Letter of Intent Template

What is a Letter of Intent?

A Letter of Intent is a document containing information about the commitment of one party to do business with another party. It is known as LOI in short and contains all the information regarding the deal, which both parties have agreed to do business with in the near future. It is basically a non-binding document that summarizes the results of negotiations between two parties in order to facilitate the future formation of a contract.

A Letter of Intent, also known as a pre-contract, Memorandum of Understanding, or Heads of Terms, is useful when parties are not ready to sign a contract but want to record the progress of initial negotiations and issues that need resolution. It contains information such as the main content of the futures contract and the time when the contract will be signed. A Memorandum of Understanding may also contain details about how further negotiations should be conducted and any exclusivity period during which the parties are precluded from negotiating with other parties, and has the effect of pushing forward contract negotiations.

Are Letters of Intent legally binding?

Strictly speaking, a Letter of Intent is not legally binding because it is a document that reflects the intention of two parties for doing business together if everything goes as per the plan.

How do you write a Letter of Intent?

A proper Letter of Intent should address key points that need to be resolved before entering into a contract. The details about the parties and commitment should be clearly mentioned in order to minimize the risk of disagreements in the future.

Before you begin drafting a letter choose the right format and layout. Next, do your research well. Know the company you are applying to. Start with a bold introduction and mention how you are the right fit and will complement the other company too. End your letter with some come form of a call to action but remember to keep your closing professional.

What is the purpose of a Letter of Intent?

There are many types of a Letter of Intent: these include an intent to purchase; an intent to return to work; an intent for admission; an intent to enter into a contract. A letter of Intent outline all the terms of an agreement made before entering into a contract. It should address pricing, conditions, payment deadlines, obligations of each party, the date for the signing of the proposed agreement, and the date of the memorandum of understanding. It records all the points that need resolution before the contract which can save time and money for both parties involved.

In businesses, it is used before drafting official paperwork. So commercially, a Letter of Intent records consensus that could have resulted from transactions due to sales, acquisitions, and mergers, or it could be due to agreements of joint ventures in the business world. It is also used in contracts regarding transactions of material items and properties such as real estate.

A LOI allows the parties to draft the terms before the money is spent. It can be used to officially put down the details of the negotiating parties like in the case of proposals for joint ventures and mergers. It can be quite useful as it provides measures or steps to be taken if the deal does not go through following the negotiation process.

Advantages & Disadvantages of using a Letter of Intent

A Letter of Intent holds certain advantages for sellers and certain for buyers. For Sellers, it is particularly advantageous because even if the letter in itself is not legally binding, it reflects and shows that a prospective buyer has shown genuine interest in making the purchase.

On the other hand, prospective buyers have a stronger stance when it comes to moving ahead with the details to be worked out such as the seller’s representations and warranties about the business’s performance, the indemnities for a breach of these representations, along with the drafting of the agreement regarding how the business will be run before the change of ownership.

However, not all is sunny and bright when it comes to using a Letter of Intent. The involved parties could be tied up in long and tedious negotiations depending on the terms of the deal. Sellers can miss out on other potential opportunities during negotiations and at times the changing market can cause the result to be rather unfavorable for buyers.  

Why should letters of intent only be used in the short term?

A letter of Intent only expresses one’s commitment to moving ahead. It is still non-binding and does not contain all the terms that are required in a formal contract. Hence it is best used only for short terms.

Types of Letters of Intent

There are a few different types of letters of intent. A few of them are:

1. Business letter of intent:

This LOI announces the commitment expressed between the two businesses. It paves way for a formal agreement to be made.

2. Employment letter of intent:

On the employment front, an LOI serves as a document for job seekers to express interest to employers.

3. Education letter of intent:

In the educational sector, a LOI is used during the application process by students to educational institutes. At times, it is also used to get commitment from students to get them to sign onto sports team and other teams and represent the institute.

4. Real estate letter of intent:

In real estate, an LOI can be sued to note the interest of a prospective buyer in making a real estate purchase.

Conclusion

A Letter of Intent is a document that reflects the intention of involved parties to show their commitment towards a common goal. As it has many types, it might be slightly different according to the nature of the document but the purpose of writing it is the same in almost every case. A Letter of Intent helps individuals and businesses to reflect their interest in certain areas which could result in a mutually beneficial relationship.It is not a substitute for an actual full contract and it does not contain all the terms of a contract. Remember, you have to formalize the contractual relationship between all parties before the Letter of Intent expires.

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Along with this document, make sure you see these other templates in our library:

• Shareholder Agreement
• Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
• Employee Option Repurchase Agreement
• Share Appreciation Rights Plan
• Share Option Plan

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