Jardines faces another shareholder revolt

In April 2000, a group of minority shareholders in Jardine Group staged a rebellion against the defensive cross-shareholdings between Jardine Matheson and Jardine Strategic Holdings at the Group’s annual general meeting in Bermuda. It was a moment of high drama for Hong Kong’s original great firm, and highlighted how bad corporate governance practices have led to its decline. The rebels lost that battle but are gearing up for a new attempt to change Jardine’s ways – and perhaps return it to its former glory.

Brandes Investment Partners, a California-based investment advisory firm, has recently notified Jardines of four resolutions it will formally propose at the next AGM, to be held on 17 May. The resolutions are designed to force the senior managers of the Group to unwind the cross-holding with the aim of boosting the fortunes of the undervalued stock.