LAN and TAM announce intention to combine

SANTIAGO, CHILE and SAO PAULO, BRAZIL – LAN Airlines S.A. and TAM S.A.

SANTIAGO, CHILE and SAO PAULO, BRAZIL – LAN Airlines S.A. and TAM S.A. today announced that they have entered into a non-binding MOU that outlines their intentions to combine their holdings under a single parent entity. The combination would create a new Latin American airline group that would offer seamless passenger and cargo service across the continent and around the world. The new group, to be known as LATAM Airlines Group, would include Lan Airlines and its affiliates in Peru, Argentina and Ecuador; Lan Cargo and its affiliates; TAM Lineas Aereas S.A.; TAM Mercosur and all other holdings of LAN and TAM. The transaction is subject to both parties entering into a binding definitive agreement and satisfaction of conditions, including corporate and shareholder approvals and actions and regulatory approvals.

Each of the airlines in the group would continue to operate under their existing operating certificates and brands. The carriers would work to build a comprehensive network of international passenger flights and cargo services throughout the region. Growth enabled by the transaction would reach new destinations, create more opportunities for employees of both companies and more value creation for shareholders and would foster economic development and job growth in the home countries of the Group airlines and the countries they serve.

The all-stock transaction would consolidate the economic interests of LAN and TAM under a single parent entity while satisfying the foreign ownership and control requirements of each country where they operate. In connection with the transaction, LAN Airlines S.A. would be renamed LATAM Airlines Group S.A. (LATAM) and would serve as a parent company that will align activities for all group holdings. TAM shareholders would be offered 0.90 shares of common stock of LATAM for each share of TAM.

LATAM would retain its listing in the Santiago stock exchange and its ADR listing in the New York Stock Exchange and plans to list its shares, via BDRs, in the Bovespa in Brazil.

Within the group, TAM would continue to operate as a Brazilian company with its own structure. The current holdings of LAN Airlines S.A. would operate as an independent business unit within the group (and be referred to as LAN Airlines). Each airline within the group would maintain its current headquarters and governance structure.

The controlling shareholders of LAN and TAM have agreed to a governance model to jointly manage strategic decisions relating to the alignment of the activities of LATAM group holdings. Mauricio Rolim Amaro, currently Vice-chairman of the Board of Directors at TAM S.A., will serve as Chairman of Board of Directors of LATAM and Enrique Cueto, currently CEO of LAN, will serve as LATAM CEO.

Within the Group, Maria Claudia Amaro, currently Chairman of the Board of Directors of TAM, will serve as Chairman of TAM under the new structure. Marco Bologna, currently President/CEO of TAM S.A. will serve as CEO of TAM. Libano Barroso, currently president of TAM Lineas Aereas S.A., will remain in that capacity. Ignacio Cueto, currently President/COO of LAN, will serve as CEO of LAN Airlines.

“This is the completion of the vision of our founder, Captain Rolim, who believed that in an open skies market, a large Latin American airline group would provide much more competitive services to our passengers and cargo customers” said Marco Bologna, CEO of TAM. “Combining our strengths and complementary networks will bring great benefits to our customers, employees, shareholders and Latin America. Together, LAN and TAM will be able to offer new destinations that neither company could have supported on its own. This will position us to compete with the foreign carriers that continue to increase service to our region while creating new jobs in our home countries.”

Enrique Cueto, CEO of LAN Airlines said: “Today is a great day for LAN, our customers, our employees and our shareholders. Together we have built LAN into a true leader in Latin America. We have much to be proud of and much to be thankful for. But as the industry consolidates, we cannot stand still. Today we announced our intention to join forces with our friends at TAM, setting forth on a journey that will create one of the leading airline groups in the world. We have great admiration and respect for our friends at TAM and have enjoyed many years of collaboration. They share our passion for service, for integrity and our belief in the great potential of the Latin American market. With this combination, we take two Latin American leaders and create a global leader that will make Latin Americans proud.”

The combined airline group would provide passenger services to more than 115 destinations in 23 countries while providing cargo services throughout Latin America and across much of the globe. The airlines of the group would operate a fleet of more than 220 aircraft, and have more than 40,000 employees. In 2009 these carriers had combined revenues of US $8.5 billion, carried more than 45 million passengers and carried combined cargo of 832,000 tons. The Group would be among the leading airline groups in the world in terms of size, profitability and market reach.

The combination is expected to generate annual synergies of approximately US $400 million. These synergies are expected to come broadly in equal proportion from alignment of the passenger networks, growth in the cargo network (both internationally and in Brazil), and reduced cost. Management expects that it would be able to implement approximately one third of the synergies within the first year following the close of the transaction and all synergies by the end of the third year.

Employees would benefit from enhanced career opportunities and faster growth as a result of the combination. The scale and diversity of the new carrier would provide more stability and greater financial strength, benefiting all stakeholders. The combined airlines would have more than 200 aircraft scheduled for future delivery, driving growth and increased employment across the region.

Passengers would benefit from an increase in flights, destinations, and connections as a result of this combination. The combined carrier would allow for seamless travel throughout the region and beyond. Frequent flyer program members would be able to earn and redeem miles on more flights, and be able to earn miles through more partners than ever before.

Cargo customers would have access to the most comprehensive cargo network in Latin America – with more capacity, frequency, and destinations than any other carrier. The combined carriers would work quickly to ensure that customers can book, ship and track cargo seamlessly across the expanded network.

Under the MOU, the two companies will now engage in exclusive negotiations towards a binding definitive agreement, which shall be subject to reaching agreement on the final documentation, due diligence, respective corporate and shareholder approvals and actions, and regulatory approvals. No assurances can be given that a binding definitive agreement will be entered into or that the combination will be completed.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

Share to...