Visa Files To Raise Cash (V)

We had been awaiting a shelf registration statement from Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) for a while now, and now we have gotten that filing this morning.  While the company has downplayed the importance of this it may be a rather important development despite few specifics.

The shelf registration statement will allow Visa to sell any combination of Class A common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, debt securities, and warrants.  As with most shelf registrations there are no underwriters named.

This should be no shock.  As we noted with its last earnings: The company hinted that it would sell securities after an S-3 filing comes within the next 10 days, but it stressed that no specific plans were in place to immediately raise cash.

The company has seemingly downplayed the importance of this notion.  We may see a filing to formally sell securities.  And we might not.  Our bet is that Visa may want to add some cash to its coffers if it thinks it can be done on the cheap.

Here is a link to that filing.

Jon C. Ogg