This seminar features a complete discussion of buying and selling a business. Topics include: Valuation methods; stock purchase v. asset purchase; estate transfer and tax issues; gifting a business interest; S corp. stock transfer to trusts; self-canceling installment notes; transfer of business interest to split interest trusts and GRITS; family limited partnerships; real world planning techniques. An amazing course - Do not miss this!

PLUS: An added primer which will cover the business, legal, and estate planning issues that arise when owning and selling a family business. 

Part 1 - Creating Partnership Agreements: 

Family-owned companies often put off or avoid adopting written partnership agreements - instead relying on trust, history and shared interests - a model that can work...until it doesn't. This program will explain why a written partnership agreement is necessary even for a family business...and sometimes especially for a family business. It will also explore the various pressure points that a well-written partnership agreement addresses, including economics, management, conflict resolution and succession planning.

Part 2 - Selling A Family Business:

This program will cover the business, legal, and estate planning issues that arise when selling a family business. The panelists will cover the preparation, negotiation and closing of the sale of a family business. Special attention will be given to market trends, legal issues, and tax planning ideas.

Topics & Learning Objectives Include:

• Valuation Methods
• Stock Purchase v. Asset Purchase
• Estate Transfer and Tax Issues
• Gifting a Business Interest
• S Corp. Stock Transfer to Trusts
• Self-Canceling Installment Notes
• Transfer of Business Interest to Split Interest Trusts and GRITS
• Family Limited Partnerships
• Real World Planning Techniques

Primer Topics

Part 1:

• What is a Partnership Agreement?
• The Family Business Reality 
• The Rules of the Game 
• The Pressure Points of Every Partnership Agreement: Economics, Management, Transfer/Succession, Conflict Resolution.

Part 2:

• Important legal steps to take when planning to sell a family business.
• Key legal issues that a family should expect as part of the sale process.
• What a company can do in today’s environment to prepare for a sale?
• How does a recession/high interest rate environment impact valuation?
• On the tax and estate planning side, what are the big picture questions families should be asking once they know that they are interested in selling the family business?
• Options that will mitigate the tax consequences of a sale.
• Strategies to tax efficiently having one’s children share in the benefits of the sale.

Arthur Werner is one of the most prominent Federal Tax lecturers in the nation, with a special expertise in Estate, Trusts and Elder Law issues.