ShareSoc Issues New Recommendations for voting at the prospective Victoria Plc General Meeting

PRESS RELEASE 35 (18/09/2012)

On the 28th August, ShareSoc issued voting recommendations for the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Victoria Plc on the 31st August. We suggested shareholders should support the existing board based on what the company had stated concerning the past proposals from the “Concert Party” of Alexander Anton, Geoff Wilding, New Fortress Finance and other members of the Anton family. But a number of directors were removed at the AGM as more votes were submitted against their re-election than were supportive.

Another General Meeting requisitioned by New Fortress is scheduled for the 3rd October when there are resolutions to remove all the existing directors and appoint Alexander Anton, Geoff Wilding and Andrew Harrison.

Both the company and the Concert Party have now issued circulars to shareholders in respect of this meeting, and after studying those documents and considering the issues, we have this to say:

1. The reasons for the board dispute. As we are unable to ascertain the exact reasons why the board dispute arose which caused Mr Anton and Mr Wilding to resign from the board (each side seems to give a different version of those events), we will not comment on that dispute, but simply look at what was stated at the AGM and in the subsequent circulars about future intentions.

2. The incentive scheme. Our major concern (as stated in our previous press release) was the alleged incentive scheme whereby non-executive directors were apparently going to receive very large benefits from any increase in the value of the company. It is clear from the circular issued by the Concert Party (and comments made by Mr Wilding at the AGM and directly to ShareSoc subsequently), that:

A – Mr Wilding will act as an Executive Director of the company.

B – Any incentive scheme devised by the new directors will be put to shareholders for approval (and will be designed to meet regulatory and corporate governance standards).

C – It is likely that the only beneficiary of an approved incentive plan will be executive directors or management of the Company (i.e. non-executive directors will be paid only normal fees by implication).

These commitments overcome our major objections to the proposals put forward by the Concert Party. Clearly the likely incentive scheme to be put to shareholders in due course might involve substantial rewards to Mr Wilding, if he is successful in returning value to shareholders. ShareSoc has no objections in principle to such an arrangement so long as it is not too excessively balanced against shareholders but that will be for a later vote to decide.

3. The respective business plans and strategy. Any analysis of the position of the company shows that in general the company has been poorly performing for some time and is not giving a reasonable return on the assets employed. This is particularly so of the UK operations (most of the profits seem to arise in Australia).

Some information on the likely respective strategies to improve matters are given in the two circulars, although of course these may be subject to change, particularly as any new management team learns more about the business. They do not differ enormously in scope. In essence, it would appear that the Concert Party’s strategy may be somewhat more aggressive in style in terms of restructuring of the business and disposing of underperforming assets. This is to be expected given their proposed incentive scheme which might stimulate more action.

Therefore we recommend:

1. Shareholders who support a more aggressive approach to improving the performance of the company should vote “FOR” all the resolutions on the General Meeting agenda (i.e. support the Concert Party).
2. Those shareholders who would be happy for the company to continue more in its current form and under the existing management should vote “AGAINST” all the resolutions on the General Meeting agenda.
All shareholders in Victoria Plc should ensure they can and do vote as it is likely to be a very close vote.

If shareholders are undecided which side to support, they should attend the General Meeting on the 3rd October in Birmingham to hear more, and so they can put questions to the respective parties before voting (there is likely to be a poll).

For further information, please contact:

Roger W. Lawson,
Chairman,
ShareSoc Telephone: 020-8467-2686
Email: info@sharesoc.org

Note any members of the press who wish to receive a complimentary copy of our informative monthly newsletter should send a request to info@sharesoc.org . Our newsletters cover not just the affairs of our organisation but contain general financial news and commentary. An example of our past newsletters is available on our web site. You can also follow ShareSoc on Twitter from @ShareSocUK.

About the UK Individual Shareholders Society (ShareSoc)

ShareSoc represents and supports individual investors who invest in the UK stock markets (and who own as much as 30% of the shares in UK public companies in aggregate). We are a mutual association controlled by our members with “not-for-profit” articles and incorporated as a company limited by guarantee. The organisation is financed by member subscriptions, donations from supporters and by the services it provides to members. Associate Membership of ShareSoc is free and is open to everyone with an interest in stock market investment. More information on ShareSoc can be obtained from our web site at www.sharesoc.org .

Post Date: September 18, 2012

Group description:	All levels of experience welcome. A typical meeting agenda includes: – Macro Environment – Trades: Members review existing positions and identify securities with promising TA entry patterns or setups and with suitable risk/reward. Any security, long, short, futures, options may be considered. The convener takes actual positions in trades and maintains his own detailed ledger, accurately measuring performance of individual securities and cumulative activity. Members are notified by e-mail prior to the entries or exits that are decided upon. Following each meeting an updated copy of the ledger is circulated together with the next meeting agenda. Members may wish to maintain similar ledgers of their own but there is no obligation to do so. – Technical Analysis: Techniques and systems used in trades. Members can request discussion of particular aspects of TA.
Meeting Type/Venue:	Online via Zoom
Meeting Frequency/Timing:	The first Tuesday of every month from 7 to 9pm

Group description:	Following the launch of the SIGnet Technical Traders groups, it was identified that there were a number of members who use fundamental and other information as their main source of choosing companies to invest in, who would find some understanding of technical analysis helpful to identify good entry and exit points for their investments. This new SIGnet Technical Analysis in Support of Investing group is therefore being launched and we welcome members of all levels of experience to join.
Meeting Type/Venue:	Online via Zoom
Meeting Frequency/Timing:	There will be an initial Zoom meeting on Monday 29th April at 7pm to launch this group, please email info@sharesoc.org if you are interested in joining.

Group description:	A new in person group coming soon! Keep and eye on our Events page to register for the launch meeting.
Meeting Type/Venue:	In person
Meeting Frequency/Timing:	TBC

Group description:	Open to all investors / people with an interest in investing. Typical meeting will involve members talking about recent purchases, successes, failures and possible future purchases. Also with occasional visiting speakers or members making presentations on a topic of interest.
Meeting Type/Venue:	We aim to meet on the last Tuesday of each month in a private room at a pub in Playhatch. Start time 7pm with members encouraged to meet up around 6pm for a bite to eat / drink before hand, if their diaries allow.
Meeting Frequency/Timing:	7pm on the last Tuesday of the month. Meetings likely to last about two hours but with informal ‘overspill’ before / after.

Group description:	This group was set up as a forum to discuss companies in detail, each company is introduced by a member and discussion may last one or two hours. Membership is by invitation only and is for experienced investors.
Meeting Type/Venue:	The group meets at a venue in Waterloo, London.
Meeting Frequency/Timing:	Meetings are on Tuesday mornings at two month intervals.

Group description:	An online group for those who are new to investing. Including topics such as how to buy and sell shares, unit trusts, investment trusts, exchange traded funds and diversification, tax and how to save it, pensions, portfolio management and research tools, other asset classes and basic technical analysis.
Meeting Type/Venue:	Online using Zoom.
Meeting Frequency/Timing:	Meetings are usually held on the 1st Monday of the month at 7:15pm.

Group description:	Group focused on active investing, primarily in small / medium cap UK equities.
Meeting Type/Venue:	Regular Zoom meetings interspersed with occasional face to face meetings and social activities in the North West.
Meeting Frequency/Timing:	Monthly on Saturdays at 10am.

Group description:	Our group covers a wide spectrum of mainly stock market investing and trading from equities – which include shares, ETF’s Investment and Unit Trusts. We normally rotate the meeting chairperson (responsible for creating, with member’s help, suitable agendas) and a meeting presenter (members take it in turns to provide a 15 to 45 minute presentation on a subject of their choice). Various investing topics of interest are regularly discussed such as software, brokers, investing categories and markets and any related topics of interest.
Meeting Type/Venue:	Meetings will be returning to in-person in a private room at a West London golf club, close to an underground station. In the meantime monthly video calls and an in-between meeting email group will continue.
Meeting Frequency/Timing:	In-person meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of each month in the afternoons, following a golf club one course lunch.

Group description:	A small group whose primary interests are equity and Investment Trusts.
Meeting Type/Venue:	Currently meeting online using Skype. It is envisaged to have occasional meetings at member’s private houses in the future.
Meeting Frequency/Timing:	Meetings are held fortnightly on Tuesday mornings using Skype.

ShareSoc Issues New Recommendations for voting at the prospective Victoria Plc General Meeting

PRESS RELEASE 35 (18/09/2012)

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