Leveraged Buyout (LBO)

A transaction in which a company's existing management team acquires the business, often with financial backing from private equity or debt providers. MBOs are a common succession and exit route, particularly for founder-led or family-owned businesses.

A private equity transaction in which one PE fund sells a portfolio company to another PE fund, rather than to a strategic buyer or through an IPO. Secondary buyouts have become the most common PE exit route, accounting for over 50% of European PE exits in recent years.

Investment funding provided to established companies to accelerate expansion, enter new markets, develop products, or make acquisitions. Growth capital sits between venture capital (higher risk, earlier stage) and traditional private equity (mature businesses, often leveraged).

A mechanism used in M&A transactions where the final purchase price is adjusted after closing based on the target company's actual financial position — typically net assets, working capital, debt, and cash — as at the completion date. Completion accounts are prepared post-closing and compared against agreed targets, with adjustments settling the difference between estimated and actual values.

The total consideration transferred by the acquirer to obtain control of a target business in a merger or acquisition. The purchase price encompasses cash, shares, assumed liabilities, and contingent consideration, and forms the basis for purchase price allocation under IFRS 3 and ASC 805, where it is allocated across identified tangible assets, intangible assets, and goodwill.

A target level of net working capital agreed between buyer and seller in an acquisition, used as the basis for post-closing purchase price adjustments. The working capital peg ensures the buyer receives a business with a normalised level of operating liquidity, with adjustments made if actual working capital at closing is above or below the agreed amount.

Investment capital provided to companies that are not listed on a public stock exchange, or used to take public companies private. PE firms typically acquire controlling stakes in mature businesses, apply operational improvements, and seek exits within 3-7 years.

The average remaining period over which a group of intangible assets is expected to contribute to cash flows, weighted by their individual fair values. WARUL is used in purchase price allocation to determine amortisation periods for acquired intangible assets and is required disclosure under several accounting standards.