Contents
Shareholders are a critical part of any company’s organisational structure. In this article, we’ll be exploring the role shareholders’ play in a company, and specifically:
- Who can be a shareholder
- What are their rights
- What are their limits within a company
What Is A Shareholder?
A shareholder is a person, company or institution who owns a percentage of the company. A shareholder can own 1% or 30% of the company – it doesn’t matter either way. As long as you own a share in the company, you qualify as a shareholder.
In some cases, the shareholder will be an external party who doesn’t participate in the day to day operations of the company. In other cases, the shareholder will also be a director or an employee of the company. Founders of a company, for example, are typically shareholders, directors and employees of a company.
What Are The Rights And Duties Of Shareholders?
A key right of shareholders is the right to receive a share of the company’s profits, which is usually by way of a dividend that is consistent with the percentage ownership of the company which the shareholder holds. For example, if a shareholder holds 30% of the shares in a company, they may receive 30% of the profits of a company in a dividend issued at the end of a financial year.
In addition, shareholders often have the right to sell their shares to other shareholders or third parties, ideally (for the shareholder) at a price higher than what they obtained the shares at, so they can turn a profit.
The specific rights and duties of a shareholder vary from company to company, but are usually set out in the company’s Constitution and/or Shareholders Agreement (more on these below), which clarifies their rights to dividends and their rights to sell shares, including any restrictions on those rights.
Shareholders generally don’t hold any responsibility if the company faces financial or legal troubles.
Shareholder Vs Stakeholder: What’s The Difference?
The term ‘stakeholder’ is not really a legal term; rather, it is a business term commonly used to refer to people who are impacted by the company. For example, an employee may be considered a company stakeholder as their employment and living are directly linked to the company. Other parties that could classify as stakeholders to a company are suppliers, customers and partners. These are individuals and organisation that are affected by how the company performs.
A shareholder, meanwhile, is a person who holds legal title to a share in a company. A stakeholder is dependent on the company to perform well, whereas a shareholder is likely to be more concerned with financial returns of the company.
Who Can Be A Shareholder?
As a general rule, anyone can be a shareholder. A person becomes a shareholder by either purchasing shares of a company or having shares transferred to them. Founders, investors and employees can all own shares in a company.
However, the company Constitution or Shareholders Agreement may have its own set of rules on who can become a shareholder. Therefore, the general policy may be overridden by rules the company Constitution has set out. There’s more on that below.
Company Constitution
As noted before, the company Constitution will have an impact on important company functions, including the role of shareholders. The company Constitution is a legally binding document that outlines the regulations governing the company. If a company doesn’t have a Constitution, then the replaceable rules found in the Corporations Act will apply. If a company does have a Constitution, then the rules of the Constitution will precede the general rules.
This has an significant impact on the role of shareholders. For example, a Constitution can state that in order for a person to be appointed a director of the company, they must be a shareholder.
Alternatively, the Constitution could state the complete opposite. Therefore, a lot of the rules and regulations mentioned are subject to the Constitution of each individual company- should they have one.
Shareholders Agreement
A Shareholders Agreement is a document that binds the shareholders of a company to certain practices. It will set out a process for decision making and dispute resolution.
It will usually contain important things such as selling shares, refusal rights, appointing directors and requirements for important decisions. Much like a company Constitution, there is no legal requirement for a Shareholders Agreement although it’s highly advisable to have one when there are multiple shareholders in your company.
Once all the shareholders have agreed and signed the document, it becomes a legally binding document. A shareholders agreement ensures that all shareholders are aware of the expectations of them regarding their conduct and holds them accountable for any breaches.
Changes To Shareholder Details
Any changes to shareholder details usually need to be given to ASIC. This includes changes to the shareholders personal details such as their name and address.
It can also be matters such as a change to their beneficiary or if the shareholder is transferring their shares to another member. Any update to these details can usually be made online.
It is important to do them in a timely manner, in order to avoid potential repercussions. ASIC has certain requirements when it comes to notifying them of changes, so it’s a good idea to chat to a lawyer to ensure you don’t miss any key steps.
Key Takeaways
Shareholders play a core role in any company. Their role, however, will be subject to the type of company you have and the internal processes of that company.
A company Constitution and a Shareholders Agreement will impact the role of a shareholder. If you’re looking to further explore the agreements that can govern shareholders in your company or simply want to know more, our expert lawyers are here to help.
If you would like a consultation on your options going forward, you can reach us at 1800 730 617 or team@sprintlaw.com.au for a free, no-obligations chat.
Get in touch now!
We'll get back to you within 1 business day.
Top 3 Legal Mistakes
Book in a free consultation with us to discuss your legal needs.