Covid Corporate Financing Facility & RCF drawdown

RNS Number : 9291I

easyJet PLC

06 April 2020

 

6 April 2020

easyJet plc

('easyJet')

easyJet Statement - Covid Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF)

and RCF drawdown

This announcement contains inside information. 

easyJet continues to focus on maximising liquidity in the event of an extended grounding period.  To that effect easyJet has been successful in its issuance of £600m of Commercial Paper through the Covid Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF).

easyJet has also issued today a utilisation request to fully draw down on its $500m Revolving Credit Facility, secured against aircraft assets.

As a result of this, by April 9, easyJet is expected to have access to cash reserves of c.£2.3bn. 

Given the possibility of a prolonged grounding easyJet will continue to consider further liquidity and funding options.

easyJet and BALPA have collaboratively reached an agreement on furlough arrangements for its pilots. The agreement will be effective from 1 April 2020.  Last week easyJet announced it had reached an agreement on furlough arrangements for its cabin crew and training instructors.  That agreement was also effective from 1 April 2020. 

Following the FCA's recent update on reporting guidelines, easyJet will release a trading update in the second half of April and a half year results announcement on 30 June 2020.

Johan Lundgren, easyJet CEO said:

"We remain absolutely focused on ensuring the long-term future of the airline, reducing our costs and preserving jobs, to make sure easyJet is in the best position to resume flying once the pandemic is over.  We are pleased that we have now reached agreement with both Unite and BALPA regarding furlough arrangements for UK-based easyJet pilots and crew."

"Our current priority is to safeguard short term liquidity, so we have borrowed from the CCFF and drawn down on our Revolving Credit Facility in order to increase our liquidity in the event of a prolonged grounding of the fleet. 

"The CCFF provides businesses with access to funds at the commercial rates which were available before the coronavirus crisis and any UK company that had an investment grade rating before the crisis can apply for this funding."

For further details please contact easyJet plc:

Institutional investors and analysts:

Michael Barker Investor Relations  [phone]

Holly Grainger   Investor Relations  [phone]

Media:

Anna Knowles  Corporate Communications [phone]

Edward Simpkins  Finsbury   [phone] / (0)207 251 3801

 

END

 

 

MSCIFMTTMTBMBRM