Daily trading of foreign currencies is estimated to be about $5 trillion—a staggering figure, no doubt, but the sheer volume of the foreign currency market coupled with other factors such as weakened international regulation, the misapplication of translation standards, and the introduction of virtual currencies (bitcoin) has given rise to an environment where hedging, speculation, and fraud are prev ...

Valuation of the Customer Base The value of the customer base is a function of attribution. Measuring percentage attribution requires access to internal data, and this data is often missing. Where it is available, the valuation professional can use the Constant Revenue or Revenue Decline Model. This article explains how these models are developed. ...

  Executive managers of companies and not-for-profit organizations must make more uniform disclosures if there is significant doubt about a company’s ability survive, according to new standards released by the Financial Accounting Standards Board August 27, 2014. Under Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements—Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertaint ...

Predicting Cyber Security Breaches Cyber security breaches often result in the improper transfer of personal identifying information or sensitive financial and health information. This article focuses on the identification of potential cyber security breaches and how courts are addressing the presentation of such cases, including the issue of damages. Read Identifying and Calculating Recoverable Damages in ...

Predicting cyber security breaches Cyber security breaches often result in the improper transfer of personal identifying information or sensitive financial and health information. This article focuses on the identification of potential cyber security breaches and how courts are addressing the presentation of such cases, including the issue of damages. ...

Problems and solutions The Guideline Transaction Method (GTM) remains a viable option for valuing businesses; the question is whether it is being properly applied. In this article, Eric Barr proposes that despite the recent negative press, the GTM can provide valuable insight. ...

  Two CPAs in Washington D.C. have filed a class action lawsuit against the IRS for requiring a yearly registration and related fee in order to maintain a preparer tax identification number (PTIN). The suit, which involves 700,000 practitioners, seeks to recover $150 million in fees that the IRS has collected since the regulation passed in 2010. Four years ago, the IRS put the new rule into effect as a ...

Because the economic recovery we’ve all been told is happening never really arrived, dollar stores across the United States are doing big business these days. Because of that, there’s a huge takeover battle going on between the nation’s three largest dollar store retailers. Apparently, there’s billions to be made, one dollar at a time. Family Dollar Stores (FDS) originally rebuffed an unsolicited $9.1 billi ...

Method for dissenting shareholder appraisal actions The consideration of the subject company’s industry (the subject industry) when applying the Income Approach—Discounted Cash Flow Method—is an important issue for the valuation analyst, specifically as it relates to shareholder appraisal rights actions. The Delaware Chancery Court regularly provides guidance as to the proper consideration of the subject in ...

This past summer, the firm of Pluris Valuation Advisors LLC released a detailed white paper on the valuation of life insurance. According to the authors, when valuing life insurance or life insurance-linked instruments such as split-dollar collateral assignment receivables or split-dollar promissory notes, there are only three elements of Fair Market Value. These include: Illustrations from the insurance co ...

Opinions are like viewpoints; everyone has one Opinions are often provided in connection with calculation values and a conclusion of value. SSVS No. 1 does not prohibit or explicitly endorse either. In this article, Jim Hitchner shares his views on whether the term “opinion”―offered in a litigation or non-litigation engagement—should be used as part of the engagement or offered in connection with a calculat ...

Reminder to NACVA members of new opportunity This article calls attention to the fact that NACVA members and other business valuation practitioners once again have the opportunity to take advantage of the many additional benefits of belonging to the Institute of Business Appraisers (IBA), an affiliate of NACVA. ...

  In the early days of the scandal surrounding LA Clippers owner, Donald Sterling, certain terms of his punishment by the NBA were a given. What no one was sure of was whether or not he would be forced to sell the team. As speculation turned into fact, it seemed as if valuation estimates for the team were coming out of the woodwork. Some said the team price tag could go as high as $1 billion. Earlier i ...

  Netflix is the latest company to join a petition asking the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deny the pending $45 billion Comcast / Time Warner merger. In a 256-page report, Netflix details how the merger will give the new entity too much control over the internet, and that this new power will enable it to stifle online video distributors that it sees as competition. Comcast continues to ar ...

Analyze early and avoid earnings surprises The purchase price allocation (PPA) process is often treated as an afterthought in mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Thinking about PPA can help guide a deal to a more predictable conclusion. In the most rewarding deals, a prompt PPA process helps acquirers analyze, from a financial reporting point of view, the primary drivers or intangible values associated with ...

The impact on shareholder value Knowing the value of a business and delivering real value to a client company entails far more than using EBITDA multiples or going along with a rule of thumb to keep the peace. As professionals, valuators must be far more rigorous in their engagements, and focus on delivering value. The obligation to identify, measure, manage, and mitigate the risks are their responsibility. ...

  Among many legal challenges to the validity of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), is Halbig vs. Burwell. The challenge concerns a passage in the statute, when literally read as worded, makes federal tax credits for insurance programs available only to those enrollees in states that have created a state-designed and operated healthcare exchange. Read as it currently exists, the statute does not allow for ...

Fair value litigation and more The Delaware Chancery Court is considered one of the pre-eminent U.S. courts when it comes to business valuation and governance issues. This article reviews some recent court decisions pertinent to valuation practitioners and which will be discussed in more detail in NACVA’s Federal and State Case Law Update this fall. ...

  It was a shock to most people when the news hit that actor and comedian, Robin Williams, had suddenly passed away earlier this month at the age of 63. While most were aware of Mr. Williams’ hard-won 20-year sobriety milestone, what they didn’t know was the financial struggle he was facing in recent years. Forbes.com takes a respectful and detailed look at the estate planning of Mr. Williams, and show ...

  Now that we’re six years into the Great Recession, financial experts tell us that the stock market is booming, and the economy is once again robust. Strangely, the vast majority of Americans aren’t sharing in this so-called recovery and the benefits of it are virtually non-existent, unless you look at the top 0.1% of wage-earners in the country, namely the CEOs of major corporations. Profitability an ...