The risk transfer transaction structure is being increasingly employed in Pennsylvania and elsewhere as industrial site owners seek to clear long-tail environmental liabilities off their balance sheets. Commonly known as an environmental liability transfer, these transactions generally involve the purchaser acquiring the real property and other assets associated with an industrial facility and assuming responsibility for all environmental liabilities associated with that property, including site closure, demolition and environmental remediation obligations.

Often, the purchaser agrees to assume all such liabilities regardless of whether they arose prior to or after the purchaser’s acquisition of the facility. The purchaser also commonly provides a release of liability and indemnity to the seller. The costs associated with the purchaser assuming these obligations and liabilities are then deducted from the value of the assets being acquired to arrive at the transaction price. This price is frequently “upside-down,” with the seller paying the purchaser to acquire the property and assume its obligations.