DISCLAIMER: Initiating any kind of transfer (DRS, ACAT, DTC, FOP, etc.) will temporarily freeze your Hatch account until all of the shares are settled with the receiving broker or transfer agent. You will not have access to trading during this time, even if there is an active position in your account. Access to funds and trading will resume when the transfer is complete.
Hatch charges a US$55 fee for each DRS transfer. This means each time you want to directly register shares of a specific stock (no matter how many shares) you are charged US$55 for each transfer.
If you want to save some money, you could direct register your shares is via IBKR. To do this you need to submit a FOP transfer request with IBKR. When entering the broker information you will need to put DriveWealth (Hatch's US broker).
However, if you want to go through Hatch, the process is as follows:
Once your shares and US$55 are settled in Hatch, email (hello@hatchinvest.nz), chat (www.hatchinvest.nz), or book a phone call (www.hatchinvest.nz), explaining that you want to DRS your GME shares (giving the quantity of shares to be transferred). Ask for them to generate a DRS form and email it to you.
Sign and date this form before sending it back to Hatch via email, ensuring that you have US$55 in your account for the DRS fee. Keep a copy of your DRS form as it will help knowing exactly how Hatch entered your information into their system, which in turn should show on Computershare’s system.
You should receive acknowledgement back from Hatch within 48 hours that they have received your DRS form. Don’t hesitate to phone, email or chat to Hatch to ensure that they have received your DRS form and are "onto it".
You will know when the DRS transfer is taking place as your account will be restricted while the process occurs (time varies, but normally 5-10 business days). Note: your available cash balance in your account may show as “0” while the transfer is taking place.
Hatch will advise you via email that your account is unlocked, which means that your shares have left Hatch and are now at Computershare.
If you don't have an existing Computershare account:
Your broker and Computershare will take care of the transfer and open a Computershare account for you. This will take another 2-3 business days.
If you have an existing Computershare account:
Your broker will DRS transfer the shares based on your name and address. As a result, a second account may be created for you. This can be for a few reasons, such as a middle initial existing on one account, but not the other. If your name and address match exactly, then the transfer will process within the normal amount of time. If not, then it will take another 2-4 weeks for the account to be made and the DRS Account Statement sent out to you.
Your broker may ask you for a Computershare account number. For security reasons we do not recommend giving this information to your broker. With Computershare accounts, the account number is the "key" that allows brokers to authorize a transfer of shares out of the DRS and back to the broker.
After your shares leave your broker:
Now you will need to wait for the first Computershare letter to arrive.
This letter is the DRS Account Statement.
It will take another 2-6 weeks after your shares have left your broker.
If you don't want to wait around 4 weeks, you have a couple of options:
If you have transferred less than 10 shares, Computershare can give you your 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.
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.
When you have the DRS Account Statement:
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 that is on your DRS Account Statement (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 a verification letter in the mail. This will arrive in 1 to 3 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.
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.
When you receive the verification code letter:
Return to Computershare.com/us.
Click on “Login to Investor Center”.
Login using the username, and password you have created.
Then you can enter the verification code.
You now have full access to your Computershare account!
There is no more need for the verification code.
We recommend you now activate your two-step verification (2FA) to improve your account security. You can set this up by going to: "My Profile", then "Account Security Preferences".
Tax Form:
At this stage it is important to verify your tax status as a non-US citizen. While logged into your account, go to the My Profile tab, then “Tax Details”. A guide on how to fill in the W-8 BEN form is linked here.
You 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 you will be assumed to be a US citizen.