Expert: Steven Taylor - 10/29/2011

Question
My Father purchased 300 shares of Fenimore Iron Mines on 1954 through B.W. Pizzini & Co. which doesn't seem to be in business anymore. Where would I go from here? Thank you

Answer
Sue, from the information I have available, Consolidated Fenimore did a massive 1 for 200 reverse stock split and became New Fenimore, which later became Forage Westburne. I am not sure what ultimately became of Forage Westburne. I am not sure, but I believe Forage Westburne was part of the Westburne group of companies, which was later acquired by Rexel in 2000 for about $22.75 per share cash.

Due to the massive reverse split, your father's holdings would have likely been just 1 share of New Fenimore (they usually round down). I think at this point, instead of trying to track a single share, is instead to see if, in case the stock was acquired and your father did not receive a check, if the money was turned over to the government for safekeeping. You need to search the missing property offices of every State or Province in which your father lived from the time he first acquired the stock. You can search many of them online for free at www.missingmoney.com and www.naupa.org.