Frontier Airlines to be bought by Republic Airways under bankruptcy plan

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http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2009/06/22/daily13.html

Sacramento Business Journal - June 22, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009, 4:29pm PDT
Frontier Airlines to be bought by Republic Airways under bankruptcy plan

Frontier Airlines would become a subsidiary of Republic Airways under
a bankruptcy reorganization plan announced Monday afternoon.

Denver-based Frontier, which is operating under Chapter 11 protection,
said it has entered into an investment agreement with
Indianapolis-based Republic Airways Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: RJET), one
of its creditors, under which Republic would serve as equity sponsor
for Frontier=92s plan of reorganization and purchase 100 percent of
Frontier=92s equity for $108.75 million.

The agreement is subject to bankruptcy court approval and various condition=
s.

Frontier said that under the plan, Frontier Airlines Holdings Inc.
would become a wholly owned subsidiary of Republic, an airline holding
company that owns Chautauqua Airlines, Republic Airlines and Shuttle
America.

It said that Frontier Airlines and its short-haul unit, Lynx Aviation,
would keep their current names and operate as they do now.

Frontier, which had been one of the top 10 carriers at Sacramento
International Airport, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in
April 2008.

Monday, Frontier filed its proposed plan of reorganization and related
documents with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York.

It also said it filed a motion for the court to approve the investment
agreement with Republic, =93subject to higher and better proposals under
a court-supervised auction.=94

A hearing on the proposed transaction is set for July 13.

Frontier=92s reorganization plan calls for general unsecured creditors
to get $28.75 million.

It said an additional $40 million of the sale proceeds would repay
outstanding =93debtor-in-possession=94 financing from Republic Airways
Holdings.

If approved by the bankruptcy court, Frontier=92s current equity =93would
be extinguished and holders of that equity would not receive any
recovery,=94 the airline=92s statement said.

=93This agreement represents a major milestone in our ongoing efforts to
position Frontier to emerge from bankruptcy as a competitive,
sustainable airline,=94 Sean Menke, Frontier president/CEO, said in a
statement.

He said Frontier management is =93pleased that this agreement allows our
customers and communities to continue to receive the outstanding
service for which Frontier is known, while preserving the jobs of most
Frontier employees.=94

Staff cuts, if any, were not announced.

=93We believe this agreement represents a new beginning for Frontier,
positioning it to build on its recent successes and strengthen the
Frontier brand for the benefit of employees and the customers and
communities it serves,=94 Bryan Bedford, chairman, president and CEO of
Republic Airways, said in the statement.

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