Monday, 9 September 2013

The Purpose Of Company Asset Valuation

By Helene Norris


Whether one wants to keep their firm in operation or sell it, company asset valuation has various benefits. There are many reasons why one may want to determine the worth of their firm on short notice. It could be to take advantage of an existing opportunity or to avoid a potential financial or legal problem. Understanding the purposes and benefits of business appraisal will help you take the necessary measures to maintain your records in order.

If you want to sell your firm or buy another, an appraisal may provide an account of things such as profit numbers, expense, revenue and liabilities. This information will help you project what profits your business is likely to earn in future. It will also assist you in coming up with a good price for the entity.

When partners part ways, it doesn't necessarily translate to closure of a firm. When one or several partners decide to buy out their colleagues, a valuation will help them do this. They may also be willing to sell it to a third party. In the event of a partner's death, the successors will want to know the amount due to them as their share of the entity.

If you want to expand or obtain capital, an investor could be a viable option. For them to inject funds, they may want a certain percentage of the profit, part ownership or the consent to open other businesses under the brand. An appraisal will help you make a stronger pitch to the investors.

Financial institutions usually require some sort of collateral when advancing secured loans. For instance, you may obtain a loan to purchase new equipment or increase the firm's capacity. An up to date appraisal makes it easy for potential lenders to assess your firm's standing.

If a business gets passed on to heirs, they may want to reduce the taxes payable by getting a lower valuation. They go to extremes to point out weaknesses and problems to third party evaluators and appraisers. During a divorce, one person may want the lowest possible valuation while the other wants a high one.

New proprietors could also feel that the existing firm has a complementary fit with their existing entity. This (the existing firm) may bring in a customer base and reputation which would mean that one invests less money. When this happens, the firm's assets have to be re-appraised, often with a step up in valuation.

When it comes to public corporation, value is directly related to stock price. This is the amount a market thinks the firm is worth at a particular moment. Though this isn't the sole component of value, it is usually the most significant part. Private firms don't have the benefit of a market value for ownership of shares; each entity is unique. Experts therefore have to use economic models which estimate value by going on certain assumptions.

Company asset valuation is more of an art than it is a science, though there are some economic models used when experts want to reach an opinion on the worth. Scientific formulas are normally used. Intangible assets like reputation and goodwill are particularly hard to appraise. This is why any opinion from an expert on the worth can only form a basis for negotiating and not the final say on a company's worth.




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