Does a private company need to have a share register?

In accordance with the Corporations Act 2001 , all companies operating in Australia are legally required to maintain accurate records of their shareholders, also known as a share register. In Australia, proprietary limited companies (also known as private companies) may have up to 50 non-employee shareholders.

How to issues shares in a private company Australia?

Although private companies cannot utilise the ASX as a platform to buy/sell shares, in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001 , a company can issue shares via the three methods below. Upon Registration - A person can become a shareholder and have shares allotted to them upon the registration of the company if they are specified on the registration form. Issuing Shares - A company can create new shares and grant to proposed shareholders. The shareholders will receive a share certificate, a document acting as legal proof of the ownership of shares, once the transaction is complete. Transferring Shares - Shares can be transferred when existing shares are granted to a proposed shareholder. The transfer of shares entails several legal requirements, mainly concerning compliance with ASIC under the Corporations Act, Company Constitutions and Shareholder Agreements, where existing shareholders may be entitled to a priority purchase of the proposed shares or a right of refusal. A private company is limited to having 50 non-employee shareholders, however this is not limited to 50 shares (i.e. a company may have thousands of shares but these can only be controlled by 50 individuals).

How can BoardRoom help in private entity registry services?

BoardRoom can maintain the register of shareholders for private and public unlisted companies. As part of the service, BoardRoom can issue share certificates, provide a portal for shareholders to login, view their holdings and update their information. Additionally, BoardRoom will provide a portal for clients to view the register, investor details and access a range of reports. A key benefit to outsourcing the registry to BoardRoom is to provide the company the same experience a listed company would receive. Contact us now to learn more about our services.

Private Entity Registry Services

BoardRoom provides an extensive range of services for listed entities on the ASX, NSX and SSX, as well as unlisted entities including proprietary companies, unlisted property trusts, equity funds and organisations considering an IPO.

Listed Share Registry

Unlisted Unit Registry

Private Entity Registry

Corporate Actions

Pre-IPO

Employee Plans

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ESG Access

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BoardRoom Partner Services

Private Entities can have their share registry managed by a professional provider and give investors access to the latest online tools via our cost-effective approach.

Are you conducting a seed, crowdfund or secondary raising and/or currently managing your registry via a spreadsheet or outdated system?

We will load your register onto our leading-edge platform, ensuring all data is correct and accurate, and manage communications with investors. This not only removes the administrative burden from you or your key staff, but allows investors have the latest tools to view shareholding information and self-service.

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InvestorServe

Securityholder Portal

InvestorServe is the key destination for securityholders to manage their holdings.

Designed with a focus on ease of use and user experience, our clients’ securityholders have 24/7 access to a wide range of self-service options to manage their investments. InvestorServe allows for managing and linking holdings, updating personal information, accessing historical data and completing online forms. The InvestorServe portal is fully customisable and branding can be tailored to each client’s needs.

ClientOnline

Client Portal

ClientOnline is our market-leading online registry and employee equity plan software.

The portal utilises the latest technologies to allow clients to access their key information quickly and accurately. Intuitive and secure, our registry and employee equity plan software provides real-time detailed information including register snapshots, key alerts and access to a number of detailed reports.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a private company need to have a share register?

In accordance with the Corporations Act 2001, all companies operating in Australia are legally required to maintain accurate records of their shareholders, also known as a share register. In Australia, proprietary limited companies (also known as private companies) may have up to 50 non-employee shareholders.
How to issues shares in a private company Australia?
Although private companies cannot utilise the ASX as a platform to buy/sell shares, in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001 , a company can issue shares via the three methods below.
1. Upon Registration - A person can become a shareholder and have shares allotted to them upon the registration of the company if they are specified on the registration form.
2. Issuing Shares - A company can create new shares and grant to proposed shareholders. The shareholders will receive a share certificate, a document acting as legal proof of the ownership of shares, once the transaction is complete.
3. Transferring Shares - Shares can be transferred when existing shares are granted to a proposed shareholder. The transfer of shares entails several legal requirements, mainly concerning compliance with ASIC under the Corporations Act, Company Constitutions and Shareholder Agreements, where existing shareholders may be entitled to a priority purchase of the proposed shares or a right of refusal. A private company is limited to having 50 non-employee shareholders, however this is not limited to 50 shares (i.e. a company may have thousands of shares but these can only be controlled by 50 individuals).
How can BoardRoom help in private entity registry services?

BoardRoom can maintain the register of shareholders for private and public unlisted companies. As part of the service, BoardRoom can issue share certificates, provide a portal for shareholders to login, view their holdings and update their information. Additionally, BoardRoom will provide a portal for clients to view the register, investor details and access a range of reports. A key benefit to outsourcing the registry to BoardRoom is to provide the company the same experience a listed company would receive. Contact us now to learn more about our services.