Reverse Termination Fee

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The termination fee is a percentage paid by the seller upon the termination of a deal. This ensures that neither side wastes their time on a deal that will not go through. The possibility of having to pay a fee prevents the seller from becoming deeply involved in a deal that they may desire to terminate. The induction of a termination fee generally occurs after both parties have signed some form of agreement. The fee only requires payment if the agreement is broken.


The reverse termination fee has also become common within M&A deals. With the reverse termination fee, the buyer pays the fee for a failed deal, as long as the fault was not that of the seller. This protects the seller from having a termination fee used against them during the negotiation, as well as provides incentive for the buyer to close the deal. A prospective company needs compensation for a loss of employees that can occur when workers discover that a merger or acquisition is underway.


Buyers generally find themselves paying the reverse termination fee when they are unable to finance the deal. The fee is put in place, however, in hopes that neither side requires compensation. If you're in need of an advisor during an M&A transaction, contact George & Company today.