Business Valuation · Shareholder disputes
Valuations for Shareholder Disputes
When shareholders cannot agree on what an interest is worth, an independent valuation gives the parties, their lawyers and if needed the court a reasoned figure to work from.
- A reasoned value at the right date
- Value shifted between parties can be quantified
- Instructions settled with your lawyer
What we do
We value shares in private companies for oppression claims, buy-out orders, deadlocks and contested exits.
We consider the shareholder agreement, the conduct of the business and any transactions that may have shifted value between parties.
Issues that often complicate the work
Valuation date
The value can differ substantially depending on the date adopted. We can value at more than one date where the question is open.
Transactions that moved value
Related-party payments, diverted opportunities or changed salaries can depress the value of a minority interest. These may need forensic review alongside the valuation.
Minority discounts
Whether a discount applies to a shareholding in an oppression context is often contested. We state the approach adopted and the reason.
Access to information
Minority shareholders often have limited access to records. We identify what is needed and how missing information affects the opinion.
Our approach
- Confirm instructions, valuation date options and the interest to be valued.
- Review the company's financial history, related-party transactions and governance documents.
- Value the company and the specific shareholding, with sensitivity to the key contested assumptions.
Principal
Principal
Erin Huang, CPA
Principal, Maxwind
Erin is the principal of Maxwind Analytics. Her background combines corporate finance, building and running businesses, and specialist valuation and forensic work.
Maxwind Analytics has advised Melbourne businesses and their advisers since 2020.
About ErinHow the engagement works
- EnquiryTell us about the matter by phone or through the enquiry form.
- Conflict and scope checkWe confirm we can act independently and agree what needs to be answered.
- RecordsYou provide the records we need through a secure link.
- Analysis and deliverableWe complete the work and explain the findings before finalising.
Fees and timing
Most shareholder valuations are offered with a clear scope and a fixed fee, agreed with the instructing lawyer once the instructions and valuation dates are settled.
Questions we are often asked
Can a valuation consider value taken out of the company?
Yes. Where instructed, we review related-party transactions and can quantify amounts that may have reduced the company's value.
Discuss a shareholder dispute
A short conversation is usually enough to tell whether we can help and what the work would involve.
