ma-closing-checklist

Drafts a party-coded M&A closing checklist for U.S. stock purchases, asset deals, and mergers. Generates a status-tracked matrix covering corporate authorizations, transaction documents, consents, regulatory clearances, funds flow, and post-closing obligations. Use when coordinating closing for any M&A transaction.

11 stars

Best use case

ma-closing-checklist is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.

Drafts a party-coded M&A closing checklist for U.S. stock purchases, asset deals, and mergers. Generates a status-tracked matrix covering corporate authorizations, transaction documents, consents, regulatory clearances, funds flow, and post-closing obligations. Use when coordinating closing for any M&A transaction.

Teams using ma-closing-checklist should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.

When to use this skill

  • You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.

When not to use this skill

  • You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
  • You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.

Installation

Claude Code / Cursor / Codex

$curl -o ~/.claude/skills/ma-closing-checklist/SKILL.md --create-dirs "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/CaseMark/skills/main/skills/legal/ma-closing-checklist/SKILL.md"

Manual Installation

  1. Download SKILL.md from GitHub
  2. Place it in .claude/skills/ma-closing-checklist/SKILL.md inside your project
  3. Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill

How ma-closing-checklist Compares

Feature / Agentma-closing-checklistStandard Approach
Platform SupportNot specifiedLimited / Varies
Context Awareness High Baseline
Installation ComplexityUnknownN/A

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this skill do?

Drafts a party-coded M&A closing checklist for U.S. stock purchases, asset deals, and mergers. Generates a status-tracked matrix covering corporate authorizations, transaction documents, consents, regulatory clearances, funds flow, and post-closing obligations. Use when coordinating closing for any M&A transaction.

Where can I find the source code?

You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.

SKILL.md Source

# M&A Closing Checklist

Generates a party-coded, status-tracked closing checklist for U.S. M&A transactions (stock purchase, asset purchase, or merger).

## Quick Start

Confirm before drafting:

1. **Definitive agreement** — executed purchase/merger agreement with disclosure schedules
2. **Structure** — stock purchase, asset purchase, or merger
3. **Parties** — buyer, seller, target (if distinct), escrow agent, counsel
4. **Closing logistics** — date, time/TZ, location or virtual platform
5. **Material contracts** — change-of-control and consent triggers identified
6. **Regulatory profile** — org jurisdictions, HSR thresholds, industry regulators

## Output Format

Header: target name, buyer name, closing date/time/TZ/location, version number, distribution date.

Party legend (expand as needed):

| Code | Party |
|------|-------|
| BC | Buyer's Counsel |
| SC | Seller's Counsel |
| B | Buyer |
| S | Seller |
| EA | Escrow Agent |
| CO | Company (if distinct) |

Matrix columns: **#** | **Item** | **Party** | **Status**

Status flow: `Pending → Draft → Under Review → Executed → Delivered → Complete`

## Checklist Categories

### 1. Corporate Authorizations

| # | Item | Party |
|---|------|-------|
| 1.1 | Good standing certificates — Seller (each org jurisdiction, ≤30 days) | SC |
| 1.2 | Good standing certificate — Buyer | BC |
| 1.3 | Board resolutions — Seller (approve transaction, authorize signatories) | SC |
| 1.4 | Board resolutions — Buyer | BC |
| 1.5 | Shareholder/member approval — Seller (if required) | SC |
| 1.6 | Consent rights holders — preferred shareholders, option/warrant holders | SC |
| 1.7 | Certified org docs — Seller (charter, bylaws/operating agreement) | SC |
| 1.8 | Secretary's certificate — Seller (resolutions, org docs, incumbency) | SC |
| 1.9 | Secretary's certificate — Buyer | BC |

### 2. Principal Transaction Documents

| # | Item | Party |
|---|------|-------|
| 2.1 | Definitive agreement — final execution with all schedules | SC/BC |
| 2.2 | Escrow agreement (amount, duration, claims, release conditions) | SC/BC/EA |
| 2.3 | *Asset:* Bill of sale — tangible personal property | SC |
| 2.4 | *Asset:* Assignment & assumption — contracts, IP, permits, liabilities | SC/BC |
| 2.5 | *Asset:* Deed(s) for owned real property | SC |
| 2.6 | *Asset:* IP assignments — patents, trademarks, copyrights, domains | SC |
| 2.7 | *Stock/Merger:* Stock certificates or book-entry transfer; ledger update | SC |
| 2.8 | *Merger:* Certificate/articles of merger for SOS filing | SC/BC |
| 2.9 | Director/officer resignations and replacements | SC/BC |

### 3. Ancillary Agreements

| # | Item | Party |
|---|------|-------|
| 3.1 | Legal opinion — Seller's counsel (authority, enforceability, no conflicts) | SC |
| 3.2 | Legal opinion — Buyer's counsel | BC |
| 3.3 | Employment/offer letters — key continuing employees | B/BC |
| 3.4 | Non-compete/non-solicit — selling shareholders, key personnel | SC/BC |
| 3.5 | Transition services agreement | SC/BC |
| 3.6 | Ongoing commercial agreements (supply, distribution) if applicable | SC/BC |

### 4. Payoffs & Lien Releases

| # | Item | Party |
|---|------|-------|
| 4.1 | Payoff letters — all indebtedness (exact amount, wire instructions, release commitment) | SC |
| 4.2 | UCC-3 termination statements | SC |
| 4.3 | Mortgage/deed of trust releases (if applicable) | SC |
| 4.4 | Other lien releases | SC |

### 5. Consents & Regulatory Clearances

| # | Item | Party |
|---|------|-------|
| 5.1 | Material contract consents — change-of-control/assignment | SC |
| 5.2 | Landlord consents — lease assignments | SC |
| 5.3 | Franchisor/licensor approvals (if applicable) | SC |
| 5.4 | HSR Act filing — waiting period expiration or early termination | BC/SC |
| 5.5 | State antitrust/competition filings (if applicable) | BC/SC |
| 5.6 | Industry regulatory approvals (healthcare, financial services, telecom) | BC/SC |
| 5.7 | CFIUS/foreign investment review (if applicable) | BC/SC |

### 6. Closing Certificates

| # | Item | Party |
|---|------|-------|
| 6.1 | Officer's certificate — Seller (rep bring-down, covenant compliance) | SC |
| 6.2 | Officer's certificate — Buyer (rep bring-down, covenant compliance) | BC |
| 6.3 | No-MAC certificate | SC |
| 6.4 | IRS Form W-9 — Seller | S |
| 6.5 | FIRPTA certificate (IRC §1445) or withholding certificate if foreign seller | S/SC |

### 7. Funds Flow & Settlement

| # | Item | Party |
|---|------|-------|
| 7.1 | Funds flow memo — base price, adjustments, escrow, payoffs, expenses, net proceeds | SC/BC |
| 7.2 | Wire instructions — Seller (verbally verified, fraud prevention protocol) | S/SC |
| 7.3 | Wire instructions — escrow account (confirmed with EA) | EA |
| 7.4 | Closing/settlement statement — complete source-and-use | SC/BC |
| 7.5 | Transaction expense allocations per purchase agreement | SC/BC |

### 8. Post-Closing Obligations

| # | Item | Party |
|---|------|-------|
| 8.1 | Merger certificate filed with SOS; effectiveness confirmed | BC/SC |
| 8.2 | Press release/announcement (securities law compliance) | B/S |
| 8.3 | Required notices — customers, suppliers, landlords, lenders | B/BC |
| 8.4 | HSR post-closing notification (if applicable) | BC |
| 8.5 | State transfer tax returns and payments | SC/BC |
| 8.6 | Bulk sale compliance (if applicable) | SC |
| 8.7 | Business license/permit ownership updates | B/BC |
| 8.8 | Tax authority notifications — sales tax, payroll registrations | B/BC |
| 8.9 | Corporate records update — stock ledger, minute books | BC |
| 8.10 | Purchase price allocation (IRC §1060 for asset deals) | SC/BC |

## Critical Checks

- **Version every distribution** — all parties must confirm current version
- **Flag long-lead items early** — landlord consents, regulatory approvals cannot wait until closing week
- **Sequencing** — funds flow memo requires all payoff letters; closing certs require covenant performance
- **Wire fraud** — verbal confirmation protocol for all wire instructions; never accept email-only changes
- **Legal opinions** — negotiate scope and reliance parties early to avoid closing delays
- **Good standing timing** — typically ≤30 days pre-closing; confirm with buyer's counsel and lender
- **FIRPTA** — foreign sellers require IRC §1445 withholding [VERIFY current rate]; seller may seek IRS withholding certificate
- **Bulk sales** — check UCC Article 6 / state statutes for asset deals [VERIFY applicable states]
- **Cross-reference** — tie each item to the specific purchase agreement section
- **Jurisdiction** — adapt for state transfer taxes, recording fees, merger statutes, and foreign filings

Related Skills

due-diligence-checklist

11
from CaseMark/skills

Drafts due diligence checklists for U.S. corporate transactions (M&A, asset purchases, investments, JVs, restructurings). Covers corporate structure, financials, tax, contracts, IP, litigation, employment, benefits, insurance, and environmental compliance. Surfaces change-of-control triggers, consent requirements, and red flags. Use when preparing for deal closing, board presentations, or investor disclosure.

corporate-compliance-checklist

11
from CaseMark/skills

Drafts a U.S. corporate compliance program checklist anchored in DOJ ECCP, Federal Sentencing Guidelines Chapter 8, and SEC enforcement priorities. Covers governance, risk assessment, training, monitoring, reporting, domain-specific obligations, documentation, and phased implementation. Use when building, evaluating, or strengthening a compliance program, preparing for regulatory inquiry, or conducting annual program assessments.

closing-resolutions

11
from CaseMark/skills

Drafts unanimous written consent resolutions authorizing a buyer or seller entity to execute an asset purchase agreement and all ancillary closing documents. Covers corporate (board) and LLC (member/manager) governance formats, recitals, operative resolutions, officer authorization, ratification, and counterpart execution provisions. Use when preparing closing deliverables, board resolutions, member consents, or corporate authorization documents for US asset purchase transactions.

closing-disclosure

11
from CaseMark/skills

Drafts and reviews TRID-compliant U.S. residential Closing Disclosures, assembling all five pages of CFPB Form H-25, comparing to Loan Estimates, classifying tolerance buckets, flagging re-disclosure triggers, and producing a compliance review memo. Use when working with closing disclosures, CDs, TRID, Regulation Z, LE comparison, tolerance cures, cash-to-close reconciliation, settlement statements, or pre-consummation closing compliance review. Defers tolerance math to closing-disclosure-tolerance and timing math to closing-disclosure-timing-reference.

closing-disclosure-tolerance

11
from CaseMark/skills

Applies U.S. TRID tolerance rules to compare a residential mortgage Closing Disclosure (CD) against the controlling Loan Estimate (LE). Classifies fees by tolerance bucket, validates changed-circumstance resets, computes violations, and calculates cure amounts. Use when reviewing LE-CD variance, 10% tolerance, revised LE validity, changed circumstances, tolerance cure, or pre-closing compliance QA.

closing-disclosure-timing-reference

11
from CaseMark/skills

Provides TRID Closing Disclosure timing compliance rules under 12 CFR § 1026.19(f). Covers the three-business-day receipt rule, dual business-day definitions, delivery deemed-receipt rules, re-disclosure triggers, waiver procedures, and post-consummation deadlines. Use when calculating CD delivery deadlines, determining earliest permitted closing dates, evaluating whether a change triggers a new waiting period, or advising on emergency waiver procedures.

closing-checklist

11
from CaseMark/skills

Drafts M&A closing checklists tracking documents, approvals, consents, and action items from signing through post-closing. Use when coordinating closings for mergers, acquisitions, stock purchases, asset deals, or any corporate transaction requiring multi-party document tracking and funds flow management.

skill-name

11
from CaseMark/skills

Replace with a specific description of what this skill does and when to use it. Include keywords that help agents identify relevant tasks.

writing-surgical-consultation-notes

11
from CaseMark/skills

Creates structured surgical consultation responses with assessment and surgical candidacy determination. Use when responding to surgical consults, evaluating surgical candidates, or documenting surgical recommendations.

writing-operative-reports

11
from CaseMark/skills

Creates structured operative notes with findings, technique, specimens, and estimated blood loss. Use when dictating operative reports, documenting surgical procedures, or recording intraoperative findings.

writing-irb-submissions

11
from CaseMark/skills

Creates IRB submission packages with protocol summaries, consent forms, and risk-benefit analysis. Use when submitting to IRB, preparing ethics applications, or writing consent documents.

writing-grant-applications-research

11
from CaseMark/skills

Structures NIH/foundation grant applications with specific aims, significance, and innovation sections. Use when writing research grants, preparing NIH applications, or structuring grant proposals.