Corporate Valuation

January 25, 2017

EBITDA Single-Period Income Capitalization for Business Valuation

[Fall 2016] This article begins with a discussion of EBITDA, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. The focus on the EBITDA of private companies is almost ubiquitous among business appraisers, business owners, and other market participants. The article then addresses the relationship between depreciation (and amortization) and EBIT, or earnings before interest and taxes, as one measure of relative capital intensity. This relationship, which is termed the EBITDA Depreciation Factor, is then used to convert debt-free pretax (i.e., EBIT) multiples into corresponding multiples of EBITDA. The article presents analysis that illustrates why, in valuation terms (i.e., expected risk, growth, and capital intensity), the so-called pervasive rules of thumb suggesting that many companies are worth 4.03to 6.03EBITDA, plus or minus, exhibit such stickiness. The article suggests a technique based on the adjusted capital asset pricing model whereby business appraisers and market participants can independently develop EBITDA multiples under the income approach to valuation. Finally, the article presents private and public company market evidence regarding the EBITDA Depreciation Factor, which should facilitate further investigation and analysis.

[Reprinted from the American Society of AppraisersBusiness Valuation Review, Volume 35, Issue 3, Fall 2016]

Download the article in pdf format here.

Author
Z. Christopher Mercer
Chairman
Learn More

Continue Reading

Mercer Capital to Sponsor TexasBarCLE’s 50th Annual Advanced Estate Planning & Probate Course
Mercer Capital to Sponsor TexasBarCLE’s 50th Annual Advanced Estate Planning & Probate Course
Mercer Capital is pleased to sponsor TexasBarCLE’s 50th Annual Advanced Estate Planning & Probate course, taking place June 3 -5, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Frisco-Dallas. J. David Smith, CFA, ASA, and Andrew B. Frew, ASA, ABV, will attend on behalf of the firm.Hosted by TexasBarCLE and cosponsored by the Real Estate, Probate & Trust Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, the annual course brings together estate planning and probate professionals for three days of focused education and discussion. This year’s agenda includes sessions on case law updates, fiduciary issues, grantor trusts, retirement benefits, will contests, and current developments in estate planning tax law.David Smith is a Senior Vice President at Mercer Capital and a senior member of the firm’s tax practice. He provides valuation services for tax planning, transactional purposes, and financial reporting, with particular experience in industries including financial services, oil and gas, and biotechnology. David is also a regular contributor to Mercer Capital’s Value Matters Newsletter.Andrew Frew is a Vice President at Mercer Capital and has nearly 25 years of business valuation experience. He has been involved with hundreds of valuation and related engagements across numerous industries and values businesses and business interests for gift and estate tax, charitable giving, buy-sell agreements, mergers and acquisitions, business succession and exit planning, and litigation support purposes.Mercer Capital regularly assists attorneys, fiduciaries, and advisors with valuation matters that arise in estate planning, probate, tax planning, and related disputes. The firm is pleased to support programs that help professionals address the financial issues that often accompany trusts, estates, and closely held business interests.Mercer Capital looks forward to connecting with attendees in Frisco. Additional information about the course is available through TexasBarCLE: https://www.texasbarcle.com/.
Getting Into the Spirit of Valuation
Getting Into the Spirit of Valuation
When people talk about the “value” of a company, it is easy to assume there is one correct “answer.” In practice, there are many possible answers, and which one is the best answer depends on the purposes of the valuation, the user, and the facts and circumstances at hand. The Internal Revenue Service’s Revenue Ruling 59-60, defines fair market value “as the price at which the property would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller when the former is not under any compulsion to buy and the latter is not under any compulsion to sell, both parties having reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts.” This is a great place to begin, but it is only the start.
Mercer Capital to Attend and Speak at the 38th Annual ABA RPTE National CLE Conference
Mercer Capital to Attend and Speak at the 38th Annual ABA RPTE National CLE Conference
Mercer Capital will attend and participate in the 38th Annual American Bar Association Real Property, Trust and Estate (RPTE) National CLE Conference, held April 29–May 1, 2026, in Chicago, IL, at the Loews Hotel. Travis Harms and Tim Bronza will represent the firm, with Harms also participating as a speaker.The RPTE National CLE Conference is one of the ABA’s flagship gatherings for real property and estate planning professionals, bringing together attorneys and advisors for several days of in-person education and discussion. Topics this year range from estate and gift tax planning and charitable strategies involving closely held businesses to real estate transactions and fiduciary considerations, with an emphasis on practical takeaways for day-to-day practice.Harms will serve as a panelist on the session “Fair (Market) Warning: This is Not a Final Determination – Practical Advice from Tax Litigators."Travis Harms is President of Mercer Capital and leads the firm’s Family Business Advisory Services Group. He works with multi-generation family businesses on valuation, financial education, and strategic planning, helping families align ownership structures and long-term objectives.Tim Bronza is Managing Director of Mercer Capital’s Florida office. He has extensive experience valuing business interests for federal gift, estate, and income tax purposes and works with clients and their advisors on complex valuation matters across a range of contexts.Mercer Capital regularly supports attorneys and fiduciaries in these areas through independent valuation and financial advisory services. The firm’s work includes analyses prepared for gift and estate tax planning, succession planning, and dispute resolution, with an emphasis on producing clear, well-supported conclusions that can be used in both planning and adversarial settings.Mercer Capital looks forward to participating in this year’s conference. To learn more about the RPTE conference, visit the event’s website: https://rptecleconference.com/.

Cart

Your cart is empty