Norwegian Air updates offer to creditors in key step towards survival

By Terje Solsvik

OSLO (Reuters) - Norwegian Air presented an updated restructuring proposal to creditors, the budget airline said on Thursday, in a major step in its plan to slash debt and reduce its fleet to survive the coronavirus pandemic.

If approved by enough creditors and Ireland's High Court, the so-called scheme of arrangement is expected to enable Norwegian to raise new capital and allow it to emerge next month from court-provided bankruptcy protection.

"This is an important milestone in the process of securing Norwegian's future," Chief Executive Jacob Schram said in a statement.

Financed largely by debt, Norwegian had grown rapidly to become a major carrier by the time of the COVID-19 outbreak, serving routes across Europe and flying to North and South America, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

As announced last year, the survival plan puts a definitive end to Norwegian's long-haul business, leaving a slimmed-down airline focusing on Nordic and European routes.

The updated proposal followed an outline first given by Norwegian in January to cut its fleet to 53 jets from 140 before the pandemic and slash its debt to 20 billion Norwegian crowns ($2.4 billion) from 56 billion.

As part of the plan, the airline must raise 4 billion to 5 billion crowns from new shares and hybrid capital, of which Norway's government has said it is willing to contribute 1.5 billion.

New investors will receive approximately 70% of the post-restructuring share capital, creditors will get about 25% and current shareholders approximately 5%, and the court process is scheduled for completion in May, Norwegian said.

Creditors with unsecured claims will receive about 5% of the original amount owed in the form of a new debt obligation, which will be convertible on certain terms into shares in the restructured company, Norwegian said.

Thursday's move was made possible by recent progress in court proceedings. Some jet lessors have struck voluntary pacts to end contracts while the Dublin court approved the forced repudiation of others.

Norwegian also recently agreed to end a contract for 88 new planes from aircraft maker Airbus though a dispute over 97 Boeing jets remains unresolved in separate U.S. court proceedings.

Creditors will be able to have their say in meetings scheduled for March 18-20 after which consent will be sought from Ireland's High Court, Norwegian said.

(Reporting by Terje Solsvik; Editing by Edmund Blair, Clarence Fernandez and David Clarke)