Incentive fee for Hipgnosis bidders seen as 'marginal positive' for shareholder value

Potential cost for shareholders

Valeria Martinez
clock • 3 min read

The proposed incentive for prospective Hipgnosis Songs bidders is unlikely to deter the investment adviser from exercising its 'call option', but analysts have concurred with the board's view that it could enhance shareholder value in the event of a portfolio sale.

In a regulatory notice today (18 January), the refreshed board proposed a special resolution which, if passed, would offer a fee of up to £20m to prospective bidders for the whole or part of the portfolio on terms "recommendable" by the board, aiming to offset due diligence and acquisition costs. As part of a strategic review that followed the failed continuation vote in October, the board said it had engaged with shareholders holding over 60% of the shares, with one of the key themes emerging from the discussions being concern around the investment adviser's ‘call option'.  On termin...

To continue reading this article...

Join Investment Week for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, analysis and opinion from the investment industry, including the Sustainable Hub covering fund news from the ESG space
  • Get ahead of regulatory and technological changes affecting fund management
  • Important and breaking news stories selected by the editors delivered straight to your inbox each day
  • Weekly members-only newsletter with exclusive opinion pieces from leading industry experts
  • Be the first to hear about our extensive events schedule and awards programmes

Join now

 

Already an Investment Week
member?

Login

More on Investment Trusts

Chancery Lane Income Planners' Doug Brodie: Saba is the wake-up call trust boards needed

Chancery Lane Income Planners' Doug Brodie: Saba is the wake-up call trust boards needed

There is a 'big elephant in the room'

Doug Brodie
clock 28 January 2025 • 4 min read
Proxy adviser ISS backs Janus Henderson's European Smaller Companies trust against Saba

Proxy adviser ISS backs Janus Henderson's European Smaller Companies trust against Saba

Following Glass Lewis support

Linus Uhlig
clock 28 January 2025 • 2 min read
Saba Capital takes stake in Terry Smith's Smithson investment trust

Saba Capital takes stake in Terry Smith's Smithson investment trust

Understood to have now exited

Linus Uhlig
clock 28 January 2025 • 1 min read
Trustpilot