How to Understand the Value of a Business

Transcription

1 Business Valuation Specified Assets of Sample Company Inc. as of December 31, 2010

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Conclusion of Value...1 Valuation Summary...2 Analysis of the Company...3 DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY OF BUSINESS... 3 MANAGEMENT... 3 WORKFORCE... 3 SALES & MARKETING... 3 FACILITIES & LOCATION... 3 OWNERSHIP AND PREVIOUS SALES OF STOCK... 3 ENTITY TYPE... 4 ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT... 4 SOURCES AND USES OF FUNDS... 4 FINANCIAL ANALYSIS... 5 DIVIDEND PAYING CAPACITY SALES GROWTH STRATEGIES & PROJECTIONS ABILITY TO SERVICE ACQUISITION DEBT INDUSTRY & COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT Valuation Approaches & Methods HYPOTHETICAL SALE Hypothetical Buyer Hypothetical Seller Fractional Interests Summary MARKET BASED METHODS Guideline Public Company Method Guideline Private Company Transactions Methods INCOME BASED METHODS Discounting & Capitalizing Discounted Future Benefits Capitalization of Benefits ASSET BASED METHODS Book Value Adjusted Net Assets OTHER METHODS Excess Earnings Industry Rules of Thumb VALUATION ADJUSTMENTS Non-Operating Items Lack of Marketability Discount Control Premium and Minority Interest Discount SUMMARY & CONCLUSIONS Engagement Exhibits E1 STATEMENT OF ASSUMPTIONS AND LIMITING CONDITIONS E2 SOURCES OF INFORMATION E3 CERTIFICATIONS AND REPRESENTATIONS OF DAVID E. COFFMAN E4 PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS OF DAVID E. COFFMAN... 32

3 Financial Exhibits F1 BALANCE SHEET HISTORICAL & COMMON-SIZE F2 INCOME STATEMENTS PROJECTED, HISTORICAL & COMMON-SIZE F3 CASH FLOW STATEMENTS COMPARATIVE F4 RATIO ANALYSIS F5 ADJUSTMENTS TO EARNINGS F6 ABILITY TO SERVICE DEBT Valuation Exhibits V1 PRIVATE COMPANY TRANSACTIONS V2 CAPITALIZATION RATE V3 CAPITALIZATION OF BENEFITS (CASH FLOW) V4 ADJUSTED NET ASSETS V5 EXCESS EARNINGS V6 INDUSTRY DATA & RULES OF THUMB... 47

4 Conclusion of Value February 15, 2011 Sample Bank ( the Lender ) 1234 Main St. Anytown, PA We have performed a valuation engagement, as that term is defined in the Statement on Standards for Valuation Services (SSVS) of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, of the assets specified ( the Specified Assets ) in the proposed asset purchase agreement between Sample Company Inc. ( the Seller ) and Joe Buyer LLC ( the Buyer ) as of December 31, This valuation was performed solely for the Lender to ascertain whether the acquisition price of the Specified Assets is reasonable, and to evaluate the ability of the Buyer to service the proposed debt; the resulting estimate of value should not be used for any other purpose or by any other party for any purpose. This valuation engagement was conducted in accordance with the SSVS and the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal practice (USPAP. The estimate of value that results from a valuation engagement is expressed as a conclusion of value. The standard of value used in this valuation is Fair Market Value. Fair market value is the price, in terms of cash equivalents, at which property would change hands between a hypothetical willing and able buyer and a hypothetical willing and able seller, acting at arm s length in an open and unrestricted market, when neither is under compulsion to buy or sell and when both have reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts. The Specified Assets are valued as a group under the premise that they collectively comprise an ongoing operating business enterprise that is expected to continue to operate into the future. Although our valuation is intended to estimate fair market value, we assume no responsibility for the inability of a seller or buyer to obtain a sale or purchase contract at that price. Based on our analysis, as described in this valuation report, the estimate of value of the Specified Assets as of December 31, 2010: $ 825,000 This conclusion is subject to the Statement of Assumptions and Limiting Conditions found in Exhibit E1. We have no obligation to update this report or our conclusion of value for information that comes to our attention after the date of this report. David E. Coffman CPA/ABV/CFF, CVA President & CEO Business Valuations & Strategies PC 1

5 Valuation Summary Date of valuation: December 31, 2010 Date of report: February 15, 2011 Property: The assets specified ( the Specified Assets ) in the proposed asset purchase agreement between Sample Company Inc. ( the Seller ) and Joe Buyer LLC ( the Buyer ) Ownership interest valued: 100% equity interest Purpose of valuation: For the Lender to ascertain whether the acquisition price of the Specified Assets is reasonable, and to evaluate the ability of the Buyer to service the proposed debt Standard of value: Fair market value Premise of value: Going concern Type of report: Detailed Scope limitations: None Significant assumptions and limitations: See Exhibit E1 Valuation methods considered: Private company transactions, capitalization of cash flow, adjusted net assets, and excess earnings Selected valuation method: Excess earnings Valuation conclusion: Inventory (resale) 41,416 Rental equipment 588,754 Non-rental equipment 110,800 Intangible assets 84,030 Total 825,000 SBA Change of Ownership Guidance # Description Location (Page#) 1 Explanation of transaction 4 2 Purchase price & breakdown of source of funds 4 3 Allocation of purchase price 4 4 Book value of acquired assets 24, 45 6 Analysis of seller financing N/A 7 Role/compensation of seller 3 8 Role/compensation of buyer 3 13 Justification of assumed growth rate Business appraisal complaint with USPAP and SOP50-10(5)(A) 1, Business appraiser support for cash flow 23, Business appraiser support for cap rate 21-23, 43 2

6 Analysis of the Company Description and History of Business The business was started in 19XX as a tool rental company known as Sample Avenue Rentals. Harry Sample purchased the business in 19XX. In 19XX the business moved to its current location in a larger, remodeled warehouse, and changed its name to Sample Rentals. In 20XX, Sample incorporated the business as Sample Company, Inc. The Company currently operates under the trade name of the XXXXXX. The Company rents tools and equipment to homeowners, small contractors, local government agencies, and industrial companies in the greater Anytown, PA area. It has a rental inventory of 500 to 700 items. Management Current Harry Sample serves as president and general manager. He receives a minimal annual salary. Proposed Joe Buyer will serve as president and general manager. He expects to take a minimal salary. Workforce Current & Proposed The Company employs: 2 mechanics, 1 shop person, 2 customer service agents, and a part-time bookkeeper. The Buyer expects to retain current staff. Sales & Marketing The Company s primary market is a 20 mile radius from Anytown, PA which covers much of XXXXXXX. It is well-established and maintains a customer list of over 18,000. The Company does not have a formal sales or marketing program, and no dedicated sales staff. It gets new business primarily from referrals, word-of-mouth, its website, directory listings, and traditional advertising methods. Facilities & Location The Company operates from facilities located at 123 Market Street, Anytown, Any County, PA. The buildings contain a mix of office, shop, and warehouse space. The property is leased from an unrelated third party. The current lease expires in 20XX with a 5 year extension. The current annual rent is $57,000. The agreement of sale is contingent on the landlord assigning the lease to the Buyer. Since 20XX, the Company has made a number of site improvements including: 1) expanding the courtyard area, 1) creating an off-street loading and unloading area for customers with trucks and trailers, 3) creating an indoor unloading and unloading area, and 4) leasing a warehouse to store larger equipment. The equipment consists of items available for rent, yard & shop equipment, and office equipment & furniture. The Company also owns 3 service/delivery trucks and a number of trailers. Over the past several years the Company has made significant investments in replacing and expanding its inventory of rental equipment. The Company is located just south of downtown Anytown, off of South Any Street (Routes 123 & 456). Route 123 is a major highway carrying traffic to and from the city of Anytown. Ownership and Previous Sales of Stock Current The Company is owned 50/50 by Harry & Ester Sample. They acquired the business in 19XX and incorporated in 20XX. No shares of the Company have been sold or transferred since it was incorporated. The acquisition of the business in 19XX occurred so long ago that it does not provide evidence relevant to the current value of the Company. Proposed The new company will be owned by Joe Buyer. 3

7 Entity Type The Company operates as an S corporation which is different from a regular C Corporation in the following ways: C corporations pay a corporate income tax on reported income. The income of S corporations is passed through to the shareholders, who pay personal income tax on it. C corporation shareholders pay tax on dividends from the corporation at the dividend tax rate that is currently less than most personal income tax rates. Distributions from an S corporation are generally not taxed as dividends. S corporation shareholders have to pay personal income tax on the corporation s income regardless of whether the income distributed. If the S corporation does not distribute the income, shareholders have to pay tax out of their own pockets. The basis of S corporation shareholders stock is increased for any income that is not distributed to the shareholders. Small, closely-held C corporations generally seek to minimize taxable corporate income by distributing income to the shareholders in the form of salaries and wages. Small S corporations seek to maximize distributions of income to their shareholders. Under these circumstances there is little difference between C and S corporations, and the pre-tax earnings. Most small, closely-held companies are sold as asset sales. Asset sales are where the primary operating assets (inventory, fixed assets, and intangible assets) are sold by the corporation to the buyer. The buyer is free to choose the type of business entity for the new company. Under these circumstances, the existing S corporation status of a company has no value to the buyer. Upon the sale, the corporation receives the proceeds of the sale and distributes them to the shareholders. In an S corporation the gain or loss on the sale is passed through to the shareholders and the distributions are generally tax-free. In a C corporation, the corporation must report gain or loss on the sale and pay corporate tax on it. Distributions to the C corporation shareholders are generally taxed as dividends. Therefore, S corporations avoid double taxation upon sale of the business for the current owners. Since a hypothetical buyer is not likely to buy the corporation (stock sale), the Company s status as an S corporation was considered to have no value. Asset Purchase Agreement The draft asset purchase agreement between Sample Company, Inc. ( the Seller ) and Joe Buyer LLC ( the Buyer ) provides for the sale of the Seller s inventory, equipment, and all intangible assets connected to operations. The total purchase price is $770,000 and is allocated as follows: Rental inventory & equipment $ 570,000 Intangible assets 200,000 Total $ 770,000 The agreement is contingent on the Buyer obtaining a Small Business Administration loan of $615,000 from Sample Bank. The agreement contains a covenant restricting the Seller and its shareholders from competing against the Buyer within Any County for a 3 year period. The agreement also assigns the rights to use the XXXXX fictitious name to the Buyer. Sources and Uses of Funds The proposed sources of funds are: The proposed uses of funds are: Bank term loan $ 616, yr. - Prime % Buyers equity 154,000 Total $ 770,000 Rental inventory & equipment $ 570,000 Intangible assets 200,000 Total $ 770,000 Sample Bank issued a commitment letter dated January 19, 2011 with the terms listed above. 4

8 Financial Analysis This analysis includes an evaluation of the Company's common-size, income statement and balance sheet for 2010 and the federal income tax returns for 2009 and In order to portray the relative size of financial statement items for comparison over time, each line item in the commonsize financial statements is expressed as a percentage of total assets or total revenue. The historical balance sheets, projected and historical income statements and historical cash flow statements are summarized in Exhibits F1 through F3. We analyzed only the historical financial data. Our analysis also includes an evaluation of commonly used financial ratios. These ratios fall within the following categories: Liquidity ratios measure the ability to meet short-term obligations, Leverage ratios (borrowing) measure reliance on debt and overall vulnerability to business downturns, Activity or operating ratios (assets) measure how effectively assets are used to produce revenue, and Profitability ratios measure overall performance. The Company's common-size financial statements and ratios have been compared to composite, industry common-size financial statements and ratios from the Construction Equipment Rental & Leasing (NAICS ).The ratio comparisons are presented in Exhibit F4. Each section of the ratio analysis (Liquidity, Profits & Profit Margin, etc.) contains a numerical score/grade, which is a rough measure of overall performance in the area. Each grade represents a score from 1 to 100, with 1 being the lowest score and 100 being the highest. Generally, a score above 50 would be a "good" score and a score below 50 would be a "poor" score. The scores are derived by evaluating the company's trends, either positive or negative, over time and by comparing the company to industry averages for different metrics. Although industry statistics are a useful source of general analytical data, there can be significant variation in the reporting practices and operational methods of companies within a given industry. Therefore, industry statistics as used throughout this report should not be regarded as absolute norms or standards. SALES A measure of how sales are growing and whether the sales are satisfactory for the company. 78 OUT OF 100 Most managers are fairly aware of sales trends -- they generally know whether sales are increasing or decreasing at a given point in time. This company's sales are higher this period, which is clearly a good result. The company increased its fixed asset base this period as well. Managers may want to investigate whether this fixed asset purchase drove the sales increase, or if other factors were at work here. 5

9 PROFITS & PROFIT MARGIN A measure of whether the trends in profit are favorable for the company. 87 OUT OF 100 This company appears to have achieved strong net profitability results this period by growing and becoming more efficient concurrently. The company's sales have increased this period, and the company's net profit margin (the cents earned in net profit for each dollar earned in sales) has risen by %. As a result, net profits (in dollars) have increased significantly since the previous period and the net profit margin is strong when compared to what similar companies are earning. Trends are sometimes more important than actual numbers in the profitability area, and this company's trends are favorable. When it is possible to run more sales through a company and manage sales dollars better, the company will almost always have good long-run health. The company should also be able to generate strong long-run returns on assets and equity. Perhaps the best part of these results is that profits grew at a faster rate than sales. Sometimes even the best companies will allow sales to increase faster than profits, but this can put downward pressure on net profits over time. Is it possible the company is growing into an optimal operating range? It looks that way, at least for now. Since revenues and net profits are higher, now might be a good time to build long-run profitability. This is especially true given that the net margins are higher than what similar companies are generating. Managers might want to invest the extra earnings into "growth factors" -- the areas that will help drive in higher longterm profits. The benefit of being stronger than the competition comes from taking strategic advantage of this fact. This number indicates the percentage of sales revenue that is not paid out in direct costs (costs of sales). It is an important statistic that can be used in business planning because it indicates how many cents of gross profit can be generated by each dollar of future sales. Higher is normally better (the company is more efficient). 6

10 This is an important metric. In fact, over time, it is one of the more important barometers that we look at. It measures how many cents of profit the company is generating for every dollar it sells. Track it carefully against industry competitors. This is a very important number in preparing forecasts. The higher the better. This metric shows advertising expense for the company as a percentage of sales. This metric shows rent expense for the company as a percentage of sales. This metric shows G & A payroll expense for the company as a percentage of sales. 7

11 LIQUIDITY A measure of the company's ability to meet obligations as they come due. 31 OUT OF 100 Operating Cash Flow Results Cash flow has declined a bit relative to sales, but is still at a healthy level. The company is also generating good profits. These results are good, but they may also be needed, as overall liquidity seems weak at this time. Look carefully at the Balance Sheet to see if anything can be adjusted to free up extra cash. General Liquidity Conditions It is positive that the company's liquidity numbers look better than they did last period, but considerably more improvement may still be needed. Basically, the liquidity position is still quite poor. Both the current ratio and the quick ratio are weak as depicted in the graph area of the report. This assessment is made by a careful evaluation of the company's numbers AND the data of other similar firms in the industry. These ratios are benchmarks for the business, which indicate that both the scope (size) and composition (quality) of the firm's liquidity base are poor. The company must improve its conditions in this area -- it must continue to do better on the Income Statement side by driving in more profits AND by finding ways to retain the additional cash flow in the company. Otherwise, there could possibly be some difficulties paying the bills over the long run. It would also be important to look at certain specific items more closely. In particular, notice the company's relatively high inventory days and high accounts payable days ratios. Inventory days serve as a rough measure of how long it is taking to convert or sell inventory. Creditors typically do not like high values for accounts payable days since it implies that a company may have some difficulty paying bills. Over time, it would be positive to see the company float these two metrics down to help improve overall liquidity health. LIMITS TO LIQUIDITY ANALYSIS: Keep in mind that liquidity conditions are volatile, and this is a general analysis looking at a snapshot in time. Review this section, but do not overly rely on it. Generally, this metric measures the overall liquidity position of a company. It is certainly not a perfect barometer, but it is a good one. Watch for big decreases in this number over time. Make sure the accounts listed in "current assets" are collectible. The higher the ratio, the more liquid the company is. 8

12 This is another good indicator of liquidity, although by itself, it is not a perfect one. If there are receivable accounts included in the numerator, they should be collectible. Look at the length of time the company has to pay the amount listed in the denominator (current liabilities). The higher the number, the stronger the company. This metric shows how much inventory (in days) is on hand. It indicates how quickly a company can respond to market and/or product changes. Not all companies have inventory for this metric. The lower the better. This number reflects the average length of time between credit sales and payment receipts. It is crucial to maintaining positive liquidity. The lower the better. 9

13 This ratio shows the average number of days that lapse between the purchase of material and labor, and payment for them. It is a rough measure of how timely a company is in meeting payment obligations. Lower is normally better. ASSETS A measure of how effectively the company is utilizing its gross fixed assets. 90 OUT OF 100 The company performed well here. There were additions to fixed assets and profitability improved by even more. If profitability can consistently improve more quickly than assets, the company should see a strong long-run return on assets. It is unusual and positive that net margins and overall liquidity have improved as the company has added assets. Yet increasing assets further could be problematic because the rise in net profitability and overall liquidity compared with the increase in assets could be coincidental, not bearing any significant relationship. Other positive points include the above average return on assets and return on equity that the company earned this period. If profits are moving positively against fixed assets and the company is generating good returns on those assets, this area will continue to score very well, as has been the case this period. This measure shows how much profit is being returned on the shareholders' equity each year. It is a vital statistic from the perspective of equity holders in a company. The higher the better. 10

14 This calculation measures the company's ability to use its assets to create profits. Basically, ROA indicates how many cents of profit each dollar of asset is producing per year. It is quite important since managers can only be evaluated by looking at how they use the assets available to them. The higher the better. This asset management ratio shows the multiple of annualized sales that each dollar of gross fixed assets is producing. This indicator measures how well fixed assets are "throwing off" sales and is very important to businesses that require significant investments in such assets. Readers should not emphasize this metric when looking at companies that do not possess or require significant gross fixed assets. The higher the more effective the company's investments in Net Property, Plant, and Equipment are. BORROWING A measure of how responsibly the company is borrowing and how effectively it is managing debt. 71 OUT OF 100 Net profitability improved by % while debt was lowered. In other words, a reduction in total debt coincided with improved profitability, at least for this period. Not only this, but the net profit margins and overall liquidity actually improved. This is a very good situation -- profitability was able to expand without additional debt. This dynamic should help long-term profitability, especially if it can be continued over multiple periods. While the overall trend in this area seems to be positive, the following areas may merit further attention. When compared to its industry peers, the company has generated an average amount of earnings (before interest and non-cash expenses) to cover its debt obligations. It also seems to have a relatively high level of debt compared to equity. Therefore, small changes in earnings could have a significant impact on the company s ability to meet interest obligations. 11

15 Capacity planning is a challenge here. This involves simply thinking out into the future: how long can profitability improve without increasing borrowing? Analyzing the relationship between investments in resources (such as assets) and profitability improvement, as well as effectively forecasting sales and cash flow, can help answer this question and lead to the best borrowing policies for the near future. This ratio measures a company's ability to service debt payments from operating cash flow (EBITDA). An increasing ratio is a good indicator of improving credit quality. The higher the better. This Balance Sheet leverage ratio indicates the composition of a company s total capitalization -- the balance between money or assets owed versus the money or assets owned. Generally, creditors prefer a lower ratio to decrease financial risk while investors prefer a higher ratio to realize the return benefits of financial leverage. This ratio measures a company's ability to repay debt obligations from annualized operating cash flow (EBITDA). 12

16 Summary The results of the financial analysis are summarized below. As described above, our financial analysis was limited to income statement related data. Generally, a score above 50 is considered a "good" score and a score below 50 is a "poor" score. Category Score Earning Capacity Sales 78 Profits & Profit Margins 87 Financial Condition Liquidity 31 Assets 90 Borrowing 71 Sales and profits improved in 2010 so the Company scored well in the earning capacity categories. The Company historically maintains a minimal cash balance and has few trade receivables so the Company scored poorly in liquidity. It scored well in the efficient use of assets and effective borrowing because the Company invests heavily in rental equipment and is thinly capitalized. The Company s overall earning capacity and financial condition is generally very good. Because it is not very liquid and is thinly capitalized it is vulnerable to an extended period of significant declining revenue. The results of the financial analysis influence the valuation conclusion in several ways. The discount and capitalization rates used in several methods are adjusted for the results of the financial analysis within the specific company risks component. The Company s earning capacity directly impacts income-based methods. The Company s financial condition directly affects asset-based methods. Dividend Paying Capacity Dividend paying capacity can be important when valuing a company if data from comparable public companies is available or if minority interests are being valued. The dividend paying capacity of a company often represents the company s net cash flow that is not needed for future growth. Dividends actually paid in the past may have no relation to a company s dividend paying capacity because payment of dividends is discretionary. Small, closely held companies typically do not pay dividends for a number of reasons. Stockholders/employees frequently withdraw excess cash flow in the form of salaries and bonuses, avoiding the double taxation of dividends. Many small businesses are undercapitalized with limited borrowing capacity so they need to retain more cash to fund operations and growth. For these reasons dividend-paying capacity is a less reliable factor when valuing a controlling interest in a small, closely held company. Therefore, in this case, dividend-paying capacity was not taken into consideration. Sales Growth Strategies & Projections The Buyer projects sales and most expenses to remain at 2010 levels. Maintaining the current sales level seems conservative based on historical trends and the improving economy. The projected increases in payroll, employee benefits and interest expense appear in line with the Buyer s intentions. Overall the projections appear reasonable and attainable. Ability to Service Acquisition Debt The Buyer will incur $616,000 of new debt to complete the proposed acquisition. Commercial financing consists of a term loan of $616,000 payable over ten years at an initial interest rate of 6.0% requiring annual payments of $82,068. There is no Seller financing. The total annual debt service will be $82,068. This amount was compared to the projected cash flow excluding interest expense for The debt service coverage ratio is 2.3. Due to the reasonableness of the projections and an adequate debt service coverage ratio, the Buyer appears able to service the proposed debt. The analysis of the ability to service acquisition debt is presented in detail in Exhibit F6. 13

17 Industry & Competitive Environment Overall According to the American Rental Association, the combination of rebounding construction activity, continued strong growth of corporate profits, and increased consumer spending will drive growth in rental revenue. The overall rental industry is expected to increase 4.6% in 2011, with the construction and industrial segment growing 6.0%, general tool rental up 1.3%, and party and event rental increasing 3.7%. The growth will increase each quarter from 1.6% in the first quarter to 7.9% in the fourth. Growth is expected to continue, topping 2007 s market peak in In addition to improving economic conditions, more contractors are expected rent instead of own equipment. Many contractors were forced to sell or delay replacing existing equipment during the recession. As construction activity increases these contractors may be unable or reluctant to purchase new equipment and opt to rent. Continued uncertainty about the economic conditions and construction activity should sustain the increase in renting. These conditions suggest that rental should continue to gain market share over the next few years. The industry is populated primarily by small, independent companies that serve their local markets. Local & Regional There are 72 listings in YellowBook.com under Equipment Rental for Anytown, PA. Only a few of these listings are for general rental centers that offer a full line of power equipment and tools. Company The Company is well established with a convenient location along a major route to and from downtown Anytown. Despite the severe recession and the lack of a formal sales and marketing program, the Company only experienced a 6% sales decline in Sales recovered in 2010 and exceeded the 2008 level. Due to the site improvements, rental equipment inventory replacement and expansion, and an improving economy the Company should be able to maintain modest sales and earnings growth. The industry and competitive environment directly impacts the operations of the Company in many ways such as: rate of sales growth, available cash flow, and specific company risk factors. These elements are already incorporated into the valuation methods used in this engagement, so no specific adjustment for the industry and competitive environment is necessary. Economic Environment We analyzed the following indicators to assess the economic environment as of the 3rd quarter of Overall Growth Indicator Change in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which measures the total economic output of the U.S. Source Bureau of Economic Analysis Current GDP growth was 2.0% in the third quarter and 1.7% in the second quarter of Forecast GDP growth is expected to range between 3.0% and 4.0% in Leading Indicator Leading Index is a composite of 10 forward-looking economic indicators. Source The Conference Board Current The index increased slightly for the third consecutive month in September 2010 to Trend The index is indicating modest economic growth through

18 Manufacturing Industrial Production Indicator Industrial production index Source Federal Reserve Current The index rose to 93.2 in September Overall production rose 5.4% from September Trend Industrial production is expected to improve slightly. ISM Survey Indicator Survey of Manufacturing Activity Source Institute of Supply Management (ISM) Current The index fell 1.8 points to 54.4 in September A score of 50 or more indicates growth in manufacturing activity. A score in excess of 41.2 percent, over a period of time, generally indicates an expansion of the overall economy. Whether the score is rising or falling is also important. Trend The index is expected to remain flat for several months. Services Indicator Survey of Non- Manufacturing Activity Source Institute of Supply Management (ISM) Current The index declined 0.6 points to 53.2 in September The index has remained flat for most of A score of 50 or more indicates growth. Whether the score is rising or falling is also important. Trend The index is expected to remain flat for several months. Retail Indicator Advance monthly sales for retail and food services Source Census Bureau Current Retail sales for the third quarter of 2010 were up 5.7% from the same period a year ago. Trend Retail sales are expected to improve slowly through most of Housing Real Estate Indicator New home sales Source Census Bureau Current Home sales were down 21.5% in September 2010 from the same period last year. Trend Home sales are expected to remain flat through most of

19 Construction Indicator Housing starts Source Census Bureau Current Housing starts were up 4.1% in September 2010 from the same period last year. Trend Housing starts are expected to remain flat through most of Consumer Spending Indicator Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) Source Bureau of Economic Analysis Current Consumer spending rose 2.6% in the third quarter of Trend Consumer spending is expected rise modestly through most of Confidence Indicator Consumer sentiment Source University of Michigan Current The index fell 0.1 points to 67.7 as of October 1, Trend Consumer confidence is expected to remain low until the job market improves significantly. Prices/Inflation Consumer Indicator Consumer price index (CPI) Source Bureau of Labor Statistics Current The index rose at a 1.1% rate for the twelve months ended September Trend Consumer prices are expected to increase modestly through Producer Indicator Producer price index (PPI) Source Bureau of Labor Statistics Current The index rose 4.0% during the twelve months ended September Trend Producer prices are expected to increase modestly through

20 Employment Indicator Unemployment rate Source Bureau of Labor Statistics Current The unemployment rate rose slightly from 9.5% in June to 9.6% in September Trend The unemployment rate is expected to decline very slowly through Interest Rates Indicator Short-term rates are strongly influenced by the Federal Reserve, while long-term rates are more market-based. Source Wall Street Journal Current Short term rates are stable at near zero. Long term rates are falling. Trend Rates are expected to remain low, but start to rise gradually in Corporate Profits Indicator Corporate profits Source Bureau of Economic Analysis Current Corporate profits rose 39.2% in the second quarter of 2010 when compared to the same period last year. Trend Corporate profits are expected to continue improving, but at a slower rate, due to cost cutting and delayed rehiring. Pennsylvania & Regional The amount and availability of regional and state level economic data is limited. The data that is available suggests that the conditions within Pennsylvania are closely related to national economic conditions. The unemployment rate for Pennsylvania was 9.0% in September 2010 down slightly from 9.2% in June. The unemployment rates for the Anyburg (7.5%) Anytown (7.0%), Anyville (6.9%), and Anywhere (8.2%) areas for September 2010 were down significantly from the previous quarter, and remain below the state and national rates. Summary The economic recession has ended but the housing and financial markets are healing very slowly. Consumer spending, one of the main drivers of the economy, will remain sluggish until consumers regain some confidence through an improving job market, which is not expected until The economic environment directly impacts the operations of the Company in many ways such as: rate of sales growth, available cash flow, and risk factors. These elements are already incorporated into the valuation methods used in this engagement, so no specific adjustment for the economic environment is necessary. 17

21 Valuation Approaches & Methods Hypothetical Sale The valuation approaches and methods used in this report are based on the hypothetical sale of the Company between a hypothetical willing and able buyer and a hypothetical willing and able seller, acting at arm s length in an open and unrestricted market, when neither is under compulsion to buy or sell and when both have reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts. The vast majority of small, privately-held companies are sold on an asset-sale basis. Virtually all sales to third parties are asset sales. A typical asset sale includes the operating assets of a business inventory; furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E); and all intangible assets (goodwill). Real estate may also be included if it is owned by the company. These assets are sold free and clear of all debt, so the proceeds from the sale of assets are used to satisfy any outstanding debts connected to the assets. Then the business entity winds up its affairs by collecting any receivables, liquidating or transferring any assets that were not included in the sale, paying any payables, and satisfying any other obligations. Any remaining cash or other assets are distributed to the owners generally on a pro-rata basis. The capital stock of a corporation or interest in a partnership may also be sold to transfer ownership (stock sale). Stock sales are more common when a business (or fractional interest) is sold to a related party. In a 100% stock sale, all of the assets and liabilities within the corporation are included in the sale. Because it occurs outside the business entity, the sale generally has no impact on the accounting records of the business entity. Hypothetical Buyer There are two basic types of buyers of small businesses. The most common type is an owner-operator. An owner-operator is an individual (or small group of individuals) who intends to personally operate the business on a daily basis. The earnings of the business are expected to: 1) pay the owner-operator reasonable compensation for the services he/she provides to the business, and 2) generate business profits that will be used to service debt, reinvest in the business (buy equipment, etc.), and provide a return on the investment required to acquire the business. This type of buyer typically will continue to operate the business, more or less, in its current form and is most interested in the cash flow (before owner s compensation) the business is currently generating. Owner-operators often do not have previous experience owning a business and/or in the industry, and will require some training during a transition period. Due partly to their lack of business experience owner-operators often focus on their personal compensation rather business profits. Several surveys have shown that business owners are generally willing to make less money because they value the intangible benefits of owning their own business. The second type of buyer is an absentee owner. An absentee owner can be an individual, group of individuals or another company that intends to hire managers to run the daily operations. This type of buyer may also be called an investor or a strategic buyer. The earnings of the business are expected to: 1) pay reasonable compensation to the manager(s), and 2) generate business profits that will be used to service debt, reinvest in the business (buy equipment, etc.), and provide a return on the investment required to acquire the business. Because this type of buyer often has previous business experience in the industry, they may intend to operate the business differently. Therefore they are more interested in the sales and gross margins that the business generates. They will estimate operating expenses based on their own experience and any planned changes to the operations. This type of buyer is most concerned about earning a return on their investment. An absentee owner must hire managers in the job market at competitive rates. Generally, only businesses that generate enough earnings (currently or projected) to cover a manager s compensation, and still produce adequate net profits is attractive to absentee owners. Buyers can also be categorized by their relationship to the seller. Most small businesses are sold to unrelated third parties. Unrelated third parties typically act through intermediaries like business brokers or attorneys. This type of buyer looks for businesses for sale based on their own personal criteria including: type of business, location, price range, cash flow, etc. They usually need to provide a down payment of at least 15% and require bank or seller financing to complete the transaction. If commercial financing is used, the buyer will have to show that the business will generate enough earnings to meet projected operating expenses (including compensation for the active owners), and cover the new debt service plus a cushion of at least 25%. Emotions are a major factor in the buying process, but the earnings of the business have to justify the purchase price, especially when commercial financing is involved. First-timers often have difficulty making the decision to buy based on the many uncertainties connected to owning and operating a business. The buyer s ability to secure financing and deal with the uncertainty are critical factors in completing the sale. 18

22 Individuals who have existing relationships with the business such as family members of an owner or key employees are the next most common type of business buyer. Related buyers often have minimal financial resources and rely heavily on seller financing or incremental purchases. Sales to related parties are generally not considered to be arms-length transactions and the buyer may not be well-informed about business and financial matters, so determining an objective, fair and reasonable price is a critical factor. Since the seller is likely to have a continuing stake in the business, the ability of the buyer to successfully operate the business is a major concern of the seller. Hypothetical Seller As with buyers, there are two basic types of sellers (owners) of small businesses. By far the most common type is an owneroperator who personally operates the business on a daily basis. This type of seller is driven primarily by personal factors. The reason for selling and the timing of the sale are based on the owner(s) personal situation. This type of seller often attempts to set a price for the business at a level that meets their personal requirements, often seeking to satisfy their debts and fund their retirement. Owner-operators end up selling their businesses at fair and reasonable prices because they have little choice. If they hold fast to unrealistic ideas of value, they will be forced to either continue operating the business, or close it down. Absentee owners generally seek to achieve a specific return on investment. A major portion of the expected return is the sale of the business. This type of seller typically monitors the value of the business using industry multiples or some other in-house method. The business is offered for sale when the seller expects the proceeds to meet their required rate of return. This type of seller is likely to withdraw the business from the market if the required return cannot be obtained, and continue operating it. An investor may also seek to sell when the performance of the business is no longer meeting their expectations. Fractional Interests Small businesses are difficult to sell in their entirety, and virtually impossible to sell on a piecemeal basis. Few buyers are willing to buy a partial interest, even if it is a controlling one, in a small business. They want 100% control. Therefore, partial interests in small businesses are typically sold as part of a sale of the entire business, and the owners split the proceeds on a pro-rata basis. Fractional interests may also be sold or transferred to a related party. Transfers of fractional interests are often part of a gifting program to gradually shift ownership to family members. Fractional interests may also be used to sell a business gradually over time to family members or key employees. This method allows the seller to maintain control while the buyer earns ownership and control one step at a time. Summary The Company is well-established and profitable, but much of its value comes from its equipment. The industry is dominated by small, independent companies that would be unlikely to pay significant goodwill to buy another company s equipment. It is also unlikely that a related party would have the financial resources needed to acquire the Company. Under these circumstances the Company is most likely to be sold as an asset sale to a third party. The most likely type of buyer would be either an owner-operator or absentee owner. The most likely type of seller would be an owner-operator looking to sell for personal reasons. The valuation methods used in this report are designed to produce the value of only the assets included in a typical asset sale. Market Based Methods A fundamental method for estimating the value of an ownership interest in a closely held business is an analysis of prices paid by investors in the private or the public markets for ownership interests in other companies in the same or similar lines of business. Guideline Public Company Method The premise of this method is that prices of publicly traded stocks in the same or a similar industry provide objective evidence as to the values at which investors are willing to buy and sell interests in companies in that industry. The application of this method depends on the selection of guideline publicly traded companies that are similar enough to the Company to provide a meaningful comparison. 19

23 Large, publicly traded companies have many stockholders who elect a board of directors. The board hires the corporate officers who then hire key management. In many small, privately held companies all of these groups consist of the same people. In our opinion, this lack of separation between ownership and management is an important issue to consider. It makes comparing public to private companies inappropriate in many cases. Once the separation issue is addressed, then other factors like: product lines, sales volume, employment levels, territory of operations, market share, etc. should be considered. For any public companies in this industry the sales volume, position within the supply chain, employment levels, and territories of operations are not comparable to the Company. Therefore, we did not consider this method. Guideline Private Company Transactions Methods This method is based on analyzing sales of interests in privately held businesses in the same industry. Since these transactions are at arm s length, they provide objective evidence as to the values at which investors are willing to buy and sell interests in companies in that industry. The application of this method depends on the selection of sales transactions of privately held companies that are similar enough to the Company to provide a meaningful comparison. The BizComps database contains data from over 10,000 transactions, involving the sale of privately owned businesses in the U.S. This data is not publicly reported so it is obtained from business brokers and transaction intermediaries. These sources are considered to be reliable. Database transactions are structured as or converted to asset sales. The Sale Price contains only 2 components furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) and goodwill. Therefore the results from these methods must be adjusted for any other assets included in the Specified Assets. We searched the database using the following criteria: 1) SIC Code 5324, 2) annual sales less than $1 million, and 3) keyword: equipment. This search produced 13 matches. The search results are summarized in Exhibit V1. The number of matches and their comparability is limited so this data is most appropriate for use in secondary valuation methods that are only used to support conclusions produced by more appropriate methods. The Percentage of Annual Revenue method applies the average Sale Price to Annual Revenue ratio to the Company s most recent annual sales. This method ignores differences in gross margins and operating expenses (profitability). Therefore, this method often produces the highest or top-line value of a business. The Percentage of Annual Revenue method produced a value of $742,846 and is presented in detail in Exhibit V1. Because this method is based on limited data and does not consider profitability, it was not selected. The Multiple of Seller s Discretionary Earnings (SDE) method applies the Sale Price to SDE ratio to the Company s most recent annual or average SDE. SDE is equal to a company s earnings before: income taxes, non-recurring income and expenses, depreciation and amortization, interest income or expense, non-operating (discretionary) items, and owners total compensation for services (including payroll taxes and benefits). In this case, we did not add-back owners compensation because there are no other employees and the owners perform all of the duties necessary for daily operations. The calculation of the Company s SDE is presented in detail in Exhibit F5 Adjustments to Earnings. This method is best suited to valuing a controlling interest in a business where the salary and perquisites of an owner represent a significant portion of the total benefits generated by the business and/or an owner/operator typically runs the business. Buyers and sellers of small businesses tend to think in terms of their potential personal compensation rather than business profits. They look at the total discretionary earnings to see if it is sufficient to carry the debt structure necessary to buy and/or operate the business, and provide them with adequate compensation. The Multiple of SDE method produced a value of $316,458 and is presented in detail in Exhibit V1. Because this method is based on limited data and produced a value less than the adjusted net assets, it was not selected. 20