Structure Window

This section details the critical importance of deal sequencing and protecting your reputation with lenders by not engaging them too early. Heather explains that the “structure window” closes quickly; if you approach a bank before you have firm answers on working capital or seller note terms, you risk the bank forming a negative opinion that is nearly impossible to reverse. By utilizing an intermediary for “pre-LOI reviews,” buyers can stress-test their deal against dozens of lenders’ criteria without flagging individual banks. This “narrative engineering” ensures that when you finally do approach a lender, the deal is decisional and stable, preventing the need for mid-stream changes that banks often interpret as a sign of a failing deal.