TotalEnergies shareholder protest: hearing postponed

The hearing concerning TotalEnergies' refusal to put a shareholder resolution to the vote has been postponed to May 21 for procedural reasons.

Share:

Contestation TotalEnergies Litige

A coalition of shareholders representing 1.3 billion euros in shares, or 0.9% of TotalEnergies’ capital, has tabled a draft resolution aimed at ending Patrick Pouyanné’s dual role as Chairman and CEO. TotalEnergies ‘ Board of Directors unanimously refused to include this resolution on the agenda of the Annual General Meeting, arguing that “the unity of the company’s management and representation powers is part of a particularly well-defined balance of power”.

Legal proceedings and postponed hearing

The shareholders, advised by the law firm Vermeille&Co, challenged this refusal in court via a writ of summary jurisdiction. However, the original summons was not presented to the Nanterre Commercial Court judge, who refused to accept a scanned copy. Consequently, it decided to postpone the hearing until after TotalEnergies’ Annual General Meeting.

Shareholder arguments

The shareholders consider that their draft resolution is purely consultative and not binding on the company, which makes it legal. They are asking that Patrick Pouyanné be retained as CEO, but not as Chairman. The Ethos Foundation, which represents pension funds in Switzerland and is behind the project, is one of the eight members of this coalition.

Reactions and outlook

TotalEnergies’ Board of Directors, which last September supported Mr. Pouyanné’s reappointment for a fourth three-year term, will have to wait until the Annual General Meeting at the end of May to see whether shareholders approve this decision. In the meantime, the shareholder protest highlights internal debates about corporate governance and the separation of powers.
The postponed hearing and the upcoming discussions at the Annual General Meeting will be crucial for the future of TotalEnergies’ governance. Shareholders hope to make their voices heard and influence the company’s decisions, while TotalEnergies management seeks to maintain its current governance model.

Eni announces a sharp decline in quarterly net profit, the result of lower oil prices and a weaker dollar, while maintaining a strengthened dividend policy and a development trajectory in renewables.
EDF is reassessing its industrial priorities and streamlining investments, as net profit falls to €5.47bn ($5.94bn) in the first half of 2025 due to a weakening electricity market.
Energy group Edison posts increased sales and investments despite a less favourable market environment, advancing its renewables development and strengthening its positions in Italy.
SEGULA Technologies opens an office in Cape Town, strengthening its presence in the African market and targeting expansion in energy, rail, and automotive sectors, in partnership with South African industrial firm AllWeld.
GE Vernova's revenue rose by 11% in the second quarter, driven by momentum in its Power activities, as the US group raised its financial targets for 2025.
The Allrig group is expanding its operations in Saudi Arabia, supported by AstroLabs, to boost energy efficiency and address the growing needs of the local oil sector.
Saipem and Subsea7 formalise their merger agreement, resulting in the creation of Saipem7, an international energy services player with consolidated revenue of €21bn and an order backlog of €43bn.
TotalEnergies reports a significant decrease in net profit and revenue for the second quarter, while relying on growth in its hydrocarbon and electricity production to sustain profitability and global ambitions.
Exus Renewables North America finalizes $308.2 million financing for two major solar portfolios in New Mexico and wind projects in Pennsylvania, showcasing the expansion of large-scale renewable assets across multiple U.S. markets.
Baker Hughes posted attributable net income of $701 mn in the second quarter, while executing several strategic transactions and strengthening its position in industrial technologies and oilfield services markets.
Equinor announces a 13% decline in adjusted profit for Q2 2025, driven by falling oil prices, despite rising gas prices and production.
Iberdrola launches a EUR5 billion (USD5.87 billion) capital increase to fund the expansion and modernization of its power grids in the UK and the US, while announcing a decline in its half-year profit.
Halliburton reports a 50% drop in net income and nearly a 6% reduction in revenue for Q2, with demand in North America remaining particularly weak.
The growth of data centres and artificial intelligence is putting unprecedented pressure on global electricity grids, prompting major tech companies to rethink their energy supply to address capacity and competitiveness challenges.
BP announces the appointment of Albert Manifold as chairman, succeeding Helge Lund. Manifold, former CEO of CRH, will join the board on September 1, before officially taking over the role on October 1.
Romanian company Electrica raised €500 million through the country's first green bond issuance, with participation from the European Investment Bank (EIB), to finance its renewable energy and storage projects.
Kem One and EDF signed a protocol agreement for a 10-year electricity supply contract, covering seven French industrial sites. The contract is expected to be finalised by the end of September 2025.
The Canadian energy solutions provider has received approval from the Toronto Stock Exchange to repurchase up to 10% of its float by July 2026.
The Marseille Commercial Court has validated Bourbon Group’s accelerated safeguard plans, paving the way for a debt reduction and shareholder transition by the end of 2025.
Energie Baden-Württemberg AG announces the completion of a €3.1bn capital increase to support its investment plan, with strong shareholder participation, marking a major milestone for the group’s financial strategy.