Expert: Steven Taylor - 11/17/2011

Question
Information from Internet was that Athena (AGC) was acquired by Miramar Mining Corp in 1995. In December 2007, Newmont Mining Corporation (NYSE.NEM)acquired Miramar Mining Corp. I'm holding 2,500 Shares of Athena in the name of J R YARBROUGH,dated 02 APR 1990. Would this stock survive and now have Newmont shares?

Answer
Bill, the first thing is that unless you are JR Yarbrough, or have legal documentation that JR actually legally transferred the shares to you, the shares are not legally yours. Share certificates are not bearer instruments - that is why they have a name on them. Instead, they only represent ownership. The transfer agent/registrar actually maintains the official shareholder list, and unless you are on that list, or can prove you should be on that list, the certificate is meaningless.

In this case, Athena was acquired by Miramar on the basis of 1 Miramar share for every 2.8 Athena shares. Miramar was later acquired by Newmont, but in an all cash deal - $6.25 per Miramar share. If that certificate is still valid, then JR Yarbrough would have been sent a check to the last known address. If that address was not current, the money would have been turned over to the government for safekeeping in Yarbrough's name. In order to claim the money, Yarbrough or Yarbrough's heirs will have to provide the correct documentation. You can find out more at www.missingmoney.com and www.naupa.org.