Annual General Meetings

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For all things AGM…we’ve got the 360

The AGM planning cycle never stops, but it’s good to get perspective.

As industry leaders in AGM management and advisory, we know that organisations that plan, prepare, deliver, and utilise AGM insights are more likely to achieve their preferred outcomes. 

To inform your meeting strategy, explore our hub for AGM insights, applications, inspiration and support.

Preparation In Progress

A time for careful planning

Prepare

3-6 months before your meeting

  • Project management and aligning all key internal stakeholders and your advisors is key.
  • Reflect on what happened at the previous AGM, what's happened since, and what you want to achieve.

Engage

2-4 months before your meeting

  • Engagement with your internal and external stakeholders continues.
  • Engagement with shareholders and proxy advisory agencies is good practice, and particularly if there are changes that require their understanding and support at the AGM.

Proxy Solicitation

1-2 months before your meeting

  • Proxy Solicitation is important in the run up to your AGM, to secure the registration of proxy voting, understand who has voted and how, and address any negative votes.

Annual General Meeting

On the day of your meeting

  • Annual General Meeting occurs.
  • Previously notified proxy votes, plus additional voting at the meeting, become official 'Final' voting results released via a Regulatory Information Service (RIS).
  • Resolutions that received less than 80% support identified and next steps announced.

Post Annual Meeting

1-3 months after your meeting

  • Understand who voted, how and why. This will enable you to create an ongoing dialogue with shareholders throughout the year, address any ongoing matters, and keep your internal stakeholders informed.
  • Post implementation review of event, venue, logistics.

     

Download AGM Cycle infographic

Key highlights from 2026 AGM Season

%

Average capital instructed across the FTSE.

c. %

of meetings took place between the hours of 10:00 and 13:00.

%

of FTSE 100 meetings were held outside of London.

c. %

of FTSE meetings were held as hybrid/virtual.

%

Average vote in favour of Remuneration Report

c. %

Average vote in favour of Remuneration Policy

Resolutions (1.97% of total resolutions) received <80% support

EQ equips you to

tread boldly

into the future

Take your next AGM steps

Ready to start your AGM planning?

EQ are here to help you with shareholder meeting services, here to support throughout the corporate meeting journey. If you are new to AGM planning, a good place to start is in understanding your standard meeting requirements and steps to delivery, as per the table above. Next, it's important to consider key corporate themes for 2027. So check out our AGM Forum 2026 for key insights and learnings from the last AGM season.

Building on last year’s success? 

If you have an experienced company secretariat team, you’re probably comfortable delivering AGMs annually. But how do you maximise your AGM outcomes through planning your next meeting? EQ provides vital insights that can help shape your meeting strategy for the year ahead.

It's important to know what proxy advisors do and understanding how reading your proxy advisor reports is essential preparation for an organisation’s annual or special meeting. Read the latest updates from our team.

AGM Forum 2026

What did the 2026 AGM season tell us about what comes next? Equiniti’s AGM Forum 2026 brought together leading experts to discuss shareholder engagement, voting, evolving meeting formats and governance, alongside a focus on Digital AGMs, including insights from Drax. Watch the Forum on demand for the full discussion or read our AGM Trends 2026: What Issuers Can Learn From This Year’s Season summary for the key takeaways and considerations for future AGM seasons.

Watch Now For AGM Insights

EQ’s Horizon Scan

The Future of the AGM

On 7 September 2026, the Government launched its consultation on modernising corporate reporting, including proposals for communications in the digital age and fully virtual AGMs. It is seeking views on clarifying that a virtual location can constitute a ‘place’ for an AGM, and whether additional shareholder safeguards should accompany this change. Explore the debate further in our article; The Future of the AGM: Where Is The UK Market Heading? and watch the The Future AGM: Access, Engagement And Governance session for perspectives on how accessibility, shareholder engagement and governance are shaping the AGM of the future.

What’s next?

The consultation will close on 30 November 2026 with the government aiming to publish a consultation outcome within six months of the close of the consultation.

Digitisation Of The UK Shareholding Framework

In July 2026, the DEMAT (Dematerialisation Market Action Taskforce) published its Implementation Plan for the Withdrawal of Paper Share Certificates. The legislation required to update the Companies Act 2006 to effect this change is expected to be laid in Summer 2027 and will over-ride provisions in a company’s Articles of Association. The effective date will be late 2027 (exact date to be confirmed). Following this we anticipate issuers will wish to consider updating their Articles of Association to align to the changes in the Companies Act 2006.

To stay up to date with the implementation plan please visit our dedicated Dematerialisation and Digitisation hub here.

Read More on Digitisation

Latest Insights

Download Our AGM 2026 Mid Season Review

Download Our AGM 2026 Mid Season Review

This report provides a snapshot of key voting trends and emerging governance themes identified across FTSE 350 companies during the 2026 AGM...

Read More
The Future of the AGM: Where Is The UK Market Heading?

The Future of the AGM: Where Is The UK Market Heading?

Is the debate around AGM formats beginning to shift? We explore the emerging consensus on technology, shareholder participation and board ac...

Read More
Evolving Articles Of Association: Key Trends From 2023-2026 - An Update Following the 2026 AGM Season

Evolving Articles Of Association: Key Trends From 2023-2026 - An Update Following the 2026 AGM Season

Explore key Article of Association amendment trends among UK listed companies, including governance, digital meetings and shareholder engage...

Read More
AGM Trends 2026: What Issuers Can Learn From This Year’s Season

AGM Trends 2026: What Issuers Can Learn From This Year’s Season

What did the 2026 AGM season tell us about the direction of UK shareholder meetings? Explore the trends and considerations shaping future AG...

Read More

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