Shareholder Meeting
A formal gathering of a company's owners to vote on corporate matters, held annually or on an as-needed basis.
What is Shareholder Meeting?
A shareholder meeting (also called a stockholder meeting or general meeting) is a formal gathering of a company's shareholders at which key corporate decisions are made by vote. There are two main types: the Annual General Meeting (AGM), held once per year to elect directors, vote on executive pay, ratify auditors, and consider shareholder proposals; and the Special General Meeting (SGM or EGM — extraordinary general meeting), called on an as-needed basis for urgent matters such as merger approvals, charter amendments, or significant asset transactions. Publicly traded companies must provide advance notice, distribute proxy materials, and follow SEC and stock exchange rules governing meeting conduct.
Example
When Microsoft announced its acquisition of Activision Blizzard in January 2022, Activision called a special shareholder meeting specifically to vote on the proposed merger. Approximately 98% of votes cast supported the deal — a statutory requirement for merger approval under Delaware corporate law — before the transaction could proceed to regulatory review.