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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.

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Are VCTs Worth the Risks, and 40-Year Mortgages?

The FT Money supplement on Saturday ran a big article on Venture Capital Trusts which was headlined “Are VCTs worth the risks for higher earners?”. As a long-standing investor...

Another Update on the SVS Special Administration

Since my last update, there have been several significant developments: Leonard Curtis have published a "Statement of Proposals", setting out their plans for returning client money and assets A creditors' meeting has been held and a creditors' committee has been appointed Scammers have been trying to defraud SVS clients Another firm, Reyker Securities, enters special administration   Avoid the Scams Sadly, in cases like this, scammers will often prey on the worries of clients of failed firms, suggesting that clients might lose all or ...

Company Refs Acquired

Slater Investments and Stockopedia have issued a press release saying they have acquired the Company Refs financial analysis service. Company Refs was devised by Jim Slater, the father of...

Speedy Hire Presentation, Burford Analysis and Treatt Trading Statement

On Tuesday the 1st October I attended a company seminar organised by ShareSoc in Birmingham, mainly to present my new book. But there was an interesting presentation given there...

FT Lombard column mention of ShareSoc

Lombard 1 Oct 2019  suggested ShareSoc may sue the Thomas Cook auditors. ShareSoc is always pleased to get a mention in the FT. However, the FT were a bit...

Ventus Director Changes following ShareSoc campaign

ShareSoc are pleased with the outcomes at Ventus and Ventus 2 VCTs. It appears that following difficult AGMs, the directors have listened to shareholders' concerns and have come up with a plan to address the many points raised. The campaign was led by Nick Curtis and supported by Sharesoc and seems to have had a good result. Ventus has now appointed Nick Curtis to the Board of Ventus VCT plc with effect from 1st October 2019. Chris Zeal and Lloyd Chamberlain will resign from the ...

Burford – a chance to clear out the stables or a case of nothing to see?

The Burford Capital soap opera rumbles on, and for those who don’t hold shares, the temptation to ignore the story, or even worse, fall into the lazy belief that...

LeaderPaypoint Listens to Shareholder Requests

Stephen Day says: Your mention of Paypoint reminds me that I must commend them for listening to a shareholder, namely me. In July I sent an email to the FD Rachel Kentleton asking a question, and I received a prompt and helpful answer. In passing I commented on the lack of a Dividend Information page, and she tasked her team with preparing one, After a few follow-up emails it is now operational. So “well done” to Paypoint. Well done Paypoint!

City of London IT, Equals Interims, Paypoint CEO, Downing One VCT and Parliamentary Pandemonium

Having been away on holiday in the North of England last week, this is a catch up on news that impacted my portfolio. I received the Annual Report for...

Merger Announcement: ShareSoc and SIGnet

Press release 112 - Merger Announcement: ShareSoc and SIGnet The UK Individual Shareholders Society Limited (ShareSoc) and SIGnet have signed a merger agreement. ShareSoc is the UK's largest private investor organisation, providing a broad range of services to its members and defending the interests of individual investors. The SIGnet educational network provides private investors with the opportunity to meet in small groups to discuss investment topics and strategies, with the aim of becoming better investors. SIGnet was founded by the late John Lander in ...
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