ShareSoc News

Press Release 122:
UK shareholders welcome and support Treasury Report on Secondary Market Placings

  ShareSoc and the UK Shareholders’ Association, who represent individual investors in the UK, welcome the Treasury Report on Secondary Market Placings. The recommendations, when implemented, will help to create a more level playing field for individual investors. The report also highlights the problems of disenfranchisement faced by retail shareholders in nominee accounts and proposes new systems which will allow retail investors to participate on fair terms in placings and fund raisings. The UK Shareholders' Association said: “The UK Shareholders' Association fully supports ...

Baroness Altmann Announced as Keynote Speaker for ShareSoc Woodford Webinar – 19th July

Baroness Altmann, Consumer Finance champion, Member of the House of Lords and ex-Pensions Minister to speak at ShareSoc Woodford Webinar “The Cavalry is Coming” on 19 July at 4.30pm. Law firms Leigh Day and Harcus Parker joined forces and merged their claims via a Group Litigation Order (GLO*), announced on 15 June 2022. ShareSoc’s webinar on 19 July 2022 provides updates on progress, why the GLO is a big step forward and the impending deadline for joining a legal claim.  ...

Representing Individual Investors: proposed sustainability standards webinar on Thursday 30 June, 12:30 – 14:00

One of ShareSoc's primary functions is to represent individual investors. we do this by lobbying Government and Regulators about individual investor needs, and by campaigning for change from government, regulators, financial service providers. Alongside this we network, inform and educate investors though events, company presentations, SIGnet groups, educational content, newsletter, blogs, tweets and emails. These elements combine to make the investing experience better for our members. ShareSoc has been working hard for many years to improve its relationships, networking and influence with ...

Allenby Capital reports AIM Activity through end April 2022 – Markets quiet but not shut

After AIM’s biggest year for fundraises since 2007, 2021 was always going to be a hard act to follow. 2022 has so far been quiet but the market isn’t shut with funds still being raised for attractive opportunities. £99.7m of new money was raised on AIM through to the end of April 2022 across 11 new joiners to the market, this compares to the £598m raised during the comparable period in 2021 from 21 new joiners. The secondary fundraise market has ...

Press Release 121:
Woodford compensation a step closer as legal claims merge

Applying for a Group Litigation Order (GLO) is a major step forward in seeking compensation for those who lost money investing in Woodford Equity Income Fund Up to £1billion was lost by individual investors Deadline for investors in WEIF to join a legal claim is getting closer Law firms Leigh Day and Harcus Parker have announced that they will merge their legal actions, both of which target Link Fund Solutions as Authorised Corporate Director in the failed Woodford Equity Income Fund. ...

Blancco Update and Campaign Closure

BLANCCO (BLTG) We have closed this campaign as at 12 May 2022. The campaign achieved one objective of a fine of the auditors KPMG. However, the derisory amount (£3,500 plus costs of £2,743) questions whether the scale of the offence was fully recognised/punished by the regulator, the ICAEW. At the December 2020 Blancco AGM, the Chairman, Rob Woodward said that: * The FCA had posed a number of questions to the Company * The Company had answered those questions * The Company was never advised that ...

Payments for Order Flow – plans for a ban in the EU

ShareSoc supports Better Finance’s proposals for the EU, which would bring the EU  into line with UK practice. On 30 May 2022 Better Finance (who represent individual investors across Europe) issued a Press Release: Last chance for Member States to support EU citizens as investors and finally ban Payment for Order Flow (PFOF) PFOF is already banned by the FCA in the UK. See https://www.fca.org.uk/publication/finalised-guidance/fg12-13.pdf There is a useful and authoritative paper on PFOF in the UK here: https://www.cfainstitute.org/en/advocacy/policy-positions/payment-for-order-flow-in-the-united-kingdom It demonstrates that retail execution ...

The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) announces the winners of its Shareholder Communication Awards 2022.

ShareSoc Directors Mark Northway and Cliff Weight recently met with the AIC (Association of Investment Companies), with whom we share many common aims. We are very supportive of the AIC's initiative to encourage Investment Trusts to communicate more actively, clearly and transparently with their shareholders and with the investor market. ShareSoc congratulates the 2022 award winners: Best Report and Accounts – Generalist Winner: The Merchants Trust The judges highlighted several aspects of The Merchants Trust’s report and accounts as outstanding. These included its innovative multi-channel approach ...

How to ask Questions at AGMs

The furore caused by a few grumpy old misogynistic men asking questions at the Aviva AGM is huge. It casts a terrible image and is totally unrepresentative of the vast majority of individual investors who are professional and courteous. ShareSoc totally disapproves of the appalling conduct of certain shareholders at the Aviva AGM. See https://www.ft.com/content/01b723f1-1a7b-4096-86be-95148eb8aca0 (subscription required)   and https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-10806369/Aviva-boss-hit-misogyny-City-sexism-storm-AGM.html Amanda Blanc said: 'After 30-plus years in financial services, I am pretty used to sexist and derogatory comments. 'Sadly, just like many other women in ...

Investment Trust Discounts – Update re Rockwood Realisation and implications

The proposed wind-up of the £40.7m Rockwood Realisation investment trust – formerly called Gresham House Strategic – has been overturned following its annual general meeting on 25 April 2022. More than 95% of shareholders voted for proposed changes in the investment strategy to take place as opposed to a wind-up of the trust, despite Gresham House calling for a managed two-year wind-down of the vehicle and for the initial return of capital via a B share scheme at the end of last ...

Investment Week announces free access to Key Fund Performance Data

Investment Week has announced free access to download key fund performance data across sectors. All you need to do is register with your email address to access their site for free. https://www.investmentweek.co.uk/analysis/4049079/download-key-fund-performance-sectors-april-2022 Those who invest in Funds and Investment Trusts will find this easy to use free service of interest. It is not 100% comprehensive but appears to be quite useful. It did not take us long to look up the following data, which shows how much better the US shares have performed ...

Taxation Policy

As part of ShareSoc's work, we lobby and represent individual investors, we submit responses to Government consultations and when required we campaign for change. For example, we responded to consultations on and blogged about stamp duty, inheritance tax and capital gains tax. A recent article in the Mail highlighted concerns about a possible wealth tax and we are formulating ShareSoc's position. Please contact us if you wish to join in this debate. The Sunday Times reported on 10 April the debate in the US about a wealth tax, noting "Conceptionally ...