submitting your transfer. Read more about Medallion Guarantee.

A transferor is the individual or entity that currently owns the shares as indicated on the stock certificate or Book (DRS/DRIP) statement. The transferor will be required to sign the stock power (with medallion guarantee) to facilitate the transfer of the shares.

A transferee is the individual or entity assigned the shares. He/she will become the new registered owner of shares. Typically, the transferee will be identified in the “assignment” section of a stock certificate or on a stock power that accompanies shares submitted for transfer. A substitute IRS Form W-9 (Certification of Taxpayer Identification) or a BEN W-8 form (for non-US shareholders) is required for each transferee.