Articles of Association: pre-emption (share allotment)

Pre-emption rights on the allotment of new shares, giving existing shareholders the right of first refusal on a proposed issue of additional shares in the company.  In the form of standalone paragraphs to be included in the company’s Articles of Association.

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When do I use this document?

  • for shareholders to have rights of first refusal on a proposed issue of new shares
  • for inclusion in the company’s existing Articles of Association
  • for a private limited company incorporated in England and Wales
  • in conjunction with a shareholder resolution to amend the Articles of Association – see

What are the key features?

  • pre-emption rights offer and acceptance process
  • provision for pre-emptive rights to be disapplied with the consent of either a specified investor or the holders of not less than 75% of all of the shares in issue
  • allowance for grant of options and allotment of shares under an employee share scheme
  • requirement for any new shareholder to adhere to the company’s Shareholders Agreement
  • ITEPA election wording for shares allotted to directors/employees 

What other documents are available?

For pre-emption rights on the transfer of shares, see

When do I use this document?

  • for an indemnity clause to be included in a contract
  • for a contract governed by English law

What are the key features?

  • alternative forms of indemnity wording:
    • indemnity from one party in favour of the other party
    • mutual indemnity from both parties in favour of the other
  • indemnity for breach of the underlying contract
  • indemnity for potential loss arising from a third party claim
  • wording for conduct of third party claims

What else do I need to know?

An indemnity is a contractual undertaking given by one party (the indemnifier) in favour of another party (the indemnified party or beneficiary) under which the indemnifier agrees to pay to the indemnified party the amount of any loss or damage which the indemnified party suffers as a consequence of a specified event.

The specified event might be:

  • the breach of contract by the indemnifier
  • liability of the indemnified party to a third party in relation to a specified event or circumstance
  • a claim by a third party for loss or damage caused by the indemnifier’s breach of contract

Unlike other contractual obligations (and depending on the wording of the indemnity), an indemnity is not subject to legal rules and limitations regarding to the foreseeability of loss or the remoteness of damages which can be recovered by the beneficiary.  In addition, the beneficiary is not legally obliged to mitigate its loss.

As a result and in exchange for agreeing to give the indemnity, the indemnifier may require that the beneficiary takes certain actions in relation to a claim or event which might give rise to a claim under the indemnity being made.  These actions include:

  • the notification of a claim from a third party in relation to the indemnified obligation
  • an obligation on the indemnified party to take action required by the indemnifier to defend a third party claim
  • allowing the indemnifier to take legal action in the name of the indemnifier to defend the third party claim

Explanatory Guides

As with all of our document templates, your purchase will include access to clear explanatory guidance on the document and its use.

Updated by a lawyer on 30/06/2025

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