Associate company

An associate company (or associate) in accounting and business valuation is a company in which another company owns a significant portion of voting shares, usually 20–50%. In this case, an owner does not consolidate the associate's financial statements. Ownership of over 50% creates a subsidiary, with its financial statements being consolidated into the parent's books. Associate value is reported in the balance sheet as an asset, the investor's proportional share of the associate's income is reported in the income statement and dividends from the ownership decrease the value on the balance sheet. In Europe, investments into associate companies are called fixed financial assets.

Associate value in the enterprise value equation is the reciprocate of minority interest.

See also

• Equity method
• Consolidation (business)

One should note that investment in associate companies should be accounted for using the equity method, under which the dividends are treated as a return of capital thus are not recognized in the investor's income statement as equity income.

External links

• Basis of Consolidation