Practice
Selling or buying a company
The sale of a privately held company is usually its owner's largest transaction. The price gets the attention, but much of what an owner keeps is decided in the indemnities, the escrow and the terms of staying on.
Ambrose leads sales and purchases of companies, for sellers more often than buyers. He works with your banker or broker, if you have one, and your accountant from the letter of intent on.
How a sale runs, and where the fee stops
Each phase has its own flat fee, so you can stop after any of them.
- 01
Letter of intent
We review or draft the terms before you sign them: price, structure, exclusivity and what stays confidential.
- 02
Diligence
We organise the data room, answer the buyer's lawyers and fix what can be fixed before they find it.
- 03
Purchase agreement
We negotiate the agreement, the disclosure schedules and the employment terms for anyone staying on.
- 04
Closing
Signatures, the funds flow, the escrow and the filings, then a closing binder for your records.
The fee
The fee, phase by phase
For a company sold for under ten million dollars. Larger sales are quoted on the first call.
Letter of intent
Review, negotiation and a written summary of the terms, for one flat fee.
Ask about this feeUp to three rounds with the buyer
Diligence through closing
Diligence, the purchase agreement and the closing, for one flat fee. Tax advice is separate.
Ask about this feeDisclosure schedules
Employment terms for staying owners
Escrow and closing binder
Fees cover our work only. Filing fees, escrow agent fees and other third-party costs are billed to you at cost.