Bringing Efficiency to an Inefficient Market 216 Merger & Acquisition Corporate Finance Advisory Strategic Consulting 4 Southpointe Boulevard, Plaza I, Suite 44 Canonsburg, PA 15317 Tel. 724-743-58 Fax 724-743-587 www.strategicad.com Securities and investment advisory services are offered through BPU Investment Management, Inc. 31 Grant Street, Suite 33 / Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Telephone: 412-288-915 / Website: www.bpuinvestments.com Member FINRA/SIPC, and an SEC-registered investment advisor M&A AND CORPORATE FINANCE OVERVIEW Fourth Quarter
Strategic Advisors is a middle market investment banking firm that helps clients achieve financial and business goals by providing merger and acquisition advisory, corporate finance advisory and strategic consulting services. Along with many years of experience in advising middle market clients, our Managing Directors have experience investing in and managing portfolio companies. As such, Strategic Advisors not only has expertise in advisory services but also firsthand knowledge of what stakeholders, investors and lenders expect and desire. Merger and Acquisition Overview In their 216 Annual Private Equity Breakdown, Pitchbook comments that 216 was the first step toward normalcy after two very robust years in 214 and 215. They further note that buyout activity receded amidst the growing concerns about global trade, rising populism, and certain central bank Capital Invested ($B) U.S. Private Equity Deal Flow 1 8 4,37 4,23 3,462 3,538 3,379 3,276 2,98 2,785 93 2,719 2674 6 2,29 644 642 649 1,694 1,821 4 1,227 51 47 511 858 369 356 411 2 3 219 147 163 76 Capital Invested ($B) # of Deals 4,5 4, 3,5 3, 2,5 2, 1,5 1, 5 policies. In 216, $649 billion in private equity transactions were completed across 3538 deals, representing 12% and 14% year-over-year decreases, respectively. Pitchbook attributes these declines to an expensive market and a lack of quality acquisition targets. In addition, competition was heightened by aggressive corporate buyers who continue to push up multiples and squeeze the margin for error. As such, managers continue to seek out new pockets of growth and opportunity and recently have centered their attention in the energy and tech sectors, where transaction volume increased 31.6% and 377.8% respectively in 216. # of Deals In the fourth quarter of 216, $165 billion was invested across 861 transactions. That volume represented a quarterly increase of 6.8% from the fourth quarter of 215, and a 3.6% decline when compared to the third quarter of 216. Dealmakers continue to look down market for value. Transactions under $1 million represent the largest proportion of completed deals since 29. In 216, 2,492 transactions were closed with values under $1 million. This amounted to over 7% of all deals completed. Further evidence of this trend is the fact that over 46.5% of all completed transactions were under $25 million. As public markets have been volatile and other alternatives have struggled to produce in the last few years, many limited partners have increasingly leaned on their private equity allocations in hopes of maintaining the returns needed to meet obligations. In 216, 252 private equity funds closed on $18 billion worth of commitments, representing 11% and 1% year-over-year decreases which seem to mirror the downturn in deal volume this year. This is indicative that limited partner interest in the asset class is still strong, but has receded since 214. U.S. Private Equity Fundraising Capital Raised ($B) 3 25 2 15 1 5 269 311 262 161 158 189 22 294 318 283 252 184 272 181 121 71 88 11 21 195 2 18 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 213 214 215 216 35 3 25 2 15 1 5 # of Funds Raised Capital Raised ($B) # of Funds Raised Traditional buyout funds represent 64.9% of the funds closed. It is noted that buyout funds have seen relative growth every year since 213. The median buyout fund has increased to $25 million, up from
$22 million in 215 and the highest figure since 21. Mezzanine and energy funds raised has been subdued with senior lenders extending more aggressive debt facilities and oil and gas prices remaining low for much longer than investors expected. Pitchbook, in their 216 Annual Private Equity Breakdown, notes that 89% of funds achieved their targets, which is higher than any other year. In addition, first time managers raised 1.3% of the funds closed this year. That so many managers are hitting their goals is evidence of the continual demand that limited partners have for this asset class. Overall, 216 was healthy for private equity sellers in both volume and value. In 216, PE-backed activity exits fell 22% in value to $316 billion across 1,97 transactions. Pitchbook notes that although this is still high by historical standards, the falling off speaks to some softening of the overall M&A cycle. PE-backed exits peaked in the fourth quarter of 215. Pitchbook expressed surprise, given the current high multiples being paid, which leads them to believe that the quality of assets in many private equity portfolios may not be able to justify a sale in the present environment. In 216, there were only 32 private-equity-backed IPO s, the fewest since 29. With the IPO market being cold and a greater number of private equity firms in the market, private equity investors became more likely to sell to other financial buyers. 47% of private equity exits in 216 were secondary buyouts, compared to just 32% in 29. Strategic acquirers, however, dominated the market, completing 73% of the private-equity-backed exit value in 216. 14 12 1 8 6 4 2 164 74 237 98 115 U.S. Private Equity Exits 629 56 415 8 153 167 229 226 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 213 214 215 216 Exit Capital ($B) # of Exits 889 19 114 298 1265 46 1338 316 197 The global private equity capital overhang reached a new all-time high of $754 billion in 216. Of that sum, $213.3 billion, or 28.3% of the total, comes from 215 vintages, with 81% of the capital raised yet to be deployed. These vast reserves of capital should help to fuel private equity deal flow this year and next. Despite the high multiples in the market, private equity firms will be under pressure to deploy capital quickly, which will likely produce lower returns across all asset classes. 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 621 8 25 Global Private Equity Overhang 665 56 637 714 733 735 754 15 121 213 219 21 211 212 213 214 215 216 Overhang by Vintage Year ($B) Cumulative Global Overhang ($B) Outside of traditional buyout funds, the energy sector raised the most capital. Deal flow in this sector continues to be limited as GP s wait for the opportune moment and for potential bankruptcies. Pitchbook believes that given the capital nature of these transactions, the capital overhang will decline over the next 12 to 18 months as more opportunities arise. With the opportunities being sparse, the larger funds continue to look down market and seek out niche markets for opportunities. In any given sector or geography, there are a finite number of companies that can reasonably service the debt loads necessary for producing the returns that buyout producers expect. Several factors conducive to deal making remain in place. First, there remains a large amount of dry powder that needs to be invested. The investment window is now closing on those funds raised during the financial crisis between 27 and 211. Second, investors seek to access debt while rates remain low with ready availability. Finally, the deal sourcing seems to be improving with the deep inventory of aged PE-backed portfolios and the development of the secondary buyout market. PEG s have a significant inventory of PE-backed companies sitting in their portfolios for three years or longer. The median holding period for a portfolio company remains in excess of five years. Prolonged
holding periods are now part of an ongoing sea of change in private equity, as the emphasis has shifted from financial engineering and multiple arbitrages to revenue growth and operational improvements. Add-ons accounted for 64% of all buyout activity during 216. Add-on deals are being used as a 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 343 U.S Private Equity Portfolio Companies by Year 365 426 4711 4923 5252 means of increasing the operational capacity of portfolio companies, but PE firms are increasingly viewing add-ons as a viable way to put capital to work as well. With prices as high as they are, it has become imperative for firms to use buy-and-build strategies in order to blend multiples and create a lower aggregate pricing for their portfolio acquisition. In addition, managers can utilize this strategy to ensure a higher exit price as they build a more comprehensive business. Most private equity firms are now espousing a buy-and-build strategy, so it is not surprising to find that the proportion of add-on deals has increased steadily in recent years. 557 5923 621 6544 6912 7168 25 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 213 214 215 216 66% 65% 64% 34% 35% 36% # of Companies Add-On vs. Non-Add-On - % of Deals 6% 4% 55% 45% Add-On % Non-Add-On % 52% 51% 47% 47% 48% 49% 53% 53% 43% 44% 57% 56% 59% 41% 61% 62% 39% 38% 64% 36% Larger transactions ($5-25 million) and those involving higher quality companies with aboveaverage financial metrics (TTM EBITDA and Revenue Growth > 1%) continue to demand a premium. The current year s premium has averaged 2.3 turns while the quality premium has averaged 14%. 6.x 4.x 2.x.x Middle Market Valuation Multiples (Enterprise Values between $1 and $25 million) 6.2x 6.3x 6.5x 6.7x 6.7x 23-211 212 213 214 215 YTD 216 According to NFIB s President and CEO Juanita Duggan, small business owners remain optimistic about the future of the economy and the direction of consumer confidence. Furthermore, she strongly believes and is encouraged by signs that optimism is translating into economic activity, such as capital investment and job creation. Although the NFIB Index slipped.6 points in March to 14.7, it is still a very strong reading by historical standards. The increases in capital expenditure plans and actual earnings are clear signs of a healthier economy. The NFIB s Chief Economist Dunkelberg noted that while the overall Index remained strong in March, a significant increase in the Uncertainty Index, a subset of data on how small business owners see the near-term future, could indicate trouble on the horizon. The Uncertainty Index hit 93 in March, which is the second highest reading in the survey s history. More small business owners are having a difficult time anticipating the factors that affect their businesses, especially government policy. 7.x Source: GF Data Resources 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 213 214 215 216 U.S. middle market transaction multiples for businesses sold to private equity groups averaged approximately 7.x EBITDA in 216 through the first nine months of 216, increasing from 6.7x in 215. GF Data Resources suggests that we should not be misled by the current YTD valuation, as the second quarter valuations were aggressive. Managers continued their focus on larger platform investments and were looking to complete transactions prior to the election.
Bank financing is plentiful and aggressively structured and priced. Banks continue to push the outer limits on overall debt. The average capitalization now accounts for more than half an average buyout transaction s capital structure. Leverage multiples increased to 4.1x for total debt and 3.2x EBITDA for senior debt. More liberal debt structures continue to be available for larger deals. The senior debt spread over LIBOR averaged 5.5% in the third quarter of 216. However, the greatest debt utilization occurred where the transaction was based on the strength of the financial sponsor s current portfolio companies making add-on acquisitions. Total debt on these transactions averaged 4.5x EBITDA. When business owners were looking to capitalize on attractive market conditions while retaining control, debt levels were even higher, averaging 4.7x EBITDA. 4.5x 4.x 3.5x 3.x 2.5x 2.x 1.5x 1.x.5x.x 1.1x.8x Debt Multiples by Year 1.x 2.4x 2.6x 2.7x.9x.9x 3.x 3.2x 212 213 214 215 9mos 216 43.6% 13.7% 36.8% 15.8% 42.7% 47.3% 29.3% 17.9% 36.9% 36.7% 36.9% 38.1% 38.7% 12.1% 14.2% 16.4% 12.% 14.5% 43.3% 43.9% 13.4% 12.% 52.8% 51.% 49.1% 46.7% 49.9% 46.8% 43.3% 44.1% 27 28 29 21 211 212 213 214 215 9mos 216 Source :GF Data Resources Capital Structure Detail Equity Sub Debt Senior Debt The equity contribution to a capital structure during the first nine months of 216 averaged 44.1% of a transaction s capitalization. In forecasting M&A activity glimmers of hope are beginning to emerge, creating some optimism for increased deal flow. The aging dry powder and large inventory of private-equity-backed companies, as well as the availability of liberal, lowinterest debt, should provide the stimulus for a more robust M&A market in 217. Senior Debt/EBITDA Sub Debt/EBITDA Source: GF Data Resources The growing presence of the one-stop financing approach, as well as a plentiful base of mezzanine investors, continue to be a significant part of capital structures and stand ready to fill any void in the market. Mezzanine investors are more aggressively pricing transactions (current interest) with the average spread over LIBOR of 14.6% in the third quarter of 216.
For more information, please contact any of the professionals listed below or visit our website at www.strategicad.com Andy Bianco Managing Director ajbianco@strategicad.com 724-743-582 Anthony Ventura Managing Director ajventura@strategicad.com 724-743-581 Eric Wissinger Managing Director eawissinger@strategicad.com 724-743-584 Marcia McCracken Administrative Assistant mjm@strategicad.com 724-743-58 When considering a sale of your business, the acquisition of a business, or the restructuring or recapitalization of your balance sheet, the best pathway for achieving your expectations is a well-run process that addresses all your business and personal goals. Strategic Advisors is accustomed to working with business owners to determine the best pathway to achieve their goals and objectives. Give us a call to discuss your possibilities. Author: Andy Bianco, Managing Director and Founder Sources: Pitchbook - The Private Equity 216 Third Quarter Private Equity Breakdown; GF Data Resources November 216 Report; NFIB Small Business Economic Trends, October 216 Important Information Securities and investment advisory services are offered through BPU Investment Management, Inc. 31 Grant Street, Suite 33 Pittsburgh PA 15219 412-288-915 www.bpuinvestments.com Member FINRA/SIPC An SEC-Registered Investment Advisor Please be advised that the accuracy and completeness of this information are not guaranteed. The opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and are not necessarily those of Strategic Advisors or BPU Investment Management, Inc. The material is distributed solely for informational purposes and is not a solicitation of an offer to buy any security or instrument or to participate in any trading strategy. Any forecasts contained herein are for
illustrative purposes only and are not to be relied upon as advice or interpreted as a recommendation.