Disclosure of AGM Minutes on Corporate Website: An Assessment of Malaysian Listed Companies

Abstract

Disclosure of annual general meeting (AGM) minutes on the corporate website is considered as additional disclosure. Consequently, Listing Requirements states compulsory disclosure of corporate information. In this regard, the awareness of compulsory disclosure of information among all Malaysian listed companies in 2017 was below expectations. Despite the role of AGM minutes as documented proof of meeting, the management had been reluctant to disclose AGM minutes on the corporate website unless demanded by the shareholders. This paper focuses on previous mandatory disclosure of discussions on key matters after AGM minutes among 261 listed companies based on the financial year ended December 31, 2016. The findings indicated that shareholder activism and the role of grey directors exerted influence on the disclosure of AGM minutes on the corporate website. Undoubtedly, management and investors have contributed toward voluntary disclosure in line with the government’s role to enhance shareholder rights. Besides, grey directors’ contribution towards information disclosure has remained relatively unexplored.