Estate of Giustina v. Commissioner (Giustina III)
On remand Tax Court recalculates decedent’s minority LP interest in family partnership by relying entirely on DCF value and giving no weight to value of company’s timberland assets; newly calculated value is half the original value.
In re Appraisal of Dell Inc.
For statutory appraisal, Chancery says sales process related to management buyout “functioned imperfectly as a price discovery tool” and gives no weight to final merger price; court relies exclusively on DCF analysis to derive fair value of the company.
Congel v Malfitano (I)
New York appellate court says trial court erred when it declined to apply minority discount in determining “value” of minority shareholder’s interest in partnership where shareholder wrongfully dissolved partnership and buyout was not a fair value proceed ...
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.
Daubert Flexible as to Solvency Determination for Multiple Debtor Entities
Court finds Daubert centers on reliability, not persuasiveness, and can accommodate experts’ different approaches to determining solvency in case with multiple debtor entities; court rejects exclusion of expert opinion relying on GAAP-based financials.
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.
Post-Confirmation Comm. for Small Loans, Inc. v. Martin
Court finds Daubert centers on reliability, not persuasiveness, and can accommodate experts’ different approaches to determining solvency in case with multiple debtor entities; court rejects exclusion of expert opinion relying on GAAP-based financials.
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.
Business Debt Renders Expert’s Lack of BV Credentials Inconsequential
Appeals court says trial court’s decision to admit opinion of seasoned CPA expert who was not a credentialed business valuator was not error because valuation was a “non-issue” where evidence showed the indebted company was no longer a going concern.
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.
Expert’s Application of Asset Approach ‘Defies Common Sense’
Court rejects income approach for valuing interest in business with low bar of entry and few repeat customers; court also says asset-based valuation following Section 179 tax treatment understates true value of the company and requires upward adjustment.
Sternat v. Sternat
Appeals court says trial court’s decision to admit opinion of seasoned CPA expert who was not a credentialed business valuator was not error because valuation was a “non-issue” where evidence showed the indebted company was no longer a going concern.
In re Marriage of Hartung
Court rejects income approach for valuing interest in business with low bar of entry and few repeat customers; court also says asset-based valuation following Section 179 tax treatment understates true value of the company and requires upward adjustment.
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.
9th Circuit Calls Tax Court Out Over ‘Imaginary Scenarios’
Ninth Circuit orders Tax Court to recalculate value of decedent’s minority interest in longtime family partnership owning timber assets because Tax Court accorded weight to NAV value based on “imaginary scenarios” that saw some possibility of liquidation.
Estate of Giustina v. Commissioner (II)
Ninth Circuit orders Tax Court to recalculate value of decedent’s minority interest in longtime family partnership owning timber assets because Tax Court accorded weight to NAV value based on “imaginary scenarios” that saw some possibility of liquidation.
‘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.
Debtor’s Challenges Justify Bankruptcy Court’s Emergence Risk Premium
District court finds unique risks facing debtor in bankruptcy and emerging from it justify Bankruptcy Court’s increase of proposed discount rate and record supports confirmation of reorganization plan.
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.
Vision-Park Properties v. Seaside Engineering
District court finds unique risks facing debtor in bankruptcy and emerging from it justify Bankruptcy Court’s increase of proposed discount rate and record supports confirmation of reorganization plan.
In re Rural Metro Corp. Stockholders Litigation
Financial advisor aided and abetted directors’ breach of fiduciary duty by causing ill-timed, below-fair-value sale of the company based on manipulated valuation analysis, including false and material information related to precedent transaction analyses.
Tax Court Rejects Appraisal of Donated Stock for Incorrect Premise of Value
Tax Court approves 64% combined discounts (advocated by IRS) for valuing medical service corporation slated for conversion to a nonprofit.
Bergquist v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue
Tax Court approves 64% combined discounts (advocated by IRS) for valuing medical service corporation slated for conversion to a non-profit.
M.A. Hajianpour, M.D., P.A., et al. v. Khosrow Maleki P.A., et al.
Court considers whether DCF analysis could apply to professional practice that is no longer a going concern.
Yet Again, Delaware Looks to DCF in Appraisal Action
PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (PNC), the parent of PFPC Holding Corp. (Holding), had planned to take Holding’s subsidiary, PFPC Worldwide Inc. (PFPC), public via an initial public offering (IPO), but the opportunity did not arise.