Making AGMs more meaningful: the corporate edition

SOME weeks ago (BT, Jan 10, 2019, "Making the most of AGM season as an investor"), we outlined how retail investors ought to make the most of their yearly face-to-face encounters with companies' boards and management at annual general meetings (AGM). The responsibility for ensuring a meaningful exchange, however, does not rest with investors alone.

With the bulk of AGMs due to take place in these few months, we look at how companies and their officers have the greater duty to provide for fruitful sessions, as well as how new Singapore Exchange (SGX) Listing Rules and a new Code of Corporate Governance (Code) have altered the expectations of corporate conduct at AGMs this year.

AGMs and EGMs (extraordinary general meetings) are hosted by companies to have a purposeful discussion of and vote on the issues at hand. Companies and their officers need to keep this mind, to help them maintain an open and cordial attitude while interacting with the…