Azul deal with lessors good news for planemaker Embraer, analysts say
By Gabriel Araujo
SAO PAULO, Oct 9 (Reuters) -A deal between Brazilian airline Azul AZUL.N and its lessors to swap more than $500 million in obligations for an equity stake is good news for planemaker Embraer EMBR3.SA, analysts say, as it reduces concerns about the debt load of a key customer.
Azul had 21 next-generation E2 jets in its fleet at the end of the first half and is awaiting delivery of more this year.
"A stronger Azul means a stronger Embraer," the carrier's chief executive, John Rodgerson, told Reuters on Tuesday after the deal with lessors was announced.
Azul agreed to give them up to 100 million shares of the firm to eliminate obligations of around 3 billion reais ($541.16 million).
The carrier, which competes with LATAM LTM.SN and Gol GOLL4.SA in Brazil's domestic market, has centered its fleet growth plans on Embraer jets. In August, the firm said it expected to receive 15 to 18 new aircraft by the end of 2025.
Azul has firm orders for 51 E195-E2 jets, according to Embraer.
The carrier's orders represented 13% of Embraer's commercial aircraft backlog in June and 28% of E195-E2 orders, JPMorgan analyst Marcelo Motta said.
"Embraer would have had to provision pre-delivery payments of Azul's order in case the airline filed for Chapter 11, likely generating an impact of $20-30 million to P&L (profit and loss)," he noted.
Shares of Azul AZUL4.SA and Embraer were among the few to trade higher in Sao Paulo on Wednesday, after notching gains on Tuesday. The benchmark index Bovespa .BVSP slipped more than 1%.
Rodgerson said Azul had expected another eight jet deliveries this year, but it is facing delays as planemakers grapple with supply chain issues.
"We should get eight more, but they are delayed. I want them before Christmas and they are delivering after Christmas," Rodgerson said.
($1 = 5.5436 reais)
Reporting by Gabriel Araujo; Editing by Jamie Freed
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
