Is Financial Distress Value Relevant? – Implications for Multiple-Based Valuation

Abstract In relative valuation peer groups of comparable companies are essential to derive the value of the firm. Valuing a target firm that is in financial distress by using a set of healthy peer group firms probably leads to an overvaluation. We examine whether the financial distress risk has an influence on a company’s value and quantify the discount through financial distress. We identify financial distress by Standard and Poor’s long-term issuer ratings and Altman’s z″-score. We then match the identified firms in financial distress with healthy counterparts that are comparable in value relevant characteristics, i. e. profitability, risk, and growth, to estimate the percentage difference in valuation multiples. Using rating information, in every year almost half of the companies are in financial distress whereas by Altman’s z″-score about 20% of the companies in the sample are in financial distress. We find that the discount caused by financial distress makes up about 4–7% of firm value. The discount increases for lower rating classes and lower z″-scores. Besides the degree of financial distress, market downturns as the financial crisis affect the distress discount.