Final answer:
Shareholder approval for a structural change in a company is obtained through a vote. Shareholders' voting power corresponds to their share ownership, and a majority is required for such changes. Large shareholders have significant influence but may still need support from others to gain control.
Step-by-step explanation:
After a board of directors adopts a resolution for a fundamental structural change in a company, shareholder approval is typically required to proceed. This is generally accomplished through a vote at a shareholder meeting. To change the company's top management, for example, a majority of shareholders would need to cast votes in favor of such a change. The distribution of voting power is proportional to the number of shares each shareholder owns. For instance, if Investor 1 and Investor 2 in the Darkroom Windowshade Company, who have 20,000 and 18,000 shares respectively, vote together, they hold a combined 38% of the vote. However, to control the outcome, they would need more than 50% of the votes, which means they would need other investors to join them to reach a majority. This reflects the intricate checks and balances that come into play when shareholders are involved in corporate governance decisions.