A confluence of three factors make 2020 an ideal time for estate planning transactions for owners of private companies
As a result of these factors, many business owners are currently contemplating whether to engage in significant ownership transfers. For many high net worth individuals and family offices, complex ownership structures have evolved over time, typically involving multi-tiered entity organizations and businesses with complicated ownership structures and governance.
Mercer Capital has been performing complicated tax engagements for decades. In this article, we describe the processes that lead to credible and timely valuation reports. These processes contribute to smoother engagements and better outcomes for clients.
Defining the valuation project is an important step in every engagement process, but when multiple or tiered entities are involved it becomes critical. It is insufficient to define a complicated engagement by referring only to the top tier entity in a multi-tiered organizational structure. The engagement scope should clearly identify all the direct and indirect ownership interests that will need to be valued. This allows the appraiser to plan the underlying due diligence and analytical framework and to design the deliverable work product.
For example, will the appraiser need to perform a separate appraisal at each level of a tiered structure? Or, can certain entities or underlying assets be valued using a consolidated analytical framework? Planning well on the front end of an engagement leads to more straightforward analyses that are easier to defend.
During the initial discussion of the engagement the appraiser will usually request certain descriptive and financial information (such as governing documents, recent audits, compilations and/or tax returns) to determine the scope of analysis needed to render a credible appraisal for the master, top-tier entity and the underlying entities and assets.
Upon being retained, one of the first things an appraiser will do is to prepare a more comprehensive information request list designed to solicit all the documentation necessary to render a valuation opinion. Full and complete disclosure of all requested information, as well as other information believed pertinent to the appraisal, will aid the appraiser in preventing double-counting or otherwise missing assets all together.
Requested information for complex multi-tiered entity valuations typically falls into three broad categories:
The ultimate efficiency of the project often hinges on timely receipt of all requested information. Disorganized information or data that requires a lot of handling or interpretation on the part of the appraiser adds to project cost, and more importantly, can make it harder to defend valuation conclusions that are later subject to scrutiny.
In short, providing high quality information in response to the appraiser’s request promotes a more predicable outcome with the IRS and with other stakeholders.
Upon completing research, due diligence interviews with appropriate parties, and valuation analysis, the appraiser should provide a draft appraisal report for review. The steps discussed thus far – careful planning and timely information collection – are not substitutes for careful review of the draft appraisal report. The complexity of many multi-tiered structures increases the need for relevant parties to review the draft appraisal for completeness and factual accuracy. Reviewers should read the draft report with numerous questions in mind:
Engagements involving complicated entity and operational structures are not easily shoehorned into typical appraisal reporting formats and presentation. Unique entity and asset attributes may require creative valuation techniques and heighten the need for clear and concise reporting of appraisal results. Regardless of the complexity of the underlying structure and valuation techniques, the appraisal report should still be easy to read and understand.
Mercer Capital has been providing reliable appraisals for gift and estate planning efforts for nearly four decades. Over that time, we have completed many large valuation engagements for complex, multi-tiered entities.
We pride ourselves in differentiating our services and approach through careful pre-engagement planning, which allows us to meet client deadlines and avoid costly do-overs. We are committed to doing our part to improve the planning and decision-making processes of our clients and their advisors. To discuss in confidence any engagement requiring Mercer Capital’s customized valuation solutions, please contact any of our senior valuation professionals.
