Expert: Steven Taylor - 5/4/2009

Question
My father passed away recently and we have found a stock certificate for Bosworth, Sullivan and Company or Quebec Lithium Corp.  I don't know really what I'm looking at and would like to know who to contact about transferring the stock into my name.  What can you tell me?

Answer
The Company you are looking for is Quebec Lithium, as Bosworth Sullivan was the brokerage firm.

Quebec Lithium went through several acquisitions and at least 1 reverse stock split (a 1 for 2) and eventually became Sullivan Mines. Sullivan was acquired in 1987 by Cambior on the basis of 1 preferred share for each share of Sullivan. That preferred share was later redeemed for $7.50 per share cash.

Cambior was later acquired itself, but since the preferred share was redeemed long ago, contacting Cambior is unlikely to help anyway. Cambior's transfer agent was CIBC Mellon, but also considering the long period since the redemption they are unlikely to have those records available. If your father did not receive the preferred shares (and later the cash#, then the cash was likely turned over to the government for safekeeping as he could not be found. In that case, you have to search for the lost cash in every state or Province in which your father lived from the time he bought the stock until his death. Today, that chore has been made much easier, as most States #and some Provinces) have teamed up and offer an easy Internet portal to allow free searches of lost property records at http://www.unclaimed.org/ Search your father's name EXACTLY as it appears on the stock certificate - even if it is misspelled or abbreviated. It has been 20 years since the cash was made available, and some states don't keep lost property in safekeeping that long, but it is certainly worth the effort to look.