NEW YORK, NY, March 2, 2022 – To enable more investors to participate in the corporate governance process and help corporate issuers engage with their shareholders with greater efficiency, global Fintech leader Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. (NYSE: BR) has introduced new enhancements to its virtual shareholder meeting platform for 2022. Building on last years’ experience of hosting close to 2,400 virtual shareholder meetings (VSMs), Broadridge has simplified and refreshed the platform’s user interface and enhanced the Q&A functionality.
Key Enhancements for 2022
Companies and investors will see the following major enhancements to the virtual platform:
- Refreshed and improved look and feel for a more user-friendly experience
- Easier to navigate interface
- New Q&A functionality including ability to sort and group questions, and shareholder identification associated with all questions
- Enhanced interactive video capabilities
- Shareholders can easily vote in a few clicks and receive confirmation their vote has been counted
- Streamlined interface for easier access for management and directors
- Better reporting tools, including for inspectors
The platform retains all its key functionality including attendance made simple with single-step login and the ability for the shareholder and company to access the meeting via any device: smartphone, tablet or computer.
“The increased use of virtual shareholder meetings has resulted in a rise in investor engagement, participation and voting and these latest enhancements will increase accessibility and further facilitate good corporate governance,” said Cathy Conlon, Head of Corporate Issuer Product at Broadridge. “VSMs make meetings more accessible for shareholders, allowing them to attend, participate and vote from the comfort of wherever they are located through multiple channels. For issuers, the technology lowers their carbon footprint, saves time and money and makes annual meetings more available and convenient for investors while providing them cost savings on travel.”
Virtual shareholder meetings allow shareholder meetings to be livestreamed with audio and video and provide for the authentication of attendees, while also permitting shareholders to interact with the company for questions and answers, as well as vote their shares. VSMs better promote the democratization of investing and increase transparency in corporate governance by giving a meaningful way for shareholders to attend annual shareholder meetings for companies in which they hold shares.
Broadridge is the leading provider of VSMs to public companies in North America having first pioneered the commercial VSM platform in 2009. In 2021, Broadridge led the industry in how to conduct virtual meetings hosting almost 2,400 VSMs for public company annual meetings.
Companies can reduce their overall carbon footprint using VSMs which generate significantly lower carbon emissions than in-person meetings. Compared with in-person events, Broadridge data shows that VSMs can help companies virtually eliminate their AGM-related carbon footprint.