Independent Sponsor Economics Counsel for Aerospace & Defense Acquisitions
Securities and M&A counsel for independent sponsors structuring aerospace and defense transactions, from LOI to close to the capital markets that open up afterward.
Independent Sponsor Economics on aerospace and defense deals is one of those workstreams that looks routine on a checklist and decides outcomes in practice.
The typical aerospace and defense platform sits at $15M to $200M EV with EBITDA in the $3M to $30M range. The thesis runs on tier-two or tier-three supplier consolidation with certifications as moat. Foreign LP capital can trigger CFIUS review on the cleanest of deals. Map the cap table early.
How Independent Sponsor Economics actually gets structured.
Anchor on 20 to 25 percent carry above an 8 percent preferred return, with a 50/50 catch-up.
Set the management fee at 2 percent of invested capital, capped at three years.
Charge a transaction fee of 2 to 3 percent at close, with a clear LP-approval ceiling.
Document the waterfall in the LPA, not in a side letter.
In aerospace and defense, layer in ITAR / EAR registration transferred or refiled before close as part of the Independent Sponsor Economics workstream.
Negotiating economics with the LP only after the LOI is signed. By then, the leverage is gone.
"If you are an independent sponsor, your economics are your firm. Defend them in the LPA, not in conversation."Jason Powell · Independent Sponsor Economics
The deal is one thing. The capital that opens up after close is another.
The capital that opens up post-close, from refinancing to growth equity to strategic exit, runs through a small set of Wall Street relationships. That network is built in.
Related deal pages.
LOI Negotiation for Aerospace & Defense
The 4 to 8 page agreement that frames the deal economics, exclusivity, and diligence period.
Management Fee Structuring for Aerospace & Defense
The annual fee paid by the deal entity to the independent sponsor for ongoing oversight, board service, and p…
Equity Rollover for Aerospace & Defense
The portion of seller proceeds reinvested into the post-close entity, aligning seller with buyer.
Earnout Structures for Aerospace & Defense
Deferred purchase price contingent on post-close performance, used to bridge buyer-seller valuation gaps.
Independent Sponsor Economics for Healthcare Services
roll-up of physician practices and ancillary service lines
Independent Sponsor Economics for Home Services
regional roll-ups of HVAC, plumbing, and electrical operators
An LOI on the desk, a aerospace and defense target, and a Independent Sponsor Economics question worth a real conversation.
Twenty minutes of practitioner-grade input from a securities attorney whose first move is to read the deal, not the engagement letter.