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DOJ: $6.8 Billion in False Claims Act Recoveries
The Justice Department announced that settlements and judgments under the False Claims Act reached more than $6.8 billion in fiscal year 2025 (ending September 30, 2025), marking the highest annual total in the statute’s history. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate, head of the Civil Division, announced the results,…
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How to Value: Packaging & Labeling Services
Industry Description The packaging & labeling services industry in the U.S. comprises contract-based packaging services for client-owned materials, along with related labeling and imprinting capabilities (NAICS 56191). The industry excludes the manufacturing of packaging materials and labeling products. The following are some basic characteristics of the packaging & labeling services industry: Industry Trends The Packaging…
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Donor-Advised Funds
Donor-advised funds have become an increasingly prominent feature in modern financial planning, offering a flexible and tax-efficient approach to charitable giving. Although often associated with year-end contributions, their benefits extend throughout the year, making them a valuable tool for both clients and advisors seeking to integrate philanthropy into broader financial strategies. Simply defined, a donor-advised…
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Locating Lost Retirement Savings
People who have lost track of retirement savings from previous employers can now utilize a valuable resource: the Labor Department’s Retirement Savings Lost and Found Database. Launched in late December 2024, this initiative aims to help individuals reconnect with their forgotten funds. Key Statistics Although the Labor Department does not track the outcomes after users…
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How to Value: Venture Capital & Principal Trading
Industry Description The venture capital & principal trading industry in the U.S. comprises principals in financial contract transactions, specifically buying and selling for their own portfolios (NAICS 52391). The industry excludes securities dealers, investment bankers, and commodity contracts dealers who trade as principals. The following are some basic characteristics of the venture capital &…
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SEC Proposes Semiannual Reporting
The Securities & Exchange Commission’s first major disclosure overhaul in decades would let firms replace three quarterly filings with a single mid-year report, dividing markets between efficiency advocates and investor-protection watchdogs. The SEC has unveiled a proposal that would allow publicly traded companies to file earnings reports twice a year rather than four times, marking…
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The Basics of the Market Approach
The market approach remains a cornerstone of business valuation because it reflects real-world pricing behavior between willing buyers and sellers. While valuation professionals often rely heavily on the income approach, integrating market-based evidence strengthens conclusions, improves defensibility, and aligns valuations with observable transaction data. But both are functional, sound methodologies The Role of the Market…
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How to Value: Alarm, Horn & Traffic Control Equipment Manufacturing
Industry Description The alarm, horn & traffic control equipment manufacturing industry in the U.S comprises the production of various communication devices, including alarm systems, hazard detection systems, traffic signals, sirens, and intercom systems (NAICS 33429). This industry excludes the manufacturing of telephone apparatuses, radio and TV broadcast equipment, and wireless communications equipment. The following…
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Tariff Refund System Launched
A long-awaited refund system for up to $166 billion in illegally collected tariffs is now live, This new system offers relief to tens of thousands of U.S. importers, though many are tempering their optimism with pragmatic concern about technical glitches and potential legal interference. The system, known as CAPE and developed by U.S. Customs and…
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Management’s Projections in Disputes
Financial projections prepared by management often play a central role in valuation and damages analyses. However, their use in litigation and dispute contexts presents a fundamental tension: while management typically possesses the deepest operational insight into a business, its forecasts may also reflect optimism, bias, or litigation-driven incentives. As a result, professional standards, judicial precedent,…
