Auto Aftermarket Deals: ERISA & Benefits Diligence Done Right
Securities and M&A counsel for independent sponsors diligencing auto aftermarket transactions, from LOI to close to the capital markets that open up afterward.
An independent sponsor closing auto aftermarket transactions in the $8M to $90M EV range has a defined set of moves at the ERISA & Benefits Diligence stage. Most of them are not in a generic M&A textbook.
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 ERISA & Benefits Diligence actually gets structured.
Pull the 5500s and audit reports for the last three years.
Identify any controlled-group exposure that follows the seller post-close.
Address multi-employer pension withdrawal liability where applicable.
Plan the benefits transition to the buyer's plans, with a TSA period if needed.
In auto aftermarket, layer in technician retention pool defined and funded as part of the ERISA & Benefits Diligence workstream.
Skipping the multi-employer pension review. It can show up as a 7-figure surprise three months post-close.
"ERISA is the silent deal-killer. Treat it like senior debt diligence."Jason Powell · ERISA & Benefits Diligence
The deal is one thing. The capital that opens up after close is another.
Capital after close is where the IRR actually gets made. The right introductions at month nine through month thirty are where this practice works as hard as it does at the LOI.
Related deal pages.
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…
Transaction Fee Structuring for Auto Aftermarket
The fee paid at closing to the independent sponsor for sourcing, structuring, and closing the platform deal a…
Equity Rollover for Auto Aftermarket
The portion of seller proceeds reinvested into the post-close entity, aligning seller with buyer.
ERISA & Benefits Diligence for Healthcare Services
roll-up of physician practices and ancillary service lines
ERISA & Benefits Diligence for Home Services
regional roll-ups of HVAC, plumbing, and electrical operators
An LOI on the desk, a auto aftermarket target, and a ERISA & Benefits Diligence 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.