Transition/Handover: What are you actually seeing in the Purchase Agreement vs. Reality?
March 31, 2026
by a searcher from The University of Chicago - Booth School of Business in United Kingdom
Hi everyone,
I’m currently refining my approach to the post-acquisition handover period and would love to get some feedback from those who have crossed the finish line or are currently in documentation. Specifically, I’m trying to balance what we "ask for" in the SPA versus what is actually required to get up to speed.
A few questions for the group:
- Duration: How long of a handover period are you typically asking for? (e.g., 3 months, 6 months, or longer?)
- Structuring the Time: Are you specifying a set number of hours per week/month in the contract, or just defining a general "availability" period?
- Compensation: For those not paying a separate consulting fee (where handover is baked into the purchase price), have you found the seller remains motivated?
- Expectation vs. Reality: For those who have closed, how much of that time did you actually end up needing from the seller?
Would love to hear any "lessons learned" or specific clauses that helped you manage this transition effectively.
Thanks in advance!