BVU News and Trends January 2021
A monthly roundup of key developments of interest to business valuation experts.
EBITDA/sales ratio added to 2020-21 RMA eStatement Studies
Many valuation experts use the annual RMA Statement Studies for industry-specific financial benchmarks.
Solvency opinion based on management projections faces Daubert challenge
In a bankruptcy-cum-Daubert case that turned on solvency, a court recently rejected both parties’ claims that the opposing financial expert testimony was inadmissible.
Experts Need Not Be ‘Blue-Ribbon Practitioners’ to Meet Rule 702 Qualification Requirement
In bankruptcy dispute, court rejects parties’ Daubert challenge to opposing expert testimony; defense expert did not blindly rely on management projections for capital adequacy and balance sheet tests, and plaintiff’s expert did not use hindsight to find debtor was insolvent on fund transfer dates.
Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors v. Calpers Corp. Partners, LLC
In bankruptcy dispute, court rejects parties’ Daubert challenge to opposing expert testimony; defense expert did not blindly rely on management projections for capital adequacy and balance sheet tests, and plaintiff’s expert did not use hindsight to find debtor was insolvent on fund transfer dates.
The Balance Sheet and its Correlation to Company Specific Risk
The pandemic is teaching us that businesses, small and large, and their balance sheets are important not just from handling a pandemic, but also from sustaining operations. Understanding assets, and which matter, will help analysts determine the specific company risks. Expert Josh Shilts discusses which categories are important in understanding risk and what ratios and other analyses can be used to measure risk. Identifying and linking balance sheet financials to company-specific risk is a critical ...
Structure, Valuation & Tax Insights for Logistics & Trucking Companies
Join Jaclyn Burket Frank and Ricky Castillo for an engaging trip into the world of logistics and trucking businesses. Discover the different types of entity structure along with the advantages and disadvantages of each structure. Learn how the 2018 tax law impacted each entity structure and common deductible/nondeductible expenses for the logistics and trucking industry. The industry-specific adjustments to consider along with specific questions to ask business owners to determine whether economic, governmental, and location ...
The Impact of COVID-19 on Restructuring, Insolvency & Impairment
The world of valuation has changed along with everything else. In this panel on the Impact of COVID-19 on Restructuring, Insolvency & Impairment, three experts will discuss the changing environment for valuation assignments. Craig Jacobson, Richard Peil, and Dan Korcyk each bring a unique perspective and will discuss three specific areas where valuation activity might increase due to the virtual shutdown of the U.S. economy. Finally, we will discuss topics related to performing valuations in ...
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.
Lack of Facts and Data Render Expert’s Fair Value Balance Sheet Not Helpful
Bankruptcy Court excludes as unreliable and irrelevant expert’s solvency opinion and balance sheet; court says expert lacked the facts and data necessary to enact his chosen method and “failed in numerous ways” to reliably apply the facts and data in accordance with the selected method.
Weinman v. Crowley (In re Blair)
Bankruptcy Court excludes as unreliable and irrelevant expert’s solvency opinion and balance sheet; court says expert lacked the facts and data necessary to enact his chosen method and “failed in numerous ways” to reliably apply the facts and data in accordance with the selected method.
Trustee’s Attack on Merger Projections Fails to Resonate With Court
Court says trustee fails to show debtor was insolvent under any applicable financial condition tests; contemporaneous industry analysis and valuations by financing banks belie claim that management projections in support of merger were unreasonable.
Solvency Determination Turns on Income Recognition Analysis
Court credits trustee expert’s analysis of debtor’s balance sheet, finding the expert showed debtor’s practice of immediate recognition of initial franchise fees as revenue violated GAAP and debtor was continuously insolvent; transfers are avoidable.
Solvency Determination Turns on Income Recognition Analysis
Court credits trustee expert’s analysis of debtor’s balance sheet, finding the expert showed debtor’s practice of immediate recognition of initial franchise fees as revenue violated GAAP and debtor was continuously insolvent; transfers are avoidable.
Redmond v. NCMIC Fin. Corp. (In re Brooke Corp.)
Court credits trustee expert’s analysis of debtor’s balance sheet, finding the expert showed debtor’s practice of immediate recognition of initial franchise fees as revenue violated GAAP and debtor was continuously insolvent; transfers are avoidable.
Trustee’s Attack on Merger Projections Fails to Resonate With Court
Court says trustee fails to show debtor was insolvent under any applicable financial condition tests; contemporaneous industry analysis and valuations by financing banks belie claim that management projections in support of merger were unreasonable.
Weisfelner v. Blavatnik (In re Lyondell Chem. Co.)
Court says trustee fails to show debtor was insolvent under any applicable financial condition tests; contemporaneous industry analysis and valuations by financing banks belie claim that management projections in support of merger were unreasonable.
Debtors’ Balance Sheet Not Reliable Indicator of Assets’ Market Value
Court says debtors “appear to be hopelessly insolvent” and rejects shareholders’ call for equity committee; debtors’ prepetition published financials are not “dependable evidence” of assets’ fair market value, even if investors relied on balance sheets.
Debtors’ Balance Sheet Not Reliable Indicator of Assets’ Market Value
Court says debtors “appear to be hopelessly insolvent” and rejects shareholders’ call for equity committee; debtors’ prepetition published financials are not “dependable evidence” of assets’ fair market value, even if investors relied on balance sheets.
In re Sunedison, Inc.
Court says debtors “appear to be hopelessly insolvent” and rejects shareholders’ call for equity committee; debtors’ prepetition published financials are not “dependable evidence” of assets’ fair market value, even if investors relied on balance sheets.
Estate Valuation Can’t Ignore Historical Data, Tax Court Says
Tax court disapproves of estate’s “conflicting expert reports” as to value of decedent’s 100% interest in a C corp. but ultimately adopts estate’s DCF valuation, finding its treatment of personal goodwill is more credible than the IRS’s approach.
High Valuations Complicate Division of Sizable Marital Estate
Appeals court affirms trial court’s above fair market value determinations regarding husband’s interests in various family businesses and the resulting equalization judgment but rejects trial court’s means with which to enforce payment of judgment.
Crider v. Crider
Appeals court affirms trial court’s above fair market value determinations regarding husband’s interests in various family businesses and the resulting equalization judgment but rejects trial court’s means with which to enforce payment of judgment.
Estate of Adell v. Commissioner
Tax court disapproves of estate’s “conflicting expert reports” as to value of decedent’s 100% interest in a C corp. but ultimately adopts estate’s DCF valuation, finding its treatment of personal goodwill is more credible than the IRS’s approach.