Summary
Carnival Corporation announced on June 28, 2021, that it has filed a prospectus supplement to offer and sell up to $500 million of its common stock through an "at-the-market" equity offering program. The primary intention behind this offering is to purchase ordinary shares of its subsidiary, Carnival plc, on at least an equivalent basis. This strategy aims to leverage potential price discrepancies between the two entities' shares, creating an economic benefit for the combined company. Net proceeds not used for purchasing Carnival plc shares will be allocated to general corporate purposes. The timing of any sales will be dependent on market conditions, specifically the trading price of Carnival plc's ordinary shares relative to Carnival Corporation's common stock. This filing also reiterates Carnival's ongoing cautionary note regarding numerous risks and uncertainties, including the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its operations, liquidity, and future outlook, as well as other industry-specific and global risks.
Key Highlights
- 1Carnival Corporation is launching an "at-the-market" equity offering to raise up to $500 million.
- 2Proceeds will primarily be used to buy back Carnival plc ordinary shares, aiming to exploit potential price differentials between the two stock classes.
- 3Any remaining proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes.
- 4The offering is structured to generate an economic benefit for the combined Carnival entity.
- 5The company continues to emphasize significant risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on its business.
- 6Various other risks including geopolitical events, regulatory changes, and operational challenges are highlighted.
- 7A selling agreement has been entered into with BofA Securities, Inc. as the agent for the offering.