Acquisition Articles Drafter

Articles drafter: creating the holding that buys the business

To buy a business via a holding, you first have to create that holding — and so draft its articles of association. These articles are not a mere form: they set the purpose (holding and financing the target), the governance, the manager's powers and, above all in a multi-party acquisition, the partner clauses that secure the deal. Our drafter helps you produce articles consistent with your acquisition structure. Designed for the 27 EU countries, it reminds you that the form of the articles and the registration formalities are set by each member state.

Draft my holding's articles Take the free diagnostic

What an acquisition holding's articles must provide for

Beyond the standard wording, an acquisition holding's articles include items specific to the deal:

An adapted corporate purpose: holding shareholdings, leading and financing the acquired company.
Governance: the acquiring manager's powers, decisions subject to partner approval.
Partner clauses in a multi-party acquisition: approval, pre-emption, exit, consistent with any shareholders' agreement.
The terms of financing and dividend up-streaming used to repay the acquisition debt.

Articles and shareholders' agreement in a multi-party acquisition

Many acquisitions are done with several parties (co-acquirers, investors). The articles set the public framework, but the fine balances (power distribution, exit conditions, fate of shares in a disagreement) often fall to a complementary shareholders' agreement.

Articles poorly articulated with this agreement are a frequent source of deadlock after the acquisition. It is better to anticipate from the drafting stage.

Recommendation

Have your acquisition holding's articles reviewed by a legal professional in the target's country before registration. A drafting flaw can weaken the whole acquisition structure.

A form specific to each member state

The articles of a German GmbH, a French SAS, a Spanish SL or a Dutch BV do not follow the same rules. Mandatory clauses, minimum capital and registration formalities differ.

The tool structures the drafting by your country and legal form, without assuming a France-centred framework. Member states' business registers are interconnected at EU level (BRIS).

From chosen status to drafted articles

The drafter builds on the upstream status choice: it turns your decision (holding, legal form, governance) into a structured document, ready to be reviewed by your adviser and filed.

The articles drafter is available per unit or via the Solutions AI page. Pair it with the legal status module for a consistent structure.

Frequently asked questions

Why draft articles to acquire a business?▼

If you buy via a holding, that holding is a company to create: it needs articles that set its purpose (holding and financing the target), its governance and the partner clauses.

Which clauses matter in a multi-party acquisition?▼

Approval, pre-emption and exit clauses, consistent with a shareholders' agreement. They secure the power distribution and the fate of shares in case of disagreement after the acquisition.

Does the drafter produce articles valid in my country?▼

The tool structures the drafting by your country and legal form. As mandatory clauses are set by each member state, have the articles reviewed by a local professional before registration.

Do I need a shareholders' agreement in addition to the articles?▼

Often in a multi-party acquisition, yes. The articles set the public framework; the agreement sets the fine balances. Both must be articulated to avoid deadlock.

Is the articles drafter free?▼

The drafter is available per unit or via the Solutions AI page. The upstream status-choice module remains free to get started.

Cleanly create the holding that buys

Purpose, governance, partner clauses: produce acquisition holding articles consistent with your structure, to be reviewed by your local adviser.

Draft my holding's articles

Indicative information, not legal advice. The form of the articles and registration formalities are set by each member state. Have your articles reviewed by a legal professional in the target's country before registration.

Last reviewed : 2026-06-24