A few years ago we acted on the proposed sale of a large proprietary company. The negotiations on the contract terms were lengthy and the deal was to be finalised over a 1 day round table conference.
When the terms were reduced to writing we carefully scrutinised the proposed fine print to discover that the purchaser company (whose solicitor drafted the relevant clause) was endeavouring to give itself a $4m discount on the agreed sum. Needless to say, that “deal” was terminated.
The happy ending is that our client has had some of its best years of trade since the sale fell over and has grown to new heights.