SHAREHOLDER
AGREEMENT-LONG FORM
STATE OF
_________________
COUNTY OF
_______________
SHAREHOLDER
AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is
made and entered into this ______ day of ______________, by and between
_____________________________________ (Name
of the Corporation), a _____________________ (State) Corporation, whose principal
offices are located at _____________________________________________ (Address), and the individuals and entities
whose names and addresses are listed on Exhibit A attached hereto and made a
part hereof, all of whom are shareholders of the Corporation.
W I T N E S S E T
H:
WHEREAS, the present distribution of shares of
the Corporation is as follows:
Name Shares
_________________________________ __________________
_________________________________ __________________
_________________________________ __________________
WHEREAS, the parties have agreed that to promote
the good conduct of the Corporation and avoid the difficulties that might result
from the passing of shares to outsiders, it is desirable to make this Agreement
concerning the conduct of the Corporation and restrictions upon the transfer of
its shares;
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the promises herein made to one another, and for other good
and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
1. (a)
The Corporation shall have _______ (____) (number) directors; and each
shareholder shall, so long as he owns shares in the Corporation, have the right
to serve as a director of the Corporation or to designate some responsible
person to serve as his nominee.
(b) The officers of the Corporation shall be the
following shareholders, each of whom shall continue to serve as long as he owns
shares:
President ___________________________
Vice President ___________________________
Treasurer ___________________________
Secretary ___________________________
(c) The Corporation shall employ shareholders
and pay salaries to such shareholders as follows:
Name and Address
of Shareholders Salary Amount
______________________________________ $________________
______________________________________ $________________
______________________________________ $________________
______________________________________ $________________
______________________________________ $________________
The directors of
the Corporation may increase salaries of shareholder/employees from time to
time, provided, however that the compensation paid to each shareholder or
employee during each calendar year for his services shall be equal to the
compensation paid to each of the other shareholders during such calendar year
unless otherwise unanimously agreed by the shareholders or by a written consent
signed by all the directors of the Corporation and inserted in the corporate
minute book.
2. (a)
The Corporation will not, without the unanimous consent of all the
shareholders, do any of the following: (i) issue additional shares of any class
or any securities convertible into shares of any class; (ii) merge or
participate in a share exchange with any other Corporation; or (iii) sell,
lease, mortgage, or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of the assets
of the Corporation for any consideration other than cash.
(b) In the event the shareholders agree to issue
additional shares or securities convertible into shares, then each of the
shareholders shall have the right to purchase any such securities so offered at
a future date in proportion to his then respective interest in the Corporation
at the time of such offer.
3. Each shareholder's shares may be transferred
during the shareholder's lifetime or by testamentary or intestate transfer to
any related party of the shareholder, provided, however, that no further
transfer of such shares shall be made by such transferee except back to the
shareholder who originally owned them or to a related party of such shareholder
who originally owned them, or except in accordance with the provisions made
hereinbelow and provided further that whenever the Corporation shall have an
option or a duty to repurchase the shares of any shareholder, such option or
duty shall include all shares transferred by any such shareholder to a related
party. A related party shall mean a
spouse, issue, spouse's issue, or ancestor of the shareholder, except that any
spouse living separate and apart from the other spouse, with the intention by
either to cease their matrimonial relationship, is not a related party, and
provided further, that a trust for the sole benefit of one or more persons who
is a related party shall be treated as a related party.
4. No shares shall be voluntarily sold,
pledged, hypothecated, or otherwise transferred or permitted to be transferred
in any manner or by any means whatsoever except as provided in Paragraph 3
above or as follows:
Any shareholder
intending to transfer any shares except as permitted in Paragraph 3 above,
shall first offer such shares for sale at the Purchase Value as hereinafter
defined to the Corporation for a period of thirty (30) days, and then, to the
extent such offer is rejected or not accepted by the Corporation within that
period, such shares have been offered for sale at the Purchase Value for a
period of ten (10) days to all other shareholders in proportion to the number
of such shares held by them. Each such offer
shall be in writing and shall specify the number of shares being offered, the
name and address of each person to whom such shares are proposed to be
transferred, and the price per share and other terms upon which each such
transfer is intended to be made; and each such offer may be accepted by the
offeree in whole or in part at any time during the continuance of the
offer. If any shares are not purchased
pursuant to the aforesaid offers, the Offeror shall for a period of ninety (90)
days thereafter be free to transfer such shares to the person or person so
named at the price per share and upon the other terms so named; provided that
any such transferee of those shares shall thereafter be bound by all of the
provisions of this Agreement.
5. (a)
Upon the happening of any of the events enumerated below, the
Corporation shall purchase at Purchase Value as hereinafter defined all of the
shares of the shareholder so affected: (i) If any shareholder employed by the
Corporation under Paragraph 1(c) shall terminate his employment for any cause or
reason, including, but not limited to, loss of any license or certificate
required for his conduct of the business or disability lasting more than six
(6) months; or (ii) If any shareholder shall be adjudged incompetent or a
general guardian or guardian of his estate shall be appointed for him by any
court; or (iii) If any shareholder makes any assignment for the benefit of
creditors or applies for the appointment of a trustee, a liquidator, or a
receiver, or commences any proceeding related to himself under any bankruptcy
or arrangement of similar law; or if any such application is filed or
proceedings commenced against the shareholder and the shareholder consents
thereto or an order is entered allowing such application and remains in effect
for sixty (60) days; or (iv) If the shares of any shareholder are purported to
be transferred involuntarily, including, without limitation, any purported
transfer by or pursuant to bankruptcy, attachment, divorce, equitable
distribution, or operation of law; or (v). If any shareholder shall die.
(b) This duty to purchase or retire shall apply
to all, but not less than all of the shares, and shall be exercised by the
Corporation by serving written notice upon such shareholder or such
shareholder's legal representative within thirty (30) days after the
Corporation receives notice of the occurrence of such event or the
qualification of such legal representative, whichever is later.
6. Any shareholder shall at any time have the
right to offer for sale at Purchase Value as hereinafter defined all (but not
less than all) of his shares in the Corporation to the Corporation and then
pro-rata to the other shareholders; and if all of such shares are not purchased
either by the Corporation or by the other shareholders within ninety (90) days,
then such shareholder shall, for a period of thirty (30) days after the
termination of all offers, have the right to require the dissolution of the
Corporation; provided, however, that if a shareholder exercises his right to
make such a demand and does not thereafter elect to require the dissolution of
the Corporation if his shares are not purchased, then neither he nor any other
owner of those unpurchased shares shall thereafter have the right to make such
a demand or cause such a dissolution at any time within five (5) years after
the expiration of the thirty-day period within which the right to require
dissolution could have been exercised.
7. (a)
Purchase Value as used herein shall mean the Purchase Value of the
shares of the Corporation established by a certificate of agreed value signed
by each shareholder and filed with the Corporation. If, at any time when it becomes necessary to determine Purchase
Value of the shares of the Corporation, a certificate of agreed value is in
existence and such certificate of agreed value is dated less than two (2) years
before the date as of which the Purchase Value is to be determined, then the
agreed value set forth in such certificate shall be conclusive as to the
Purchase Value and shall be accepted as the Purchase Value as of the date on
which Purchase Value is to be determined, and no accountant's determination of
book value shall be required or made.
In no event shall a certificate of agreed value be effective unless
signed by all the shareholders. The
shareholders may at any time execute a new certificate of agreed value which
shall automatically replace all prior certificates of agreed value and in no
event shall any but the last certificate of agreed value be effective, if at
all, for the purpose herein specified.
(b) In the event there is no certificate of
agreed value or in the event the same is more than two (2) years old, then, and
in that event, Purchase Value shall mean book value of the shares of the
Corporation.
Book value of the
shares of the Corporation shall mean as determined by the accountant or
accounting firm then servicing the Corporation, and such determination when
made, certified, and delivered to the Corporation shall be binding upon the
Corporation and upon all parties bound by the terms of the Agreement. Such determination shall be made in
accordance with sound accounting practice and the following shall be observed:
(i) No allowance of any kind shall be made for goodwill, trade name, or any
similar intangible asset. (ii) All accounts payable shall be taken at the face
amount, less discounts deductible therefrom, and all accounts receivable shall
be taken at the face amount thereof, less discounts to the customers and a
reasonable reserve for bad debts. (iii) All machinery, fixtures, and equipment
shall be taken at the valuation appearing on the books of the Corporation. (iv)
Inventory of merchandise and supplies shall be computed at cost or market
value, whichever is lower. (v) All unpaid and accrued taxes shall be deducted
as liabilities.
(c) The Purchase Value to be paid for any shares
offered pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement shall mean the value
determined by appraisal as follows:
Within fourteen (14) days after the event giving rise to an option or
duty of redemption, such shareholder and the Corporation (acting pursuant to
resolutions adopted by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of
the Corporation exclusive of the share hold by the offering shareholder) shall
each appoint a disinterested appraiser and those two appraisers shall, within
ten (10) days after their appointment, agree upon and appoint a third
disinterested appraiser; provided, however, that if the first two appraisers
are unable to agree upon a third appraiser, such third appraiser shall be
appointed by the Clerk of _____________________________ (which court, i.e.,
District, Superior, etc.) Court of ______________________ County,
__________________ (State). The three appraisers thus appointed shall,
within thirty (30) days after the last appointment, appraise the value of the
shares of the Corporation and deliver their appraisal to the directors and
shareholders of the Corporation.
(d) With regard to Paragraph 4, the Purchase
Value shall mean the price per share and other terms upon which a shareholder
is entitled to transfer his shares as shown in a bona fide offer to purchase.
8. (a)
Whenever under this Agreement the Corporation or the shareholders
exercise any option or right to redeem or purchase shares of any shareholder,
the Purchase Value shall be paid to the shareholder whose shares have been
redeemed or purchased in cash within thirty (30) days after notice to the
affected shareholder.
(b) Whenever under this Agreement the
Corporation or the shareholders exercise any option or right to redeem or
purchase shares of any shareholder, the Purchase Value shall be paid immediately upon the receipt by the
Corporation of the proceeds of any insurance on the life of a deceased
shareholder owned by and payable to the Corporation, to the extent of such
proceeds.
(c) Whenever under this Agreement the
Corporation or the shareholders exercise any option or right to redeem or
purchase shares of any shareholder, the Purchase Value shall be paid to the
shareholder in cash, ________ percent within thirty (30) days of the exercise
of any such right or option and the balance in installments as follows:
_______________________________________________________________
9. (a)
If, under the terms of this Agreement, the shares of the shareholders
are purchased or retired, such shareholder, or the legal representative of such
shareholder, shall execute and deliver all necessary documents that may be
reasonably required for accomplishing a complete transfer of such shares for
the purpose of the purchase transaction.
(b) Every transferee of restricted shares that
are transferred in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be
deemed a shareholder and be bound by all of the provisions of this
Agreement. Any purported or attempted
transfer of restricted shares that does not comply with the provisions of this
Agreement shall be null and void and the purported transferee shall not be
deemed to be a shareholder of the Corporation and shall not be entitled to
receive a stock certificate or any dividends or other distributions on or with
respect to such restricted shares. For
the purposes of this Agreement, a purported transfer of shares that causes such
shares to be subject to an option under Paragraph 4 shall be deemed to comply
with the provisions of this Agreement only after the expiration of such
option.
10. The provisions of Paragraph 4 shall not
apply to the bona fide, good faith pledge of any shares as collateral for a
loan, but the provisions of Paragraph 4 shall apply to any attempted sale or
other disposition of shares under any such pledge (whether by foreclosure,
consent, public or private sale, or otherwise).
11. This Agreement shall terminate and all
rights and obligations hereunder shall cease upon the happening of any one of
the following events:
(a) The adjudication of the Corporation as
bankrupt, the execution by it of any assignment for the benefit of creditors,
or the appointment of a receiver for the Corporation;
(b) The voluntary or involuntary dissolution of
the Corporation;
(c) By a written Agreement signed by all the
shareholders to terminate this Agreement.
12. If the Corporation reasonably determines
that any proposed transferee is not eligible as a shareholder of a Subchapter S
Corporation or that such transfer would cause the Corporation to lose its
qualification as a Subchapter S Corporation, then the Corporation may so notify
the shareholder of that determination and thereby forbid the consummation of
the transfer. Nothing in this
paragraph, however, shall preclude the Corporation's and the shareholders'
rights of refusal under this Agreement.
13. The certificates for shares subject hereto
shall be surrendered to the Corporation and endorsed as follows:
"The shares
represented by this certificate are subject to and are transferable only on
compliance with a Shareholders Agreement dated the ____ day of
________________, among shareholders, a copy of which is on file in the office
of the Secretary of the Corporation."
14. Whenever under this Agreement notice is
required to be given, it shall be given in writing served in person or by
registered mail, return receipt requested, and it shall be deemed to have been
given upon personal delivery or on the date notice is posted.
15. This Agreement embodies the entire
representations, Agreements and conditions in relation to the subject matter
hereof and no representations, understandings or Agreements, oral or otherwise,
in relation thereto exist between the parties except as herein expressly set
forth. The Agreement may not be amended
or terminated orally but only as expressly provided herein or by an instrument
in writing duly executed by the parties hereto.
16. This Agreement and the various rights and
obligations arising hereunder shall inure only to the benefit of and be binding
upon the parties hereto and their respective heirs, successors and assigns.
17. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
term or provision of this Agreement or the non-application of such term or provision
to any person or circumstance shall not impair or affect the remainder of this
Agreement, and its application to other persons and circumstances and the
remaining terms and provisions hereof shall not be invalidated but shall remain
in full force and effect.
18. Whenever in this Agreement any pronoun is
used in reference to any shareholder, purchaser or other person or entity,
natural or otherwise, the singular shall include the plural, and the masculine
shall include the feminine or the neuter, as required by context.
19. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of __________________.
IN WITNESS
WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement the date and place
first above mentioned.
__________________________________
(Name of Corporation)
By: _____________________________
__________________________________
President
__________________________________
(SEAL)
__________________________________
Shareholder
__________________________________
(SEAL)
__________________________________
Shareholder