CHALLENGE SPECIFICS
  1. The winning team will receive the “Kierulff Cup” trophy and team members will receive commemorations signifying their success. The second place team will receive individual commemorations; third place individual commemorations. Members of the other teams reaching the finals will each receive commemorations signifying excellence in valuation. The teams’ achievements will appear in the Challenge’s web site and other sites including BVR publications and the AICPA and their presentations will be available on YouTube.
  2. Each school may select up to two teams to participate in the Challenge; regional extensions of larger universities are considered separate entities and may enter separately. A team consists of three to five students who are masters/MBA students and/or college juniors and/or seniors at the participating university or who have graduated within six months of the date of the Challenge. The team might be selected from a class in valuation, advanced finance, or advanced accounting; or it may be formed independently. Preparing for the Challenge is significantly more involved and time consuming than the typical finance competition. Professors have found it helpful to include the additional learning requirements as part of their classes or at least give directed research credits to participants. Please visit Resources on this site.
  3. The competition is limited to the first 24 schools applying for 2018; regional extensions of larger universities are considered separate and may enter separately. Due to confidentiality concerns, the valuation report can only be issued to a limited number of schools. Those wishing to participate should email David Beard (dbeard@gsu.edu) on or before September 7, 2018 to indicate a firm intent to register, and formally register (supply the names and contact information of students and faculty) by mid September. Early formal registration is strongly encouraged because preparation for the Challenge is time consuming for those new to private and small public company valuation. David will provide a registration form for participating universities. Schools responding after the limit is reached will be put on stand-by. All schools receiving database access and the case accept the obligation to participate fully in the Challenge up to and including the final round if chosen to come to Atlanta. In addition, each person connected to the Challenge promises to use the BVR materials for this competition only. BVR materials are not to be used by anyone else or for any other purposes such as consulting. Also, the valuation case must be considered confidential, not to be shared or discussed with anyone outside the associated faculty and Challenge team or class(es) in which it is used for instruction. Each school must have at least one faculty member acting as an instructor/consultant to the team and as a contact person.
  4. On or before noon on October 26th 2018, each of the participating teams should make a video presentation of their valuation available for judges on line and email the URL to Dr. Beard. The video must be no more than 30 minutes, and must download and play properly to qualify for judging. Each video will be evaluated by a team of senior level valuation professionals who will choose the eight best presentations. We will provide a judges’ evaluation guideline, a suggested guide to the presentation, and videos of prior teams’ presentations.
  5. We will forward the valuation professionals’ comments to each participating team and the eight best presentations will be announced on or before October 30. The teams may change their presentation materials based upon the professionals’ feedback.
  6. The eight teams and their professors or professors’ representatives invited to Atlanta will participate in the in-person Challenge at the Buckhead facilities of the J. Mack Robinson College of Business. A team from GSU and SPU will also participate. There will be a welcome dinner and keynote speaker at the Buckhead Club on November 16th. On November 17th, each team will make a presentation of up to 30 minutes followed by up to 15 minutes of Q&A from a panel of judges. Only teams that have already presented may view another team’s presentation. During the day, other learning opportunities may be provided for those not in the process of presenting. In the evening of November 17th there will be a dinner and speaker at which time the winners of the Challenge will be announced. Videos of all presentations and pictures with the judges will be provided after the Challenge.
  7. Special hotel rates in Buckhead will be available. Teams and their faculty members will be responsible for transportation, lodging, and some meals. The Challenge sponsors will cover the costs for the Buckhead Club dinner on the 16th, and dinner on the 17th. Contact the Program Director, Dr. David Beard at dbeard@gsu.edu to reserve a place.
  8. Please keep current with us on this web site since it will contain information relevant to the Challenge and will be updated from time to time.