Finding details about old shares

[Tankrizzo]

My parents (in their 70s) dug out an old safety deposit box from the 1970s last year, and my Dad found an old share certificate from when he was in his earlier years for a company in Newport, South Wales called CH Bailey. He does vaguely remember buying shares in the company when he was much younger.

Where do we start finding out about these shares and if they're worth anything (or even valid any more)? The company looks like it was a PLC until 2019 when it went private according to Companies House. But not having much experience with shares (read: none whatsoever), we're a bit stuck as to where to start. The company doesn't appear to have a website or anyone we can contact about it.

https://find-and-update.company-information.servic...

[alscar]

Looks like CH Bailey has been around for a long time but divested from its Engineering side in favour of the leisure market many years ago.
A few years ago it went onto the Aim market.
Same person mentioned throughout various press cuttings as Charles Bailey -presumably son or grandson.
There is an address on that companies house site you could write to.
However my guess is that the previous entity either went bust or was simply closed down and the new entity reformed.
As such I would very much doubt your Parents share certificate is worth anything unfortunately.

[Panamax]

Registered office address - 15 Laburnum Close, Rogerstone, Newport, Wales, NP10 9JQ

Incorporated on 22 May 1923

Company status - Active

Last accounts made up to 31 March 2024
Turnover £3million
Gross profit £1 million


I suggest you write to the Registered Office, enclosing a photocopy of your share certificate and enquiring the current status.

[Jon39]

I recall the name C H Bailey as a listed company.

On your parents share certificate, it should show the name of the company's registrar. Those firms deal with all aspects of shareholder work on behalf of their company clients. There are very few doing that work, so you might see; Lloyds Bank Registrars (now Equiniti); Barclays (think that became Capita, then Link) or Computershare (forget who their predecessors were).

Write to the relevant registrar and they should provide you with the information you want.

A quick look at Companies House records,
https://find-and-update.company-information.servic...
shows that C H Bailey Group ceased being public company in 2019, to become a private limited company.

If the company had value at that time, the PLC shareholders might have been paid in respect of their shareholding.
Registrars inform shareholders about significant corporate actions, but of course if the registrar does not have an up to date shareholder address, there is a problem.

You can also see their financial accounts on the website linked above. A quick look there, show the directors are very keen to increase shareholder value ( common statement ), but the latest 4 years trading figures all reveal pre-tax losses.

The present limited company does show an incorporation date as 22 May 1923, but that does no necessarily mean continuity.
PH is a motoring forum, so here is similar example of interest.
The present company Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Limited, was incorporated on 9 January 1964.
M-B did not incorporate the company, but Ken Tyrell did. The same company has been sold many times.

Edited by Jon39 on Tuesday 10th December 17:11

[Panamax]

Jon39 said:

On your parents share certificate, it should show the name of the company's registrar.

OP - what's date on that share certificate? And what's the exact name & registration number of the company that issued it? It's then an absolute piece of cake to identify the right company at Companies House beyond any doubt. Once you're sure you've got the right company with the right registered office (assuming the company still exists) all you need to do is contact that registered office.

Even if the company has ceased to exist you'll still be able to see where it went - and unless it collapsed into insolvency there may be something worth following up. It's very common for companies to have shareholders of whom they have lost track but who still exist, or whose rights still exist, and can be revived.

[Tankrizzo]

Thanks guys this is great stuff. I'll be back at theirs in a couple of weeks again so will dig things out and have a closer look at the certificate.