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5 Reasons Your Company Should Have a Shareholders’ Agreement


Mark Tromans Head of Corporate and Commercial Law. by Mark Tromans DATE 22/04/24

In business, unpredictability is the only real certainty; but, a shareholders’ agreement can provide stability and clarity to help mitigate this. At Hibberts Solicitors, our shareholder agreement solicitors explain why having a robust shareholders’ agreement is essential for your company.

1. Mitigating Disputes Before They Arise

Disagreements are part and parcel of any business venture. However, the impact of these disputes can be mitigated through a well drafted shareholders’ agreement. It serves as a pre-agreed route to resolving conflicts, thus avoiding the potential for expensive and time-consuming litigation. By setting clear parameters for conflict resolution, a shareholders’ agreement ensures that all parties know exactly how disputes will be handled, fostering a more harmonious business environment. It also goes without saying, that it is much easier to agree on how a dispute will be handled when all parties see eye to eye. Waiting until a dispute has arisen, only serves to make resolving the dispute more difficult.

2. Clarifying Management and Decision-making Processes

The delineation of management roles and decision-making authority is crucial for the smooth operation of a company. A shareholder has little to do with the management and day to day running of a company. This is left to the directors.  However, a shareholders’ agreement can specify that certain decisions require shareholder consent, thereby preventing any overreach by the board of directors. This clarity not only streamlines business operations but also gives shareholders control over key company decisions, aligning with the company’s strategic objectives.

3. Protecting Minority and Majority Shareholders

A shareholders’ agreement provides safeguards for both minority and majority shareholders. With mechanisms like “tag-along” and “drag-along” rights, the agreement ensures fair treatment when it comes to major transactions, such as the sale of the company. These provisions protect minority shareholders from being left out of lucrative deals and enable majority shareholders to sell the company without obstruction from minority interests.

For a minority shareholder in particular, a shareholders’ agreement can provide a right to appoint a director to the board of the company. A shareholder with 50% of the shares or less, would not ordinarily be able to appoint a director without support from other shareholders, meaning that minority shareholders risk being unrepresented at board level. A shareholders’ agreement can address this.

4. Regulating Share Transfers

The transfer of shares can lead to unwanted changes in company ownership. A shareholders’ agreement can stipulate restrictions on share transfers, granting existing shareholders the right of first refusal where a shareholder wishes to sell their shares. This pre-emptive measure ensures that shares are offered to existing shareholders before being sold externally, thus maintaining the desired ownership structure.  Conversely, a shareholders’ agreement can also provide a mechanism for ensuring that shares belonging to a shareholder who leaves the business, are returned to the company or other shareholders. These compulsory transfer provisions ensure that only those who work in the business, have a stake in it.

5. Setting the Foundation for Business Stability and Growth

A shareholders’ agreement is more than a legal necessity; it’s a strategic tool that lays the groundwork for business stability and growth. By addressing potential issues proactively, it helps in attracting investment, securing financing and establishing a clear roadmap for future operations. The agreement demonstrates to investors and financial institutions that the company is well-organised and prepared for various potential issues that may arise.

In conclusion, a shareholders’ agreement is a vital component of your business’s governance framework. It not only provides a safety net in times of internal conflict but also strengthens the company’s operational and strategic posture. At Hibberts Solicitors, our dedicated team of corporate and commercial solicitors is committed to drafting agreements that are tailored to your business’s unique needs, ensuring that you are well-prepared to navigate your way through problems, which in turn allows you to focus on running the business and making it a success.

Mark Tromans Head of Corporate and Commercial Law.

Mark Tromans

Head of Corporate and Commercial

Mark qualified as a Corporate and Commercial Solicitor in 2016, after working at the Solicitors Regulation Authority and spending around two years as a paralegal in Personal Injury before commencing a training contract. Mark wanted to be a Solicitor ever since he can remember, but it wasn’t until Mark began studying for his law degree at his local university in Wolverhampton that he realised he wanted to specialise in Corporate and Commercial law. After completing his law degree, achieving a 2:1 with honours, Mark continued his studies at the University of Wolverhampton and completed a post-graduate Legal Practice Course, achieving a Distinction.Mark is originally from Brierly Hill in the West Midlands, but after meeting his wife at the firm where he was training, Mark moved to Shropshire. In the years before joining Hibberts, Mark worked for two well-known corporate law firms in the West Midlands and Shropshire, where he developed his skills and expertise in both corporate transactional work and commercial contract work.Mark now heads up the Corporate and Commercial department at Hibberts, and is excited to contribute to the development of the team and grow Hibberts’ corporate presence across all our offices in the South Cheshire and North Shropshire areas.Outside of work, Mark is a big fan of music. Mark particularly likes rock and metal, but will listen to just about anything if it’s catchy. Over the years, Mark has taught himself to play the ukulele and some piano. Mark also really enjoys anything to do with comedy, whether it’s a good, old sitcom or, even better, some stand-up. He tries to catch as many live music or comedy gigs as possible, but spends most of his free time creating mischief with his wife and two children.Mark also follows the national hunt horse racing quite closely. You just can’t beat a day at the races, so he tries to visit a couple of meetings each year if he can.