best resources for deal math

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by a searcher
in New York, NY, USA

2yrs ago

best resources for deal math

How have others with non-PE backgrounds learned to financially evaluate a deal? What process do you typically go through?

This blog is an interesting resource: redacted

But wondering what others have done to get them more comfortable with the prospective cash flow, return potential, etc.

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reply by a searcher 2yrs ago
from Columbia University in New York, NY, USA

It's a little different than a search resource, but I have always liked using Street of Walls for practicing different kinds of models.

The goal here is not to use an LBO model for a search, but just to learn the different factors that come up when analyzing a companies financial statements for a buyout: redacted

Other good stuff there if you're generally interested in finance work.

reply by a searcher 2yrs ago
in New York, NY, USA

thanks @trevor - as i get deeper, i was likely in a more familiar place with this stuff coming out of undergrad finance courses vs. today. feel free to correct me anyone, but increasingly re-centering to 'it's all just a projected IRR calculation'. with really what generally matters is:

a. how much will business grow/decline
b. how will margins evolve
c. what was your cap structure and how it affected IRR

And then as long as you buy something (self-funded) and don't drop the ball majorly on a. or b. above -- the IRR will be pretty compelling