COMMUNICATION OPTIONS FOR SHAREHOLDERS
As a Telstra shareholder there are many options available to ensure you receive the communications you need in the form that you prefer. Receiving your shareholder communications electronically is the best way to stay informed. We encourage you to make the switch to paperless communications by providing us with your email address. To make the change, go to www.linkmarketservices.com.au/telstra and follow the prompts.
You can make an election as to how you would like to receive your Annual Reports, Notices of Meetings and other documents related to shareholders’ meetings (“Shareholder Documents”) and your payment statements as follows:
HOW TO UPDATE YOUR PREFERENCES ONLINE
To review or update your communication preference for your shareholding, please go to www.linkmarketservices.com.au/telstra.
Your SRN or HIN can be found on your Holding Statement or your hard copy dividend statements up to 2020.
Once you have accessed your shareholding, select the 'Communications' menu, then 'Preferences' and follow the prompts to select one of the following six communication options which are available to you:
| Communication Option | Dividend payment statement | Notice of Meeting | Annual Report |
| 1. All communications electronically. | Electronically | Electronically | Electronically |
| 2. Investor communications sent electronically, except payment advice by post. | Hard copy | Electronically | Electronically |
| 3. Investor communications and payment advice by post. | Hard copy | We will notify^ you of how to access the documents online | Not Applicable |
| 4. Investor communications, annual report and payment advice by post. | Hard copy | We will notify^ you of how to access the documents online | Hard copy |
| 5. Investor communications, meeting documents and payment advice by post | Hard copy | Hard copy | Not Applicable |
| 6. Investor communications, annual report, meeting documents and payment advice by post. | Hard copy | Hard copy | Hard copy |
| 7. Investor communications, payment advice and annual report sent electronically. Meeting documents by post. | Electronically | Hard copy | Electronically |
| 8. Investor communications, meeting documents and annual report by post. Payment advice sent electronically. | Electronically | Hard copy | Hard copy |
^ We will notify you in hard copy of the website where to access and download a copy of the Notice of Meeting and other documents related to shareholder meetings.
If you would like to explore an alternative standing election please email [email protected].
Telstra has examined shareholder discount and reward programs a number of times. These programs are very expensive to administer and would constrain our ability to offer programs to all of our loyal customers and shareholders.
Our Telstra Plus program is designed to thanks our customers for their continuing loyalty and support. Please visit our Telstra Plus website to take advantage of any of the customer rewards you may be entitled to.
Our full year results and half year results are generally announced in August and February respectively. Refer to our key dates and events page for exact dates.
Refer to our share price page.
Refer to our dividend page.
The Telstra capital management framework dividend principle is: Maximise fully-franked dividend and seek to grow over time.
The dividend is subject to no unexpected material events and is subject to Board discretion having regard to financial and market conditions, business needs and maintenance of financial strength and flexibility consistent with Telstra’s capital management framework.
Telstra usually pays two dividends each year; interim dividend and final dividend. The current year's dividend announcement dates, ex-dividend dates and payment dates are available on our key dates and events page.
These terms relate to how a company determines a dividend.
‘Ex-dividend' is a date after a dividend is declared from which buyers of shares are not entitled to receive the last dividend declared. Therefore when Telstra's share price is quoted 'ex-dividend', the dividend belongs to the seller, not the buyer. If you buy shares prior to the ex-dividend date, then you are entitled to the recently announced dividend. This is known as going ex-dividend. Before this date the shares are said to be cum-dividend. The market price will reflect whether the shares are 'cum' or 'ex' the dividend entitlement. The ex-dividend date can be found on the key dates and events page.
'Record date' is the date used to determine the shareholders on the register who are entitled to receive the dividend and the number of shares on which it will be paid. The record date is the date where all changes to registration or banking details must be made for them to apply to the relevant payment.
The basis of the imputation system of company taxation is that Australian shareholders who receive assessable dividends from a company are entitled to a tax offset (or refund) for the Australian tax paid by the company on its income. It is called an imputation system because Australian tax paid at the company level is imputed to the shareholders of that company. The Australian company tax paid is allocated to shareholders by way of imputation credits, also known as franking credits, attached to the dividend, ie. such distributions are called franked distributions.
In effect imputation prevents double taxation at the company and shareholder levels. The Australian company tax rate is 30%. If your marginal tax rate is less than 30%, you will not have to pay tax on the dividend and may be entitled to receive some of the franking credits back as a tax refund. If your marginal tax rate is greater than 30%, then you will have to pay the difference between the company tax rate and your marginal tax rate.
For further information, please refer to the ATO website.
Refer to our dividend reinvestment page.
A DRP instruction remains in place until the shareholder makes a variation or cancellation. If the company decides to suspend or cancel the DRP, all shareholders' instructions would be suspended and in this instance we would communicate to all shareholders in writing.
The DRP is available to Australian and New Zealand residents only.
Telstra pays dividends to Australian or New Zealand bank accounts by direct credit.
Under Telstra’s Constitution, if a shareholder has not supplied banking details to receive their dividend by direct credit, the dividend, and each subsequent dividend, will remain in a holding account for a minimum of 11 calendar months. During this time Telstra will write to the shareholder (at the address held on the share register) and ask for bank account details to be supplied.
If Shareholders do not supply bank account details by the requested date, please refer below:
Once banking details are recorded, any dividends yet to be transferred will be paid by direct credit within 11-16 business days and future dividends will also be paid to this account.
Shareholders who have an enquiry regarding this, please contact the Australian Share Register on +61 1300 88 66 77 or [email protected].
Once banking details are recorded any dividends yet to be transferred will be paid by direct credit within 20 business days and future dividends will also be paid to this account.
Shareholders who have an enquiry regarding this, please contact the New Zealand Share Register on 0800 835 787 or [email protected].
You can view or download a pdf version of Telstra Annual Report. If you would like a hard copy of the report, please contact Investor Relations at [email protected]
Each year, we conduct an AGM which provides shareholders with an opportunity to hear presentations from the Chairman and CEO about the operations and performance of the company and the outlook for the year ahead. It also provides an opportunity for shareholders to ask questions of the Board, management and the auditor generally on the items of business.
All shareholders are invited to attend and are provided with a Notice of Meeting (NOM) describing the items of business and the resolutions that shareholders will vote on. Attached with the NOM is a personalised voting form which allows shareholders who are not attending the meeting to either lodge their vote directly, or appoint a proxy or nominee to vote on their behalf.
The AGM is generally held in October each year. Please check the AGM page for exact dates and location.
A personalised voting form is included with the Notice of Meeting which allows shareholders who are not attending the meeting to either lodge their vote directly, or appoint a proxy or nominee. This person will be able to attend the meeting, to speak and to vote on your behalf. Your proxy can be the Chairman of the meeting, or any other person you choose. That person need not be a shareholder of Telstra. The AGM will also be webcast on our AGM page.
The webcast of the AGM will be streamed live and will be able to be viewed post the AGM. The results of the AGM, speeches and presentations will be lodged with the ASX and will also be posted on our AGM page after the event, and for shareholders who have provided us with their email address, the results will be emailed.
American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) are negotiable US securities issued by a depositary bank (currently Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas) that represent ownership of a company's publicly traded ordinary shares. ADRs enable American investors to acquire and trade foreign securities with reduced hassles regarding differing settlement timetables and other problems typically associated with investing directly in overseas equity markets. ADR's are created when a broker purchases a non-US company's shares on the home stock market of that company and delivers those shares to the depositary bank's local custodian bank, which then instructs the depositary bank to issue ADRs to American investors.
ADR holders are entitled to dividends payable on the underlying share and to have these paid in US dollars.
If an American investor wishes to purchase shares in Telstra, they can either buy shares directly on the ASX through a broker in Australia, or get their own broker in the US to buy ADRs. The broker can purchase existing ADRs or can arrange for the depositary bank to issue new ADRs. The investors broker will contact a broker in the Australian market who will acquire shares in Telstra. These shares are then deposited with the depositary banks local custodian, which will then issue the corresponding number of ADRs to the US investor via their broker.
If an investor wants to sell their ADRs they can simply sell the ADRs as they would any other US security, or they can cancel their ADRs. When cancelling ADRs, the investor’s broker will instruct the depositary bank to cancel the ADRs and release the underlying shares to a broker in the Australian market. The Australian broker will then sell the shares on the ASX and proceeds will go to the US investor.
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas is the depositary bank for Telstra Group Limited’s ADR program. The depositary bank plays a key role in issuance as well as cancellation of ADRs. It also maintains the ADR holder register and distributes the dividends in US dollars.
Some of the advantages of ADRs include the following:
Telstra's ADRs are sponsored Level I Depositary Receipts, which trade over the counter (OTC) on the market operated by OTCMarkets and cannot be listed on a US stock exchange. The ADRs trade under the symbol TLSYY. The OTCMarkets is a decentralized market for securities that are not listed on a stock exchange. Trading on OTCMarkets occurs via a network of dealers who carry inventories of securities to facilitate the buy and sell orders of investors.
Under the Telstra ADR program, each ADR represents five Telstra shares.
The US dollar rate paid to holders of ADRs is calculated by applying the exchange rate used to convert the foreign dividend payment (net of local withholding tax) to US dollars, and adjusting the result according to the ordinary share (ADR ratio).
Voting rights are not extended to ADR holders.
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas is the current depositary bank for Telstra Group Limited’s ADR program. The depositary bank plays a key role in issuance as well as cancellation of ADRs. It also maintains the ADR holder register, and distributes the dividends in US dollars.
Contact details for ADR investors and brokers:
Deutsche Bank ADR broker services desks
New York: +1 212 250 9100
London: +44 207 547 6500
Contact details for registered ADR holders:
Deutsche Bank Shareholder Services
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
Operations Center
6201 15th Avenue
Brooklyn NY 11219
Email: [email protected]
Toll-free number: +1 866 706 0509
Direct Dial: +1 718 921 8124
For further information please refer to www.adr.db.com/drweb/index.html
TESOP TAX GUIDE
The TESOP tax guide provides an overview of the taxation implications applicable to most employees' participation in TESOP 97 or TESOP 99, including receiving Telstra dividends and the disposal of shares.
All information provided is of a general nature only and circumstances may vary greatly between participants, therefore you should seek independent expert tax advice before preparing your tax return. You should also provide a copy of this information to your tax agent or the person who prepares your tax return.
For information on the tax implications for the 10 year anniversaries of the Telstra Employee Share Ownership Plan (TESOP) 1999 and 1997 please refer below:
Past Years
Buy-Back
2004
2003
Things you need to know
This is a general description of the tax consequences, which can apply to your participation in TESOP 97 or TESOP 99. The tax consequences for you may be different depending on your own circumstances, particularly if you have participated in other employee share schemes, if you have any particular arrangements in relation to your shares or for shares you acquire otherwise than under TESOP 97 or TESOP 99.
The description of the capital gains tax consequences of your participation in TESOP 97 and/ or TESOP 99 is based on Class Ruling (CR 2001/28) issued by the Commissioner of Taxation.
If you have any questions about preparing your tax return or the tax consequences of your participation in TESOP 97 or TESOP 99 (including the capital gains tax consequences) in your particular circumstances, you should seek guidance from your own registered tax adviser.
Reference Materials
Telstra Corporation Limited will complete its delisting from the Main Board of NZX Limited (“NZX”) at the close of business Friday 18 June 2021 and the consolidation to a sole listing on the Australian Securities Exchange (“ASX”) will commence from Monday 21 June 2021.
Telstra shareholders who held shares through the NZX will be automatically transferred to the ASX and their holdings migrated to the Australian share register over the weekend of 19 and 20 June 2021. New Shareholder Reference Numbers will be mailed to those shareholders on Monday 21 June 2021. No further action is required from shareholders.
ASX announcement - 18 June 2021: Sole listing on the ASX commences 21 June 2021
Background information for Shareholders
As an existing shareholder, if you hold Telstra shares on NZX, your shares will be automatically transferred to the ASX. You do not need to take any action to facilitate this process. In order to move to a sole listing on the ASX, trading of Telstra shares on NZX will cease at the close of business on Wednesday 16 June 2021. NZX shares will be transferred to the ASX, and there will be no NZX trading, on Thursday 17 June and Friday 18 June 2021. Telstra will be delisted from NZX from the close of business on Friday 18 June 2021. The sole listing on the ASX will commence at the opening of the next trading day on Monday 21 June 2021.
Please be assured that when your shares are transferred across to the ASX, there will be no change to your rights as a Telstra shareholder. All your details such as your bank account, dividend reinvestment plan election (if applicable), IRD number, email address, etc. will be transferred to the Australian register. There will be no change to the way we pay our dividends and we will continue to pay dividends in New Zealand or Australian dollars. We will send you all shareholder communications through your elected communication channel and you will have the opportunity to attend and vote at our shareholder meetings as usual. If you currently hold Telstra shares on the ASX, nothing will change with respect to that holding. You may also move your shares from NZX to the ASX before the scheduled date if you wish. Please refer to the Shareholder FAQs below for information on how to do this.
Below are the key dates, contacts and resources regarding this process.
Proposed key dates |
|
|---|---|
Wednesday 16 June 2021 |
Last day of trading of Telstra shares on NZX. Trading halt on NZX implemented at 5pm (NZT) |
Thursday 17 and Friday 18 June 2021 |
No trading of Telstra shares on NZX |
Friday 18 June 2021 |
From close of business Telstra will delist from NZX. All shareholder details held on the Link New Zealand Investor Centre will be migrated to the Link Australia Investor Centre. |
Monday 21 June 2021 |
First day Telstra shares will trade solely on the ASX. A Holding statement will be mailed to NZ shareholders providing a new SRN for the ASX. A Security Transaction Statement will be mailed within the next 4 days to confirm removal from the Telstra’s NZX register |
Shareholder contact details and resources |
|
New Zealand Share Registry |
Within NZ 0800 835 787 Overseas +64 (0)9 375 5998 |
New Zealand registered holders online access: |
|
Australian Share Registry |
Within Australia 1300 88 66 77 Overseas +61 1300 88 66 77 |
Australian registered holders online access: |
|
Latest investor information and frequently asked questions |
|
Trading shares |
If you have traded Telstra shares on NZX using a broker, you should check with your broker whether they have the capability to trade on the ASX. If so, you can continue to trade your Telstra shares using that broker. Alternatively, you can use these links to find brokers that trade on the ASX: • Australia http://www.asx.com.au/prices/find-broker.htm • New Zealand https://www.nzx.com/services/market-participants/all-market-participants Getting set-up to trade on the ASX might take a few days, so allow for this time before you want to trade. |
The Board believes that consolidating Telstra’s listing on the ASX is in the best interests of the company and its shareholders.
Shareholder FAQs
In order to move to a sole listing on the ASX, trading of Telstra shares on NZX is expected to cease at the close of business on Wednesday 16 June 2021. NZX shares will be transferred to the ASX, and there will be no NZX trading, on Thursday 17 June and Friday 18 June 2021.
The final NZX delisting is expected to occur at the close of business on Friday 18 June 2021. The sole listing on the ASX is expected to commence on the opening of the next trading day, Monday 21 June 2021.
If you are an existing shareholder and hold Telstra shares on NZX, your shares will be automatically transferred to the ASX prior to the opening of trading on Monday 21 June 2021. You do not need to take any action to facilitate this process.
If you currently hold Telstra shares on the ASX, nothing will change with respect to your holding on the ASX. You do not need to take any action.
No. The process will happen automatically for all NZ registered shareholders, and there will be no fees payable by NZ registered shareholders for the transfer.
Yes. The number of shares that you own will remain the same.
Your voting rights will remain the same.
Telstra will continue to pay dividends in Australian or New Zealand dollars. Shareholders must have either Australian or New Zealand bank account details registered by the dividend record date to be paid in that currency.
Just as your Telstra shares are currently traded at the market price on NZX, after the transfer, your shares will trade at the market price on the ASX. Telstra has no control over its share price. To view the price of Telstra shares on the ASX please visit https://www2.asx.com.au/markets/company/tls.
After the transfer, your Telstra shares will be solely traded on the ASX (and therefore traded in Australian dollars). This means that exchange rate movements could impact the amount in New Zealand dollars that you receive on the sale of any Telstra shares, even if there is no change in the underlying share price. You can see Telstra’s share price on the ASX website https://www2.asx.com.au/markets/company/tls.
Yes, you can move your shares to the ASX now. To move your shares, you can either:
No, you don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to trade your Telstra shares on the ASX. You will receive a holding statement from Link providing details of your Issuer Sponsored Shares including your Security Reference Number (SRN).
Buying or selling shares on the ASX will need to be facilitated by a broker. If your current NZ broker has the capability to trade on the ASX, you can continue to trade through them if you wish. Alternatively, you can use these links to find a broker http://www.asx.com.au/prices/find-broker.htm and https://www.nzx.com/services/market-participants/all-market-participants.
Alternatively, Link Market Services (“Link”) offers a share sale service to Issuer sponsored shareholders who wish to sell their entire shareholding. Please refer to the information available on Link’s website about Selling your shares.
If you wish to sell your shares through your existing broker, please contact your broker, as they may need to convert your Issuer Sponsored Shares (SRN) to your CHESS Sponsored Shares (denoted as Holder Identification Number - HIN) in order to facilitate the trade. The conversion process can take a few days, so allow this time before you want to trade. Your broker may charge a fee for the conversion. For more information see http://www.asx.com.au/documents/about/fact-sheet-chess-sponsored-and-issuer-sponsored-holdings.pdf.
If you do not have a broker, you can use these links to find a broker http://www.asx.com.au/prices/find-broker.htm and https://www.nzx.com/services/market-participants/all-market-participants.
Alternatively, Link offers a share sale service to Issuer sponsored shareholders who wish to sell their entire shareholding. Please refer to the information available on Link’s website about Selling your shares.
CHESS is the trading system of the ASX to record shareholdings and manage the settlement of share transactions. Shares that are registered with an ASX broker are CHESS Sponsored Shares. CHESS Sponsored Shares are allocated a HIN by the broker. The main differences between a HIN and a SRN is that you will only have one HIN (for each broker) that identifies all of your holdings in all of the companies you have invested in. If you have a SRN, you have one SRN for each company you have shares in. The SRN is the Australian equivalent of a Holder Number in New Zealand. For more information see http://www.asx.com.au/documents/about/fact-sheet-chess-sponsored-and-issuer-sponsored-holdings.pdf.
For shareholders who already have an HIN, this will remain the same. If you already have a HIN you can convert your shares from your new SRN to your HIN. Ask you your broker to do this for you – it’s called an Issuer to CHESS conversion.
On the day of the commencement of the sole listing on the ASX, you will no longer have Telstra shares recorded against your New Zealand Holder Number (CSN). You will no longer require this or your Authorisation Code (FIN) for your Telstra shares. You will receive a holding transaction statement with a new SRN from Link. You will also receive a Security Transaction Statement to confirm the removal of your holding from Link New Zealand.
Your Common Shareholder Number (CSN) will still be valid, but you will no longer have any Telstra shares held against it. After your shares are moved to the ASX, you will receive a holding transaction statement with a new SRN from Link. In order to trade your Telstra shares in Australia, you may have to convert them to CHESS Sponsored Shares (see above).
After Telstra delists from NZX, you will no longer be able to view your shares on the Link New Zealand Investor Centre. You will need to access the Link Australia Investor Centre at www.linkmarketservices.com.au/telstra. To log-in, you will be required to enter your HIN or SRN, as well as your country of residence, or if you live in Australia, your postcode. If you have already created a New Zealand Investor Centre portfolio, you can add your Telstra shares on the Link Australia Investor Centre by logging into the Investor Centre using your current New Zealand portfolio details (email and password). Link stores all your past information for up to 7 years, so if you need any historical information about your holdings Link will be able to provide this to you.
After Telstra delists from NZX and migrates shareholder information to the Link Australia Investor Centre, you will not have access to the Link New Zealand Investor Centre. If you require historical dividend statements or other holding information from the Link New Zealand Investor Centre, we recommend you download this information before the migration on Friday 18 June 2021. After this date you will need to contact Link for this information (up to 7 years) and a fee may apply.
Yes, you can trade as normal up to the final trading day on NZX which is Wednesday 16 June 2021. After the NZX delisting, trading will occur solely on the ASX.
Your communication instruction will carry across from the Link New Zealand share register to the Link Australia share register. This means we will continue to send your shareholder communications according to your existing election of either electronic or in hard copy. You can change this at any time through the Link website before 16 June 2021 at https://investorcentre.linkmarketservices.co.nz or after 21 June 2021 at www.linkmarketservices.com.au/telstra.
Telstra’s Investor website will have all the latest information available relating to the NZX delisting at www.telstra.com/investor. You can also contact Link in New Zealand or Australia:
New Zealand Share Registry |
Within NZ 0800 835 787 Overseas +64 (0)9 375 5998 |
|---|---|
Australian Share Registry |
Within Australian 1300 88 66 77 Overseas +61 1300 88 66 77 |
Please be extremely cautious regarding any similar proposal to invest in Telstra. If you believe you're a victim of this scam or you’ve received any calls or emails about a similar scam, please contact the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) to help them identify those involved.
In November 2020, we announced our intention to undertake an internal corporate restructure, including the creation of a number of subsidiaries under a new holding company.
You can view the announcements we made to the ASX in relation to the scheme of arrangement (Scheme) in our Investor Centre.
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) published a class ruling regarding the income tax treatment of the Top Hat Component of the Scheme. The class ruling can be accessed here (CR 2022/104 Telstra Corporation Limited – top hat restructure).
Holders of American depositary shares can access IRS Form 8937, Report of Organizational Actions Affecting Basis of Securities, here IRS Form 8937. The information contained herein does not constitute tax advice and does not purport to be complete or to describe the consequences that may apply to particular categories of stockholders. Each shareholder is advised to consult his or her tax advisor regarding the tax treatment of the transaction.
For more information on our legal corporate restructure including key details and FAQs, please go to www.telstra.com/legalrestructure.
Yes. The Telstra Corporation Act restricts foreign ownership.
That is, foreign persons collectively cannot control more that 35 per cent of the non-Commonwealth owned Telstra shares, and individual foreign persons cannot control more than 5 per cent of them.
Telstra will divest shares if an unacceptable foreign ownership situation arises. Telstra will also keep relevant stock exchanges advised of foreign ownership levels.
As at 30 June 2023, foreign ownership of Telstra was 21 per cent (1 July 2022: 21 per cent).
Details regarding Telstra Foreign Ownership Regulations can be found in the current Foreign Ownership Regulations document.
For more detailed information on the restrictions on foreign ownership in Telstra Corporation Limited, please refer to our constitution and foreign ownership regulations which can be found in our Corporate Governance section.
Level 28, 242 Exhibition Street
Melbourne 3000
Victoria
Australia
Telephone: 1800 880 679 (Australia only)
Telephone: +61 3 8647 4954 (International)
Email: [email protected]
Level 41, 242 Exhibition Street
Melbourne 3000
Victoria
Australia
Email: [email protected]