What is this document?
A Share Transfer Agreement is an agreement that transfers shares from the vendor, to a purchaser corporation in exchange for shares in the purchaser corporation.
When would I use this document?
A Share Transfer Agreement can be used in conjunction with a share purchase agreement and a subscription agreement, when the payment for the vendor’s shares is made with shares of the purchaser corporation (the ‘consideration shares’). This type of transaction is common in estate planning as part of a “rollover”.
Who Signs this Agreement?
The vendor and purchaser corporation both sign this agreement.
More details about this document
The transfer is essentially an exchange of vendor shares (the ‘transfer shares’) for shares in the purchaser (the ‘consideration shares’). This can be part of an estate freeze. If so, the agreement will contain clauses stating the intention of the parties to comply with the tax legislation, and providing for a price adjustment mechanism in case the taxing authority later finds that the value attributed to the shares was inaccurate.
The agreement would also have clauses giving a power of attorney to the corporation to make all necessary elections to comply with tax laws. If the transfer is not being done for tax purposes, the clauses dealing with compliance with the tax legislation will be omitted from the agreement.
What are the core elements of this document?
The core elements of a Share Transfer Agreement include: Background, definition of Transfer Shares, definition of Consideration Shares, Date of Transfer, Purchase Price, Payment, Liability, Creditors, Representations and Warranties, and Closing.
A Share Transfer Agreement used in a “rollover” can include Necessary Acts, Tax Elections and Filings, Price Adjustment, Power of Attorney.
What is a tax rollover and how does a share transfer affect my taxes?
A share transfer from a party to a corporate entity under which shares are held by the same party, is called a ”rollover”. These same principles apply to an asset transfer from a party to a corporation for which shares are held by the same party.
The purpose of a rollover transaction is to acknowledge that, although a sale or disposition of shares (or assets) has occurred at the time of transfer, there is no actual cash benefit that results from the disposition because the assets are held by the same party before and after (afterwards through the party’s corporation). No one has paid anyone cash for these shares or assets. So there is no immediate tax implication (in theory).
Instead, the tax authorities will record the value of the transfer and will apply their tax calculation later on down the road when there is an actual cash-based transaction. There may be a benefit to transferring these shares in this way at present, for example, the trigger may capture value in a capital gains tax exemption that can be recorded in present day, and assist the shareholder (asset holder) on the future day when cash is received for the shares/assets at the time of a future sale. Make sure to consult with tax counsel and/or accountants to confirm whether these concepts make sense in your jurisdiction.
Related Documents
- Shareholders’ Resolution - in privately held companies a resolution of the shareholders approving the transfer of the shares might be required
- Directors’ Resolution - the share transfer will need to be ratified by the directors of the corporations whose shares are transferred
- Minute Book - this is where the corporate records are kept. A copy of the share transfer agreement can be kept in the minute book of the corporation(s) that issued the shares transferred under the agreement
- Subscription Agreement - an agreement for the purchase of shares between a person buying shares and the corporation issuing the shares