Professional Documents
Culture Documents
[Date of Agreement]
SHAREHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT
Relating to:
[Company Name]
([Country] Company number: [Company Number])
INDEX
1. PARTIES................................................................................................................................................3
2. DEFINITIONS.........................................................................................................................................3
3. INTERPRETATION................................................................................................................................4
4. PREAMBLE............................................................................................................................................5
5. SHAREHOLDING..................................................................................................................................5
6. MAIN OBJECT OF THE COMPANY....................................................................................................6
7. DIRECTORS AND MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY..................................................................7
8. RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS AND OBLIGATIONS.........................................................................10
9. THE SHAREHOLDERS’ VOTING RIGHTS AND MEETINGS.........................................................13
10. MATTERS REQUIRING THE CONSENT OF A SPECIAL MAJORITY......................................13
11. DIVIDEND POLICY AND NET PROFITS......................................................................................17
12. BORROWING AND GUARANTEES.............................................................................................18
13. FINANCIAL MATTERS..................................................................................................................19
14. TRANSFER OF SHARES..............................................................................................................19
15. OBLIGATORY TRANSFER EVENTS...........................................................................................21
16. COMPLETION OF SHARE PURCHASE......................................................................................24
17. FAIR VALUE AND COMPULSORY PURCHASE OF SHARES.................................................26
18. ISSUE OF FURTHER SHARES.....................................................................................................27
19. DRAG ALONG................................................................................................................................28
20. TAG ALONG...................................................................................................................................30
21. CONFIDENTIALITY........................................................................................................................31
22. NOTICES.........................................................................................................................................32
23. SERIOUS DEADLOCKS: RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES...........................................................33
24. TERMINATION................................................................................................................................34
25. GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION.....................................................................................35
26. UTMOST GOOD FAITH.................................................................................................................35
27. SEVERENCE...................................................................................................................................36
28. VARIATION AND WAIVER............................................................................................................36
29. ASSIGNMENT.................................................................................................................................37
30. COSTS.............................................................................................................................................37
31. CONFLICT WITH MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES..................................................................37
32. ENTIRE AGREEMENT...................................................................................................................37
33. THIRD PARTIES.............................................................................................................................38
34. COUNTERPARTS..........................................................................................................................38
35. SIGNATORIES................................................................................................................................38
SCHEDULE 1.................................................................................................................................................41
SCHEDULE 2.................................................................................................................................................42
SCHEDULE 3.................................................................................................................................................44
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Shareholders’ Agreement
1. PARTIES
1.4. etc
2. DEFINITIONS
2.1. “Agreement” means this Agreement together with any schedules and/or
attachments hereto;
2.2. “Business Day” means each day other than a Saturday, Sunday or public
holiday in the [Country];
2.6. “Parties” means the parties to this Agreement referred to in clause 1 above;
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Shareholders’ Agreement
2.12. “Share Ratio” means the ratio in which the Shareholders hold Shares in the
Company;
3. INTERPRETATION
3.1. Where the context so indicates, reference to the singular shall be deemed to
include the plural and vice versa and reference to one gender shall be
deemed to include the other genders.
3.2. Clause headings shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.
3.4. References to “in writing” or “written” shall include faxes but not e-mails.
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Shareholders’ Agreement
3.6. This Agreement constitutes the sole memorandum of the agreement between
the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and no variation or addition
hereto or consensual cancellation hereof shall be of any force or effect unless
reduced to writing and signed by the relevant parties.
3.7. No indulgence granted by any party to any of the others in regard to the
enforcement of its rights under this Agreement shall be construed as a waiver
of such rights (unless expressed as such in a written document signed by the
indulgent party), nor shall it serve to prevent the indulgent party from strictly
enforcing its rights in the event of a subsequent breach thereof.
4. PREAMBLE
It is recorded that –
4.2. This document sets out the terms of the Agreement between the
Shareholders, governing their relationship as Shareholders in the Company.
5. SHAREHOLDING
5.1. It is recorded that the Company was created on [incorporation date] and on
[date] had a share capital of [insert amount] made up by way of [insert
number] ordinary Shares of [insert value] each. The said issued Shares in
the Company are held as follows -
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Shareholders’ Agreement
5.2. No subsequent issue or transfer of Shares in the Company shall take place
otherwise than in accordance with this Agreement.
5.3. All ordinary Shares in the Company shall be issued, and shall remain, in
registered form.
5.4. Notwithstanding the terms applicable to clauses 10, 14 and 18 for the transfer
and issuance of Shares to any New Shareholders, all existing Shareholders
will be diluted in their percentage shareholdings in relation to each in the
Company on a pari passu basis.
The main object of the Company shall be to carry on [Enter description of what the
Company does] (the “Business”).
7.1. Management of the Company shall vest in the Board of Directors (the
“Board”).
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Shareholders’ Agreement
7.3. A quorum for a meeting of the Directors shall be shall be a simple majority of
Directors personally present, provided that the director appointed by the
largest shareholder is also present .
7.4. Should a quorum not be present within 30 (thirty) minutes after the time
appointed for the commencement of any meeting of the Directors of the
Company, that meeting shall stand adjourned to the same day in the following
week, at the same time and place, or such other date, time or place as the
chairman of the meeting shall decide, provided that it may not be sooner than
the same day in the following week and nor shall it be later than the same day
4 (four) weeks later. The adjourned meeting may only deal with the matters
which were on the agenda of the meeting which was adjourned. Where a
meeting has been adjourned as aforesaid, the Company shall be obliged to
inform the Directors who were not present at the meeting that was adjourned
of the time, date and place to which the meeting has been adjourned by
giving written notice of such adjourned meeting to those Directors. If at any
adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within 30 (thirty) minutes after the
time appointed for the commencement of such meeting on account of the
absence of a Director(s) representing the same Shareholders as was/were
absent at the previous meeting, the Directors present shall form a quorum. If
any meeting is adjourned on account of the absence of a Director(s)
representing 1 (one) Shareholder and at the adjourned meeting a quorum is
not present on account of the absence of a Director representing another
Shareholder, the Directors present shall not form a quorum and the meeting
shall be adjourned again on the same basis, and on the same terms, as
provided for herein.
7.6. A round-robin resolution, signed by all of the Directors, shall be as valid and
effective as a resolution of Directors taken at a properly constituted meeting
of the Directors
7.7. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held as and when needed but, in
any event, at least on a quarterly basis
7.8. Unless the Directors agree otherwise, the Directors shall be given at least 5
(five) Business days prior written notice of any Directors meeting, the object
being that the Directors should liaise in regard to proposed meeting dates,
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Shareholders’ Agreement
7.9. Directors of the Company may participate in and act at any Board meeting
through the use of a conference telephone or other communication equipment
by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each
other. Such participation shall constitute attendance and presence in person
at the meeting by the person or persons so participating.
7.10. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement and any applicable legislation, the
Board shall have the exclusive responsibility for the management and control
of the Company’s Business and affairs and shall have the power and
authority to do all things necessary to carry out the purpose of the Company
and shall carry on and manage the same with the assistance from time to
time of the other Shareholders and of agents, servants or other employees of
the Company as they shall deem necessary. The Shareholders (otherwise
than in their capacity as Board members) shall have no right or authority to
act for the Company or to take any part in the management of the Company
or to vote on matters relating to the Company other than as provided in the
Act, the Regulations or any other statutory provision applicable to the
Company due, but not exclusively referred to in clauses 10, 13, 14, and 31,
and or as set forth in this Agreement, but they shall at all reasonable times,
subject to having given reasonable notice, have access to and the right to
inspect the books and records of the Company at its registered office or at
such other place as the Board shall designate. In the event that the Act or the
Regulations or any other statutory provision applicable to the Company shall
require a meeting of the Shareholders then such meeting shall be convened
by the Board.
7.11. Without prejudice to the generality of Clause 10, the Board shall have full
power and authority on behalf of the Company and with the power to bind the
Company thereby:-
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Shareholders’ Agreement
7.11.5. To borrow money for any of the purposes of the Company pursuant to
Clauses 10 and 12 and to charge the assets of the Company as
security for money borrowed there under.
8.1. Each of the Shareholders undertakes to each of the other Shareholders that
they shall not (whether directly or indirectly, or whether solely or jointly with or
as agent, Director, Shareholder, partner, manager, employee, consultant or
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Shareholders’ Agreement
independent contractor of, in or to any other person) at any time whilst they
are a holder of any Shares in the Company and for a period of one year from
the date of ceasing to be a Shareholder in the Company (“the Relevant
Date”) without the prior written consent of all the Shareholders:
8.1.3. Supply or provide any goods or services which are competitive with or
of the type supplied by the Company to any person who was at any
time during the period of one year preceding the Relevant Date a
customer or client of the Company to whom the Company had during
that period supplied or provided goods or services in the ordinary
course of its business; or
8.1.6. Derive any benefit from the use of the name of the Company or the
property or the business connections of the Company not introduced
to the Company by the Shareholder as the result of a pre-existing
relationship, and in the event of any breach of this sub-clause the
Shareholder shall account to the Company for any profit derived by
him from the use in question;
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Shareholders’ Agreement
8.2. Each of the Shareholders undertakes to each of the other Shareholders that
they shall (whether directly or indirectly, or whether solely or jointly with or as
agent, Director, Shareholder, partner, manager, employee, consultant or
independent contractor of, in or to any other person) at any time whilst they
are a holder of any Shares in the Company:
8.2.1. Conduct himself in a proper and responsible manner and use his best
skill and endeavour to promote and conduct the Business;
8.2.2. By his actions or omissions not bring the name or reputation of the
Company into serious disrepute or seriously prejudice the interests of
the Business or Company;
8.4. Founder Shareholders will enter into and be bound by the terms of
employment contracts agreed with the Company
8.5. Each Shareholders at the time of entering into the Agreement represents and
warrants:
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Shareholders’ Agreement
8.5.2. The Shareholder is not bankrupt, does not have an existing criminal
record or is not the subject of on-going criminal, civil or regulatory
proceedings or investigations;
8.5.3. The Shareholder has the authority to enter into and commit to be
bound by the Agreement;
9.2. Save as is otherwise provided for in this Agreement (see especially clause 10
below) or in the Articles of Association or by any relevant law, all decisions at
Shareholders’ meetings shall be taken by a simple majority of eligible votes
from Shareholders deemed to be in attendance based each Shareholder
being eligible to cast one vote for each Share that they own.
9.3. Shareholders of the Company may participate in and act at any Shareholders’
meeting through the use of a conference telephone or other communication
equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can
hear each other. Such participation shall constitute attendance and presence
in person at the meeting by the person or persons so participating.
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Shareholders’ Agreement
9.4. Shareholders of the Company who have elected to be Sellers or are holders
of Shares that are subject to the Compulsory Purchase of Shares by the
Company will lose any and all rights to representation and to voting
associated with those Shares that the Company has compulsory purchased.
10.1.5. The sale or disposal by the Company of the whole or the greater
part of its business or the whole or the greater part of its assets;
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Shareholders’ Agreement
10.1.7. The issuing of any Shares in the share capital of the Company or
entering into any commitment with any person with respect to the
issue of any loan capital;
10.1.9. Applying for the listing or trading of any Shares or debt securities on
any stock exchange or market;
10.1.16. Any changes in the nature of the main business of the Company or
the commencement of any new business by the Company, which is
not ancillary to the business;
10.1.18. The disposal of any of the Company’s assets otherwise than in the
normal course of business;
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Shareholders’ Agreement
10.1.21. Making any loan (otherwise than by way of deposit with a bank or
other institution the normal business of which includes the
acceptance of deposits or in the ordinary course of business) or
granting any credit (other than in the normal course of trading) or
giving any guarantee (other than in the normal course of trading) or
indemnity;
10.1.28. Changing the auditors of the Company or its financial year end;
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Shareholders’ Agreement
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Shareholders’ Agreement
10.2. The parties shall ensure that any Directors appointed by them shall comply
with the provisions of this clause.
11.1. The dividend policy of the Company shall be determined from time to time by
the Board of Directors of the Company. In this respect unless the Board agree
unanimously to a different policy, [at least one third of the Net Profits] of
the Company shall be declared as dividends subject always, however, to the
overriding considerations of the financial commitments and gearing of the
Company.
11.2. The net profits of the Company after taxes (the “Net Profits”) are deemed as
those annual Company’s profits, after deduction for but not limited to all its
direct and indirect costs, employee bonuses, preferred dividends, interest and
debt repayments, and taxes, and as agreed by the Board having voted
acceptance of the Company’s Accounts as prepared and presented by the
Company’s Auditors for the relevant financial year.
11.3. It is recorded that it is the intention of the parties that Net Profits are
anticipated to result from applying a waterfall of decreasing priority and
subject to the Company having available profits to make such payments:
11.3.1. First priority payment of all direct and indirect costs, including taxes
and employee salaries and benefits; then
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Shareholders’ Agreement
12.1. The Shareholders undertake to use their best endeavours and good offices
with appropriate financial institutions in order to borrow funds if and when
such are reasonably required by the Company for the purposes of its
business.
12.2. To the extent that the Shareholders are asked to guarantee the obligations of
the Company in order to procure finance or any other contractual
arrangement with the Company, then, provided that the Shareholders agree
with each other to execute any such guarantees, they shall endeavour to do
so, firstly, on the basis that their liability to the creditor shall be joint, in
proportion to the Share Ratio. If, however, any of the Shareholders provides a
guarantee, approved of by the other, or if all Shareholders provide a
guarantee on the basis of which their liability is joint and several, the
Shareholders shall, as between them, be liable pro-rata to the Share Ratio
and accordingly shall indemnify each other to the extent necessary to ensure
that each shall have only been liable for their pro-rata share of the ultimate
liability.
13.1. Once the business of the Company has commenced, it shall be a policy of the
Company to ensure that appropriate management accounts are produced on a
quarterly basis which accounts shall include an income and expenditure
statement.
13.2. An annual budget shall be prepared 6 (six) weeks prior to each financial year
end of the Company which budget shall be accompanied by a forecast of
income and expenditure for the 2 (two) years immediately following the
financial year which is the subject of the budget. Each of the Shareholders
shall be given a copy of such annual budget and forecast immediately such
budget is completed.
13.3. It shall be the policy of the Company to procure that [audited] financial
statements for the Company and its subsidiaries (if any) are completed within
4 (four) months of the end of each financial year of the Company.
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Shareholders’ Agreement
13.4. The Company shall adopt and comply with the principles of generally
accepted accounting practice.
14.2. A Shareholder wishing to transfer Shares (the “Seller”) shall give notice in
writing (the “Transfer Notice”) to the other parties (the “Ongoing
Shareholders”) specifying the details of the proposed transfer, including the
number of Shares they wish to transfer and either;
14.2.1. The identity of the proposed buyer(s) and the price for the Transfer
of Shares as agreed with the buyers; or
14.3. Within 20 (twenty) Business Days of receiving the Transfer Notice, the
Ongoing Shareholders shall be entitled to give written notice to the Seller
stating their intention to:
14.4. Completion of the sale of the Shares pursuant to clause 14.3.1 (as the case
may be) or as a Compulsory Purchase of Shares, shall take place in
accordance with clause 16.
14.5. If the Ongoing Shareholders fail to give notice under clause 14.3:
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Shareholders’ Agreement
14.5.1. The Seller is entitled to transfer his Shares to the third party buyer
identified in the Transfer Notice at a price not less than the price
specified in the Transfer Notice (or the Fair Value, if lower); or
14.5.2. The Seller shall procure that any buyer of Shares that is not a party
to this Agreement shall, at completion, enter into a Shareholders’
Agreement in relation to such Shares with the parties to this
Agreement on the same terms that apply to the Seller.
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Shareholders’ Agreement
15.2.1.1. Death; or
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Shareholders’ Agreement
15.3.1.5. The party is unable to pay its debts as they fall due for
the purposes of section 123 of the Insolvency Act
1986; or
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Shareholders’ Agreement
15.4.1. The deemed Transfer Notice takes effect on the basis that it does
not identify a proposed buyer or state a price for the Shares and the
parties shall refer the question of a valuation to the Valuation Agent
under clause 17 (Fair Value).
15.4.2. The price for the Shares shall be determined in accordance whether
the Seller is deemed to be a Good Leaver or a Bad Leaver pursuant
to clause 15.2 or clause 15.3:
15.4.2.1. In the case of a Good Leaver the price for the Shares
will be determined as the Compulsory Purchase
Consideration in clause 17: or
15.4.2.2. In the case of a Bad Leaver the price for the Shares
shall be the lesser of the Fair Value as determined in
accordance with clause 17 and the original subscription
price paid by the Seller for his Shares .
15.4.3. The Seller does not have a right of withdrawal of the Transfer
Notice.
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Shareholders’ Agreement
15.5. On the completion of any sale in accordance with this clause, the Buyer is not
required to procure the discharge of any security given by the Seller or to
procure the release of any debts of the Company to him.
16.1. Completion of the sale and purchase of Shares under clause 14 and clause
15 of this Agreement shall take place on 20 (twenty) Business Days after:
16.1.1. The day of delivery of the Transfer Notice, unless the Valuation
Agent has been requested to determine Fair Value; or
16.1.2. The day of delivery of the Valuation Agent’s Fair Value notice: or
16.1.3. The Board of the Company has confirmed it has agreed to the
Compulsory Purchase of Shares.
16.2.1. The Seller shall deliver, or procure that there is delivered to the
Ongoing Shareholders, a duly completed Share Transfer Form
transferring the legal and beneficial ownership of the relevant
Shares to the Ongoing Shareholders, together with the relevant
share certificates and such other documents as the Ongoing
Shareholders may reasonably require to show good title to the
Shares, or to enable them to be registered as the holders of the
Shares except in the case of the Compulsory Purchase of Shares
by the Company, when the Board will vote in determining if the
Shares purchased should be issued pro-rata to Ongoing
Shareholders, cancelled or held in Company treasury;
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Shareholders’ Agreement
16.2.3. If following the sale the Seller holds no further Shares in the
Company, the Seller shall deliver, or procure that there are
delivered to the Company, resignations from any Directors
appointed by the Seller, such resignations to take effect at
completion of the sale of the Shares.
16.3. The Shares are sold by the Seller with full title guarantee. For the avoidance
of doubt in the case of the Compulsory Purchase of Shares by the Company,
the Seller will retain no rights to those Shares sold to the Company, but retain
only the right to receive Partial Compulsory Purchase Payments from the
Company after completion and pursuant to clause 17.
16.4. If the Seller does not on completion deliver executed transfer(s) in respect of
all the relevant Shares held by it, the defaulting Seller shall be deemed to
have irrevocably appointed any person nominated for the purpose by the
Ongoing Shareholders to be his agent and attorney to execute all necessary
transfer(s) on his behalf, and to deliver such transfer(s) to the Ongoing
Shareholders as the holder thereof.
16.5. If any Ongoing Shareholder fails to pay the purchase price on the due date,
without prejudice to any other remedy which the Seller may have, the
outstanding balance of the purchase price shall accrue interest at a rate equal
to 2% above the official bank rate as set by the Bank of England from time to
time.
16.6. The parties shall procure the registration (subject to due stamping by the
Ongoing Shareholders) of the transfers of Shares in the Company effected
pursuant to this clause and each of them consents to such transfers and
registrations under this Agreement and the Articles of Association.
17.1. The Fair Value for any Shares to be transferred under this Agreement is that
proportion of the amount that an agreed valuing party (the “Valuation Agent”)
considers to be the Fair Value of the entire issued share capital of the
Company that the Seller’s Shares bear to the entire issued share capital of
the Company (with no discount for the size of the Seller’s shareholding).
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Shareholders’ Agreement
17.1.1. In determining the Fair Value of the entire issued share capital of
the Company, the Valuation Agent relies on the following
assumptions:
17.1.1.2. The Shares are sold free of all restrictions, liens, charges
and other encumbrances; and
17.1.1.3. The sale is taking place on the date the Valuation Agent
was requested to determine the Fair Value.
17.1.2. The Valuation Agent shall be that party agreed between the Board
of Directors and the Seller to undertake an independent valuation of
the Shares. Subject to clause 15, in the event that agreement
cannot be reached within 5 (five) business days after the parties
have failed to agree a price then the Company’s Auditors will be
appointed to undertake the valuation.
17.2. In the case of a Good Leaver, the consideration paid for a compulsory
purchase of Shares by the Company (the “Compulsory Purchase of
Shares”) to be transferred under this Agreement will comprise a total amount
paid to the Seller (the “Compulsory Purchase Consideration”) made as
follows:
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Shareholders’ Agreement
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Shareholders’ Agreement
18.1. If the Company wishes to issue further Shares, the Shareholders shall
procure (so far as is possible in the exercise of their rights and powers) that
the Company gives notice to each Shareholder stating the number of Shares
to be issued and the price of the Shares.
18.2. Except in those circumstances when Shares are only to be offered to a New
Shareholder, pursuant to clauses 10.1.4 and 18.4, each Shareholder shall
have the option, but not the obligation, to subscribe for, at the price stated in
the notice, that proportion of the Shares proposed to be issued which the
number of ordinary Shares held by him bears to the total number of ordinary
Shares in issue at the time the Company gives its notice. Each Shareholder
may exercise the option by giving notice to the Company, at any time within
15 (fifteen) Business Days following the Company’s notice, accompanied by a
banker’s draft made payable to the Company in respect of full payment for the
Shares to be subscribed for.
18.3. Any Shares referred to in the Company’s notice, in respect of which the
Shareholders do not exercise their options, may be issued by the Company in
accordance with its notice, provided that any such issue is completed within
15 (fifteen) Business Days after the Company’s notice.
18.4. No issue of ordinary Shares shall be made to any person who is not already a
party to this Agreement unless that person first enters into a Deed of
Adherence as a Shareholder.
18.5. Where a person who is already a party to this Agreement acquires ordinary
Shares he shall automatically be bound by, and entitled to the benefit of, the
continuing provisions of this Agreement relating to holders of ordinary Shares.
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Shareholders’ Agreement
19.1. Provided that the Company’s Valuation Agent certifies that the price intended
to be accepted is fair as contemplated in clause 17 of this Agreement, then if
the holders of 60% (sixty percent) of the Shares in issue for the time being
(“Selling Shareholders”) wish to transfer all of their interest in the Shares
(“Sellers’ Shares”) to a bona fide arm’s length purchaser (“Proposed
Buyer”), the Selling Shareholders may require all other Shareholders
(“Called Shareholders”) to sell and transfer all their Shares to the Proposed
Buyer (or as the Proposed Buyer directs) in accordance with the provisions of
this clause (“Drag Along Option”). The Selling Shareholders may exercise
the Drag Along Option by giving written notice to that effect (“Drag Along
Notice”) at any time before the transfer of the Sellers’ Shares to the Proposed
Buyer. The Drag Along Notice shall specify:
19.1.1. That the Called Shareholders are required to transfer all their
Shares (“Called Shares”) pursuant to this clause;
19.1.3. The consideration payable for the Called Shares which shall, for
each Called Share, be an amount equal to the price per share
offered by the Proposed Buyer for the Sellers’ Shares; and
19.2. Once issued, a Drag Along Notice shall be irrevocable. However, a Drag
Along Notice shall lapse if, for any reason, the Selling Shareholders do not
sell the Sellers’ Shares to the Proposed Buyer.
19.3. No Drag Along Notice shall require a Called Shareholder to agree to any
terms except those specifically set out in this clause.
19.4. Completion of the sale of the Called Shares shall take place on the
Completion Date. Completion Date means the date proposed for completion
of the sale of the Sellers’ Shares unless:
19.4.1. All of the Called Shareholders and the Selling Shareholders agree
otherwise in which case the Completion Date shall be the date
agreed in writing by all of the Called Shareholders and the Selling
Shareholders; or
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Shareholders’ Agreement
19.4.2. That date is less than 15 (fifteen) Business Days after the date on
which the Drag Along Notice is served, in which case the
Completion Date shall be the 5 (five) Business Days after delivery of
the Drag Along Notice.
19.5. The right of pre-emption set out in clause 15 shall not apply to any transfer of
Shares to a Proposed Buyer (or as it may direct) pursuant to a sale for which
a Drag Along Notice has been duly served.
19.6. Within 15 (fifteen) Business Days of the Selling Shareholders serving a Drag
Along Notice on the Called Shareholders, the Called Shareholders shall
deliver stock transfer forms for the Called Shares, together with the relevant
share certificates (or a suitable indemnity for any lost share certificates) to the
Company. On the Completion Date, the Company shall pay the Called
Shareholders, on behalf of the Proposed Buyer, the amounts they are due for
their Shares pursuant to clause 19.1.3 to the extent that the Proposed Buyer
has put the Company in the requisite funds. The Company’s receipt for the
price shall be a good discharge to the Proposed Buyer. The Company shall
hold the amounts due to the Called Shareholders pursuant to clause 19.1.3 in
trust for the Called Shareholders without any obligation to pay interest.
19.7. If any Called Shareholder does not, on completion of the sale of the Called
Shares, execute transfer(s) in respect of all of the Called Shares held by it,
the defaulting Called Shareholder shall be deemed to have irrevocably
appointed any person nominated for the purpose by the Selling Shareholders
to be his agent and attorney to execute all necessary transfer(s) on his behalf,
against receipt by the Company (on trust for such holder) of the consideration
payable for the Called Shares, to deliver such transfer(s) to the Proposed
Buyer (or as they may direct) as the holder thereof. After the Proposed Buyer
(or its nominee) has been registered as the holder, the validity of such
proceedings shall not be questioned by any such person. Failure to produce a
share certificate shall not impede the registration of Shares under this clause.
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Shareholders’ Agreement
20.2. Before making a Proposed Transfer, a Seller shall procure that the Buyer
makes an offer (the “Offer”) to the all Shareholders to purchase the total
number of Shares that the Buyer wishes to purchase for a consideration in
cash per Share that is equal to the highest price per Share offered or paid by
the Buyer (the “Specified Price”). All Shareholders may then choose to sell
up to their entire holding of Shares save that should the total number of
Shares offered to be sold by the Shareholders exceed the number of Shares
the Buyer wishes to purchase then each Shareholder will only sell up to a
maximum number of Shares which corresponds to their holding as a
proportion of the total holdings of the Shareholders wishing to sell of the
Shares the Buyer wishes to buy.
20.3. The Offer shall be given by written notice (the “Offer Notice”), at least 15
(fifteen) Business Days (the “Offer Period”) before the proposed sale date
(the “Sale Date”). To the extent not described in any accompanying
documents, the Offer Notice shall set out:
20.3.2. The purchase price and other terms and conditions of payment;
20.4. If the Buyer fails to make the Offer to all holders of the Shares in the
Company in accordance with this clause, the Seller shall not be entitled to
complete the proposed transfer and the Company shall not register any
transfer of Shares effected in accordance with the proposed transfer.
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Shareholders’ Agreement
20.6. The sale of Shares by an Accepting Shareholder shall not be subject to the
pre-emption provisions contained in clause 14 of this Agreement.
21. CONFIDENTIALITY
21.1. Each Shareholder undertakes that he shall not at any time after the date of
this Agreement use, divulge or communicate to any person (except to his
professional representatives or advisers or as may be required by law or any
legal or regulatory authority) any Confidential Information concerning the
terms of this Agreement, the business or affairs of the other Shareholders or
the Company which may have (or may in future) come to his knowledge, and
each of the Shareholders shall use his reasonable endeavours to prevent the
publication or disclosure of any Confidential Information concerning such
matters.
21.2. All material written or encoded or in graphic or other tangible form delivered
or revealed by the Company to Shareholders shall be deemed Confidential
Information. Information may include, but is not limited to, intellectual
property, trade secrets, discoveries, ideas, concepts, know-how, techniques,
designs, specifications, drawings, diagrams, data, Company communications
both internal and external including emails, computer programs, computer
databases, algorithms, software programs, current and proposed products,
samples, inserts, research, experimental work, procurement requirements,
investors, employee information, forecasts business activities, facilities,
systems design, communications networks, finances, financial information,
product development plans, business directions, marketing plans, prospective
and existing customer names and operations, presentations, reports, studies
and other technical, business, trading statements and any other document
marked ‘confidential’, (collectively, “Confidential Information”).
22. NOTICES
22.1. Any notice given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
delivered by hand, transmitted by fax, or sent by pre-paid first class post or
recorded delivery post to the address of the party as set out in clause 1, or to
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Shareholders’ Agreement
such other address notified to the other parties. A notice delivered by hand is
deemed to have been received when delivered (or if delivery is not in
business hours, 09h00 on the first Business Day following delivery). A
correctly addressed notice sent by pre-paid first class post or recorded
delivery post shall be deemed to have been received at the time at which it
would have been delivered in the normal course of post. A notice sent by fax
to the fax number of the relevant party shall be deemed to have been
received at the time of transmission.
22.2. The addresses for service of notice of each Shareholder shall be the address
set out in Schedule 1 or such other address notified by any Shareholder to
the others.
23.1. Should any Serious Deadlock arise as between the parties at any time,
whether in their capacities as Shareholders or Directors of the Company, the
dispute shall be submitted to and decided by summary arbitration as provided
for in this clause.
23.2.1. At London;
23.2.2. In a summary manner; that is, on the basis that it shall not be
necessary to observe or carry out either the usual formalities or
procedures as prescribed by the Arbitrations Act;
23.3. The arbitrator shall be a person agreed between the disputing parties and,
failing agreement, (unless otherwise provided for in this Agreement) a suitably
qualified person having regard to the nature of the dispute, nominated for
such purpose by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR).
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Shareholders’ Agreement
23.4.1. The issue submitted to him according to what he considers just and
equitable in the circumstances and accordingly shall not be obliged
to adhere to the Strict Rules of Law;
23.4.2. Which party shall pay the costs of and incidental to the arbitration
or, if each is to contribute, the ratio of their respective contributions.
23.5. The said arbitrator shall be deemed to act as an arbitrator and not as an
expert.
23.6. The disputing parties shall be bound by the decision of the arbitrator and
agree that it shall be carried into effect and shall be capable of being made an
Order of any Court of competent jurisdiction.
23.7. In the event that the arbitrator fails to reach a decision, then either party is
free to register the dispute on www.disputesregister.org.
23.8. The parties agree that this clause shall be severable from the rest of this
Agreement and, accordingly, will remain effective between them even if this
Agreement is terminated.
24. TERMINATION
24.1. This Agreement terminates immediately upon the occurrence of any of the
following events:
24.1.3. All of the Shares become beneficially owned by any one party;
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Shareholders’ Agreement
24.4. In the event that a Shareholder no longer holds any Shares in the Company,
the Shareholder agrees to represent and warrant in writing to the Company,
in the form of a Declaration of Continuing Confidentiality in Schedule 5, to be
delivered within 5 (five) working days of no longer holding Shares, that he has
returned and destroyed all Confidential Information he directly or indirectly
holds and has access to.
24.5. The provisions of clauses 8.1, 8.7, 21, 22, 23, 24.4 and 26 shall survive
Termination of this Agreement.
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Shareholders’ Agreement
25.1. This Agreement and any disputes or claims arising out of or in connection
with its subject matter are governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of [insert country].
25.2. The parties irrevocably agree that the courts of [insert country] have exclusive
jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim that arises out of or on connection
with this Agreement.
26.1.1. Display the highest degree of good faith towards each other in all
matters relating to the Company;
26.1.2. Make full disclosure to each other of all information relating to the
affairs of the Company, including the furnishing of accounts and
explanations and any information as to any matter concerning the
Company which may be reasonably required of it by the other; and
27. SEVERENCE
27.1. If any provision (or party of a provision) of this Agreement is found by any
court or administrative body of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
unenforceable or illegal the other provisions shall remain in force.
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Shareholders’ Agreement
28.1. Any variation of this Agreement shall be in writing and signed by or on behalf
of all the Shareholders for the time being.
28.3. Unless specifically provided otherwise, rights and remedies arising under this
Agreement are cumulative and do not exclude rights and remedies provided
by law.
29. ASSIGNMENT
29.1. No Shareholder may assign, or grant any encumbrance over, or deal in any
way with, any of his rights under this Agreement or any document referred to
in it, or purport to do any of the same, without, in each case, the prior written
consent of all the Shareholders for the time being (such consent not to be
unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed).
29.2. Each Shareholder that has rights under this Agreement is acting on his own
behalf.
30. COSTS
The costs in respect of and incidental to the preparation of this Agreement shall be for the
account of the Company.
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Shareholders’ Agreement
In the event of there being any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and any of
the terms of the Memorandum or Articles of Association of the Company then, as
between the Shareholders, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.
32.1. This Agreement constitutes the whole agreement between the parties and
supersedes any previous arrangement, understanding or agreement between
them relating to the subject matter they cover.
32.2. Each party acknowledges that, in entering into this Agreement, he does not
rely on, and shall have no remedy in respect of, any statement,
representation, assurance or warranty of any person other than as expressly
set out in this Agreement or those documents.
32.3. Nothing in this clause operates to limit or exclude any liability for fraud.
A person who is not a party to this Agreement shall not have any rights under the
Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of this Agreement but
this shall not affect any right or remedy of a third party which exists or is available apart
from the Act.
34. COUNTERPARTS
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when
executed and delivered shall constitute an original of that Agreement, but all the
counterparts shall together constitute the same Agreement. No counterpart shall be
effective until each party has executed at least one counterpart.
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Shareholders’ Agreement
35. SIGNATORIES
SIGNED at [Insert place] on this [Insert day, month and year] in the presence of the
undersigned witnesses.
Witness: Shareholder 1:
SIGNED at [Insert place] on this [Insert day, month and year] in the presence of the
undersigned witnesses.
Witness: Shareholder 2:
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Shareholders’ Agreement
SIGNED at [Insert place] on this [Insert day, month and year] in the presence of the
undersigned witnesses.
Witness: Shareholder 3:
SIGNED by the Company at [Insert place] on this [Insert day, month and year] in the
presence of the undersigned witnesses.
Witness: Company:
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Shareholders’ Agreement
SCHEDULE 1
Shareholders
Existing Shareholders
New Shareholders
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Shareholders’ Agreement
SCHEDULE 2
WHEREAS:
(B) This deed is made by the New Shareholder in compliance with clause 17
of the Shareholders Agreement dated • made between (1) the Company,
and (2) certain persons referred to in that agreement as the New
Shareholders (the Agreement).
1. The New Shareholder confirms that he has been supplied with a copy of
the Agreement.
4. This deed is made for the benefit of (a) the parties to the Agreement and
(b) every other person who after the date of the Agreement (and whether
before or after the execution of this deed) assumes any rights or
obligations under the Agreement or adheres to it.
5. The address [and facsimile number] of the New Shareholder for the
purposes of clause [24] (Notices) of the Agreement is [as above] [as
follows:
[Address:
]
[Fax No: •]
(attention of •)
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Shareholders’ Agreement
IN WITNESS of which this deed has been executed and has been delivered on
the date which appears first on page 1.
[IF INDIVIDUAL:]
SIGNED as a deed by )
· )
in the presence of: )
Name: ..................................................................
Address: ...............................................................
[OR IF COMPANY:]
EXECUTED as a deed by • )
acting by •, a director )
in the presence of: ) Director
Name: ..................................................................
Address: ...............................................................
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Shareholders’ Agreement
SCHEDULE 3
WHEREAS:
(A) The Departing Shareholder no longer holds any Shares in the capital of • (the
Company) [from •].
(B) This deed is made by the Departing Shareholder in compliance with clause 24.5 of
the Shareholders Agreement [dated • ]
1. The Departing Shareholder confirms that he no longer holds any Shares in the
Company as [from •].
2. The Departing Shareholder represents and warrants that he has returned and
destroyed all Confidential Information, as defined in clause 20 of the Agreement that
he directly or indirectly holds and has access to.
4. This deed is made for the benefit of (a) the parties to the Agreement and (b) every
other person who after the date of the Agreement (and whether before or after the
execution of this deed) assumes any rights or obligations under the Agreement or
adheres to it.
5. The address [and facsimile number] of the Departing Shareholder for the purposes of
clause [22] (Notices) of the Agreement is [as above] [as follows:
[Address:
]
[Fax No: •]
(attention of •)
6. This deed and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it
shall be governed by the laws of England.
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Shareholders’ Agreement
IN WITNESS of which this deed has been executed and has been delivered on
the date which appears first on page 1.
[IF INDIVIDUAL:]
SIGNED as a deed by )
· )
in the presence of: )
Name: ..............................................................................
Address: ..........................................................................
[OR IF COMPANY:]
EXECUTED as a deed by • )
acting by •, a director )
in the presence of: ) Director
Name: ..............................................................................
Address: ..........................................................................
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