So, have done some digging, and have found some info to help you folks.
1. You'll need an international trading account. I use COMMSEC, their platform is something called Pershing. You can fill in the paper form (as I did) to apply and spend ages and post/fax/carry the form in. OR, as the nice man helpfully informed me today, you can apply on-line when you're inside your account, takes about 5 minutes - NICE
2. Once you get your DRS, you have to apply to your broker to have them sponsor your international shares - they say it is quite easy. Then, you're set. You can trade automatically and electronically - remembering that there is a time difference involved - and it "should just work". Who's going to be first?
3. If you trade electronically with Great Panther, you will AUTOMATICALLY be sent to the NYSE. You *can* choose the TSX, but you'll need a manual trade to do that - so there will be a phone conversation involved.
4. COMMSEC will sponsor off-market trades, and get this ... They are FEE FREE!. My example - The Wife and I have BDR shares, we both have a COMMSEC account, but only I have a Pershing Account. I'm not sure it's worth it to have a second account, so we are going to do an off-market trade and send all her shares to me. Whatever the current price is what the record price will be, so that is the base for and CGT or CGL triggering, and the same for me on the buy side. As well all know, BDR has been sad for a while, so the wife is going to gain an awful lot of CGL, but family-wise, there is no change.
5. There appears to be no difference between the NYSE & the TSX, but the NYSE has greater volumes, so I assume it will be easier to make any buy or sells on that one.
6. My accountant tells me that international trading is no biggie, you just buy & sell, and all the taxation issues are addressed when you do your tax every year. The Canucks & Yanks don't seem to be bothered as long as you pay your tax in Oz.
Well, that's all the info I could find for now - feel free to correct me if I have got something wrong.
Going forward, I am interested in how we can continue to discuss Great Panther on this board. Any suggestions?
