The Salmon Index™ · AIM™

AIM · 01 — Disqualification Screen

DISQUALIFY

Enter actual target data. Every field computes a mandate verdict in real time from your inputs. A single hard stop terminates the mandate regardless of all other inputs. The instrument decides. No rationalizations. No exceptions.

Card 1 of 8

AIM·01·01 – AIM·01·02

AIM·01·01

Target Sector

Confirms mandate sector eligibility and surfaces active buyer universe

—

Pending

AIM·01·02

Adjusted EBITDA (TTM)

Trailing 12-month owner-normalized profit ($K)

—

Pending

AIM · 01 — Disqualification Screen

DISQUALIFY

Enter actual target data. Every field computes a mandate verdict in real time from your inputs. A single hard stop terminates the mandate regardless of all other inputs. The instrument decides. No rationalizations. No exceptions.

Card 2 of 8

AIM·01·03 – AIM·01·04

AIM·01·03

Revenue Change Year over Year

YoY revenue change percentage (negative = declining)

—

Pending

AIM·01·04

Top Customer Revenue

Single largest customer as percentage of total revenue

—

Pending

AIM · 01 — Disqualification Screen

DISQUALIFY

Enter actual target data. Every field computes a mandate verdict in real time from your inputs. A single hard stop terminates the mandate regardless of all other inputs. The instrument decides. No rationalizations. No exceptions.

Card 3 of 8

AIM·01·05 – AIM·01·06

AIM·01·05

Seller Ask Price

Total acquisition ask ($K) — entry multiple auto-computed vs EBITDA

—

Pending

AIM·01·06

Recurring Revenue

Contractual recurring revenue as percentage of total

—

Pending

AIM · 01 — Disqualification Screen

DISQUALIFY

Enter actual target data. Every field computes a mandate verdict in real time from your inputs. A single hard stop terminates the mandate regardless of all other inputs. The instrument decides. No rationalizations. No exceptions.

Card 4 of 8

AIM·01·07 – AIM·01·08

AIM·01·07

Gross Margin

Gross profit as percentage of revenue after COGS

—

Pending

AIM·01·08

Years in Operation

Full years the business has been operating

—

Pending

AIM · 01 — Disqualification Screen

DISQUALIFY

Enter actual target data. Every field computes a mandate verdict in real time from your inputs. A single hard stop terminates the mandate regardless of all other inputs. The instrument decides. No rationalizations. No exceptions.

Card 5 of 8

AIM·01·09 – AIM·01·10

AIM·01·09

Employee Count

Total full-time equivalent employees

—

Pending

AIM·01·10

Licenses and Credentials

Operating licenses held by entity or individual?

—

Pending

AIM · 01 — Disqualification Screen

DISQUALIFY

Enter actual target data. Every field computes a mandate verdict in real time from your inputs. A single hard stop terminates the mandate regardless of all other inputs. The instrument decides. No rationalizations. No exceptions.

Card 6 of 8

AIM·01·11 – AIM·01·12

AIM·01·11

Seller Representations and Warranties

Seller willingness to provide standard R&W

—

Pending

AIM·01·12

Contingent Liabilities

Known legal claims, tax exposure, or undisclosed obligations

—

Pending

AIM · 01 — Disqualification Screen

DISQUALIFY

Enter actual target data. Every field computes a mandate verdict in real time from your inputs. A single hard stop terminates the mandate regardless of all other inputs. The instrument decides. No rationalizations. No exceptions.

Card 7 of 8

AIM·01·13 – AIM·01·14

AIM·01·13

Management Depth

Operational capability below the prior owner

—

Pending

AIM·01·14

Revenue Generation Model

How is new and recurring revenue originated?

—

Pending

AIM · 01 — Disqualification Screen

DISQUALIFY

Enter actual target data. Every field computes a mandate verdict in real time from your inputs. A single hard stop terminates the mandate regardless of all other inputs. The instrument decides. No rationalizations. No exceptions.

Section Result

Disqualification Screen Result

Active Buyer Universe — Selected Sector

○

Mandate Verdict

Awaiting Target Data

Enter target data above. Each field computes a verdict automatically from your inputs. Hard stops terminate the mandate immediately. Conditional items require documented mitigation in AIM·06 THESIS before LOI execution.

AIM · 02 — Pre-LOI Due Diligence Assessment

DILIGENCE

Pre-LOI diligence is the difference between acquiring a business and acquiring a liability. Enter actual target data across four dimensions. Each section produces a scored risk classification computed from your inputs. The aggregate determines whether the target is diligence-cleared for LOI execution.

Card 1 of 11

AIM·02 — Three-Year Financial History

Year 1 (Oldest)

Revenue ($K)

EBITDA ($K)

Year 2 (Middle)

Revenue ($K)

EBITDA ($K)

Year 3 (TTM)

Revenue ($K)

EBITDA ($K)

AIM · 02 — Pre-LOI Due Diligence Assessment

DILIGENCE

Pre-LOI diligence is the difference between acquiring a business and acquiring a liability. Enter actual target data across four dimensions. Each section produces a scored risk classification computed from your inputs. The aggregate determines whether the target is diligence-cleared for LOI execution.

Card 2 of 11

AIM·02 — Add-backs & Assumed Debt

Owner Add-backs ($K)

Above-market salary, personal expenses, one-time items

Pending

Total Debt and Liabilities ($K)

All obligations assumed or retired at close

Pending

AIM · 02 — Pre-LOI Due Diligence Assessment

DILIGENCE

Pre-LOI diligence is the difference between acquiring a business and acquiring a liability. Enter actual target data across four dimensions. Each section produces a scored risk classification computed from your inputs. The aggregate determines whether the target is diligence-cleared for LOI execution.

Card 3 of 11

AIM·02 — Vendor & Customer Concentration

Top Vendor Concentration

Single largest vendor as percentage of total cost base

Pending

Active Customer Count

Total paying customers on active accounts

Pending

AIM · 02 — Pre-LOI Due Diligence Assessment

DILIGENCE

Pre-LOI diligence is the difference between acquiring a business and acquiring a liability. Enter actual target data across four dimensions. Each section produces a scored risk classification computed from your inputs. The aggregate determines whether the target is diligence-cleared for LOI execution.

Card 4 of 11

AIM·02 — Financial Quality & Top Customer Revenue

Top 3 Customers Combined Revenue

Top three customers combined as percentage of total revenue

Pending

Financial Statement Quality

How are financials prepared and by whom?

Pending

AIM · 02 — Pre-LOI Due Diligence Assessment

DILIGENCE

Pre-LOI diligence is the difference between acquiring a business and acquiring a liability. Enter actual target data across four dimensions. Each section produces a scored risk classification computed from your inputs. The aggregate determines whether the target is diligence-cleared for LOI execution.

Card 5 of 11

AIM·02 — Litigation & Lien Search

Active Litigation

Pending or threatened legal claims against the business

Pending

UCC Liens and Encumbrances

Outstanding security interests against business assets

Pending

AIM · 02 — Pre-LOI Due Diligence Assessment

DILIGENCE

Pre-LOI diligence is the difference between acquiring a business and acquiring a liability. Enter actual target data across four dimensions. Each section produces a scored risk classification computed from your inputs. The aggregate determines whether the target is diligence-cleared for LOI execution.

Card 6 of 11

AIM·02 — IP Ownership & Lease Terms

Intellectual Property Ownership

Trademarks, proprietary processes, trade names

Pending

Real Estate and Lease Structure

Operating location terms and transferability

Pending

AIM · 02 — Pre-LOI Due Diligence Assessment

DILIGENCE

Pre-LOI diligence is the difference between acquiring a business and acquiring a liability. Enter actual target data across four dimensions. Each section produces a scored risk classification computed from your inputs. The aggregate determines whether the target is diligence-cleared for LOI execution.

Card 7 of 11

AIM·02 — Non-Compete & Employee Depth

Non-Compete and Restrictive Covenants

Seller non-compete availability and enforceability

Pending

Key Employee Depth

Operational capability below the owner layer

Pending

AIM · 02 — Pre-LOI Due Diligence Assessment

DILIGENCE

Pre-LOI diligence is the difference between acquiring a business and acquiring a liability. Enter actual target data across four dimensions. Each section produces a scored risk classification computed from your inputs. The aggregate determines whether the target is diligence-cleared for LOI execution.

Card 8 of 11

AIM·02 — Documentation & Technology

Process Documentation

Degree to which operations are documented and repeatable

Pending

Technology and Systems Currency

Age and adequacy of operational infrastructure

Pending

AIM · 02 — Pre-LOI Due Diligence Assessment

DILIGENCE

Pre-LOI diligence is the difference between acquiring a business and acquiring a liability. Enter actual target data across four dimensions. Each section produces a scored risk classification computed from your inputs. The aggregate determines whether the target is diligence-cleared for LOI execution.

Card 9 of 11

AIM·02 — Customer Tenure & Contract Structure

Average Customer Tenure

Average length of active customer relationships

Pending

Contract Structure

Primary contractual arrangement with customers

Pending

AIM · 02 — Pre-LOI Due Diligence Assessment

DILIGENCE

Pre-LOI diligence is the difference between acquiring a business and acquiring a liability. Enter actual target data across four dimensions. Each section produces a scored risk classification computed from your inputs. The aggregate determines whether the target is diligence-cleared for LOI execution.

Card 10 of 11

AIM·02 — Churn Rate

Annual Customer Churn

Estimated percentage of customers lost annually

Pending

AIM · 02 — Pre-LOI Due Diligence Assessment

DILIGENCE

Pre-LOI diligence is the difference between acquiring a business and acquiring a liability. Enter actual target data across four dimensions. Each section produces a scored risk classification computed from your inputs. The aggregate determines whether the target is diligence-cleared for LOI execution.

Section Result

Diligence Score

Financial Integrity

—Not Assessed

Legal & Structural

—Not Assessed

Operational Integrity

—Not Assessed

Revenue Quality

—Not Assessed

○

Diligence Verdict

Assessment In Progress

Complete all four sections above. The instrument aggregates risk across financial, legal, operational, and revenue quality dimensions into a single clearance determination. A Critical risk in any single section places the overall verdict at Conditional minimum regardless of performance in other sections.

AIM · 03 — Qualifying Sector Registry

SECTORS

Thirteen non-technology sectors qualify for the AIM acquisition mandate. Each is included because it exhibits pricing inefficiency at the lower-middle-market level, an identifiable buyer universe, and predictable response to the ECP value engineering playbook. Select any sector card for the full qualification profile.

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AIM Qualifying Sector Registry

Thirteen non-technology sectors qualify for the AIM mandate. Select all that match your acquisition criteria. Click any card for the sector profile.

Business Services

AIM Rating: A+

Recurring FriendlyHigh MarginActive M&A

Healthcare Adjacent Services

AIM Rating: A+

Defensive RevenueNon-CyclicalHighest PE Activity

Home and Facility Services

AIM Rating: A

High Deal FlowLocal MarketsConsolidation Wave

Financial Services Adjacent

AIM Rating: A

Exceptional MarginsRecurring RevenueCredential Moat

Education and Training

AIM Rating: B+

Recurring EnrollmentFragmentedPE Interest Growing

Construction and Engineering

AIM Rating: B+

Specialty NicheHigh RevenueProject to Contract

Transportation and Logistics

AIM Rating: B+

Contract RevenueEssential ServicesPE Active

Industrials and Manufacturing

AIM Rating: B

Specialty NicheExport PotentialDurable

Food Service and Hospitality

AIM Rating: B

Brand ValueReal Estate OptionalityFranchise Models

Real Estate and Property Services

AIM Rating: B

Recurring FeesAsset BackedStable Cash Flow

Consumer Goods

AIM Rating: B-

Brand AssetsDTC PotentialSelective

Energy and Utilities Services

AIM Rating: B-

Essential ServicesContract RevenueRegulated

Media and Publishing

AIM Rating: C+

Recurring SubscriptionsIP AssetsNiche Focus

AIM · 03 — Qualifying Sector Registry

SECTORS

Thirteen non-technology sectors qualify for the AIM acquisition mandate. Each is included because it exhibits pricing inefficiency at the lower-middle-market level, an identifiable buyer universe, and predictable response to the ECP value engineering playbook. Select any sector card for the full qualification profile.

Section Result

Sector Selection Complete

Sector selection registered. Your qualifying sector preferences are active in the instrument.

AIM · 04 — Target Acquisition Profile

PROFILE

Enter target data in the right column. The instrument compares each input against the AIM mandate standard and computes a real-time status for every criterion. Green means the target meets the standard. Amber means it falls in a conditional range. Red means it misses the mandate standard and requires documented justification before proceeding to LOI.

Card 1 of 5

AIM·04 — Valuation Parameters

Adjusted EBITDA

$300K — $1,500K

—

Entry Multiple

2.5x — 4.5x EBITDA

—

AIM · 04 — Target Acquisition Profile

PROFILE

Enter target data in the right column. The instrument compares each input against the AIM mandate standard and computes a real-time status for every criterion. Green means the target meets the standard. Amber means it falls in a conditional range. Red means it misses the mandate standard and requires documented justification before proceeding to LOI.

Card 2 of 5

AIM·04 — Revenue Quality Thresholds

Recurring Revenue

Minimum 20%

—

Gross Margin

Minimum 40%

—

AIM · 04 — Target Acquisition Profile

PROFILE

Enter target data in the right column. The instrument compares each input against the AIM mandate standard and computes a real-time status for every criterion. Green means the target meets the standard. Amber means it falls in a conditional range. Red means it misses the mandate standard and requires documented justification before proceeding to LOI.

Card 3 of 5

AIM·04 — Risk Thresholds

Top Customer Concentration

Maximum 30%

—

Years in Operation

Minimum 3 years

—

AIM · 04 — Target Acquisition Profile

PROFILE

Enter target data in the right column. The instrument compares each input against the AIM mandate standard and computes a real-time status for every criterion. Green means the target meets the standard. Amber means it falls in a conditional range. Red means it misses the mandate standard and requires documented justification before proceeding to LOI.

Card 4 of 5

AIM·04 — Size & Capital Structure

Employee Count

3 to 50 employees

—

Financing Structure

SBA eligible or seller-financeable

—

AIM · 04 — Target Acquisition Profile

PROFILE

Enter target data in the right column. The instrument compares each input against the AIM mandate standard and computes a real-time status for every criterion. Green means the target meets the standard. Amber means it falls in a conditional range. Red means it misses the mandate standard and requires documented justification before proceeding to LOI.

Section Result

Acquisition Profile

—

Enter target data above to compute profile alignment against AIM mandate standards.

AIM · 05 — Deal Sourcing Protocol

SOURCE

The best acquisitions are never marketed. Off-market deal flow is the structural advantage that produces disciplined entry pricing and the operator discount that makes multiple arbitrage possible. Track your pipeline activity below. The instrument computes your funnel conversion rates and pipeline health in real time.

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Pipeline Tracker — Deal Flow

Outreach Sent (Total)

—

Conversations Initiated

—

AIM · 05 — Deal Sourcing Protocol

SOURCE

The best acquisitions are never marketed. Off-market deal flow is the structural advantage that produces disciplined entry pricing and the operator discount that makes multiple arbitrage possible. Track your pipeline activity below. The instrument computes your funnel conversion rates and pipeline health in real time.

Card 2 of 4

Pipeline Tracker — Conversion Stages

Targets Under Evaluation

—

LOIs Submitted

—

AIM · 05 — Deal Sourcing Protocol

SOURCE

The best acquisitions are never marketed. Off-market deal flow is the structural advantage that produces disciplined entry pricing and the operator discount that makes multiple arbitrage possible. Track your pipeline activity below. The instrument computes your funnel conversion rates and pipeline health in real time.

Card 3 of 4

Sourcing Channel Rankings

1

Direct Outreach to Owners — Off-Market

Systematic direct outreach to owners matching the AIM target profile before they have engaged a broker or decided to sell. You are the first and only buyer. No competing bid, no broker fee inflating the price. The owner who receives a thoughtful personalized letter from a credible acquirer before deciding to sell is the most motivated seller you will ever encounter. Target minimum 10 letters per month. Personalize every one specifically to the recipient and their business.

PrimaryOff-MarketOngoing Cadence

2

Professional Referral Network — CPAs, Attorneys, Advisors

CPAs, business attorneys, wealth advisors, and estate planning professionals have the earliest visibility into owner exit intentions. An owner who mentions retirement to their CPA is 12 to 24 months ahead of any marketed deal. Building referral relationships with professionals serving business owners in your target sectors is the most durable and productive sourcing investment an operator can make. These relationships require ongoing cultivation but produce proprietary deal flow for years once established.

PrimaryRelationship-DrivenLong Lead Time

3

Industry Association and Trade Network Presence

Active presence in the trade associations, industry conferences, and peer networks of your target sectors creates deal flow through direct owner relationships. Owners who know you personally and trust your background are more willing to discuss a transaction than those receiving a cold letter. Industry presence builds the credibility that converts interest into serious conversation before the business is ever formally for sale.

PrimaryNetwork-BasedLong Lead Time

4

Business Broker and M&A Intermediary Relationships

Relationships with lower-middle-market brokers specializing in your target sectors create access to both pre-market and actively marketed deal flow. A broker who knows your criteria precisely will call you first. Being on a broker's short list of credible and closeable buyers is a material competitive advantage in brokered processes where buyer reliability is the broker's primary concern above all other factors.

SecondaryRelationship-Driven

5

Distressed and Forced-Exit Deal Flow — Specialized

Businesses emerging from financial distress, regulatory action, owner health events, or partnership disputes represent a specialized deal flow category with asymmetric pricing dynamics. Entry prices are materially below fair market value, seller motivation is acute, and competition is limited to operators who can manage a complex transition. The AIM-SVE-ECP system is specifically designed to handle the dependency and structural remediation challenges that distressed acquisitions present. For operators with the capability and risk tolerance, this deal flow category produces the most asymmetric return profiles in the entire acquisition universe.

SpecializedOpportunisticHighest Return Potential

AIM · 05 — Deal Sourcing Protocol

SOURCE

The best acquisitions are never marketed. Off-market deal flow is the structural advantage that produces disciplined entry pricing and the operator discount that makes multiple arbitrage possible. Track your pipeline activity below. The instrument computes your funnel conversion rates and pipeline health in real time.

Section Result

Sourcing Pipeline Result

Response Rate

—

outreach to conversation

Evaluation Rate

—

conversation to evaluation

Pipeline Health Status

Enter data above

AIM · 06 — Acquisition Thesis Builder

THESIS

No capital moves without a completed thesis. The acquisition thesis is the governing document that defines why this specific asset will be worth materially more at exit than at entry and precisely how that value creation will be achieved. It is written before LOI. It disciplines every hold period decision. Complete all six elements below. The instrument assembles your entries into a formatted thesis document in real time.

Card 1 of 7

AIM · 06 · 01 — Business and Sector Description

AIM·06·01

Business and Sector Description

Sector, primary revenue model, customer profile, geography. Two to three sentences. Factual not promotional.

AIM · 06 — Acquisition Thesis Builder

THESIS

No capital moves without a completed thesis. The acquisition thesis is the governing document that defines why this specific asset will be worth materially more at exit than at entry and precisely how that value creation will be achieved. It is written before LOI. It disciplines every hold period decision. Complete all six elements below. The instrument assembles your entries into a formatted thesis document in real time.

Card 2 of 7

AIM · 06 · 02 — Entry Pricing Rationale

AIM·06·02

Entry Pricing Rationale

Pricing methodology, EV/EBITDA multiple, comparable transactions, and rationale for current ask relative to market.

AIM · 06 — Acquisition Thesis Builder

THESIS

No capital moves without a completed thesis. The acquisition thesis is the governing document that defines why this specific asset will be worth materially more at exit than at entry and precisely how that value creation will be achieved. It is written before LOI. It disciplines every hold period decision. Complete all six elements below. The instrument assembles your entries into a formatted thesis document in real time.

Card 3 of 7

AIM · 06 · 03 — Value Creation Engineering Plan

AIM·06·03

Value Creation Engineering Plan

Specific operational, revenue, and structural initiatives planned during the hold period to drive multiple expansion.

AIM · 06 — Acquisition Thesis Builder

THESIS

No capital moves without a completed thesis. The acquisition thesis is the governing document that defines why this specific asset will be worth materially more at exit than at entry and precisely how that value creation will be achieved. It is written before LOI. It disciplines every hold period decision. Complete all six elements below. The instrument assembles your entries into a formatted thesis document in real time.

Card 4 of 7

AIM · 06 · 04 — Hold Period Income Extraction Plan

AIM·06·04

Hold Period Income Extraction

Expected annual cash distributions, management fees, debt service coverage, and working capital extraction plan.

AIM · 06 — Acquisition Thesis Builder

THESIS

No capital moves without a completed thesis. The acquisition thesis is the governing document that defines why this specific asset will be worth materially more at exit than at entry and precisely how that value creation will be achieved. It is written before LOI. It disciplines every hold period decision. Complete all six elements below. The instrument assembles your entries into a formatted thesis document in real time.

Card 5 of 7

AIM · 06 · 05 — Conditional Disqualifier Mitigations

AIM·06·05

Conditional Disqualifier Mitigations

How each identified hard stop or conditional risk from AIM·01 will be mitigated, renegotiated, or contractually addressed.

AIM · 06 — Acquisition Thesis Builder

THESIS

No capital moves without a completed thesis. The acquisition thesis is the governing document that defines why this specific asset will be worth materially more at exit than at entry and precisely how that value creation will be achieved. It is written before LOI. It disciplines every hold period decision. Complete all six elements below. The instrument assembles your entries into a formatted thesis document in real time.

Card 6 of 7

AIM · 06 · 06 — Exit Target and Wealth Creation Projection

AIM·06·06

Exit Target and Wealth Creation Projection

Target exit year, expected exit multiple, projected equity value, and return structure to capital.

AIM · 06 — Acquisition Thesis Builder

THESIS

No capital moves without a completed thesis. The acquisition thesis is the governing document that defines why this specific asset will be worth materially more at exit than at entry and precisely how that value creation will be achieved. It is written before LOI. It disciplines every hold period decision. Complete all six elements below. The instrument assembles your entries into a formatted thesis document in real time.

Section Result

Acquisition Thesis

AIM · 06 — Acquisition Thesis Document

Acquisition Thesis

AIM Instrument Suite v1.2 · The Salmon Index™ · Acquisition Initialization Mandate™

AIM · 07 — Exit Buyer Mapping Protocol

EXITMAP

Name your buyers before you sign the LOI. Enter each identified buyer, their type, and their acquisition motivation. The instrument scores your exit universe completeness and surfaces gaps in buyer coverage. An incomplete buyer universe is an incomplete acquisition thesis. The mandate requires a minimum viable buyer universe before capital is deployed.

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Identify Exit Buyers

Buyer Universe — Enter All Identified Buyers by Name and Type

Buyer Name or Company

Buyer Type

Tier Classification

Action

AIM · 07 — Exit Buyer Mapping Protocol

EXITMAP

Name your buyers before you sign the LOI. Enter each identified buyer, their type, and their acquisition motivation. The instrument scores your exit universe completeness and surfaces gaps in buyer coverage. An incomplete buyer universe is an incomplete acquisition thesis. The mandate requires a minimum viable buyer universe before capital is deployed.

Section Result

Exit Buyer Analysis

Buyers Identified

0

buyers

Enter identified buyers below. Mandate minimum: one Tier 1 strategic or PE buyer plus two additional buyers across any tier before the exit map is considered complete and the acquisition thesis is valid for LOI execution.

No Buyers Entered

Tier 1 Buyers

0

Strategic and PE platform

Tier 2 Buyers

0

Financial and independent

Total Universe

0

All identified buyers

○

Exit Map Verdict

No Buyers Identified

Enter identified buyers above. Mandate minimum: one Tier 1 buyer and three total buyers across any tier. Meeting this standard confirms the exit thesis is viable before capital is deployed. Failing to meet it means the acquisition has no validated exit thesis and should not proceed to LOI regardless of how attractive entry pricing appears.

✓

AIM Analysis Complete

All seven sections scored. Your Acquisition Intelligence Model is ready for review and execution.

BY ACCESSING OR USING THE SALMON INDEX™ AIM INSTRUMENT YOU AGREE TO THESE TERMS IN THEIR ENTIRETY. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE, DO NOT USE THIS INSTRUMENT.

1. Parties and Acceptance

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) constitute a legally binding agreement between you (“User”) and Earnings and Profits LLC (“Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), governing your access to and use of the Acquisition Initialization Mandate™ (“AIM” or “Instrument”). Your use of the Instrument constitutes your unconditional acceptance of these Terms.

2. Description of the Instrument

The AIM is a proprietary analytical and educational framework designed to qualify acquisition targets against the full AIM mandate across fourteen computed inputs before diligence resources are deployed. All outputs are analytical in nature and are intended solely to inform and educate the User. The Company makes no representation that any output will result in a successful business acquisition, exit, or any particular financial outcome. All computation is performed locally within your browser.

3. Disclaimer — Not Professional Advice

THE AIM IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL FINANCIAL, LEGAL, INVESTMENT, ACCOUNTING, OR BUSINESS ADVISORY SERVICES. NOTHING PRODUCED BY THIS INSTRUMENT CONSTITUTES FINANCIAL ADVICE, INVESTMENT ADVICE, LEGAL ADVICE, TAX ADVICE, OR ANY FORM OF PROFESSIONAL ADVISORY SERVICE. NO ATTORNEY-CLIENT, FINANCIAL ADVISOR-CLIENT, OR FIDUCIARY RELATIONSHIP IS CREATED BY YOUR USE OF THIS INSTRUMENT. All acquisition, investment, and business decisions are made at your sole discretion and risk. You are solely responsible for conducting your own due diligence and consulting qualified licensed professionals.

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The AIM, The Salmon Index™, and all associated intellectual property are exclusively owned by Earnings and Profits LLC. The following are protected by applicable copyright, trademark, and trade secret law: The Salmon Index™, The Salmon Threshold™, Acquisition Initialization Mandate™ (AIM™), Wealth Creation Decision Engine™, Acquisition Initialization Mandate™, Salmon Valuation Engine™, Exit Cycle Protocol™, and all seven operator type names. The scoring methodology, qualification logic, weighting parameters, and classification algorithms embedded in this Instrument are trade secrets protected under the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016. No right, title, or interest in any intellectual property of the Company is transferred to the User.

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The Company grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to use the AIM solely for your personal evaluation of business acquisition or exit opportunities. You may not: (a) reverse engineer, decompile, or attempt to derive the underlying methodology or algorithms; (b) reproduce or redistribute any output for commercial gain without written authorization; (c) use the Instrument to develop competing products or services; (d) systematically scrape or extract data from the Instrument; or (e) misrepresent any output as professional advisory services.

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The accuracy and relevance of outputs depends entirely on the accuracy of inputs provided by the User. Financial projections, valuation ranges, score computations, and market observations produced by the Instrument are illustrative estimates based on sector averages, historical data, and stated inputs. Actual outcomes will vary materially. No output should be construed as a prediction, guarantee, or assurance of any financial result.

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THE INSTRUMENT IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. THE COMPANY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY, OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

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These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflict of law provisions. Any dispute shall be resolved by binding arbitration administered by JAMS in New York County, New York. YOU WAIVE YOUR RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION. The Company may seek injunctive relief in any court to protect its intellectual property.

11. Modifications and Severability

The Company reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. Continued use constitutes acceptance. If any provision is held invalid, the remaining provisions remain in full force.

Contact

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This Instrument loads typefaces from Google Fonts. When your browser requests these fonts, Google may log your IP address and browser information. This is governed by Google’s Privacy Policy at policies.google.com/privacy. Google Fonts does not set advertising cookies or behavioral tracking cookies through font delivery.

7. No AI or External Processing

Unlike certain other instruments in The Salmon Index™ suite, the AIM does not utilize any artificial intelligence API or external processing service. All computation is self-contained within the Instrument’s browser-side JavaScript. No data of any kind is transmitted to Anthropic or any other AI provider in connection with your use of this Instrument.

8. Cookies

The AIM does not set first-party cookies. Only browser localStorage, as described in Section 3, is used for session persistence. Google Fonts may set limited functional cookies in connection with font CDN delivery; these are not used by the Company for tracking or profiling.

9. Children’s Privacy

This Instrument is intended for adults evaluating business acquisition or exit opportunities. It is not directed to individuals under eighteen (18). The Company does not knowingly collect information from minors. Contact support@thesalmonindex.com if you believe a minor has provided information.

10. California Privacy Rights (CCPA / CPRA)

Because the Company does not collect personally identifiable information through this Instrument, most CCPA provisions do not apply. California residents with privacy questions may contact support@thesalmonindex.com.

11. Changes to This Policy

The Company reserves the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time. Changes are effective upon posting as indicated by the updated “Last Updated” date. Continued use constitutes acceptance.

Contact

Earnings and Profits LLC · support@thesalmonindex.com