Apple taps debt markets to raise $14 billion for future shareholder payouts
- Apple is taking advantage of the low interest rate environment to raise $14 billion in debt, according to Bloomberg.
- The debt offering will include 40-year bonds and proceeds from will go towards buying back stock and dividend payments.
- Apple ended its most recent quarter with $196 billion in cash, and $112 billion in debt.
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Apple has returned to the bond market in an offering that could top $14 billion, according to a Bloomberg report.
The iPhone creator is taking advantage of the low interest rate environment and issuing six tranches of debt, with the longest portion of the offering being a 40-year bond. The 40-year issue will yield 95 basis points over treasuries, Bloomberg said, citing a person with knowledge of the matter.
This will be Apple's third debt offering since May. The proceeds from the offering will be used for general corporate purposes, including stock buybacks and dividend payments, capital expenditures, and acquisition and repayment of debt, Bloomberg said.
Apple finished its most recent quarter with $196 billion in cash and $112 billion in total debt. The company generated more than $110 billion in revenue in the quarter.
Apple has been on a quest to limit its cash hoarding after activist investor Carl Icahn urged the company to return cash to shareholders in 2013 and 2014.
According to Bloomberg, Apple's massive pile of cash on hand and $14 billion bond offering suggest the pace of shareholder returns from the company will likely rise to new highs this year.
The company has increased its dividend every year since it restarted paying them in 2012.