This study examines the relationship between discounts on Swedish closed-end investment companies and abnormal return. By sorting Swedish investment companies by the size of their discounts, we create monthly portfolios over a period of 15 years and construct a hedge-portfolio which generate an annualised abnormal return of 9.99%. However, in contrast to prior research, we find that the hedge-portfolio’s abnormal return is penalised by the short portfolio, which exhibits positive abnormal return. This suggests that extreme negative sentiments appear to be more pervasive than positive sentiments on the Swedish market. Hence, we argue that a strategy of only investing in investment companies with the top third of discounts is superior in a Swedish context. This strategy yields an annualised abnormal return of 13.21%.

The aim of the study is to see if a digital tool can combine the benefits of shopping online, with the perks of purchasing groceries in a physical store. Previous research in the area has found that grocery shopping online isn’t growing at the same pace as normal retail shopping online. The previous studies have narrowed this down to mainly being because consumers want the touch, feel and inspect groceries with an expiry date. Previous research has also found that consumers don’t want to wait for the delivery of groceries, and that some consumers consider the process of walking around in a grocery store relaxing and enjoyable. There’s also been previous research made around the concept of cross-shopping, something this study made use of, as well as consumers' different transportation methods in conjunction with shopping.The study first conducted a survey, which gathered input from 140 consumers, from different demographics. The survey was aimed to be used as a foundation for the app that was developed. The initial survey was also inline with both the hypothesis of the researchers, as well as previous work in the area. The app was then pushed out as an alpha release to 16 testers, who gave their input on what was working well, what wasn’t working, and which features they could see giving a better experience. Already here, the result was positive, showing several good effects of the app, with a vast majority of users both finding it useful and money saving. Based on the input gathered from the alpha testing, the app was further developed and pushed out in a beta release to three testers of different age groups, with whom more in-depth interviews were conducted. The main purpose of the interviews was to get an overview of how different generations used the application and if it changed their behavior somehow while testing it. 75% of the Alpha testers responded that they managed to save money while testing the app and 95% felt that it had in some form helped them plan their grocery shopping. The beta interviews showed a shift in store loyalty and a change for the better in their shopping behaviour. Features such as collaborative shopping lists were shown to be very useful during the COVID-19 pandemic as it helped families carrying out the shopping for their elders. Participants also stated that the app helped them become more conscious about both cost and the environmental effects their shopping can have.The data gathered from the surveys and interviews indicate that a majority of consumers are more interested in features that involve planning and price comparing and not so much the buying or ordering of products itself. A digital tool developed for grocery shopping should focus on being a part of a consumers shopping journey and not replace it. Key features that this study has deemed to be essential are primarily the ability to create and share shopping lists containing real time information from handpicked stores and displayal of promotions and price comparison in a highlighted manner.

This study examines the determinants of private placement discounts and announcement effects on the Stockholm Stock Exchange between 2014 and 2022. The results show that private placement announcement effects are significantly positive, reinforcing the empirical support for the monitoring hypothesis and information hypotheses. Positive announcement effects reflect signals of certification from private equity investors that the firm is undervalued. Regression analysis suggests that information costs and some firm characteristics are important determinants for discounts on private placements. Private equity investors will demand larger discounts when information asymmetry is high, and cash flow restraints are more severe. Foreign investors require significantly smaller discounts on private placements, possibly implying that they commonly assume a passive rather than active role as shareholders. Firms’ stated motivations for private placements and the agreed discounts are significantly related to stock market reactions. Specifically, motivations relating to an investment in a new project or an acquisition are associated with significantly more positive announcement effects.

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Bakgrund: Illikviditetsrabatten (DLOM) är en omdiskuterad rabatt som ofta leder till konflikt vid värdering. DLOM uppstår i en brist på säljbarhet och problematiken ligger i att denna rabatt inte är observerbar och kan även anses subjektiv. DLOM beror också på flertalet ofta unika faktorer vilket medför att rabatten kan skilja sig kraftigt från fall till fall. DLOM kan anta allt från negativa värden upp till 90 % vilket medför att bolagets slutgiltiga värde i stor grad beror av denna rabatt. Således blir det relevant att bestämma en korrekt nivå för denna rabatt utifrån vetenskaplig litteratur och praxis. Fallföretaget för denna studie, PwC, har efterfrågat en ny modell för att estimera DLOM. Detta på grund av ett ökat fokus från Skatteverket och Fallföretagets kunder att kontrollera om estimeringar av DLOM har utförts på ett korrekt och argumenterbart sätt. I dagsläget hävdar Fallföretaget att ämnet har givits bristande uppmärksamhet i branschen, varför en uppdatering av deras nuvarande metodik för att estimera DLOM är kritisk för sitt fortsatta arbete. Syfte: Denna studies syfte är att analysera och skapa en modell, grundad i validitet och praktisk genomförbarhet, som estimerar illikviditetsrabatten. Genomförande: På grund av att rabatten inte är observerbar uppstår ett behov av att identifiera substitut för rabatten och förstå sambandet mellan dessa och DLOM. Till hjälp har en omfattande sammanställningsstudie gjorts i ämnet tillsammans med en fallstudie av Fallföretagets nuvarande metodik. Baserat på detta och triangulering har en modell sedan utvecklats. Denna modell har sedan tillämpats på fyra värderingsfall som tillhandahållits av Fallföretaget. Utifrån detta följer sedan en analys på Fallföretagets metodik, den framtagna modellen och en jämförelse av dessa. Resultat: EMQ-modellen är en modell som bygger på tre metoder för att estimera DLOM. De tre metoderna är en empirisk metod, en matematisk metod och en kvalitativ metod. Två intervall för vad DLOM kan anta för värden utifrån bolagsspecifika data skapas utifrån den empiriska och matematiska metoden. Dessa intervall viktas sedan ihop till ett intervall med avseende på inlåsningsperioden för innehavet som ska värderas. Slutligen undersöks kvalitativa faktorer som ger ett bestämt värde inom intervallet för DLOM. De tre metoderna är valda utifrån att ta hänsyn till de faktorer som påverkar DLOM för att sedan överföra dessa till ett faktiskt värde för DLOM. Modellen är även skapad för att vara anpassningsbar till varje specifikt värderingsfall. / Background: The marketability discount (DLOM) is a controversial discount that has often led to conflict in valuation. DLOM is derived from a lack of marketability and the problem lies in the fact that DLOM is not observable and also considered subjective. Furthermore, DLOM depends on multiple often unique factors, which means that the discount can differ greatly from case to case. DLOM can assume values ranging from negative values and up to as much as 90%, which means that the company's final value to a great extent depends on this discount. Thus, it becomes relevant to determine a reasonable level of this discount based on scientific literature and practice. The case company for this study, PwC, has requested a new model to estimate DLOM. The reason behind the request is that the Swedish Tax Agency and customers of the case company have increased its effort on controlling whether estimates of DLOM have been carried out in a correct and arguably manner. Currently, the case company claims that the subject has been given a lack of attention in the industry, which is why an update of their current methodology for estimating DLOM is critical for their continued work. Aim: The aim of this report is to create and analyze a model, based on validity and practical feasibility, which estimates the marketability discount. Completion: Due to the fact that the discount is not observable creates a need for identifying proxies for the discount and an understanding of the connection between these and DLOM. An extensive literature study together with a case study on the case company has been made in order to achieve this. A model is then developed based on this and triangulation. The model is then used on four valuation cases, provided by the case company. After that follows an analysis of the methodology of the case company, the model of this study and a comparison between these two. Findings: The EMQ-model is a model that is based on three methods for estimating DLOM. The three methods are an empirical method, a mathematical method and a qualitative method. Two possible intervals for DLOM is created based on company-specific data by the empirical and mathematical method. These intervals are then weighted together into one interval with respect to the restriction period for the holding to be valued. Finally, qualitative factors that provide a definite value are investigated within the interval of DLOM. The three methods are chosen based on considering the factors affecting DLOM. The model is also created to enable adaptability to each specific valuation case.

The diploma thesis deals with the topic of discounts and premiums in the valuation theory. More specifically, it covers the area of entity-level discounts. First part of the thesis is devoted to general theoretical analysis of the topic. Next chapter is dedicated to key person discount and portfolio discount, including empirical evidence, relevant factors of influence, their quantification and several case studies. Final part of the thesis describes possibilities of utilization of these two types of discounts in Czech practice.

民國90年代初期，我國參照美、日私募之規定，正式引進私募制度。此後，企業得以選擇公開現金增資，或透過私募發行新股，來募集所需的營運資金。根據統計，民國94年以後，台灣的私募市場日趨成熟，私募逐漸成為企業最重要的籌資管道之一，特別是讓原先不能符合公開募集資格之公司，合法迅速取得資金。雖然私募之平均發行金額仍小於公開現金增資，但近年來私募件數平均都有超越公開現金增資之表現，顯示私募在資本募集市場的重要角色，也肯定其對於企業和經濟發展之正面功效。 過去文獻指出，美國之私募平均以折價發行，且有顯著正的宣告股價效果。針對不同樣本之特性，Wruck（1989）、Hertzel and Smith（1993）和Barclay, Holderness and Sheehan（2007）分別提出監督假說（monitoring hypothesis）、資訊不對稱假說（information asymmetry hypothesis）和自利假說（entrenchment hypothesis）解釋之。雖然我國之私募制度多參照美國而訂定，但法律架構和私募流程仍有相當程度的差異。因此，本研究將以上述三大假說為基礎，藉由樣本敘述統計和線性迴歸分析，探討我國上市上櫃公司私募之定價與宣告股價效果。 我們自公開資訊觀測站收集民國91年至98年7月底之私募股權樣本，扣除變數資料不全者，最後共有398筆，包含上市公司174筆，上櫃公司224筆。研究發現，我國私募多以折價發行。其中，特別股之折價幅度低於普通股，電子科技類普通股之折價幅度又高於普通股之平均。而且，根據迴歸結果，私募金額、私募比率和公司規模三個變數最能解釋我國私募之折溢價幅度，但並沒有傾向支持任一個私募假說。 至於宣告股價效果，我國私募董事會和股東會皆不顯著為正，且宣告股價效果的迴歸解釋力也偏低，只有股價淨值較具顯著性。探究其原因，可能是因為我國私募制度不同所致。依證交法之規定，私募股權需先經由董事會和股東會同意後，始得募集。然而，最後私募成功與否常與市況和發行公司能否找到適當投資人等密切相關。既然兩事件日都不能保證私募可以如期完成，我們也就無法預期投資人會對私募有明確迅速的反應。 / In the beginning of 2000, Taiwan’s Securities Transaction Law was amended to introduce the new way of financing- private placements. Since then public corporations are allowed to issue new securities either by public offerings and private placements. According to statistics, after 2005 private placements have become one of the most important funding sources for corporations, especially for those who are disqualified for public offerings. Although the average proceed of private placements is still relatively small, the number of private placements has already surpassed that of public offerings in recent years. This manifests the important role of private placements in building a sound financial market. Private placements in the U.S., despite selling at discounts, are associated with significant positive abnormal returns on the announcement date. With different sample characteristics, Wruck (1989), Hertzel and Smith (1993) and Barclay, Holderness and Sheehan (2007) suggest monitoring hypothesis, information asymmetry hypothesis and entrenchment hypothesis respectively. Our study is based with these three most accepted hypotheses and aims to give an insight in Taiwan’s private placement of equities for public corporations. I search the Market Observation Post System for all private placements from 2002 to July of 2009, and obtain a sample of 398 private equities with complete data. Empirical evidence shows that Taiwan’s private equities are selling at discounts as well and “proceeds of private equity”, “placement fraction” and “corporate size” are the three significant explanatory variables for discounts. However, all the results seem not to fully support any hypothesis as mentioned above. On the other hand, the announcement stock price effects on the board and shareholders’ meeting are insignificantly positive in Taiwan. The regressions on the announcement stock price returns also indicate low explanatory power with only “Tobin’s Q” variable being significant overall. This may be attributed to the legislation differences between U.S. and Taiwan. According to Taiwan’s Securities Transaction Law, private equities should be first approved by the board and shareholders’ meeting, but might not be a successful private equity placement due to market condition, lack of proper investors and others. As a result, we can’t expect investors would instantly, correctly respond to this resolution information on those announcement dates.

Main goal of this Master's thesis was to evaluate how price reductions influence consumers' likelihood to purchase FMCG products in connection to brand loyalty. Czech customers are characterized by high sensitivity to sales promotions. This thesis is focused on analysis of price discounts of shampoos in the Czech Republic. Leaflets of main retailers selling drugstore products were researched in order to describe the frequency and discount depth of shampoos. Customers' behaviour while buying shampoos and their attitude towards price discounts of shampoos were examined through a questionnaire. Main hypotheses that shampoos are discounted very frequently and of significant depth were confirmed. To conclude, customers' likelihood to buy shampoos increases heavily with discounted prices and some of the customers even believe that it is not worth buying shampoos for full prices.

This study examines whether discounts affect the behavior of fashion consumers during the different parts of the buying decision process and in what ways. It also examines if and how this is different between men and women. The study is of qualitative form and the data collection has been done through semi-structured interviews. The purpose is to increase the understanding of whether discounts have an impact on the consumer behavior of fashion consumers in the different parts of the buying decision process and how this is different between men and women. The analysis is based on previous research on fashion consumption, discounts and male and female consumption, as well as a theoretical framework containing the buying decision process and emotional decision making. The results of the study show that discounts have an impact on the consumer behavior. The results confirm that the effect of discounts varies depending on when in the buying decision process they are offered. The study also identified differences between men and women’s attitudes and behaviors when they are offered discounts during the buying decision process. We can confirm that there are differences and that the differences depend on which part of the buying decision process the consumer is in. This study contributes to increase the understanding of the effects of discounts on male and female fashion consumers and when they are most effective. In future research, it would be appropriate to examine this in another area of consumption. Further on the study will be written in Swedish. / I denna studie undersöks om rabatter påverkar modekonsumenters beteende underköpbeslutsprocessens olika delar och på vilka sätt. Den undersöker också hur detta skiljer sig åt mellan män och kvinnor. Studien är av kvalitativ form och datainsamlingen har skett genom semistrukturerade intervjuer. Syftet är att öka förståelsen kring huruvida rabatter harpåverkan på modekonsumenters konsumentbeteende i köpbeslutsprocessens olika delar samt hur detta skiljer sig åt mellan män och kvinnor. Analysen baseras på tidigare forskning kring modekonsumtion, rabatter och kvinnlig och manlig konsumtion, samt ett teoretiskt ramverk i form av modellen över köpbeslutsprocessen och emotionellt beslutsfattande. Studiens resultat visar att rabatter har påverkan på konsumentbeteende. Genom resultatet bekräftar studien att rabatters påverkan skiljer sig åt beroende på när i köpbeslutsprocessen de erbjuds. Resultatet tar även upp de identifierade skillnader som uppstått mellan män och kvinnors attityder och beteende kopplat till rabatter under köpbeslutsprocessen. Även här kan vi bekräfta att det finns skillnader och att det skiljer sig åt beroende på del avköpbeslutsprocessen. Denna undersökning bidrar till att öka förståelsen kring rabatters påverkan på manliga och kvinnliga modekonsumenter samt hur påverkan skiljer sig i köpbeslutsprocessen. I framtida forskning skulle det vara lämpligt att undersöka detta inom ett annat konsumtionsområde

<p>In this dissertation, I investigated price dynamics in the hotel room-night market and attempted to explain pricing decisions from a market perspective. Since market dynamics of the hotel room-night market can be paralleled to those in the financial market, financial market models allowed for examination of various aspects of hotel room pricing decisions.</p><p>In the first study, advance-purchase discounts were estimated through application of an option pricing model considering property-specific attributes. Non-refundable advance-purchase discounts are a commonly used rate fence. One challenge to their implementation, however, is deciding upon the precise magnitude of the discount. Quan’s (2002) study on the price of room reservations is a good starting point, but it is a conceptual model that assumes away other property-specific factors. This study thus tested the idea that advance-purchase discounts are affected by various components, including the value of the right to cancel a reservation (e.g., cancelation option value) and the room- and property-specific factors in the hotel room-night market (e.g., uncertainty, reviews, and seasonality). The analysis supported this hypothesis and additionally revealed that advance-purchase discounts are smaller for rooms with high review ratings in a high-demand period. Interestingly, the divergence between advance-purchase discounts and cancelation option value components widened in a high-demand period, which implies a tendency by hotels to adjust their room rates rather than the amount of discount for customers who book their stay well in advance. Theoretically, this study thus contributes to finance literature by extending the application of the option pricing model to real options for non-financial assets. This study also contributes to the hospitality literature by demonstrating the effects of property-specific attributes on advance-purchase discount magnitude. The results also have implications to the hospitality industry by providing an analytical framework by which hoteliers can estimate property-specific advance-purchase discounts.</p><p>The second study concentrated on rate parity agreement’s effect on the hotel room-night market’s efficiency at reflecting product characteristics in room rates. This study examined the impact of rate parity agreement between hotels and online travel agencies by comparing hotel rates between Europe and the United States. This study found that room rates were less sensitive to property quality attributes under rate parity clauses. The reflection of property quality on room rates were less efficient when hotels have rate parity agreement with OTAs. Furthermore, the results supported the claim that rate parity exacerbates price increase in periods of high demand, which indicates possible collusion between suppliers (hotels) and distributors (OTAs). The findings provided theoretical implications by testing the market efficiency of the hotel room-night market and confirming the impact at the property level. This study also provided a perspective on pricing decision makers to understand how rate parity agreement influence their pricing decisions. Last, the findings provided support for recent policies in Europe that restrict rate parity agreements between hotels and OTAs.</p><p>The third study empirically examined hoteliers’ response to the demand by observing the price movement of two rates with different cancelation policies—free cancelation rates and non-refundable rates. By modifying Hasbrouck’s (1995) information share approach, this study examined the non-refundable rates’ contribution to the price discovery process. The perceived quality of accommodation by customers, one of the primary determinants of the price discovery process, was included in analysis. The results suggested that non-refundable rates were contribute more to the information variance than free cancelation rates did. The findings also suggested that consumers’ perceived quality and volatility influence non-refundable rates’ contribution to the price discovery process. The results also have practical implications for market participants, as they help to build an understanding of aggregated demand and its impact on pricing. Non-refundable rates are generally regarded as just one of many kinds of discounted rates, but the results of this study suggest that hoteliers should carefully consider the role that non-refundable rates play in their pricing strategy.<br></p>