ShareSoc in the News

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

People Management, 30 Jun 2022, It’s time to put a stop to misogyny in business

People Management website mentioned ShareSoc's call for strict penalties to be enforced on individuals using sexist language and behaviour during AGMs. Click here to read the article

Investment Week, 15 June 2022, Leigh Day and Harcus Parker merge Woodford claims for ‘unified front’ against Link

A Group Litigation Order will detail the claimants' allegations against Link, primary of which is alleged mismanagement of the former Woodford Equity Income fund. According to ShareSoc, which endorsed Leigh Day's legal claim in November 2020, the joint claim will represent around 20,000 claimants currently registered with the two law firms. Click here to read the article.

Citywire, 15 June 2022, Law firms join forces to battle Link over Woodford collapse

Citywire mentioned ShareSoc in their article about the merger of the Leigh Day and the Harcus Parker legal claims. Click here to read the article.

The Times, 15 June 2022, Law firms plan united front in Woodford scandal legal battle

ShareSoc director Cliff Weight was quoted on The Times this week, welcoming the merge of the Leigh Day and Harcus Parker claims targeting Link Fund Solutions, the authorised corporation director of the failed Woodford Equity Income Fund. Click here to read the article.

FTSE 100 Company holds AGM in Spain. IAG tone deaf?

This is the Personal View Point of Cliff Weight and does not necessarily reflect ShareSoc Policy. Cliff Weight is a director of ShareSoc. Cliff does not own shares in IAG. A good, well run AGM is a sign of a good company with a good culture. An AGM at an inconvenient time in an inconvenient location is a red flag. IAG's 2022 shareholders’ meeting will be held on Thursday 16 June 2022 at 12 noon (CEST).  The meeting will take place in Madrid at Edificio Mutua Madrileña, Paseo de ...

Aviation Pros, 13 June 2022, British Airways Owner Flies in to Pay Storm

ShareSoc director Cliff Weight was quoted sharing his views on IAG's decision to hold its AGM in Spain. "It's a lot of money so they should provide a meeting in London — where most of their shareholders can get to more easily — as well as the formal AGM in Madrid. 'It strikes me that the directors want to hide from their shareholders, who have seen their share price reduce by 75 per cent [since 2020] and are appalled at these egregious remuneration increases." Click here to ...

This is Money, 04 June 2022, Dividends paid by cheque to shareholders are being axed by Abrdn – in latest move towards a cashless society

ShareSoc's patron Lord Lee of Trafford commented on Abrdn's decision to stop paying dividends by cheque. "It is not just older people, but also youngsters who need to appreciate the value of money and might like to have a cheque arriving in the post when a dividend payment is due.  There is no doubt dividends paid by bank transfer are more convenient for many people, but it should not be mandatory. Investors must be given the choice.' Click here to read the article.

FT, 03 June 2022, Antidotes to pessimism in the UK’s audit reforms

Click here to read the article ShareSoc director Cliff Weight co-signed a letter published in the FT.  "In a perfect world for users of company accounts, reform of the UK’s audit and corporate governance regime would include a UK version of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. This US law requires chief executives and finance directors to sign up to the truthfulness of material facts, and external audit of the effectiveness of internal controls. As your report notes (“Audit regulation shake-up to be diluted”, Report, May ...

This is Money, 18 May 2022, We must ban AGM chauvinists for life: Campaigners demand action after Aviva chief exec Amanda Blanc faced barrage of sexist insults

The Daily Mail makes the point that misogynistic offenders at AGMs should know the likely outcome of unacceptable behaviour.. a RED card. Quoting both ShareSoc and UKSA Directors. Click here to read the article.

FT, 13 May 2022, Don’t dismiss Aviva’s sexist AGM as a one-off

Click here to read the article The FT covers the unacceptable behaviour of a wayward attendee at the Aviva AGM and quotes ShareSoc's Director Cliff Weight. ShareSoc is appalled at the misogynistic comments directed at the Aviva CEO, Amanda Blanc, but is concerned that a narrative may being created that could result in the lessening of individual investors key role in holding Boards to account at AGMs. The vast majority of individual investors attending AGMs do nor behave like this. We do however, ...