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The Business Value
Manager
Advice
Is Your Private Company’s Return
for business
Advice
On Investment Adequate?
owners,
for business How to Correctly Measure and
investors and
owners,
service providers
Significantly Improve ROI
investors and
on how to build
service providers seldom even have the right information to
value and wealth Most private company owners are uninformed,
on how to build or even worse, misinformed about their return make informed decisions.
through on investment (ROI). As a result, they fre-
value and wealth
quently make poor investment choices, take Investment
investment in
through unnecessary risks and fail to build long-term Which of the following constitutes the cor-
closely held rect measure of your investment in your
investment in private company wealth.
companies. private company?
closely held ◊ The initial investment you and other
Many ROI-related mistakes—ranging from
companies. operating decisions to making investments or shareholders made in the company plus
Executive Summary—Page 2 any subsequent investments
acquisitions—can be avoided through a basic
understanding of the unique ROI mechanics of ◊ Your investments in the company plus
Executive Summary—Page 2 any profits re-invested (this would be
a private company. This edition of The Busi-
ness Value Manager is a primer on how to the book value of equity on your bal-
measure private company ROI. ance sheet)
◊ The current
How to Correctly Measure ROI market value of
“Many ROI-related mistakes–
For private company owners to set all the tangible
appropriate return on investment ranging from operating decisions assets that you
goals, and measure investment per- to making investments or use in the opera-
formance in achieving those goals, acquisitions– can be avoided tions of your
they must have precise information business
through a basic understanding of
about four key ROI metrics:
the unique ROI mechanics of a The first two
1. Investment
2. Return private company.” answers pre-
3. Rate of Return sented above are
4. Value clearly incorrect, although they are fre-
quently used in return on capital employed
These are seldom measured correctly for pri- (ROCE) measurements. Those numbers
(Continued on page 2)
vate company decision making, and owners
PAGE 2

(Continued from page 1) For example, consider Microsoft. Its value today has nothing
represent costs incurred in the past that may or may not have to do with what people put into the company some years ago,
any relationship to value today. If these investments are low or the profits it re-invested, or whatever its tangible assets are
relative to value today, they generate a higher ROI; if they worth. The value of Microsoft stock trading in the market
are high relative to value today, they generate a lower ROI. today is solely a function of the future anticipated returns—
In either case, past investments are irrelevant (they are a dividends and stock appreciation—that shareholders expect
sunk cost) because the key measure for current decisions is to receive. This traditional model we use to value public
your investment value today. companies is the same one that should be used in valuing
profitable private companies.
The third choice listed above, the current value of the tangi-
ble assets used in your operations, is appropriate if your com- To summarize, as you consider your investment in your pri-
pany generates inadequate profits and no intangible value. In vate company, that investment is either limited to the current
an underperforming company with no intangible or goodwill market value of the tangible assets in the business, if it incurs
value, your investment consists primarily of the current value losses or if its profits are inadequate, or the investment is the
of the company’s tangible assets. From our experience work- present value of your future returns if the company’s opera-
ing in the middle market, over half of the private companies tions generate intangible value. For profitable companies,
we see fail to generate adequate profits and intangible value. this investment measure is harder to compute, but it is an
invaluable tool for owners making investment decisions.
An underperforming business is generally worth little or no
more to its current owners than its tangible asset value, even Return
though it may have valuable customers or technology and a Think of an investment you have made in a public company
good reputation. Because it fails to convert these qualities and what return you get from that investment. Obviously, it
into adequate profits, they create no intangible value for the is limited to dividends and appreciation in the stock value.
current owners unless they are sold to a buyer at a premium As an investor, you don’t get the company’s income, or its
price that reflects intangible value that buyer hopes to create. EBIT or EBITDA. If the company borrows money effec-
tively, the returns to investors include any benefits created by
If your business generates sufficient profits to create operat- this lower cost debt financing.
ing or goodwill value—that is, if you generate profits beyond
your required rate of return—your company possesses intan- Private company returns must be measured the same way.
gible value and your investment must be measured differ- The return that an investor in a private company should focus
ently. For companies that generate profits in excess of their on is the spendable cash that the company generates after
cost of capital, the owner’s investment in the business is the allowing for payment of all expenses and taxes and all re-
present value of the company’s anticipated future returns and investment requirements for working capital and capital ex-
the higher those anticipated returns are, the higher the penditures. This amount, which is sometimes called free cash
owner’s investment will be. flow, is the net cash flow on the capital invested in the busi-
ness. It is computed as follows:
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Net Cash Flow to Invested Capital
When private company owners and executives under- Net Income After Taxes
stand the proper way to calculate ROI—using numbers
not shown on traditional financial statements—they Add: Interest expense, net of income tax
greatly enhance their likelihood to achieve an adequate
ROI for their business. Add: Noncash charges—depreciation and amortization

The critical mechanics are investment, return, rate of Less: Capital expenditures
return and value. This issue of The Business Value Less: Increased investment in working capital
Manager is a primer on how to use them correctly, and (Continued on page 5)
how effective use of debt financing can improve ROI. = Net Cash Flow to Invested Capital
 PAGE 3

(Continued from page 2) sources must be computed. Some companies can take on
Curiously, net cash flow to invested capital appears on no
more lower cost debt because they have greater collateral or
financial statements and private company owners almost
more reliable returns that enable creditors to lend more
never see it. But it represents the critical cash that can be
money. The relative amounts of debt and equity vary by
taken from the business by debt and equity capital providers
company and by industry and affect the company’s cost of
after all of the company’s needs have been met. It is the
capital. The quality of management, level of competition and
capital providers’ true return.
other competitive factors also affect the like-
“...net cash flow to invested lihood that a company will achieve a fore-
Note that in providing this explanation, we
capital appears on no financial casted revenue, income and cash flow and
are using the return to debt and equity capi-
statements and private company all of these factors also affect its cost of
tal providers. This is necessary because the
capital. A private company’s weighted aver-
equity in a business benefits from the avail- owners almost never see it, but
age cost of debt and equity capital—its
ability of debt capital and appropriate use of it is the capital providers’ true
weighted average cost of capital (WACC)–
debt can improve return on equity. There- return.” probably varies from about 10% to 20%
fore, the proper computation of “return” for
depending on the company’s risk profile.
strategic planning and value creation purposes should be the
This risk profile is quantified through an analysis of the econ-
net cash flow return to debt and equity capital rather than
omy, industry and company to assess its overall competitive
just equity capital.
position and likelihood of success. This process yields the
company’s rate of return or WACC, which is used to discount
Rate of Return
its future returns to compute its present value.
The third critical metric for ROI, rate of return, must be un- (Continued on page 4)
derstood because every investment carries a different level of
risk. Proper investment choices must consider the risk or Recognize the Limitations of Valuation Multiples
likelihood that the investment’s future return will be An alternative way to express risk, and to determine the re-
achieved. This rate of return is also known as a cost of capi- sulting value, is through use of a multiple of operating per-
tal, a required rate of return, or a discount rate, and it is used formance. The most common multiples are applied to reve-
to quantify the likelihood that future returns will be achieved. nue, EBITDA or EBIT. While simple to use, these multiples
Fundamental investment theory states that investors will only can and usually do distort value for several reasons:
accept higher risk in investments if they have an opportunity ♦ They are a combined measure of the company’s risk and
to earn a higher return. Therefore, the higher the perceived its future growth potential, and they fail to clearly meas-
risk in an investment, the higher the rate of return must be on ure each of these distinct parameters.
that investment. Mathematically, higher rates of return cause ♦ They are applied to gross measures of return that inves-
greater discounting of anticipated future returns, which re- tors do not receive. Investor’s real returns—net cash
duces their value. Thus, the greater the risk, the greater the flow—are far less than revenue, EBIT or EBITDA.
discount rate and the lower the value. Conversely, lower risk ♦ They reflect the performance of the company for a single
would carry a lower discount rate and a higher value. period—often its latest fiscal year—which may not re-
flect its long-term future potential.
Note the distinction between your company’s required rate of ♦ Multiples are notoriously unreliable, and are often based
return, which reflects its relative level of risk, and your com- on the price paid in a single transaction or a few transac-
pany’s actual rate of return which reflects your historical tion that may not remotely reflect current market condi-
performance. Your actual return may be above or below tions or the risk profile of the subject company.
what you should be earning based on your investment’s risk. ♦ Multiples ignore value reflected only on a company’s
The required rate of return is the benchmark you must balance sheet, such as a surplus or a deficiency in assets.
achieve to create value. Because companies employ both The conclusion here should be clear: Be very cautious of
debt capital and equity capital—and hybrids such as preferred values based on multiples.
stock or convertible debt—the cost of each of these capital
PAGE 4

(Continued from page 3) An investment in most public companies can be liquidated in

Just as the current measure of the first two ROI metrics- in- a few days because those shares are traded on an active mar-
vestment and net cash flow to invested capital- require care- ket. For most private company investments, this is not the
ful calculation, so does the estimate of the company’s rate of case unless the private company owner owns 100% of the
return. But without this precise measure of risk, the return on business and it is in an industry where purchases and sales of
future investments cannot be accurately quantified. companies frequently occur.

Value Those who own a minority or lack of

“Wise investors never lose sight of
Value is a dangerous term because if it is not control interest in a private company
the fact that an alternative to must recognize that their lack of control
properly defined, it can easily be misinterpreted
continued ownership of their of the company’s operations, combined
and this lack of precision can yield bad invest-
ment decisions. private company is sale of it to a with the lack of a ready market for the
strategic buyer who can create company’s stock, renders their invest-
Based on the prior discussion, it should be clear ment relatively less attractive. Lack of
synergies and value
that investment in– and the value of—a private control and the accompanying lack of
enhancement.” marketability can diminish value by
company can be computed as the greater of the
current value of its tangible operating assets (if it generates 30% to 50% or even more of the pro-
inadequate returns), or the present value of its future returns portionate share of the value of the company as a whole.
discounted at a rate of return that reflects their relative level Thus, a further step that private company owners must take in
of risk. For an adequately profitable company, the present assessing their individual return on investment is to consider
value of its future returns will exceed the tangible value of its any diminution in value that occurs from lack of control and
operating assets with the excess representing the company’s lack of marketability. Investors who ignore these factors in
operating or intangible (sometimes called goodwill) value. planning an exit strategy for their private company invest-
This is the value of the business in the hands of its present ments are frequently disappointed as they learn of the weak-
owners, or to a financial buyer who would only bring cash to nesses in the bargaining position of a minority shareholder in
a deal to acquire the company. It is the company’s fair mar- a private company.
ket value, and it represents the owners’ current investment in
the business. Illustration of Correct ROI Calculation
The data that follows in Exhibits 1 through 5 illustrate how to
Investors should understand that same company may have a correctly compute net cash flow, weighted average cost of
higher strategic value– perhaps significantly higher—to a capital, investment, value and ROI for companies A and B,
strategic investor who, in buying the company, could create and Exhibit 6 presents the three fundamental ways to improve
higher returns, a lower capital investment, or lower risk ROI.
through their acquisition and ownership. Wise investors
never lose sight of the fact that an alternative to continued
ownership of their private company is sale of it to a strategic
buyer who could create synergies and value enhancement and
Index of Recent Issues of THE BUSINESS VALUE MANAGER
that through a sale, the seller often can share in these syner-
“Is Your Company Building Wealth—12 Value Metrics”
gistic benefits. “Is Your Shareholder Agreement a Timebomb?”
“Transfer Wealth at Discounted Values”
“SPECIAL REPORT: Sarbanes Oxley”
“Protecting Your Private Company Wealth from the Government”
In addition to the distinction between fair market value and “Critical Challenges Every Private Company Owner Must Address”
strategic value, investors should also focus on the distinction “Exit Planning-External Threats: Recognize When Your Ability to Compete is
Declining”
between the value of their company as a whole– 100% of it–
To order back copies, please contact us at: [email protected]
and the value of a fractional interest in it.

Reproduction is prohibited without permission.

 PAGE 5

Illustration of Correct Computation of Private Company ROI

The following data pertains to two private companies, A and B. Shareholders of each company invested $1 million to buy their
stock. Both had a market value of tangible invested capital (net operating assets) of $10 million on their balance sheets, as shown
below in Exhibit 1. Companies A and B had similar risk profiles, so both had the same weighted average cost of capital (WACC)
capitalization rate of 10%, as computed in Exhibit 3. Company A’s forecasted net cash flow to invested capital was $.7 million,
while Company B’s was $1.2 million, as shown in Exhibit 2, and both of these returns were expected to grow for the long-term,
annually at 6%. The companies’ actual net cash flow returns for the current year were $750 for A and $1,100 for B.

EXHIBIT 1
Balance Sheet—Beginning of Current Year
Companies A & B Companies A & B
Book Value Market Value Book Value Market Value
(000) (000) (000) (000)
Cash 1,000 1,000 Accts Payable 2,000 2,000

Accts Receivable 2,000 2,000 Notes Payable 6,000 6,000

Inventory 3,000 3,000 Total Liabilities 8,000 8,000

Fixed Assets (net) 4,000 6,000 Total Equity 2,000 4,000

Total Assets 10,000 12,000 Total Liab & Equ 10,000 12,000

Less: Accts Pay (2,000) (2,000) Less: Accts Pay (2,000) (2,000)

Net Oper Assets $8,000 $10,000 Invested Capital $8,000 $10,000

EXHIBIT 2 EXHIBIT 3
Forecasted Net Cash Flow for Current Year Weighted Average Cost of Capital
Company A Company B Capital After Weight Weighted
(000) (000) Source Tax Average Cost
Cost
EBITDA 2,700 3,300
Debt 4% 40% 1.6%
Depreciation (700) (700)
Interest (400) (600) Equity 24% 60% 14.4%
Income Tax (600) (800)
WACC Discount Rate 16.0%
Net Income 1,000 1,200
Less: Long-term Growth -6%
Add: Net Interest 200 300 Rate
Expense
WACC Capitalization 10%
Add: Depreciation 700 700 Rate
Less: Cap. Expend. (900) (800)
Less: Work. Capital (300) (200)
Net Cash Flow I/C 700 1,200
PAGE 6
 PAGE 7

(Continued from page 5)

EXHIBIT 4
Calculation of Investment (and Value) as of the Beginning of the Current Year
Company A and B
Fair Market Value of Net Tangible Assets from $10,000,000
Balance Sheet
Company A
Present Value of Forecasted Net Cash Flows $700,000
= $7,000,000
10%
Company B
Present Value of Forecasted Net Cash Flows $1,200,000
= $12,000,000
10%
Conclusion: While inadequate net cash flow returns prevent Company A’s operating value from exceeding the $10 million current value of its
net tangible assets, the value of Company B is $12 million based on its cost of capital, anticipated profits, cash flow, and growth. These are the
key measures of “investment” that shareholders should consider. The shareholders’ original investment of $1 million, and the current book
value of equity and invested capital are irrelevant in computing investment and ROI.

EXHIBIT 5
Calculation of ROI for Current Year for Company A and B
Based on each company’s actual performance in the current year, and their competitive position at year-end, Company A is expected to earn
$900 next year and Company B is expected to earn $1300, with both earnings expected to grow at 6% for the long-term. Each company had
net tangible assets worth $10.5 million at year-end. While Company A’s risk profile remains at 16% at year-end, Company B has strength-
ened its management and its balance sheet which reduced its risk and cost of capital from 16% to 15%. Using this information, the value of
each company at year-end is computed as follows:
Company A Company B
$900,000 $1,300,000
= $9,000,000 = $14,400,000
(16% - 6%) (15% -6%)
The total return to debt and equity capital providers for the current year is then computed as follows:
Company A Company B
Value of Investment at the End of the Year $10,500,000 $14,400,000
Value of the Investment at the Beginning of the Year $10,000,000 $12,000,000
Invested Capital Appreciation $ 500,000 $ 2,400,000
Add: Actual Net Cash Flow for Current Year $750,000 $1,100,000

Total Return for Current Year $1,250,000 $3,500,000

Each company’s return on invested capital for the current year is computed as follows:
Company A Company B
Total Return for Current Year $ 1,250,000 = 12.5% $ 3,500,000 = 29.2%
Value of Investment at Beginning of Year $10,000,000 $12,000,000
In the illustration presented in this article, the computation of ROI includes capital appreciation , which is based on each company’s risk profile and
expected performance at year-end, as well as the net cash flow return for that year.
Can the calculation of ROI be considered reliable when one of its two major components is based on an estimate of future performance?
The estimated performance must be based on sound, objective judgment for the ROI conclusion to be credible. The ROI of public companies, how-
ever, also includes capital appreciation based on anticipated performance, so the process presented is the standard method used for public companies.
Because building value is a financial objective in every company, capital appreciation must be considered to accurately compute ROI.
PAGE 8

(Continued from Page 4)

EXHIBIT 6
Illustration of Operating Options to Enhance ROI
Building Private Company Value
Once the mechanics of private company ROI are understood, the next step is to devise a strategy to improve the company’s ROI. The key fac-
tors in ROI should now be clear: * Investment (current value) * Return (net cash flow) * Rate of Return (risk)
Option 1—Reduce the investment in net oper- Option 2—Increase forecasted net cash Option 3—Decrease the Company’s risk without
ating assets employed without causing returns flow returns without increasing the in- increasing shareholder investment or impairing net
to decrease or risk to increase. vestment in the Company or its risk. cash flow returns.

Illustration: Illustration: Illustration:

Through more frequent inventory turns, re- Through improved advertising, increase By introducing a new product line that appeals to
duce the required investment in inventory from net cash flow by $100,000, which when more customers, the Company reduces its heavy
a market value of $3 million to $2.5 million, capitalized at 10%, yields $1 million in reliance on its major customer. This reduced cus-
and pay out the $.5 million to shareholders. increased Company value. tomer concentration cuts the Company’s weighted
The Company’s net cash flow and value re- average cost of capital capitalization rate from 10%
main the same, it requires less capital invest- to 9.5%. When the forecasted return of $1.2 mil-
ment to generate that cash flow, and share- lion is capitalized at 9.5%, company value is in-
holders receive an added return. creased by $.63 million.

Conclusion: ROI can be enhanced through any combination of reduced investment, improved returns or lower risk. Wise shareholders constantly pur-
sue strategies to achieve these value enhancements. These shareholders also should recognize that a primary– if not the most important– contribution of
a company’s board and senior management is to devise and execute successful strategies to enhance ROI. These strategies should be presented and
reviewed annually as the centerpiece of the company’s strategic planning process.

on collateral and cash flow. They must protect their lim-

How Debt Financing Affects ROI ited return on the downside, because they get no share of
What are the pros and cons of financing with varying levels the added return on the upside.
of debt, and how do investors determine the optimum level?
Describing debt financing as “financial leverage” is really As shown in Exhibit 7, the degree of financial leverage also
quite accurate because the debt funds enable the owners to creates volatility in equity returns. When earnings varied
lever or increase the return they earn on their equity. The from $800,000 to $2,400,000 under the lower leverage of
rub, however, is that the leverage effect can also lower the capital structure A, the resulting earnings per share ranged
investors’ return. Exhibit 7 illustrates how debt can affect from $4.80 per share at an EBIT of $800,000 to $14.40 per
rates of return on equity. share at an EBIT of $2,400,000. With the higher debt in
capital structure C, however, earnings per share varied much
Investors should draw several conclusions from a review of more, from $3.00 to $27.00 over the same range of EBIT.
the results shown in Exhibit 7:
• Because the interest cost of debt is fixed, it must be paid This volatility, which is portrayed graphically in Exhibit 8,
regardless of earnings levels and when earnings are low, clearly illustrates both the risks and rewards of financial lev-
the interest expense limits or even can eliminate the re- erage. And it emphasizes to private company owners the
turn to equity. critical need to clearly understand your company’s competi-
• Because the interest cost of debt is fixed, when earnings tive position. The stronger your long-term position appears
are strong, the equity holders collect all of the increased to be, the more stable your resulting earnings and cash flows
earnings; the creditors get none of it. should be which enable you to take greater advantage of debt
• The lower risk, lower return nature of debt forces credi- financing. A less certain or weaker ability to compete re-
quires safer financing with less debt.
tors (bankers, primarily for private companies) to focus
Higher growth companies frequently need capital for expan-
 PAGE 9

This is often critically important for investors nearing retire-

Higher growth companies frequently need capital for expan- ment who should reduce their private company investment to
sion, and their owners can benefit from the many choices of decrease their risk, and increase both their portfolio diversifi-
funding that the market offers. In addition to traditional debt, cation and their liquidity.
there are sources of subordinated debt and hybrid debt/equity
funds that offer risk/reward combinations to fit almost any The message here should be clear. Private company owners
need. Whether an investor class wants a minimum level of should review their capital structure annually, as well as
fixed returns, protection on the downside, potential on the before any major capital expenditure, refinancing or owner-
upside, or incentives to management to share in stock value ship change is contemplated. With a clear understanding of
enhancement, financing mechanisms exist. Each offers dif- the risk/reward consequences of creative financing, owners
ferent levels of risk and return to match an individual inves- can both increase their ROI and better achieve their other
tor’s circumstances, considering the company’s financing financial goals in the process.
capabilities.
Discussion Questions on ROI Fundamentals
These financing options are also very beneficial when private 1. Do investors in public companies also focus on net
companies have owners with major differences in their age, cash flow to invested capital in computing ROI? Pro-
wealth, liquidity, desire for corporate control, and appetite for fessional public company investors and managers focus
risk. Such owners are not limited to a “one size fits all” capi- primarily on net cash flow to equity, which is the return
tal structure. A blended structure can meet multiple needs, they actually receive. It consists of dividends and appre-
and this structure can be changed to fit changing investor ciation in stock value. Because public company inves-
circumstances and needs. tors generally cannot influence the company’s capital
structure and its level of debt, they focus on cash flow
Investors are considering three capital structures, A, B, and C, to provide $10 million of capital for their company. Assuming an interest
cost of 10%, an income tax rate of 40%, and a stock price of $1,000 per share, note how the earnings per share (EPS) varies with the
capital structures at the three different levels of earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT).
EXHIBIT 7
Balance Sheet (000)
Assets Liabilities and Equity
Capital Structure A B C
Interest Bearing Debt 0 3,000 6,000
Equity 10,000 7,000 4,000
Total 10,000 Total 10,000 10,000 10,000
Calculation of Earnings Per Share With Different Capital Structures at Different Levels of Earnings
(000) except Earnings Per Share
Capital Structure A B C A B C A B C
EBIT 800 800 800 1600 1600 1600 2400 2400 2400
Interest Expense 0 300 600 0 300 600 0 300 600
(10%)
EBT 800 500 200 1600 1300 1000 2400 2100 1800
Income Tax 320 200 80 640 520 400 960 840 720
Expense (40%)
Net Income 480 350 120 960 780 600 1440 1260 1080
Number of Shares 100 70 40 100 70 40 100 70 40
EPS 4.80 4.29 3.00 9.60 11.14 15.00 14.40 18.00 27.00
PAGE 10

(Continued from page 9) gence of a new strong competitor, or the loss of a key
person, affect value? When does
EXHIBIT 8
such a change occur? The value
Increased Volatility in Earnings Per Share Created by Variation in
of publicly traded stock moves up
Amount of Financial Leverage
and down every day based on
changing competitive factors and
30 the same thing actually occurs with
Earnings Per Share (EPS)

27
24 private companies. It simply is
21 noticed much less, or not at all,
18 A
15 because the value of private com-
B
12 panies is generally not monitored
9 C
on a regular basis. Changes in
6
3 stock value for public and private
0 companies occur as soon as inves-
-3 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 2200 2400 2600 2800
-6 tors are aware of new competitive
-9 information.
Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT) 5. When should shareholders
(000) focus on a company’s value to a
strategic buyer versus its fair
after borrowing rather than net cash flow to invested market value? Shareholders are wise to always moni-
capital, which is before borrowing. tor the interest strategic buyers may have in their com-
2. In valuing a company, how is the company’s discount pany and the price buyers would pay based on synergies
rate or rate of return determined? The discount rate they believe they could achieve through an acquisition.
reflects risk or the likelihood of achievement of fore- Shareholders should pay particular attention to the level
casted returns. It reflects the company’s competitive of interest expressed by strategic buyers when they be-
position, including general economic and industry condi- lieve their company’s strategic position, and therefore its
tions and the company’s internal strengths and weak- competitive advantages, are about to decline. At that
nesses. Determining this rate is a complex process that time, strategic buyers may be able to overcome this
takes substantial training and experience. weakness and pay an attractive price to do so.
3. How does a company’s actual performance versus 6. Since a lower cost of capital, which reflects lower
expectations affect value? As this article has explained, risk, generates a higher value, can investors create
anticipated future profits, if they are adequate, and the value by increasing debt to lower their company’s
likelihood of achieving them determine a company’s cost of capital or WACC? While this makes theoreti-
value. When a company’s actual performance is above cal sense, it fails a reality check. Value is a function of
or below anticipated performance, investors use this new what the market will pay for an asset and a property’s
information to determine their new expectations and current capital structure is generally of little interest to
ultimately the value of the company’s stock. So investors buyers because buyers brings their own capital. Thus,
continually monitor a company’s historical performance, buyers could independently bring the benefits of finan-
but generally make their investment decisions based on cial leverage that debt creates, so buyers should not be
anticipated future performance. This same continual expected to pay any premium to the seller for the debt
process of assessing actual versus anticipated perform- financing the seller possesses. While debt financing can-
ance occurs with public companies where actual profits not artificially raise a company’s value, it can increase
are always compared against the level that was expected. investor’s ROI as this article has explained.
4. Does a key change in a company’s competitive posi-
tion, such as a breakthrough in technology, the emer-
 PAGE 11

Connecting Financial Metrics to Value Drivers

Exhibit 6 presents three options to improve ROI by focusing on the key metrics of investment, net cash flow and rate of return.
Investors and managers must recognize, however, that these metrics reflect the results of activities in functional operating areas
of the business that drive the company’s performance and value. Thus, successful strategy must link improvement of the key ROI
metrics to performance, efficiency and effectiveness in these key functional areas.

The following exhibits connects important financial statement figures to their underlying activities in the business.

EXHIBIT A EXHIBIT B
Profit Margin Value Drivers Asset Turnover Value Drivers
Value Drivers Income Statement Value Drivers Balance Sheet
Accounts Accounts
Markets Sales Customer Base Accounts Receivable
Customers Industry Practices and Collection Period
Advertising and Marketing Policy Credit Policy
Volume Collection Procedures
Pricing Discounts and Allowances
Product Bundling Potential Credit Loss Exposure
Production Capacity Cost of Goods Sold Supplier Capabilities Inventory and Turnover
Production Efficiency Purchasing versus Handling versus
Product Design Carrying Costs
Raw Material Choices and Costs Customer Loyalty and Stock Out
Labor Costs Risks
Overhead Costs and Utilization Production Requirements
Distribution Capabilities
Warehousing and Distribution Operating Expenses
Obsolescence Threats
Costs and Efficiency
Marketing, Advertising, and Supplier Base and Purchasing Power Accounts Payable,
Selling Costs Industry Practices Accrued Payables, and
General Administration Policies Payment Policy Payment Period
and Costs Cash Flow Capacity
Discounts and Allowances
Attributes Income Taxes
Credit Availability
Strategies
Rates Current and Anticipated Capacity Fixed Assets and
Production and Scheduling Turnover
Source for Exhibits A & B: VALUATION FOR M&A: Building Value in Efficiency
Private Companies by Frank C. Evans and David M. Bishop, published by Warehousing and Distribution
John Wiley & Sons Efficiency
Capital Constraints
Conclusion Vendor/Supplier Capacity and
Reliability
The message here is that achievement of improved profit mar- Make or Buy Options
gins, asset utilization and cash flow results from improved exe-
cution in these operations. Holding managers accountable for performance of these activities will yield results on the financial
statements and in the investors’ ROI.

Summary
Private company owners and executives should focus everyday on maximizing shareholder value and ROI just as public compa-
nies do. Lack of sound information and processes is no longer justification for not driving and accurately tracking investor re-
turns. If you seriously want to build long-term value in your private company, call us to implement this process for your investors.
 P.O. Box 655
One East State Street
Sharon, PA 16146

Phone: 724-346-0150 Fax: 724-342-4510

Visit us on the Web!

www.evansandassociates.net

Frank C. Evans
ASA, CBA, CPA/ABV
[email protected]

Our Mission Personal Attention Backed by a

Network of National Resources
Evans and Associates is a leading provider of strategic valua-
tion advisory services. We maximize wealth and Evans and Associates is a specialized valuation
Shop Carefully for Valuation
profits for individuals Expertise
and corporations. Personal Attention Backed by advisory
a firm
small enough to provide the personal attention you want, but
When your circumstances require measurement
Just as patients or
seek specialists of
forbusiness
serious medical
Network ofpossess
deep enough to National
the broadResources
range of service expertise
management value, conditions, you may need. Our membership in the American Business
specialized our
qualifications are required in business
focused approach provides solutions. valuation.
Smith Evans(ABA)
Appraisers CarrierNational
is a specialized
Network– valuation
we were advisory firm
the founding
Some credentials
Our team’spresented by in
expertise so-called experts
competitive actually dem-
analysis, small enough to provide the personal attention you want,
affiliate member—provides resources and advice from other but
onstrate finance
no knowledge of business
and accounting, valuation.
merger Others require
and acquisition, deep enough known
nationally to possess the broad
valuation rangeOur
experts. of service expertise
ABA affiliation
little or no testing,
riskwork product
analysis andreview or experience to
value creation you may need.
enables Our membership
us to effectively executeinvirtually
the American Businessor
any valuation
achieve. forms the basis for our opinions and advice.
Appraisers (ABA)
mergernational network–assignment.
and acquisition we were the founding
affiliate member– provides resources and advice from other
Smith Evans Carrier
Typical invites close
engagements scrutiny
for Evans andof Associates
our credentials.
nationally known valuation experts. Our ABA affiliation
We have demonstrated the highest level of achievement
include specialized valuation consultation for the purpose in our
of enables us to effectively execute virtually any valuation or
profession, and are active locally and nationally in writing,
gift or estate planning, merger and acquisition, shareholder merger and acquisition assignment.
speaking and governance.
value enhancementThisand
expertise clearly
litigation results from
support.
our strategic focus and full-time commitment to comprehensive
business valuation
Evans and knowledge
Associatesand service. Smith
Credentials Evans Car-
Include:
rier's credentials can be reviewed
Accredited in detail
Senior at
Appraiser
www.businessval.com Certified Business Appraiser
Certified Public Accountant Accredited in Business Valuation