BT GROUP PLC (BT.A)

Seminars

ShareSoc Company Visit to BT Group, August 2019

Post Date: September 4, 2019 Read more

Blog posts

Investing for Income – More Than Just Seeking a High Yield

Vanishing Dividends Every week brings news of a major company cutting or suspending its dividend: this week, it was BT. For investors who rely upon dividends for income, the search for a reliable, sustainable dividend becomes ever harder. There are no shortage of commentators who believe that most companies should be putting dividends on hold now. Certainly, the story of Easyjet paying out significant dividends on the same day as it requested a bail out from the government struck many as irresponsible. When ...

Post Date: May 11, 2020 Read more

The Political Manifestos and their Impacts on Investors

Here are some comments on the manifestos of the major political parties, now that they are all available. I focus on how they might affect investors. Most readers will...

Post Date: November 26, 2019 Read more

BT Hit By False Accounts

The share price of BT Plc (BT.A) fell by over 20% yesterday after reporting that it would have to write off £530 million in its accounts as a result of "improper accounting practices" in its Italian subsidiary. That included "improper sales, purchase, factoring and leasing transactions" according to the announcement by the company. BT's CFO Simon Lowth commented that including borrowing against receivables to pay debts, improper sale and leaseback transactions and shifting of operating expenses into capital budgets. The company's ...

Post Date: January 25, 2017 Read more

AGM Reports

BT Group plc (BT.A) AGM 2015

AGM held at 11 am on 15th July 2015 at 1 Old Billingsgate, London and was closed at 1 pm for lunch. Share price £4.65 – a FTSE 100 company with a £39bn market cap. There were approx. 1,000 attendees. Sir Michael Rake, Chairman of BT opened the meeting. Chief Executive Gavin Patterson made a presentation on BT’s progress. BT has four core services: Fixed Line, Broadband, TV (TV anywhere, Netflix, AMC American Channel) & Mobile (buying EE). Content is being driven by BT Sport ...

Post Date: August 16, 2015 AGM Date: July 15, 2015 Author: Chris Spencer-Phillips Read more

Leaders and Laggards

BT’s CEO Sets a Good Example

The BBC is reporting that BT's CEO will donate half his annual salary to charity and has promised not to lay off staff. Setting a good example that other CEOs on generous packages should follow at this time when individuals and H.M. Treasury are making big sacrifices to protect the nation's health and economy. It should be noted, however, "half his annual salary" appears to refer to his BASE salary, as reported in more depth, here: https://www.cityam.com/bt-gives-staff-pay-rise-as-chief-executive-donates-salary/ His MAXIMUM salary, including potential cash and ...

Post Date: April 6, 2020 Read more

ShareSoc News

ShareSoc urges shareholders to vote in favour of the removal of Sir Michael Rake as EasyJet Chairman

PRESS RELEASE 30 (21/07/2012) ShareSoc notes the proposal to remove Sir Michael Rake from his role as Chairman at EasyJet and feels obliged to support it, in the light of the many crucial positions that Sir Michael Rake currently holds. As well as his role as chairman of EasyJet, Sir Michael Rake is also Chairman of BT Group, Deputy Chairman, senior independent director and chair of the audit committee at Barclays Plc. He is also a non-executive director of McGraw Hill and holds ...

Post Date: July 21, 2012 Read more

Media Mentions

FT, 16 Nov 2019, Labour’s BT plans leave investors nervous

Our chairman is quoted by the FT, responding to Labour's broadband policy announcement. “The [Labour party] policy is fundamentally flawed,” Mr Northway said. “It will make the UK a no-go area for capital.” https://www.ft.com/content/90b1fdb2-0797-11ea-9afa-d9e2401fa7ca

Post Date: November 16, 2019 Read more

Group description:	We welcome anyone interested in investments regardless of their level of knowledge and experience.
Meeting Type/Venue:	Physical meeting in the Boardroom of a venue in RG9 (pre-meetings in the bar).
Meeting Frequency/Timing:	Monthly – 3rd Wednesday of each month at 18:00 (except January, where the meeting will be held at lunch time).

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 – mainly UK and USA, but also some spread betting and financial options. 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:	Following Covid, this group hasn’t yet reconvened at their previously regular meeting venue which is in a private room within a west London golf club. In the meantime, meetings are held via videoconferencing. Part of the reason is that some members have moved away and some prefer meeting in person. So our aim is to recruit new members to ensure a continued regular in person meeting.
Meeting Frequency/Timing:	Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month in the afternoons, following a golf club one course lunch for our in-person meetings.

Group description:	Meeting once a month, our group covers a variety of investment styles. We also have an active WhatsApp group and we welcome new members.
Meeting Type/Venue:	Physical meetings at a venue in Preston, Hitchin, SG4.
Meeting Frequency/Timing:	Monthly.

Group description:	We are a friendly social group welcoming investors with all levels of experience. Our membership varies between those with little or no knowledge of investing to those who live off their investing or their portfolios. We do not invest as a group so there is no money on the table, and we never discuss individual worth; we simply discuss and share investing ideas, we analyse the state of the market, individual stocks, funds, trusts, bonds etc., and we invite contributions from all group members. Guest speakers and company presentations are a regular feature, as is the SIGnet competition and also our own long-term Manchester Portfolio. We invite members to volunteer presentations from time to time on particular topics of their interest / expertise. At each meeting members are asked to share their latest or potential buying and selling activity. Our face-to-face meetings are punctuated by a lunch break, and for those with the time there is socialising and drinks afterwards. Most of all we learn from each other.
Meeting Type/Venue:	The group meets through a combination of Zoom and face-to-face meetings at a central Manchester boardroom style venue.
Meeting Frequency/Timing:	Meets bi-monthly, 10am-3pm on Monday mornings, usually mid-month.

Group description:	Group of investors that meets on a bi-monthly basis to discuss all things happening in the world of investing, share each other’s knowledge and give the benefit of each other’s experience. Group primarily focuses on unit trusts, open ended investment companies and investment trusts. However, all investments are up for discussion and new members are always welcome and encouraged.
Meeting Type/Venue:	Remotely via Zoom on Saturdays on a bi-monthly basis, on dates collectively agreed by all group members.
Meeting Frequency/Timing:	Bi-monthly.