ShareSoc News

ShareSoc expresses the dismay of shareholders at the administration of Globo

Post Date: November 4, 2015

PRESS RELEASE 71 4/11/2015 ShareSoc notes the dismay of many shareholders in Globo Plc at the rapid collapse of the company. It has now gone into administration so the outlook for existing shareholders is very bleak indeed. Globo was another of those controversial AIM stocks which were actively traded by private investors and where the merits of the company were the focus of vigorous debate. However, it would now appear that the company might have been the subject of a major fraud, rather ...

Alliance Trust Shareholder Action Group welcomes changes announced by Alliance

Post Date: October 1, 2015

PRESS RELEASE 70 1/10/2015 The Alliance Trust Shareholder Action Group (ATSAG), supported by ShareSoc, welcomes the changes announced by the company today. Our comments are as follows: The separation of investment management operations into a more independent management organisation (Alliance Trust Investments - ATI) so as to make it more accountable is sensible. It is being given a clear mandate to perform and the announcement suggests further changes might be considered, such as outsourcing of investment management, if it does not. The demotion ...

Private Individuals Own More of the Stock Market

Post Date: September 7, 2015

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) have published their latest survey of share ownership in UK companies. Historically there has been a long term trend for individuals to own less as a proportion of the overall market. But the latest figures tell a different story. From historic lows of 10% in 2010 and 2012, the figures for 2014 show an increase to 12%. The proportion owned by the “Rest of the World” (which might also include some individuals) remains the highest at ...

ShareSoc Deplores Withdrawal of Personal Crest Membership by Brokers

Post Date: August 24, 2015

PRESS RELEASE 68 24/8/2015 Following the takeover of Stocktrade by Alliance Trust Savings (ATS), the latter have decided to withdraw support for Personal Crest Membership from their clients. Clients will either have to transfer into the ATS nominee service, turn their holdings into paper share certificates (a truly archaic form nowadays which are soon to be outlawed by an EU Directive), move to another broker or liquidate their holdings. This continues a recent trend for stockbrokers to terminate the provision of a ...

ShareSoc Gives Voting Recommendations for Rensburg AIM VCT Annual General Meeting

Post Date: August 4, 2015

PRESS RELEASE 67 4/8/2015 ShareSoc has been running a campaign on Rensburg AIM VCT since 2011. Our initial concerns were the investment performance and policy, but more recently the Directors proposed to wind-up the company. ShareSoc opposed that on the grounds that many investors, some of whom originally would have claimed capital gains roll-over relief, would be disadvantaged by such a move. Although the position of investors is affected by their personal circumstances and tax position, it seemed possible to us to ...

SHARESOC INVESTOR MASTERCLASSES

Post Date: June 10, 2015

An Entertaining & Educational Evening for Investors Our Investor Masterclasses are intended for investors with all levels of experience. A panel of expert investors discusses topics of general interest to our audience. Topics will be covered both at a basic level for the beginner, and also in depth for the more experienced investor. There will also be an opportunity for you to quiz the panel and share your own views. No matter what your level of expertise, we’re sure you’ll find something ...

Shareholder Action Group Launched for Alliance Trust

Post Date: May 12, 2015

PRESS RELEASE 65 (12/5/2015) Following the Annual General Meeting of Alliance Trust where the Board conceded the appointment of new directors subsequent to the requisition by Elliott Advisors, ShareSoc has been encouraged by a number of private investors to support a shareholder action group to represent their interests. Many investors still have concerns about the strategy of the company and about some aspects of its operations. A shareholder action group has therefore been launched and investors can register their interest on this ...

ShareSoc Comments on the Proposals for Alliance Trust

Post Date: March 24, 2015

PRESS RELEASE 64 (24/3/2015) ShareSoc makes the following comments on the requisition to appoint three new non-executive directors to the board of Alliance Trust by Elliott Advisors. We do this from the stance of an independent not-for-profit organisation whose objective is to represent the interests of private shareholders. Many of our members have an interest in investment trusts which generally provide a low cost and diversified way of investing in the stock market. But the issues that have arisen at this Trust such ...

ShareSoc Launches Share Ownership Reform Proposals

Post Date: February 10, 2015

PRESS RELEASE 63 (10/2/2015) ShareSoc has been campaigning for more rights for shareholders and we have now launched specific proposals on how we believe share trading should be reformed. In particular our proposals are aimed at tackling the loss of voting and other rights that currently arises from the use of stockbroker nominee accounts. Our suggestions include:  The development of a new low cost electronic trading facility as recommended by the Kay Review, and which is also required to meet the need in the ...

ShareSoc Deplores Excessive Pay for BG Group CEO

Post Date: November 28, 2014

Sharesoc’s response to consultation on Tax-advantage Venture Capital Schemes

Post Date: September 16, 2014

The following was a response made to HM Treasury’s consultation on Tax-advantaged Venture Capital Schemes (VCT, EIS and SEIS schemes): Venture Capital Schemes

Shareholder Rights campaign launch meeting on October 14

Post Date: September 2, 2014

PRESS RELEASE 58 (02/09/2014) Guaranteed Rights for All Shareholders -Campaign launch meeting On October 14th ShareSoc is launching a campaign to give full rights to ALL shareholders. Shareholders Disenfranchised and Rights Undermined At present most private investors purchase shares in nominee accounts. With a very few exceptions this means that they have no automatic rights to vote, to attend General Meetings of companies or even receive information on the affairs of the company. The nominee system disenfranchises the vast majority of private shareholders. As a ...

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