There were top speakers, interesting sessions, and a good turnout (about 200) for the three-day NACVA Business Valuation & Financial Litigation Super Conference in person in Snowbird, Utah (and also online). BVWire was there, and here are just a few of the takeaways from the sessions:

• Gray divorces are becoming more prevalent, and, when they happen at retirement age, a perfect storm ensues, which triggers increased opportunities for valuers/advisors;
• BV firms will get caught up in the wave of CPA firm consolidations—good margins and repetitive business make a very attractive M&A target;
• When developing a discount rate for damages, match the rate to the time frame of the damages, with future years being more risky than early years;
• More than ever, judges are focused on settling cases, which means more cases going to mediation;
• Market efficiency has become a new issue in the Delaware Chancery Court in appraisal cases—analysts can use efficiency tests accepted in federal class action security fraud cases;
• A veteran forensics expert set his analytic sights on the financial statements of the U.S. and concluded that the country is insolvent and getting worse;
• When assessing AI and ESG impacts on valuation, look to the fundamentals—unless there is an impact to cash flow, risk, or growth, these acronyms have no effect on business value;
• A new DLOM calculator using the Margrabe options approach was offered to attendees for beta testing; and
• Young BV practitioners need to see definite growth opportunities to keep them from jumping ship, such as getting credentialed, exposure to clients, travel to conferences, and chances to write sections of the valuation report and articles.

There’s way too much more to include here, so we’ll have more details in the September issue of Business Valuation Update.