Dos and don'ts at the annual shareholders' meeting

Investors are in the thick of AGM season, that time of the year when listed companies host their annual general meetings and shareholders get a chance to quiz bosses on their vision and strategy. How valuable an AGM is very much depends on what questions shareholders pose to the board, so The Sunday Times asked some corporate veterans to share their tips on how to engage directors and management in more meaningful discussions.

Singapore's central business district seen in a photo taken on April 16, 2017. PHOTO: ST FILE
New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

Sometimes the most frustrating answer a shareholder can get is no answer at all.

The refrain: "We are not at liberty to provide any more information other than what has been announced" - and other variations on this theme can get quite vexing, especially when used in response to seemingly innocuous queries.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on April 22, 2018, with the headline Dos and don'ts at the annual shareholders' meeting. Subscribe