The powers and rights of a shareholder in a company can vary depending on the type of shares they hold; the constitution of the company and any shareholder agreements that they have entered into. This article focuses on the role and duties of a shareholder in an Irish private limited company under a standard constitution in accordance with the Irish Companies Act 2014.
The role of a shareholder
Shareholders are the owners of a company and provide financial backing in return for potential dividends or other compensation over the lifetime of the company. A person or corporation can become a shareholder of a company in three ways:
- By subscribing to the constitution of the company during incorporation
- By investing in return for new shares in the company
- By obtaining shares from an existing shareholder by purchase, by gift or by will
Subscribers are usually the party who initiate the incorporation of a company and automatically become the first shareholders after incorporation. The payment of shares may be made in money or in money's worth including goodwill and expertise. While it is possible for shareholders to transfer their shares, it is also possible for private companies to place restrictions on this process in the constitution of the company.
Shareholders duties
The fundamental duty of a shareholder is to make decisions. A shareholder doesn’t manage the day-to-day business of the company as this is handled by the board of directors. However, decisions in relation to the company’s goals and overall performance often require shareholder approval, which include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Changes to the constitution of the company
- Declaring a final dividend
- Reducing the capital of the company
- Re-appointing a Statutory Auditor
- Winding up the company by way of voluntary liquidation
Shareholder decisions can be made by written resolution or at general meetings, where shareholders discuss the company’s performance and vote on relevant resolutions. There are two types of general meetings, annual (AGM), which are held once a year and extraordinary (EGM), which take place when required. Unless the company’s constitution provides otherwise, it is possible for a shareholder to appoint a proxy to attend and vote in their place when they are unable to attend a general meeting.
Though it is not possible for shareholders to amend decisions made by directors or interfere with the running of the company, it is possible for them to convene a general meeting and raise a motion to remove a director, or the full board, or they can amend the constitution to restrict the director’s powers.
Shareholder decisions
There are two types of shareholder resolutions, ordinary and special, and both have distinct rules and requirements. An ordinary resolution requires a simple majority of the members present to vote in favour of the resolution and this is acceptable for most shareholder decisions. For Irish private limited companies, special resolutions require the approval of 75% or more of those eligible to vote.
Votes at general meetings can be cast either by way of a show of hands or by poll. A show of hands results in every shareholder or proxy present having one vote only, while a poll allows each shareholder to have one vote for each share they hold.
Shareholder liability
A shareholder’s liability is limited as the company’s debts are the responsibility of the company itself. The shareholder is liable only for the price they paid for the shares however it should be noted that if the shares are partially paid, the shareholder will be required to pay the remaining balance, either when the directors or an administrator (if the company is in financial difficulty) call up the unpaid amount.
Summary
The above is a brief introduction to the role of a company shareholder and how decisions are made, however it should again be noted that not all companies are identical, and some may have amended their own rules by preparing bespoke regulations in the constitution or a shareholder agreement. Therefore, it is vital that the company’s constitution and relevant agreements are reviewed before shareholder approval is sought.
