What valuation techniques do you guys use in PE?

I was wondering what types of valuation techniques do you guys use when valuing a company? I know the strategies will vary based on industry and firm, so I just wanted to see what everyone has to say.

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What type of valuation? for Private Companies (i.e. non-public) For going into a transaction its based on IRR, the base price is derived though a comps valuation with some discounts, then we adjust price, working capital, and other terms to get the valuation to a level where we feel comfortable going in given the firms risk. Always incorporate margin of safety!

For year end valuation with the auditors, its a simple (not driver based) financial model with DCF, comps, and transactions

 

no one knows any metrics to compare investments other than IRR and MoM?

You know you've been working too hard when you stop dreaming about bottles of champagne and hordes of naked women, and start dreaming about conditional formatting and circular references.
 

Literally no one?

You know you've been working too hard when you stop dreaming about bottles of champagne and hordes of naked women, and start dreaming about conditional formatting and circular references.
 

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