The Mentor Group Blog
Posted on Jul 1, 2021
One of the most complex valuation exercises is the automobile dealership. These businesses are actually comprised of five distinct operations, with separate financial information for each. New ...
Continue reading "VALUING A CAR DEALERSHIP" »
Posted on Jun 1, 2021
A SPAC is special purpose acquisition company designed to expedite a merger of a target seller into a publicly traded entity. The incredible expansion of SPAC funds has somewhat saturated U.S. ...
Continue reading "SPAC FAIRNESS OPINION" »
Posted on May 1, 2021
Careful consideration should be given to potentially significant tax liability with respect to stock issued to founders, employees and contractors (in lieu of other compensation). Often, startups and ...
Continue reading "Considering an 83(b) Election" »
Posted on Apr 1, 2021
The intellectual property called Right of Publicity (RP), is also known as “Name and Likeness” “Persona,” and “Personality Rights.” Any and all of these terms ...
Continue reading "RIGHT OF PUBLICITY (Name and Likeness)" »
Posted on Mar 1, 2021
Intellectual Property (IP) has been adopted as a catchall for many different types of intangible assets. The valuation of various IP is a unique specialty of The Mentor Group. If a company did not ...
Continue reading "IP VALUE ON FINANCIAL STATEMENTS" »
Posted on Feb 1, 2021
The awareness of using cost segregation to maximize tax depreciation has significantly increased. An added benefit was created by The Tax Act, allowing taxpayers to expense personal property (bonus ...
Continue reading "COST SEGREGATION PITFALLS" »
Posted on Jan 1, 2021
Why is IP so different than other business assets? What are the instances or events which trigger an IP valuation? There are numerous reasons why we value IP. The 10 most prevalent are the following: ...
Continue reading "IP: WHEN SHOULD IT BE VALUED?" »
Posted on Dec 1, 2020
Not every litigation case requires outside experts. However, many involve the employment of consultants on behalf of plaintiffs and/or defendants. Our role, when we choose to accept an assignment, ...
Continue reading "VALUATION IN LITIGATION" »
Posted on Nov 1, 2020
A large majority of the professionals I encounter on Zoom have never been busier. Our valuation practice is experiencing the same type of busy, achieving some of our best months of new business in our ...
Continue reading "COVID INDUCED BUSY" »
Posted on Oct 1, 2020
If your accountant suggests that your firm should consider a transfer pricing study, you should heed this advice. One of the current waves of IRS audits involves transfer pricing, which is covered in ...
Continue reading "PREPARING FOR IRS AUDIT OF TRANSFER PRICING" »
Posted on Sep 1, 2020
Even in "normal" times, business valuation is an exercise that is part quantitative and part qualitative. Only after years of practicing is the valuator competent enough to know which ...
Continue reading "BUSINESS VALUATION DURING COVID" »
Posted on Aug 1, 2020
How has COVID-19 impacted real property values? The rather "obvious" conclusion might be that value is depressed. No so fast. It depends on several factors, not all of which are obvious. The ...
Continue reading "REAL ESTATE VALUES IN COVID ERA" »
Posted on Jul 1, 2020
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 contained an error. It did not allow for new tenant or interior improvements to be classed as 15-year property. Rather, these costs were removed from the 15-year ...
Continue reading "COST SEGREGATION - QUALIFIED IMPROVEMENT PROPERTY" »
Posted on Jun 1, 2020
There are many forms of debt. In fact, other than common stock, all other forms of capital are basically debt. By definition, debt carries an interest component. Some debt interest is paid on a ...
Continue reading "WHEN IS DEBT NOT REALLY DEBT?" »
Posted on May 1, 2020
Can you value a business without appraising the underlying assts? The answer is yes. In fact, most business valuations are not all premised upon any specific asset values. Think of a business or ...
Continue reading "BUSINESS VALUE vs. UNDERLYING ASSETS" »
Posted on Apr 1, 2020
In the most recent gift tax case, the experts on both sides applied a C corporation tax rate to the companies S corporation earnings. Initially, the IRS (Kress v. U.S.) claimed that the taxpayers paid ...
Continue reading "TAX AFFECTING S CORPS" »
Posted on Mar 1, 2020
What is "stigma" relative to real estate and how can you deal with it? Stigma, usually expressed as an albatross on the property which lowers its value, is often the subject of a litigation ...
Continue reading "REAL ESTATE: DEALING WITH PROPERTY STIGMA" »
Posted on Feb 1, 2020
For the most part, broker opinions of real estate value can be useful as a gauge or to estimate a value range. But they rarely substitute for an actual appraisal At least some of the reasons for the ...
Continue reading "BROKER OPINIONS OF REAL ESTATE VALUE" »
Posted on Jan 1, 2020
The public, including other savvy professional service providers, is acutely unaware of the difference discount valuation reports issues by supposedly competent valuators. For the most part, these ...
Continue reading "WIDE VARIANCE IN DISCOUNT VALUATIONS" »
Posted on Dec 1, 2019
The headline reflects the most common corporate conversion, C to S. At the same time, the prevailing tax consequences may also apply to C conversions to LLCs and S corporations buying assets from a C ...
Continue reading "CONVERSION OF C TO S CORPORATION" »
Posted on Nov 1, 2019
What is the definition of fair? It is an amorphous term, and subject to the perspective of each person. Thus, I contend that a Fairness Opinion is better termed a Reasonableness Opinion. The Fairness ...
Continue reading "FAIRNESS OPINION: IS IT FAIR?" »
Posted on Oct 1, 2019
The range (type) of valuation and appraisal services for non-profit entities is similar to those provided the For Profit sector. Depending upon the specific requirements, businesses and business ...
Continue reading "VALUATION SERVICES FOR NON-PROFIT INSTITUTIONS" »
Posted on Sep 1, 2019
Royalty analyses are usually required for at least the following situations: As part of an overall valuation of an intellectual asset or IP. As part of a licensing agreement whereby the licensor ...
Continue reading "ROYALTY ANALYSIS" »
Posted on Aug 1, 2019
The latest IRS regulations were promulgated on July 30, 2018. These included detailed definitions of a qualified appraisal and a qualified appraiser. The appraisal must support the value of a stock or ...
Continue reading "CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS" »
Posted on Jul 1, 2019
Probably not. Most often, the client only looks at the page(s) concluding the value. Our process for conducting an appraisal, valuation or cost segregation analysis is specifically designed to fully ...
Continue reading "DO CLIENTS KNOW WHAT'S IN A REPORT?" »