Intentieverklaring

A letter of intent, commonly referred to as an LOI, is a written statement in which the parties set out their intention to enter into a specific agreement in the future. The document serves as the basis for further negotiations and typically sets forth the principal terms of the contemplated transaction.

It is relevant because it assists the parties in aligning their expectations and structuring the negotiations, while often being expressly non-binding so as to avoid the premature creation of legal obligations. This enables the parties to explore the feasibility of a transaction on a non-committal basis.

In practice, letters of intent are frequently used in mergers and acquisitions, real estate transactions and collaborative arrangements to evidence serious intent without establishing direct contractual obligations.