Exhibit 5
WARREN E. BUFFETT, 2005
Hypothetical Example of Value Destruction
Assume:
• 5-year investment horizon, when you liquidate at “book” or accumulated investment value • initial investment of $50 million
• no dividends are paid, all cash flows are reinvested
• return on equity = 10%
• cost of equity = 15%
Year
Investment or
book equity
value 50 55 60 67 73 81
Market value (or
intrinsic value) = Present value @ 15% of $81 = $40.30
Market/book = $40.30/50.00 = $0.80
Value destroyed: $1.00 invested becomes $0.80 in market value.
Source: Case writer analysis.