Is this a record – 950 share certificates?

Yesterday was the AGM of Crown Place VCT. A somewhat unexciting meeting in some ways (a full report can be found here), but it did give me the opportunity to meet someone who holds 950 share certificates for different companies. This is not just unusual, it may be a record. The shareholder had already been to two other AGMs earlier in the day. He apparently handles probate matters for individuals which accounts for this.

Another shareholder asked me about the current dematerialisation plans because he has a major problem with a holding where a share certificate representing a large value had got lost (never arrived from the company and possibly lost in the post but the registrars of course disclaim responsibility). The registrars were unwilling to arrange an indemnity at any cost and had asked him to obtain one himself. A good example of why paper share certificates need scrapping as soon as possible. Indemnities for lost certificates can cost you a lot of money, and the loss may not be your fault. But unfortunately the matter seems to be progressing very slowly.

Roger Lawson