How much cash can be used for an acquisition

Hello everyone, what are some approaches to determining how much cash can I use from the buyer company to acquire another company? Is it just cash on balance sheet subtracting out an estimate net working capital?

For sources would I add both the target and buyers cash on hand? It seems odd you can use targets cash to acquire them?

6 Comments
 
 

Are you sure you're an associate 2 and asking if the targets cash would be used to buy the target company?

It could either be acquired on a cash free basis where the shareholders would take out their money beforehand or it would just be acquisition price plus cash on hand at the target

 

You're wrong, intern. Can you use the targets cash? Yes you purchased it, however, hard to get that across the finish line because why would shareholders or the board let that fly. Seen some target cash for Tx related fees. Regardless, if you purchase a Co for 1bn and has 200mm in cash think from an ev perspective it's kinda of, emphasis on kind of, like 800mm. Op- also factor in borrowing capacity. look at comps leverage ratios and slap that on what you’re working with.

 

For theoretical modeling purposes or in reality? To determine the max amount of cash a buyer can use, you just assume a min cash amount (typically based on normalized monthly expenses for a certain time period). So cash - min operating cash. In reality, every company has a "min cash" that usually far exceeds just what they need to maintain company operations. With regards to your second question, target cash would not be a source. If you are acquiring a company with cash balances that are part of the transaction, then you would have to pay for that cash, so the buyer's source of cash would be higher, offset by the purchase of the target cash in the uses. 

 
Most Helpful

Voluptates ut pariatur similique harum omnis. Autem explicabo et molestiae. Vel nemo harum et mollitia sit et vel non.

Eligendi sint aut qui qui. Ducimus deleniti ut inventore praesentium iure eveniet voluptatem. Omnis at ex vitae placeat quaerat nam. Deserunt ut facere blanditiis qui. Magni voluptates natus aperiam similique.

Qui dicta et culpa deserunt consequatur similique. Beatae labore nobis nemo voluptate itaque quisquam non. Velit officiis enim incidunt neque. Exercitationem sunt odio quaerat cum distinctio voluptatum.

Excepturi maiores sed nisi. Porro voluptatem nulla ullam eaque possimus sit. Nostrum ab est harum est sequi. At qui eius sequi quae odio adipisci sit maiores.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”