How to validate a certificated share?

family4tunes

Hi Guys,

I have a friend who has discovered during a spring clean around 3,000 shares for HBOS Plc (Halifax & Bank of Scotland). From what I know HBOS Plc was taken over by Lloyd's TSB whom were taken over by Lloyds bank eventually. 

Because both HBOS Plc and Lloyds TSB do not exists anymore, where would be the best place to seek info if these certificates are any longer valid or have value. I can remember vaguely that when Lloyd's bank took over HBOS/TSB there was some mention of them (Lloyd's bank) replacing shares held with their own or buying back former HBOS/TSB shares, I'm not sure which or what was acutely agreed.

I have a Lloyds bank account and so rang their local helpline and local branch, neither could give me any info on the subject other than Equiniti are the registrars for Lloyds Bank whom after also contacting say they can only give info on Lloyds bank shares held etc.

If in theory, my friends HBOS Plc shares were indeed automatically converted into Lloyds shares how can this info be found out along with the new share allocation which I would have thought are now held digital. (Old share certificates now being old school and expensive to sale).

Or is it a case that the HBOS Plc shares are worthless and any financial investment once held drifted away in the wind like the former banks did. I'm at a loss who to contact next and wondered if there are any financial bodies out there that would be able to give such an insight. 

Any info on this subject would be much appreciated, obviously my friend doesn't want to throw away the shares until he can be assured they are most possibly a waste of space in the cabinet drawer.

Thanks in advance for any help.

eskbanker

HBOS shareholders received 5 Lloyds shares for every 6 HBOS when the takeover happened in 2009, so your friend who had 3,000 HBOS shares would have had these replaced with 2,500 Lloyds ones, which will now be worth about £1,000.

As you say, Equiniti are the share registrar so they should be able to confirm this holding, assuming it hasn't been sold at some point....

family4tunes

eskbanker said:

HBOS shareholders received 5 Lloyds shares for every 6 HBOS when the takeover happened in 2009, so your friend who had 3,000 HBOS shares would have had these replaced with 2,500 Lloyds ones, which will now be worth about £1,000.

As you say, Equiniti are the share registrar so they should be able to confirm this holding, assuming it hasn't been sold at some point....

When contacted, Equiniti only gave basic info unfortunately.

My friend can not recall receiving any letters or notifications of his HBOS shares being replaced with Lloyds, nor did he receive any new certificates. If he did have his shares replaced with Lloyds he hasn't got a clue how he can attain them or if entitled, actually sell them if he wanted.

There maybe unclaimed Lloyds shares for him, but we are both baffled how this info can be gained without having any reference to them (certificates/Confirmation Letters/ID Numbers Etc). His name and address hasn't changed during the whole period so apart from the expired or void HBOS Plc share certificates he is at a loss to find out any more info.

Many thanks for your first reply and info

Eyeful

Is this of any help to you?
https://unclaimedassets.co.uk/halifax-unclaimed-shares/

Thrugelmir

family4tunes said:

eskbanker said:

HBOS shareholders received 5 Lloyds shares for every 6 HBOS when the takeover happened in 2009, so your friend who had 3,000 HBOS shares would have had these replaced with 2,500 Lloyds ones, which will now be worth about £1,000.

As you say, Equiniti are the share registrar so they should be able to confirm this holding, assuming it hasn't been sold at some point....

When contacted, Equiniti only gave basic info unfortunately.

My friend can not recall receiving any letters or notifications of his HBOS shares being replaced with Lloyds, nor did he receive any new certificates. If he did have his shares replaced with Lloyds he hasn't got a clue how he can attain them or if entitled, actually sell them if he wanted.

There maybe unclaimed Lloyds shares for him, but we are both baffled how this info can be gained without having any reference to them (certificates/Confirmation Letters/ID Numbers Etc). His name and address hasn't changed during the whole period so apart from the expired or void HBOS Plc share certificates he is at a loss to find out any more info.

Many thanks for your first reply and info

If your friend still held the shares. Then would have received communications of various kinds over the intervening years.