Unclaimed preference shares
HBOS plc and Birmingham Midshires have launched a free service to assist all eligible former members of Birmingham Midshires Building Society to claim their cash entitlements relating to the sale of their unclaimed Halifax plc Preference Shares.
In April 1999, Halifax plc acquired Birmingham Midshires Building Society. Qualifying members of Birmingham Midshires Building Society who were ineligible to receive a cash distribution were offered 400 Halifax 6.125% Preference Shares in April 1999, however some members failed to claim their shares, which were subsequently sold on the 29th July 2002. Qualifying former Birmingham Midshires Building Society members who failed to claim their shares can still receive the full value of their entitlements until 29th July 2011. HBOS plc is a holding company which resulted from the merger between Halifax Group plc and the Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland in September 2001.
Members who claimed their shares between April 1999 and July 2002 are not entitled to any further distribution of cash or shares. Some qualifying investing members were offered variable cash distributions or a basic cash distribution, however these members lost their entitlement to the variable and basic cash distributions on the 25th July 2002 if they had failed to claim them.
To be eligible to receive free preference shares in Halifax plc under the Birmingham Midshires Building Society distribution scheme on 19th April 1999, qualifying investing members had to be the sole or first named holder of one or more share accounts on 31st December 1997, and hold a credit balance continuously from 15th October 1998 until midnight on 19th April 1999, with a minimum of £100 held on the 15th October 1998. Qualifying borrowing members needed to be the sole or first named holder of one or more Birmingham Midshires Building Society mortgages, at least one of which had a minimum amount outstanding of £100 on 31st December 1997. Members were also required to have a registered address with Birmingham Midshires Building Society in the United Kingdom or in one of the territories listed below as at midnight on 19th April 1999.
Permitted Territories
| Australia | France | Guernsey | Ireland | Malta | South Africa | Spain |
| Belgium | Germany | Hong Kong | Jersey | New Zealand | Switzerland |
If you believe that you meet the qualification criteria, or are an executor or administrator for a deceased member who may have satisfied the criteria, please complete the referral form
and return it to Shareholder Services, HBOS plc, Trinity Road, Halifax HX1 2RG. If you are found to be eligible you will be sent the necessary claim pack within four to six weeks. If you did not qualify, or have already claimed your distribution of cash or shares, we will also contact you in due course with an explanation.