Discounts & Premiums

Minority ownership is one of the most common – and most hotly debated – aspects of business valuation.  A lack of control does not mean a lack of need for empirical and expert conclusions of value.  BVR has what you need for ownership totaling less than 50%.

Guides & Books

Closed-End Fund Report: Fixed Income Securities

March 2024

The 2024 Closed-End Fund Report – Fixed Income Securities report, authored by experts Bruce A. Johnson, ASA and James R. Park, ASA provides historical and current closed-end fund data in one convenient publication, saving you the hassle - and expense - of searching through other data sources.  Learn more >>

Closed-End Fund Report: Stocks and Equity Investments

March 2024

The 2024 Closed-End Fund Report – Stocks and Equity Investments report, authored by experts Bruce A. Johnson, ASA and James R. Park, ASA provides historical and current closedend fund data in one convenient publication, saving you the hassleand expenseof searching through other data sources.  Learn more >>

Business Valuation Case Law Yearbook, 2024 Edition

January 2024

The legal coverage and in-depth analysis from the BVR legal team including an Introduction by Jim Alerding, BVR Legal Editor delivers lessons learned to help appraisers reach better and more defensible valuation conclusions. The 2024 Yearbook illustrates how financial experts helped their side win (and lose) in the courtroom and includes 70 new cases that were added to BVLaw in 2023. Learn more >>

Business Valuation Update Yearbook, 2024 Edition

January 2024

Another year has come and gone and it's time again for one of BVR's “greatest hits” publications!  The Business Valuation Update Yearbook 2024 covers the previous year’s most groundbreaking and thought-provoking advancements in valuation.  It captures changes in regulations and professional standards, key takeaways from professional conferences, and tactical practice-building ideas. This critical desktop reference puts you ahead of the competition with on-the-ground reporting by the BVR editorial team including an Introduction by Andy Dzamba, BVR Executive Editor and insights from notable BV experts. Learn more >>

Business Valuation Update Yearbook, 2023 Edition

January 2023

It's that time of year again, BVR's “greatest hits” publication is here!  The Business Valuation Update Yearbook 2023 covers the previous year’s most groundbreaking and thought-provoking advancements in valuation.  It captures changes in regulations and professional standards, key takeaways from professional conferences, and tactical practice-building ideas. This critical desktop reference puts you ahead of the competition with on-the-ground reporting by the BVR editorial team including an Introduction by Andy Dzamba, BVR Executive Editor and insights from notable BV experts. Learn more >>

Valuing a Business, 6th Edition

April 2022

Since the first edition was published in 1981, the profession of business appraisal has matured immensely. The IRS has come out with business valuation guidelines, and the AICPA has published their business valuation standards. While each organization’s standards or guidelines are slightly different from the others, there is unanimous agreement on the central concepts of business valuation.  Learn more >>

Understanding Business Valuation - 6th Edition

February 2022

In this exciting new edition of Understanding Business Valuation, Gary Trugman takes his characteristic talent for simplifying the technical and complex to even greater heights.  In his easy-to-read and understand style he covers all the bases with valuation approaches, methods, and techniques. Trugman identifies critical points in his callout notes throughout the publication.  Learn more >>

Business Valuation Update Yearbook, 2022 Edition

January 2022

A new year means another annual “greatest hits” publication!  The Business Valuation Update Yearbook 2022 covers the previous year’s most groundbreaking and thought-provoking advancements in valuation.  It captures changes in regulations and professional standards, key takeaways from professional conferences, and tactical practice-building ideas. This critical desktop reference puts you ahead of the competition with on-the-ground reporting by the BVR editorial team including an Introduction by Andy Dzamba, BVR Executive Editor and insights from notable BV experts.  Learn more >>

Comprehensive Guide for the Valuation of Family Limited Partnerships and LLCs, 6th Edition: Best Practices, Best Data Sources, Best Appraisal Reports

October 2021

The Comprehensive Guide for the Valuation of Family Limited Partnerships, published by Partnership Profiles, includes all new updates since the 5th edition released in 2017. The book includes all of PPI's annual Partnership Re-Sale Discount Studies published from 2016-2020. This is a comprehensive update and many of the changes are based on the authors' experience handling IRS audits regarding discounts for lack of control and marketability. Learn more >>

Business Valuation Update Yearbook, 2021 Edition

January 2021

Always a highly-anticipated annual publication, the Business Valuation Update Yearbook 2021 covers the year’s most groundbreaking and thought-provoking advancements on valuation methodologies in the face of a global pandemic.  It also captures, changes in regulations and professional standards, key takeaways from the best virtual conferences, and tactical practice-building ideas. This critical desktop reference puts you ahead of the competition with on-the-ground reporting from valuation experts, thought-leaders, and BVR’s expert editorial and legal teams. Learn more >>

Business Valuation Case Law Yearbook, 2020 Edition

January 2020

The Business Valuation Case Law Yearbook, 2020 Edition is essential for business appraisers and attorneys who want to stay ahead of their peers on the most important legal issues brought up in business valuation-related cases. With in-depth analysis from BVR’s legal team, the lessons learned in this book help appraisers reach better and more defensible valuation conclusions. And, attorneys who retain appraisers as financial experts learn how their experts can help them win (or lose) in court.  Learn more >>

Business Valuation Update Yearbook, 2020 Edition

January 2020

BVR has you covered with the Business Valuation Update Yearbook 2020. This newest edition from the publishers of Business Valuation Update covers the year’s most groundbreaking and thought-provoking advancements in business valuation, and more. This critical desktop reference keeps you ahead of your peers with on-the-ground reporting from valuation experts, thought-leaders, and BVR’s editorial team. Learn more >>

Business Valuation Case Law Yearbook, 2019 Edition

February 2019

The Business Valuation Case Law Yearbook, 2019 Edition is essential for business appraisers and attorneys who want to stay ahead of their peers on the most important legal issues brought up in business valuation-related cases. With in-depth analysis from BVR’s legal team, the lessons learned in this book help appraisers reach better and more defensible valuation conclusions. And, attorneys who retain appraisers as financial experts learn how their experts can help them win (or lose) in court.  Learn more >>

Business Valuation Update Yearbook, 2019 Edition

February 2019

BVR has you covered with the Business Valuation Update Yearbook 2019. This newest edition from the publishers of Business Valuation Update covers the year’s most groundbreaking and thought-provoking advancements in business valuation, and more. This critical desktop reference keeps you ahead of your peers with on-the-ground reporting from valuation experts, thought-leaders, and BVR’s editorial team. Learn more >>

Business Valuations and the IRS: Five Books In One

March 2018

Business Valuations and the IRS:Five Books in One, written by expert Michael Gregory, is specifically for business appraisers, expert witnesses, and those who work with or may need to work with the IRS regarding business valuations.This must-have publication aids the reader in understanding classification, the IRS review processes and structure, and how to resolve conflicts with the IRS. Learn more >>

Business Valuation Case Law Yearbook, 2018 Edition

February 2018

The Business Valuation Case Law Yearbook, 2018 Edition is essential for business appraisers and attorneys who want to stay ahead of their peers on the most important legal issues brought up in business valuation-related cases. With in-depth analysis from BVR’s legal team, the lessons learned in this book help appraisers reach better and more defensible valuation conclusions. And, attorneys who retain appraisers as financial experts learn how their experts can help them win (or lose) in court.  Learn more >>

Business Valuation Update Yearbook, 2018 Edition

February 2018

BVR has you covered with the Business Valuation Update Yearbook 2018. This newest edition from the publishers of Business Valuation Update covers the year’s most groundbreaking and thought-provoking advancements in business valuation, and more. This critical desktop reference keeps you ahead of your peers with on-the-ground reporting from valuation experts, thought-leaders, and BVR’s editorial team. Learn more >>

Discount for Lack of Marketability Guide and Toolkit

May 2017

The estimation of a discount for lack of marketability (DLOM) is under increased scrutiny by users of valuation reports, the IRS and others. The VPS DLOM Guide and Toolkit by Jim Hitchner, Jim Alerding, Josh Angell, and Kate Morris is designed to provide the information and tools necessary to properly calculate and support a DLOM using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Learn more >>

Financial Valuation: Applications and Models, + Website, 4th Edition

April 2017

Financial Valuation: Applications and Models provides authoritative reference and practical guidance on the appropriate, defensible way to prepare and present business valuations. With contributions from 30 top experts in the field, this new edition provides an essential resource for those seeking the most up-to-date guidance, with a strong emphasis on applications and models.  Learn more >>

Business Valuation Case Law Yearbook, 2017 Edition

February 2017

The Business Valuation Case Law Yearbook analyzes the year’s most meaningful valuation-related issues in the major courts including marital disputes, breach of contract actions, damages, dissenting shareholder disputes, estate and gift tax cases, federal taxation, intellectual property cases, bankruptcy litigation, and more. Readers learn how debates over economic damages, goodwill, M&A-related appraisals, discounts, and Daubert challenges played out in court during the past year. Learn more >>

Business Valuation Update Yearbook, 2017 Edition

February 2017

BVR has you covered with the Business Valuation Update Yearbook 2017. This newest edition from the publishers of Business Valuation Update covers the year’s most groundbreaking and thought-provoking advancements in business valuation including IRC Sec. 2704, DLOM, cost of capital, and more. This critical desktop reference keeps you ahead of your peers with on-the-ground reporting from valuation experts, thought-leaders, and BVR’s editorial team. Learn more >>

A Consensus View: Q&A Guide to Financial Valuation 2016 edition

March 2016

In A Consensus View Q&A Guide to Business Valuation, Jim Hitchner, Shannon Pratt, and Jay Fishman answer over 150 of the most important business valuation questions they’ve been asked over the years. Each year, new chapters will be added and existing chapters will be updated.  Learn more >>

Business Valuation Yearbook 2016

February 2016

Keep up with business valuation’s most innovative approaches and techniques, new court decisions, and regulatory and professional standards updates. BVR has you covered with the Business Valuation Update Yearbook 2016. This newest edition from the publishers of Business Valuation Update covers the year’s most groundbreaking and thought-provoking advancements Learn more >>

BVR Legal and Court Case Yearbook 2016

February 2016

The BVR Legal and Court Case Yearbook 2016 is essential for business appraisers and attorneys who want to stay ahead of their peers on the most important legal issues confronting business valuation. With in-depth analysis from BVR’s legal team, the lessons learned in this book help appraisers come to better and more defensible valuation conclusions. Learn more >>

Update on Control Premiums: What the Experts Say (PDF)

May 2015

BVR’s data-rich special report "Update on Control Premiums: What the Experts Say," presents both qualitative commentaries and case studies from numerous experts who address these issues. It is includes all the necessary quantitative considerations along with coverage of the controversies about the concepts and data, presenting all sides of the argument. Learn more >>

Business Valuation Update Yearbook 2015

February 2015

BVR has you covered with the latest news in the business valuation profession! Get your Business Valuation Update Yearbook 2015 now to stay up to date with the most innovative approaches and techniques, leading conferences, new court decisions and changes in regulations and standards in the profession with on-the-ground reporting from valuation experts, thought-leaders and the BVR editorial team. Learn more >>

BVR Legal and Court Case Yearbook 2015

February 2015

The BVR Legal and Court Case Yearbook 2015 is essential for business valuation professionals and attorneys to stay current on the most important legal issues confronting the profession. The Yearbook covers marital disputes, breach of contract actions, damages, dissenting shareholder disputes, estate and gift tax cases, federal taxation, intellectual property cases, bankruptcy litigation, and more. Learn more >>

BVR's Guide to Discounts for Lack of Marketability, Fifth Edition (2 Volumes)

August 2013

In the fifth edition of BVR's Guide to Discounts for Lack of Marketability, John Stockdale, Sr. offers the newest treatise on the theories, evidence, and techniques for determining discounts for lack of marketability (DLOM). DLOM is one of the most discussed topics in the business valuation profession with a historically wide divergence in how valuators approach it. Learn more >>
Training

Black Scholes Option Model: Global Education by iiBV (eLearning Course)

The Black Scholes Option Model was first published in 1973, but the applicability in valuation is strong to this day. Join iiBV expert Andrew Strickland as he dissects and explains the various components of the models, and how they can be utilized in your valuation. Learn more >>

Excel for Valuation: Beginner to Advanced (eLearning course)

Whether you're new to the field or a veteran business valuation practitioner, there is no tool more critical than Excel.  BVR's new eLearning course, "Excel for Valuation: Beginner to Advanced," will catapult your Excel knowledge and skills so you can work as efficiently as possible with spreadsheets, formulas and functions. You can customize the course to match your skill level; start with the very basics or jump right into more complex areas. The eLearning combination of video, notes, take-away templates, quizzes, and exercises ensure you will remain thoroughly engaged for the duration of the course.  Learn more >>

International Business Valuation Standards and Ethics (eLearning course)

Valuation is a global profession, and for many that means complying with the new 2020 International Valuation Standards and Code of Ethical Principles. This comprehensive eLearning course delivers what you need to know to demonstrate global valuation competency and understand the significant changes to the standards. See practical and relevant examples by working through an actual case study that follows all of the logical steps of a valuation engagement. Hold yourself to a higher  global standard and be prepared to venture wherever your next valuation assignment takes you. Learn more >>

International Cost of Capital: Global Education by iiBV (eLearning course)

The income approach is the most relied upon approach for most valuations, and determining the cost of capital for your engagement for a non-U.S. company is often difficult due to lack of local data. Utilizing commonly applied models in developing international cost of capital, such as relative volatility models or country yield spread models, is critical for success. Learn the shortcomings of each model in terms of their ability to capture the systematic and unsystematic risk in a subject company. Learn more >>

Masterclass in the Valuation of Family Limited Partnerships and LLCs (eLearning course)

As professional appraisal methodology has advanced, so has the valuation of family limited partnerships (FLPs) and limited liability companies (LLCs). Adopting an analytical method for valuing FLPs and LLCs using the income and market approaches allows appraisers to more accurately and objectively determine a value that can withstand the scrutiny of IRS challenges. Experts Bruce Johnson, Jim Park, and Spencer Jefferies conduct case studies to teach the best practices for valuing noncontrolling, nonmarketable FLP and LLC interests. Learn more >>

Monte Carlo: Applications, Examples and Best Practices for Valuation (eLearning course)

As complexity and uncertainty continue to increase, business valuation experts must up their game to master the challenges that accompany today's engagements. Rise to – and soar beyond – the occasion using Monte Carlo simulations, an indispensable method for advanced valuation scenarios. This eLearning course, "Monte Carlo: Applications, Examples and Best Practices for Valuation" distills the best instruction and content on the topic. Learn more >>

Valuing Early Stage Companies: Global Education by iiBV (eLearning course)

Early stage companies are challenging to value. Often with undeveloped or even no revenue these companies require a unique set of tools for a business valuer. Learn the common models used to deploy valuations in this area such as the Current Value Method, Option Pricing Model, and the Probability Weighted Expected Return Method (PWERM), along with their shortcomings. Learn more >>

Valuing Intangible Assets: Global Education by iiBV (eLearning course)

 Every valuation professional needs to be able to identify the differences between intangible and tangible assets. The first step is to define the major categories of intangible assets and understand the common models used to determine value. Often the purpose of intangible valuation is for financial reporting contexts, including purchase price allocation. Join Jon Barton in this fundamental eLearning course that builds on core valuation concepts with in depth lectures and Excel-based case studies. Learn more >>

Valuing Minority Interests: Global Education by iiBV (eLearning course)

Valuing a partial interest in a business is difficult, and when that interest is a minority ownership stake the impact to value can be significant. In this eLearning course, led by John Barton, you’ll learn methods to adjust for and quantify minority discounts. Control is a key issue, and understanding the multiple methods an appraiser can utilize is critical to a defensible valuation. Learn more >>

BV 2023, Year in Review: Top 10 List

Business Valuation through an ESG Lens

Deal & Market Data

FactSet/BVR Control Premium Study

Rely on more than 20 years of detailed transaction data in the FactSet/BVR Control Premium Study database. This robust online resource provides empirical support for quantifying control premiums, implied minority discounts, and public company valuation multiples. Learn more >>

Stout Restricted Stock Study & DLOM Calculator

The Stout Restricted Stock StudyTM, updated quarterly, is a thoroughly vetted, restricted stock sourced discount for lack of marketability database that provides empirical support to quantify marketability discounts used in the business valuation, venture capital, and merger and acquisition (M&A) professions. Take advantage of 750+ rigorously screened transactions with up to 60 data fields. Learn more >>

Valuation Advisors Lack of Marketability Discount Study

Defend your discounts for lack of marketability with the most current data in the Valuation Advisors Lack of Marketability Discount Study. This robust, online database includes 18,700+ pre-IPO transactions, including 2,300+ non-U.S. deals covering 45 countries, from 1985-present.  Learn more >>
News & Research

Business Valuation Update

The Business Valuation Update (BVU), a monthly newsletter with searchable online access, includes new thinking from leading professionals, detailed reports from valuation conferences, analysis of new business valuation approaches, thorough analysis of “landmark” legal cases in key business valuation issues, regulatory and standards updates, and much more. Learn more >>

BVLaw

Turn to the exclusive BVLaw collection, which includes case digests and court opinions for thousands of business valuation and damages cases that deal with economic damages, lost profits, estate and gift tax, divorce, shareholder repression, partnership dissolution, securities litigation, and more. Learn more >>
Blog Posts

A Practical, Step-by-Step Process for Applying Invested Capital Premiums

For years, the valuation profession has debated the definition of a control premium, including its distinction from an acquisition premium. What began years ago as a relatively simple question—if there is a control premium, what should it be?—now includes analyzing such concepts as invested capital premiums and equity-based premiums, transaction synergies and strategic values, marketability, and levels of control. All are “key points” to keep in mind throughout the quantification of a control premium, say Tim Meinhart and Nate Novak (both of Willamette Management Associates), who led a webinar on this topic titled Evaluating and Applying Control Premiums earlier this year. Read more >>

How did surging stock prices affect M&A premiums all buyers paid in 2017?

How did surging stock prices affect M&A premiums all buyers paid in 2017? The Mergerstat Review highlights acquisition premiums paid using the seller’s five-day stock price prior to the announcement of the transaction, or essentially the premiums based on the equity value of the seller. Looking at the trends across all transactions, the numerous tables and charts in the Mergerstat Review show that premiums have steadily declined in most of the past five years. Read more >>

Damodaran updates data-rich cost of capital spreadsheets

Professor Aswath Damodaran (New York University Stern School of Business) has released new data posts and data sets updated for 2017 related to valuation and the cost of capital, including historical stock returns, implied equity risk premiums, country risk premiums, and more. Read more >>

Chancery says bids in squeeze-out merger are not comparable

The Delaware Court of Chancery recently cut short a challenge to a going-private merger when it dismissed the plaintiffs' complaint. The plaintiffs unsuccessfully argued the defendants breached their fiduciary duties when they favored the controller's lower bid over a third-party bidder's higher offer. Read more >>

Challenge to new Section 2704 regulations is shaping up

The accounting, valuation, and legal professions are hard at work to defeat the Treasury Department's proposed Section 274 regulations. The new regs would curtail, if not entirely eliminate, valuation discounts in family-controlled entities. Read more >>

Proposed method to deal with confusion over discounts

A number of leading valuation experts have called for the profession to speak with one voice and eliminate the confusion over the use of discounts. One valuation expert offers up some nomenclature and—more importantly—a framework that he hopes will help with this thorny issue. Read more >>

NACVA's star-studded silver anniversary conference

Shannon Pratt, Roger Grabowski, Jim Hitchner, Nancy Fannon, and the Honorable Judge David Laro of the Tax Court are just a few of valuation thought leaders dubbed by NACVA as “industry titans” who gave presentations at the organization’s 25th anniversary conference in San Diego Read more >>

Court refuses to take stand on minority discount in buyback of shares

The parties retained a sole appraiser, whom they both knew from past appraisals he had done of the company. Prior to formally engaging the appraiser, in a court hearing, both sides broached the issue of whether it was appropriate to apply a minority discount in valuing the plaintiff's shares. The court declined to weigh in on the subject, but told the parties the minority discount issue should form “part of the discussion” they needed to have over the valuation methodology. Read more >>