Law to enshrine shareholder rights

SHAREHOLDERS of publicly listed companies will have greater powers to voice their opinions over the running of the firms in which they’ve invested when the Tánaiste signs into law new legislation today.

The Shareholders’ Rights Regulations 2009, which are due to be passed today, are aimed at increasing transparency at board level in public companies and making shareholder participation and access to company information easier.

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughan said the new legislation will assist shareholders in determining “whether managers are acting in the best interests of the company’s owners”.