Valuation and Financial Consulting Services
Our services are tailored to meet your specific needs–
- Are you facing challenges with fair value in your financial reporting?
- How can valuation support your financial reporting requirements?
- When do you need a valuation performed? Is your company leading acquisitions or issuing stock options?
- Do you have an intellectual asset management strategy in place?
- How can valuation support your tax saving strategies?
- How can you ensure the right growth decisions for your business?
The regulatory environment regarding asset valuation methods and reporting is complex. As valuation professionals, our goal is to help you understand the valuation process, and discover how valuation can support and enhance your business decisions, while at the same time guiding you through the rules and regulations that can be overwhelming and frustrating for even the most informed and proactive company. At Clifton Gunderson, we work with many different companies, with different business objectives, but our focus is consistent—to provide the best service in the industry for a fair and competitive fee.
Our industry-focused financial experts can help find the best solution for your company and your overall goals. We work with you to understand the complexities of your organization and offer you innovative advice and valuable insight, while assuring compliance with existing professional standards. Our financial experts are leaders in the valuation industry, serving on national committees, speaking at national events, and providing leadership on cutting edge issues.
Financial Reporting and Compliance
As accounting and valuation converge, fair value measurement continues to evolve as a critical issue in today's financial reporting environment. FASB's recent issuance of SFAS 157 and 159, and planned issuance of 141(R), further demonstrate the need for objective and supportable fair value measurement expertise. Our fair value specialists serve as trusted advisors to finance professionals, providing insightful consulting and compliance solutions.
Purchase price allocation (SFAS 141 and SFAS 141[R])– The volume and complexity of mergers has grown, making the identification and valuation of tangible and intangible assets more important than ever. We help purchasers provide a fair allocation of the purchase price for all assets acquired.
Impairment testing (SFAS 142 and SFAS 144)– SFAS 142 requires that goodwill and indefinite lived assets be reviewed annually to determine whether their value has been impaired. In addition, events could trigger the need for long-lived assets to be tested for impairment under SFAS 144. Our experience with SFAS 142 and 144 helps assure an objective, supportable valuation opinion.
Fair value option for financial assets and liabilities (SFAS 159)– SFAS 159 gives companies the option to account for certain assets and liabilities at their fair value. We can assist companies in that decision by providing valuation consulting and analysis.
Share-based compensation– For companies that compensate employees with equity instruments like shares or stock options, SFAS 123(R) provides guidelines that require the recognition of fair value, which is allocated to costs on their financial statements. Our consultants work within the guidelines to arrive at a valuation opinion that accurately reflects the company's standing. Learn more about 409A Valuation Services.
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Tax and Compliance
Whether you are tax planning for a Fortune 1000 company, a multi-national corporation, an emerging business or your own personal gifts and estate, Clifton Gunderson's valuation services are a critical team member in tax compliance and planning strategies. We provide independent, objective and comprehensive valuation opinions for tax reporting, such as–
Transfer Pricing Services
Any time related parties on different sides of international borders conduct business, the taxing authorities from both countries will insist on taxing their fair share of the revenue. U.S. subsidiaries of foreign parent companies and U.S. parents of foreign subsidiaries routinely have their intercompany transactions scrutinized by the Internal Revenue Service.
The rules are complex but the benefits can mean cost savings and avoiding significant penalties. We have provided transfer pricing services for companies of various sizes in a wide variety of industries. Our key advantage is how we work as a team to provide the solutions for our clients based on our valuation and tax skills. Clifton Gunderson transfer pricing specialists can assist multinational and multistate corporations by providing the following transfer pricing services:
- Transfer pricing documentation
- Functional and risk analyses
- Economic intercompany pricing and interest rate analyses
- State-to-state transaction analysis
- Development of global transfer pricing policies
- Advanced pricing agreements
- Cost sharing agreements
- Dispute resolution
Through the above services, Clifton Gunderson not only assists you in achieving your global strategies, but works proactively with you to help reduce the potential for costly taxing authority defense actions. Our industry professionals can help you assess risks so you can make informed decisions based on our strong financial analysis and knowledge of the cross-border laws.
409A Valuation Services
Clifton Gunderson provides an end-to-end solution for your 409A business requirements including independent valuations to assist companies in setting exercise prices on stock option grants to satisfy IRC 409A regulations. Learn more about share-based compensation services.
Estate and Gift Tax Valuations
With estate and gift tax rates that can exceed 45 percent, and penalties for undervaluation that can be as high as 40 percent of the underpayment of tax, it is vital to properly document the value of all assets that are the subject of either gifts or estate transfers.
We have provided valuation services for many purposes including–
- Gifting of controlling and minority interests in partnerships, LLCs, and corporations, for federal gift and estate tax purposes.
- Valuation of limited partnership interests, or other minority interests for sale, to defective grantor trusts.
- Valuation of partial interests in real estate.
Charitable donations (Sec. 170)
Rules for charitable donations have been through major revisions as a result of the 2006 Pension Protection Act. It is now necessary to provide a "qualified appraisal," prepared by a "qualified appraiser," for all gifts valued over $5,000.
With these requirements, it will no longer be possible to rely on informal valuation opinions provided by non-credentialed individuals. The valuation professionals at Clifton Gunderson meet the "qualified appraiser" requirements, and produce reports that meet the "qualified appraisal" definition.
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Corporate Advisory Services
Clifton Gunderson can provide a wide array of services designed to resolve internal issues, improve business processes and market reach, and enhance your valuation. Services include–
- Transaction Preparation and Review
- Strategic Review
- Acquisition and Growth Strategies
- Objective and Supportable Valuation and Valuation Enhancers
- Litigation Support
- Financial Modeling
- Checklists and Templates/training
Intellectual Asset Management
Many companies seriously under-utilize their intellectual capital, including patents, trademarks, copyrights and business practices. We can help you develop an intellectual asset management plan that maximizes the profitability of those assets.
Our proven analysis and valuation process answers two critical questions with services that allow you to integrate intellectual assets into your overall business strategy.
What assets do you have?
- IP inventory
- Valuation
- Asset management planning
How can you increase the profitability of your assets?
- Market analysis
- Bringing products to market
- License planning, use and negotiation
- Royalty audits
- Financing options
Due Diligence
Our due diligence services include valuation of tangible assets, results and assisting companies in deterring the effects of EPS.
Valuation Transactional
The following transactions benefit from an independent valuation–
- Potential sale or purchase
- Recapitalization
- Management buyouts
- Shareholder buyout and buy-ins
- ESOPs
Corporate Finance
Businesses today are constantly merging, acquiring and downsizing to meet market demands and remain competitive. Everyday transactions, such as acquiring large amounts of inventory, purchasing real estate and expanding product lines, can have a significant impact on your bottom line over time.
Clifton Gunderson offers decades of collective experience using valuation and financial analysis to help you make better daily business decisions. We combine specialized industry knowledge of valuation, forensics and research skills, and an extensive network of executive-level management contacts, to provide the right team to meet your financing and transactional needs. As companies continue to become more international in scope, Clifton Gunderson provides support and insight through our affiliation with an international network of business and financing professionals.
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