HOW TO BECOME A SUCCESSFUL VALUER IN IBBI & BANKING

HOW TO BECOME A SUCCESSFUL VALUER

IN THE IBBI INSOLVENCY & BANKING ECOSYSTEM

Er. Sundeep Bansal

For the Council of Engineers and Valuers
(For Professional Circulation among Valuers, Chartered Engineers, and Financial Experts)

REDEFINING SUCCESS IN THE VALUATION PROFESSION

Distinguished dignitaries, respected professionals, fellow valuers, ladies and gentlemen—

When we speak of success in the valuation profession, particularly in the era of IBBI, Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code, and heightened judicial scrutiny, it is essential that we first unlearn a common misconception.

Success does not mean money alone.

Money is important—no profession can survive without it—but money is merely an outcome, not the objective. The true success of a valuer lies in credibility, independence, ethical standing, and the ability to withstand scrutiny before banks, regulators, and courts of law.

Every valuer who wishes to be truly successful must remember:

“There are no elevators to the house of success. The stairs are hard to climb. But when you reach the top, the view is very fine.”

In the valuation profession, especially under IBC, success is slow, demanding, and often uncomfortable—but it is deeply rewarding.

1. ADD QUALIFICATIONS: THE FOUNDATION OF PROFESSIONAL LEGITIMACY

In today’s regulatory environment, qualifications are not optional—they are foundational.

A successful valuer must continuously strengthen his professional base by acquiring multiple, relevant credentials such as:

Fellowship in a recognized Organization of Valuers like Council of Engineers & Valuers CEV (CBDT / IBBI aligned)
Chartered Engineer / Professional Engineer
Surveyor and Loss Assessor (IRDAI)
Panel Arbitrator with the Indian Council of Arbitration
Registeryourself with IBBI through a reputed RVO like CEV Integral Appraisers Foundation RVO

Each qualification:

Expands professional jurisdiction
Enhances acceptance before banks and tribunals
Strengthens credibility during disputes

Illustration / Case Reference

In multiple NCLT proceedings involving real estate and industrial assets, valuation reports prepared by inadequately qualified professionals were either discarded or questioned. Conversely, reports submitted by IBBI-registered valuers with engineering and arbitration backgrounds were accepted as expert evidence.

Land & Building Case Law:
Jaypee Infratech Ltd. (NCLT) — The Tribunal relied only on reports prepared by properly qualified and registered valuers.

Remember: FIRST DESERVE… THEN DESIRE.

2. HAVE A THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE: KNOWLEDGE IS THE VALUER’S CAPITAL

Valuation is a knowledge-intensive profession. Laws change. Markets evolve. Judicial interpretations redefine benchmarks.

A successful valuer:

Reads professional journals regularly
Studies original textbooks and valuation standards
Avoids shortcuts such as photocopied material
Develops the habit of daily study—even five pages a day

“Books are my never-failing friends with whom I converse day by day.”

Illustration

A valuer thoroughly conversant with IBBI Valuation Standards and Supreme Court judgments successfully defended a liquidation value challenged by a suspended promoter, while another valuer—unaware of recent legal developments—lost credibility.

Securities Case Law:
Essar Steel India Ltd. vs. Satish Kumar Gupta (Supreme Court) — The Court upheld valuation grounded in standards, knowledge, and professional judgment.

3. OBTAIN RECOGNITION: EMPANELMENT IS THE DOORWAY TO OPPORTUNITY

Recognition converts qualification into work.

Every valuer must apply persistently for empanelment with:

Banks and Financial Institutions
Asset Reconstruction Companies
Insolvency Professionals and IP Firms
Government and PSU bodies

Empanelment today requires:

Patience
Repeated follow-ups
Continuous improvement

A pessimist says: “It is possible but difficult.”

An optimist says: “It is difficult but possible.”

Illustration

Many valuers are empanelled only after several attempts. However, once empanelled, they receive continuous insolvency and banking assignments based on reliability.

P&M Case Law:
Electrosteel Steels Ltd. — Valuations relied upon were from recognized and empanelled professionals.

4. PRACTICAL EXPOSURE: EXPERIENCE IS THE REAL TEACHER

There is no formal university curriculum that teaches insolvency valuation in totality.

Hence, seminars, workshops, and conferences are:

A practical classroom
A forum for doubt-clearing
A gateway to peer learning

Traveling to seminars also exposes valuers to regional markets and practices.

“You can learn more about a road by travelling it than by reading a map.”

Illustration

A valuer attending liquidation valuation workshops later handled valuation of a shut-down plant under CIRP with confidence and clarity.

5. PUBLIC RELATIONS: LET THE WORLD KNOW YOU EXIST

Valuation work flows through professional networks.

A valuer must:

Maintain professional visiting cards
Clearly display qualifications
Build relationships with CAs, Advocates, Bankers, IPs

In the initial stage:

One may accept lower fees
Work as an associate
Focus on learning, not earnings

“IN HARD WORK I TRUST.”

6. KNOW THE PURPOSE: THE HEART OF VALUATION

Value varies with:

Purpose
Place
Date

Under IBC, purpose determines everything:

Fair Value
Liquidation Value
Security Value
Avoidance Transaction Value

Never proceed without absolute clarity of purpose.

Illustration

A valuer who refused to inflate a mortgage value later became the preferred valuer for insolvency valuation due to his reputation for fairness.

IBC Case Law:
Committee of Creditors of Amtek Auto Ltd. — Fair value and liquidation value serve distinct statutory purposes.

7. CASE LAWS: COURAGE TO HANDLE COMPLEXITY

“A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.”

After gaining experience, a valuer must:

Accept complex and disputed assignments
Study judgments and amendments
Be prepared to travel and adapt

Asset-Class Case Laws

Land & Building: Binani Industries Ltd.
Plant & Machinery: Bhushan Steel Ltd.
Securities: Swiss Ribbons Pvt. Ltd.

“You cannot discover new oceans unless you lose sight of the shore.”

8. DEFEND YOUR VALUATION: THIS DEFINES AN EXPERT

Valuations are frequently challenged.

A valuer must:

Defend assumptions logically
Cite laws and statistics
Refer to case laws

A valuation that cannot be defended has little value.

“A valuer is known not by reports issued, but by valuations successfully defended.”

9. THE VALUATION REPORT: YOUR AMBASSADOR

Your report represents you—even in your absence.

It must be:

Neatly prepared
Computer-generated
Supported with photographs and sketches
Exhaustive and self-explanatory

“You cannot get a second chance to make a first impression.”

10. FEES: COUNT CLIENTS, NOT JUST MONEY

Fees matter—but reputation matters more.

Maintain:

Proper receipts
Transparent accounts
Timely tax compliance

A valuer’s professional standing is judged by:

Turnover
Compliance
Integrity

11. GENERAL PRINCIPLES FOR LASTING SUCCESS

No overnight success
No shortcuts
Integrity is non-negotiable
Consult seniors when in doubt
Know your limits and asset class
Innovate, don’t imitate
Never underquote to grab work
Teach, write, and share knowledge
Never believe you are a master

As Sir Isaac Newton said:

“I only pick up pebbles while the ocean lies before me.”

THE VALUER AS A TRUSTEE OF ECONOMIC JUSTICE

In the IBBI and banking ecosystem, a valuer is not merely a professional—
he is a trustee of economic truth and fairness.

Success belongs to those who:

Dare to act
Remain ethical
Learn continuously

“Success often comes to those who dare and act, and seldom to the timid.”

WISH YOU ALL THE BEST

Council of Engineers and Valuers – Professional Guidelines on Asset Valuation in Estate Planning (CEV, 2024)

About the Council of Engineers and Valuers (CEV)

The Council of Engineers and Valuers (CEV) is a premier professional body representing registered valuers, engineers, and technical experts across India. It actively contributes to standard-setting, professional training, and the dissemination of knowledge in valuation, land administration, and fiduciary asset management.

Published by: Council of Engineers and Valuers (CEV)