Calling All Budding Sherlocks

[Petrushka]

Going through my late father's papers I've come across two National Mutual Bonus Certificates dated 1973 from the National Mutual Life Association of Australasia. I've no idea what these are and have never heard of this company. Google seems to show them as now being AMP (as far as I can make out) with an address in Melbourne. Not sure why my father had these or where they came from but may be employment related.

Don't think there's a fortune involved but wonder if any budding Sherlocks can find out more?

[Serial_Apologist]

I can well understand any caution you may have, Pet - supposing you decided to write or get in touch with this organisation in Australia, and they wrote back saying, "Ah, Mr Petrushka, we are ever so glad you have got in touch with us, given that your father owned us $xxx,xxx,xxx in interest payments under such-and-such, our original borrowing scheme under the name, etc etc.

[umslopogaas]

The Australian Embassy ought to be able to provide some information about the organisation.

[teamsaint]

Might be something here Pet. There is a contact email address.

http://shareholdercentre.amp.com.au/phoenix.zhtml?c=142072&p=irol-faq

[Flay]

The company began in 1869 in Melbourne, Australia. During this time it was known as the National Mutual Life Association of Australasia. National Mutual expanded across Australia throughout the early 1900’s and amalgamated with many smaller mutual societies. By 1983 National Mutual merged with a large well known insurance company called T & G Mutual Life Society. After this significant merger the company expanded throughout the Asia Pacific region acquiring companies within Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. In 1999 the company changed its name to AXA Asia Pacific Holdings. It specialises in life insurance, superannuation, funds management and income protection. The multiple businesses that were operating collectively with National Mutual at the time also altered their company names to incorporate the AXA brand.

http://gallery.its.unimelb.edu.au/imu/imu.php?request=multimedia&irn=9252

So it's Axa. Promising perhaps?

[Flay]

Not so fast, Sherlock Flay... It looks like you are ahead of me Petrushka, AMP and AXA merged. Wiki says:

On 15 November 2010, AMP announced a bid to merge its business with AXA Asia Pacific Holdings. The transaction was a joint proposal with AXA SA under which AMP would acquire AXA's Australian and New Zealand business, and AXA SA would acquire AMP's Asian business.
The first day of the merged group operating together was 31 March 2011, with the companies to be gradually integrated and the AXA brand being phased out of the Australian and New Zealand market by 2013.

[Petrushka]

Not so fast, Sherlock Flay... It looks like you are ahead of me Petrushka, AMP and AXA merged. Wiki says:

On 15 November 2010, AMP announced a bid to merge its business with AXA Asia Pacific Holdings. The transaction was a joint proposal with AXA SA under which AMP would acquire AXA's Australian and New Zealand business, and AXA SA would acquire AMP's Asian business.
The first day of the merged group operating together was 31 March 2011, with the companies to be gradually integrated and the AXA brand being phased out of the Australian and New Zealand market by 2013.

Thanks for this, Flay. Even by the standards of the insurance industry this is an incredibly convoluted history. Hopefully having got my head round it all it looks as if teamsaint's link to AMP is the one to go for. I'm still not sure what these certificates are but may well be connected to my late father's one time employment.

I'll try e-mailing AMP and see if riches await.