Commercially Reasonable Debt Opinions

Kroll Corporate Finance advises companies as to whether the economic terms of their intercompany debt are commercially reasonable. In 2018, Duff & Phelps acquired Kroll and unified under the Kroll brand in 2020.

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Companies issue debt securities to related parties for numerous reasons. It is critical that such debt is respected as debt by tax authorities. One key factor in assessing if an intercompany debt should be characterized as debt for tax purposes is whether or not the terms of the debt are “commercially reasonable”, defined as being substantially similar to the terms to which an unrelated third party bargaining at arm’s length would reasonably be expected to agree.

Kroll’s advice can cover the amount of the proposed leverage in the capital structure, the interest rate on the debt, and the other economic terms of the debt security. In addition, Kroll is often requested to provide a financial opinion regarding the commercial reasonableness of the economic terms of the debt and the leverage in the company’s capital structure.

The following are typical transactions for which Kroll has been engaged to provide advice and opinions with respect to intercompany debt:

  • Multi-national companies utilizing intercompany debt in cross-border acquisitions or in recapitalization or restructuring transactions
  • Current equity holders of a company providing additional capital in the form of debt
  • Canadian Income Fund offerings and other similar transactions

For nearly 15 years, company management, boards of directors, trustees of income funds as well as tax attorneys and tax advisors have relied on Kroll’s advice and opinions to support their view that an intercompany debt security should be characterized as debt for tax purposes.

Ranked no. 1 for U.S., EMEA and Global Fairness Opinions

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Christopher Janssen
Chris Janssen
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Fairness and Solvency Opinions
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Corey Bleil
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Elyse Bluth
Elyse Bluth
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ESOP and ERISA Advisory
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Andrew Capitman
Andrew Capitman
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Sheryl Cefali
Sheryl Cefali
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Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon
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Fairness and Solvency Opinions
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David Herr
David Herr
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Todd Kaltman is a managing director at Duff & Phelps.
Todd Kaltman
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Mark Kwilosz
Mark Kwilosz
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David Lee
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David Rowe | Transaction Opinions | Kroll Chicago
David Rowe
Managing Director, Transaction Opinions
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Jeffrey Schiedemeyer
Jeff Schiedemeyer
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Fairness and Solvency Opinions
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David Turf
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Fairness Opinions

#1 ranked provider of fairness opinions for boards of directors and special committees.

Solvency Opinions

Duff & Phelps Opinions practice helps boards of directors and special committees formed by boards fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities when considering many corporate transactions. In 2018, Duff & Phelps acquired Kroll and unified under the Kroll brand in 2020.

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