McLelland v. Paxton
In dissolution dispute, appeals court affirms trial court’s finding, based on plaintiff expert testimony, that dissolved professional LLC had entity goodwill at trial based, in large part, on ownership of three leases and operation of offices that doctors could use upon termination of partnership.
Washington State Appeals Court Adopts Rule on Entity Goodwill in Professional LLC
In dissolution dispute, appeals court affirms trial court’s finding, based on plaintiff expert testimony, that dissolved professional LLC had entity goodwill at trial based, in large part, on ownership of three leases and operation of offices that doctors could use upon termination of partnership.
Calculation engagements receive mixed reactions from courts
If the appraisal profession is conflicted over the validity of calculation engagements, so are courts, as a brief review of court decisions on the BVLaw platform shows.
Linde v. Linde
Appellate court upholds trial court’s finding that majority shareholder breached fiduciary duty to minority shareholder and buyout order; trial court performed careful valuation analysis finding defense expert’s asset-based approach was “simply an improper method of valuation in the present case.”
Court Says Asset Approach ‘Is Simply an Improper Method’ in Present Appraisal Proceeding
Appellate court upholds trial court’s finding that majority shareholder breached fiduciary duty to minority shareholder and buyout order; trial court performed careful valuation analysis finding defense expert’s asset-based approach was “simply an improper method of valuation in the present case.”
Puklich v. Puklich
In buyout dispute related to various family businesses, including auto dealership, high court finds trial court was authorized to adjust value finding to account for majority shareholder’s oppressive conduct; case law supported rejection of discounts in valuing minority shareholder’s interest.
High Court Approves of Trial Court’s Rejection of Discounts in Fair Value Determination
In buyout dispute related to various family businesses, including auto dealership, high court finds trial court was authorized to adjust value finding to account for majority shareholder’s oppressive conduct; case law supported rejection of discounts in valuing minority shareholder’s interest.
Court Says Expulsion Price Determination in Louisiana Buyout Dispute Is Triable Issue
In buyout dispute resulting from expulsion of LLC member, court finds state law does not preclude use of discounts in valuing withdrawing LLC member’s interest; company’s operating agreement is ambiguous on how to value expelled member’s interest, court says, leaving issue for jury to decide.
Complete Logistical Services, LLC v. Rulh
In buyout dispute resulting from expulsion of LLC member, court finds state law does not preclude use of discounts in valuing withdrawing LLC member’s interest; company’s operating agreement is ambiguous on how to value expelled member’s interest, court says, leaving issue for jury to decide.
Smith v. Promontory Financial Group, LLC
In buyout dispute, court says parties’ letter of intent states buyout conditions; court relies on amount stated in plaintiff’s debt/equity deal proposal to value subject company, finding parties’ trial experts used methods (DCF and asset accumulation) not suited to valuing subject company.
Delaware Chancery Relies on Deal Proposal Valuation in Adjudicating Buyout Dispute
In buyout dispute, court says parties’ letter of intent states buyout conditions; court relies on amount stated in plaintiff’s debt/equity deal proposal to value subject company, finding parties’ trial experts used methods (DCF and asset accumulation) not suited to valuing subject company.
Court Says ‘Fair Value’ Under State Shareholder Oppression Law Precludes Discounts
In shareholder oppression suit, court clarifies meaning of “fair value” under applicable statutory framework; court cautions not to conflate “fair value” with “fair market value”; in drafting statute, state legislature explicitly and implicitly conveys its rejection of discounting, court says.
Kolwe v. Civil and Structural Engineers, Inc.
In shareholder oppression suit, court clarifies meaning of “fair value” under applicable statutory framework; court cautions not to conflate “fair value” with “fair market value”; in drafting statute, state legislature explicitly and implicitly conveys its rejection of discounting, court says.
Appeals Court Upholds Grocery Store Buyout Ruling and Fair Value Determination
Appeals court upholds district court’s buyout order of minority shareholder’s interests in related family businesses (grocery store chain) as well as district court’s fair value determination; district court’s valuation “falls squarely” between trial experts’ valuations, appeals court says.
Lund v. Lund (II)
Appeals court upholds district court’s buyout order of minority shareholder’s interests in related family businesses (grocery store chain) as well as district court’s fair value determination; district court’s valuation “falls squarely” between trial experts’ valuations, appeals court says.
Experts clash over definition of ‘net worth’ in New Jersey buyout dispute
Business partners often think that a buyout agreement will forestall future conflicts. A recent New Jersey case proves the opposite.
Namerow v. PediatriCare Associates, LLC
In pediatrician buyout suit, court says practice’s operating agreement requires net worth calculation; court agrees with defense expert’s definition of “net worth” as the value of assets minus liabilities, as stated in the balance sheets, and rejects proposed inclusion of intangible assets.
Court Says Expert’s Inclusion of Intangible Assets Violates Buyout Agreement
In pediatrician buyout suit, court says practice’s operating agreement requires net worth calculation; court agrees with defense expert’s definition of “net worth” as the value of assets minus liabilities, as stated in the balance sheets, and rejects proposed inclusion of intangible assets.
Saltzer v. Rolka
In buyout dispute, appellate court upholds trial court’s valuation of company, which applies company-specific risk discount related to uncertain extension of company’s key contract but does not deduct value of personal goodwill attributable to remaining members.
Appellate Court Upholds Use of Risk Discount in Fair Value Determination
In buyout dispute, appellate court upholds trial court’s valuation of company, which applies company-specific risk discount related to uncertain extension of company’s key contract but does not deduct value of personal goodwill attributable to remaining members.
BVLaw case update: buyout disputes
Even when the members of a business entity plan ahead for a potential buyout, a lot can still go wrong, often because the language in a controlling shareholder agreement leaves too much room for interpretation or a necessary corporate document is missing.
Cristofano v. Chahal
In fair value dispute, court credits defense expert analysis based on capitalized economic income method and working with company’s historical earnings and growth rates; analysis properly accounts for particular facts of the case, including expiration of lucrative client contract.
Court Favors Fair Value Analysis Based on Historical Data and Case Facts
In fair value dispute, court credits defense expert analysis based on capitalized economic income method and working with company’s historical earnings and growth rates; analysis properly accounts for particular facts of the case, including expiration of lucrative client contract.
Wright v. Phillips
In fair value determination analogous to statutory appraisal valuation, Chancery says companies’ S corp status “has discrete value applicable here,” as captured in expert’s use of 14.5% tax rate (as opposed to 31%); court approves marketability discount.
S Corp Status Adds ‘Discrete’ Value to Business, Chancery Says
In fair value determination analogous to statutory appraisal valuation, Chancery says companies’ S corp status “has discrete value applicable here,” as captured in expert’s use of 14.5% tax rate (as opposed to 31%); court approves marketability discount.