LOI · Cybersecurity Services

Equity Rollover for Cybersecurity Services Independent Sponsors

Structuring Equity Rollover on cybersecurity services deals, with the structure protection and capital connectivity an independent sponsor actually needs.

EV range $10M to $130M EV EBITDA $2.5M to $22M Audience Buy & Sell-side
The deal context

An independent sponsor closing cybersecurity services transactions in the $10M to $130M EV range has a defined set of moves at the Equity Rollover stage. Most of them are not in a generic M&A textbook.

The typical cybersecurity services platform sits at $10M to $130M EV with EBITDA in the $2.5M to $22M range. The thesis runs on MSSP or specialty consulting platform. Cleared workforce is the moat. Cleared workforce can also be the deal-killer in CFIUS reviews.

The moves

How Equity Rollover actually gets structured.

  1. Anchor on 15 to 25 percent rollover for a clean alignment story.

  2. Treat rollover as tax-deferred under Section 351 or 721 where the structure allows.

  3. Document tag-along and drag-along rights at the rollover level, not just at the LP level.

  4. Cap exit veto rights for rolled equity to avoid future deadlock.

  5. In cybersecurity services, layer in FSO succession plan in place as part of the Equity Rollover workstream.

The common mistake

Rolling at the wrong entity level, triggering an immediate tax event on what was supposed to be deferred.

Jason's take
"Rollover is the cheapest alignment tool on the table. Use it; do not abuse it."
Jason Powell · Equity Rollover
Capital after close

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.

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

Equity Rollover for Cybersecurity Services, 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.