LBO question

I'm building a football field for a pitch deck that includes an LBO. The MD has asked us to run the LBO row of the football field at 15-25% IRRs. My VP is telling me that I need to run these sensitivities such that there isn't any multiple expansion - am I totally losing it or is this not even possible when you are assuming the IRR?

My argument is that if you are holding IRR constant, you need to flex either the entry or exit multiple (and thereby introduce the possibility of multiple expansion or compression) to get yourself the target 15/25% return i.e. if you hold both entry and exit multiple constant you just get the IRR as an output rather than an input

5 Comments
 
Most Helpful

@TissotFrog hits the nail on the head with the 3 ways to grow equity value as a sponsor. If your VP wants to assume multiples stay flat during the holding period, which is a common/conservative assumption, then you need to pull on the other two levers to achieve the targeted IRR, being 1. EBITDA growth, and 2. increased FCF generation to pay off debt. For the first one, thinking simply, you would pull levers to grow EBITDA on a dollar basis (ie. $100mm @ 8.0x entry > $150 @ 8.0x exit). For the second lever, you would change things that contribute to FCF growth so you can more aggressively de-lever the OpCo.

Array
 

Harum eligendi sit eveniet corporis voluptas. Eaque est omnis consectetur accusamus. Adipisci repellendus alias laboriosam omnis voluptas qui. Eos dolorem facere et sint ex. Debitis impedit nihil iure corrupti tenetur alias.

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 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan No 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $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
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”