Comparing Controlling Interest Transactions – Common Mistakes Valuation Analysts Make When Using the Controlling Interest Transaction Method to Value a Business
by Cody Lindman
When valuing a business, valuation analysts consider three approaches to value: the income approach, the market approach, and the asset approach. Two of the most common valuation methods within the market approach are the guideline public company method and the controlling interest transaction method. When utilizing the controlling interest transaction method, the most frequently used transaction database is DealStats. Below are some of the most common mistakes we see other valuation analysts make when utilizing a transaction database such as DealStats.
Searching the Incorrect Industry for Comparable Transactions
When utilizing the controlling interest transaction method, the first step is to search for comparable transactions. It should be easy, right? All you have to do is search by the subject company’s SIC or NAICS industry code. The process should be easy given that companies list the NAICS code most applicable to their business on their federal tax return, right? Wrong. Although some valuation analysts may not admit it, determining the correct SIC and NAICS code for a business is a critical part of the valuation process and more difficult to get right than you would think. One of the reasons for the difficulty is the fact that most businesses do not fit cleanly into a particular SIC or NAICS code. In these instances, it is up to the appraiser to determine what they believe is the most appropriate SIC or NAICS code. As for the NAICS code listed on the subject company’s federal tax return, we have found that the code listed is incorrect approximately half of the time. When this occurs, the valuation analyst must research the subject business, examine the possible NAICS codes, and select the most accurate one.
Including Transactions Involving Companies Dissimilar to the Subject Company
After some difficulty, the valuation analyst has now determined the subject company’s SIC and NAICS code. After searching by either the subject’s SIC or NAICS code, the valuation analyst now has a list of comparable transactions. Now all they need to do is multiply one of the subject company’s financial metrics by the analogous median multiple of the comparable transactions to determine the value of the subject company, right? Wrong. The most important and often overlooked step in utilizing the controlling interest transaction method is to attempt to fully understand and question each of the comparable transactions. As we discussed previously, determining the correct SIC or NAICS code for a business is difficult. Therefore, it should not be a surprise that the people who categorize the comparable transactions sometimes make mistakes and mis-characterize the industry in which a business operates. Additionally, some of the transactions may involve businesses that are significantly smaller or larger than the subject company. Lastly, each transaction is subject to different terms, such as how the transactions will be financed, what is transferred, etc. It is up to the valuation analyst to look at the financial metrics, read the description of the acquired business, and understand the terms of the transaction to determine whether the transaction should be included as a comparable.
Failing to Account for the Differences in Asset and Stock Transactions
One of the most important things to note when analyzing a transaction pulled from DealStats is whether the transaction is characterized as either an “asset sale” or a “stock sale.” In a typical asset sale, the transaction is structured whereby the buyer acquires the inventory, furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E), and intangible assets while the seller retains the company’s cash and receivables and pays off the company’s debt. A stock sale is considerably more straightforward; a buyer purchases all of the target company’s shares that are issued and outstanding. Although both types of transactions can be used to value a business, valuation analysts should be aware of the differences between the two structures. One way to handle the differences is to separate asset sales and stock sales into two different groups and then apply the corresponding multiples separately. However, this can be challenging if there are only a few asset sales or stock sales. Alternatively, a valuation analyst can restate the selling price of asset sales to convert them into a stock sale equivalent or vice-versa. This is normally the approach that valuation analysts at Shenehon undertake because it allows us to consider all of the comparable transactions on an apples-to-apples basis. To convert an asset sale to a stock sale equivalent, a valuation analyst would add net working capital to the asset sale price (however, if inventory changed hands in the asset sale, it should be subtracted from net working capital so as to not double count it). Converting a stock sale to an asset sale equivalent can be more difficult, as the process requires that a purchase price allocation (PPA) was performed. If specific allocation information is not available, it may be impossible to convert a stock sale to an asset sale equivalent, potentially making it necessary to eliminate that particular transaction. The general process for converting a stock sale to an asset sale equivalent is to determine the total asset value of the acquired business and then subtract the value of all assets acquired except for inventory, FF&E, and intangibles. The resulting value is an asset sale equivalent value.