Independent Sponsor Earnout Structures in Auto Aftermarket
Structuring Earnout Structures on auto aftermarket deals, with the structure protection and capital connectivity an independent sponsor actually needs.
The economics on a auto aftermarket platform deal usually hinge on a handful of structural decisions. Earnout Structures is one of them.
The typical auto aftermarket platform sits at $8M to $90M EV with EBITDA in the $2M to $16M range. The thesis runs on service-center or specialty-shop regional roll-ups. Technician shortage is the single biggest valuation risk. Underwrite the bench, not the bays.
How Earnout Structures actually gets structured.
Tie the earnout to gross profit or contribution margin, not revenue, to avoid sandbagging.
Cap the earnout window at 24 months. Anything longer is a litigation risk.
Build acceleration on a change of control or buyer-driven operational change.
Name an arbitrator and the accounting standard in the agreement.
In auto aftermarket, layer in technician retention pool defined and funded as part of the Earnout Structures workstream.
Drafting the earnout in three paragraphs. Earnouts are the second-most-litigated provision in M&A.
"If the earnout could be measured by a teenager with a spreadsheet, you wrote it well."Jason Powell · Earnout Structures
The deal is one thing. The capital that opens up after close is another.
After close, the call list for refinancing, recapitalization, and growth equity gets short and known. Jason carries that list.
Related deal pages.
LOI Negotiation for Auto Aftermarket
The 4 to 8 page agreement that frames the deal economics, exclusivity, and diligence period.
Independent Sponsor Economics for Auto Aftermarket
The package of deal-by-deal carry, management fees, and transaction fees that compensates the independent spo…
Management Fee Structuring for Auto Aftermarket
The annual fee paid by the deal entity to the independent sponsor for ongoing oversight, board service, and p…
Equity Rollover for Auto Aftermarket
The portion of seller proceeds reinvested into the post-close entity, aligning seller with buyer.
Earnout Structures for Healthcare Services
roll-up of physician practices and ancillary service lines
Earnout Structures for Home Services
regional roll-ups of HVAC, plumbing, and electrical operators
Bring the auto aftermarket deal. Get Earnout Structures 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.