Defensible business valuations at historical valuation dates.
For amended assessments, historical CGT events, estate matters and prior-year transactions. Evidence-led valuations prepared with retrospective rigour.
A retrospective business valuation establishes the market value of a business or business interest at a date in the past. Retrospective valuations are required for amended tax assessments, historical CGT events, estate and probate matters, small business CGT concession claims for past events, and any matter where market value must be substantiated at a date prior to the report date. Prismi accepts retrospective engagements up to five years prior.
Why retrospective valuations are different
A retrospective valuation can only rely on information that was reasonably available at the valuation date. We cannot use hindsight, post-date market data, or information that emerged later. This makes evidence collection critical — contemporaneous financial statements, industry reports current at the date, comparable transaction data from the period, and records of what was known to management at the time. The supportable range is often narrower than a current valuation because available evidence is constrained.
Methodology for retrospective valuations
We apply the same multiple-methodology framework as a current valuation, with two important adjustments: we use market multiples and discount rates contemporaneous to the valuation date, and we document explicitly which information was and was not available. The report includes an expanded retrospective limitations section that names the dates of relied-upon evidence.
Tier and pricing
Retrospective engagements add a $495 surcharge per historical date. The base tier depends on complexity — most retrospective engagements sit at the Comprehensive tier (from $4,490 with retrospective surcharge) or the Defensible Valuation File (from $9,490). For estate matters with multiple historical dates, the Valuation Range & Scenario Review may be appropriate.
What retrospective valuations cannot do
A retrospective valuation cannot substantiate a position that the evidence at the date did not support. We will not adopt a current-day understanding of value to a historical date. Where the evidence at the historical date is insufficient to support a confident conclusion, we say so and adopt conservative assumptions, with the limitations clearly stated in the report.
Common questions.
How far back can you value?+
Up to five years prior in our current operating policy. Engagements with valuation dates beyond five years are referred out, as the evidence base typically does not support a defensible retrospective conclusion.
What happens if contemporaneous documents are missing?+
We work with what is reasonably available and document the gaps. Where critical evidence is missing, we adopt conservative assumptions and disclose them clearly. If the gaps are too significant to form a defensible opinion, we will say so before the engagement proceeds.
Ready to discuss your engagement?
Fifteen-minute discovery call. We confirm the tier, fee and timing before you commit.
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