In a growth model, why are transactions costs added to equity value?

Saw this in the model and I can’t really understand why that is. Wouldn’t that have the opposite effect and make equity value go down? And on a post money basis for the cap table, why does the primary investment also include the fees?

Appreciate the help!

18 Comments
 

Can you show what you're seeing? To my understanding the equity investment goes to the company and the company bears the cost of transaction fees

 

See below for the breakdown to equity value

LTM revenue
entry multiple
=EV

- Existing debt
- New debt
+ Cash
= Equity Value

+ Transaction and financing fees
=Equity Value (incl. fees)

This is from a growth equity modeling example.

 

That’s what I assumed but I was assured that it’s right for growth equity deals.

 

The response I got from the person who created it was “However, for the purposes of some pro forma deal metrics we "invent" a new metric "Equity value plus fees" which includes fees.”. If it’s just a metric used in growth equity then that’s fine but conceptually doesn’t really make sense.

 

image-20231111202047-1The above is the actual example. Total uses equals equity value + the fees. The other thing, isn't the total for S&U usually TEV?

 

The example is correct. In every transaction, you have to pay fees, and you typically pay those fees with more equity. The total sources and uses isn’t supposed to “tie” to any specific number. It’s going to vary depending on assumptions you make for a variety of transaction assumptions, such as fees, breakage costs, minimum cash, and other closing adjustments.

 
[Comment removed by mod team]
 

Did you ever figure it out? Going through this course atm and I'm thinking the same. The fees are definitely included in your equity check, and thus should be a part of your returns analysis. But they should not be factored in when using your equity check to calculate the post-money valuation (it doesn't impact any of the other investors how much in transaction fees you pay).

 
Most Helpful

Thought about this for like 4 minutes. I think the only way this makes sense to me is if you are not talking about equity VALUE but rather the equity CHECK.

To calculate the check you need to write to buy smth, then yes holding debt constant any increase to the total uses of funds (such as fees) of course increases the equity check.

But those fees are not equity value, I.e. the proceeds to common units in the event of a sale of the business. Once you pay K&E and BofA you don’t also receive shares equaling the value of their fees. If someone bought the business from you the next second, for the same price you bought it for, you are out the fees.

 

Omnis officia molestiae quia ut. Consequatur impedit commodi consequatur et ut. Laboriosam possimus recusandae dolores aspernatur facere impedit reprehenderit.

A error quasi aut. Tempora fugiat nesciunt explicabo illo culpa. Est ullam sunt aliquid ab. Expedita modi nisi nobis asperiores nostrum asperiores. Vero sit et dolore omnis rerum et.

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) 99.2%
  • 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
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
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...”