Premier ASA Complex Securities Conference Breaks Attendance Record
Summaries and takeaways from the American Society of Appraisers’ first ASA Complex Securities Virtual Conference.
The Story Behind Your Valuation: Damodaran’s Five-Step Framework
One of the lessons learned from the COVID-19 crisis is that a coherent narrative is more important than ever in business valuation, says Dr. Aswath Damodaran, of New York University Stern School of Business, who gave the keynote address at the CBV Congress 2021. A valuation needs a marriage of narrative and numbers, Damodaran says. In a good valuation, the numbers are “bound together” by a coherent narrative, and storytelling is kept grounded with numbers. Too much emphasis on numbers can make valuations mere “plug-and-point exercises” that may be perceived to be sales pitches or a confirmation of preconceived values.
The Benefits of Bizminer’s Reliable and Granular Industry Data (Free Webinar)
Bizminer is a truly unique industry and market research database that covers over 5,000 industry segments, market areas that range from the US down to the ZIP code, and a variety of customizable reports to meet your research needs. Join Galen Pugh, Bizminer's Senior Account Executive, to get an in-depth look at the functions and features of the database as well as insight into how and why BV professionals are using its reports.
Monte Carlo 101: How to Set Up Your First Simulation
Join Oksana Westerbeke and Keith Konen to learn the basics of the Monte Carlo simulation. Review the pros and cons of different software used for Monte Carlo simulations. Then dive into the steps to set up your first Monte Carlo simulation with a detailed discussion of the “assumptions” and “forecast” of the Monte Carlo simulation, the analytics and output, and troubleshooting. Learn through the hands-on visual presentation of designing and implementing a Monte Carlo simulation ...
Tax reporting loophole shields some cryptocurrency
Uncovering assets is a common challenge in many valuation and forensics engagements, and the challenge becomes even greater when cryptocurrency is involved.
Pro golfer values analyzed in Duff & Phelps/Kroll study
Everyone who plays golf knows how confounding the game is.
Defining Terms: Forecasts v. Projections—Why Does It Matter?
One area that can trigger some confusion is the difference between the terms “forecast” and “projection.” Some people use them interchangeably, but these are formal terms found in the literature, so they should be used appropriately.
A few recent papers of note
“Forecasting: Theory and Practice” is a recently updated encyclopedic presentation of forecasting methods in theory and practice.
Business Valuation’s ‘Dirty Little Secret’
Recent developments have put the spotlight squarely on projected financial information (PFI). The perception is that too many valuation experts simply accept projections and forecasts they’re given without applying enough scrutiny—or any scrutiny at all. Fortunately, there is some new guidance on how to examine and substantiate PFI you get from management or other third parties in BVR’s new Guide to Management Projections and Business Valuation: Analysis and Case Law. The following is an excerpt from that chapter.
Four questions you must always ask about PFI
There are many things to consider when evaluating prospective financial information (PFI), and much of it can be boiled down to four questions you should be asking, according to the just-released BVR Guide to Management Projections and Business Valuation: Analysis and Case Law.
Two new resources from BVR
Just released!
The BVR Guide to Management Projections and Business Valuation: Analysis and Case Law
June 2021 Hardcover, PDF
BVR (editor)
Business Valuation Resources, LLC
Comparing Growth Rates Used in Discounted Cash Flow Valuations
Estimating growth in net cash flows is one of the key components in applying the discounted cash flow (DCF) method in valuing any company, reporting unit, or other business unit. This paper explains the underlying assumptions of the DCF method and demonstrates how to compare the most commonly used basis for estimating net cash flows (sometimes referred to as free cash flows), expected organic growth, to historic estimates of growth of the subject company and ...
Is It Time to Terminate the Traditional Terminal Value?
All corporate valuation models rely on very long forecasts of free cash flows. The only question is whether those forecasts are accounted for explicitly by using an extended valuation model or implicitly in an estimate of the terminal value after an explicit short-term forecast period of five to ten years. Given current computing technology, there are good reasons to use projections running out multiple decades. Doing so gives a clearer picture of the long-run issues ...
Company-Specific Risk Is Not All That Specific
All firms face company-specific risks, many of which are somewhat similar across industries and companies. So is anything really company-specific? An alternative method eliminates the need to totally guess at the company-specific risk premium.
Debut of complex securities conference is tomorrow, May 20
Want to move from standard business appraisals to more difficult-to-value assets? Attend the Complex Securities Virtual Conference on May 20, presented by the American Society of Appraisers (ASA).
Damodaran to teach valuation fundamentals at IMAA
Professor Aswath Damodaran (New York University Stern School of Business) will present a four-day, 12-hour online course on valuation May 25-28 at the Institute for Mergers, Acquisitions and Alliances (IMAA).
Exploring Excel Functions That Help With Business Valuations
Several Microsoft Excel functions are already available in most modern versions of the program that many valuation experts are unaware of. If you use Microsoft Excel for any sort of process, the use of certain functions can make your templates more accurate and allow you to complete an analysis quicker. Join valuation expert and Excel guru Shawn Hyde to learn about setting up dynamic text, which means typing a sentence in a cell in an ...
Mercer addresses court acceptance of the QMDM for DLOM
During a recent BVR webinar, an audience member asked about the track record in court of the quantitative marketability discount model (QMDM) for determining a discount for lack of marketability (DLOM).
Today! Third and final part of ‘Integrated Theory’ webinar series
A very special BVR webinar series concludes today with the authors of Business Valuation: An Integrated Theory, Z. Christopher Mercer and Travis W. Harms (both with Mercer Capital).
Using a Discounted Cash Flow Methodology in Uncertain Times
A fundamental look at the method taking center stage during the pandemic. This article outlines how the DCF method works and to highlight the nuances and trap doors that will be encountered and must be overcome to reliably apply the method to derive an indication of value that is well reasoned and supportable for the application intended.
Assessing Additional Economic Risk Due to COVID-19 (Update)
This is an update to a previously published template that can serve as a framework of thinking about the impact of the coronavirus on a subject company. The author presents a series of questions that help assess the short- and long-term risks with respect to the subject company’s industry, physical operations, financial issues and firm management.
Mercer and Harms tie BV together into one neat bundle
Business valuation is like one huge jigsaw puzzle, and practitioners can often find themselves focusing too much on the individual pieces.
Blast from the past on forecasting
During a recent BVR webinar, Josh Shilts (Shilts CPA PLLC) mentioned a helpful article that appeared in the Harvard Business Review (HBR), “How to Choose the Right Forecasting Technique.”
Today! ‘Integrated Theory’ authors kick off webinar series
A very special BVR webinar series begins today with the authors of Business Valuation: An Integrated Theory, Z. Christopher Mercer and Travis W. Harms (both with Mercer Capital).