Share capital

An American Depositary Receipt (ADR) is a negotiable instrument issued by a depositary bank that evidences ownership of shares in a corporation organised outside the US. Each ADR represents a specific number of underlying ordinary shares in a non-US company on deposit with a custodian in the applicable home market. ADRs are quoted and traded in US dollars on a US securities exchange and dividends are paid to investors in US dollars.

ADRs were specifically designed to facilitate the purchase, holding and sale of non-US securities by US investors, and to provide a corporate finance vehicle for non-US companies. Aviva has a sponsored Level 1 ADR facility administered by Citibank.

Aviva’s Level 1 ADR program is traded under the ticker symbol "AVVIY".

An Aviva American Depositary Share (ADS) is a US dollar-denominated form of share ownership in Aviva. It represents ordinary shares on deposit in the United Kingdom (UK). An ADS gives registered ADS holders the right to receive dividends in US dollars, attend Aviva shareholder meetings, and the right to vote on important matters. An ADR is the certificate representing ownership of the ADSs.

ADRs can be purchased by investors or institutions who wish to purchase shares in a foreign company. Investors can either purchase the foreign shares in the local market through a broker in that country or request their brokers to buy the ADRs in the US. The broker may either purchase existing ADRs or, if they are not available, arrange for their broker to purchase shares in the local market of which Aviva’s depositary bank, Citibank, will issue in ADR form.

You can find information on managing ADR Shares here.

You can find information on ADR Dividends here.

As well as ordinary shares, Aviva has two different types of preference shares, 8 3⁄4% and 8 3⁄8%. The shares have a nominal value of £1. The fixed dividend is cumulative in nature, ie if the fixed dividend is not paid in one year, it accrues and is payable as a debt to the shareholder until the dividend is brought up to date. The shares cannot be redeemed without approval by shareholders at an Extraordinary General Meeting.

Aviva plc and General Accident plc preference shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange and you can find their values on the Daily Official List of the Stock Exchange.

Your preference shares do not carry any voting rights and you are not normally entitled to attend the Company’s general meetings, although you may attend and vote on any class meetings that may affect your rights as a preference shareholder. However, on a winding up, preference shares carry a preferential right of return of capital ahead of the ordinary shares.