Estate of Cecil v. Comm’r
This was a gift tax valuation case the U.S. Tax Court decided. Gifts of minority interests in The Biltmore Co. were made from the its shareholders, the Cecils, to their children and grandchildren. The IRS audited the gift tax returns and assessed deficiencies for reporting too low fair market values of the gifts of The Biltmore Co. stock. Both sides presented experts to value the gifted interests. The experts agreed that the cash flows should be tax affected. The court accepted the tax affecting while allowing that it was not an admission by the Tax Court that tax affecting should apply in all cases. The Tax Court made changes to the values presented and cobbled together a final value that resulted in refunds to the taxpayers/petitioners.
SaaS valuation multiples see dramatic decrease
While the software-as-a-service (SaaS) industry is poised for significant growth, revenue multiples are projected at a three-year low, averaging a prepandemic level of about 5.5%, according to a report from FirstPageSage.
Global BV News: 2022 was a record year for Swiss M&A, per KPMG
Despite the gloomy economy, the number of mergers and acquisitions with Swiss involvement hit a new record high in 2022, surpassing the numbers of the past 10 years, according to KPMG in its report “Clarity on Mergers & Acquisitions.”
Global BV News and Trends January 2023
Business valuation news from a global perspective.
Global BV News: Industry multiples down in Europe
EV/EBITDA multiples have generally decreased in Europe over the third quarter of 2022, according to the fourth edition of Kroll’s “Industry Multiples in Europe” quarterly report.
Valuations of German and European banks
The decline in market capitalizations coupled with a positive earnings outlook has led to record levels of the implied cost of equity of 14.8% for European banks and 17.8% for German banks, according to the latest edition of the Alvarez & Marsal’s “Germany Valuation Insights.”
Global BV News: Industry multiples in Europe decrease in 2Q22
Almost all sectors/industry groups presented in a recent Kroll report observed a decrease in their EV/EBITDA multiples during the second quarter of 2022.
Let's Get Real About the Dividend Growth Model
The dividend growth model, sometimes called the dividend discount model or discounted cash flow model, is a commonly used tool for estimating the cost of equity capital, particularly in the context of utility rate setting and unitary appraisal. Although the assumption of constant growth in perpetuity is almost never realistic, the constant growth version of the model is still commonly used in practice. However, given modern computing technology, there is no reason not to use ...
Simons v. Simons
The Nebraska Supreme Court allowed a fair value determination by the wife’s expert as the appropriate value for a divorce case and did not include any discounts that might apply in a fair market value determination. Much of the opinion dealt with the issue of a constructive trust, which the trial court determined results in a 50% ownership by the wife in the family business.
Nebraska Supreme Court Allows Fair Value Determination for Family-Owned Business and Does Not Allow Discounts
The Nebraska Supreme Court allowed a fair value determination by the wife’s expert as the appropriate value for a divorce case and did not include any discounts that might apply in a fair market value determination. Much of the opinion dealt with the issue of a constructive trust, which the trial court determined results in a 50% ownership by the wife in the family business.
In re Ascena Retail Grp., Inc. Sec. Litig.
In this securities putative class action litigation, plaintiff shareholders alleged that the defendants (Ascena) misrepresented the value of Ascena’s goodwill and trade names in order to inflate Ascena’s stock price artificially. In June 2017, Ascena announced an impairment charge to those assets of $1.3 billion “causing Ascena's already-declining share price to fall precipitously. Ascena ultimately declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July 2020.” The defendants moved to dismiss for failure to plead material misrepresentation or scienter or both. The court granted the motion to dismiss but allowed the plaintiffs to amend their complaint.
New Jersey U.S. District Court Dismisses Plaintiffs’ Complaint That Public Company Defendant Overvalued Its Goodwill
In this securities putative class action litigation, plaintiff shareholders alleged that the defendants (Ascena) misrepresented the value of Ascena’s goodwill and trade names in order to inflate Ascena’s stock price artificially. In June 2017, Ascena announced an impairment charge to those assets of $1.3 billion “causing Ascena's already-declining share price to fall precipitously. Ascena ultimately declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July 2020.” The defendants moved to dismiss for failure to plead material misrepresentation or scienter or both. The court granted the motion to dismiss but allowed the plaintiffs to amend their complaint.
Appeals court vacates going-concern valuation for firm being wound down
In an Arizona divorce case, the couple owned a business that was being phased out.
In Re Riddle
The appeal in this case dealt with, among other issues, the trial court’s decision to adopt the husband’s expert’s value that was based on a capitalization of earnings based on expected future income. The appellate court noted that the evidence from the trial showed that the business received no revenue after the wife sold her interest to a third party, and there was no evidence that similar earnings would occur in the future. The trial court’s determination of value was vacated and remanded.
Trial Court’s Decision of Value of Business Based on a Going Concern Is Reversed and Remanded
The appeal in this case dealt with, among other issues, the trial court’s decision to adopt the husband’s expert’s value that was based on a capitalization of earnings based on expected future income. The appellate court noted that the evidence from the trial showed that the business received no revenue after the wife sold her interest to a third party, and there was no evidence that similar earnings would occur in the future. The trial court’s determination of value was vacated and remanded.
New case affirms treatment of goodwill in Indiana divorces
In Indiana, enterprise goodwill is includable in the marital estate, but personal goodwill is not (see BVR’s Charting Goodwill map).
Volatility of Financial Metrics: Important Data for Contingent Consideration Valuations
This article presents the first detailed statistical analysis of the volatilities of various commonly encountered financial metrics used in contingent consideration (and earn-out) agreements. The valuation of contingent consideration using an option-based methodology and non-equity volatilities is becoming more common in business valuation. We provide clear evidence that the volatility of five financial metrics—revenue; earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA); EBIT, net income, and total assets—is strongly, negatively related to firm size and ...
Dispelling the ‘hired gun’ perception of testifying experts
A question often comes up: “How can two qualified and experienced business valuation experts analyze the same company and come up with widely disparate values?”
Cain v. Cain
The Nebraska District Court in this case accepted the value of the wife’s expert testimony at trial as to the value of the husband’s 50% interest in his business. Both appraisers included DLOMs in determining value, and both appraisers utilized appropriate valuation methodologies. The difference in the two valuations is a matter of the difference in professional judgment.
The Nebraska District Court’s Determination of the Value of a Husband’s Business Is Affirmed—Appraisers Used Acceptable Valuation Methodology
The Nebraska District Court in this case accepted the value of the wife’s expert testimony at trial as to the value of the husband’s 50% interest in his business. Both appraisers included DLOMs in determining value, and both appraisers utilized appropriate valuation methodologies. The difference in the two valuations is a matter of the difference in professional judgment.
Valuing Small Owner-Operated Business
Small owner-operated businesses have unique characteristics that are fundamentally different from other businesses. These differences should be taken into consideration when performing valuations. Join David Coffman for a dive into those characteristics and a detailed description on how they impact valuation procedures and conclusions. Learn about the market for small owner-operated business valuations.
Asare v. Asare
In this marital dissolution appellate case, the appellate court must resolve a number of issues related to the equitable distribution of the marital estate. On most issues, the appellate court affirmed the trial court. However, the appellate court reversed the trial court on the issue of how much passive appreciation related to an investment account was includable in the marital estate.
North Carolina Appellate Court Reverses Trial Court on Amount of Passive Appreciation in an Investment Account
In this marital dissolution appellate case, the appellate court must resolve a number of issues related to the equitable distribution of the marital estate. On most issues, the appellate court affirmed the trial court. However, the appellate court reversed the trial court on the issue of how much passive appreciation related to an investment account was includable in the marital estate.
Global BV News and Trends November 2021
Business valuation news from a global perspective.
Court Denies Motion to Exclude Rebuttal Testimony of Damages
This case concerned the purchase of a historic steam plant in downtown St. Louis. The claims included breach of contract, fraudulent conveyance, and tortious interference, among others. This particular case dealt with a motion in limine to exclude rebuttal testimony from the expert for the counterclaim defendants regarding damages put forth by the counterclaim plaintiffs. The court denied the motion.