Four Corporate Drive   Suite 488   Shelton, CT 06484   Tel (203) 929-3535   Fax (203) 929-5470

Business Valuation and Litigation Support You have spent a lot of time and energy building your business into a successful enterprise. The long nights, the weekends, the sacrifices made to build something of value, to provide for family and retirement. Now you want to do something new, start a new venture or retire and play golf. However, have you given any thought to positioning your business for an exit strategy? With a bit of luck, the exit you plan is one where you control the timing and terms. What we see is that planning for an eventual disposition is the last thing on the minds of many entrepreneurs, whether their business is manufacturing, sales, or service. It is tough to face the fact that we cannot work as hard or as long as we used to, much worse, face one's own mortality. We are never surprised at how many smart entrepreneurs come to us for help who have waited until it is too late to plan or postpone planning because they want to stay in control. Sadly, too often, a large amount of the value built up over a lifetime winds up diminished due to a fire sale, loss of a key man with no successor to run the business, or to estate taxes incurred that are too high due to lack of or poor planning. Occasionally, we see business owners forced to sell all or part of their business. Partners who have successfully run a business for a number of years and now one wants to sell his interest to the other. In other situations, a pending divorce requires the fair value of a business. DHL&S has successfully helped many clients determine, for a number of different reasons, the true value of their business enterprise. Planning steps taken today can increase the value of a business tomorrow. Good estate planning allows a business owner to pass the business to their heirs at a reduced tax cost. Some of the situations we have helped our clients with include: • Sale of a business • Mergers or acquisitions • Purchase price allocation • Buy/Sell agreements • Succession planning • Gifting programs • Estate filings and estate planning • Charitable contributions • Litigation Support, including divorce, economic loss analysis, dissenting shareholder disputes, and disruption of business • Employee options and stock grants Some of the industries we have assisted include: • Professional services • Health care organizations • Contractors (electrical and construction) • Passenger boat operations • Manufacturers (machine, tool & die, other) • Printing • Computer services • Wholesale distribution services • Fulfillment companies • Automotive • Motorcycle dealerships • Food retail • Power generation If you are looking for ways to maximize the value you keep, then contact James G. Cosgrove at 203-929-3535 or via email at jimc@dhls.com.