Unanimous Shareholder Agreement – could your business be at risk without one?

Apr 14, 2021

Many of our business-owning clients ask that we prepare a Unanimous Shareholder Agreement (“USA”), but when asked what they want to accomplish through a USA, they are not entirely sure.

A USA can be a useful tool in creating certainty for the shareholders of a privately held corporation.  A well drafted USA will typically include dispute resolution provisions, details regarding the number of votes required to pass certain decisions, a mechanism for determining the value of the shares of the company, and other items relating to the ownership and strategic direction of the business.

One of the often-overlooked purposes of a USA is to provide clarity regarding the rights and obligations of the shareholders in the event that a shareholder is subject to an “involuntary transfer”.  An involuntary transfer is an event by which a shareholder will lose the ownership or voting control of their shares.  There are typically four events that are defined as involuntary transfers, each with their own particular set of issues:

  1. Death – The shareholder’s shares will pass in accordance with their Will.  The beneficiary named in the shareholder’s Will could be their spouse, parent, or even their 18 year old child.
     
  2. Disability – The shares will continue to be owned by the shareholder but if the shareholder has become incompetent, their Attorney or court-appointed Trustee will manage the shares.
     
  3. Divorce – Some or all of the shareholder’s shares may be awarded and transferred to their former spouse as part of a division of matrimonial property.
     
  4. Bankruptcy – If a shareholder becomes bankrupt, a trustee in bankruptcy will be appointed to manage and even liquidate the shareholder’s assets.

In all of these circumstances, someone other than the original shareholder may obtain ownership and/or or control of the shares. The new shareholder, or decision maker for the shareholder, could have the ability to unilaterally appoint directors, decide on large spending, and have significant control and power over the direction of the company.

In a publicly traded corporation (eg: Telus, Royal Bank of Canada or Encana) it does not matter who owns or controls the outstanding shares of the corporation, since the average shareholder is not in any way involved in the business.  However, in a corporation with only a few shareholders, and particularly where the shareholders are also actively involved in working in and on the business, it is of critical importance that only persons approved by the other shareholders of the corporation may own or control the shares of the corporation.

A USA should deal with what happens to the shares of a shareholder who experiences an involuntary transfer, such as:

  1. The corporation can repurchase or redeem the shares of the shareholder experiencing the involuntary transfer;
     
  2. The other shareholders may be given the opportunity to purchase the shares of the shareholder experiencing the involuntary transfer; or
     
  3. If the new person acquiring the shares is deemed suitable by the other shareholders then they can approve the transfer of shares to such person, for example, if a shareholder dies and leaves the shares to a child but the child has been working productively in the business for years.

The circumstances of each company and its individual shareholders is unique, and there is no one right way to deal with involuntary transfers or other matters that may be set out in a USA.   Business owners and their advisors such as lawyers, accountants and financial advisors can create a custom USA that will provide certainty for the business. 

About the author

  • Pam is the founder and “boss lady” of Savanti Insurance Agency and Savanti Investment Team (attached to PEAK Securities Inc.). She has over 15 years where she specializes in planning, investments, risk management, and tax-effective strategies for clients’ personal and/or corporate financial needs.

If you would like more information on how we can assist you, we would love to hear from you.

Although this article was written with the utmost care and based on sources deemed reliable, there is no guarantee of its accuracy or applicability to all specific cases. This article is for informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. All content and information are of a general nature and does not address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Many of the issues discussed will vary by province. Individuals should seek the advice of professionals to ensure that any action taken with respect to this information is appropriate to their specific situation. The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Peak Securities inc.