Pre-LOI · Energy Services

LOI Negotiation for Energy Services Independent Sponsors

Negotiating LOI Negotiation on energy services deals, with the structure protection and capital connectivity an independent sponsor actually needs.

EV range $10M to $140M EV EBITDA $2.5M to $24M Audience Buy-side / Sponsor
The deal context

An independent sponsor closing energy services transactions in the $10M to $140M EV range has a defined set of moves at the LOI Negotiation stage. Most of them are not in a generic M&A textbook.

The typical energy services platform sits at $10M to $140M EV with EBITDA in the $2.5M to $24M range. The thesis runs on regional oilfield service or renewable services consolidation. Underwrite the trough, not the peak. Capital partners will.

The moves

How LOI Negotiation actually gets structured.

  1. Cap the exclusivity at 60 days, with one 30-day extension you control.

  2. Name the earnout, the rollover percentage, and the management fee in the LOI itself, not later.

  3. Reserve QofE and rep-and-warranty insurance as buyer expenses, paid at close.

  4. Build a no-shop carve-out for inbound strategic bids above a threshold.

  5. In energy services, layer in earnout indexed to gross margin instead of revenue as part of the LOI Negotiation workstream.

The common mistake

Letting the seller's counsel draft the first LOI. The frame of reference sets every fight that follows.

Jason's take
"An LOI is not a non-binding nicety. It is the deal, in skeleton."
Jason Powell · LOI Negotiation
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

LOI Negotiation for Energy 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.