Precedent Transactions Analysis

Precedent transactions analysis is based on the premise that the value of a company can be estimated by analyzing the prices paid by purchasers of similar companies under similar circumstances. This analysis assists in the understanding of (i) multiples and premiums paid in a specific industry and (ii) how other parties assess “private market” valuations. The purpose is similar to that of comparable companies analysis, except that examining prior acquisitions can give a sense of the premium paid to gain control of the target (the “control premium”). Because of the control premium, transaction multiples are generally higher than trading multiples.

Like other valuation techniques, precedent transaction analysis is as much art as it is science. Interpretation of the data requires familiarity with the industry and the assets involved. In a valuation context, it is sometimes advisable to identify a small subset of a broader group of precedent transactions. These “most comparable deals” should be studied in more detail to get a better understanding of the circumstances leading to the specific valuation levels.

Identifying Precedent Transactions

The quality of a precedent transaction analysis is dependent on the selection of the most relevant transactions. When choosing relevant transactions, several criteria must be considered:

• Industry and financial characteristics – Target company’s business and financial characteristics should be comparable
• Size of the deal – Transactions that are close in size to the one being contemplated are more relevant than those that are substantially smaller or larger
• Transaction-specific characteristics – It is necessary to understand the background and circumstances surrounding the transaction to extract meaningful insights (e.g. strategic vs. financial buyer, domestic vs. cross-border, full auction vs. negotiated deal, underlying market conditions)
• Timing – The more recent the data, the more relevant the benchmark

Information Sources – Selecting Relevant Transactions

• Securities Data Corporation (SDC) – SDC is a leading provider of mergers & acquisitions data, new issues data, and basic security information. An “SDC run” returns a spreadsheet of transactions meeting the search criteria you specify. A typical SDC run will look back 3-5 years, although a longer or shorter times period may be appropriate. While an SDC run is quick and easy to obtain, the list of transactions it produces is rarely exhaustive. Cross check information with news runs and research reports on the industry and consult with industry investment bankers, if available. Also, do not assume that the transaction values or multiples provided by the SDC run are accurate; all such data must be verified. An SDC run will require the following information: SIC codes, time frame, range of deal sizes, types of deals, and nationality of the acquirer/seller.
• Merger proxies – In the “Opinion of Financial Advisor” section of the merger proxy, the financial advisors describe the valuation methodologies used to value the companies involved and will often list the transactions used in the analysis.
• Research reports and trade publications – These often discuss significant transactions in their coverage area.
• Annual report/10-K – These may list recent transactions in the discussion of the competitive environment.

Information Sources – Transaction-Specific Information

Once the relevant transactions have been identified, there are several sources of information that will facilitate a thorough understanding of the respective transaction The amount of information available is closely tied to the transaction.

• Publicly traded target
  • Merger proxy – This document is filed in connection with transactions that require shareholder approval (e.g. public targets or stock-for-stock mergers involving the issuance of more than 20% of an acquirer’s shares as consideration).
  • Tender offer documents – Schedule TO and Schedule 14D-9 are filed in connection with tender offers, whether friendly or hostile.
• Publicly traded acquirer but private target
  • 8-K – An 8-K is filed by public companies in connection with significant events, such as a material acquisition. When a division or subsidiary is acquired or sold, the 8-K may be the only document filed.
  • Annual reports and 10-K – These will often include sections on significant transactions during the year.
  • Other public information (news run, trade press, research reports, etc.) may also be available to varying degrees.

Conducting the Analysis

The following exhibit shows what the spreadsheet output of a precedent transactions analysis might look like. When performing the analysis, you will often find that the data you require is not available (“NA”).