Chief issues at shareholder meetings.

• Position: GOVERNANCE - Brief article

As corporate managers and boards of directors prepare for 2010 annual meetings, accounting and consulting firm BDO has compiled a list of areas that they should be prepared to deal with. The following are excerpts:

* Planning for the Recovery. Given that forecasts are for a slow, uneven recovery, shareholders will want to know about the company's comprehensive plan to react quickly to opportunities.

* Funding the Recovery. Despite positive signs, credit remains tight. Shareholders will want to know how management plans to access capital to fund current operations, build inventories and fuel expansion as opportunities arise.

* Assessing Public Equity Markets. With the U.S. initial public offering market well ahead of last year's dismal pace, shareholders may want to know if the favorable forecast will translate to offerings from existing public companies and if management is considering a securities offering.

* Quality Controls. Since most businesses have likely undertaken significant streamlining programs to deal with the recession, shareholders may ask how these programs...