The Valuation of Intangible Assets: An Introduction

An intangible is a non-monetary asset that manifests itself by its economic properties. It does not have physical substance but grants rights and economic benefits to its owner. The examination of the general approaches of the valuation of companies is preliminary to the estimation of assets such as the intangibles. Intangibles are more specific than other assets and incorporate higher information asymmetries, linked to higher risk profiles and lower collateral value. Their accounting is controversial, privileging prudence over substance. The most widely used approaches of assessing intangibles are based on market, income, or cost-related metrics. Hard-to-value intangibles are based on innovative business models, whose value drivers are difficult to analyze and compare.