Event details
June 11, 2026

Event summary

The M&A market is heated up after a hiatus. While today’s M&A market for venture-backed companies was not defined by entirely new structures, this M&A cycle was defined by different dynamics than the prior cycle.

 

Cooley hosted a follow-up to our ReBoot Camp virtual series focused on how exit dynamics had shifted in the current environment, including where fund general counsels saw the most friction, pressure and decision points when their funds were evaluating potential portfolio company sales and combinations. From pricing versus shareholder proceeds to the increased presence of private equity buyers and evolving rollover expectations, the session break down was different in this cycle and what fund counsel should have focused on as these deals came together.

Topics included:

  • Shifting trends in retention packages: How evolving retention structures and incentive alignment are impacted selling stockholder economics, including the increased use of retention and carve-out arrangements.
  • Dealing with private equity buyers – execution differences: How PE sponsorship, whether direct or through a portfolio company, impacted transaction certainty and key terms, such as representations and warranties insurance (RWI) and restrictive covenants, and how this differed from prior cycles.
  • Dealing with private equity buyers – rollover considerations: How rollover dynamics had evolved in the past few years, including who participated and how these structures were negotiated.

Speakers

For more information, please email Sean Hayes.

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