BV News and Trends June 2022
A monthly roundup of key developments of interest to business valuation experts.
ESOP valuations may be at a turning point
At last week’s inaugural ESOP Virtual Conference hosted by the American Society of Appraisers, the landmark Bowers case was discussed, which could represent a turning point for ESOP valuations.
Kuzma v. N. Ariz. Healthcare Corp.
The defendants in this qui tam case asked for summary judgment against the plaintiff Relator, who had alleged violations of the False Claims Act as it related to the sale of Surgery and Rehabilitation Centers by the defendants. Relator brought suit against the defendants, alleging they violated the FCA by overpaying the physician-owners of the Summit Center to reward them for past business and to induce future business in violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute. The defendants advanced three arguments in favor of summary judgment: (1) the acquisition price paid for the Summit Center was fair market value; (2) Relator had no evidence that the defendants acted with the requisite scienter; and (3) Relator cannot show a causal link between the alleged kickback and the submission of false claims.
U.S. District Court Partially Denies Motion for Summary Judgment Regarding Qui Tam Case on Excess Purchase Price Under the False Claims Act
The defendants in this qui tam case asked for summary judgment against the plaintiff Relator, who had alleged violations of the False Claims Act as it related to the sale of Surgery and Rehabilitation Centers by the defendants. Relator brought suit against the defendants, alleging they violated the FCA by overpaying the physician-owners of the Summit Center to reward them for past business and to induce future business in violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute. The defendants advanced three arguments in favor of summary judgment: (1) the acquisition price paid for the Summit Center was fair market value; (2) Relator had no evidence that the defendants acted with the requisite scienter; and (3) Relator cannot show a causal link between the alleged kickback and the submission of false claims.
In Re S-Tek 1, LLC
The debtor, S-Tek 1 LLC, submitted a motion to value to the Bankruptcy Court to determine the value of the collateral of Surv-Tek Inc. as to debt owed it by the debtor pledged as collateral for debt owed by S-Tek to Surv-Tek. The valuation was to be used in the confirmation of a Chapter 11 reorganization of S-Tek. The court used the replacement value standard of value instead of the “ongoing concern” value since the replacement value provided a value greater than the “enterprise value” (i.e., ongoing concern value).
Bankruptcy Court Uses the ‘Replacement Value Standard’ as It Determines That Debtor ‘Enterprise Value’ Is Lower and Inappropriate
The debtor, S-Tek 1 LLC, submitted a motion to value to the Bankruptcy Court to determine the value of the collateral of Surv-Tek Inc. as to debt owed it by the debtor pledged as collateral for debt owed by S-Tek to Surv-Tek. The valuation was to be used in the confirmation of a Chapter 11 reorganization of S-Tek. The court used the replacement value standard of value instead of the “ongoing concern” value since the replacement value provided a value greater than the “enterprise value” (i.e., ongoing concern value).
BV News and Trends April 2022
A monthly roundup of key developments of interest to business valuation experts.
Purchase price equals value of business caught up in divorce
In Wisconsin, the valuation opinions of two experts were deemed not credible for a business caught up in a marital dissolution.
No valuation adjustment for alleged acts of oppression
In a Connecticut case, four siblings were partners in a number of restaurant properties and one of the partners (who had a 25% interest) was ousted by the others.
AICPA offers free webcast on estate/gift valuations
A two-and-a half-hour webcast on estate and gift valuations is available free of charge from the AICPA.
Two cases on trapped-in gains tax—with opposite outcomes
In a California divorce case we recently covered, an appeals court disallowed a discount for possible future taxes because the taxes were neither immediate nor specific.
Dettloff-Meyer v. Meyer
The husband in this divorce case appealed the circuit court ruling that relied on the purchase price of the business less than a year before the valuation date. The purchase was made from the wife’s parents at a price the parents determined of $500,000, most of which was goodwill. After an initial ruling from the circuit court accepting the value less debt of the husband’s expert, the wife asked for a reconsideration. The Circuit Court granted the reconsideration and found a value of the business of $45,230. The husband appealed the reconsidered decision of the circuit court. The appellate court determined that the circuit court’s use of the purchase price was not erroneous.
Wisconsin Appellate Court Affirms Purchase Price as Value of the Business in a Divorce Matter
The husband in this divorce case appealed the circuit court ruling that relied on the purchase price of the business less than a year before the valuation date. The purchase was made from the wife’s parents at a price the parents determined of $500,000, most of which was goodwill. After an initial ruling from the circuit court accepting the value less debt of the husband’s expert, the wife asked for a reconsideration. The Circuit Court granted the reconsideration and found a value of the business of $45,230. The husband appealed the reconsidered decision of the circuit court. The appellate court determined that the circuit court’s use of the purchase price was not erroneous.
New Case Points Up Opportunity for Buy-Sell Valuations
A recent court case illustrates that many buy-sell agreements do not adequately address the issue of valuation when an owner exits the firm. This represents an opportunity for valuation experts to review clients’ buy-sell agreements to identify potential problems, which could mean recurring business for the practice.
BV News and Trends February 2022
A monthly roundup of key developments of interest to business valuation experts.
Houlihan Lokey and ELFA issue private debt valuation guide
Houlihan Lokey and the European Leveraged Finance Association (ELFA) have published a report as part of ELFA’s Diligence Series called Technical Guide for Valuation of Private Debt Investments.
Appellate court KOs discount for trapped-in capital gains taxes
In a Louisiana case, a dissenting shareholder was withdrawing her shares in a company and the valuation of her interest was in dispute, so a trial was held.
BVLaw Review: The Top Valuation Cases of 2021
Here is our pick for the state and federal court decisions that enhanced our understanding of valuation issues as they arose in a litigation setting during 2021.
Details start to emerge about the Prince estate valuation
One of the tricky assets to value in the Prince estate was the rock star’s name and likeness.
Appeals court OKs one discount, KOs another in divorce matter
In a California divorce matter, the husband’s expert applied two discounts to the valuation of the wife’s one-half interest in his business: one discount for possible future taxes and one for a discount for lack of marketability (DLOM).
New case points up valuation perils in buy-sell agreements
From a valuation standpoint, the lack of a buy-sell agreement—or one with a valuation provision that’s poorly drafted—can result in costly litigation and a painful falling out between business partners and/or family members.
Non-Marketable Investment Company Evaluation: Free Resource for Your Next Valuation
When it comes to valuing minority interests in family investment entities such as family limited partnerships, it is apparent that the income approach should now be used alongside the traditional asset/market approach. Join creator William Frazier for a live “nuts and bolts” example of exactly how the nonmarketable investment company evaluation (NICE) method is used. With examples of FLPs with different asset makeups and financial characteristics, this event will arm you with a new tool ...
An Inside Look at the Landmark ESOP Valuation Case
For over a decade, the Department of Labor has not lost a major ESOP case on a valuation issue, but its winning streak ended with Walsh v. Bowers. The case involves many key valuation issues, and Ken Pia (Marcum LLP) and Ian Rusk (Rusk O’Brien Gido + Partners LLC), expert witnesses for the defense, give their insights.
BV News and Trends December 2021
A monthly roundup of key developments of interest to business valuation experts.
ShopRite, Inc. v. Gardiner
In determining the fair value of a minority interest in stock sold back to the companies in a shareholder oppression assertion, the Louisiana Court of Appeals rejected a discount for trapped-in capital gains tax since the companies had no intention of selling the properties owned. The appeals court also disallowed a reduction in fair value related to the value of affiliated accounts receivable, noting that there was no evidence that the receivables were uncollectible.