Cancel and Return to Message Board |
Original Message A. Todd stated several times during earnings calls that he wanted to maintain debt at no less than 2 times cash flow, no more than 4 times cash flow. He wanted to maintain a strong balance sheet so the company could take advantage of acquisition opportunitites. Today, after private "equity" (a bogus term since it is nothing more than a rename of the leveaged buyout shops of the 80's and 90's which "buy" companies with debt), debt is 9 times cash flow (per the Moody's report). Private "equity" purchased the company at a share price of $43. At the time, the stock was trading at $28 (and headed down). Thus, they paid a 50 percent premium for the company. You have to pay a premium to attract shares from potential sellers, but 50 percent for a company headed the wrong way? The previous year, the company's stock traded in the $50 range. You might say private "equity" paid too much and loaded the company up with debt to do the deal. |