In 1986, the “Tell Sid” campaign encouraged millions of British people to buy shares in British Gas. It was the most famous privatisation in UK history.
If you still hold an original “British Gas plc” certificate, you are sitting on a complex web of potential investments. That single piece of paper could now represent stakes in three separate massive companies.
The Great Split (1997) British Gas did not just change its name; it split in two:
- Centrica plc: Taken over the “British Gas” brand, supplying energy to homes.
- BG plc: Taken over the exploration and piping business.
The Second Split & Sale (2000 – 2016) The history gets more complicated:
- BG plc later evolved into BG Group plc.
- In 2016: BG Group was acquired by Royal Dutch Shell.
What Do You Actually Own? If you bought shares in 1986 and never sold them, you likely own:
- Shares in Centrica plc: (Dividends paid by Equiniti).
- Shares in Shell: (Dividends paid by Equiniti, formerly taking over BG Group).
- National Grid: (Through a separate demerger of the Transco business).
How to Claim Because the “family tree” of British Gas is so complex, you cannot just make one phone call. You may have unclaimed dividends sitting in three different pots.
- For Centrica Shares: Contact Equiniti (0371 384 2985).
- For Shell (ex-BG) Shares: Contact Equiniti (0800 169 1679).
Don’t Let Them Expire Because these companies have changed hands so many times, “Gone Away” markers are common. Use Divica Pro to run a bulk search on your name against all three entities (Centrica, Shell, National Grid) to ensure you aren’t leaving money on the table.