Tax Court (Grudgingly) Allows Tax Affecting Under the SEAM Method
This was a gift tax valuation case the U.S. Tax Court decided. Gifts of minority interests in The Biltmore Co. were made from the its shareholders, the Cecils, to their children and grandchildren. The IRS audited the gift tax returns and assessed deficiencies for reporting too low fair market values of the gifts of The Biltmore Co. stock. Both sides presented experts to value the gifted interests. The experts agreed that the cash flows should be tax affected. The court accepted the tax affecting while allowing that it was not an admission by the Tax Court that tax affecting should apply in all cases. The Tax Court made changes to the values presented and cobbled together a final value that resulted in refunds to the taxpayers/petitioners.
Estate of Cecil v. Comm’r
This was a gift tax valuation case the U.S. Tax Court decided. Gifts of minority interests in The Biltmore Co. were made from the its shareholders, the Cecils, to their children and grandchildren. The IRS audited the gift tax returns and assessed deficiencies for reporting too low fair market values of the gifts of The Biltmore Co. stock. Both sides presented experts to value the gifted interests. The experts agreed that the cash flows should be tax affected. The court accepted the tax affecting while allowing that it was not an admission by the Tax Court that tax affecting should apply in all cases. The Tax Court made changes to the values presented and cobbled together a final value that resulted in refunds to the taxpayers/petitioners.
IRS hits taxpayer with gross valuation misstatement penalty
Easement cases before the Tax Court can offer some interesting insights and guidance to BV professionals.
BVResearch Pro adds another issue of the ASA’s BV Review
Among many other resources, the BVResearch Pro platform contains the full archive of the Business Valuation Review going back to 1982.
BVLaw Review: The Top Valuation Cases of 2022
Here is our pick for the most noteworthy valuation cases that emerged over the past year. They include state and federal court decisions covering many areas of law that enhanced our understanding of valuation issues as they arose in a litigation setting.
Ohio Appellate Court Remands Value of Businesses for Determination of Active Appreciation
This matter involved cross-appeals from a divorce decree in Trumbull County, Ohio. The focus of this digest relates to cross-appeals relating to the values of the husband’s businesses and the matter of active appreciation on those businesses.
Fordeley v. Fordeley
This matter involved cross-appeals from a divorce decree in Trumbull County, Ohio. The focus of this digest relates to cross-appeals relating to the values of the husband’s businesses and the matter of active appreciation on those businesses.
More courts KO DLOM when business won’t be sold
Keep an eye out for courts in more states deciding to eliminate a discount for lack of marketability (DLOM) depending on whether the business will be sold.
The NICE Method Theory and Application
The Nonmarketable Investment Company Evaluation (NICE) Method, a valuation method under the Income Approach to value, determines the fair market value of noncontrolling equity interests in closely held investment entities such as family limited partnerships.1 In this paper I describe the theory of the method and the mechanics of its application in a valuation model. Recently, I have developed the Excel-based NICE-R Model, which is designed to be a transparent and user-friendly valuation tool.2 Finally ...
Lamm v. Preston
This was a divorce case with a complex set of issues regarding the marital estate and the businesses of the parties. This Supreme Court of Idaho case and opinion related to one of the businesses, Black Sage Acquisition LLC, in which the couple owned 25%. The magistrate court determined the value of Black Sage Acquisition as $163,373 based on fair market value. The remaining value was determined to be personal goodwill. The Supreme Court (Idaho) affirmed the decision of the district court, which upheld the magistrate court.
Idaho Supreme Court Affirms Magistrate Judge’s Opinion Regarding Personal Goodwill
This was a divorce case with a complex set of issues regarding the marital estate and the businesses of the parties. This Supreme Court of Idaho case and opinion related to one of the businesses, Black Sage Acquisition LLC, in which the couple owned 25%. The magistrate court determined the value of Black Sage Acquisition as $163,373 based on fair market value. The remaining value was determined to be personal goodwill. The Supreme Court (Idaho) affirmed the decision of the district court, which upheld the magistrate court.
Donnelly v. ProPharma Grp. Topco LLC
The plaintiff sued for breach of contracts relating to ProPharma’s offer to have Donnelly join the board in 2016 and for not paying him for his incentive equity shares, implemented in 2017, at fair market value. Each side engaged an experienced business valuation expert to opine as to the fair market value of the equity shares. Each side now moved to exclude the testimony of the other side’s expert. The U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware denied the motions of both sides and allowed both experts to testify.
In a Breach of Contract Suit, the U.S. District Court Denies Motions to Exclude Valuation Experts
The plaintiff sued for breach of contracts relating to ProPharma’s offer to have Donnelly join the board in 2016 and for not paying him for his incentive equity shares, implemented in 2017, at fair market value. Each side engaged an experienced business valuation expert to opine as to the fair market value of the equity shares. Each side now moved to exclude the testimony of the other side’s expert. The U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware denied the motions of both sides and allowed both experts to testify.
Court sets fair value of 50% interest in realty firm
In Connecticut, a real estate firm had a shareholder agreement that allowed for an independent appraisal if one of the owners wanted out.
Brooks v. Comm’r
The IRS disallowed carryover charitable deductions for donation of a conservation easement by taxpayers’ family LLC to the county where the property lies. In addition to the disallowance of the donation deductions, the IRS assessed gross overvaluation penalties. The Tax Court denied the deductions in part for lack of following regulations and procedures. Additionally, the court found that the value determined by the taxpayers’ appraiser was filled with errors and had basic incorrect assumptions resulting in a gross misstatement of value. Thus, taxpayers were liable for the 40% accuracy-related penalty resulting from a gross valuation misstatement pursuant to section 6662(h) as determined for each of the years in issue.
Taxpayer Is Denied Charitable Deduction for a Conservation Easement, and Gross Valuation Misstatement Penalties Are Applied
The IRS disallowed carryover charitable deductions for donation of a conservation easement by taxpayers’ family LLC to the county where the property lies. In addition to the disallowance of the donation deductions, the IRS assessed gross overvaluation penalties. The Tax Court denied the deductions in part for lack of following regulations and procedures. Additionally, the court found that the value determined by the taxpayers’ appraiser was filled with errors and had basic incorrect assumptions resulting in a gross misstatement of value. Thus, taxpayers were liable for the 40% accuracy-related penalty resulting from a gross valuation misstatement pursuant to section 6662(h) as determined for each of the years in issue.
BV News and Trends November 2022
A monthly roundup of key developments of interest to business valuation experts.
In re Trapp
The primary issue in this Illinois appeal of a divorce decree dealt with the value of a company owning two buildings. The primary tenant in both buildings was the husband’s electrician business. The trial court accepted the value of the real estate company the husband’s business valuation expert, who was not a real estate appraiser, submitted. The business appraiser valued the two buildings using what the court determined to be “competent evidence.”
Illinois Appeals Court Affirms Trial Court’s Acceptance of Real Estate Value in Absence of Wife’s Submission of a Competing Value
The primary issue in this Illinois appeal of a divorce decree dealt with the value of a company owning two buildings. The primary tenant in both buildings was the husband’s electrician business. The trial court accepted the value of the real estate company the husband’s business valuation expert, who was not a real estate appraiser, submitted. The business appraiser valued the two buildings using what the court determined to be “competent evidence.”
Court uses old transaction to value a dental practice
In a North Carolina divorce case, the wife’s stake in a dental practice was valued based on what she paid for it two years before she and her husband separated in 2015 (the valuation date).
Buccieri v. New Hope Realty, Inc.
This case arose out of a dispute between the surviving family and a trustee of the founders of New Hope Realty Inc. The parties could not agree on the management and operations of New Hope Realty. On July 7, 2020, a dissolution proceeding was commenced. The defendants elected to purchase the plaintiffs’ shares. Subsequently, the parties could not agree as to the fair value of the plaintiffs’ interest. The plaintiffs asked the court to determine the value. The court held hearings including testimony from expert witnesses from both parties and determined the fair value.
Court Determines Fair Value of 50% Interest in Real Estate Company—Parties Could Not Agree on Value
This case arose out of a dispute between the surviving family and a trustee of the founders of New Hope Realty Inc. The parties could not agree on the management and operations of New Hope Realty. On July 7, 2020, a dissolution proceeding was commenced. The defendants elected to purchase the plaintiffs’ shares. Subsequently, the parties could not agree as to the fair value of the plaintiffs’ interest. The plaintiffs asked the court to determine the value. The court held hearings including testimony from expert witnesses from both parties and determined the fair value.
Champions Retreat Golf Founders, LLC v. Comm’r
The Tax Court, on remand from the 11th Circuit, which decided that the taxpayer was entitled to a charitable donation for donation of a conservation easement, now valued that interest to determine the amount of the donation deduction. Both parties presented valuation opinions from expert appraisers. The Tax Court determined that the highest and best use of the property before and after the grant of the easement was the key to the determination of the value of the easement. The Tax Court then analyzed the evidence from the expert appraisals to arrive at a value of the easement.
On Remand, the Tax Court Determines the Value of a Conservation Easement From a Golf Course
The Tax Court, on remand from the 11th Circuit, which decided that the taxpayer was entitled to a charitable donation for donation of a conservation easement, now valued that interest to determine the amount of the donation deduction. Both parties presented valuation opinions from expert appraisers. The Tax Court determined that the highest and best use of the property before and after the grant of the easement was the key to the determination of the value of the easement. The Tax Court then analyzed the evidence from the expert appraisals to arrive at a value of the easement.
Another big win for ESOP valuations vs. the DOL
Valuation experts have long maintained that the Department of Labor (DOL) has been playing by its own valuation rules in its aggressive enforcement of ESOPs—rules that are not consistent with accepted valuation standards. But a court has rejected the valuations the DOL did in a case alleging that an ESOP overvalued (and thus overpaid for) the stock of its sponsoring company.