SAS continues the ramp-up and has during the quarter seen the highest number of passengers since the pandemic started. Meanwhile, the work with the necessary transformation plan,SAS FORWARD, continues. The plan was presented when the Q1 results were released onFebruary 22 and is designed to secure long-term competitiveness. It will allowSAS to effectuate a deleveraging of its balance sheet while substantially improving its liquidity position. In addition to reducing the cost structure and improve efficiencies,SAS is seeking to convert approximatelySEK 20 billion of debt and hybrid notes into common equity and will also seek to raise not less thanSEK 9.5 billion in new equity capital. The success of the plan depends uponSAS attracting potential new capital from the capital markets and other sources and uponSAS fully achieving the targetedSEK 7.5 billion annual cost reduction by fiscal year 2026. Earnings before tax ended at negativeSEK 1.6 billion for the quarter and the cash balance at the end of the quarter wasSEK 8.5 billion . FEBRUARY 2022-APRIL 2022 · Revenue: MSEK 7,048 (1,932) · Income before tax (EBT): MSEK -1,557 (-2,331) · Income before tax and items affecting comparability: MSEK -1,613 (-2,331) · Net income for the period: MSEK -1,520 (-2,410) · Earnings per common share:SEK -0.21 (-0.35) SIGNIFICANT EVENTS DURING THE QUARTER ·SAS presented a comprehensive transformation plan:SAS FORWARD. A successful implementation of the plan will secure long-term competitiveness and improved financial strength · The SEK 3,000 million credit facility secured with the main owners in 2021 was drawn ·Erno Hildén was appointed as Executive Vice President and CFO SIGNIFICANT EVENTS AFTER THE QUARTER · The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to most of the airline industry experiencing difficulty in rebuilding operations. This has led toSAS reducing its summer program by 4,000 of a total of 75,000 flights NOVEMBER 2021-APRIL 2022 · Revenue: MSEK 12,593 (4,214) · Income before tax (EBT): MSEK -4,154 (-4,246) · Income before tax and items affecting comparability: MSEK -4,234 (-4,258) · Net income for the period: MSEK -3,962 (-4,443) · Earnings per common share:SEK -0.55 (-0.63) QUARTERLY RESULTS ARE IMPROVED AS A RESULT OF RAMP-UP Looking back at the second quarter, we can see that demand improved as travel restrictions were eased. Passengers flying withSAS increased 28% compared to the previous quarter and the flown load factor reached approximately 67%, up 11 percentage points compared with the earlier quarter. Our capacity was increased by 3% compared to the first quarter. The transformation ofSAS has to continue to adapt to the new market conditions in order to be able to remain flexible, competitive and financially strong for the long-term future. Earnings before tax ended at negativeSEK 1.6 billion , an improvement ofSEK 1.0 billion compared with last quarter, or aSEK 0.7 billion improvement year-on-year. Ticket sales continue to increase ahead of the summer period andSAS is targeting 80% capacity deployment compared to summer 2019. Cost reductions across all ofSAS remain in focus to secure our cost competitiveness. Total operating expenses during the quarter ended atSEK 7.8 billion and total operating revenue landed atSEK 7.0 billion for the quarter. Total revenue increased 27% compared with the first quarter, an improvement of approximatelySEK 5.1 billion compared with last year, but still 31% below the second quarter in 2019, which was unaffected by COVID-19. The cash balance at the end of the quarter wasSEK 8.5 billion . At end of the first quarter of FY2022 the cash balance wasSEK 3.4 billion . Operational cash flow during the quarter amounted toSEK 2.5 billion , compared withSEK -1.4 billion for the same period last year. UPDATE ONSAS PROGRESS ON TRANSFORMATION PLAN Despite this positive development,SAS continues to face substantial structural cost challenges while also facing growing competition with substantially lower cost structures thanSAS .SAS also incurred substantial additional debt during the pandemic that added to its pre-COVID highly leveraged balance sheet. In addition, recent macroeconomic changes (including fuel and exchange rates) and geopolitical events are limiting operations and create additional costs. Given these factors, theSAS Board has concluded that a substantial restructuring is needed to enableSAS to become profitable by implementingSAS FORWARD.Key Elements ofSAS FORWARD · Reducing the annual costs bySEK 7.5 billion · Redesigned fleet, network and product offerings · Digital transformation · PositioningSAS as the leader in sustainable aviation · Operating platform acceleration · StrengtheningSAS ' balance sheet by deleveraging and raising new capital Debt-to-equity conversion and equity raiseSAS is seeking to convert approximatelySEK 20 billion of existing debt and hybrid notes into common equity, of which a majority is on-balance sheet debt and hybrid instruments (state hybrid notes, commercial hybrid notes, lease liabilities, Swiss bonds and term loans from states and commercial banks) and some relates to maintenance contract obligations and other executory contract obligations. The contemplated conversions are designed to strengthen the balance sheet and significantly reduce the debt-burden being carried in order to relieveSAS from elevated financial costs that currently weigh on profitability, and to positionSAS for future growth. In addition to debt conversions,SAS is looking for alternatives to raise new equity.SAS will seek to raise not less thanSEK 9.5 billion in equity capital. The plannedSEK 9.5 billion or more equity raise is expected to provide sufficient liquidity to fund operations through the full implementation ofSAS FORWARD and the recovery in passenger demand post COVID-19. It is currently expected that a significant share of such new equity will likely be sought from new investors. The new equity capital and debt-to-equity conversions contemplated as part ofSAS FORWARD will entail substantial dilution to existing shareholders. Labor discussionsSAS continues to pursue negotiations with all of its organized labor groups as a means of achieving a consensual outcome with respect to labor's share of the burden sharing program. Notably, the requested labor concessions are an important element ofSAS achieving a competitive and sustainable business model, but in aggregate represent less than 20% of the targeted annual cost improvements. An agreement with organized labor groups is a condition ofSAS FORWARD and it will not be possible to raise new capital or secure the future of the airline without labor burden sharing. Update on discussions with stakeholders Discussions are currently ongoing regarding stakeholders' participation and acceptance of burden sharing. Given the limited progress made so far, there can be no guarantees thatSAS FORWARD will be successfully completed. In the event that the expected burden sharing, debt conversions, and new capital raise are not completed as planned,SAS will not be able to support its existing capital structure and current liquidity levels and it cannot be ruled out thatSAS could become unable to meet its obligations over the longer term as they fall due. Implementation processesSAS FORWARD involves complex multiparty negotiations. As is usual in a restructuring process, it is possible thatSAS may seek to utilize one or more court restructuring proceedings designed to assist in the resolution ofSAS 's financial difficulties and help implement parts ofSAS FORWARD. Finally, it should be noted that the completion of the cost reduction programs, the debt-to-equity conversions, the fleet restructuring and the significant equity capital raise are subject to uncertainty and there can be no guarantee of success in such efforts bySAS . Further, the transactions envisaged are subject to various conditions includingEU Commission and other state aid approvals and other regulatory clearances and various stakeholder approvals, which have not yet been obtained. POSITIVE MARKET DEVELOPMENT TOWARD THE SUMMER SEASONSAS continues the ramp-up and has during the quarter had the highest number of passengers since the pandemic started. We have recently experienced positive market development and strong ticket sales ahead of the important summer season.SAS and Apollo (a provider of charter travel services to and from the Nordic market) also signed an agreement during the quarter, concerning summer charter flights, within the framework of their three-year collaboration. Flights will depart from around 20 locations inSweden ,Norway andDenmark and fly to around 30 Mediterranean destinations. TheSAS traffic program and capacity are increased according to customer demand, but there are constraints to the growth of traffic, as effects of the pandemic linger on. The whole airline ecosystem has difficulties ramping up, which also has an implication onSAS . We foresee challenges during summer relating to everything from airports and ground staffing to crew training bottlenecks such as availability of training instructors, and we also see continued delayed aircraft deliveries. In order to minimize the risk of disruption and create more stability for the upcoming summer travels,SAS has made adjustments to the traffic program during June to August, after the quarter ended.SAS aims to be a global leader in sustainable aviation and during the quarter we launched the Travel Pass Biofuel, a punch card for corporate customers who regularly travel to the same destination and want to include biofuel to reduce the climate impact of their trips. LOOKING AHEAD We see a pent-up demand for traveling and underlying demand is healthy, both for business and for leisure travel. However, we still remain cautious due to the prevailing uncertainties. Traffic to and fromAsia remains affected by remaining COVID-19 restrictions as well as the geopolitical situation. I am grateful for the hard work my colleagues atSAS are delivering, to ensure that we take care of our customers in the best possible way. Together we are working our way through these challenging times and we welcome our customers on board our aircraft. Anko van der Werff President and CEOStockholm ,May 31, 2022 SAS ' Q2 2022 teleconference A teleconference and webcast for investors, analysts and media will be held at10.00 AM (CET) on Tuesday , 31st ofMay 2022 . Anko van der Werff, President & CEO,Erno Hildén , Executive Vice President & CFO, will present and comment on the report. The presentation will be held in English via telephone or https://edge.media -server.com/mmc/p/9s7iqpeh No advance notification is necessary. Dial-in details for the conference call: DK: +45 354 455 77 FI: +358 981 710 310 NO: +47 235 002 43 SE: +46 8 566 426 51UK : +44 3333 0008 04 Pin: 94 31 68 01 # The presentation and the report will be available on https://www.sasgroup.net after the publication. For further information, please contact:SAS press office: +46 8 797 29 44SAS , Scandinavia's leading airline, with main hubs inCopenhagen ,Oslo andStockholm , is flying to destinations inEurope, USA andAsia . Spurred by a Scandinavian heritage and sustainable values,SAS aims to be the global leader in sustainable aviation. We will reduce total carbon emissions by 25 percent by 2025, by using more sustainable aviation fuel and our modern fleet with fuel -efficient aircraft. In addition to flight operations,SAS offers ground handling services, technical maintenance and air cargo services.SAS is a founder member of the Star AllianceT, and together with its partner airlines offers a wide network worldwide. Learn more at https://www.sasgroup.net This is information thatSAS AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication by Louise Bergström at08:00 CET onMay 31, 2022 . IMPORTANT INFORMATION This press release] and the information herein is not for publication, release or distribution, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or intothe United States ,Australia ,Canada ,Japan orSouth Africa or any other state or jurisdiction in which publication, release or distribution would be unlawful or where such action would require additional prospectuses, filings or other measures in addition to those required under Swedish law. The press release] is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or issue, or the solicitation of an offer to buy or acquire, or subscribe for, any of the securities mentioned herein (collectively, the "Securities") or any other financial instruments inSAS . No offer will be made to subscribers (including shareholders), or persons acting on behalf of subscribers, in any jurisdiction where applications for such subscription would contravene applicable laws or regulations, or would require additional prospectuses, filings, or other measures in addition to those required under Swedish law. Measures in violation of the restrictions may constitute a breach of relevant securities laws. None of the Securities have been or will be registered under theU.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction inthe United States , and may not be offered, pledged, sold, delivered or otherwise transferred, directly or indirectly, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and in compliance with applicable other securities laws. There will not be any public offering of any of the Securities inthe United States . In theUnited Kingdom , this press release] is addressed to and directed only at, and is being communicated only to, persons who are "qualified investors" within the meaning of Article 2(e) of theUK version of the EU Prospectus Regulation , which forms part ofUK domestic law by virtue of theEuropean Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, who are (i) persons who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Order"), or (ii) high net worth companies, unincorporated associations and other persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order, or (iii) persons to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated (all such persons referred to in (i), (ii) and (iii) above together being referred to as "Relevant Persons"). This press release] must not be acted on or relied on by persons in theUnited Kingdom who are not Relevant Persons. This press release] contains forward-looking statements that reflectSAS ' current view of future events as well as financial and operational development. These statements may include, without limitation, any statements preceded by, followed by or including words such as "intend", "assess", "expect", "may", "plan", "estimate" and other expressions involving indications or predictions regarding future development or trends and other words and terms of similar meaning or the negative thereof. These forward-looking statements have been prepared for illustrative purposes only, are not based on historical facts, are not guarantees of future performance, reflectSAS ' beliefs and expectations, and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions and other factors that could cause actual events and performance to differ materially from any expected future events or performance expressed or implied by such forward -looking statements. As a result of these risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual future events or otherwise. The information contained in this press release] is subject to change without notice and, except as required by applicable law,SAS does not assume any responsibility or obligation to update publicly or review any of the forward-looking statements contained in it, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Nothing in this press release] constitutes or should be construed as constituting a profit forecast.
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