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Cross-option agreement meaning

What does Cross-option agreement mean?
A cross-option agreement is a shareholder succession-planning arrangement used on the death of a shareholder to ensure continuity and a funded transfer of shares. Each shareholder grants the others reciprocal put and call options over their shares, exercisable on death: the continuing shareholders may (but are not obliged to) buy under the call option; the deceased shareholder’s personal representatives may (but are not obliged to) require a purchase under the put option. Also called a double option, it is not defined by statute; it is a descriptive term used in practice across England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland. The agreement typically specifies valuation, option periods, payment mechanics and interaction with the articles and any shareholders’ agreement (including pre-emption and transfer restrictions). To fund the price, each shareholder usually effects a term assurance policy written in trust, with co-shareholders as beneficiaries; on a death, proceeds are held by the continuing shareholders on trust to pay the deceased’s personal representatives for the shares. A key tax aim is to avoid a binding contract for sale before death so as not to prejudice Business Property Relief for UK inheritance tax. Usage is broadly consistent across the UK and Ireland, though trust and tax...
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View the related Checklists about Cross-option agreement

CHECKLISTS
Website intellectual property assignment and domain name transfer: drafting and negotiation checklist

How to use this Checklist This Checklist flags common matters that arise when negotiating and drafting agreements to transfer intellectual property rights (IPRs) in a website. Many of the same points are also pertinent to other types of transaction. Key commercial considerations technical and functional requirements defining the relevant IPRs any cross‑licensing arrangements the terms underpinning the transfer of rights rights held by third parties Use the third column to capture observations or remarks as you work through the Checklist. Checklist for the transfer of intellectual property rights in a website &x2610; Verify each party’s legal status and whether any third parties (such as group affiliates) will benefit from the proposed agreement. &x2610; Confirm when the transfer becomes effective and whether it is contingent on any other agreements or events. &x2610; Confirm if the deal is a one‑off assignment of IPRs or if there will be ongoing licensing or support; where continuing...

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CHECKLISTS
Arbitration funding and third-party finance: practitioner checklist on options, funder engagement, confidentiality, champerty, disclosure and security for costs

When considering an arbitration, you should consider: how the dispute will be financed and managed overall can the client realistically cover your professional fees together with the arbitration expenses? could another party or source be prepared to pick up the entire bill? is any relevant insurance already in place and available? would after-the-event insurance cover be an appropriate option? might your firm accept a conditional fee arrangement, a damages-based agreement, or some other funding structure? See Funding Arrangements—Overview (note: this link is not arbitration-specific) is the client open to exploring third-party funding? ...

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CHECKLISTS
Brexit: checklist for drafting and negotiating dispute resolution clauses—applicable law, jurisdiction, enforcement, service of documents and arbitration (Rome I/II, Brussels Recast, Hague/Lugano) for cross-border commercial contracts

ARCHIVED: This Checklist has been archived and is no longer maintained. For up-to-date guidance, please refer to: Governing law and jurisdiction clauses in commercial contracts―checklist. Brexit: As of exit day (11pm on 31 January 2020) the UK is no longer an EU Member State. However, in line with the Withdrawal Agreement, the UK entered an implementation period, during which it continues to be subject to EU law. This affects this Checklist. For further guidance, see Brexit Bulletin—key updates, research tips and resources, and the Brexit collection. This Checklist assesses the implications of Brexit for drafting and negotiating dispute resolution clauses. It looks at the position regarding: Applicable law clauses (also referred to as governing law clauses or choice of law clauses) Jurisdiction clauses The enforcement of judgments The service of documents...

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View the related News about Cross-option agreement

NEWS
UKSC in Simkova: Universal Credit child element not a family benefit under Regulation 883/2004; inseverable from UC; no CJEU reference under the Withdrawal Agreement

Simkova v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2025] UKSC 41 What are the practical implications of this case? First, it is settled that EU nationals living in the UK, whose children reside in an EU member state, cannot receive the Universal Credit child element for those children. This holds even where the parent pays towards the children’s maintenance and support, notwithstanding the realities of cross‑border family life. Second, the judgment shows the courts continue to grapple with dense EU law even after Brexit, specifically in areas where the UK‑EU Withdrawal Agreement preserves direct effect. It underscores the ongoing need to interpret and apply those preserved rules when they bear on disputes arising in the domestic benefits system, for cases such as this. Third, this appeal did not give the Supreme Court an opportunity to define the scope of its discretion to seek a CJEU ruling on a question under Part Two of the Agreement concerning citizens’ rights. That discretion applies only to proceedings...

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NEWS
JP Morgan v Werealize: English Commercial Court grants anti-suit injunction upholding directors’ immunity; implies covenant not to sue; EJC unavailable to directors; high threshold for vexatious/oppressive claims

JP Morgan International Finance Ltd v Werealize.Com Ltd; Karonis and others v JP Morgan International Finance Ltd [2025] EWHC 1842 (Comm) What are the practical implications of this case? The ruling delivers valuable guidance on cross-border enforcement of exclusion of liability clauses and on the situations in which ASI relief will be granted to shield such bargains. Key consequences for commercial practitioners include: Drafting immunity and exclusion clauses: the court held that where parties agree that none owes a duty of care, or tortious liability, they have by implication undertaken not to commence proceedings alleging such responsibility. This stands as a significant authority supporting the enforceability of wide immunity clauses. Commercial drafters should consider whether express ‘no sue’ undertakings offer greater certainty than reliance on implied terms Third party protection: the court’s reasoning showed that directors could benefit from immunity clauses via agency mechanisms (clause 33), even though they are not full parties to other elements of the agreement, illustrating how contractual structures...

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NEWS
UK competition law update: Telegraph/RedBird IMI merger intervention; DMCC Bill foreign newspaper takeovers ban; Tesco v Scania Trucks claim; key dates

Mergers Secretary of State makes statement to Parliament on RedBird IMI/Telegraph Media Group merger Addressing Parliament, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sports provided an update on the proposed takeover of Telegraph Media Group Ltd (TMG) by RB Investco Ltd, and on her continuing assessment of the deal, which follows a public interest intervention. She confirmed that RB Investco had informed her of its plan to dispose of the call option agreement granting it the right to acquire TMG, thereby in effect stepping back from the purchase...

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View the related Practice Notes about Cross-option agreement

PRACTICE NOTES
ISDA Master Agreements (1992/2002) and Schedules: Single Agreement, Flawed Asset, Close-out Netting, Representations, Events of Default, Termination, Tax, Undertakings, Governing Law and Jurisdiction

What does this Practice Note cover? This Practice Note outlines the principal provisions that apply to both the 1992 ISDA Master Agreement (Multicurrency—Cross Border) (the 1992 Agreement) and the 2002 ISDA Master Agreement (the 2002 Agreement), together with their accompanying schedules. Unless indicated otherwise, any reference here to the master agreements (the ISDA master agreement) should be read as a reference to both the 1992 and 2002 Agreements. For a comparison of the two forms, see Practice Note: ISDA documentation—comparison of the 1992 and 2002 master agreements; for the broader ISDA documentation framework, see Practice Note: Derivatives—ISDA documentation framework. The key concepts underpinning the ISDA master agreement The ISDA master agreement rests on three core concepts, outlined briefly below: single agreement flawed asset close-out netting Single agreement Under ISDA’s documentation architecture, every derivative transaction between a pair of counterparties is captured under one overarching agreement (implemented through multiple layers of documentation), as provided in Section 1(c) of the...

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PRACTICE NOTES
UK VAT reverse charge on cross-border services: applicability, operation, timing, and effects on registration and input tax recovery

As further explained in Practice Note: What is VAT?, ordinarily In typical circumstances: the purchaser pays the supplier an amount matching the VAT due on the supply, in accordance with the agreement between them; and the supplier, in turn, is required to account for that VAT to HMRC. The UK reverse charge is a mechanism that shifts the duty to account for VAT to HMRC away from the supplier and onto the recipient, effectively reversing the obligation...

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PRACTICE NOTES
Scotland: Cross‑Border Banking and Finance—Loan Market, Security, Perfection, Enforcement and Intercreditor Priorities, including Moveable Transactions (Scotland) Act 2023 Reforms

Loan market and developments Overview Broadly, Scotland’s loan market mirrors that of England. Financial services regulation operates on a UK‑wide basis; a substantial body of legislation governing companies and other corporate vehicles (including corporate insolvency) likewise applies across the UK; and all Scottish clearing banks conduct business in every UK jurisdiction, as do their counterparts across the UK. In practical terms, this means English law governed loan documents typically require minimal amendment for UK cross‑border lending transactions. There are, however, some differences in terminology and certain statutory variations that must be allowed for; beyond those matters, an English law loan document and a Scots law loan document are closely aligned. It is commonplace, for example, for English law loan agreements to be deployed in Scottish lending transactions. The principal divergences between the jurisdictions arise in relation to property law and to the law concerning rights in security, where Scots law and English law are notably distinct. Lending Is it necessary to secure any consents or licences to...

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View the related Precedents about Cross-option agreement

PRECEDENTS
Standard security precedent securing seller’s ad factum praestandum obligations under an option agreement over heritable property, with varied conditions and restrictions on further securities and alienation (Scotland)

STANDARD SECURITY by [ INSERT THE GRANTOR’S NAME ] in favour of [ INSERT GRANTEE’S NAME ] Security Subjects: [ INSERT DETAILS OF PROPERTY ] 1 [ I OR We ], being [ insert name of Seller under Option Agreement ] [ of [ insert address ] OR incorporated in [ Scotland OR England and Wales ] with company registration number [ insert company registration number ] and registered office at [ insert address ] ] (the ‘Grantor’), as the present heritable proprietors of the aftermentioned Security Subjects, ACKNOWLEDGING that [ I OR we ] have assumed certain obligations under the option agreement entered into between (1) [ me OR us ], the said Grantor, and (2) [ insert name of Buyer under Option Agreement ] [ of [ insert address ] OR incorporated in [ Scotland OR England and Wales ] with company registration number [ insert company registration number ] whose registered office is at [ insert address ] ] (the ‘Grantee’ and which expression includes successors...

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PRECEDENTS
Precedent: Pro-licensee Technology IP Evaluation and Option to Negotiate Licence Agreement (England and Wales)

This Agreement is dated [ insert date ] Parties [ insert licensor name ], [ of OR a [ company OR partnership OR limited liability partnership ] [ incorporated OR constituted ] in [ insert jurisdiction, eg England and Wales ], registered number [ insert company or LLP number ], with [ registered office OR principal place of business ] at [ insert address ] (Licensor); and [ insert licensee name ], [ of OR a [ company OR partnership OR limited liability partnership ] [ incorporated OR constituted ] in [ insert jurisdiction, eg England and Wales ], registered number [ insert company or LLP number ], with [ registered office OR principal place of business ] at [ insert address ] (Licensee) Each of the Licensor and the Licensee is a party; together, the Licensor and the Licensee are the parties. Background The Licensor is the proprietor of the Technology IP. The Licensee has agreed...

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PRECEDENTS
Deed of Planning Obligation under Section 106 TCPA 1990 (England): Precedent covering financial contributions, section 278 Highways Act 1980 works, open space, affordable housing, public art and biodiversity net gain

This Agreement is entered into on [ insert date ] of [ insert month ] [ insert year ] by and between: [ insert name ], of [ insert address ] (' Council '); [ insert name ], of [ insert address ] (' County Council '); [ insert name ], a company duly incorporated and registered in [ insert details ] under number [ insert details ], whose registered office is at [ insert address ] (' Developer '); [ Additional parties as necessary eg owner, landlord, mortgagee, option holder etc. ] (' [ insert additional parties as necessary eg owner, landlord, mortgagee, option holder etc ] '). Recitals The Council is the local planning authority for the purposes of section 106 of the 1990 Act for the area within which the Land is situated and is the body by whom the obligations contained in this Deed are enforceable. The County Council is the local highway...

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View the related Q&As about Cross-option agreement

Q&As
Brexit model clauses for service agreements: UK and cross-border sales

Brexit—Commercial For help with your query, please refer to the following: Brexit—contract clauses and resources—checklist [Archived] Clause: Brexit—warranty for commercial contracts clause [Archived] Clause: Territory definition For additional guidance, see: Brexit collection...

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