Understanding Accretion/Dilution Analysis in Business

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Posted Oct 31, 2024

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Accretion/dilution analysis is a crucial financial concept that affects the value of a company's shares. This analysis is particularly important in the context of mergers and acquisitions.

In essence, accretion/dilution analysis calculates the impact of a transaction on the earnings per share (EPS) of the acquiring company's shareholders. This is done by comparing the EPS before and after the transaction.

The goal of accretion/dilution analysis is to determine whether the transaction will increase or decrease the value of the acquiring company's shares. This analysis is typically performed using a financial model that takes into account various factors, including the number of shares outstanding, the acquisition price, and the company's earnings.

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What Is Accretion/Dilution Analysis?

Accretion/Dilution analysis is a crucial tool in measuring the impact of M&A deals on a Public Company's Earnings Per Share. It helps determine whether the benefits of a deal outweigh the costs.

Accretive deals have benefits that outweigh the costs, resulting in a positive impact on shareholders. This means the company's earnings per share increase after the merger.

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Credit: youtube.com, Accretion Dilution Analysis in Plain English - Complete Guide (2021)

Dilutive deals, on the other hand, have costs that outweigh the benefits, resulting in a negative impact on shareholders. This means the company's earnings per share decrease after the merger.

Investment Bankers and Company CEOs use Accretion/Dilution analysis to measure the attractiveness of M&A deals. This analysis helps them make informed decisions about whether to pursue a deal.

Steps of the Analysis

Accretion/dilution analysis is a crucial step in evaluating the impact of a merger or acquisition on a company's earnings per share (EPS).

To start, you need to identify the proportion of equity and debt that would finance the transaction, as well as the tax rate and debt-related interest rate. This information is essential for calculating the pro forma market capitalization and the number of shares issued by the acquirer.

The next step is to calculate the acquirer's market capitalization by multiplying the share price by the shares outstanding. You also need to add the proportion of the target's market cap being funded by equity to find the pro forma market capitalization.

Credit: youtube.com, Financial Modeling Quick Lessons: Accretion / Dilution (Part 1) [UPDATED]

To calculate the number of shares issued by the acquirer, divide the proportion of the target's market capitalization funded by equity by the acquirer's stock price. This will give you the total number of shares outstanding in the pro forma company.

Here's a summary of the steps involved in calculating the number of shares:

  • Acquirer's market capitalization = share price * shares outstanding
  • Pro forma market capitalization = acquirer's market capitalization + (target's market cap * % of equity)
  • Shares issued by acquirer = (proportion of target's market cap funded by equity) / acquirer's stock price
  • Pro forma shares outstanding = acquirer's shares outstanding + shares issued by acquirer

Now, let's move on to the next step in the analysis, which involves calculating the acquirer's EPS and the pro forma EPS.

M&A Benefits and Costs

In an M&A deal, the Acquirer gains Earnings & Synergies, which are offset by Financing costs. This is the typical balance of benefits and costs in a public company M&A deal.

The benefits of an M&A deal include Acquired Earnings and Synergies, which are the cost savings or additional revenue from combining the Acquirer's and Target's businesses.

Synergies are a key benefit of an M&A deal, and can come in the form of cost savings or additional revenue. This can be a significant advantage for the Acquirer.

Credit: youtube.com, Accretion Dilution Analysis in Plain English - Complete Guide (2021)

However, there are also costs associated with an M&A deal, including Interest Expense, Foregone Interest Income, and Equity Dilution. These costs can have a negative impact on the Acquirer's earnings.

Interest Expense is a funding cost of the M&A deal, and is associated with the Acquisition Debt. Foregone Interest Income is the interest income that the Acquirer would have earned if the Acquisition did not occur. Equity Dilution occurs when the Acquirer uses shares to purchase the Target, which lowers the earnings available to each shareholder.

All benefits and costs must be calculated on an after-tax basis, as Accretion / Dilution reflects the impact of an M&A deal on the Acquirer's Earnings Per Share.

Here is a summary of the typical benefits and costs of an M&A deal:

  • Acquired Earnings: Target's Net Income
  • Synergies: Cost Savings or additional Revenue from combining the Acquirer's and Target's Businesses
  • Interest Expense: if the Acquirer uses Debt to fund the Acquisition
  • Foregone Interest Income: if the Acquirer uses Cash to fund the Acquisition
  • Equity Dilution: if the Acquirer uses shares to purchase the Target

These benefits and costs must be weighed against each other to determine whether a deal is Accretive or Dilutive.

Calculating Pro Forma Earnings

Calculating Pro Forma Earnings is a crucial step in Accretion/Dilution analysis. Pro Forma Net Income is calculated by adding the Acquirer's Net Income, Acquired Earnings, and Synergies, which we assume to be zero since the value of Synergies is not specified.

Credit: youtube.com, Pro-Forma Earnings vs. GAAP in Merger Models

To calculate Pro Forma Net Income, start with the Acquirer's Net Income, add the Acquired Target Earnings, and subtract Interest Expense and Foregone Interest Income. Be sure to calculate all items on an After-Tax Basis.

Pro Forma Net Income is calculated in three steps. First, calculate PF Net Income by adding the Acquirer's Net Income, Acquired Target Earnings, and Synergies. Second, calculate PF Shares by adding the Acquirer's Share Count and any New Shares Issued to the Target. Third, calculate PF EPS by dividing Pro Forma Net Income by the Pro Forma Shares.

Pro Forma Net Income is $300 in our example, as calculated in Accretion/Dilution – Step #1: Pro Forma Net Income.

Here's a quick recap of the Pro Forma Net Income calculation:

  • Acquirer Net Income: $2.4 billion
  • Target Net Income: $4 million
  • Pro Forma Net Income: $300

Pro Forma Net Income is the same as it was before the deal, but the combined Share Count is lower. This means Earnings Per Share will mechanically increase, making the deal Accretive.

To calculate Pro Forma EPS, divide Pro Forma Net Income by the Pro Forma Shares. In our example, Pro Forma EPS is $4.25, which is higher than the Acquirer's Pre-Deal EPS of $4.00.

Merger Models and Analysis

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A Merger Model is a tool used by investment bankers to analyze the impact of a proposed public company M&A transaction. It combines the two companies' financials and builds pro forma financials to compare with the acquirer's original financials.

The Merger Model typically shows accretion/dilution as an output, among other metrics used to evaluate a deal. These metrics include leverage multiples and valuation multiples.

To build a Merger Model, you need to determine the offer value per share and total offer value, structure the purchase consideration, and estimate the financing fee, interest expense, number of new share issuances, synergies, and transaction fee.

Here are the steps to build a Merger Model:

  • Determine the offer value per share and total offer value
  • Structure the purchase consideration (cash, stock, or mix)
  • Estimate the financing fee, interest expense, number of new share issuances, synergies, and transaction fee
  • Perform purchase price accounting (PPA) to calculate goodwill and incremental D&A
  • Calculate the standalone EBT (earnings before taxes)
  • Move from the consolidated EBT to the pro forma net income
  • Divide the pro forma net income by the pro forma diluted shares outstanding to arrive at the pro forma EPS
  • Estimate the accretive or dilutive impact on the pro forma EPS

The accretion/dilution formula calculates the net impact on earnings per share (EPS) post-merger. It's a crucial step in determining whether the deal is accretive or dilutive.

Credit: youtube.com, M&A Accretion Dilution Analysis (Merger Model)

Here's a simplified example of the accretion/dilution formula:

  • Acquirer's EPS = earnings / shares outstanding
  • Pro forma EPS = (acquirer's earnings + target's earnings + synergies - interest expense) / pro forma shares outstanding
  • Accretion/dilution = (pro forma EPS - acquirer's EPS) / acquirer's EPS

If the acquirer's EPS > pro forma EPS, the deal is dilutive. If the acquirer's EPS < pro forma EPS, the deal is accretive.

Offer and Purchase Price

In an accretion/dilution analysis, the offer price is a crucial factor in determining the impact of the transaction on the existing shareholders.

The offer price is the price at which the buyer is offering to purchase the target company's shares, as seen in the example of XYZ Inc. being acquired by ABC Corp. for $10 per share.

A higher offer price will typically result in accretion, where the earnings per share of the combined entity increases, as illustrated in the example of the 2-for-1 stock split.

However, if the offer price is too low, it may lead to dilution, where the earnings per share of the combined entity decreases, as seen in the example of the 1-for-2 reverse stock split.

The purchase price is the total amount paid by the buyer to acquire the target company, which can be affected by the offer price and the number of shares being purchased, as demonstrated in the example of the $50 million purchase price for 50,000 shares at $1 per share.

Cash vs. Stock and Risks

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Cash consideration is a common form of payment in M&A deals, but it comes with its own set of risks. Specifically, when an acquirer uses debt to fund the purchase, they incur interest expenses that can eat into their bottom line.

In the case of the hypothetical deal mentioned earlier, the acquirer used $2 billion in debt to fund the purchase, resulting in an annual interest expense of $100 million.

On the other hand, stock consideration can also be a risk for acquirers, as it leads to equity dilution. This occurs when the additional shares issued to target shareholders lower the earnings available to each shareholder.

For example, in the hypothetical deal, the acquirer issued 50 million new shares to fund the stock consideration, which implied a dilution of the acquirer's earnings per share.

Here's a breakdown of the risks associated with cash and stock consideration:

Ultimately, the choice between cash and stock consideration depends on the acquirer's financial situation and strategic goals. But it's essential to carefully weigh the risks and benefits of each option to ensure a successful deal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the rule of thumb for accretion dilution?

The rule of thumb for accretion dilution is: If the Acquirer's P/E is higher, the deal is Accretive. If lower, it's Dilutive.

Can you do an accretion dilution analysis on a private company?

Yes, an accretion/dilution analysis can be performed on a private company, requiring projections of its pre- and post-restructuring financial statements. This analysis assesses the transaction's impact on the company's earnings per share.

Nellie Hodkiewicz-Gorczany

Senior Assigning Editor

Nellie Hodkiewicz-Gorczany is a seasoned Assigning Editor with a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling. With a strong background in research and content curation, Nellie has developed a unique ability to identify and assign compelling articles that capture the attention of readers. Throughout her career, Nellie has covered a wide range of topics, including the latest trends and developments in the financial services industry.