Technology and transparency redefine AGM season

Rising governance expectations and accelerating digital adoption are reshaping the way annual business meetings are taking place, as Vietnam’s stock market moves closer to an upgrade and tighter standards.

- By Le Khanh

With FTSE Russell confirming on April 8 that Vietnam will be upgraded from frontier to secondary emerging market status, effective September, AGMs are being increasingly viewed as a measure of governance quality rather than procedural annual events, serving as a platform for management to demonstrate accountability, transparency, and direct engagement with shareholders.

The quality of listed companies remains central to the market upgrade process, according to Phan Le Thanh Long, chief executive of the Vietnam Institute of Directors. Within the evolving governance framework, greater emphasis is being placed on independent board members, particularly through requirements for individual evaluation reports instead of collective assessments, reinforcing accountability and shareholder protection.

“One persistent concern lies in the quality and timeliness of information disclosure. Meeting materials are often not provided early or clearly enough for shareholders to review ahead of AGMs, while transparency during discussions remains uneven. Participation by minority shareholders also continues to lag,” said Long at a forum discussing the AGM process last month in Hanoi.

He pointed to the quality and timeliness of information disclosure as a persistent issue, noting that meeting materials should be provided early, in full, and with sufficient clarity to allow shareholders time to review ahead of AGMs. Transparency during discussions is equally important to ensure accountability, while participation by minority shareholders remains limited.