Jet Airways approves rescue deal to plug $1.2 billion gap

By Tanvi Mehta

NEW DELHI/BENGALURU (Reuters) - India's Jet Airways said on Thursday its board had approved a rescue deal which will make its lenders its largest shareholders and fix a near 85 billion rupee ($1.2 billion) funding gap.

With debts of more than $1 billion, Jet has struggled over the last year as competition intensified, the Indian rupee depreciated and high oil prices hurt margins.

The airline said in a regulatory filing that its board has approved the rescue deal by the lenders, led by State Bank of India, which includes an equity infusion, debt restructuring and the sale or sale and lease back of aircraft.

Vinay Dube, Jet's Chief Executive Officer, said the airline is confident of delivering a "more strategic, efficient and financially viable airline" through the plan.

The plan will also need regulatory approval from the Securities & Exchange Board of India, India's Ministry of Civil Aviation, and the Competition Commission of India, Jet said.

It did not mention any cash injections from existing shareholders such as founder and chairman Naresh Goyal and Etihad Airways, which owns 24 percent of Jet.

The airline reported a fourth consecutive quarterly loss on Thursday as it sought to allay concerns of its aircraft lessors, employees and other creditors with the plan, which must be approved at a shareholder meeting on Feb. 21.

Jet reported a net loss of 5.88 billion rupees ($83 million) for the three months ended Dec. 31, compared with a profit of 1.65 billion rupees a year earlier.

The airline has outstanding dues of about $400 million, mainly to lessors and vendors, as well as debt repayments starting with roughly 17 billion rupees due by end-March, credit-ratings firm ICRA says.

It also owes money to staff and had net debt of more than 80 billion rupees as of end-September.

At the special meeting, Jet will seek approval to convert lenders' debt into 114 million shares. The rescue plan also gives lenders the right to appoint nominees to the airline's board and alter its governance structures.

Abu Dhabi's Etihad saved the Indian airline the last time it was in trouble, spending $600 million for a stake in the airline, three take-off and landing slots at London Heathrow and a majority share in Jet's frequent flyer programme.

($1 = 71.1580 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Tanvi Mehta in Bengaluru and Aditi Shah in New Delhi; Editing by Sayantani Ghosh, Susan Fenton, Jan Harvey and Alexander Smith)