Shareholders of global equities manager Hunter Hall say founder Peter Hall's shock decision to quit the investment firm and dump his entire stake was disappointing and irrational.

On December 30, Hunter Hall announced that Mr Hall had sold 19.9 per cent of his stake in Hunter Hall International to conglomerate Washington H Soul Pattinson for less than a third of the value of the last traded share price, and reached an agreement to sell his remaining 24 per cent in the absence of a higher offer.