Many companies provide quite worthwhile benefits to shareholders, usually in the form of discounts on the company’s products or services. A new guide lists both the companies that provide benefits to all shareholders - including those that hold their shares through a nominee account (over 75 per cent of those featured in the guide) - and those that restrict them to shareholders with share certificates. Details are also provided about the minimum shareholdings required, although 40 per cent of the companies listed stipulate no minimum shareholding. The guide, compiled by Barclays Stockbrokers, is available online at www.stockbrokers.barclays.co.uk/certificates. Among the most generous benefits available to shareholders are Legal & General’s 10 per cent discount on insurance and life products, Barratt Developments’ £500 ($990) discount on every £25,000 spent on a Barratt home and retailer Next’s 25 per cent off all purchases made on one occasion.