Private Equity Deal Valuation?

I'm interested in learning more about the valuation of private equity deals (multiples, DCFs, etc.). Is there any website/PE magazine (do these even exist?)/publication/books that I can read to learn more about private equity valuation models?

 

A good way to learn more about the process and the valuation techniques used by firms is to simply stay up to date on market activity and read the merger documents filed to the SEC. It is helpful to learn the various forms that firms file related to varying actions and processes, and these can all be picked up with time.

A good start would be searching the SEC EDGAR system. This system is located here. Click "Boolean and advanced searching, including addresses" and type the query you prefer. For practice, I suggest a straightforward search of "Kinder Morgan" for the SEC Filing Date of 11/15/2006. Read through this DEFM14A as it is a walk-through of the merger process involving a P/E buyout of the firm from some of its management. You will get a lot of background information as to the timeline of the deal, who the players are, who the financial and legal advisors are, what prices are offered and finally agreed upon, etc. in this form.

Popular valuation techniques include Comparable Companies, Comparable Transactions, Merger Premium, and of course DCF. Multiples are used for the first two, usually Price/EPS or Price/EBITDA. The premium looks at comparable deals and the premiums offered to the target shareholders. DCF is straightforward enough.

 
tools.of.the.trade:
A good start would be searching the SEC EDGAR system. This system is located here. Click "Boolean and advanced searching, including addresses" and type the query you prefer. For practice, I suggest a straightforward search of "Kinder Morgan" for the SEC Filing Date of 11/15/2006. Read through this DEFM14A as it is a walk-through of the merger process involving a P/E buyout of the firm from some of its management. You will get a lot of background information as to the timeline of the deal, who the players are, who the financial and legal advisors are, what prices are offered and finally agreed upon, etc. in this form.

I tried to pull this up but the document seemed be scrambled. Any suggestions?

 
clwrs:
tools.of.the.trade:
A good start would be searching the SEC EDGAR system. This system is located here. Click "Boolean and advanced searching, including addresses" and type the query you prefer. For practice, I suggest a straightforward search of "Kinder Morgan" for the SEC Filing Date of 11/15/2006. Read through this DEFM14A as it is a walk-through of the merger process involving a P/E buyout of the firm from some of its management. You will get a lot of background information as to the timeline of the deal, who the players are, who the financial and legal advisors are, what prices are offered and finally agreed upon, etc. in this form.

I tried to pull this up but the document seemed be scrambled. Any suggestions?

Be sure to open the html version and not the text version. Here is a direct link to the document: http://sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/54502/000104746906014243/a2174701zde…

You have to scroll down to get to the good stuff.

  • Background of merger: pp.12-21
  • Opinion of MS: pp.32-35
  • Opinion of Blackstone: pp.35-37
  • Financial Analysis: pp. 37-43

Check out the Financial Analysis if you want to see how the advisors arrive at expected values from varying methods.

 
jimbrowngoU:
P/EBITDA? That's a new one.
MS and Blackstone used that ratio in multiple analysis for 11 comparable transactions in the aforementioned example. The low was 8X and the high was 13X.

I'm not supporting one method over another, but many multiples are used to find a fair price or to leverage negotiation.

 
Best Response
tools.of.the.trade:
jimbrowngoU:
P/EBITDA? That's a new one.
MS and Blackstone used that ratio in multiple analysis for 11 comparable transactions in the aforementioned example. The low was 8X and the high was 13X.

I'm not supporting one method over another, but many multiples are used to find a fair price or to leverage negotiation.

Price / EBITDA and Aggregate Value / EBITDA or EV / EBITDA are different things. You don't value firm using P / EBITDA (except maybe banks?..).

 

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