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View all Representation →Consultations- Digitisation Taskforce – Final Report
- FCA Consults on Fund Product Information and Cost Disclosure CP24/30 – ShareSoc Responds
- FRC Consults on UK Stewardship Code – ShareSoc Responds
- FCA Consultation – Modernising Redress
- HMRC Consultation – IHT on Pensions
- ShareSoc Evidence to Lords on FCA Enforcement
- ShareSoc supports FCA proposal for criminal background checks on owners and controllers of financial institutions
- UK ISA: ShareSoc submits consultation response
- FCA Consultation on Enforcement Practice & Transparency
- ShareSoc response to House of Commons Education Select Committee
- UKSA and ShareSoc Submission to Labour Party Review of Financial Services
- FCA Consultation GC23/2 Financial Promotions on Social Media
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Socially Useful Frenkel Topping (FEN): Another Opportunistic Takeover and Delisting
Post Date: November 6, 2025
Another week, another blatant example of the chronic undervaluation of UK small-cap companies, leading to a lowball takeover, that forces long-term individual shareholders out at a lowball valuation.
The AIM market, it seems, is becoming a hunting ground for opportunistic private equity firms to snatch up good businesses on the cheap.
I’ve written about this pattern before with Gusbourne, Dewhurst, and the particularly egregious case of Anexo. The latest name to add to this sorry list is Frenkel Topping (AIM: FEN).
I think this one is particularly cynical. Many ShareSoc members will ...
ANEXO Directors say “We have done nothing wrong”
Post Date: September 16, 2025
Shareholder action group call for regulatory review
Further to my previous Anexo blog, I write to highlight the Investors’ Chronicle’s most recent follow-up on Anexo from 11 September.
The key element in the article is Anexo’s on-the-record stance, which boils down to two lines:
“We have done nothing wrong.”
“No regulator has raised concerns / criticised the process.”
Those two assertions go to the heart of why this warrants FT and wider media coverage. Ordinary investors (pensioners, ISA/SIPP holders, parents saving for their children) ...
Dewhurst: Another Delisting on the Cheap?
Post Date: August 19, 2025
Following Gusbourne and Anexo, here is another example of exploitation of minority shareholders by controlling shareholders through delisting. The share price of the ordinary and A shares shows the dangers of dual class structures and the divergence of their share prices, as governance issues impact differently on the classes:
Source: Stockopedia
Summary of Dewhurst's Delisting and Impact on Minority Shareholders
Dewhurst Group PLC, a global manufacturer and supplier of components for the lift, transport, and keypad industries, announced its intention to delist from AIM and ...
Anexo – another delisting on the cheap?
Post Date: July 24, 2025
Anexo Group: Analysis of the 60p Bid and Investor Reaction Following the 22nd July 2025 announcement of a takeover offer for Anexo Group plc, this blog provides an analysis...
Streamlining Electronic AGM Access
Post Date: March 21, 2025
In recent years, some platforms have improved the ease of shareholders attending AGMs in person, with ii and AJ Bell adopting the Broadridge service, which makes it easy to request a Letter of Representation for in-person attendance.
However, gaining access to AGMs electronically is often still cumbersome for all concerned. This is particularly the case for AGMs held on the widely used Lumi platform. To gain access a code must be obtained, which is not a concept Broadridge currently supports. Codes are ...
Activist Intervention in Investment Trusts and Shareholder Democracy
Post Date: December 20, 2024
This article reflects the opinions of its author and not necessarily those of ShareSoc.
Saba Capital may be able to force changes due to shareholder apathy and disenfranchisement
I read this article today with interest and some concern. It describes an attack by hedge fund Saba Capital on seven investment trusts. The article names:
“The Baillie Gifford US Growth trust, Edinburgh Worldwide and Keystone Positive Change, are in the firing line as well as a pair of Janus Henderson trusts, the Henderson Opportunities ...
How and Why I’m Voting at Nationwide’s Upcoming AGM
Post Date: July 10, 2024
This article reflects the opinions of its author and not necessarily those of ShareSoc.
A personal view from ShareSoc Director, Mark Bentley
Nationwide has chosen to hold its AGM online only, this year on 15th July. I believe that this will be a controversial AGM, so it is disappointing that the directors have chosen not to face Nationwide’s members in person.
The chief source of controversy, in my opinion, was the board’s decision to acquire Virgin Money, without consulting its members. Now, I ...
M&S Shareholder Rights Petition: A Postmortem
Post Date: October 24, 2023
This article reflects the opinions of its author and not necessarily those of ShareSoc.
With 4,292 signatures, the M&S petition failed to meet the threshold
The M&S Shareholder Rights Petition, led by Archie Norman and supported by ShareSoc, UKSA, The QCA and Equiniti, has closed after failing to meet the threshold of 10,000 signatures for a government review and 100,000 signatures for a parliamentary debate.
The petition aimed to help more investors engage with UK plcs by modernising the Companies Act, specifically:
Giving beneficial ...
Burford and Woodford compared
Post Date: October 12, 2023
This article reflects the opinions of its author and not necessarily those of ShareSoc.
Different approaches from SEC and FCA
The Burford and Woodford cases highlight different US and UK practices.
In the US, the Judge explains the role of the litigation funder, justifies its role and why it should not affect his judgement.
In the UK, the FCA, in the case of Woodford and Link, is attempting to work with Link to allow the plaintiff to settle all its compensation claims for what has ...
People want to attend AGMs in person, so we need to find a balance
Post Date: July 20, 2023
This article reflects the opinions of its author, Cliff Weight, and not necessarily those of ShareSoc.
We need to kickstart a system of connections for shareholders in our digital age
Archie Norman’s opinion piece in the FT 14 July “The bond between British business and society has eroded -We need to kickstart a system of connections for shareholders in our digital age” (subscription required) has clarified his clarion call to modernise the Companies Act.
This year, M&S experimented with a digital-only AGM and Archie recognises ...
BP Shareholder Meeting 19 April 2023 – Report
Post Date: April 26, 2023
This article reflects the opinions of its author and not necessarily those of ShareSoc.
I attended the BP shareholder meeting on 19 April, held at the BP Head Office 1 St James’s Square, along with about 60 - 70 other shareholders. The meeting was organised by UKSA and ShareSoc members were also invited to attend.
The case for investing in BP shares is clear. They plan to grow ROACE to 18% with careful and limited capex split 50/50 between transition (green) energy ...
A shocking failure to communicate?
Post Date: September 5, 2022
The views expressed in this article are those of its author and not necessarily those of ShareSoc
An investment trust that I invest in, JP Morgan Global Growth and Income (JGGI) held an important general meeting today. The purpose of the meeting was to approve its takeover of another investment trust, The Scottish Investment Trust (SCIN).
I was shocked to read the RNS announcing the results of the general meeting issued this evening. Not shocked or surprised that the resolutions were overwhelmingly passed but ...
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