Modeling / Case Studies

Buyside Modeling

14 Private Equity + Private Credit LBO Models Available for Premium Subscribers under the 'Models & Case Studies' filter!

I wrote about the importance of modeling / case studies for Buyside interviews here: How The Process Works | The Pulse Part 2: Buyside Associate Recruiting. On this page, I'm going to introduce all of the models and answers we built from REAL interviews at funds such as Apollo, Oaktree, Ares, Blackstone, and more. 

*Only Premium Subscribers receive access to all of our models / case studies. Scroll to the bottom of: Private Equity Recruiting | The Pulse to see where you can access the material* 

Private Equity LBO Modeling

We put together 8 unique LBO modeling tests with answer keys to equip anyone to crush their interviews.

What makes us different? 

Our models + answer keys are included within the total purchase price which also grants you access to 100% of all Buyside jobs being shopped around by headhunters. Most modeling courses are $500 / year for only 3-5 models and ZERO job support.

Our answer key commentary goes into painstaking detail to walk you through the mechanics and describe what investors are looking for. Want to know how a DTL unwind is factored into the cash flow statement? We got you covered.

 An example of what one of our answer keys look like:

Our 8 PE Models Include: 

  • Easy LBO Model - no balance sheet, introduces core LBO mechanics
  • Intermediate LBO Model - full 3-statement LBO model inclusive of balance sheet reconciliation
  • Management Earnout - full 3-statement LBO with a scenario where management earns a portion of exit equity value
  • Dividend Recap - full 3-statement LBO with a scenario where the sponsor deploys a multi-period toggle for a dividend recapitalization. Extremely common in PE interviews
  • Stock Options Scenario - full 3-statement LBO with a scenario where you need to assess the value of stock options throughout the life of the investment
  • Cash Dividend Scenario - full 3-statement LBO with a scenario where the sponsor earns an annual cash dividend
  • Complex Debt Scenario - full 3-statement LBO with complex debt structuring including: PIK, mandatory amortization, OID, cash sweeps, and more
  • Advanced LBO Model - full 3-statement LBO including multiple scenario analysis and bonus features

Private Credit LBO Modeling

There is no love out there for private credit modeling and it pissed me off. We put together 6 unique private credit LBO models. Built from the perspective of a PC fund providing financing to sponsor-backed LBOs. 

We are calculating lender returns, complex financing structures, covenant compliance, and more.

Our 6 PC Models Include:

  • Easy LBO Model - no balance sheet, introduces core LBO mechanics from the lender's view
  • Intermediate LBO Model - full 3-statement LBO including a complex debt waterfall and full lender terms
  • Dividend Recap - full 3-statement LBO including a dividend recap scenario to determine the impact to the credit profile and lender's return
  • Downside Scenario - full 3-statement LBO modeling a base and downside case 
  • Breakeven Analysis - full 3-statement LBO to determine where the lender's return breaks
  • Advanced LBO Model - full 3-statement LBO model with a base, downside, and breakeven case toggled alongside multiple scenarios (harder than the Advanced PE model tbh)   

Our L/S Hedge Fund and VC/GE models are under construction. Targeting August 2025 for release