Share protection through life assurance

Directors' or partners' share agreements may provide for the remaining directors to purchase the shares of other shareholding directors, should they die. However, there is a risk that the remaining directors may not have sufficient funds to hand when a fellow director passes away unexpectedly.

One solution to this is to take out life cover as a source of funding.

To arrange such cover requires the understanding and agreement of all concerned. It will also require some careful calculations to determine how much cover is required. However, it will be a comfort to all directors or partners of a business to know that their own or a colleague's death will leave the other directors with sufficient support to carry out the terms of their shareholders' agreement.

This type of policy can also include critical illness for protection in the event that a director or partner is forced to leave due to serious illness.