Scotia Group has become the latest company petitioning the Supreme Court, seeking permission to hold their next Annual General Meeting (AGM) by electronic means.

In the case of Scotia Group, the court will hear its petition on February 19, at 9:30 am. The banking group is seeking an order from the high court, permitting it to hold its next AGM, “in a manner to be specified by the court involving live stream or electronic broadcast.”

In her affidavit supporting the claim, Scotiabank President, Audrey Tugwell-Henry said the court’s permission is necessary to hold the AGM via electronic means given the restrictions imposed by the government as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. She argued that it is impracticable to host the 15-thousand Scotiabank shareholders given the gathering restrictions.

As such, she advocated that utilising technology or electronic means would allow shareholders to participate, thus an order from the court is needed to have this done. The Scotiabank boss is seeking an order from the court pursuant to section 130(2) of the Companies Act for among other things, permission its next AGM by electronic means given restrictions on gatherings arising from COVID-19.

Salada petitions the court also

Yesterday, Our Today reported that Salada Foods Jamaica Limited through one of its directors, Patrick Williams has filed a claim in the Supreme Court, seeking on behalf of the company, permission to hold its General Meetings for the years 2021 -2023 partially or wholly by electronic means.

The court is to hear that matter on Thursday February 18, 2021 at 9:30 am. Williams, who was appointed Chairman of the board on March 5, 2015 and has served as a Director since February 8, 2012, is seeking an order from the court pursuant to section 130(2) of the Companies Act to have these meetings held virtually.

Several other listed companies collectively filed similar claims, through the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) last year, which were approved by the courts, allowing them to hold their general meetings in electronic or hybrid forms.

JSE successful in its two petitions

Last year, the JSE went to the Supreme Court on two occasions on behalf of listed companies and on both occasions got the court to sanction them hosting their Annual General Meetings (AGMs) virtually. The last time this was done was last October.

At that time, the JSE sought a court order for seven listed companies that were unable to host an AGM given the COVID-19 restrictions. They were NCB Financial Group, Jamaica Broilers Group, Wisynco Group, Caribbean Assurance Brokers KLE Group, Everything Fresh Limited and Ciboney Group, most of which have since held their AGM virtually.

Prior to that in June 2020, the JSE filed a similar application permitting 16 public companies to hold their AGMs fully or partly by electronic means.

Among the 16 companies which previously got permission for virtual AGMs were JMMB Group Limited, Caribbean Cement Limited, Barita Investments Limited, Berger Paints Jamaica Limited, Lasco Distributors Limited, FosRich Company Limited, Lasco Financial Services Limited and Lasco Manufacturing Limited.

Main Event Limited, Mayberry Investments Limited, Sagicor Group Jamaica, Supreme Ventures Limited, the Jamaica Stock Exchange, Trans Jamaica Highway, Victoria Mutual Investments Limited and Wigton Windfarm Limited complete the list.

Most of these companies have since hosted their AGM virtually in accordance with the court ruling and in compliance of JSE rules.