Diligence · Aerospace & Defense

Aerospace & Defense Deals: Regulatory Diligence Done Right

Independent sponsor counsel for aerospace and defense, focused on Regulatory Diligence and the deal mechanics that protect sponsor economics and LP alignment.

EV range $15M to $200M EV EBITDA $3M to $30M Audience Buy-side / Sponsor
The deal context

Aerospace & Defense deals in the lower middle market run a specific playbook. Regulatory Diligence is where the structure either holds or starts to leak.

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.

The moves

How Regulatory Diligence actually gets structured.

  1. Map every license and permit, with renewal dates and transfer mechanics.

  2. Identify regulatory consent requirements that require pre-close filings.

  3. Address pending or threatened regulatory actions in the disclosure schedules.

  4. Plan the post-close regulatory calendar with the operating team.

  5. In aerospace and defense, layer in ITAR / EAR registration transferred or refiled before close as part of the Regulatory Diligence workstream.

The common mistake

Treating regulatory diligence as a sub-section. In regulated industries, it is the whole deal.

Jason's take
"Regulatory continuity is the closing condition that fails most often. Diligence it first, not last."
Jason Powell · Regulatory Diligence
Capital after close

The deal is one thing. The capital that opens up after close is another.

Refinancing, recaps, growth rounds, and the right strategic conversation eighteen months early are all downstream of relationships that take years to build and minutes to use.

MONTH 18
Senior refi
MONTH 24
Dividend recap
MONTH 36
Growth equity
YEAR 4–5
Strategic exit
WORK WITH JASON

Bring the aerospace and defense deal. Get Regulatory Diligence done right.

Direct counsel from a securities and M&A attorney with billions in structured transactions, the independent-sponsor-native playbook, and the capital markets network that opens up post-close.