A Nigerian shareholders' agreement you can customize and download in minutes

A shareholders' agreement is the contract the owners of a company sign to record how the company will be owned, governed and managed, and to regulate their relationship as shareholders. This template is a standard, plain-English format for Nigerian companies, built around the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 (CAMA) and Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) practice. It covers the share capital and shareholding, the board and voting, the key decisions that need special consent, restrictions on transferring shares, and the exit protections - pre-emption, tag-along and drag-along — that Nigerian companies typically use.

Just answer a few simple questions - the company and its business, the shareholders and their shareholdings, the board and voting thresholds, the dividend policy and the arbitration seat - and your personalized shareholders' agreement is generated instantly, complete with a cover page, a table of contents and a shareholding schedule, ready to download as PDF or Word.

What this shareholders' agreement includes

- A cover page ("Shareholders' Agreement for the company, between the parties") and a table of contents

- Clear identification of the Shareholders (up to four named parties) and the Company (with RC number and registered office)

- The share capital and shareholding, with a Schedule 1 cap table, and a pre-emption right on new share issues (section 142 of CAMA)

- The Board of Directors - size, each qualifying shareholder's right to appoint a director, quorum and voting

- Shareholders' meetings and voting, and a list of Reserved Matters needing a special shareholder majority

- Funding, a dividend policy, and clear rules on restrictions on transfer and pre-emption (right of first offer)

- Tag-along and drag-along rights, and a permitted-transfers clause for group and family transfers

- A deadlock procedure, confidentiality, and non-competition / non-solicitation covenants

- Term and termination, the relationship with the Articles of Association (the agreement prevails between shareholders), dispute resolution by arbitration under the Arbitration and Mediation Act, 2023, and a Nigerian governing-law clause

- An execution block for each shareholder, the company and a witness

How to create your shareholders' agreement

1. Open the template and click Generate.

2. Answer the guided questions; the company and business, the shareholders and their shares, the board and voting thresholds, the dividend policy, and the arbitration seat.

3. Generate the document; your details are merged into the agreement, cover page and schedule automatically.

4. Review and download as PDF or Word, then have each shareholder and the company sign before a witness.

Who is this shareholders' agreement for?

Founders, co-owners, investors and small businesses setting up or reorganizing a private company limited by shares in Nigeria who want to agree, in writing, how the company will be run and how shares can be transferred or exited. It suits two-to-four-shareholder companies and joint ventures, and works alongside the company's registered Articles of Association.

Disclaimer: This template is provided for convenience and general information only and is not legal advice. Company law in Nigeria (CAMA 2020, CAC regulations, tax and securities rules) is detailed, and a shareholders' agreement should be read together with the company's Articles. For companies with outside investors, unusual share classes, or high-value arrangements, have the final agreement reviewed by a qualified Nigerian lawyer before signing.

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What's included

- Professional formatting and layout, with a cover page and table of contents

- Easy customization with guided questions

- Multiple export formats: pdf, docx

- Standard clauses aligned with Nigerian company law (CAMA 2020)

- Instant download after generation

#sample shareholder agreement templates

Shareholder Agreement Example (Nigeria)