BV News and Trends March 2024
A monthly roundup of key developments of interest to business valuation experts.
Smith v. Smith
In this divorce case appeal, the appeals court remanded to the Chancery Court the issue of separate versus marital property. The appellate court determined that one of the husband’s businesses was marital property and not separate property as the Chancery Court decided. It remanded that portion of the Chancery decision with instructions to change the ruling and determine a value for the now marital property business—but without any goodwill.
Appellate Court (Mississippi) Affirms That Goodwill Is Not a Marital Asset
In this divorce case appeal, the appeals court remanded to the Chancery Court the issue of separate versus marital property. The appellate court determined that one of the husband’s businesses was marital property and not separate property as the Chancery Court decided. It remanded that portion of the Chancery decision with instructions to change the ruling and determine a value for the now marital property business—but without any goodwill.
In re Hebert
In this New Hampshire divorce appeal, the husband appealed the trial court’s property division, the awarding of 13 years of alimony, awarding of 100% of the proceeds of the sale of residences, and awarding 50% of the value of the husband’s business and the real estate where the business was located. The Supreme Court of New Hampshire affirmed in part and remanded in part.
New Hampshire Supreme Court Affirms in Part and Vacates in Part and Remands Divorce Trial Court—Husband Fails to Provide Support for Expenses
In this New Hampshire divorce appeal, the husband appealed the trial court’s property division, the awarding of 13 years of alimony, awarding of 100% of the proceeds of the sale of residences, and awarding 50% of the value of the husband’s business and the real estate where the business was located. The Supreme Court of New Hampshire affirmed in part and remanded in part.
Fair Market Value: A Complicated Standard
This article was triggered by a recent article by Jim Hitchner that maintained that it is a “myth” that fair market value assumes a financial buyer, without synergistic benefits. The author believes the answer to the question is more nuanced than the term “myth” suggests, which prompted him to revisit his thinking on the concept.
BVLaw Review: The Top Valuation Cases of 2023
The BVLaw platform added approximately 70 cases during 2023, bringing the total to about 4,300 cases in the database. The cases are all related in some way to valuation, economic damages and lost profits, and other litigation. This article is a rundown of some of the more important cases for 2023.
Court KO’s market comp analysis due to industry choice
What business is your subject company in?
Cronan v. Cronan
This case concerned an appeal of a family court magistrate’s decision as to the value of marital assets and the distribution thereof and denial of alimony to the wife. The plaintiff, the husband, is a physician shareholder in a medical imaging practice. The practice had a shareholder agreement that provided for the price to buy into and sell out of the practice. The wife’s expert determined the value of the husband’s shares under the fair market value standard but the trial court and supreme court went with the agreement value.
Rhode Island Supreme Court Affirms Value of Interest in Medical Practice Per Shareholder Agreement and Equitable Distribution of Assets
This case concerned an appeal of a family court magistrate’s decision as to the value of marital assets and the distribution thereof and denial of alimony to the wife. The plaintiff, the husband, is a physician shareholder in a medical imaging practice. The practice had a shareholder agreement that provided for the price to buy into and sell out of the practice. The wife’s expert determined the value of the husband’s shares under the fair market value standard but the trial court and supreme court went with the agreement value.
Valuation of business hit by COVID-19 in recent divorce case
If you haven’t done so already, sooner or later you will value a business affected by COVID-19.
BV News and Trends December 2023
A monthly roundup of key developments of interest to business valuation experts.
Grabowski analyzes COLI valuation issue SCOTUS will decide
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case involving a valuation issue in order to resolve a circuit split.
In re Marriage of Bornhofen
In this Illinois divorce case, the trial court adopted the value of the husband’s expert as to the value of the husband’s business and rejected the wife’s expert’s value. The trial court determined that the husband’s expert’s value was the only credible value. The wife sought to introduce additional valuation evidence, which the trial court also rejected. The appellate court affirmed the decision of the trial court.
Appellate Court (Illinois) Affirms Trial Court’s Rejection of One Expert’s Business Value and Adopts the Other Expert’s Value
In this Illinois divorce case, the trial court adopted the value of the husband’s expert as to the value of the husband’s business and rejected the wife’s expert’s value. The trial court determined that the husband’s expert’s value was the only credible value. The wife sought to introduce additional valuation evidence, which the trial court also rejected. The appellate court affirmed the decision of the trial court.
Practice opportunity: Buy-sell agreements
A “vast opportunity” for appraisers can be found in buy-sell agreements, according to Jeff Tarbell (Houlihan Lokey) and Riley Busenlener (Chaffe & Associates Inc.), who is also an attorney.
Dawson v. Dawson
The court of appeals, in an Arizona divorce case, affirmed the decision of the Superior Court to accept the wife’s expert’s value of the husband’s business. The wife’s expert used a three-year look back average of cash flows, while the husband’s expert utilized the most current year’s cash flow.
Court Chooses Three-Year Average Cash Flow Over Single to Determine Value of Husband’s Business—Appellate Court Affirms
The court of appeals, in an Arizona divorce case, affirmed the decision of the Superior Court to accept the wife’s expert’s value of the husband’s business. The wife’s expert used a three-year look back average of cash flows, while the husband’s expert utilized the most current year’s cash flow.
Power Panel: Healthcare BV and the New Stark Regulations, Part 2
In this second power panel discussion, key thought leaders in healthcare business valuation discuss the ramifications of the recent update to the Stark regulations on business valuation practices. The panel will discuss whether many common ideas and practices need to be either modified or dropped altogether in order to meet the new regulatory definition of fair market value (FMV) under Stark. As part of the discussion, the panel will react and respond to the recent ...
Hitchner busts more BV myths
Does the fair market value standard assume a financial buyer, without synergistic benefits?
Lone dissenter of medical merger challenges share valuation
In a California case, a physician was a nonexclusive provider to a physician network and was one of 75 shareholders.
Private Equity Roll Up of Professional Practices Valuation Considerations
This webinar transcript focuses on private equity roll-up acquisitions of professional practices and the possible effect of these transactions on business valuation.
Court has limited menu for steakhouse valuation
In a Michigan case, two 50% owners of a Ponderosa steakhouse were locked in a battle over the Old West-themed eatery, with both owners engaging in oppressive conduct against the other. They left it up to the court to decide their fate.
Power Panel: How Should Healthcare BV Practice Change in Response to the New Stark Regulations?
In this power panel discussion, key thought leaders in healthcare business valuation discuss the ramifications of the recent update to the Stark regulations on BV practices.
Takeaways From ASA’s ESOP Virtual Conference
ESOP valuation basics, sell-side transactions, issues with mature ESOPs, and common critiques with valuations in litigation were the topics of discussion at ASA ESOP Virtual Conference.