Leveraged Recapitalization
Leveraged recapitalization is a partial exit method, whereby the private equity investor is able to extract cash from a business without actually selling the company. This is achieved by re-leveraging the company i.e. substituting some of the company’s equity with additional debt. It is usually done by the company raising money by borrowing from a bank or issuing bonds, which amount is then used to repurchase the company’s own shares from the investor. The most important advantages generally associated with leveraged recapitalizations are that investors can remain in control whilst still receiving payment and the possible tax benefits compared to other types of exits. On the other hand there are significant disadvantages to this method too. A leveraged recapitalization may result in over-leverage that can eventually lead to financial difficulties and even bankruptcy. Also, increased leverage limits the flexibility of the company’s operations.