Patent ID: 7110970

Claim:
A method for collaborating on due diligence issues to affect efficient asset underwriting and process knowledge building within due diligence teams using a computer system coupled to a data repository, said method comprising the steps of: accumulating knowledge from prior due diligence exercises including valuating assets in a portfolio individually and collectively by segmenting the portfolio of assets into three valuation portions and by: underwriting each asset individually included within a first portion of the asset portfolio to calculate a value of each asset included within the first portion of the portfolio, wherein underwriting includes analyzing an asset in accordance with predetermined criteria, and determining a current purchase price for buying the asset and a confidence factor associated with the determined purchase price based on the analysis, grouping and underwriting a sample of assets included within a second portion of the asset portfolio to calculate a value of each asset included within the second portion of the portfolio based on the underwritten sample assets, each sample asset having descriptive attributes common to at least one non-sample asset included within the second portion such that each sample asset represents at least one non-sample asset included within the second portion, and using the computer to statistically infer a value for assets included within a third portion of the asset portfolio using an iterative process including grouping the assets included within the third portion of the portfolio into clusters using descriptive attributes of the assets included within the third portion, wherein the statistically inferring a value of assets included within the third portion is based on underwriting values and variances of the first and second portions of the portfolio, wherein the portfolio of segmented assets includes assets included within the first portion having at least one of an original value that is larger than the original value of the assets included within the second and third portions, and a variance that is smaller than the variances of the assets included within the second and third portions; storing the accumulated knowledge in the data repository; accessing the stored, accumulated knowledge in the data repository from prior due diligence exercises; conducting a current due diligence exercise; applying the accumulated knowledge from past due diligence exercises to the current due diligence exercise; and storing newly accumulated knowledge from the current due diligence exercise into the data repository of accumulated knowledge.