GFL Waiver Announcement
RNS Number : 5762I
Gatwick Funding Limited
13 August 2021
Gatwick Funding Limited
13 August 2021
Issuer: Gatwick Funding Limited
13 August 2021
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT RELATES TO THE DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION THAT QUALIFIED AS INSIDE INFORMATION WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 7 OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) 596/2014 AS IT FORMS PART OF DOMESTIC LAW OF THE UNITED KINGDOM BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018
Gatwick Funding Limited
(incorporated with limited liability in Jersey with registered number 107376)
announces a consent solicitation
Gatwick Funding Limited (the "Issuer") today announced a consent solicitation (the "Consent Solicitation") in respect of the following series of its bonds (the "Bonds"):
(i) £300,000,000 6.125 per cent. Notes due 2 Mar. 2028 (Scheduled Redemption Date: 2 Mar. 2026) (ISIN: XS0596919299);
(ii) £300,000,000 6.5 per cent. Notes due 2 Mar. 2043 (Scheduled Redemption Date: 2 Mar. 2041) (ISIN: XS0596919539);
(iii) £300,000,000 5.25 per cent. Notes due 23 Jan. 2026 (Scheduled Redemption Date: 23 Jan. 2024) (ISIN: XS0733794407);
(iv) £300,000,000 2.500 per cent. Notes due 15 Apr. 2032 (Scheduled Redemption Date: 15 Apr. 2030) (ISIN: XS2332199830);
(v) £300,000,000 5.75 per cent. Notes due 23 Jan. 2039 (Scheduled Redemption Date: 23 Jan. 2037) (ISIN: XS0733786130);
(vi) £350,000,000 4.625 per cent. Notes due 27 Mar. 2036 (Scheduled Redemption Date: 27 Mar. 2034) (ISIN: XS1047788523);
(vii) £300,000,000 2.625 per cent. Notes due 7 Oct. 2048 (Scheduled Redemption Date: 7 Oct. 2046) (ISIN: XS1502174581);
(viii) £350,000,000 3.125 per cent. Notes due 28 Sep. 2041 (Scheduled Redemption Date: 28 Sep. 2039) (ISIN: XS1691441924);
(ix) £300,000,000 3.25 per cent. Notes due 26 Feb. 2050 (Scheduled Redemption Date: 26 Feb. 2048) (ISIN: XS1781266793); and
(x) £300,000,000 2.875 per cent. Notes due 5 Jul. 2051 (Scheduled Redemption Date: 5 Jul. 2049) (ISIN: XS2022203801).
Capitalised terms used in this announcement and not defined herein have the meanings given to such terms in the solicitation memorandum dated 13 August 2021 (the "Solicitation Memorandum"). This announcement does not contain the full terms and conditions of the Consent Solicitation, which are contained in the Solicitation Memorandum. Subject to the restrictions described under "Solicitation and Distribution Restrictions" below, Bondholders may obtain a copy of the Solicitation Memorandum from the Tabulation Agent, the contact details for which are set out below.
Purpose of this Announcement
The purpose of this announcement is to:
(a) provide information on the STID Proposal which is the subject of the Consent Solicitation, for which see "The STID Proposal" and "Comfort Package" below; and
(b) provide details on Gatwick Airport's financial and operational performance (including forecasts and projections), for which see "Background" below and the compliance certificate and investor report for the six months ended 30 June 2021 and the quarterly information package for the three months ended 30 June 2021, in each case published on 13 August 2021, which can be found here https://www.gatwickairport.com/business-community/about-gatwick/investor-relations/other-financial-documents.
Background
In August 2020, in response to the impacts the COVID-19 pandemic had on the operations at Gatwick Airport (along with the air travel sector more generally), Gatwick Airport Limited (the "Borrower") requested a number of short term waivers, approvals and amendments to the Finance Documents (the "2020 Consent"), to ensure the Borrower was able to fully implement the management's recovery plans. All such requests were duly approved by the Borrower Security Trustee following a creditor voting process.
The Borrower was able to take actions to ensure the business is well positioned to recover from the pandemic. Notwithstanding this, the continued impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have continued to be felt during the first half of 2021. Despite the Borrower's strong financial position and the anticipated recovery in travel, there is continued short term pressure on covenants, and as a consequence the Borrower is requesting extensions of the prior waivers, approvals and amendments.
There is currently improved visibility over trading conditions in the short to medium term, and a forecast recovery in passenger numbers from 2022 through to 2024. The vaccination programmes in the UK and Gatwick Airport's key destinations are very advanced and significant pent up demand has been observed when key markets for Gatwick have reopened.
As at 30 June 2021, the Security Group had total liquidity of £779 million, comprised of cash and cash equivalents of £624 million and access to an undrawn, committed £150 million liquidity facility and a £5 million overdraft.
The Security Group has proactively managed its cash position by making operating expenditure savings of £140 million in the 2020 financial year compared with the 2019 financial year and reducing its capital expenditure run rate to under £3 million per month (compared to approximately £20 million per month prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic). In 2021, the Security Group also received a capital injection of £370 million.
Gatwick and its shareholders continue to target the maintenance of investment grade credit ratings, with a long term target of strong investment grade ratings (BBB+/Baa1/BBB+) for the Bonds.
The STID Proposal
The 2020 Consent included a waiver of any Default in respect of the financial ratios which may arise in respect of the Calculation Dates falling on 31 December 2020 and 30 June 2021. The continued reduced EBITDA of the Borrower during 2021 is expected to have a significant continuing impact on the financial ratios calculated in accordance with the CTA, and thus an extension of this waiver to the Calculation Dates falling on 31 December 2021 and 30 June 2022 is requested.
The Borrower's leverage covenant is calculated by dividing net debt by RAB, which is calculated based on Transfer RAB. Transfer RAB is equal to the average of the Relevant EBITDA for the last three years multiplied by 11.1x. An average of the last three years' Relevant EBITDA (as opposed to the last year's Relevant EBITDA) was used to ensure that the Transfer RAB (and therefore the implied borrowing base of the business) was less volatile, and not driven solely by outperformance (or underperformance) in a given year. However, given the severe and exceptional impact of COVID-19 on the Relevant EBITDA for 2020 and 2021, the Transfer RAB will be materially changed, and this impact will persist until at least December 2024.
The 2020 Consent included an amendment to the calculation of Transfer RAB for the Calculation Dates from (and including) December 2021 to (and including) June 2023, such that the amount to be included in the calculation as Relevant EBITDA for each calendar quarter in the period of 12 months commencing on 1 April 2020 was replaced with an average of the respective quarterly Relevant EBITDA in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Given the continued impact of COVID-19 on the Relevant EBITDA during 2021, the Borrower is now seeking a further amendment to the calculation of Transfer RAB to apply from (and excluding) 30 June 2022 to (and including) 30 June 2024, such that the amount to be included in the calculation as Relevant EBITDA for each calendar quarter in the period of 12 months commencing on 1 April 2021 is replaced with an average of the respective quarterly Relevant EBITDA in 2017, 2018 and 2019. These averages have been calculated and are set out in paragraph 3(b) of the STID Proposal.
The 2020 Consent included a waiver of certain other technical Defaults which may arise from actions taken by any Governmental Agency relating directly to the COVID-19 pandemic and which result in a full or partial closure of, or a full or partial suspension of operations at, Gatwick Airport. The Borrower is seeking to extend this waiver, although currently no such Defaults are expected. These are set out in paragraph 3(c) of the STID Proposal.
The 2020 Consent included approval to issue up to £300,000,000 of unsecured commercial paper under the Bank of England Covid Corporate Financing Facility ("CCFF") programme. The Borrower currently has £275 million outstanding under the CCFF which is due for repayment in March 2022. The Borrower believes it would be prudent to ensure it is able to explore a variety of options to replace this debt (including through any replacement to the CCFF that may be offered in the future). The Borrower is therefore requesting approval pursuant to paragraph (a)(iv) of the definition of "Permitted Financial Indebtedness" in the MDA to permit the incurrence of unsecured Financial Indebtedness of up to £300,000,000 (less the amount of any outstanding CCFF Debt, unless amounts are raised solely to repay such CCFF Debt). In line with the current position for the Borrower's outstanding CCFF Debt, any CCFF Replacement Debt (as defined below) shall not be included within the calculation of the Senior RAR. Furthermore, no distributions shall be permitted whilst any CCFF Replacement Debt is outstanding.
The 2020 Consent included a waiver of the consequences of the occurrence of a Trigger Event pursuant to paragraphs 2.1 (Further Information and Remedial Plan), 4 (Independent Review) and 5 (Consultation with Regulator) of Part 2 (Trigger Event Consequences) of Schedule 3 (Trigger Events) to the CTA, where a Trigger Event arises under paragraph 1 (Financial Ratios) of Part 1 (Trigger Events) of Schedule 3 (Trigger Events) to the CTA in respect of a Calculation Date up to and including 30 June 2021, or that otherwise relates directly to the COVID-19 pandemic (with such waiver ceasing to apply on and from 31 December 2021 if the relevant Trigger Event is continuing on such date). The requirements to be waived provide for the right of the Borrower Security Trustee to request information and receive a remedial plan, commission an Independent Review, and to participate in any discussions with the Regulator. The Borrower is requesting an extension of such waiver, to waive the consequences of the occurrence of a Trigger Event pursuant to the above-mentioned paragraphs of Part 1 (Trigger Events) of Schedule 3 (Trigger Events) to the CTA in respect of a Calculation Date up to and including 30 June 2022, or that otherwise relates directly to the COVID-19 pandemic (with such waiver ceasing to apply on and from 31 December 2022 if the relevant Trigger Event is continuing on such date).
Comfort Package
The Borrower proposes that if the provisions set out above are waived, approved and/or amended (as applicable), the Borrower will provide the Borrower Secured Creditors and the Issuer Secured Creditors (by publication on the Designated Website) a quarterly information package in respect of quarter end dates from 30 September 2021 to 30 June 2022 inclusive, to include traffic updates, financial ratios and six month liquidity forecasts, as have been provided up to 30 June 2021 pursuant to the conditions of the 2020 Consent.
In line with the 2020 Consent, if any six month liquidity forecast shows that Available Cash minus Required Expenditure (each as defined in the STID Proposal) is less than £225,000,000, the Borrower will be required to provide a remedial plan outlining how it intends to address the issue, and monthly updates to both the plan and the liquidity forecast until the issue is resolved. If Available Cash minus Required Expenditure is less than £150,000,000, any failure to provide the remedial plan or undertake the actions set out in such plan within the time periods specified in the plan will result in a Loan Event of Default.
Finally, the Borrower proposes that, conditional upon the requested consents being provided, further restrictions on Restricted Payments shall apply, such that no Restricted Payments shall be made prior to the Calculation Date falling on 31 December 2022 (extended from 31 December 2021 which was agreed in the 2020 Consent), and any Restricted Payments made in the period prior to the next Calculation Date falling after 30 June 2024 (extended from 30 June 2023 which was agreed in the 2020 Consent) shall be subject to a tighter Senior RAR test (0.60 for Calculation Dates up to and including June 2023 (extended from June 2022 which was agreed in the 2020 Consent), and thereafter 0.65, on an adjusted basis), meeting the current Senior RAR threshold of 0.70 on an unadjusted basis, and a six month liquidity test, and may not be made if amounts are outstanding in respect of any CCFF Debt or CCFF Replacement Debt (as mentioned above).
The Borrower considers this package of waivers, approvals and amendments, together with the related undertakings from the Obligors, will allow the Borrower to continue to implement the management's recovery plans, and therefore asks for due consideration of the proposals.
For detailed information on the STID Proposal see the form of the STID Proposal (appended at Schedule 2 to the Solicitation Memorandum) and an investor presentation prepared in connection with the Consent Solicitation which is available to Bondholders via NetRoadshow at https://www.netroadshow.com/nrs/home/#!/?show=e0c49dd1 or by visiting www.netroadshow.com and entering the entry code: Gatwick2021 (not case-sensitive).
Expected Timetable
The times and dates below (other than the Expiration Time) are indicative only. Accordingly, the actual timetable may differ significantly from the expected timetable set out below.
All references to times are to London time unless otherwise stated, and any announcements or notifications to be made to Bondholders arising out of or in connection with the STID Proposal will be made as soon as is reasonably practicable after the event giving rise to the announcement or notification by the Issuer in accordance with the provisions of the Bond Trust Deed and the Bonds.
All notices to Bondholders will be given by delivery through the Clearing Systems.
| Event | Date | ||
| Announcement and delivery of the STID Proposal. | 13 August 2021 | ||
| Solicitation Memorandum and draft amendment documentation in respect of each of the CTA and the MDA to be made available at the specified office of the Tabulation Agent (copies of which are obtainable by Bondholders upon request, free of charge). | |||
| Expiration Time Latest time and date for receipt of valid Electronic Voting Instructions by the Tabulation Agent through the Clearing Systems. | 4.00 p.m. (London time) on 3 September 2021 | ||
| STID Voting Deadline | 7 September 2021 | ||
| Announcement of results of the STID Proposal | 8 September 2021 or earlier, subject to the STID Proposal, should the Borrower Security Trustee have received votes in favour of the STID Proposal from 75% of Participating QBS Creditors | ||
| If the STID Proposal is approved and the Borrower Security Trustee has announced such approval | |||
| Payment of the Instruction Fee to those holders who are eligible for payment in accordance with the conditions set out in the Solicitation Memorandum. | On the Payment Date which is expected to be on or about the fifth Business Day following the announcement of the results of the STID Proposal, if the STID Proposal is approved. | ||
| If the Amendment Conditions are satisfied | |||
| Execution of amendment documentation in respect of each of the CTA and the MDA and implementation of the STID Proposal | On the Amendment Date - currently expected to occur within five Business Days of the STID Voting Deadline (but, in any event, to be implemented at a time which is at Gatwick Airport Limited's sole and absolute discretion). |