A Letter of Intent (LOI) is a formal written document used to express a party’s intention to enter into a contract or agreement, outlining the main terms and showing a serious commitment to the deal. They are most commonly used in business transactions.
Because they discuss a potential transaction, a letter of intent is usually ( but not always ) non-binding. However, certain sections of the LOI, such as confidentiality clauses, exclusivity agreements, or governing law provisions, can be binding.
Besides business transactions, a letter of intent is commonly used for:
- Real Estate
- Property Purchase: To express the intention to purchase a property, setting out the terms of the deal.
- Commercial Leases: Agree upon basic lease terms before formalizing the agreement.
- Employment
- Job Offers: Sent to prospective employees detailing the terms of the employment offer.
- Executive Positions: Negotiating terms for high-level positions.
- Academic Admissions – Express their strong interest in a particular program.
- Collaborative Projects – Outline the terms of a research or development collaboration.
Letters of Intent – By Type (4)
Below, you can find different versions of LOIs that fulfill the same purpose as a traditional LOI but for unique situations.
Business
Used between the Seller of a business and a potential Buyer. Eventually, you would use a Business Purchase Agreement to complete the deal.
Real Estate
Used between the Seller of real property and a potential Buyer of the real property. You would use a Real Estate Purchase Agreement to complete the deal.
Personal Property
Used between the Seller of personal property, such as a car or jewellery, and a potential Buyer of the personal property. You would use a Personal Property Purchase Agreement to complete the deal.
What Is a Letter of Intent?
A letter of intent is a written document that outlines a preliminary agreement between two parties regarding the terms of a potential purchase or another transaction. Some scenarios in which you would see a letter being used:
- Mergers and Acquisitions: Set the groundwork for buying or merging with another company.
- Investments: Agree upon terms with potential investors.
- Joint Ventures and Partnerships: Outline the terms of potential partnerships or joint ventures.
Think of it as a road map for how the negotiation and deal will proceed.
The two parties can settle on specific terms while agreeing to continue negotiating the other terms and details of the transaction before signing a purchase agreement.
While an LOI can help two parties complete a deal down the line, the parties may decide not to proceed with the details in the letter if certain conditions aren’t met (like if there’s a lack of funding from one party).
Is a Letter of Intent Legally Binding?
A letter of intent is typically not legally binding. If you intend for your LOI not to be legally binding, ensure you include a provision to avoid any confusion or assumptions from the other party.
Even without the provision, a court would typically rule that the letter is just an expression of intent.
Why Should You Create a Letter of Intent?
Without this document, you might miss a purchase or sale opportunity. Banks or lenders sometimes require proof of a deal before promising to grant financing. Or, if you are still negotiating specific terms of the agreement, either side may question the other party’s commitment to getting the deal done and walk away.
Here are some of the suffering using this document might help prevent:
SELLER | PURCHASER |
---|---|
Loss of Time | Loss of Time |
Loss of Money | Loss of Money |
Mental Anguish | Mental Anguish |
How to Write a Letter of Intent
Step 1 – Fill in the Initial Details
To start your LOI, you need to fill out the essential information regarding the seller, buyer, and the item being purchased.
Step 2 – Detail the Purchase Price
Next, you need to include details about the purchase price. If no purchase price for the transaction is decided until the completion of due diligence, you can note that here. State the purchase price of the item in question and when the money is owed.
You can detail that a certain amount will be required upon signing the letter or, if you’re using one, upon signing a purchase agreement.
Step 3 – Record Any Conditions and Exclusivity Statements
If the transaction will be subject to any conditions, this is the place to include them. You can also emphasize if the seller agrees not to negotiate directly or indirectly with any other party concerning the item.
The parties can include certain conditions that must occur before a final agreement will be signed, such as:
- The buyer securing financing
- The buyer completing due diligence
- The buyer successfully selling their home
- An inspection of the property
- Regulatory or other required approvals
You can also clarify if the parties should maintain confidentiality about the agreement or if the parties have certain covenants to complete during negotiations.
Step 4 – State the Termination Guidelines
In this section, state when the letter will automatically terminate. For example, it could be upon execution of a purchase agreement or a mutually written agreement between the parties.
Step 5 – Record the Governing Law and Write a Non-Binding Clause
You need to detail which state the LOI will be governed by and include a clause on whether the letter is binding or non-binding.
Step 6 – Obtain All Parties’ Signatures
Finally, finish your letter by having both parties sign the document.
When Should I Use a Letter of Intent?
This agreement is most often used in transactions involving a purchase. Sometimes, two parties will know they want to do a business deal together but aren’t ready to sign an agreement.
For example, they may agree that one party will sell their business for a specific price, but they do not yet agree on who will take on certain business liabilities.
The parties can sign this document to show each other a good faith intention to negotiate a deal. It can also help parties get on the same page as to what they expect from the purchase. A Letter of Intent could be used after a request for a proposal from vendors.
Here’s a list of some possible LOI relationships:
SELLER | BUYER |
---|---|
Owner of a business | Corporation that wants to expand |
Real estate flipper | Newly married couple |
Pig farmer | Restaurant with an all-bacon menu |
Car owner | Newly-licensed driver |
Letter of Intent Sample
View our letter of intent template below, which you can download as a PDF or Word file and customize for your specific intentions: