Rise of Intangible Assets Transforms Company Valuations in France

As World Intellectual Property Day approaches on April 26, Finantis Value highlights a significant shift in company valuation where intangible assets such as brands, patents, software, and know-how are becoming primary drivers of business value. Traditional accounting methods focusing on tangible assets no longer capture the full worth of companies, leading to valuation disparities even among firms with similar economic performances.

Finantis Value, a specialist in intangible asset valuation since 2017, has assessed over 750 million euros across 15 sectors. The firm emphasizes that true brand value derives from active use rather than mere registration. For example, a portfolio of organic apple brands in use was valued at €2.99 million versus only €2,931 for unused brands. In technology and industrial sectors, software is increasingly central; a collaborative robotics system was valued at €13.3 million based on its software, and aerospace software licenses represent 43% to 50% of product value.

Furthermore, transformed data and documented know-how command significant financial value—such as a biopharma clinical data asset worth up to €9.2 million and cybersecurity expertise valued between €184,000 and €219,000. The social impact dimension can also enhance valuations, contingent on credible business models and market size; wearable personal safety tech has valuations between $60.8 million and $80 million, while niche adaptive fashion projects are valued between $846,000 and $1 million.

Finantis Value’s CEO Sylvie Gamet, the only CVA-certified woman in France, advocates for executives and financial professionals to adopt new frameworks recognizing these invisible assets, which, despite being absent from balance sheets, significantly influence company trajectories.