New Jersey is one of several states that allow discounts for lack of control and marketability in fair value situations if it is proven that the discounts are fair and equitable, but, in a recent case, the trial court disallowed the discounts—and an appellate court agreed.
Not wrongful: The case is a shareholder dissent matter involving a New Jersey partnership that owns a shopping mall. The defendants argued that the discounts should be allowed based on the premise that the dissenting partners’ dissociation was wrongful (and damages were owed to the partnership), so the discounts are fair and equitable. But the trial court did not find that the dissociation was wrongful, and the appellate court came to the same conclusion. Therefore, there was no justification to apply either discount.
There are other issues in the case, which is Robertson v. Hyde Park, 2022 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 848, and a case analysis and full opinion are available on the BVLaw platform.
Extra: Tune in today, July 13, for the BVLaw Case Update webinar—attorney Drew Soshnick and valuation experts Jim Alerding (BVLaw editor) and Jim Ewart will give their insights on some of the most consequential recent valuation and financial litigation decisions.