Close · Vertical SaaS

Representation & Warranty Insurance for Vertical SaaS Independent Sponsors

Securities and M&A counsel for independent sponsors structuring vertical SaaS transactions, from LOI to close to the capital markets that open up afterward.

EV range $10M to $200M EV EBITDA $2M to $30M (or run-rate ARR) Audience Buy-side / Sponsor
The deal context

Vertical SaaS deals in the lower middle market run a specific playbook. Representation & Warranty Insurance is where the structure either holds or starts to leak.

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.

The moves

How Representation & Warranty Insurance actually gets structured.

  1. Get to non-binding indication within two weeks of LOI sign, with carrier diligence to follow.

  2. Negotiate retention to 0.5 percent of EV, dropping to 0.25 percent after 12 months.

  3. Confirm policy follows form on the purchase agreement, not the other way around.

  4. Carve out tax indemnities and known liabilities, priced separately if needed.

  5. In vertical SaaS, layer in ARR bridge built before LOI signing as part of the Representation & Warranty Insurance workstream.

The common mistake

Treating R&W as a commodity. Carrier appetite varies sharply by industry and deal size.

Jason's take
"R&W is no longer optional on most independent sponsor deals over $20M. Price it into the LOI."
Jason Powell · Representation & Warranty Insurance
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 vertical SaaS deal. Get Representation & Warranty Insurance 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.