Summary
Visa Inc. announced a new conversion rate for its Class B common stock following a $500 million deposit into a U.S. litigation escrow account. This adjustment, effective June 28, 2023, decreased the conversion rate from 1.5991 to 1.5902. The company states this action has a similar impact on earnings per share as a stock repurchase, effectively reducing the diluted share count. This move is part of Visa's U.S. retrospective responsibility plan, designed to manage potential litigation-related liabilities. Investors should note that this event directly impacts the calculation of diluted earnings per share due to the reduced number of as-converted Class B shares. Approximately 2.2 million shares were effectively removed from the diluted share count, decreasing it from over 392.6 million to approximately 390.4 million. The calculation was performed in accordance with the company's charter, using a four-day volume-weighted average price.
Key Highlights
- 1Visa deposited $500 million into a U.S. litigation escrow account on June 28, 2023.
- 2The deposit triggered a decrease in the conversion rate for Visa's Class B common stock from 1.5991 to 1.5902, effective June 28, 2023.
- 3This conversion rate adjustment is comparable to a share repurchase in its effect on earnings per share.
- 4The number of Class B common stock shares (as-converted) was reduced by approximately 2,195,424.
- 5The total as-converted Class B share count decreased from 392,601,264 to 390,405,840.
- 6The calculation was based on Visa's certificate of incorporation and the volume-weighted average price over a four-day period (June 23-28, 2023).