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Hi, thanks for Thomas Grace's email. I have sent him the message sent to me by Hargreaves. There may not be anything he can do apart from verify that information with HL but it's important that he knows about it.
And now we wait.
Maybe we can persuade Mog24 to forward that "...secure message from HL stating that it was Shanta that had told them to nullify the previous votes..." to thomas.grace@thetakeoverpanel.org.uk
Posting again, in case Mog24 spots it.
Apologies metis20, I had meant to say Mog24!
MattyBoy - good idea - but that message from SHG was sent to Mog24 - see yesterday 18:02hrs.
Maybe you can persuade Mog24 to forward that "...secure message from HL stating that it was Shanta that had told them to nullify the previous votes..." to thomas.grace@thetakeoverpanel.org.uk
Metis20
Might be worth dropping a copy of that email to:
thomas.grace@thetakeoverpanel.org.uk
He is the very helpful guy I have been dealing with and it might be worth making him aware that the instruction to (incorrectly) nullify the previous votes came DIRECTLY from Shanta themselves!
If that isn't a deliberate attempt to confuse the voting process then I don't know what is, as well as surely being illegal.
(Just wish they'd sent me the same email as I'd have already done it myself!)
''I have received this as well as a rather panicked secure message from HL stating that it was Shanta that had told them to nullify the previous votes''
Is this illegal? Probably
An attempt to skew the vote? Definitely
Will anything be done about it? Most definitely not!
Received exactly the same message too Barry5.
The whole process has been nothing more than an utter sh itshow!!! 😡🤬
On a positive note, if all previous votes do in fact still count maybe the T/O attempt will fail?
(Then the 'games' will really begin?!?! 🤔🤨)
Surely that is unlawful, if we have written communication they have done that it shows clear misleading of shareholders and treating PI's unfairly. Surely that cant stand if the vote goes through!
Message to HL
There are serious misgivings about the conduct of this vote.
Bidco (Saturn Resources) said by RNS we would not have to vote again. Hargreaves Lansdown, together with Broadridge have issued several subsequent votes for Court, OGM and EGMs and subsequent confusing alterations and retractions.
If this takeover bid succeeds, objecting shareholders will undoubtedly question whether their votes have been registered correctly.
My own personal experience with Broadridge suggests this process is unsafe.
So on the one hand we have:
"Shanta Shareholders who have already submitted validly completed Forms of Proxy, or submitted proxy instructions through CREST, for the Court Meeting and the General Meeting, and who do NOT wish to change their voting instructions, do not need to take any further action as their previously submitted proxy voting instructions will continue to be valid in respect of the Court Meeting and the General Meeting in connection with the Increased and Final Offer."
https://www.londonstockexchange.com/news-article/market-news/recommended-increased-and-final-offer/16383348
and on the other we have:
"... a rather panicked secure message from HL stating that it was Shanta that had told them to nullify the previous votes..."
Is it really the case that Shanta told, via the increased offer RNS, shareholders that they do not need to vote again, while at the same time telling brokers to nullify the shareholders previous votes?!!
To add some reassurance, I have received this as well as a rather panicked secure message from HL stating that it was Shanta that had told them to nullify the previous votes BUT that on seeking clarification elsewhere, they are assured that previous votes WILL be counted and that if we have voted more than once, only one vote will be counted.
Mine's a gin and tonic tonight. Well done everybody. We did all we could.
That last part's a shame but there we are - we are more honest than the board!
Sorry one final reassuring message from HL sent through at 17.39.
Update: Your Shanta Gold shares
Dear Mr Addison
We are contacting you further to our recent correspondence regarding the takeover offer for Shanta Gold. Since our previous correspondence, we have now been informed that votes given for the original shareholder meetings are valid for the new meetings. Any votes you have previously submitted will be counted for the new meetings.
If you’ve already voted, there is therefore no need for you to vote again. Please also be assured that if you have resubmitted a vote, this is also a valid vote and will only be counted once.
We have also been made aware of a comment on the online voting form for the new meeting, suggesting these votes will not be counted. We have been assured by our vote service provider this message was added in error and can be ignored.
Please accept our sincere apologies for this oversight and any confusion it may have caused you.
I like the last bit about any confusion it may have caused me lol.
I now officially give up. Whatever will be will be. Signing off now and ready for a brandy. GLA
But not so fast.
My very last message to HL on this matter.
Thanks Oak, despite the option to vote being there it won't actually accept my vote. When I tick the Against option there is no mechanism to submit it - there is a x where the icon should be to reset which doesn't work so I'm afraid there's nothing more I can do to cast a further vote. Hopefully, having voted now 3 times in the last week one of them will be counted!
Kind Regards
URGENT: THIS JUST BACK FROM HL
Dear Mr Addison
Thank you for your message.
Please accept my apologies for any confusion caused. We are currently in communication with Broadridge in order to ascertain exactly what has occurred in relation to these meetings. In the meantime, out of caution I would advise that you revote if you are given the option.
I hope this has been of assistance. If you have any other questions, please get back to me.
Kind regards
Oak Gill
Corporate Actions
Hargreaves Lansdown
Voted all my 200k as no (obviously), quite straight fwd on interactive, 2 for each account, so 4 votes in all.
tired of all this, so either way move on after easter, i'm missing out on my galiano build
matty, yes hopefully all of the shenanigans will have been picked up by the nomad. my email to them of 21 march which drew their attention to the problems has not even been acknowledged! but it could be that they are busy behind the scenes and are working hard to correct this ****show but it will be difficult when hl, aj bell etc all appear to be giving differing guidance to their pis.
it may all work out but this has not been a very pleasant experience
Barry5
As I said previously my understanding is that the NOMAD has already been told (in no uncertain terms was the impression that I got!) to 'get a grip on this' and that no large discrepancies between the number of originally cast recorded votes for the original meeting and those recorded for this latest upcoming meeting on the 4th will be expected to be seen nor acceptable (unless I've misunderstood?)
Still outside of their remit though so whether it'll make a difference who knows.
As I said before, at least we tried and it's in the 'lap of the gods' now and not long to wait!
Just sent the below to HL:
This is getting very confusing. I've lost count of the number of times that I have voted and re-voted.
Looking at the Meetings just now I note that the Extraordinary Meeting has disappeared. For the Court and Ordinary Meetings it reads INSTRUCTION GIVEN for both meetings but when opened up it shows REPORTED but the option to vote (yet) again is there for both meetings BUT there is also a comment at the bottom which states:
26 MAR 2024: PLEASE NOTE THAT JOB NUMBER 136206 NEEDS TO BE CLOSED SINCE ALL VOTING IS CARRIED OVER TO THE POSTPONED MEETING. PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REGISTER VOTES OR MEETING ATTENDANCES IN THIS BALLOT, AS THEY WILL NOT BE COUNTED
So my question, which needs to be answered before 18.00 this evening, is does REPORTED mean already submitted and that my previous votes will be counted in which case why on earth is the option to vote still there? If not I will have to re-vote again very quickly.
Many others from the Forums are totally and utterly confused and I'm not saying it's the fault of HL but it is a horror show and I can't think any shareholder can have confidence in the result if the Scheme is approved. If there is some way you can communicate our dissatisfaction to the directors and NOMAD I'm sure we would all appreciate it.
Thanks and Kind Regards
Annie59, be interested to learn what HL have to say on this vexed matter. I recall they were very flaky regarding the affairs of Neil Woodford, hopefully they are a little more engaged these days
Matty Boy, Just looked at HL again, having already re-voted on Monday and yesterday. I see the same as you. For the Court and Ordinary Meetings it reads Instruction Given for both meetings but when opened up it shows REPORTED so the assumption is that I have to vote (yet) again and that option is there BUT there is a comment at the bottom which states:
26 MAR 2024: PLEASE NOTE THAT JOB NUMBER 136206 NEEDS TO BE CLOSED SINCE ALL VOTING IS CARRIED OVER TO THE POSTPONED MEETING. PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REGISTER VOTES OR MEETING ATTENDANCES IN THIS BALLOT, AS THEY WILL NOT BE COUNTED
so it looks like any vote will not be counted hopefully on the basis that our previous votes have already been REPORTED (does that mean lodged?). I'm just wondering whether BOD and advisers have at last realised that the current voting instructions are at variance to the 19th March RNS so a carry over from before is now, at the last minute, being allowed.
So I have NOT re-voted today but will seek clarification from HL. We'll know soon enough how badly we've been shafted Hopefully we won't get NUL POINTS!
Just had a final chat with The Takeover Panel.
Although not part of their remit I have to say that they have been extremely understanding and helpful (as well as patient) concerning their interactions with myself (and must be an all time first for a government department!?).
In summary I have been led to believe that 'conversations' have been had with the NOMAD concerning this whole farce, so at least the NOMAD is aware that they are 'in their sights' so to speak and that they wouldn't expect to see any significant deviation from the number of votes originally cast and this latest vote!
Not long to go now but whatever the final result we tried our best!
GLA (and fingers crossed this goes our way!)
''it may be possible to legally challenge the outcome''
Yeah best of luck with that one!
Who is going organise and pay for that?!?!
if the board have told investors they do not need to vote when in fact they do, it may be possible to legally challenge the outcome and make the company arrange a revote. that would **** them off a little.
Also just noted that my 'Shareholder Meetings' Section in my HL Account although it shows:-
SHANTA GOLD LTD 27/03/2024 Court Mandated Meeting Instruction given Give instruction
SHANTA GOLD LTD 27/03/2024 Ordinary General Meeting Instruction given Give instruction
(I note EGO has disappeared)
When I go into each it says ''Reported'' and not ''Voted'' as previously!!
All of the options are also blank, so I have just had to vote AGAIN so as to be sure!
I would strongly suggest that everyone else with HL checks theirs!!