SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
November 6, 2000
CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 0-09781 74-2099724
(State or other (Commission (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of File Number) Identification No.)
incorporation)
1600 Smith, HQSEO, Houston, Texas 77002
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(713) 324-2950
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Item 5. Other Events.
On November 6, 2000, Continental Airlines, Inc. (the "Company") and Northwest Airlines issued a joint press release announcing that they had reached an agreement in principle regarding the recapitalization of the Company's Class A common stock, the repurchase by the Company of certain Class A common stock of the Company owned by Northwest and related matters as part of a proposal to settle Civil Action No. 98-74611 (United States of America v. Northwest Airlines Corp. and Continental Airlines, Inc.).
The press release, the Agreement in Principle and the related Class A Recapitalization Term Sheet are filed as exhibits to this report.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits
- Press Release
- Agreement in Principle
- Class A Recapitalization Term Sheet
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Continental Airlines, Inc. has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, INC.
By /s/ Jeffery A. Smisek
Jeffery A. Smisek
Executive Vice President and
General Counsel
November 6, 2000
EXHIBIT INDEX
- Press Release
- Agreement in Principle
- Class A Recapitalization Term Sheet
Exhibit 99.1
Continental Airlines contact: Northwest Airlines contact:
Corporate Communications Corporate Communications
713-324-5080 612-727-4284
CONTINENTAL, NORTHWEST REACH AGREEMENT
IN PRINCIPLE ON STOCK REPURCHASE
Airlines to seek delay in DOJ case to permit definitive agreement to be concluded.
HOUSTON and MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL, Nov. 6, 2000 -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL and CAL.A) and Northwest Airlines (NASDAQ: NWAC) today announced that the two airlines have reached an agreement in principle regarding the sale to Continental of its common stock held by Northwest Airlines. The two airlines, which are defendants in an ongoing suit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice concerning the 1998 stock purchase, plan to jointly petition U.S. District Court Judge Denise Page Hood for a seven day delay in the court proceeding to allow the two airlines to conclude definitive agreements. A final agreement is subject to the approval of the boards of Northwest and Continental, the Department of Justice and certain third parties.
The repurchase of Northwest's interest in Continental will be part of a recapitalization of Continental, whereby each outstanding share of Continental Class A
common stock will be reclassified into 1.32 shares of Continental Class B common stock.
In connection with the transaction, Continental will repurchase from Northwest
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CO/NW REACH AGREEMENT/PAGE 2
approximately 6.69 million Continental Class A shares for $450 million in cash, and
Northwest will retain approximately 2.6 million shares of Continental Class B common stock after the recapitalization.
The alliance agreement between Continental and Northwest will be amended and its term extended through 2025, and in connection with that amendment, Continental will issue to Northwest a special series of preferred stock. That preferred stock will give Northwest the right to block certain business combinations and similar change of control transactions involving Continental and a third party major air carrier during the term of the alliance agreement, subject to redemption by Continental of the preferred stock upon certain events, including upon a change of control of Northwest. The current governance agreements between Northwest and Continental that contain the restrictions on Northwest's rights to vote its Continental Class A common stock will be terminated in connection with the transactions. As part of the transactions, Continental has obtained a waiver of a right of first offer with respect to the Continental shares owned by Northwest, conditional on the closing of the transactions.
The parties anticipate that the transactions contemplated by their agreement in
principle will close approximately two months after the parties sign definitive agreements, which they anticipate executing within one week of today's announcement. The transactions are expected to be subject to certain conditions, including the settlement
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CO/NW REACH AGREEMENT/PAGE 3
of the current litigation by the United States against Northwest and Continental relating to Northwest's ownership interest in Continental.
"Continental has always valued Northwest as a strong alliance partner," said Continental Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Gordon Bethune. "Putting this divisive issue behind us will allow both parties to focus their energies on an alliance that benefits consumers, shareholders and our employees for many years to come."
"Our two objectives regarding Continental have always been to build a successful alliance and to insure the independence of Continental," said John Dasburg, Northwest president and CEO. "We believe we have a means to accomplish those two goals, while at the same time recouping our investment. The issues that bring Northwest and Continental together are far stronger and more compelling than those that divided us on this issue. We have a great partner in Continental and because of that our alliance is good for consumers, good for competition and good for the industry."
Mr. Bethune and Mr. Dasburg expressed their gratitude to Judge Hood for her efforts to resolve this litigation.
Safe Harbor
Statements in this news release which are not purely historical facts, including statements regarding our beliefs, expectations, intentions or strategies for the future, may be "forward-looking statements" under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that
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CO/NW REACH AGREEMENT/PAGE 4
could cause actual results to differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations
reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Information with respect to the factors and events that could cause these differences is contained in the Companies'
Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including the Companies' Annual Report or Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise
after the date of this release.
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EXHIBIT 99.2
AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE
Continental Airlines, Inc. ("Continental") and Northwest Airlines Corporation, Northwest Airlines Holdings Corporation and Northwest Airlines, Inc. (collectively, "Northwest") intend to negotiate definitive agreements (the "Definitive Agreements") governing the transactions contemplated by the attached Class A Recapitalization Term Sheet (the "Term Sheet").
- Continental and Northwest (together, the "Parties") will use their reasonable best efforts to negotiate, execute and deliver the Definitive Agreements on or before November 13, 2000, and to take the additional actions and obtain the consents and waivers described in the Term Sheet to be taken or obtained on or before the execution of the Definitive Agreements.
- Northwest hereby irrevocably waives its pre-emptive rights contained in the Amended and Restated Governance Agreement dated as of February 8, 2000 with respect to the issuance by Continental of Class B common stock (or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class B common stock) in a public or private offering up to a maximum amount of net proceeds to Continental of $300,000,000. However, if no Definitive Agreements are entered into or the Definitive Agreements are terminated without consummation of the transactions described therein, a mechanism will be established to provide Northwest with the pre-emptive rights it would have otherwise had with respect to such issuance, although exercisable on a deferred basis following such termination.
- Continental and Northwest agree that they will support an adjournment of the trial of Civil Action No. 98-74611 (United States of America v. Northwest Airlines Corp. and Continental Airlines, Inc.) until November 14, 2000, pending execution and delivery by Continental and Northwest of such Definitive Agreements. Continental and Northwest agree that, if for any reason, such Definitive Agreements are not executed and delivered by the parties thereto by November 13, 2000, each of Continental and Northwest will request to the Court that trial in Civil Action No. 98-74611 recommence on Tuesday, November 14, 2000.
- Each party shall be responsible for the payment of costs and expenses incurred by it or on its behalf in connection with the proposed transactions described in the Term Sheet.
- This Agreement in Principle shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
- The Parties agree that, except for the provisions of Sections 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of this Agreement in Principle (which are intended to be binding), the provisions hereof and in the Term Sheet are not intended to be binding and no Party shall incur any liability to any other Party or any other person in respect of Section 1 of this Agreement in Principle or the Term Sheet, including upon the failure of the Parties to enter into the Definitive Agreements.
This Agreement in Principle is executed and dated as of November 5, 2000.
CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, INC.
By:____________________________
NORTHWEST AIRLINES CORPORATION
By:____________________________
NORTHWEST AIRLINES HOLDINGS CORPORATION
By:____________________________
NORTHWEST AIRLINES, INC.
By:____________________________
Exhibit 99.3
Class A Recapitalization Term Sheet
- Charter Amendment - The charter of Continental Airlines, Inc. (together with its affiliates, "CO") will be amended by requisite stockholder vote to recapitalize Class A common stock as described in Section 2 below, to eliminate all references to Class A and Class D common stock and related provisions, to redesignate the Class B common stock as "common stock", to effect the Rights Plan charter provision discussed below and to eliminate all special rights of Air Partners. Required vote for the recapitalization is vote of Class A, voting as a separate class, and vote of Class A and Class B, voting together as a single class. Northwest Airlines Corporation (together with its affiliates, "NW") will agree to vote all Class A common stock owned by NW in favor of the recapitalization and charter amendment. The recapitalization and charter amendment will be effective (the "Effective Time") immediately after the closing of the Repurchase described below.
- Recapitalization - Each share of Class A common stock outstanding at the Effective Time will be reclassified, by charter amendment, into 1.32 shares of CO common stock.
- Repurchase - Immediately prior to the Effective Time, CO will purchase from NW and NW will sell to CO, for $450 million in cash, 6,685,279 shares of CO Class A common stock then owned by NW (the "Repurchase"). The closing of the Repurchase will be conditioned on CO having received a minimum of $200 million in net proceeds from a sale of its equity securities (as to which sale NW shall waive any applicable pre-emptive rights under the Governance Agreement). At the Effective Time, the remaining 1,975,945 shares of CO Class A common stock held by NW will be reclassified into 2,608,247 shares of CO common stock. NW will be entitled to use its existing registration rights with respect to such CO common stock (and the existing agreement shall be amended to specifically include NW's 2,608,247 shares of CO common stock and to not terminate if NW's ownership is greater than 500,000 shares of CO common stock), and CO will provide reasonable assistance to NW if NW wishes at some future time to sell such CO common stock in a secondary public offering.
- Master Alliance Agreement -
- Term . The Master Alliance Agreement will be amended to extend its term until the end of the year 2025, with automatic 5 year renewals thereafter unless either party gives three years' advance notice of non-renewal.
- Issuance of Series B Preferred Stock . As an inducement to Northwest's agreeing to the recapitalization and Repurchase and in connection with the amendment to the Master Alliance Agreement, CO will issue to NW one share of Series B Preferred Stock (as described below) for a consideration of $100 in cash.
- Additional Termination Rights .
(a) In the event of a NW Change of Control, each of CO and NW shall have the right to terminate the Master Alliance Agreement on 6 months' prior written notice, without liability or penalty to the other party.
- In the event of a CO Change of Control, NW shall have the right to terminate the Master Alliance Agreement on 6 months' prior written notice, without liability or penalty to CO. In the event of a CO Change of Control, and (I) NW shall have the voting rights described in Section 5(i) below and shall vote its Series B Preferred Stock in favor of such CO Change of Control (or vote its Series B Preferred Stock in favor of the amendment of the Revised Rights Plan described below or the redemption of outstanding rights thereunder to permit such CO Change of Control), (II) the Series B Preferred Stock has become redeemable or has been redeemed or otherwise acquired by CO other than as a result of a final and non-appealable court order, or (III) the Series B Preferred Stock has become redeemable or has been redeemed or otherwise acquired by CO as a result of a final and non-appealable court order and one or more of the events referred to in Section 5(v)(b), 5(v)(c) or 5(v)(d) has occurred, then in any such event CO shall have the right to terminate the Master Alliance Agreement on 6 months' prior written notice, without liability or penalty to NW.
- In the event that CO has the right to redeem the Series B Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 5(v)(a) or 5(v)(c) below, then CO shall have the right to terminate the Master Alliance Agreement on 6 months' prior written notice, without liability or penalty to NW.
- For purposes of this term sheet, a "Change of Control" with respect to either NW or CO shall mean any merger, reorganization, share exchange, consolidation, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction involving NW or CO, or any sale or disposition of all or substantially all of NW's or CO's airline assets on a consolidated basis, involving, or the acquisition of beneficial ownership of 25% or more of the equity securities or voting power of NW or CO by, a third-party air carrier or carriers with annual passenger revenues in any such carrier's most recently completed fiscal year in excess of $1 billion, or an affiliate of any such third-party air carrier(s), or the execution of definitive agreements in respect of any such transaction.
- Series B Preferred Stock - The Series B Preferred Stock will be created by the CO board pursuant to a certificate of designations and will have the following rights, powers and preferences:
- Vote on Change of Control Transactions - Subject to Section 5(iii) below, the Series B Preferred Stock will have a separate class vote (A) in any required vote of CO's stockholders with respect to any CO Change of Control, or (B) on any dividend or distribution of all or substantially all of CO's airline assets. See Section 5(viii) for a vote regarding transfers of all or substantially all of CO's airline assets to one or more of its affiliates and Section 7 for a vote regarding certain amendments or redemptions of rights under the Revised Rights Plan.
- Vote on Other Matters - Except as described in Sections 5(i), 5(viii) and 7 or as otherwise required by applicable law, the Series B Preferred Stock will not vote on any other matter, other than a change to the terms of the Series B Preferred Stock that adversely affects the rights of the holders of Series B Preferred Stock, whether effected by merger, charter amendment or otherwise, with any such change to such terms requiring the affirmative separate class vote of the Series B Preferred Stock.
- Termination of Voting Rights - If the Series B Preferred Stock becomes redeemable, then the voting rights described in Sections 5(i), 5(viii) and 7 will automatically terminate, and the stock will have no voting rights, other than in respect of a charter amendment adversely affecting the rights of the holders of Series B Preferred Stock or as otherwise required by applicable law.
- Dividends - The Series B Preferred Stock will pay no dividends.
(v) Redemption - The Series B Preferred Stock will be redeemable at the option of CO for an amount equal to its liquidation preference at any time (a) if the Series B Preferred Stock is transferred or encumbered except as contemplated by Section 5(ix), (b) after a Change of Control of NW, (c) if NW materially breaches the Standstill Agreement (as described below), subject to the ability to cure inadvertent breaches within a reasonable period of time, or triggers the Revised Rights Plan (as described below), or (d) if the Master Alliance Agreement (as amended as described above) between CO and NW terminates or expires, other than as a result of a breach or wrongful termination thereof by CO.
(vi) Liquidation Preference - The liquidation preference of the Series B Preferred Stock will be $100.
- Authorized Number of Shares - The authorized number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be one.
- Certain Transfers of Assets - CO will not transfer all or substantially all of its airline assets to one or more affiliates without the vote of the Series B Preferred Stock, voting as a separate class, unless a "mirror image" Series B Preferred Stock is issued by such affiliate(s) to NW, and if a new parent company is created, the Series B Preferred Stock must exist at the holding company as well as at the subsidiaries, and the Revised Rights Plan must exist at the holding company and at any subsidiaries that are publicly held.
- Transfer Restrictions - NW may not transfer or encumber (including by granting any proxy) the Series B Preferred Stock except that NW may transfer the Series B Preferred Stock by operation of law to the successor of NW.
- Standstill Agreement