Coming legislation for virtual general meetings presents opportunity to rethink investor engagement

PUBLIC-LISTED companies should not be allowed to return to holding only physical shareholder meetings next year. They should be required to continue to allow investors to fully participate in these meetings virtually too.

With some imagination and investment in technology, the so-called hybrid format for shareholder meetings could become a more effective means of engaging a wider range of investors than physical or virtual-only meetings.

On Dec 15, the Ministry of Law said the orders introduced at the onset of the pandemic that allowed companies to hold meetings electronically will cease on Jul 1, 2023.