The engaged Shareholder: The definition of an engaged shareholder from the perspectives of national legislators, the EU, Dutch listed companies and Eumedion participants

The Benchmark study of the Eumedion best practices on engaged share-ownership is a student research project undertaken under the umbrella of Maastricht University’s PREMIUM Programme. The research assignment is constructed by Eumedion and revolves around four parts.

In part one various corporate governance codes for institutional investors are analyzed and compared with the Eumedion best practices for engaged share-ownership. The objective is to nd out if the Eumedion best practices are still state of the art.

In part two compliance by Eumedion members with the Eumedion best practices is observed. The goal of part two is to nd out which best practices are the most important to Eumedion Members.

Part three is about proposed Directive 2014/213/EU. This Directive amends Directive 2007/36/EC on shareholder rights. The aim of part three is to discern if the Eumedion best practices are in accordance with the provisions of proposed Directive 2014/213/EU.

Part four is about art. IV.3.13 of the Dutch Corporate Governance Code concerning bilateral contacts with shareholders. The objective of part four is to observe how Dutch listed companies comply with art. IV.3.13 of the Dutch Corporate Governance Code in practice and to nd out if other corporate governance codes contain provisions that are similar to art. IV.3.13.
In this part corporate governance codes of six in uential European markets are examined to nd out if the codes have a provision that is similar to art. IV.3.13 of the Dutch Code. Furthermore, compliance of Dutch listed companies with art. IV.3.13 of the Dutch Corporate Governance Code is also examined