AIC withdraws shareholder rights petition as ‘My share, my vote’ campaign achieves its aims
Recommendations of Digitisation Taskforce will deliver campaign’s objectives.
The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) has withdrawn its petition demanding a change in the law to ensure all investors can vote their shares. The petition was part of the AIC’s ‘My share, my vote’ campaign to defend the rights of retail shareholders.
The government has committed to implementing the recommendations of the Digitisation Taskforce, which has set out a Bill of Shareholder Rights1. These rights would require platforms and other intermediaries to provide a baseline service enabling their customers to receive company information, vote their shares, and take part in general meetings.
The Digitisation Taskforce has backed our call to uphold the rights of shareholders who hold shares through investment platforms or other nominees. Their recommendations will ensure that all investors can vote their shares, putting an end to poor practices at some platforms that exclude and disenfranchise retail shareholders.
The Taskforce recommends that these rights should be granted unless a customer opts out, reversing the opt-in arrangement which is the status quo. A further recommendation would see platforms passing on shareholders’ email addresses to companies if requested.
Richard Stone, Chief Executive of the Association of Investment Companies (AIC), said: “The Digitisation Taskforce has backed our call to uphold the rights of shareholders who hold shares through investment platforms or other nominees. Their recommendations will ensure that all investors can vote their shares, putting an end to poor practices at some platforms that exclude and disenfranchise retail shareholders.
“We’d like to thank all those who signed our petition and backed our campaign. This is an issue that is close to our hearts. We now look forward to the government implementing the Digitisation Taskforce’s recommendations, and would hope to see this in the next King’s Speech.
“Ahead of the legislation, we would urge platforms to adopt these measures early, ensuring that no shareholder is disenfranchised and companies can engage quickly and cost-effectively with their shareholders via email.”
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Notes to editors
- See Digitisation Taskforce Final Report, July 2025 (Bill of Shareholder Rights is on page 24).
- The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) represents a broad range of investment trusts and VCTs, collectively known as investment companies. The AIC’s vision is for closed-ended investment companies to be understood and considered by every investor. The AIC has 295 members and the industry has total assets of approximately £262 billion.
- For more information about the AIC and investment trusts, visit the AIC’s website.
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