India: Shareholders

In KKH Finvest Pvt. Ltd. & Anr. v. Ashiesh Shukla & Ors., the Supreme Court considered whether a shareholder who had not signed a Memorandum of Settlement containing an arbitration agreement could nevertheless be treated as a "veritable party" to that agreement and be referred to arbitration. The Court held that the absence of a signature was not determinative where the surrounding contractual framework and the non-signatory's performance demonstrated an intention to participate in, and be bound by, the composite transaction.

In a significant ruling on the ever-evolving contours of arbitration law, the Supreme Court in KKH Finvest Pvt. Ltd. v. Ashiesh Shukla (Civil Appeal arising out of SLP (C) No. 4222 of 2025, decided on 5th August, 2026) revisited the circumstances in which a non-signatory can be bound by an arbitration agreement.

Argus Partners maintains offices in Mumbai, New Delhi, and Bengaluru, providing legal services across India's major business centers. The firm operates under strict Bar Council of India regulations that prohibit solicitation and advertising, with this website serving purely informational purposes. Users must acknowledge that no attorney-client relationship is created through website access and should seek independent legal advice for specific matters.

These events prompted regulators to strengthen governance standards by introducing stricter disclosure norms, enhanced board accountability and greater emphasis on transparency and stakeholder protection.

Corporate demergers have long served as an effective mechanism for business reorganisation, enabling companies to segregate business verticals, streamline operations and facilitate strategic investments in a tax-efficient manner. It is not uncommon for group restructurings to involve transfer of an undertaking to a wholly owned subsidiary (“WOS”) while the consideration is discharged through issuance of shares by its holding company—a structure that has, on several occasions, received approval under the Companies Act, 2013.

Every successful business reaches a stage where growth depends not only on revenue but also on trust. Investors, customers, lenders, employees and regulators increasingly evaluate how a company is managed...

The world's third-largest startup ecosystem has witnessed significant expansion in venture capital and private equity activity over the past decade.

In a significant pronouncement on the interpretation of membership under the Companies Act, 1956, a Division Bench of the Supreme Court of India comprising Justices Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Alok Aradhe...

In a significant ruling on corporate governance and the exercise of shareholder voting rights, the Supreme Court has held that when rival factions within a society claim authority...