Key Takeaways. In an asset sale, a firm sells some or all of its actual assets, either tangible or intangible. The seller retains legal ownership of the company that has sold the assets but has no further recourse to the sold assets. The buyer assumes no liabilities in an asset sale.
Flexibility in Structure: Asset purchases offer more flexibility in structuring the transaction and financing. A buyer can negotiate and structure the deal based on the specific assets being acquired, so they can structure the transaction to better align with their financial capabilities.
Disadvantages of Asset Sale The seller is subject to a double layer of taxation. Transferring assets may be more complicated. Agreements tied to certain assets may need to be renegotiated.
The benefit of an asset sale, from the buyer's perspective, is that it can select which assets and liabilities to acquire in the deal, compared to a stock sale or merger, where the buyer acquires all the assets and liabilities of the target.
File proper change of ownership paperwork in Illinois If you sell your entire LLC, paperwork must be filed with the Secretary of State using form CBS-1 within 10 days of the sale. Partial ownership transfers will be recorded on the LLC's next annual report.
In general, you need a sales tax permit in Illinois if you have a physical presence or meet economic nexus requirements.
In an asset sale, the seller retains possession of the legal entity and the buyer purchases individual assets of the company, such as equipment, fixtures, leaseholds, licenses, goodwill, trade secrets, trade names, telephone numbers, and inventory.
General Steps for Closing a Business File the final tax return for your business. File a final tax return for employment taxes. Be sure to note on all tax returns that this is the final tax return. Process all required dissolution documents. Confirm your final tax liabilities.
In addition, buyers prefer asset sales because they more easily avoid inheriting potential liabilities, especially contingent liabilities in the form of product liability, contract disputes, product warranty issues, or employee lawsuits.