Attorney & Counselor at Law
ROBERT M PHILLIPS
One estate-planning tool that can protect your family and your partners is a buy-sell agreement. This legal document gives owners the first shot at buying an interest in the company if another owner pulls out or dies. Ideally, these contracts are drawn up when a business is launched but they can be entered into later.
But don't wait too long. If you die without an agreement, it may be difficult for your heirs to know how to handle important matters that could have a significant effect on the value, continuation or disposition of your business. Even if you stay with the company for decades, the time to prevent disputes is before they occur. Solve the "what if" issues now.
Ask these questions to determine where you need assistance from your estate-planning adviser to prevent future problems:
Applicability
üShould the agreement apply only to the current owners or should it be binding on all owners throughout the life of the business entity?
üShould the agreement supersede all other agreements to redeem a business interest?
üIs the agreement reviewed annually? (Changes in price or terms should require a unanimous vote of the owners.)
Type of Agreement
üShould the agreement be structured as a redemption or cross-purchase agreement?
üShould the agreement be structured to require the seller to sell and the buyer to buy? Or should it give the buyer an option to require the seller to sell? What about giving a right of first refusal to the buyer? Or a combination of the options listed above?
üShould the death of an owner cause an automatic buyout of the owner's interest? Or should his or her family be allowed to remain as an owner?
Price and Time
üShould the buyout price from the estate or heirs of a deceased owner be addressed? What about the buyout price to a disabled owner? An owner who resigns or is dismissed? An owner who goes bankrupt? If yes, when should it be paid? What interest rate should the obligation bear?
üShould there be a difference in price or terms if there's an amiable parting of ways?
üShould the price reflect the fact that you're selling to a long time business associate rather than an outsider?
Funding
üShould the agreement provide that a buyout be funded by life insurance or some other investment vehicle?
üIf funded with life insurance, should the type of life insurance used be addressed (for example, term life, ordinary life, last-to-die, paid-up life, universal life or an endowment policy?) Should a life insurance trust be used?
üShould all of the life insurance policy proceeds be used to redeem the interest? Can part of the proceeds be used to help the entity recover from the loss of the owner?
üShould whole life insurance policies with cash values be transferred to the owner at termination or retirement?
Security
üShould the agreement be guaranteed or secured?
üIf so, should the security be in the form of a pledge of business assets? A personal guarantee by the other owners? An agreement obligating the entity to refrain from increasing salaries, paying dividends or making loans until all outstanding liabilities to the beneficiaries are paid?
Loans
üShould you address the disposition of owners' loans (receivables or payables) in the event of death or disability?
üShould you address the disposition of owners' loans in the event of termination other than death or disability?
Covenant not to compete and other considerations
üShould there be a covenant not to compete? If so, should there be geographic and time limitations?
üShould there be a period of disability before the other owners have the right to buy out a disabled owner?
üShould owners have the right to transfer or assign to a trust, for estate-tax planning purposes, their rights and interests in the business?
üShould spouses of the owners sign the buy-sell agreement?
But don't wait too long. If you die without an agreement, it may be difficult for your heirs to know how to handle important matters that could have a significant effect on the value, continuation or disposition of your business. Even if you stay with the company for decades, the time to prevent disputes is before they occur. Solve the "what if" issues now.
Ask these questions to determine where you need assistance from your estate-planning adviser to prevent future problems:
Applicability
üShould the agreement apply only to the current owners or should it be binding on all owners throughout the life of the business entity?
üShould the agreement supersede all other agreements to redeem a business interest?
üIs the agreement reviewed annually? (Changes in price or terms should require a unanimous vote of the owners.)
Type of Agreement
üShould the agreement be structured as a redemption or cross-purchase agreement?
üShould the agreement be structured to require the seller to sell and the buyer to buy? Or should it give the buyer an option to require the seller to sell? What about giving a right of first refusal to the buyer? Or a combination of the options listed above?
üShould the death of an owner cause an automatic buyout of the owner's interest? Or should his or her family be allowed to remain as an owner?
Price and Time
üShould the buyout price from the estate or heirs of a deceased owner be addressed? What about the buyout price to a disabled owner? An owner who resigns or is dismissed? An owner who goes bankrupt? If yes, when should it be paid? What interest rate should the obligation bear?
üShould there be a difference in price or terms if there's an amiable parting of ways?
üShould the price reflect the fact that you're selling to a long time business associate rather than an outsider?
Funding
üShould the agreement provide that a buyout be funded by life insurance or some other investment vehicle?
üIf funded with life insurance, should the type of life insurance used be addressed (for example, term life, ordinary life, last-to-die, paid-up life, universal life or an endowment policy?) Should a life insurance trust be used?
üShould all of the life insurance policy proceeds be used to redeem the interest? Can part of the proceeds be used to help the entity recover from the loss of the owner?
üShould whole life insurance policies with cash values be transferred to the owner at termination or retirement?
Security
üShould the agreement be guaranteed or secured?
üIf so, should the security be in the form of a pledge of business assets? A personal guarantee by the other owners? An agreement obligating the entity to refrain from increasing salaries, paying dividends or making loans until all outstanding liabilities to the beneficiaries are paid?
Loans
üShould you address the disposition of owners' loans (receivables or payables) in the event of death or disability?
üShould you address the disposition of owners' loans in the event of termination other than death or disability?
Covenant not to compete and other considerations
üShould there be a covenant not to compete? If so, should there be geographic and time limitations?
üShould there be a period of disability before the other owners have the right to buy out a disabled owner?
üShould owners have the right to transfer or assign to a trust, for estate-tax planning purposes, their rights and interests in the business?
üShould spouses of the owners sign the buy-sell agreement?
RESTRICTIVE INTEREST AGREEMENTS
(Buy-Sell Agreements)
(Buy-Sell Agreements)