The International Glossary of Business Valuation Terms, June 2001, developed jointly by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, American Society of Appraisers, Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators, National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts, and Institute of Business Appraisers, defines fair market value as “The price, expressed in terms of cash equivalents, at which property would change hands between a hypothetical willing and able buyer and a hypothetical willing and able seller, acting at arms-length in an open and unrestricted market, when neither is under compulsion to buy or sell and when both have reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts.” The discussion in this technical paper focuses on areas the valuation analyst must consider when characterizing the willing buyer and willing seller for a determination fair market value.
