How to calculate EV for LBO of a private company?

Would you use DCF and comps to find enterprise value and then back out net debt to get equity value? Also, what are the major differences in the lbo model for public and private companies?

5 Comments
 

One way that I've done is target an IRR (e.g., 20-30%) and then backsolve for the purchase price that would result in the targeted IRR.

Hey, how's your art career going?
 

I think one different between valuing public vs private companies is management.

In a private company, they can really just rest on their laurels. I know many business owners that really dont want to get too large. I think this allows for more room for growth. Private companies can generate some great returns.

W/ public companies, that board + wall street analysts will push for certain growth, so I think they flesh out the more complacent managers.

 
Best Response
handullz

I think one different between valuing public vs private companies is management.

In a private company, they can really just rest on their laurels. I know many business owners that really dont want to get too large. I think this allows for more room for growth. Private companies can generate some great returns.

W/ public companies, that board + wall street analysts will push for certain growth, so I think they flesh out the more complacent managers.

I don't think that is a good generalization. In a private company, it's more likely management owns a decent chunk of the business and is more incentivized to maximize value to the owners over the sheer size of the business. The level of activity and striving for "growth" may be less at a private company, but growth doesn't necessarily mean shareholder value. The fact that managers of public companies are evaluated on a quarterly basis incentivizes short-term thinking and may make sweeping changes in strategy difficult to implement.

As for the valuation, I agree that backing out a purchase price based on an appropriate return threshold and building in the intended capital structure is the best method.

 

A voluptates atque corporis minus ut quo eveniet. In autem ut et illo ut. Repudiandae accusantium animi placeat eveniet veritatis.

Tenetur rerum minus ullam consectetur dolorum. Vitae sit ducimus dolore quis hic. Ut blanditiis aut beatae enim est. Ullam earum ut quia porro.

Asperiores quos cumque dolorum numquam fugit temporibus. Ut autem quis quo et. Neque recusandae odit quae quaerat saepe. Aut pariatur libero labore est blanditiis.

Animi quibusdam nisi accusantium. Rerum officia nam sint sit porro corporis voluptas. Iure nostrum sed exercitationem officia laboriosam et possimus. Velit beatae aut soluta.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.2%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.2%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Ardian 98.5%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.2%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.1%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (99) $363
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (105) $280
  • 2nd Year Associate (235) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (411) $231
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (272) $124
  • Intern/Summer Associate (38) $81
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (355) $61
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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
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...”