LBO Case Overview

From Company Research to a Defensible Case

See the competition at a glance, check target eligibility, and find UConn research platforms that can support the work.

How It Works

How the LBO Case Comes Together

The competition moves from company research to a tested transaction case and a clear recommendation.

Evaluate the Company
Study the business, industry, financial performance, cash flow, and risks to decide whether the company is a credible LBO candidate.
Build and Stress-Test the Transaction
Test a defensible purchase price, financing plan, operating case, downside, and sponsor return in the competition model.
Explain and Defend the Recommendation
Use evidence and model results to make a concise recommendation, respond to feedback, and defend the case in the pitch rounds.

Target Eligibility

Check these eligibility rules before researching a company.

Public Company and Size
Choose a public company with an enterprise value between $500 million and $10 billion.
Sector Exclusions
Exclude utilities, commodities companies, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and highly regulated sectors.
Capital-Intensity Test
A capital-intensive company can qualify only when public evidence shows that cash flow can support both leverage and recurring capital spending.

UConn Library Resources

Use these platforms to add company, deal, valuation, and financing context.

Public Companies

Explore public-company screens, peer and valuation context, and available consensus estimates.

Deals and Sponsors

Explore sponsors, investors, funds, and completed deals for private-market context.

Private Markets and Credit

Explore private-equity and private-debt market conditions and relevant benchmarks.

Off-Campus Access

Start from the UConn Library link for the resource. Off-campus access may require your UConn NetID and Duo two-factor authentication.

Next Steps

Review the Fall 2026 schedule and eligibility before starting the application.