International Consolidated Airlines Group, S.A. ("IAG", the "Company" and, together with its subsidiaries, the "Group") today announces its proposal to undertake a capital increase with pre-emptive subscription rights to raise gross proceeds of up to €2.75 billion (the "Proposed Capital Increase"). Qatar Airways Group (Q.C.S.C) ("Qatar Airways"), IAG's largest shareholder (25.1 per cent. holding), has confirmed its support for the Proposed Capital Increase and irrevocably undertaken to subscribe for its pro rata entitlement. The remainder of the Proposed Capital Increase is fully underwritten on a standby basis.
Key Highlights
• The Proposed Capital Increase will strengthen IAG's balance sheet by reducing financial leverage and increasing IAG's overall liquidity position.
• IAG has a proven and successful operating model underpinned by its portfolio of world-class brands, global leadership positions in each of its home markets and unique structure. The Group has a strong track record of value-enhancing consolidation and delivering value to shareholders through industry-leading returns and growing profitability.
• IAG acted quickly to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, bolster liquidity and to protect its long-term future. These actions preserved cash through a range of measures including: capacity reductions; lowering operating costs; accessing job retention schemes in the UK, Spain and Ireland; reducing discretionary spending, including halving planned capex over the next three years, and significantly reducing fleet deliveries.
• IAG has also accessed additional pools of liquidity including the c.£750 million extension of its worldwide commercial partnership with American Express and secured further aircraft financing.
• IAG believes the Proposed Capital Increase, together with its quick response to the crisis, should enable the Group to emerge from the current pandemic in a strong position, with more resilience, greater flexibility and the ability to make the right operational and strategic decisions for the long term benefit of all its stakeholders.
• The Proposed Capital Increase to raise up to €2.75 billion is designed to:
• enable IAG to strengthen its balance sheet and reduce leverage;
• enhance liquidity and help IAG withstand a more prolonged downturn in air travel based on IAG's stressed, downside scenario planning; and
• provide IAG with the operational and strategic flexibility to take advantage of a recovery in demand for air travel.
• Qatar Airways, IAG's largest shareholder (25.1 per cent. holding), has confirmed its support for the Proposed Capital Increase and has irrevocably undertaken to take up its rights in full and to vote in favour of all resolutions to be proposed at the Company's Annual Shareholders Meeting ("Shareholders Meeting") that are required to give effect to the Proposed Capital Increase. Qatar Airways has proposed two directors to join the Board of the Company at the Shareholders Meeting as non-executive directors, within Qatar Airways' proportionate representation rights under Spanish law.
Willie Walsh, CEO of IAG said:
"Our industry is facing an unprecedented crisis and the outlook remains uncertain. However, we strongly believe that now is the time to look to the future and strengthen IAG's financial and strategic position. While we have had to make tough decisions on both people and costs, these actions are the right ones to protect as many jobs and serve as many customers as feasible and put IAG in the strongest position possible. The industry will recover from this crisis, though we do not expect this to be before 2023, and there will be opportunities for IAG to capitalise on its strength and leadership positions."
Luis Gallego, CEO-elect of IAG said:
"Since its formation in 2011, IAG has delivered value to shareholders by making bold decisions generating industry-leading returns. We are delighted that our largest shareholder, Qatar Airways, has committed its support for the Proposed Capital Increase and we look forward to our continued long-term collaboration.
We want to make our customers feel as comfortable as possible when flying with us and have introduced a range of measures to achieve this. We are seeing early signs of passenger demand returning and while early days in this recovery, now is the time for us to be bold again and ensure IAG emerges from this current crisis in a strong position."
Background to and reasons for the Proposed Capital Increase
Impact of, and the Group's response to, the COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic led to governments implementing numerous wide-ranging measures in an attempt to contain the spread of the virus. This has caused a severe economic downturn in many countries and an unprecedented decrease in demand for both domestic and international air travel resulting in industry-wide reductions in capacity, traffic and volumes.
As an immediate response to the challenging market environment, the Group undertook measures to mitigate, as far as possible, the negative financial and operational impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. These actions included:
· Significant reduction in weekly operating costs: reducing passenger capacity by 95 per cent. in 2Q 2020, cutting non-essential spending, implementing trade union agreed salary reductions for staff, reductions in management remuneration and Board fees, as well as contractor layoffs. IAG also accessed government employee support schemes by furloughing staff in the UK, Spain and Ireland. These combined actions have resulted in a reduction of weekly cash operating expenses from €440 million in 1Q to €205 million in 2Q 2020 (€193 million excluding cargo-driven flight costs);
· Halving 2020-2022 gross capex: 2020-2022 planned gross capex halved by c.€7.0 billion to €7.3 billion, of which €1.5 billion in 2020, €2.3 billion in 2021 and €3.1 billion in 2022,and securing financing for all 2020 fleet capex;
· Material reduction in fleet deliveries: 2020-2022 aircraft deliveries have been reduced by 68 to 75 through deferrals and cancellations and further fleet retirement has been implemented, including the retirement of 53 long haul aircraft by the end of 2020. IAG maintains the flexibility to return additional leased aircraft in 2021 (42 aircraft) and 2022 (54 aircraft);
· Proactive working capital management: net working capital inflow of €447 million in 1H 2020 as a result of a number of actions such as collecting outstanding revenue from agency billing process due from 2019; acceleration of invoicing and focus on collections; management of customer booking cancellations; negotiated supplier payment deferrals and sale of loyalty points from promotional activity; and
· Decisive actions to boost liquidity: $1.38 billion British Airways RCF extended; €337 million final dividend for 2019 cancelled; raising £0.3 billion from the UK Covid Corporate Finance Facility and €1.0 billion in term loans (which are 70 per cent. guaranteed by the ICO in Spain); and arranging c$1.0 billion of bridge facilities secured against aircraft. In addition the Group has secured c.€780 million from the sale and leaseback of 10 aircraft and c.£750 million from the extension of the worldwide commercial partnership with American Express.
As a result of the actions taken by IAG (excluding the proceeds of the Proposed Capital Increase) the Group had a liquidity position at 30 June 2020 of €8.1 billion, comprising cash and cash equivalents of €6.0 billion and €2.1 billion of undrawn general and committed aircraft finance facilities. This compares to a liquidity position of €8.6 billion as at 31 December 2019 and is before the c.€380 million sale and leaseback of 5 aircraft completed in July and receipt of the c.£750 million extension of the worldwide commercial partnership with American Express expected in August.
As at 30 June 2020, (and based in each case on the preceding 12 month period) the Group's leverage (net debt to EBITDA) was 4.2x, compared to 1.4x as at 31 December 2019, reflecting both the reduction in EBITDA generated in the period as a result of reduced passenger demand and the increase in financial debt raised to strengthen the Group's liquidity position.
IAG expects that global passenger demand will not return to 2019 levels until at least 2023 and the Board believes that enhancing the Group's financial strength will serve to reinforce its strategic position in that period.
The Group's long-term strategy
The Group has a strong track record of delivering value to shareholders through an agile and resilient business model, leveraging its strengths to advance its strategic priorities with a view to becoming the world's leading airline group. In order to realise its objectives, the Group's long-term strategy has three key priorities:
• Strengthening a portfolio of world class brands and operations, ensuring that its businesses deliver an unrivalled customer proposition that can adapt and meet changing customer expectations driving strong levels of customer satisfaction;
• Growing sustainable global leadership positions, taking advantage of organic and, where appropriate, inorganic opportunities; and
• Enhancing the Group's common integrated platform, strengthening the linkages between operating companies and unlocking additional value.
While the Group is focused in the near-term on maintaining its financial strength by optimising its cost structure and minimising cash burn, its long-term strategy is not expected to change due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Group does, however, envisage the potential for changes in the industry overall (for example, changes in levels of demand by customer segment and geographical changes, with certain markets becoming more desirable than others), but these are yet to be evidenced. The Group continually monitors industry developments and will adapt and adjust its strategy and business model if necessary (in particular, in light of the ongoing uncertainties relating to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic).
Rationale for the Proposed Capital Increase
In light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Group, the Board believes that enhancing the Group's financial position is vital to ensuring that IAG has sufficient liquidity throughout a more prolonged downturn in air travel as it seeks to deliver on its strategy.
The purpose of the Proposed Capital Increase is to strengthen IAG's balance sheet by reducing financial leverage and increasing IAG's overall liquidity position. IAG believes that by taking this action it can provide greater financial certainty for the Group as it right-sizes the business for the future. IAG believes the Proposed Capital Increase, together with its quick response to the crisis, will enable the Group to emerge from the current pandemic in a strong position, with more resilience, greater flexibility and the ability to make the right operational and strategic decisions for the long-term benefit of all its stakeholders.
As part of its capacity planning, the Group developed a downside scenario in order to help assess the impact of a more prolonged and severe downturn in global air travel with a slower recovery in passenger demand when compared to its current capacity planning scenario.
When assessing the amount to be raised via the Proposed Capital Increase, the Board considered a range of financial and operating metrics. The Board believes that the Proposed Capital Increase and the announced management actions will not only reduce IAG's leverage but should also ensure that the Group has sufficient liquidity throughout its downside scenario.
The downside scenario reflects an overall reduction in passenger capacity of c.66 per cent. in 2020 (compared to the current capacity planning scenario of c.59 per cent.) and a slower recovery in passenger ASK in 2021 compared to the current capacity planning scenario with both scenarios only converging by the second half of 2022. The downside scenario also assumes reduced revenue from cargo and other activities as well as an adverse near-term working capital profile. These assumptions remain uncertain and subject to the continued easing of lockdowns and travel restrictions. To partially offset the negative impact of the cumulative assumptions in the downside scenario, IAG has identified a number of additional mitigating actions including a number of operating cost and non-fleet capex related actions that could be implemented, if required.
Despite the unprecedented reduction in passenger demand in the second quarter and the continued spread of COVID-19 in North and South America, the Group is seeing early signs of demand recovery, albeit from a very low base, particularly in the domestic Spanish and international short haul markets. The Board will monitor and evaluate these developments with the management team in order to understand the implications for the Group.
In order to encourage customers to return to air travel, the Group has implemented a clear plan to ensure customer confidence during the return to service. However, IAG continues to be impacted by certain travel restrictions and advisories, some of which are subject to change at short notice.
Use of Proceeds
The net proceeds of the Proposed Capital Increase will be used to strengthen the Group's balance sheet by reducing financial leverage and increasing IAG's overall liquidity position.
Air Europa
In spite of the unprecedented impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the airline industry, the Board continues to believe that the acquisition of Air Europa by IAG would have considerable strategic and financial benefits for IAG and its shareholders.
IAG and Globalia Corporación Empresarial, S.A. are engaged in active discussions regarding a potential restructuring of the acquisition to take into account the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a further announcement will be made as appropriate.
The net proceeds of the Proposed Capital Increase are not planned to be used to fund the acquisition.
Qatar Airways Support
Qatar Airways, IAG's largest shareholder (25.1 per cent. holding, as at the last practicable date ahead of this announcement), has entered into an irrevocable undertaking to vote in favour of the resolutions at the Shareholders Meeting and subscribe for its pro rata entitlement under the Proposed Capital Increase when it is launched. Qatar Airways has proposed two directors to join the Board of the Company at the Shareholders Meeting as non-executive directors, within Qatar Airways' proportionate representation rights under Spanish law.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Mr. Akbar Al Baker said:
"Our investment in IAG has always been for the long term and we continue to support the Company through these difficult times for our industry. We are confident that IAG will emerge from this global crisis as Europe's leading airline group and we look forward to working closely together to deliver our joint vision to enhance travel opportunities for airline passengers across the globe."
Directors' Intentions
Each Director who is a shareholder and who is able to participate in the Proposed Capital Increase has confirmed his or her intention to take up in full or in part his or her entitlement to subscribe for new shares.
Underwriting
IAG has entered into a standby underwriting agreement for up to €2.75 billion, less the Qatar Airways entitlement that is subject to the irrevocable undertaking, with Goldman Sachs International, Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc and Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft in connection with the Proposed Capital Increase. The standby underwriting agreement is expected to remain in place until the publication of the prospectus, at which point it will be replaced by a full underwriting agreement.
Timetable
The Proposed Capital Increase will be conditional on the approval of the shareholders of the Company at the Shareholders Meeting to be held on 8 September 2020. A call notice of the Shareholders Meeting will be published by the Company shortly and include the relevant resolution for the Proposed Capital Increase as well as others to be put to shareholders.
Subject to shareholders approving the Proposed Capital Increase at the Shareholders Meeting, the Proposed Capital Increase is expected to be launched as soon as possible after the Shareholders Meeting. A prospectus setting out full details of the Proposed Capital Increase, including the terms and conditions, is expected to be published at the time.