AirAsia injects RM1bil into Indonesia ops

KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia Bhd has injected US$227mil (RM1.01bil) into its associate PT Indonesia AirAsia (IAA) to address the latter’s negative equity position.

The low-cost carrier said its board had approved the subscription of the US$227mil or 3.042 trillion nominal value of perpetual capital securities issued by its 49% owned Indonesian operations.

AirAsia had yesterday entered into a perpetual security purchase agreement with IAA to formalise the issuance and terms and conditions between IAA and AirAsia for the subscription.

To recap, on Sept 29, 2015, AirAsia had subscribed to 2.058 trillion rupiah nominal value, which was 49% of the perpetual capital securities issued by IAA.

The move was to comply with the directive received from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of Indonesia to resolve the negative equity position for financial year 2014.

On May 10, 2016, the Indonesian DGCA had again instructed IAA to increase its capital to address the negative equity balance.

Subsequently, IAA offered to issue 3.042 trillion rupiah of new perpetual capital securities to AirAsia.

“The subscription is to enable IAA to attain positive equity position as directed by the DGCA in compliance with the directive.

“Failure to address the capital shortfall carries the risk that the Minister of Transportation of Indonesia would deny IAA’s requests for new route approvals or even impose a suspension of operations,” it explained.

AirAsia said the subscription would help reduce IAA’s gearing without any need for AirAsia to inject further funding or capital to IAA as it entailed converting the amount owed to the company into equity of IAA.

“Indonesia is a crucial market for AirAsia. International Air Transport Association forecast that Indonesia is expected to be the sixth largest market for air travel by 2034 with 270 million passengers.

“The risk of suspension of IAA would not only affect the AirAsia brand but also affect the network and future growth of AirAsia group,” it said.

AirAsia said the perpetual capital securities carry an initial periodic distribution rate of 2% per annum for the first 12 months and subsequently 8% per annum on outstanding principal amount to the perpetual capital securities until the first call date.

It will then be stepped up to 13% per annum on outstanding principal amount of the perpetual capital securities post the first call date thereafter.

“Perpetual in tenure with no fixed maturity date, with IAA having a call option to redeem the perpetual capital securities at the first call date, which is at the end of the seventh year from date of issuance and on each subsequent periodic distribution date thereafter at their principal amount.

“The periodic distribution rate will step-up by 5% if the perpetual capital securities are not redeemed at the first call date,” it added.

Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported that AirAsia’s plans to subscribe to perpetual capital securities issued by Indonesia AirAsia may impact its cash balances, Mohshin Aziz, analyst at Maybank Investment Bank was quoted as saying.