1.1 Subject matter of the contract
- The subject matter of this contract in the "Business" module is the provision of the eValuation online platform with company valuation functionality in accordance with the discounted cash flow ("DCF") and market multiple-based approach, the calculation of select financial indicators for a limited benchmark analysis as well as a PDF download function.
Upon conclusion of the contract, the client is granted access to his/her individual online account on the eValuation online platform.
In the online environment, the client is given the possibility to value one company or one division after entering several financial indicators ("data") according to the valuation method specified above.
Capital market data which are obtained from external suppliers and updated once a month are required to calculate the company's value according to the aforementioned valuation method, as well as for the limited benchmark analysis.
- Within eValuation, PwC provides the client with input masks to record relevant financial data, the calculated derivation of the company's value according to the aforementioned valuation approach, and a dashboard on which the calculated corporate value is illustrated within a range.
- In this module, based on the financial data entered by the client, eValuation also calculates select financial indicators, such as sales revenue growth, EBITDA and EBIT margins, return on invested capital, figures relating to the net current assets, etc. and provides them to the client as graphs in the dashboard.
- Based on the industry specified by the client, as part of the industry comparison, a benchmark analysis is prepared for indicators including the EBITDA and EBIT margin, return on equity, return on assets, cash ratio, working capital, interest coverage, and debt-to-equity. These are also made available to the client as graphs in the dashboard. This points out to the client which indicators show a need for optimisation compared to the industry average.
- PwC points out that due to the individuality and structure of the data and given certain combinations of characteristics, it is possible that fewer than ten companies from the comparison group can be used for the analysis. As a rule, an assessment based on fewer than ten comparable companies may not allow for meaningful benchmarking. The client then has the option of selecting other characteristics or adding further characteristics to his/her selection.
- Results are displayed to the client in the browser as part of the dashboard of his/her online account. The client can also make changes to the data he/she entered using the dashboard.
- PwC assumes that the budgets entered provide a sufficient economic definition of the object being valued. A review of these assumptions is not part of our engagement. In accordance with the terms of our engagement, we did not perform a plausibility check on the planning used to calculate the derivation. PwC only verified the mathematical accuracy and the coherence of the data.
- Particular audit procedures within the meaning of Section 316 ff HGB are not components of our engagement.
- PwC explicitly points out that eValuation is based on a number of simplifying assumptions and does not represent a company valuation pursuant to the principles for conducting the valuation of companies laid down in IDW Standard S1 published by the Institut der Wirtschaftsprüfer in Deutschland e.V.
- The services which PwC renders within the scope of the "Business"-module equate to a simplified valuation and serve as aids for the client's preparation and decision making. In this context, PwC does not perform any management functions for the client.
- The analysis of the data in the "Business" module does not represent individual legal, accounting, tax or other professional information or recommendations, and it is not a suitable replacement for individual consultation by specialists in consideration of the specific circumstances in each particular case.