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Corporate administration

Procedure at meetings

A quorum is the minimum number of members that needs to be present
at a meeting in order to validate business. It is generally two persons,
members or proxies. If a quorum is not present the meeting is often
described as being inquorate.

Voting is by a show of hands initially, unless a poll is demanded. A
show of hands means one member one vote, irrespective of the number
of shares held.

A poll may be demanded by members holding at least 10% of the total
voting rights. A poll means the member get the number of votes they
are entitled to by their shareholding. The result of a poll replaces the
result of the previous show of hands. Quoted companies must publish
the results of polls on their website: s.341 CA 2006.

Members of companies have a statutory right under s.324 to appoint
one or more persons as their ‘proxy’. A proxy can attend meetings, vote
and speak on behalf of the member for whom he is acting.

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