Interview question: how to value a $100mil synergy?

Hi everyone, came across these questions recently in an interview book but there's no answers provided and I'm a little stumped. First one is "how do you value a synergy?", for which I found this page that seems to offer a decent explanation: https://www.fe.training/free-resources/valuation/…

Second one I'm pretty confused on is "how would you value a $100mill synergy? please give a number as your answer". Could anyone provide some guidance? I'm new to IB interviews but it seems very vague, no info on it being a cost or revenue synergy provided or any discount rate, plus it would theoretically take a model to calculate. Would an interviewer expect that of me in an interview?

Thanks, would really appreciate any help!

8 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Doesn’t matter whether it’s a cost or revenue synergy. Everything - that generates positive cash flows - is valued using a discount rate to get to NPV.

If revenue synergy - discount to PV using WACC (rev synergies are hard to realize and mostly a bs selling point)

If cost synergy- same concept, consolidation improves cash structure and you are left with higher margins. Discount to PV using WACC (easier concept to sell since you can fire a bunch of people with the same role and realize them almost immediately)

 

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