Deed of Adherence: Share transfer
Deed of Adherence for a new shareholder who has acquired shares through transfer to agree to become a party to the company’s existing Shareholders Agreement, in the form of a Deed between the new shareholder and the company.
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When do I use this document?
- in conjunction with a transfer of shares
- where the new shareholder is required to become party to, and bound by, the company’s Shareholders Agreement
- where the Shareholders Agreement does not include the required form of Deed of Adherence
What are the key features?
- different forms of Deed of Adherence, depending on whether the new shareholder is an individual or a company
- in the form of a Deed between the company and the new shareholder
What else do I need to know?
When is a Deed of Adherence required?
When shares are transferred to someone who is not already a shareholder, the new shareholder may be required to agree to become a party to the company’s existing Shareholders Agreement. This requirement can be found either in the company’s Articles of Association or in the Shareholders Agreement.
This requirement is satisfied by the transferee executing a Deed of Adherence to the Shareholders Agreement. This process also applies where a new shareholder acquires shares by way of the issue of new shares.
What other documents are available?
For a form of Deed of Adherence where the new shareholder becomes a shareholder on the allotment of new shares in the company, see
When do I use this document?
- as an advance subscription agreement between the company and a single investor
- where the conversion price will be calculated as a percentage discount to the issue price for shares in the qualified investment round
- if agreed, where there is an agreed valuation cap on the company’s valuation
What are the key features?
- advance subscription terms and payment
- conversion on the occurrence of defined events, including a qualifying financing round, the sale of the company or on a longstop date
- conversion price on a qualified financing round to be at an agreed percentage discount to the qualified financing round share price
- if agreed, a cap on the valuation of the company for the purpose of calculating the conversion price
- warranties regarding the investor’s compliance with Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 regime regarding financial promotions
What else do I need to know?
For detailed discussion regarding the purpose of advance subscription agreements and their benefits and disadvantages for investors and the company, click here.
Negotiating points
Prior to entering into this ASA, the parties will need to consider and agree:
- discount rate: the discounted price per share (expressed as a percentage) at which the ASA investor will receive shares in the qualified financing round
- valuation cap: if agreed, the cap on the valuation of the company for the purpose of calculating the price at which the advance subscription will convert into shares on a qualified investment round
- default valuation: the default valuation of the company which will be used to calculate the conversion price of the advance subscription in circumstances where conversion occurs on the agreed longstop date or the company’s insolvency
- longstop date: the longstop date on which (and in the absence of a prior qualifying financing round) the ASA will automatically convert into shares
- qualified financing round: the minimum amount of funding which the company must raise before that funding round will count as the qualified financing round under the ASA which results in the conversion of the advance subscription into shares
- subscription amount: the amount of the investor’s advance subscription
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Updated by a lawyer on 06/08/2024
- Updated By a lawyer on
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