What is the main purpose of non-competition agreements required in a Letter of Intent (LOI)?

The main purpose of non-competition agreements included in a Letter of Intent (LOI) is fundamentally about protecting the buyer's interests following the acquisition. By prohibiting the seller's executives from joining a competing company after the sale, these agreements help ensure that the buyer can fully realize the value of their acquisition without facing the risk of the seller's former executives leveraging their intimate knowledge of the business to benefit a competitor. This safeguard is crucial in preserving the competitive advantage and proprietary knowledge that the buyer acquires, ultimately contributing to the success of the integration process and safeguarding the buyer's investment.

Other options touch on elements relevant to business transactions but do not directly relate to the primary focus of non-competition agreements. Negotiating better prices, maintaining confidentiality, and outlining future employment are all important aspects of M&A transactions but do not specifically capture why non-competition clauses are critical in protecting the acquired business's market position.