Business Legal Services

Share Buybacks

Get the legal support you need to ensure that your share buyback is effective and remains valid.

Get the company share buyback process right from the beginning to avoid future complications such as fines or even the share buyback itself being declared void. Our corporate experts can help you create and execute a share buyback process that works for you.

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Advising on the share buyback that is right for your business

Our team of corporate solicitors can support you with:

Advice on which type of share buyback is appropriate

This will largely depend on whether your business is a private limited company, a public unlisted company or a public company with shares traded on UK or certain other markets.

Defining what your share buyback scheme should look like

We’ll establish whether your business needs to comply with Part 18 of the Companies Act 2006, or whether any rules by investor bodies or market regulations need to be taken into account.

Checking your company’s articles of association

We’ll make sure that your proposed share buyback is permitted by your company’s corporate governance rules and assess what levels of approval are required by the company’s management and shareholders.

Checking pre-emption rights

We’ll verify any pre-emption rights that have been given to other shareholders that will need to be waived before the share buyback can occur.

Drafting the necessary documentation

We’ll ensure the share buyback properly complies with legal regulations and that your business does not become liable for fines.

Advice on the appropriate timetable and series of events

We’ll make sure that the process is not open to dispute, has received the necessary approvals and complies with all applicable legislation, including giving adequate notice and other timings.

Guidance on financial options

We’ll provide you with options that are legally available to your business so that you can assess how best to fund the share buyback.

Guidance on documentation

We’ll advise on what needs to be sent to shareholders for review and where documents need to be available for inspection, including the procedure for circulating an off-market buyback contract or a shareholder circular for public companies with a premium listing.

Assistance with filings

We’ll prepare and submit the necessary filings with Companies House and update the register of members of the company.

Buyback of shares procedure

Getting the right legal support with the planning and execution of a company share buyback can help you avoid common pitfalls and get the business essentials right, first time.

Working with you to understand your business needs, we will help you answer the following questions when undertaking a share buyback so that it’s valid and meets the needs of your business:

  • What type of company is your business – is it private, public, listed or traded for example?
  • Will your share buyback scheme be market or off-market?
  • How will your share buyback be funded – out of your company’s distributable profits or a new share issue for example?
  • For private limited companies, will your share buyback be funded out of your company’s capital or cash?
  • Is the share buyback in the best interests of the company and its shareholders?
  • Are the shareholders likely to unanimously consent to the share buyback?
  • How will the shares that have been bought by the company be held?

Share buyback benefits

Increase earnings per share

Increase the earnings per share with a company share buyback, helping to benefit the valuation of those shares (particularly for traded and listed companies) and to encourage investors’ support.

Support the share price

Buy shares when there is little demand for them in the market, then resell them at the right time. Organise a share buyback once the market improves and the share price increases to a value that the company believes better represents the business.

Effectively deal with shares held by employees

Give employees that no longer work for the company a clean break by way of a share buyback. Recent legislation has made it easier and simpler for a company to buy back shares from employee incentive arrangements, helping you to neatly wrap up an employment relationship.

Help your shareholders with strategic decisions

Utilise a share buyback if shareholders wish to leave your business, fostering goodwill between the parties should you need to continue to have a relationship following the shareholder’s exit. For the remaining shareholders, there is also comfort in maintaining the status quo as no new and potentially unknown shareholder will be joining the remaining shareholders.


Who we help: private and public companies

We support UK-based, public and private companies in commercial businesses that are looking to explore the benefits of a share buyback. We advise clients of all types, from start-ups to scale-ups and established market players.


Testimonials

What our clients say

For us, the support of Harper James Solicitors has been a gift. The collaboration we have had has been of tremendous importance. The service has been superb value for money.
Iraklis Bourantas COO, Novoville
As a University spin-out getting the right team of lawyers to support our emerging business was fundamental and the team are always available to provide us with the invaluable guidance and support we require.
David Hodgson CEO, Amalyst
My colleagues and I have found them to be adept at dealing with the variety of challenges facing early stage companies. They are a trusted source for sound, sensible advice and practical deal management.
Jill Shaw CEO, Anvil Semiconductors
As with any business, we need access to good quality legal advice without the fear of facing huge legal fees. The service provided by Harper James is ideal because they are always available to assist and we know that the advice provided is of outstanding quality, with pricing that is cost effective and completely transparent.
Laura Bowen Director, Admedo
For us, the support of Harper James Solicitors has been a gift. The collaboration we have had has been of tremendous importance. The service has been superb value for money.
Iraklis Bourantas COO, Novoville
As a University spin-out getting the right team of lawyers to support our emerging business was fundamental and the team are always available to provide us with the invaluable guidance and support we require.
David Hodgson CEO, Amalyst
My colleagues and I have found them to be adept at dealing with the variety of challenges facing early stage companies. They are a trusted source for sound, sensible advice and practical deal management.
Jill Shaw CEO, Anvil Semiconductors
As with any business, we need access to good quality legal advice without the fear of facing huge legal fees. The service provided by Harper James is ideal because they are always available to assist and we know that the advice provided is of outstanding quality, with pricing that is cost effective and completely transparent.
Laura Bowen Director, Admedo

Why choose Harper James Solicitors?

We can assist you with strategic analysis of your proposed share buyback, provide you with well-drafted documentation and help you establish a clear and compliant timetable for the share buyback procedure. Our corporate solicitors have a wealth of experience in share buybacks for both public and private UK-based companies.

In addition, the Harper James team can extend its expertise to you to support your business further. We understand that your legal requirements don’t just stop with a share buyback. That’s why we offer a fully integrated service to our clients across every area of law that your business will need to scale. From intellectual property assignment, to drafting commercial agreements, providing dispute resolution services and much more, you can rely on our strategically minded solicitors to support your business as it grows.

Plus, we have all been recruited from top 100 UK law firms or from large international businesses and have advised clients both as external advisors and as in-house corporate counsel. Find out more about the team here:


Pricing plans

Legal support designed
to fit your business needs

Our three transparent pricing packages are designed to give you the widest possible access to high-quality legal advice, whatever the size and nature of your business:

City

Straightforward access to senior solicitors at a competitive rate.

An affordable solution for businesses needing one-off legal support. Receive ‘City’ partner-level expertise at a fraction of ‘City’ prices.

On-Demand

Providing you with priority access to a dedicated panel of highly experienced solicitors.

Fully account managed quarterly subscription service for businesses with more complex legal needs.



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Our commercial lawyers are based in or close to major cities across the UK, providing expert legal advice to clients both locally and nationally.

We mainly work remotely, so we can work with you wherever you are. But we can arrange face-to-face meeting at our offices or a location of your choosing.

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To access legal support from just £145 per hour arrange your no-obligation initial consultation to discuss your business requirements.

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