8 More Mistakes To Avoid in Valuations: According to Tax Court Decisions

In this second part of a two-part series, we have collected eight examples of mistakes that valuation experts have made, as reported in federal courts tax decisions. It is important to note that there are two sides to every story, and courts do not always get it right. For this reason, we do not name any valuators in this collection of mistakes to avoid.

Share Repurchases

Many bank analysts have been arguing that investors should buy bank stocks because capital is building faster than it can be deployed. The Federal Reserve, unlike during the pre-crisis era, is governing the amount of capital returned to shareholders. Basel III is another governor, especially given the enhanced leverage ratio requirement large U.S. banks are facing. But are buybacks a good idea for bank managers today?

16 Mistakes to Avoid in Valuations: According to Tax Court Decisions

In this article we have collected 16 examples of mistakes made by valuation experts, as reported in federal courts in tax decisions. It is important to note that there are two sides to every story, and courts do not always get it right. For this reason, we do not name any valuators in this collection of mistakes to avoid.

Specialty Finance Sector Shows Signs of M&A Life

Acquisitions of specialty finance companies by banks are not a panacea for challenges that face the industry; however, in some instances a transaction that is thoroughly vetted, well-structured, and attractively priced can provide the buyer a new growth channel while also obtaining revenue and earnings diversification.

Evaporating Gains

Comments by Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke in the second quarter of 2013 resulted in significant increases in Treasury rates during the quarter, particularly for longer-term securities. In May, Bernanke testified before Congress and outlined the Fed’s eventual approach … Continued

Portfolio Valuation Can Be Complex, Risky

From the complexity of the structure to the risk of perceived conflict of interest, valuation of PE portfolio investments for financial reporting can be challenging.

Your Business Will Change Hands: Important Valuation Concepts to Understand

In this article, we provide a broad overview of business value and why understanding basic valuation concepts is critical for business owners. Why is this valuation knowledge important? Because businesses change hands much more frequently than one might think. In fact, every business changes hands at least every generation, even if control is maintained by a single family unit.

Community Bank Stress Testing

While community banks may be insulated from certain more onerous stress testing and capital expectations placed upon larger financial institutions, recent regulatory guidance suggests that community banks should be developing and implementing some form of stress testing and/or scenario analyses.

QMDM Fact Sheet

The Quantitative Marketability Discount Model is a shareholder-level discounted cash flow model designed to help valuation experts derive and explain a reasonable and transparent conclusion based upon the facts and circumstances of each case. For information on the model, download … Continued

The Management Interview: Why It’s Important and What You Should Expect

One critical part of the valuation process is the management interview or, as it is sometimes called, the due diligence visit. The management interview provides the business appraiser with an opportunity to integrate many sources of information about a business into a logical and consistent whole. The interview also helps to complete an overall understanding of how a particular business operates. The process of preparing for and conducting a management interview requires the appraiser to develop a command of the facts and circumstances of this particular valuation case.

The Level of Value: Why Estate Planners Need to Understand This Critical Valuation Element of a Buy Sell Agreement

Business appraisers retained pursuant to the operation of buy-sell agreements are normally bound to prepare their valuations in accordance with the kind of value described or defined within the agreements. Confusion over an appraiser’s basis of value, either by appraisers or by users of appraisal reports, can lead to the placing of inappropriately high or low values for a buy-sell agreement transaction. Therefore, it is essential that business appraisers and the parties using appraisals are aware of the correct basis (level) of value.

The Importance of Fairness Opinions in Transactions

A fairness opinion is provided by an independent financial advisor to the board of directors of selling companies in many transactions today, especially those with a significant number of minority shareholders.

Fair Value Issues Among Auditors

As the use of fair value measurement has expanded, so has the need for professionals who have specialized capabilities related to the measurement of fair value and the resolution of fair value issues.