{"id":28625,"date":"2023-10-17T10:09:15","date_gmt":"2023-10-17T10:09:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/ca\/?post_type=business-glossary&p=28625"},"modified":"2025-04-24T13:53:07","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T13:53:07","slug":"letter-of-intent","status":"publish","type":"business-glossary","link":"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/ca\/business-glossary\/letter-of-intent\/","title":{"rendered":"Letter of intent (LOI)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Definition<\/h3>\n

A letter of intent (LOI) in business and finance is a formal document that outlines the preliminary understanding between parties involved in a potential transaction or business arrangement. <\/span><\/p>\n

What is a letter of intent?<\/h3>\n

The document serves as an initial expression of interest, indicating the key terms and conditions that the parties intend to negotiate further before finalising a formal contract or agreement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Generally, an LOI is considered non-binding, meaning that it does not create legal obligations on its own. Instead, it serves as a precursor to a formal agreement and provides a foundation for further negotiations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Key elements of an LOI:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Identification of parties<\/b>: An LOI clearly identifies the parties involved, including their names, roles, and contact information.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Purpose of the LOI<\/b>: It specifies the purpose or subject matter of the intended business arrangement or transaction.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Terms and conditions<\/b>: An LOI outlines the key terms and conditions that the parties wish to negotiate further. This may include financial terms, timelines, deliverables, and any other critical aspects.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Confidentiality<\/b>: An LOI may include provisions regarding the confidentiality of information shared during negotiations.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Exclusivity or non-compete<\/b>: In some cases, an LOI may contain clauses that restrict the parties from negotiating or engaging with other potential partners during the negotiation period.<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Termination or expiry<\/b>: It may specify circumstances under which the LOI will terminate or expire.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    An LOI serves as a starting point for negotiations. It provides a structured framework for discussions, helping parties understand each other’s expectations and requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n

    While an LOI is generally non-binding, it is crucial for parties to review the document carefully. Certain clauses within an LOI (such as confidentiality provisions) may be legally enforceable.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Once the parties reach mutual understanding on the terms outlined in the LOI, they proceed to draft a formal contract or agreement that incorporates the agreed-upon terms and is legally binding.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Example of a letter of intent<\/h3>\n

    Dear [Recipient’s name],<\/p>\n

    Subject: Letter of Intent for the purchase of [Property address]<\/p>\n

    I am writing to express our sincere interest in acquiring the commercial property located at [Property Address]. This Letter of Intent outlines the basic terms and conditions under which we are prepared to proceed with the purchase.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Purchase price: <\/strong>The proposed purchase price for the property is [Offered Amount], subject to further negotiation and a comprehensive due diligence process<\/a>.<\/li>\n
    2. Due diligence: <\/strong>We request a reasonable period to conduct due diligence, including but not limited to inspections, assessments, and a review of all relevant property document.<\/li>\n
    3. Closing date: <\/strong>The anticipated closing date for this transaction is [Proposed Closing Date], subject to the successful completion of due diligence and fulfilment of all closing conditions.<\/li>\n
    4. Earnest money deposit: <\/strong>To demonstrate our commitment to this transaction, we are prepared to provide an earnest money deposit in the amount of [Deposit Amount] within [Number of Days] days of mutual acceptance of this Letter of Intent.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      This Letter of Intent is not a legally binding agreement, and our obligations are subject to the execution of a formal purchase agreement. We look forward to working collaboratively to advance this transaction and believe that the terms outlined herein provide a solid foundation for further discussions.<\/p>\n

      Thank you for considering our proposal. We are open to negotiating the terms and addressing any concerns you may have.<\/p>\n

      Sincerly,<\/p>\n

      [Your full name] [Your title]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"template":"","class_list":["post-28625","business-glossary","type-business-glossary","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"featured_image_urls_v2":{"full":"","thumbnail":"","medium":"","medium_large":"","large":"","1536x1536":"","2048x2048":"","image_blog":"","image_podcast":"","image_banking":"","image_blog_internal":"","image_blog_medium":"","image_single_banking":""},"post_excerpt_stackable_v2":"

      Definition A letter of intent (LOI) in business and finance is a formal document that outlines the preliminary understanding between parties involved in a potential transaction or business arrangement. What is a letter of intent? The document serves as an initial expression of interest, indicating the key terms and conditions that the parties intend to negotiate further before finalising a formal contract or agreement.\u00a0 Generally, an LOI is considered non-binding, meaning that it does not create legal obligations on its own. Instead, it serves as a precursor to a formal agreement and provides a foundation for further negotiations. Key elements…<\/p>\n","category_list_v2":"","author_info_v2":{"name":"root","url":"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/ca\/author\/root\/"},"comments_num_v2":"0 comments","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/business-glossary\/28625","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/business-glossary"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/business-glossary"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/business-glossary\/28625\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34307,"href":"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/business-glossary\/28625\/revisions\/34307"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28625"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}