Details on Airline Bailouts in Stimulus Bill
#131
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,079
That’s between 2-3% for the first 5 years and 3-4% next 5 right now and should be for a while. That’s not great so I can see them paying it back as soon as it makes sense to do so. I can lock in 2.75% for 15 years right now.
#132
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jan 2018
Posts: 35
Hope it's useful :)
A quick (free 😊 summary that might help clarify some topics raised here:
The CARES Act is a very large and complex bill (Public Law 116-136). We are participating in the Payroll Support Program, Title IV, Subtitle B of the Bill. The Bill delegated powers to the US Treasury Dept. to discuss, agree and implement its details with the airlines.
The first agreement was reached with 10 US Airlines (F9 included). As a reference, the sum of aid represents approx. 76% of the salaries, wages and benefits that were paid during 2Q and 3Q of 2019. As part of the agreement, 70% comes as a direct grant and the remaining 30% in the form of a loan (both loans and loans guarantees are made separately from $29 billion under Subtitle A of the Bill). Like mentioned above, loans accrue interest of 1% above Libor for the first 5 years and 2% for the next 5 years. They may be prepaid at any time prior to its maturity.
The issuance of equity instruments was required by those airlines receiving more than $100 mil in payroll assistance. Airlines were disappointed but this was seen as a necessary compensation to taxpayers by the Secretary of Treasury.
So, in our case, as per our CEO letter, we will receive a total of $204.9m of which $173.4 comes as a direct grant and an additional $31.5m comes as a loan under the terms above (30% of 104.5m which is the amount that exceeds $100m). Stock warrants of valued at 10% of the loan amount will be issued.
The equity instruments to be issued will NOT convey voting rights to the US Treasury. Warrants are securities contracts that give the holder the right, not the obligation, to buy common shares straight from the company at a pre-defined, fixed price. Maturity of warrants should be 5 years but it was not very clear how the taxpayer compensation concern would be addressed in relation to privately owned airlines.
A few other points worth mentioning: the aids are meant to cover payroll and benefits exclusively; limitations on executive compensation shall be held until 3/24/2022; companies shall refrain from imposing furloughs until 9/30; and there shall be no stock buybacks or dividends distribution (if applicable) til 9/30, next year.
And then there is the issue of minimum service continuation “to the extent reasonable and practicable” (CARES Act, Sections 4005 and 4114(b) refer) matter under the Authority of the Secretary of Transport. Should you be interested I’d refer you to the 71 pages DOT Order 2020-4-2, most of which are Appendices A thru C (methodology and covered points). Objections by Allegiant, Spirit, Frontier, Sun Country, and Ravn, and the National Air Carrier Association were addressed in this document.
Just as a reference, here are a few published numbers for other airlines (grant/loan in $mil):
AA, including Envoy, Piedmont and PSA (4100/1700)
Delta (3800/1600)
United (3500/1500)
Southwest (2300/1000)
Alaska (725/267)
Jetblue (685/250)
Of course, there are a whole bunch of matters pertaining fairness, such as the minimum service required for LCCs, the fact that we are employed and receiving $1200 checks that could see better use by unemployed people, etc.
Nevertheless, if you’ve been to high level negotiations and crisis never-ending meetings you will know or have a good idea of how much effort and infinite amounts of work people are putting on to have these rules drafted, negotiated, opposed, agreed to, published etc. This is huge folks.
And thus, I believe we should be really thankful for having a very strong leadership, both in our Management and our union Reps/ALPA. These folks are working non-stop to try and keep our company alive and our jobs out of harm’s way insofar as possible. These are extraordinary times.
Hope this is somewhat useful and I truly hope you all stay safe!
The CARES Act is a very large and complex bill (Public Law 116-136). We are participating in the Payroll Support Program, Title IV, Subtitle B of the Bill. The Bill delegated powers to the US Treasury Dept. to discuss, agree and implement its details with the airlines.
The first agreement was reached with 10 US Airlines (F9 included). As a reference, the sum of aid represents approx. 76% of the salaries, wages and benefits that were paid during 2Q and 3Q of 2019. As part of the agreement, 70% comes as a direct grant and the remaining 30% in the form of a loan (both loans and loans guarantees are made separately from $29 billion under Subtitle A of the Bill). Like mentioned above, loans accrue interest of 1% above Libor for the first 5 years and 2% for the next 5 years. They may be prepaid at any time prior to its maturity.
The issuance of equity instruments was required by those airlines receiving more than $100 mil in payroll assistance. Airlines were disappointed but this was seen as a necessary compensation to taxpayers by the Secretary of Treasury.
So, in our case, as per our CEO letter, we will receive a total of $204.9m of which $173.4 comes as a direct grant and an additional $31.5m comes as a loan under the terms above (30% of 104.5m which is the amount that exceeds $100m). Stock warrants of valued at 10% of the loan amount will be issued.
The equity instruments to be issued will NOT convey voting rights to the US Treasury. Warrants are securities contracts that give the holder the right, not the obligation, to buy common shares straight from the company at a pre-defined, fixed price. Maturity of warrants should be 5 years but it was not very clear how the taxpayer compensation concern would be addressed in relation to privately owned airlines.
A few other points worth mentioning: the aids are meant to cover payroll and benefits exclusively; limitations on executive compensation shall be held until 3/24/2022; companies shall refrain from imposing furloughs until 9/30; and there shall be no stock buybacks or dividends distribution (if applicable) til 9/30, next year.
And then there is the issue of minimum service continuation “to the extent reasonable and practicable” (CARES Act, Sections 4005 and 4114(b) refer) matter under the Authority of the Secretary of Transport. Should you be interested I’d refer you to the 71 pages DOT Order 2020-4-2, most of which are Appendices A thru C (methodology and covered points). Objections by Allegiant, Spirit, Frontier, Sun Country, and Ravn, and the National Air Carrier Association were addressed in this document.
Just as a reference, here are a few published numbers for other airlines (grant/loan in $mil):
AA, including Envoy, Piedmont and PSA (4100/1700)
Delta (3800/1600)
United (3500/1500)
Southwest (2300/1000)
Alaska (725/267)
Jetblue (685/250)
Of course, there are a whole bunch of matters pertaining fairness, such as the minimum service required for LCCs, the fact that we are employed and receiving $1200 checks that could see better use by unemployed people, etc.
Nevertheless, if you’ve been to high level negotiations and crisis never-ending meetings you will know or have a good idea of how much effort and infinite amounts of work people are putting on to have these rules drafted, negotiated, opposed, agreed to, published etc. This is huge folks.
And thus, I believe we should be really thankful for having a very strong leadership, both in our Management and our union Reps/ALPA. These folks are working non-stop to try and keep our company alive and our jobs out of harm’s way insofar as possible. These are extraordinary times.
Hope this is somewhat useful and I truly hope you all stay safe!
#133
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2014
Position: Lineholder
Posts: 1,341
The equity instruments to be issued will NOT convey voting rights to the US Treasury. Warrants are securities contracts that give the holder the right, not the obligation, to buy common shares straight from the company at a pre-defined, fixed price. Maturity of warrants should be 5 years but it was not very clear how the taxpayer compensation concern would be addressed in relation to privately owned airlines.
#134
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jan 2018
Posts: 35
Right, this is all very complex. By reading the text of the Bill (Public Law 116-136) and the Department of Treasury's press release of April 10th, together with some notes on the Agreement reached between the companies and the Department of Treasury, I couldn't figure out which specific financial instruments would be offered by private companies. But that's up to the Secretary of Treasury and the companies to figure out.
Unfortunately, and to the disappointment of the Airlines, that was in fact required by Mr. Mnuchin. Well, to be fair, the law gives him discretionary power, but considering the origin of the funds (taxpayer) his political latitude to require it or not is not as great as the legal one.
SEC. 4117. TAX PAYER PROTECTION.The Secretary may receive warrants, options, preferred stock, debt securities, notes, or other financial instruments issued by recipients of financial assistance under this subtitle which, in the sole determination of the Secretary, provide appropriate compensation to the Federal Government for the provision of the financial assistance.
#135
Roswell
Anyone been to Roswell in the last few days? Just wondering how many AC we have parked there now. I was there end of March when we just started sending them there and we had about 10 of them.
#136
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2013
Position: CRJ-200 CA
Posts: 434
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