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Important
Note:
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BUY-SELL
AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT, made
this ____ day of ____________, 19____, by and between
_________________,
_____________, _____________, hereinafter separately referred to as
"Stockholder",
and jointly as "Stockholders", and ___________________, a
_____________
corporation,
hereinafter referred to as the "Corporation",
W I T N E S S E
T H :
WHEREAS, the
Stockholders together own 100% of the outstanding shares of capital
stock of the
Corporation, and
WHEREAS, as used
herein, the term "shares" shall mean all shares of common stock, at
$_______ par
value, of the Corporation now owned or hereafter acquired by the parties, and
WHEREAS, the
Stockholders are actively engaged in the conduct of the business of the
Corporation, and
it is contemplated that success or failure of the corporate enterprise will at
all
times depend in
large measure on the personal abilities of the Stockholders, and
WHEREAS, there
is not now, nor is there likely in the future to be a substantial market for
the shares of
the Corporation, and
WHEREAS, for the
foregoing reasons, the parties desire to provide for the purchase by
another
Stockholder or by the Corporation of the stock of any party desiring to sell the
same;
and for the
purchase by the Corporation of the stock of a deceased party.
IT IS THEREFORE
AGREED, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants
hereinafter set
forth, as follows:
1. Restriction
During Life. No stockholder shall transfer or encumber any of his shares of
capital stock of
the Corporation during his lifetime to any person, firm or corporation, without
the
consent of the
Corporation and the other Stockholder, unless the Stockholder desiring to make
the
transfer or
encumber (hereinafter referred to also as the "Transferor") shall have
first made the offer
hereinafter
described and such offer shall not have been accepted.
A. Offer by the
Transferor: The offer shall be given pro rata initially to the other
Stockholder(s)
and shall consist of an offer to sell or encumber all of the shares of the
capital stock
of the
Corporation owned by the Transferor, to which shall be attached a statement of
intention to
transfer, the
name and address of such prospective transferee, the number of shares of capital
stock involved,
and the terms of such transfer or encumbrance.
B. Acceptance of
Offer: Within thirty (30) days after the receipt of such offer the other
Stockholder(s)
may, at their option, elect to accept the offer. If such offer is not accepted
by
the other
Stockholder(s), the Corporation may within thirty (30) days after the rejection
of such offer,
at its option,
elect to accept the offer. The Corporation shall exercise its election to
purchase by
giving notice thereof to the Transferor and to the other Stockholder(s). The
other
Stockholder(s)
shall exercise the election to purchase by giving notice thereof to the
Transferor and
to the
Corporation. In either event, the notice shall specify a date for the closing of
the transaction,
which shall not
be more than thirty (30) days after the date of the giving of such notice.
C. Purchase
Price: The purchase price for, or the consideration for the encumbrance of
the shares of
the capital stock of the Corporation owned by the Transferor shall be set forth
in paragraph 3
hereof.
D. Closing of
Transaction: The closing of the transaction shall take place at the principal
office of the
Corporation. The consideration shall be paid as provided for in paragraph 3
hereof.
Certificates for
all shares sold or encumbered hereunder, property endorsed to the Corporation or
to the
purchasing Stockholder, as the case may be, shall be delivered by
the transferor
not later than the date of closing.
E. Release from
Restriction: If the offer is neither accepted by the Corporation nor by the
other
Stockholder(s), the Transferor may make a bona fide transfer to the prospective
transferee named
in the statement attached to the offer, such transfer to be made only in strict
accordance with
the terms therein stated. However, if the Transferor shall fail to make such
transfer within
______ (___) days following the expiration of the election period by the other
Stockholder(s),
such shares of capital stock shall again become subject to all of the
restrictions of
this Agreement,
provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall be construed as releasing
any shares of
this Corporation from any restriction or requirement of law concerning transfer
of
such shares.
F. Termination
of Employment: Any shareholder whose employment in any capacity with
the company or
its subsidiaries terminates for any reason whatsoever, voluntarily or
involuntarily,
shall be
considered as of the date of such termination of employment to have made an
offer of all of
his shares of
stock subject to the terms of this Agreement, at the purchase price
stated in
paragraph 3 hereof.
G. Subchapter
"S" Election: If at the time of a transfer of stock permitted
hereunder, the
Corporation then
is an "S" corporation, the transferee and new stockholder shall be
required to
consent in
writing not to revoke such "S" election without the unanimous approval
of all other
stockholders.
Such written consent shall be executed and delivered prior to the delivery of
the
shares to the
transferee at the closing of such sale and transfer.
2. Purchase Upon
Death. Upon the death of a Stockholder (hereinafter referred to as
Decedent), all
of the shares of the capital stock of the Corporation owned by him, and to which
he or
his estate shall
be entitled, shall be sold and purchased as hereinafter provided:
A. Obligation of
the Corporation to Purchase: It shall be for the Corporation to purchase
from the
Decedent's Personal Representative, and the Decedent's Personal Representative
shall be
obligated to sell to the Corporation, all of the shares of the capital stock of
the Corporation
owned by the
Decedent and to which the Decedent or his Personal Representative shall be
entitled,
at the price set
forth in paragraph 3 hereof.
B. Closing: The
closing of such purchase and sale shall take place at the offices of the
Corporation, at
a date selected by the Corporation upon ____ days notice to the Transferor which
date shall be
not more than ____ days following the date of the qualification of the Personal
Representative
and not less than ____ days following such date.
C. Insurance: To
insure or partially insure its obligation under this Agreement to purchase
from the estate
of a deceased Stockholder the shares owned by him prior to his death,
the Corporation
shall have the option to purchase policies of insurance covering the lives of
each
Stockholder in
any amount deemed desirable. In the event any Stockholder ceases to be a
Stockholder of
the Corporation, the Corporation shall terminate any such insurance on such
Stockholder's
life and in the event any Stockholder increases his holdings of the shares of
the
Corporation, the
Corporation shall procure and maintain, if so desired by it, additional
insurance on
the life of such
Stockholder proportionate to the increase in the holdings of such Stockholder.
If the
corporation shall receive any proceeds of any policy on the life of the
Decedent, such
proceeds shall
be used by the Corporation to pay the Decedent's Personal Representative to the
extent of the
purchase price of the Decedent's stock, such payment to be deemed made on
account
of such purchase
price.
D. Balance of
Purchase Price: If the amount of any insurance proceeds is insufficient to
pay the purchase
price of any Decedent's shares, then the balance of the purchase price remaining
after credit for
any insurance proceeds shall be payable as follows: ____% of the balance due to
be
paid shall be
paid in cash, and the balance shall be represented by a promissory note executed
by
the purchaser
payable in (15) (___) installments, which note shall be secured by the stock of
the
deceased
Stockholder.
E. "S"
Election: If the corporation is an "S" corporation at the time of the
transfer and sale
of its stock,
the transferee and new stockholder shall be required to consent in writing not
to revoke
such
"S" election without the unanimous approval of all other stockholders.
Such written consent
shall be
submitted prior to the delivery of the shares to the transferee.
3.
Consideration.
A. Unless the
parties agree to another price in writing, the price for each share of capital
stock to be sold
under this Agreement shall be equal to its fair market value as an on-going
business concern
as determined in the sole discretion of the company's Certified Public
Accountant,
(CPA) and such
determination by the CPA shall be binding and conclusive upon the
parties hereto.
B. Unless the
parties agree otherwise, the purchase price shall be paid as follows:
i. ______
percent (___) of the amount determined to be due as the price to be paid at the
closing in
addition to any insurance proceeds and the balance to be payable by the
execution of a
promissory note
in such amount to be repaid in ____ (___) installments, such note to be secured
by
the stock being
sold.
ii. The
promissory note shall bear interest until paid in full at the prime rate as
determined
from time to
time by Chase Manhattan Bank or any other bank as determined by and agreed upon
by the
Stockholders.
iii. In the
event that suit shall be required to collect on the promissory notes above
referred
to, then in such
event, the defaulting Stockholder or the Corporation shall pay for
attorney fees,
and courts costs, incurred in such action.
4. Limitation on
Stockholder's Right to Pledge Stock. The restrictions of paragraph 1 above
shall not apply
to encumbrances as collateral for a note or notes in favor of the company or any
one
or more of the
other Stockholders or in favor of a recognized lending institution, but only if
the
proceeds of such
loan are used in their entirety to purchase shares of the Corporation and the
borrowing
Stockholder delivers to the Corporation and the other Stockholder(s) the written
commitment of
the lender, in form acceptable to the Corporation that such lender will not
dispose of
such shares
without first affording the Corporation and the other Stockholder(s) the right
for a
period of ____
days to purchase shares at a price satisfactory to the Corporation and the other
Stockholder(s).
5.Corporate
Restrictions After Purchase. So long as any part of the purchase price of
shares of
capital stock sold in accordance with this Agreement remains unpaid, the
Corporation
shall not:
A. declare or
pay dividends on its capital stock;
B. reorganize
its capital structure;
C. merge or
consolidate with any other corporation, or sell any of its assets except in the
regular course
of business;
D. increase the
salary of any officer or executive employee of the Corporation;
E. allow any of
its obligations to become in default; or
F. allow any
judgments against the Corporation or any liens against the Corporation's
property to
remain unsatisfied.
So long as any
part of such purchase price remains unpaid, the Transferor, or the Personal
Representative
of the Decedent shall have the right to examine the books and records of the
Corporation from
time to time and to receive copies of all accounting reports and tax returns
prepared for the
Corporation. If the Corporation breaches any of its obligations under this
paragraph, the
Transferor or the Personal Representative, in addition to any other remedies
available, may
elect to declare the entire unpaid purchase price due and payable forthwith.
6. Purchase By
Stockholder. Whenever a Stockholder purchases shares of capital stock
under this
Agreement, such purchaser (unless he shall have paid the entire purchase price
in cash)
shall, following
the delivery of the purchased stock, endorse the new certificates of stock
issued to
such purchaser,
execute a UCC-1 Financing Statement (for recording), and deliver the same to the
Seller as
collateral security for the payment of the unpaid purchase price; and such
capital stock
shall be so held
until the entire purchase price shall be paid. While such capital shall be so
held as
collateral
security and so long as the Purchaser is not in default, the Purchaser shall be
entitled to
all voting
rights with respect thereto. Dividends paid shall be applied to the
indebtedness.
7. Purchase By
Corporation. Whenever the Corporation shall, pursuant to this Agreement,
be required to
purchase shares of the capital stock of the Corporation, the Stockholders and
the
Personal
Representative of any Decedent shall do all things and execute and deliver all
papers as
may be necessary
to consummate such purchase. Any note required to be given hereunder by the
Corporation as
part of the purchase price shall be endorsed and guaranteed by the remaining or
surviving
Stockholders, who shall not be discharged from such liability by reason of the
subsequent
extension,
modification or renewal of any such note. Until all amounts due are paid, the
stock
certificates and
a UCC-1 Financing Statement (to be recorded) shall be delivered to Seller.
8. Endorsement
On Stock Certificates. Each certificate representing shares of capital stock
of the
Corporation now or hereafter held by the Stockholders shall contain with a
legend in
substantially
the following form: "The transfer or encumbrance of the shares of stock
represented
by the within
certificate is restricted under the terms of an Agreement dated ____________ a
copy of which is
on file at the Corporation office."
9. Value of
Purchase Price for Tax Purposes. It is understood that the purchase price,
determined as
set forth hereinabove, shall be the value of the purchased shares for all tax
purposes.
In the event
such value is later increased by any federal or state taxing authority, any tax
liability
resulting from
such increase shall be borne by the selling Stockholder or his Personal
Representative,
as the case may be.
10. Amendments.
This Agreement may be amended or altered by execution of a written
agreement
authorized by corporate resolution and signed by all the parties hereto.
11. Notices. Any
and all notices, designations, consents, offers, acceptances, or any other
communication
provided for herein, shall be given in writing by registered or certified mail
addressed, in
the case of the Stockholders, to his address appearing on the stockbooks of the
Corporation, or
to his residence, or to such other address as may be designated by him, and in
the
case of the
Corporation, to the principal office of the Corporation, postage prepaid, by
United States
Mail, and shall
be considered to have been delivered on the 2nd day following the date
stamped by the
post office.
12. Invalid
Provision. The invalidity or unenforceability of any particular provision of
this
Agreement shall
not affect the other provisions hereof and the Agreement shall be construed in
all
respects as if
such invalid or unenforceable provision had been omitted.
13.
Modification. It is understood between the parties that this Agreement contains
the
entire
understanding of the parties and no change or modification of this Agreement
shall be valid
unless the same
be in writing and signed by all the parties hereto.
14.Binding
Effect. This Agreement shall bind and, unless inconsistent with its provisions,
shall inure to
the benefit of the Executor, Administrator or Personal Representative, and the
heirs
and assigns of
each of the Stockholders.
15. Prior
Agreement. This Agreement supersedes any prior Agreement of the parties.
16. Deadlock. If
at any time the Stockholders cannot agree on the Certified Public
Accountant of
the company and therefore are unable to establish an acceptable price for
purchase,
the matter shall
be submitted to arbitration in the following manner:
A. Each
Stockholder shall, within _______ (___) days after notice of such deadlock,
appoint a
Certified Public Accountant, and the two accountants shall then appoint a third
Certified Public
Accountant within ______ (___) days after the two accountants are selected, and
the average of
purchase price determined by them shall be final, conclusive and binding upon
the
Stockholders,
their executors, administrators and personal representatives, and a judgment on
such
determination may be obtained in any court of proper jurisdiction. The cost of
such accounting
shall be borne
equally by the parties unable to reach agreement hereunder.
In the event any
one of the Stockholders shall fail within the given time to select a Certified
Public
Accountant to represent him to resolve the dispute, then and in such event, the
remaining
Stockholder shall have the right to institute suit for specific performance
under this
Agreement, and
the defaulting Stockholder shall pay for all attorney fees and court costs of
such
action.
17. Indebtedness
of a Stockholder. In the event that there is a purchase and sale of shares
of stock or
interest therein, pursuant to the provisions hereinabove, and there is any
indebtedness
owed by the selling Stockholder or his estate to any party to this Agreement,
then,
notwithstanding
the said provisions relating to the payment of the purchase price, and any
amount
to be paid for
the stock being purchased shall be applied first to reduce and satisfy any
indebtedness
owed by the Selling Stockholder or his estate to any party under this Agreement.
18. Default. In
the event of a default in the payment of any installment of the purchase price,
the covenants
and conditions of this Agreement, or any Security Agreement given to Sellers,
Sellers may
declare the entire unpaid portion of the purchase price to be immediately due
and
payable, and may
proceed to enforce payment of same and to exercise any and all rights and
remedies
provided by the Uniform Commercial Code as well as any other rights and
remedies either
at law or in equity available to them, and Seller may assign, sell or transfer
all or
any part of the
collateral in such manner, at such price, and on such terms and conditions as
Sellers, in
their sole and absolute discretion, may determine. Sellers or the Corporation
shall have
the right to
purchase any or all of the collateral, apply any unpaid indebtedness on account
thereof, and
have a claim against Purchaser for the balance of such indebtedness in addition
to any
and all remedies
available to them at law or in equity.
19. Voting. It
is understood and agreed that until the purchase price shall have been paid in
full, the
Purchaser shall have no voting rights whatsoever.
20. Termination
of Agreement. This Agreement shall terminate upon the occurrence of one
of the following
events:
A. The written
agreement of the parties hereto or their successors in interest to that effect;
B. The
bankruptcy, receivership, or dissolution of the Corporation;
C. The disposal
of all the shares of stock of any Stockholder during his lifetime or by his
Personal
Representative or estate upon his death, shall terminate this Agreement as to
such
retiring or
deceased Stockholder; or
D. All of the
issued and outstanding stock of the Corporation becoming owned by one of
the Stockholders
of the Corporation.
21. Laws
Governed By. This Agreement is executed in and shall be construed by and
governed under
the laws of the State of ______________.
22. Withdrawal
from Corporation. Any Shareholder may withdraw from participation in the
Corporation at
any time in accordance with the following provisions:
A. Notice to
Corporation. Such Stockholder ("Withdrawing Stockholder") shall give
notice
to the
Corporation at least ______________ (____) days prior to the date (he)(she)
wants to
withdraw ("Withdrawal Date") which notice shall set forth the
Withdrawal Date.
B. Offer to
Corporation. Within ____________ (___) days after receipt of such notice, the
Corporation may,
at its option, elect to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Withdrawing
Stockholder's
shares. The Corporation shall exercise its option to purchase by giving written
notice
thereof to the
Withdrawing Stockholder within said _______________ (___) day period. Such
written notice
shall specify a date for the closing of the purchase, which shall not be more
than
_________ (___)
days after the date of the giving of such notice. The purchase price for the
shares
to be paid by
the Corporation and terms of payment therefor shall be as set forth in Paragraph
3
hereof.
C. Acceptance by
Stockholders. If the Corporation fails to exercise said option within said
______________
(____) day period, then for a _______________ (____) day period thereafter the
other
Stockholder(s) of the Corporation shall have the option to purchase such shares,
such option
to be exercised
in the same manner as that of the Corporation, and the purchase price and terms
of
payment to be
the same for the Stockholder(s) as for the Corporation as set forth in Paragraph
3
hereof. The
option may be exercised by the Stockholders pro rata (based on that proportion
which
the number of
shares owned by each other Stockholder bears to the total number of shares then
outstanding, not
counting the shares proposed to be sold), and if one (or more) of the
Stockholders
does not desire
to exercise his option, then his
option shall be
exercisable on a pro rata basis by the other Stockholders (not counting for any
purpose, the
shares proposed to be sold or the shares owned by any Stockholder who does not
desire to
exercise his option); or the option may be exercised by the other Stockholders
on such
basis as they
may agree upon.
D. Dissolution
and Liquidation. In the event that neither the Corporation nor the other
Stockholder(s)
purchase the shares of the Withdrawing Stockholder, the other Stockholder(s)
agree to execute
a consent voluntarily dissolving the Corporation. In addition, the Stockholder(s)
agree to
liquidate the assets of the Corporation as soon as practicable thereafter.
IN WITNESS
WHEREOF, the parties hereto have hereunto set their hands and seals the
day and year
first above written. Signed, Sealed and Delivered in the Presence of:
"STOCKHOLDERS"
__________________________
_____________________________
__________________________
__________________________
_____________________________
__________________________
"CORPORATION"
__________________________
By:_____________________________
President of the
Corporation
__________________________
ATTEST:
___________________
Secretary of the
Corporation
(CORPORATE SEAL)
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