Pre-close · Auto Aftermarket

Lease Assignments for Auto Aftermarket Independent Sponsors

Managing Lease Assignments on auto aftermarket deals, with the structure protection and capital connectivity an independent sponsor actually needs.

EV range $8M to $90M EV EBITDA $2M to $16M Audience Buy-side / Sponsor
The deal context

Lease Assignments on auto aftermarket deals is one of those workstreams that looks routine on a checklist and decides outcomes in practice.

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.

The moves

How Lease Assignments actually gets structured.

  1. Pull every lease, estoppel, and SNDA in the data room.

  2. Identify landlord consent requirements and prepare consent packages.

  3. Address landlord recapture rights that can be triggered at change of control.

  4. Sequence consent collection to avoid a last-minute single-landlord veto.

  5. In auto aftermarket, layer in technician retention pool defined and funded as part of the Lease Assignments workstream.

The common mistake

Waiting until two weeks before close to request landlord consents. Landlords use the timeline against the buyer.

Jason's take
"Lease consents are the deal-killer that never makes the highlight reel. Start early, finish early."
Jason Powell · Lease Assignments
Capital after close

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.

MONTH 18
Senior refi
MONTH 24
Dividend recap
MONTH 36
Growth equity
YEAR 4–5
Strategic exit
ENGAGE THE PRACTICE

Lease Assignments for Auto Aftermarket, on independent sponsor terms.

Independent sponsor counsel that already speaks fluent deal-by-deal economics, structures clean LPAs, and travels with capital markets relationships for what comes after close.