As Covid-19 continues to spread, organisations with December year ends are increasingly asking themselves how to plan for this year’s annual general meeting.

In the absence of any specific legislative solutions, it falls to organisations themselves to take the actions that are appropriate for them and their stakeholders.

In this session, we look at what options are available to organisations in the wake of the spread of the virus. Should they continue with the meeting as scheduled (if in modified form)? Should they delay convening the event? Or what about postponing or adjourning, or investigating a so-called “hybrid” AGM (part physical, part electronic)? We consider these options and more, and frame a series of practical measures organisations can take to best manage the risk.

You can download useful resources using the links below.

• Webinar recording
• Slides
• Blog: Coronavirus and your AGM - things to consider
• Guidance note: AGMs and the impact of Covid-19
  • Released by The Chartered Governance Institute on 17 March
• Supplementary guidance
  • This additional guidance was released by the Institute on 27 March following the government ban on public gatherings
• Shareholder meetings under the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020
  • This guidance was released on 9 July following the legislation coming into force

Peter Swabey is Policy & Research Director at The Chartered Governance Institute. He is responsible for developing the profile of the Institute to members, regulators, policymakers, employers and other stakeholders by delivering thought leadership and lobbying campaigns aligned to The Institutes strategy and promoting strong governance as the vital ingredient for success in organisations.

Peter has 30 years' experience of the share registration industry, gained at Lloyds TSB Registrars and subsequently Equiniti and Equiniti David Venus amongst others. He is a member of the CBI Companies Committee, the QCA Corporate Governance Expert Group and the Shareholder Voting Working Group, as well as being an Alternate Member of the Takeover Panel and a past chairman of the The Chartered Governance Institute Registrars Group.