Differences in the taxation systems in Britain, France, and some other European countries (which use the imputation system) compared with the USA and the Netherlands, among others (which use the classical tax system), mean that the cost of equity capital should be specified, using a capital...

Growth by acquisition has been one of the major characteristics of the industrial scene during the last decade. In the U.K. this pattern of growth was evidenced at the beginning of the decade by the emergence of the industrial holding companies of which Thomas Tilling has been the most...

This paper focuses upon differences in the valuation of UK quoted and unquoted companies. It draws on empirical evidence over the period from 1991 to 1997. It commences with an overview of the published literature. This suggests a broad spectrum of valuation statistics ranging from very minor...

The equity premium - the difference between the return achievable from investment in the equity market (RM) and the risk-free rate of return (RF)- plays an important part in corporate finance. The expression equity premium (sometimes referred to as the equity risk premium) is used to denote the...

This paper is an attempt to present a digest of European security returns. In this respect, Table 7 summarizes key data over recent years. The table presents information for the period 1967 to 1990. By and large, within Europe, equity returns appear to be very similar. To the extent that if...

The financial analysis of international investment decisions is complex. The basic methodology which homes in on incremental cash flows needs to be refined in order to focus upon cash flows which are remittable to the parent company, for it is only these that would logically add shareholder...

In the great share price setbacks of 1987 and 1998, financial authorities, in The Netherlands, as elsewhere in the world, adopted policies to stabilise financial markets. The Dutch response was effective in the former case but, in the latter instance, the actions of authorities magnified...

Do non-executive directors have the wherewithal to overview a corporation's integrity, quality of performance and management in the area of derivatives policy? In a survey of the understanding and monitoring of derivatives in a small sample of quoted companies, we found disturbing levels of...

Fundamental value for a firm is that range of value based upon the present value of estimated future cash flows. Fundamental value and market value may differ. Where market value is above fundamental value, the firm may create wealth from judiciously timed equity issues to parties who are...

The ability to change tactical direction in response to new information can contribute significant increments to value. Investments possessing this flexibility have the characteristics of options. Research and development is an obvious example. Oil exploration and mining fall into this category,...