Private Investor

You can view your Davy account online on the Davy website and on the Davy App which is available on Android, iPad & iPhone once you have a username and password.

Please email csu@davy.ie and include your Davy account number.

Internet Explorer 5.5 or later versions. We cannot guarantee support for users viewing our site in other browsers.

Click on 'Help' on the menu bar of your browser. Select the "About?" text. Full details about your browser as well as the version will be detailed.

You may download the latest Internet Explorer browser version by selecting the appropriate link below:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/download

Alternatively contact your Internet Service Provider for details.

Any computer capable of supporting Internet connectivity. We suggest that your PC's processing chip is 200 MHz or better. The modem will need to have a minimum speed of 28.8 Kbps. The higher the Kbps the faster the connection will be.

We support Davy Direct running on Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 or later running on Microsoft NT, 2000 or XP operating systems.

The username and password are case sensitive. Make sure you type in your username and password in the correct case, that is, in UPPER CASE or lower case.

This website has been designed using the latest security standards for the communication of information over the Internet. All client information will be encrypted using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption, to ensure it remains private. SSL is an open protocol for securing data communication across computer networks, and it provides a secure channel for data transmission through its encryption capabilities. It allows for the transfer of digitally signed certificates for message integrity, ensuring that the data can not be altered en route.

To maximise performance of the system, only those web pages with your client specific information are encrypted. Depending on how your browser is configured, you may get a browser-generated message informing you of the security status of different web pages.

To confirm that the SSL encryption is operational:

• If you are using a Microsoft Internet Explorer browser, you will see a little golden key at the bottom of your browser screen after you have logged into your online Account. By double clicking on the golden key, you will be able to review the contents of the SSL certificate.

Phishing is an attempt to obtain sensitive personal information, such as passwords, account details or credit card numbers by the use of fraudulent emails and websites. The e-mails used to obtain this information typically purport to come from bona fide companies, and ask customers to provide personal information such as account login details. In fact, these e-mails have not been initiated by the financial services firms, and are fraudulent attempts to obtain private information. If you receive an email of this sort, please email csu@davy.ie.

For security reasons, the back button does not function.

A share option gives you the right to buy shares in your company or parent company in the future at a price fixed on the day the option is granted.

You get to participate in the financial rewards involved in the growth of your company as the company's financial performance is generally reflected in the value of its shares.

An APSS is an Approved Profit Sharing Scheme. The usual structure of and APSS is that employees are given the right to convert a profit-sharing bonus into shares in their employing company or its parent.

This depends on the type of share scheme in operation in your company. If it is a Revenue Approved Scheme, you can use up to 7.5% of your gross salary on an annual basis to buy additional shares.

The most you can invest in any one year is €12,697. However, this was increased under the Finance Act, 1999, on a once off basis, to €38,092, where the scheme is operated in conjunction with and Employee Share Ownership Trust (ESOT).

It depends. In Approved Profit Sharing Schemes, you are not charged income tax on the difference between the cost of the shares and the value on the date of transfer of ownership to you. However, you will have to pay Capital Gains Tax (currently 20%) on any subsequent capital gain. Please note you have an annual exemption of €1,269.

For other share incentive schemes, you will generally be liable for income tax on the difference between the cost of the share and the market price on the date of transfer of ownership to you. The Finance Act 2000 introduced approved share option schemes where no income tax liability applies on share options granted under a Revenue Approved scheme. Instead these options are liable to Capital Gains Tax (currently 20%) on any gain that arises on the sale of these shares. www.revenue.ie

If the employer is a publicly quoted company, the shares will be valued by the market and the share price listed in the financial section of the daily newspapers.

If your employer is a private company professional, share valuation experts will determine the value of shares for a specified period.

Traditionally, share option schemes were only available as an executive benefit. However, if your employer's scheme is an Approved Profit Sharing Scheme, then the scheme must be available to all employees on similar terms. The only differentiation allowed is to service, salary or 'similar factors'.

The employees are the beneficial owners - the trustees merely hold the shares on behalf of the employees. While shares are in the hands of the trustees, you may exercise shareholder rights and you are entitled to any dividends.

That depends.

Share Option Schemes: You may use the proceedings of the sale of the shares to fund the cost of the exercise of the option.

Save As You Earn Schemes: These are designed to let employees accumulate enough money to fund the cost of the exercise of the option. In that way, they are not forced to sell their shares on the date of exercise to fund the exercise cost. Employees participating in approved profit sharing schemes purchase the shares with their salary or bonuses at the beginning of the three-year trust period.

For employees to realise any gains on their shareholdings, a market must be created for the shares. Under the 1990 Companies Act and subject to certain conditions and restrictions, companies can purchase their own shares.