AIR FRANCE-KLM Roissy, 12 April 2021
Air France-KLM launches a capital increase without shareholders’ preferential subscription rights, by way of a public offering and with a 3-day priority subscription period on an irreducible basis and on a reducible basis granted to existing shareholders, for an amount of approximately €988 million, which may be increased to a maximum amount of €1,136 in the event of the exercise in full of the increase option1
Launch of the Private Placement
Subscription price per new share between €4.84 and €5.31
Air France-KLM (the “Company”) announces today the launch of a capital increase without shareholders’ preferential subscription rights by way of a public offering and with a priority subscription period on an irreducible and reducible basis granted to existing shareholders (the “Capital Increase”) for an amount of approximately €988 million, which may be increased to €1,136 million in the event of the exercise in full of the increase option (the “Increase Option”).
The net proceeds of the Capital Increase are expected to amount to €980 million (which may be increased to €1,126 million in the event of the exercise in full of the Increase Option. The net proceeds of the Capital Increase will be allocated to strengthen the equity of Air France. Air France will use the allocated amount to consolidate its liquidity and finance general corporate purposes in the context of the Covid-19 crisis.
The Capital Increase will lead to the issuance of 186 million new shares, which may be increased to 214 new shares in the event of the exercise in full of the Increase Option (“New Shares”), corresponding to a maximim of 50% of the Company’s share capital.
This press release relates to the launch of the Private Placement (as defined below).
In the context of the recapitalization plan, the Company will also proceed with the issue of undated deeply subordinated notes (recorded as equity in the Company's consolidated financial statements) for a total amount of €3 billion, subscribed in full by the French State by way of set-off on claims it holds on the Company pursuant to the shareholders’ loan granted in May 2020, fully drawn for the amount of €3 billion (the “Super-Subordinated Notes”).
This issue will be composed of three tranches with a perpetual maturity and a nominal amount of €1 billion each, with respective redemption options (Non Call) at 4, 5 and 6 years, and bearing interest at 7.00%, 7.25% and 7.50% respectively until these dates. Interest on the Super-Subordinated Notes will be capitalized.
These initial interest rates of each tranche of the Super-Subordinated Notes will be revised on the first early redemption date at the option of the Company of the relevant tranche and every 5 years thereafter, on the basis of the 5-year Euribor mid-swap rate increased by the initial margin retained for the initial fixed interest rate and the applicable Step-Up margin.
The interest rate would also be adjusted by applying the Step-Up margins from the first early redemption date:
- 4-year Super-Subordinated Notes: 1.50% as of the fifth year then 3.00% as of the eighth year onwards;
- 5-year Super-Subordinated Notes: 0.75% from sixth year then 2.75% from the eighth year onwards;
- 6-year Super-Subordinated Notes: 0.50%% from the seventh year then 2.50% from the eighth year onward.
In the event of:
- a third party, acting alone or in concert, holds more than 30% of the share capital of Issuer;
- non-approval by the shareholders’ general meeting of a project of issuance of shares (or any other securities giving right to shares of the Issuer), submitted by the board of directors of the Issuer, enabling the French State to convert in shares of the Company all or part of the TSS held by the French State ; or
- implementation by the Issuer, without prior consent of the French State, of an issuance of shares (or other securities giving right to shares of the Company), except if such issuance of shares (or other securities giving right to shares of the Company) is realised with preferential subscription rights or with priority subscription period and that the French State is able to subscribe such shares (or other securities giving right to shares of the Issuer) by way of set-off (compensation de créances) with the Super-Subordinated Notes,
The Company may, at its sole discretion, redeem in full the Super-Subordinated Notes remaining outstanding, failing which the applicable interest rate shall be increased by an additional margin of 5.50% per annum from the date of occurrence of any of the events referred to in (i), (ii) or (iii). Such interest rate adjustments shall be cumulative, provided, however, that the cumulative adjustments shall not exceed 11.00% per annum.
It is specified that in the event that the interest rate resulting from the above principles is lower than the minimum rate provided for by the decision of the European Commission of April 5, 2021 authorizing the subscription of Super-Subordinated Notes by the French State, the applicable rate will be equal to the latter rate.
The Company would be granted with the option to defer the payment of interest, in whole or in part, at the Company's option, the payment of interest being nevertheless mandatory in the event of payment of dividends or repurchase of equity securities, subject to certain conditions.
These Super Subordinated Notes may be converted by way of set-off (compensation de créances) in the context of future issuances of quasi-capital securities or capital increases.
This transaction will strengthen Air France's equity by €3 billion in accordance with IFRS accounting standards, without impact on cash flow, while increasing the Air France's flexibility in its profile of debt repayment.
Priority subscription period
Subject to the approval of the Prospectus (as defined below) relating to this transaction by the Autorité des marchés financiers (the « AMF »), the Company’s existing shareholders (as of the record date of 12 April 2021) will be granted a 3-day priority subscription period on an irreducible basis (à titre irréductible) and on a reducible basis (à titre réductible), which will run from 13 April 2021 to 15 April 2021 (inclusive) at 17.00 (Paris time). Such priority subscription period will not be listed nor transferable.
In the context of the priority subscription period, the Company’s existing shareholders may subscribe (i) on an irreducible basis (à titre irréductible) up to their shareholding in the capital of the Company and (ii) on a reducible basis (à titre réductible) to a number of shares greater than that to which they can subscribe on an irreducible basis within the limit of 5 times their demand on a reducible basis for one (1) share subscribed on an irreducible basis. Subscriptions made on a reducible basis will be allocated in proportion to their requests on an irreducible basis.
Private placement and public offering
The New Shares not subscribed for during the priority subscription period as described above are being offered in a global offering including:
- a private placement to institutional investors, within and outside of France, excluding certain countries, in particular the United States of America, Japan, South Africa and Australia, that will be executed through a bookbuilding process on 12 April 2021 after market close (the “Private Placement”);
- a public offering in France for retail investors principally, which will run from 13 April 2021 until 15 April 2021 (inclusive) at 17.00 (Paris time) (the “Public Offering”), subject to the approval by the AMF of the Prospectus (as defined below) relating to this transaction.
Orders placed in the Public Offering and Private Placement might be subject to reduction depending on the results of the priority subscriptions on an irreducible basis and reducible basis received during the priority subscription period.
The subscription price of the New Shares in the context of the priority subscription period and the Public Offering will be equal to the Private Placement subscription price of the New Shares and will be set between €4.84 and €5.31 per share.
The subscription price will be communicated in a press release published at the latest on 13 April 2021 before market open.
The New Shares, which will entitle their holders to any dividends declared by the Company as from the date of issuance, will be, as from their issuance date, fully fungible with the Company’s existing shares and will be traded under the same trading line and ISIN code as the Company’s existing shares (ISIN code FR0000031122).
Intentions and subscription commitments of the main shareholders
Subscription commitment from the French State
The French State, board member of the Company and holding 428,634,035 shares of the Company (i.e. 14.3% of the share capital) as of the date this press release, committed on 12 April 2021 to subscribe up to a maximum of 65.9% of the Capital Increase (excluding the Increase Option) corresponding to a maximum amount of €650.8 million2 (i) on an irreducible basis (à titre irréductible) up to its shareholding in the capital of the Company, by subscribing 26,587,276 New Shares for an amount of approximately €141,2 million3 and (ii) on a reducible basis (à titre réductible) by subscribing 95,972,975 New Shares for a maximum amount of €509,6 million4, so as not to hold more than 29.9% of the Company's share capital following the completion of the Capital Increase.
Subscription commitment from China Eastern Airlines
China Eastern Airlines, which holds 37,527,410 shares of the Company (i.e. 8.8% of the share capital and 10.5% of the voting rights) as of the date this press release, committed on 2nd April 2021 to subscribe (i) on an irreducible basis (à titre irréductible) up to its shareholding in the capital of the Company, by subscribing 23,944,689 New Shares, for a maximum amount of approximately €127.1 million5 and (ii) on a reducible basis (à titre réductible) by subscribing 7,652,559 New Shares for a maximum amount of €40.6 million6, in order to hold following the completion of the Capital Increase a fraction of the share capital representing less than 10% of the share capital of the Company.
The subscription commitments described hereabove are referred to as the “Subscription Commitments”.
The Subscription Commitments total approximately €777.9 million and represent approximately 78.7% of the amount of the Capital Increase. The Subscription Commitments will respectively be terminated in the event the placement and underwriting agreement entered into with the Bank Syndicate (as such term is defined below) would itself be terminated.
The Dutch State, which holds 60,000,000 shares of the Company (i.e. 14.0% of the share capital) as of the date of this press release, has informed the Company of its intention not to participate in the Capital Increase.
Delta Air Lines, which holds 37,527,410 shares of the Company (i.e. 8.8% of the share capital) as of the date of this press release, has informed the Company of its intention not to participate in the Capital Increase.
The Company is not aware of the intentions of its other shareholders in relation to the Capital Increase.
Legal Framework
The Capital Increase was decided by the board of directors of the Company on 5 April 2021 pursuant to the 19th resolution of the combined shareholders’ meeting of the Company held on 26 May 2020 and was voted by all the directors that took part to the vote.
The European Commission notified to the French State its favourable decision regarding the participation of the latter to the Capital Increase on 5 April 2021 pursuant to the temporary framework for State aid mesures to support the economy in the current COVID-19 outbreak. This participation is subject to certain commitments by the French State vis-à-vis measures that need to be implemented by the Company (see the Company’s press release on 6 April 2021). In this context, the French State will have to submit an exit strategy to the European Commission within 12 months. The exit of the French State could, among other things, take the form, with respect to the Super-Subordinated Notes, of their redemption by sale on the market, and/or their direct redemption or by way of set-off (compensation de créance) against equity securities, and/or securities giving access to the capital), as mentioned in the press release of April 6, 2021. With respect to the shares subscribed in the context of the Capital Increase, they will be sold by the French State at market conditions. In accordance with the provisions of the Temporary Framework, if these Covid-19 recapitalization measures notified by the French State for the benefit of Air France and the Company (in respect of hybrid instruments and capital issuance) are not significantly reduced at the end of a six-year period, alternative measures with respect to Air France will have to be notified by the French State to the European Commission.
Underwriting
The Capital Increase is underwritten by way of a placement and underwriting agreement signed on 12 April 2021 between the Company and the Bank Syndicate (as such term is defined below). Under the terms of the placement and underwriting agreement, the underwriters undertook to, severally but not jointly (sans solidarité), subscribe the New Shares that are not subscribed at the end of the subscription period, so that the Capital Increase (excluding the Increase Option), is, taking into account the Subscription Commitments, subscribed for an amount representing 100% of the initial amount.
This underwriting agreement does not constitute a performance guarantee (garantie de bonne fin) within the meaning of Article L.225-145 of the French Commercial Code.
Lock-up commitments
The Company has agreed to a lock-up period starting from the signature of the placement and underwriting agreement and expiring 90 calendar days following the settlement and delivery date of the New Shares, subject to certain exceptions.
Each of the French State, China Eastern Airlines, the Dutch State and Delta Airlines has agreed to a lock-up period of 90 calendar days after the date of settlement and delivery of the New Shares, subject to customary exceptions.
Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, Deutsche Bank, HSBC and Natixis are acting as Joint Global Coordinators, Joint Lead Managers and Joint Bookrunners (the “Joint Global Coordinators”), Banco Santander and Société Générale are acting as Joint Lead Managers and Joint Bookrunners (the “Joint Bookrunners” and together with the Joint Global Coordinators the “Bank Syndicate”).
Indicative Timetable
| 5 April 2021 | Meeting of the Board of Directors subdelegating to the Chief Executive Officer the authority to decide and implement the Capital Increase |
| 6 April 2021 | Publication of a press release related to the contemplated recapitalization plan |
| 12 April 2021 | Decision of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company deciding the launch of the Capital Increase Publication of a press release announcing the launch of the Capital Increase Signing of the placement and underwriting agreement Opening of the bookbuilding process for the Private Placement Closing of the bookbuilding process for the Private Placement Setting of the subscription price Approval of the Prospectus by the AMF |
| 13 April 2021 | Publication (before market opens) of the press release announcing the closing of the bookbuilding process, the subscription price, the availability of the prospectus and the beginning of the priority subscription period and of the public offering Notice published by Euronext announcing the opening of the priority subscription period and the Public Offering Opening of the priority subscription period and of the public offering |
| 15 April 2021 | Closing of the priority subscription period and of the public offering at 5:00pm (Paris time) |
| 19 April 2021 | Potential exercise of the Increase Option Publication by the Company of the press release announcing the results of the Capital Increase Notice published by Euronext announcing the priority subscription period and the Public Offering results and admission of the New Shares to trading |
| 22 April 2021 | Issuance and admission to trading of the New Shares on Euronext Paris and Euronext Amsterdam Settlement and Delivery of the New Shares |
Air France-KLM and China Eastern Airlines to reinforce their partnership
In the context of the participation of China Eastern Airlines to the share capital increase of Air France-KLM, both airline groups have decided to extend the scope of their partnership through :
- an intensified commercial cooperation and an extended collaboration to non-commercial related activities (e.g. ground services, catering or maintenance) ;
- an increased footprint on the Beijing market, with the Paris-Beijing and Amsterdam-Beijing routes joining the current Joint Venture existing between Air France-KLM and China Eastern Airlines when the conditions are satisfied.
Air France-KLM and China Eastern Airlines are historical partners, with a codeshare cooperation that started in 2000 on the Paris-Shanghai route, a first Joint Venture agreement signed between Air France and China Eastern Airlines in 2012, and an extension of this agreement to KLM in 2016. China Eastern Airlines took an equity stake in the Company in 2017, shaping the ambition for a long term strategic partnership.
With this expansion of the cooperation between Air France-KLM and China Eastern Airlines, both airline groups are clearly paving the way to create the most efficient and powerful Joint Venture between Europe and China.
Availability of the prospectus
The prospectus (the “Prospectus”), comprising (i) the universal registration document of the Company filed with the AMF on 7 April 2021 under number D.21-0270 (the “Universal Registration Document”), and (ii) a securities note (including a summary of the Prospectus) (the “Securities Note”), will be made available once it receives approval by the AMF, which is expected on 12 April 2021 at the latest.
Copies of the Prospectus will be made available free of charge at the Company’s headquarters, located at, 2, rue Robert Esnault-Pelterie - 75007 Paris, France. The Prospectus is also available on the Company’s website (www. airfranceklm.com) and on the AMF’s website (www.amf-france.org).
Potential investors are advised to consider carefully the risk factors described in chapter 3.1 “Risk factors” of the Universal Registration Document and chapter 2 “Risk factors” of the Securities Note, that will available on the Company’s website (www.airfranceklm.com) and on the AMF website (www.amf-france.org), before deciding whether to invest. Should all or any part of these risk factors materialize, the Company’s and the group’s businesses, financials, results or ability to reach its guidance may be negatively affected.
Investor Relations Press
Olivier Gall Michiel Klinkers Press office
+33 1 49 89 52 59 +33 1 49 89 52 60 +33 1 41 56 56 00
olgall@airfranceklm.com michiel.klinkers@klm.com
Website: www.airfranceklm.com
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
This press release includes "forward-looking statements". All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release, including, without limitation, those regarding Air France-KLM’s financial position, business strategy, plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Air France-KLM, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding Air France-KLM’s present and future business strategies and the environment in which Air France-KLM will operate in the future. Additional factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially. Air France-KLM expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of ordinary shares in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.
The distribution of this document may, in certain jurisdictions, be restricted by local legislations. Persons into whose possession this document comes are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such potential local restrictions.
This press release is an advertisement and not a prospectus within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 (as amended, the “Prospectus Regulation”). Potential investors are advised to read the prospectus before making an investment decision in order to fully understand the potential risks and rewards associated with the decision to invest in the securities. The approval of the prospectus by the AMF should not be understood as an endorsement of the securities offered or admitted to trading on a regulated market.
With respect to the member states of the European Economic Area (other than France) (each a “Relevant Member State”), no action has been undertaken or will be undertaken to make an offer to the public of the securities referred to herein requiring a publication of a prospectus in any Relevant Member State. As a result, the securities may not and will not be offered in any Relevant Member State except in accordance with the exemptions set forth in Article 1 (4) of the Prospectus Regulation or under any other circumstances which do not require the publication by Air France-KLM of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation and/or to applicable regulations of that Relevant Member State.
The distribution of this press release has not been made, and has not been approved, by an “authorised person” within the meaning of Article 21(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. As a consequence, this press release is only being distributed to, and is only directed at, persons in the United Kingdom that (i) are “investment professionals” falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the “Order”), (ii) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) (“high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.”) of the Order, or (iii) are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Article 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) in connection with the issue or sale of any securities may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as “Relevant Persons”). Any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available only to Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons. Any person who is not a Relevant Person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.
This press release may not be published, distributed or transmitted in the United States (including its territories and dependencies).
This press release does not constitute or form part of any offer of securities for sale or any solicitation to purchase or to subscribe for securities or any solicitation of sale of securities in the United States. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or the law of any State or other jurisdiction of the United States, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Air France-KLM does not intend to register all or any portion of the securities in the United States under the Securities Act or to conduct a public offering of the securities in the United States.
This announcement may not be published, forwarded or distributed, directly or indirectly, in the United States of America, Australia or Japan.
1 Based on the upper end of the indicative price range of the private placement, i.e. €5.31
2 Based on the upper end of the indicative price range of the Private Placement, i.e. €5.31
3 Based on the upper end of the indicative price range of the Private Placement, i.e. €5.31
4 Based on the upper end of the indicative price range of the Private Placement, i.e. €5.31
5 Based on the upper end of the indicative price range of the Private Placement, i.e. €5.31
6 Based on the upper end of the indicative price range of the Private Placement, i.e. €5.31
Attachment
- Press release Air France-KLM launches financial operation ENG
