Tell Sid that British Gas shares are now worth a packet

Consumers who are cash-strapped in the runup to Christmas may find that Santa Claus comes in an unusual guise this year – Sid. Twenty-five years ago this December, British Gas was privatised following a long advertising campaign which used the slogan "If you see Sid … Tell him". Sid – meant to represent the man on the street – was definitely interested. About 1.5 million individuals bought shares, and although many sold or "stagged" those shares in the first week, some 600,000 people still own holdings worth less than £250. But John Douthwaite, chief executive of execution-only stockbroker SimplyStockbroking , points out that someone who made the minimum purchase of 100 shares, originally sold at 135p each, would now have a holding worth £1,721. "Investors have actually done very well out of this, making 12 times their original stake if they have held onto their shares over the years," he said. "A lot of people know they have the shares, but may not realise their worth. When people are trying to make ends meet, they might want to look out their certificates." Following later demergers and mergers, someone who bought shares in the initial privatisation could now hold shares in three companies, Centrica, BG and National Grid. SimplyStockbroking would charge investors £8 to sell shares through a nominee account, or 1.25% of the value of the stock (minimum £12, maximum £40) for those in certificate form. The process should take about 10 days from the point of applying to sell the shares to getting money in your bank account, says Douthwaite.