A leveraged buyout (LBO) is a type of corporate acquisition where a company is purchased with a significant amount of debt. The debt is often secured by the assets of the company being acquired. The goal of an LBO is to increase the value of the company being acquired by using the debt to finance improvements in operations or to pay down existing liabilities.

Leverage Buyout: Cash Flow Use

The most common way an LBO is financed is by using the target company’s cash flow to pay down the debt. This can be difficult, as the target company may not have enough cash flow to service the debt.

To make an LBO more palatable to the target company, the buyers will often put in place “dividend recapitalization” provisions. These provisions allow the target company to take on new debt, which can be used to pay dividends to the buyers.

The use of dividend recapitalization makes it easier for the buyers to recoup their investment, as they can now receive payments from the target company even if it is not profitable.

Risks of the Leverage Buyout Option

A leveraged buyout can be a risky proposition for the buyers, as they are betting that they can improve the operations of the target company and increase its value enough to cover their investment.

If the buyers cannot improve the target company’s operations, they may find themselves saddled with a large amount of debt and a company worth less than what they paid for it.

Leveraged buyouts are often criticized for the high levels of debt that they incur. This debt can strain the target company’s balance sheet and make it more difficult to weather economic downturns.

Leveraged buyouts can also be criticized for how they can be used to take public companies’ private. This can result in the loss of transparency and accountability, as private companies are not required to disclose their financial information publicly.

Financial Advice Is Imperative for the LBO

Despite these criticisms, leveraged buyouts remain a popular way for investors to acquire companies.

If you are considering a leveraged buyout, it is vital to work with an experienced investment banker or financial advisor – such as the experts at Green Apple Funding – to ensure that you are structuring the deal in a way that minimizes your risk and maximizes your chances of success. Check out our blog and reach out to us for more information.