TEA - The Engagement Appeal

Calling listed companies to engage with individual investors 📚TEA Times weekly newsletter ⚡️ SherylX & Ms Millennial Money🎙️ArtxCity Podcast | FinGlitz

[Sheryl Cuisia⚡️ @sherylinmotion]

BT’s AGM could’ve been a Boomer marathon. Instead, the Chair, Adam Crozier, ran it like a NextGen masterclass in governance:

✔️ Structured
✔️ Human
✔️ Actually listening

Even inspired an ABBA parody 🎤

What modern shareholder engagement looks like👇

https://t.co/9g9B4RjJQw

[Sheryl Cuisia⚡️ @sherylinmotion]

Macho as the new style of activism in the UK? Looks that way with the Saba Capital x Edinburgh Worldwide Investment Trust proxy battle! 👉https://t.co/CcxwyMBPT7

[Sheryl Cuisia⚡️ @sherylinmotion]

Why shareholders should VOTE at Edinburgh Worldwide Investment Trust’s requisitioned general meeting and why we should all support UK investment trusts 👇

[Sheryl Cuisia⚡️ @sherylinmotion]

Last chance for shareholders holding through platforms to vote their shares. Choose to VOTE. My perspective 👇

https://t.co/ngtfpWxXSP

[Sheryl Cuisia⚡️ @sherylinmotion]

🇬🇧 The name is trust. Investment trusts. Music video 👉 https://t.co/gZG2VGoq1K spotlighting the UK invention that is getting a second lease on life after being shaken by Saba, and stirred by renewed investor interest.

Featuring figures of the investment trust industry as James Bond and Bond muses. Can you recognise who’s who?

And starring @boazweinstein as James Bond. Or is he Spectre?

[Sheryl Cuisia⚡️ @sherylinmotion]

☕ Take time for TEA. 🗞️TEA Times is now out — and it’s a big one.

🕵️‍♀️ Shareholder Activism 007: Crowding Out Dissent

Trusts. Investment trusts.
Not exactly Bond material — until now.

This week’s TEA Times goes undercover in the surprisingly exciting world of UK investment trusts, where Saba Capital Management, L.P. plays 007, interactive investor CEO Richard Wilson drops one of the bluntest (and most important) market truths of the year — and the London Stock Exchange’s optimism meets reality.

🎬 Expect heritage, intrigue, and a little rebellion — plus a Bond-inspired music video paying homage to 150 years of trust history (and a few familiar City faces reimagined as secret agents) 👉 https://t.co/WGbFVVGDnx

It’s about more than markets.
It’s about who gets to speak, who gets heard, and why narrative has become the new weapon of control.

Read the full issue 👉 Shareholder Activism 007: Crowding Out Dissent, and Values vs Virtue Signals https://t.co/sBlDV9XEh9

Sometimes the real villains aren’t the activists — they’re the apathy and the spin.

Like, comment, share and subscribe if you believe in the power of engagement 👉https://t.co/L1nwD89yk5

[Sheryl Cuisia⚡️ @sherylinmotion]

Tony Blair is back in the spotlight — conveniently timed with PM Starmer’s 🇬🇧 digital ID push. Blair has long pushed for ID schemes, failing once before, and now re-emerging through proxies. Look closer at the Tony Blair Institute’s biggest funder: Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison🇺🇸 Against that backdrop, Blair’s drumbeat for digitising UK data — including the NHS’s most “prized” records — raises eyebrows and should raise important questions. My latest article 👇

Are philanthropic ventures held to the same accountability standards as corporates — or do we need far greater scrutiny to uncover and manage conflicts of interest?

https://t.co/kHAxci50QZ

[Sheryl Cuisia⚡️ @sherylinmotion]

My look at @exxonmobil's new Retail Voting Program — My conclusion, including what it could mean for the UK, may surprise you ❌✅

Read here 👉 https://t.co/FnY2tlPxsz?

According to Exxon, the program is a move to give individual investors a stronger voice.

Given the rise of both financial activism and institutionalised protest, both of which I am increasingly scrutinising on my blog https://t.co/yr53zYTPLc, many may understand Exxon's logic.Still, best to look at the situation closely.

Have a read of my paper and let me know what you think in the comments below 👇https://t.co/FnY2tlPxsz?

[Sheryl Cuisia⚡️ @sherylinmotion]

👑 To those moaning about President Donald “P*ssy-Grabbing” Trump and wanting for the King, Starmer et al to “send him back” to where he comes from, here’s why dear old 🇬🇧 is giving him the royal treatment:

Security, policing, and disruption for Trump’s 2025 trip are expected to run the UK taxpayer £5–10m+, with some estimates closer to £12m once you factor in nationwide police deployments and road closures.

But in the other column?
⚡️US financial firms pledging £1.25bn+ for the UK.
⚡️ A headline £31–42bn “Tech Prosperity Deal” with Microsoft, Google and others, framed as investment in AI, quantum and jobs.
⚡️ Thousands of new jobs pledged across London, Edinburgh, Belfast and Manchester.

Bottomline:
📈We’re looking at a £5–10m taxpayer outlay for security and policing.
✅ In return? £1.25bn+ in financial pledges and a £31–42bn tech deal with US giants. Even if part of that is realised, it dwarfs the cost.
🇬🇧 Framed simply: spend ~£10m to potentially unlock ~£40bn. That’s not waste — that’s a high-return investment in jobs, capital and the UK’s future competitiveness.

The UK is skint af. So let’s ask ourselves, why at this hour of need do we want to derail US-UK relations with d*mbass protests against someone’s perceived moral character? Especially when these protests themselves are funded by left-wing billionaires, and when they have proven to achieve nothing but cost taxpayers more in additional policing and work against the UK public’s immediate best interests.

P.S. I get the moral high-ground - I wore the p*ssy hat and everything in 2016 to 2021, but even the most virtuous need to eat.

P.P.S. Info here is obvs simplified for posting purposes and I used Chat GPT to gather the info https://t.co/8tZvVTz3N1. Feel free to research further and share any other intel in the comment below.

You can find more info on my personal blog https://t.co/L1nwD89yk5 / https://t.co/cBgvOtaSRu. I have been preoccupied with some personal health matters over these last weeks, hence less posts. But my research and writing continue, as well as local community engagement / activism and processing the fallout of the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk.

My AGM and investor engagement are also ongoing, although at a slower pace atm. Look out for TEA Times and TEA Cup Honours.

#Trump #UK #USA #relations #diplomacy

[Sheryl Cuisia⚡️ @sherylinmotion]

⚡ A Clash of City Narratives: London Calling or Panic on the Streets of London?

👀 Did anyone here catch the @LSEplc London Stock Exchange webinar “London Calling: Why Global Companies Should Choose the LSE to Scale and Grow” last Wednesday 27 August?

I did. And and I wrote a whole article about it! Read it here https://t.co/AxcwvJ19vl

I even included a couple of Spotify playlists for added musical inspo. Don't miss it!

Honestly though… the webinar felt like Britpop comfort at a time when London needs punk urgency. Of course, it’s expected — even right — that the moderator and City panellists would talk London up. They also shared good practical insights.

Equally tho, I felt that the delivery leaned more towards avoidance than candour:

🎤 Speakers dismissed liquidity concerns as “myths.”

🎤 They downplayed the London discount as just “sector mix.”

🎤 They sold reforms as if the market’s problems were solved.

Meanwhile, as the webinar was going on, City AM was blasting headlines about double delistings and urgent SOS calls, including by IG Group to save London’s markets. My phone also kept pinging with concerned messages.

⬜ Sigh. What's up with the disconnect in messaging? Confetti-covered optimism and high-fiving at the LSE, while the rest of the market has our sknickers in a knot and keeping our fingers and toes crossed for more IPOs and a plug on delistings.

I also continue to wait (hopefully not in vain) for that elusive tea meeting with LSE CEO, Dame Julia Hoggett. Check out AI's vision of Julia as a punk rocker 👇 I like! Imagine her turning up like at a market open or close... I'd pay to see that.

Seriously: We have a disconnect. The sooner the narrative gap is closed the sooner we can get to collective solutions and actions. So, what are we waiting for?

👉 My review pulls no punches. Available in my blog https://t.co/yr53zYTPLc / https://t.co/cBgvOtaSRu. Feel free to subscribe if you haven't already — for cool content and updates.More stories and TEA Times / TEA Cup Honours to follow later this week.

For those checking up on me, I'm alive! Thanks. I have been on doctor-ordered end of summer break over the last 2.5 weeks, hence the social quiet. I'm getting back to the swing of things with more content and reports on the way, including of the Scheme meetings of Spectris plc that took place last Wednesday too.

Such a great company. A shame to lose it as a constituent of the LSE, but the takeover premium was 105%. What board and shareholder could say no to that!

[Sheryl Cuisia⚡️ @sherylinmotion]

🔥 What makes an AGM unmissable?

✅ Clear & Engaging: Deliver strategy with clarity and flair.
✅ Shareholder Voice: Open Q&A and voting that matter.
✅ Transparent: Honest financial and operational updates.
✅ Strong Stewardship: Leadership that owns the narrative.
✅ Cultural Fit: Compliant yet vibrant, reflecting company values.

Aviva‘s 2016 AGM, led by then-CEO Mark Wilson nailed this. With 12k+ YouTube views—rare for a UK PLC—it blended showmanship, strategy, and soul. From welcoming retail shareholders to sharing customer stories, Wilson made it a masterclass in connection.

Today, Amanda Blanc carries the torch, driving Aviva’s AGM culture with results: 20% profit surge, 9% premium growth, and a bold Direct Line takeover.

Want to see how AGMs can spark retail investor buzz and fuel UK markets? Check my full analysis of Aviva’s AGM legacy! https://t.co/e468bxpDvX

#AGMs #CorporateGovernance #Aviva #UKMarkets #Investing

https://t.co/LXMRms8r0i

[Sheryl Cuisia⚡️ @sherylinmotion]

🤘Is it just me or do others also get super excited by great, strategic governance, stellar stewardship, badass company directors and awesome, engaging AGMs?

Come on I know there are other governance nerds out there!

🙋🏻‍♀️Really enjoyed diving into Aviva’s AGM culture for my latest TEA Times newsletter - available here 👉 https://t.co/e468bxqblv

Please do have a read and let me know your thoughts 👍

🤓 It took a bit of time to watch through 10 years of AGM recordings and churn through past meeting notices, but well worth it to undercover more of the company’s heart, soul, humour and characters that have made the business last for nearly 330 years.

I was down and out for a few days earlier this week, and the past Aviva AGM videos - especially of those of AGM superstar CEO, Mark Wilson, really pepped me up!

🗯️Love all the dynamism, energy, preparation that went into the CEO and Chair speeches - especially in the earlier ones that showed the more human side of the business through storytelling.

I keep saying recently that a major thing lacking in our UK capital markets - and indeed society is emotional connection.

♥️If people felt more connected with our UK businesses, the people who run these and the policies being shaped to form our futures, then we’d have a better chance of Britons actually backing these. And being more “postive”.

🧠 That can only happen with a mindset shift and proactive engagement.

Boards, company secretaries, investor relations teams, how do you keep check of your companies’ AGM culture and boardroom styles?

🕺Everyone else, how cool are our UK companies eh?! Yep - on paper reads a bit snoozy compared to AI, quantum computing, blockchain, big tech, etc., but the long traditions, history and heritage of the UK PLCs that we do have offer up up value in more ways than one.

They may not 10x or 100x like tech stocks or crypto, but their steady performance, dividends and growth - aligned to the development of our societies provide

📈 Me thinks UK equities needs a serious resurgence of INVESTOR INFLUENCING & COMMS and not in the stale old way that IR has been operating for the last 2+ decades.

Starting from within is always good - employee engagement. Develop company advocates from within that can project outwards. Potentially powerful. In fact, already proven powerful in other markets.

👀Cool company alert btw 👉Sharemore by Nick Beal & team

Nuggets for you - in my latest newsletter are videos all accessible via TEA’s YouTube and my blog https://t.co/L1nwD8a69D and https://t.co/cBgvOtbqH2:

- AGM culture analyses-Aviva:

https://t.co/DsZqUbViFb

https://t.co/MSvlJg5oBX

- UK capital markets: Questions to the London Stock Exchange https://t.co/RFbk6Psxsq

Happy Friday 🫶

[Sheryl Cuisia⚡️ @sherylinmotion]

Rockstar CEO or just AGM theatre? 🎤📊 Aviva’s culture under the spotlight. #AGM #CEOs #CorporateGovernance

A look at @avivaplc’s AGM culture and a nudge again to @LSEplc for a cuppa with Dame Julia.

My latest newsletter is out: 👉https://t.co/Srs162fW5N

[Sheryl Cuisia⚡️ @sherylinmotion]

🚨 New Article: Posing important questions to Dame Julia Hoggett and @LSEplc and its parent, @LSEGplc - in accordance with my rights and responsibilities as a corporate citizen.

The London Stock Exchange has been a global financial icon for centuries — but in 2025 it faces shrinking liquidity, an IPO drought, record delistings, and growing criticism over its disconnect from retail investors.

As a shareholder in over 1,400 UK-listed companies (including LSEG itself), I believe this is a moment for accountability, transparency, and renewal.

In my latest piece, I pose urgent questions to the LSE & LSEG across five core themes:

🏛 Governance – Who leads, who’s accountable, and how is performance measured?

📈 Effectiveness – Is the LSE still delivering on its core market functions?

⚖ Fairness – Are partnerships and funding decisions open, transparent, and competitive?

🌍 Inclusion & Representation – Who gets a seat at the table, and who’s missing?

🤝 Collaboration & Action – How do we move from PR to genuine engagement?

💡 This is not about criticism for its own sake — it’s about restoring pride, trust, and a sense of community in one of the UK’s most important institutions.

🔗 Read the full article here👇
https://t.co/F6QtuPsfDW

🎥 Also watch the accompanying videos.

[Sheryl Cuisia⚡️ @sherylinmotion]

👋 Hello X pals — hope you’re all well.

I’ve been quieter the last few days as I’ve been unwell — hopefully back up to full speed soon.

A lot of my personal challenges (over what feels like forever) stem from unfair processes that still exist in the UK’s financial systems — the kind that can create severe, real-world consequences for everyday people.

It’s those lived experiences that continue to fuel my advocacy for individual investor inclusion and representation.

⸻

Before my latest round of bed rest, I penned and filmed my questions to Dame Julia Hoggett and the @LSEplc — adding context to my ongoing calls for engagement.

I’m grateful to have received a reply from William Fenna from Julia’s team.

My follow-up will include a detailed set of questions to LSE and @LSEGplc centred on:

- Governance & engagment
- Effectiveness
- Fairness
- Inclusion & representation
- Collaboration & action

I’ll also be asking about LSE/LSEG’s 9% investment in @PrimaryBid — which was written down by 87% last year following the collapse of PrimaryBid’s UK business — and how this connects with @RetailBook_ , @PeelHunt and @AugmentumF. At the heart of this is a question of fairness and due process, particularly for the hundreds (if not thousands) of other fintech entrepreneurs competing for investment and partnerships.

The City is still too often described as a “club” — including recently by a billionaire US hedge fund — and, as a huge lover of the City and someone who has lived in the UK longer than anywhere else, I want to help break that perception by asking the questions that matter.

⸻

On the TEA Times front, I’ve also been scripting and filming the latest edition, which will be landing soon.

Stay tuned — and I hope all is well with you.

[Mike Ridyard @RidyardMike]

Investment trust discounts are still wide — a hangover from the exit of institutional investors. With quality assets on sale for 80–90p on the £, patient capital from HNWIs & pension funds could be the catalyst for a re-rating.🧵👇

[Sheryl Cuisia⚡️ @sherylinmotion]

The promised data-driven article looking at the London Stock Exchange’s performance, leadership, and opportunities (2020–2025) is now available.

This is a companion to my open letter to Dame Julia Hoggett, CEO of the London Stock Exchange. It reveals the gap between narrative and reality—and offers bold ideas.

Revitalising the @LSEplc: Performance, Leadership, and Global Competitiveness (2020–2025) https://t.co/9hgS2DSLtN

[Sheryl Cuisia⚡️ @sherylinmotion]

An Open Letter to Dame Julia Hoggett: Getting the London Stock Exchange Closer to Fine with the Help of the Young, Scrappy and Hungry https://t.co/0YTGTAeIh4

[Sheryl Cuisia⚡️ @sherylinmotion]

☕️TEA Times: Building a UK Investing Culture—Together With All Capital Markets Participants - out now! PLUS Breakfast TEA invitation 📨

Join us for Breakfast TEA on Thursday 31 July at 8am at Barnett Waddingham (in London & online) to explore what’s fuelling - or fracturing - confidence, access, and inclusion in UK markets. PLUS: Debating online UK AGMs.

🎟️ RSVP essential — space is limited. Sign up here: https://t.co/z3vegKLGbU.

📅 Thursday 31 July 2025
🕗 From 8:00am
📍 Barnett Waddingham, 2 London Wall Place, London EC2Y 5AU

Summer in the City🔥is turning up a notch. With momentum building and voices from across the market pulling up a chair, we’re looking forward to steeping in bold ideas on the 2025 AGM season, reviewing the Mansion House reforms, and asking: What will it take to reignite trust and energy in UK markets?

Full event details and speaker intros 👉 here https://t.co/yH9L39cKo2.

Read our latest TEA Times newsletter here 👉 here https://t.co/3xzxJduxcV.

We spill the TEA on the debate on UK virtual-only AGMs—and dive into weak quorum rules, a new front in the fight: the Governance for Growth Investor Campaign (GGIC) and its £150bn pushback, retail exclusion, former LSEG CEO Xavier R. Rolet’s London liquidity warning, and why real reform means fixing the fundamentals.

@TheEngAppeal

[Sheryl Cuisia⚡️ @sherylinmotion]

Context: You know that I’m trying to help clean the City up right? To help regenerate UK capital markets. That I’m calling out the REAL echo chambers that exist that are screwing everyday individuals.

Bidstack: I only mentioned Bidstack because I’m trying to help about 400 retail shareholders who have lost millions of pounds of their life savings literally over night. I owned like £50 worth of Bidstack that I bought when retail shareholders requisitioned a GM. I started helping out the shareholder alliance months ago because I was so worried how distressed the shareholders were and that some could even harm themselves.

I understand deep distress. I have been there and go through that. I do all I do for the best interests of retail - from (stupidly) using significant amounts of my own capital to set up my engagement-focused organisation. I did not know about your role in Bidstack because I unfollowed you years ago due to language you used that I deemed misogynistic.

As regards @smarterwebuk, I am not associated with them nor am I at all pumping the stock. In fact, I was very critical of them as can be seen in this tweet https://t.co/HixNOgs2fy, which is also on my LinkedIn and Substack that go out to c. 20k followers.

I own at least 1 share in 1,400 UK-listed companies - to be able to attend AGMs and ask questions, and largely symbolic for now but hopefully growing meaningful investments down the line. SWC is one of the 1,400.

Based on my subsequent research and my engagement with them / @asjwebley, their advisers and other retail shareholders, I believe them to be a serious and credible Bitcoin treasury company - the leader in the UK that even @saylor is personally supporting.

I couldn’t give a rat’s ass what anyone says about them or Bitcoin. No point in taking things personally, especially when I have so many other problems to sort out, and prefer to focus on the positive engagement I experience within both communities.

I invited you to debate the matter - with sincerity - because I genuinely do believe in good engagement and believe that the City would benefit from a proper debate. The invitation came after you commented on a LinkedIn post of a photo of me and advisers. I had no engagement with you prior to that.

As I said, I do not pay the £7.99 to access your articles, as frankly, I’m not 100% comfortable with your approach to journalism, but I was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. I hope you not disappoint, especially given the fact that both seem to have UK capital markets, love of Wales, all day prosecco (I prefer champagne or English bubbly personally), and fishing as commonalities.