Form with which the stockholders of a corporation record the contents of their annual meeting.
Form with which the stockholders of a corporation record the contents of their annual meeting.
Not complying with regulations regarding annual shareholder meetings can put your company, and its owners, at personal risk for liability.
Annual shareholder meetings are necessary but they can be costly, ill-attended and often do not add value other than their vital purpose under corporate law.
AGMs are mandatory for both public and private companies. All shareholders are legally obligated to receive an invitation to these meetings. The board of directors should also be represented. An auditor may also be present if the organization is subject to an audit requirement.
Scheduling AGMs While not mandatory for private companies, many opt to hold their AGM, as allowed by their Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI). The first AGM must be held within 18 months of the company's incorporation, with subsequent AGMs held annually, ensuring no more than 15 months elapse between meetings.
Key Takeaways Shareholders own either voting or non-voting stock, and that determines whether they can weigh in on big-picture issues the company is considering. Someone with voting stock has the right, but not the obligation, to vote on the company's board of directors or other business matters.
Federal and state-level laws, as well as a company's incorporation documents, require public and private corporations—including C-corps—to have boards of directors (BoDs). Companies that are formed as LLCs (limited liability companies) do not have the same requirements, although some still choose to assemble a board.
California law requires ALL California corporations, even those owned by a single shareholder, to hold an annual meeting of the shareholder(s) for the purpose of electing the board of directors.
Every shareholder is given the opportunity to vote and attend meetings, but it's not a requirement. Institutional investors or those with a large position in the company may attend and vote in person. Those who choose not to attend in person but still want to make their opinion known can vote by proxy.