While there is tremendous diversity from state to state when it comes to statutory and judge-made law in business divorce cases, business valuation principles are—with a few notable exceptions—far more homogenous.  So it makes sense to occasionally venture beyond New York’s borders to see how other courts and experts are addressing the business valuation questions that New York-based business divorces often encounter.

This week’s post looks at several recent decisions across the country concerning valuation principles and discounts.  While each case features different applicable rules and agreements, our New York readers would be wise to note the persuasive power of these cases, especially given the sometimes-thin body of New York caselaw on business valuation issues.Continue Reading Cross-Country Valuation Check-Up: Discounts, Buy-Sell Agreements, and Ambiguity Potholes

This week’s New York Business Divorce post features a decision after valuation trial nine-years in the making, determining the fair value of a 50% interest in two family-owned real estate holding companies
Continue Reading Fair Value Decision Caps Decade-Long Dispute Over Family-Owned Real Estate Holding Companies

When a corporation disposes of “all or substantially all” assets, shareholders opposed to the transaction are entitled to dissent and demand fair value for their shares in an appraisal proceeding. Does a corporation’s transfer of its assets to another entity with retention of “beneficial” ownership trigger the statutory right to dissent and seek fair value? Learn the answer in this week’s New York Business Divorce.
Continue Reading Direct to Beneficial: Change of Corporate Ownership Structure Yields No Right to Dissent and Seek Appraisal

In this week’s New York Business Divorce, read about the outcomes of two pre-answer dismissal motions in parallel lawsuits commenced by the founding shareholder of a family-owned corporation challenging a cash-out merger initiated against him by the second-generation owners, including his cousins and nephew.
Continue Reading Questions Abound in Parallel Cash-Out Merger Rescission / Fair Value Appraisal Lawsuits

Shareholders considering exercising their right to inspect the corporation’s books and records–particularly in the context of a valuation proceeding under BCL 1118 or 623–would be wise to consider Justice Platkin’s recent primer on different inspection rights and their correspondingly different scopes, conditions precedent, and required justifications.
Continue Reading Justice Platkin’s Primer on Shareholders’ Inspection Rights

Former timeshare owners of the iconic Gurney’s Inn in Montauk, New York, who dissented from a cash-out merger suffered a reversal of fortune when, earlier this month, the Appellate Division, First Department, reversed the trial court’s determination of the fair value of their shares, finding that their appraiser’s evaluation of the resort property was “highly inflated.” Get the full story in this week’s New York Business Divorce.
Continue Reading Dissenting Shareholders’ Challenge to Appraisal of Famed East End Resort Hits Dead End

In this week’s New York Business Divorce – the second in a three-part series – learn about the legal rules and principles governing partnership, corporation, and limited liability company appraisal proceedings.
Continue Reading Basics of Valuation Proceedings – Litigating an Appraisal from Start to Finish – Part 2

If you’re a business appraisal aficionado, you won’t want to miss this week’s New York Business Divorce featuring two recent decisions by the Delaware Chancery Court involving fair value and insolvency determinations.
Continue Reading Delaware Chancery Court Rulings Address Valuation and Insolvency Disputes

The Appellate Division, Second Department last week decided a trio of appeals in related cases concerning the consequences of an LLC member’s withdrawal, holding that the member was not entitled to a fair-value buyout and that upon withdrawal he lost standing to maintain derivative claims. Read all about it in this week’s New York Business Divorce.
Continue Reading Operating Agreement Defeats Statutory Buyout Rights Upon LLC Member’s Withdrawal