Members of Strategic Valuation Group welcome the opportunity to meet with potential clients and/or their advisors in order to develop a basic understanding of their valuation or advisory requirements. The typical valuation project has the following phases from start to finish:
- Introductory Phase: During this stage, SVG provides the client with information about our background and qualifications. We also collect information from the client to ascertain the purpose and scope of the services needed. Financial and descriptive information about the company is requested and further information is frequently gathered in subsequent telephone conversations and initial meetings to clarify the purpose and scope of the engagement. Our goal in this phase is to ensure that we properly understand the client's needs, and to begin the process of getting to know one another.
- The Engagement Letter: After the Introductory Phase, SVG prepares an Engagement Letter which sets forth the parties' understanding of the appraisal requirement and outlines the business arrangement under which we will work together. It also discusses the expected timetable for completion of the engagement, and outlines the proposed arrangement for payment of professional fees and expenses. Our formal engagement begins upon receipt of the executed Engagement Letter and retainer deposit. Many of SVG's appraisal assignments are performed under essentially fixed fee arrangements. Our Engagement Letters typically quote an "estimated professional fee" which is the engagement fee unless there is a mutual agreement to change the scope of the engagement. In our Engagement Letters, we promise to use our best efforts to complete the project within 30 to 45 days of our receipt of all information necessary for the project.
- Collection of Information: At the outset of the engagement, SVG provides the client with a Document Request List and Questionnaire to facilitate the accumulation of information necessary to conduct the assignment.
- Preliminary Analysis: SVG thoroughly reviews all information collected, and analyzes it. This usually results in the development of further questions with follow-up clarification of pertinent information through a site visit or client interview.
- On-Site Visit : Many appraisal engagements require an on-site visit with management. At this visit, we review in detail the company's background, financial position, operations and outlook, and review appropriate corporate documents that may not have been exchanged by mail. SVG also tours the facilities and operations. In some cases, however, we conduct telephone interviews with management to discuss historical performance and anticipated policies. During the remainder of the project, the SVG team will be in close contact with the client.
- Analysis and Delivery of Work Product : After the on-site visit, SVG continues its analysis and research towards reaching an opinion of value. Upon completion of our analysis, we report our findings in draft form. This gives the client the opportunity to provide feedback and clarify the factual and conceptual correctness of information used in the report. SVG then finalizes the report and certifies our opinion. (Our valuation team is always available to defend our work should this become necessary.)
- Post Valuation Consulting : After we have delivered our opinion of value in the finalized report, SVG is always available to provide subsequent hourly consulting work - be it communicating our findings to other parties, defending it in a litigation, negotiating with a buyer/seller, or other regulatory body.
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