200% Appreciation Unusual?

I was associated with a 100% ESOP company that was sold for 200% of its recent third party evaluation. Is that premium a red-flag that the third party evaluation was unrealistically low? I ask as I was a 30-year employee that retire just a moment too soon and missed the buyout price. Should i look deeper into the whole process or just accept it as horrible timing? Were are talking serious money here.

It is common for ESOP companies to sell their stock for a premium. Otherwise, why would they sell if they could have obtained the same value being offered.  So an ESOP obtaining a premium is almost a requirement for it to sell.   

I understand that there would be a premium paid. Just wondering if 200% would be considered unusual to the point that maybe previous payouts were unfairly low.

Could be a synergistic premium which wouldn't have been taken into account by the valuation.

I know it's a bitter pill to swallow, but I don't see what further digging would get you.

It isn't uncommon.   There are a lot of reasons for that kind of premium.