ShareSoc Comments on the Proposals for Alliance Trust

PRESS RELEASE 64 (24/3/2015)

ShareSoc makes the following comments on the requisition to appoint three new non-executive directors to the board of Alliance Trust by Elliott Advisors. We do this from the stance of an independent not-for-profit organisation whose objective is to represent the interests of private shareholders.

Many of our members have an interest in investment trusts which generally provide a low cost and diversified way of investing in the stock market. But the issues that have arisen at this Trust such as long term underperformance and wide discounts of share price to net asset value are not uncommon. We are generally of the opinion that shareholders should demand action when such conditions persist, and that action might include the appointment of new directors so that a fresh view of the strategy of the company can be obtained.

Therefore, and ignoring the arguments about what has been exchanged in the past between the two parties involved, we think there are two key points to consider:

1. The share price discount to Net Asset Value (NAV). On the 16th March the AIC (Association of Investment Companies) reported this as being 14.6% although it has subsequently narrowed no doubt because of the possibility of some changes arising from the Elliott campaign. We consider 14.6% too high for such a non-specialist trust.

2. According to the AIC at the time of writing, the Share Price Total Return over one year for Alliance is 118.5 compared with the comparable sector performance of 118.9 – in other words below average. Over 3 years, 5 years and 10 years it is also below average. Although there was some improvement in the last year, this seems to have partly arisen from special circumstances related to their private equity and mineral rights investments. In essence the performance has been pedestrian for many years.

New Directors and their Independence.

It would therefore seem perfectly sensible for a major investor in the trust such as Elliott Advisors (who have an interest in more than 12% we understand) to make some suggestions to the board of the company. Their nominations appear to be independent and of course under Company Law the nominees would only have to consider the interests of the Trust when acting as Directors.

Discount Control

ShareSoc is generally keen that investment trusts, particularly those on wide discounts to Net Asset Value, have a specific policy on how the discount is to be controlled. This can be via share buy-backs or tender offers for example. If Elliott Advisors have suggested a tender offer in the past then that is perfectly understandable and tender offers are one of our most preferred solutions because investors then have the option of accepting it or not. But with such “self managed” Trusts as Alliance there can be reluctance to downsize the company which tender offers and large market share buy-backs can imply. But it is what is in the interest of investors that matters, not the company management or the board.

Conclusion

In summary, we therefore think that shareholders in Alliance Trust should consider the proposed requisition very carefully and vote in favour of the proposed directors unless the Trust comes up with stronger arguments than they have to date. Their rejection of the proposals out of hand seems unwise and is unfortunately a typical response seen from boards who are reluctant to tackle the key issues when faced by criticism from outside.

ShareSoc Deputy Chairman Roger Lawson had this to say on the matter: “I think there are good causes for concern about this Trust and it is perfectly reasonable for Elliott Advisors to take up their worries with Alliance and propose directors if they feel the issues they have raised are not being dealt with. Requisitioning resolutions is simple democracy upon which shareholders can make their own minds up and the initial and rapid response from Alliance has been less than temperate“.

For further information, please contact:

Roger Lawson
Deputy Chairman, ShareSoc
Telephone: 020-8467-2686

Postscript: A fuller analysis of the case for change at Alliance Trust, and the defence notes issued by Alliance Trust, is given in this document: ShareSoc_Alliance_Trust_Analysis which was issued on the 2nd April.

Note: a web page has been set up on which shareholders in Alliance Trust can register their interest in the company and receive further information from the Alliance Trust Shareholders Action Group – see www.sharesoc.org/alliance.html

Post Date: March 24, 2015

Group description:	Following the launch of the SIGnet Technical Traders groups, it was identified that there were a number of members who use fundamental and other information as their main source of choosing companies to invest in, who would find some understanding of technical analysis helpful to identify good entry and exit points for their investments. This new SIGnet Technical Analysis in Support of Investing group is therefore being launched and we welcome members of all levels of experience to join.
Meeting Type/Venue:	Online via Zoom
Meeting Frequency/Timing:	There will be an initial Zoom meeting on Monday 29th April at 7pm to launch this group, please email info@sharesoc.org if you are interested in joining.

Group description:	All levels of experience welcome. A typical meeting agenda includes: – Macro Environment – Trades: Members review existing positions and identify securities with promising TA entry patterns or setups and with suitable risk/reward. Any security, long, short, futures, options may be considered. The convener takes actual positions in trades and maintains his own detailed ledger, accurately measuring performance of individual securities and cumulative activity. Members are notified by e-mail prior to the entries or exits that are decided upon. Following each meeting an updated copy of the ledger is circulated together with the next meeting agenda. Members may wish to maintain similar ledgers of their own but there is no obligation to do so. – Technical Analysis: Techniques and systems used in trades. Members can request discussion of particular aspects of TA.
Meeting Type/Venue:	Online via Zoom
Meeting Frequency/Timing:	The first Tuesday of every month from 7 to 9pm

Group description:	A new in person group coming soon! Keep and eye on our Events page to register for the launch meeting.
Meeting Type/Venue:	In person
Meeting Frequency/Timing:	TBC

Group description:	Open to all investors / people with an interest in investing. Typical meeting will involve members talking about recent purchases, successes, failures and possible future purchases. Also with occasional visiting speakers or members making presentations on a topic of interest.
Meeting Type/Venue:	We aim to meet on the last Tuesday of each month in a private room at a pub in Playhatch. Start time 7pm with members encouraged to meet up around 6pm for a bite to eat / drink before hand, if their diaries allow.
Meeting Frequency/Timing:	7pm on the last Tuesday of the month. Meetings likely to last about two hours but with informal ‘overspill’ before / after.

Group description:	This group was set up as a forum to discuss companies in detail, each company is introduced by a member and discussion may last one or two hours. Membership is by invitation only and is for experienced investors.
Meeting Type/Venue:	The group meets at a venue in Waterloo, London.
Meeting Frequency/Timing:	Meetings are on Tuesday mornings at two month intervals.

Group description:	Our group is a broad church that contains investors of varying age and experience. We discuss stocks and investment trusts that we have bought, sold or are interested in and the reasons behind our decisions, and try to make sense of the ever changing investment environment. Our members backgrounds are diverse and include corporate banking, engineering, teaching and the leisure industry. Discussions are robust and challenging but tend to be to be informal, and do not generally involve agendas, presentations or detailed preparation. We are a friendly and approachable group who welcome investors of all levels – we just ask that you contribute, at whatever level you can.
Meeting Type/Venue:	Our meetings are held in a very nice pub near to South Ealing tube station (Piccadilly Line), not far from Ealing Broadway (District, Central and Elizabeth Line). Group numbers permitting (and assuming members are happy to purchase food and drink from the bar), we may also have access to a private room in the pub.
Meeting Frequency/Timing:	We meet every 2 months, usually on a Wednesday morning at 11am.

Group description:	Group focused on active investing, primarily in small / medium cap UK equities.
Meeting Type/Venue:	Regular Zoom meetings interspersed with occasional face to face meetings and social activities in the North West.
Meeting Frequency/Timing:	Monthly on Saturdays at 10am.

Group description:	Our group covers a wide spectrum of mainly stock market investing and trading from equities – which include shares, ETF’s Investment and Unit Trusts. We normally rotate the meeting chairperson (responsible for creating, with member’s help, suitable agendas) and a meeting presenter (members take it in turns to provide a 15 to 45 minute presentation on a subject of their choice). Various investing topics of interest are regularly discussed such as software, brokers, investing categories and markets and any related topics of interest.
Meeting Type/Venue:	Meetings will be returning to in-person in a private room at a West London golf club, close to an underground station. In the meantime monthly video calls and an in-between meeting email group will continue.
Meeting Frequency/Timing:	In-person meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of each month in the afternoons, following a golf club one course lunch.

Group description:	Experienced investors who have been members many years and newer members wanting to learn about investing. Members discuss portfolio content and reasons why they have certain assets and investments. Buys and sells discussed along with interesting shares being considered along with current issues in the market of local or international influence.
Meeting Type/Venue:	Physical face to face meetings held in a central pub in Easton in Gordano.
Meeting Frequency/Timing:	Usually monthly to 6 weekly, mid week 12 noon to 2pm with lunch.

ShareSoc Comments on the Proposals for Alliance Trust

PRESS RELEASE 64 (24/3/2015)

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