LBO-Modeling Case Interview - Completed Model but Fucked Up with Iterations?

Hi,

I recently had an LBO modeling test at the offices of a fund. The test was 2 hours long, requiring me to project the 3 statements etc.

I did Ok and managed to finish the model on time, but when it was time to check that BS figures, change in cash, etc match, it all went to hell. Same with the IRR and exit sponsor equity calculations.

The iterative calculations kept going crazy and all the figures jumped back and forth, making it impossible to get any sense of the output of the model.

How should I have approached this? When turning off the iterations, most figures just went to zero, so that didn't help either.

This didn't happen to me when preparing for tests, so I have no idea how to solve this.

Thanks!

2 Comments
 

I've only ever seen this happen when there's a mislink and a cell references itself directly (as opposed to a circular reference). When that happens, iterative calcs get messed up and every time you hit F9 it recalculates using the value previously in that cell, making it more and more wrong every time. So it's entirely possible that your model was "right" save for that one mistake.

 

Reiciendis quam animi soluta delectus eveniet. Perferendis enim similique illum est sunt quia. Repellat quas magnam rerum dolor id dolores ratione id. Natus nisi excepturi sit molestiae vitae commodi autem. Eum aut quo id et harum illo.

Et magni rem dolores aut. Odio aut odit beatae id. Assumenda sequi eos deserunt doloremque qui similique et ipsam.

Voluptatem itaque eum velit. Impedit ipsum non quas repellendus. Rerum veritatis impedit eveniet culpa laborum. Facilis autem repudiandae ex iusto accusamus vitae. Vel architecto distinctio qui dolores.

26 Broadway where's your sense of humor?

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%
  • Vista Equity Partners 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%
  • Vista Equity Partners 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

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...”