NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED
STATES OR FOR RELEASE TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES
Canada Jetlines Ltd. (JET: TSX-V) (the
“
Company” or “
Jetlines”) is
pleased to announce that it has entered into a subscription
agreement (the “
Subscription Agreement”) with
SmartLynx Airlines SIA (“
SmartLynx”) for financing
commitments of up to $15 million (the “
Offering”).
SmartLynx specializes in full-service ACMI
(Aircraft-Crew-Maintenance-Insurance) aircraft lease services and
is the leading ACMI provider in Europe for Airbus A320 aircraft.
SmartLynx aircraft has been utilized by major airlines including
Norwegian, EasyJet, Thomas Cook and TUI.
“This financing transaction with SmartLynx
provides further validation of the Jetlines business plan and the
need for a true ultra-low cost carrier in Canada. This also
provides endorsement from a seasoned European airline that flies
aircraft for some of the most successful ultra-low cost carrier
airlines in the world. We look forward to working with the
SmartLynx group as we continue to build out the business plan in
preparation for launch,” commented Mark Morabito, Executive
Chairman of Jetlines.
Javier Suarez, CEO of Jetlines added “In
addition to the great value added by the investment SmartLynx is
making in Jetlines, having them as our partner brings in a good
number of synergies that will translate into significant long-term
operational savings. SmartLynx reputation and broad network will
help Jetlines accomplish our near-term goals”.
Zygimantas Surintas, CEO of SmartLynx commented
“Expansion of our operations into new markets is a strategic
long-term priority for SmartLynx, and the Canadian market is among
those we have been looking at for several years. We are excited
about the opportunity for partnership with Jetlines – not only
through SmartLynx’s investment but also through SmartLynx’s ability
to contribute our years of experience in airline operations,
aircraft leases, maintenance operations and other matters to help
Jetlines succeed. The SmartLynx team believes in the ULCC model in
Canada and hopes that it can play a part in bringing cheaper air
travel to Canadians.”
Details of the Offering
The Offering will consist of 22,727,272
subscription receipts of the Company (“Subscription
Receipts”) at a price of $0.33 per Subscription Receipt
(the “Offering Price”), for gross proceeds of $7.5
million. The Subscription Receipts will be issued pursuant to the
terms of a Subscription Receipt Agreement (the “Subscription
Receipt Agreement”) between the Company, SmartLynx and an escrow
agent. SmartLynx also has the option exercisable for a period of
twelve months following the closing of the Offering to complete a
second financing for variable voting shares for additional gross
proceeds of up to $7.5 million at the discounted market price at
the time it exercises its option (the
“Option”).
Each Subscription Receipt will entitle SmartLynx
to receive, without payment of additional consideration or further
action on the part of the holder, one unit of the Company (each a
“Unit” and collectively the
“Units”), upon receipt by the escrow agent, prior
to August 31, 2019 (the “Deadline”) of a release
notice from the Company and SmartLynx (the “Release
Notice”), confirming that: (a) the Company has raised
additional gross proceeds of $40 million (the “Funding Milestone”)
from a subsequent financing by May 31, 2019 (such completion date
subject to waiver by SmartLynx); (b) the receipt by the Company’s
subsidiary, Canada Jetlines Operations Ltd. (“Jetlines
Operations”), of its air operator certificate from
Transport Canada; and (c) no termination event has occurred.
Each Unit will consist of one variable voting
share of the Company and one common share purchase warrant (each, a
“Warrant”). Each Warrant shall entitle the
holder thereof to purchase one variable voting share of the Company
at a price of $0.45 at any time up to 5:00 p.m. (Vancouver time) on
the date which is 36 months from the closing date.
If: (i) the Release Notice is not delivered by
the Deadline, or (ii) the Offering is terminated in accordance with
the terms of the Subscription Receipt Agreement, then SmartLynx
will be entitled to receive an amount per Subscription Receipt
equal to the Offering Price and an entitlement to the interest
earned thereon. Any shortfall will be funded by the Company. In
addition, the Company is obligated to pay a termination fee of
US$250,000 if the Company has not achieved the Funding Milestone by
May 31, 2019 or commits certain other material breaches and
SmartLynx terminates the Subscription Agreement.
The net proceeds of the Offering will be used to
further the business objectives of Jetlines in launching an
ultra-low cost airline carrier in Canada, including advancing the
licensing process, augmenting the leadership team with operations
and commercial personnel, branding and marketing activities, as
well as advance internet, digital media and IT systems
initiatives.
It is expected that SmartLynx will become an
insider of the Company on conversion of the Subscription
Receipts.
Details of the Commercial
Arrangement
In connection with the Offering, Jetlines
Operations and SmartLynx will enter into an agreement whereby
SmartLynx shall provide ACMI (Aircraft-Crew-Maintenance-Insurance)
services to Jetlines Operations during the following eight winter
seasons. This agreement will allow Jetlines to increase its
capacity in the market during the very busy Canadian Winter Season.
In addition, SmartLynx and the Company will enter into a
two-year agreement that will provide Jetlines with services and
certain proprietary software meant to support Jetlines during the
early stage of their operations.
The Company, Jetlines Operations and SmartLynx
will also enter into a framework agreement (the “Framework
Agreement”) in connection with the closing of the Offering
that will govern aspects of the relationship between the parties.
The Framework Agreement will cover matters including the right of
SmartLynx to appoint a single Board member to the Company and
Jetlines Operations, rights to participate on Board committees,
arrangements regarding the review of aircraft leases, the grant of
a pro-rata right to SmartLynx to participate in future financings
and certain other rights detailing with operational and expenditure
matters of the Company and Jetlines Operations.
The closing of the Offering is conditional on
the satisfaction of conditions to closing contained in the
Subscription Agreement, which conditions include, among other
things, approval of the TSX Venture Exchange for the Offering and
the execution of the Subscription Receipt Agreement and the
execution of the agreements referred to above. It is expected
that the Offering will close on or before December 24, 2018.
About SmartLynx Airlines
SIA
SmartLynx Airlines was founded in 1992 as a
private airline. Today it is the leading ACMI
(Aircraft-Crew-Maintenance-Insurance) provider in the EU on Airbus
aircrafts. As an EU airline, SmartLynx Airlines complies with IOSA
and EASA international quality standards, and has access to free
route airspace. In 2019, SmartLynx’s fleet will consist of 20
Airbus aircrafts, flying routes in Europe and Asia. SmartLynx
flight crew members represent more than 17 nationalities, speak
multiple languages. The average experience of SmartLynx’s captains
exceeds 5300 block hours and first officers exceeds 1900 block
hours.
For more information on SmartLynx, please visit
their website at www.smartlynx.aero
About Canada Jetlines Ltd.
Canada Jetlines is set to become Canada’s first
true Ultra-Low Cost Carrier (ULCC) airline, with plans to operate
flights across Canada and provide non-stop service from Canada to
the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. The Company plans to
commence operations with the Airbus A320 fleet, the most widely
used aircraft for ultra-low cost carriers worldwide. Jetlines is
led by a board and management team with extensive experience and
expertise in low-cost airlines, start-ups and capital markets. The
Company was granted an unprecedented exemption from the Government
of Canada that will permit it to conduct domestic air services
while having up to 49% foreign voting interests.
For more information on Jetlines, please visit
our website at www.jetlines.ca.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
"Mark J.
Morabito"Executive Chairman
Canada Jetlines is part of the King & Bay group of
companies. King & Bay is a merchant bank that specializes in
identifying, funding, developing and supporting growth
opportunities in the resource, aviation, and technology
sectors.
For more information, please contact:Toll Free:
1-833-226-5387Email: investor.relations@jetlines.ca
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Information
This news release contains "forward-looking
information" concerning anticipated developments and events that
may occur in the future. Forward-looking information contained in
this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with
respect to (i) the commencement of operations and the success of
expected future operations of the Company; (ii) the completion of
the Offering; (iii) the satisfaction of the conditions to closing
of the Offering, (iv) the satisfaction of the escrow release
conditions; or (iv) the use of proceeds from the Offering.
In certain cases, forward-looking information
can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects"
"budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends",
"anticipates" or " or variations of such words and phrases or
statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could",
"would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved"
suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans,
objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future
events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in
this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions
regarding, among other things, the satisfaction of the conditions
to closing of the Offering, the satisfaction of the escrow release
conditions, the terms contained in the executed agreements to be
entered into by the Company or its subsidiaries with SmartLynx, the
receipt of financing to commence airline operations, the accuracy,
reliability and success of the Jetlines’ business model; the timely
receipt of governmental approvals; the timely commencement of
operations by Jetlines and the success of such operations; the
legislative and regulatory environments of the jurisdictions where
the Jetlines will carry on business or have operations; the impact
of competition and the competitive response to the Jetlines’
business strategy; and the availability of aircraft. While the
Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on
information currently available to it, they may prove to be
incorrect.
Forward-looking information involves known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the
actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be
materially different from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking
information. Such factors include risks related to, the ability to
obtain financing at acceptable terms, the impact of general
economic conditions, domestic and international airline industry
conditions, future relations with SmartLynx, volatility of fuel
prices, increases in operating costs, terrorism, pandemics, natural
disasters, currency fluctuations, interest rates, risks specific to
the airline industry, the ability of management to implement
Jetlines’ operational strategy, the ability to attract qualified
management and staff, labour disputes, regulatory risks, including
risks relating to the acquisition of the necessary licenses and
permits; risks related to disputes under the agreement with Boeing
to acquire 737-Max aircraft, and the additional risks identified in
the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings
with applicable Canadian securities regulators. There is no
assurance that the closing of the Offering will occur or if it does
occur that the escrow release conditions will be satisfied or that
SmartLynx will exercise the Option.
Although the Company has attempted to identify
important factors that could cause actual actions, events or
results to differ materially from those described in
forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause
actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or
intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is
made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by
applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any
obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking
information.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its
Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the
policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) has reviewed or accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
Cautionary Statements Regarding U.S.
Securities Act
No securities regulatory authority has expressed
an opinion about the securities described herein. No Company
securities have been or will be registered under the United States
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities
Act"), or the securities laws of any state, district or
commonwealth of the United States (as defined in Regulation S under
the U.S. Securities Act). Accordingly, these securities may not be
offered or sold, directly or indirectly, within the United States
or to or for the account or benefit of any "U.S. Person" (as
defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act), absent an
exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities
Act and applicable state securities laws. This news release does
not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to
buy any of the securities described in this news release in the
United States or any jurisdiction where such offer or sale would be
unlawful, or for the account or benefit of any U.S. Person or
person within the United States.
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