complications selling CRH sshares

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1

Iā€™m domiciled in France and I want to sell CRH shares quoted on the NYSE, which are with compuershare USA. In order to do this I must fill out a share transfer form from Computershare, have it stamped with a ā€œmedallion signature guaranteeā€ (which does not exist in France) and then have it signed by a broker before Computershare will trasfer the shares. Are there online brokers who will deal with this type of complicated transfer? Would really appreciate any helpā€¦

2

Hello Gavin,

What this situation usually indicates is that your CRH shares are held in registered/DRS form at the transfer agent (Computershare USA). To move registered shares (or certain account changes) many U.S. transfer agents require a Medallion Signature Guarantee (MSG) on their transfer form.

What the ā€œMedallion Signature Guaranteeā€ is (and why itā€™s hard in France)

An MSG is a North American signature guarantee (not the same as notarisation). The institution providing it effectively guarantees your signature and assumes liability, so itā€™s typically issued only by eligible U.S./Canadian banks or brokersā€”often only to existing customers. Thatā€™s why itā€™s often described as ā€œnot existingā€ in France.

Are there online brokers that can handle this?

Most EU ā€œpure onlineā€ brokers wonā€™t issue a Medallion stamp themselves. However, there are two practical routes:

1) Use a broker that can accept a DRS/transfer-agent position transfer (inbound) and guide the process.
A commonly used option is Interactive Brokers (IBKR), which supports DRS/transfer-agent position transfers. This does not automatically guarantee you can avoid the MSG for CRH (Computershare/CRH rules still apply), but itā€™s often the most workable path from the EU because the broker can handle the receiving side and the transfer workflow more cleanly than paper-only steps.

2) Obtain the MSG from an eligible institution / specialised provider.
If you have an account with a U.S./Canadian bank or broker, they may provide the MSG. There are also specialised services in this space, but you should be very careful and verify legitimacy, fees, and process in writing before using any third party.

Suggested next step (fastest way to clarify)

  1. Pick a broker that can receive CRH shares from Computershare/DRS (IBKR is a typical example) and ask support specifically:

    • Can you accept an inbound DRS/Computershare transfer of CRH (NYSE) shares from a France-domiciled client?

    • For CRH, will Computershare still require an MSG, or can the transfer be done ā€œbroker-initiatedā€ without it?

  2. In parallel, ask Computershare/CRH support to confirm exactly what they require for your account type (DRS vs plan vs certificate) and for your intended action (transfer to broker vs sale).

Regards,

Chris