About corporate actions - Fidelity

About corporate actions

Corporate actions are events that materially change a publicly traded company, so they may affect the assets held in your accounts. Making sense of a corporate action can be challenging, so we've put together resources to help you better understand how corporate actions might impact your investments. Go

Types of corporate actions

Voluntary events

"Voluntary" corporate actions are events in which you can participate, or choose not to. It's entirely up to you. Keep in mind, though, that whether or not you participate, your accounts may still be affected.

Optional dividends

Optional dividends are a type of corporate action in which you can choose among two or more forms of payment (cash, stock, or a distribution of both), or stay with your dividend payout instructions on file. In either case, you’ll still receive a distribution.

Mandatory events

"Mandatory" corporate actions are initiated by the board of directors of a corporation where participation is automatic for shareholders. In a mandatory event, no direct participation is required from you.

What should I expect

Some events may not affect your investments very much. Others may have implications or create opportunities for you. That's why it's important to understand the details, because these events may influence a company's share price and performance.

Additional information

Visit this page for answers to some common corporate actions questions.

Need more help with corporate actions terms and definitions? Find it here. 852724.3.0

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