Three Conventional Approaches to Company Valuations

New York-based finance professional Kate Merli serves as chief financial officer of New 2ND Capital, a private equity fund focused on investing in middle market companies. Possessing more than a decade of experience, Kate Merli has a strong understanding of valuations.

There are three conventional approaches to valuing a company: the cost approach, income approach, and market approach. To properly value a business, professionals may use any of these approaches individually or combine them. Each is briefly described below:

Income approach
Focused on a company’s future, the income approach to valuation converts predicted returns on investment to a current dollar amount, based on estimates of future cash flow. These estimates include future revenue growth, operating profitability, working capital requirements, and capital expenditure needs. To account for the risks associated with achieving the projected cash flow, the current valuation amount is often lower than the predicted income.

Cost approach
This approach determines valuation from a company’s current asset value, compared to the estimated value of liabilities. In many cases, this amount represents the floor value of the company, or the value a company can generate if its assets are entirely liquidated. Since cost approach valuations do not reflect future value, they are primarily used in the valuation of a holding company or capital-intensive business.

Market approach
Unlike income and cost approaches to valuation, a market approach focuses largely on the valuation of a business’ competing companies. The idea of this approach is that current stock market data of recently sold companies can provide an accurate idea of the value of a business with similar revenue, transactions, and growth.

The New York Junior League Annual Winter Ball

A longtime New York-based financial professional, Kate Merli oversees annual financial reviews and audit processes at New 2nd Capital. Kate Merli is a member of the New York Junior League (NYJL), one of the oldest nonprofit volunteer organizations for women in the city.

During its Outstanding Sustainer and Outstanding Volunteer Announcement Party on November 16, the NYJL named Beth Batiuchok-Colon, Dayna Cassidy, Leighanna Morbey, Allison Davis O'Keefe, and Shelby Spears Carroll as its top volunteers for 2018. The five Outstanding Volunteers and two Outstanding Sustainers - Dorothy Echols Scarborough and Robin Stratton Rivera - will be celebrated at the NYJL's 67th annual Winter Ball on February 23, 2019, at Pier Sixty. 

In addition to honoring the aforementioned seven individuals for their contributions to the community, the Winter Ball serves as the NYJL's largest fund-raiser. Individual tickets for the event can be purchased for $500, while groups can purchase silver or gold benefactor tables for $6,500 or $9,000, respectively. 

A silent and a live auction will also be held that evening. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.nyjl.org.

Venture Capital - A Significant Source of Biotech Funding

Since joining New 2nd Capital as CFO, experienced CPA Kate Merli oversees all of the company’s cash flows and financial review processes. Prior to entering this role, Kate Merli managed all administrative accounting processes for the biotechnology-focused venture capital firm Atlas Venture. In 2017, the firm launched a $350 million dollar fund for startups in the biotech space. 

Venture capitalists have poured billions of dollars into promising early-stage biotech startups. Last year was a record-breaking year for the biotech industry, which raised more than $9 billion dollars in venture capital. 

Since early-stage investment in medical treatments can be a risky venture, many venture capital firms work with data scientists to analyze the information gathered from scientific journals and clinical trials to assess potential return on investment. 

Other factors such as competent management and commercialization potential encourage venture capital firms to invest in new but promising research, which in turn drives innovation. Besides a source of capital, venture capital firms are also a valuable source of industry knowledge and financial connections for up and coming biotechnology companies.

Patriots’ Owner Pushes for a German Debut

Before joining the private equity firm New 2nd Capital, accounting professional Kate Merli had a diverse career in venture capital, tax and SEC compliance, and valuation. Kate Merli spent more than a decade in the Boston area, graduating with a BS and MS from Bentley College. After graduating she worked for several Boston-based accounting firms, and is fan of the region's National Football League (NFL) team, the New England Patriots. 

Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft hopes that worldwide interest in the NFL will grow as football teams play more games abroad. Since 2007, the NFL has held games in international venues in London and more recently in Mexico. 

In an interview with a German magazine, Kraft expressed his desire for the Patriots to be the first NFL team to play on German soil, possibly in Berlin. In 2015, 6.6 million Germans identified themselves as American football fans, more than the number of fans in the United Kingdom. Kraft has also discussed the possibility of overseas games in France, China, Brazil, and Canada.