Last Updated February 27, 2024
Alternate Names:
A Purchase of Business Agreement can also be known as a:
- Business Sale Agreement
- Sale of Business Contract
- Business Purchase Agreement
What is a Purchase of Business Agreement?
A Purchase of Business Agreement is used to document the sale of a business's assets or shares. The parties in a business sale agreement are the business owner (seller) and the individual or business entity that the assets or shares are being transferred to (buyer).
LawDepot's Purchase of Business Agreement can be customized for either an asset sale or a share sale.
What is the difference between an asset sale and a share sale?
An asset sale is when the business entity remains with the seller and only the assets of the business (such as equipment, client lists, buildings, etc.) listed in the business sale agreement are transferred to the purchaser.
In a share sale, a part of or the whole business is sold including its assets, shares, rights and obligations, debt, trade names, etc.
What should a Purchase of Business Agreement include?
A Purchase of Business Agreement includes basic information about the business, like its location, and whether it is an unincorporated business or a corporation, as well as general details about the seller and buyer.
In addition to this information, a Purchase of Business Agreement can also include:
- The transaction type, like whether shares or assets will be sold
- The purchase price, like which assets are being sold and for how much in an asset sale, or what the total price for all shares is or the price per share in a share sale
- Any warranties or clauses, such as a non-competition clause (prevents the seller from entering into an agreement with a competing business for a certain period), a non-solicitation clause (prevents the seller from hiring or soliciting former employees for a certain period), and/or a confidentiality clause (allows the buyer and seller to seek recourse if proprietary or sensitive information pertaining to the business is shared)
- A statement of indemnity, which generally indicates that the purchaser is not liable for the seller's actions (for instance, some agreements include information about environmental compliance, which is where the seller guarantees that the purchaser won't be liable for things like hazardous spills or toxic emissions)
Where can I use a Purchase of Business Agreement?
LawDepot's Purchase of Business Agreement can be customised for use in the following Australian states and territories:
- Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
- New South Wales (NSW)
- Northern Territory (NT)
- Queensland (QLD)
- South Australia (SA)
- Tasmania (TAS)
- Victoria (VIC)
- Western Australia (WA)
What is the difference between a Purchase of Business Agreement and a term sheet?
A Purchase of Business Agreement is the final agreement that is created for a business purchase, while a term sheet (also known as a Heads of Agreement or Letter of Intent) is generally a non-binding document that lists the basic terms and conditions of a potential business purchase before the parties enter into a final agreement. The parties involved in the business purchase use a term sheet to indicate that negotiations for the potential sale will continue with both parties' best interests in mind.