Expert: Steven Taylor - 5/5/2010

Question
I came across stock which my father was given beginning in 1953 and am wondering if there is any value to them.  From Aug. 28, 1953: 1 share of falconbridge nickel mines, from Aug. 4, 1954: 1 share of Brazilian traction, light and power, from Dec. 28, 1956: 1/20th of a share of Brazilian traction... From Dec. 27, 1957: 1/20th of a share of Brazilian traction... From Jan. 5, 1955: 1/20th of a share of Brazilian traction... From Jan. 31, 1974: 1/10th of a share of Brascan Limited.  (All of which say 'no par value in the ordinary capital stock').  Any help wold be appreciated as I am not savvy in these sorts of things.  Thankyou.

Answer
Cameron, the Falconbridge is now Xstrata. The Brazilian Traction became Brascan, which is now Brookfield Asset.

You need to contact each company's transfer agent to see if the old shares are still valid. I believe Xstrata is Computershare (www.computershare.com# and Brookfield is CIBC Mellon #www.cibcmellon.com).