Shareholder Perks in Switzerland: Complimentary Benefits at Swiss AGMs Explained

Annual general meetings (AGMs) are normally a pretty solemn affair. But in a bid to maintain relationships with investors, some Swiss companies spice up their AGMs with interesting programs and shareholder perks.

Companies walk a fine line when choosing their shareholder perks. If these are too attractive, the company runs the risk of attracting bargain hunters and AGM crashers. After all, it takes just one share to make someone a shareholder.

But do the annual general meetings of Swiss companies have anything to offer? To find out, moneyland.ch surveyed companies listed on the stock exchange.

Travel costs are covered

There are Swiss investors – primarily retirees – who make a hobby of traveling around Switzerland just to attend AGMs. In some cases, even transportation to AGMs is covered by the company.

Examples of companies which cover the cost of getting to AGMs include:

• Hypothekarbank Lenzburg
• Luzerner Kantonalbank (LUKB)
• Swiss National Bank (SNB)
• Swiss Life
• Thurgauer Kantonalbank (TKB)
• Valiant

Some only cover transportation within a certain region. For example, LUKB shareholders only get complimentary tickets for the Passepartout fare network region. The SNB, on the other hand, provides its shareholders with first class day passes which are valid for the whole of Switzerland.

Some companies organize free shuttle busses from train stations to their AGMs. Examples include the LUKB, Rieter, the St. Galler Kantonalbank (SGKB), Sulzer, and the TKB.

The shareholder feast

All of the companies included in the survey provide refreshments for AGM attendees. While some companies limit this to an apéro, shareholders of other companies enjoy a veritable feast.

Swiss companies which offer an apéro at AGMs include Calida, TX Group, and Varia US Properties.

Some corporations go a step further, spoiling their shareholders with a more substantial apéro riche. These include:

• Allreal
• APG SGA
• Baloise
• Cembra Money Bank
• Edisun Power
• Flughafen Zürich
• Investis
• Komax
• Leonteq
• Mobilezone
• Mobimo
• Phoenix Mercano
• Rieter (includes dessert)
• Roche
• Sulzer
• Swisscom
• Valiant
• Vaudoise

The SNB provides a stand-up lunch. Many companies also offer AGM attendees things like coffee, croissants, fruit, and soft drinks ahead of or during the meeting.

Full-course meals

Shareholders of some Swiss companies even get to enjoy a full-course lunch or dinner. That is true for shareholders of:

• Emmi (salad, Raclette, dessert)
• Hypothekarbank Lenzburg (three-course meal)
• LUKB (three-course meal)
• NZZ Mediengruppe
• SGKB (various food service points)
• TKB

Meals are normally served after the general meeting, probably as a means of preventing snoring shareholders from disrupting presentations.

Gifts for shareholders

Some firms have made a name for themselves in the AGM scene thanks to their popular shareholder gifts. Sought-after dividends in kind include the box of chocolates from Lindt & Sprüngli, the free watch from Swatch, the books from the NZZ Mediengruppe, and vouchers.

Unfortunately for bargain hunters, the majority of surveyed companies do not offer extra freebies on top of food and refreshments.  

But shareholders of companies like Allreal, APG SGA, Cembra Money Bank, Edisun Power, the Hypothekarbank Lenzburg, Komax and the SNB can still expect some chocolates or other sweets. Emmi offer participants the chance to take home a selection of its products. Georg Fischer also offer a gift to their shareholders. The TX Group gives AGM attendees a 50 discount on its digital Finanz und Wirtschaft subscription. Mobilezone makes a contribution to a charitable association instead of giving out gifts to its shareholders.

Important: Most companies only give gifts to shareholders who participate in AGMs. In many cases, presents are only handed over at the end of the event, in order to prevent an early exodus of shareholders from the meeting.

Entertainment

Most Swiss companies take their AGMs very seriously. But a few companies liven up the somewhat monotonous presentations with entertainment. This may include musical entertainment, which you can find at the AGMs of companies like the Flughafen Zürich (the Zurich Airport Orchestra), Rieter, Sulzer, the TKB, and the VP Bank. Some companies also offer special presentations, video presentations, and other shows which are not directly connected to the company’s business.

Offers can change from year to year

Many companies do not follow the same program or offer identical gifts every year. For example, a company may organize a dinner event one year, and an apéro riche the next year.

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