The challenge
Selling unlisted shares can be more complicated than selling public stocks, since there's no central marketplace with constant liquidity.
How to find buyers
- Platforms — Marketplaces like Accumeo connect buyers and sellers.
- Brokers — Specialized brokers can help find potential buyers.
- Company network — Sometimes the company itself or other shareholders want to buy.
- Right of first refusal — Some corporate charters require existing shareholders to be offered the chance to buy first.
Key considerations
- Right of first refusal clauses — Check if the corporate charter restricts your right to sell freely.
- Pricing — Without exchange trading, it can be difficult to determine the right price. Use latest valuation and comparable transactions.
- Tax implications — Capital gains on unlisted shares are taxed at 25% in Sweden.
The process
1. Identify potential buyers.
2. Agree on price and terms.
3. Execute the share transfer (sign transfer agreement).
4. Register ownership change in the share register.
5. Handle tax declaration.
Summary
Selling unlisted shares requires planning, but digital platforms have made the process significantly smoother.