2 min read
Definition
A valuation estimates the current worth of an asset, security or whole business. Common approaches are market comparison, the income (or discounted cash flow) method, and asset-based valuation.
In plain terms
Different methods can give very different answers, which is why the basis of a valuation matters as much as the number. A forced-sale value is far below a going-concern value.
Why it matters for your company
Lenders lend against realistic, often conservative, valuations — the gap to book value drives the haircut. For deals, a defensible valuation underpins the price. See enterprise value.
Related reading

Fair value
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Enterprise value
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Haircut (lending)
A haircut is the discount a lender takes off an asset's value before lending — the buffer that protects it if…
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Net Present Value (NPV): What It Means for Business Finance
Net present value (NPV) is a method of evaluating an investment by discounting future cash flows back to…
Read →Funding for UK limited companies
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