Shareholder Agreement Templates

When setting up a business with partners or bringing in new investors, it is essential to have a clear and legally binding agreement that defines the rights and responsibilities of shareholders. A shareholders agreement helps establish ownership structure, decision-making authority, dispute resolution mechanisms, and business continuity plans, ensuring transparency and legal protection for all parties involved.

Why use a Shareholder Agreement?

A well-drafted shareholders agreement clarifies shareholder obligations and protects business interests. It helps outline how shares are issued or transferred, the balance of power between majority and minority shareholders, and procedures in the event of a shareholder’s death or incapacity.

Each solicitor-drafted Shareholder Agreement template in this collection is fully compliant with the Companies Act 2006, providing legally sound agreements tailored to different business structures.  

Choosing the Right Shareholder Agreement

To help with this selection and prepare a shareholder agreement please also download: 

• The  Shareholders’ Notes and Comparison Note which provides a matrix to enable you to evaluate which agreement template best fits your needs
• The Shareholders’ Agreement Notes which provides detailed explanations of the issues typically covered in shareholder and joint venture arrangements
• The Shareholders’ Agreement Checklist which is a practical tool for collecting all relevant company and shareholder information before you begin drafting or customising your agreement

This selection is broadly drafted into two main categories: 

Shareholder Agreements - New Share Issue

1. New Issue Basic Shareholder Agreement - A simple, easy-to-use agreement for companies issuing new shares. It covers essential governance, shareholder rights, and share transfer terms.
   Best for: Start-ups or small businesses issuing shares to new investors.
2. New Issue Standard Shareholder Agreement - A mid-level agreement offering balanced protection for all shareholders. Includes voting, management, dispute resolution, and transfer provisions.
   Best for: SMEs with multiple active shareholders.
3. New Share Issue Good/Bad Leaver Shareholder Agreement - Adds clear Good Leaver/Bad Leaver clauses defining what happens when a shareholder leaves the company, protecting both the company and other investors.
   Best for: Companies with key employees or investor-shareholders.
4. New Share Issue Majority Bias Shareholder Agreement - Comprehensive, long-form agreement designed to favour the majority shareholder. Covers management control, decision rights, and dispute resolution.
   Best for: Majority-owned private companies or founder-led businesses.
5. New Share Issue Minority Bias Shareholder Agreement - A detailed long-form template protecting minority shareholders’ rights, including veto powers and enhanced information access.
   Best for: Investors seeking equal protection in new share issues.

Shareholder Agreements – No Share Issue

1. No Share Issue Basic Shareholder Agreement - Simple agreement covering existing shareholders’ rights and governance, without issuing new shares.
   Best for: Small or family-owned businesses with stable ownership.
2. No Share Issue Standard Shareholder Agreement - Comprehensive agreement with balanced rights and detailed management, voting, and transfer provisions.
   Best for: Established companies formalising existing shareholder relationships.
3. No Share Issue Good/Bad Leaver Shareholder Agreement - Adds good/bad leaver clauses for handling shareholder exits, buy-backs, and share valuation without issuing new shares.
   Best for: Companies managing potential shareholder departures.
4. No Share Issue Majority Bias Shareholder Agreement - Detailed long-form agreement favouring majority shareholders, giving control over strategic decisions and governance.
   Best for: Majority-controlled companies.
5. No Share Issue Minority Bias Shareholder Agreement - Long-form version offering robust protection for minority shareholders, with rights over major decisions and fair treatment provisions.
   Best for: Minority investors seeking safeguards in established firms.
6. Revised Family Transfer Provisions Shareholder Agreement - Focuses on updated or alternative share-transfer, pre-emption, drag/tag-along, and exit rights. Offers greater flexibility for dynamic ownership structures.
   Best for: Companies with complex ownership or transfer requirements.

The selection of Shareholder Agreement templates provides for different business situations from new investors joining, providing for key staff with shares, majority owned companies, minority investor protection, established shareholders with no new capital, and complex transfer requirements. Selecting the best fit for your purpose will save time and reduce editing requirements. To complete the tailoring of your agreement Optional Clauses are also available to download.

• Shareholder Agreement Comparison Notes
• Basic Shareholder Agreement – New Share Issue
• Standard Shareholder Agreement – New Share Issue
• Good Leaver/Bad Leaver Shareholder Agreement - New Share Issue
• Majority Bias Shareholder Agreement – New Share Issue
• Minority Bias Shareholder Agreement - New Share Issue
• Basic Shareholder Agreement - No Share Issue
• Standard Shareholder Agreement – No Share Issue
• Good Leaver/Bad Leaver Shareholder Agreement - No Share Issue
• Majority Bias Shareholder Agreement - No Share Issue
• Minority Bias Shareholder Agreement – No Share Issue
• Shareholder Agreement Transfer to Family & Transfer on Death/Incapacity of Shareholder

Shareholder Agreement Templates is part of Corporate. Just £38.50 + VAT provides unlimited downloads from Corporate for 1 year.