As a seller don't box yourself into a corner by accepting tough provisions in the APA November 12, 2018

KEN KIRSCHENBAUM, ESQ
ALARM - SECURITY INDUSTRY LEGAL EMAIL NEWSLETTER / THE ALARM EXCHANGE
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As a seller don't box yourself into a corner by accepting tough provisions in the APA
November 12, 2018
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As a seller don't box yourself into a corner by accepting tough provisions in the APA
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    It would not always be true to say that as a seller of alarm accounts you're in the driver's seat; you can, within reason, set your terms. There are so many factors that come into play when assessing relative bargaining power and therefore, there is no hard and fast rule that can be easily applied in all situations. 
* Issue one, you need to know your bargaining strength.
* Issue two, you need to know what is, and what is not, customary terms in an Asset Purchase Agreement.
* Issue three, you need to know when and how far you are willing to bend; how much risk you are willing to take
* Issue four, you should have an expectation of how much of the purchase price you're going to end up with, and you need to be able to assess your risks and probable outcome when the transaction is complete.
    As a seller you may have a good idea of bargaining strength, though confirmation comes in only one sure way, offers from prospective buyers. You can safely assess this issue on your own by exploring potential interested parties, though you are better off engaging a professional at this beginning stage. A professional would be one of the Brokers listed on The Alarm Exchange or an attorney very familiar with this industry [I'd suggest an attorney on The Alarm Exchange, but that would be only me].
    You have no business trying to deal with issue two on your own, and the only professional you should rely on is your attorney.  Not your accountant; not your broker, not your buddy who sold and not yourself; I don't care how many deals you have done. 
    Issue three is closely associated with issue two. How far from customary are you willing to go? The answer will affect issue four, whether you have any chance of coming close to your expectations for what you end up with. You need counsel to assist with issues two through four. 
    The sooner you engage counsel the more likely you are to structure the best deal for yourself. Too often a buyer doesn't know what's customary, and neither does its counsel. Once you allow the deal to take shape, referring to terms of the deal, the less likely you will be able to extricate yourself from the bad terms and bad deal. All too often you finally figure out you're in a tough spot when it's too late to cancel the deal. You've already got one foot out the door and you simply don't have the energy or will-power to start over with another potential buyer.
    So you accept crappy terms, terms that exponentially increase your risks, and often for no reason. For example. Buyer refuses to indemnify you for post-closing claims and back that indemnity up by naming you as an additional insured. This is something you probably didn't discuss during your preliminary negotiations; it's something that springs on you in the APA, often after you've already packed your bags. Do you back off and hope that you don't get brought into a lawsuit for a post-closing claim? Do you continue to carry your own insurance and at what expense and for how long? Certainly you didn't consider that expense when you were figuring out your net on the sale.
    Here are two related issues that don't come up until you see the APA, that's often a few days before the sale is supposed to take place. Your guarantee. How is it worded and are there any conditions precedent to enforcement. In other words, under what circumstances is the guarantee voided. 
    The related issue is whether you're going to be liable on your guarantee beyond the Hold-Back. It's a simple issue, easily understood. Both you and the buyer have estimated the attrition and corresponding purchase price reduction. Who is going to accept the risk of error, you or the buyer? This should be one of the first questions addressed when you first start talking to a potential buyer, and certainly not the only issue.
    Look, it's your company; it's your money. You can sell for whatever you want and accept all kinds of risks that can affect the ultimate amount that ends up in your pocket. But what risks you are willing to take changes dramatically as the deal gets closer to closing. The more you have prepared to close and get out of the business the less bargaining power you have to deal with APA issues that inevitably arise in the APA. 
    The lesson is clear. Engage knowledgeable counsel, an attorney, and as early as you can; probably as soon as you decide to sell, before you think of engaging a broker, before you talk to potential buyers and definitely before you reach the handshake stage. The Acquisition Team at K&K is experienced in all level of deals, from several thousand dollars to eight figure transactions. Reach out to Jennifer Kirschenbaum,Esq at 516 747 6700 302 or Jennifer@Kirschenbaumesq.com or call or email me directly.
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Ken Kirschenbaum,Esq
Kirschenbaum & Kirschenbaum PC
Attorneys at Law
200 Garden City Plaza
Garden City, NY 11530
516 747 6700 x 301
ken@kirschenbaumesq.com
516 747 6700
www.KirschenbaumEsq.com