Experience
Grant Kramer began his career as a sell-side investment banker, marketing lower-middle-market companies with $1–$5 million in EBITDA in the Midwestern United States. He has provided audit and assurance services for both for-profit and non-profit entities, as well as quality of earnings and transaction diligence services for privately held companies across a variety of industries. Mr. Kramer leverages his broad experience to assist primarily family-owned, privately held businesses in meeting their goals and objectives related to transactions, gift and estate planning, and litigation support.
Business Valuation
Mr. Kramer has performed over 250 business appraisals—both cooperative and contentious—across various industries. Drawing upon his background as a former sell-side investment banker, he brings real-world transaction concepts to business valuations. Some of the entities for which Mr. Kramer has provided valuation assistance include:
- Agricultural technology company seeking venture capital funding: Mr. Kramer performed a comprehensive valuation analysis on a recently formed agricultural technology company, including a SWOT analysis and research on the technology's viability using published and peer-reviewed scientific publications.
- Cryptocurrency services company for IRS 409(a) purposes: Mr. Kramer prepared an appraisal for a now-public cryptocurrency services company, utilizing a discounted cash flow method and market comparable data to value the subject interest.
- Dental practice for divorce litigation purposes: Mr. Kramer extracted and analyzed detailed financial records, performed market research on comparable companies, and developed a business valuation report presented to opposing counsel.
- Early-stage biotechnology company developing an orphan drug for capital-raising purposes: Mr. Kramer prepared a comprehensive appraisal for a biotechnology company seeking to raise capital from new investors before reaching Phase I of drug development.
- Family-owned government infrastructure contractor for contentious shareholder buyout negotiations: Mr. Kramer produced the initial valuation offer, led negotiations, and determined a buyout structure that leveraged a seller's note with minimal upfront cash to ensure the business's viability. Mr. Kramer also performed consulting services for the owner, including assisting with offer letters and communications, and connecting his client with other professional advisors such as attorneys and accountants when appropriate.
- Franchise hardware store with 20+ locations for gift tax purposes: Mr. Kramer conducted a comprehensive, thorough valuation analysis and report, which included a site visit to the headquarters and the company’s leading store, resulting in the owner transferring shares to his son.
- New and used auto dealerships for gift and estate tax purposes: Mr. Kramer has performed many valuations of auto dealerships across the country and is familiar with methodologies unique to auto dealerships, such as the Blue Sky Multiple.
- Niche employee benefit plan provider for consulting purposes: Mr. Kramer assisted a client evaluate a $40 million buyout offer from a large, publicly traded company. Mr. Kramer developed an investment value appraisal based on the potential acquirer's cost of equity and cost structure, leading the client to reject the offer and later receive a $120 million buyout offer two years later.
- Wealth management firm valued at $100 million for gift and estate tax purposes: Mr. Kramer utilized market data and complex models to determine the personal goodwill relating to the owner's involvement, arriving at the fair market value of the interest for gifting purposes.
Educational Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Wright State University
- Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Wright State University
Professional Certifications
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA), licensed in Utah and Ohio
- Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
- Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) by the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts
Professional Affiliations/Activities
- Member of the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts (NACVA)
- Member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
- Member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)
- Member of the Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce
- Member of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) of Utah
- Board Member of The Disability Foundation, Dayton, Ohio
Types of Matters
Mr. Kramer has delivered professional services across a variety of purposes and cases. His expertise spans numerous areas of valuation and consulting, leveraging his background in investment banking and financial services to address complex financial challenges. Below is a summary of the types of matters in which Mr. Kramer has been engaged:
Derk has provided professional services for a wide variety of purposes and in a wide variety of matters. This variety is because the foundational principles in forensic accounting, valuation, and economic damages can be appropriately applied in many different situations, the following attempts to broadly summarize the different types of matters he worked on during his career:
