ViacomCBS Announces Offerings of Class B Common Stock and Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock

Rhea-AI Summary

ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAC, VIACA) has announced $2.0 billion in Class B common stock and $1.0 billion in Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock offerings, subject to market conditions. An additional $300 million and $150 million options have been granted to underwriters for over-allotments. The proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, including streaming investments. The Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock will convert into Class B common stock on April 1, 2024. The offerings are managed by Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan.

Positive

• Commencement of $2.0 billion stock and $1.0 billion preferred stock offerings.
• Funds to be utilized for investments in streaming, indicating growth strategy.

Negative

• Significant dilution risk for existing shareholders due to large equity offerings.
• Market conditions may affect the successful closing of the offerings.

ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAC, VIACA) today announced that it has commenced concurrent offerings (the “Offerings”) of $2.0 billion of its Class B common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Class B common stock”), and $1.0 billion of its Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock”), subject to market and other conditions. ViacomCBS has granted the underwriters separate 30-day options to purchase up to an additional $300,000,000 of Class B common stock and up to an additional $150,000,000 of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, which, in the case of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock offering, will be solely to cover over-allotments, if any. The closing of each Offering is not contingent upon the closing of the other Offering.

ViacomCBS intends to use the combined net proceeds from the Offerings for general corporate purposes, including investments in streaming.

Each share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock will have a liquidation preference of $100.00 per share. Unless earlier converted, each share of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock will automatically convert into a variable number of shares of Class B common stock on April 1, 2024 (subject to postponement for certain market disruptions or other events). The conversion terms, dividend rate and other terms of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock will be determined at the time of pricing of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock offering. ViacomCBS intends to apply to list the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “VIACP.”

Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan are acting as joint book-running managers for the Offerings. The Offerings are being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Each Offering will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and an accompanying prospectus. An electronic copy of each preliminary prospectus supplement, together with the accompanying prospectus, will be available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of each preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the Offerings may be obtained once available by contacting Morgan Stanley at 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10014, Attention: Prospectus Department and J.P. Morgan at c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717, Telephone: (866) 803-9204, Email: prospectus-eq_fi@jpmchase.com.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of, these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

ABOUT VIACOMCBS

ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAC; VIACA) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide. Driven by iconic consumer brands, its portfolio includes CBS, SHOWTIME, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, Paramount+ and Pluto TV, among others. The company delivers the largest share of the television audience in the United States and one of the industry’s most extensive libraries of television and film titles. In addition to offering innovative streaming services and digital video products, ViacomCBS provides powerful capabilities in production, distribution and advertising solutions.

CAUTIONARY NOTE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This communication contains both historical and forward-looking statements, including statements related to our future results and performance. All statements that are not statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Similarly, statements that describe our objectives, plans or goals are or may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect our current expectations concerning future results and events; generally can be identified by the use of statements that include phrases such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “foresee,” “likely,” “will,” “may,” “could,” “estimate” or other similar words or phrases; and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict and which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others: whether or not we will be able to complete the Offerings on the terms contemplated herein, if at all; changes in consumer behavior, as well as evolving technologies, distribution platforms and packaging, the impact on our advertising revenues of changes in consumers’ content viewership, deficiencies in audience measurement and advertising market conditions; our ability to maintain attractive brands and our reputation, and to offer popular programming and other content; increased costs for programming, films and other rights; competition for content, audiences, advertising and distribution; the potential for loss of carriage or other reduction in or the impact of negotiations for the distribution of our content; losses due to asset impairment charges for goodwill, intangible assets, FCC licenses and programming; the risks and costs associated with the integration of the CBS Corporation and Viacom Inc. businesses and investments in new businesses, products, services and technologies, including our streaming initiatives; evolving business continuity, cybersecurity, privacy and data protection and similar risks; content infringement; the impact of COVID-19 (and other widespread health emergencies or pandemics) and measures taken in response thereto; domestic and global political, economic and/or regulatory factors affecting our businesses generally; liabilities related to discontinued operations and former businesses; the loss of key talent and strikes and other union activity; potential conflicts of interest arising from our ownership structure with a controlling stockholder; and other factors described in our news releases and filings with the SEC, including but not limited to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. There may be additional risks, uncertainties and factors that we do not currently view as material or that are not necessarily known. The forward-looking statements included in this communication are made only as of the date of this communication, and we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

VIAC-IR

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FAQ

What is ViacomCBS's recent stock offering announcement?

ViacomCBS announced $2.0 billion in Class B stock and $1.0 billion in Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock offerings.

When will the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock convert to common stock?

The Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock will convert into Class B common stock on April 1, 2024.

What are the intended uses for the proceeds from ViacomCBS's stock offerings?

The proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, primarily aimed at investments in streaming.

Who are the underwriters for ViacomCBS's stock offerings?

Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan are acting as joint book-running managers for the offerings.

What dilution risks are associated with the ViacomCBS stock offerings?

The large equity offerings pose a risk of significant dilution for existing shareholders.