What Is a Shareholder Proxy?
A proxy is a person appointed to stand in or take the place of a person who cannot be present, usually in the context of a business meeting or court of law. A shareholder proxy is a person who substitutes for a shareholder in a shareholder's meeting.
-
Appointment and Responsibilities
-
The shareholder proxy or proxies are appointed by the shareholder they are representing and must be accompanied by a proxy document. Proxies are required to provide all vital information from the meeting to the shareholder so that he may make informed voting decisions.
SEC Requirements
-
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (US SEC) established in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that when a company has SEC-registered securities, all shareholders in the company should be notified in the event of a proxy. This applies to all meetings where a vote will be taken and must be filed in advance.
-
Bylaws and Other Stipulations
-
Shareholder proxies must meet conditions spelled out in the company's bylaws. Various states and municipalities where the company is licensed may have additional stipulations about who may be a shareholder proxy and what the proxy document must include.
-