It is refreshing to read that in the UK, at least, the new chief regulator has called for a “robust debate” to help determine new rules aimed at protecting customers’ assets (Financial Times, 20 November). All too often, legal red tape as well as the hurdles inbuilt in some M & As makes it very difficult for the small shareholder to protect the original value of his investment. All too many shareholders in some technology companies on the Malta Stock Exchange have had their hard-earned money invested as shares turned into virtually valueless share certificates because for long years they have received practically little or no returns.

Fancy the directors of some Malta Stock Exchange listed companies, year in and year out, pocketing hundreds of thousands of euros as ‘honoraria’ while declaring that there is little profit to distribute as a dividend to shareholders.

I will be one of those who will be attending the shareholders’ conference on Thursday 29 November at 7pm at the Radisson Blu Resort in St Julian’s on the theme “Little or no returns from some Malta Stock Exchange listed companies” and hope other shareholders in a similar situation will make it to. Uniting to protect our interests in a just and effective manner is what democracy and industrial democracy are about after all. I, for one, will not take my losses sitting down.

J. Bonnett Balzan

SLIEMA