{"id":4217,"date":"2024-09-27T16:48:05","date_gmt":"2024-09-27T14:48:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/valueinvestments.ch\/lexikon\/shareholder\/"},"modified":"2025-01-07T11:46:35","modified_gmt":"2025-01-07T10:46:35","slug":"shareholder","status":"publish","type":"lexikon","link":"https:\/\/valueinvestments.ch\/en\/lexicon\/shareholder\/","title":{"rendered":"Shareholder"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is a shareholder? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

A shareholder is a natural or legal person or another commercial company that owns at least oneshare<\/a> in apublic limited company<\/a>. By acquiring shares in a company, the shareholder acquires an ownership interest in a public limited company<\/strong> and can thus benefit from the company’s success (throughdividends<\/a> or a rising share price). At the same time, however, losses incurred by the company also affect the shareholder’s investment. <\/p>\n\n

Difference between majority shareholder, major shareholder and minor shareholder <\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n

This distinction relates to the extent of the shareholders’ participation: <\/p>\n\n

As principal shareholder <\/strong>(also: majority shareholder) <\/strong>A majority shareholder is a shareholder who owns more than 50 percent of <\/strong>a company’s shares <\/strong>. This in turn gives the majority shareholder a great deal of power over the company. For example, they can replace board members or managers at C-level. <\/p>\n\n

Although the major shareholder<\/strong> holds less than 50 percent, he still has a very high shareholding<\/strong>. In line with his stake in the company, he also has a major influence on the company<\/a>‘s business decisions. <\/p>\n\n

Finally, small shareholders<\/strong> only have a small stake in the company’s shares. Most private investors are small shareholders and invest in shares to make a profit, not to influence company decisions. <\/p>\n\n

Profit participation of shareholders <\/h2>\n\n

The dividend<\/a> gives shareholders a share in the profits<\/a> of the joint-stock company, whereby the dividend may only be paid out of retained earnings<\/a>and the reserves formed for this purpose in accordance with Art. 660 of the Swiss Code of Obligations. Shareholders are not entitled to interest<\/strong> on their share capital. <\/p>\n\n

Are shareholders liable for the company? <\/h2>\n\n

Shareholders are not liable for the financial obligations of the <\/strong>public limited company<\/a> in which they hold shares. In the event of insolvency, the shareholders’ private assets are therefore protected, even though they own parts of the public limited company. However, they may lose their entire investment in the event of insolvency. <\/p>\n\n

What rights and obligations does a shareholder have? <\/h2>\n\n

The acquisition of shares also entails rights and obligations for the shareholder, which are defined <\/strong>in company law <\/strong>and set out in the articles of association of the stock corporation<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n

Rights of a shareholder <\/h2>\n\n

Property rights<\/strong>, including with:<\/h4>\n\n