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Free event on Monday 10 June 2013 in London Find out more at: High Pay Centre http://highpaycentre.org/events/executive-directors-remuneration »

With the ongoing financial problems in the World it is a more than usually uncertain time for investors. The problems in the Euro-zone continue with new crises flaring up every few months. Developed countries seem unable to reduce debt to comfortable levels. The banks continue to be dysfunctional. The UK and many other countries seem to be…

April 2013 Housebuilder Persimmon’s AGM takes place at York Racecourse on Thursday, April 18, but for the company’s management this will be no gamble. Last September, shareholders were persuaded to approve what the board has called a ‘long term incentive plan’ and now the remuneration report reveals that virtually all available grants have been…

UKSA has contributed its views to the The Kay Review of UK Equity Markets and Long-Term Decision Making. Rt Hon Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills recently appeared before the HoC Business, Innovation and Skills Committee. Click here http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=12925 to…

When will the government stop depriving investors of ownership rights? March 12th was ‘Ownership Day’. This worthy initiative, hosted by parliament, was intended to encourage the active exercise of shareholder rights, by and on behalf of all investors in company shares. But one essential ingredient was missing.

An EU threat to require the abolition of share certificates was originally reported to UKSA members in the association’s magazine The Private Investor in March 2012. The proposal is that all shares should be held in central securities depositories (CSDs). Discussions continue within Europe on the draft Regulation, to be known as the CSDR. UKSA…

Shares in Persimmon plc have been rising (as have most housebuilders’ recently), so its shareholders will be happy. But something has happened which may leave its shareholders far from happy in the future, even though the majority voted for it. It’s called a ‘long term incentive plan’, or LTIP for short.

Are Alternative Investment Market (AIM) shares right for ISAs? Chancellor George Osborne announced in the Autumn Statement that here is to be a government-led consultation on the possible opening of ISAs (individual savings accounts) to AIM stocks. The UK Shareholders’ Association will participate in this. The proposal is probably intended as a…

Since UKSA’s policy team first questioned this scheme, further work has been done and a detailed analysis given to the UKSA board . This shows just what an extraordinary scheme this is and a mystery why the major shareholders supported it.

Persimmon has dreamed up a generous new scheme for incentivising its underpaid and overworked directors. Nice work if you can get it!