Monday, November 14, 2011

Mallya’s Kingfisher Air Rises on Report of Plan to Cut $1.3 Billion Debt

Kingfisher Airlines Ltd. (KAIR), the Indian carrier that’s cut flights and sought government help, rose in Mumbai after the Economic Times said the carrier has a plan to more than halve its 65 billion rupee ($1.3 billion) of debt.

The company, controlled by billionaire liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya, intends to raise 9 billion rupees selling property and 7 billion rupees by changing plane leases, the Economic Times said, citing a presentation prepared for investors. The proposal also includes parent UB Group converting 6.8 billion rupees of debt into equity, the report said.

Kingfisher, due to report second-quarter earnings later today, also said Nov. 11 that it was financially stable, in compliance with vendors’ credit terms and had only cut flights to reconfigure planes. The statement came after the Bangalore- based carrier tumbled 18 percent in two trading days because of reports about pilots quitting and a cash shortage.

“The company’s single biggest headache is debt,” said Jagannadham Thunuguntla, chief strategist at SMC Wealth Management Services Ltd. in New Delhi. “If the banks are ready to support on that front, there’s every reason to believe the stock will move up.”

Kingfisher’s Chief Executive Officer Sanjay Aggarwal didn’t respond to two calls to his mobile phone. Ravi Nedungadi, chief financial officer of parent UB Group, said in a text message that he couldn’t take calls because he was in meetings.
 .
Jet, SpiceJet

The carrier, named for Mallya’s flagship beer, surged as much as 7.9 percent and was up 5.1 percent at 20.65 rupees at 1:01 p.m. Jet Airways (India) Ltd., the nation’s biggest carrier, and SpiceJet Ltd., its only listed low-cost airline, both fell about 3 percent after reporting second-quarter losses.

Kingfisher needs to raise to raise about 10 billion rupees in fresh equity for banks to start lending to it again, State Bank of India Managing Director Hemant Contractor said today in Mumbai.

The bank is the biggest Kingfisher shareholder not tied to Mallya, according to data compiled by Bloomberg, after it led a group of 13 lenders that agreed to convert debt to equity earlier in the year. The airline is in talks with banks about higher lending caps, it said Nov. 11.

Mallya said on his Twitter feed that Kingfisher hasn’t sought a state bailout after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told reporters Nov. 12 that the government may look to help the carrier. Singh didn’t elaborate on what assistance could be given, according to Press Trust of India.

“No bail out involving tax payers money,” said Mallya, who is also a lawmaker in the upper house of the parliament. We “want working capital management assistance.”

Government Action

The finance ministry may ask lenders to help Kingfisher recast debt and the oil ministry may extend credit for fuel to airlines, Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi said last week. He said that Kingfisher had approached the government for assistance.

The airline said last week that it cut flights by 40 a day to 300 as it changes seating in planes as part of a turnaround plan following three years of losses. The carrier is halting low-cost services and scrapping unprofitable routes, it said.

The company is complying with vendors’ credit and payment terms, and it doesn’t see “any risk to its future or long-term viability,” it said Nov. 11. It also said that staff had paid a few days late for the last two or three months.

http://www.bloomberg.com

No comments:

Post a Comment