Specialist project · Confidential
Selling a company, licences or rights: prepare the deal before you negotiate
Tokio Business supports owners of startups and SMEs in selling their company, part of it, or its licences and rights. We prepare the asset, weigh the deal options and negotiate at your side, together with your lawyers and tax advisers. Everything is confidential from the first conversation.
- For
- Owners of startups and SMEs
- Deals
- Full or partial sale, licences and rights
- With
- Your lawyers and tax advisers
- Confidentiality
- Signed agreement before any data is shared
What makes a company easier to sell?
- It runs day to day without the founder.
- Part of its revenue is recurring.
- No single client accounts for an excessive share of revenue.
- The accounts are in order and the margins can be explained.
- Key contracts, licences and rights are held by the company and can be transferred.
That is why it pays to prepare a sale before it becomes urgent. In 10 minutes, the Tokio Index shows you which of these points are weakest.
What can be sold?
| Deal | What it usually involves |
|---|---|
| Sale of the whole company | Transfer of shares; an in-depth review by the buyer |
| Sale of a stake | A new shareholder comes in; shareholders’ agreement and a split of control |
| Sale of a business unit or assets | Separating contracts, staff and clients from what is not being sold |
| Licensing technology, a brand or a patent | You keep ownership and charge for its use, with terms on territory and duration |
| Assignment of rights | Permanent transfer of specific rights (contracts, catalogues, exclusive agreements) |
The legal and tax form of each deal is set by your lawyers and tax advisers. We work with them from the start.
How we work
- 01
Preparing the asset
We fix what would reduce its value: dependence on the founder, client concentration, unclear margins, contracts not in order.
- 02
Deal options
We compare the options with you (full or partial sale, founder staying on for a period, deferred payments linked to results) and their consequences, with your tax advisers.
- 03
Materials
An anonymous summary for the first contact, and a full information pack shared only after a non-disclosure agreement is signed.
- 04
Contacts and negotiation
Identifying potential buyers or licensees, making the first contacts and negotiating at your side.
- 05
Through to signing
We support you through the buyer’s review and the final negotiation, in coordination with your lawyers.
Where we have worked
We have taken part in the sale of startups and companies, and in the transfer of licences and rights: preparing the asset, weighing the deal options and negotiating, alongside legal and tax advisers.
What we don’t do
- We don’t draft contracts or give legal or tax advice. Your lawyers and advisers do, and we work with them.
- We don’t issue formal valuations. If the deal needs one, you commission an independent expert.
- We don’t guarantee a price, or that the deal will close.
Frequently asked questions about selling a company
What is my company worth?
It depends on its results, its sector and who is buying. We don’t issue formal valuations, but we help you understand what raises and lowers the price, so you go into the negotiation with sound judgement.
How long does a sale take?
It usually takes several months from the moment buyers are approached, and longer if the company needs preparing first. We will give you an estimate once we know your case.
How is confidentiality protected?
The first contact is made with an anonymous summary. The company’s name and data are shared only after a non-disclosure agreement is signed, and in stages.
Can I sell just part of the company?
Yes. You can also license a technology or a brand without selling the company. We compare the options with you.
How do you charge?
A fixed fee per phase and, if agreed, a success fee on completion. We set it out in writing before we start.
A sale starts long before you look for a buyer.
Talk to a partner in complete confidence, and we will tell you what we would prepare first.