Är tiden inne för virtuella bolagsstämmor? - En analys av regleringen av bolagsstämmor i privata aktiebolag.
(2020) JURM02 20202Department of Law
Faculty of Law
- Abstract
- With the constantly ongoing technological development, the demand for
digitalisation of functions in society is also constantly increasing. Many
processes and transactions that previously took place on site and through
meetings now take place digitally. Typical banking needs are one of many
examples of this, which was evident in the Internet Foundation's annual
survey 2019, Swedes and the Internet, where 91% of the Swedes stated that
they currently use an Internet bank. There is no doubt that many are willing,
and in many cases even prefers, to perform errands, use services and pursue
their interests remotely through digital communication.
In light of this development, the question arose as to whether shareholders to
a private... (More) - With the constantly ongoing technological development, the demand for
digitalisation of functions in society is also constantly increasing. Many
processes and transactions that previously took place on site and through
meetings now take place digitally. Typical banking needs are one of many
examples of this, which was evident in the Internet Foundation's annual
survey 2019, Swedes and the Internet, where 91% of the Swedes stated that
they currently use an Internet bank. There is no doubt that many are willing,
and in many cases even prefers, to perform errands, use services and pursue
their interests remotely through digital communication.
In light of this development, the question arose as to whether shareholders to
a private limited liability company can benefit from using the technical
development at general meetings of shareholders, which is one of the most
important parts of the company structure, since it gives the shareholders a
platform where they can exert influence over the company. However, the
Swedish legislature has historically shown some reluctance to allow for the
general meetings of shareholders to take place completely virtually, which
was evident when the issue was raised in connection with the work on the
Swedish Companies Act (2005:551). It was then emphasised that a regulation
that to a greater extent would enable the application of virtual general
meetings of shareholders may become relevant in the future.
The issue of digitalisation of general meetings of shareholders was further
raised in connection with the pandemic that hit the world in 2020 with the
spread of the Corona virus. Due to the extensive effects that followed
shareholders were prevented from attending traditional in person general
meetings. In light of this and to enable general meetings that do not risk
contributing to the spread of the virus, the legislature adopted temporary
reliefs of the rules preventing virtual general meetings in order to facilitate
decision making and participation from a distance.
The thesis therefore investigates under which conditions virtual general
meetings of shareholders can be held according to the Swedish legal system,
as well as the problems and opportunities that arise. This investigation is
largely based on the purposes behind the Swedish Companies Act (2005:551),
and whether the current rules are appropriate in light of technological
development and the mentioned digitalisation of many functions in society.
This investigation results in an analysis of the shareholders' ability to exercise
their rights at virtual general meetings of shareholders. Based on this, a
proposal for a new, updated, regulation of virtual general meetings of
shareholders are also highlighted. The analysis observe the Danish regulation
in the matter, where a statutory opportunity for digital general meetings was
introduced as early as 2003 in order to adapt company law to technical
developments and to create conditions for cost-effective and accessible
shareholder participation. The temporary Swedish law is also highlighted,
with the hope that the essay, by looking at these two regulations, will take the
debate further, closer to such a satisfactory solution that the legislators said
was a problem for tomorrow. (Less) - Abstract (Swedish)
- I takt med den ständigt pågående tekniska utvecklingen ökar även efterfrågan
av digitalisering av allt fler funktioner i samhället. Många processer,
transaktioner och handlingar som tidigare skedde på plats och genom möten
sker idag digitalt. Bankärenden är ett av många exempel på detta, vilket
tydliggjordes i Internet Stiftelsens årliga undersökning 2019, Svenskarna och
Internet, då 91% av svenskarna uppgav att de idag använder sig av en
internetbank. Det är utan tvekan så att många idag är villiga, och i många fall
till och med föredrar, att utföra ärenden, nyttja tjänster och tillvara sina
intressen på distans genom digital kommunikation.
I ljuset av denna utveckling uppkom frågan om inte ägare av aktier i privata
aktiebolag... (More) - I takt med den ständigt pågående tekniska utvecklingen ökar även efterfrågan
av digitalisering av allt fler funktioner i samhället. Många processer,
transaktioner och handlingar som tidigare skedde på plats och genom möten
sker idag digitalt. Bankärenden är ett av många exempel på detta, vilket
tydliggjordes i Internet Stiftelsens årliga undersökning 2019, Svenskarna och
Internet, då 91% av svenskarna uppgav att de idag använder sig av en
internetbank. Det är utan tvekan så att många idag är villiga, och i många fall
till och med föredrar, att utföra ärenden, nyttja tjänster och tillvara sina
intressen på distans genom digital kommunikation.
I ljuset av denna utveckling uppkom frågan om inte ägare av aktier i privata
aktiebolag har intresse av, och om aktiebolaget som samverkansform kan
gynnas av, att nyttja den tekniska utvecklingen vid bolagsstämmor, som är en
av de viktigaste delarna i bolagsstrukturen eftersom det är där aktieägarna
bereds möjlighet att utöva inflytande över bolaget. Den svenska lagstiftaren
har dock historiskt sett uppvisat en viss motvilja mot helt virtuella
bolagsstämmor, vilket inte minst tydliggjordes då frågan togs upp i samband
med arbetet med 2005 års ABL. Då framhölls att en reglering som i större
utsträckning skulle möjliggöra tillämpningen av virtuella bolagsstämmor kan
komma att aktualiseras i framtiden, men någon sådan reglering har dock
under lång tid uteblivit.
Frågan om digitalisering av bolagsstämmor aktualiserades ytterligare i
samband med den pandemi som drabbade världen under 2020 i och med
spridningen av Corona viruset. Med anledning av de omfattande effekterna
aktualiserades problemet med aktieägares närvaro på bolagsstämmor. Att
samlas vid en traditionell bolagstämma ansågs inte längre möjligt. Med
bakgrund av detta och för att möjliggöra bolagsstämmor som inte riskerar att
bidra till spridning av viruset antog riksdagen tillfälliga lättnader av flera
regler kring hur bolagsstämman ska utformas, i syfte att underlätta virtuella
bolagsstämmor och deltagande på distans.
I uppsatsen utreds därför under vilka förutsättningar virtuella bolagsstämmor
idag kan genomföras i det svenska rättssystemet, samt vilka problem och
möjligheter som aktualiseras. Denna utredning utgår till stor del från de
ändamål som ligger bakom den nuvarande regleringen, och huruvida dagens
reglering är ändamålsenliga i ljuset av den tekniska utvecklingen och nämnda
digitalisering av flertalet funktioner i samhället.
Utredningen leder fram till en analys av aktieägarnas möjlighet att tillvarata
sina rättigheter vid virtuella bolagsstämmor. Utifrån detta lyfts även förslag
till en ny, uppdaterad, reglering av virtuella bolagsstämmor fram. Här
behandlas den danska regleringen i frågan, där man redan 2003 införde en
lagreglerade möjlighet till digitala bolagsstämmor i syfte att anpassa
bolagsrätten till den tekniska utvecklingen och för att skapa förutsättningar
för kostnadseffektivt och tillgängligt aktieägardeltagande. Även den
tillfälliga svenska lagen belyses, med förhoppningen om att uppsatsen, genom
att blicka mot dessa två regleringar, ska föra debatten vidare, närmare en
sådan tillfredsställande lösning som man länge skjutit på framtiden. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9034500
- author
- Kjellberg, Ellen LU
- supervisor
-
- Ola Svensson LU
- organization
- alternative title
- 2021 - time for a change towards virtual general meetings?
- course
- JURM02 20202
- year
- 2020
- type
- H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
- subject
- keywords
- associationsrätt
- language
- Swedish
- id
- 9034500
- date added to LUP
- 2021-05-06 16:23:35
- date last changed
- 2021-05-06 16:23:35
@misc{9034500,
abstract = {{With the constantly ongoing technological development, the demand for
digitalisation of functions in society is also constantly increasing. Many
processes and transactions that previously took place on site and through
meetings now take place digitally. Typical banking needs are one of many
examples of this, which was evident in the Internet Foundation's annual
survey 2019, Swedes and the Internet, where 91% of the Swedes stated that
they currently use an Internet bank. There is no doubt that many are willing,
and in many cases even prefers, to perform errands, use services and pursue
their interests remotely through digital communication.
In light of this development, the question arose as to whether shareholders to
a private limited liability company can benefit from using the technical
development at general meetings of shareholders, which is one of the most
important parts of the company structure, since it gives the shareholders a
platform where they can exert influence over the company. However, the
Swedish legislature has historically shown some reluctance to allow for the
general meetings of shareholders to take place completely virtually, which
was evident when the issue was raised in connection with the work on the
Swedish Companies Act (2005:551). It was then emphasised that a regulation
that to a greater extent would enable the application of virtual general
meetings of shareholders may become relevant in the future.
The issue of digitalisation of general meetings of shareholders was further
raised in connection with the pandemic that hit the world in 2020 with the
spread of the Corona virus. Due to the extensive effects that followed
shareholders were prevented from attending traditional in person general
meetings. In light of this and to enable general meetings that do not risk
contributing to the spread of the virus, the legislature adopted temporary
reliefs of the rules preventing virtual general meetings in order to facilitate
decision making and participation from a distance.
The thesis therefore investigates under which conditions virtual general
meetings of shareholders can be held according to the Swedish legal system,
as well as the problems and opportunities that arise. This investigation is
largely based on the purposes behind the Swedish Companies Act (2005:551),
and whether the current rules are appropriate in light of technological
development and the mentioned digitalisation of many functions in society.
This investigation results in an analysis of the shareholders' ability to exercise
their rights at virtual general meetings of shareholders. Based on this, a
proposal for a new, updated, regulation of virtual general meetings of
shareholders are also highlighted. The analysis observe the Danish regulation
in the matter, where a statutory opportunity for digital general meetings was
introduced as early as 2003 in order to adapt company law to technical
developments and to create conditions for cost-effective and accessible
shareholder participation. The temporary Swedish law is also highlighted,
with the hope that the essay, by looking at these two regulations, will take the
debate further, closer to such a satisfactory solution that the legislators said
was a problem for tomorrow.}},
author = {{Kjellberg, Ellen}},
language = {{swe}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Är tiden inne för virtuella bolagsstämmor? - En analys av regleringen av bolagsstämmor i privata aktiebolag.}},
year = {{2020}},
}