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Terry Smith demolishes Tesco

Post Date: September 7, 2014

Terry Smith, CEO of Fundsmith, did a great job of demolishing the business of Tesco yesterday in the Financial Times (FT Money 6/9/2014). He explained why he won't be buying Tesco even though the shares have fallen to a level that equals what it was in 2003 and investors have been imploring him to buy it. Even though Warren Buffet has owned some shares in Tesco of late, he quotes from Mr Buffet's 1979 letter to shareholders thus: "The primary test of ...

Better Finance Press Release and ESMA Report

Post Date: September 5, 2014

Yesterday Better Finance (a European representative body for individual shareholders of which ShareSoc is a member) issued a press release. It is worth repeating here:"European Financial Regulator fails to recognise the mounting losses hitting European savers and investors - Brussels, 4 September 2014Better Finance welcomes the new "Trends, Risks and Vulnerabilities" report released today by the European Securities & Markets Authority (ESMA).But the ESMA press release does not say a word about individual investors’ trends and risks.Moreover, and of additional concern, ...

ShareSoc Growth Company Seminar Announcement

Post Date: September 3, 2014

The line-up for our next seminar at which public companies will be presenting on the 17th September is now complete and is given below. This event is in the City of London (at a different venue to normal), with registration starting at 4.00 pm. Four companies will be presenting this month and answering your questions, which are: - Synairgen (SNG): A respiratory drug development company. - Chapel Down Winery (CDGP): England's leading wine producer. - Nature Group (NGR): Marine pollution and offshore waste processing. - ServicePower (SVR): Field service software solutions. Refreshments and a buffet ...

Guaranteed Rights for All Shareholders – Campaign Launch Meeting

Post Date: September 2, 2014

On the 14th October 2014 ShareSoc is launching a campaign to give full rights to ALL shareholders. 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. Investors in public companies have been disenfranchised and their rights undermined. The meeting on the 14th October 2014 will explain how and why this situation ...

Berkeley Group and British Country Inns

Post Date: September 1, 2014

I attended the Annual General Meeting of housebuilders Berkeley Group today. Lots of questions from shareholders this year (apparently there were none last year), and a request for there to be a presentation in future. That I supported as it is also ShareSoc's policy. A full report is also available to full members. Some of the comments from Chairman Tony Pidgeley were most interesting. It included his solution to how to solve the housing crisis in London and the South East, but ...