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Free share vesting agreement templates (Australia)

Implement vesting conditions on certain shareholders’ shares with a share vesting agreement.

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Amelia Harvey
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Offering as well as holding equity in a company can be risky business. To ensure transparency and accountability between the share issuer and the shareholder, a share vesting agreement can be greatly beneficial. To find out more about drafting this legal document, we have put together a guide.

What is a share vesting agreement?

A share vesting agreement lets a company apply vesting conditions on issue shares which are being sold to a stakeholder. The aim of this legal document is to protect the interests of the business and all the employees who continue to contribute to it.

A share vesting agreement is used when shares have already been issued in full and a company wishes to add terms and conditions to those shares. Not meeting these set conditions can allow a company to regain control of the shares.

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When should I use a share vesting agreement?

A share vesting agreement is used when a company is issuing shares to a stakeholder and vesting conditions must be applied. Share vesting agreements are a must-have document for start-ups, as it includes provisions for exit and allows companies to reserve the rights to buy back shares at a nominal price.

What is share vesting?

Share vesting is when an employee, co-founder or investor is rewarded with shares and receives the full rights to them over a set timeline or when a specific target is met. Offering vesting means your business won't have to pay out as much in cash compensation and instead offer shares of stock, avoiding a drain in cash flow. Vesting also encourages employee loyalty, as most people won't want to walk away from the potential of being compensated with vested shares.

Regular share vesting agreement vs reverse share vesting agreement

Regular vesting is done to keep employees in the company. Through a regular vesting agreement, employees have the right to buy company shares once their shares are fully vested. With a reverse vesting agreement, it removes the shareholder's involvement in the company profits. When drafting a reverse vesting agreement, the company can repurchase any allocated shares in case of a premature exit, redundancy or firing.

What does a share vesting agreement include and not include?

Although it all depends on the nature of the business and the terms offering with the shares, there are some clauses that should and should not be included in a share vesting agreement.

Included

  • Shareholder details
  • Number of shares
  • Share types
  • Criteria of the vesting share
  • Vesting schedule and timeline
  • Options for company buy-back
  • Confidentiality terms
  • Definitions and interpretations
  • Terms for exit

Not included

  • Vague language that could be misinterpreted
  • Misleading promises
  • Conditions that are impossible to meet
  • Last minute changes

How effective is a share vesting agreement?

A share vesting agreement can be a crucial document for new businesses. Their main role is to protect the interests of all parties, helping a company grow. A well drafted share vesting agreement ensures that share ownership is properly restricted and is earned by fair means. The terms set out in an effective share vesting agreement should be stringent enough to keep a business protected from lack of commitment or general incompetency.

Do I need a lawyer for a share vesting agreement?

Because share vesting agreements have tax implications, it can be a good idea to have a lawyer to help you draft this document. If you don't wish to seek legal advice, there are many websites that officer guidance and share vesting agreement templates.

Data updated regularly
Name Product Legal document services available Free legal documents available? Other legal services offered Price Document library size
Lawpath
Lawpath
Customisable document templates
You can view samples for free and you can create your first document for free.
Online document eSignatures, lawyer marketplace, on-demand legal advice, business setup services
$288 per year for unlimited documents
300+
Customise and download up to 300 legal documents for business or personal matters. Plus register a company, business name or ABN.
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More Info
LawDepot
LawDepot
Customisable document templates
Free one week trial available which gives access to hundreds of documents.
Free legal articles and resources
$59.88 per year for unlimited documents or one-off documents available for $9.50 - $49
150+
Customise and download legal documents in as little as five minutes. Plus, LawDepot offers peace of mind with two service guarantees.
Go to site
More Info
Sprintlaw
Sprintlaw
Professionally drafted documents
Some documents are free to download. Get access to all documents with a membership.
Business, consumer law, E-commerce, data and privacy, finance, consumer law
Price varies per document.
Enjoy free custom quotes and fixed-fees on legal documents and services for startups and small businesses.
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Legal123
Legal123
Customisable document templates
No
Custom legal services available, free law change updates via email, legal packages for various professions
Individual templates start from $59 + GST
Legal123 offers a range of individual templates or document packages for consultants, app developers, personal trainers and more.
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LegalVision
LegalVision
Customisable document templates & professionally drafted documents
No
Legal advice phone consultations, contract reviewing and amendments, trade mark applications, business structure assistance.
From $49 + GST per week for access to 40+ legal templates
40+
Take advantage of unlimited legal advice consultations, free legal templates and fast turnaround times for legal projects with LegalVision membership.
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How do I write a share vesting agreement?

All the terms disclosed within a share vesting agreement should be negotiated upfront. This means there is no room for confusion, ensuring both parties understand their responsibilities. Terms listed within the share vesting agreement should be agreed upon at the beginning, making the whole process automated.

There are plenty of online resources available that provide legal templates like share vesting templates. Simply download the template, customise it to fit your requirements and then download it to your device. Here are some websites that offer share vesting agreements:

  • Lawpath. Lawpath is an online legal resource especially aimed at small businesses. Users can browse free samples on its website but must sign-up to access the range of customisation options made available.
  • LawDepot. LawDepot offers a wide range of free legal templates. They can easily be completed to suit your needs and then downloaded to your desktop.
  • Wonder.Legal. Browse a large range of legal document templates with Wonder.Legal. Some of them are free of charge, others may cost a small fee to purchase.

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