UK Share Certificates and Dematerialisation

Dematerialisation simply means getting rid of paper share certificates and replacing them with electronic records.
Instead of proving you own shares by holding a physical paper certificate, your ownership is shown on a secure digital register, maintained by the company’s registrar (the official record keeper For Example MUFG Corporate Markets). 
No paper. No certificates to store, lose, or replace.

The UK Government has decided that:
•    Paper share certificates will be abolished by the end of 2027
•    This applies to UK incorporated listed companies (Main Market and AIM)
•    Ownership will be recorded digitally only on the company’s share register 
This follows the recommendations of the Digitisation Taskforce, which the Government has accepted in full. 

Despite some headlines, 2027 is not a forced move into broker or nominee accounts.
In plain terms:
•    You do not have to open a broker account
•    You do not lose direct ownership of your shares
•    Your shares are not automatically moved into CREST
•    MUFG Corporate Markets continue to maintain the register, just without paper certificates
The only thing that disappears is the paper document, not your rights or ownership. 

After dematerialisation:
•    Your name will appear on a digital share register (as it does now)
•    That register is the legal proof that you own the shares
•    The digital record replaces the old piece of paper
This is often described as “book entry ownership”—your entitlement exists as an electronic entry rather than a physical certificate. 

Yes. MUFG Corporate Markets new online shareholding app is available for all MUFG CM registered shares and shareholders. 
The Investor Centre is tailored to meet the specific needs of shareholders and investors. It offers a streamlined financial experience with a wide array of features. Through the Investor Centre, you can easily access and manage your holdings overseen by MUFG Corporate Markets. This platform is secure, user-friendly, and designed for convenience, ensuring that your financial information is always within reach. In time the app will be developed to allow certificated and nominee holders to deal. In the meantime please see MUFG PMS Share Deal | Our share dealing service for dealing options with MUFG Corporate Markets
Further details on Investor Centre can be found at Investor Centre | MUFG Corporate Markets
Information on how you can register on the Investor Centre at Investor Centre | MUFG Corporate Markets

Yes.
Nothing changes about selling shares:
•    When you sell, your shares still need to move into CREST to settle the trade
•    This already happens today for certificated shareholders
•    MUFG Corporate Markets  handles this process, and will continue to do so
Dematerialisation does not change market trading or settlement mechanics. 

Your paper certificate will no longer have legal value once dematerialisation takes effect.
Instead:
•    The registrar’s digital register becomes the only official record
•    You do not need to “keep” the certificate as proof of ownership
•    There is no expectation that certificates will be exchanged one for one for a new document
Think of it like paper bank passbooks being replaced by online balances.

The Government and market infrastructure bodies see several benefits:
•    Reduces fraud, loss and forgery risks
•    Cuts administrative cost and delays
•    Makes shareholder communications faster and cheaper
•    Aligns with T+1 settlement and modern digital markets 
•    There are still around 8–10 million paper shareholdings in the UK, most of them small and costly to service. 

Gradually, yes:
•    Dividends are expected to be paid electronically by default
•    Company communications will increasingly be digital first
•    Paper communication options may still exist for those who need them
These changes are intended to make things simpler and more secure, not to exclude investors. 

Possibly—but not yet.
The reform has three stages:
1.    Remove paper certificates (by end 2027)
2.    Improve rights for shareholders who hold through brokers
3.    Consider whether all shares should eventually sit in the intermediated system (nominees)
Steps 2 and 3 have no fixed dates and are politically and commercially sensitive. 
Nothing in 2027 forces you into stage 3.

Dematerialisation means your shares still belong to you, but the proof of ownership moves from paper to a secure digital register.