Opening a securities account for the safekeeping of your company shares

In this article, we have summarized the most frequently asked questions about the securities account data on Companisto. In this context, there are some regulatory requirements to be considered. 

Why do you need a securities account to invest with Companisto?

Nowadays, securities trading is mainly carried out digitally. For example, when buying shares on the stock exchange, they must be held in a securities account. The safekeeping and administration of securities for others, the so-called custody business, is regulated in Germany under § 1 (1) No. 5 of the German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz) and requires a banking license of the service provider, a custodian bank.

What does ClearStream connectivity mean?

Thanks to the ClearStream connection, shares are given an ISIN (International Security Identification Number). Thus, the shares can be held in any securities account at a bank or online broker. 

This allows you to transfer the securities directly to a potential buyer’s securities account transfer. However, the buyer must join the respective issuer’s pooling agreement. Here, several regulations must be observed, which is why you should contact our Investor Relations Team at service@companisto.com in advance. 

When will the security be transferred to your securities account?

Under German company law, capital increases must be notarized. The notarization takes place a few weeks after the end of the respective round of financing. Subsequently, the securities account data is electronically transmitted to our service provider for the transfer, who then distributes the securities. 

However, due to the initial distribution and issuance of securities, a few regulatory requirements must be observed, and, for example, all notarized contracts must be submitted to our service provider in the original as evidence. Such submission by post or messenger may take a few days, which is why a booking is not made immediately. 

Where can I enter or change my securities account data?

Log in to your account. Go to "My account" and then to "My data". Here, you can enter or change your securities account under the tab "Securities account details". If you do not have a securities account yet, you can also open one here. 

What information do you need to provide about your securities account?

First, you need to distinguish whether your securities account is held in Germany or abroad. In Germany, you only need to enter the bank code (not the BIC), your securities account number and the name of the custodian bank. 

The requirements are somewhat more complex abroad. Here, the BIC is required instead of the bank code plus the contact info of your custodian bank’s contact person. This is since foreign custodian banks are not directly connected to the ClearStream system, so that an individual booking must be made. For this purpose, our service provider coordinates with the respective contact persons at the foreign custodian banks. 

 Why are you not able to see the securities in your securities account?

The shares and securities are transferred to the securities accounts with a nominal value. Nevertheless, it may happen that you cannot see the securities in your overview. The main reason for this is that the securities are not currently traded on a stock exchange and therefore, the performance cannot be shown by the custodian banks. The processes of the banks are for the most part not yet designed for the safekeeping of securities that are not traded on an exchange. Nevertheless, the securities can be viewed in detail or individually. From your feedback and that of our service provider, we know that at some banks the securities cannot be viewed on a mobile device or via app. 

We are working with the banks to try to have the nominal values displayed in the securities account. Corresponding requests have already been placed in the securities departments and are being processed by the respective banks. 

How can you see the posting?

Make sure you open your securities account on a desktop PC and call select the detailed view. Do not use a third-party app for checking, as not all banks have yet fully implemented the PSD-2 guideline on the provision of interfaces for third-party providers. Therefore, certain functions do not yet work without errors. As the securities are not currently traded on an exchange, you are unlikely to receive a notification in your securities account mailbox. It may be necessary to request a printout of the individual securities from your custodian bank. 

Why does it take the booking take longer abroad?

In this case, booking is carried out in close coordination with the contact person at the custodian bank, as the foreign custodian banks are not connected to the German ClearStream system. For this reason, the booking is carried out manually and must be coordinated with the contact person at the bank. Unfortunately, our service provider is dependent on the availability of the relevant custodian bank, which can delay the process. Here, we will achieve significant improvements through the new payment guideline (PSD-2).  

Why was it not possible to book the securities into your securities account?

This can have different reasons. Certain custodian banks (for example: DEKA / Union Investment / Fondbank) are only permitted for investment funds. Other custodian banks (Augsburger Aktienbank / DeGiro) only accept securities traded on the stock exchange or only sustainable shares (Umweltbank). In the case of securities accounts from ebase, we know that it is essential to ask in advance, whether custody is possible. In addition, it may be that your securities account was opened based on a savings plan and only certain securities can be booked in. It is also not possible to book in via Trade Republic. 

Ask your custodian bank in advance which securities can be held in your securities account. The securities that are brokered through us have a WKN (securities identification number) and ISIN number. This allows them to be booked into the corresponding securities accounts via the ClearStream system. 

Which custodian banks allow the booking of securities?

With us you acquire securities that are pre-traded. Since not all banks currently book these securities, we are happy to support you with a list of banks with which we have had good experiences so far.

If you are interested in a custodian account at a bank that is not included in the list below, please contact your bank to find out whether "pre-IPO profit participation rights/ certificates or equity shares" can be booked. You can use the following securities identification number (WKN / ISIN) of Companisto Holding GmbH to ask whether the bank can book these shares.

Companisto Holding GmbH
National: WKN A2P3PT
International: ISIN DE000A2P3PT7

If the bank supports the securities identification number, it can be used for a securities account and the corresponding transfer of securities by Companisto.

Here is an excerpt of the banks with which we have had good experiences so far:

• Comdirect
• FlatEx
• Volksbank
• Consorsbank
• OnVista
• Deutsche Bank AG
• DKB
• HypoVereinsbank
• Postbank
• ING
• Credit Suisse
• Fio Banka
• Bank Austria
• BIL Banque Internationale à Luxembourg
• Boursorama
• Glarner Cantonal Bank, Glarus
• HypoVereinsbank
• Postfinance
• Swissquote
• UniCredit

Is your custodian bank not included in the list despite being registered? Then let us know in the comments and help other Companists to choose a custodian bank if they do not have one yet.

As far as we know, the following banks are currently unable to transfer our securities:

• Trade Republic
• Solaris
• Justtrade
• Smartbroker
• Baader Bank
• DeGiro
• Hellobank
• BNP Paribas
• ebase
• Sparkassen - If you have a securities account with a Sparkassen, please ask whether it is suitable for posting. Different types of securities accounts are offered here.
• Erste Bank
• Scalable Capital
• FIL Fondsbak
• Geno Broker

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our Investor Relations Team. We are available from Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. by phone at +49 30 346491493 or by email at service@companisto.com.