【summary】
If you have two securities accounts and hold the same stocks separately, shareholder benefits are determined based on how many shares you own on the shareholder register.
For example, under the same name
*A Securities: 50 shares
- B Securities: 50 shares
, it is often treated as 100 shares in the shareholder register as of the vesting date. In other words, if the preferential treatment condition is ``100 shares or more,'' shares in the same name are generally considered to be combined.
However, what I would like to note here is the long-term holding benefits. For long-term holding conditions, we may not only look at the number of shares held, but also whether the same shareholder number is consecutively listed in the shareholder register.
If you are looking for preferential treatment, it is actually safer to consolidate all eligible stocks into one securities account as much as possible and check the company's preferential conditions before the vesting date.
This article explains the structure of the general shareholder benefit system, and does not guarantee that you will receive benefits for individual stocks. Conditions for preferential treatment programs vary by company and are subject to change or cancellation.
Conclusion: If the name is the same, it is often added up.
Shareholder benefits are determined not by how many shares a company owns on a securities company's screen, but by how they are recorded in the company's shareholder register.
Therefore, if shares are owned by multiple securities companies under the same name, the names are usually combined and treated as the same shareholder.
As an example,
| Account held | Number of shares held |
|---|---|
| A Securities | 50 shares |
| B Securities | 50 shares |
| Total | 100 shares |
In this situation, if a stock has a preferential condition of ``100 shares or more'', it is likely to be counted as 100 shares on the shareholder register.
However, the reason I say "highly likely" is that shareholder benefits are not always legally enforced in the same way, but rather depend on each company's benefit regulations and shareholder registry management practices.
If you own a limited number of shares with the aim of receiving preferential treatment, you should check the company's shareholder benefit information.
Even if you split your account into two accounts, you will not get two preferential treatment.
There is another point that is easy to misunderstand.
under the same name
*A Securities: 100 shares
- B Securities: 100 shares
Even if a company owns 100 shares, it is not normally considered to be ``two shareholders with 100 shares.''
Generally speaking, shareholders are counted as the same shareholder on the shareholder register and treated as one person holding 200 shares. Therefore, even if you divide your securities company with the aim of receiving two 100-share benefits, it often does not work as expected.
If a family member wishes to obtain multiple benefits, they must be held in each person's name as a general rule. However, when using a family name, you need to be careful about who actually pays for the funds, gifts, minor accounts, and tax treatment.
I would like to avoid a format where only the name is borrowed.
Conditions that are likely to be combined
Even if your shares are held in multiple securities accounts, if the following information matches, they can easily be treated as the same shareholder.
- Name *Address
- Date of birth
- Identity verification information such as My Number
In practice, issuing companies and shareholder register administrators manage shareholder registers based on information from securities companies and notifications through the Japan Securities Depository Center (Hofuri).
Therefore, when the same person owns the same stock at multiple securities companies, the number of shares held is often combined.
However, in cases where the change of address is not completed with only one securities company, where the old and new names are mixed, or where the name is divided into corporate and individual names, there is a possibility that they will not be treated as the same shareholder.
People who use multiple securities accounts will want to keep their address and name registration information aligned.
Pay attention to the “vesting date” for the 100-share condition
In many cases, shareholder benefits are determined based on the shareholder register on the vesting date determined by the company.
For example, if the stock has a vesting date at the end of March, it is important to check whether the required number of shares is recorded in the shareholder register as of the end of March.
What I would like to note here is that there is a number of days for stock delivery.
In order to be recorded as a shareholder on the vesting date, you usually need to purchase shares by the final vesting date. Even if you buy on the ex-rights day, you will not be eligible for that special offer.
Even if your account is divided into two accounts, you may not be eligible for preferential treatment in the following situations.
| Case | Points to note |
|---|---|
| 50 shares of Securities A and 50 shares of Securities B, but one of them is purchased after the rights have expired | The number of shares does not reach 100 as of the rights vesting date |
| Some shares were sold before the vesting date, resulting in fewer than 100 shares | Insufficient number of shares on the shareholder register |
| If you only own shares that are less than one unit | If the preferential conditions are for shares that are more than one unit, you will likely not be eligible |
It is necessary to check not only whether the shares will be added up but also whether there are the required number of shares on the record date.
Shareholder number is important for long-term holding benefits
What you should be most careful about is long-term holding benefits.
Depending on the company,
*Continuously held for more than 1 year *Continuously held for 3 years or more
- Continuously listed in the shareholder register every half year
- Listed more than a certain number of times with the same shareholder number
Conditions are set.
In this case, simply owning 100 shares is not enough. You can see whether the same shareholder was continuously recorded in the shareholder register even on past record dates.
For example, Mitsui Fudosan's shareholder benefits state that in order to determine long-term ownership, the same shareholder number must be listed in the shareholder register on multiple record dates. Resort Trust's long-term holding benefits also include the condition that the same shareholder number must be listed consecutively in the shareholder register at the end of March and the end of September.
Continuation of shareholder numbers is extremely important for these stocks.
Cases where the shareholder number is likely to change
Whether the shareholder number changes depends on the stock and the operations of the shareholder registry administrator. I can't say for certain.
However, if you are aiming for long-term holding benefits, you should be careful about your next move.
| Action | What can happen |
|---|---|
| Sell all shares midway | Shareholder number may change at next acquisition |
| Changing or transferring securities companies | I want to check the procedures and handling of register management |
| Changing address for only some accounts | It may become difficult to be treated as the same shareholder |
| Using stock lending services | May affect preferential treatment and long-term holding decisions |
| Transfer to a family member's name | Because the name changes, it is likely to be treated differently from the person's continued ownership |
In particular, ``selling all shares'' is a common pitfall.
If you sell all your shares and then buy back the same stock later, the long-term holding count may be interrupted even though the number of shares remains the same.
If you are aiming for long-term holding benefits, there will come a time when you will prioritize the continuation of your shareholder number over short-term trading profits.
If you are looking for preferential treatment, it is safe to combine them into one securities account.
Multiple accounts are often combined if they are in the same name.
Still, if you're looking for preferential treatment, it's easier to understand if you keep all eligible stocks in one securities account.
There are three reasons.
The first is that it is easy to check the number of shares held. Second, it is easier to reduce trading errors before the vesting date. Third, it is easy to confirm long-term holding conditions.
especially,
*Special benefits for 100 shares or more
- Increased benefits for 500 shares or more
- Increased benefits for 1 year or more and 3 years or more
- Same shareholder number is required
For such stocks, it is better to prioritize ease of management over diversified holdings.
With preferential investments, not only the yield calculation but also administrative management are involved in the investment results.
Common Misconceptions
Misconception 1: If you separate securities companies, you will receive preferential treatment twice.
If the names are the same, the names will normally be registered as the same shareholder. Splitting your securities company into two doesn't necessarily mean you'll get twice the benefits.
Misconception 2: If you have 100 shares in total, you will definitely get preferential treatment.
100 shares must be recorded in the shareholder register as of the vesting date. I would like to confirm the purchase date, delivery date, and last date with rights.
Misconception 3: Long-term holdings are automatically counted from the date of purchase
A company's long-term holding conditions often include whether a shareholder is listed consecutively in the shareholder register with the same shareholder number. The holding period may not match the securities company's holding period.
Misconception 4: Lending stocks will not necessarily affect preferential treatment.
Stock lending services may affect dividends, preferential treatment, and long-term holding decisions. I would like to check my securities company's automatic return settings and preferential treatment settings.
summary
Even if you have two securities accounts, shareholder benefits are not determined separately for each securities company.
The basic method is to look at the number of shares held by the same shareholder in the shareholder register as of the date of vesting rights.
| Case | General view |
|---|---|
| Holding in two accounts under the same name | Often combined |
| Holding 100 shares in two accounts | There is no guarantee that there will be two preferential treatment |
| Different names and addresses | There is a possibility that they will not be treated as the same shareholder |
| Long-term holding benefits | Be careful about keeping the same shareholder number |
| I want to manage it reliably | It is safe to consolidate it into one securities account |
If you own stocks for preferential treatment, the order in which you should look at them is as follows.
1. 権利確定日
2. 必要株数
3. 同一名義で合算されるか
4. 長期保有条件
5. 株主番号の継続Shareholder benefits are a convenient and fun system, but the conditions vary considerably from stock to stock. Lastly, be sure to check the company's shareholder benefit guide and the shareholder registry administrator's explanation.
source
- Mitsui Fudosan “Special Benefits for Shareholders” https://www.mitsuifudosan.co.jp/corporate/ir/individual/benefit/ *Resort Trust “Preferential treatment system for long-term shareholders” https://www.resorttrust.co.jp/ir/stock/benefit-long-term/
- Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group “Information on Shareholder Benefits” https://www.smfg.co.jp/investor/benefits/
- Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank Shareholder Passport "I hold shares of the same brand in multiple securities company accounts, and I have received two stock-related documents with different shareholder numbers." https://faq-agencykp.smtb.jp/faq/show/608?site_domain=default