Enrique
Cueto, CEO of LAN Airlines said: “We are pleased to announce that LAN and TAM
are taking a new and very important step towards building one of the leading
airline groups in the world. Today’s announcement confirms the commitment that
we share with our friends at TAM, which is a strong passion and determination to
provide millions of Latin American passengers with better service, always
certain of the great potential of the Latin American market.”
“As
regional leaders, TAM and LAN make a natural move in the global trend of
consolidation in the airline sector. We believe this is the best way to
guarantee our companies’ growth, in a scenario of high competition and growing
demand. We are confident that, after all the required approvals, we will be able
to offer even more advantages to our costumers, employees and stockholders”,
says Marco Antonio Bologna, TAM S.A.’s CEO.
Regarding
the structure of the transaction, substantially all of the voting stock of TAM
is expected to be acquired by a new Chilean corporation (“Holdco 1”). The share
capital of Holdco 1 will be divided into two series: (i) one series of voting
stock, which will have no economic rights other than nominal dividend rights,
and (ii) one series of non-voting stock, which will have substantially all of
the economic rights. The share capital of Holdco 1 will be distributed as
follows: (x) at least 80% of the voting stock will be acquired and held
indirectly by the Amaro family through a new Chilean corporation (“TEP Chile”),
and no more than 20% of the voting stock will be acquired and held by LAN, and
(y) 100% of the non-voting stock will be acquired and held by LAN.
The
non-voting stock of TAM indirectly held by the Amaro family will be contributed
by them to a new wholly-owned Chilean corporation (“Sister Holdco”). Holdco 1
will incorporate a new Chilean corporation (“Holdco 2”), that will launch a
delisting exchange offer pursuant to which all the holders of TAM stock (other
than the Amaro family) may tender their shares in exchange for the same number
of shares of Holdco 2 (the “Exchage Offer”).
Simultaneously
with the settlement of the Exchange Offer, Holdco 2 and Sister Holdco will merge
into LAN, with LAN being the surviving entity. The exchange ratio in the mergers
will be 0.9 shares of LAN per share of Sister Holdco and Holdco 2, whose sole
assets will be the TAM shares contributed by the Amaro family and acquired in
the Exchange Offer, respectively.
The
commencement of the Exchange Offer will be subject to conditions customary for
transactions of this nature, including (i) that the shareholders of LAN approve
the mergers, (ii) that no more than 2.5% of holders of LAN stock shall have
exercised their appraisal rights (derecho
a retiro) under Chilean law and (iii) receipt of approvals from and/or
registrations with ANAC, the Comissão de Valores Mobiliários of Brazil, the
Superintendencia de Valores y Seguros of Chile, the Securities and Exchange
Commission of the United States of America and the applicable antitrust
authorities in the relevant countries.
The
consummation of the Exchange Offer will be subject to the additional minimum
conditions that the number of shares tendered and not withdrawn from, or that
otherwise approve, the exchange offer are sufficient under Brazilian law to (i)
permit the delisting of the TAM stock from the BM&FBovespa (“Bovespa”), and
(ii) give LAN the right and ability to effect a statutory squeeze-out of all TAM
stock that do not accept the Exchange Offer.
The
transaction contemplates that the LAN stock will be listed in Brazil in the
Bovespa as Brazilian Depositary Receipts and will continue to be listed in Chile
and in the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) as American Depositary Receipts. The
TAM stock will cease to be listed in the Bovespa and in the NYSE as American
Depositary Receipts.
LAN’s
name will be changed to “LATAM Airlines Group S.A.” (“LATAM”), and the share
capital of LAN will be distributed approximately as follows (assuming a 100% of
the holders of TAM stock, other than the Amaro family, tender their shares into
the Exchange Offer): (i) LAN controlling shareholders, 24.07%; (ii) TEP Chile,
13.67%; (iii) other existing shareholders of LAN, 46.60%; and (iv) tendering
holders of TAM stock, 15.65%.
Upon
consummation of the transaction, LAN, TAM and their respective subsidiaries will
continue their airline operations as presently conducted. The Chairman of the
Board of LATAM shall be Mauricio Rolim Amaro. Enrique Cueto shall remain as
Chief Executive Officer of LATAM and Ignacio Cueto shall remain in his current
capacity as President and Chief Operating Officer of LAN’s current operations.
The Chairman of the Board of TAM shall continue to be Maria Claudia Oliveira
Amaro, and the Chief Executive Officer shall be Marco Bologna.
Completion
of this transaction is expected to take between six to nine months. The proposed
combination of LAN and TAM as LATAM will produce an airline group that will be
among the major 10 in the world. LATAM will provide transport services for
passengers and cargo to more than 115 destinations in 23 countries, operating a
fleet of more than 280 aircrafts and will have over 40,000
employees.
About
LAN
LAN
Airlines is one of the leading passenger and cargo airlines in Latin America.
The company and its affiliates serve over 70 destinations around the world
through an extensive network that offers full connectivity within Latin America,
while also linking the region with North America, Europe and the South Pacific,
as well as 70 additional international destinations through its various
alliances. LAN Airlines and its affiliates have a leading position in their
respective domestic markets of Chile and Peru as well as an important presence
in the Argentinean and Ecuadorian domestic markets. Furthermore, in November
2010, LAN acquired Colombian airline AIRES.
Currently,
LAN Airlines and its affiliates operate one of the most modern fleets in the
world, with 118 passenger aircraft, and its cargo subsidiary, LAN CARGO and its
respective cargo affiliates, have a fleet of 13 dedicated freighters. The
Company has one of the youngest fleets in the world, which has meant greater
efficiency and a significant reduction in CO2 emissions, reflecting its strong
commitment to environmental protection.
LAN is
one of the few Investment Grade airlines in the world (BBB). The company’s world
class quality standards enabled its membership in oneworld™, the global alliance
which LAN has been a member of for over 10 years that encompasses the best
airlines in the world. For more information please visit www.lan.com or
www.oneworldalliance.com
About
TAM
TAM
Airlines (www.tamairlines.com) operates direct flights to 45 cities in Brazil
and 18 cities in South America, the United States and Europe. Through agreements
with companies in Brazil and abroad, TAM's network encompasses a further 89
airports in Brazil and 87 international destinations, including
Asia.
TAM is
Brazil's leading airline, with market share of 43.3% in December 2010, and is
also the country's leading player among Brazilian airlines that operate
international routes, with 84.6% market share in December. With the largest
passenger aircraft fleet in the country (151 planes), TAM offers customer
service marked by its Spirit to Serve and seeks to make air travel more
accessible to the general public.
TAM was
the first Brazilian airline to offer a loyalty program, TAM Fidelidade, which
has already issued 12 million tickets in exchange for points and is part of the
Multiplus network, which today has 7.6 million members. A member of Star
Alliance – the world's largest airline alliance – since May 2010, TAM is part of
a network with 1,160 destinations in 181 countries.
Forward-Looking
Statements
This
press release contains forward-looking statements, including with respect to the
negotiation, implementation and effects of the proposed
combination. Such statements may include words such as “anticipate,”
“estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “would” or other
similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not
historical facts, including statements about our beliefs and
expectations.
These
statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections, and,
therefore, you should not place undue reliance on
them. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and
uncertainties. We caution you that a number of important factors
could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any
forward-looking statement. These factors and uncertainties include in
particular those described in the documents we have filed with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak
only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update
publicly any of them, whether in light of new information, future events or
otherwise.
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION ABOUT THE BUSINESS COMBINATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT:
This
press release relates to a proposed business combination between Lan Airlines
S.A. (“LAN”) and TAM S.A. (“TAM”), which will become the subject of a
registration statement and prospectus to be filed with the SEC by
LAN. This press release is not a substitute for the registration
statement, prospectus and offering materials that LAN and the new entity will
file with the SEC or any other documents that they may file with the SEC or send
to shareholders in connection with the proposed
combination. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT, PROSPECTUS, EXCHANGE OFFER DOCUMENTS AND ALL OTHER
RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR THAT WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC AS THEY BECOME
AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED
BUSINESS COMBINATION. All such documents, if filed, would be
available free of charge at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov) or by directing a
request to LAN Investor Relations, at 56-2-565-8785 or by e-mail at
investor.relations@lan.com, or to TAM Investor Relations, at 55-11-5582-9715 or
by e-mail at invest@tam.com.br.