In Focus

• Earn-Outs: Purchase Price or Compensation Expense?
• Oil Prices are Low: Are You Impaired?
• Streamlining Goodwill Impairment Testing 
• ASC 360 Impairment Testing: Long-Lived Assets Classified as Held and Used  
• Understanding SEC Oil and Gas Reserve Reporting
• Asset Acquisitions and Business Combinations: What’s the Difference? 

Wide Lens

• 10 Common Pitfalls When Reviewing Business Valuation Expert Opinions 
• Optimizing Data Strategies 
• CLO Valuation: A Primer on the Valuation of  CLO Equity for Financial Reporting  
• Early Stage Company Valuations: All Equity Classes May Not Be Equal 

What's Trending

• The Taxing Side of Divorce: Taxes in the Year of Divorce  
• Bitcoin: What You Need to Know . . . and Why You Need to Know It Now  
• Cyber Insurance: What You Need to Know 
• The Future of Artificial Intelligence

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Stout is pleased to announce that we have launched a Technical Accounting Consulting practice which complements Stout's existing offerings, particularly financial reporting valuation.  

Our technical accounting professionals’ large-firm technical knowledge combined with their flexible and practical hands-on approach uniquely positions Stout to deliver accounting horsepower and expertise around esoteric accounting topics. Because Stout is not a CPA firm, we are not bound by the independence rules of a typical accounting firm. 

We offer a flexible and practical approach and can assist with projects large and small, including: 

• Feedback on accounting implications of complex contracts 
• Preparation of accounting memoranda and policies 
• Determination of appropriate journal entries 
• Guidance on filing requirements and preparation of financial statement disclosures 
• Preparation of supporting schedules and other audit support 
• Support in discussions with auditors 

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Select Engagements

• Managed accounting and finance workstreams of several acquisitions for Fortune 500 food and beverage company
• Determined accounting treatment of heavy equipment manufacturer 
• Provided technical accounting services for $1 billion private equity acquisition

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• Stout is pleased to announce that we have launched a new Financial Due Diligence practice, which provides corporate entities, private equity investors, and lenders with a wide range of finance, accounting, and business advisory services. Our team supports all forms of mergers, acquisitions, business combinations, investments, and financing arrangements, on both the buy side and sell side.   
• Stout opened its newest office in the United Kingdom. Based in London, Stout’s fifth location in Europe will provide access to the domestic merger and acquisition (M&A) market and bolster transaction coverage in the Nordic and Western European markets. 
• Stout been recognized as a top fairness opinion provider by Refinitiv’s Global Mergers & Acquisitions Review. In 2019, Stout ranked second in the United States and third globally, rendering 37 fairness opinions worldwide. 
• Stout's Annual Report celebrates our numerous accomplishments in 2019. We continued to expand in many areas such as broadening our global presence with new offices, achieving strong revenue growth, and introducing new service offerings, all while delivering successful outcomes for our clients. 

NEW HIRE ANNOUNCEMENTS 

• Steve Hills has joined Stout as Managing Director and the leader of the Technical Accounting Consulting practice. With more than 15 years' experience in accounting and financial leadership roles, Steve brings a diverse transaction background in technical accounting, financial reporting, and transaction advisory services.  
• Joe Randolph joins Stout as a Managing Director in the Financial Due Diligence practice of the Transaction Advisory group. With over 10 years' experience in finance, due diligence, and mergers and acquisitions servicing private equity and strategic clients. 
• Jeff Zellner is a Managing Director in the Financial Due Diligence practice of the Transaction Advisory group. He has over 10 years' experience in professional services, including eight years focused on leading due diligence engagements for both private equity and strategic clients.  

EVENTS

• Stout is hosting the webinar, “The Current State of Impairment Testing” on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at 12:00 p.m. CT. To learn more about the impairment testing process, insights on market trends, and developments across the valuation landscape, register here. 

For more than 25 years, we have put our clients first by understanding their needs, adding value, and setting and managing client expectations – all while being responsive and communicative every step of the way. As a result, our net promoter score (a measure of our clients' willingness to recommend our services) is consistently in the +90s, and 69% of our engagements involve repeat clients.

Learn more about our approach to client service, watch our video to learn more about what Relentless Excellence^® means, and see what our clients have to say below. 

"The team delivered answers to the auditors questions immediately over the weekend, and the answers satisfied the auditors. No changes were needed as a result of the auditors' review." – Chief Financial Officer 

"Great, knowledgeable team that is easy to work with." – Corporate Controller and Director of Tax 

"Responses to inquiries were extremely timely. Also, the dedication to meeting our deadlines was fantastic. The project timeline was extremely tight, and the team did an excellent job of ensuring milestones were met, which kept everyone on track." – Vice President, Corporate Controller 

"Exceptional all around. Would (and have) highly recommended to my peers." – Vice President, Accounting and Finance Reporting 

"The Stout team is always willing to work with and talk through topics/approaches/rationale and always provides high-quality valuation reports. The team is easy to work with." – Director of Financial Reporting