Valuationen

Valuationen refers to the plural concept of valuation in German-language financial discourse. It describes the process of estimating the economic value of an asset, business, project, or liability and the accompanying valuation reports. Valuationen aim to produce an estimate of value under defined assumptions and within a given framework, such as fair value, value in use, or liquidation value. The term is used across finance, accounting, real estate, and corporate governance.

Common valuation methods include the discounted cash flow (DCF) approach, which projects future cash flows and discounts them at an appropriate rate; market-based approaches using comparables or precedent transactions; and asset-based approaches that sum current assets and liabilities. For complex assets, option-pricing models or real options may be applied. Analysts often triangulate results from several methods to improve reliability.

Valuationen are central to mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, impairment testing under IFRS or US GAAP, internal performance measurement, and tax or regulatory reporting. They can be performed by internal finance teams, external advisory firms, or specialized valuation units within banks or corporations. The outputs typically include an enterprise value, equity value, or fair value of assets and liabilities, along with sensitivity analyses and disclosure notes.

Valuation procedures follow professional standards and regulatory guidance, such as IFRS 13 in many jurisdictions, and are subject to audit and governance controls. Quality hinges on input data quality, model selection, and scenario assumptions. Valuationen are inherently forward-looking and contingent on market conditions and management assumptions.

See also: fair value, discounted cash flow, market approach, impairment test, value in use.