Appraisal for Mergers & Acquisitions

Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) refers to the practice of combining two or more existing companies or assets into one or multiple parts. In the context of an appraisal, M&A is a strategy used to grow a business. It involves assessing the potential of each business, and if deemed suitable for a merger, the businesses combine to form one larger entity. By merging, the businesses can take advantage of increased revenue and profitability, economies of scale, and diversifying business risks. M&A also provides an opportunity to acquire technological or competitive advantages that may have been previously inaccessible. Additionally, M&A can be used for divestitures and acquisitions (with appropriate appraisals). In the case of a divestiture, companies further streamline their operations by selling unprofitable businesses, while in the case of an acquisition, a company grows by buying another successful business.

An appraisal is an essential tool required for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in order to properly assess the value of a business. An appraisal provides an independent, unbiased and objective evaluation of the value of the business that is needed in order to determine the selling price or to assess the possible effects of a proposed transaction. This is essential as the value of a business can have huge implications on a company as they decide upon the course of action they will take. An appraisal looks at multiple aspects of a business to come up with an estimated value. These include the assets and liabilities of the business, cash flow, profitability, market conditions, competitive landscape, and industry trends. All of these variables must be taken into account in order to ensure the accuracy of the appraisal and therefore the accuracy of decisions that can be made about a potential merger or acquisition. An appraisal is also a necessary requirement for financial due diligence and most financial institutions require an appraisal from a qualified appraiser as part of their loan offering process. It is also a necessary requirement for any tax implications that may arise from a merger or acquisition. With the complexities of mergers and acquisitions, getting an appraisal ensures that decisions made are based on realistic and valid information, thus reducing the risk of an unsuccessful or costly transaction.