Expert: Steven Taylor - 1/14/2012

Question
My Dad received 2 share certificates in an inheritance from his brother. The Shares are for Anglo United Development Corporation Limited and are made out to The English Association of American Bond & Share Holders Limited and stamped with the figure 100 on each and dated Feb 8 1979. They are signed by Canada Permanent Trust Company, Toronto (transfer agent & registrar) and a Secretary/Treasurer and a President.
They both have sequential serial numbers and on the back they are both stamped and individually signed and dated 19th Feb 1979.
Can you tell us if they might have any current value and if so how much would you estimate, and if so would we go to a stockbroker or an attorney to follow it up?

Answer
Mike, from the information I have available, it appears there is no current value. The Company was acquired by its English parent, Anglo United PLC, sometime in the 1980's I believe for $0.53 per share. That money would have likely been paid to the owner on the certificate, The English Association. Even if the certificates were correctly transferred to your uncle (which is unlikely, as those certificates would have almost certainly been turned into the transfer agent for legal confirmation and destroyed, and new certificates issued), he would have received the check at the time of the acquisition.