What is typically the price range a buyer pays for a company?

The price a buyer typically pays for a company is often understood to be in relation to both equity value and enterprise value. The correct understanding here is that the purchase price tends to be higher than the equity value—this is the value attributable only to the shareholders. However, it is also generally lower than the enterprise value, which accounts for the total value of a company including its debt and excluding its cash.

When a buyer acquires a company, they are often paying a premium that reflects the consideration of not just the company's immediate stock value but also of its future potential, synergies, or other strategic advantages to the buyer. The enterprise value incorporates these factors more comprehensively than equity value alone, as it takes into account the entire capital structure of the company, including outstanding debt.

In practical terms, when a buyer evaluates what they are willing to pay, they assess the company’s operations, liabilities, and revenue-generating potential, thus settling on a price that is often situated between these two values. Thus, the statement that the price is higher than the equity value and lower than the enterprise value accurately captures the dynamics of the acquisition process and the typical financial considerations in play.