CHICAGO,
May 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- UAL Corporation (Nasdaq: UAUA),
the holding company whose primary subsidiary is United Airlines, today
announced that with the approval of its lenders it has amended its existing
$1.5 billion Amended and Restated Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Guaranty
Agreement dated as of
February 2, 2007 with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,
Citicorp USA, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Citigroup Global Markets,
Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (
USA) LLC and the other lenders party thereto
("Credit Facility").
"This amendment gives us the flexibility to implement the significant
actions we are taking to combat higher fuel costs including reducing capacity,
creating new streams of revenue and lowering our costs," said Jake Brace,
executive vice president and CFO. "We are comfortable with our liquidity and
are well positioned relative to peers with $2.9 billion in unrestricted cash
and $3.0 billion in unencumbered assets."
After the May amendment, the company is required to comply with the
following financial covenants:
The company must maintain a specified minimum ratio of EBITDAR to the sum
of the following fixed charges for all applicable periods: (a) cash interest
expense and (b) cash aircraft operating rental expense. EBITDAR represents
earnings before interest expense net of interest income, income taxes,
depreciation, amortization, aircraft rent and certain cash and non-cash
charges as further defined by the Credit Facility.
The requirement to meet the above fixed charge coverage ratio is suspended
for four quarters, beginning with the second quarter of 2008, and ending with
the first quarter of 2009. Starting with the second quarter of 2009, the ratio
will be determined as set forth below:
Number of Preceding Required
Months Covered Period Ending Coverage Ratio
Three June 30, 2009 1.0 to 1.0
Six September 30, 2009 1.1 to 1.0
Nine December 31, 2009 1.2 to 1.0
Twelve March 31, 2010 1.3 to 1.0
Twelve June 30, 2010 1.4 to 1.0
Twelve September 30, 2010 1.5 to 1.0
(and each quarter ending thereafter)
The company must also maintain a minimum unrestricted cash balance of $1.0
billion, an increase of $250 million over what was previously required. This
is effective beginning the second quarter of 2008 and for all periods
thereafter.
All other provisions of the Credit Facility remain unchanged.
These amendments will provide United with more financial flexibility as it
implements its action plan to combat high fuel costs.
As of March 31, 2008, the company had approximately $2.9 billion in
unrestricted cash and approximately $3.0 billion in unencumbered hard assets
which it believes it could use to raise financing and enhance liquidity.
About United
United Airlines (Nasdaq: UAUA) operates more than 3,200* flights a day on
United, United Express and Ted to more than 200 U.S. domestic and
international destinations from its hubs in Los Angeles, San Francisco,
Denver, Chicago and Washington, D.C. With key global air rights in the
Asia-Pacific region, Europe and Latin America, United is one of the largest
international carriers based in the United States. United also is a founding
member of Star Alliance, which provides connections for our customers to 965
destinations in 162 countries worldwide. United's 55,000 employees reside in
every U.S. state and in many countries around the world. News releases and
other information about United can be found at the company's Web site at
united.com.
* Based on United's flight schedule between Jan. 1, 2008 and Dec. 31,
2008.
The information included in this press release contains certain statements
that are "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are subject to a
number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties related to the Company's
operations and the business environment in which it operates. Actual results
may differ materially from any future results expressed or implied in such
Forward-Looking Statements due to numerous factors, many of which are beyond
the Company's control, including factors set forth in the Company's Form 10-K
for 2006 and other subsequent Company reports filed with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission. Persons reviewing this press release are
cautioned that the Forward-Looking Statements speak only as of the date made
and are not guarantees of future performance. The Company undertakes no
obligation to update any Forward-Looking Statements.