The AGM in Europe: Theory and practice of shareholder behaviour

The Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (‘AGM’) is widely considered as playing a vital and pivotal role in the corporate governance framework in business across Europe, but issues such as shareholder absenteeism and a lack of internal dialogue mean that the AGM’s effectiveness in company decision making is often called into question.

Exploring a range of complex issues in detail including shareholder rights, voting procedures and corporate ownership structures, Anne Lafarre explores businesses use of AGMs in seven different national contexts, highlighting the legal and business policy contexts in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, France and Belgium.

Drawing on a range of empirical legal and economic research to study the actual role of the AGM today, she closely analyses turnout rates in addition to voter behaviours, offering readers concrete policy recommendations aimed at closing the gap between theory and practice on this issue. This study presents an extensive analysis of the needs and requirements of shareholders to participate in AGMs in a twenty first century business context.