Press Releases

Smith & Howard Seeks to Add "Value" to Client Businesses

 

Increasingly, businesses and the individuals who own them are discovering the “value” of a business valuation. Why? A business is quite often the owner’s largest asset. As such, a clear and accurate value is critical in any of the following scenarios: selling the business, applying for a loan, adding or changing partners in the business, divorce negotiations, estate planning.  In addition, regulations and codes such as SFAS 141 and SFAS 142, IRC 409(A) and SFAS 123(R) have heightened the need for specialized expertise in business valuations. Smith &Howard’s clients include numerous businesses that are – or have – grown rapidly and have increased in value significantly.

According to Jim Howard, Smith & Howard’s Managing Partner, “Growth provides exciting opportunities and creates new challenges to further enhance a company’s value. Our clients need the ability and confidence to make knowledgeable and supportable decisions regarding M&A, recapitalizations, strategic alliance, debt assumption, stock options and more.”

As a result Smith & Howard is solidifying our business valuation practice, and providing our clients experts who can provide the time and skills needed to protect their investment. To help our clients in this area, we are pleased to announce that Mark P. Rutledge, ASA has joined the firm as Director of Valuation Services.

“With the addition of Rutledge, Smith & Howard brings intense focus and highly credentialed expertise to its business valuation practice, and enhances our ability to serve our clients in all areas of their businesses.” said Howard. Mark Rutledge has more than 23 years of valuation experience with engagements throughout the U.S. as well as Canada and the Dominican Republic. He was most recently Senior Manager of Business Valuation Services with a large CPA firm, and previously served in similar capacities with Adams Capital, Inc., Phillips Hitchner Group, Inc. and Ernst & Young, LLP. He specializes in the valuation of businesses, business interests, and tangible and intangible property for mergers and acquisitions, corporate recapitalization, privatization, gift and estate tax planning, bankruptcy proceedings, dispute resolution, dissenting shareholders, Employee Stock Ownership Plans, and financial and tax reporting.

Rutledge is a speaker and writer on valuation topics and is experienced in litigation support. He is available for interviews or to consult with our clients on matters related to business valuation issues. Call 404.874.6244.