Exploring Interest Rate Dynamics on Real Option Valuation for Private Equity

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Luisa Alejandra Vilches Murillo
Iván Adolfo Valdovinos Hernández

Abstract

This study analyzes the impact of interest rates on real option valuation in private equity, a highly volatile sector. Unlike traditional models such as discounted cash flows (DCF) or internal rate of return (IRR), real options incorporate not only the discounting of future cash flows, but also the possibility of exercising or deferring the investment as expected returns change. Using the Black-Scholes model, the results show that interest rates significantly influence valuations: put options reveal potential losses and decline as interest rates increase, while call options remain practically stable. These findings suggest that real options provide a more comprehensive view of the impact of monetary policy on private equity investments and allow the valuation to incorporate the sector’s inherent uncertainty.

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Author Biographies

Luisa Alejandra Vilches Murillo, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico

Luisa Alejandra Vilches Murillo is a full-time professor at the Department of Accounting and Finance, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a master’s degree in Finance. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Financial Science at EGADE Business School. Her profesional experience includes consulting, investment banking, and risk analysis for financial institutions.

Iván Adolfo Valdovinos Hernández, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico

Dr. Ivan Valdovinos is an associate professor in Accounting and Finance at EGADE Business School. He has a Ph.D. in Accounting and Finance, specializing in Managerial
Accounting, from the University of Manchester. His research interests include valuation, administrative, and financial accounting.

How to Cite

Exploring Interest Rate Dynamics on Real Option Valuation for Private Equity. (2025). The Anáhuac Journal, 25(2), Pág. 106-122. https://doi.org/10.36105/theanahuacjour.2025v25n2.2999

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