LBO Flashcards

1
Q

What is an LBO

A

LBO model estimates implied returns from the buyout of a company in which a significant portion of purchase price is funded with debt capital

After a buyout, the firm operates the company and uses the FCF to pay down debt each year

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2
Q

What are the 5 data points to determine in an LBO model

A

Entry valuation, so pre LBO entry equity and enterprise value

Default risk through credit ratios

FCF, cumulative debt paydown and net debt in exit years

Exit valuation EV MV

And LBO return metrics, IRR and MoM

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3
Q

What are the 5 steps of an LBO

A
  1. Entry valuation, estimate implied purchase price
  2. Compute capital required and sources of funding
  3. Financial forecast, project post LBO financials and debt schedule
  4. Exit valuation and returns, approximate the exit equity valuation and IRR MoM
  5. Sensitivity analysis, assess the impact of the key LBO return drivers
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4
Q

LBO Entry valuation

A

To calculate enterprise value, entry multiple is multiplied by either the last 12 months (LTM) EBITDA

Entry Valuation = Purchase EBITDA x Entry Multiple

Make assumptions about purchase price, debt to equity ratio, interest rate on debt. Might also assume something about the operations and their respective growth (revenue or mar)

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5
Q

Required capital and schedule

A

Lower the required upfront equity contribution, the higher the returns.

Compute sources (how we fund) and uses (amount of capital required) to show how you finance the transaction and what you use the capital for. This also shows how much investor equity is required.

Adjust companys balance sheet respectively.

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6
Q

Financial forecast and debt schedule

A

For LBO model a complete 3 statement model is required to properly impact the income statement and cash flow statement. This is projecting BS, IS, CFS.

The debt schedule is going to track revolver drawdown (pay down), mandatory amortiyation, optional prepayments and computation of interest expense

Determine the amount of debt paid down in each period based on available cash flow.

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7
Q

LBO exit valuation and return schedule (IRR and MOIC)

A

Exit EV/EBIDTA, conservative assumption is to set the exit multiple equal to purchase multiple and get EV.

Remaining net debt on BS at presumed exit date can be deducted for exit equity value

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8
Q

Sensitivity analysis

A

We must consider different cases, base, upside and downside. How different assumptions may impact implied returns for the LBO model.

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9
Q

Why leverage when buying a company

A

This boosts return. Any debt is not your money .

Other capital is also available to purchase other companies.

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10
Q

What impacts LBO the most

A

Purchase and exit multiples have biggest impact on return of the model

Then leverage amount

Operational characteristics (revenue growth, EBIDTA margins)

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11
Q

How do you pick a multiple

A

The same way you do it anywhere else: you look at what comparable companies are trading at, and what multiples similar LBO transactions have had. As always, you also show a range of purchase and exit multiples using sensitivity tables.

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12
Q

What is an ideal candidate for an LBO

A

Stable and predctable cash flows,
opportunity for expense reduction to boost margins,
strong management team,
base of assets to use as collateral

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13
Q

How to you use an LBO to value a companu

A

You use it by set a target IRR and then back solve the excel to determine what purchase price the PE firm could pay to achieve that IRR

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14
Q

Why do we sometimes sat LBO sets floor valuation

A

A PE firm will always pay less for a firm than a strategic acquirer would, based on interest

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15
Q

Real life LBO

A

A mortgage on your house

Downpayment is your investor equity
Mortgage is the debt
Mortgage interest payments is debt interest
Mortgage repazments is debt principal repazments
Selling the house if youtr exit

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16
Q

How is BS adjusted in an LBO

A

You need to add new debt, basically wipe out SHE and replace by however much equity the PE firm is contributing

Cahs is adjusted for any cash used to finance the transaction

Goodwill and other intangibles are used as a plug to balance the BS

17
Q

Why are goodwill and other intangible assets created in an LBO

A

They represent the premium paid to the fair maket value of the company and act as a plug to ensure BS balances.

18
Q

Why does a strategic acquirer pay in cash and a PE firm w leverage

A

These are different scenarios

The PE firm doesnt intend on holding the company in the LR but wants to exit so its less concerned with the expense of cash vs debt and more concerned about useing leverage to boost returns by reducing the amount of capital iit has to contribute upfront

In an LBO debt is owne by the company so they assume much of the risk, the strategic advisor buys thed ebt

19
Q

Do you need to project all 3 financial statements

A

No, you can estimate changes in NWC and therefore BS is not strictly required

You do however need IS to tack how debt balances change and CFS to show how much cash is available to service debt

20
Q

How to determine how much debt and what tranches can be raised

A

Ideally using comparable LBOs

21
Q

What are reasonable coverage ratios

A

Reasonable coverage ratios will indicate how much debt a company can take on and on what terms

Coverage atios are cmpany and inudrty dependent. Check comparable LBO transactions and make debt comps showing types, tranches, and terms of debt for similarly sized companies and in the industry

Rules

Never lever more than 50x EBIDTA, rarely exceed 5 10 x EBITDA

22
Q

Bank vs high yield debt

A

High yield debt tends to have higher interest rates, hence the name. These are usually fixed (bank is LIBOR) and they have incurrence covenants

23
Q

Bank vs high yield debt

A

High yield debt tends to have higher interest rates, hence the name. These are usually fixed (bank is LIBOR) and they have incurrence covenants preventing the company from doing somethign like selling an asset while bank debt has maintenance covenants requiring minimum financial performance like debt to ebidta ratio levels.

24
Q

Why use bank debt

A

If you want low cost option

Also use bank debts if you plan for selling off or expanding or capital expenditures and you dont want to be restricted bz incurrence covenants

25
Q

Why use high yield

A

If the company wants to refinance at some points and are not too sensitive to itnerest payments

Also if you want to expand or sell assets

26
Q

Why LBO a risky industry like tech

A

If they have stable cash flows or if you specialize in

Consolidation, turnarounds or divestitures

27
Q

How to boost return in LBO

A

Lower purchasing price
Raise exit multiple
Increase leverage
Increase growth rate (organic or inorganic through Acquisition)
Increase margin (by reducing expenses)

Hard to implement

28
Q

LBO tax shield

A

Interest paid on debt is tax deductible so you save money on taxes and terefore increase CF as a result of having debt from the LBO

CF is still lower than if you didnt have debt since interest expense still reduces net income over what it would a debt free company

29
Q

What is dividend recapitalisation

A

In a dividend recap, the company takes on new debt solely to repay a special dividend out to the PE firm that bought it

This boosts returns as more leverage is higher returns. PE firm also recovers some of its equity investment.