Publications
Publications
- March 2001
- HBS Case Collection
Valuing the Option Component of Debt and Its Relevance to DCF-Based Valuation Methods
Abstract
The flows-to-equity or equity cash flows valuation method is a discounted cash flow method used to estimate the equity portion of the capital structure. It is closely related to the venture capital/buyout valuation method, which estimates the IRR of the stream of cash flows accruing to equity holders. Both of these methods are likely to result in an estimate of equity value that is too low when the firm's debt is risky (or, equivalently, an IRR that is too high, depending on the method used to estimate terminal value). This case describes a method for estimating the size of this bias, drawing insight from option-pricing.
Keywords
Citation
Meulbroek, Lisa K. "Valuing the Option Component of Debt and Its Relevance to DCF-Based Valuation Methods." Harvard Business School Background Note 201-110, March 2001.