This book provides an introduction to investment appraisal and presents a range of methods and models, some of which are not widely known, or at least not well covered by other textbooks. Each approach is thoroughly described, evaluated and illustrated using examples, with its assumptions and limitations analyzed in terms of their implications for investment decision-making practice. Investment decisions are of vital importance to all companies. Getting these decisions right is crucial but, due to a complex and dynamic business environment, this remains a challenging management task. Effective appraisal methods are valuable tools in supporting investment decision-making. As organisations continue to seek a competitive edge, it is increasingly important that management accountants and strategic decision-makers have a sound knowledge of these tools.

This book explains the process of property investment appraisal – estimating both the most likely selling price (market value) and the worth of property investments to individual or groups of investors (investment value). Valuations are important: they are used as a surrogate for transactions in the construction of investment performance and they influence investors and other market operators when transacting property. Valuations need to be trusted by their clients and valuers therefore need to produce rational and objective solutions. In a style that makes the theory as well as the practice of valuation accessible to students and practitioners, the authors provide a valuable critique of conventional valuation methods and argue for the adoption of more contemporary cash-flow methods. They explain how such valuation models are constructed and give useful examples throughout. The UK property investment market has been through periods of both boom and bust since the first edition of this text was produced in 1988 and the book includes examples generated by the different market states: for example, complex reversions, over-rented situations and leasehold examples are in ready supply and are examined fully by the authors. They have retained the book’s basic structure and thrust, setting out fundamental investment and appraisal theory in Part One of the book, but adding a new chapter on building and modelling cash flows as a precursor to the investment material in Part Three. The heart of the book remains the critical examination of market valuation models addressed in Part Two – it remains the case that no other book addresses this issue in detail.

How to make sound investment decisions: This book is based on long-term experience with students, especially at the School of International Business of Bremen University of Applied Sciences. For a better understanding, a case study is constructed to illustrate all methods discussed. Written in an easily understood style it focuses on the reality of student life as well as of practitioners. The goal of the book is to pace a sure way through the variety of methods. Mathematical basics are specifically explained in detail. This book shows clearly why there are different methods in investment appraisal and on where to focus in a given situation. As all methods are introduced by the same case study, it is easy to compare and evaluate the results. The statements in the text are further consolidated by abstracts and evaluations of each of the methods. Exercises with extensive solutions will lead to the confidence which is necessary for an ease of handling the investment appraisal techniques and for a good preparation for students’ exams. German and international students at universities and other institutions of higher education will find this book an excellent systematic preparation for their exams. It is also directed toward members of the general public who need expert guidance in making professional investment decisions. Due to the increasing mobility of students and the internationalisation of many economic or business curricula, not only do German students tend to study more abroad, but also foreign students tend to study more in Germany. In German universities the number of courses in the English language is also increasing. That is why I have written this text in English. A companion volume in German, entitled ‘Grundlagen der Investitionsrechnung: Eine Darstellung anhand einer Fallstudie’ is also available. In both textbooks the pages are constructed identically. Using both textbooks simultaneously will help those students who still lack the necessary business vocabulary in the respective language to reasonably follow a class in English or German. This book clearly closes an existing gap in the literature. This is the first book in English about capital expenditure budgeting in the sense as it is usually taught in German higher education institutions. As a result international students now have literature covering the contents of a course in investment appraisal in the form of an easy-to-read case study with easily understood graphics and notations.

How to make sound investment decisions: Fundamentals of Investment Appraisal, 2nd edition, is based on long-term experience with students and is written in an easily understood style. A case study has been constructed to illustrate all methods discussed. The goal of the book is to pace a sure way through the variety of methods in investment appraisal. Mathematical basics are specifically explained in detail. The book shows clearly why there are different methods in investment appraisal and on where to focus in a given situation. As all methods are introduced by the same case study, it is easy to compare and evaluate the results. The statements in the text are further consolidated by abstracts and evaluations of each of the methods. Exercises with extensive solutions will lead to the confidence which is necessary for an ease of handling the investment appraisal techniques and for a good preparation for students’ exams. German and international students at universities and other institutions of higher education will find this book an excellent systematic preparation for their exams.

This book presents a range of investment appraisal methods and models to help readers make good investment decisions. Each approach is thoroughly described, evaluated, and illustrated using examples, with its assumptions and limitations analyzed in terms of their implications for investment decision-making practice. Getting investment decisions right is crucial but due to a complex and dynamic business environment this remains a challenging management task.

This book explains the financial appraisal of capital budgeting projects. The coverage extends from the development of basic concepts, principles and techniques to the application of them in increasingly complex and real-world situations. Identification and estimation (including forecasting) of cash flows, project appraisal formulae, and the application of net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR) and other project evaluation criteria are illustrated with a variety of calculation examples. Risk analysis is extensively covered by the use of risk adjusted discount rate, certainty equivalent, sensitivity, simulation and Monte Carlo analysis. The NPV and IRR models are further applied to forestry, property and international investments. Resource constraints are introduced to the capital budgeting decisions with a variety of worked examples using linear programming technique. All calculations are extensively supported by Excel workbooks on the Web, and each chapter is well reviewed by end of chapter questions.