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ShareSoc Director Spotlight – Ram Sachdev

What inspired you to join ShareSoc’s board and what motivates you to represent retail investors? I am delighted to share my perspective.   I joined the Board of ShareSoc after spending ten...

Portfolio Review 2025 – Cliff Weight

Up 15.7%. 😊. I am happy with this. Key points Portfolio up 15.7%. Benchmark performance: 13%, representing a 90% equities/10% bonds/cash allocation. The global equities benchmark rose 13.9% in sterling terms MSCI USA rose 9.2% in sterling terms (17.9% in dollars, but I was unhedged) UK FTSE 100 rose +25.8%. My outperformance of +2.7% reflects: my FTSE 100 shares (impact on returns = +0.5%), stock selection +6%, my small AIM company bias (-1.5%) and US underperformance in sterling terms ...

Laggard Socially Useful Frenkel Topping (FEN): Another Opportunistic Takeover and Delisting

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 ...

2026 FRC Stewardship Code – A significant improvement

The UK Stewardship code, which sets out the core principles of effective stewardship and transparency for asset owners and asset managers, has just had a major overhaul. The revisions follow on from a consultation in early 2026, to which ShareSoc responded The 2026 Code, which takes effect in January 2026, introduces three key changes: First, the purpose of stewardship has been clarified. The new definition is simply: "The responsible allocation, management and oversight of capital to create long-term sustainable value for clients and beneficiaries."   Reference to delivering benefits for the wider economy, environment, and society has ...

The Proposed British ISA: A Flawed Plan that Penalises the Prudent Saver

The recent FT Article  (https://www.ft.com/content/99b91223-aced-4262-b7ff-356cee84a185)   entitled “Reeves looks to include minimum UK shareholding in ISA overhaul. Evolution of abandoned Conservative ‘Brit Isa’ plan also includes stamp duty tax break”, suggests Stocks and Shares ISA investors should be required to hold 50% of their portfolio in UK shares and has, quite rightly, caused a stir.   While the main goal of these proposed changes to stimulate the British economy by encouraging investment in UK companies is a noble one, this particular plan is deeply ...