## Shareholder Priorities and the Push for Digital Transformation in Annual General Meetings
It has been observed that many enterprises, particularly in the banking sector, have declared exceptionally high cash dividend levels, reflecting their commitment to sharing business results with shareholders. Banks such as LPBank, Techcombank, HDBank, and VIB are planning to distribute cash dividends ranging from 15% to 25%, providing substantial returns for investors in the volatile financial market.
WHAT ARE INVESTORS PRIORITIZING?
Beyond dividends, open and transparent dialogue with shareholders remains a key measure of corporate governance capabilities. This year, shareholders, especially individual investors, demonstrated a heightened interest in topics such as mid- to long-term development strategies, financial risk management, stock fluctuations, and M&A plans. Prominent conglomerates like FPT, Vinamilk, and Hoa Phat witnessed record-high attendance at their annual meetings, where the candid and open atmosphere was highly appreciated.
However, not all gatherings fostered such openness. Some companies conducted perfunctory meetings, swiftly approving proposals and evading challenging questions. Worryingly, certain organizers restricted shareholders from speaking freely, only answering prepared questions while sidestepping “hot” issues like significant asset fluctuations, vague M&A plans, or key personnel changes lacking transparency.
This has caused frustration among small investors and highlighted the need to enhance corporate governance. Experts argue that establishing transparent and efficient annual general meetings is crucial for businesses to attract long-term capital and investors. Both regulatory bodies and the shareholder community are urging enterprises to raise the bar in meeting organization, ensuring not just legal compliance but also full information access and participation for all shareholders.
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS
This year’s annual general meeting season witnessed a significant focus on digitizing meeting processes. Many forward-thinking businesses adopted technologies such as electronic voting, eKYC identification, shareholder proxy attendance through digital signatures, AI-powered Q&A, and chatbot support. These innovations improved shareholder experiences, streamlined operations, and reduced costs.
While the current adoption rate is around 15% among approximately 500 listed companies on HOSE & HNX, with a target of 2025, this trend is projected to gain momentum in upcoming annual meeting seasons.
Amid this powerful digital transformation, FPT’s UVote platform has made a notable impact in the market, becoming an invaluable tool for numerous listed companies in organizing modern, transparent, and cost-effective annual general meetings.
As of April 2025, UVote has achieved remarkable results, successfully facilitating 25 shareholder meetings, including virtual and hybrid sessions. Nearly 492,000 shareholders have interacted with the platform, and approximately 30% of VN30 companies, including giants like Vinamilk, Vingroup, HDBank, Vietjet Air, Vinhomes, and Vincom Retail, have chosen UVote.
According to Mr. Ngo Quy Kien, Head of UVote Consulting Solutions, the FPT-developed platform has significantly optimized meeting processes for many enterprises. Voting, which used to take hours, has been reduced to just a few minutes thanks to real-time vote tallying displayed on large screens and shareholders’ personal devices. Moreover, the transition to electronic meeting materials and ballots has resulted in substantial cost savings, with companies like Imexpharm Pharmaceutical reporting a 90% reduction in paper usage compared to previous years, along with faster automated vote counting.
UVote not only saves resources but also enhances meeting transparency. Every vote is digitally recorded and stored with an audit trail, readily available for independent auditors or regulatory authorities to verify if needed. With these benefits, UVote is shaping a new standard for modern annual general meetings in Vietnam, emphasizing transparency, efficiency, and shareholder centricity.
To delve deeper into the trends and solutions for optimizing shareholder meetings, UVote will host a webinar titled “Optimizing Annual General Meetings: Building Shareholder Trust.” The event is scheduled for May 20, 2025, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
During the webinar, experts are expected to share insights on the 2025 trends in annual general meeting digitalization, including automation, AI, e-Voting, and eKYC in shareholder management. They will also provide valuable lessons learned from pioneering companies like FPT, which has successfully leveraged technology for its annual gatherings. The event is open and free for interested businesses and investors.
Registration details: uvote.vn/webinar-1-toi-uu-dai-hoi-xay-dung-niem-tin-co-dong
The 2025 Annual General Meeting Season: When Dividends, Transparency, and Tech Reign Supreme.
April marked the peak season for the annual 2025 General Shareholders’ Meeting, with hundreds of listed companies convening. This year’s assembly season witnessed notable trends, including a focus on cash dividend distributions, enhanced transparency, and the adoption of digital transformation technologies.
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