Punchy investments

Many retail investors might not have known the name Laxey Partners before this year.

However, that has all changed following a very public spat between its co-founder Colin Kingsnorth and Alliance trust, with Kingsnorth calling for discount controls including buybacks, fees and savings schemes to be used within the £2.8bn investment trust. Kingsnorth unearthed a number of disaffected investors as the increasingly vitriolic battle progressed. Kingsnorth and Laxey, which also tried to effect change at the Throgmorton trust, are not alone, with US peer activist Elliott International joining the register at Alliance, and Sherborne Investors taking a stake in F&C. Engag...