How do I check if a share certificate from 1963 is still valid?

RogerPJ

I have found a share certificate from 1963 for ICI in my late Father's name. Does anyone know how I can check to see if the shares are still held?

Also, my Dad died shortly after going bankrupt in 1999. If these shares are still valid will the money go to the receivers or can I get the shares transferred to my name?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated, thanks.

MABLE

I would give ICI a ring and ask them for the name of their Registrars and telephone no. who log the details of buys and sells etc. The Registrars will be able to advise on this matter.

Sorry unable to advise on the 2nd question but someone on here will be.

barak

RogerPJ wrote: »

I have found a share certificate from 1963 for ICI in my late Father's name. Does anyone know how I can check to see if the shares are still held?

Also, my Dad died shortly after going bankrupt in 1999. If these shares are still valid will the money go to the receivers or can I get the shares transferred to my name?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated, thanks.

ICI de-merged it's pharmaceuticals division into Zeneca [now AstraZeneca] long after 1963, but it's just possible that the 1963 certificate might still be valid, as if my memory is correct the new ICI shares just became worth half as much after the split, and the earlier certificates remained valid - but I could be completely wrong.

Anyway, ICI's Registrars are now Equiniti Limited, Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex BN99 6DA Tel: 0870 600 3970 or [according to SayNoTo0870] Tel: 0121 433 4344 and they will be able to help you.

Like MABLE, I don't know the answer to your second question, but it doesn't sound promising.

tamesisfwp

We had ICI shares that split just as previously described. The split entitled you to some Zeneca shares, which themselves became AstraZeneca shares, which on splitting off and selling off / merging with Novartis of Basel to form Syngenta AG entitled you to yet more shares. By the way you still own the original ICI shares as well. The syngenta shares are a real !!!!!! as they are denominated in Swiss Francs and are subject to all kinds of withholding taxes.

Your second point is similar to so many I have dealt with before. Legally it is an absolute nightmare but unless it is substantial no-one will give a fig as they will have lost interest, archive the file and totally forgotten your father.

Here is what I suggest. There is a small estate provision whereby bank / building society balances and investments below £15K can be dealt with by the holder unless they have applied for probate. In your father's case this is unlikely.

So contact the registrars of each of these companies, advise of the death (death certificates needed), and state that as next of kin you wish to deal with it under the small estate provision. You will be sent forms to fill in and in due course you get the option to cash them in or transfer them into the beneficiary's name.

At this point you will hit another crash barrier because unless you are the only child and your mother is dead you will find siblings suddenly getting interested and wanting their cut. Sorry, I am sure they are nice people but the thought of free money does something very strange to even the nicest people. The best route forward is to discuss this with your mother (if alive) and siblings beforehand and agree some ground rules.

There are some obvious assumptions contained above. If the proceeds are greater than £15K then you have serious problems which are insurmountable.

Best wishes, Stephen

RogerPJ

tamesisfwp wrote: »

We had ICI shares that split just as previously described. The split entitled you to some Zeneca shares, which themselves became AstraZeneca shares, which on splitting off and selling off / merging with Novartis of Basel to form Syngenta AG entitled you to yet more shares. By the way you still own the original ICI shares as well. The syngenta shares are a real !!!!!! as they are denominated in Swiss Francs and are subject to all kinds of withholding taxes.

Your second point is similar to so many I have dealt with before. Legally it is an absolute nightmare but unless it is substantial no-one will give a fig as they will have lost interest, archive the file and totally forgotten your father.

Here is what I suggest. There is a small estate provision whereby bank / building society balances and investments below £15K can be dealt with by the holder unless they have applied for probate. In your father's case this is unlikely.

So contact the registrars of each of these companies, advise of the death (death certificates needed), and state that as next of kin you wish to deal with it under the small estate provision. You will be sent forms to fill in and in due course you get the option to cash them in or transfer them into the beneficiary's name.

At this point you will hit another crash barrier because unless you are the only child and your mother is dead you will find siblings suddenly getting interested and wanting their cut. Sorry, I am sure they are nice people but the thought of free money does something very strange to even the nicest people. The best route forward is to discuss this with your mother (if alive) and siblings beforehand and agree some ground rules.

There are some obvious assumptions contained above. If the proceeds are greater than £15K then you have serious problems which are insurmountable.

Best wishes, Stephen

Thank you very much Stephen for your excellent advice. Both my Mum and Dad have died and I'm the only child so no worries about anybody laying claim. I don't hold out much hope that the certificate is still valid, but I will post an update when I've called the registrars.

The main thing I wanted to make sure of was that I wasn't going to be doing lots of work just to get some more money for the greedy, blood-sucking bank that destroyed my Dad's life.... not that I'm bitter or anything...

RogerPJ

barak wrote: »

ICI de-merged it's pharmaceuticals division into Zeneca [now AstraZeneca] long after 1963, but it's just possible that the 1963 certificate might still be valid, as if my memory is correct the new ICI shares just became worth half as much after the split, and the earlier certificates remained valid - but I could be completely wrong.

Anyway, ICI's Registrars are now Equiniti Limited, Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex BN99 6DA Tel: 0870 600 3970 or [according to SayNoTo0870] Tel: 0121 433 4344 and they will be able to help you.

Like MABLE, I don't know the answer to your second question, but it doesn't sound promising.

Thank you for the telephone numbers, I'll give them a call now and see what they say! Oh, and thanks for looking on SayNo for me as well!

Cheers, Roger