
P1: ABC/ABC P2:c/d QC:e/f T1:g
c05 JWBT063-Rosenbaum March 18, 2009 15:37 Printer Name: Hamilton
230 LEVERAGED BUYOUTS
STEP V. PERFORM LBO ANALYSIS
EXHIBIT 5.37 Steps to Perform LBO Analysis
Step V(a): Analyze Financing Structure
Step V(b): Perform Returns Analysis
Step V(c): Determine Valuation
Step V(d): Create Transaction Summary Page
Once the LBO model is fully linked and tested, it is ready for use to evaluate
various financing structures, gauge the target’s ability to service and repay debt, and
measure the sponsor’s investment returns and other financial effects under multi-
ple operating scenarios. This analysis, in turn, enables the banker to determine an
appropriate valuation range for the target.
Step V(a): Analyze Financing Structure
A central part of LBO analysis is the crafting of an optimal financing structure for
a given transaction. From an underwriting perspective, this involves determining
whether the target’s financial projections can support a given leveraged financing
structure under various business and economic conditions. The use of realistic and
defensible financial projections is critical to assessing whether a given financial struc-
ture is viable.
A key credit risk management concern for the underwriters centers on the target’s
ability to service its annual interest expense and repay all (or a substantial portion)
of its bank debt within the proposed tenor. The primary credit metrics used to
analyze the target’s ability to support a given capital structure include variations
of the leverage and coverage ratios outlined in Chapter 1 (e.g., debt-to-EBITDA,
debt-to-total capitalization, and EBITDA-to-interest expense). Exhibit 5.38 displays
a typical output summarizing the target’s key financial data as well as pro forma
capitalization and credit statistics for each year in the projection period. This output
is typically shown on a transaction summary page (see Exhibit 5.46).
For the ValueCo LBO, we performed our financing structure analysis on the
basis of our Base Case financial projections (see Step II) and assumed transaction
structure (see Step III). Pro forma for the LBO, ValueCo has a total capitalization of
$1,120 million, comprised of the $450 million TLB, $300 million notes, and $370
million of shareholders’ equity (the equity contribution less other fees and expenses).
This capital structure represents total leverage of 5.1x LTM 9/30/08 EBITDA of
$146.7 million, including senior secured leverage of 3.1x. At these levels, ValueCo
has a debt-to-total capitalization of 67%, EBITDA-to-interest expense of 2.4x and
(EBITDA – capex)-to-interest expense of 2.1x at close.
As would be expected for a company that is projected to grow EBITDA, gen-
erate sizeable free cash flow, and repay debt, ValueCo’s credit statistics improve
significantly over the projection period. By 2015E, ValueCo’s TLB is completely
repaid as total leverage decreases to 1.5x and senior secured leverage is reduced
to zero. In addition, ValueCo’s debt-to-total capitalization decreases to 26.3% and
EBITDA-to-interest expense increases to 5.9x.