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OFFICIAL STOCK CERTIFICATES MAKE RARE HOLIDAY GIFTS
2008 may offer last chance to own the real thing
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (August 2, 2008) — "Paper stock certificates are going the way of the dinosaur — soon they will be extinct," says Lance Lee, a former bond broker who founded and runs the nation’s leading retailer of individual gift shares, OneShare.com. "The 2008 holiday season may be your last chance to give an official stock certificate as a gift," he observes.
“OneShare sells individual, framed shares of stock in more than 150 of America’s favorite companies, including Disney, Harley-Davidson, Starbucks, Tiffany & Co and Yahoo. Each share is a thoughtful expression of identity and brand affinity for sports fans, music lovers, fashionistas, techies and other enthusiasts. OneShare also helps parents seeking a tangible reminder of stock ownership that inspires children to learn about money and the stock market.
"Regrettably, stock certificates are becoming a thing of the past, even though many are considered to have historical or artistic value," says Richard Kretz of Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company in New York. "Companies such as Chevron, AT&T, Intel and even large brokerage houses like Morgan Stanley have moved to electronic transfers to save costs. They no longer offer paper certificates."
In 2005, Louisiana, Missiouri and Delaware, the state in which more than half of America’s public companies are incorporated, enacted new laws allowing public companies to issue uncertificated or “paperless” shares. Only Arizona and Puerto Rico still require paper certificates. As a result, more than 1,000 companies now use the electronic Direct Registration System (DRS) and many others are in the process of adopting it. Once DRS is implemented, companies are no longer required to offer paper stock certificates.
Public company acquisition is another cause of stock certificate extinction. For example, Anheuser-Busch’s certificate will be gone forever when the InBev buyout is complete (see enclosed sidebar).
“You don’t need a crystal ball to foresee that paper stock certificates won’t be around much longer," says Lee. “It’s a shame because they are so meaningful as gifts and collectibles.”
When he was a bond broker, Lee was constantly approached by people who wanted to buy a individual share to commemorate a friend or child’s birthday, a graduation or other special occasion. High transaction costs associated with such small purchases made it nearly impossible—at least until Lee launched OneShare in 1996.
At OneShare.com, shoppers can acquire a share of real stock and register it to anyone they choose in an online transaction that takes less than three minutes. The transaction cost is $39, plus the market cost of the share. Purchase options include framing, matting and engraving.
Often, the certificate artwork is compelling. The Boeing stock certificate, for example, features two Canadian Postal employees delivering mail via an early Boeing sea plane. Also featured is the Boeing logo. A natural for pilots, among the engraved plate choices is one — “You are the wind beneath my wings” — that makes this certificate suitable for the holidays or any other romantic occasion.
Lee says he gets lots of positive feedback from adults who’ve put a child on the path to financial literacy with a framed share of kid-friendly stock like Mattel or McDonald’s and OneShare’s free illustrated book, Stock Matters: An Introduction to Stocks and Ownership. All purchases include the OneShare Start-Up Kit, which contains a Quick Reference Guide, Owner’s Manual and Congratulations Card. The kit can be shipped immediately to announce a gift share, which can take four to six weeks to arrive.
Based in San Francisco, OneShare is the leading supplier of individual gift shares of America’s most popular publicly traded companies. To give a gift that uniquely demonstrates admiration or commemorates a special occasion, visit www.oneshare.com or call (888)777-6919.
Holiday stock gift-giving ideas:
Child: The DreamWorks stock certificate features the head of Shrek - its most beloved character - in full color! The company's logo is also displayed amidst a blue sky and dreamlike clouds.
Teen: A Dell Computer stock certificate is bordered in blue, and features the company logo in black, conspicuously printed across the top. Perfect for any student who has spent endless hours on the computer.
Mom: Tell her how sweet she is with a Hershey stock certificate that features finely engraved chocolate-colored scrollwork, as well as a picture of the founder, Milton S. Hershey.
Dad: The Boston Beer stock certificate features the familiar company logo and is uniquely etched with pictures of barley and hops. Consider personalizing with a plaque that reads: “May you always have a share of beer and a beer to share.”
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