[Opening - After pleasantries and agenda review]
You: "Thanks for sitting down today. I want to address the elephant in the room—the commitment fee. I know it seems like we're asking for money upfront before you've even closed, but there's a very specific legal and commercial reason why this is non-negotiable for the 75% ownership structure we've discussed."
[Investor may nod or express skepticism]
You: "Let me walk you through the legal mechanics. Under Indonesian Company Law—specifically Article 87 of Law No. 40/2007—the existing shareholders have what's called statutory pre-emption rights. That's a fancy term, but it basically means they get first dibs on any new shares we issue."
"Right now, PT Aman Jaya Perdana owns 99.92% of the company—that's 241,711 shares. Ronald Wijaya owns the remaining 200 shares. For you to buy 725,733 new shares and get to 75% ownership, they have to formally waive their right to buy those shares first."
[Pause for comprehension]
You: "Now here's the thing: they're not going to waive that right—which is legally enforceable and very valuable—unless you've made a binding commitment. Think about it from their perspective. Why would they give up their statutory right to buy USD 90 million worth of shares at this valuation if you might walk away next week?"
Investor: [Likely asks: "But can't we just put it in the investment agreement?"]
You: "Great question. Technically, yes—but that creates a chicken-and-egg problem. To get to an investment agreement, we need to do several things first:
• Convene a General Meeting of Shareholders to approve the capital increase from 241,911 shares to 967,644 shares
• Amend the constitutional documents through a notarial deed
• Register the amendments with the Ministry of Law and Human Rights—that alone takes 4 to 8 weeks
• Draft the full Shareholders' Agreement, Share Subscription Agreement, and related documentation
All of that costs real money—we're talking USD 50,000 to 75,000 in legal and notary fees. And more importantly, it takes management time and focus. We're not going to start that process without knowing you're committed."
[Lean forward, direct eye contact]
You: "Here's what I really need you to understand: without your commitment fee, there is genuine risk that this deal doesn't happen—not because we don't want it, but because the existing shareholders might exercise their pre-emption rights themselves."
"PT Aman Jaya Perdana is a substantial entity. They could write a check for USD 89.8 million tomorrow if they wanted to keep 75% of the company for themselves. Right now, they're willing to dilute because they think bringing in a strategic investor—you—creates more value than keeping full ownership. But that goodwill evaporates if you're not serious."
Investor: [May push back on amount]
You: "Look, I hear you on the quantum. The commitment fee we're proposing is 2% to 5% of the total investment—so between USD 1.8 million and USD 4.5 million. But here's the key: it's fully creditable against your USD 90 million at closing. You're not losing money; you're just paying earlier to lock in the deal."
"And it's refundable if we fail to deliver on our side—if we can't get the GMS approval, if there's a material misrepresentation in due diligence, whatever. The fee protects both of us. It gives you certainty that we won't shop the deal to other investors while you're doing diligence. And it gives us certainty that you're real."
[Address timing urgency]
You: "The other thing I need to flag: time is not our friend here. The current valuation is based on our financial position as of September 30, 2025. We're growing, but we also have bank debt of about USD 170 million. If we wait another quarter or two, our earnings could shift the valuation up or down—and then we're back to square one negotiating."
"Plus, the existing shareholders' patience isn't infinite. They're running a business. If you're not ready to commit, they'll start asking whether there are other investors who are."
[Closing - Direct Ask]
You: "So here's what I'm proposing: we structure a USD 3 million commitment fee—that's 3.3% of your investment—payable within 7 days of signing a term sheet. That gives us 90 days of exclusivity to complete due diligence, finalize all documentation, and close. The fee gets credited dollar-for-dollar against your USD 90 million at closing."
"In exchange, you get certainty that you're buying 75% of this company at a USD 30 million pre-money valuation. No pre-emption issues, no competing bidders, no valuation renegotiation. And frankly, if you're not willing to commit USD 3 million upfront to secure a USD 90 million investment, I have to ask whether you're really ready to be a 75% shareholder in this business."
[Pause, gauge reaction]
You: "What questions do you have? I want to make sure you're comfortable with the mechanics here, because once we start the legal process, there's no going back for either of us."