Dossier «The Future of Finance: Ethics, Technology and Globalisation» coordinated by Joan LlobetISSUE 10 (NOV 2018)

From financial value to real company value

Abstract

The value of a company is usually measured with data included in the firm’s accounting records and other financial information, such as financial forecasts. This type of valuation provides an incomplete value, since it does not take into account other economic, social and environmental aspects. For this reason, the objective of this article is to discuss how companies can quantify the costs and benefits that their activities generate for society and the environment (externalities). Therefore, the article describes how to reach an estimate of the company’s real value (or total value) by adding the social and environmental value to the firm’s financial value, according to the «True Value» methodology (KPMG, 2014). Additionally, this methodology is applied to a business in order to estimate its real value. Once the estimate has been calculated, the study analyzes how externalities can end up affecting the value of the company. Finally, a strategy is proposed so that the business can minimize the negative impact of externalities on its results.

externalities;  financial innovation;  financial value;  real value;  social value;  environmental value;  affordable and clean energy;  industry, innovation and infrastructure;  sustainable cities and communities;  responsible consumption and production; 

ODS

ODS ODS 7 ODS 9 ODS 11 ODS 12

About the authors