Last week, Apple announced its plans to return $100 billion in stock to investors over the next few years. The increase more than doubled Apple’s original capital return program of $45 billion. Quarterly dividend payments also increased 15%, or $3.05 per common share.
Apple may have a huge cash pile, but even the world’s most valuable company will have to go into debt to finance a return program of this size. It’s the first time Apple has borrowed since 1996.
Apple took initial steps Monday for what would be its first debt sale ever, as the U.S. computer giant lays the groundwork for what would be one of the most anticipated bond sales of the year.
The company was to begin investor calls today led by Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs, a source familiar with the situation told IFR, and filed SEC paperwork for a debt offering.
Apple has a long history with Goldman Sachs. Steve Jobs was always opposed to working with banks, but Apple has a long history with Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank. Tim Cook speaks at the Goldman Sachs conference each year, and Deutsche Bank advised Apple went it bought NeXT from Steve Jobs in the 90s.
For the longest time Apple has been the only big tech company without any debt, but the company will need to finance about $15-$20 billion for the next few years, notes Reuters. Apple technically has $145 billion in cash on the books, but more than half of it is stored overseas to avoid U.S. taxes.
Source: Reuters