Expert: Steven Taylor - 5/17/2011

Question
In going through some old family papers, we came across a certificate for Premier Border Gold Mining Company Limited, dated April 15, 1944.  I believe it was listed on both the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Vancouver Stock Exchange. Any information you can share would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
Richard, from the information I have available, the company changed names numerous times, and also had numerous capital changes, either through acquisition or reverse stock splits. Shares did a 1 for 5 consolidation, then another 1 for 5, then a 3 for 2 forward, then a 1 for 25 reverse. The Company ended as Bearing Power (Canada), which was acquired in 1998 by Wajax for $1.40 cash per share.

Assuming that your family member named on the certificate still owned the shares at the time of the acquisition by Wajax, and did not receive the cash, they money would have likely been turned over to the government for safekeeping as lost property. In that case, they may still have it available. You will need to check every missing property department in each State or Province in which that individual lived from the date they acquired the certificate until the takeover. You can search many of them online for free at www.missingmoney.com and www.naupa.org. Check both, and use the name exactly as it appears on the stock certificate, even if it is misspelled or abbreviated.