Have you ever wished that you owned part of a brewery or one of the many pub chains that are now emerging? Well, now you have the opportunity of turning that dream into a reality. If you are a member of CAMRA you are eligible to join the CAMRA Members’ Investment Club (CMIC).
For a minimum of £5 per month you could start making an investment in the many companies in which the Club owns shares. These include Adnams, Black Sheep, Carlsberg, Enterprise Inns, Greene King, Fullers, Joseph Holt, Hop Back, Hydes, Mitchells & Butler, Punch Taverns, Shepherd Neame, Thwaites, Wadworth, J D Wetherspoon, Young’s and a whole host of others.
The Club operates like a unit trust and members can pay in a maximum of £2,000 in each financial year to 31st March. Normally this is by monthly standing order (from £5 up to a maximum of £166). You can also pay in individual contributions as long as the annual maximum is not exceeded. The monthly amount can be altered at any time and, if necessary, can be stopped and your investment cashed in or left to “ride” – the choice is yours as you have complete control over your contributions.
At 31st March 2017 the funds of the Club were almost £21 million.
By holding a growing share in particular companies, the Club’s votes at the AGMs could make a difference to either a takeover bid or other hostile actions. Having a voice in the boardrooms of the pub owning groups could help influence their guest beer policies. This is becoming increasingly important in the market where the smaller breweries are competing with the giants.
For the members, the Club organises tours of the breweries in which it has shares both in the UK and in Europe. These visits often present the opportunity of meeting the Directors of the companies as well as viewing their brewing operations.
The Club also has its own web site at www.cmic.uk.com.
For an information pack on joining the Club please email info@cmic.uk.com.