Deal mediation for CEOs: Agreement reached in < 30 days instead of 18 months of arbitration proceedings

Dr. Hartmut Frenzel and Izolda Petrosyan discreetly bring deadlocked M&A, JV, and supply contracts to a conclusion - with clear ROI, board-ready term sheets, and performance-based fees.

Wuppertal/Zug, February 19, 2026 - When purchase price negotiations stall at an 18% valuation difference, JV shareholders block each other over budget approvals, or post-closing disputes tie up millions, companies lose time, money, and relationships. Arbitration proceedings cost EUR50,000-300,000 and take an average of 12-18 months. Deal mediation offers a professional shortcut: confidential, controlled, non-binding - until the contract is signed. The result: board-ready agreements with KPIs, collateral, and an execution plan in an average of 1-3 meetings.

CEOs and CFOs lose money every day due to unresolved conflicts Studies show that around 19% of corporate expenditure is caused by unresolved conflicts. For a medium-sized company with EUR50 million in sales, this corresponds to EUR9.5 million annually - tied up in internal coordination, consulting costs, delayed projects, and blocked cash flow.

Traditional escalation channels exacerbate the problem: * Arbitration: 12-18 months duration, costs EUR50,000-300,000 depending on the amount in dispute, no guarantee of economically viable solutions * Court proceedings: 3 instances, 2-5 years, damage to reputation, public hearing
* Internal blockage: projects on hold, working capital tied up, relationships damaged Deal mediation starts earlier - before positions harden.

How deal mediation delivers ROI Time-to-outcome: First session within 5-10 business days, typically concluded in 1-3 sessions ("30 days). With average conflict costs of 0.5-3.0% of annual revenue, every month of delay avoided translates into direct cash flow gains.

Cost comparison (example: EUR5 million in dispute): * Arbitration (DIS): approx. EUR150,000-250,000 in procedural costs + internal time * Deal mediation: flat fee + performance-based component, typically ""EUR50,000
* Break-even: A single avoided project shutdown or delayed purchase price flow justifies the investment Quality: Over 70% agreement rate in commercial mediations (European surveys). Higher compliance rates than judgments/arbitration awards because parties develop solutions themselves. Where deal mediation creates concrete value Pre-signing: Bridging valuation differences

The parties are 18% apart. Earn-outs, caps, warranties - the lawyers send each other drafts, nothing moves. Deal mediation tests scenarios confidentially: Which KPI definition do both accept? Which collateral replaces price discounts? Result: Term sheet with measurable triggers, audit rights, and sanctions.

Post-closing: Purchase price adjustment, working capital The seller demands additional payment, the buyer refuses. Accountants argue over definitions, consultants go round in circles. Deal mediation brings the financial managers to the table, clarifies contentious positions in caucus rounds, and delivers a jointly supported formula - including a payment plan and settlement clause.

JV governance: vetoes, budgets, IP use Joint venture blocked: one partner wants to invest, the other is holding back. Deal mediation restructures decision-making rights, defines investment thresholds, clarifies IP licenses, and drafts exit paths in case of further differences.

Delivery/SLA conflicts: Penalties, service level Supplier misses KPIs, customer imposes penalties, supplier terminates contract. Deal mediation redesigns service levels, adjusts penalties to realistic measurability, and builds in escalation levels before contractual penalties take effect.

Shareholders/succession: Severance pay, vesting, handover Founder wants to exit, co-shareholders dispute valuation. Deal mediation develops severance pay formula, vesting plan for earn-outs, and transition mandate--all documented, board-approved, and enforceable.

Process architecture: commercially viable and legally secure * Opt-in/opt-out without prejudice: parties can opt out at any time without statements made in caucus rounds being used later in court * Plenary sessions for transparency, caucus for hypothesis testing: joint meetings clarify facts, confidential one-on-one discussions test room for negotiation
* Clean teams for sensitive data: GDPR-compliant data rooms when due diligence information or IP details must remain confidential * Comparison with hard parameters: KPIs, measurement rules, collateral (guarantees, escrow), sanctions for non-compliance, execution plan (30/60/90 days)
* "Subject-to" clauses clearly defined: board approval, financing reservation, antitrust approval - nothing remains vague Business case: What deal mediation brings to your company Time savings: weeks instead of years - accelerates cash events, frees up working capital, enables project continuation

Cost effect: Mediation typically costs 10-30% of arbitration for comparable amounts in dispute Reputation protection: Confidential, no public hearings, no headlines Quality of enforcement: Higher compliance rates because parties develop solutions themselves instead of having them imposed on them Sample calculation (medium-sized company, EUR50 million in sales):

* Conflict costs per annum (19% of company expenses): approx. EUR9.5 million * Share of a single major conflict: EUR0.5-3.0 million (internal time, consultants, delays) * Investment deal mediation: typically ""EUR50,000
* ROI: Even a single month of avoided project downtime justifies the investment Quote - Dr. Hartmut Frenzel "CEOs need the ability to act - not new fronts. We bring the decision-makers to the table, test options confidentially, and deliver board-ready term sheets instead of endless briefs. Time is money - deal mediation gives you back both."

Quote - Izolda Petrosyan "We negotiate value instead of positions: price, service level, earn-outs, collateral, and governance. This results in solutions that are viable - and stand up to practical testing. Our clients pay us from what they save in time and avoided escalation."

Package: Transparent, predictable, performance-based 1. Assess (48 hours): Conflict triage, stakeholder mapping, roadmap - free of charge as a qualification interview 2. Stabilize (5-10 days): Process design, data rooms/clean team, 1st-2nd meeting - flat fee

3. Close (10-20 days): Settlement, execution plan, board presentation - flat fee + milestone fee 4. Secure (30/60/90 days): Aftercare, monitoring, follow-up - optional Fee model: Transparent flat fee + performance-based component. No hourly rates. No success = reduced fee. Full success = attractive upside sharing. Immediate CTA: Confidential initial consultation within 24 hours Take 10 minutes to check whether deal mediation is suitable for your case:

* Conflict involves "EUR100,000 or is blocking a project? * Parties want to maintain the relationship or at least part ways amicably? * Time is of the essence (financing, antitrust approval, market window)? Then secure your confidential assessment meeting now: Contact:

* Email: hf@executive-mediation.pro and ip@executive-mediation.pro * Izolda Petrosyan: +41 78 422 33 48 (CH) All initial consultations are confidential and "without prejudice" - nothing you tell us can be used against you later.

Dr. Hartmut Frenzel | EXECUTIVE MEDIATION
Fuhlrottstr. 15
42119 Wuppertal
Germany

https://executive-mediation.pro/

Herr Dr.Hartmut Frenzel
+49-1602912140

hf@executive-mediation.pro

About Executive Mediation Executive Mediation is the C-level mediation practice of Dr. Hartmut Frenzel and Izolda Petrosyan. We combine legal precision with deal experience - for swift, discreet, and enforceable agreements in critical business relationships. Our clients are CEOs, CFOs, general counsels, and advisory board members who seek the ability to act rather than to be right. For more information, please visit: https://executive-mediation.pro/ Please also visit https://deal-mediation.pro, https://cross-border-mediation.pro, and https://businessmediation.pro.

Izolda Petrosyan Dipl. Business Administration EXECUTIVE MEDIATOR Izolda Petrosyan: +41 78 422 33 48 (CH) ip@executive-mediation.pro Dr. Hartmut Frenzel

EXECUTIVE MEDIATOR Dr. Hartmut Frenzel: +49 160 29 12 140 (D) hf@executive-mediation.pro

This release was published on openPR.