A comprehensive measure of a company's total value, calculated as market capitalization plus total debt minus cash and cash equivalents. It represents the theoretical takeover price of the entire business.
'Enterprise' from Old French 'entreprendre' meaning to undertake, 'value' from Latin 'valere' meaning to be worth. The concept emerged in 1980s corporate finance as analysts needed better metrics for comparing companies with different capital structures in M&A analysis.
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