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Microlesson · 5-min read

AS 20 — Diluted EPS: Concept, Formula, and Anti-Dilution Test

## Diluted EPS

### What Are Potential Equity Shares?

Potential Equity Shares (PES) are financial instruments that entitle their holders to acquire equity shares in the future. They do not exist as equity shares today but could dilute EPS if converted.

Examples:

  • Convertible Debentures
  • Convertible Preference Shares
  • Employee Stock Option Plans (ESOPs)
  • Share Warrants (right to buy shares at a pre-determined price set on the grant date)

---

### Formula

$$\text{Diluted EPS} = \frac{\text{EAFESH} + \text{Effect of PES (Numerator adjustment)}}{\text{WANES} + \text{Effect of PES (Denominator adjustment)}}$$

Numerator adjustment (for convertible instruments):

$$\text{Savings in interest, net of tax} = \text{Face Value} \times \text{Rate} \times (1 - \text{Tax Rate})$$

Denominator adjustment:

Add the equity shares that would have been issued on conversion, time-weighted from the date of issue.

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### Anti-Dilution Test

OutcomeAction
Diluted EPS < Basic EPSDilutive — report Diluted EPS
Diluted EPS > Basic EPSAnti-dilutive — do NOT report; Diluted EPS = Basic EPS

> The purpose of diluted EPS is to show the worst-case scenario for equity holders. Any instrument that would increase EPS is ignored.

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### Working Note Structure (always show two WNs)

WN 1 — Adjusted Numerator (EAFESH + effect of PES)

EAFESHx
Add: Interest savings net of taxx
Totalx

WN 2 — Adjusted Denominator (WANES + effect of PES)

Shares
WANESx
Add: Potential equity shares (time-weighted)x
Totalx

Worked example

### Example 1

Illustrative Example (Full Year Conv Debs, from Page 20)

Given:

  • Basic EPS = ₹10 per share (EAFESH = ₹10,00,000; WANES = 1,00,000 shares)
  • 5,000 Convertible Debentures, FV ₹100, 8% interest, outstanding full year
  • Each debenture converts into 10 equity shares after 5 years
  • Tax Rate = 30%

WN 1:

EAFESH10,00,000
Add: Savings in interest net of tax (5,000 × 100 × 8% × 70%)28,000
Total10,28,000

WN 2:

Shares
WANES1,00,000
Add: Potential equity shares (5,000 × 10)50,000
Total1,50,000

$$\text{Diluted EPS} = \frac{10{,}28{,}000}{1{,}50{,}000} = ₹6.85$$

Since ₹6.85 < ₹10 (Basic EPS) → Dilutive → Report ₹6.85 as Diluted EPS.

### Example 2

Q 11 — Dilutive (Page 22)

Given:

  • EAFESH = ₹75,00,000; WANES = 10,00,000 shares
  • Basic EPS = ₹7.50 per share
  • Conv Debs outstanding; interest expense = ₹8,00,000 (assumed full year); Tax Rate = 30%

WN 1:

$$\text{Savings in interest net of tax} = 8{,}00{,}000 \times 70\% = 5{,}60{,}000$$

$$\text{Adjusted numerator} = 75{,}00{,}000 + 5{,}60{,}000 = 80{,}60{,}000$$

WN 2:

$$\text{Adjusted denominator} = 10{,}00{,}000 + 1{,}10{,}000 = 11{,}10{,}000$$

$$\text{Diluted EPS} = \frac{80{,}60{,}000}{11{,}10{,}000} = ₹7.26$$

Since ₹7.26 < ₹7.50 → Dilutive → Report.

### Example 3

Eg 2 (Anti-Dilutive case, Page 23)

Given:

  • Basic EPS = ₹1 per share (EAFESH = ₹10,00,000; WANES = 10,00,000 shares)
  • On 01/07/X1: ₹7,00,000 of 10% Conv Debs issued; convertible into 10,000 equity shares after 5 years; Tax Rate 30%
  • Debs outstanding for 9 months (July to March)

WN 1:

$$\text{Interest for 9 months} = 7{,}00{,}000 \times 10\% \times \tfrac{9}{12} = 52{,}500$$

$$\text{Net of tax} = 52{,}500 \times 70\% = 36{,}750$$

$$\text{Adjusted numerator} = 10{,}00{,}000 + 36{,}750 = 10{,}36{,}750$$

WN 2:

$$\text{Potential shares (time-weighted)} = 10{,}000 \times \tfrac{9}{12} = 7{,}500$$

$$\text{Adjusted denominator} = 10{,}00{,}000 + 7{,}500 = 10{,}07{,}500$$

$$\text{Diluted EPS} = \frac{10{,}36{,}750}{10{,}07{,}500} ≈ ₹1.003$$

Since ₹1.003 > ₹1.00 (Basic EPS) → Anti-dilutiveNot reported.

Disclosed Diluted EPS = Basic EPS = ₹1.00

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Adding the full interest expense (not net of tax) to the numerator — always multiply savings by (1 − Tax Rate).
  • Reporting Diluted EPS when it is higher than Basic EPS — anti-dilutive instruments must be excluded.
  • Forgetting to time-weight the potential equity shares when the instrument was issued partway through the year.
  • Using gross interest (before tax) instead of net-of-tax savings in the numerator adjustment.
  • Confusing 'anti-dilutive' (EPS goes up) with 'dilutive' (EPS goes down) — only dilutive instruments reduce EPS and are included.
Reference:
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