Business Planning
At AAG we understand the demands involved in managing and controlling a successful business. These may include:
- Business acquisition and expansion
- An exit strategy
- Achieving financial security
- Quality of life for yourself and your employees
- Building a legacy for the next generation
You may have other ambitions which are specific to your business and you may need someone who will understand your aspirations and help to shape your organisation accordingly. AAG can help you and your company successfully achieve its financial objectives.
Financial Protection for the company in the event of death or illness of key personnel
Keyman Cover will ensure the continuation of the business, by financially compensating a company for the death of one or more of their key employees.
A key person is anyone whose death would have a serious effect on the company’s financial status and future profits; this does not necessarily have to be a shareholder, it could be a manager, technician or even a sales person.
Partnership and Share Purchase Assurance
Partnerships and small private companies may run extremely well under normal circumstances, in no small part due to the long-term relationships and goodwill of the shareholders and partners themselves. However, in the event of one of them becoming seriously ill or dying, major difficulties can ensue for both the family and the partnership. The partnership and share purchase assurance are designed to provide for such a contingency and thus ensure that the family is properly catered for, and the business can continue to run smoothly.
Partnership Assurance and Share Purchase arrangements operate by
- Allowing the continuing partners to buy their colleagues share in the business and thus ensure control and ongoing operation
- Providing a reliable way for the afflicted partner (or widow/heir) to obtain a just commercial purchase price for that person’s share of the business.
By effecting the proper arrangements now, the family can spend their time and effort recovering from the shock of the event rather than seeking an elusive buyer or price for their shares. In addition, the partners can concentrate on moving the business forward.
What is an Employee Benefit Trust (EBT)?
An EBT is a trust set up by an employer for the benefit of employees (including directors) and former employees, their spouses and dependants, and can be set up both on and off-shore.
Typical benefits of an EBT include
- Shareholder loans made through an EBT avoids the 25% corporation tax that would apply to a company loan to a shareholder or their family. In addition, an EBT can make 0% interest loans to shareholders and directors.
- Use as an inheritance tax shelter
- Holding assets such as holiday homes for the benefit of the employees in a tax-efficient way.
- Acquiring and holding shares in the sponsoring company to be awarded to employees under a share incentive scheme. Also, an EBT allows creating an “internal market” for illiquid shares, where employees can trade shares with the trust.
- Deferred discretionary bonuses where bonuses will only be paid provided the beneficiary is still in employment at the end of a fixed period (golden handcuffs)
An EBT is a sophisticated vehicle and great care needs to be exercised both in setting up such a trust and in operating it if tax relief is to be obtained on contributions and other tax pitfalls avoided.
It is therefore essential to take professional advice.
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