Purchase price allocations: Acquiring minds want to know

Description

Abstract: When planning to merge with or acquire another company, a business owner needs to identify what’s actually being sold and estimate what those assets are really worth. Often the most valuable assets — such as goodwill, brand names, customer lists and patents — don’t appear on the balance sheet. This article explains how a preacquisition purchase price allocation can help an owner determine whether a purchase price is reasonable and ensure a transaction makes sense from a financial perspective.