Expert: Steven Taylor - 11/21/2009

Question
My father-in-law bought my husband shares in this company in 1962. The certificate was recently found and we are wondering if there is any worth to the shares. Thank you.

Answer
Louise, from the information I have available, there might be value to the certificate, assuming it is still valid and your father-in-law or husband never received the new shares.

Auto-Marine was acquired by Chieftain Development in 1967 on the basis of 1 Chieftain share for every 4.1 shares of Auto. Chieftain was later acquired by Alberta Energy, which is now Encana.

I suggest you contact Encana's transfer agent, CIBC Mellon (www.cibcmellon.com) and see if they have any record of current ownership.