New Delhi, Dec. 8 -- "I don't know, and it is hard to say," says Tim Koller when asked about the possibility of a ninth edition of Valuation, the celebrated book he co-authored with Marc Goedhart and David Wessels. Now in its eighth edition, the 952-page volume has become a staple in boardrooms and business schools alike, shaping how corporate leaders think about value creation, and has sold over 1 million copies worldwide-a rare feat for a corporate finance text.

As he approaches retirement from McKinsey & Co. in February, Koller hopes his colleagues will continue championing what he sees as the core of sound decision-making: pursuing growth only when it delivers strong and sustainable returns on capital.

In a conversation with Mint, t...