A shareholders' agreement is an agreement 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.
As a legally binding contract, a shareholder agreement is enforceable if it aligns with the rules of contract enforceability. That means that the things like the basic contract requirements of offer, acceptance, and consideration will apply in order for a shareholder agreement to be enforceable.
Drafting shareholder agreements without expert advice could put you at risk of including provisions which may be deemed by a court as invalid.
Forced buyout of a shareholder It's possible through a buy-sell agreement, cross-option agreement, share buyback, or other valid contract. These provisions trigger in certain circumstances, such as when a shareholder dies, files for bankruptcy or divorces. Mergers and acquisitions can also be triggers.
Much like any other contract, a shareholders' agreement is legally binding. Therefore, in most cases, the standard rules of contract law will apply regarding enforceability and the remedies available if a breach of that agreement or a dispute occurs.
The basic elements required for the agreement to be a legally enforceable contract are: mutual assent, expressed by a valid offer and acceptance; adequate consideration; capacity; and legality. In some states, elements of consideration can be satisfied by a valid substitute.
Under the standard rules of contract law, any party to the shareholders' agreement may, if no provision is made in the agreement to resolve disputes, seek a declaration, damages, an injunction or order for specific performance to stop other parties to the agreement acting contrary to its terms.
A shareholders' agreement is an agreement 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 shareholder agreement is a legal document that outlines the rights, responsibilities, and obligations of shareholders in a company. Its primary purpose is to establish a framework for the governance and management of the company, as well as to protect the interests of the shareholders.