Sales Documents  >  Closing the Deal

Letter of Intent Template to Purchase a Business

Maria S Georges
Maria S Georges
Business Law Attorney, LLM

When you're negotiating a business deal and negotiations are getting serious, a Letter of Intent is used to take proceedings to the next stage.

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A Letter of Intent, i.e. a written proposal to buy a business, is a non-legally binding document, usually issued by the buyer to the seller, which outlines an agreement in principle for the buyer to purchase the seller's business at a proposed price and terms. As the name suggests, it formally sets out in writing the intentions of both parties in the negotiations. It not only makes clear the responsibilities of both parties, but protects their rights too.

Related:

Whilst not a legally binding contract, a Letter of Intent significantly increases the likelihood that a deal will eventually go through, probably with a few modifications, following completion of due diligence and final sale negotiations.

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LETTER OF INTENT

A Proposal to Purchase a Business


(Date)

(Company name)

(Address)

(City)

(State, Zip code)

Dear (Name of seller),

Reference: Purchase of the Assets/Stock (delete as appropriate) of (insert name of business or corporation).

This letter establishes the intention of (insert Buyer name), henceforth known as the "Buyer", to acquire the assets/stock (delete one as appropriate) of (insert business or corporation name) from (insert Seller name), henceforth known as the "Seller".

The Buyer and Seller are henceforth to be referred to collectively as the "Parties" to this Agreement (or "Party" where referred to individually).

This Letter of Intent Agreement supersedes any previous Agreements between the Parties.

The provisional Purchase Price agreed upon for the assets/stock (delete one as appropriate) of the business (as outlined in Schedule A, attached) shall be $250,000.

On signature of this Agreement by the Seller, a deposit of $50,000 shall immediately be payable by the Buyer to a third-party escrow account, using an escrow agent agreed upon by both parties. In the event that this Agreement is not concluded, the deposit will be repaid to the Buyer.

If this Agreement is concluded, subject to the conditions detailed below, a further $75,000 cash sum shall become payable by the Buyer to the Seller at the time of the deal closure, requiring a total cash payment from the Buyer of $125,000.

The balance of the Purchase Price, $125,000, shall be payable through a seller-financed Promissory Note. The repayment terms, timetable, security and interest rate charge will be agreed upon during final negotiations on completion of Buyer Due Diligence.

The closing of the transaction referred to in this Agreement shall be subject to certain terms and conditions, including:

I. The preparation and execution of a definitive Business Sale Agreement setting forth the terms of the final legally binding transaction;

II. confirmation that both Parties have the authority to enter negotiations and execute the terms within this and any subsequent Agreement;

III. (if applicable) the approval of the Business Sale Agreement by the Board of Directors of (insert Corporation name);

IV. the Buyer’s verification and approval of the Seller’s financial statements, with the Buyer having the option of employing third-party consultants to perform a confidential audit of the Seller’s financial records and business operations;

V. compliance by both Parties with all applicable local, county, state and federal laws and regulations;

VI. the Seller agrees that he/she will not negotiate directly or indirectly with any other party concerning the sale of his/her business whilst this Agreement is in force;

VII. the Seller agrees not to undertake any activity or transaction that would significantly reduce the value of the Seller’s business or assets;

VIII. the Parties agree to apply strict confidentiality, not only to the content of this Letter of Intent, but also regarding its existence. Information may only be shared with nominated representatives of the respective Parties, including legal and financial advisers, or to public and governmental agencies if the Party’s lawyers rule that such disclosure is necessary to comply with applicable law. Both Parties declare that measures will be taken to ensure that these nominated individuals maintain strict confidentiality;

IX. the confidentiality clause in VIII. above is binding on both Parties for one year from the date of receipt of this Agreement by the Seller;

X. the Seller will provide to the Buyer all details required for Due Diligence (as specified in the attached Schedule B of Buyer-requested materials);

The following deadlines shall apply to this Agreement. Failure to comply with any of these timings shall lead to the automatic expiry of this Agreement (unless an exception is agreed upon in writing by both Parties):

XI. The Seller is to sign and return a copy of this Letter of Intent to the Buyer, retaining a copy for his/her personal records, within a maximum of five (5) working days of confirmed receipt by the Seller;

XII. Due Diligence materials shall be made available by the Seller to the Buyer within five (5) working days following signature of this Agreement by both Parties;

XIII. Due Diligence to be completed within twenty-eight (28) days from receipt of all materials detailed in Schedule B;

XIV. Business Sale Agreement signed by both Parties within twenty-eight (28) days of the agreed upon completion date for Due Diligence;

XV. prior to entering a Business Sale Agreement, this Letter of Intent can be terminated at any time, and by either Party, through a written email notice or letter;

XVI. whilst this Letter of Intent is effective, any dispute between the Parties shall invoke its automatic termination;

Important note: This Letter of Intent represents an offer from the Buyer to purchase the Seller’s business under the terms detailed in this document. Apart from the non-negotiate clause (point VI above), and confidentiality provision (points VIII and IX above), nothing in this Letter of Agreement (or any previous Letter of Intent or Agreement that this document supersedes) shall be legally binding on the Parties to this Agreement.

This Letter of Intent Agreement is governed according to the State law of (insert Name of state).

Yours sincerely,

Signed (Buyer): ..................... Date: ...............................

Print name: ........................... Title: ................................

Counter signed by:

Signed (Seller): .................... Date: ...............................

Print name: ........................... Title: ................................

(List Schedules attached)



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Letter of Intent defined



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