Public Companies: Meetings

(asked on 22nd April 2025) - View Source

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the entitlement of a shareholder to choose whether to attend public company annual general meetings in person or digitally.


Answered by
Baroness Jones of Whitchurch Portrait
Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
This question was answered on 7th May 2025

It is clear that the use of digital or “virtual” platforms can provide benefits to both companies and shareholders in the context of annual general meetings and indeed “hybrid” meetings, which provide a combination of physical and virtual access, are already relatively commonplace. While the Government committed last Autumn to clarifying the law around wholly virtual general meetings, we fully recognise the importance of shareholder rights. Therefore, the appropriate safeguards will be considered as part of any legislative changes. My officials will continue to develop this policy and work towards a position that balances the interests of all relevant stakeholders.

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