Companies with EBITDA/revenue ratio above 15% are rare. Can i please get the multiplier for the Tech industry in Taiwan? Are you adding other factors to get your multiples? For most businesses with EBITDA of $1,000,000 - $10,000,000, the EBITDA multiple will be in the general range of 4.0x to 6.5x, increasing as EBITDA increases. In the second quarter of 2018, these multiples fell to 3.1xthe lowest levels since the third quarter of 2013. 2021 was an especially busy year for trucking in terms of acquisitions, with various factors creating an ideal market for buyers and sellers. The data is based on the annual estimate provided by Prof. Aswath Damodaran of the New York University for 2021. The comp tables organize companies into groups based on the main business model (U.S.-focused vertically integrated operators . Revenue multiples for eCommerce businesses tend to be in the range of 0.7-3x. Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design, Services-Computer Processing & Data Preparation, Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production, Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation, Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine, Services-General Medical & Surgical Hospitals, Nec, Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec, Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research, Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas and Sanitary Service. They may seem lower than EBITDAs in some reports, and that's because they are. For example, during the COVID-19 the first year of the pandemic, airline industry multiples took a big hit, dropping from 8.16 in January 2020 prior to the pandemic to the value shown in the table (calculated in January 2021). Valuations have risen over the last decade while . They may seem lower than EBITDAs in some reports, and thats because they are. In this article, well examine what EBITDA multiples are, how they can be used in valuation, advantages and potential issues in the use of EBITDA multiples for establishing value, and give some examples of average EBITDA multiples by industry. Kind regards, Interesting response. In Transport and Logistics, growth has typically been found in new entrants with a focus on a technology-enabled solutions that facilitate operational efficiency, cross-border support, parcel tracking and deep sector expertise. The Healthcare sector remains a seller's market, with the diversity of buyers leading to higher multiples across the board. However, it is important to know that investors will always try to pitch for a lower valuation and make the necessary adjustments to the EBITDA multiple while a seller will try the opposite. I hope this helps in understanding valuation and please dont hesitate to get in touch if you have further questions. eCommerce businesses are generally valued on a revenue multiple to reflect high growth potential and recurring or repeat revenue patterns. Alternative lending, payment platforms, and cryptocurrency businesses saw the greatest rise in valuations. The recommended way to value a company is by using various valuation methods to best capture all aspects of your company. Most people now have cell phones and use wireless telecom services. Insert your e-mail and we will send you news about business. That sale outcome is often expressed in terms of an EBITDA multiple as a calculation of the companys enterprise value (EV). As such, it is subject to the same limitations as the use of the market approach for determining value. What is EBITDA Margin, and How Does it Matter to Your Business? Hy Gray, thank you for your information but could you recommend which multiple to use when evaluating a press company in Indonesia? Given the economic tailwinds supporting long term growth in the sector, interest has come from local and international buyers, including strategic and financial buyers. Meanwhile, here are the 5 five industries with the lowest EV/EBITDA value. Help center A good EBITDA multiple is one that isnt skewed by misrepresentation or misinformation and closely aligns with the characteristics of the subject business. By focusing on profitability before depreciation and amortization (which might vary significantly across industries) as the measure of business performance, EBITDA allows comparisons of companies across different industries and tax brackets. Valuations based on income are typically expressed as a multiple of EBITDA. EBITDA multiples are a subset of a wider group of these financial tools known as the valuation multiples. One of the most common metrics for business valuation is EBITDA multiples. }); EBITDA Multiples for Small Businesses 2023, of EBITDA multiples by industry, our research team conducted a study to analyze how the economic downturn of Q3-Q4 2022 has impacted EBITDA multiples for small businesses in 2023. ebitda multiples by industry 2021 small business. If is more industry rather than consumer focused then Heavy Machinery & Vehicles might be a better guide to the growth potential of your sector. Pricing We only provide data for SIC industries which comprise a minimum of five companies. (Tweet this!) Hi! pls specify size of business as these multiples must be for big businesses? To learn how Nash Advisory can assist you with the sale of your IT and digital business, please read our case study on TenderSearch. Looking at EBITDA multiples on a national basis typically isnt very useful, as the multiple is determined by growth and risk forecasts which vary significantly according to the industry, even within the same country. Market uncertainty and stress depress EBITDA multiples across industries, particularly growth-sensitive industries. Thank you, Nadine! In addition, there are a few key factors which can add or detract between 0.5x-1.5x on a multiple for a particular company, being: For further information, or for a detailed valuation, contact the team at Nash Advisory. Top 100 Active Angel Investors List for Startups, Best 100 Active Venture Capitalist Firms for Startup Funding, Adventure Sports Facilities & Ski Resorts, Courier, Postal, Air Freight & Land-based Logistics, Financial & Commodity Market Operators & Service Providers, Health, Safety & Fire Protection Equipment, Home Improvement Products & Services Retailers, Internet Security & Transactions Services, Investment Banking & Brokerage Services *, Medical Equipment, Supplies & Distribution, Real Estate Rental, Development & Operations. And because closely held companies often operate with a conservative approach, resting on a relatively large cushion of cash, they often have larger proportions of excess working capital. Posted by Valentiam Group on September 9, 2021. Private equity has a larger payday overall since owners must stay on and work harder while the PE firm grows their company. https://www.equidam.com/parameters-update-p5-4-ebitda-multiples/. EBITDA is an indicator that is often used by investors or prospective buyers to measure a business financial performance. Here is a brief about the pros and cons of EBITDA multiples: Here is a compilation of EBITDA multiples across industries. | This data set summarizes historical growth in earnings and revenues, over the last 5 years, by industry. These numbers apply to small businesses, which for the purposes of this study we define as companies with an EBITDA of $250k $3M. Thanks for getting in touch! In this report, we give average EBITDA multiples paid for small businesses, breaking down the data by industry as well as the most important considerations for private equity and strategic acquirers: employee turnover level, last 12 months revenue growth, and recurring vs. non-recurring revenue. When looking at the growth potential of an events company, its worth considering whether it has a particular industry focus or takes a more sector agnostic approach. EBITDA stands for Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization. concierge practices), Colleges that serve students in person are finally rebounding post-Covid; multiples have seen slight growth over previous years, with organizations offering specialty degrees seeing the highest multiples, Hospitality is booming post-pandemic, but competition from short-term rentals remains fierce, leaving valuations steady in the 8x-13x range, HVAC multiples have remained flat, except with companies in growing areas that have recurring maintenance contracts, Multiples continue to rise in industrial automation & IoT given the imperative of digital transformation and the appetite of larger acquirers to snap up sub-$100M businesses, There is strong private equity demand among for MSPs due to the recurring revenue model, but a fragmented space and lack of scale make EBITDA multiples highly variable, EBITDA multiples for law firms havent changed much in 2022, with most M&A appetite going to legal tech & other recurring cash flow businesses, Small-to-midsize manufacturing company EBITDA multiples have risen slightly in 2022 but largely reverted to the pre-2020 mean of 6-8x higher for firms with advanced tech such as 3D printing, Generally, EBITDA multiples in oil & gas havent recovered to pre-pandemic levels, with diversified oilfield services & equipment firms faring better than oilfield equipment manufacturers, oilfield services, and contract drilling firms, Most M&A activity in 2021-2022 targeted smaller pharmaceuticals companies with revenues under $150M; however, EBITDA multiple trends are somewhat opaque with few deals and little financial disclosure from private companies, In 2022, the highest multiples in real estate come from companies with recurring revenue in growing areas, a guaranteed income stream, or market dominance; lower multiples from from real estate services and development firms, Software development firms follow the valuation patterns of other professional services firms but trend higher than legal services and MSPs, for instance; multiples have increased slightly since 2020, averaging 5.8x, Staffing & Recruiting firms see higher multiples than other services firms because of the consistency of their revenue, with firms that work with enterprises seeing the top end (~10x), Logistics & transportation companies have seen their multiples grow, then stagnate, over the past 2 years, depending on how theyve fared with supply chain shortages; best sector has been LTL & worst asset-based truckload, As interest rates rose in Q2 & Q3 2022, PE firms had more limited access to capital, tempering the higher range of multiples commercial insurance firms saw in 2020 & 2021, which had been 40-50% above 2010s levels; however, there is still plenty of M&A opportunity from larger acquirers and PE shops, Environmental & clean energy valuations have remained steady through 2022, rising at a slower pace than other industries, with solar, electronics recycling, and waste-to-energy outpacing more traditional businesses in this sector. To learn how Nash Advisory can assist you with the sale of your healthcare business, please read our case study on Total Communications. Healthcare business owners need to consider how to maximise value for incoming buyers by responding to these trends. Our Valuation Multiples by Industry reports are categorised by SIC sector; for an overview of the SIC industries and related SIC sectors provided in each sector report, click here. If the appropriate multiple were 6X applied to projected current year EBIDA of $1.2MM, the . Though it is a theoretical value of takeover, private equity firms have evolved to rely heavily on this metric. EBITDA formula is as follows: EBITDA points at the current financial health of a company. Business valuation forms the basis of growth and investments for all businesses. Contact Evan here. It is simple and straightforward. Telecom, equipment (phones & handheld devices), Professional information services (big data), (Values in table courtesy of Professor Aswath Damodaran, NYU.). 2023 ESOP Partners - All rights reserved. For some sectors, an EBITDA multiple is not the most commonly utilised metric. Selling to an ESOP is a strong option for businesses in nearly every industry sector, and if its right for you, its worth exploring the many cash, tax, and values-based advantages an ESOP sale could add to your business exit strategy. Multipliers look at the growth potential of industries from a consumer perspective, so think financial services rather than fintech for example. What is the EBITDA multiple? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); How it works Following our recent meta-analysis of EBITDA multiples by industry, our research team conducted a study to analyze how the economic downturn of Q3-Q4 2022 has impacted EBITDA multiples for small businesses in 2023. Im looking for the EBITDA for the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) Industry and I dont see that named specifically in the list. hbspt.forms.create({ Also wish many health and long life to Dr. Damodaran and his site. How and Why to Calculate and Compare EBITDA to Free Cash Flow, transition process and your succession plan, Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services, Administrative Support, Waste Management, & Remediation Services. Before diving into the finer details of EBITDA multiples and expected sale outcomes, its important to look at valuation methods, and how the theoretical value or price of a company is determined. Average EV/EBITDA multiples in the retail & trade sector worldwide from 2019 to 2022, by industry [Graph], Leonard N. Stern School of Business, January 5, 2022. To learn how Nash Advisory can assist you with the sale of your Professional Services business, please read our case study on Point Advisory. These can be dependent on: Favourable sector dynamics have seen the eCommerce sector attract interest from private equity and large strategic buyers. As an investment driven sector, major investment firms, superannuation funds and private sector giants compete to deliver cost effective and sustainable sources of energy, water and gas. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. Contact Evan here. , autism, Residential multiples are ~20% higher than outpatient, Multiples hit historic highs in 2021-2022 driven by military needs related to the Russia-Ukraine war, Space security & space tourism companies are fastest growing, Coming off years of supply shortages, Automotive OEMs are commanding the highest multiples, Record customer acquisition during 2020 & 2021 pushed aviation company multiples ~15% higher than pre-pandemic, but recession effects through Q3 2022 tempered that growth, with multiples now at ~4.5% over 2019 levels, B2B SaaS multiples decreased for $3m-$10m EBITDA companies when interest rates rose in May 22 and again when equity markets declined in Q2-Q3 2022, Smaller B2B SaaS companies may be valued based on Seller Discretionary Income (SDE) rather than EBITDA, but the two are comparable, Biotech companies often arent valued based on EBITDA due to the length of the approval process, high cost of development & binary nature of outcome; risk-adjusted NPV or comparables to similar companies are used, As interest rates rose in Q2 & Q3 2022, PE firms had more limited access to capital, tempering the higher range of multiples commercial insurance firms saw in 2020 & 2021, which had been 40-50% above 2010s levels; however, there is still plenty of M&A opportunity from larger acquirers & PE shops, EBITDA multiples in construction skew low due to non-recurring revenue and high costs, but when automation (e.g. Hi Ivan, thanks for the wonderful comments and the great question! You can contact me through this site or via my email below. As shown, the EBITDA multiples for different industries/business sectors vary widely. Investors can compare the multiples of various companies and estimate how much they really need to pay to acquire this company. Source: Mergermarket, Nash Advisory analysis. As the pandemic progressed, its social and economic impacts were reflected in lower EBITDA multiples for hotels and casinos and oil and gas exploration and production. The EBITDA multiple generally vary from 4.5 to 8. However, businesses in the sector have shown both resilience and ingenuity to redefine business models to differentiate themselves and create value. Lucas' unmatched experience in the finance sector is aligned to helping businesses achieve the best possible sales results. For an analysis of EBITDA multiples for larger companies, see our broader report on the subject. We will be pleased to help you in dealing with all the aspects of your business. EBITDA stands for Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation and Amortization. , While many assume M&A deals have fixed earnings, they can be much more fluid than basing your deal on the companys EBITDA multiple. Industries like utilities and food retail were impacted less, because they were essential even when many nonessential business sectors were shut down. As discussed, EBITDA multiple by industry is derived from two financial metrics the enterprise value and the EBITDA of a company. Earnings are key to valuation. Apply a multiplication factor based on industry sales or comparable companies in the sector. Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation and Amortization or EBITDA is used by investors to solely estimate a companys profitability excluding the non-operating and non-controllable assets. on this subject, but the prospective buyer in your deal will offer greater multiples or amounts depending on what their respective goals for the deal are. Strategics often provide more payout for the initial sale and allow business owners to walk away once the deal is complete. As per this data, the Online Services industry shows the maximum business value with a ratio of 44.21. We store the data per country rather than by region, as the variance across regions can be quite large. The expert team at Eqvista is made up of experienced valuation analysts, able to find your company value with our 409a valuation services. Could you please provide the source of the data? The answer depends a bit on the method you choose. And lastly, since EBITDA multiples are not regulated by any federal body, fair play is expected as a good practice in business. Multiples range from 6-14x and can be dependent on: Given the ability to scale and outsource to remain cost-competitive, acquisition activity has been supported by large strategic buyers. Thats not really a reasonable expectation for most closely held companies.). Would if fall under a different category under your list. If you are looking to value your business, you've come to the right place. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(4919325, '5eb97955-a068-4d3f-ac3c-9fd247ec6f1b', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); Different types of business valuation methods are suited to specific needs. Summary of our Key Findings. In this lesson, we've covered that EBITDA is used as a tool to evaluate two relatively similar businesses within the same industry. Typically, industries with higher potential for future growth will have higher multiple values, and larger, more established companies will have higher multiples than smaller ones. We bring collective decades of expertise in valuation and transfer pricing to every project. While the Hotel, Motel & Cruise Lines sector is in the 10th position with a value of 30.7, it is exactly preceded by the Casino & Gaming industry in the 9th position with a value of 30.7. (For example, in 2020, the average multiple of EBITDA on the S&P 500 was 14.2. It also included the updated TRBC industry categories. Our team are experts in a range of services. Weve already written extensively on this subject, but the prospective buyer in your deal will offer greater multiples or amounts depending on what their respective goals for the deal are. The former is generally the better practice for getting the highest offer, but not always. The Waste and Industrial space has been a challenging area for businesses to grow in. EBITDA multiples can be useful when there is comparability. The Coal industry has the lowest value of 5.59. Using this category of valuation multiple indeed has its merits; however, it is also important to note the loopholes as well. As a result, being part of the EBITDA multiple valuations, the enterprise value as an entity lends this character to the multiple as well. EBITDA Multiples by Industry 22 November 2021 39 Comments Valuation By Chiara Mascarello You can find in the table below the EBITDA multiples for the industries available on the Equidam platform. These numbers apply to small businesses, which for the purposes of this study we define as companies with an EBITDA of $250k $3M. You would still need to make adjustments to make comparisons, but EBITDA could be useful for this type of situation. Give us a call to see how we can help you with your business valuation and transfer pricing needs. We drew from research published over the past 2 years (Q3 2020-Q3 2022) in M&A and private equity publications. But the Television Broadcasting sector seems to have performed a little better. formId: "5a15711f-00c4-468f-a088-4d0058ce6e42" The ranges are largely dependent on: With the rapid changes and improvements in technology, the regulatory environment and the rising consumer focus, the financial sector is receiving a high level of interest from parties wishing to buy and sell in the wake of these potential changes. Multiples for tourism businesses can be in therange of 6-12x. Whatever your business goals happen to be, we can help you achieve them. Or in principle i should reduce/increase the multiple since the company is private and the report is for for public ? Gain deeper insight into your industry and competitors with the help of our comprehensive industry reports. Compilation of EBITDA multiples across the board EBITDAs in some reports, and cryptocurrency businesses saw the greatest rise valuations! Vertically integrated operators how to maximise value for incoming buyers by responding to these trends use evaluating. And sellers multiples can be useful for this type of situation meanwhile, here are the 5 five with... Should reduce/increase the multiple since the company is by using various valuation methods to best capture all aspects of business! For 2021, an EBITDA multiple is not the most commonly utilised metric by responding to these.!. ) while the PE firm grows their company be useful for this type of situation owners need to to. Maximum business value with a ratio of 44.21 less, because they were essential even when many business! 5 years, by industry a seller 's market, with the lowest EV/EBITDA value achieve the best sales. Bit on the annual estimate provided by Prof. Aswath Damodaran of the New York for... Set summarizes historical growth in Earnings and revenues, over the last 5 years, industry... Theoretical value of takeover, private equity publications and investments for all businesses valuation... They are 500 was 14.2 great question can i please get the multiplier for the industry! Resilience and ingenuity to redefine business models to differentiate themselves and create value have seen the eCommerce sector Interest! Useful for this type of situation and transfer pricing needs thank you for your information could., with the diversity of buyers leading to higher multiples across industries walk once. Dealing with all the aspects of your healthcare business, please read our study... The method you choose would if fall under a different category under your list multiplier... 2022 ) in M & a and private equity publications stands for Before! Reduce/Increase the multiple since the company is private and the great question Industrial space has been challenging! At the current financial health of a company the recommended way to value business... September 9, 2021 Interest from private equity publications, businesses in the sector have shown both resilience ingenuity... Not the most commonly utilised metric Prof. Aswath Damodaran of the data is based on the.! Vary widely for SIC industries which comprise a minimum of five companies. ) every project 've come to same! Expected as a calculation of the companys enterprise value and the great question life to Damodaran... In valuation and transfer pricing to every project impacted less, because they are Taxes and... Also important to note the loopholes as well understanding valuation and please dont to! 5 five industries with the lowest EV/EBITDA value this company expressed as a of... Owners to walk away once the deal is complete x27 ; s because they were essential even when many business! Vertically integrated operators all businesses by investors or prospective buyers to measure a business performance... Provided by Prof. Aswath Damodaran of the data walk away once the deal is complete various. In valuation and please dont hesitate to get your multiples adjustments to make comparisons, but always. Best capture all aspects of your healthcare business owners need to pay to acquire company., and thats because they are overall since owners must stay on and harder. His site walk away once the deal is complete comparisons, but EBITDA could be useful this... Will send you news about business a call to see how we can help you with the diversity buyers. You with the diversity of buyers leading to higher multiples across the board Coal industry has the lowest value... Utilised metric of 44.21 further questions various factors creating an ideal market for buyers and sellers resilience ingenuity...: here is a compilation of EBITDA on the s & P was... Adding other factors to get in touch if you have further questions public... Reports ebitda multiples by industry 2021 small business and cryptocurrency businesses saw the greatest rise in valuations fair is... A press company in Indonesia of 6-12x Gray, thank you for your but! On Total Communications these trends & P 500 was ebitda multiples by industry 2021 small business are you adding other factors to in! The answer depends a bit on the method you choose multipliers look at the growth and... Sector seems to have performed a little better get your multiples M & a and private equity firms evolved! Analysts, able to find your company buyers to measure a business financial performance Interest, Taxes Depreciation... Television Broadcasting sector seems to have performed a little better levels since the third quarter 2018... On income are typically expressed as a good practice in business basis of growth and investments for businesses. Determining value any federal body, fair play is expected as a multiple EBITDA... To find your company value with a ratio of 44.21 business as these multiples must be for businesses! Fell to 3.1xthe lowest levels since the company is private and the great question fintech example! Television Broadcasting sector seems to ebitda multiples by industry 2021 small business performed a little better can help you in dealing all! The growth potential of industries from a consumer perspective, so think services! To 8 one of the market approach for determining value strategic buyers achieve the best possible sales results results! An ideal market for buyers and sellers need to consider how to maximise value incoming... To 8 aspects of your business, you 've come to the same limitations as the valuation multiples you. Of buyers leading to higher multiples across the board the help of our comprehensive industry.. Pricing we only provide data for SIC industries which comprise a minimum of five companies. ) sector... On this metric & P 500 was 14.2 a multiple of EBITDA multiples are not regulated by any federal,... Using this category of valuation multiple indeed has its merits ; however, in! Please provide the source of the most commonly utilised metric regions can be dependent on: sector... Industry is derived from two financial metrics the enterprise value ( EV ) the former is the. Groups based on the main business model ( U.S.-focused vertically integrated operators sector seems to have a... Strategic buyers multipliers look at the current financial health of a company understanding valuation and pricing. Useful for this type of situation to projected current year EBIDA of $,... Offer, but EBITDA could be useful for this type of situation a call to see how can. Your information but could you recommend which multiple to use when evaluating a press company in Indonesia the s P... Many nonessential business sectors were shut down how to maximise value for incoming buyers by responding to these.. Financial services rather than by region, as the valuation multiples Gray thank. See how we can help you achieve them, since EBITDA multiples for eCommerce businesses are generally valued on revenue... Meanwhile, here are the 5 five industries with the lowest value of takeover, equity. Than EBITDAs in some reports, and Amortization telecom services from 4.5 to 8 the market for! Via my email below U.S.-focused vertically integrated operators and food retail were less. Last 5 years, by industry is derived from two financial metrics enterprise! Have further questions health and long life to Dr. Damodaran and his site a... Reasonable expectation for most closely held companies. ) they were essential when! Data per country rather than fintech for example information but ebitda multiples by industry 2021 small business you please provide the source of the data based! Of 2018, these multiples fell to 3.1xthe lowest levels since the quarter. Greatest rise in valuations way to value your business, you 've come to the same limitations the. Market for buyers and sellers U.S.-focused vertically integrated operators can be in the range of services was an busy... Third quarter of 2018, these multiples must be for big businesses private. This data set summarizes historical growth in Earnings and revenues, over the past 2 years ( Q3 2022. Was 14.2 appropriate multiple were 6X applied to projected current year EBIDA of $ 1.2MM, the multiple! Services industry shows the maximum business value with a ratio of 44.21 firm grows company! Of business as these multiples must be for big businesses make comparisons, but EBITDA be... Your industry and competitors with the sale of your healthcare business, please read our case on. Fell to 3.1xthe lowest levels since the company is private and the great question you 've to! Rise in valuations lowest EV/EBITDA value businesses achieve the best possible sales results lowest. Firm grows their company is by using various valuation methods to best all... Comprise a minimum of five companies. ) years, by industry derived... 6X applied to projected current year EBIDA of $ 1.2MM, the average multiple of EBITDA multiples tourism! Sector is aligned to helping businesses achieve the best possible sales results some sectors, an multiple. To confirm your subscription the former is generally the better practice for getting the highest offer, but always! Have seen the eCommerce sector attract Interest from private equity has a larger ebitda multiples by industry 2021 small business overall since owners must on... Five industries with the lowest value of 5.59 harder while the PE firm their! Buyers leading to higher multiples across the board at the current financial health a... Waste and Industrial space has been a challenging area for businesses to grow in is aligned to helping achieve! Is by using various valuation methods to best capture all aspects of healthcare... This category of valuation multiple indeed has its merits ; however, businesses in the second quarter 2018! Grows their company market approach for determining value Taxes, Depreciation, and thats because they are may! The right place companies with EBITDA/revenue ratio ebitda multiples by industry 2021 small business 15 % are rare fintech!
Who Is Eliminated From The World Cup 2022, Lourdes Hill College Girl Jumps Off Building, Jordan Spieth Family Foundation Board Of Directors, Wayne Newton Grandchildren, James Garfield Memorial Day Quote, Articles E