ShareSoc

Beaufort Client Campaign

This campaign is now closed as its principal objectives have been achieved with assets restored in full to almost all Beaufort clients. ShareSoc will consider whether to launch a further campaign to address the broader issue of the inefficient operation of the Special Administration Regime. ShareSoc is appalled by the treatment of Beaufort client assets proposed by administrator PWC and the huge fees PWC intends to charge for their services. We have therefore launched this campaign, seeking to minimise the losses suffered ...

Post Date: May 2, 2018 Read more

EDGE Performance VCT Campaign

ShareSoc Edge Performance VCT Campaign ShareSoc launched (in 2019) a campaign to improve the governance and performance of Edge Performance VCT Plc (consisting of H and I share classes) and reduce the fees charged by its investment manager, Edge Investments Limited. At the 2019 AGM, all 3 directors who stood for re-election were not re-elected; nor were the auditors Grant Thornton; the remuneration report was not approved, nor was approval given to allot shares. On 1 November 2021, ShareSoc Campaign members submitted resolutions to ...

Post Date: April 1, 2022 Read more

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 ICAEU. 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 the ...

Post Date: January 7, 2018 Read more

REDCENTRIC (RCN)

On the 7th November 2016, out of the blue, Redcentric plc published a shock announcement disclosing the discovery of misstatements in the company’s accounts. Unsurprisingly, this announcement precipitated a collapse in the company’s share price from 150p to 63p that day (it had previously traded as high as 200p earlier in 2016 and has subsequently recovered somewhat). The announcement, and subsequent announcements, combined with previous events raises serious concerns for shareholders in Redcentric. On behalf of individual shareholders, ShareSoc is investigating what occurred, with ...

Post Date: November 22, 2016 Read more

FORESIGHT 4 VCT

Latest news and a form enabling you to join this campaign can be found at the foot of this page. This page was created to inform shareholders in Foresight 4 VCT Plc - a Venture Capital Trust with a patchy performance record. Foresight took over the management of Advent 2 VCT in 2004 and renamed it Foresight 4. In 2012 there were mergers with Foresight Clearwater VCT and with Foresight 5 and the Acuity VCT 3 - the latter two forming a separate class ...

Post Date: July 9, 2015 Read more

GLOBO

This Campaign is now closed. We will inform readers of any developments, from the FCA or others, if and when they arise. A recovery of shareholders' funds is unlikely. This page was created to inform shareholders in Globo Plc about the events in October/November 2015 and thereafter. The most recent developments are summarised in this blog in August 2018 by Roger Lawson https://www.sharesoc.org/blog/regulations-and-law/lax-regulation-globo-grg-and-japanese-trust-agm/. The FRC announced in summer 2018 that they have dropped the investigation on the basis that there is no realistic prospect of ...

Post Date: October 9, 2015 Read more

ALLIANCE TRUST SHAREHOLDER ACTION GROUP (ATSAG)

This campaign was launched in May 2015 subsequent to the proxy fight by Elliott Advisors to appoint three new directors to the board of the company. ShareSoc supported Elliott and published a press release and a further note on the issues they had raised - see Alliance-Press-Release. Although the board conceded defeat by accepting two of the Elliott nominees and the appointment of another director, several private investors approached ShareSoc as they still had further concerns about the future strategy and ...

Post Date: May 17, 2015 Read more

OXFORD TECHNOLOGY VCTs

(the latest news is at the foot of this page) This campaign was launched in March 2014, following notice from HMRC of the loss of VCT status at two of the Oxford Technology VCTs. The following information was issued in a press release: ShareSoc launches Group for concerned shareholders in the Oxford Technology VCTs The Oxford Technology VCT (OXT) and Oxford Technology 3 VCT (OTT) have announced that HMRC has withdrawn their VCT status. This has been done because one of the Venture Capital ...

Post Date: March 1, 2014 Read more

GRAPHITE ENTERPRISE TRUST PLC

The latest news is at the foot of this page. This campaign was launched in August 2012. The following information was issued in a press release: ShareSoc Launches Campaign on Excessive Share Price Discount at Graphite Enterprise ShareSoc (the “UK Individual Shareholders Society”), has launched a Shareholder Action Group in relation to Graphite Enterprise Trust Plc. We have major concerns about the persistent discount to Net Asset Value (NAV) at which the shares of this company trade and some aspects of the corporate governance ...

Post Date: August 9, 2012 Read more

INTERCEDE GROUP PLC

Latest news on this campaign can be found towards the bottom of this page. This campaign is now closed. This campaign was launched in March 2012 although the source of the complaints goes back to August 2011. The following information was issued in a press release: ShareSoc Launches Attack on Unjustifiable LTIP Award at Intercede Group Plc ShareSoc (the “UK Individual Shareholders Society”), has launched a Shareholder Action Group in relation to Intercede Group Plc. Intercede announced a Long Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”) in August ...

Post Date: March 9, 2012 Read more

Group description:	The National Group is open to all members of SIGnet. It is intended primarily for new SIGnet members, who may not yet have found another suitable group to join. We aim to welcome new members and discuss their investment interests and current investment topics. The National Group is also a vehicle for introducing members to other groups.
Meeting Type/Venue:	Online
Meeting Frequency/Timing:	The National Group meets monthly, on a weekday evening.

Group description:	We welcome anyone interested in investments regardless of their level of knowledge and experience.
Meeting Type/Venue:	Physical meeting in the Boardroom of a venue in RG9 (pre-meetings in the bar).
Meeting Frequency/Timing:	Monthly – 3rd Wednesday of each month at 18:00 (except January, where the meeting will be held at lunch time).

Group description:	Our group covers a wide spectrum of mainly stock market investing and trading from equities – which include shares, ETF’s Investment and Unit Trusts – mainly UK and USA, but also some spread betting and financial options. We normally rotate the meeting chairperson (responsible for creating, with member’s help, suitable agendas) and a meeting presenter (members take it in turns to provide a 15 to 45 minute presentation on a subject of their choice). Various investing topics of interest are regularly discussed such as software, brokers, investing categories and markets and any related topics of interest.
Meeting Type/Venue:	Following Covid, this group hasn’t yet reconvened at their previously regular meeting venue which is in a private room within a west London golf club. In the meantime, meetings are held via videoconferencing. Part of the reason is that some members have moved away and some prefer meeting in person. So our aim is to recruit new members to ensure a continued regular in person meeting.
Meeting Frequency/Timing:	Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month in the afternoons, following a golf club one course lunch for our in-person meetings.

Group description:	Meeting once a month, our group covers a variety of investment styles. We also have an active WhatsApp group and we welcome new members.
Meeting Type/Venue:	Physical meetings at a venue in Preston, Hitchin, SG4.
Meeting Frequency/Timing:	Monthly.

Group description:	We are a friendly social group welcoming investors with all levels of experience. Our membership varies between those with little or no knowledge of investing to those who live off their investing or their portfolios. We do not invest as a group so there is no money on the table, and we never discuss individual worth; we simply discuss and share investing ideas, we analyse the state of the market, individual stocks, funds, trusts, bonds etc., and we invite contributions from all group members. Guest speakers and company presentations are a regular feature, as is the SIGnet competition and also our own long-term Manchester Portfolio. We invite members to volunteer presentations from time to time on particular topics of their interest / expertise. At each meeting members are asked to share their latest or potential buying and selling activity. Our face-to-face meetings are punctuated by a lunch break, and for those with the time there is socialising and drinks afterwards. Most of all we learn from each other.
Meeting Type/Venue:	The group meets through a combination of Zoom and face-to-face meetings at a central Manchester boardroom style venue.
Meeting Frequency/Timing:	Meets bi-monthly, 10am-3pm on Monday mornings, usually mid-month.

Group description:	Most members are experienced investors. The main focus is on equity investments (single stocks or investment trusts). Other asset classes are discussed. Meetings involve presentations from members who are expected to lead discussions from time to time.
Meeting Type/Venue:	Meeting quarterly, physically in Central London. Other months (8 months per year) on Zoom.
Meeting Frequency/Timing:	Monthly – Generally on 3rd Wednesday of the month. Zoom meetings tend to last up to 2 hours. Physical meetings are from 11am-4pm.