Pravno uređenje odnosa članova u zatvorenim (closely held) društvima na primjeru hrvatskog društva s ograničenom odgovornošću

Abstract

This article analysis regulation of legal relationship between shareholders in closely held company. Authors define “closely held companies” by functional approach, analyzing specific features which distinguish this type of companies from all other companies, regardless of their legal form. Available data suggests there are a significant number of these companies in Croatia and abroad. There are two basic corporate governance challenges in closely held company concerning the shareholders relations: potential abuse of its position by the majority shareholder, especially when majority shareholder acts as manager and the so-called “deadlock” when shareholders cannot reach agreement on any decision necessary for normal functioning of the company. Personal relations between the shareholders are in the core of these corporate governance issues. The Croatian private limited liability company is a model of closely held company in Croatia. Thus, this article analysis the withdrawal and exclusion of shareholders in Croatian court practice and its significance for solving the conflicts between shareholders in order to preserve the company. Authors advocate for more extensive use of the right to autonomously regulate the relationships between the shareholders in closely held companies. In that regard, authors suggest to use articles of association for more precise regulation of shareholders relationship, to set higher quorum when deciding important decisions in shareholders’ meeting which would empower the minority shareholders, to leave the important decisions on governing the company in the scope of the shareholders’ meeting and other. Also, authors consider that formation of supervisory body could contribute to achieve balance between the shareholders, especially between the majority and minority shareholders. Set of recommendations set in corporate governance codes could be of great use when drafting the articles of association. In that regard, authors call for de lege ferenda implementation of such a code, following the established practice on the comparative level