The EVA Challenge: Implementing Value-Added Change in an ...
The EVA Challenge: Implementing Value-Added Change in an ...
The EVA Challenge: Implementing Value-Added Change in an ...
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174 <strong>The</strong> <strong>EVA</strong> <strong>Challenge</strong><br />
tend to rise faster th<strong>an</strong> the costs because most of the costs are fixed<br />
<strong>an</strong>d do not vary with the cost of oil. As a result, profits, cash flows<br />
<strong>an</strong>d the present value of future cash flows will all rise faster th<strong>an</strong> oil<br />
prices. Thus, although m<strong>an</strong>y oil executives lament it, the uncerta<strong>in</strong>ty<br />
<strong>in</strong> the price of oil, coupled with high operational leverage, is ironically<br />
what gives the options to develop undeveloped reserves much of<br />
their present value.”<br />
Forward-look<strong>in</strong>g <strong>EVA</strong> for the extractive <strong>in</strong>dustries has two<br />
major purposes. <strong>The</strong> first is to create a measurement system that is<br />
<strong>in</strong> accord with market reality. <strong>The</strong> market responds exuber<strong>an</strong>tly to<br />
news of large oil <strong>an</strong>d gas discoveries; it tr<strong>an</strong>slates the sudden <strong>in</strong>crease<br />
<strong>in</strong> wealth <strong>in</strong>to <strong>an</strong> upsurg<strong>in</strong>g share price. In their study of 25<br />
large oil <strong>an</strong>d gas comp<strong>an</strong>ies, based only on publicly disclosed reserve<br />
values, McCormack <strong>an</strong>d Vytheeswar<strong>an</strong> found that forward <strong>EVA</strong><br />
calculations expla<strong>in</strong>ed 49 percent of the ch<strong>an</strong>ge <strong>in</strong> shareholder<br />
wealth, whereas st<strong>an</strong>dard <strong>EVA</strong>, as already mentioned, expla<strong>in</strong>ed<br />
only 8 percent. With a more sophisticated measure of reserves, forward<br />
<strong>EVA</strong> expla<strong>in</strong>ed 66 percent of shareholder wealth. Moreover,<br />
with <strong>in</strong>ternal comp<strong>an</strong>y data, the figure <strong>in</strong> some comp<strong>an</strong>ies has gone<br />
as high as 90 percent.<br />
<strong>The</strong> second purpose of the ch<strong>an</strong>ge is to provide a realistic <strong>in</strong>centive<br />
system. Under the st<strong>an</strong>dard <strong>EVA</strong> measures, oil comp<strong>an</strong>y m<strong>an</strong>agers<br />
who greatly enriched their shareholders would be meagerly<br />
compensated; the <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> <strong>EVA</strong> would derive only from the <strong>in</strong>crease<br />
<strong>in</strong> earn<strong>in</strong>gs, not from the enlargement of the comp<strong>an</strong>y’s capital<br />
base. It would be as unfair as reward<strong>in</strong>g the m<strong>an</strong>ager of a mutual<br />
fund for the dividend yield on <strong>in</strong>vestments, with noth<strong>in</strong>g added for<br />
capital appreciation or total returns. Under the new dispensation,<br />
the mech<strong>an</strong>ics of the st<strong>an</strong>dard <strong>EVA</strong> <strong>in</strong>centive program are the same:<br />
<strong>an</strong>nual expected improvements, targets set <strong>in</strong> adv<strong>an</strong>ce for three- or<br />
five-year periods, a bonus b<strong>an</strong>k, no cap on bonuses. <strong>The</strong> difference is