Finding an old stock certificate among a parent’s or grandparent’s belongings is a fairly common occurrence. Many people turn to our office for information on the value of the certificate. Unfortunately, there is no government agency, state or federal, that is responsible for tracking what happens to a company after a stock offering is approved.

It is possible that an old stock or bond certificate still has value even if it no longer trades under the name printed on the certificate. The company may have merged with another company or changed its name. We have compiled some resources that may help you learn if an old stock or bond certificate has value. Even if you learn that a stock has no actual value, the certificate itself may have value as a collectible.

These resources may be found on the Internet, at public libraries, stock exchanges, stockbroker offices or law offices. We have included information on some companies that will do the research for you for a fee. Please note that the State of Michigan does not recommend or endorse these entities, their personnel, or their products or services.

• Financial Stock Guide Service. Published by Financial Information, Inc. since 1927, this comprehensive guide is a good starting point for all research on old stock certificates. This listing, updated annually, contains a directory of actively traded stocks and obsolete securities. Check your local library to see if the publication is available. You can have the Custom Research Department of Financial Information research your certificate for a fee by calling 800-367-3441.

• Moody’s Industrial Manual and Moody’s OTC Industrial Manual. Published by Mergent Company, these manuals give brief summaries of companies’ histories, backgrounds, mergers and acquisitions, subsidiaries, principal plants, and properties. This guide is updated annually. You can learn how to obtain a subscription to the manuals by calling 800-342-5647.

• National Stock Summary. Published by the Pink Sheets LLC, this monthly publication summarizes all over-the-counter and inactive listed stock offerings. It also includes the recent prices of such securities, as they have appeared either in the national daily quotation services or in the leading daily newspapers and financial periodicals. The Pink Sheets will research your certificate for a fee. You can contact Pink Sheets at 800-LIST-OTC.

• Scripophily is the hobby of collecting old stock and bond certificates. There are a number of online companies that research, buy and sell old stock and bond certificates.
• www.scripophily.com
• www.oldcompany.com
• www.oldstocks.com
• www.spinksmythe.com
• www.stockcertexpert.com

Additional sources of information for Michigan entities

Michigan Corporations Division
PO Box 30054
Lansing, MI 48909
Phone 517-241-6470
Fax 517-241-0538
Information available online at www.dleg.state.mi.us/bcs_corp/sr_corp.asp

Available records include organization documents for Michigan limited partnerships, limited liability companies and corporations. Information includes the name of the entity, date of formation, whether it has been dissolved, current resident agent and registered office, and date of the last annual report filed.

Michigan Department of Treasury
Unclaimed Property Division
PO Box 30756
Lansing, MI 48909
Phone 517-636-5320
Fax 517-322-5986
Information available online at www.michigan.gov/treasury/0,1607,7-121-44435---,00.html

This resource may be helpful if you are searching for missing stock or bond certificates.