NCL Holding's board is seeking a mandate to issue 120
million new shares at a price of at least 35 crowns ($4.39) per share. Singapore-listed Star Cruises, which owns fractionally short of 50 percent of NCL, is offering 35 crowns per share in a takeover offer valuing NCL at about $1.1 billion.
Company officials said the proposal for the possible share issue was made by shareholders other than Star. NCL has 263 million shares and the issue of 120 million extra shares could dilute Star's grip.
However, analysts say that Star's voting power of almost 50 percent should be enough to block any share mandate for the board at the shareholders' meeting on February 2.