For private fund managers, the valuation of privately-held securities has been subject to heightened regulatory scrutiny. As the IPO on-ramp for private “unicorn” investments has lengthened, fund managers may hold illiquid investments for longer-than-expected time periods—and valuation-related risks increase as the time lengthens between purchase and exit.  This is the second of two blog posts regarding valuation issues; part one addressed regulatory and litigation concerns regarding valuation of traded securities. This post addresses valuation of private equity portfolio companies.

For private fund advisers that are registered with the SEC, valuation will always be a key component of any exam, and disclosures about valuation to current and prospective LPs are always a key point of inquiry. Over the past year, the SEC has requested information from mutual fund companies about how they value private technology companies, looking for discrepancies. We’ve previously noted that although regulators may not challenge a fund’s valuations as wrong per se, they tend to focus on issues “around” valuation practices:

  • Absence of adequate controls/policies/procedures
  • Failure to adhere in practice to stated valuation policies
  • Incomplete statements to auditors regarding assumptions & process
  • Disclosures to investors regarding valuation policies

Problems typically arise when a fund fails to follow its disclosed valuation policies to the letter, turning internal control issues into disclosure issues or potential violations of the anti-fraud provisions.

Private litigation involving portfolio company valuations and projections also has the potential to affect funds and advisers. For example, investors or employees may purchase company stock based on overly optimistic valuations, only to discover that shares are later worth much less.  They may look to the fund as a deep pocket.

Can a fund simply hold investments at cost? Over time, fair value will deviate from initial cost, because fair value is generally focused on the anticipated “exit price” as of the measurement date.  A cost approach may have been typical in the past (and might seem conservative in a rising market), yet that approach is generally considered to be inconsistent with fair value.  For example, the Private Equity Industry Guidelines Group (PEIGG) guidelines note that use of cost basis or the value of the latest financing round, without taking into account changed circumstances, “is incompatible with” the concept of fair value.

In our view, regulators may be concerned if they see cost-based valuations, especially if they remain the same from period to period, without taking into account changing economic conditions.

Can valuations track the last round of funding? Even if the round is not a so-called “down round,” the headline per-share valuation may not reflect fair value if the deal includes certain structured terms that only benefit later investors.  For example, a recent round could include preferences such as guaranteed IPO returns backed by ratchet mechanisms, vetoes, or liquidity rights.  These structured transactions (called “dirty term sheets” by some), involve hidden terms that add complexity at the expense of prior investors, regardless of the calculated value per share.

According to the PEIGG guidelines, valuation methodology should start with an estimate of the value of the portfolio company as a whole as an initial step, then determine how the enterprise value is distributed among different classes of securities within the capital structure. If later terms give preferences, a discount for pre-existing share classes may be appropriate.

Should a manager follow outside firms’ valuations? Ignoring these outside valuations is risky, and most relevant guidance indicates these should, at a minimum, be considered.  For example, as reported in the Wall Street Journal various mutual funds last year marked down their valuations of private tech startup companies. One could argue that these public valuations are observable inputs that should be incorporated into any analysis.  If conflicting external valuations exist, especially if those valuations are public, it would be wise to document the rationale behind choosing a different valuation.

Internal valuation discrepancies. For example, Section 409A valuations.  When private companies want to issue stock or options to employees, under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, they need an independent, third-party valuation of those shares.  The New York Times recently noted that it is a “dirty secret” that these valuations are often very precise yet have little practical value. They allow a private company to issue shares to employees at a cost that is much lower than the price that preferred shares are sold to outside investors.  Although common stock is obviously different from preferred, a concern is whether inputs and assumptions are consistently applied across different valuations.

Another data point: Based on recent statements by senior staff from the SEC’s San Francisco Regional Office, the SEC will continue to focus on privately-held companies over the next year. In the near future we may see a case against a pre-IPO issuer relating to Rule 701 under the Securities Act.  That rule requires disclosure of detailed financial information to employees or consultants in connection with certain stock or option grants.  If so, there may be a spillover effect for funds that have invested in those companies or have board representation.

Conclusion. As the IPO on-ramp has appeared to speed up in 2017, there will be winners but also companies left behind.  Valuation is an area where risk typically increases in times of market disruption.  As SEC senior officials have noted, the enforcement division looks closely at valuation and asset impairment in times of economic turmoil, when managers might look to enhance performance using valuation adjustments and subjective discretion. In this environment, fund advisers can reduce risk by following robust and documented valuation procedures.

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Photo of Joshua M. Newville Joshua M. Newville

Joshua M. Newville is a partner in the Litigation Department and a member of Proskauer’s White Collar Defense & Investigations Group and the Asset Management Litigation team.

Josh handles securities litigation, enforcement and regulatory matters, representing corporations and senior executives in civil and…

Joshua M. Newville is a partner in the Litigation Department and a member of Proskauer’s White Collar Defense & Investigations Group and the Asset Management Litigation team.

Josh handles securities litigation, enforcement and regulatory matters, representing corporations and senior executives in civil and criminal investigations. In addition, Josh advises registered investment advisers and private fund managers on regulatory compliance, SEC exams, MNPI/insider trading and related risks.

Before joining Proskauer, Josh was senior counsel in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Enforcement, where he investigated and prosecuted violations of the federal securities laws. Josh served in the Enforcement Division’s Asset Management Unit, a specialized unit focusing on investment advisers and the asset management industry. His prior experience with the SEC provides a unique perspective to help asset managers manage risk and handle regulatory issues.

Photo of Timothy W. Mungovan Timothy W. Mungovan

Tim Mungovan is the Chair of Proskauer.  He is also the immediate past chair of the Firm’s Litigation Department and head of the Securities Litigation practice.

His practice is focused on securities, commercial litigation, governance, and bankruptcy-related matters. He has a national reputation…

Tim Mungovan is the Chair of Proskauer.  He is also the immediate past chair of the Firm’s Litigation Department and head of the Securities Litigation practice.

His practice is focused on securities, commercial litigation, governance, and bankruptcy-related matters. He has a national reputation for advising sponsors of private investment funds (hedge, private equity, private credit and venture capital) in a wide variety of matters, including litigation, governance, securities, fiduciary obligations, and regulatory enforcement.

Chambers USA describes Tim as “an extraordinary lawyer who is a fierce and very talented litigator. He is extremely knowledgeable, responsive and client-oriented.” Best Lawyers in America lauds Tim’s experience, integrity, work ethic, communications and courtroom skills. Tim has been listed in the “Top 100 Lawyers” in Massachusetts, and Benchmark Litigation has continually recognized Tim as a Litigation Star in Massachusetts.

Over the last six years, Tim has been the lead litigator representing the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico in the historic restructuring of Puerto Rico’s debts. The scale and complexity of this restructuring has resulted in one of the most active litigation dockets in the U.S. Almost every aspect of the litigation involved matters of first impression in part because the restructuring is governed by the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act, which was enacted for Puerto Rico in 2016.  The track record of success speaks for itself:  in the more than 150 lawsuits filed, Tim and the Proskauer team have prevailed in almost 95% of the cases.

Tim is recognized nationally for his experience in private fund litigation and disputes, having focused on the industry for more than 25 years.  As part of that focus, Tim created and is the lead editor of Proskauer’s blog on Private Equity litigation, The Capital Commitment.