How Can I Confirm and Prove Ownership of My Securities in DealMaker?
When investing through DealMaker, understanding how your ownership is recorded and how to access proof of ownership is essential. This article explains the official records of ownership, how to access them, and the transition from physical certificates to electronic records.
Overview of Investment Ownership Records
Ownership of securities in DealMaker is recorded electronically as a book-entry. This book-entry serves as the official record of your securities and confirms your shareholder status. Once your securities are issued for companies managed by DealMaker Shareholder Services (the transfer agent), you will receive a notification via email, and they will be available for viewing in your investor portal under the "Investments" tab.
What Are Book-Entry Records?
A book-entry is an electronic method of recording ownership of securities. Unlike traditional physical share certificates, book-entry records are maintained digitally, providing a secure and efficient way to track ownership. This method has become the standard for most offerings, replacing the need for physical documentation.
Accessing Proof of Ownership via the Investor Portal
Ddepending on which stage you are at with your investment, you would be able to obtain a copy of the signed/countersigned version of your Subscription Agreement.
Once your investment is "accepted", you can expect your securities to be issued to you by the company's SEC-registered Transfer Agent in the form of Book-Entry Statement through the investor portal.
To locate these documents:
Log in to your DealMaker account (https://app.dealmaker.tech/users/sign_in) to access your Dashboard. If you haven’t set a password yet, use the email invitation link located in any of the DealMaker emails to enter be redirected to the portal.
From your Dashboard, scroll down to the “My Companies” section. Click on the company for which you wish to obtain a copy of the signed agreement (or the book-entry statement) > Navigate to "Investments" tab to access your proof of ownership documents.
Please note that if your investment has not yet been accepted, the company you're investing in must first accept your investment into the offering before securities are issued.
Transition from Physical Certificates to Electronic Records
In the past, physical share certificates were issued as proof of ownership. However, we exclusively offer digital certificates and do not issue physical ones. As an SEC-registered transfer agent, we electronically record book-entry shares, eliminating the need for paper certificates. This modern method provides enhanced convenience, significantly reduces loss or theft risks, and facilitates easier management and faster transactions compared to physical certificates.