Enterprise Value: Subtracting Investments in Associates

Basically asking for clarification: Why do you subtract investments in associates when calculating EV?

My understanding is that you do so such that when you calculate EV/revenue or EV/EBITDA mutliples, the numerator and denominator would be comparable (0% contribution from associates).

But recently I've been told that investments in associates are subtracted because these investments are considered non-operating and non-core. Another reason I received was because these assets tend to be liquid and hence can be considered somewhat like cash equivalents. I don't agree with the latter opinion but let me know your thoughts?

5 Comments
 

So you're saying the main reason we take out associates in our calculation of EV is to facilitate the calculation of the EV/EBITDA or EV/revenue etc. multiple?

I've had an interviewer told me what if i wanted to calculated EV by itself and ignore the purposes of calculating multiples, in that case how should I justify the subtraction of investments in associates?

 

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