Companies offering a variety of benefits to shareholders
Minimum holding required to qualify for some perks
Published:
CONSUMERS can gain benefits ranging from thousands of pounds off the price of a new home to a 30% discount on Eurotunnel travel just for holding shares in certain companies.
Barclays Stockbrokers has compiled a free guide showing the perks and discounts people qualify for if they have shares in a range of companies, 40% of which do not require a minimum shareholding.
Housebuilder Barratt Developments offers one of the most generous perks, giving shareholders a £500 discount on every £25,000 they spend on a new home, meaning someone buying a £250,000 property could save £5,000.
Eurotunnel offers shareholders a 30% reduction on standard fares for up to six one-way or three return crossings a year, while shareholders in brewer Fuller, Smith and Turner are given discount cards offering reductions on its hotel prices of between 10% and 50%.
People with shares in British Airways can qualify for a 10% discount on tickets bought online, over the phone or through a BA Travel Shop.
Mulberry gives its shareholders a 20% discount card for use in its stores, while Bloomsbury offers 35% off the recommended retail price of its books, and insurer Legal and General gives discounts of up to 25% on certain insurance products for shareholders and their families.
While 40% of firms do not state how many shares people need to hold to qualify for the perks they offer, others have more onerous requirements.
People would need to have 1,000 shares in Barratt Developments for at least a year before they bought a home to qualify for its discount, which at the current price would cost £1,205. Eurotunnel also says people must have 1,000 shares for three months to take advantage of its perks, meaning consumers would have to invest £6,351 at the current share price.
L&G does not require a minimum holding, but BA says people must have at least 200 shares, which would cost more than £387 if purchased today, while Mulberry requires people to have 500, which would cost £590 to buy.
There are also differences in the types of shares which qualify for the discounts, with some companies limiting their perks to people with shareholder certificates, while others extend them to people who hold their shares through a nominee account.
Barbara-Ann King, head of investments at Barclays Stockbrokers, said: “While shareholder benefits alone are not a reason to buy shares, they are certainly an added bonus for those investors keen to own equity in a company.
“This guide provides investors with a quick and easy point of reference for the offers and discounts available, and as the guide shows, there are some interesting and attractive benefits linked to many of the shares listed.”
The guide is available at www.stockbrokers. barclays.co.uk/tellmeabout
