How do I buy my competitor? Will my bank help me?

Acquisition financing has always been challenging for banks. Why? Typically, the multiple being paid exceeds the tangible assets found on the acquired company's balance sheet. This collateral shortfall - as perceived by the bank - is a hurdle that most banks require an equity contribution to cover. The bank would also want you to have "skin" in the game by requiring an equity contributions. Equity contributions have hovered between 20% to 40% since 1996.

To figuire out how much your bank would lend on an acquistions, you must calculate the lendable value of the tangible assets, determine the debt service capability of the acquired company, and calculate the overall balance sheet and cash flow leverage at closing. Let's review each one seperately.

Lendable Value of the Tangible Assets:
Create a simple spreadsheet and put the assets in the first column, and the values found on the balance sheet of the acquired company. Typical assets include: Account receivable, Inventory (excluding Work-in-Process Inventory), Machinery and Equipment, and the Real Estate. Other assets such as customer lists, trade names are all assets, but not lendable assets from the bank's point of view.

In the next column put the following advance rate percentages next to each asset class: Account Receivable at 80%, Inventory at 50%, Machinery and Equipment at 50% of net book value, 70% of the orderly liquidation value, 90% of the forced liquidation value, and 80% on the value of any real estate. Total the net lendable value to determine the total lendable value of the acquired assets. Subtract 15% from the lendable value of the accounts recievable and inventory to account for working capital availibility that all banks will require.

Determine the Debt Service Capability of the Acquired Company's Cash Flow:
Start with the acquired company's EBITDA (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization). Then adjust the cash flow from any expenses that are eliminated by the fact you are acquiring the company. These expenses might include: Prior owner's excess compensation and benefits, Miscellaneous professional fees, and rent. Once you've calculated the adjusted EBITDA, take the total lendable value of the tangible assets calculated above (minus the 15% working capital adjustment), and amortize that amount over seven year period to determine your annual principal payment. Most banks will set loan amortizations and maturities on acquisition debt to be between 5 to 7 years. In some cases, I've seen 10 years - when supported with an SBA guarantee or other credit enhancement. Apply a conservative interest rate on the debt to determine the total annual interest exepense. Add the total interest expense and principal payment to determine your total debt service.

Then take your total adjusted EBITDA and project your future capital expenditures. Subtract the capital expenditures from the EBTIDA to determine your free cash flow to service debt. Take that cash flow and divide into it the total annual principal and interest payments. This ratio cannot be lower than 1.20x. If it comes in below that figure, then more equity needs to go into the transaction. Siginificant cushion over the ratio might be a way to justify a lower equity contribution!

The last step is to determine the Day One balance sheet and cash flow leverage. Balance sheet leverage is determined by dividing your total liabilities by your total shareholders' equity. This ratio should be below 4.0x, although some bank's might be fine with 5.0x. Total calculate your cash flow leverage, divide your adjusted EBITDA by your total liabilities. This ratio should be below 5.0x and again some bank's might accept 6.0x.

Your banker will help you if you present to information calcluated above in the form of a formal presentation which would include projections. The quality of the presentation is a signal to the bank as to wether you are on the ball with this significant transaction. Listen to suggestions from your banker. Your banker might even suprise you and lend you 90% of the acquisition price, or he might say that this transaction would push your total debt over the risk tolerance of the bank. In that case you've got to go find a bank to help you complete the transaction.