Chairman of Washington H Soul Pattinson, Robert Millner, shutdown the listed fund's annual general meeting on Friday after shareholders and proxy voters quizzed him on the company's coal mining investments.

Mr Millner, who was overwhelmingly re-elected as a director,  took the unusual step after being peppered with questions on the financial viability of the fund's 49.98 per cent stake in coal miner New Hope Corporation, which he also chairs.