Siebel Incorporated, a Non-Publicly Traded Company, Has 2009 After-Tax Earnings

question 73

Essay

Siebel Incorporated, a non-publicly traded company, has 2009 after-tax earnings of $20 million, which are expected to grow at 5
percent annually into the foreseeable future. The firm is debt-free, capital spending equals the firm's rate of depreciation; and the annual change in working capital is expected to be minimal. The firm's beta is estimated to be 2.0, the 10-year Treasury bond is 5 percent, and the historical risk premium of stocks over the risk-free rate is 5.5 percent. Publicly-traded Rand Technology, a direct competitor of Siebel's, was sold recently at a purchase price of 11 times its 2009 after-tax earnings, which included a 20 percent premium over its current market price. Aware of the premium paid for the purchase of Rand, Siebel's equity owners would like to determine what it might be worth if they were to attempt to sell the firm in the near future. They chose to value the firm using the discounted cash flow and comparable recent transactions methods. They believe that either method provides an equally valid. Estimate of the firm's value.
a What is the value of Siebel using the DCF method?
b What is the value using the comparable recent transactions method?
c What would be the value of the firm if we combine the results of both methods?

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Definitions:

Novation

A legal process that involves the replacement of an existing obligation with a new one, transferring the rights and duties to a different party.

Anticipatory Breach

An action in contractual agreements where one party indicates they will not fulfill their contractual obligations before the due time.

Abandonment

The act of giving up a legal right or interest with the intention of never claiming it again, often seen in property or relationship contexts.

Contractual Obligations

Duties that parties are legally bound to perform as specified in a contract, the failure of which could lead to legal consequences.