THE VALUATION PROCESS IN M&A TRANSACTIONS
Company valuations are based on a series of analyses of quantitative and qualitative features, which can be translated to monetary terms. These analyses throw a range of values which serve to calculate the real value of the company or its shares as objectively as possible.
Company valuations are essential for making the best strategic decisions in stock exchange listings, venture capital investments in non-listed companies, financings and, particularly, M&A transactions.
Company valuations are a starting point for setting transaction amounts, to be considered together with external variables such as the flexibility or rigidity of its share capital, any mergers underway in the same sector, and the efficiency of the financial markets. There are also external factors to bear in mind, including transparency in communications and the credibility of commercial strategies and income.
BUSINESS VALUATION METHODS
There are many methods of valuing a company. We set out four of the most common below:
Book value
The book value reflects how much a business is worth according to its financials. It is derived by subtracting the total liabilities of a company from its total assets, and then dividing the book value by the number of shares in circulation to determine the value of each share.
Liquidation value
Liquidation value is the minimum value of a company, equivalent to the addition of its individual parts. In order to calculate it, all assets including real estate, inventory, machinery etc are valued at a realistic market price, and liabilities including debt, mandatory provisions and liquidation costs are subtracted.
Times Revenue Method
This is a common method in M&A transactions, as it is a sound way of checking whether the purchase price of the target is realistic. Times revenue is calculated with reference to the sale price of similar companies which have been transferred recently. The sale price is divided by business revenue and the same result is applied to the company being valued.
Price-to-Earnings Ratio
The Price-to-Earnings Ratio measures the relationship between a company's stock price and its earnings per issued share. It refers to the number of times that the company's earnings are contained in the price of one share. In other words, a PER of 5 means that the initial investment will only be recovered after five years of accumulated profits.
PER is calculated in two ways:
● PER = Company market value (number of shares x share price) divided by net profit.
● PER = Share market price divided by earnings per share (EPS)
Do you need assistance with the valuation of your company in the context of an M&A transaction? Confianz´s M&A experts are there to support you.