Majority shareholders directly or indirectly hold more than 50% of shares or the controlling interest in a company. They have a significant amount of influence over the company and can take part in significant decisions that include: Appointment and removal of directors Attend and vote at general meetings Initiate liquidation/winding up of the company Mergers and amalgamations Sales of undertakings Variations of shareholder rights Alterations in memorandum of association or articles of association Approval of audited financials and boards reports Declarations of dividends Reduction in capital Additional rights agreed in the shareholders’ agreement include the right to: Inspect statutory registers and minutes books. Receive copies of financial statements. Board representations. Management rights. Access to additional information and records of the company. Liquidation preferences. Minority shareholders own a smaller percentage of the company’s equity. They have some authority, but they don’t have complete control because they own less than half of the corporation. Generally, they can vote and have their perspectives heard, but their votes are not enough to directly impact a company’s decision.