M&A: What to do if there’s problem?
What choices does a buyer have if the buyer’s due diligence reveals issues with the company or assets which the buyer intends to acquire? If the buyer intends to proceed with the acquisition and requires the issues to be addressed, the parties may consider the following: 1. Seller to indemnify …
M&A: Fair disclosure?
Today’s post is about disclosures to the representations and warranties given by a seller in an agreement for sale and purchase of shares or assets (“Seller’s Warranties”). It is common practice to provide in the sale and purchase agreement that the Seller’s Warranties are qualified by disclosures made by the …
M&A transactions involving public listed companies
For those who like adrenaline packed corporate exercises, M&A transactions would be exciting for them. M&A transactions involving public listed companies would probably be even more exciting. If the seller or buyer is a company listed on Bursa Malaysia or a subsidiary of a company listed on Bursa Malaysia, the …
Shareholders’ agreement for minority shareholders
Today’s post is about provisions in shareholders’ agreement for the benefit of minority shareholders. It is common to have a shareholders’ agreement when an M&A transaction results in more than one shareholder in the target company. Some provisions to include in a shareholders’ agreement for the benefit of a minority …
Representations and warranties in M&A transactions
Today’s post is about representations and warranties given by sellers in M&A transactions (“Seller’s Warranties”). Not all Seller’s Warranties are of equal importance. Breach of different Seller’s Warranties, may affect the sale and purchase transaction in varying degree, depending on which Seller’s Warranty is breached. It may be worthwhile to …
Disclosure letter in M&A transactions
Today’s post is about disclosure letter in M&A transactions. A disclosure letter is an important document in an M&A transaction, but it probably does not receive as much attention from the parties involved as the sale and purchase agreement (SPA). A disclosure letter is a document from a seller to a buyer which sets out exceptions to the representations and warranties …
Why use a term sheet for M&A transaction?
A party wants to acquire the assets owned by another party. The other party is willing to sell its assets. It should be a straight forward offer and acceptance, right? Unfortunately, not in this case. The potential seller wants to sell the shares of the company which owns the assets …
Provision of Financial Assistance by PLC
*Scenario* A public company listed on Bursa Malaysia (seller) disposes some of its shares in its wholly owned subsidiary which is not listed (target company). After completion of the disposal, the target company will become an associated company of the seller. There is an existing guarantee given by the seller as security …
Basis for pricing in M&A transactions
As a buyer, there may be a price or earnings multiple or other basis which you use to value the business or company that you buy. In such instance, you may want to consider including a clause in the sale and purchase agreement to state that the parties acknowledge that …
How does a buyer ensure the shares that the buyer acquires in a company are free from liabilities which the buyer doesn’t intend to assume?
The first step is conduct due diligence to find out red flags about the company. The scope of due diligence depends on the buyer’s risk appetite and the size of the deal. Due diligence may include legal, financial, operational and tax matters. Once the issues arising from the due diligence …