ShareSoc in the News

This page lists references to ShareSoc in the press and broadcast media.

Portfolio Adviser, 5 March 2021
Press coverage of Leigh Day Letter Before Action

A ShareSoc news item by Cliff Weight, Director. Portfolio Adviser carries a detailed report on Leigh Day sending its Letter Before Action (LBA) to Link in relation to the Woodford debacle, with quotes from ShareSoc Chair Mark Northway. “It’s fantastic news that another critical milestone has been hit in Leigh Day’s legal claim against Link. We are delighted for Woodford WEIF investors and gratified that we have endorsed this claim,” said Sharesoc chairman, Mark Northway. “Sharesoc reviewed the various potential claims and concluded that ...

FT, 4 March 2021
Private investors lose out in corporate bids

A ShareSoc news item by Cliff Weight, Director Private investors lose out in corporate bids- Takeover Panel must change rules to compel companies to disclose acquisition approaches sooner ShareSoc Patron Lord Lee is campaigning for better disclosure in relation to takeover bids and has written this excellent detailed article in the Financial Times. There have been a number of occasions when individual investors have lost money by buying or selling shares when they were not privy to information which arguably should have been disclosed to ...

Investors Chronicle, 23 Feb 2021, Platform services creak with customer surge

https://www.investorschronicle.co.uk/news/2021/02/22/platform-service-creaks-with-customer-surge/ Investors Chronicle wrote up the chronic service problems of the platforms and included this quote from Cliff Weight of ShareSoc: Cliff Weight, director of individual investors campaigning group ShareSoc, said “Hargreaves Lansdown’s customers having to wait 34 minutes to talk to someone is awful and should be unacceptable. The Financial Conduct Authority and the Competition and Markets Authority looked at platforms a couple of years ago, but seemed to have allowed high cost, poor service, quasi-monopolistic behaviour to continue. They need ...

Telegraph, 23 Feb 2021, How to use your broker to hold your investments to account

The Telegraph wrote a useful article about AGMs and voting. see https://www.telegraph.co.uk/investing/shares/use-broker-hold-investments-account/ It was headed How to use your broker to hold your investments to account But the real story was in the byline - Stockbrokers require investors to jump through lots of hoops to register their vote. It also explained the problems and quoted ShareSoc: However, new investors might not know that owning company shares comes with part ownership of a company – and with it the right to vote on issues at their annual ...

FT, 17 Feb 2021, Neil Woodford’s relaunch plan prompts calls for independent inquiry

The Woodford interview in the Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2021/02/13/exclusive-neil-woodford-launch-comeback-fund-says-sorry-did/ has generated an enormous amount of media coverage including this excellent coverage for ShareSoc in the FT. https://www.ft.com/content/3c029f46-3cb4-4a74-a4cc-b74c3fe687df Neil Woodford’s relaunch plan prompts calls for independent inquiry The FT article includes these quotes from ShareSoc and Leigh Day: Cliff Weight, a director at shareholder rights’ group ShareSoc, said Woodford’s plan to return to managing money had “appalled” retail investors. “It is a huge kick in the teeth for those whose money Woodford lost,” he said. ShareSoc is supporting a ...

The Times, 15 Feb 2021, Investors left to fly blind on bid approaches

Lord Lee, Patron of ShareSoc was quoted extensively in this article in The Times about his concerns regarding disclosures surrounding takeovers. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/investors-left-to-fly-blind-on-bid-approaches-n6xlc2vv5 This was the second article in The Times about Lord Lee's concerns. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/takeover-panel-left-signature-aviation-shareholders-in-the-dark-m2752pd3w ShareSoc is fully aligned with Lord Lee and have issued a press release about this. https://www.sharesoc.org/sharesoc-news/press-release-116-requirements-of-public-companies-directors-regarding-takeover-approaches/

Daily Mail, 12 Feb 2021, Lord Lee locks horns with Takeover Panel

Lord Lee, Patron of ShareSoc is quoted extensively in this article in the Daily Mail about his concerns regarding disclosures surrounding takeovers. https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-9254913/Lord-Lee-locks-horns-Takeover-Panel.html   ShareSoc are fully aligned with Lord Lee and have issued a press release about this. https://www.sharesoc.org/sharesoc-news/press-release-116-requirements-of-public-companies-directors-regarding-takeover-approaches/

Daily Mail, 8 Feb 2021, Legal battle to win compensation for savers in Woodford’s flagship fund kicks off after crucial insurance and financial backing is secured

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-9234205/Neil-Woodford-fund-savers-begin-legal-battle-compensation.html. This article explains the key milestones that have been achieved and refers to ShareSoc : More than 3,000 people have signed up to the case, which is backed by retail investor association ShareSoc, and a mass marketing campaign will encourage more people to join.  The article also notes that "Up to 500,000 people were affected by the Woodford scandal".  We hope that many will join our campaign and ShareSoc to help make the investing world a better place. This publicity follows on from ...

FT, 8 Feb 2021, Woodford investor legal claim secures funding

ShareSoc is quoted at length in this extensive FT article on the Leigh Day claim against Link https://www.ftadviser.com/investments/2021/02/08/woodford-investor-legal-claim-secures-funding/ A legal claim on behalf of investors in the Woodford Equity Income fund has secured funding and the backing of the UK Individual Shareholders Society. In an update over the weekend the consumer body - known as ShareSoc - said it was in the "best interests" of those who lost money in the Woodford saga to join a claim led by law firm Leigh Day, which is now ...

Stockopedia, 25 Jan 2021, SmallCap Value Report

In this SCVR Paul Scott highlights our press release relating to Takeover Panel Rules.

FT, 17 Jan 2021, UK Companies Warned Against Shutting Investors Out of AGMs

https://www.ft.com/content/64717715-98aa-415b-84e9-83764ae83d6f Cliff Weight, a director of ShareSoc, a shareholder organisation, said the introduction of a so-called hybrid approach — with both a physical and virtual element — was “a huge step forward” during the pandemic, with many more people attending AGMs and pre-AGM webinars than in the past.

FT Adviser, 14 Jan 2021, Aviva Pressed to Recall Bonuses After Share Buyback Debacle

From FT Adviser: https://www.ftadviser.com/investments/2021/01/14/aviva-pressed-to-recall-bonuses-after-share-buyback-debacle/ Investor group ShareSoc has called on Aviva to claw back bonuses paid in 2018 after the provider was censured for 'potentially misleading' the market in its share buyback saga.