Pre-LOI · Deal Workstream

LOI Negotiation.

The 4 to 8 page agreement that frames the deal economics, exclusivity, and diligence period.

The moves

How LOI Negotiation actually gets done.

  1. Cap the exclusivity at 60 days, with one 30-day extension you control.

  2. Name the earnout, the rollover percentage, and the management fee in the LOI itself, not later.

  3. Reserve QofE and rep-and-warranty insurance as buyer expenses, paid at close.

  4. Build a no-shop carve-out for inbound strategic bids above a threshold.

The common mistake

Letting the seller's counsel draft the first LOI. The frame of reference sets every fight that follows.

Jason's take
"An LOI is not a non-binding nicety. It is the deal, in skeleton."
Jason Powell · LOI Negotiation
LOI Negotiation across industries

25 industries with LOI Negotiation pages.

$15M to $120M EV

Healthcare Services

roll-up of physician practices and ancillary service lines

$8M to $80M EV

Home Services

regional roll-ups of HVAC, plumbing, and electrical operators

$10M to $150M EV

Precision Manufacturing

platform plus tuck-in machine shops or aerospace-qualified shops

$10M to $200M EV

Vertical SaaS

platform plus adjacent module acquisitions inside a single end-market

$8M to $90M EV

B2B Services

recurring revenue service platform with bolt-on operators

$12M to $140M EV

Logistics & Distribution

regional acquisitions of brokerages, 3PLs, and last-mile operators

$10M to $100M EV

Specialty Distribution

vertical buy-up of niche product distributors

$10M to $120M EV

Food & Beverage

CPG roll-up or co-packing platform with regional bolt-ons

$8M to $80M EV

Multi-Unit Restaurants

franchisee roll-up or regional concept acquisition

$8M to $90M EV

Auto Aftermarket

service-center or specialty-shop regional roll-ups

$15M to $200M EV

Aerospace & Defense

tier-two or tier-three supplier consolidation with certifications as moat

$10M to $130M EV

Industrial Services

regional consolidation of plant maintenance, specialty contracting, or rentals

$10M to $150M EV

Building Products

regional manufacturer or specialty distributor consolidation

$8M to $110M EV

Specialty Construction

trade-specific buy-ups (roofing, mechanical, electrical, fire protection)

$10M to $150M EV

Insurance Brokerage

regional retail agency roll-ups

$10M to $180M EV

Wealth Advisors & RIAs

RIA aggregation or wealth platform roll-up

$8M to $100M EV

Veterinary Services

general or specialty practice roll-up under an MSO

$10M to $130M EV

Dental Practice Management

DSO buy-up under an MSO

$8M to $90M EV

Education & Training

private school, training academy, or B2B training platform consolidation

$5M to $80M EV

Marketing Agencies

specialty agency or holdco platform with bolt-ons

$8M to $100M EV

IT Services & MSPs

MSP platform with regional or vertical-specific bolt-ons

$10M to $130M EV

Cybersecurity Services

MSSP or specialty consulting platform

$10M to $140M EV

Energy Services

regional oilfield service or renewable services consolidation

$12M to $150M EV

Waste & Recycling

regional hauler or transfer station consolidation

$15M to $200M EV

Specialty Chemicals

niche formulator or contract manufacturing buy-up

Work with Jason

Talk to Jason about LOI Negotiation.

Twenty minutes of practitioner-grade input from a securities attorney built for the independent sponsor model.