The Role of Business Valuation in Mergers and Acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions have always been an important part of businesses, but the recent increase in SPACs and IPOs has made them more important than ever before.
It is important to learn about the different aspects of mergers and acquisitions, such as business valuation, to ensure the process is completed efficiently.
In this article, we’ll discuss the basics of mergers and acquisitions and the role business valuation plays in them.
Overview of Mergers and Acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are transactions conducted between two companies to combine these organizations. Generally, the terms merger and acquisition are used interchangeably, but they have varying legal meanings.
- Merger refers to the combination of two companies of the same size to create a new single entity.
- Acquisition refers to a larger company acquiring a smaller company in such a way that the business of the smaller company is absorbed into the larger organization.
The exact nature of a merger or acquisition can vary greatly.
What is Business Valuation?
Business valuation is an effective financial management tool that enables businesses to attain optimal financial health. The primary objective of business valuation is to ensure legal compliance and address any tax or legal concerns that may arise within the company.
Nevertheless, it can also be performed for other reasons, such as mergers and acquisitions.
Business valuation has a set of policies, procedures, and accounting methods that are used to evaluate the financial value of a business.
An experienced accounting or audit firm in Singapore is capable of performing the business valuation efficiently to get accurate results.
Who Performs Valuation in M&A?
Generally, both the acquirer and the target conduct business valuations in an M&A transaction. It is understandable that the acquirers want to buy a target at the lowest possible price, while the target will want to sell at the highest possible price.
This natural bias can result in significant differences in the prices valued by both the target and the acquirer. As a result, it is highly recommended that the companies rely on a third-party, such as an audit firm in Singapore, to obtain an accurate value without any bias.
Importance of Business Valuation
Business valuation is important in merger and acquisition transactions for the following reasons:
- Valuation is important in setting the foundation of the M&A process. Experts use different metrics in business valuation to set the baseline and determine what can be done to further improve the business.
- Valuation is also useful in analyzing the strong and weak areas of a business. It can be used to determine the improvements and changes that can be made in business procedures and the overall business model.
- Conducting a business valuation after a certain period and comparing it with the last reports is useful in determining the progress of the business and seeing if it is meeting its actual goal. It can set the tone for negotiations in merger and acquisition agreements.
- Business valuation is a great tool for gap identification. It means finding out the gaps in the company’s working model and finding areas for further improvements to enhance productivity and profitability.
- Business valuation is also useful in the overall management of an organization as it provides a comprehensive view of the company’s working procedures and helps the executives make strategic decisions, including whether to move forward with M&A or not.
- Valuation is also useful in setting benchmarks against competitors and determining whether the company is performing as per the initial consultation. It paves the way for accountability if certain goals or benchmarks are not met.
- Valuation is also important for borrowing or loan purposes. Financial institutions and banks are likely to ask for a detailed valuation before they approve any kind of loan. Similarly, the company board and regulatory bodies are likely to evaluate the valuation documents before approving the merger and acquisition.
- The price of the company and its assets is the most important factor to consider in M&A transactions, and business valuation with the help of a professional audit firm in Singapore is the key to successfully determining the price.
- Business valuation is also the key to the future planning of a business. It helps businesses update their financial forecast and chart a way for further business development without putting any extra strain on the finances.
Final takeaways
Taking into account all the benefits and aspects discussed above, there is no doubt that business valuation holds paramount importance in merger and acquisition transactions. Without proper valuation, the success of M&A endeavors cannot be expected.
Therefore, it is crucial to rely on experts, such as an audit firm in Singapore, to seek assistance from experienced professionals and ensure accurate and efficient completion of the process.
