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: /

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 non- financial 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