Expert: Steven Taylor - 11/19/2010

Question
I recently found a stock certificate purchased in 1955 by my father for the above mentioned oil company.  I found on another web site that it has gone through several acquisitions and has finally ended up in the Shell oil company.  Is this information correct and if it is how do I convert this old equity into its current form and what about splits and or dividends?

Thank you

Answer
Steve, from the information I have available, the Company did 2 major reverse stock splits (a 1 for 20, followed by a 1 for 10) and became Canadian Turbo. In 1992, the Company was acquired for $3.96 per share cash.

If your father did not receive the cash in 1992, it might still be available. When the transfer agent loses track of a shareholder, they are required to turn the funds over to the government for safekeeping. Some States keep the funds indefinitely, so you need to check every State or Province in which your father lived from the time he first acquired the shares until the takeover in 1992. You can search many of them online at www.missingmoney.com and www.naupa.org (check both - they have different information). Use the name exactly as it appears on the certificate.