The Dark Side of Valuation: Valuing Young, Distressed, and Complex Businesses, Second Edition

Firms with Intangible Assets

Looking at publicly traded firms, it is obvious that many firms derive the bulk of their value from intangible assets. From consumer products companies, dependent on brand names, to pharmaceutical companies, with blockbuster drugs protected by patent, to technology companies that draw on their skilled technicians and know-how, these firms range the spectrum. This section begins by looking at their place in the market and how it has shifted over time. We will follow up by identifying characteristics they share.

Intangible Assets in the Overall Economy

The simplest measure of how much intangible assets represent of the economy comes from the market values of firms that derive the bulk of their value from these assets ...