Pre-close · Specialty Distribution

Specialty Distribution Deals: Change of Control Consents Done Right

Independent sponsor counsel for specialty distribution, focused on Change of Control Consents and the deal mechanics that protect sponsor economics and LP alignment.

EV range $10M to $100M EV EBITDA $2.5M to $18M Audience Buy-side / Sponsor
The deal context

Every specialty distribution acquisition has its own gravity. Change of Control Consents is the workstream where independent sponsor counsel earns the seat.

The typical specialty distribution platform sits at $10M to $100M EV with EBITDA in the $2.5M to $18M range. The thesis runs on vertical buy-up of niche product distributors. Most distribution multiples are wrong by half a turn until the rebate accounting gets normalized.

The moves

How Change of Control Consents actually gets structured.

  1. Build a consent matrix from the data room contracts.

  2. Sort consents into required, prudent, and informational categories.

  3. Assign owners and deadlines for each consent.

  4. Track consent progress in a single closing dashboard.

  5. In specialty distribution, layer in supplier reaffirmation letters before LOI signs as part of the Change of Control Consents workstream.

The common mistake

Discovering a required consent on the day before close. The signing slips, the deal team loses leverage.

Jason's take
"Consents are a project, not a footnote. Run them like a project."
Jason Powell · Change of Control Consents
Capital after close

The deal is one thing. The capital that opens up after close is another.

The capital that opens up post-close, from refinancing to growth equity to strategic exit, runs through a small set of Wall Street relationships. That network is built in.

MONTH 18
Senior refi
MONTH 24
Dividend recap
MONTH 36
Growth equity
YEAR 4–5
Strategic exit
WORK WITH JASON

Bring the specialty distribution deal. Get Change of Control Consents 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.