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We use a decision-tree-based machine learning approach to perform relative valuation. Stocks are valued using market-to-book, enterprise-value-to-assets and enterprise-value-to-sales multiples. Our machine learning models reduce median absolute valuation errors by between 17% and 50% relative to traditional models. The identified valuation drivers are consistent with theoretical predictions derived from a discounted cash flow approach. Accounting variables related to profitability, growth, efficiency and financial soundness are important valuation drivers. The valuations produced by machine learning models behave like fundamental values. A value-weighted strategy that buys (sells) undervalued (overvalued) stocks generates highly significant abnormal returns. When we use models trained on listed firms to value IPOs, machine learning models outperform traditional models in valuation accuracy and can identify mispriced IPOs.

The resource-constrained project scheduling problem (RCPSP) is a basic problem in project management. The net present value (NPV) of discounted cash flow is used as a criterion to evaluate the financial aspects of RCPSP in many studies. But while most existing studies focused on only the contractor's NPV, this article addresses a practical extension of RCPSP, called the payment scheduling negotiation problem (PSNP), which considers both the interests of the contractor and the client. To maximize NPVs of both sides and achieve a win-win solution, these two participants negotiate together to determine an activity schedule and a payment plan for the project. The challenges arise in three aspects: 1) the client's NPV and the contractor's NPV are two conflicting objectives; 2) both participants have special preferences in decision making; and 3) the RCPSP is nondeterministic polynomial-time hard (NP-Hard). To overcome these challenges, this article proposes a new approach with the following features. First, the problem is reformulated as a biobjective optimization problem with preferences. Second, to address the different preferences of the client and the contractor, a strategy of multilevel region interest is presented. Third, this strategy is integrated in the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) to solve the PSNP efficiently. In the experiment, the proposed algorithm is compared with both the double-level optimization approach and the multiobjective optimization approach. The experimental results validate that the proposed method can focus on searching in the region of interest (ROI) and provide more satisfactory solutions.

BACKGROUND Despite Group B streptococcus being a leading cause of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality, no vaccine is currently available to prevent this disease. To inform vaccine developers, countries, and funders, we analyse in this paper the key factors likely to influence the demand for a GBS vaccine and the long-term financial sustainability for a commercial entity considering the development of such a vaccine. METHODS By using population-based forecasting, we estimated the demand for a GBS vaccine based on the burden of disease, the strength of the maternal immunisation systems, the fiscal space, and the track record in introducing new vaccines. Furthermore, we estimated the financial viability for a vaccine developer by estimating the Net Present Value of the vaccine development project using a Discounted Cash Flow model. RESULTS Demand for this vaccine can be significant if policy recommendations for use are adopted by countries, in particular the largest ones, most of which have a burden that justifies the use of the vaccine and if financing for the vaccine will be made available either by countries themselves or by funding mechanisms such as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Different administration schedules may result in even larger demand. With a widespread policy recommendation, the commercial viability of this vaccine can be achieved. The cost of clinical development - particularly the type of pivotal trial required - and the number of competitors are the factors that can strongly influence the long-term financial sustainability and hence the interest of vaccine developers. CONCLUSIONS This analysis suggests the potential for full financial and commercial viability for a manufacturer pursuing the development and commercialization of a GBS vaccine. Risks exists in relation to the clinical trial design and costs, the level of competition, countries' ability to pay, the administration schedule and the availability of policies that encourage use of the vaccine. To reduce those risks and ensure equitable access to a GBS vaccine, the role of donors or financers can prove very important; as can a coordinated operational research agenda that aims at clarifying those areas of uncertainty.

We investigated the techno-economic analysis of two integrated torrefaction and pelletization systems: (1) Torrefaction befOre Pelletization and (2) Torrefaction After Pelletization configurations to produce torrefied wood pellets. The detailed mass and energy balances and operating parameters were obtained from the process simulation model developed with the base case plant capacity of 100,000 Mg yr−1 using natural gas as an auxiliary fuel source. A discounted cash flow analysis was conducted for both configurations to estimate the capital expenditure, operating expenses, production cost, and the minimum selling price of torrefied pellets. The minimum selling price of torrefied pellets at the plant gate was $207 Mg−1 ($8.5 GJ−1) for the Torrefaction before Pelletization and $197 Mg−1 ($8.1 GJ−1) for the Torrefaction After Pelletization configurations. An increase in the plant capacity of up to 200,000 Mg yr−1 for both configurations decreased the minimum selling price by 10%. The sensitivity analysis of various operational and financial parameters demonstrated that the feedstock cost and torrefaction product yield were the most sensitive parameters influencing the minimum selling price of torrefied pellets. Future opportunities exist to reduce the minimum selling price of torrefied pellets to become competitive to conventional wood pellets and coal.

A method for building end-to-end management accounting in a division of the Bank’s subdevision specializing in working with non-core assets is proposed. Has been proposed the process approach, an algorithm for building a database for the formation of key performance and control indicators. Has been described the key stages of the department's work, the attribute composition of entities (set) arriving, enriched and transmitted at each stage of the department's work. By modeling the process has been built a role model, access and editing rights for employees. Data sources (reference books) for optimization and unification of the process of filling the database (tuple) are proposed. A method of accessing the database in the Power Query Microsoft Excel add-in is proposed, which allows you to collect data from files of all basic data types, process and refine the received data. In the interactive programming environment Jupyter Notebook, mathematical and financial models for data analysis (logistic regression, decision tree and discounted cash flow method) were built based on data in order to predict costs, the timing of asset exposure and make a decision on the optimal cost of putting property on the Bank's balance sheet and selling price. Based on ready-made libraries (matpotlib, seaborn, plotly), options for data visualization for management are proposed. Using the example of the Bank's division, the author describes the positive effects and opportunities that open up to the management of different levels in solving day-to-day tasks and planning the activities of the division. A technical task was proposed for the development of a showcase for the sale of non-core assets on the Bank's website as an environment for the accumulation of external data for making flexible management decisions.

The market for space solar power (SSP) is developing. This analysis utilizes a case study of SSP for remote mine operations to determine its economic feasibility. We employ a discounted cash flow (DCF) evaluation and then assess the sensitivity of the DCF model to changes in its underlying assumptions. The results indicate that there are scenarios for SSP where it is considered a viable power alternative. Further, a discussion of the assumed manufacturing and transportation costs decreases to expand the market is given.

This case guides students through the process of preparing a real-life business case. The business case involves capital expenditure analysis for a potential project in the Wally-Mart Supermarkets frozen supply chain. There are three parts to the business case: (1) prepare a financial model in Excel with a discounted cash flow method to analyze relevant incremental capital expenditures, revenues, costs, and profits; (2) concisely communicate the financial model and business case in a business style Word report; and (3) concisely communicate the financial model and business case in a business style PowerPoint presentation. The case materials include a practice financial modeling exercise. The case is suitable for use in undergraduate and graduate management accounting courses.

In this research, a novel technology is proposed that combines chemical looping combustion and methane reforming in order to convert CO2 to value added chemicals. The stoichiometric number is improved via adding assisted steam and utilizing pressure swing adsorption unit. The process simulation is conducted utilizing Aspen plus-V10 simulation software. The new built-in model featured by AspenTech, dubbed Fluidbed, in Aspen Plus is employed to simulate the CLC section. In Aspen Plus flowsheet environment, a hierarchal approach is considered in that the main flowsheet is divided into 5 hierarchy models or sub flowsheets. The process simulation results display that the overall conversions of CH4 and CO2 via this process are 97 % and 87 %, respectively. The heat integration results depict that 138.7 MW heat energy can be saved in the process. The CO2 emission of the whole process per methanol production is 0.1 tCO2/tMe. The estimated capital expenditure, and operating expenditure are US$ 509 million and US$ 159 million/yr, respectively. A discounted cash flow model combined with sensitivity analyses showed that a breakeven point could be reached with a methanol price of US$ 242/tonne. Net present value, internal rate of return, and pay out time are evaluated based on DCF results.

A techno-economic analysis (TEA) was conducted to evaluate the economic profitability and feasibility for a H2 energy storage system using an alkaline and a polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis for 1 MW water electrolysis operation. Many economic analysis methods such as itemized cost estimation, profitability analysis using a cumulative cash flow diagram, and uncertainty analysis employing a Monte-Carlo simulation method were utilized to perform a TEA. In particular, a renewable energy certificate (REC) was considered as an additional benefit of a renewable energy use. From itemized cost estimation, respective levelized costs of H2 of 7.21 and 9.19 $ kgH2−1 were obtained for both H2 energy storage systems in an alkaline and a polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis by considering current economy situation and therefore it is still difficult to be cost-competitive compared to a commercial H2 production cost. From profitability and uncertainty analysis results, an appropriate REC weight was confirmed in terms of discounted profitability criteria like a discounted payback period, a net present value, a present value ratio, and a discounted cash flow rate of return. In addition, a REC weight was affected on a net present value compared to a REC trading cost fluctuation.

International audience; The circular economy is calling for the rapid use of already-developed renewable energies. However, the successful implementation of those new fuels is limited by economic and political issues. For instance, in the Brandenburg region, Germany, biogas production from anaerobic digestion of biomass and wastes is a current alternative. However, the upgrading biogas to biomethane is still challenging and the economic viability is unknown. Therefore, we performed an economic analysis for biogas upgrading to biomethane in the Brandenburg region. Five biogas plant sizes were analyzed by the method of discounted cash flow. This method yields the net present value of the projects, thus revealing the profitability or non-profitability of the plants. Results indicate profitable outputs for medium and large plants, with net present values between 415 and 7009 k€. However, the smallest plants have net present values from -4250 to -3389 k€, thus needing further economic efforts or subsidies to reach profitability. Indeed, biomethane prices should range between 52.1 and 95.6 €/MWh to make these projects profitable. Combinations of 50% of investment subsidized and 11.5 €/MWh feed-in tariffs subsidies could make the projects reach profitability. These findings reveal that political actions such as green policies and subsidies are needed to implement green energy. This case study should serve as a potential tool for policy-makers toward a sustainable bioeconomy.

The aim of this study is to determine the impact of the quality of accounting information on the cost of capital in the firms listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). The study focuses on the fundamental qualitative attributes of accounting information mentioned in the Statement of Financial Accounting Concepts (SFAC) No. 8. These attributes comprise predictive value, neutrality, completeness and free from error. The cost of capital is measured using the discounted cash flow technique. Very few studies have been conducted using the discounted cash flow technique in relation to emerging stock markets, as compared to developed stock markets. Data were collected from the companies belonging to the non-financial sector of the PSX from 2001 to 2019. The regression analysis results showed that the attributes of accounting information—predictive value, neutrality, completeness and free from error—impact the cost of capital in the PSX. A systematic pattern analysis of risk-adjusted portfolio returns also revealed that these qualitative attributes are genuine risk factors and are not created by chance due to the inefficiency of the market. A policy implication of this finding is that potential investors should consider the qualitative attributes of accounting information before making their investment decisions.

A large-scale hydrogen supply chain is an alternative for the transportation of energy generated from a renewable energy source. Utilizing this technology would drastically improve the generation of clean energy. Therefore, an analysis method to estimate the economic and environmental benefits of the introduction of a hydrogen supply chain using an existing pipeline is developed. The proposed method first estimates the energy and exergy flows in the system to calculate the overall efficiency of these quantities. Afterward, the payback period is estimated based on the overall energy efficiency using the discounted cash flow (DCF) method. The overall efficiency of the system, based on the energy analysis presented, would seem to be the final delivered electrical, fuel and useable heat energy delivered to end use divided by the input solar and wind energy. Furthermore, the environmental effects due to the introduction of the systems are evaluated considering the reduction of global warming and air pollution gases, such as CO2 and PM2.5. The proposed analysis method was applied considering a natural gas pipeline that connects Qinghai and Shanghai. As a result, conversion ratios of 24.9% for electricity and 17.5% for heat were achieved, with the overall efficiency of the system of 42.4% based on the electricity obtained from photovoltaics. 3.02 Gt of CO2, 104 kt of SOx, and 134 kt of NOx, which represent 3.3%, 0.5%, and 0.6% of the annual discharge in China, respectively, and 8.66 kt of PM2.5 would be reduced every year. Furthermore, a reduction of 953 Mt in coal consumption is expected. The payback period of the proposed system using the DCF method is 4.17 and 2.28 years for the two alternatives evaluated in this work. The cash flow of the DCF is influenced by installation cost and operation cost of equipment.

CO2 utilization via methanol synthesis can be an effective approach to mitigate the issue of global warming. This study developed an innovative process to produce methanol by combining water electrolysis with tri-reforming of methane (TRM). The proposed design utilized carbon-free electricity to split water into O2 and H2; O2 is collected for partial oxidation reaction in the TRM and H2 is collected for stoichiometric number (SN) optimization. This process configuration eliminates the typical problems of H2 surplus or deficit associated with methanol synthesis and allows a substantial amount of CO2 to be converted. The main process flowsheet was developed with Aspen HYSYS process simulator and then the feasibility of this project was evaluated based on its technical, environmental, and economic performances. The estimated capital expenditure (CAPEX), operating expenditure (OPEX) and GHG emissions of the baseline plant are US$774 million, US$263 million/yr. and −0.14 kgCO2eq/kgMeOH, respectively. In particular, water electrolysis process accounted for 34 % of CAPEX and 51 % of OPEX. A discounted cash flow (DCF) model combined with sensitivity analyses showed that a breakeven point could be reached with a methanol price of US$491/ton. The results demonstrated that combining water electrolysis with TRM could achieve a sustainable carbon-sink process for methanol production.

The aim of the paper is to develop a methodology for evaluating oil and gas fields return on investments based on not only finance, but also environmental and social interrelations. The subject of the study is a comparison of methods for calculating return on investments on the example of China, Canada and Russia’s oil and gas companies. The authors used a comparative method of calculations, as well as a case study — a comparison of return on investments methods on the example of oil and gas enterprises. In the paper, the authors analyze the next traditional methods of economic assessment: net present value, differential rent, reserve and multiple costs. The authors suggest using a new assessment method that determines the energy return on investment (EROI). This method does not rely on traditional analysis of net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), and financial sensitivity. It comprehensively takes into account the costs of energy production, environmental protection and energy efficiency. Based on the results of the study, the authors conclude that the advantages of various methods of economic assessment should be integrated in order to avoid disadvantages and create a new dynamic integrated system of economic assessment. Oil and gas companies may use the results of the study to implement the energy return on investment methodology concerning oil and gas fields’ evaluation. A promising direction for further research may be to compare the energy return on investment at oil and gas enterprises in different countries as well as developing corporate reporting concerning energy return on investment improving efficiency.

The paper present an economic model and framework for the development of natural gas pipeline for sustainable economic development in Nigeria. The study reviewed the economics of natural gas pipeline development in Nigeria. The research formulated an economic model for a case study of Calabar to Ajaokuta 417km gas pipeline project and a discounted cash flow for an economic life of 40 years. The project economics indicates a Net Present Value (NPV) of 12.5 billion USD with a discounted payback period of 7 years and 9 nine months, Profitability Index (PI) of 7.30, Internal Rate of Return of 23.05% and Growth Rate of Return 26.97% and these project economic indicator shows that the gas pipeline investment is viable. This study provides an economic model that would guarantee security of gas supply, provide access to clean energy and provides an economic framework to support long term natural gas pipeline development in Nigeria

Purpose : This study evaluated the bio-economic potentials of temperate lowland silvopastoral agroforestry systems in North Wales, United Kingdom. Methodology : The bioeconomic analysis compared three land-use plausible scenarios (‘forestry’, ‘pasture / livestock’ and ‘agroforestry’) at 3.5% discount rate on a 10-hectare farm over a 30-year rotation using discounted cash flow analysis and national costs and prices for both livestock and tree products based on 2016 baseline data. Base case net present value (NPV) and annual equivalent value (AEV) were calculated for each production livestock grazing, farm forestry, and silvopastoral agroforestry scenario, assuming no policy interventions. Findings: Generally, results of the economic analyses indicated that under the baseline case, assuming no policy interventions, none of the options was viable. This study also showed that increase in lamb sale price, wood price, and wood yield improved the economic viability of the three investment options significantly. Again, the viability of the three investment options in this study is shown to decrease with increase in discount rates. Furthermore, this study disclosed that the application of prevailing government grant/subsidy schemes significantly improved the economic viability of the three investment options as livestock, forestry and agroforestry options showed positive NPV and AEV values at the baseline assumptions and are therefore adjudged economically viable as they all met the decision rule criteria for investment acceptance. Forestry was the most viable option with the highest NPV and AEV, followed by pasture/livestock and agroforestry options. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: This study underscored the imperative need for policy makers to improve awareness of the benefits of grant incomes and address farmers’ concerns about the economic viability of livestock, forestry and agroforestry investments. The results of this research will help promote greater awareness of the economic value of trees in extensively grazed landscapes in the United Kingdom as well as provide a basis for future comparisons and analysis of farm programs and ecosystem service markets.

Nesta pesquisa, buscou-se analisar os métodos de valoração de patentes discutidos pela literatura e valorar a patente de defumador de pescados (MU 8802959-0) do Núcleo de Inovação Tecnológica do Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia da Bahia – NIT/IFBA. Para tanto, os procedimentos metodológicos adotados consistiram em pesquisa exploratória, de natureza bibliográfica, documental, baseada em artigos, dissertações, teses, relatórios técnicos e sites institucionais. A abordagem empregada na pesquisa foi a de pesquisa qualitativa, com análise de dados qualitativo e quantitativo. Quanto aos dados, foram coletados dados secundários utilizados que foram obtidos a partir do documento de patente e por meio de observação direta realizada no NIT/IFBA. Como resultados observou-se que o método alternativo de valoração, que leva em consideração a característica do ativo, bem como o Nível de Prontidão Tecnológica (NPT) e variáveis econômicas, mostrou-se mais favorável para a valoração da patente de defumador de pescados do NIT/IFBA, quando comparado com as abordagens tradicionais, a exemplo do método de Fluxo de Caixa Descontado (FCD), opções reais e abordagem de custos. Ademais, o método alternativo considera, também, as particularidades e a dinâmica dos NITs, além de requerer dados que são acessíveis aos Núcleos e apresentar flexibilidade, podendo ser adaptada de acordo com as características da patente.

Real estate development has received less scrutiny than real estate investment in terms of appraisal practices and performance measurement. This is despite the inherent uncertainty and financial risks associated with development as an activity. We investigate market practices regarding performance metrics and return expectations both for residential and commercial real estate development in the UK, exploring what is considered as an appropriate return and how this varies according to type and duration of scheme, and method of appraisal used. After examining the literature and the information available on ex-post returns from development activity, results from a survey of real estate developers are reported, supplemented by findings from interviews. The results suggest that the use of traditional residual valuation techniques dominates discounted cash flow models when appraising development projects, particularly among residential developers, while profit-on-cost and profit-on-value are the most popular metrics for quantifying required returns. Unlike NPV or IRR, these metrics do not account for the timing of cash flows, raising questions about the robustness of appraisals in this sector. Such metrics might suffice if required profits are adjusted in ways that are consistent with scheme duration and risks, but it is unclear that this is currently the case.\ud \ud \ud Keywords\ud Development; Housebuilding; Profit Measures; Real Estate Appraisal; Required Returns

This case study uses data from a Southern California Edison residential customer on a grandfathered tiered rate plan to investigate 1) whether it is economically beneficial for the customer to switch from a tiered-rate plan to a Time-of-Use (TOU) plan, 2) whether going solar now makes financial sense for new solar customers, 3) what level of usage offset (the percentage of the customer’s annual electricity consumption that is provided by the solar panels) would result in the maximum financial benefit for the customer under each of the many TOU plans, and 4) whether solar customers on TOU plans can save substantially by time shifting small amounts of electricity usage from peak periods to off peak periods. We find that, by and large, there is no compelling reason for solar customers on the grandfathered tiered rate plans to switch to TOU plans. Solar panels continue to be an excellent investment for customers thinking of going solar, and the ideal usage offset for this customer (and others on TOU rate plans) is in the 103% - 107% range. That is, savings are maximized when solar panels produce 103% - 107% of the customers’ annual electricity consumption. Finally, we find that shifting a modest amount of consumption from peak rate hours to off peak hours during the two months of maximum electricity consumption will result in significant savings.

The concept of risk is well known in the energy sector. It is normally recognized when it comes to price and cost forecasting, annual production calculation, or evaluating project lifetime. Nevertheless, it should be pointed out that the quantitative evaluation of risk is usually difficult. The discount rate is the only parameter reflecting risk in the discounted cash flow analysis. Therefore, knowledge of the discount rate along with the major components affecting its level is of fundamental significance for making investment decisions, capital budgeting, and project management. By referring to the standard coal-fired power generation projects the authors of the paper tackle the analysis of the composition of discount rate for onshore wind farm technologies in the Polish conditions. The study was carried out on the basis of a typical (hypothetical) onshore wind farm project assessed at the feasibility stage. To enable comparisons and discussions, it was assumed that the best reference point for such purposes is the real risk-adjusted discount rate, RADR, after-tax, in all equity evaluations (the ‘bare bones’ assumption); that is because such a rate reflects the inherent characteristics of the project risk. The study methodology involves the a priori application of the discount rate level and subsequently—in an analytical way—calculation of its individual components. The starting point for the analysis of the RADR’s composition was the definition of risk, understood as the product of uncertainty and consequences. Then, the risk factors were adopted and level of uncertainty assessed. Subsequently, using the classical sensitivity analysis of IRR, the consequences (as slopes of sensitivity lines) were calculated. Consequently, risk portions in percentage forms were received. Eventually, relative risks and risk components within cost of equity were assessed. Apart from the characteristics of the discount rate at the feasibility stage, in the discussion section the study was supplemented with an analogous analysis of the project’s cost of equity at the operating stage.

Water is one of the most basic and important elements for survival. According to the UN, there are 2.1 billion people who lack access to safe drinking water while this number is 63.4 million in India as per the State of the World’s Water 2017 report prepared by WaterAid. There are 3.4 lakh children (under five) who die every year due to waterborne diseases (WHO/UNICEF, 2015), 90 percent of all natural disasters are water-related (UNISDR), four out of ten people are affected by water scarcity (WHO), 80 percent of water flows back to the ecosystem without being treated or reused (UNESCO. 2017) and agriculture accounts for 70 percent of global water withdrawal (FAO). The two most important elements to stop this crisis are people’s behavior and water management. The water sector is facing crippling management and a lack of people participation and awareness. This paper estimates the cost of serving households with piped water and other non-piped water techniques, taking seven cost components into account. It will raise awareness that water is not free of cost and people’s participation in terms of paying for water resource and conservation of water is very important. It has also identified gaps in the management of the water sector at the local level and made suggestions for it. We have employed system dynamics techniques to understand the functions of the system along with various sub-systems within the system. A discounted cash flow technique is used to estimate the expenditure of the water supply system compared to the year 2025. Finally, plausible recommendations are made to judicially use the water resources within the system.

In the Russian oil and gas industry, there are still no technical regulations for unified rules and standards governing the establishment of the abandonment fund and the decommissioning of fields. With an increase in the volume of assets decommissioned, the issues of correct accounting and financial reporting of these expenses are becoming more and more urgent. There is also uncertainty regarding the taxation guidelines of operations completion on the production facilities. The strategic aspects of the decommissioning policy of oil and gas fields are stated using the example of the North Sea countries. As part of the responsible investment policy, environmental aspects and industrial safety management during decommissioning of facilities are outlined. An overview of the Russian legislative and regulatory framework is made. Recommendations are given to improve the methodology and practice of abandonment funds management in Russia., Oil and gas assets, Decommissioning, Industrial and environmental security, Environmental protection, Safety, Abandonment fund, Economic limit test, Net operating cash flow, Net present value, Discounted cash flow

The use of solar energy for power generation using the innovative solar chimney concept has been explored by many researchers mostly with the help of analytical models as well as CFD simulations while experimental studies for a pilot and bench scale facilities have been carried out. The efficiencies of these chimneys, however, are less than 1% (~0.07% for 50 kW pilot plant similar to Manzanares plant in Spain). In the present study, an effort has been made to make modifications in the chimney design to improve the efficiency of the chimney in terms of power generation. CFD simulations have been carried out for this modified design and the efficiency is seen to improve to 0.12% for a 50 kW chimney. Furthermore, a techno-economic feasibility analysis has been carried out for a conventional 5 MW solar power plant which can be installed on the western part of India, which receives good solar irradiation throughout the year. Two cases with and without government subsidies have been considered. It is observed that a high rate of return (~20.4%) is obtained for a selling price of electricity of Rs 5 per kWh with government subsidy, while a rate of return of ~19% is obtained for Rs 10 per kWh without government subsidy.

Evaluation of investment efficiency is central to the process of justifying and selecting possible options for investing in investment projects, and is therefore a key to successful implementation of investment activities of agricultural enterprises. The main directions of financing of investment projects of agricultural enterprises are: purchase or construction of unfinished construction objects, new construction, expansion of existing enterprises, reconstruction of existing enterprises and technical re-equipment of existing enterprises. Two main groups of methods of assessing the cost-effectiveness of investment projects have become most widespread: static and dynamic. Static methods involve the calculation of indicators based on undiscounted cash flows. Dynamic methods, on the contrary, take into account the change in the value of money over time and imply bringing the values of all cash flows to the same period by discounting or compounding. Dynamic methods for assessing the effectiveness of investment projects include the following basic methods that rely on most modern Ukrainian enterprises, such as net present value cash flow (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), payback period (DPP) and project profitability index (PI). On their basis the basic methods of selection of investment projects of agricultural enterprises are formed. Net Present Value (NPV) calculation. is based on comparing what will be invested in the future with what is invested now. The Profitabale Index (PI) is directly related to net present value and is defined as the ratio of the discounted cash flow to initial investment. The IRR (Internal Rate of Return) is the discount rate at which the projected cash inflows are equal to the project's discounted cash flows. As indicators of the effect in calculating the overall efficiency of investments, it is advisable to use changes in the following values of growth: revenue from the sale of enterprise products; gross income; profit before tax; net profit; cash flow; clean products. Gross and net investment should be included in the costs. The use of qualitative methods in investment analysis is due to the following reasons: the subjectivity of the phenomena or characteristics studied; lack or lack of necessary information; inability to analyze objective and acceptable methods; lack of research object (to be created during project implementation). Quantitative methods for evaluating agricultural investment projects include methods of probability theory and mathematical statistics, as well as economic and statistical methods.

We consider a company that schedules the tasks of its projects to maximize their expected net present value (ENPV) when tasks may fail. The failure of any task terminates the project immediately. We show that for projects with certain decreasing failure rates, the ENPV optimization problem can be solved using a linear program. The main focus of our work is on how constant task failure rates contribute to decreasing project risk as tasks are completed. Under constant task failure rate, earlier completion of a task improves its probability of success and the risk profile of the project. However, it may also accelerate costs, which worsen discounted cash flow. We show the equivalence of cash flow discount rate and failure rate. Further, if task failures are independent, then the failure rates are additive. We develop a model that (a) recognizes the reduction in project risk when a task is completed, (b) implements this risk reduction into the ENPV calculation, and (c) permits optimization of the ENPV through sequencing and timing decisions for the tasks. We design an algorithm to solve the problem optimally. This enables us to validate the contributions of our work using two computational studies. The first study demonstrates a significant increase in maximum project ENPV from improved project scheduling. The second study demonstrates a significant increase in total project portfolio value as a result of better informed project selection. Our work motivates companies to develop more precise information about the failure risks of their project tasks.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess model risk with regard to wind energy output in monthly cash flow models for the purpose of valuation and risk assessment of wind farm investments, where only a few approaches exist in the literature. Design/methodology/approach This paper focuses on the risk-return characteristics of this investment from the perspective of private and institutional investors and takes into account several risks, in particular the resource risk related to the uncertainty of the monthly wind energy produced. To this end, this paper presents different approaches for modeling monthly wind power output and assesses the impact of three selected models with different properties on the investment’s risk-return characteristics by means of a stochastic discounted cash flow model. In addition, the model considers the possibility of a joint operation of the wind farm with a pumped hydro storage system to reduce risk and improve profits. Findings The results show that the (non-)consideration of seasonality of the monthly wind energy produced considerably influences the risk-return characteristics, but that principal developments dependent on input parameters and model variables remain similar. Originality/value This paper contributes to the literature by presenting different approaches for modeling the monthly wind energy produced based on direct models of the wind energy output, which are rare in the existing literature. Further, their impact on risk-return characteristics of a wind farm investment is analyzed, and thus, related model risk is assessed.

The study described in this article seeks to solve the problem of investment decisions in the current environment, where investor irrationality comes to the front and blinds traditional classical analytical tools. During the post-crisis period it becomes a problem not only for Russian valuation analysts but globally as well. The present study uses behavioral finance methodology to solve this problem. To illustrate the solution, we used the discounted cash flow valuation techniques on a huge amount of on-sale Russian businesses and then applied quantitative financial solution methods to process the multiple results. TOPICS:Private equity, factor-based models, developed markets Key Findings • The article provides its reader with a strict, consistent and interconnected analytical instruments to measure how sentiments have an influence on prices and lead to different interpretations of risks and returns in behavioral finance theories. • The reader can take away from the methodology described in the article how sentiment is reflected in the stochastic discount factor. • After reading the article the reader has the illustrated on a particular M&A market methods of implementation of the stochastic discount factor-based behavioral pricing theory.

Future free cash flow is a crucial element of most business valuation tools, such as the Discounted Cash Flow model, with the quality of the valuation depending heavily on its forecast accuracy. This paper explores the theory on business life cycle (and growth) models in an aim to improve that quality. Life cycle and growth models have been studied in the management and organization literature for decades, but the relevant aspects from a business valuation perspective remain unclear. Reviewing the existing literature, we argue that the five-stage Hanks model (Start-up, Growth, Maturity, Diversification, and Decline) is applicable for valuation purposes. We further argue that life cycle thinking provides useful insights for making grounded assumptions in predicting the future free cash flows and residual value of a company. This paper presents practical valuation approaches and insights for each of the five stages of the Hanks model.

In this Study, the evolution and history of petroleum contracts is discussed with a focus on the recent major shift witnessed from Joint Operating Agreements (JOA) and Concession contracts to Production Sharing Agreements (PSA) due to the increase in the complexity of operations and funding difficulties especially from the government’s side. In addition to that, the fiscal system of PSA’s is studied as a legal instrument to allocate risk between the parties, identify ownership of assets, commitments and operational control. This study aims to figure out the application of economic evaluation for PSA’s using Discounted Cash Flow Analysis (DCF) which is considered to be powerful in evaluating the investment performance by calculating Net Present Value (NPV) of cash flows and the Internal Rate of Return (IRR). The estimated production profile submitted in the PSA of interest was exaggerated. When a Monte-Carlo Simulation was run the riskier profile (P10) was the closest to the PSA production forecast. However, in such agreements usually the mid case scenario (P50) is taken into consideration. The NPV for the first 10 years in this project is around $0.45 Billion compared to the total NPV calculated using the economic model $1.26 Billion. However, the recent instability of the oil price in the last 10 years what causes this project in particular not to meet the target so far. The IRR calculated for the 10 years period is almost the hurdle rate 10% and this is again due to the unexpected NPV due to the oil price. To reduce the uncertainty, pilot projects needs to be conducted in the first year in smaller spacing to allow for the response to be detected faster and then develop a Field Development Plan (FDP).Keywords: Petroleum production sharing contracts; Economic evaluation; Decision-making modeling; Middle East.JEL Classifications: E23, K12, Q4DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.7810

One of the main barriers to the development of energy efficiency (EE) projects in Brazil is the decision-makers’ lack of knowledge about the risks of the projects. The Brazilian Government’s Procedures of Energy Efficiency Program (PROPEE) is currently one of the main sources of funding for energy efficiency (EE) projects. The method for evaluating the technical and economic feasibility of projects presented in PROPEE applies the traditional discounted cash flow (DCF) methodology to calculate the net present value (NPV). The energy price used in this model is a fixed value calculated through the postponement of investments (cost of avoided demand) and/or reduction of operating expenses (avoided energy cost). The avoided costs for a given voltage level are incurred throughout the power system, upstream of the consumption unit (view of the electrical system’s operator). The PROPEE’s methodology, applied on a large scale in Brazil, does not consider some technical uncertainties present in EE projects, nor the market uncertainty regarding the fluctuation of the energy price paid by the consumer units. This paper evaluates the investment risk of EE projects (consumer’s perspective) adopted by the Brazilian market, taking as example a large electricity consumer. A methodology is proposed, which, considering the technical and economic uncertainties, performs a more comprehensive and realistic analysis of the complex business scenario involving the EE projects. This case study considered the data collected by a team of independent engineers, for the first time in January 2009 and updated in January 2015, to assess the energy efficiency potential of a commercial consumer unit installed in the city of Rio de Janeiro and connected to the grid of local distribution level voltage 13.8 kV. This study demonstrates a model that made the risk management projects viable in energy efficiency demand-side management (DSM). However, it could also be applied in other markets as well. Understanding how the uncertainties affect decision-making in EE projects is essential for developing a more comprehensive outlook on constructive and regulatory perspective, contributing to the promotion of energy efficiency projects.

Recent fundamental work with discounted cash flow methods shows that an alternative metric for evaluating profitability and risk, one different from Internal Rate of Return (IRR) —namely the annualized and non-dimensionalized Net Present Value (NPV%)— can make evaluating project profitability easier yet more informative. It provides a simple and transparent strategy to optimize a design's key financial dependent variables (capital investment, profitability, risk). 1 Both traditional and exo-parametric modeling methods developed by the author are linked to this metric, providing an efficient and precise mechanism to organize and carry out the financial/optimization search procedures in process design. Design engineers want to know what is the optimum size of investment (TI) that meets projected market conditions? What is the expected long-term (NPV) return? What metric can be used to maximize them, consistent with the need to recover capital as quickly as reasonably possible (i.e., to bound the “short-term risk”)? The proposed approach answers all three questions simultaneously, with a precise min-max solution obtained transparently.

The reliability of power systems, in terms of uninterrupted electricity supplies, is dependent on the reliability of the system's elements, especially the generation sources and transmission lines. The reliability of a coal-fired power unit's operation is essentially affected by the unit's main components, i.e. the turbine, the boiler and the generator. According to the statistics, the boiler is the most failure-prone element of the power unit. Therefore, efforts aimed at improving the reliability must include actions that enable early diagnostics of the state of the individual devices. In this paper it has been proposed that the optimal time to perform diagnostic testing of boiler tubes should be determined using risk analysis. Using the net present value (NPV) discounted cash flow index and the avoided risk criterion, a procedure has been put forward that optimizes the time when diagnostic tests should be carried out. The method has been applied to optimize diagnostic testing of boiler tubes, where corrosion is the principal cause of damage. Methods have also been given to determine the probability of the failure of such elements.

Many studies have focused on the relationship between companies with strong environmental, social, and governance (ESG) characteristics and corporate financial performance. However, these have often struggled to show that positive correlations—when produced—can in fact explain the behavior. The authors of this article provide a link between ESG information and the valuation and performance of companies, by examining three transmission channels within a standard discounted cash flow model—which they call the cash-flow channel, the idiosyncratic risk channel, and the valuation channel. They tested each of these transmission channels using Morgan Stanley Capital International ESG Ratings data and financial variables. This showed that companies’ ESG information was transmitted to their valuation and performance, both through their systematic risk profile (lower costs of capital and higher valuations) and their idiosyncratic risk profile (higher profitability and lower exposures to tail risk). The research suggests that changes in a company’s ESG characteristics may be a useful financial indicator. ESG ratings may also be suitable for integration into policy benchmarks and financial analyses. TOPICS: ESG investing, security analysis and valuation, risk management

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a model to value leveraged firms in the presence of default risk and bankruptcy costs under a flexible firm’s debt structure.Design/methodology/approachThe authors assume that the total debt of the firm is a combination of two debt components. The first component is an active debt component which is assumed to be proportional to the firm’s value. The second one is a passive predetermined risk-free debt component. The combination of the two debt categories makes the firm’s capital structure more realistic and allows us to include flexibility into the firm’s debt structure management. The firm’s valuation is performed using the discounted cash flow technique based on the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) method.FindingsThe model can be used to define active debt management strategies that can induce the firm to deviate from its capital structure target in order to preserve debt capacity for future funding needs. The firm’s valuation is performed by using the WACC method and a closed form valuation formula is provided. Such a formula can be used to value costs and benefits of financial flexibility.Research limitations/implicationsThe proposed approach provides a good compromise between mathematical complexity and model capability of interpreting the various economic and financial aspects involved in the firm’s debt structure puzzle.Practical implicationsThis model offers a realistic approach to practical applications where real financing decisions are characterized by a simultaneous use of these two debt categories. By comparing costs and benefits deriving from using unused debt capacity for future funding needs, the model provides a quantitative support to investigate if financial flexibility can add value to firms.Originality/valueTo the authors knowledge, the approach the authors propose is the first attempt to build a valuation scheme that accounts for firm’s financial flexibility under default risky debt and bankruptcy costs. Including financial flexibility, this model fills an important gap in the literature on this topic.

This paper presents the results of a comparative economic analysis of residential solar photovoltaic systems throughout the provinces of Canada in 2013 and 2016. The study was conducted using the discounted cash flow method. Basic economic theory involving the concepts of net present value, payback period, and internal rate of return was used, based on data from 2013 and 2016. The solar photovoltaic market is dependent on supporting policies and incentives. Thus, the relevant federal and provincial supporting policies for building implementation are briefly described and considered in the calculations. Results are presented in the form of summary tables showing selected major cities, classified into different categories, in terms of financial viability. The results show that in 2013 there were 9 cities out of 13 for which the payback period was expected to be higher than 30 years but in 2016, only Montreal PV projects remain infeasible. Furthermore, sensitivity analyses were conducted to establish new values for the selling price of electricity, initial cost of the proposed project, and percentage of subsidy required to ensure project attractiveness, that is, a short payback period of only 5 years for residential buildings.

This study analyses fuelwood volume and honey yield per hectare of Acacia nilotica plantations in El Ain Forest Reserve in Sudan, and assesses the financial viability of fuelwood-honey enterprises using discounted cash flow analysis. Tree growth data were collected using fixed-radius circular sample plots to estimate wood volumes of present and harvest ages. Key informant interviews of Forest National Corporation staff of North Kordofan State and members of the Trade Union of Fuelwood Producers and Traders provided market-related data. Fuelwood production in A. nilotica plantations generates a negative financial net present value (NPV), but when combined with revenue from honey production provides a positive NPV. The findings also suggest that beekeeping may act as an incentive for sustainable forest management.

En el proceso de elaboración y transformación de la madera, el secado es la fase que mayor tiempo y energía consume. Ante la elevada inversión en infraestructura y los altos costos de los energéticos para los secadores convencionales ha sido necesario buscar alternativas viables y de bajo costo para dicha actividad. Una de ellas es el aprovechamiento de la energía calórica mediante el diseño de secadores solares. Normalmente la rentabilidad de uno de estos aparatos depende del costo total del colector, por lo que la tendencia es hacia la simplicidad, que disminuirá al máximo el gasto inicial en infraestructura y de operación, para incrementarla. Además, con el desarrollo de materiales baratos y de buen comportamiento en aplicaciones solares, como los plásticos, es más eficiente utilizar este tipo de insumo para el secado de madera. En el estudio que se describe a continuación se realizó la evaluación económica de un secador solar tipo invernadero. Se calculó el valor actual o flujo de efectivo descontado, el periodo de retorno de la inversión y su rentabilidad. El costo del proceso de secado solar por carga es de $17,675.00, que al comercializar la madera genera un ingreso de $43,000.00 y una utilidad de $25,325.00. El ingreso anual es de $215,925.00. La recuperación de la inversión se logra al terminar la cuarta carga de secado, con una rentabilidad del 240%.

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to describe and analyse the methods and standards of valuation used by Swedish professional property valuers when appraising commercial properties and factors affecting those standards. The study builds on a 2002 comparative study of valuers in four European countries by McParland et al. (2002), but focuses specifically on property valuers in Sweden.Design/methodology/approachIn 2010-2011, a questionnaire was used in face-to-face interviews with about half of the authorised property valuers in Sweden. Another questionnaire was emailed to all authorised property valuers in Sweden 2015 and again about half participated.FindingsAnalysis of the results shows some new trends in used and preferred standards and methods. Although Swedish valuers still rely mainly on local guidelines, they now increasingly use international standards and company guidelines, which may indicate a growing, if indirect, form of internationalisation. Swedish valuers still use discounted cash flow as their primary method, but their use of comparative methods has increased.Originality/valueThe data in this comparative study of valuation standards and methods over time used were collected from a specific group of property valuers authorised through the professional Swedish organisation Samhällsbyggarna (Swedish Professionals for the Built Environment), which contributes to an insight in the presiding of the harmonisation of valuation methods and standards.

Renewable energies are a natural replacement for conventional or fossil fuel energy generation. One of these sources, wind energy, has exhibited significant cost reductions during the last decades. Even though this historical cost reduction trend is well known in the industry and in the academia, information on this cost trend and volatility has been scarcely incorporated in previous works, thus a natural concern arises when assessing their influence on the economic valuation of wind farms. Moreover, wind projects are modular in size and have a short time-to-market, providing a valuable managerial flexibility to defer investment under non-attractive market conditions, such as high development cost scenarios. Traditional evaluation tools often consider those scenarios, wrongly assuming that wind-developers would move forward with the project under such conditions. Accordingly, this paper analyzes the effect of incorporating both generation cost history and investment flexibility in the valuation of wind farms in the United States using Real Options methodology. Taking two decades of cost data and a reference wind farm, this “uncertainty-flexibility” effect is incorporated and valued, finding that the value of the wind project is 14.2% larger than the one neglecting such effect – where cost stochasticity and managerial flexibility are ignored. Therefore, traditional tools for project valuation, such as discounted cash flow and scenario analysis can no longer solely be used, as they do not properly account for the cost reduction trend, uncertainty, and managerial flexibility that a wind farm could face.

One of the main challenges associated with utilisation of the renewable energy is the need for energy storage to handle its intermittent nature. Power-to-Gas (PtG) represents a promising option to foster the conversion of renewable electricity into energy carriers that may attend electrical, thermal, or mechanical needs on-demand. This work aimed to incorporate a stochastic approach (Artificial Neural Network combined with Monte Carlo simulations) into the thermodynamic and economic analysis of the PtG process hybridized with an oxy-fuel boiler (modelled in Aspen Plus®). Such approach generated probability density curves for the key techno-economic performance indicators of the PtG process. Results showed that the mean utilisation of electricity from RES, accounting for the chemical energy in SNG and heat from methanators, reached 62.6%. Besides, the probability that the discounted cash flow is positive was estimated to be only 13.4%, under the set of conditions considered in the work. This work also showed that in order to make the mean net present value positive, subsidies of 68 €/MWelh are required (with respect to the electricity consumed by PtG process from RES). This figure is similar to the financial aids received by other technologies in the current economic environment.

The necessity to decarbonise the transportation sector has triggered the exploration of alternative cleaner fuels that can successfully substitute fossil derived fuels. Dimethyl ether (DME) poses as a promising candidate due to excellent combustion properties and low greenhouse gas emissions. Recently, the power to liquids (PtL) concept in conjunction with the carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) scenario have emerged as sustainable ways to produce carbon based material and contribute into satisfying the ever growing energy demand. In view of these, the goal of the present study is to determine the technical performance and economic viability of a novel dimethyl ether (DME) production route via captured CO2 hydrogenation within a power to liquid context. Mass and energy balances were solved and integrated by means of simulations using Aspen Plus V10 and Matlab R2017b software. Based on a plant that produces roughly 740 tonnes of DME per day, the global energy efficiency of the proposed process configuration is equal to 44.4% while the overall achieved CO2 conversion to DME is 82.3%. A typical discounted cash flow analysis revealed that the deterministic minimum DME selling price (MDSP) is 2193 € t−1 (or equally 75.62 € GJ−1); this figure is approximately 5-fold greater than the gate price of conventional diesel. The factors that mostly affect the MDSP are associated with the electrolysis unit, i.e. electricity price as well as electrolyser efficiency and capital cost. Changes in the renewable energy price cause wide fluctuations in the DME market price of −70% to +21%. Finally, stochastic uncertainty analysis, based on Monte Carlo simulations, exposed a 95% confidence interval for the MDSP to be within the range of 1828–2322€ t−1.

Gasification is one of the most promising technologies for conversion of biomass into power generation due to its tremendous potential for improving the efficiency of energy conversion and reducing the cost of electricity (COE). In this study, the techno-economic feasibility of distributed power plants via wheat/corn straw gasification in China was investigated, and an economic model was established using a basic discounted cash flow analysis to estimate economic performance of the power plants. The effects of key variables (such as scales, feedstock cost, electricity prices and run time etc.) on economic performance were analyzed, and the results showed that plant scale and straw cost are the most influential parameters on the plant economic performance. It is estimated that a plant with a capacity of 5 MWe can be the optimal option for agricultural straw gasification for distributed power generation, the COE is 0.402 CNY/kWh, and SO2, NOx and dust emission are 2.5, 2.0 and 0.038 g/kWh, respectively. The net present value (NPV) and the annual average of return on investment (ROI) of the plant are 85.9 million CNY and 49.7%, respectively, with a high discount of 0.12 at a current feed-in tariff (0.75 CNY/kWh) for biomass to power in China, suggesting a good economic feasibility and market competitiveness. The deployment of agricultural residues resources gasification to distributed power generation displacing coal-fired power to supply electricity with rural area shows a significant potential in pollutants emission reduction and coal saving. Biomass gasification for distributed power generation serves as a sustainable technique for utilization of agricultural resources in practice, and would be widely applied in the near future supported by renewable energy strategies of Chinese government.

The main purpose of the investment activity is to obtain profits for both the company and the investor. To generate profits for investors, the company requires initial capital to manage its operational to do business. In general, investors will make investment decisions based on the intrinsic value of the company or based on the growth of the company’s profitability from the previous period. To measure those reference, investors needs historical data of financial reports as a baseline to calculate and for comparison. The barriers for startup companies are the lack or unavailability of historical financial data due to the age of startups more likely in the early stages (less than or equal to one year). This research uses the method of discounted cash flows based on the company's financial report. The rates of return to discount the cashflow are based on return from real assets, such as gold and property and stock price as financial asset. The result shows that the company is good enough to be one of investment alternative since its net present value is positive for all rate of return and its payback period is relatively short. Key words Discounted Cash flow, Intrinsic Value, Startup Company, Angel Investors

In this paper, we report an integrated techno-economic analysis of glycerol steam reforming (GSR) targeting distributed H2 refueling stations for a H2 production capacity of 700 m3 h−1. A process simulation based on mass and energy balances was performed to identify the product yield at effect of temperature and water/glycerol ratio. The results show that temperature of 900 K and a water/glycerol ratio of 9 are optimal to techno-economically operate a GSR process. An economic analysis using itemized cost estimation, sensitivity analysis (SA), and profitability analysis (PA) was carried out to investigate the economic feasibility of GSR for distributed H2 refueling stations. The unit H2 production cost was 4.46 $ kgH2−1 at the optimum conditions identified in the process simulation, and the most influential economic key factor was the reactant from the SA. Meaningful economic indicators such as net present value, discounted payback period, present value ratio, and rate of return on investment were obtained from the PA through a discounted cash flow diagram. Moreover, a cumulative probability analysis based on an uncertainty analysis using a Monte-Carlo simulation method was applied to unit H2 production cost and B/C ratio calculations to quantify the risk of a proposed GSR process as premature technology providing crucial guidelines to decision-makers.

Geothermal energy has been considered as a new and promising source of clean heating in some areas in China. However, huge initial investment cost and high uncertainties in policy, geology and technology have been seriously hindering its development. Developing effective policies and strategies to attract more investment for geothermal heating is a big challenge for the government. Therefore, a real option model was proposed to find the optimal investment strategy for hydrothermal geothermal heating projects with average well depth of 1350 m under various uncertainties in policy, technology and geological aspects. Meanwhile, an integrated Thermo-Hydrological Coupling Model was developed to calculate the relationship between geological conditions and the geothermal heating economics. Nine geological scenarios were proposed considering different geothermal gradient and rock permeability and a sensitivity analysis was conducted to investigate the effects of different supporting policies and mechanisms. Based on obtained empirical results, it was concluded that, (i). The real option analysis framework is more applicable in exploring investment strategy of hydrothermal heating projects than discounted cash flow method; (ii). Higher subsidy level has an obvious impact on investment value but very limited impact on timing; (iii). Technology progress and flexible subsidy phase-out mechanism can attract the investment effectively.

The purpose of the study is to investigate the characteristics of the discounted cash flow (DCF) as a measure of startup financial success. In general, DCF is found the most popular method in startup valuation followed by the internal rate of return (IRR) and the payback period methods. However, the consequences of using this method in startup valuation are rarely analyzed in financial research. In this study, a simplified mathematical model is developed to describe the time-series development of the cash flow. This model is based on the growth of expenditures and their ability to generate revenues from the founding of the startup. The model employs IRR as the measure of true profitability and the average lagin revenue generation as a proxy of the payback period. Numerical experiments are used to show the sensitivity of DCF to the parameters of the model. The results indicate that the use of DCF favors startups that grow slowly and have a short payback period but that also exhibit a high IRR. The longer the time series of the startup used in the analysis, the more significant role IRR tends to play in DCF. Empirical evidence extracted from a sample of Finnish startups supports the numerical findings.

Property of palm oil plantation is income producing property in which oil palm is the most important commodity which has the biggest contribution to the creation of values. Palm oil plants are biological assets which experience growth transformation and need a long period from seedlings to productive plants. Therefore, it is necessary to have the measurement which can indicate the value of the property appropriately according to its contribution. Cost model is usually used in presenting financial statement which is referred to PSAK 16 on fixed asset that does not reflect the real quality of asset since it is only recorded its cost. PSAK 69 agriculture applies fair value to respond to some uniqueness of the agricultural characteristics of oil palm. The objective of the research was to analyze the difference between the value of biological assets and agricultural products by using market and income approach. The research used quantitative case study approach which was aim to assess oil palm plants at private estate in Kabupaten Langkat. Direct comparison method was used for market approach while Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) was used for income approach. The data were gathered through internal report analysis and semi-structured interviews. The result of the research showed that the value of biological assets in pre-PSAK 69 was IDR.121,140,000,000 while in the post-PSAK 69 the recorded value consisted of two parts: fair value of bearer plants and fair value of agricultural products. Through market approach, it was found that fair value of bearer plants was IDR.118,083,410,741 and fair value of agricultural products was IDR.3,056,589,259. Through income approach, it was found that fair value of bearer plants was IDR.110,354,000,000 and fair value of agricultural products was IDR.10,786,000,000. The conclusion was that the difference in fair value of agricultural products, assessed by using market approach and by using income approach, was 252.9%.

This case study uses data from a Southern California Edison residential customer on a grandfathered tiered rate plan to investigate 1) whether it was economically beneficial for the customer to have installed solar panels, and 2) what level of usage offset (the percentage of the customer’s annual electricity consumption that is provided by the solar panels) would have resulted in the maximum financial return for the customer. We find that solar panels are an excellent investment for this customer, and that the ideal usage offset for this customer (and others on the tiered rate plans) is 100%. That is, the savings are maximized when the solar panels produce 100% of the customers’ annual electricity consumption.

Since implementing the long term evolution (LTE) technology, the surge in data service traffic has increased, causing an increase in demand spectrum, which has resulted in gaps in capacity requirements. Wireless service providers can respond to LTE technology updates. With LTE advanced pro technology that utilizes unlicensed spectrum technology can provide solutions to increase capacity and throughput. In this study, LTE advanced pro planning by capacity method to find the number of eNodeB and using the discounted cash flow method to analyze the feasibility of the costs to be invested in the implementation of the LTE. The results of the four simulated scenarios concluded that the number of eNodeB from the IV scenario with 20 MHz bandwidth at 1800 MHz frequency and 20 MHz bandwidth at 5 GHz frequency amounted to 23 sites, with a positive NPV value of $ 271,936.96, IRR of 14.91%, and for payback period occurred in the 3rd year. Thus the fourth scenario is feasible to be implemented.

The international seabed area (i.e., the “Area”) is rich in mineral resources. According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the relevant implemented agreements, in 2012, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) began to develop the regulations for the exploitation of mineral resources in the Area. The most important part of the regulations involves determining the distribution of benefits from the exploitation of mineral resources in the Area between the ISA and the contractors. The establishment of a financial model to evaluate the economic benefits and compare the distribution scheme was the basic method relied on in the current study of payment mechanism. According to the characteristics of the exploitation project of mineral resources in the Area, the discounted cash flow method was selected to construct the financial model. Taking China’s deep-sea mineral resources development project in the Area as the background, the main parameters of the model were determined. A comparative study of similar financial models with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and other foreign countries was carried out, in addition to a sensitivity analysis of parameters. On the basis of the assurance that the contractor’s internal rate of return was not lower than the level of the land mining enterprise, the financial model was used to calculate the internal rate of return and the revenue of royalty under different payment mechanisms and rates. The advantages and disadvantages of different payment mechanisms in the exploitation of mineral resources in the area were analyzed. Lastly, the possible impacts of deep-sea polymetallic nodule mining on Terrestrial metal markets were highlighted.