Expert: Steven Taylor - 7/10/2009

Question
How do I locate the value (if any) of common shares of Capitol Stock of Theme Restaurants, Inc. purchased through Canada Trust Company, March 1987?

Answer
Judith, I don't have any information on Theme Restaurants - I show it trading around the time your certificate is dated, but no more.

Theme was traded on the Canadian Dealer Network, a sort of Over-The-Counter trading system for very small (and many questionable) stocks. Many were sold by notorious penny stock dealers, and the stocks disappeared shortly after the supply was sold off to unsuspecting customers. Some of them did change into other companies, but they often did it so quietly it is hard to track the changes down.

Canada Trust is a Transfer Agent and most likely not the broker you bought it from. When tracking old stocks, always try to contact the Transfer Agent as they will know what happened to the company and if that specific certificate has any value. Canada Trust is now part of TD, and you can find them on the web at www.tdcanadatrust.com. You could also contact the Province of Incorporation and see what information they have, or try contacting a broker and see if they can perform a more detailed search for you.