A shareholder is a person who participates in the share capital as and may exercise shareholder rights.
The shareholder of the company is the owner of shares to which are attached rights of the shareholder. According to its share of the total number of shares may be minority or majority. Greater number of shares held is greater opportunity to influence the activities of joint-stock company (a. s.). The rights of shareholders may be exercised even before issuance of shares or interim certificates - from the date of registration of the share capital in the Commercial Register. The rights of shareholders are proprietary - the shareholder participates in the profits and in the liquidation balance upon the dissolution of the company, and the pre-emptive right to newly issued shares. He has the right to participate in the management of a joint stock company.