Buy-Sell Agreements
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Is a Buy-Sell Agreement Needed for Any Reason Other Than the Death of an Owner?
While it is critical that buy-sell agreements provide for the successful transfer of a business owner’s interest in the business after his or her death, it is equally important that the agreement take into account other critical life events such as disability, retirement, and the sale of business interests to third parties.
An unexpected disability can be as serious a problem as death for a business owner. Most business owners work long hours, and if a closely held business were to lose the services of one of its key players for any significant period of time, the business’s operations could be severely hampered.
The owners of a closely held company should ensure that disability coverage is in place covering each of the owners. Such insurance might provide, at a minimum that income “lost” because of the absence of an owner due to disability is available to the business to cover overhead. The company’s buy/sell agreement can provide that the non-disabled owners would have the option to purchase the interest of a permanently disabled owner, and disability insurance can be obtained to help fund the purchase of those interests. Even if disability insurance has not been obtained, the cash value of any life insurance on the life of the disabled owner may be used to find the buy-out. None of these options are possible, however, unless the buy-sell agreement has been drafted to include specific disability buy-out provisions.
It is also critical that in drafting the agreement the business owners address the common situation where an owner retires or otherwise leaves the business. Many “boilerplate” agreements incorporate a loosely based definition of “retirement” that essentially allows a business owner to walk away at any time and requires the remaining owner or owners to immediately purchase the departed owner’s interest. Not only might the remaining owners have to come out of pocket with significant amounts of cash — or be burdened with large promissory note payments if the agreement provides for installment payments — but they must do so at a time when the business has lost the services of a key person. Properly counseled, very few business owners would opt for such a result.
Options for Buy-Sell Agreements
One solution might be to permit a “retirement” only if an owner reaches certain milestones (for example, attaining the age of 62 with a minimum of 20 years of service). The buy-sell agreement might specify that an owner who departs the business prior to the stated retirement milestones might have no ability to sell his interests to the other owners or to any third parties. In addition, the agreement could specify that the remaining owners have the option to buy out the departing owner but are not obligated to do so if the economics do not make sense.
Language can be included that provides that an owner who leaves prior to the “permitted” retirement date would not share in the appreciation of the business if it were sold to a third party at some future date and might in fact be required to take less than the fair market value of their interest (valued as of the date of their departure) if the business’s value subsequently decline. This mechanism is designed to protect the remaining owners if the value of the business suffers as a result of the lost services and goodwill attributable to the departed owner.
Another important consideration in buy-sell planning is determining when, if at all, an owner can sell his interest to someone other than another current owner. Owners in most closely-held businesses wish to restrict any sales to third parties except if the remaining owners unanimously agree to such a sale. While such restrictions impair the liquidity of an owner’s interest, they also ensure that all owners will be “partners” only with those persons with whom they are comfortable working.
The buy-sell agreement might also include provisions for “tag along” and “drag along” rights. “Tag along” rights protect minority owners in circumstances where the majority owners’ contract to sell the majority interests to any third party. A tase along provision might provide that the majority owners can sell their interests only to third parties if minority owners are afforded the same sale rights and at the same sale price per share. Under a “drag along” provision, if the requisite percentage of ownership interests required under the buy/sell agreement vote to sell the entire company or its stock to a third party, then owners of the minority interests would be obligated to participate in the sale.
What Else to Consider with Buy-Sell Agreements
Buy-sell planning presents many unique challenges and opportunities. Successful planning requires that business owners commit the requisite time and resources necessary to engage in thorough discussions with their professional advisors. A well-designed buy-sell agreement can ensure that the business will survive beyond the current ownership group. But if a business has a poorly designed agreement — or like too many businesses, no agreement at all — then that business’s long-term survival will be questionable at best.
Still have questions on buy-sell agreements, or need legal representation? The Chicago lawyers at Anthony J. Madonia & Associates would be happy to take your call. Contact us for more information.