This paper investigates the effects of uncertainty on the investment behaviour using firm-level data for a sample of Belgian manufacturing firms. In general, the results confirm former analysis at the aggregate level, stating that uncertainty does matter but that the sign of the effect and its...

Multi-staged R&D projects are copy-book cases of compound real options. Traditional compound option models assume a constant volatility over the lifetime of the project. Building on the n-fold compound option model of Cassimon et al. (2004), we extend this model to allow for phase-specific...

Traditional valuation tools such as discounted cash flow (DCF) models fail in valuing research and development (R&D)-intensive pharmaceutical firms adequately because most of the market value of the firm is embedded in unexercised real options whose future value is uncertain at this moment. From...