Impact of the COVID-19 Outbreak on Minority Shareholder Protection

Abstract

The COVID-19 outbreak, which was announced by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a global outbreak on 11 March 2020, comprises a risk not only for human health, but also for the whole world including society, business and the global economy. During lockdowns caused by the COVID-19 virus, the general atmosphere of companies changed. The significant restrictions and measures announced by the countries in order to deal with the COVID-19 crisis had serious economic outcomes for companies. The crisis environment has been used by some managers, who are also majority shareholders in the company or influenced by majority shareholders, for their own interests to oppress minority shareholders and to remove them from the company and management. Protection of shareholders matters for the facility of companies to raise the capital required to grow, innovate, diversify and compete. Thus, in these difficult COVID-19 times, it is more important to provide protection for minority shareholders. That will develop the level of confidence, trust and finally the levels of investment, which would result in a healthy and robust countries’ economy. Based on that, this article uniquely contributes to minority shareholder protection during the COVID-19 outbreak by focusing on corporate governance and also primary remedies that may be obtained by shareholders during the current pandemic. COVID-19 outbreak, Corporate governance, Minority shareholder protection, Derivative action, Unfair prejudice petition