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What does Georgeson do?
Established in 1935, Georgeson is a leading shareholder communications organisation, specialising in reuniting shareholders with their forgotten and unclaimed assets. For more information please click here.
Why have you contacted me?
We are working on behalf of another company that is trying to find their shareholders with the aim of reuniting them with their lost shares. Individuals can lose their shares when:
> they don’t notify the company of a change of address
> they forget about their investments
> they make investments without telling their spouse
> they are unaware that their deceased relative had investments
> companies change their names.
How did you get my address?
We have access to public listed records, such as the electoral roll.
Why have you written to my neighbours?
Neighbours often keep in contact with each other and can help us with our search. We do not give out any information other than your last known address.
How can I trust that this is legitimate?
Georgeson is a trading name of Computershare Investor Services PLC, which is a company authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
Why am I only hearing about this now?
The company you have unclaimed shares with has written to you in the past, but you have not responded. A letter and offer documents were sent to you at your last known address. It’s likely that you moved home and we didn’t receive your new address.
Why do you charge a service fee?
A fee is charged to cover the costs we incurred as a result of tracing and contacting individuals. We employ a team of researchers whose time is dedicated to locating missing shareholders. We also use a number of tracing applications such as the electoral roll. Details of the fee you will be charged following a successful claim can be found on the claim form you should have received.
What is asset reunification?
Asset reunification is simply the process through which shareholders are found and reunited with their unclaimed or ‘lost’ shares. Individuals can lose their shares when:
> they don’t notify the company of a change of address
> they forget about their investments
> they make investments without telling their spouse
> they are unaware that their deceased relative had investments
> companies change their names.
Why do companies want to return these lost assets?
It is best practice for companies to return lost assets to keep their share register up-to-date and to ensure that their shareholders receive the assets they’re entitled to. If companies don’t keep their register up-to-date they may incur unnecessary costs, for example by mailing shareholders at the wrong address.
I have received a letter from Georgeson addressed to a person who no longer lives at this address. What should I do?
We would appreciate any help you can give us to find this person. If you have a forwarding address for them, please let us know so that we can write to them again. We will then ask you to destroy the letter you received. If you don’t have an address for them, but know the name of the estate agency that managed the sale/purchase of the property, again please let us know as we may be able to contact them via the appointed agents.
The letter I received mentions a scheme of arrangement – what is this?
A scheme of arrangement is a court-approved agreement between a company and its shareholders or creditors that may affect the structure of the business. For example, if a company is merging with another or being taken over, under a scheme of arrangement the shareholders do not have to send back a form of acceptance for the merger/takeover to take place. Once the merger/takeover happens, the original shareholders are automatically sent either shares in the new company, cash or a combination of both.
If you have received a letter about this, it may be because the entitlement sent to you wasn’t cashed and is still owed to you.
The letter I received mentions an acquisition – what is this?
This is where one company takes over another or where companies merge together. Shareholders are sent documents outlying the proposal of the acquisition before it happens and are asked to send back a form of acceptance. Once an acquisition happens, the original shareholders receive either shares in the new company, cash, loan notes (a document proving what is owed to you) or a combination of all three.
If you have received a letter from us it may be because your form of acceptance wasn’t received by the company that was involved in the acquisition, and your entitlement hasn’t been issued to you.
I have lost contact with the other joint shareholders/executors. What happens now?
For legal reasons we require the signatures of all joint shareholders or executors. Please contact us if you think this is not going to be possible.
I can’t remember my old address, what do I do now?
You will need to give us the right address so that we can ensure you are definitely the person we are trying to contact. A friend or relative may have a record of your old address.
What happens if I’ve changed my address?
Please contact us so that we can update our records.
What documents will you accept as proof of a change of name?
For all entitlements under £10,000 we will accept certified copies any of the following:
> a marriage certificate
> a deed poll
> a decree absolute
> a change of name deed.
Please post them to us with your claim form in the pre-paid envelope provided. We cannot guarantee the safe return of these documents to you, so please do not send us originals. For all entitlements of £10 000 or more, please call us on our free phone number for more information:
Telephone (UK): 0800 923 1504
Telephone (Ireland): 00 800 1020 1050
Telephone (International): + 800 1020 1050
Will I get the documents back that I send to you?
We cannot guarantee this, so please do not send us originals of official documents.
Who can certify copies of documents?
Most UK banks and solicitors will be able to help you certify documents.
Can you email or fax the claim form to me? And can I email or fax the claim form back?
We will only be able to email or fax a claim form under certain circumstances, so please contact us to discuss this. Otherwise you must post the claim form back to us, completed in ink.
Do I have to claim my entitlement?
No, but it is advisable to claim your cash entitlement as it is currently earning only a small amount of interest. If you are entitled to shares following a company merger, takeover or demutualisation, we also suggest you claim as soon as possible. This is because 12 years after the merger, takeover or demutualisation, the funds will either be paid into Court or may be used by the company for general corporate purposes, including charitable giving. If you were to try and claim your entitlement after this time, you would need to apply to the Court and may need the services of a solicitor.
What happens if I decide not to claim my entitlement?
12 years after a takeover, the funds will either be paid into Court or may be used by the company for general corporate purposes, including charitable giving. Thereafter you will need to satisfy the Court that you are entitled to them; this may involve the services of a solicitor. After a period of time you may no longer be able to claim your shares or cash – the form we have sent you will have more information.
Can I leave the cash to a charity?
If you choose not to claim your entitlement and opt for it to be donated to charity, it will be donated to a dedicated charity, normally ShareGift. ShareGift is an independent charity that distributes the proceeds of donated shares to a wide range of UK registered charities. Please see your claim form for details about where your shares will be donated. If you would like your entitlement to go to a specific charity, we recommend you claim it and then donate it to the charity of your choice.
How do I get power of attorney/court of protection?
For court of protection advice or advice relating to enduring powers of attorney please consult your solicitor.
The sole executor is a solicitor and they are going to charge me too much money to make it worthwhile claiming. Is there any way around this?
In this instance, please seek legal advice.
Who has to complete the claim form/small estates form?
The next of kin to the deceased shareholder.
How do I know who is the next of kin?
The next of kin will be the husband, wife or civil partner, a son or daughter (including step-children if formally adopted), a parent or a sibling of the deceased.
Where can I get copies of a death certificate or probate?
Your local registry office will be able to help with probates. For death and birth certificates you can contact the General Register Office.
How will I be paid/sent my entitlement?
Your entitlement will be in the form of a cheque and will be posted to your address. Georgeson makes all payments by cheque.
How long will I have to wait to receive my entitlement?
It generally takes up to six weeks from the time we have validated your entitlement for you to receive your cheque.
Can the cheque be paid in a different name/to another person?
Unfortunately we are unable to do this. We can only make the cheque payable to a different person when the claimant is deceased. In these cases the cheque will be made payable to the executors of the estate.
I do not have a bank account to cash the cheque. Is there any other way I can be paid my entitlement?
Payments can only be made by cheque.
Can you pay the entitlement via a bank transfer directly into my bank account?
Your entitlement can only be paid in the form of a cheque which will be posted to your address.
Should I declare this money for tax implications?
If you are unsure of what action to take, you should seek independent financial advice.
I haven’t received my cheque. What should I do?
It generally takes up to six weeks from the time we have validated your entitlement, to when you will receive your cheque. If you haven’t received your cheque after this time, please contact us.