Investors

Lost shareholders

We are taking a more proactive approach to return more unclaimed funds to our lost shareholders who have failed to keep their records up to date. 

What we are doing for lost shareholders

In the summer of 2007 we stepped up our efforts and launched a search programme with Trust Research Services (TRS), who specialise in the business of research, identification and the reuniting of unclaimed assets.

Working closely with TRS and our registrars (Equiniti) we have been able to return unclaimed dividends amounting to over £1m, and put these shareholders or beneficiaries back in touch with 2m shares.  

If you have recently received a letter from Trust Research Services and would like to find out more about them, you can visit their website by clicking on their logo. 

The most common reasons why we lose contact with our shareholders are: 

  • shareholders moving home and not notifying the new address to either the registrar or the Company;  
  • beneficiaries or executors of an estate not aware of the holding;  
  • shareholders forgetting about their shares, confused or do not understand; and  
  • small value certificates from the dividend re-investment plan are often lost and forgotten about.

Comments from those that have used the service

"Very impressed that M&S took time to find me and appreciate receiving money I had forgotten about."  

"Impressed you found me as I have moved several times."  

"When you are a little older like me with little or no knowledge of shares, extremely simple information is appreciated. Clear and simple documents were helpful. Very grateful to the person on the phone, who took time to listen and advise."  

"When my wife died, I turned from being a person who knew where everything was to losing things and not knowing. The way your letter was set out, helped me come to grips with the matter."  

"Excellent service to receive a letter after such a long time."   

"Happy to receive the money, which wasn’t expected. Very prompt and efficient service." 

"Very good, well impressed. Service provided was excellent."

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