Friday 6 September 2013

What Is The Use Of Company Asset Valuation?

By Helene Norris


Company asset valuation has many benefits whether one wants to sell their business or keep it in operation. There are various reasons why you may need to determine your business's worth. It could be to avoid a potential legal or financial problem or even exploit an opportunity. Understanding the benefits and purposes of business valuation will help you take the important steps to keep your books in order.

If you want to buy another business or even sell yours, an appraisal will give you a detailed account of items such as expenses, revenue, liabilities and profit numbers. This information helps one project the profits that could be generated in future. It also helps one come up with a fair price for the firm.

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.

Where a firm wants to expand its operations or obtain funding, an investor could provide a viable solution. For this to happen, they may want in exchange a portion of the profits, the right to open outlets under the brand name or part ownership. When pitching to such individuals, an appraisal will help you make a better case.

Most lending institutions require collateral when advancing a secured loan. For example, one may want funds to purchase new machinery or increase their capacity. A current valuation of the firm's assets will make it easy for such institutions to assess your business'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 owners may also feel that the existing business possesses a complementary connection with their current venture. The existing business may also bring in a reputation and customer base which would require the new owner to invest less money. When one purchases an existing firm, the company's assets need to be re-appraised. This often requires a step-up in the valuation.

For public companies, the value is directly proportional to share price. This represents the amount which a market values the business at a particular time. Although this is not the only component of value, it represents the major part. Private companies lack the benefit of such appraisal for ownership of interest because each firm is distinct. Professionals therefore have to employ economic models that estimate value based on several 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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