If your company is intended to have more than one shareholder, it is important to have a lawyer produce a well-drafted shareholders agreement and articles of association (the Company’s constitution) to govern the following (among other things):
- Who gets a seat on the Board;
- How shares can be transferred – e.g. whether pre-emption (offer-round) rights apply; whether a minority shareholder can be forced to sell to a third party buyer; whether shares can be passed to family members; whether shares have to be sold on the death of another shareholder; how employee shareholder shares are dealt with on cessation of employment etc;
- How the company is financed;
- How the Company is run;
- How Board or shareholder deadlock can be resolved;
- Minority protection rights;
- Non-compete restrictions for departing shareholders;
- What happens if a shareholder wants to force an exit; etc.
We would be very happy to assist in drafting an appropriate agreement that meets your needs and ambitions for your business.