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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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Sunday Telegraph, 30 May, Leonardo Governance Concerns

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2021/05/30/minnow-activist-going-battle-defence-giant-leonardo/ quotes ShareSoc saying a CEO in the UK would step aside until the investigation concluded.
Post Date: May 31, 2021 Read more

RKT : Reckitt Benckiser – Company Information and Vote Guidance

by Cliff Weight, Director, ShareSoc. These are my personal views and not necessarily those of ShareSoc. I do not own shares in Reckitt, because their EV (Enterprise Value) is four times turnover and I don't see great barriers to entry. Summary of voting issues The AGM is on May 28th, 2021. The share price over 20 years is wonderful, as the Stockopedia data shows. I have attended several of the company's AGMs, because (i) DSW, the German equivalent of ShareSoc asked me to ...
Post Date: May 24, 2021 Read more

Woodford Debacle – FT invites you to tell them what you think

ShareSoc News item by Cliff Weight. The FT on Friday 21 May asked for views from investors with money trapped in Neil Woodford’s former fund. It said: Nearly two years on from the collapse of Neil Woodford’s flagship fund, more than 300,000 investors are still waiting to recoup their money — and FT Money would like to hear from readers affected by the fallout. The FT asked specifically about these 6 questions. As the liquidation process drags on, what impact has this had on your ...
Post Date: May 23, 2021 Read more

Investment Trusts – Update on Progress

ShareSoc News Item: Below is an article from guest contributor Annabel Brodie-Smith, who is the Communications Director at the AIC. Investment Trusts are a very important part of investing, with AUM of £250 billion. They are arguably better, and better value, than funds. For new investors half a dozen investments trusts or passive ETFs or a mix of both are arguably the best way to start on your investment journey. Most sophisticated investors have at least part of their wealth invested in ...
Post Date: May 22, 2021 Read more

Shell: Shareholder resolution on climate change gets 30% support

Blog from Cliff Weight, Director, ShareSoc. These are my personal views and not necessarily those of ShareSoc. Support doubles to 30%, for the FollowThis! climate resolution at Shell AGM....
Post Date: May 22, 2021 Read more

HSBA – HSBC Holdings Company Information and Vote Guidance

by Cliff Weight, Director, ShareSoc. These are my personal views and not necessarily those of ShareSoc. I own shares in HSBC. HSBC summary of voting issues The AGM is on May 28th, 2021. HSBC has gone back to its roots and now focuses on the Far East. The Stockopedia graph shows the lack of long term growth over the past 20 years and the volatility of the share price which lost two thirds in the Covid Bear Market. It has now recovered to ...
Post Date: May 22, 2021 Read more

Laggard Unanswered Questions at Eleco

I received an unhelpful response to a question today (19th May) from Eleco (ELCO). I have been a shareholder for some time in this construction software company. The company announced on the 26th of April that it had received a requisition notice that covered resolutions to reappoint two directors, that all directors stand for re-election at future AGMs and that the remuneration committee report be approved. It was certainly unusual that such resolutions were not on the AGM agenda on the 6th ...
Post Date: May 22, 2021 Read more

Final Step in Integrating SIGnet with ShareSoc

The final step in completing SIGnet's merger with ShareSoc is to create a new website for SIGnet. To facilitate this we have made some changes to the ShareSoc website and its menu system - including links to where the new SIGnet website resides. That new website is currently under construction, with some pages incomplete or not yet created. Until it is complete, please refer to SIGnet's current website at http://www.signet.org.uk/ for further information about SIGnet. When the new site is complete, that ...
Post Date: May 20, 2021 Read more

Woodford Claims and the Financial Ombudsman Service – Update 19 May

We (Boz Michalowska from Leigh Day and me) met with the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) on 7th May. They have received 549 claims so far relating to Woodford, Link, Hargreaves and IFAs. They have resolved 3 at final decision stage and these were simple cases against IFAs. We were given no evidence to suggest that the FOS route is likely to have a quick nor successful resolution. ShareSoc cannot give financial advice and individuals must of course make their own decisions. ShareSoc ...
Post Date: May 19, 2021 Read more

Woodford Campaign Update 5
19 May 2021

1. Leigh Day, whose claim ShareSoc has endorsed, submitted their Letter Before Action (LBA) to Link in March and are still awaiting a response. Leigh Day are preparing assiduously for all eventualities re claim vs Link. 2. We urge everyone to tell their Friends and Family about the Campaign, Leigh Day Claim and the webinar. Around 500,000 may be eligible to claim, but so far less than 5% have done so. Please spread the word! Potentially claimants can recover up to 70% ...
Post Date: May 19, 2021 Read more
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