Sales Agreement Review Checklist
Explanation: This checklist is intended as guidance for reviews by both the buyer's and seller's attorneys and tax advisers
of purchase/sale agreements to ensure critical issues are addressed in the document.
Purchase/sale agreements should normally cover the matters listed below, in addition to any other issues that apply to
the particular transaction in question.
- Purchase/Sale Terms
- Amount of sales price
- Payment terms (such as installment payment provisions pursuant to a promissory note, the interest rate charged on
deferred payments, contingent payment provisions, etc.)
- Any holdback or payment offset provisions
Note: The entire purchase price should be accounted for in the description of the consideration given for the stock or assets being sold.
Representations of Buyer and Seller
- Regarding ownership of assets being sold
- Regarding legal authority of individuals to conduct the transaction
- Regarding existence of actual and contingent liabilities
- Regarding liabilities secured by assets
Pre-closing Obligations of Buyer and Seller
- Buyer's access to seller's records
- Seller's conduct of business as usual during pre-closing period
- Seller's maintenance of adequate insurance during pre-closing
period
- Limitations on seller transactions that would diminish assets
or otherwise harm the business during the pre-closing period
- Buyer's provision of financial information
- Buyer's provision of information showing arrangements to secure adequate financing buyer's agreement to maintain confidentiality
Pre-closing Conditions
- Buyer ascertaining before closing that all seller representations are reasonably accurate and that there have been no
material adverse changes in the financial condition or operations of the target
- Seller has obtained title insurance policies on all real property included in the deal buyer has obtained assurance that
lease rights are assignable
- The necessary governmental and regulatory approvals have been obtained
- Buyer's representations are reasonably accurate
- Buyer has obtained third-party guarantees for any debt established under the agreement
Closing Procedures
This part of the agreement specifies the property, payments, and documents that will be transferred
between buyer and seller in completion of the transaction and the time and place of the closing meeting.
Post-closing Obligations
Generally, the post-closing obligations of the seller involve
taking specified actions if seller representations turn out to
be inaccurate and honoring any non-compete agreements. The buyer
may also have post-closing obligations.
- Miscellaneous and Optional Provisions
- Which party will pay business broker's or finder's fees and transaction costs
- Arbitration procedures in the event of disputes between buyer and seller
- Which state's laws govern the transaction
- Circumstances whereby either party can terminate the agreement without penalty (such as litigation, inaccurate representations,
or default by one of the parties regarding compliance with other terms of the purchase/sale agreement)
Note: The buyer should be particularly interested in negotiating language giving the desired flexibility to cancel the deal. |
