BUSINESS ENTERPRISE VALUATION

 Our valuation team..

Our valuation team is comprised of certified and designated experts, some with over 30 years of experience, in the industry who service both national and international market segments. This level of experience allows us to consistently provide our clients with exceptional customer service. Along with a solid and honest work ethic, we provide a superior product always compliant with the standards and guidelines of USPAP. Their experience qualifies us to meet the requirements of the Appraisal Foundation, Internal Revenue Service, Lending Institutions and Courts of Law around the country. We work with companies of all sizes, tailoring our expertise to their individual needs.

A business valuation or appraisal is the independent and unbiased process of determining a supportable opinion of the value of a business, business ownership interest, security or intangible asset as of a specified date.

Our valuations are performed by qualified, professional appraisers experienced in all aspects of business valuation and business transfers. Our valuations are performed in compliance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice of the Appraisal Foundation (USPAP) as well as the Business Appraisal Standards of the Institute of Business Appraisers. Compliance with industry standards ensures that proven peer-reviewed valuation methods are used to develop defendable opinions of value. Through participation in teleconferences and annual valuation conferences, our appraisers stay abreast of developing valuation issues and related court cases.

 Sooner of later every business owner needs a reliable company valuation for one or more of a variety of reasons: 

•Business Sale  

•Financing  

•Shareholder Agreement  

•Shareholder Disputes  

•Divorce  

•ESOPs  

•Estate Planning  

•Insurance Claims  

•Gift Taxes  

•Litigation  

•Mergers  

•Partnership Buyout  

•"C" Corp. to "S" Corp. conversion  

•Allocation of Purchase Price

•Market Methods - utilizes several different databases of market comps including Pratt Stats, Institute of Business Appraiser’s, Bizcomps, Business Broker’s of Florida, and the MidMarketComps database. Multiples of discretionary earnings are used as well as other cash flow multiples. 

When applicable, sophisticated statistical techniques such as data modeling and linear regression analysis are also used with the market method to provide superior results.    

•Income Approach - Single Period Capitalization Method or Multiple Period Capitalization Method (DCF Model)   

•Adjusted Book Value Method with Excess Earnings   

•Public Company Guideline Method - used for larger companies   

•Analysis of prior sales of stock of the company     

If you are unsure about which report is right for your company, call today to speak to one of our Business Valuation Consultants and they will review which report is right for you and your company based on the specific needs of your company.

Business/Asset Valuations for Financing - Increasingly, lenders require an independent business valuation prior to approving a business loan or a credit line.

Sale of a Company - Determining the value of a business is the first step in the process of selling a business. A formal valuation performed by an experienced business appraiser will determine the fair market value of your company. A valuation will prepare you to respond to buyer concerns by addressing your company’s value and risk drivers. It will also identify sources of value and areas of your business that can be improved. In addition, knowing the fair market value of your business will prepare you to be a better negotiator.

Exit Strategy Planning - Most business owners do not plan ahead for the time when they will decide to sell their business. Often when they make up their mind to sell, the business isn’t worth what they had hoped; or isn't even be marketable. Don’t wait until a few months before you plan to retire to find out whether or not your company is marketable at a price acceptable to you. Nationally, only 20% of small to medium sized companies listed for sale actually sell. You don’t want to be part of the other 80%. 

Unfortunately, ownership transfers are not always voluntary. Often, an unforeseen event, such as the owner’s death, forces the transfer of ownership. Your business planning should begin well in advance of your planned exit from the business; and, it should address both voluntary and involuntary transfers. Your planning should actually begin on day one! A formal valuation with annual updates should be one of the most important tools and an integral part of on-going strategic planning and/or exit strategy planning. Don’t leave your spouse or heirs in the position of having to make the biggest business/financial decision of their lives (i.e., the transfer of your ownership interest) without accurate information as to the fair market value of your ownership interest.

Buy/Sell Agreements - If your business has more than one shareholder, a valuation is required to establish fair market value of the business to determine equity distribution when specified “trigger events” occur. Also, the valuation enables life insurance requirements (funding mechanism for your buy-sell agreement) to be more accurately determined and updated as required.

Estate and Gift Tax - Estate tax returns require an independent valuation as of the date of death. Gifting of closely business interests requires an independent valuation of the business at the time of ownership transition.

Employee Stock Ownership Plan - There are numerous financial and tax reporting situations that require qualified, independent valuation services. Examples include when the company issues stock options or transfers or sells equity interests. A valuation is required for the company to properly report related compensation expense; and, for the recipients to accurately report income.

Litigation Support - A business valuation is often needed to establish economic damages in commercial litigation proceedings; or, to determine equitable distributions in shareholder disputes.

Insurance Purposes – Increasingly, insurance companies require appraisals be done on equipment and/or businesses that are insured.

Intellectual Property Valuation - In today's increasingly complex and highly regulated business environment, the accurate and complete valuation of intellectual property is essential.

Foreclosures – A machinery and equipment appraisal or business valuation is almost always necessary during a foreclosure of a business to determine the fair market value of all assets.

Divorce/Estate Settlements - A business is typically the largest joint marital asset and the most difficult to value. A business valuation will either be court appointed or voluntarily engaged, to facilitate an equitable distribution settlement.

The scope of our FINANCIAL VALUATION services includes:

Mergers & Acquisitions Valuation 

•Financial Value, Synergy Value, After Integregation Value  

•Purchase Price Allocation (Business Combinations Valuation, 141r)  

•Fairness Opinions/ Solvency Opinions  

•Distressed Acquisitions Valuation     

Shareholder Liquidity Services  

•Valuations for Sale of Business or Division  

•Valuations for Sales of Stock to an ESOP  

•Valuations for Life Insurance Funding  

•Valuations for Minority Shareholder Stock Repurchases     

Bankruptcy & Restructuring Valuations for  

•Insolvency 

•Reorganization 

•Distressed Sales  

•Fresh Start Accounting - Business Combinations 

 •Orderly Liquidation Value  

•Forced Liquidation Value  

•Going-Concern Value  

•Reorganization Value     

Corporate Transaction Services  

•Valuation for Purchase or Sale of Business or Division  

•Valuations of Incentive Stock Options - IRC 409a  

•Fairness Opinions  

•Establishing Merger Exchange Ratios  •Going Public/Going Private Transactions     

Intellectual Property Services   

•Royalty Rate Studies  

•Technology Transfer Valuations (Section 482 Transfer Pricing)  

•Valuations for Sale/Licensing of Intellectual Property

Tax Related Services  

•Estate and Gift Tax Appraisals  

•Appraisals for Charitable Donations of Closely Held Securities  

•Analysis of Minority Interest, Marketability, Blockage and Other Discounts  

•Valuation of Restricted Stock  

•Appraisals of Intangible Assets  

•Appraisals of Intellectual Property  

•Valuations for Section 482 Transfers (Transfer Pricing)  

•Valuations for S Corporation Election  

•Valuations of Family Limited Partnerships and LLCs  

•Valuations of Contingent Purchase Prices     

Accounting/SEC Review  

•Fair Value Measurement 

•Goodwill Impairment - FASB SFAS 142 & 144  

•Valuations of Stock Options  

•Purchase Price Allocations - FASB SFAS 141R & 157  

•Cheap Stock Valuations  

•In-process Research & Development Valuations    Employee Stock Ownership Plans   

•Annual Appraisals for Plan Trustees  

•Fairness Opinions in ESOP Transactions