Can this memo be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA where adopted; ensure intent, consent, attribution, and record retention are met.

What authentication is sufficient?

Simple email link or SMS code is acceptable for many internal approvals; for higher‑risk matters, use stronger signer authentication or notarization as required by your legal or regulatory policies.

Is notarization required?

Typically not for internal valuation memos. If the memo supports a deed, affidavit, or court filing, notarization or remote notarization rules may apply depending on state law.

How to correct a signed memo?

Execute a documented amendment or addendum signed by the same authorized parties; avoid altering a signed PDF in place because it undermines the audit trail and authenticity.

What if signers have different names on record?

Ensure signer name matches legal or corporate signature authority. Mismatched names can raise enforceability questions and may require an attestation or corrected signature block.

How long is the signed copy admissible?

Signed electronic records that satisfy ESIGN/UETA retention and reproducibility requirements are admissible; maintain the audit trail and a durable PDF export for evidentiary support.

Value Assessment Memo

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VALUE ASSESSMENT MEMO

Memo Date:

Parties

Client Name Client Address Advisor Name Advisor Address

WHEREAS (Recitals)

WHEREAS, Client Name: has requested a formal value assessment of the subject asset or interest described herein; and

WHEREAS, Advisor Name: has represented that it has the professional competence and experience necessary to perform the valuation engagement in accordance with the terms set forth below; and

WHEREAS, the parties desire to memorialize the scope, methodology, fees, limitations and legal terms governing the preparation and delivery of the value assessment memorandum.

Scope of Work

The Advisor will prepare a written value assessment memo addressing the subject asset or interest described below, summarizing applicable valuation approaches, key assumptions, supporting data and the Advisor's concluded value as of the Valuation Date.

Subject Asset / Interest Description Scope Details

Assessment Methodology

The Advisor will consider one or more of the following methodologies. Check applicable methods and describe the application.

Market Approach

Income Approach

Cost Approach

Other:

Methodology Narrative

Assumptions and Limitations

Valuation Summary and Conclusions

Valuation Date:

Concluded Value (numerical): $ (In words: )

Summary Rationale

Payment Terms

Fee Amount Payment Schedule Late Fee

Term and Termination

Engagement Start Date: ; Engagement End Date: .

Notice Period for Termination

Either party may terminate this engagement for material breach or failure to perform following written notice and the expiration of the Notice Period. Termination does not relieve Client of payment obligations for services performed through the effective termination date.

Confidentiality

The Advisor and Client shall maintain in confidence all non-public information exchanged in connection with this engagement. The Advisor may disclose confidential information only to employees and subcontractors with a need to know and subject to confidentiality obligations at least as protective as those contained herein. Confidential information does not include information that is or becomes publicly available through no breach of this agreement or that is required to be disclosed by law upon written notice to the other party.

Governing Law

This Memo and the services described herein shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of , without regard to conflict of law principles.

Entire Agreement

This Memo constitutes the entire agreement between Client and Advisor with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, proposals, representations and understandings, whether written or oral, relating to the engagement. Any amendment or modification shall be in writing and signed by both parties.

Attachments / Supporting Documents

Client Printed Name:

By:

Date:

Advisor Printed Name:

By:

Date:

What a Value Assessment Memo Is and When It’s Used

A Value Assessment Memo documents a reasoned estimate of an asset, business unit, contract, or liability’s value for internal decision-making, transaction planning, or regulatory review. It summarizes scope, assumptions, methodology, data sources, and a concise valuation conclusion. The memo typically accompanies board materials, M&A diligence, internal approvals, or procurement justifications and provides a reproducible record of how a numeric conclusion was reached.

Why a Clear, Well‑Documented Memo Matters

A focused Value Assessment Memo creates a single authoritative record of assumptions, methods, and conclusions that stakeholders can review, reducing misinterpretation and supporting consistent decision-making. It also helps demonstrate reasonable care and repeatability if the valuation is relied on during audits, financing, or regulatory review.

Who Prepares and Reviews a Value Assessment Memo

Typical authors, reviewers, and recipients vary by transaction size and purpose.

Corporate finance teams preparing internal approvals and budget or capital allocation recommendations.
External valuation specialists or appraisal consultants delivering methodology and supporting workpapers.
Legal counsel, CFOs, board members, and transaction sponsors who need a concise evidence package.

Assign clear reviewers and approvers by role before circulation to avoid delays and to establish accountability for assumptions and final figures.

Essential Components to Include in the Memo

A professional memo follows a consistent structure so reviewers can verify scope, assumptions, and the calculation quickly.

Title and Parties

Identify the memo title, authoring person or group, recipient(s), and document version so the record is unambiguous.

Scope and Purpose

State the valuation purpose (e.g., M&A, impairment, purchase accounting), the asset or liability being valued, geographic or temporal boundaries, and limiting conditions.

Key Assumptions

List material assumptions such as discount rates, growth projections, market multiples, comparable selections, and any contingent factors that materially affect value.

Methodology

Describe the valuation approach (income, market, cost, or hybrid), steps undertaken, formulas used, and reasons for method selection.

Supporting Data

Summarize data sources, date of data, and critical documents (financial statements, contracts, comps) and attach or reference supporting workpapers.

Conclusion and Sensitivities

Provide a point estimate or range, explain sensitivity to key variables, and note recommended next steps or approvals required.

Required Data Fields and Short Checklist

Author Name: Full legal name

Valuation Date: MM/DD/YYYY

Asset Identifier: Contract or asset ID

Primary Assumptions: Numeric values listed

Supporting Files: Filenames and dates

Approval Signatures: Names, titles, dates

Step‑by‑Step: Completing a Value Assessment Memo

Follow these sequential steps to produce a complete, reviewable memo that supports decision-making and audit trails.

01

Collect Data: Gather financials, contracts, comps and dated exhibits.
02

Choose Method: Select income/market/cost approach and document rationale.
03

Calculate Value: Run models, record formulas, and capture outputs.
04

Review & Sign: Obtain reviewer approvals and required signatures.

How to Configure an Online Completion Workflow

Set up fields, routing, and reviewer steps in your eSignature or document platform to streamline collaboration and preserve the audit trail.

Field	Configuration
Signature Block	Require signer name, title, and date field
Conditional Review	Route to legal or finance when threshold exceeded
Attachments Required	Make key exhibits mandatory uploads
Audit Trail	Enable IP, timestamp, and action log

Digital Signing, Integrations, and File Formats

Ensure the platform supports required formats, auditor visibility, and your integration stack before eSubmission.

File Types: PDF, DOCX, and XLSX supported
Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace
Authentication: Email, SMS, or advanced methods

Confirm that the selected vendor can produce a downloadable signed PDF with an audit trail and supports your organization's SSO and storage requirements.

Where to Send or File the Completed Memo

After preparation and approval, follow the organization’s routing rules for retention, filing, and any external submission.

Internal Approvals: Route to CFO, legal, and board as required
Transaction File: Attach memo to deal repository or data room
Accounting Package: Include with month‑end or close materials
External Filing: Provide to auditors or lenders on request

Typical Timelines and Deadlines to Track

Establish clear milestone dates so reviewers and signers understand required delivery times and dependencies.

Draft Delivered:

Issue draft to reviewers at least 5 business days before approval

Review Period:

Allow 3–5 business days per reviewer for substantive feedback

Final Approval:

Obtain sign‑off by the stated effective date

Data Freeze:

Lock source data at valuation date for reproducibility

Retention Start:

Begin retention clock on the memo effective date

Common Preparation Errors to Avoid

Omitting the valuation date or using inconsistent dates between memo and supporting models, which undermines comparability and auditability.
Failing to list or quantify key assumptions (discount rates, growth rates), leaving reviewers unable to reconcile the model with the conclusion.
Including incomplete supporting data or broken file references so auditors cannot reproduce calculations from primary sources.
Allowing multiple unsigned versions to circulate, causing version control confusion and potential legal uncertainty about the approved value.

Short‑Form Risks from Incorrect or Unsupported Memos

Contractual Liability: Indemnity claims possible

Audit Exposure: Adjustments and restatements

Regulatory Risk: Enforcement for material misstatements

Financial Impact: Incorrect provisioning

Reputational Harm: Stakeholder trust erosion

Delay Costs: Transaction timing slips

How a Value Assessment Memo Differs from Related Documents

Compare related document types so authors select the correct format and level of formality for the intended purpose.

Document Type	Purpose	Typical Author	Formality
Value Assessment Memo	internal decision support	finance/valuation analyst	informal to moderate
Formal Valuation Report	third‑party opinion	accredited appraiser	high formality
Appraisal	market value opinion	certified appraiser	regulated format
Fairness Opinion	board-level fairness	investment bank	formal, external

eSignature Vendor Comparison for Signing and Storing the Memo

Compare common eSignature vendors on core criteria relevant to signing, bulk distribution, auditing, and compliance; signNow is listed first per vendor ordering rules.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Real‑World Examples of How Organizations Use a Value Assessment Memo

These anonymized arcs illustrate practical uses and outcomes when memos are integrated into workflow.

Martin Properties (Founder)

The firm automated its valuation notes for property dispositions to speed approvals by removing paper bottlenecks.

The team emphasized mobile signing for on‑site reviews.
The result: consistent documentation across transactions and faster turnaround while preserving compliance controls and an auditable trail.

Optica Ventures (COO)

A venture operations group used memos to summarize portfolio company valuations for board packets.

They standardized assumptions and exhibits.
That standardization reduced back‑and‑forth with directors, allowed concise board deliberation, and preserved reproducible supporting files for later audit.

Frequently Asked Questions and Troubleshooting

Answers to common problems encountered when preparing, signing, or storing a Value Assessment Memo.

Need help? Contact support

Can this memo be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA where adopted; ensure intent, consent, attribution, and record retention are met.
What authentication is sufficient?
Simple email link or SMS code is acceptable for many internal approvals; for higher‑risk matters, use stronger signer authentication or notarization as required by your legal or regulatory policies.
Is notarization required?
Typically not for internal valuation memos. If the memo supports a deed, affidavit, or court filing, notarization or remote notarization rules may apply depending on state law.
How to correct a signed memo?
Execute a documented amendment or addendum signed by the same authorized parties; avoid altering a signed PDF in place because it undermines the audit trail and authenticity.
What if signers have different names on record?
Ensure signer name matches legal or corporate signature authority. Mismatched names can raise enforceability questions and may require an attestation or corrected signature block.
How long is the signed copy admissible?
Signed electronic records that satisfy ESIGN/UETA retention and reproducibility requirements are admissible; maintain the audit trail and a durable PDF export for evidentiary support.

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