Alliance Share Discussion Threads

[jonwig] 10/6/2006 08:17

Hi, analyzer.

Have held (plus Mrs JW) SAT for nearly 20 years - PEPs, ISAs, etc.
Always pick up some more when the discount widens badly, as it does in bear phases.
The 'stodgy' image suited me, as this could be relied on if my riskier stocks did badly.
The merger and share split should help marketability and awareness, but I wonder whether the 'new' (reasonably) manager will go for the kind of gearing levels which some other trusts use. I'm tempted to hope not, as this lack of gearing is one thing which has distinguished ARST and SAT from the rest of the pack.

[analyzer] 08/6/2006 08:04

Just added more at £32.35, now holding 200 via CFD with a buy limit order for another 100 at £32

[analyzer] 08/6/2006 07:32

Just taken a small position at £32.70 via CFD, will add as merger/split approaches

[analyzer] 08/6/2006 07:31

Followed Alliance Trusts for many years via different forms of share plans. With share split and merge with Second Alliance due around June 21st, this looks a bargain right now.

[rambutan2] 03/10/2005 09:42

significant development...

3 October 2005

Two leading SIPP providers joining forces to take advantage of growing pensions
market

Alliance Trust Savings (ATS), a financial services company that is among the top ten providers of self-invested personal pensions (SIPP) in the UK market,
announced today (Monday) it is acquiring Wolanski & Co. Trustees Limited (WACT), in a deal that will create a top five SIPP provider.

The deal will bring together two of the most experienced companies in the
rapidly expanding SIPP market, uniting their complementary skills. Demand for
SIPPs is expected to grow sharply after next April when new rules will lift
restrictions on who can hold a SIPP and greatly expand the range of assets
people are allowed to hold in these pensions.

ATS will acquire all of WACT's SIPP and SSAS (Small Self-administered Scheme)
administration business, and approximately 50 people who work for the London-
based company will now form part of ATS's staff. The deal, to be signed shortly, will make ATS one of the largest SIPP providers in the UK by number of members.

Alan Harden, Chief Executive of Alliance Trusts said, "By taking the combined
strengths of both companies we have an excellent fit of two different yet
complementary companies. We look forward to building on the strong combination
of the excellent customer service, administrative expertise and focus on fair
value of ATS, with WACT's reputation for quality, sophisticated relationship
with professional advisers and specialist property skills."

"This deal is a first step towards our aim of becoming the country's foremost
SIPP provider. Joining forces allows us to increase the depth of our expertise,
the breadth of services we can offer and the channels through which you can
acquire them. We are delighted that Hyman Wolanski, a founder of WACT and one of the country's leading experts on SIPPs, has agreed to become a senior member of our team," Harden said.

While ATS is known for its simple, transaction-based plans, WACT receives most
of its SIPP business through professional advisers and one in ten of the SIPPs
it has opened this year contain commercial property, in which it specialises.

Hyman Wolanski, Managing Director of Wolanski & Co. Trustees Limited, is to
become a director of ATS and will direct the future development of its pensions
business. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries and a graduate of the
London School of Economics. He has also represented the Association of
Consulting Actuaries on the Government's Consultation Panel on Scheme Funding.

Hyman Wolanski said, "Our companies see the opportunity to grow far faster and
better if they can grow together. Like ATS, we are convinced that we have an
exemplary product but we knew that we would have to invest substantially in
technology to take full advantage of the enormous opportunities ahead. This deal allows us the best of all worlds because we can go on giving our professional advisers and SIPP and SSAS members the quality service they have come to expect, while enhancing the combined offer for the long term."

Wolanski & Co. Trustees Limited will become part of ATS continuing to operate
its own SIPP and SSAS schemes, and its scheme members will enjoy the same terms
and conditions as now. ATS, which is based in Dundee, will keep the London
offices of Wolanski, and there will be no job losses. No relocation is planned.

The actuarial and consulting business, Wolanski & Co is outside of this
transaction and will continue to operate unchanged as a separate firm.

[yangou] 13/11/2004 08:19

So has anyone taken a look at the chart recently. I bought some after I looked at it this week. Also NAV away above the share price.

[pvb] 05/8/2004 15:16

The consesus view in the media (uhmm...) is that Global ITs in general are now on 'good discounts'. So perhaps this is an opportunity - or then again perhaps not! Who knows?

I thought the Alliance Trust scheme allowed you to also buy cheaply into some FTSE companies as well as their own IT?

pvb

[intuitive] 08/8/2002 07:34

I hold a pep with Comdirect. Chose them rather than Idealing as they have phone dealing as well as internet - both for £12.50. I think you will also benefit from a special offer which pays your transfer costs up to £100.

I also have an ISA with Idealing. Both sites have worked OK for me - however Idealing seeems slightly easier and quicker to use. Both poll mm's and will often get inside the spread.

Good luck.

[nora lenderbee] 08/8/2002 06:57

I hold ATST within self-select ISAs and PEPs managed by execution only brokers comdirect. They charge £25pa for an ISA and £50pa for a PEP (flat rates) plus £12.50 per trade. You can buy/sell online or by phone at real-time prices in the market.

[ramian3] 26/7/2002 17:24

Alliance Trust claim low operating costs for their peps and isas, they are, just so long as you put all your money into Alliance Trust shares and never sell any.If you intend to buy and sell even in a very limited way you can get better service and lower costs just about anywhere else.Their systems appear to have been set up when they were founded in the 19th century.
I also have heard of them employing delaying tactics when you try to transfer to another manager. It seems to be a lot easier to get your money in than it is to get it out. I find idealing much better and cheaper to deal with. No waiting 2 or 3 weeks to find out what price I have sold at,no piles of paper, no cheques in the post and no hassle from employees who think they are doing you a favour buying a share for you 10 days (and sometimes a lot longer) after you post(Royal Mail)instructions to them.
Yes you guessed I'm pleased I transferred out of Alliance Trust.

[mh200] 01/7/2002 17:12

Like parfour I found their charges to be high (£50) for a sale, unless you wait two weeks, when it is still an expensive £25 and the price may have changed markedly, very irritating. I am pleased I changed especially since I have heard of problems getting them to transfer accounts to other managers.

[akr] 25/5/2002 13:07

parfour
Thanks for your contribution, you have just confirmed my thoughts.With similar holdings to yourself I am reluctant to pay a percentage based management charge. The £200 limit does help. With iDeal and Comd the flat rate charge is £30 and £50 resp.the dealing charges are £10 and £12-50.I just don't kmow what the service is like except that it must surely be better than ATS. My on-line sharedealing experience with IMI and stockacademy has been very satisfactory but they don't do PEP's and ISA's.

[ccnp] 24/5/2002 19:05

I can't recommend Pilling & Co either. They are getting antiquated beyond belief and imply they only want people putting money in for the long term who won't bother them for todays value in dealing charges

[parfour] 24/5/2002 17:35

Like you I spent several years with ATS as my Pep Manager but became increasingly irritated by their restrictive and potentially expensive sale /purchase arrangements. I moved to Torrie & Co who were then taken over by Fastrade. I can now buy/sell immediately for a flat fee £14.99, access all my accounts on the Net etc.etc. I have found them reliable - they have an annual management charge of .5% annually - maximum £200 plus vat - as my holdings are well into six figures this is reasonable value.

[akr] 24/5/2002 14:11

After years with ATS as my PEP manager they are being left behind. It seems that operating costs and control over investments would both be improved by moving to iDealing or Comdirect. Can anyone contribute the benefit of their experience?