Leveraged Buyout (LBO): Definition, Process & Examples

In corporate finance, a leveraged buyout (LBO) is a transaction where a company is acquired using debt as the main source of consideration.  These transactions typically occur when a private equity (PE) firmWhy Private EquityWhy Private Equity is a common private equity interview question you’ll encounter if you’re going through the interview process at a PE firm borrows as much as they can from a variety of lenders (up to 70 or 80 percent of the purchase price) and funds the balance with their own equity.

Why do PE firms use so much leverage?

Simply put, the use of leverage (debt) enhances expected returns to the private equity firm.  By putting in as little of their own money as possible, PE firmsTop 10 Private Equity FirmsWho are the top 10 private equity firms in the world? Our list of the top ten largest PE firms, sorted by total capital raised. Common strategies within P.E. include leveraged buyouts (LBO), venture capital, growth capital, distressed investments and mezzanine capital. can achieve a large return on equity (ROE) and internal rate of return (IRR)Internal Rate of Return (IRR)The Internal Rate of Return (IRR) is the discount rate that makes the net present value (NPV) of a project zero. In other words, it is the expected compound annual rate of return that will be earned on a project or investment., assuming all goes according to plan. Since PE firms are compensated based on their financial returns, the use of leverage in an LBO is critical in achieving their targeted IRRs (typically 20-30% or higher).

While leverage increases equity returns, the drawback is that it also increases risk. By strapping multiple tranches of debt onto an operating company the PE firm is significantly increasing the risk of the transaction (which is why LBOs typically pick stable companies). If cash flow is tight and the economy of the company experiences a downturn they may not be able to service the debt and will have to restructure, most likely wiping out all returns to the equity sponsor.

What type of company is a good candidate for an LBO?

Generally speaking, companies that are mature, stable, non-cyclical, predictable, etc. are good candidates for a leveraged buyout.

Given the amount of debt that will be strapped onto the business, it’s important that cash flowsCash FlowCash Flow (CF) is the increase or decrease in the amount of money a business, institution, or individual has. In finance, the term is used to describe the amount of cash (currency) that is generated or consumed in a given time period. There are many types of CF are predictable, with high margins and relatively low capital expenditures required.  This steady cash flow is what enables the company to easily service its debt. In the example below you can see in the charts how all available cash flow goes towards repaying debt and the total debt balance (far right chart) steadily decreases over time.

The above screenshot is from CFI’s LBO Model Training Course.

What are the steps in a Leveraged Buyout (LBO)?

The LBO analysis starts with building a financial model for the operating company on a standalone basis. This means building a forecast five years into the future (on average) and calculating a terminal valueKnowledgeCFI self-study guides are a great way to improve technical knowledge of finance, accounting, financial modeling, valuation, trading, economics, and more. for the final period.

The analysis will be taken to banks and other lenders in order to try and secure as much debt as possible to maximize the returns on equity.  Once the amount and rate of debt financing are determined, then the model is updated and final terms of the deal are put into place.

After the transaction closes,  the work has just begun, as the PE firm and management have to add value to the business by growing the top line, reducing costs, paying down debt, and finally realizing their return.

Summary of Steps in a Leveraged Buyout:

1. Build a financial forecast for the target company
2. Link the three financial statements and calculate the free cash flow of the business
3. Create the interest and debt schedulesDebt ScheduleA debt schedule lays out all of the debt a business has in a schedule based on its maturity and interest rate. In financial modeling, interest expense flows
4. Model the credit metrics to see how much leverage the transaction can handle
5. Calculate the free cash flow to the Sponsor (typically a private equity firm)
6. Determine the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) for the Sponsor
7. Perform sensitivity analysisWhat is Sensitivity Analysis?Sensitivity Analysis is a tool used in financial modeling to analyze how the different values for a set of independent variables affect a dependent variable

Image Source: CFI’s Leveraged Buyout Course.

LBO financial modeling

When it comes to a leveraged buyout transaction, the financial modelingWhat is Financial ModelingFinancial modeling is performed in Excel to forecast a company's financial performance. Overview of what is financial modeling, how & why to build a model. that’s required can get quite complicated.  The added complexity arises from the following unique elements of a leveraged buyout:

• A high degree of leverage
• Multiple tranches of debt financing
• Complex bank covenants
• Issuing of Preferred shares
• Management equity compensation
• Operational improvements targeted in the business

Below is a screenshot of an LBO model in Excel.  This is one of many financial modeling templates offered in CFI courses.

To learn more about the above model with step-by-step instruction, launch CFI’s LBO financial modeling course now!

Additional information

Read more about a specific type of LBO called a management buyout (MBO). Check out our resources section to learn more about corporate finance, and explore CFI’s career map to find the path that’s right for you. Make yourself stand out from the crowd with financial modeling courses and finance certifications.

Other relevant CFI resources:

• Free guide to financial modeling best practicesFree Financial Modeling GuideThis financial modeling guide covers Excel tips and best practices on assumptions, drivers, forecasting, linking the three statements, DCF analysis, more
• DCF modeling guideDCF Model Training Free GuideA DCF model is a specific type of financial model used to value a business. The model is simply a forecast of a company’s unlevered free cash flow
• How to link the 3 financial statementsHow the 3 Financial Statements are LinkedHow are the 3 financial statements linked together? We explain how to link the 3 financial statements together for financial modeling and
• Corporate finance career map