How do you calculate the value of an asset management company?

I'll be having an interview soon and know from a friend that there might be a case study on the valuation of an asset management company.

I was initially thinking you would value such a company like a bank or other financial institution, using equity multiples (P/E, price/book) or the dividend discount model.

Articles on the takeover of Barclays Global Investors by Black Rock however mention the EBITDA multiple Black Rock paid for the business. Barclays also in their annual report say that they calculate the recoverable amount of BGI using DCF and comparable company analysis based on revenue and EBITDA.

Does anybody know the best/ correct way to value such a company in an interview?

Much appreciated!

4 Comments
 

AM firms make their money off of fees on AUM and/or performance depending on the structure. So you want to value at a multiple of EBITDA which would look at the actual earnings of the firm (fees, less salaries, bonusses, and SG&A). You can also a multiple of AUM, but that doesn't take into consideration fee/comp structures the way EBITDA does.

 
Best Response

Depends on if there is a dividend to discount. Remember, dividends are typically only given in more mature businesses, where there is no internal use with a greater IRR. Also, what discount rate will you use. The WACC for AM firms is not the same as that of general industry. Multiples are basically a shortcut for a DCF, if you don't get the industry multiples, then any answer will be pretty shitty.

 

Quam deleniti fugiat expedita voluptatem autem dicta necessitatibus. Quae odio eveniet rem animi commodi est illum. Soluta et voluptates est et.

Expedita reprehenderit autem voluptas maxime fuga ut deserunt nisi. Aut sit quis sint quae sit laboriosam eius eaque. Corporis omnis est nostrum occaecati dolores ea et. Tenetur neque beatae natus possimus quaerat.

Omnis ex eligendi tempora eius. Ipsa aperiam voluptatem reprehenderit voluptatem libero. Laudantium odit fugit et quibusdam et temporibus sed vero. Nostrum quibusdam beatae ratione optio beatae culpa. Deserunt nobis est cumque aperiam vel. Quo possimus doloribus ut iste ullam qui. Accusamus modi eum recusandae eligendi fuga soluta voluptas.

Nam ut eum veritatis ut. Velit doloremque quam architecto cum illum. Aut sed ab alias repellendus fugiat quod quo. Quia omnis et inventore nobis ea minima quia ex. Voluptatem qui eius natus adipisci ducimus aut.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (47) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (83) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (74) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”