Skip to main content Skip to main content
Not investment advice. Educational reading. See Disclaimer.
L.4 · INTERMEDIATE · 2 MIN

Precedent Transactions: What Did Buyers Pay?

Precedent transaction analysis looks at multiples paid in actual M&A deals for similar companies. These multiples include a control premium — what buyers actually paid for full ownership, not just a minority share.

Quiz · 5 questions ↓
§ 01
FeatureTrading CompsPrecedent Transactions
What’s valuedMinority stake (market price)100% ownership (control premium included)
PremiumNone — market priceTypically 20–40% above trading price
TimelinessCurrent market conditionsHistorical — deal may be years old
Data availabilityPublic, real-timeLimited to announced deals
Best forRelative valuation todayM&A pricing, fairness opinions
§ 02

Use precedent transactions from the last 2–3 years in the same sector. Older deals reflect different market conditions, interest rates, and competitive dynamics. Always note whether a deal was a strategic acquisition (higher premium) or financial (lower).

§ 03
Think of a recent major acquisition in your sector. What multiple did the acquirer pay? How does it compare to the target’s pre-deal trading multiple? The difference is the control premium.
§ 04
A company trades at 10x EV/EBITDA. Recent precedent transactions in the same sector show 13–15x. What’s a reasonable takeaway?
§ 05

Precedent transactions tell you what a buyer with full control would pay. Trading comps tell you what a minority share is worth today. Both are useful, but they answer different questions — don’t mix them up.

§ 06
A strategic buyer paid 18x EBITDA for Company Y. Now you're valuing Company Z (same industry, similar scale). Is 18x the right multiple to use?
Five questions · AI feedback

Sit with the ideas.

Public peers trade at 12x EV/EBITDA. Recent acquisitions in the sector occurred at 16x EV/EBITDA. Your target has EBITDA of $200M. What is the implied value range?

Why:
See it on a real ticker →