Simultaneous interpretation at general meetings of shareholders
General meetings of shareholders are one of the most important meetings that companies hold, as they share with their shareholders the results of the previous year, their plans for the coming months and years, vote on issues of utmost importance for the functioning and future of the company and allow their shareholders to speak.
The usual structure of these meetings is as follows:
- Reading of the applicable rules and of the motions for resolutions
- Presentation by the Chairman and CEO on the previous year’s results and plans for the future
- Approval of the annual accounts
- New appointments or dismissals
- Amendment of statutes
- Voting on proposals for which the company requires shareholder approval
- Question Time
With shareholders from other countries, simultaneous interpretation is used so that they can understand what is being said.
Interpreting at such meetings is no easy task. There are often many parts read at high speed and they often contain highly specialised financial terminology, in addition to that specific to the company’s sector of activity.
How do interpreters prepare for a general meeting of shareholders?
Simultaneous interpreters must keep up to date with the latest news affecting the company, such as whether it has acquired other companies, whether it has had a good year in the sale of its products or services, whether it has closed a plant… To do this, we check the press, their website, publications on their official social networks, etc.
We also prepare a glossary of all terminology relevant to the company’s sector of activity and financial terminology that will typically be mentioned at the meeting.
In all jobs we ask for the presentations or texts to be read in order to be able to do our job properly. However, in this type of meeting it is even more important, as many texts full of technicalities and figures are read at high speed and it is very helpful to have the document in front of us to ensure that all the information is conveyed with integrity and truthfulness.
What about confidentiality?
The client has nothing to fear. We interpreters abide by a very strict code of ethics according to which we maintain the confidentiality of all documents we receive. However, the client may ask the interpreters to sign a confidentiality agreement and they will be happy to do so.
If you are organising the general shareholders’ meeting of your company and need simultaneous interpreting, do not hesitate to contact Código Lingua.