Articles or Incorporation Documents

The Articles of Association (AoA), sometimes called the Memorandum and Articles of Association, is the company’s constitutional document. It sets out the internal rules the company operates under — who owns it, how decisions are made, and what happens in situations such as a partner leaving or the company closing.

An Articles of Association typically defines:

• The company’s name, activities and registered address
• Shareholders and their ownership percentages
• Share capital and how it is divided
• Management and signing authority
• Rules for transferring shares or admitting new partners
• Procedures for amendments, disputes or dissolution

Authorities typically require the Articles of Association to be signed by all shareholders (or their authorized representatives) and, depending on the jurisdiction, notarized or submitted in a prescribed format.