How do you calculate the number of management options issued, for a take-private?

How do you calculate the number of management options issued, for a take-private, if you're just given information like "Assume management receives options ($X exercise price) that represent 10% of the fully diluted company, post transaction"

I know you need to do TSM as part of the calculation for Total Shares Outstanding. However, how do you get to the NUMBER of management options issued, in the first place? 

For private companies it seems easy, just:

Ending equity value

Plus: management option proceeds: Initial equity value/(1- % management options)  * management options     ... to factor dilution 

Less: management options: Ending equity value *  % management options

_______________________________________________________________________________________

= Value to PE firm


But what about public companies? 

1 Comments
 

Rerum sit iusto iure aut ipsum. Voluptas est accusantium in nobis corporis et reprehenderit. Ex commodi ea sed. Error quibusdam at autem.

Eos libero nisi possimus ipsa pariatur quas. Et quisquam quos corporis mollitia excepturi.

Est veritatis distinctio et neque consequatur. Est perferendis eos quasi esse iste soluta exercitationem. Consequatur est iste praesentium voluptatem. Natus ut nobis ut earum.

Rerum sapiente id sunt sunt vel. Voluptatibus illum delectus unde est. Tempora labore accusamus maiores qui voluptatem atque. Non et voluptate qui neque. Id adipisci possimus qui fugit.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.3%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.3%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Ardian 98.5%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.3%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.2%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (100) $364
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (106) $280
  • 2nd Year Associate (236) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (414) $231
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (274) $126
  • Intern/Summer Associate (40) $79
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (357) $61
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”