- 1). Determine the number of stock options granted to employees and other stakeholders. Since employee stock options can only be exercised if the individual is still employed by the firm and meets certain other requirements, options granted to employees who are no longer with the firm or otherwise have lost their rights to exercise their rights to buy shares at pre-determined prices must be subtracted from the total. If other stakeholders, such as outside investors, were given stock options, these must be added to the total number. Each option granted will specify how many shares the option holder can buy using these options. Add up the total number of shares that all outstanding and valid options grant rights to.
- 2). Determine the number of warrants and multiply this figure by the number of shares each warrant can be converted into. Warrants are similar to employee stock options, but they are sold for cash, as opposed to being granted to employees as a form of compensation. They function in the same way, however; each warrant gives the holder the right to buy a pre-specified number of shares at a certain price. Multiply the number of warrants sold and as yet un-exercised by the number of shares each one can be converted into.
- 3). Find the number of convertible bonds issued by the company and not yet exercised or expired. Convertible bonds are a special class of financial instruments. They pay periodical interest like conventional bonds, but they can also be exchanged for shares at no extra cost. Find the number of all such bonds issued, which are still outstanding, along with their expiration dates and conversion ratios. The conversion ratio is the number of shares the investor will obtain by surrendering the bonds. Multiply the number of unexpired convertible bonds by the conversion ratio.
- 4). Add the figures calculated in all the previous steps. The resulting number is how many additional shares there will be if the maximum possible dilution takes place. Add this figure to the current number of outstanding shares to arrive at the fully diluted share count.
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