Annual meeting requirements across 41 jurisdictions

What this guide covers

The annual shareholders' meeting (or AGM, or annual general meeting) is where shareholders formally elect directors, receive the financial statements, and dispatch any other business of an ordinary character. Every Canadian and US state corporation statute requires it, with a deadline tied either to the corporation's anniversary date or the close of its fiscal year. Most private corporations satisfy the requirement by unanimous written consent — a single document signed by every voting shareholder, with the same legal effect as a meeting actually held.

The deadlines, notice periods, quorum, and waiver mechanisms differ across jurisdictions. The CBCA gives 15 months between annual meetings and 6 months from fiscal year end. Delaware requires an annual meeting but lets the bylaws fix the timing. The UK relaxed the AGM requirement for private companies in 2006 entirely. Knowing your jurisdiction's specific rule is the first step in maintaining annual compliance.

Choose your jurisdiction

Each guide covers the statutory authority, mechanics, conflict-of-interest rules, and recordkeeping requirements specific to that jurisdiction.