Assessment of irrigation dam using real options and discounted cash flow approaches: a case study in Greece

Water Policy ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 481-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anastasios Michailidis ◽  
Konstadinos Mattas ◽  
Diamantis Karamouzis

This article extends the evaluation techniques of an irrigation dam in northern Greece, called “Petrenia”, by comparing the real options approach along with, a traditional one, the discount cash flow. By introducing first a Monte Carlo simulation, the various uncertainty factors can be simulated and alternative value options can be computed, feeding them later in the real options model. Results from the case study in Greece clearly demonstrate that the irrigation dam can be classified as a profitable investment, by applying traditional discount cash flow analysis, while by applying the real options approach the project cannot be classified as profitable. Taking into consideration the uncertainty factors, the real options approach reveals that the investment could be postponed and decision makers can keep the option of investing open. Sequentially, discount cash flow analysis accompanied by the real options approach facilitates decision making and improves the investment assessment analysis. In this particular project assessment, two uncertainty factors, variation in dam capacity and water price, restrict the profitability of the irrigation dam, according to the results of the real options approach.

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnė Pivorienė

Abstract In today’s uncertain and highly competitive business environment, the difficulty to make strategic investment decisions is growing. The dominant discounted cash flow analysis requires the assumption of perfect certainty of project cash flows. However, under uncertainty traditional DCF approach falls short of providing adequate strategic decision support, and this situation demands new methods for investment evaluation. Real options approach (ROA) has shown the potential for valuation of strategic corporate investment decisions and managerial flexibility in situations of high uncertainty. Under ROA, projects are viewed as real options that can be valued using financial option pricing techniques. This framework allows their owner to keep investment options open and to benefit from the upside potential of an opportunity while controlling the downside risk. The main aim of this research is to investigate the feasibility of real options approach and traditional DCF analysis for assessment of strategic investment projects under environmental uncertainty.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 562-571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guilherme Brittes Benitez ◽  
Mateus José do Rêgo Ferreira Lima

Goal: This study aims to assess the impact of using the method of real options in investment analysis through a case study on a retail firm. Design / Methodology / Approach: It was targeted the applications of the real options method in a different type of environment and it was compared to another method more commonly used, the discounted cash flow method (DCF). The implementation and assessment of the real options method was investigated by means of a case study conducted in an investment analysis in a retail units firm. Results: The use of the real options method showed a more concise applicability over the DCF method. The results show that the project’s value, after the inclusion of managerial flexibility, increased significantly, which indicates that the analysis of the discounted cash flow undervalued the investment in question, since it disregarded the flexibility to expand or abandon the project. Limitations of the investigation: The presented method is proper to long-term processes where it is possible to make changes during the project. Investments in this sector usually are more related to short and medium-term decisions, making the application difficult due to the short decision-making period available to the managers. Practical Implications: The study provided the incorporation of flexibility through different pathways during the building project in a retail units firm. It was showed different scenarios where practitioners could decide among expanding, proceeding, reducing or abandoning the retail units based on the characteristics of their investments. Originality/value: The results obtained are an indication of this methodology to industrial businesses that are relatively volatile and that need a certain degree of flexibility in order to burgeon, such as the case of the retailing sector.


2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianpaolo Iazzolino ◽  
Giuseppe Migliano

AbstractThe importance of knowledge and other intangible activities for the success of an enterprise have been broadly recognized over the last few years. In this paper a tutorial is illustrated on the valuation of a patent through the real options approach (ROA), since the use of the discounted cash flow (DCF) methods, such as the net present value (NPV), seems to show issues when evaluating opportunities, such as the ones offered by intangible activities. The logic underlying ROA is tightly based on financial options and, in this sense, uncertainty can be seen as an opportunity, and not necessarily as a threat and its effect on the value of an activity can become positive. The patent analysed (registered in 2009) is a patent by the Alfa Group (this is not the real name of the firm but is used here for privacy reasons), which is a worldwide leader in the production of Getters, metallic elements that, through a chemical absorption process, keep the devices in which they are embedded in vacuum status. Such equipment is used in lightning systems, monitor screens, flat screen TVs, etc. In this tutorial, an ROA has been developed in order to demonstrate how the value of intangible assets can be estimated by using an Italian case study that can be useful for further studies and uses.


Author(s):  
Bijan Vasigh ◽  
Farshid Azadian ◽  
Kamran Moghaddam

Aircraft valuation and the estimation of an accurate aircraft price is undoubtedly a challenging task that has significant consequences for airlines. This paper presents an asset valuation model to show how a series of endogenous as well as exogenous factors can influence the value of an aircraft. Specifically, a discounted cash flow methodology is used to forecast the valuation of an old or new generation aircraft. Both total operating revenue and aircraft operating costs are taken into account to devise a reliable pre-tax profit measurement that is used as the basis of the discounted cash flow analysis. A sensitivity analysis based on Monte Carlo simulation is utilized to identify which factors have a more significant influence on the suggested aircraft value. Therefore, it addresses how value fluctuates in response to economic fluctuations. Indeed, the calculated value of an aircraft highly depends on the underlying assumptions used. The calculated value is compared with available data in a case study for verification.


2005 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio G. N. Novaes ◽  
João Carlos Souza

Some authors, considering deterministic or stochastic demand patterns and different forecasting formulations, have studied the classical problem of optimally meeting a growing demand for capacity, over an infinite horizon. With this approach, only investment costs discounted with a predefined interest rate are considered in the analysis. Adding other expenditures and revenues, managers usually estimate the discounted cash flow of the project, and assume the organization will follow a predetermined plan when investing, regardless of how events unfold in the future. The real options approach, on the other hand, introduces the possibility of incorporating other decision alternatives in the economic analysis, such as the option of waiting or postponing, abandoning, switching, etc. In this paper we first review the classical capacity expansion models. Then, the concepts and properties of the real options approach, with emphasis on the Black-Scholes equation, are briefly discussed. Finally, an application example is presented and discussed.


2010 ◽  
Vol 105-106 ◽  
pp. 798-801
Author(s):  
Bao Cheng He ◽  
Hong Tao Jiang ◽  
Shu Zhi Yao ◽  
Bao Yuan He

The success of ceramic companies is highly dependent on research and development (R&D). Thus, a pivotal aim of management is to allocate resources to the best scientific and financial R&D projects. But the valuation of ceramic R&D is a difficult task for managers. The conventional discounted cash flow (DCF) methods fail to consider the value of managerial flexibility provided by R&D projects. Real options Analysis (ROA) offers a superior way of capturing the value of flexibility. It enables decision-maker to value projects more accurately by incorporating managerial flexibilities into the valuation model. However, ROA can’t effectively deal with the volatility of parameters in itself under high uncertain circumstance. In view of the limitation of ROA, this paper uses Monte Carlo simulation to solve the parameters volatility problems. In the end, the case study proves that Monte Carlo simulation can improve R&D investment decisions, especially for highly unpredictable ceramic R&D projects.


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