ShareSoc News

Diageo plc Information and Vote Guidance 2025

AGM: 6th November 2025 Proxy deadline: 4th November 2025 ShareSoc provide this added value voting information service for Full Members only, providing background information on leading companies and AGM vote guidance. Below are links to the: 1. Stockopedia summary report. 2. Minerva Vote recommendations for the 6th November 2025 AGM based on their standard template. 3. Minerva detailed research report for the AGM. Summary of voting issues at this year’s AGM  The Minerva report highlights various issues and recommends voting against one of the resolutions. Readers should make their own ...

SIGnet Launches New Options Focused Group in London

SIGnet, a national network of individual investor groups, is excited to announce the launch of a new in-person group based in London, for those who are interested in trading Options. Investors of all levels of experience are welcome to join.   SIGnet groups meet on a regular basis, typically monthly or every 6 weeks, to give individual investors the opportunity to socialise, discuss, and learn from each other. The main goal is to improve members' knowledge and investment decision-making processes through free discussion ...

SIGnet: The Future of Investment Clubs

Investment clubs in the UK have a rich and evolving history, shaped by social trends, market cycles, and technological change.  The traditional investment club model, a form of self-directed collective retail investing, mirrors the broader democratisation of the stock market. Its changing purpose — from economic necessity to education and peer-to-peer learning — mirrors the key trends shaping the modern investment landscape.   We explore the original rationale of the investment club and the potential for its renaissance based on a renewed focus on ...

Investment Clubs Under Threat

ShareSoc and SIGnet are here to help  For quite some time it has become increasingly difficult to open dealing accounts for investment clubs, with ever fewer platforms offering the service. Matters have now come to a head, with interactive investor withdrawing its service and requiring its investment club clients to either close their accounts or transfer to another provider.  ShareSoc and SIGnet have been asked for help by members who participate in investment clubs.  Possible platform solution  We have been in contact with a major ...

SIGnet Launches New London Based US Group

SIGnet, a national network of individual investor groups, is excited to announce the launch of a new group for those who are interested in the US market and able to meet in central London. Investors of all levels of experience are welcome to join.   SIGnet groups meet on a regular basis, typically monthly, to give individual investors the opportunity to socialise, discuss, and learn from each other. The main goal is to improve members' knowledge and investment decision-making processes through free discussion ...

SIGnet Launches New Group in Swansea

SIGnet, a national network of individual investor groups, is excited to announce the launch of a new in-person group based in Swansea. Investors of all levels of experience are welcome to join. SIGnet groups meet on a regular basis, typically monthly or every 6 weeks, to give individual investors the opportunity to socialise, discuss, and learn from each other. The main goal is to improve members' knowledge and investment decision-making processes through free discussion and mutual education. You are invited: to an initial ...

TwentyFour Income Fund – A Question of Transparency

ShareSoc Writes to TwentyFour Asset Management Expressing Concerns  A member of ShareSoc/SIGnet has raised concerns regarding the transparency of the TwentyFour Income Fund. In response, we have written an open letter to the fund’s manager, TwentyFour Asset Management, and await their response with interest.  As Buffett has emphasised, before making any investment, you should understand what you are investing in. Without adequate disclosure regarding the assets held in the fund, it is impossible to gain such an understanding.   

Woodford fines announced – but no further redress for WEIF investors.

Six years after the suspension of the Woodford Equity Income Fund (WEIF) trapped 300,000 investors, and following more than five years of investigation, on 5th August 2025 the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) finally announced its decision to fine Neil Woodford and his firm, Woodford Investment Management (WIM).   The FCA has issued fines of £5.88 million to Neil Woodford and £40 million to WIM. Both have referred the decision to the Upper Tribunal, meaning the fines have no immediate effect and may not ...

Ashtead Group plc Information and Vote Guidance 2025

AGM: 2nd September 2025 Proxy deadline: 29th August 2025 ShareSoc provide this added value voting information service for Full Members only, providing background information on leading companies and AGM vote guidance. Below are links to the: 1. Stockopedia summary report. 2. Minerva Vote recommendations for the 2nd September 2025 AGM based on their standard template. 3. Minerva detailed research report for the AGM. Summary of voting issues at this year’s AGM  The Minerva report highlights various issues and recommends voting against two of the resolutions. Readers should make their own ...

New SIGnet Groups Support Beginner and Intermediate Investors

SIGnet, a national network of individual investor groups, is excited to announce the launch of two new groups, designed specifically for those in the early stages of their investing journey. The Beginners’ Group is aimed at those who are new to investing and will cover topics such as Shares, Bonds, ISAs & SIPPs and Portfolio Diversification. No previous experience is required. The Intermediate Group is for those who are familiar with the basics, and will cover topics such as Ratios, Value & Dividend ...

Press Release: Digitisation Taskforce Report

Final report is fatally flawed and could lead to shareholders losing their rights Digitisation Taskforce has failed to address its Terms of Reference City lobby’s influence outweighed shareholder interests Move to fully intermediated (nominee) shareholding system fails to protect key shareholder rights Proposed “Bill of Shareholder Rights” misses the mark Report is silent on key stewardship issues “Investor pays” access to rights will further diminish shareholder engagement Critical checks and balances are at risk   London – 22nd July 2025 ShareSoc, the UK's premier ...

The Digitisation Taskforce Final Report

Taskforce proposals miss the mark. They put shareholder activism at risk and damage corporate governance.   The Digitisation Taskforce, comprising Sir Douglas Flint, Mark Austin and, latterly Chris Horton, has at long last released its long-awaited final report. The report recommends a staged plan to completely eliminate both paper share certificates and digitised share registers, forcing all UK investors into an intermediated (nominee) system where shares are held on their behalf by financial institutions: Step 1: Eliminate paper share certificates by 2027 (via a ...