Enter Agreement Alongside GOL Unsecured Creditors Committee
Financial Restructuring to Reduce GOL’s Prepetition Debt & Other Obligations by Approximately US$ 2.5 Billion
Agreement Allows for New Exit Facility of Up to US$ 1.85 Billion
SÃO PAULO and LONDON, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. (B3: GOLL4), one of the leading airlines in Brazil, and Abra Group Limited (“Abra”), GOL’s largest secured creditor and the majority investor of GOL and Avianca Group International Limited, today announced that GOL, Abra and certain of their affiliates and the committee of unsecured creditors appointed in GOL’s Chapter 11 cases (the “Committee”) have reached a Plan Support Agreement (the “PSA”) in connection with GOL’s Chapter 11 cases commenced in January 2024.
Pursuant to the PSA, GOL will file a Chapter 11 plan of reorganization that will allow it to effectuate a significant deleveraging by converting into equity, or otherwise extinguishing, up to US $1.7 billion of its prepetition funded debt and up to US$ 850 million of other obligations. Abra has asserted US$ 2.8 billion in funded debt claims and has agreed to receive approximately US$ 950 million in new equity and possibly more, based upon the resolution of certain unresolved issues, as well as US$ 850 million of take-back debt. Of the Abra take-back debt, US$ 250 million is mandatorily convertible into new equity on or after the 30-month anniversary of GOL’s emergence from Chapter 11 based on GOL achieving certain valuation metrics. GOL’s general unsecured creditors will also receive new equity valued up to approximately US$ 235 million and possibly more, based upon the resolution of certain unresolved issues. With the PSA, GOL and its stakeholders benefit from removal of cost and uncertainty of any litigation regarding these asserted claims and move to the next phase of the Chapter 11 cases.
GOL anticipates raising up to US $1.85 billion of new capital in the form of an exit facility to repay GOL’s Debtor-in-Possession financing facility (the “DIP Loan”) and provide incremental liquidity to support GOL’s go-forward strategy following its emergence from Chapter 11. Although such capital will be raised principally in the form of long-term, senior secured debt, under the terms of the PSA, GOL may raise up to US$ 330 million in the form of additional new equity. Abra and the Committee have agreed to support GOL and its advisors in arranging the exit facility.
Since filing for Chapter 11 protection in January 2024, GOL obtained the DIP Loan in the amount of US$ 1.0 billion. The DIP Loan, along with approximately US$ 375 million of new financing from lessors, has allowed GOL to reinvest in its aircraft fleet. GOL has already returned a substantial portion of its previously grounded 737 fleet back into active service and expects to be substantially completed with that rebuilding program as it emerges from its Chapter 11 case. GOL continues to operate in the normal course during its court-supervised process.
Abra and the Committee agree to support any request by GOL to extend GOL’s exclusive right to file and solicit votes on a Chapter 11 plan through the date on which the Chapter 11 plan contemplated by the PSA takes effect. GOL expects to file its Chapter 11 plan of reorganization with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court before the end of 2024 and currently expects to exit by late April 2025.
“Reaching this agreement is another important step in our efforts to strengthen our financial position and drive GOL’s long-term success,” said Celso Ferrer, Chief Executive Officer. “We are pleased to be moving forward with the support of our key financial stakeholders, which reflects their confidence in our business plan and the significant opportunities ahead for GOL. With this agreement, we now have most of the key terms of our restructuring plan in place. We look forward to arranging the necessary capital commitments to emerge from this process better positioned than ever to execute our long-term strategy, including improving travel affordability and experience as well as customer choice. We thank our employees for their continued focus on serving our customers with excellence as we advance our mission of ‘Being First for All’.”
“GOL is slated to emerge from its Chapter 11 process with a dramatically improved liquidity position and a deleveraged balance sheet with a very competitive unit cost and strong network. We also see significant opportunities to build upon our efforts to capitalize on synergies among GOL, Avianca and our other partner airlines,” said Adrian Neuhauser, CEO of Abra Group.
The commercial negotiations that led to the finalization of the PSA were primarily conducted by GOL’s Special Independent Committee, consisting solely of independent directors. This committee, ensuring a rigorous and impartial assessment, spearheaded the entire negotiation process, culminating in approval by GOL’s Board of Directors. Notably, directors affiliated with Abra that serve on GOL’s Board of Directors recused themselves from all stages of the discussion, review, and voting on the PSA, to avoid any actual or perceived conflicts of interest and to maintain the integrity of the negotiation process.
As stated above, the PSA contemplates a conversion of a significant portion of GOL’s debt and other obligations into equity. This conversion, structured to reflect the economic value of GOL’s shares as mandated by law, is expected to result in significant dilution of GOL’s existing equity. Throughout the restructuring process, all shareholder rights will be fully preserved, including preemptive rights, as stipulated under Article 171 of Brazilian Law No. 6,404 (1976).
Advisors
In connection with its restructuring efforts, GOL is working with Milbank LLP as legal counsel, Seabury Securities, LLC as investment banker and restructuring advisor, and AlixPartners, LLP as financial advisor. In addition, Lefosse Advogados is serving as GOL’s Brazilian counsel.
Abra is working with Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz as legal counsel and Rothschild & Co as financial advisor in connection with the restructuring. In addition, Pinheiro Guimarães is serving as Abra’s Brazilian counsel.
In connection with the restructuring, the Committee is working with Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP as legal counsel, Jefferies LLC as investment banker, Alvarez & Marsal North America, LLC as financial advisor, and Alton Aviation Consultancy LLC as aviation advisor. Additionally, Stocche, Forbes, Filizzola, Clapis e Cursino de Moura Sociedade de Advogados is serving as the Committee’s Brazilian counsel.
About GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A
GOL is Brazil’s leading airline and part of the Abra Group. Since its foundation in 2001, it has been the company lowest-cost airline in Latin America, enabling the democratization of air travel. The Company maintains alliances with American Airlines and Air France-KLM and offers Customers a variety of codeshare and interline agreements, enhancing convenience and ease of connections to any destination served by these partnerships. Committed to “Being First for Everyone”, GOL provides the best travel experience to its passengers and the best loyalty program, Smiles. GOLLOG, the cargo transport division, facilitates parcel delivery across Brazil and internationally. The Company employs a team of 13,700 highly qualified aviation professionals focused on Safety, GOL’s number one value, and operates a standardized fleet of 138 Boeing 737 aircraft. For further information, visit www.voegol.com.br/ir.
About Abra Group
Abra Group, a UK-based company, is one of the largest and most competitive air transport groups in Latin America. It brings together the iconic Avianca and Gol brands under a single leadership, and a strategic investment in Wamos Air, anchoring an airline network that has one of the lowest unit costs in their respective markets, leading loyalty programs across the region (LifeMiles and Smiles) and other synergistic businesses. The Group consolidates a team of close to 30,000 highly qualified aviation professionals and a fleet of more than 300 aircraft serving 25 countries and more than 130 destinations. For more information www.abragroup.net.
SOURCE GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A.; Abra Group Limited
