How to find lost dividends and shares

It is very common for shareholders to lose touch with the companies they invest in. More than 150,000 small investors have forgotten about $451 million worth of shares. Australia has $1.1 billion dollars of unclaimed money.

If this your situation, these guidelines may help you in tracing your lost shares and dividends.

1. Contact the relevant company
2. Contact the responsible state government department as the unclaimed monies may be either registered with that department or depending on the time that has lapsed, held by the department.
3. IMPORTANT - if you discover you have lost shares, make sure you contact the company's share registry and provide your new details.

How to locate lost shareholdings through the ASIC website

Search for lost shareholdings and unclaimed money through the Australian Government website moneysmart.gov.au. The ASIC website contains details of how to claim your money. The unclaimed money form will step you through all the information you need to provide to ASIC. The company will be contacted by ASIC once you have submitted your form.

Find unclaimed money

How to find lost/unclaimed Takeover Payments through the ASIC website

If you think you held shares in a company which has been taken over by another company and you have not been paid for those shares, then the monies may be held by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. You can search for unclaimed monies on the ASIC website.