Answers / Valuation

A company has a market cap of $500M, total debt of $200M, cash of $50M, and 10 million shares outstanding. It also has 1 million in-the-money stock options with an exercise price of $20. The current stock price is $50. What is the diluted Enterprise Value?

A core Valuation interview question — asked in analyst and associate interviews across IB, PE, and the Big 4.

THE SHORT ANSWER

First, calculate basic EV: $500M + $200M - $50M = $650M. For the options, use the treasury stock method: proceeds from options = 1M * $20 = $20M. Shares repurchased = $20M / $50 = 0.4M. Net new shares = 1M - 0.4M = 0.6M. Diluted market cap = $50 * (10M + 0.6M) = $530M. Diluted EV = $530M + $200M - $50M = $680M. Alternatively, add the dilutive effect directly: basic EV $650M + (net new shares * stock price) = $650M + 0.6M * $50 = $680M.

WHAT INTERVIEWERS LISTEN FOR

  • Treasury stock method for options
  • Calculate net new shares
  • Diluted market cap then EV

COMMON MISTAKES

  • Ignoring options dilution
  • Adding options proceeds to EV incorrectly

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