Valuing What You Cannot See: Intangible Assets
Accounting has historically done a poor job dealing with intangible assets, and, as the economy has transitioned away from a manufacturing-dominated 20th century to the technology- and services-focused economy of the 21st century, that failure has become more apparent. The resulting debate among accountants about how to bring intangibles onto the books has spilled over into valuation practice, and many appraisers and analysts are wrong, in my view, letting the accounting debate affect how they ...
Golock Capital, LLC v. VNUE, Inc.
The plaintiffs sued for breach of obligations on convertible promissory notes issued to the defendant. The defendant admitted it had not repaid the loans but contended that the rates of interest on the loans were “criminally usurious” and were, therefore, void. Following a bench trial, the U.S. District Court (New York) found that the interest rates were not usurious and ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, including an award for attorneys’ fees.
U.S. District Court (New York) Rules Interest Rates on Loans Are Not Usurious
The plaintiffs sued for breach of obligations on convertible promissory notes issued to the defendant. The defendant admitted it had not repaid the loans but contended that the rates of interest on the loans were “criminally usurious” and were, therefore, void. Following a bench trial, the U.S. District Court (New York) found that the interest rates were not usurious and ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, including an award for attorneys’ fees.
Family Matters: Standard of Value, DLOM/DLOC Discounts and Drama in BV
A buried body, sex surrogates, and family-owned business create a dramatic background for a recent court case impacting valuation. With complex minority discounts, this case kicks off a compelling discussion of key issues in family law. Experts Stacey Udell, Neil Beaton, and Ron Seigneur tackle these thorny issues with clarity and comedy. Get treated to the tricks and tips you’ll want when your next family-owned business engagement rings your doorbell.
Valuing Residential and Commercial Construction Companies
Cash flow seasonality, bid requirements, license particulars, economic forces, and ubiquitous litigation are all hallmarks of the residential and commercial construction industries and all unique factors when appraising a construction company. Join What it’s Worth guide author and expert Pasquale Rafanelli for a full inspection of residential and commercial construction company valuation issues from accounting methods to value drivers. Avoid the common valuation mistakes that appraisers make and learn to answer the one question on ...
Sultan v. Malik
Appeals court upholds trial court’s valuation of accounting firm based on asset approach where prevailing expert added goodwill value as intangible; court says intrinsic standard of value does not mandate use of income approach for service-based entity.
Court Approves of Adding Goodwill as Intangible in Asset-Based Valuation of Accounting Practice
Appeals court upholds trial court’s valuation of accounting firm based on asset approach where prevailing expert added goodwill value as intangible; court says intrinsic standard of value does not mandate use of income approach for service-based entity.
Kendall Hoyd & Silver v. Trussway Holdings
Delaware Court of Chancery finds DCF analysis is the best way to achieve fair value in a statutory appraisal case arising out of a contested merger; court’s analysis leans heavily on company expert’s analysis regarding contested inputs, including projections, beta, and terminal value.
Court Chooses DCF to Determine Fair Value in ‘Straightforward’ Appraisal Case
Delaware Court of Chancery finds DCF analysis is the best way to achieve fair value in a statutory appraisal case arising out of a contested merger; court’s analysis leans heavily on company expert’s analysis regarding contested inputs, including projections, beta, and terminal value.
Damages Claim Fails to Provide Yardsticks Capturing Defunct Startup’s Value
Appeals court upholds zero damages finding in dispute involving short-lived software startup, where plaintiff’s expert had no experience valuing software companies, misapprehended basic facts, and developed multimillion-dollar valuations for a company with no product, no revenue, and no investors.
Zaffarkhan v. Domesek
Appeals court upholds zero damages finding in dispute involving short-lived software startup, where plaintiff’s expert had no experience valuing software companies, misapprehended basic facts, and developed multimillion-dollar valuations for a company with no product, no revenue, and no investors.
City of Hialeah Emples. Ret. Sys. v. FEI Co.
Court rejects dissenting shareholder’s proxy challenge, finding board member statements about management projections are protected under applicable act’s safe harbor provision; also, court says financial advisor’s fairness opinion did not double count for risk in underlying DCF analysis.
Financial Advisor’s Fairness Opinion Not Materially Misleading
Court rejects dissenting shareholder’s proxy challenge, finding board member statements about management projections are protected under applicable act’s safe harbor provision; also, court says financial advisor’s fairness opinion did not double count for risk in underlying DCF analysis.
Why Divorce Valuation Does Not Accord With Chapter 7 Liquidation Analysis
Bankruptcy Court says differing standard of value in divorce and bankruptcy proceedings precludes use of divorce valuation of husband’s interest in dental practice; but valuation based on shareholder agreement accords with Chapter 7 liquidation analysis.
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.
In re Cole
Bankruptcy Court says differing standard of value in divorce and bankruptcy proceedings precludes use of divorce valuation of husband’s interest in dental practice; but valuation based on shareholder agreement accords with Chapter 7 liquidation analysis.
Court Affirms Rightness of Expert’s ‘Marital Value’ Calculation
Court upholds expert’s idiosyncratic valuation approach based on ascertaining “marital value” of community’s grocery stores as opposed to stores’ “investment value”; since the stores were not sold, valuation properly captured their value to owner spouse.
In re Honer
Court upholds expert’s idiosyncratic valuation approach based on ascertaining “marital value” of community’s grocery stores as opposed to stores’ “investment value”; since the stores were not sold, valuation properly captured their value to owner spouse.
Can You Trust a Valuation That Falls Short of AICPA Standards?
Appeals court finds error in trial court’s refusal to value business; even if limited data caused expert’s estimate to fall short of AICPA standard, it was based on the market approach, a “sound and reasonable method to value a closely-held business.”
Hugh v. Hugh
Appeals court finds error in trial court’s refusal to value business; even if limited data caused expert’s estimate to fall short of AICPA standard, it was based on the market approach, a “sound and reasonable method to value a closely-held business.”
Hard Asset Value Best Captures Worth of Family Business
In divorce case, appellate court upholds classification of a family business as hybrid property, entitling the community to the increase in value that came about during the marriage; and, it validates the trial court’s decision to rest its valuation on th ...
Starling v. Starling
In divorce case, appellate court upholds classification of a family business as hybrid property, entitling the community to the increase in value that came about during the marriage; and, it validates the trial court’s decision to rest its valuation on th ...
Appellate court presented with incomplete record has no choice but to affirm
At issue in this marital dissolution case was the value of husband’s security software company, AnnaZach Software.
Lannes v. Lannes
At issue in this marital dissolution case was the value of husband's security software company, AnnaZach Software.
Court uses net asset value to value service business
The issues in this case marital dissolution case were (1) whether the trial court erred in determining the value of Language Learning Enterprises, Inc. (LLE), and (2) whether the trial court erred in its award of the wife's interest in LLE.