Media Release
07 January 2014
For immediate release
Individual Investors’ ownership of UK quoted companies rises to £187 billion
Private shareholders own as much as pension and insurance companies combined
Private shareholders also own more non FTSE 100 stocks
UK individuals now own just under 11% of the total UK quoted company shares making them the
largest domestic investor according to Equiniti, the UK’s largest share registrar. Private investors
also owned a far higher percentage of non FTSE 100 quoted shares than any other investors with
over 28% held outside the FTSE 100.
However, over the last two decades the total percentage ownership of shares held by individuals
has fallen in overall terms as ownership of UK quoted shares has moved to investors outside of the
UK.
The analysis, undertaken by the ONS with contributions by Equiniti, highlights:
Ownership
1990 £bn
1990 %
2012 £bn
2012 %
Non UK ownership
52.7
12
935.1
53
Individuals
90.5
20
187.2
11
Unit trusts
27.3
6
167.9
10
Other financial institutions
3.0
1
115.3
7
Insurance companies
91.0
20
109.2
6
Pension funds
140.4
31
82.7
5
Public sector
9.0
2
44.1
3
Private non-financial companies
12.7
3
39.8
2
Banks
3.2
1
33.6
2
Investment trusts
6.9
2
30.7
2
Charities
8.2
2
10.7
1
Total
444.9
100
1,756.3
100
Source: ONS, Ownership of UK quotes shares*
Paul Matthews, managing director, Equiniti said; “The analysis of share ownership highlights the
importance of individual shareholding in UK quoted stocks, which has stabilised and picked up
slightly over the past two years, after declining since the mid 90’s. However, there are important
issues that sit below the headline data. For example, the increasing use of unit trusts by individuals
over time, as a way to access a portfolio of companies through one investment, is one contributory
factor to the decrease in individuals' direct holdings.”
ENDS
For more information:
Nadia Hassini, PR & Communications Executive
Equiniti Group
Tel: 0207 469 1906
Mobile 07407730689
Vaughan Andrewartha or Tasmyn Gibson
Votive Communications
Tel: 0207 248 6058
Email: vaughan@votive.co.uk / tasmyn@votive.co.uk
Notes to Editor:
Data Table
Rest
of
the
world
Insurance
companies
Pension
funds
Individuals
Unit
trusts
Investment
trusts
Other
financial
institutions
Charities,
churches
etc.
Private
nonfinancial
companies
Public
sector
Banks
All
Sectors
FTSE
100
87.2
84.5
85.5
71.6
82.5
83.4
85.2
86.5
99.6
99.8
81.5
85.1
Other
12.8
15.5
14.5
28.4
17.50
16.6
14.8
13.5
0.4
0.2
18.5
14.9
* http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_327674.pdf
About Equiniti
Equiniti
Equiniti is a market leading business process services provider. We support 2,000 of the UK’s
leading businesses and public sector institutions, including around half of the FTSE 100. Our core
capabilities are centred around complex administration and payment solutions including money
transmission, administration and customer interactions delivered by 2,700 employees in 23 UK
office locations.
We are leaders in share registration and pension services markets. We also have a strong
presence in HR and employee benefits. Equiniti are the private sector partner for the first mutual
joint venture out of UK central government, MyCSP.
www.equiniti.com