In the pages that follow, we provide details of the current state of shareowner rights in 6 markets in a format that allows direct comparisons of similar standards among markets. This paper is an update to our previous position on these markets.
In 2009, we released Shareowner Rights across the Markets: A Manual for Investors, which is a resource guide for investors that allows them to be informed, responsible shareowners. We included 20 individual market reports alongside this manual—each report containing a brief list of basic rights for shareowners in that market followed by a detailed explanation of the key features and rights unique to that market. This paper will provide key updates for 6 additional markets.
Each report provides a brief summary of the current practices, recent developments, and legal regulatory frameworks in each jurisdiction. Because we believe no single set of corporate governance standards will suit every market, these reports does not provide a list of best practices. For those who do seek corporate governance codes for a specific market, we have included updated references to the specific local codes listed below.