PWC Valuation Methodology Survey 2015
PWC Valuation Methodology Survey 2015
PWC Valuation Methodology Survey 2015
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http://www.pwc.co.za/valuation-survey
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Contents
Section 1: Foreword 2
Section 1:
Foreword
22 | Africa:
Africa:
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Valuation
Valuation
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2014/15
Main Section
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Foreword
Contents
Foreword 4
Key contacts 6
PwC in Africa 8
PwCPwC
Corporate
Corporate
Finance
Finance |3 3
Foreword
PwC Corporate Finance is pleased to present the seventh edition of the biennial Valuation
Methodology Survey. For the first time, in the previous edition of the survey, we included
a perspective from our colleagues in East and West Africa. In this edition, we broadened
the reach of the survey to include Francophone Africa and the survey now represents a
wider view across the African continent.
Since our previous survey, interest in Africa as an investment destination has continued
to grow, with the continent often viewed as an investment market with the potential
for significant growth and superior returns. In the current year, we wanted to test
our respondents experiences around their activities in Africa and as a result included
questions sampling:
The focus in Africa is now on finding the right
partnership or local participation model
100% ownership with remote management is
no longer seen as a viable option.
Simon Venables
PwC Deals Leader, sub-Saharan Africa
Foreword
The lack of market data, valuation inputs and research normally required to perform
investment evaluation and analysis remains one of the key challenges to doing business
in Africa. As a result the survey continues to focus on the technical valuation questions
and data that will provide investors with a starting point for investment analysis in
African markets.
We trust that you will find these insights both informative and thought provoking. The
sections on East and West Africa have improved in the current survey in terms of both the
number of respondents and depth of questions and should provide a better view of these
regional markets.
This survey represents the views of 77 financial analysts and corporate financiers 35
in Southern Africa, 19 in East Africa and 23 in West Africa. We would like to thank all
respondents for their valued contribution and the time and effort taken to participate in
the survey. Thank you also to the teams in Nairobi, Lagos, Accra, Johannesburg, Abidjan,
Paris, Cape Town and Ebne that assisted with the compilation of the survey.
We trust that the survey will continue to be of benefit to readers and contribute to the
development of valuation practice in the wider African market. We look forward to
feedback from our respondents and readers to be incorporated in the 2016/17 edition of
the survey.
Southern Africa
Jan Groenewald
Valuation & Economics Leader
Southern Africa
[email protected]
Matthew Human
Valuation & Economics
Southern Africa
[email protected]
East Africa
Tibor Almassy
Deals Leader
East Africa
[email protected]
Terry Kimundi
Advisory Transactions
Kenya
Key contacts
West Africa
Andrei Ugarov
Corporate Finance
Nigeria
[email protected]
Gbolahan Ashagbe
Corporate Finance
Nigeria
[email protected]
Francophone Africa
Franoise Gintrac
Valuation & Business Modelling
France
Cdric Lemaire
Valuation & Business Modelling
France
[email protected]
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Africa
PwC in Africa
Wherever you do business in Africa,
were there for you.
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Valuations in Africa
Contents
Introduction 12
Valuations in Africa 29
PwC
PwCCorporate
CorporateFinance
Finance |1111
Introduction
Valuations in Africa
In response to the increased investor interest in Africa since the 2008 global financial
crisis, our 2012 survey explored our respondents perceptions of investment in Africa
and the difficulties in doing valuations on the continent.
Over the past two years, investor interest in Africa has gained momentum. A flood
of publications has appeared exploring the macro-economic drivers behind Africas
Valuations in Africa
growth, the attractiveness of various countries, Africas increased prosperity and the
ease of doing business on the continent. Most global advisory firms have opened Africa
desks in their key markets to assist their clients in Africa.
Investment into Africa happens for different
reasons depending on the investor groups. Aside
from large infrastructural and natural resources
investments, consumer product companies have a
strong eye on the continent. Geopolitical unrest
in parts of the world and also political instability
in some of the emerging countries will make
investors more cautious and this may counter the
unrivalled promise of growth. Investors will weigh
this into their valuations.
Cornelis Smaal
Global Head of Corporate Finance, PwC
In this section, we provide feedback on these topics from survey respondents across the
continent. The statistics discussed in this section therefore represents a consolidated
picture of East Africa, West Africa (including Francophone Africa) and Southern Africa.
Q: In how many deals on the African continent were you and/or your team
involved over the past 24 months?
Valuations in Africa
5 or fewer than 5
6 10
11 15
16 20
More than 20
Figure 2.1 Opportunities explored on the African continent over the past 24 months
2%
23% 4% 6%
27%
7% 2014
2012
39% 49%
9%
34%
The results clearly indicate an increase in activity across Africa. In 2012, around 12% of
respondents had considered more than 10 transactions. This number increased to 39% in
2014 and may also be a result of the general improvement in deal activity post the 2008
recession. The next question supports this statement as deal activity appears to be driven
by activity in home markets.
country?
None
15
6 10
11 15
16 20
More than 20
0 15 6 10 11 15 16 20 More than 20
3%
5%
14% 2%
6% 4% 6% 8%
17%
2014
2012
39% 41%
55%
Valuations in Africa
In the UK, we have seen a significant upsurge in
interest in sub-Saharan Africa. The phrase Africa
rising is heard frequently and there are many events
around London about investing in the continent.
However, at this stage I sense that many investors are
still standing on the sidelines uncertain about the
risks and potential rewards.
Paul Cleal
Africa Business Group Leader, PwC UK
Increased deal activity in advisers home markets may highlight the need
for local knowledge in assessing African opportunities.
In our next question, we tested respondents views on the main sources of investor
interest in African markets.
Valuations in Africa
Q: Based on your experience, rate the level of investor interest in Africa from
each of the following destinations.
EU
US
Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC)
South Africa
Other African countries
The responses to this question confirm a high level of interest in transactions on the
continent from all regions included in our question. South Africa, the EU and the BRIC
Valuations in Africa
countries recorded the highest score for investor interest in African markets. The US
and remainder of the African continent recorded the lowest score, but still indicated a
significant level of interest in investment in the continent.
In order to test which African countries attracted the most investor interest, we asked
respondents which countries they had worked in over the last two years. In analysing
Valuations in Africa
responses, we excluded each respondents home market from the results for that region.
For example, for South African respondents we excluded South Africa from their
responses and looked at the next top five markets in which they had worked.
Q: Please indicate all of the countries in Africa in which you/your team have
performed valuation work during the last 24 months.
Figure 2.4 Top five countries in which work was done in the last 24 months
22
21 21
19 19
17
16
11 11
10
9
8
7
4 4
1 1 1 2
Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Mauritius and Zambia were the top five countries in which
the most respondents had done work over the past 24 months. It should be noted that
the level of activity in the top 15 countries identified by respondents was very similar, as
shown in the table that follows.
Valuations in Africa
natural resources or significant infrastructure
projects (such as the DRC, Angola or Algeria),
there is an increasing interest in geographies
that can offer a significant market for industrial
products, consumer goods and services.
Considering the current weakness in regional
integration, investors target countries with
significant domestic markets such as Nigeria,
South Africa, Ghana, Kenya or Algeria.
Destinations providing political stability and
sound financial organisation such as Morocco or
Cte dIvoire are also favoured.
Philippe Couderc
Transactions Partner Coordination, PwC Maghreb
& Francophone Africa
Top 15 non-home countries in which work was done in the last 24 months
Ghana 22
Nigeria 21
Tanzania 21
Mauritius 19
Zambia 19
Mozambique 18
Botswana 16
Kenya 16
Zimbabwe 16
Uganda 15
Namibia 14
Cte dIvoire 13
Rwanda 11
South Africa 11
Democratic Republic of Congo 9
Different regions offer different dynamics.
The East African region is very much seen as
Valuations in Africa
an advanced market in terms of institutional
frameworks, but also dominated by a Kenya-
centric hub approach. In the longer term,
upcoming markets such as Ethiopia will become
the new favourites and the investment flows
between the Middle East and East Africa will
continue to be a major driver.
Tibor Almassy
Deals Leader, PwC Africa East Markets
As a next step, we wanted to determine the most popular target industries in Africa.
Q: Please indicate the industries in which the African target companies you
have valued generally operate.
Valuations in Africa
Financial services
Information technology and telecommunications
Mining
Oil & gas
Retail & consumer goods
Industrialised products
Infrastructure and construction
Agriculture, hunting and forestry
Hospitality
Electricity and water supply
Hospitality Mining
0.5
2.0
2.5
Infrastructure & construction Retail & consumer goods
Industrialised products
Clients are looking for longer-term potential
growth and areas where they can get a step
Valuations in Africa
ahead of the competition. Thats why the
idea of investing in Africa attracts them.
Whereas in the past Africas story from a
business perspective was largely about natural
resources, the opportunities driven by an
emerging middle class are much wider.
Paul Cleal
Africa Business Group Leader, PwC UK
As expected, the level of activity by industry differs between regions, but in our latest
survey, we noted a wider spread of target industries. This may be an indication of the
increase in investor interest as the profile of investors has also widened.
The financial services sector remains a key focus area for all markets and produced the
top score in all regions. Traditional regional strengths in various industries were also
highlighted in the responses with mining in Southern Africa, hospitality in East Africa
and retail and consumer goods in West Africa recording the second highest scores.
The healthcare sector, which was not included in our original industry
list, was highlighted as a target industry by respondents in the East
African and Southern African regions.
Valuations in Africa
means superior returns for now.
Farouk Gumel
Advisory Leader, PwC Africa West Markets
The reasons for investor interest in Africa have been well researched and documented,
but we wanted to test respondents perceptions of the drivers of that interest, so included
the question that follows.
Valuations in Africa
Q: Please indicate how much you agree with each of the following as possible
reasons for this increased interest on a scale from 1 to 5 where 5 is I
strongly agree and 1 is I strongly disagree.
An improvement in nancial
7% 31% 36% 21% 5%
reporting standards
respondents (82%) agree or strongly agree that growth is the primary driver of investor
interest in African markets. In addition, there is a strong drive to diversify away from
low-return markets, with 75% of respondents agreeing or strongly agreeing with this
statement.
On a secondary level, the improved risk profile of African markets, better quality
information and improved financial reporting standards were not considered to be
significant drivers of investor interest in African markets.
Valuations in Africa
Valuations in Africa
about performing valuations in Africa, such as what the general purpose of valuations is
and how respondents manage the difficulties of doing valuations in Africa.
0.20
For regulatory purposes, Transactions involving an African
0.15 target for an African investor
including taxation
0.10 cross-border
0.05
The results indicate that the majority of valuations are still performed for the analysis
of potential investments. In terms of valuations performed for transaction purposes, we
Valuations in Africa
noted a more even distribution of valuations performed for investors from respondents
home countries, other African markets and non-African investors. This may be a result of
the increased investor interest.
Emerging markets all have their own unique valuation challenges. Large gaps in buyer
and seller expectations and worse than expected performance are some of the issues that
Valuations in Africa
Many discussions raised in sell-side advisory focus on
the potential growth as opposed to historical earnings.
This, combined with the availability of few comparable
companies, transactions of similar nature and limited
market/financial information imply both buyers and
sellers are often considering what potential future
benefit they are prepared to pay for or forego when
contemplating transactions.
Simon Venables
PwC Deals Leader, sub-Saharan Africa
The root causes of valuation issues in emerging markets resulting in these problems may
include:
Q: When performing valuations in Africa, how much do you agree with the
following as being challenges you encounter?
Valuations in Africa
Difficulty in accounting for country risk
Inability to find appropriate comparable companies
Lack of consistency in accounting standards
Lack of industry data
Lack of macroeconomic data
Quality of available financial information
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
Lack of local 2.5 Lack of consistency in
macroeconomic data 3.0 accounting standards
3.5
Respondents highlighted that the lack of data, both about comparable companies that
could provide valuation benchmarks in a valuation analysis, as well as industry data (for
example about market demand, the competitive environment and growth expectations)
that could support cash flow forecasts, as the main difficulties in doing valuations in
emerging markets.
As mentioned, the main challenges regarding emerging market valuations concern the
lack of industry data and the inability to find comparable companies. This is as a result of
Valuations in Africa
In some emerging markets, active secondary markets and exchanges are not present
or those that are present are so limited that the valuer is unable to gain much use from
them.
In addition, in some emerging economies active markets are present, but the breadth of
the markets is limited. As a result, the valuer may not be able to find suitable comparable
companies to use in his or her analysis.
The organised formal sector is very young. The
deal space is still finding its feet in most cases. This
creates a very wide expectation gap between buyers
and sellers when it comes to growth projections.
Buyers always take a less aggressive stance to
growth projections when compared to sellers.
Sellers, who in most cases are entrepreneurs, are
more bullish.
In many transactions, the lack of historical
precedents also makes it difficult to agree a starting
point. In most cases there is no right or wrong
answer. The market is fast paced, making change
a constant. We believe as the market matures with
more comparables/historical precedents, more deals
will close.
Farouk Gumel
Advisory Leader, PwC Africa West Markets
Valuations in Africa
typically make to the developed country companys multiple?
Figure 2.9 Adjustments made when selecting comparable companies that operate in
developed markets
11%
11%
17%
I apply a premium to the developed country companys multiple
78%
79%
52%
I apply a discount to the developed country companys multiple
11%
11%
30%
I make no adjustments to the multiple
When there are not sufficient comparable companies in the same industry and country,
most respondents would still maintain a market approach, but would expand their
sample to include other countries and/or other industries. When expanding into other
countries, further subjectivity is added to the valuation as country risk adjustments are
often required for valuations, using multiples derived from, for example, developed
markets abroad.
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West East Main Section
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Africa Africa TOC TOC
Contents
Valuation approaches 38
Income approach 40
Cost of capital 41
Cost of equity 42
Southern Africa
Risk-free rate 44
Beta 46
Equity market risk premium 48
Small stock premiums 50
Specific risk premiums 56
Country risk premiums 62
Gearing 65
Terminal value 66
Market approach 68
Choice of multiples 69
Adjustments to multiples 70
Country risk adjustments 72
Size adjustments 74
Discounts and premiums 75
Minority discounts 76
Control premiums 80
Marketability discounts 84
BEE considerations 88
PwC
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Valuation approaches
There are a number of methodologies used to value businesses. We have previously
found that the approaches most commonly used in Southern Africa are:
This gauges the market value of the ordinary shares of a company based on
a comparison of the company to comparable publicly traded companies and
transactions in its industry, as well as to prior transactions in the ordinary
shares of the company using an appropriate valuation multiple.
The aim of this section is to highlight the most popular valuation approaches being
used in business enterprise valuations in Southern Africa. We were particularly
interested in determining whether any changes have taken place in the choice of
approaches followed by market participants since our previous survey in 2012.
The primary valuation approaches remain the income approach (discounted cash
flow) and market approach (based on market multiples). The general indication from
respondents is that the income approach remains the primary valuation methodology,
used by 69% of respondents, while the market approach also remains an important
methodology, with 29% of the respondents using it as their preferred approach.
Southern Africa
In the South African market, where there are relatively few listed companies that can
be used as a reliable source for market multiples, it is perhaps not surprising that the
income approach continues to remain the most favoured methodology.
Of the responses confirming the market approach as the primary methodology for
valuing going concerns, 80% confirmed using the income approach as the secondary
method of choice.
Cost of capital
From a companys perspective, the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) represents
the economic return (or yield) that an investor would have to give up by investing in the
subject investment instead of all available alternative investments that are comparable in
terms of risk and other investment characteristics.1
WACC formula
The general formula for calculating the WACC (assuming only debt and equity capital) is:
Southern Africa
where:
Estimating the cost of equity is the most subjective and difficult measure to quantify in
the WACC formula, which is why we have dedicated a substantial part of this survey to
this issue.
Deductive models
Deductive models rely on market data to determine an imputed cost of equity.
Risk-return models
The capital asset pricing model (CAPM) is probably the most widely used of the risk-
Southern Africa
return models.
CAPM formula
E(Re) = Rf + x E(Rp)
where:
While the CAPM is popular, it is not perfect. A key criticism raised against the CAPM is
its inability to account for several equity returns, such as the small firm effect (whereby
smaller companies exhibit higher returns) and the value effect (whereby companies with
low ratios of book-to-market value have higher expected returns). One response to this
empirical questioning is to move away from the traditional CAPMs linear, stationary, and
single-factor features.
Given the competing views between deductive models and risk-return models, we
included a question in our survey to determine what methodologies are being used by
market practitioners.
Figure 3.1 Methods used to calculate the rate of return for future cash flows
Southern Africa
Always Frequently Sometimes Never
86% 11% 3%
17% 83%
Survey responses relating to the assumptions made in the application of the CAPM are
included in the section that follows.
The 2014/15 survey once again confirms both the CAPM as the primary
methodology, with all respondents stating that they always, frequently
or sometimes use it, as well as the preference for risk-return models over
deductive models.
Ordinarily, valuation practitioners estimate the cost of equity by assessing its component
parts using the CAPM.
In South Africa, various government bonds are available as a proxy for the risk-free rate
and we asked respondents to indicate their choice of proxy.
Q: When performing valuations in South Africa, how often are the following
used as a benchmark for the risk-free rate?
7%
RSA R157 Bond
5%
RSA R203 Bond
12%
RSA R207 Bond
33%
RSA R186 Bond
10%
RSA R208 Bond
33%
Other
Interestingly, the R186 has increased significantly in popularity, with 33% of the
respondents using the R186 as their benchmark rate. However, while the use of the R186
has increased relative to other government bonds, the other category has also increased
significantly. Most respondents in the other category use 10-year bond yields derived
from the yield curve, indicating a move away from a specific government bond to the use
of a yield curve.
Southern Africa
Beta typically measures the sensitivity of a share price to fluctuations in the market as a
whole. It is calculated by regressing individual share returns against the returns of the
market index.
Analysts often do not use raw data (e.g. share prices and share returns) to estimate beta
based on their programmed regression algorithms, but rather subscribe to information
systems and databases as sources for betas. We asked respondents to indicate which
service providers they use most often.
Bloomberg
Cadiz Financial Risk Services
In-house calculation/research
McGregor BFA
MSCI Barra
Reuters
Capital IQ
McGregor BFA
Capital IQ Bloomberg
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
MSCI Barra Cadiz Financial Risk Services
Another key issue relating to the beta calculation is the choice of market index. In
practice, there is no index that accurately measures the total return of the market
portfolio. We asked respondents which index they use as a market proxy.
Southern Africa
Q: When performing valuations in the South African market, how often
would you consider each of the following to be an appropriate market
index to use as a market proxy for a beta calculation?
ALSI
FINDI
MSCI World
Figure 3.4 Market proxies used for beta calculations in the South African market
Other FINDI
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
MSCI World
The most popular index remains the ALSI, with most respondents using
the ALSI either frequently or always.
The market risk premium is the single most debated input in a cost of capital calculation.
The three broad approaches to estimating a market risk premium include the historic
equity bond spread, the survey approach and an implied forward approach.
Historical
The historical approach is the most widely used approach to estimating equity risk
premiums. It is based on the assumption that in a well-functioning market, arbitrage will
ensure that required and achieved returns should be equivalent.
The actual returns earned on stocks over a long time are estimated and compared to the
Southern Africa
There are several issues related to the use of this approach in estimating risk premiums.
The suitability of the approach depends on whether investor expectations are influenced
by the historical performance of the market and whether market conditions and
expectations change over time. In some markets the availability of data may be limited or
unreliable. This is an issue particularly for emerging markets.
Survey approach
The survey methodology is based on the opinions of market participants. There are
several issues with this approach. As with most forecasts, survey risk premiums are
responsive to recent stock price movements. It is therefore possible that survey premiums
will be a reflection of the recent past rather than a good forecast of the future. Survey
results may also be influenced by the subjective manner in which questions regarding
market risk premiums are posed to respondents.
Forward-looking estimate
A forward-looking estimate of the premium is estimated using either current equity
prices or risk premiums in non-equity markets. The discounted cash flow approach
uses pricing of assets to infer required return or uses actual or potential dividends on an
index to calculate required return. This approach will not generate a correct estimate if
companies do not pay out what they can afford to in dividends or if earnings are expected
to grow at extraordinary rates in the short term.
We asked respondents what range of market risk premiums they typically apply.
Q: Please specify the range of equity market risk premiums applied when
you use the CAPM? Please ignore discounts (e.g. marketability discounts),
premiums (e.g. control premiums) and the size premiums for small
companies, which will be addressed later in the survey.
Figure 3.5 Range of equity market risk premiums used in the CAPM
Range Average
Southern Africa
10%
8%
6.8%
6% 5.4%
4%
2%
12%
0%
Low High
Low High
2014 5.4% 6.8%
2012 4.7% 6.6%
The market risk premium ranges from 4% to 10% with the average
used in South Africa ranging between 5.4% and 6.8%. Interestingly, the
range of market risk premiums has narrowed in our latest survey.
In computing an equity risk premium to apply to all investments in the capital asset
pricing model (CAPM), we are assuming that betas carry the weight of measuring the
risk in individual firms or assets, with riskier investments having higher betas than safer
investments. A number of studies, such as the data contained in the annual Duff & Phelps
Valuation Handbook, have shown that investments in small companies may experience
higher returns than those predicted by the standard CAPM approach.
In theory, the CAPM would suggest a higher required return for small companies through
a higher beta for such companies. The higher betas for small companies can be caused
by higher operational and financial leverage, limited access to funding and other factors
Southern Africa
However, the higher betas do not seem to fully explain the higher returns historically
achieved by smaller companies. Some have interpreted this as an indication that there
are other risks associated with small companies that the CAPM does not address. To
adjust for this finding, many practitioners add an additional premium to the cost of
equity of companies with smaller market capitalisation.
With various studies both supporting and refuting the notion of the small capitalisation
premium, we asked respondents whether they apply a small stock premium (SSP) in the
course of their valuation analysis.
Q: Do you adjust the CAPM rate of return by a premium that reflects the
extra risk of an investment in a small company?
Yes
No
Yes No
Southern Africa
14%
26%
2014
2010
86% 74%
30% 28%
2012 2007
70% 72%
Q: When adjusting for small stock premiums, how often do you adjust each
of the following factors?
Beta
Equity market risk premium
Overall expected rate of return on equity capital
Beta
0.5
1.0
2.5
As the next step in the survey, we wanted to determine the methodology used to effect
the adjustment for company size.
Multiplying
Adding
Southern Africa
Figure 3.8 Small stock premium inclusion methods
Adding Multiplying
14%
18%
2014
2010
86% 82%
26% 29%
2012 2007
74% 71%
Q: What is the benchmark small stock premium applied, given the expected
size of the company or entity?
16%
14%
Southern Africa
12%
10%
8%
6.5%
6% 5.2%
3.8%
4%
2.3%
2% 1.5%
0.7%
0%
0 250 251 500 501 1 000 1 001 1 500 1 501 2 000 2 001+
Rm
Rm 0 250 251 500 501 1000 1001 1500 1501 2000 2001+
2014 6.5% 5.2% 3.8% 2.3% 1.5% 0.7%
2012 6.7% 4.4% 2.8% 1.7% 0.9% 0.1%
2010 4.9% 3.7% 2.8% 1.3% 0.7% 0.1%
2007 5.2% 4.0% 2.7% 1.7% 1.3% 0.4%
2 In this years survey, the clear majority of respondents indicated they apply an additive premium, with very
few applying a multiplication approach. Given the small sample size, data relating to the multiplication
approach has therefore not been included.
Southern Africa
A key attribute of the CAPM is that investors are rewarded only for systematic risk.
Specific risks that are theoretically diversifiable are not included in the CAPM. Standard
finance theory states that investors should be compensated only for non-diversifiable
risks.
Given that the application of a specific risk premium (SRP) is not consistent with
the CAPM, we surveyed market practitioners about whether they apply specific risk
premiums, and if so, in what instances. We also asked respondents what premiums are
considered for projects at various stages of development.
Southern Africa
Q: How often do you adjust the CAPM rate of return by a premium that
reflects unique risks to the extent that such risks could not be modelled in
the forecast cash flows?
Always
Frequently
Sometimes
Never
9% 6%
11% 7%
43% 48%
A marked difference since the last survey is the decrease in the percentage of respondents
who always adjust the CAPM by applying a specific risk premium, which has declined
from 30% to only 6%. However, the majority of respondents frequently apply specific risk
premiums.
Southern Africa
Q: How often would each of the following conditions require you to apply a
specific risk premium, also referred to as alpha?
0.5
1.0
1.5
Start-ups 2.0 Lack of track record
2.5
Respondents indicated that most of the factors listed would at some time
be considered as motivation for the inclusion of a specific risk premium.
Multiplying
Southern Africa
Adding
Adding Multiplying
11%
21%
2014
2010
89% 79%
25%
36%
2012 2007
64% 75%
Most respondents adjust the overall expected return on equity capital by adding a
premium. This is consistent with the results of previous surveys.
Q: What is the benchmark small stock premium applied, given the expected
size of the company or entity?
Range Average
20%
Southern Africa
15%
10%
7.3%
5%
1.7%
0%
Low High
Range Average
Low High
2014 1.7% 7.3%
2012 2.7% 7.7%
2010 2.0% 7.0%
2007 2.0% 6.0%
3 In this years survey, the clear majority of respondents indicated they apply an additive premium, with very
few applying a multiplication approach. Given the small sample size, data relating to the multiplication
approach has therefore not been included.
In order to eliminate any outliers in the first and fourth quartiles, the second and third
quartiles have been calculated and are shown below. As can be seen, we considered
the average range falling between the second and third quartiles. The lower end of the
specific risk premium falls between 1% and 3%, and the upper end between 7% and 10%.
Low High
2014 2nd quartile 1.0% 7.0%
2014 3rd quartile 3.0% 10.0%
Southern Africa
Specific risk premiums are used for a wide variety of reasons, with the upper end of the
range likely to be dominated by hurdle rates used to appraise very high-risk projects. The
wide range of specific risk premiums added to the CAPM is therefore likely to be a result
of the variety of risks that specific risk premiums aim to address.
0 1.9%
2.0 3.9%
4.0 5.9%
6.0 7.9%
8.0 10.0%
Southern Africa
Figure 3.14 Specific risk premiums for start-up companies
3%
10%
29%
10%
48%
2014 42%
2012
24%
20% 14%
Q: How do you generally adjust for country risk when valuing an asset in
a country where no reliable long-bond yield (i.e. risk-free rate) can be
observed?
2014 2012
0.5
1.0
1.5
Other Calculating a local discount
2.0
rate using country risk premium
2.5
3.0
The survey results indicate that country risk differentials are recognised
mainly through adjusting local discount rates with a country risk
premium. This is consistent with the results in previous surveys.
Given the level of activity in countries with limited capital market data, we asked our
respondents some additional questions regarding how they determine their country risk
adjustments.
Q: How often are each of the following service providers used as a source of
information for country risk premium?
Damodaran
PRS (Political Risk Services Group)
Southern Africa
CDS (Credit Default Swap)
Coface
Damodaran
The majority of respondents are familiar with the concept of international insurance
against country risk. We asked respondents how they factor in international insurance
against country risk when calculating the discount rate.
Including the country risk premium in determining the discount rate and
deducting the insurance-related costs from the cash flows
No adjustment made to the discount rate
Not applicable
Figure 3.17 Discount rate adjustment method when factoring in international insurance
0.3
0.6
0.9
1.2
No adjustment made to Including the country risk premium in
1.5
the discount rate determining the discount rate and
deducting the insurance-related costs
from the cash ows
Gearing
Southern Africa
Figure 3.18 Approaches used in determining the appropriate level of debt and equity
1.5
1.0
0.5
As was the case in previous surveys, the theoretical target gearing of the
entity being valued was the approach adopted most frequently.
Another technical issue that frequently arises in the income approach is the question
of terminal values. Terminal values often contribute more than 50% of the discounted
cash flow value. As a result, the terminal value calculation is an area that needs to be
considered in detail.
Q: How often are each of the following approaches used in calculating the
terminal value in a business valuation?
0.5
1.0
1.5
NAV assessments Gordon growth model/capitalised
2.0
economic income method
2.5
3.0
The Gordon growth model remains the most popular methodology, with
most respondents using this approach either always or frequently. It is
notable that exit multiples have continued to gain in popularity.
Company-specific factors
Consumer price index (CPI)
Consumption expenditure growth
Nominal gross domestic product (GDP) growth
Real GDP growth
Southern Africa
Figure 3.20 Basis used for estimating long-term growth rates
Company-specic factors
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
Choice of multiples
Q: When using the market approach, how often do you use each of the
following valuation multiples?
Southern Africa
MVIC/earnings before interest and tax (EBIT)
Price/earnings (earnings representing net income after tax)
Price/pre-tax earnings (PBT)
Price/book value of equity (BVE)
Price/earnings plus non-cash charges (CF)
Price/cash flow from operations (CFO)
2.0
Price/book value of equity (BVE) 2.5 Price/earnings (earnings representing
net income after tax)
Price/pre-tax earnings (PBT)
Country risk
Diversification
Growth
Size
Southern Africa
2014 2012
Country risk
Size Diversication
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
Growth
In this years survey, we asked some additional questions to gauge the quantum of the
discounts being applied.
Southern Africa
All respondents indicated that they
consider making adjustments in
determining appropriate multiples in
terms of the market approach..
Range Average
50%
40%
30%
20.7%
20%
10% 8.4%
0%
Low High
Range Average
In order to eliminate any outliers in the first and fourth quartiles, the second and third
quartiles have been calculated on the next page. As can be seen, we considered the
average range falling between the second and third quartiles. The lower end of the
country risk adjustment is 10%, and the upper end falls between 20% and 25%. The
relatively low average results from a large number of respondents not applying country
risk premiums in certain instances.
Low High
2014 average 8.4% 20.7%
2014 2nd quartile 10.0% 20.0%
2014 3rd quartile 10.0% 25.0%
Southern Africa
The lower end of the country risk
adjustment is 10% and the upper end
is between 20% and 25%.
Q. Assuming you are valuing a business that is significantly smaller than the
listed comparable companies you used to derive an earnings multiple,
what is the range of discounts you would apply to comparable company
multiples to reflect differences in size?
Range Average
Southern Africa
50%
40%
32.9%
30%
20%
12.6%
10%
0%
Low High
In order to eliminate any outliers in the first and fourth quartiles, the second and
third quartiles have been calculated below. As can be seen, we considered the average
range falling between the second and third quartiles. The lower end of the country risk
adjustment falls between 10% and 20%, and the upper end between 30% and 40%.
Low High
2014 average 12.6% 32.9%
2014 2nd quartile 10.0% 30.0%
2014 3rd quartile 20.0% 40.0%
The lower end of the size adjustment falls between 10% and 20%, and
the upper end between 30% and 40%.
Southern Africa
The minority discount relates to the lack of control over the operation and corporate
policy for a given investment by its minority shareholders. The minority shareholders
can generally not direct the size or timing of dividends or control the selection of
management.
A minority shareholder can also not veto the acquisition, sale or liquidation of assets.
Minority discounts are therefore usually applied when valuing a non-controlling stake to
discount the value for lack of control.
following approaches?
Income approach
Market multiple approach
Net asset value
97%
93%
82%
60%
39% 40%
31% 30%
26%
18% 16%
12%
Southern Africa
74%
14%
Enterprise value
12%
Discount rate
When asked where the minority discounts are applied, the majority of respondents
indicated that they prefer to apply the minority discount to the market value of equity.
Given that most respondents acknowledge the appropriateness of the minority discount,
we asked them for an indication of the range of minority discounts normally applied in
their valuation analysis.
Range Average
50%
Southern Africa
40%
30%
20% 17.5%
13.0%
10% 6.0%
0%
1% 24% 25% 49% 50%
4 In this years survey, the clear majority of respondents indicated they apply an adjustment to equity, with
very few applying an enterprise value adjustment. Given the small sample size, data relating to adjustments
to enterprise value has therefore not been included.
Southern Africa
1% 24% is 18% and 13% in
the range 25% 49%. This year
we also asked respondents for
their view on what minority
discount is appropriate where
joint control exists. On average,
the respondents indicated a
minority discount of 6%.
The control premium is the inverse of the minority discount and similar issues have to be
considered in calculating a control premium. To summarise, a control premium relates
to the additional value associated with the ability to control the distribution of cash
generated by the company, which includes the ability to influence the timing and size of
the dividend distribution.
Income approach
Southern Africa
91%
85%
81% 84%
40%
33%
28%
26% 23%
18%
16%
0%
Given that most respondents acknowledge the appropriateness of the control premium,
we asked them to indicate how they go about applying control premiums in their
valuation analysis.
Southern Africa
66%
23%
Enterprise value
11%
Discount rate
We then sought to quantify the benchmark control premiums that are typically applied.
Range Average
60%
Southern Africa
50%
40%
30%
23.9%
20% 16.6%
10% 7.8%
0%
50% 51% 74% 75% 100%
5 In this years survey, the clear majority of respondents indicated they apply an adjustment to equity,
with very few applying an enterprise value adjustment. Given the small sample size, data relating to the
adjustments to enterprise value has therefore not been included.
Southern Africa
Marketability can be defined as the ability to convert the business ownership interest (at
whatever ownership level) to cash quickly, with minimum transaction and administrative
costs in so doing and with a high degree of certainty of realising the expected amount of
net proceeds.6
There is, however, an expected relationship between the marketability and the ownership
share. Even after we discount a minority interest for a lack of control, it is usually harder
to sell a non-controlling interest than a controlling ownership interest. The marketability
discount is therefore expected to decrease with the size of the ownership share.
Income approach
Market multiple approach
Net asset value
94% 94%
88% 85%
82% 82%
76%
72%
49%
24%
21%
15%
Respondents recognise the need to adjust for marketability in all valuation approaches.
The remainder of this section therefore deals with how respondents apply marketability
discounts in their valuation analysis.
Southern Africa
Figure 3.32 Application of marketability discounts
72%
14%
Enterprise value
14%
Discount rate
The majority of respondents apply marketability discounts to the market value of equity.
We subsequently asked them to quantify the benchmark discounts that are typically
applied.
Range Average
50%
Southern Africa
40%
30%
20% 17.2%
13.4%
9.8%
10% 8.0%
0%
1%-24% 25%-49% 50%-74% 75%-100%
The ranges provide an indication of the size of the marketability discounts that are
applied by respondents. As shown in the tables above, we considered the ranges falling
between the second and third quartiles.
7 In this years survey, the clear majority of respondents indicated they apply an adjustment to equity, with
very few applying an enterprise value adjustment. Given the small sample size, data relating to adjustments
to enterprise value has therefore not been included.
Some respondents have pointed out that it is also important to consider the connection
between minority and marketability discounts as well as any specific facts and
circumstances relating to the individual company or industry, as described earlier in this
section.
Southern Africa
The BEE interest is held in a listed company. Would you apply a discount
to the observed share price for the lock-in agreed between the parties?
Yes
No
Yes No
9%
30%
2014
2010
91% 6% 70%
32%
2012 2007
94% 68%
Most respondents consider a discount to the observed market price to be necessary. These
results are broadly consistent with the results of our previous surveys.
Typical BEE structures include lock-in periods whereby BEE entities are required to
remain invested in the structure for a number of years, or where other restrictions are
placed on the transferability of the shares held by the BEE entity. The discount applied in
the market is likely to be correlated with the length of lock-in periods being considered by
market practitioners.
Southern Africa
Q: What is the average discount you would apply for the respective lock-in
periods?
Three years
Five years
Ten years
Range Average
60%
50%
40%
30.5%
30%
19.6%
20%
10.5%
10%
0%
3 years 5 years 10 years
The average range falls within the second and third quartiles as shown above, eliminating
any statistical outliers within the first and fourth quartiles.
Southern Africa
Contents
Valuation approaches 94
Income approach 96
Cost of capital 97
Cost of equity 98
Risk-free rate 100
Beta 102
Equity market risk premium 104
Small stock premiums 106
Specific risk premiums 110
West Africa
Country risk premiums 116
Gearing 119
Terminal value 120
Market approach 122
PwC
PwCCorporate
CorporateFinance
Finance |9393
Valuation approaches
There are a number of methodologies used to value businesses. We have previously
found that the approaches most commonly used in West Africa are:
piecemeal market values of the underlying assets less the market value of the
liabilities.
The aim of this section is to highlight the most popular valuation approaches
being used in business enterprise valuations in West Africa. We were particularly
interested in determining whether any changes have taken place in the choice of
approaches followed by market participants since our previous survey in 2012.
The primary valuation approaches remain the income approach (discounted cash
flow) and market approach (based on market multiples). The general indication from
respondents is that the income approach remains the primary valuation methodology,
used by 61% of respondents, while the market approach also remains an important
methodology, with 35% of the respondents using it as their preferred approach.
We also asked our respondents whether they apply a secondary methodology. Of those
respondents who use the income approach as the primary methodology, 71% confirmed
using the market approach as the secondary method of choice.
West Africa
Cost of capital
From a companys perspective, the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) represents
the economic return (or yield) that an investor would have to give up by investing in the
subject investment instead of all available alternative investments that are comparable in
terms of risk and other investment characteristics.1
WACC formula
The general formula for calculating the WACC (assuming only debt and equity capital) is:
where:
West Africa
ke = Rate of return on ordinary equity capital
e% = Ordinary equity capital as a percentage of the total invested capital
Estimating the cost of equity is the most subjective and difficult measure to quantify in
the WACC formula, which is why we have dedicated a substantial part of this survey to
this issue.
Deductive models
Deductive models rely on market data to determine an imputed cost of equity.
Risk-return models
The capital asset pricing model (CAPM) is probably the most widely used of the risk-
return models.
CAPM formula
E(Re) = Rf + x E(Rp)
West Africa
where:
While the CAPM is popular, it is not perfect. A key criticism raised against the CAPM is
its inability to account for several equity returns, such as the small firm effect (whereby
smaller companies exhibit higher returns) and the value effect (whereby companies with
low ratios of book-to-market value have higher expected returns). One response to this
empirical questioning is to move away from the traditional CAPMs linear, stationary, and
single-factor features.
Given the competing views between deductive models and risk-return models, we
included a question in our survey to determine what methodologies are being used by
market practitioners.
Figure 4.1 Methods used to calculate the rate of return for future cash flows
74% 22% 4%
West Africa
26% 74%
The 2014/15 survey once again confirms both the CAPM as the primary
methodology, with most respondents stating that they always or
frequently use it, as well as the preference for risk-return models over
deductive models.
Survey responses relating to the assumptions made in the application of the CAPM are
included in the section that follows.
Ordinarily, valuation practitioners estimate the cost of equity by assessing its component
parts using the CAPM.
In Nigeria and other West African countries, various government bonds are available as a
proxy for the risk-free rate. We thus asked respondents to indicate their choice of proxy.
Q: When performing valuations in Africa, how often are the following used
as a benchmark for the risk-free rate?
36%
14%
US risk-free rate
7%
A European country underlying risk-free rate (Germany, France, etc.)
30%
US risk-free rate plus a country risk premium
13%
A European country underlying risk-free rate (Germany, France, etc.) plus a country risk premium
The local currency bond yields are widely used in West Africa. However, as not all
West African countries have government bonds that are traded on an exchange, a large
number of respondents also consider alternative approaches whereby a risk-free rate can
be determined using a US or European risk-free rate, plus a premium for country risk.
West Africa
A wide range of approaches is used in
West African markets. This is likely
to be driven by variations in the
availability of suitable government
bond data across the various West
African countries in which the survey
respondents are based.
Beta typically measures the sensitivity of a share price to fluctuations in the market as a
whole. It is calculated by regressing individual share returns against the returns of the
market index.
Analysts often do not use raw data (e.g. share prices and share returns) to estimate beta
based on their programmed regression algorithms, but rather subscribe to information
systems and databases as sources for betas. We asked respondents to indicate which
service providers they use most often.
Bloomberg
Cadiz Financial Risk Services
In-house calculation/research
McGregor BFA
West Africa
MSCI Barra
Reuters
Capital IQ
2014 2012
McGregor BFA
2.5
2.0
Capital IQ Bloomberg
1.5
1.0
0.5
West Africa
The market risk premium is the single most debated input in a cost of capital calculation.
The three broad approaches to estimating a market risk premium include the historic
equity bond spread, the survey approach and an implied forward approach.
Historical
The historical approach is the most widely used approach to estimating equity risk
premiums. It is based on the assumption that in a well-functioning market, arbitrage will
ensure that required and achieved returns should be equivalent.
The actual returns earned on stocks over a long time are estimated and compared to the
actual returns earned on a default-free (usually government) security. The difference, on
an annual basis, between the two returns is calculated and represents the historical risk
premium.
There are several issues related to the use of this approach in estimating risk premiums.
The suitability of the approach depends on whether investor expectations are influenced
by the historical performance of the market and whether market conditions and
expectations change over time. In some markets the availability of data may be limited or
West Africa
Survey approach
The survey methodology is based on the opinions of market participants. There are
several issues with this approach. As with most forecasts, survey risk premiums are
responsive to recent stock price movements. It is therefore possible that survey premiums
will be a reflection of the recent past rather than a good forecast of the future. Survey
results may also be influenced by the subjective manner in which questions regarding
market risk premiums are posed to respondents.
Forward-looking estimate
A forward-looking estimate of the premium is estimated using either current equity
prices or risk premiums in non-equity markets. The discounted cash flow approach
uses pricing of assets to infer required return or uses actual or potential dividends on an
index to calculate required return. This approach will not generate a correct estimate if
companies do not pay out what they can afford to in dividends or if earnings are expected
to grow at extraordinary rates in the short term.
We asked respondents what range of market risk premiums they typically apply.
Q: Please specify the range of equity market risk premiums applied when
you use the CAPM? Please ignore discounts (e.g. marketability discounts),
premiums (e.g. control premiums) and the size premiums for small
companies, which will be addressed later in the survey.
Figure 4.4 Range of equity market risk premiums used in the CAPM
Range Average
25%
20%
15%
10.2%
10%
West Africa
7.1%
5%
0%
Low High
Low High
2014 7.1% 10.2%
2012 5.0% 10.0%
The market risk premium ranges from 4% to 20% with the average used
in West Africa ranging between 7% and 10%.
In computing an equity risk premium to apply to all investments in the capital asset
pricing model (CAPM), we are assuming that betas carry the weight of measuring the
risk in individual firms or assets, with riskier investments having higher betas than safer
investments. A number of studies, such as the data contained in the annual Duff & Phelps
Valuation Handbook, have shown that investments in small companies may experience
higher returns than those predicted by the standard CAPM approach.
In theory, the CAPM would suggest a higher required return for small companies through
a higher beta for such companies. The higher betas for small companies can be caused
by higher operational and financial leverage, limited access to funding and other factors
making them more vulnerable to general market fluctuations.
However, the higher betas do not seem to fully explain the higher returns historically
achieved by smaller companies. Some have interpreted this as an indication that there
are other risks associated with small companies that the CAPM does not address. To
adjust for this finding, many practitioners add an additional premium to the cost of
equity of companies with smaller market capitalisation.
With various studies both supporting and refuting the notion of the small capitalisation
West Africa
premium, we asked respondents whether they apply a small stock premium (SSP) in the
course of their valuation analysis.
Q: Do you adjust the CAPM rate of return by a premium that reflects the
extra risk of an investment in a small company?
Yes
No
Yes No
17%
20%
2014
2012
80%
83%
Q: When adjusting for small stock premiums, how often do you adjust each
of the following factors?
Beta
Equity market risk premium
Overall expected rate of return on equity capital
West Africa
2014 2012
Beta
0.5
1.0
Overall expected rate Equity market risk premium
of return on equity capital 1.5
2.0
As the next step in the survey, we wanted to determine the methodology used to effect
the adjustment for company size.
Multiplying
Adding
Adding Multiplying
West Africa
35%
33%
2014
2012
67%
65%
Of the respondents that make size adjustments, most add a small stock
premium to the cost of equity.
Q: What is the benchmark small stock premium applied, given the expected
size of the company or entity?
25%
20%
15%
10%
6.3%
4.7%
5% 2.8%
1.9%
West Africa
1.1%
0%
0 50 51 200 201 500 501 1 000 1 001+
$m
2 In this years survey, the clear majority of respondents indicated they apply an additive premium, with very
few applying a multiplication approach. Given the small sample size, data relating to the multiplication
approach has therefore not been included.
A key attribute of the CAPM is that investors are rewarded only for systematic risk.
Specific risks that are theoretically diversifiable are not included in the CAPM. Standard
finance theory states that investors should be compensated only for non-diversifiable
risks.
Given that the application of a specific risk premium (SRP) is not consistent with
the CAPM, we surveyed market practitioners about whether they apply specific risk
premiums, and if so, in what instances. We also asked respondents what premiums are
considered for projects at various stages of development.
Q: How often do you adjust the CAPM rate of return by a premium that
reflects unique risks to the extent that such risks could not be modelled in
the forecast cash flows?
Always
Frequently
Sometimes
West Africa
Never
13%
10%
20%
39%
2014
2012
31%
40%
30%
17%
A marked difference since the last survey is the increase in the percentage of respondents
who always adjust the CAPM by applying a specific risk premium, which has increased
from 20% to 39%.
Q: How often would each of the following conditions require you to apply a
specific risk premium, also referred to as alpha?
West Africa
Figure 4.10 Specific risk factors
0.5
1.0
Start-ups Lack of track record
1.5
2.0
Respondents indicated that most of the factors listed would at some time
be considered as motivation for the inclusion of a specific risk premium.
Multiplying
Adding
Adding Multiplying
26%
44%
2014
2012
West Africa
56%
74%
Q: What is the benchmark small stock premium applied, given the expected
size of the company or entity?
Range Average
20%
15%
10%
6.2%
5%
West Africa
1.3%
0%
Low High
Range Average
Average specific risk premium: Adding3
Low High
2014 1.3% 6.2%
2012 3.0% 8.0%
In order to eliminate any outliers in the first and fourth quartiles, the second and third
quartiles have been calculated and are shown below. As can be seen, we considered
the average range falling between the second and third quartiles. The lower end of the
specific risk premium falls between 1% and 1.5%, and the upper end between 6% and
10%.
Low High
2014 2nd quartile 1.0% 6.0%
2014 3rd quartile 1.5% 10.0%
3 In this years survey, the clear majority of respondents indicated they apply an additive premium, with very
few applying a multiplication approach. Given the small sample size, data relating to the multiplication
approach has therefore not been included.
PwC Corporate Finance | 113
Specific risk premiums
Specific risk premiums are used for a wide variety of reasons, with the upper end of the
range likely to be dominated by hurdle rates used to appraise very high-risk projects. The
wide range of specific risk premiums added to the CAPM is therefore likely to be a result
of the variety of risks that specific risk premiums aim to address.
0 1.9%
West Africa
2.0 3.9%
4.0 5.9%
6.0 7.9%
8.0 10.0%
13%
26% 25% 25%
30%
2014
9% 25% 25%
22%
West Africa
Q: How do you generally adjust for country risk when valuing an asset in
a country where no reliable long-bond yield (i.e. risk-free rate) can be
observed?
2014 2012
West Africa
0.5
1.0
1.5
Other Calculating a local discount rate
2.0
using country risk premium
2.5
3.0
The results indicate that country risk differentials are recognised mainly
through adjusting local discount rates with a country risk premium.
Given the level of activity in countries with limited capital market data, we asked
respondents some additional questions regarding how they determine their country risk
adjustments.
Q: How often are each of the following service providers used as a source of
information for country risk premium?
Damodaran
PRS (Political Risk Services Group)
CDS (Credit Default Swap)
Coface
Damodaran
West Africa
Coface PRS (Political Risk
0.5 Services Group)
1.0
1.5
2.0
The majority of respondents are familiar with the concept of international insurance
against country risk. We asked respondents how they factor in international insurance
against country risk when calculating the discount rate.
Figure 4.16 Discount rate adjustment method when factoring in international insurance
Gearing
Figure 4.17 Approaches used in determining the appropriate level of debt and equity
2014 2012
The entitys actual gearing
level at the valuation date
West Africa
The acquirers intended levels Theoretical target gearing
of gearing for the entity 0.5 level of the entity
1.0
1.5
2.0
Another technical issue that frequently arises in the income approach is the question
of terminal values. Terminal values often contribute more than 50% of the discounted
cash flow value. As a result, the terminal value calculation is an area that needs to be
considered in detail.
Q: How often are each of the following approaches used in calculating the
terminal value in a business valuation?
2014 2012
West Africa
0.5
1.0
2.5
The Gordon growth model remains the most popular methodology, with
most respondents using this approach either always or frequently. It is
notable that exit multiples have continued to gain in popularity.
Company-specific factors
Consumer price index (CPI)
Consumption expenditure growth
Nominal gross domestic product (GDP) growth
Real GDP growth
2014 2012
Company-specic factors
West Africa
Real GDP growth Consumer price index
0.5
1.0
1.5
Choice of multiples
Q: When using the market approach, how often do you use each of the
following valuation multiples?
West Africa
Figure 4.20 Valuation multiples used
2014 2012
Market value of invested
capital (MVIC)/revenue
MVIC/earnings before interest,
Price/cash ow from tax, depreciation and amortisation
operations (CFO) (EBITDA)
1.5
2.0
Country risk
Diversification
Growth
Size
2014 2012
Country risk
West Africa
Size Diversication
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
Growth
In this years survey, we asked some additional questions to gauge the quantum of the
discounts being applied.
Range Average
30%
20%
16.9%
West Africa
10%
6.6%
0%
Low High
In order to eliminate any outliers in the first and fourth quartiles, the second and third
quartiles have been calculated below. As can be seen, we considered the average range
falling between the second and third quartiles.
Low High
2014 average 6.6% 16.9%
2014 2nd quartile 6.0% 20.0%
2014 3rd quartile 10.0% 20.0%
The lower end of the country risk adjustment falls between 6% and 10%,
and the upper end between 17% and 20%.
Q. Assuming you are valuing a business that is significantly smaller than the
listed comparable companies you used to derive an earnings multiple,
what is the range of discounts you would apply to comparable company
multiples to reflect differences in size?
Range Average
50%
40%
30%
21.5%
20%
West Africa
9.2%
10%
0%
Low High
In order to eliminate any outliers in the first and fourth quartiles, the second and third
quartiles have been calculated below. As can be seen, we considered the average range
falling between the second and third quartiles.
Low High
2014 average 9.2% 21.5%
2014 2nd quartile 10.0% 20.0%
2014 3rd quartile 10.0% 30.0%
The lower end of the size adjustment stands at 10%, and the upper end
is between 20% and 30%. The relatively low average results from a
number of respondents not applying discounts in certain instances.
West Africa
The minority discount relates to the lack of control over the operation and corporate
policy for a given investment by its minority shareholders. The minority shareholders
can generally not direct the size or timing of dividends or control the selection of
management.
A minority shareholder can also not veto the acquisition, sale or liquidation of assets.
Minority discounts are therefore usually applied when valuing a non-controlling stake to
discount the value for lack of control.
Income approach
Market multiple approach
Net asset value
2014 2012
83%
74%
70%
50%
33%
17%
67%
14%
Enterprise value
West Africa
19%
Discount rate
When asked where the minority discounts are applied, most respondents indicated that
they prefer to apply the minority discount to the market value of equity.
Given that most respondents acknowledge the appropriateness of the minority discount,
we asked them for an indication of the range of minority discounts normally applied in
their valuation analysis.
Range Average
50%
40%
30%
20% 16.7%
12.8%
8.5%
West Africa
10%
0%
1% 24% 25% 49% 50%
4 In this years survey, the clear majority of respondents indicated they apply an adjustment to equity, with
very few applying an enterprise value adjustment. Given the small sample size, data relating to adjustments
to enterprise value has therefore not been included.
West Africa
The control premium is the inverse of the minority discount and similar issues have to be
considered in calculating a control premium. To summarise, a control premium relates
to the additional value associated with the ability to control the distribution of cash
generated by the company, which includes the ability to influence the timing and size of
the dividend distribution.
Income approach
Market multiple approach
Net asset value
2014 2012
West Africa
78%
67% 67%
61%
33%
13%
The control premium may already be implicitly included in the income approach and
as a result the control premium should normally be considered in a market approach
valuation. However, if the control premium relates to synergies not built into the cash
flows, a control premium may in some cases be applied to the income approach.
Given that most respondents acknowledge the appropriateness of the control premium,
we asked them to indicate how they go about applying control premiums in their
valuation analysis.
68%
18%
Enterprise value
West Africa
14%
Discount rate
We then sought to quantify the benchmark control premiums that are typically applied.
Range Average
40%
30%
20%
16.4%
10.9%
10%
4.6%
West Africa
0%
50% 51% 74% 75% 100%
5 In this years survey, the clear majority of respondents indicated they apply an adjustment to equity,
with very few applying an enterprise value adjustment. Given the small sample size, data relating to the
adjustments to enterprise value has therefore not been included.
West Africa
Marketability can be defined as the ability to convert the business ownership interest (at
whatever ownership level) to cash quickly, with minimum transaction and administrative
costs in so doing and with a high degree of certainty of realising the expected amount of
net proceeds.6
There is, however, an expected relationship between the marketability and the ownership
share. Even after we discount a minority interest for a lack of control, it is usually harder
to sell a non-controlling interest than a controlling ownership interest. The marketability
discount is therefore expected to decrease with the size of the ownership share.
Income approach
Market multiple approach
Net asset value
2014 2012
83% 83%
17%
Respondents recognise the need to adjust for marketability in all valuation approaches.
The remainder of this section therefore deals with how respondents apply marketability
discounts in their valuation analysis.
62%
West Africa
19%
Enterprise value
19%
Discount rate
The majority of respondents apply marketability discounts to the market value of equity.
We subsequently asked them to quantify the benchmark discounts that are typically
applied.
Range Average
40%
30%
20% 17.3%
14.9%
11.0%
10% 6.7%
West Africa
0%
1%-24% 25%-49% 50%-74% 75%-100%
The ranges provide an indication of the size of the marketability discounts that are
applied by respondents. As shown in the tables above, we considered the ranges falling
between the second and third quartiles.
7 In this years survey, the clear majority of respondents indicated they apply an adjustment to equity, with
very few applying an enterprise value adjustment. Given the small sample size, data relating to adjustments
to enterprise value has therefore not been included.
West Africa
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Southern East Main Section
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Africa Africa TOC TOC
Contents
Valuation approaches 142
East Africa
Adjustment to multiples 172
Country risk adjustments 173
Size adjustments 174
Discounts and premiums 175
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141
Valuation approaches
There are a number of methodologies used to value businesses. We have previously
found that the approaches most commonly used in East Africa are:
The aim of this section is to highlight the most popular valuation approaches
being used in business enterprise valuations in East Africa. We were particularly
interested in determining whether any changes have taken place in the choice of
approaches followed by market participants since our previous survey in 2012.
East Africa
The primary valuation approaches remain the income approach (discounted cash
flow) and market approach (based on market multiples). The general indication from
respondents is that the income approach remains the primary valuation methodology,
used by 84% of respondents. Other respondents indicated that they have no specific
primary methodology, but select and combine the approaches based on the nature of the
company being valued.
We also asked our respondents whether they apply a secondary methodology. Of those
respondents who use the income approach as the primary methodology, 75% confirmed
using the market approach as the secondary method of choice.
East Africa
Cost of capital
From a companys perspective, the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) represents
the economic return (or yield) that an investor would have to give up by investing in the
subject investment instead of all available alternative investments that are comparable in
terms of risk and other investment characteristics.1
WACC formula
The general formula for calculating the WACC (assuming only debt and equity capital) is:
where:
East Africa
Estimating the opportunity cost of equity financing;
Estimating the opportunity cost of non-equity financing; and
Developing market value weights for the capital structure.
Estimating the cost of equity is the most subjective and difficult measure to quantify in
the WACC formula, which is why we have dedicated a substantial part of this survey to
this issue.
Deductive models
Deductive models rely on market data to determine an imputed cost of equity.
Risk-return models
The capital asset pricing model (CAPM) is probably the most widely used of the risk-
return models.
CAPM formula
E(Re) = Rf + x E(Rp)
where:
While the CAPM is popular, it is not perfect. A key criticism raised against the CAPM is
its inability to account for several equity returns, such as the small firm effect (whereby
smaller companies exhibit higher returns) and the value effect (whereby companies with
low ratios of book-to-market value have higher expected returns). One response to this
empirical questioning is to move away from the traditional CAPMs linear, stationary, and
single-factor features.
Given the competing views between deductive models and risk-return models, we
included a question in our survey to determine what methodologies are being used by
market practitioners.
Figure 5.1 Methods used to calculate the rate of return for future cash flows
5% 11% 84%
The 2014/15 survey once again confirms both the CAPM as the primary East Africa
methodology, with most respondents stating that they always, frequently
or sometimes use it, as well as the preference for risk-return models over
deductive models.
Survey responses relating to the assumptions made in the application of the CAPM are
included in the section that follows.
Ordinarily, valuation practitioners estimate the cost of equity by assessing its component
parts using the CAPM.
In many of the East African countries, various government bonds are available as a proxy
for the risk-free rate. We thus asked respondents to indicate their choice of proxy.
Q: When performing valuations in Africa, how often are the following used
as a benchmark for the risk-free rate?
31%
18%
East Africa
US risk-free rate
13%
A European country underlying risk-free rate (Germany, France, etc.)
24%
US risk-free rate plus a country risk premium
14%
A European country underlying risk-free rate (Germany, France, etc.) plus a country risk premium
Respondents indicated that various risk-free rate benchmarks are used in East Africa.
The most widely used approach is a local currency bond yield. However, as not all of
the available government bonds are actively traded on an exchange, a large number
of respondents also consider alternative approaches, including adding a country risk
premium to a recognised risk-free rate, for example, the US/EU risk-free rate.
East Africa
in the availability of suitable
government bond data across the
various East African countries in
which the survey respondents are
based.
Beta typically measures the sensitivity of a share price to fluctuations in the market as a
whole. It is calculated by regressing individual share returns against the returns of the
market index.
Analysts often do not use raw data (e.g. share prices and share returns) to estimate beta
based on their programmed regression algorithms, but rather subscribe to information
systems and databases as sources for betas. We asked respondents to indicate which
service providers they use most often.
Q: When performing valuations, how often do you make use of the following
service providers as a source of information for beta calculations?
Bloomberg
Cadiz Financial Risk Services
In-house calculation/research
McGregor BFA
MSCI Barra
Reuters
Capital IQ
2014 2012
East Africa
McGregor BFA
Capital IQ Bloomberg
0.5
MSCI Barra Cadiz Financial Risk Services
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
In-house calculation / research Reuters / Factiva
East Africa
Bloomberg continues to be a popular source for beta
estimates. Capital IQ was offered as an option in this years
survey, and came out as one of the other popular sources.
The move towards in-house beta calculations observed in
the last survey was also confirmed.
The market risk premium is the single most debated input in a cost of capital calculation.
The three broad approaches to estimating a market risk premium include the historic
equity bond spread, the survey approach and an implied forward approach.
Historical
The historical approach is the most widely used approach to estimating equity risk
premiums. It is based on the assumption that in a well-functioning market, arbitrage will
ensure that required and achieved returns should be equivalent.
The actual returns earned on stocks over a long time are estimated and compared to the
actual returns earned on a default-free (usually government) security. The difference, on
an annual basis, between the two returns is calculated and represents the historical risk
premium.
There are several issues related to the use of this approach in estimating risk premiums.
The suitability of the approach depends on whether investor expectations are influenced
by the historical performance of the market and whether market conditions and
expectations change over time. In some markets the availability of data may be limited or
unreliable. This is an issue particularly for emerging markets.
Survey approach
The survey methodology is based on the opinions of market participants. There are
several issues with this approach. As with most forecasts, survey risk premiums are
responsive to recent stock price movements. It is therefore possible that survey premiums
will be a reflection of the recent past rather than a good forecast of the future. Survey
East Africa
results may also be influenced by the subjective manner in which questions regarding
market risk premiums are posed to respondents.
Forward-looking estimate
A forward-looking estimate of the premium is estimated using either current equity
prices or risk premiums in non-equity markets. The discounted cash flow approach
uses pricing of assets to infer required return or uses actual or potential dividends on an
index to calculate required return. This approach will not generate a correct estimate if
companies do not pay out what they can afford to in dividends or if earnings are expected
to grow at extraordinary rates in the short term.
We asked respondents what range of market risk premiums they typically apply.
Q: Please specify the range of equity market risk premiums applied when
you use the CAPM? Please ignore discounts (e.g. marketability discounts),
premiums (e.g. control premiums) and the size premiums for small
companies, which will be addressed later in the survey.
Figure 5.4 Range of equity market risk premiums used in the CAPM
Range Average
25%
20%
15%
11.1%
10%
5.9%
5%
0%
Low High
East Africa
Low High
2014 5.9% 11.1%
2012 5.2% 8.2%
In computing an equity risk premium to apply to all investments in the capital asset
pricing model (CAPM), we are assuming that betas carry the weight of measuring the
risk in individual firms or assets, with riskier investments having higher betas than safer
investments. A number of studies, such as the data contained in the annual Duff & Phelps
Valuation Handbook, have shown that investments in small companies may experience
higher returns than those predicted by the standard CAPM approach.
In theory, the CAPM would suggest a higher required return for small companies through
a higher beta for such companies. The higher betas for small companies can be caused
by higher operational and financial leverage, limited access to funding and other factors
making them more vulnerable to general market fluctuations.
However, the higher betas do not seem to fully explain the higher returns historically
achieved by smaller companies. Some have interpreted this as an indication that there
are other risks associated with small companies that the CAPM does not address. To
adjust for this finding, many practitioners add an additional premium to the cost of
equity of companies with smaller market capitalisation.
With various studies both supporting and refuting the notion of the small capitalisation
premium, we asked respondents whether they apply a small stock premium (SSP) in the
course of their valuation analysis.
Q: Do you adjust the CAPM rate of return by a premium that reflects the
extra risk of an investment in a small company?
Yes
East Africa
No
Yes No
21%
33%
2014
2012
67%
79%
Q: When adjusting for small stock premiums, how often do you adjust each
of the following factors?
Beta
Equity market risk premium
Overall expected rate of return on equity capital
2014 2012
Beta
East Africa
0.5
1.0
Overall expected rate Equity market risk premium
of return on equity capital 1.5
2.0
As the next step in the survey, we wanted to determine the methodology used to effect
the adjustment for company size.
Multiplying
Adding
Adding Multiplying
47% 33%
2014
2012
53%
67%
East Africa
Q: What is the benchmark small stock premium applied, given the expected
size of the company or entity?
10%
8%
5.7%
6%
4.2%
3.7%
4% 3.1%
2.5%
2%
0%
0 50 51 200 201 500 501 1 000 1 001+
$m
East Africa
$m 0 50 51 200 201 500 501 1000 1001+
2014 5.7% 4.2% 3.7% 3.1% 2.5%
2 In this years survey, the clear majority of respondents indicated they apply an additive premium, with very
few applying a multiplication approach. Given the small sample size, data relating to the multiplication
approach has therefore not been included.
A key attribute of the CAPM is that investors are rewarded only for systematic risk.
Specific risks that are theoretically diversifiable are not included in the CAPM. Standard
finance theory states that investors should be compensated only for non-diversifiable
risks.
Given that the application of a specific risk premium (SRP) is not consistent with the
CAPM, we asked market practitioners about whether they apply specific risk premiums,
and if so, in what instances. We also asked respondents what premiums are considered
for projects at various stages of development.
Q: How often do you adjust the CAPM rate of return by a premium that
reflects unique risks to the extent that such risks could not be modelled in
the forecast cash flows?
Always
Frequently
Sometimes
Never
10%
21%
33%
2014
2012
32% 50%
37% 17%
In general, most respondents apply specific risk premiums. In addition, those who apply
specific risk premiums are applying them more frequently. Another marked difference
since the last survey is the increase in the percentage of respondents who always adjust
the CAPM by applying a specific risk premium, which has increased from 0% to 21%.
Q: How often would each of the following conditions require you to apply a
specific risk premium, also referred to as alpha?
East Africa
Turnaround business One key customer or supplier
0.5
1.0
Start-ups Lack of track record
1.5
2.0
Respondents indicated that most of the factors listed would at some time
be considered as motivation for the inclusion of a specific risk premium.
Multiplying
Adding
Adding Multiplying
16%
25%
2014
2012
75%
84%
East Africa
Most respondents adjust the overall expected return on equity capital by adding a
premium. This is consistent with the results of previous surveys.
Q: What is the benchmark small stock premium applied, given the expected
size of the company or entity?
Range Average
20%
15%
10%
5% 5.7%
1.5%
0%
Low High
Low High
East Africa
2014 1.5% 5.7%
2012 1.0% 10.0%
In order to eliminate any outliers in the first and fourth quartiles, the second and third
quartiles have been calculated and are shown below. As can be seen, we considered
the average range falling between the second and third quartiles. The lower end of the
specific risk premium falls between 1% and 2%, and the upper end between 5% and 6%.
Low High
2014 2nd quartile 1.0% 5.0%
2014 3rd quartile 2.0% 5.5%
3 In this years survey, the clear majority of respondents indicated they apply an additive premium, with very
few applying a multiplication approach. Given the small sample size, data relating to the multiplication
approach has therefore not been included.
PwC Corporate Finance | 161
Specific risk premiums
Specific risk premiums are used for a wide variety of reasons, with the upper end of the
range likely to be dominated by hurdle rates used to appraise very high-risk projects. The
wide range of specific risk premiums added to the CAPM is therefore likely to be a result
of the variety of risks that specific risk premiums aim to address.
0 1.9%
2.0 3.9%
4.0 5.9%
6.0 7.9%
8.0 10.0%
20% 16%
25% 25%
2014
32%
32% 25% 25%
East Africa
Q: How do you generally adjust for country risk when valuing an asset in
a country where no reliable long-bond yield (i.e. risk-free rate) can be
observed?
2014 2012
0.5
1.0
2.5
The survey results indicate that country risk differentials are recognised
mainly through adjusting local discount rates with a country risk
premium.
Given the level of activity in countries with limited capital market data, we asked
respondents some additional questions regarding how they determine their country risk
adjustments.
Q: How often are each of the following service providers used as a source of
information for country risk premium?
Damodaran
PRS (Political Risk Services Group)
CDS (Credit Default Swap)
Coface
Damodaran
East Africa
CDS (Credit Default Swap)
The majority of respondents are familiar with the concept of international insurance
against country risk. We asked respondents how they factor in international insurance
against country risk when calculating the discount rate.
Figure 5.16 Discount rate adjustment method when factoring in international insurance
Gearing
Figure 5.17 Approaches used in determining the appropriate level of debt and equity
2014 2012
The entitys actual gearing level at the valuation date
East Africa
Average gearing level of the industry in which the entity operates
Another technical issue that frequently arises in the income approach is the question
of terminal values. Terminal values often contribute more than 50% of the discounted
cash flow value. As a result, the terminal value calculation is an area that needs to be
considered in detail.
Q: How often are each of the following approaches used in calculating the
terminal value in a business valuation?
2014 2012
0.5
East Africa
1.0
2.5
The Gordon growth model and exit multiples are the most frequently
used approaches to calculate terminal values.
Company-specific factors
Consumer price index (CPI)
Consumption expenditure growth
Nominal gross domestic product (GDP) growth
Real GDP growth
2014 2012
Company-specic factors
0.5
East Africa
1.0
1.5
Choice of multiples
Q: When using the market approach, how often do you use each of the
following valuation multiples?
2014 2012
Market value of invested capital (MVIC)/revenue
East Africa
Price/earnings plus MVIC/earnings before interest
non-cash charges (CF) 0.5 and tax (EBIT)
1.0
1.5
2.0
Country risk
Diversification
Growth
Size
2014 2012
Country risk
Size Diversication
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
East Africa
Growth
In this years survey, we asked some additional questions to gauge the quantum of the
discounts being applied.
Range Average
60%
50%
40%
30%
17.1%
20%
7.3%
10%
0%
Low High
East Africa
In order to eliminate any outliers in the first and fourth quartiles, the second and third
quartiles have been calculated below. As can be seen, we considered the average range
falling between the second and third quartiles. The relatively low average results from a
large number of respondents not applying country risk premiums in certain instances.
Low High
2014 average 7.3% 17.1%
2014 2nd quartile 7.5% 15.0%
2014 3rd quartile 10.0% 20.0%
The lower end of the country risk adjustment falls between 7.5% and
10%, and the upper end is between 15% and 20%.
Q. Assuming you are valuing a business that is significantly smaller than the
listed comparable companies you used to derive an earnings multiple,
what is the range of discounts you would apply to comparable company
multiples to reflect differences in size?
Range Average
50%
40%
30%
23.1%
20%
9.2%
10%
0%
Low High
In order to eliminate any outliers in the first and fourth quartiles, the second and
East Africa
third quartiles have been calculated below. As can be seen, we considered the average
range falling between the second and third quartiles. The lower end of the country risk
adjustment stands at 10%, and the upper end between 20% and 30%.
Low High
2014 average 9.2% 23.1%
2014 2nd quartile 10.0% 20.0%
2014 3rd quartile 10.0% 30.0%
The lower end of the size adjustment applied by respondents is 10%, and
the upper end is between 20% and 30%.
East Africa
The minority discount relates to the lack of control over the operation and corporate
policy for a given investment by its minority shareholders. The minority shareholders
can generally not direct the size or timing of dividends or control the selection of
management.
A minority shareholder can also not veto the acquisition, sale or liquidation of assets.
Minority discounts are therefore usually applied when valuing a non-controlling stake to
discount the value for lack of control.
Income approach
Market multiple approach
Net asset value
2014 2012
83%
79%
East Africa
50%
42%
33%
16%
63%
16%
Enterprise value
21%
Discount rate
When asked where the minority discounts are applied, most respondents indicated that
they prefer to apply the minority discount to the market value of equity.
East Africa
Given that most respondents acknowledge the appropriateness of the minority discount,
we asked them for an indication of the range of minority discounts normally applied in
their valuation analysis.
Range Average
50%
40%
30%
23.8%
20%
16.2%
10% 7.5%
0%
1% 24% 25% 49% 50%
Range Average
4 In this years survey, the clear majority of respondents indicated they apply an adjustment to equity, with
very few applying an enterprise value adjustment. Given the small sample size, data relating to adjustments
to enterprise value has therefore not been included.
East Africa
The control premium is the inverse of the minority discount and similar issues have to be
considered in calculating a control premium. To summarise, a control premium relates
to the additional value associated with the ability to control the distribution of cash
generated by the company, which includes the ability to influence the timing and size of
the dividend distribution.
Income approach
Market multiple approach
Net asset value
2014 2012
74%
67% 67%
53%
33%
East Africa
11%
The control premium may already be implicitly included in the income approach and
normally the control premium is only applied in a market approach valuation. However,
if the control premium relates to synergies not built into the cash flows, a control
premium may in some cases be applied to the income approach.
Given that most respondents acknowledge the appropriateness of the control premium,
we asked them to indicate how they go about applying control premiums in their
valuation analysis.
53%
31%
Enterprise value
16%
Discount rate
East Africa
the market value of equity.
We then sought to quantify the benchmark control premiums that are typically applied.
Range Average
30%
25%
20% 19.4%
14.4%
15%
10%
5.6%
5%
0%
50% 51%-74% 75%-100%
5 In this years survey, the clear majority of respondents indicated they apply an adjustment to equity,
with very few applying an enterprise value adjustment. Given the small sample size, data relating to the
adjustments to enterprise value has therefore not been included.
East Africa
applied to the market value
of equity for a interest in the
range of 51% 74% is 14%
and 19% in the range 75%
100%. This year we also asked
our respondents for their view
on what control premium
is appropriate where joint
control exists. On average,
the respondents indicated a
control premium of 6%.
Marketability can be defined as the ability to convert the business ownership interest (at
whatever ownership level) to cash quickly, with minimum transaction and administrative
costs in so doing and with a high degree of certainty of realising the expected amount of
net proceeds.6
There is, however, an expected relationship between the marketability and the ownership
share. Even after we discount a minority interest for a lack of control, it is usually harder
to sell a non-controlling interest than a controlling ownership interest. The marketability
discount is therefore expected to decrease with the size of the ownership share.
Income approach
Market multiple approach
Net asset value
2014 2012
83%
79%
53%
50% 50%
42%
Respondents recognise the need to adjust for marketability in all valuation approaches.
The remainder of this section therefore deals with how respondents apply marketability
discounts in their valuation analysis.
42%
32%
Enterprise value
26%
Discount rate
The majority of respondents apply marketability discounts to the market value of equity. East Africa
We subsequently asked them to quantify the benchmark discounts that are typically
applied.
Range Average
40%
30%
20% 17.5%
15.4%
11.4%
10% 7.5%
0%
1% 24% 25% 49% 50% 74% 75% 100%
The ranges provide an indication of the size of the marketability discounts that are
applied by respondents. As shown in the tables above, we considered the ranges falling
between the second and third quartiles.
7 In this years survey, the clear majority of respondents indicated they apply an adjustment to equity, with
very few applying an enterprise value adjustment. Given the small sample size, data relating to adjustments
to enterprise value has therefore not been included.
East Africa
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Infrastructure
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A recent global PwC publication, entitled Capital project and infrastructure spending:
Outlook to 2025, suggests worldwide infrastructure spending will grow from $4 trillion
per year in 2012 to more than $9 trillion per year by 2025. Overall, close to $78 trillion is
expected to be spent globally between 2014 and 2025.
In tandem with this global trend, governments across Africa have a renewed focus on
infrastructure, as they recognise it as an important driver of growth. Infrastructure
spending in sub-Saharan Africa is forecast to grow by 10% a year over the next decade,
exceeding $180 billion by 2025, which will maintain the regions 2% share of the global
infrastructure market.
With the acceleration in development, funding models are changing. Findings in PwCs
recent Trends challenges and future outlook: Capital projects and infrastructure in East
Africa, Southern Africa and West Africa report suggest that new approaches to funding,
such as public-private partnerships, are becoming more common. At least half of the
respondents said that they expect infrastructure to be funded by a mix of private and
public sector funding, while nearly a third (29%) said that they expect to rely on private-
sector debt and equity.
Given the size of and growth prospects for capital projects and infrastructure in Africa, as
well as the significant involvement of the private sector in these projects, how the market
quantifies the value of these investments is becoming increasingly important.
For this reason, in this years survey we asked respondents questions regarding how they
go about valuing interests held in infrastructure projects.
Infrastructure
12%
Figure 6.2 Methods used to benchmark rate of return for infrastructure projects
83%
48% 48%
39%
26% 26%
4% 4% 13%
9% 0% 0%
Figure 6.3 Adjustments made for perceived risk associated with infrastructure projects
2014
Most respondents incorporate the risk associated with an infrastructure project in the
discount rate.
0.5
1.0
1.5
Liquidity/funding concerns Start-ups
2.0
2.5
Duration of project
A range of risk factors, project attributes and market factors is frequently considered
by respondents. The nature of the project (including stage of development, type and
Infrastructure
duration) are key considerations, in addition to general market conditions, including the
equity risk premium expected by the market.
A very wide range of risk factors is considered, both specific to the project
being valued, as well as external measures, such as the equity market
risk premium expected by investors.
Infrastructure
Bridges, tunnels and toll roads
Pipeline and other energy transmission
Contracted energy (power) generation projects
Water and waste water management
Airport and seaport
Railways
General infrastructure
Figure 6.5 Market risk premium/equity risk premium for infrastructure asset classes
Range Average
25%
20%
15%
10%
7.3%
6.4% 6.4% 6.4% 6.0% 6.2% 6.4% 6.2%
5%
0%
Infrastructure Bridges, Pipeline & Contracted Water & Airport Railways General
Infrastructure
transmissions
Infrastructure
infrastructure
other energy
Pipeline and
Railways
projects
General
2014 6.4% 6.4% 6.4% 7.3% 6.0% 6.2% 6.4% 6.2%
average
2014 2nd 6.0% 6.0% 6.0% 6.0% 6.0% 6.0% 6.0% 6.0%
quartile
2014 3rd 7.9% 7.5% 7.9% 8.0% 7.4% 7.4% 7.4% 7.9%
quartile
Q: What is the range of project risk premium you would typically apply to
infrastructure projects to account for project-specific risks?
Range Average
10%
9%
8%
6.8%
7%
6%
5%
4%
3%
2.4%
2%
1%
0%
Low High
Low High
2014 average 2.4% 6.8%
In order to eliminate any outliers in the first and fourth quartiles, the second and third
quartiles have been calculated and are shown below. As can be seen, we considered
the average range falling between the second and third quartiles. The lower end of the
specific risk premium falls between 2% and 5%, and the upper end between 7% and 10%.
Low High
Infrastructure
Range Average
50%
40%
30%
20%
14.2%
10% 7.3%
0%
Low High
Low High
2014 average 7.3% 14.2%
In order to eliminate any outliers in the first and fourth quartiles, the second and third
quartiles have been calculated and are shown below. As can be seen, we considered the
average range falling between the second and third quartiles. The lower end of the specific
risk premium falls between 5% and 10%, and the upper end between 10% and 17%.
Low High
Infrastructure
Infrastructure
200 | Africa:
200 Africa:AAcloser
closerlook
lookatatvalue
valueValuation
Valuationmethodology
methodologysurvey
survey2014/15
2014/15
Main Section
Main
TOC TOC
Contents
Appendix 1: Overview of survey methodology 202
Appendices
PwC
PwC Corporate
Corporate Finance
Finance |201
201
Appendix 1
Overview of survey methodology
Appendices
Research was conducted via an online survey comprising some 60 questions. The
following types of questions were asked:
The responses were analysed and the results of the analysis are presented in the
sections of this publication.
Frequency-type questions
The objective of frequency-type questions was to determine the relative importance
of each of the items tested. The frequency questions were analysed based on the
following matrix:
Value Description
3 Item tested is always used/considered by respondents
2 Item tested is frequently used/considered by respondents
1 Item tested is sometimes used/considered by respondents
0 Item tested is seldom or never used/considered by respondents
Alternative-type questions
Respondents were required to make a choice between two or more alternative
responses. The result of the alternative-type questions is presented in this
publication as a percentage of total respondents.
Range-type questions
Respondents were required to provide the value(s) for certain variables, for
example, the market risk premium. Respondents had the option to include either
a single value or a range of values. In cases where a range was provided, the data
was analysed utilising the midpoint of the range to calculate, for example, average/
median values.
Appendices
Abbreviation Description
ALSI JSE All-Share Index
APT Arbitrage pricing theory
Beta or systematic risk
BEE Black economic empowerment
BRIC Brazil, Russia, India and China
BVE Book value of equity
CAGR Compound annual growth rate
CAPM Capital asset pricing model
CF Cash flows (earnings + non-cash charges)
CFO Cash flow from operations
CPI Consumer price index
DCF Discounted cash flow
EBIT Earnings before interest and tax
EBITDA Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation
E(Re) Expected rate of return on equity capital
E(Rp) Expected market risk premium
EVA Economic value added
FINDI JSE Financial and Industrial Index
GDP Gross domestic product
IFRS International Financial Reporting Standards
JSE Johannesburg Stock Exchange
Kd After-tax rate of return on debt capital
Ke Rate of return on equity capital
m million
MSCI World Index Index of 1 500 world stocks
MVIC Market value of invested capital
NAV Net asset value
PBT Price/pre-tax earnings
PE Price/earnings, also earnings representing net income after tax
R South African rand
Rf Risk-free rate of return
RSA Republic of South Africa
SRP Specific risk premium
SSP Small stock premium
Appendices
implications.
clients specific needs.
Tax valuations.
Independent expert
Valuation consulting opinions
Our valuation specialists assist businesses There is a wide range of circumstances in
to achieve an in-depth understanding of which an independent opinion of value
the value of each business or asset in a is required and each scenario requires
Appendices
Courts, regulators, tax authorities, required, whereby all assets (tangible and
shareholders and businesses may, at intangible) from a merger or acquisition
different times, all need an objective have to be included in the balance sheet of
specialist to provide a valuation of an asset the acquirer at their current market value
or business. In the instance of shareholder and are depreciated over the term of their
disputes, an opinion is often required by useful economic life.
shareholders. The context and purpose
of the valuation determine the approach Goodwill is tested for impairment annually
that needs to be taken to provide an and is marked down for any impairments
appropriate opinion. calculated during the annual review
process.
In cases where boards of directors are
required by the Takeover Regulation Panel These requirements call for specialist
to obtain appropriate external advice on valuation services that understand both
an offer, a fair and reasonable opinion is the specific accounting implications and
required. Related-party transactions may the wider commercial context in which
also give rise to the need for a fairness those financial reporting valuations will
opinion in terms of the JSE Limiteds apply.
Listings Requirements.
PwCs valuation services draw on
Increasingly, non-executive directors considerable technical and financial
and audit committees bear a significant specialisation provided by our valuation
responsibility for corporate governance team in combination with the firms
and this has numerous implications for accounting specialists to deliver integrated
independent valuations. PwCs Valuation advice to our clients.
& Economics team has the required
experience to provide a robust and credible Tax valuations
independent expert valuation.
Valuations often lie at the heart of disputes
and negotiations with tax authorities. The
Financial reporting
specific demands of the tax authorities
valuations require specialist advice and detailed
International Accounting Standards (IAS) knowledge of their working methods and
and International Financial Reporting practices.
Standards (IFRS) have introduced
significant changes to the way in which PwCs Valuation & Economics team is able
accounts must be prepared and presented to assist with tax valuations, including
and require a wider range of assets to be valuations for capital gains tax, stamp
valued on an annual basis. duty, estate duty and exchange control
purposes.
IFRS 3 governs the accounting treatment
for business combinations. A fair value
Appendices
Appendices
Identifying the critical path of an We assist our clients with the provision
integration process. of appropriately skilled specialist
Appendices
Transaction Services
Appendices
Appendices