BUSINESS LIVE: Shareholders ramp up pressure on UK firms

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BUSINESS LIVE: Shareholders ramp up pressure on UK firms; Manufacturers hike prices; Frasers starts £70m share buyback

By Mike Sheen For This Is Money

Published: | Updated:


Shareholder activism among British firms has soared in the past year as investors take a stand on issues from governance to the environment, Thomson Reuters’ figures reveal.

Major revolts against the reappointment of directors at FTSE 350 businesses have climbed by 40 per cent, up from 30 in 2020 to 42 this year.

A record number of manufacturers are increasing their prices, raising fresh fears about the cost of living.

Factories have been hit by higher costs as the pandemic boosted demand for materials, lockdowns wreaked havoc with supply, and logistics firms struggled to find staff.

British sportswear and fashion group Frasers plans to start a new share buyback programme worth up to £70million.

The group, formerly called Sports Direct and controlled by Mike Ashley, said the programme would run until April 2022.

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Shareholder activism among listed British firms has soared in the past year

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