New case involves dispute over company-specific risk
In a Minnesota shareholder buyout matter, the two opposing valuation experts disagreed over the risk associated with customer concentration.
Koch v. Koch
This shareholder dispute case involved two businesses three brothers in Minnesota owned. One of the brothers, Jim Koch, had a falling out with the other two, Randy and Dave Koch. A temporary agreement was made among them in 2006, but subsequently the relationship and actions of the parties deteriorated. In particular, an IRS audit of the two businesses triggered a disagreement as to whether required payments under the agreement had to be tax deductible. Certain actions by the defendants breached the 2006 agreement as determined by a jury resulting in a damages award of $12 million. The court then held a bench trial to determine the value of the two businesses for determining the buyout amount for Jim’s interest in both businesses. Experts for each side testified as to value. The opinion provided a good analysis of the various issues in the methodologies each of the experts used.
Minority Shareholder Receives Award of $12 Million for Breach of Contract, $58 Million Buyout Award for Minority Interest
This shareholder dispute case involved two businesses three brothers in Minnesota owned. One of the brothers, Jim Koch, had a falling out with the other two, Randy and Dave Koch. A temporary agreement was made among them in 2006, but subsequently the relationship and actions of the parties deteriorated. In particular, an IRS audit of the two businesses triggered a disagreement as to whether required payments under the agreement had to be tax deductible. Certain actions by the defendants breached the 2006 agreement as determined by a jury resulting in a damages award of $12 million. The court then held a bench trial to determine the value of the two businesses for determining the buyout amount for Jim’s interest in both businesses. Experts for each side testified as to value. The opinion provided a good analysis of the various issues in the methodologies each of the experts used.
Avoid This Mistake When Using an Exit Multiple in the Terminal Year
There is nothing wrong with using exit multiples on the terminal year of a DCF, but the devil is in the details.
Recap of recent BV cases of note
A number of recent cases have emerged that contain various valuation issues.
Island Light & Power Co. v. Sara Golvinveaux McGinnes 2011 Trust
In this shareholder dissent suit, the one-third shareholder of Island Light & Power Co. (aka BIPCO) dissented to a forced sale of the assets of BIPCO resulting in a liquidation of BIPCO and of the shareholder Trust’s stock. In a resulting bench trial, the court rejected the fair value determinations of the experts for both parties and adopted its own methodology (as is allowed by Rhode Island courts, including its Supreme Court) to determine the fair value of the one-third interest held by the Trust.
Court Adopts its Own Methodology in Determining Fair Value in a Shareholder Dissent Suit
In this shareholder dissent suit in Rhode Island, the one-third shareholder of Island Light & Power Co. (aka BIPCO) dissented to a forced sale of the assets of BIPCO resulting in a liquidation of BIPCO and a liquidation of the shareholder Trust’s stock. In a bench trial resulting from the dissent, the court rejected the fair value determinations of the experts for both parties and adopted its own methodology (as is allowed by Rhode Island courts, including its Supreme Court) to determine the fair value of the one-third interest held by the Trust.
A.A. v. B.A.
In valuing owner’s financial advisory business organized as sole proprietorship, court rejects idea that prior case law on goodwill in solely owned business precludes assigning goodwill to business; court says commissions earned during marriage but received post-separation or post-divorce are marital.
Delaware Court Revisits Issue of Goodwill in Sole Proprietorship
In valuing owner’s financial advisory business organized as sole proprietorship, court rejects idea that prior case law on goodwill in solely owned business precludes assigning goodwill to business; court says commissions earned during marriage but received post-separation or post-divorce are marital.
Failure to explain inputs gets expert excluded under Daubert
If more proof is necessary to show that courts across all legal fields dive deep into the details of valuation testimony, a recent damages case that arose in the context of a condemnation proceeding should do the trick.
Math and Logic Problems Mar Court’s Valuation and Division of Assets
Appeals court finds incongruities in trial court’s unreported cash income and profit rate inputs make court’s valuation of timber business meaningless; further, trial court failed to explain reason for equalization payment and arrived at incorrect amount.
Doyle v. Doyle
Appeals court finds incongruities in trial court’s unreported cash income and profit rate inputs make court’s valuation of timber business meaningless; further, trial court failed to explain reason for equalization payment and arrived at incorrect amount.
Math and Logic Problems Mar Court’s Valuation and Division of Assets
Appeals court finds incongruities in trial court’s unreported cash income and profit rate inputs make court’s valuation of timber business meaningless; further, trial court failed to explain reason for equalization payment and arrived at incorrect amount.
Chancery relies on income approach to determine fair value in problematic bank merger
In a statutory appraisal action, the Delaware Court of Chancery recently found the deal price did not reflect fair value because the sales process was suboptimal. Certain other methods the parties' experts used also were inadequate to the task, the court said.
Expert’s Tax Appraisal Weathers Frontal Daubert Attack
Appeals court says tax tribunal did not abdicate its gatekeeper role under Rule 702 when admitting taxpayer expert’s appraisal, where the expert was qualified and used a reliable methodology; a searching inquiry into the underlying data was not necessary.
In Buyout, Court Extols Expert’s Valuation and Legal Acumen
Appeals court affirms trial court’s valuation of oppressed shareholder’s minority interest in family business based on credentialed appraiser’s “clear, thorough, professional, and reliable” opinion and knowledge of New York valuation-related law.
In Buyout, Court Extols Expert’s Valuation and Legal Acumen
Appeals court affirms trial court’s valuation of oppressed shareholder’s minority interest in family business based on credentialed appraiser’s “clear, thorough, professional, and reliable” opinion and knowledge of New York valuation-related law.
B & L Development LLC v. City of Norton Shores
Appeals court says tax tribunal did not abdicate its gatekeeper role under Rule 702 when admitting taxpayer expert’s appraisal, where the expert was qualified and used a reliable methodology; a searching inquiry into the underlying data was not necessary.
Matter of Adelstein v. Finest Food Distributing Co. (II)
Appeals court affirms trial court’s valuation of oppressed shareholder’s minority interest in family business based on credentialed appraiser’s “clear, thorough, professional, and reliable” opinion and knowledge of New York valuation-related law.
Experts Propose Equally Sound, but Diverging, Valuations
Appellate court upholds valuation of husband’s business where trial court faced two equally plausible values from experienced appraisers who gave “reasoned explanations” for their differing choices as to the treatment of a year with unusually high income ...
Myhre v. Myhre
Appellate court upholds valuation of husband’s business where trial court faced two equally plausible values from experienced appraisers who gave “reasoned explanations” for their differing choices as to the treatment of a year with unusually high income ...
Matter of Adelstein v. Finest Food Distributing Co. (I)
In oppressed shareholder stock valuation proceeding, trial court credits testimony of credentialed appraiser, lauding his methodical approach, use of various methods to cross-check values, and understanding of legal principles related to valuation.
New York Compares ‘Double Dipping’ for Professional Licenses vs. Income-Producing Assets
New York Supreme Court considers extending prohibition against double counting from professional licenses to tangible assets.
Keane v. Keane
New York Supreme Court considers extending prohibition against double counting from professional licenses to tangible assets.