• QuickRead Top Story - Valuation/Appraisal

    The Meritocracy of an Unregulated Market

    Is There a Need to Broaden Regulation? Can humans achieve economic market efficiency without the “visible hand” or is the collateral damage of decisions an unfortunate reality in exchange for the freedom of unregulated markets. This article discusses the role of regulation in an unregulated market and potential shifts. How do you measure ability when the parameters are not clearly defined? As valuation analysts, we determine the cost of capital using inputs such as return on regulated public markets. Restrictions of public securities markets are often set in place through governmental bodies which impose arguable economic checks and balances. The…

  • QuickRead Top Story - Valuation/Appraisal

    Company Specific Risk

    Alleged Best Practices to Whom? Peter J. Butler, CFA, ASA, MBA, founder of Valtrend, LLC and inventor of the Total Cost of Equity Calculator (TCOE), responds to comments made by Robert Reilly and Connor Thurman regarding best practices used to arrive at the company specific risk; the latter article did not discuss the TCOE and here he “key[s] in on Part III—the section which addresses empirical evidence in the selection of the company specific risk premium (CSRP)” and merits of the TCOE. Introduction I read all four parts of the “Best Practices for Estimating the Company-Specific Risk Premium” in NACVA’s…

  • QuickRead Top Story - Valuation/Appraisal

    Best Practices for Estimating the Company-Specific Risk Premium

    (Part III of IV) This is the third of a four-part article that sets forth best practices for estimating the company-specific risk premium. This part of the discussion describes the various empirical data sources that analysts may consider as proxies—or benchmarks—or approximations—in developing the CSRP estimate. [su_pullquote align=”right”]Resources: Best Practices for Estimating the Company-Specific Risk Premium (Part I of IV) Best Practices for Estimating the Company-Specific Risk Premium (Part II of IV) [/su_pullquote] Introduction Estimating the cost of capital is one component of private company business valuation performed for financing, transaction, taxation, business planning, financial accounting, litigation, and other purposes.…

  • QuickRead Top Story - Valuation/Appraisal

    Equity Size Premium

    Observations and Delaware Fair Value (Part II of II) This is the second of a two-part article, read Part I here, that focuses on empirical evidence supporting the size premium adjustment, observations regarding the CRSP size premium 10th decile category, liquidity issues that may account for the size premium, and certain Delaware Chancery Court decisions involving a size premium discussion. In this second part, the author focuses on the latter two points. These are discussed since in the past few years there have been numerous fair value business valuation related disputes decided by the Delaware Court of Chancery that involved…

  • QuickRead Top Story - Valuation/Appraisal

    Equity Size Premium

    Observations and Delaware Fair Value (Part I of II) This is a two-part article that focuses on empirical evidence supporting the size premium adjustment, observations regarding the CRSP size premium 10th decile category, liquidity issues that may account for the size premium, and certain Delaware Chancery Court decisions involving a size premium discussion. These are discussed since in the past few years there have been numerous fair value business valuation related disputes decided by the Delaware Court of Chancery that involved certain cost of equity capital postulates. Valuation analysts should be aware of potential issues related to incorporating a size…

  • QuickRead Featured - Valuation/Appraisal

    Book Review—A Consensus View Q&A Guide to Financial Valuation

    Hitchner, Pratt, and Fishman Answer the Call In the past month, business valuation professionals have read reviews from a number of practitioners serving as reviewers for the Q&A Guide. All of them are positive. In this book review, we go into a little more detail and discuss what these established and accomplished business valuation professionals and leaders answer in the Q&A Guide. So, what does this book cover? What is not covered? These questions are answered in this review.

  • Mergers and Acquisitions/Exit Planning

    The Value Opportunity to Private Companies

    Can private companies really increase their value 80-100 percent by limiting unsystematic (controllable) risks? The November/December 2013 issue of The Value Examiner featured Ken Sanginario’s article entitled, “The Valuation Business: A Strategic Road Map for Success.” In this article, Sanginario answers questions raised by skeptics to make the case that value doubling for private companies is possible.