What are "preemptive rights" in corporate law?

Preemptive rights in corporate law are designed to protect existing shareholders by allowing them to purchase additional shares of stock before the company offers them to other potential buyers. This mechanism ensures that shareholders can maintain their proportional ownership in the company when new shares are issued, preventing dilution of their ownership percentage. For instance, if a company decides to raise capital by issuing more shares, existing shareholders with preemptive rights have the opportunity to buy additional shares to keep their stake in the company intact.

This right is particularly significant because it empowers shareholders and secures their investment against the possibility of their voting power or ownership percentage being diminished due to new shares being sold to outside investors.

The other choices don't accurately define preemptive rights. For instance, preventing shareholders from selling their shares does not relate to preemptive rights; instead, it contradicts the concept of share ownership. Similarly, restricting preemptive rights to institutional investors or limiting corporate profits does not accurately encompass the meaning or intent of preemptive rights in protecting shareholder interests.