High Court Pushes Back on Mandatory Discounts in Fair Value Determinations
In key ruling, state high court “expressly” rejects bright-line requirement to apply minority and marketability discounts in all fair value determinations; court says discounts are “just another fact that a court may consider in determining fair value.”
Manipulation of Valuation of Bequeathed Stock Sinks Charitable Contribution Claim
Tax Court says executor of estate in series of post-death measures changed the value and size of decedent’s stock donation and may not claim date-of-death value of assets not actually transferred to family foundation; court affirms estate tax deficiency.
Parties’ Valuation Contract Precludes Review of Minority Discount
In share buyback case where parties agree to retain joint appraiser, whom they know from past appraisals of company, and commit to be bound by appraiser’s valuation, court declines to consider seller’s challenge to appraiser’s use of minority discount.
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 ...
Grant v. Grant
Appeals court says use of DLOM in valuing interest for divorce depends on interest’s characteristics not owner’s intent to sell the interest, but appeals court affirms trial court’s decision to apply “slight” or no DLOM based on intent to sell analysis.
Shareholder Agreement Sparks Suit Over Discount Use in FMV Calculation
Probate court says expert and other testimony aiding in interpretation of ambiguous shareholder agreement shows that fair market value determination of decedent’s minority interest allowed for use of discounts for lack of marketability and control.
Shareholder Agreement Sparks Suit Over Discount Use in FMV Calculation
Appeals court affirms probate court’s ruling that ambiguous shareholder agreement requiring determination of fair market value of decedent’s minority interest in closely held companies accommodated use of discounts for lack of marketability and control.
Wagner v. Wagner
In key ruling, state high court “expressly” rejects bright-line requirement to apply minority and marketability discounts in all fair value determinations; court says discounts are “just another fact that a court may consider in determining fair value.”
Court refuses to take stand on minority discount in buyback of shares
The parties retained a sole appraiser, whom they both knew from past appraisals he had done of the company. Prior to formally engaging the appraiser, in a court hearing, both sides broached the issue of whether it was appropriate to apply a minority discount in valuing the plaintiff's shares. The court declined to weigh in on the subject, but told the parties the minority discount issue should form “part of the discussion” they needed to have over the valuation methodology.
Estate of Dieringer v. Commissioner
Tax Court says executor of estate in series of post-death measures changed the value and size of decedent’s stock donation and may not claim date-of-death value of assets not actually transferred to family foundation; court affirms estate tax deficiency.
In re Estate of Bittner (Bittner II)
Appeals court affirms probate court’s ruling that ambiguous shareholder agreement requiring determination of fair market value of decedent’s minority interest in closely held companies accommodated use of discounts for lack of marketability and control.
Curran v. Curran
In share buyback case where parties agree to retain joint appraiser, whom they know from past appraisals of company, and commit to be bound by appraiser’s valuation, court declines to consider seller’s challenge to appraiser’s use of minority discount.
FactSet/BVR Control Premium Study
Husband's Roles in Company Negate Need for DLOC
Court affirms valuation of husband’s minority interest in business featuring zero DLOC where husband was key driving force behind business’s success and wielded influence and control; use of asset approach rendered double-dip theory inapplicable.
No Automatic Bar to Minority Discount in Divorce Cases
Appeals court says state law does not bar use of minority share discount in divorce cases and declines to impose a bright-line rule; rather, the trial court has to consider interest holder’s level of control and likelihood of sale before use of discount.
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.
Sieber v. Sieber
Court affirms valuation of husband’s minority interest in business featuring zero DLOC where husband was key driving force behind business’s success and wielded influence and control; use of asset approach rendered double-dip theory inapplicable.
Schickner v. Schickner
Appeals court says state law does not bar use of minority share discount in divorce cases and declines to impose a bright-line rule; rather, the trial court has to consider interest holder’s level of control and likelihood of sale before use of discount.
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.
Use of Asset-Level Deductions Hinges on Business Strategy
State’s high court strikes down district court’s fair value determination, finding reliance on prior law prohibiting use of deductions was misguided where company pursued strategy of selling off real estate and other assets at time of triggering event.
Utah Resources International, Inc. v. Mark Technologies Corp.
State’s high court strikes down district court’s fair value determination, finding reliance on prior law prohibiting use of deductions was misguided where company pursued strategy of selling off real estate and other assets at time of triggering event.
Court Spotlights Lack of Control in Oil and Gas Interest Valuation
Appeals court affirms trial court’s discounting for lack of control and marketability in valuing oil and gas interests where trust’s ownership in interests was fractional and indirect and there was testimony regarding IRS’s estate tax discount rates.