Differences Between Shareholders' Agreement and Articles of Association

A shareholders' agreement and the company's articles of association (Articles) are important constitutional documents for a company, particularly where there is more than one shareholder.

The documents both serve different purposes and have different legal implications.

However, together, they seek to govern the affairs and management of the company.

Conversely, a shareholders' agreement is a private contract between the shareholders of a company and is not a legal requirement.

It can, however, be a useful agreement to supplement the Articles with matters which are more appropriate for a private agreement. 

Shareholders' agreements can cover any matters of the shareholder's choosing but will commonly provide for topics such as:

• restrictive covenants (i.e. what a shareholder is prevented from doing after ceasing to be a shareholder of the company);
• dividend policy (to the extent there is a desire to keep this private);
• lists of "reserved matters" or veto rights;
• exit strategy;
• duties of specific shareholders (such as devoting time or expertise to the company);
• provisions for protecting the minority shareholders (e.g., access to information);
• dispute resolution; and
• good faith obligations.

While shareholders have certain rights to enforce the Articles, the shareholders can act for their own benefit without considering other members.

Accordingly, a shareholders' agreement is useful for documenting matters which may require direct enforcement between the shareholders and the company.