Leveraged buyouts (LBOs) involve using a large amount of debt to purchase a firm. Typically over 80% of the purchase price is financed through debt secured by the acquired firm's assets. Good LBO candidates have stable cash flows to service the debt, assets to collateralize loans, and a strong competitive position. The APV (adjusted present value) method values a leveraged firm by separately considering the value of operations and tax benefits of debt net of distress costs from high leverage.