Do Leveraged Buyouts Ever Work?

Leveraged buyouts haven't always been successful. Because they have high debt-to-equity ratios, there's a high risk of failure.

Has a leveraged buyout ever worked?

In 2007, Blackstone Group purchased Hilton Hotels for $26 billion in an LBO, financed through $5.5 billion in cash and $20.5 billion in debt. ... However, subsequent to that, Hilton was able to refinance itself at a lower interest rates, operations improved and Blackstone sold Hilton at a profit of almost $10 billion.

Why do companies do leverage buyouts?

Why Do Leveraged Buyouts (LBOs) Happen? LBOs are primarily conducted for three main reasons - to take a public company private; to spin-off a portion of an existing business by selling it; and to transfer private property, as is the case with a change in small business ownership.

James H. Sterling

James H. Sterling

Environmental Science & Climate Journalist

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.