Please be aware that companies, typically from overseas, sometimes make unsolicited contact with shareholders offering to buy their shares or to sell shares on their behalf at prices which can be significantly higher than the market price of the share. These companies often use high pressure sales tactics and tell investors that they need to make a quick decision or miss out on a deal which will give them a large return on their investment. The offer to purchase shares will likely come with a request for bank details or money up front as a bond or other form of security, which will be accompanied by a guarantee to pay back the money involved if the sale does not go ahead. This advance fee is part of the scam – shareholders are unlikely to hear from them again. Some Glanbia plc shareholders have recently experienced such unsolicited and unauthorised approaches.
What to do if you are contacted
If you are in receipt of an unsolicited call from someone offering to buy your shares you should: Always remember to:
- Remain vigilant.
- Take a note of the name of the person and company that has contacted you.
- Do not respond to high pressure tactics to provide bank details or arrange to transfer money if you are unsure of the bona fide nature of the caller.
- Check if the company or individual is appropriately authorised to operate as an investment firm in Ireland by the Central Bank of Ireland.
A list of authorised investment firms is available on the following link: http://registers.centralbank.ie
A list of unauthorised firms that the Central Bank has issued warning notices on and a form to report a suspected unauthorised firm is available on the following link: https://www.centralbank.ie/regulation/how-we-regulate/authorisation/unauthorised-firms
Alternatively investors may contact the Central Bank on +353 1 224 4000.
Report any unsolicited approaches to the Company’s Registrar on + 353 1 247 5690 or the Group Secretary on +353 56 777 2200.
Shareholders are urged to exercise extreme caution.