For limited companies, when it comes to making decisions, Company Law states shareholders who own more than 50% can pass a motion at a company meeting regardless of the views of other shareholders and if shareholder(s) owns more than 75% of the shares they control the company outright and can veto the decisions of all other shareholders.
This may not suit all business situations, especially where you have two or more founders holding equal share capital or a group of owners with varying amounts of capital, some of whom are directors and some who are not, but who are all working together for the company’s success.
A shareholders’ agreement is entered into between all or some of the shareholders in a company. It regulates the relationship between the shareholders, the management of the company, ownership of the shares and the protection of the shareholders. They also govern the way in which the company is run.
A shareholders agreement can help define how a business makes decisions to the benefit of all owners and is recommended where:
Typically it is seeking to deal with the three “D’s” of death, disability and disagreement. It may also cover a variety of other significant areas for example, retirement and buy back of shares.
Our view is that every agreement is individual to each set of shareholders and legal advice is generally advised. It is possible for shareholders to draft their own agreements using resources such as those provided by online document providers, such as Simply-Docs: Shareholder Agreements (simply-docs.co.uk). There are several providers of online forms but as we said just above legal advice is recommended to help you draft an agreement.
A properly drawn up and comprehensive agreement can protect minority interests, clarify who makes decisions, empowers all participants, acts as a record of agreement, can help keep your affairs more private and can offer flexibility if and when situations such as retirement, death, disability and disagreements arise.
Key areas for any shareholder agreement
This is not a comprehensive list as each situation is different, but it may help you collect the thoughts of all shareholders before you draw up an agreement.
Company details including structure, directors and officers
Purpose and aims of the company
Equity split of shareholders
Parties to the agreement
Shareholders rights, obligations and commitments
Decision making processes on major issues, required voting majorities and day to day operating decisions
Restrictions on the sale of shares
Rights of first refusal and pre-emptive rights to acquire shares on leaving, retirement, death or disability
Death, disability and other retirement compensation payments
Management contracts, director approval and remuneration amounts
Insurance and other protective requirements
Professional advisers and change of professional advisers
Dispute resolution
Changes to and termination of the agreement
Buy out provisions for leaving shareholders
Valuation of shares on changes and valuations of the business
Summary
Our view is that a shareholders agreement is an essential document for any limited company and an equitably drafted agreement should provide comfort to all parties to the agreement.
Get in touch
Please talk to us if you need help in planning for an agreement, especially where there are several shareholders, a new company is being formed, a shareholder wants to sell their shares or pass them to their children, someone is nearing retirement, or the company has borrowed money from a shareholder. We can help with share and company valuations and putting the shareholders wishes into an agreement with a local solicitor.
Give our Business Development Manager a call on (0121) 295 8884, or email charlie.sangha@informaccounting.co.uk.