The Estate of Verna Mae Crosby

A 1997 case illustrates the complexities that can evolve in the valuation of debt securities and the weight the Tax Court applies to an appraiser’s effort to obtain and verify information on a particular interest to be valued.

Opportunities Amid Uncertainty

We are living in an uncertain world. Business owners must carefully consider the current uncertainties in order to position their companies (and themselves) optimally for the future.

Private Initial Offerings

An initial private offering (IPO) is an offering of private company stock to the investing public through the regulated, public securities markets. For rmany reasons, the IPO route to shareholder liquidity or growth capital is unavailable to most private companies.

Reflecting on the Value of Your Business

It is important for business owners to understand the factors that influence value in both the general economy and the acquisition market. This is certainly necessary for owners who are currently considering the sale of their business or may consider such a transaction in the near future.

Fairness Opinions

As part of our transaction advisory and consulting services, Mercer Capital is often called upon to provide fairness opinions in transactions.

The Importance of Reflecting on the Value of Your Business

Many business owners have not done a great deal of thinking about the value of their businesses. When we talk to these business owners about potential transactions, they often have no (or an unrealistic) notion of the economic benefits associated with their ownership interest in the business.

Why Do Good Deals Go Bad?

Corporate mergers and acquisitions are typically announced in a press release that expresses the enthusiasm of both the purchaser and the target. Like any wedding, a deal is an event that results in a great deal of excitement on the part of both participants, as well as a great deal of speculation on the part of those familiar with the union about whether or not it is a wise decision. And, like many marriages between a man and a woman, a significant number of corporate marriages result in disappointment for all involved.

Convertible Securities

Convertible securities, comprising convertible debt and convertible preferred stock, represent a hybrid ownership interest combining features of both “straight” debt and common equity.

Financial vs. Strategic Buyers

The terms “Financial Buyer” and/or “Strategic Buyer” frequently arise in discussions about investment banking activities, particularly when discussing the sale of a business. This article describes some of the characteristics of each type of buyer, and briefly discusses potential situations in which one might be more appropriate than the other.

Cash Flow Definitions

Acquirers of non-financial services companies tend to focus on various definitions of cash flow and value.

Valuation of Contingent Consideration in Medical Device M&A Transactions

Companies often use contingent consideration when structuring M&A transactions to bridge differing perceptions of value between a buyer and seller, to create an incentive for sellers who will remain active in the business post-acquisition, and other reasons. In the medical device industry, contingent consideration is most often used to manage risks related to the uncertainty of the future performance of development-stage technologies.

The State of Brew Nation

A more thorough and comprehensive understanding of business valuation concepts and vocabulary is required to better appreciate the lessons of this recent past, as well as to anticipate the future that will likely unfold for many beer distributors

Valuation of Medical Device Start-Ups

In recent years, valuation issues have become increasingly important for start-up companies due to changing IRS and financial reporting rules, as well as increasing regulatory and shareholder scrutiny, which together compound potential troubles for start-up companies.

Beer Distributors: Is Yesterday’s Good Deal Today’s Accounting Impairment?

Over the last decade there have been hundreds of transactions in the beer distribution space. The impetus for consolidation has come from the top-down strategy of the breweries and the bottom-up ambition of distributors. Like a great many things before the onset of the financial crisis, the underlying strategies compelling distributor consolidation and deal pricing made better sense then.

Beverage Industry Not Immune to Economic Downturn

The market downturn of 2008 left a myriad of battered stocks in its wake. In such a difficult investment environment many investors flocked to the safe haven of so-called “recession proof” stocks. Historically, beverage stocks have been thought of as recession proof stocks.

INDUSTRY ARTICLES

We have compiled a library of articles written by the professionals of Mercer Capital.  This library contains our most recent articles as well as older pieces for your review and information.  If you cannot find the information you seek, please … Continued

Fairness Opinions in ESOP Transactions

In our experience as financial advisors to ESOP trustee, and as an ESOP-owned company, every ESOP situation usually has unique circumstances that require specific assessment.

DOL Delays Action on Proposed Regulation on Definition of Fiduciary

From the Department of Labor: US Labor Department's EBSA to re-propose rule on definition of a fiduciary Additional time ensures strongest possible protections for retirement savers, business owners WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration will re-propose … Continued