Vertical SaaS Deals: Co-Investment Rights Done Right
Negotiating Co-Investment Rights on vertical SaaS deals, with the structure protection and capital connectivity an independent sponsor actually needs.
The economics on a vertical SaaS platform deal usually hinge on a handful of structural decisions. Co-Investment Rights is one of them.
The typical vertical SaaS platform sits at $10M to $200M EV with EBITDA in the $2M to $30M (or run-rate ARR) range. The thesis runs on platform plus adjacent module acquisitions inside a single end-market. The ARR number on the CIM is rarely the ARR number on the closing balance sheet. Reconcile early.
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 vertical SaaS, layer in ARR bridge built before LOI signing 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.
Most independent sponsors solve the closing capital and then run into the post-close capital problem alone. The capital markets relationships that matter at month 18 are part of this practice.
Related deal pages.
LOI Negotiation for Vertical SaaS
The 4 to 8 page agreement that frames the deal economics, exclusivity, and diligence period.
Independent Sponsor Economics for Vertical SaaS
The package of deal-by-deal carry, management fees, and transaction fees that compensates the independent spo…
Management Fee Structuring for Vertical SaaS
The annual fee paid by the deal entity to the independent sponsor for ongoing oversight, board service, and p…
Equity Rollover for Vertical SaaS
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 vertical SaaS 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.