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8.3·7 min read

Convertibles & Other Dilution

Convertible debt and preferred can become shares too. The If-Converted and Net Share Settlement methods size the dilution.

By the end you can
  • Apply the If-Converted method
  • Apply the Net Share Settlement (NSS) method
  • Know when to count convertibles as debt vs. equity

Convertible securities give holders the option to swap debt (or preferred) for common stock. If they're in-the-money, they dilute - and there are two ways to size that dilution.

If-Converted method
  • Assume the convert becomes shares in full
  • Incremental shares = face value ÷ conversion price
  • Remove the convert from debt and its interest from the P&L
  • Simpler; more dilutive
Net Share Settlement (NSS)
  • Company pays face value in cash
  • Only the value ABOVE face converts to shares
  • Caps the dilution at the in-the-money excess
  • Less dilutive; common in practice
Worked example · Same convert, two methods
Given
  • Current share price: $15.00
  • outstanding: $150mm
  • Conversion price: $10.00
Solution
  1. 1.If-Converted - incremental shares
    150/10=15mm shares150 / 10 = 15\text{mm shares}
  2. 2.NSS - total convert value
    15×15=22515 \times 15 = 225
  3. 3.NSS - excess over face
    225150=75225 - 150 = 75
  4. 4.NSS - incremental shares
    75/15=5mm shares75 / 15 = 5\text{mm shares}
Answer

If-Converted adds 15mm shares; NSS adds only 5mm. NSS is far less dilutive because the company settles the face value in cash and issues stock only for the excess.

Convert to equity, then remove it from the bridge

When you treat a convertible as converting to shares, you must also remove it from total debt (and its interest/dividends from the P&L). Otherwise you'd double-count it as both debt and equity. Out-of-the-money converts stay as debt.

Check yourself

Convertible debt of $200mm with a $20 conversion price, under the If-Converted method, adds how many shares?