Close · Specialty Chemicals

Specialty Chemicals Deals: Indemnification Done Right

Independent sponsor counsel for specialty chemicals, focused on Indemnification and the deal mechanics that protect sponsor economics and LP alignment.

EV range $15M to $200M EV EBITDA $3M to $28M Audience Buy-side / Sponsor
The deal context

Specialty Chemicals deals in the lower middle market run a specific playbook. Indemnification is where the structure either holds or starts to leak.

The typical specialty chemicals platform sits at $15M to $200M EV with EBITDA in the $3M to $28M range. The thesis runs on niche formulator or contract manufacturing buy-up. The IP lives in the formulator's head as often as in the company. Structure for that risk explicitly.

The moves

How Indemnification actually gets structured.

  1. Set general indemnity survival at 18 months, fundamental reps for the full statute of limitations.

  2. Build a basket at 0.5 percent of EV, with a deductible structure, not a tipping basket.

  3. Cap general indemnity at 10 percent of EV, with R&W insurance carrying the layer above.

  4. Carve out fraud, tax, and intentional breach from any cap.

  5. In specialty chemicals, layer in chemical inventory transfer filed as part of the Indemnification workstream.

The common mistake

Negotiating caps and baskets without first reading the disclosure schedules. The schedules dictate the real exposure.

Jason's take
"Indemnification only matters when the deal goes wrong. Draft it as if it will."
Jason Powell · Indemnification
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
WORK WITH JASON

Bring the specialty chemicals deal. Get Indemnification 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.