Alexander Lahmann, Maximilian Schreiter, Bernhard Schwetzler

• In this paper, we develop a model that allows evaluating the financial effects of leveraged buyouts (LBOs) from the perspective of the iestor. We provide explicit form solutions for all payoffs from acquisition to exit, and therefore feature the determination of net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR). The model is based on a boundary crossing approach where the default of the target firm is represented as a lower piecewise linear barrier. Those default barriers either consist of debt repayment and interest expenses, or are contractually-fixed by covenants like debt-to-EBITDA. Our approach features the typical LBO debt repayment schedules: fixed and cash sweep. Furthermore, the model captures all drivers of performance and leverage identified by empirical studies: firm-specific ones like profitability, cash flow growth, volatility and liquidation value, as well as external ones like credit risk spreads and pricing discounts for debt overhang.