How to Buy Stock

Notice

No offer or solicitation regarding securities

Contents are provided for general information purposes only and do not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. ("SECL") or its affiliates ("Security") in any jurisdiction. SECL does not intend to solicit and is not soliciting, any action with respect to any Security or any other contractual relationship with SECL. Nothing in this website or the Contents thereof, individually or taken in the aggregate, constitutes an offer of securities for sale or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security in the United States, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, or in any other jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is unlawful, or to US persons.

The Contents of this section have not been approved or disapproved by any securities commission or regulatory authority in Republic of Korea (hereinafter, "Korea") or any other jurisdiction, and SECL expressly disclaims any duty on SECL to make disclosures or any filings with any securities commission or regulatory authority, beyond that imposed by applicable laws. The Contents of this section are neither sufficient, nor intended by SECL to be used in connection with, any decision relating to the purchase or sale of any existing or future Securities. SECL does not, does not intend to, and will not provide financial, investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Investors considering the purchase or sale of any Securities should consult with their own independent professional advisors.

The Contents of this section and the certain pages of the website contain information and documents that relate to securities that have not been registered, and will not be registered, for sale in the United States, or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, and may not be offered, sold, resold, or pledged in or delivered into the United States, or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 [the "Securities Act"], as amended) except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Such securities may also be subject to US tax law requirements. There will be no public offering of the Securities referred to in this section or any other page of the website in the United States. The Contents of this section, information contained in these pages, any opinion expressed therein and Other Contents of this website are provided solely for general information purposes, and do not constitute a sale of, offer for sale of, or solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

Introduction

Individuals of foreign nationalities can invest in Samsung Electronics shares either directly or indirectly. Samsung Electronics shares consist of original shares listed on the Korea Stock Exchange (KRX) and global depository receipts (GDRs) listed on London Stock Exchange (LSE) and Luxembourg Stock Exchange (LuxSE).

GDRs on the LSE and LuxSE

Individuals residing in foreign countries other than the US may trade Samsung Electronics GDRs listed on the LSE and LuxSE.

European Union residents

Investors in the EU can trade Samsung Electronics GDRs the same way they trade stocks listed on their local stock exchanges.

Residents of other regions

Non-EU residents, excluding US residents, have no special limitations for trading Samsung Electronics GDRs listed on European stock exchanges.

Investors simply open an account at a securities firm eligible to trade GDRs on the LSE or LuxSE—eg, in Singapore through Phillip Securities or Kim Eng Securities or in Hong Kong through HSBC.

US residents

Individuals are prohibited from trading GDRs in accordance with Rule 144A of the US Securities Exchange Act.

Shares on the KRX

Method I

Foreign investors can buy Samsung Electronics shares directly on the KRX.

Procedure
  • 1) Register with the Financial Supervisory Service and obtain an investor registration certificate (IRC)
  • 2) Open a stock trading account at a Korean securities firm
  • 3) Transfer funds
  • 4) Trade shares in real time

    Requirements

    • Standing proxy agreement
    • Investment ID application
    • Registration of signature
    • Determination of resident status
    • Copy of passport

Method II

Foreign investors can buy Samsung Electronics shares through a local securities firm or bank.

Procedure
  • 1) Open an account at a local securities firm or bank eligible for trading Korean stocks
  • 2) Deposit funds into the account
  • 3) Place trade orders

Some securities firms have a minimum balance requirement

Local financial institutions eligible for trading Korean stocks

Local financial institutions eligible for trading Korean stocks
Country or region Securities firm
UK HSBC, Morgan Stanley, UBS, Smith & Williamson
Hong Kong HSBC, BNP Paribas, Credit Suisse
Singapore HSBC, Phillip Securities, Kim Eng Securities
Japan Okasan, Aizawa, SBI

Process

Example processes for individual investors trading Korean securities

UK

  • Example brokerage firm: HSBC
  • Program: Customer Segregated Account

Process

  1. An investor can trade stocks under his or her name at HSBC branches in the UK via an account pre-registered with/approved by the UK Financial Services Authority (no separate foreign investor registration necessary)
  2. Trading available two days after opening the account
  3. Required capital: USD 700,000
    (no minimum per-trade amount)
  4. Trading method: Phone call or personal visit
    (online service not available)
  5. Foreign exchange exposure: Currently, there are no products that hedge against foreign exchange risks

Hong Kong/Singapore

  • Example brokerage firm: HSBC
  • Program: Low Exercise Price Option

Process

  1. Subscribe to the Private Banking (PB) service and fill in an Investor Letter of Representations (ILR)
  2. Required capital: USD 3 million (no minimum per-trade amount)
  3. Trading method: Phone call or personal visit (online service not available)
  4. Open an account and trade stocks via HSBC PB under HSBC's name
  5. Foreign exchange exposure: Currently, there are no products that hedge against foreign exchange risks

Japan

  • Brokerage firm: Okasan Securities (in alliance with Daishin Securities)
  • Program: Individual investors can trade stocks through their own accounts as they do in the domestic market

Process

  1. A Japanese individual investor opens an account for foreign stock trading with a branch of Okasan Securities and places an order
  2. The branch forwards the order via intranet to Okasan Securities headquarters
  3. Okasan Securities headquarters forwards the order to Daishin Securities
  4. Foreign exchange exposure: Currently, there are no products that hedge against foreign exchange risks