Bankruptcy Court’s Going-Concern Valuation Weathers Appeal
In Chapter 7 case, district court upholds Bankruptcy Court’s insolvency determination, which was a predicate to many of trustee’s claims; reviewing court says evidence supports use of going-concern valuation and rejection of liquidation discount.
Expert report proves best defense against Daubert offense
In litigation, attacks on expert opinions are par for the course, but a sound expert report can ward off a Daubert challenge and clear the way to admission at trial, as a recent fraud case illustrates.
Why Divorce Valuation Does Not Accord With Chapter 7 Liquidation Analysis
Bankruptcy Court says differing standard of value in divorce and bankruptcy proceedings precludes use of divorce valuation of husband’s interest in dental practice; but valuation based on shareholder agreement accords with Chapter 7 liquidation analysis.
Why Bankruptcy Court declines to be bound by divorce valuation
Following the divorce, the husband filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy and asked for confirmation of his plan. The issue was whether the plan could meet the liquidation test applicable under the Bankruptcy Code’s section 1325(a)(4). In essence, the test requires that creditors in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy receive present value payments that are at least equal to the amount the creditors would receive in a Chapter 7 case.
Burtch v. Opus, LLC (In re Opus East, LLC) (II)
In Chapter 7 case, district court upholds Bankruptcy Court’s insolvency determination, which was a predicate to many of trustee’s claims; reviewing court says evidence supports use of going-concern valuation and rejection of liquidation discount.
Bankruptcy Court Favors DCF to Value Dissociated Interest
Court finds debtor’s fraudulently conveyed interest represents a dissociated interest that is held by the estate; appropriate valuation date is date of trial, and DCF analysis, as modified by court, best captures value of the interest at that time.
In re Cole
Bankruptcy Court says differing standard of value in divorce and bankruptcy proceedings precludes use of divorce valuation of husband’s interest in dental practice; but valuation based on shareholder agreement accords with Chapter 7 liquidation analysis.
Hanckel v. Campbell (In re Hanckel)
Court finds debtor’s fraudulently conveyed interest represents a dissociated interest that is held by the estate; appropriate valuation date is date of trial, and DCF analysis, as modified by court, best captures value of the interest at that time.
Burtch v. Opus, LLC (In re Opus East, LLC) (I)
In Chapter 7 case, Bankruptcy Court finds trustee expert’s liquidation valuation fails to meet insolvency tests; court says expert’s substantial discounting of debtor’s assets is based on mistaken assumption and incompatible with going-concern valuation.
Industry Characteristics Bolster Reliance on Net Asset Value
In fight over plan confirmation, court finds nature of industry supports debtors’ reliance on net asset value approach to value Chapter 11 dry bulk shipper but not to the exclusion of more traditional methods; however, court rejects use of DCF.
Regulatory Issue Causes Bankruptcy Valuation to Falter
Court praises debtors’ expert valuation of wireless venture’s spectrum but says the determination improperly assumes FCC license approval where the agency’s decision is uncertain; lacking reliable asset value, court rejects reorganization plan.
‘Blurred’ Solvency Analysis Diminishes Expert’s Credibility
Bankruptcy court finds expert’s analysis “blurred the line” between going concern and liquidation value, detracting from opinion’s credibility; but court approves of expert’s “precise” time frame for capturing data with which to determine solvency.
‘Reasonably Equivalent Value’ Analysis Is Not a Dollars-and-Cents Issue
For reasonably equivalent value determination, Bankruptcy Court finds contract price and values from experts’ discounted cash flow analyses are too limiting and applies totality of circumstances test, concluding stock transfer is not avoidable.
In re: LightSquared Inc.
FOR PUBLICATION UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK ) In re: ) Chapter 11 ) LIGHTSQUARED INC., et al., ) Case No. 12-12080 (SCC) ) Debtors. ) Jointly Administered ) ) DECISION DENYING CONFIRMATION OF DEBTORS THIRD AMENDED JOINT PLAN PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 11 OF BANKRUPTCY CODE 12-12080-scc Doc 1631-1 Filed 07/11/14 Entered 07/11/14 15:10:57 Main Document Pg 1 of 73 1 A P P E A R A N C E ...
In re Genco Shipping & Trading Ltd.
In fight over plan confirmation, court finds nature of industry supports debtors’ reliance on net asset value approach to value Chapter 11 dry bulk shipper but not to the exclusion of more traditional methods; however, court rejects use of DCF.
Court Admits Solvency Analysis Lacking Specific Valuation of Debtor
Court finds solvency analysis is not subject to AICPA’s valuation standards and admits expert’s claim that “magnitude of excess” reflected in adjusted balance sheet numbers means assets exceeded liabilities.
Stadtmueller v. Fitzgerald (In re Epic Cycle Interactive, Inc.)
Bankruptcy court finds expert’s analysis “blurred the line” between going concern and liquidation value, detracting from opinion’s credibility; but court approves of expert’s “precise” time frame for capturing data with which to determine solvency.
In re Mercury Companies, Inc. (I)
For reasonably equivalent value determination, Bankruptcy Court finds contract price and values from experts’ discounted cash flow analyses are too limiting and applies totality of circumstances test, concluding stock transfer is not avoidable.
Dietz v. Jacobs
Court finds solvency analysis is not subject to AICPA’s valuation standards and admits expert’s claim that “magnitude of excess” reflected in adjusted balance sheet numbers means assets exceeded liabilities.
Plan Confirmation Hinges on Property Valuation
The Bankruptcy Court finds the debtor’s reorganization plan is not feasible because it fails to provide enough funds to pay in full the primary creditor’s secured claim; the plan rested on an improperly low valuation of the property that makes up the majo ...
Bankruptcy Court Wary of Asset Approach in Solvency Analysis
Bankruptcy Court values Chapter 11 debtor on a going concern basis and finds the income approach is best suited to determine solvency at the time of critical financial transactions; the defendants’ expert properly relied on a contemporaneous Goldman Sachs ...
Court Bristles at Experts’ Hasty Valuation of Debtor
Bankruptcy court denies shareholders’ renewed request for an equity committee, finding neither the debtor nor its creditors are hiding value in their calculation of the total equity value of less than $500 million; expert testimony as to the allegedly und ...