Proxy Definition, How It Works, Statements, Benefits, and Example

What Is a Proxy?

A proxy is an agent legally licensed to act on behalf of a few different birthday party or a construction that allows an investor to vote without being physically supply at the meeting. Shareholders now not attending a company’s annual not unusual meeting (AGM) would most likely vote their shares by way of proxy by way of allowing anyone else to forged votes on their behalf, or they would most likely vote by way of mail.

Key Takeaways

  • A proxy is an agent legally licensed to act on behalf of a few different birthday party.
  • The proxy may also allow an investor to vote without being physically supply at the annual shareholder’s meeting.
  • Keep an eye on promises ownership interests are utterly represented by way of encouraging shareholders who are now not in a position to attend annual meetings to vote by way of proxy.
  • A Proxy Observation is a packet of bureaucracy containing wisdom important to make a professional votes on issues coping with the company.

How Does a Proxy Art work?

While proxy balloting is ceaselessly an chance, keep watch over encourages shareholders to vote in person. If the shareholder can’t attend, balloting by way of proxy is another option. For a person to act as a proxy for an individual, formal documentation may be required that outlines the extent to which the proxy can communicate on the individual’s behalf.

A right kind power of attorney document may be required to provide the permissions to complete certain actions. The shareholder signs a power of attorney and extends respected authorization to the designated individual to vote on behalf of the discussed shareholder at the annual meeting.

A proxy can’t vote if the shareholder arrives overdue and comes to a decision to vote for their own self.

Proxy Statements

Forward of the annual shareholder meeting, all shareholders download a packet of information containing the Proxy Observation. The proxy bureaucracy provide shareholders with the information important to make a professional votes on issues vital to the company’s potency. A Proxy statement offers shareholders and possible consumers belief into a company’s governance and keep watch over operations.

The proxy discloses vital wisdom on schedule items for the annual meeting, lists the {{qualifications}} of keep watch over and board individuals, serves as a ballot for elections to the board of directors, lists an important shareholders of a company’s stock, and gives detailed information about executive reimbursement. There are also proposals from keep watch over and shareholders.

Proxy statements must be filed with regulatory executive, such since the Securities and Trade Rate (SEC) in the us, on an annual basis quicker than the company’s annual meeting.

When balloting by way of proxy remotely, shareholders may be eligible to vote by way of mail, phone, or internet. Shareholders use the information inside the proxy statements to lend a hand inside the decision-making process.

Any person can look up a public company’s proxy statement by the use of the SEC internet web page underneath the identify “DEF 14A.”

Benefits of Proxy

Keep an eye on promises that ownership interests are utterly represented by way of encouraging shareholders which aren’t in a position to attend annual meetings to vote by way of proxy. Forward of the annual meeting, each shareholder is issued a proxy card, allowing them to state their votes in writing or designate a third birthday party to vote on their behalf.

Proxy balloting shall we in shareholders to vote on the composition of the company’s board, the reimbursement of its officers, and the company’s accounting corporate. It moreover shall we in balloting on shareholder proposals.

During corporate elections, the board of elections will suggest their most well liked candidates or conceivable possible choices, on the other hand without equal solution is up to each voter.

Precise-World Example of a Proxy

Beneath is a portion of the proxy statement for Tesla Motors in 2022. It lists the date and time of the company’s annual not unusual meeting and has instructions for shareholders who wish to participate inside the meeting as regards to. It moreover lists the company officers and shareholder proposals that are to be voted on inside the meeting, along side the board’s ideas.


A internet web page from Tesla’s proxy statement in 2022.

Proxy Card

Beneath is the proxy card showing the specific board individuals that were to be voted on along with one of the most an important proposals by way of keep watch over. If the shareholder wanted to vote, the proxy card could be mailed to the corporate.


Proxy Card for Tesla Motors Annual Shareholder’s Meeting, 2022.

Securities and Trade Rate


When Does a Proxy Observation Need to be Filed?

Public companies must report a proxy statement quicker than any meeting where the keep watch over submits proposals for a shareholder vote. This may increasingly include the election of directors, votes on shareholder proposals, or other corporate decision-making.

What Is in a Proxy Observation?

A normal proxy statement states the date and web page of the next shareholder assembly, along side instructions for shareholders who can’t attend in person. It is going to moreover include an extensive schedule for the meeting, along side elections of directors and shareholder proposals.

Where Can You Find a Proxy Observation?

Public companies will send their proxy statements to the shareholders of report, each right through the mail or electronically. You’ll be able to in most cases to find proxy statements on the company’s internet web page. In addition to, public companies are also required to report their proxy statements with the Securities and Trade Rate, or the similar regulator inside the country where the company is domiciled.

The Bottom Line

In industry, a proxy shall we in shareholders to participate in corporate governance although they may be able to’t be physically supply at the not unusual meeting. Proxies are crucial inside the international financial gadget, where an individual investor might non-public shares in loads of companies all over the place the arena.

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