According to recent studies on the business succession market in Canada, between approximately 30% and 40% of business owners surveyed are expecting to transfer their business internally to other shareholders, management, employees or a family member.
If you are planning to one day sell your business to an internal party, an independent business valuation can be very beneficial for managing value expectations and ultimately facilitating the transfer of the business at a fair and reasonable price.
It is extremely important for all parties involved in an internal transfer to agree on the current fair market value of the business, to ensure a smooth ownership transfer. The current fair market value can be used to set the price for the transaction in situations where the purchaser acquires the departing shareholder’s shares or situations involving share redemptions by the company.
In his best-selling book on protecting family wealth, “Every Family’s Business”, Tom Deans suggests that all business owners should arrange for an updated annual valuation of the business. One of the 12 steps in Tom’s annual checklist for family businesses (referred to as the Wealth Protection Blueprint) states that business owners should:
“… arrange for an updated valuation of the business and calculate whether there is appropriate insurance in place to ensure that estate taxes will not impair the ability of the company to function in the event of the owner’s death.”
Tom then discusses the implications of not obtaining a valuation prior to an internal transfer. There can be serious repercussions to the business and to family members if the company is transferred to the next generation for an amount that is less than or greater than the actual fair market value of the business, particularly when the transaction was financed with debt.
An independent business valuation will help set a reasonable price, one that is fair to all parties, to facilitate the transfer of all or a portion of the equity to other shareholders, management, employees or a family member. Having an independent expert business valuator explain the valuation process, approach and assumptions will help ensure that all parties are satisfied that a fair and reasonable deal was struck.
The business valuation can also be used for contingency planning to help protect the business and the business owner’s family in the event of an unplanned involuntary transfer due to death, disability, divorce, distress or disagreement.
If you are considering an internal transfer, contact us at jason@vspltd.ca or www.vspltd.ca to assist with your business valuation needs.
1. Sources: 2007 RBC Study - Quantitative Study of the Business Succession Market in Canada and CICA/RBC Business Monitor (Q1 2010).
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