Registrar

Registrar contact details

Enquiring about your shareholding

If you want to ask, or need any information, about your shareholding, please contact our registrar:

Share dealing service

You can buy or sell the Company’s shares in a simple and convenient way via the Link share dealing service either online (https://ww2.linkassetservices.com/share-deal) or by telephone (0371 664 0445). Calls are charged at the standard geographic rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside the UK are charged at the applicable international rate. Lines are open between 8 am and 4.30 pm,  Monday to Friday excluding public holidays in England and Wales. Please note that the Directors of the Company are not seeking to encourage shareholders to either buy or sell shares in the Company. Shareholders in any doubt about what action to take are recommended to seek financial advice from an independent financial adviser authorised by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

Warning to Shareholders

Fraud – Protect your shares

Please take a few minutes to read this and hopefully it will provide a few tips on what type of things to look out for to spot a fraudster.

In recent years, many companies have become aware that some shareholders have received unsolicited phone calls or correspondence concerning investment matters which imply a connection to the company concerned. These are typically from overseas based ‘brokers’ who target UK shareholders. Two common approaches are;

(i) the caller is offering shares for sale, which often turn out to be worthless or high risk in US or UK investments;

(ii) the individual is advised that there is an imminent offer from the company they hold shares in, and the caller is offering to buy their shares at a price significantly above the current market rate. This may involve the payment of an ‘administration fee’, or transferring the shares to the caller company.

These operations are commonly known as ‘boiler rooms’. The ‘brokers’ (callers) can be very persistent and extremely persuasive. They often have websites to support their activities their advice and the companies they purport to represent. A 2006 survey by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) reported that the average amount lost by an investor is around £20,000.

It is not just the novice investor that has been duped in this way, many of the victims have been successfully investing for several years. Shareholders are cautioned to be very wary of any unsolicited advice, offers to buy shares at a discount, sell your shares at a premium or offers of free company reports.

The callers obtain your details from the Company Share Register. This is a publicly available document, so it is relatively easy for someone to access your name and address. They then look to other sources of information, such as the various directory enquiry services to obtain your phone number.

If you are contacted:

• Make sure you get the correct name of the person and organisation and make a record of any other information they give you. e.g. telephone number, address, web address;
• If you receive telephone calls, emails, letters purporting to be from AO World plc or from companies endorsed by AO World plc and you are unsure if they are legitimate, please contact our Investor Relations team for clarification (ir@ao.com);
• Check the caller is properly authorised by the FCA before getting involved by visiting fca.org.uk/register/
• If the caller persists, hang up;
• Report the matter to the Financial Services Authority

Details of any share dealing facilities that the company endorses will be included in company mailings

The Financial Conduct Authority

The FCA can be contacted in respect of unauthorised firms by completing an online form available by clicking on the link below, or by calling 0845 606 1234.

If you deal with an unauthorised firm, you will not be eligible to receive payment under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

FCA Online reporting form

Want to find out more?

More detailed information on this or similar activity can be found at www.cityoflondon.police.uk/citypolice within the Economic Crime section.