Events That Can Trigger A Business Valuation

Many business owners are unsure about what to expect when they hear the term “business valuation.” If a business partner, accountant or legal advisor has ever advised you to have your company appraised, you may have concerns and questions about the process. Aren’t your internal financial statements enough? Can your accountant just run the numbers and come up with a value? Concerns about the cost may also arise.

Considering the depth and scope of some of these questions, business valuation is a relatively simple concept to understand. An appraisal report, performed by a business appraiser, analyzes a subject company’s financial information as well as qualitative factors (industry outlook, management quality, etc.) to determine its fair market value. Cost depends on the scope of the assignment and purpose for the appraisal, with larger, complex projects requiring more time–and a higher cost–than smaller, simpler engagements.

Professional business appraisers must adhere to the Uniform Standards for Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) guidelines, which require impartiality, competency and confidentiality. Some business owners do hire accountants to perform appraisals; however, valuation theory is complex and many people prefer to engage an independent third-party to ensure there is no perceived bias.

Valuations are performed for a number of different reasons. Business owners considering gifting a portion of their company may seek an independent appraisal for tax planning purposes. An appraisal may be needed in a divorce case to equitably distribute the marital estate. Owners nearing retirement may want to know the fair market value so they can plan their exit strategy accordingly.

Reasons for a business valuation usually fall under four general categories: transactions, tax reporting, financial reporting, or litigation.

Transactions

Mergers and acquisitions

Valuations provide business owners who are considering selling their company with an objective opinion of value. Business valuations can also provide all involved parties with peace of mind during an M&A transaction, as final values can either justify a buyer’s investment or cause them to reconsider.

Buy-sell agreements

A buy-sell agreement allows a partner or shareholder in a closely held business to purchase the interest of another partner or stockholder who withdraws from the business. Agreements often include the need for an independent appraisal to determine a per-share price. Business appraisers typically work in conjunction with attorneys when drafting the valuation portion of the agreements.

Financing

When obtaining debt or equity financing, often the end user will obtain an independent business valuation to validate their investment. For smaller business interests, an SBA loan may be an option for debt financing. An independent business appraisal is required for certain SBA loan packages.

Tax Reporting

Gift and estate taxes

Perhaps the most common tax purpose for a business valuation is to determine the value of a business interest for federal estate and/or gift tax purposes. Business appraisers serve as an objective third party that is able to determine the fair market value of a company, which may include applicable discounts. The fair market value can then be used by the client to determine their tax liability. Valuations for estate tax purposes are subject to a constantly shifting body of laws, regulations and court decisions.

Charitable contributions

Owners of closely held businesses may wish to give all or part of their interest in a business to a favorite charity. The IRS requires that donors provide documentation, in the form of a business valuation, to support the deduction for the years in which the gift was given.

Financial reporting

Purchase price allocations

Financial reporting valuations are required to meet the standards of the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC), including ASC 805: purchase price allocations. When a company is acquired by another company, the reporting of the assets and liabilities on the acquiring company’s (or new company’s) balance sheet is based on a purchase price allocation, which identifies values for tangible and separable intangible assets.

Goodwill impairment

Financial reporting valuations are required to meet the standards of the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC), including ASC 350: goodwill impairment testing. When goodwill is acquired through an acquisition, certain reporting companies are required to test annually for impairment of this goodwill in the event that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value.

Employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs)

These plans must be independently appraised annually to establish fair market value for the purchase price and or contributions.

Litigation

Marital disputes

Divorce proceedings are often complicated by joint ownership of a closely held business, which must be valued along with the rest of the marital estate. In most cases, ownership of the business is neither divided nor liquidated; rather, one spouse retains the business and purchases the other’s shares.

An objective business valuation can determine the price of these shares, including any fixed assets, goodwill, inventory and other asset values. Each spouse may engage his or her own business appraiser or, in the interest of time and cost, both spouses may jointly hire a single appraiser to produce a valuation report.

Shareholder disputes

Shareholders do not always agree on the best course of action for a company, or on a reasonable sale price should a shareholder wish to exit the business. In this case, especially in the absence of a formal buy-sell agreement, an independent business appraisal is often needed to settle disputes on the value of the shares in question.


Within each of these areas, many approaches and methodologies are used to determine a company’s value. The client typically communicates the purpose for the report (gifting, possible sale, etc.) and its intended use (internal company review, insurance in case of audit) to the appraiser, who determines the scope of work and methodologies used. Valuation reports can range from short, preliminary estimates to lengthy, detailed documents.

Regardless of what kind of appraisal is needed, business owners and their advisors should seek appraisers with certification from a nationally recognized institution. Designations include Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Certified Business Appraiser (CBA), Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) and Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA). By working with qualified professionals and communicating needs and objectives, business owners can help manage the business valuation process and empower themselves by knowing their company’s true value.

This document is for informational use only and may be outdated and/or no longer applicable. Nothing in this publication is intended to constitute legal, tax, or investment advice. There is no guarantee that any claims made will come to pass. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but Mariner Capital Advisors does not warrant the accuracy of the information. Consult a financial, tax or legal professional for specific information related to your own situation.