Example Shareholder Agreement

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This document was compiled by the EBAN Law & IP Working

Committee

EXAMPLE SHAREHOLDER’S AGREEMENT

SHAREHOLDER’S AGREEMENT
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: THIS DOCUMENT IS INTENDED TO SERVE AS A STARTING POINT ONLY AND
SHOULD BE TAILORED TO MEET YOUR SPECIFIC LEGAL AND COMMERCIAL REQUIREMENTS. KEEP IN
MIND THAT A SHAREHOLDER’S AGREEMENT CANNOT CONFLICT IN ANY MANNER WITH THE
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION AND MUST THEREFORE BE ADAPTED TO THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF THE UNDERTAKING. THE DOCUMENT SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE FOR ANY
PARTICULAR FACTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES. CONSULT YOUR LAWYER TO ENSURE THAT THE
DOCUMENT FITS, AND IS BEING ADAPTED FOR, YOUR SPECIFIC NEEDS AND WHETHER AND TO WHAT
EXTENT THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS CONTEMPLATED IN THE DOCUMENTS ARE VALID AND
ENFORCEABLE. EBAN GIVES NO OPINION OR ASSURANCES AS TO THE SUITABILITY, ADEQUACY,
VALIDITY AND ENFORCEABILITY OF THE DOCUMENT AND ITS PROVISIONS.

Parties
[ ] [ ] of [ ] (Investor)
[ ] [ ] of [ ] (Company)
[ ] [ ] of [ ] (Existing Shareholders)
[ ] [ ] of [ ] (Founders)

Background
1 The Investor is a shareholder in the Company with effect from the date of this agreement.
2 All parties have agreed to enter into this agreement for the purpose of recording the terms
of this arrangement and their respective relationships with each other.

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Definitions and Interpretation

ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

1. Definitions
In this agreement the following definitions apply:
Affiliated Party means a legal or natural entity of which a legal or natural entity or its ultimate parent
company or shareholder, has directly or indirectly 50% or more of the nominal value of the
subscribed share capital of the Company or has the voting right in the General Meeting or has the
authority to appoint the majority of the Managers/Directors or alternatively has the right of control
over the activities of the Company, or any other legal or natural entity that can be considered as a
“subsidiary” or part of a “group” as stipulated in ……………………………………………………………………………….
Budget means the strict budget (with profit and cash-flow forecasts) of the Company and any
subsidiaries, referring to the next [ ] financial years
Business Sale means the completion of a sale or series of sales by the Company (or any Subsidiary) of
all or substantially all of the business and assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries to one or more
third parties.
Class means a class of Shares having attached to them identical rights, privileges, limitations and
conditions.
Closing date means [ __ ] or another date the Parties have agreed upon in writing
Confidential Information has the meaning set out in article 10.
Constitution means the constitution of the Company.
Deed of Accession means a deed of accession in the agreed form pursuant to which a person who
acquires Shares agrees to be bound by the terms of this agreement.
Directors means the directors for the time being of the Company.
Dispose means any dealing with a Share or with any interest in or rights attaching to a Share
including to grant options or rights of pre-emption over, sell, transfer, assign, part with the benefit of,
declare a trust over, or deal with an ownership interest in a Share.

Drag-Along Event has the meaning set forth in Article 8.5.1 of this Agreement.

Drag-Along Notice has the meaning set forth in Article 8.5.1 of this Agreement.

Drag-Along Right has the meaning set forth in Article 8.5.2 of this Agreement.

Encumbrance means any mortgage, lien, charge, pledge, assignment by way of security, security
interest, title retention, preferential right or trust arrangement, claim, covenant, easement or any
other security arrangement or any other arrangement having the same effect.

Expert has the meaning set forth in Article 8.6.2 of this Agreement.
Financial Year means the period of 12 months ending on …………………. in each year.

General Meeting means the General Meeting of Shareholders of the Company

Good Leaver means any Existing Shareholder who ceases to be employed by the Company for any of
the following reasons:

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 death in service;
 compulsory retirement;
 becoming permanently incapable of discharging efficiently the duties of his employment or
any other comparable employment with the Company or a Subsidiary by reason of ill health
or infirmity of mind or body, injury or disability (evidenced to the satisfaction of the
Management Board);

 redundancy; or
 dismissal in circumstances which have resulted in a claim against the Company for unfair
dismissal where the claim is successful on the grounds that the dismissal was unfair pursuant
to ……………………………………………………………….
Investor Share means an "A" Preference Share in the Company.
Major Investor means a holder of Investor Shares who has paid at least ……………………………………. as
the total issue price for all of their Shares.
Management Agreement means the management agreements between the Company and the
Shareholders attached as …………………………………….
Management Board means the management board of the Company
Management means the members of the Management Board
Meeting of Holders of Preferred Shares means the General Meeting of holders of Preferred Shares
of the Company
New Securities means any securities (including convertible securities) in the Company unissued at
the date of this agreement but excluding:
 Shares issued or issuable upon conversion of Preference Shares to Ordinary
Shares.
 Shares issuable upon exercise of any options or rights to purchase any securities
of the Company outstanding as of the date of this agreement and any securities
issuable upon the conversion thereof.
 Shares issued pursuant to a share split.
Option Parties has the meaning set forth in Article 8.6.1 of this Agreement.
Ordinary Share means an ordinary share in the Company.

Parties means, collectively the Shareholders, the Founders, and the Company and any other person
that becomes a a Party to this Agreement and Party means any one of them

Purchase Option has the meaning set forth in Article 8.6.1 of this Agreement.
Redundancy means in respect of an Existing Shareholder the termination of the Existing
Shareholder's employment with the Company or any Subsidiary by reason of a restructure or a state
of affairs within the Company or the Subsidiary whereby the position previously occupied by that
person no longer exists within the Company or the Subsidiary and where the Management Board in
its absolute discretion determines that such an event qualifies as a redundancy for the purposes of
these Rules.
Relevant Selling Shareholder(s) has the meaning set forth in Article 8.5.1 of this Agreement.
Relevant Shares has the meaning set forth in Article 8.3.1 and 8.4.1 of this Agreement.

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Restricted Party has the meaning set forth in Article 8.6.1 of this Agreement.
Right of First Refusal has the meaning set forth in Article 8.3.2 of this Agreement.
Right of First Refusal Event has the meaning set forth in Article 8.3.1 of this Agreement.
Right of First Refusal Exercise Notice has the meaning set forth in Article 8.3.3 of this Agreement.
Right of First Refusal Notice has the meaning set forth in Article 8.3.1 of this Agreement.
Respective Proportion means the number of Shares held by a Shareholder divided by the total
number of Shares.
Selling Shareholder(s) has the meaning set forth in Article 8.3.1 and 8.4.1 of this Agreement.
Shareholders means the shareholders in the Company and includes any person who subsequently
becomes a shareholder and who adheres to this agreement.
Shares means shares in the Company, including the Ordinary Shares and the Investor Shares.
Share Sale means an acquisition of Shares by way of transfer which results in one or more third
parties holding Shares having a right to exercise more than [50%] of the votes which may be cast on a
poll at a general meeting of the Company on all, or substantially all, matters.
Subsidiary has the meaning given to that term in the …………………………………….. but also includes an
entity that would be considered a subsidiary under generally accepted accounting principles.
Tag-Along Event has the meaning set forth in Article 8.4.1 of this Agreement.
Tag-Along Exercise Notice has the meaning set forth in Article 8.4.3 of this Agreement.
Tag-Along Notice has the meaning set forth in Article 8.4.1 of this Agreement.
Tag-Along Right has the meaning set forth in Article 8.4.2 of this Agreement.
Triggering Event has the meaning set forth in Article 8.6.1 of this Agreement.

2. Interpretation
In the interpretation of this agreement, the following provisions apply unless the context otherwise
requires :
Headings are inserted for convenience only and do not affect the interpretation of this
agreement.
A reference in this agreement to a business day means a day other than a Saturday or
Sunday on which banks are open for business generally in ………………….
If the day on which any act, matter or thing is to be done under this agreement is not a
business day, the act, matter or thing must be done on the next business day.
A reference in this agreement to any law, legislation or legislative provision includes any
statutory modification, amendment or re-enactment, and any subordinate legislation or
regulations issued under that legislation or legislative provision.
A reference in this agreement to any agreement or document is to that agreement or
document as amended, novated, supplemented or replaced.
A reference to an article, part, schedule or attachment is a reference to an article, part,
schedule or attachment of or to this agreement.
An expression importing a natural person includes any company, trust, partnership, joint
venture, association, body corporate or governmental agency.

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Where a word or phrase is given a defined meaning, another part of speech or other
grammatical form in respect of that word or phrase has a corresponding meaning.
A word which denotes the singular denotes the plural, a word which denotes the plural
denotes the singular, and a reference to any gender denotes the other genders.
References to the word 'include' or 'including' are to be construed without limitation.
Any schedules and attachments form part of this agreement.

Financial participation in the corporation


ARTICLE 2. EQUITY PARTICIPATION

Each of the Shareholders represents and warrants to each other and to the Company that:

such Shareholder at the date hereof (or, if such Shareholder becomes a Party following the
date of this Agreement, at the date such Shareholder acquired its Shares), owns
beneficially and of record the number of Shares set forth opposite such
Shareholder’s name on Schedule ………. attached hereto, as applicable (as such
schedules may be amended from time to time to reflect changes in shareholdings);

the Shares held by such Shareholder are held beneficially and of record by such Shareholder,
such Shares are not subject to any mortgage, lien, charge, pledge, encumbrance,
security interest or adverse claim and no Person has any rights to become a holder or
possessor of any of the Shares or of the certificates representing the same , if
applicable;

if the Shareholder is an individual, that such Shareholder has the capacity to enter into and
give full effect to this Agreement;

if the Shareholder is a corporation, that it is duly incorporated and validly existing under the
laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and that it has the corporate power and
capacity to own its assets and to enter into and perform its obligations under this
Agreement;

if the Shareholder is a trust, partnership or joint venture, that it is duly constituted under the
laws that govern it and that it has the power to own its assets and to enter into and
perform its obligations under this Agreement;

this Agreement has been duly authorized by such Shareholder and duly executed and
delivered by such Shareholder and constitutes a valid and binding obligation
enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to the usual exceptions as to
bankruptcy and the availability of equitable remedies;

that the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement does not and shall not
contravene the provisions of its articles, by-laws, constating documents or other
organizational documents or the documents by which such Shareholder was created
or established or the provisions of any indenture, agreement or other instrument to
which such Shareholder is a party or by which such Shareholder may be bound; and

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that, subject to the terms of this Agreement, all of the foregoing representations and
warranties shall continue to be true and correct during the continuance of this
Agreement.

Operative Provisions
ARTICLE 3. MANAGEMENT BOARD

1. The Management Board of the Company shall consist of [Shareholder A] and [Shareholder B].
The members of the Management Board are [independent / jointly] authorized to represent
the Company.

2. The Management Board shall act in accordance with the articles of association of the
Company, this Agreement and the Management Agreements.

3. The Founders commit themselves vis-à-vis the Investors for a period of at least [ _ ] years after
the Closing Date, to be available on a full-time basis to work for the Company to the best of
their abilities.

4. The General Meeting shall appoint, dismiss or suspend Managers.

5. The Management Board shall not take any of the following actions without prior written
approval of the General Meeting:

(a) the takeover of or participation in a company or undertaking or the entry into or


termination of strategic cooperation with any other company;

(b) substantial amendment, extension or limitation of the activities;

(c) any capital expenditure on any one item, or series of related items, in excess of € [ __ ],
to the extent that the amount is not included in the approved Budget;

(d) any actions not in the normal course of business or not at arm’s length;

(e) the provision of a loan to third parties or the provision of security to third parties;

(f) the initiation of a lawsuit or the conduct of legal proceedings for any claims exceeding
the amount of € [ __ ], save for legal action in the event of urgency to secure the
position of the Company, in which case approval is to be obtained without the least
possible delay after initiating the legal proceedings;

(g) the entry into or termination of any agreement with a Manager or shareholder of the
Company or any person who is an Affiliated Party to a Manager or shareholder of the
Company;

(h) the granting, amendment or withdrawal of any authority to represent the Company;

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(i) the hiring of personnel, amendment of the terms and conditions of employment, or
amendment of the Management Agreements, including amendment of the
management fee, to the extent not included in the Budget;

(j) the disposal of or encumbrance of intellectual or industrial property rights of the


Company, or the granting of a licence on those rights, except for the granting of licences
in the normal course of Company business;

(k) the raising of new financing from current or new finance providers;

(l) the appointment or change of the Company accountant;

(m) the exercise of voting rights attached to shares in subsidiaries of the Company;

(n) applying for a moratorium or the filing for bankruptcy;

(o) redeeming the Company’s own shares.

6. If the Company establishes or acquires a subsidiary, the Management Board shall ensure that
the Management Board of these subsidiaries shall not take any of the above actions regarding
the Company’s subsidiaries without prior written approval of the General Meeting.

ARTICLE 4. SUPERVISORY BOARD

7. The Company shall have a Supervisory Board. The Supervisory Board will monitor the general
policy and strategy and advise the Management Board.

8. The Supervisory Board shall consist of at least ………….. members and will be formed on the
Closing Date by [ _ ] (chairman) and [ _ ].

9. The Meeting of Holders of Preferred Shares has the right to appoint one of the members of the
Supervisory Board. The other members including the chairman shall be appointed by the
General Meeting. The General Meeting shall assess the amount of remuneration.

10. The body that has the right to appoint a member of the Supervisory Board, also has the right
to suspend or dismiss the respective member of the Supervisory Board.

11. Notwithstanding the statutory rights of the Supervisory Board, the Management Board shall
issue the financial information that is provided to the Participants under Article 5 at the same
time to the Supervisory Board.

ARTICLE 5. THE GENERAL MEETING

12. Each share has one vote.

13. All resolutions are adopted by simple majority except for the following resolutions which
require a two-thirds majority of the votes:

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(a) to appoint, dismiss or suspend Managers and members of the Supervisory Board;

(b) to adopt the financial statements and dividend distributions;

(c) to amend the articles of association;

(d) to enter into a legal merger or legal division, or to file for bankruptcy;

(e) to dissolve the Company;

(f) to issue shares or depository receipts of shares, or to authorize a corporate body to do


so;

(g) to exclude a shareholder of its statutory pre-emption right;

(h) to reduce the share capital of the Company;

(i) to approve actions of the Management Board as referred to in Article 2.5.

ARTICLE 6. INFORMATION

1. Basic financial information


The Company will provide promptly to each Major Investor:
 Annual unaudited financial statements for each Financial Year, including an
unaudited balance sheet as of the end of such Financial Year, an unaudited
statement of operations and an unaudited statement of cash flows of the
Company for such year, all prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles and practices.
 Quarterly unaudited financial statements for each quarter of a Financial Year of
the Company (except the last quarter of the Company’s Financial Year), including
an unaudited balance sheet as of the end of such quarter, an unaudited statement
of operations and an unaudited statement of cash flows of the Company for such
quarter, all prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
and practices, subject to changes resulting from normal year-end audit
adjustments.

 Prior to the commencement of each Financial Year, the proposed annual business
plan together with an operating and capital expenditure budget of the Company as
approved by the Management Board.

If the Company has audited records of any of the foregoing described in article 3.1, it shall provide
those in lieu of the unaudited versions.

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2. Confidential information

Notwithstanding anything in this agreement to the contrary, no Investor by reason of this agreement
shall have access to any trade secrets or confidential information of the Company.

3. Investor obligations
Each Investor agrees that such Investor will keep confidential and will not disclose, divulge, or use for
any purpose (other than to monitor its investment in the Company) any confidential information
obtained from the Company pursuant to the terms of this agreement other than to any of the
Investor’s legal advisers, accountants, consultants, and other professionals, to the extent necessary
to obtain their services in connection with monitoring the Investor’s investment in the Company.

4. Inspection rights
The Company shall permit each Major Investor to visit and inspect the Company’s properties, to
examine its books of account and records and to discuss the Company’s affairs, finances and
accounts with its officers, all at such reasonable times as may be requested by such Investor.

ARTICLE 7. ISSUES OF NEW SECURITIES


1. If the Management Board resolves to make an issue of New Securities, it must give written
notice of such intention to the Major Investors setting out the terms of the proposed issue of
New Securities.
2. Within …….. business days each Major Investor may give written notice to the Company that
it wishes to acquire its Respective Proportion of the New Securities on the same terms.
3. Within ……… days thereafter the Company may issue on the same terms as offered to the
Major Investors any New Securities not acquired by the Major Investors pursuant to article
7.2.
4. In the event that the Company has not issued the New Securities within such ……….. day
period, then the Company shall not thereafter issue or sell any New Securities without again
first offering such New Securities to the Major Investors pursuant to this article 7.4.
5. In the event that the Company issues New Securities to a third party under article 7.3 and
such New Securities have rights, preferences or privileges that are more favourable to the
Shareholder than the terms of the Investor Shares, the Company shall take such action in
accordance with all laws to provide substantially equivalent rights for the Investors in
relation to the Investor Shares as are attached to the New Securities (with appropriate
adjustment for economic terms or other contractual rights and subject to such Investor’s
execution of any relevant documents executed by the holders of the New Securities in
subscribing for the New Securities).

ARTICLE 8. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF SHARES

1. General
A Shareholder must not Dispose of any Shares, except:
 in accordance with this agreement; or
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 with the consent of each other Shareholder.
Any transfer not in accordance with this article 8 has no effect.

2. No Encumbrances

The Shares shall not be pledged, assigned by way of security or otherwise used as security
and shall remain free and clear of any liens, encumbrances, charges or any other third party
rights.

3. Right of First Refusal of the Company and the Shareholders

3. 1. Notification

If a Shareholder wishes to Transfer all [or a part] of its Shares (for purposes of this Article 8.3,
the "Relevant Shares") to a third party (including another Shareholder) (the "Right of First
Refusal Event"), such Shareholder(s) (for purposes of this Article 8.3, the "Selling
Shareholder(s)") shall submit an offer to the Company and all other Shareholders stating in
writing the price and terms of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the notice provision
set forth in Article 12 (the "Right of First Refusal Notice"). If the Selling Shareholder(s)
has/have received a bona fide purchase offer from a third party (including another
Shareholder), the terms of such offer from the proposed acquirer shall be disclosed to the
other Shareholders in the notice. The Company shall inform each Shareholder forthwith but
not later than …….. Calendar days after receipt of the Right of First Refusal Notice about (i)
the date it received the Right of First Refusal Notice and (ii) the day the …….. Calendar day
period mentioned in Article 8.3.3 for exercising the Right of First Refusal expires.

3. 2. Grant of Right of First Refusal

Each of the Shareholders hereby grants to the other Shareholders and to the Company:

the right (but not the obligation) to acquire all or part of the Relevant Shares from the Selling
Shareholder(s) upon the occurrence of a Right of First Refusal Event (the "Right of First
Refusal") at the price and terms set out in the Right of First Refusal Notice. Such price and
terms shall either be the price and terms of the bona fide purchase offer from a third party
or, in the absence of such a third party offer, the price and terms offered by the Selling
Shareholder. If all Rights of First Refusal validly exercised do not, in the aggregate, result in
the exercise of Rights of First Refusal for of all Relevant Shares, the Rights of First Refusal
shall be deemed not exercised and Article 8.3.5 shall apply.

3. 3. Exercise of Right of First Refusal

Each beneficiary of the Right of First Refusal wishing to exercise its right in respect of the
Relevant Shares shall so notify the Company and the Selling Shareholder(s) in accordance
with the notice provision set forth in Article 12 within a period of ……….. Calendar days from
receipt of the Right of First Refusal Notice (the "Right of First Refusal Exercise Notice") by
the Company. If no Right of First Refusal Exercise Notice is submitted by a beneficiary within

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the period of ………… Calendar days from receipt of the Right of First Refusal Notice by the
Company, the Right of First Refusal of that beneficiary shall be deemed to have been
forfeited with respect to the respective Right of First Refusal Event (but not for any other or
subsequent Right of First Refusal Event(s)).

The terms and conditions for the acquisition of the Relevant Shares including, without
limitation, the purchase price, shall be equal to the terms offered in the Right of First Refusal
Notice (i.e. the bona fide offer by the proposed acquirer or, in the absence of such bona fide
offer, the price and terms offered by the Selling Shareholder(s)).

3. 4. Consummation of Transfer of Relevant Shares upon Exercise of Right of First Refusal

The Transfer of the Relevant Shares shall be consummated within ………… Calendar days from
receipt of the Right of First Refusal Notice by the Company unless the terms of the bona fide
purchase offer provided for longer terms, in which case the terms of such bona fide purchase
offer shall apply. The Transfer price shall, unless other terms are stated in the Right of First
Refusal Notice, be paid in cash against registration of the acquiring Shareholder(s) [ or, as the
case may be, the Company] as holder(s) of the respective number of Relevant Shares in the
share register of the Company.

3. 5. Transfer to Proposed Acquirer

In the event the Right of First Refusal is not exercised or not exercised for all Relevant Shares
in accordance with Section 3, the Selling Shareholder(s) shall be free, subject only to Article
8.4, 8.5 and 9 to Transfer the Relevant Shares to the proposed acquirer, on terms not more
favorable than those offered to the beneficiaries of the Right of First Refusal in the Right of
First Refusal Notice, within a period of …………… months after expiry of the …………. Calendar
days period to submit a Right of First Refusal Exercise Notice pursuant to Article 8.3.3.
Thereafter, the procedure pursuant to this Article 8.3 shall be repeated prior to any such
Transfer.

4. Tag-Along (Co-Sale Right)

4. 1. Notification

In the event an Investor (or a group of Investors) wishes to Transfer all or a part of its Shares
(for purposes of this Article 8.4, the "Relevant Shares") in one or a series of related
transactions to a proposed acquirer (including another Shareholder) on the basis of a bona
fide purchase offer, and provided such Transfer of Shares would [[result in a Change of
Control] [or]] [relate to ……. percent of all Shares (the "Tag-Along Event"), such Investor(s)
(for purposes of this Article 8.4, the "Selling Shareholder(s)") shall notify the other
Shareholders as well as the Company thereof, mutatis mutandis in accordance with Article
8.3.1 above (the "Tag-Along Notice"). Such a Tag-Along Notice may be part of a Right of First
Refusal Notice according to Article 8.3. The Company shall inform each Shareholder forthwith
but not later than ……….. Calendar days after receipt of the Tag-Along Notice about (i) the

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date it received the Tag-Along Notice and (ii) the day the ……….. Calendar day period for
exercising the Tag-Along Right mentioned in Article 8.4.3 expires.

4.2. Grant of Tag-Along Right

In addition to the Right of First Refusal pursuant to Article 8.3, each of the Shareholders
hereby grants to the other Shareholders the right (but not the obligation) to join the Selling
Shareholder(s) and co-sell (together with the Selling Shareholder(s)) [[upon the election of
the relevant beneficiaries all their Shares to the proposed acquirer for the same
consideration per Share and otherwise at the same terms and conditions as applicable to the
Selling Shareholder(s) [(except for [(i)] any representations, warranties and/or indemnities
other than (several and not joint) title warranties solely in respect of the Shares sold by such
other Shareholder(s) [and (ii) payment of the consideration per Share, which must be in
immediately available cash])] upon the occurrence of a Tag-Along Event (the "Tag-Along
Right").

4. 3. Exercise of Tag-Along Right

Each Shareholder wishing to exercise its Tag-Along Right with respect to the Relevant Shares
shall so notify the Selling Shareholder(s) in accordance with the notice provision set forth in
Article 12 within a period of …………. Calendar days from receipt of the Tag-Along Notice (the
"Tag-Along Exercise Notice") by the Company. If no Tag-Along Exercise Notice is submitted
by a Shareholder within the period of …………… Calendar days from receipt of the Tag-Along
Notice by the Company, the Tag-Along Right of that Shareholder shall be deemed to have
been forfeited with respect to the respective Tag-Along Event (but not for any other or
subsequent Tag-Along Event).

If the proposed acquirer refuses to accept the purchase of the Shares from the Shareholders
who provided a Tag-Along Notice, the Selling Shareholder(s) shall be prohibited from
Transferring the Relevant Shares to the proposed acquirer.

4. 5. Consummation of Transfer of Shares upon Exercise of Tag-Along Right

The Transfer of Shares in case of a Tag-Along Event shall be consummated at the closing date
agreed by and between the Selling Shareholder(s) and the proposed acquirer (such closing
date not to be earlier than ……………. Calendar days after the Company received the Tag-Along
Notice) by payment [in cash] of consideration expressed to be payable per Share pursuant to
the agreement with the acquirer against registration of the acquirer in the share register of
the Company as holder of the respective number of Relevant Shares and the Shares co-sold
pursuant to Article 8.4.

4. 6. Transfer to Proposed Acquirer

In the event the Right of First Refusal according to Article 8.3 is not exercised, the Selling
Shareholder(s) shall be free, subject only to Article 9, to Transfer the Relevant Shares to the
proposed acquirer on the terms disclosed to the other Shareholders in the Tag-Along Notice
and the Right of First Refusal Notice within a period of ………….. months starting after the
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expiry of the …………… Calendar days period to submit a Tag-Along Exercise Notice pursuant
to Article 8.4.3. Thereafter, the procedure pursuant to this Article 8.4 shall be repeated prior
to any such Transfer.

5. Drag-Along (Co-Sale Obligation)

5.1. Notification

In the event [a holder of Shares]/[a group of holders of more than ………… percent of
Shares]/[all holders of Shares] wish[es] to Transfer ………………… percent of [its]/[their]
aggregate shareholdings in the Company in one or a series of related transactions to a
proposed acquirer (including another Shareholder) who wishes to acquire all (but not less
than all) Shares in the Company pursuant to a bona fide purchase offer (the "Drag-Along
Event"), [that holder]/[that group of holders]/[all holders] of Shares (for purposes of this
Article 8.5, the "Relevant Selling Shareholder[s]") shall notify the other Shareholders
thereof, mutatis mutandis in accordance with Article 8.3.1 above (the "Drag-Along Notice").
The Company shall inform each Shareholder forthwith but not later than ……… Calendar days
after receipt of the Drag-Along Notice about (i) the date it received the Drag-Along Notice
and (ii) the day the ……….. month period according to Article 8.5.3 expires.

5.2. Grant of Drag-Along Right

[Without prejudice to the Right of First Refusal pursuant to Article 8.3, the] /[The] Relevant
Selling Shareholder[s] shall have the right (but not the obligation) to require all other
Shareholders to sell, and the other Shareholders hereby irrevocably agree to sell, all (but not
less than all) of their Shares then held to the proposed acquirer [for the same consideration
per Share and[, except as set forth in Article 8.5.5,]] otherwise at the same terms and
conditions as applicable to the Relevant Selling Shareholder[s] upon the occurrence of a
Drag-Along Event (the "Drag-Along Right").

5.3. Consummation of Transfer

The Transfer of Shares to the proposed acquirer shall be completed at the agreed closing
date [(but no later than within a period of ………. months after the date of receipt of the Drag-
Along Notice) by the Company] and otherwise in accordance with the proposed terms of the
underlying agreement between the Relevant Selling Shareholder[s], [the other Shareholders]
and the proposed acquirer.

5.4. Drag-Along Right Takes Precedence over Right of First Refusal

For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein,
Article 8.3 shall not apply in case of a Drag-Along Event.

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5.5. Key Terms and Conditions

The terms and conditions of the Transfer of Shares shall include the following:

(a) For each Share the purchase price shall be the same. All considerations for the Shares
shall be paid on the same date and in cash.

(b) Each other Shareholder's liability for representations and warranties shall, to the
extent legally permissible, be limited to [the same percentage of its purchase price as
applicable for the Relevant Selling Shareholder[s]' liability/a maximum of ………..
percent of its purchase price], and be subject to the same time limitations as the
Relevant Selling Shareholder[s]' liability. Each other Shareholder shall, upon request
by the Relevant Selling Shareholder[s], be obliged to pay the same percentage of its
purchase price for the same time periods into an escrow account in favor of the
acquirer as the Relevant Selling Shareholder[s]. Disclosures shall only limit the other
Shareholders' liability if expressly agreed with the acquirer. Each other Shareholder
shall be [severally, and not jointly/jointly and severally with each of the other
Shareholders] liable for the representations and warranties.

(c) Each other Shareholder shall give the representations and warranties which the
acquirer or the Relevant Selling Shareholder[s] may reasonably request[, reflecting
such Shareholder's stake in and position with respect to the Company (i.e. founder,
senior manager, employee, passive investor, [other]]). Such representations and
warranties shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
………………………………………………………………………………………….Representations and
warranties regarding the future shall be excluded. Except as otherwise provided for
herein and unless the Relevant Shareholders may reasonably request otherwise (in
particular because they agreed to such term or condition with respect of their
Shares), the terms and conditions of ……………………………………………… regarding
representations and warranties, indemnification and remedies shall apply, mutatis
mutandis.

(d) Each Other Shareholder shall bear its own costs and taxes imposed on it.

6. Purchase Option

6.1. Triggering Events

The Parties (for the purposes of this Article 8.6 the "Option Parties") shall have an exclusive
and irrevocable option (the "Purchase Option") to purchase the Shares of another Party (the
"Restricted Party") in proportion to the nominal value of their shareholdings in the Company
or in such other proportions and/or other terms as they may agree in writing between
themselves if any of the following events (the "Triggering Event") occurs:

(a) the Restricted Party dies, becomes incapable to act or otherwise loses its capacity to
exercise its rights and obligations under this Agreement;

(b) the Restricted Party becomes insolvent, bankrupt or petitions or applies to any court,
tribunal or other body or authority for creditor protection or for the appointment of,
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or there shall otherwise be appointed, any administrator, receiver, liquidator, trustee
or other similar officer of the Restricted Party or of all or a substantial part of the
Restricted Party's assets;

(c) the Restricted Party commits a criminal act against the interests of a Party, of the
Company or of any of its subsidiaries;

(d) the Restricted Party materially breaches this Agreement, unless such breach and its
effects are fully cured within ………….. Calendar days upon notification in writing of
the breach and its effects by any other Party; a material breach shall include, without
limitation:

i. any delay in the payment of Shares subscribed for or payments into the
reserves or loans to be granted to the Company pursuant to any written
agreement;
ii. any transfer, pledge or other encumbrance of Shares in violation of this
Agreement.
(e) any board membership, employment or consultancy agreement, as the case may be,
between a Restricted Party and the Company is terminated based on a material,
willful or grossly negligent breach of the duties as a board member, the employment
agreement or consultancy agreement by such Restricted Party (bad leaver);

(f) any board membership, employment or consultancy agreement, as the case may be,
between a Restricted Party and the Company is ordinarily terminated (good leaver).

6.2. Exercise of Purchase Option

The Restricted Party, its legal successor, receiver, insolvency judge or any other person with
the right to act on behalf of the Restricted Party or its estate, shall notify the other Parties of
the occurrence of any Triggering Event with respect to such Restricted Party. Upon receipt of
such notice or upon a Triggering Event becoming known to the other Parties, such other
Parties shall be entitled to purchase all or part of the Shares held by the Restricted Party, in
proportion to the nominal value of their shareholdings or in such other proportions as they
may agree in writing between them, and, in case of the occurrence of any of the Triggering
Events (a) or (f), at the fair market value of the Shares. Without prejudice to any other rights
or remedies, in case of the occurrence of any of the Triggering Events (b), (c), (d) or (e), the
purchase price shall be the lower of the fair market value and the nominal value of the
Shares.

If the Parties cannot agree on the fair market value, each Party may request its
determination by [name of independent expert], or if [name of alternative independent
expert] refuses or is not able to act, by an experienced international accounting firm
appointed by ………………………………………………, (the "Expert") on the basis of a valuation of the
Company using methods customarily used at that time to establish the value of businesses in
that industry, excluding any control premium for obtaining a majority of the voting rights in
the Company or any block premium. The fair market value as determined by the Expert shall

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be binding and final on the Parties, unless based on calculation errors, in which case the fair
market value as corrected by the Expert shall be binding.

The Option Parties who intend to exercise the Purchase Option shall notify the Restricted
Party and the other Parties of their intent to exercise the Purchase Option within …………
Calendar days following receipt of notice of a Triggering Event or, as the case may be,
following such Triggering Event becoming known to them, and shall thereafter commence
the valuation procedure by mandating the Expert if no agreement on the price can be
reached within another ………… Calendar days. The Option Parties shall exercise the Purchase
Option no later than ……….. Calendar days following agreement on the fair market value or
receipt of the final determination of the fair market value from the Expert by giving written
notice to the other Parties. The Restricted Party, on the one hand, and the Option Parties
who announced their intent to exercise the Purchase Option, on the other hand, shall each
bear half of the costs of the Expert.

ARTICLE 9. DEED OF ACCESSION


The Company must not allot or issue or register a transfer of any Shares to any person who is not a
party to this agreement until that person has executed and delivered to the Company a Deed of
Accession.
Any allotment, issue or transfer is void and of no effect unless and until the relevant Deed of
Accession has been delivered.

ARTICLE 10. NON-COMPETITION

14. Each of the Shareholders - notwithstanding explicit written approval of all Shareholders -
commit themselves to refrain during the period in which they directly or indirectly hold Shares
and for a period of [ ] year thereafter, in the geographical areas in which the Company or its
present and future subsidiaries operate or intend to operate, other than for the benefit of the
Company, directly or indirectly:

1.14.1 to participate in or otherwise be financially involved with, and/or, be employed as


adviser or employee, for a company that offers or develops products and/or services
that are in competition with the products and/or services the Company or its present
and future subsidiaries offer or develop;

1.14.2 to contact the employees of the Company to induce them to terminate their
employment with the Company, or to offer them directly or indirectly an
employment contract or management contract; or

1.14.3 to contact clients, customers, suppliers and/or other business relations of the
Company for the purpose of offering them (on behalf of a third party) products
and/or services that are in competition with the products and/or services of the
Company or to induce them to break off their relationship with the Company.

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15. On the occurrence of any event deemed to be a breach of paragraph 1 of this Article, the Party
responsible for the breach shall pay the Company a penalty of € [ ] for each breach
and an additional penalty of € [ ] for each day or part thereof that aforementioned
breach continues, without prejudice to the Company’s rights to recover damages in excess of
the amount of such penalty.

ARTICLE 11. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

No Shareholder shall, at any time or under any circumstances, without the consent of the Company,
directly or indirectly communicate or disclose to any person (other than the other Shareholders and
its or their employees, agents, advisors and representatives) or make use of any confidential
knowledge or information howsoever acquired by such Shareholder relating to or concerning the
customers, products, technology, trade secrets, systems or operations, or other confidential
information regarding the property, business and affairs of the Company (Confidential Information)
except for:

 Information that becomes generally known in the industry to which the business
of the Company is related other than through a breach of this Agreement;

 Information that is lawfully obtained from a third party without breach of this
Agreement by the Shareholder;

 Information that is reasonably required to be disclosed by a Shareholder to


protect its interests in connection with any proposed Transfer of Shares that is
pursuant or subject to this Agreement; or

 Information that is required to be disclosed by law or by the applicable regulations


or policies of any regulatory agency of competent jurisdiction or any stock
exchange, provided that the Shareholder gives the Company prompt written
notice of the compelled disclosure and cooperates with the Company, at the
Company’s expense, in seeking a protective order or any other protections
available to limit the disclosure of the Information.

If a Shareholder ceases to be a shareholder of the Company, the Shareholder shall use all reasonable
efforts to ensure that all information and all copies thereof are either destroyed or returned to the
Company if the Company so requests, and shall not, directly or indirectly, use for the Shareholder’s
own purposes, any information discovered or acquired by the Shareholder or the Shareholder’s
advisors. The Shareholder’s obligations in this shall be in addition to and not in derogation of any
other obligation of confidentiality owed to the Company by other Shareholders who are employees
of or consultants to the Company.

ARTICLE 12. NOTICES

1. Giving notices
Any notice or communication given to a party under this agreement is only given if it is in writing and
sent in one of the following ways:

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 Delivered or posted to that party at its address and marked for the attention of the
relevant department or officer (if any) set out below.
 Faxed to that party at its fax number and marked for the attention of the relevant
department or officer (if any) set out below.
[Company]

Name: [Name]
Address: [Postal address]
Fax number: [Fax number]
Attention: [Name]

[Shareholder 1]

Name: [Name]
Address: [Postal address]
Fax number: [Fax number]
Attention: [Name]

[Shareholder 2]

Name: [Name]
Address: [Postal address]
Fax number: [Fax number]
Attention: [Name]

2. Change of address or fax number


If a party gives the other party three business days' notice of a change of its address or fax number,
any notice or communication is only given by that other party if it is delivered, posted or faxed to the
latest address or fax number.

3. Time notice is given


Any notice or communication is to be treated as given at the following time:
 If it is delivered, when it is left at the relevant address.
 If it is sent by post, two (or, in the case of a notice or communication posted to
another country, nine) business days after it is posted.
 If it is sent by fax, as soon as the sender receives from the sender's fax machine a
report of an error free transmission to the correct fax number.
However, if any notice or communication is given, on a day that is not a business day or after 5pm on
a business day, in the place of the party to whom it is sent it is to be treated as having been given at
the beginning of the next business day.

ARTICLE 13. DURATION


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16. This Agreement is entered into for an indefinite period.

17. A Party shall cease to be a party to this Agreement for the purpose of receiving benefits and
enforcing his rights from the date that he ceases to hold (or beneficially own) any shares in the
capital of the Company (but without prejudice to any benefits and rights enjoyed prior to such
cessation).

18. The Agreement shall be terminated by operation of law if all Shares are held by one party.

19. The provisions of Articles 10 (Confidential Information), 13.7 (Governing law and jurisdiction)
shall survive termination of this Agreement.

ARTICLE 14. MISCELLANEOUS

1. Approvals and consents


Unless this agreement expressly provides otherwise, a party may give or withhold an approval or
consent in that party's absolute discretion and subject to any conditions determined by the party. A
party is not obliged to give its reasons for giving or withholding a consent or approval or for giving a
consent or approval subject to conditions.

2. Assignments and transfers


A party must not assign or transfer any of its rights or obligations under this agreement without the
prior written consent of each of the other parties.

3. Costs
Except as otherwise set out in this agreement, each party must pay its own costs and expenses in
relation to preparing, negotiating, executing and completing this agreement and any document
related to this agreement.

4. Entire agreement
This agreement contains everything the parties have agreed in relation to the subject matter it deals
with. No party can rely on an earlier written document or anything said or done by or on behalf of
another party before this agreement was executed.

5. Execution of separate documents


This agreement is properly executed if each party executes either this document or an identical
document. In the latter case, this agreement takes effect when the separately executed documents
are exchanged between the parties.

6. Further acts
Each party must at its own expense promptly execute all documents and do or use reasonable
endeavours to cause a third party to do all things that another party from time to time may
reasonably request in order to give effect to, perfect or complete this agreement and all transactions
incidental to it.
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7. Governing law and jurisdiction
This agreement is governed by the law of ………………………………………………. The parties submit to the
non-exclusive jurisdiction of its courts and courts of appeal from them. The parties will not object to
the exercise of jurisdiction by those courts on any basis.

8. Inconsistency with Constitution


If there is any inconsistency between this agreement and the Constitution then the parties agree to
abide by this agreement and to do everything required to change the Constitution so that it is
consistent with this agreement.

9. No partnership or agency
Nothing contained or implied in this agreement will create or constitute, or be deemed to create or
constitute, a partnership between the parties. A party must not act, represent or hold itself out as
having authority to act as the agent of or in any way bind or commit the other parties to any
obligation.

10. Variation
No variation of this agreement will be of any force or effect unless it is in writing and signed by the
parties to this agreement.

11. Waivers
A waiver of any right, power or remedy under this agreement must be in writing signed by the party
granting it. A waiver is only effective in relation to the particular obligation or breach in respect of
which it is given. It is not to be taken as an implied waiver of any other obligation or breach or as an
implied waiver of that obligation or breach in relation to any other occasion.
The fact that a party fails to do, or delays in doing, something the party is entitled to do under this
agreement does not amount to a waiver.
12. Severability

If at any time any provision of this agreement or any part thereof is or becomes invalid or
unenforceable, then neither the validity nor the enforceability of the remaining provisions or the
remaining part of the provision shall in any way be affected or impaired thereby. The parties agree to
replace the invalid or unenforceable provision or part thereof by a valid or enforceable provision
which shall best reflect the parties' original intention and shall to the extent possible achieve the
same economic result.

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This Agreement is signed on [ _ ].

on behalf of on behalf of

[_] [_]

_______________ _______________

[***] [***]

on behalf of on behalf of

[_] [_]

_______________ _______________

[***] [***]

on behalf of on behalf of

[_] [_]

_______________ _______________

[***] [***]

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