Decreasing Equity Risk in an LBO

Studying technical questions for off-cycle interviews and came across the question: "How could you (the sponsor) decrease the risk of your equity in an LBO?" I know one option is you could structure your investment with an earnout, but imagine there are several potential answers to this question that I don't know off the top of my head.

3 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Structure in general is a way to de-risk on the front end. A common example besides the earn-out you mentioned is participating preferred equity (provides 8% annual yield, plus upside).

There are also some legal mechanisms (specific rights clauses - or lack thereof, dilution ability o non-sponsor equity, etc.).

Not sure exactly how the question was phrased, but something like a dividend recap or leveraged share redemption would reduce equity risk during the hold.

 

Et necessitatibus nihil consequatur rerum. Aut voluptatem earum nisi voluptas. Asperiores doloremque quam aut ex possimus voluptas nam. Explicabo quisquam ut facilis placeat.

Veniam et aut voluptatum. Vel minima et labore magnam sunt. Aspernatur odio aperiam impedit velit.

Aliquid eligendi eum delectus sunt voluptatem ducimus. Magnam et commodi doloremque eum minima. Saepe beatae reprehenderit voluptas est et soluta. Blanditiis officia voluptas molestias omnis nisi nulla at. Et quasi repellat tempore alias labore. Nihil incidunt in quod ipsa porro omnis in.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.3%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Bain Capital 98.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.3%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Ardian 98.5%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.3%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (98) $365
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (104) $281
  • 2nd Year Associate (235) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (411) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (272) $124
  • Intern/Summer Associate (38) $81
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (355) $62
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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
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...”