What can I do with a BFC single share?

[cricketfield73]

I have been sorting through some old paperwork and came across my certificate for one single BFC share which I received as part of the Barry Kilby free season ticket deal in 2009 (if I remember correctly).
I know there was some kind of 'buy back' deal from the new owners a couple of years ago but again, if I remember correctly, half of the value was in club shop vouchers or similar, so I didn't take it up..
I have no great desire to keep it and I must admit I'd sooner have the cash if there's any to be had, so my question is, does my share have any actual financial value and if so, what I could do with it? Could I still sell it back to the club somehow? I don't know the first thing about shares, so any advice would be much appreciated.

[Ric_C]

Not sure about current offers, but the "half in club vouchers" included season tickets. So I've used mine to get a couple of season tickets for the last 2 years.

[Quickenthetempo]

You can jump the queue to get in Savannahs or get free entry to Panama Joe's.

Not sure about selling it though.

[beddie]

We had season tickets in 2009 ( and for years prior to that and that’s continued) but I don’t recall being offered or receiving any shares. Perhaps someone will enlighten me.

[ClaretTony]

We had season tickets in 2009 ( and for years prior to that and that’s continued) but I don’t recall being offered or receiving any shares. Perhaps someone will enlighten me.

We all got free season tickets in 2009/10 and one of the options rather than get your money back was to use some of it to purchase a share which a lot of people did.

[ClaretTony]

I have been sorting through some old paperwork and came across my certificate for one single BFC share which I received as part of the Barry Kilby free season ticket deal in 2009 (if I remember correctly).
I know there was some kind of 'buy back' deal from the new owners a couple of years ago but again, if I remember correctly, half of the value was in club shop vouchers or similar, so I didn't take it up..
I have no great desire to keep it and I must admit I'd sooner have the cash if there's any to be had, so my question is, does my share have any actual financial value and if so, what I could do with it? Could I still sell it back to the club somehow? I don't know the first thing about shares, so any advice would be much appreciated.

It wasn’t so much half of the value in club shop vouchers but half on a gold card which could also be used for tickets. I got my season ticket with mine and arranged with four others to use it for theirs. The rest I used for match tickets until I’d used them all.

I’m not aware of any current offer.

[NewClaret]

I might be interested in it if you can transfer.

[AGENT_CLARET]

I might be interested in it if you can transfer.

Me to, I'd like to buy one for my baby grandson just so he has one

[NewClaret]

Me to, I'd like to buy one for my baby grandson just so he has one

Join the queue

[beddie]

We all got free season tickets in 2009/10 and one of the options rather than get your money back was to use some of it to purchase a share which a lot of people did.

I remember now. Thank you for that CT.

[ClaretTony]

I might be interested in it if you can transfer.

With the old regime it required board permission and there were examples years ago of Lord refusing transfers if he thought he could smell a rat.

I don’t know the situation now but Chester Perry might do.

[NewClaret]

With the old regime it required board permission and there were examples years ago of Lord refusing transfers if he thought he could smell a rat.

I don’t know the situation now but Chester Perry might do.

I hope you’re not calling me a rat, Tony

Offer is there if you can, anyway. Pretty sure I’d pass the fit & proper persons test

[cricketfield73]

I might be interested in it if you can transfer.

Absolutely, it would be great to see it to go to a fellow Claret.

Thank you for all the replies so far and if anyone could help with how I could go about doing a deal with NewClaret on the share that would be greatly appreciated.

[Paul Waine]

I have been sorting through some old paperwork and came across my certificate for one single BFC share which I received as part of the Barry Kilby free season ticket deal in 2009 (if I remember correctly).
I know there was some kind of 'buy back' deal from the new owners a couple of years ago but again, if I remember correctly, half of the value was in club shop vouchers or similar, so I didn't take it up..
I have no great desire to keep it and I must admit I'd sooner have the cash if there's any to be had, so my question is, does my share have any actual financial value and if so, what I could do with it? Could I still sell it back to the club somehow? I don't know the first thing about shares, so any advice would be much appreciated.

I recommend you check that you are named on the most recent list of shareholders for Burnley Football Club Holdings Limited. You can find these details by searching Company Information on Companies House. It's free and very easy to make these searches.

[cricketfield73]

I recommend you check that you are named on the most recent list of shareholders for Burnley Football Club Holdings Limited. You can find these details by searching Company Information on Companies House. It's free and very easy to make these searches.

Thank you, I followed your advice and my name is listed as the holder of a single share in a document dated 19/10/23.

[steve1264b]

Ive got 3, had them 31 years so i didnt sell.

1) was an emotional decision, just couldnt sell em

2) just felt we might need some local.shareholders one day!

[steve1264b]

Were they valued at £1500?

[ClaretTony]

Were they valued at £1500?

I think it was £1,699 per share with half in cash and half in credit

[equinox]

The last offer of half cash, half credit was too good to turn down, anyone that did doesn't deserve an alternative.

[Socrates]

The last offer of half cash, half credit was too good to turn down, anyone that did doesn't deserve an alternative.

Pardon?

What’s it got to do with you?

[dsr]

You might have trouble getting the board to agree a transfer. Like someone alluded to earlier, Bob Lord didn't want to allow transfers and the rules allowed the board to turn them down for any reason. I suspect the new board will have the same policy, because they presumably want them all for themselves.

[California Colner]

I have one share, it was my fathers that he got like Tony with the option of season ticket or a share.
After my father died the season ticket got transferred to me by the solicitor whom handled his estate
I don’t no how much it’s worth and don’t really care it’s more of a sentimental thing with me

[Chester Perry]

You might have trouble getting the board to agree a transfer. Like someone alluded to earlier, Bob Lord didn't want to allow transfers and the rules allowed the board to turn them down for any reason. I suspect the new board will have the same policy, because they presumably want them all for themselves.

It wasn't just Bob Lord - I have heard of other Directors doing it in the early 90's with shares then ending up their families ownership

in terms of the OP

You can sell your share to anyone who your agree a price with

In the original offer letter made by by ALK to the small shareholders (Othey said that they would allow shareholders to transfer shares without interference, they even committed to an online trading platform for them by the end of October 2021 - it has still to appear

The most recent confirmation statement shows that a handful of shareholders sold shares between one another in the previous year - there is no reason to suggest this cannot still be done.

If memory serves, the last time this was discussed on the takeover thread, there were a few willing to make offers for shares.

[LlandennyClaret]

It wasn't just Bob Lord - I have heard of other Directors doing it in the early 90's with shares then ending up their families ownership

in terms of the OP

You can sell your share to anyone who your agree a price with

In the original offer letter made by by ALK to the small shareholders (Othey said that they would allow shareholders to transfer shares without interference, they even committed to an online trading platform for them by the end of October 2021 - it has still to appear

The most recent confirmation statement shows that a handful of shareholders sold shares between one another in the previous year - there is no reason to suggest this cannot still be done.

If memory serves, the last time this was discussed on the takeover thread, there were a few willing to make offers for shares.

I’ve been in contact with the club for nearly three years requesting the transfer of just one share into another name following my dads death. Still not happened. Reasons have been given but you get to the point where enough is enough . The share is still showing in my dads name at Companies House .

[Chester Perry]

I’ve been in contact with the club for nearly three years requesting the transfer of just one share into another name following my dads death. Still not happened. Reasons have been given but you get to the point where enough is enough . The share is still showing in my dads name at Companies House .

Sorry to hear this

Some people think I talk out of turn when I say the club does not deal with the shareholders as it is required to by law.

Are you in communication with Club Secretary, Mathew Williams, this is his responsibility. If your problems persist, try contacting the clubs solicitors - Walker Morris in Leeds, the person to contact there is Christian Slinger I have an email address but I am not posting it on here

[Burnley Ace]

Christian.slinger@walkermorris.co.uk

It’s not a secret email address!

[LlandennyClaret]

Sorry to hear this

Some people think I talk out of turn when I say the club does not deal with the shareholders as it is required to by law.

Are you in communication with Club Secretary, Mathew Williams, this is his responsibility. If your problems persist, try contacting the clubs solicitors - Walker Morris in Leeds, the person to contact there is Christian Slinger I have an email address but I am not posting it on here

Thanks Chester. I’ve been in contact with a number of people at the club but was finally passed over to John Dewey who has advised of delays in a proposed switch to electronic share trading. Last communication was in August. I’ve been trying to avoid the legal route for just one share but maybe that’s my best option now. Cheers

[ClaretTony]

I have one share, it was my fathers that he got like Tony with the option of season ticket or a share.
After my father died the season ticket got transferred to me by the solicitor whom handled his estate
I don’t no how much it’s worth and don’t really care it’s more of a sentimental thing with me

I didn’t get my shares that way though. I’d been a shareholder for over forty years.

[ClaretTony]

Are you in communication with Club Secretary, Mathew Williams, this is his responsibility.

I don’t think it is Matt’s responsibility.

[Chester Perry]

I don’t think it is Matt’s responsibility.

I understood it to be the responsibility of the Company Secretary - which is one of Matt's job's according to the club and Companies House

[ClaretTony]

I understood it to be the responsibility of the Company Secretary - which is one of Matt's job's according to the club and Companies House

I think that might be a title only now. Even before the takeover it was done by an external company.

[Chester Perry]

Thanks Chester. I’ve been in contact with a number of people at the club but was finally passed over to John Dewey who has advised of delays in a proposed switch to electronic share trading. Last communication was in August. I’ve been trying to avoid the legal route for just one share but maybe that’s my best option now. Cheers

That is far from being a reasonable answer from John Dewey/the club - yours is a standard/generic request and should have been dealt with in a relatively short space of time if all the required paperwork was in order - Burnley FC Holdings Limited own articles say as much.

[Chester Perry]

I think that might be a title only now. Even before the takeover it was done by an external company.

are we talking about managing share transfers or being Company Secretary - if it is the latter the club are breaking the law re disclosure and I would be keen to know who is actually undertaking the role

[LlandennyClaret]

That is far from being a reasonable answer from John Dewey/the club - yours is a standard/generic request and should have been dealt with in a relatively short space of time if all the required paperwork was in order - Burnley FC Holdings Limited own articles say as much.

Yes, everything was sent over as required: Grant of Probate, Death Certificate, Original Share Certificate (all acknowledged as being received).
Just very frustrating. I dealt with everything else in my Dads estate matters and all concluded within 6-9 months, even during COVID. This is the only issue outstanding…

[ClaretTony]

are we talking about managing share transfers or being Company Secretary - if it is the latter the club are breaking the law re disclosure and I would be keen to know who is actually undertaking the role

Managing share transfers

[California Colner]

I didn’t get my shares that way though. I’d been a shareholder for over forty years.

Sorry Tony
I just presumed you took the share that was offered
That’s how my dad received his share that I have in my name now

[IanMcL]

Christian.slinger@walkermorris.co.uk

It’s not a secret email address!

No it's not. Even his picture plus all contact details, on their website. Big outfit. Loafs of them!

[cricketfield73]

Thanks again for all the replies and advice.
I've been trawling the internet trying to find information on how I need to go about transferring/selling my single share but I can't find anything that's proven to be of any practical use (well not in any form of English I can make sense of!), so it's back to the oracle that is this messageboard for some guidance.

Can anyone point me in the right direction please? Does the transaction need to be done through BFC and if so, whose responsibility at the club would it be? Does the share have an actual, measurable financial value? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[CaptJohn]

Thanks for starting this thread cricketfield. I've got some shares that I may sell and am interested in any avenues to enable this. I didn't go down the route of selling for the 50/50 deal because it didn't suit me at the time.

[Chester Perry]

Thanks again for all the replies and advice.
I've been trawling the internet trying to find information on how I need to go about transferring/selling my single share but I can't find anything that's proven to be of any practical use (well not in any form of English I can make sense of!), so it's back to the oracle that is this messageboard for some guidance.

Can anyone point me in the right direction please? Does the transaction need to be done through BFC and if so, whose responsibility at the club would it be? Does the share have an actual, measurable financial value? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

You need to find someone who wants to buy the share, agree the price and then get the club to register the transfer of share ownership - the lack of an electronic trading platform is not a reasonable excuse for preventing it, this is how it has been done since 1897 when the club became a business.

[Chester Perry]

Thanks for starting this thread cricketfield. I've got some shares that I may sell and am interested in any avenues to enable this. I didn't go down the route of selling for the 50/50 deal because it didn't suit me at the time.

Good luck in finding a buyer - there may be some interested on this board though what they are worth to a small shareholder is difficult to determine - even when we look at what ALK/VSL have paid

ALK/VSL paid Garlick and Co a minimum of £1,652.86 a share, spread over 5 instalments in a 30 month period. There was the 50:50 Cash/Credit offer of £1,699 (so for many full value was taken over an extended period). Unfortunately we do not know the financial terms of the ringfence on the remaining shares held by the original sellers (which Mike G and John B have now sold) but it is likely to be within the boundaries of the two numbers shown above and involve just cash, though again may be over a period of time.

A small shareholder is holding shares either for sentimental value or waiting for a new owner of the club to come along and make a greater offer (possibly compulsory given the ALK/VSL total holding) for them, just like ALK/VSL themselves. I believe the current owners are looking to make a £300m - £500m profit within 10 years or so which would make your share worth considerably more than it is now - it may come down to whether you believe in their 'project' or not whether you sell.

[Chester Perry]

Just a thought, it may be that the Clarets trust could point you in the direction of someone who wants to own shares in the club

https://claretstrust.co.uk/

[cricketfield73]

Thank you Chester Perry for your very welcome and much appreciated advice.
If NewClaret is still interested in acquiring my one share and wants to get in touch I could post an email address and we could maybe get the ball rolling.

[ICL]

After my experience with the club about a question around shares, all I can say is ‘Good luck’!
Long story, but I have a single share certificate which I got in lieu of the free season ticket offer. Some years later I discovered my share did not appear on the Company House list of share holders. I tried contacting the club on various emails, but had no response.
Then in October 2020 I asked the question on this website ( the font of all knowledge as we know!), and it was suggested I contact Matt Williams. I got an immediate reply (yippee!) which resulted in a request from Matt for an image of the share certificate. This was duly sent and I was told that Matt would consult with Clive Holt about the mystery.
That was December 2020, and despite further emails, I have had no further communication; the last time I tried was Nov 2021, I assumed Matt had left BFC and I had hit yet another dead end.
I know it might seem daft, but I would like to see my name down as a shareholder, and I did pass up the offer of a refund to get it.

[cricketfield73]

ICL - it certainly doesn't seem 'daft' at all, as many on the thread have said, it's more an emotional or sentimental thing than anything to do with finance, You own a share and it's only right that that is acknowledged.
3 years waiting for someone to do something to get your name on the shareholder's register does seem pretty poor service so I can fully understand your frustration.

[Paul Waine]

After my experience with the club about a question around shares, all I can say is ‘Good luck’!
Long story, but I have a single share certificate which I got in lieu of the free season ticket offer. Some years later I discovered my share did not appear on the Company House list of share holders. I tried contacting the club on various emails, but had no response.
Then in October 2020 I asked the question on this website ( the font of all knowledge as we know!), and it was suggested I contact Matt Williams. I got an immediate reply (yippee!) which resulted in a request from Matt for an image of the share certificate. This was duly sent and I was told that Matt would consult with Clive Holt about the mystery.
That was December 2020, and despite further emails, I have had no further communication; the last time I tried was Nov 2021, I assumed Matt had left BFC and I had hit yet another dead end.
I know it might seem daft, but I would like to see my name down as a shareholder, and I did pass up the offer of a refund to get it.

Hi ICL, let's see if I can give you a few pointers to making progress in sorting out your shareholding question.

1) What company name appears on your share certificate? BFCHL didn't exist in 2009/2010 when the free shares were issued. I expect the share certificate would have been in the name Burnley Football & Athletic.

2) Have you looked for your name on Annual Return including Bulk Shateholder listing filed by BF&ACL in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014?

3) I understand when BFCHL was set up shares were transferred from BF&ACL to BFCHL. So, next thing to look at is BFCHL Annual Return, including Bulk Shareholder listing starting in 2014.

I'm not a shareholder. I'm not familiar with how shares were transferred between BF&ACL and BFCHL. I don't know if the old certificates were replaced by new certificates. Maybe others who are shareholders can provide details.

I'm sure administration errors can happen. Someone transfers some shares. The share listing is updated, but perhaps the wrong names were changed.

Good luck.

[ICL]

Hello Paul
In answer to 1) The Burnley Football & Athletic Company Limited. My share number is No.4473.

2) No. I’ll give that a try.

Thanks for your advice.

[NewClaret]

Hi Cricketfield, yes, still interested mate.

Few things I’d need to discuss with you, but happy to take that offline. Post your details, or if you’d prefer (and it’s possible), happy for Tony to send you my email address.

[Sharbtastic]

Does anyone know how I would get more information about the shareholders?

I’m convinced my grandad has one but he has no recollection himself.

Anyway his name is on the list someone posted on here but it’s a common name so would need to confirm with his address or date of birth etc.

[Chester Perry]

Does anyone know how I would get more information about the shareholders?

I’m convinced my grandad has one but he has no recollection himself.

Anyway his name is on the list someone posted on here but it’s a common name so would need to confirm with his address or date of birth etc.

Your first point of call should be the club and specifically Matt Williams - best bet is saying you cannot find share certificate and provide all the documentation you may need (birth certificate, proof of address etc) and shareholder number/name you believe your grandad to be