Estate of Morton B. Harper, Deceased, Michael A. Harper, Executor - Page 59




                                       - 59 -                                         
               iii.  Analysis                                                         
               In our comparison of the foregoing views, we generally found           
          those of Mr. Thomson to be better explained, better supported,              
          and more convincing.  While we conclude that certain factual                
          assumptions described in Mr. Thomson’s report were not                      
          established by a preponderance of the evidence, the level of                
          detail in the report’s treatment of individual factors considered           
          enabled us to make adjustments within what was a reasonable                 
          framework.  In contrast, Mr. Cronkite’s report was highly                   
          conclusory and revealed little about the underlying analysis.  As           
          a result, we could neither perform any meaningful evaluation nor            
          ascertain that the conclusions were supported by an appropriate             
          foundation.  We therefore found Mr. Cronkite’s report                       
          unpersuasive and of minimal assistance in the valuation endeavor.           
          Accordingly, we sustain respondent’s position to the extent of              
          the reduced valuation amount discussed below for the Marsh note.            
               Mr. Cronkite’s Approaches:  We begin by addressing the                 
          difficulties encountered with Mr. Cronkite’s approaches.  As                
          previously mentioned, Mr. Cronkite included in his report an                
          income approach discounting interest income at 15 percent.                  
          Although the report explains that the required yield should                 
          reflect inherent risk in the income stream, it fails to offer any           
          satisfactory link between this premise and the chosen 15-percent            
          rate.  Mr. Cronkite apparently added the 5-percent default                  






Page:  Previous  49  50  51  52  53  54  55  56  57  58  59  60  61  62  63  64  65  66  67  68  Next

Last modified: May 25, 2011