Valuation Glossary

A business is an organization that operates to make money by providing goods or services to customers. Its main goal is to generate profits. Businesses can take different forms, like sole proprietorships, partnerships, or corporations. They serve customers and aim to meet their needs while facing risks and seeking financial rewards. Businesses have owners who control them and follow certain rules and structures. They contribute to the economy, create jobs, and play a role in society.

Book value is the value of an asset or a company as shown on its financial statements. It is calculated by subtracting the liabilities from the assets. For individual assets, book value is the original cost minus depreciation. For a company, it is the assets minus the debts. Book value gives an idea of the net worth of an asset or a company. However, it may not represent the current market value. Book value is used in financial analysis and comparing the market value to assess valuation.

Book basis refers to the value of an asset or liability as recorded in a company's financial statements.

Blockage discount is a reduction in the value of a large number of shares or a significant ownership stake in a company when selling them all at once could disrupt the market. It accounts for the difficulty of finding buyers for such a big block of shares without causing a negative impact on the share price. The discount is applied to the value of the shares to reflect this potential market impact and provide a fair valuation. Blockage discounts are used when a large shareholder wants to sell a substantial number of shares, and they help establish a more realistic value for the shares considering the challenges of selling them in bulk.

Beta is a measure used in finance to understand how much a particular investment moves compared to the overall market. It helps investors assess the risk and volatility of an asset. A beta of 1 means the investment moves in line with the market. A beta higher than 1 means it tends to be more volatile, while a beta lower than 1 means it's less volatile. A negative beta means the investment moves in the opposite direction of the market. Beta is used to manage risk and make decisions about diversifying investments.