This book presents the main valuation approaches that can beused to value financial institutions. By sketching 1) the differentbusiness models of banks (both commercial and investment banks) andinsurance companies (life, property and casualty and reinsurance);2) the structure and peculiarities of financial institutions'reporting and financial statements; and 3) the main features ofregulatory capital frameworks for banking and insurance (ie BaselIII, Solvency II), the book addresses why such elements make thevaluation of financial institutions different from the valuation ofnon-financial companies.The book then features the valuation models that can be used todetermine the value of banks and insurance companies including theDiscounted Cash Flow, Dividend Discount Model, and Residual IncomeModel (with the appropriate estimation techniques for the cost ofcapital and cash flow in financial industries). The main techniquesto perform the relative valuation of financial institutions arethen presented: along the traditional multiples (P/E, P/BV, P/TBV,P/NAV), the multiples based on industry-specific value drivers arediscussed (for example, P/Pre Provision Profit, P/Deposits,P/Premiums, P/Number of branches). Further valuation tools such asthe "Value Maps" or the "Warranted EquityMethod" will be explained and discussed. The closing sectionof the book will briefly focus on the valuation of specificfinancial companies/vehicles such as closed-end funds, privateequity funds, leasing companies, etc.