> It would be awkward to say that these valuations are wrong with so many people having their inputs.

The purpose of external consultant is to guess what client is expecting from you and deliver exactly that. Usually the management requires a stack of papers to cover their asses in case of risky deal, sometimes to get an argument in some internal struggle. They never expect objective truth or independent thinking.

There is no conspiracy here just the market forces at work. Imagine what happens to consultancies who do not deliver..