Protect shareholder rights and define how decisions get made.
ZegalWorks drafts shareholders agreements that balance founder control with investor protections and stay consistent with your articles.
What is Shareholders Agreement?
A shareholders agreement (SHA) is a contract between the shareholders of a company, and often the company itself, about how it will be governed. It covers board composition, which decisions need investor consent, how shares can be sold, and what happens at exit or in a deadlock.
An SHA is usually signed when the first outside investor comes in, but even a founder-only company benefits from one. To be enforceable against the company, its key terms are normally also reflected in the articles of association.
Who this is for
A good fit if you
- Are taking in your first investor or a new round
- Have several shareholders who need clear rules
- Want exit, transfer and deadlock rules written down
- Are preparing for due diligence
Something else may suit you better if
You have only co-founders and no investors. A founders agreement may be enough for now.
You are a partnership or LLP. A partnership or LLP agreement serves this purpose.
You want only a term sheet reviewed. Ask us about term sheet review.
What you need
We confirm the exact list for your situation during your free consultation.
- Board and control
- Board seats, observer rights and decisions that need investor consent.
- Transfer rules
- Right of first refusal, tag-along and drag-along rights.
- Investor protections
- Anti-dilution, information rights and pre-emptive rights.
- Exit
- Exit routes and how a sale or listing would work.
- Deadlock and disputes
- How stalemates are resolved, including arbitration.
- Articles alignment
- Key terms are mirrored in the articles to make them enforceable.
What ZegalWorks handles for you
- Understand. We review the term sheet and the commercial deal.
- Draft. We prepare the SHA and the matching changes to the articles.
- Negotiate. We help you and the investor settle open points.
- Execute. We guide stamping, signing and board and shareholder approvals.
- Update. We update registers, share certificates and filings.
How long it takes and what it costs
Timing depends on negotiation. A first draft is usually ready within a week, and final signing follows the commercial agreement.
Your total cost has two parts: our professional fee, and any government or statutory fees that apply. Government fees are set by the authority and vary by case, so we give you an itemised quote before you commit to anything. A founders and shareholders agreement is part of our Armour package. See our pricing page for packages.
Get a Tailored QuoteRelated services
Most businesses need more than one of these. They are all handled by the same ZegalWorks team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to the questions we hear most.
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