Are you up on the recent BV-related court cases?
One of the highlights of the BVR webinar schedule is the regular update on valuation-related court cases.
EllDan Corp. v. Steele (In re EllDan Corp.)
The remaining matter in this bankruptcy adversary proceeding was whether the covenants not to compete in the prepetition franchise agreements were enforceable. The debtor rejected the franchise agreements after the petition date of the bankruptcy proceedings. The court ruled that the covenants were reasonable in duration and geographic scope under Minnesota law and public interest was not harmed. The court also found that the debtor breached the covenants the franchisor was contractually entitled to injunctive relief.
Despite Rejection of Franchise Agreements in Bankruptcy, Debtor Remained Obligated Not to Compete
The remaining matter in this bankruptcy adversary proceeding was whether the covenants not to compete in the prepetition franchise agreements were enforceable. The debtor rejected the franchise agreements after the petition date of the bankruptcy proceedings. The court ruled that the covenants were reasonable in duration and geographic scope under Minnesota law and public interest was not harmed. The court also found that the debtor breached the covenants the franchisor was contractually entitled to injunctive relief.
What Would a Hypothetical Willing Seller Do? A Complicated Case—A Confounding Decision in Idaho
An inside look by one of the experts in a case that “had it all”: a high-tech startup, a recent historical transaction, the personal goodwill-versus-commercial goodwill debate, a covenant not to compete, a lot of money at stake, and the proverbial “battle of the experts.”
Willamette focuses on wealth transfer valuation
Estate and gift tax planning and valuation issues are the focus of the Autumn 2022 Insights from Willamette Management Associates.
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).
Nothing personal about goodwill in dental practice
In a South Carolina divorce case, the appellate court reversed the family court on the issue of personal versus enterprise goodwill.
In re Marriage of Brown
In this Illinois divorce case, the appellate court affirmed the circuit court’s determination of value of the husband’s business by the husband’s expert even though evidence was presented that the expert did not follow the AICPA Business Valuation Standards. Further, the husband’s expert did not consider any enterprise goodwill and used an unorthodox method to determine the value of the business. The wife’s expert asserted that the husband’s expert did not provide a fair market value but rather did a “calculation.” The appellate court also affirmed the circuit court’s decision not to exclude the testimony of the husband’s expert witness.
Illinois Appellate Court Does Not Accept Valuation Including Enterprise Goodwill
In this Illinois divorce case, the appellate court affirmed the circuit court’s determination of value of the husband’s business by the husband’s expert even though evidence was presented that the expert did not follow the AICPA Business Valuation Standards. Further, the husband’s expert did not consider any enterprise goodwill and used an unorthodox method to determine the value of the business. The wife’s expert asserted that the husband’s expert did not provide a fair market value but rather did a “calculation.” The appellate court also affirmed the circuit court’s decision not to exclude the testimony of the husband’s expert witness.
Court Rejects Creditor’s Objection to Discharge Based on Debtor’s Alleged Concealment of Client List From Accounting Business Client
In this bankruptcy case, the court found there was no support for a creditor’s objection to discharge, where the creditor had sold her accounting business to the debtor and later claimed the debtor had concealed the existence and value of the business’s client list allegedly with the intent to defraud the creditor or the bankruptcy trustee.
In re Baker
In this bankruptcy case, the court found there was no support for a creditor’s objection to discharge, where the creditor had sold her accounting business to the debtor and later claimed the debtor had concealed the existence and value of the business’s client list allegedly with the intent to defraud the creditor or the bankruptcy trustee.
Delaware court weighs in on goodwill in sole proprietorships
A recent divorce case out of Delaware is significant for addressing the treatment of goodwill where the business is a sole proprietorship.
A.A. v. B.A.
In valuing owner’s financial advisory business organized as sole proprietorship, court rejects idea that prior case law on goodwill in solely owned business precludes assigning goodwill to business; court says commissions earned during marriage but received post-separation or post-divorce are marital.
Delaware Court Revisits Issue of Goodwill in Sole Proprietorship
In valuing owner’s financial advisory business organized as sole proprietorship, court rejects idea that prior case law on goodwill in solely owned business precludes assigning goodwill to business; court says commissions earned during marriage but received post-separation or post-divorce are marital.
Goodwill: A Discussion and a Debate
Two of the most knowledgeable experts in the area of goodwill and personal goodwill, Alan Zipp and Jim Alerding, will cover the key issues and controversies that you want to know about. They will discuss and debate frequently asked questions on the topic, and while sometimes they will agree and sometimes they will disagree, in all cases they will attempt to inform and educate the attendees on the topic.
In Misappropriation Case, Expert’s ‘Head Start’ Damages Calculation Survives Appeal
In breach of fiduciary duty and misappropriation case, appeals court upholds arbitration award of “head start” damages; expert for employer calculated value to the employee from owing equity in competing company whose valuation was higher because of employee’s misconduct toward former employer.
Sabre GLBL, Inc. v. Shan
In breach of fiduciary duty and misappropriation case, appeals court upholds arbitration award of “head start” damages; expert for employer calculated value to the employee from owing equity in competing company whose valuation was higher because of employee’s misconduct toward former employer.
Simplified MUM approach weathers attacks in Illinois divorce case
One of the key questions in an Illinois divorce case was how to allocate goodwill between enterprise and personal goodwill.
Stephanos v. Stephanos (In re Marriage of Stephanos)
Trial court adopts goodwill value determination of wife’s expert (residual method) as well as expert’s finding that none of goodwill in family business is personal to owner spouse; business’s success was not dependent on owner’s continued presence or his execution of a noncompete, court says.
Divorce Court Finds No Personal Goodwill Value in Single-Owner Business
Trial court adopts goodwill value determination of wife’s expert (residual method) as well as expert’s finding that none of goodwill in family business is personal to owner spouse; business’s success was not dependent on owner’s continued presence or his execution of a noncompete, court says.
In re Marriage of Preston
In divorce case, appellate court upholds valuation based on opinion of husband’s expert using MUM method to separate total goodwill value into personal and enterprise components; court also upholds use of small marketability discount where owner spouse is the sole owner of the company.
Court Favors MUM Method for Goodwill Allocation in Illinois Divorce Case
In divorce case, appellate court upholds valuation based on opinion of husband’s expert using MUM method to separate total goodwill value into personal and enterprise components; court also upholds use of small marketability discount where owner spouse is the sole owner of the company.
Crocker v. Greater Colo. Anesthesia
Appeals court agrees with trial court that deal price does not reflect target’s fair value because price resulting from merger of medical entities compensated shareholders for agreeing to substantial future pay reduction and for making other concessions.
Deal Price Represents Unreliable Starting Point for Fair Value Calculation
Appeals court agrees with trial court that deal price does not reflect target’s fair value because price resulting from merger of medical entities compensated shareholders for agreeing to substantial future pay reduction and for making other concessions.