LBO model: swap rate

Say you are modelling a standard TLB, for example a EUR TLB.

When modelling the interest expense, would you take interest rate to be 5 year swap rate? Just as I understand the sponsor would look to refi the TLB at the 5 year mark and would also likely fix their floating exposure.

Or would you simply use the Euribor rate?

13 Comments
 

3 year swap rate for 5 year term loan (assuming you refi at 3 year mark) and 5 year swap rate for 7 year tlb ( refi at 5 year mark)?

 
Most Helpful

Some colour from my personal experience: typically you wouldn't use swaps and just go with 3M EURIBOR instead (either today's 3M EURIBOR applied across full forecast period, or 3M EURIBOR spot curve applied to full forecast period). However, with increasing interest rates sponsors are starting to hedge a larger % of floating exposure and I have seen a couple situations where they would ask us for indicative swap rates including credit charges to incorporate in their models. Also, with the EURIBOR curve being inverted, it may be beneficial from a model return perspective to use a 4/5yr swap rate as that rate will be lower than 3M EURIBOR, hence resulting in (slightly higher) returns.

A bit less relevant, but just in general it wouldn't make sense for a sponsor to put a swap for the full tenor of a TLB or FRN. Since long-term debt goes current 1 year ahead of maturity, which substantially impacts ratings, you should assume debt is refi'd at least 1 year prior to maturity hence a swap tenor should also be assumed 1 year prior to maturity (i.e. 4yrs swap for 5yrs TLB/FRN). 

 

Est architecto nihil voluptas voluptate porro. Sint dolores voluptatum repellat atque eos nostrum soluta. Autem ut voluptas molestiae et maiores. Cupiditate at sed ab aperiam voluptatum reprehenderit delectus expedita. Odio autem voluptas eos quis. Qui iste non provident debitis.

Excepturi laborum ea qui voluptatum. Itaque commodi et repudiandae. Neque et qui a sint. Dolorum sed nostrum doloribus et ratione hic facilis.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 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

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (78) $151
  • 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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”