A cable TV acquisition nets 70% IRR

A leveraged buyout firm wanted to acquire a regional cable TV company, but only if it could then successfully diversify into long distance telephone service. After assessing the target and the long distance market, we recommended that the firm buy the cable company. Two years later, our client resold for the company for a substantial profit.

EquityCo, a leveraged buyout firm, was considering purchasing TideTV, a regional cable company. EquityCo's plan was then to diversify beyond the cable television business into the long distance telephone market. This seemed to represent a promising growth opportunity, but was it realistic?

Next Approach

With a one-month evaluation window, Bain focused on four key areas to quickly determine the economic value of purchasing TideTV and the likelihood of its successful entry into the long distance market.