Blog

ShareSoc Blog

This blog gives you the latest topical news plus some informal comments on them from ShareSoc’s directors and other contributors. These are the personal comments of the authors and not necessarily the considered views of ShareSoc. The writers may hold shares in the companies mentioned. You can add your own comments on the blog posts, but note that ShareSoc reserves the right to remove or edit comments where they are inappropriate or defamatory.

There is more news given in the News page of our web site and more analysis of news is provided in our monthly newsletter for members – see the Newsletters page.

If you would like to be notified about new posts to our blog you can opt-in to our Weekly Wrap-Up Email service. If you are a member of ShareSoc select the “Weekly Wrap-Up Email” option here. If you are not a member select the “Information and Education Services” option here.


BATS – British American Tobacco plc Information and Vote Guidance 2023

ShareSoc introduced this new added value voting information service for Full Members only in 2021, providing background information on leading companies and AGM vote guidance. Initially, we are piloting this for FTSE30 companies, plus a few others in the FTSE100. We have decided to continue the pilot in 2023 and are looking at ways to improve our services to members. Below are links to the: 1. Stockopedia summary report. 2. Minerva Vote recommendations for the 19th April AGM based on their standard template. 3. Minerva ...

Marks and Spencer and ShareSoc write to Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch

Marks and Spencer and ShareSoc have written to Business Secretary The Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP urging the Government to change the Companies Act to modernise it to allow electronic (ie digital) communication with and between shareholders; and to allow digital GMs without the need for companies to change their articles. ShareSoc, UKSA and the QCA are the first co-signatories of the OPEN LETTER to the Business Secretary. All members are encouraged to read and sign the petition. Marks and Spencer has teamed up with the Mail ...

NWG – Natwest Group plc Information and Vote Guidance 2023

ShareSoc introduced this new added value voting information service for Full Members only in 2021, providing background information on leading companies and AGM vote guidance. Initially, we are piloting this for FTSE30 companies, plus a few others in the FTSE100. We have decided to continue the pilot in 2023 and are looking at ways to improve our services to members. Below are links to the: 1. Stockopedia summary report. 2. Minerva Vote recommendations for the 25 April 2023 AGM based on their standard template. 3. ...

AAL – Anglo American plc Information and Vote Guidance 2023

ShareSoc introduced this new added value voting information service for Full Members only in 2021, providing background information on leading companies and AGM vote guidance. Initially, we are piloting this for FTSE30 companies, plus a few others in the FTSE100. We have decided to continue the pilot in 2023 and are looking at ways to improve our services to members. Below are links to the: 1. Stockopedia summary report. 2. Minerva Vote recommendations for the 26 April 2023 AGM based on their standard template. 3. ...

SIGnet Launches Edinburgh Investor Group

SIGnet, a not-for-profit organisation, is excited to announce the launch of a new group, for members in the Edinburgh area. SIGnet is offering this new group for members in and around Edinburgh. You are invited: to an online meeting to explain more about the group, meet other investors, and arrange our first group meetings. This launch meeting is scheduled at 7pm on 26th April and is expected to last approximately 90 minutes. It is open to all investors with an interest in our ...

REL – RELX plc Information and Vote Guidance 2023

ShareSoc introduced this new added value voting information service for Full Members only in 2021, providing background information on leading companies and AGM vote guidance. Initially, we are piloting this for FTSE30 companies, plus a few others in the FTSE100. We have decided to continue the pilot in 2023 and are looking at ways to improve our services to members. Below are links to the: 1. Stockopedia summary report. 2. Minerva Vote recommendations for the 20th April 2023 AGM based on their standard template. 3. ...

HM Treasury Consultation
PRIIPs and UK Retail Disclosure

ShareSoc Response   A key element of ShareSoc’s activities is lobbying Government/regulators and campaigning for change, to improve the lot of individual investors. One way we do this is by responding to Government consultations. We recently responded to the Treasury consultation on PRIIPS and UK Retail Disclosure which closed on 3rd March 2023. We made the following key points: We are pleased that the Government is doing this consultation. We agree with the logic set out in the Minister’s foreword and in particular with the statement ...

RIO – Rio Tinto plc Information and Vote Guidance 2023

ShareSoc introduced this new added value voting information service for Full Members only in 2021, providing background information on leading companies and AGM vote guidance. Initially, we are piloting this for FTSE30 companies, plus a few others in the FTSE100. We have decided to continue the pilot in 2023 and are looking at ways to improve our services to members. Below are links to the: 1. Stockopedia Summary Report. 2. Minerva Vote recommendations for the 6th April 2023 AGM based on their standard template. 3. ...

Home REIT – A Personal Viewpoint

This article reflects the opinions of its author and not necessarily those of ShareSoc. Initial Period  Home REIT (HOME) appeared to offer rather an attractive proposition. It was intended to purchase residential properties and lease them at affordable rents to charities and public bodies (“the tenants”) providing accommodation for the homeless. The rent was supposed to be covered by housing benefits paid directly to the tenants, i.e. fully government backed. Rental income was expected to be sufficient to support a dividend of at ...

KPMG settles with Carillion liquidators over £1.3bn audit negligence claim

The views expressed in this article are those of its author and not necessarily those of ShareSoc. Another fudge. No-one is going to jail for this disaster. Examples need to be set to deter, to stop this happening again.  I am appalled at the lack of transparency on the size of the settlement. The article mentions the contingent liabilities already disclosed in the KPMG accounts. We will eventually find out the size of the settlement when KPMG publishes its accounts for 2023, but ...
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