BANGKOK, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Thai AirAsia's parent firm, Asia Aviation Pcl (AAV) AAV.BK on Wednesday said it is seeking to raise 14 billion baht ($419.29 million) as part of restructuring to prepare for a regional travel restart.
"As we gear up and ready ourselves for travel resumption post-COVID, necessary changes are required for our capital raising and revenue management strategy," AAV Executive Chairman Tassapon Bijleveld said on Wednesday.
Shares of AAV, which owns 55% of Thai AirAsia, fell over 7% on the announcement before recovering to a 3% decline on the Thai bourse, against an index gain of 0.4% .SETI .
Malaysia's AirAsia Group Bhd AIRA.BK owns the remaining stake in Thai AirAsia.
AAV said it would issue convertible bonds and new shares worth 14 billion baht and aims to hold all shares in Thai AirAsia and boost the airline's liquidity.
The announcement comes ahead of re-opening plans
that would allow vaccinated arrivals from five countries including Britain and Singapore to skip quarantine from November.
"We are also looking forward to recommencing our key international routes in the near future in light of the Thai government's country reopening plan," Tassapon said, adding that he expects domestic operations to return to 100% by January.
The restructuring, expected to conclude in the first quarter of next year, includes new shares worth 8.8 billion baht in a private placement to AirAsia Group, plus six high net-worth Thai investors, including Palin Lojanagosin, owner of advertising firm, Plan B Media Pcl PLANB.BK , according to the filing.
Bangkok Bank Pcl BBL.BK and a fund managed by Morgan Stanley MS.N will be offered 2.2 billion in convertible bonds and new shares worth 3 billion baht will be offered to existing shareholders.
Earlier this year, seven Thai carriers, including Thai AirAsia, asked
the government for soft-loans worth 5 billion baht for support.
($1 = 33.3900 baht)
(Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing by Martin Petty)
((chayut.setboonsarng@tr.com, Twitter: @ChayutSet; +66854849033;))