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Leverage and pricing of debt in LBOs

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  • Colla, Paolo
  • Ippolito, Filippo
  • Wagner, Hannes F.

Abstract

We show that the structure and pricing of debt in LBOs mostly depend on a single characteristic of the target firm, pre-LBO profitability. We find a positive relationship between pre-LBO profitability and deal leverage that is consistent with a dynamic trade-off theory of capital structure in the presence of adjustment costs. We argue that the wide range of debt tranches used in LBO financing can be folded into two main categories, senior and junior debt, where the pricing of senior and junior debt depends on their relative use and on bankruptcy risk. Our evidence also suggests that senior lenders oversupply cheap credit during hot buyout markets.

Suggested Citation

  • Colla, Paolo & Ippolito, Filippo & Wagner, Hannes F., 2012. "Leverage and pricing of debt in LBOs," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 18(1), pages 124-137.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:corfin:v:18:y:2012:i:1:p:124-137
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2011.11.003
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    3. Bienz, Carsten & Thorburn, Karin & Walz, Uwe, 2019. "Ownership, Wealth, and Risk Taking: Evidence on Private Equity Fund Managers," SAFE Working Paper Series 126, Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE, revised 2019.
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    5. Chiarella, Carlo & Ostinelli, Diego, 2020. "Financial or strategic buyers: Who is at the gate?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 393-407.
    6. Bienz, Carsten & Thorburn, Karin S. & Walz, Uwe, 2023. "Fund ownership, wealth, and risk-taking: Evidence on private equity managers," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    7. Troy D. Smith, 2015. "Private Equity Investment in India: Efficiency vs Expansion," Discussion Papers 15-011, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research.
    8. Paulo P. Alves & M. Ricardo Cunha & Luís K. Pacheco & João M. Pinto, 2022. "How Banks Price Loans for LBOs: an Empirical Analysis of Spread Determinants ," Journal of Financial Services Research, Springer;Western Finance Association, vol. 62(3), pages 163-200, December.
    9. Banal Estanol, Albert & Siciliani, Paolo & Yoon, Kyoungsoo, 2022. "Competition, profitability and financial leverage," Bank of England working papers 962, Bank of England.
    10. Morkoetter, Stefan & Wetzer, Thomas, 2015. "Do Private Equity Funds Always Pay Less? A Synergy-Related Explanation Based on Add-on Acquisitions," Working Papers on Finance 1522, University of St. Gallen, School of Finance, revised Sep 2016.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Leveraged buyout; Senior and junior debt; Term loans; High-yield debt; Private equity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance

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