Specialty Distribution Deals: Co-Investment Rights Done Right
Independent sponsor counsel for specialty distribution, focused on Co-Investment Rights and the deal mechanics that protect sponsor economics and LP alignment.
Co-Investment Rights on specialty distribution deals is one of those workstreams that looks routine on a checklist and decides outcomes in practice.
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.
How Co-Investment Rights actually gets structured.
Define co-invest rights pro-rata to the LP's deal commitment.
Build a 30-day decision window so the deal does not stall.
Limit co-invest fees and carry, if any, to reflect the relationship value.
Document the right in the LPA, not in a side letter.
In specialty distribution, layer in supplier reaffirmation letters before LOI signs as part of the Co-Investment Rights workstream.
Granting unlimited co-invest. The next LP finds out and your firm economics suffer.
"Co-investment is a privilege you give to the LPs you want to keep. Define it accordingly."Jason Powell · Co-Investment Rights
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.
Related deal pages.
LOI Negotiation for Specialty Distribution
The 4 to 8 page agreement that frames the deal economics, exclusivity, and diligence period.
Independent Sponsor Economics for Specialty Distribution
The package of deal-by-deal carry, management fees, and transaction fees that compensates the independent spo…
Management Fee Structuring for Specialty Distribution
The annual fee paid by the deal entity to the independent sponsor for ongoing oversight, board service, and p…
Equity Rollover for Specialty Distribution
The portion of seller proceeds reinvested into the post-close entity, aligning seller with buyer.
Co-Investment Rights for Healthcare Services
roll-up of physician practices and ancillary service lines
Co-Investment Rights for Home Services
regional roll-ups of HVAC, plumbing, and electrical operators
An LOI on the desk, a specialty distribution target, and a Co-Investment Rights question worth a real conversation.
Twenty minutes of practitioner-grade input from a securities attorney whose first move is to read the deal, not the engagement letter.