Selling a Major Business Asset

The sale of a major business asset often represents the culmination of many years of work. The asset might be a family business, an investment in real estate, intellectual property, or significant holdings in a publicly traded company where there will be significant income or capital tax gains taxes resulting from a sale. By creating a private foundation, a seller of any of these assets may avoid or reduce taxes while retaining control over all or a portion of the sale proceeds to be used for future charitable grants or activities.

The following six case studies illustrate the potential opportunities to both sell a major business asset and achieve philanthropic objectives.