US companies defy investors with switch to online annual meetings

Ford says it will join life of ‘forward-looking’ groups ending in-person event

The number of US companies scrapping the traditional annual shareholder meeting and hosting the event online has surged in the past 18 months, in defiance of complaints from investors.

Corporate giants Ford and ConocoPhillips are among those switching to “virtual” meetings this year, in a move they say makes it possible for more shareholders to take part and ask questions.

Read more in Financial Times