Gogo Announces
Convertible Debt Exchange and Begins Refinancing
Process
April 1, 2021
Gogo Inc. announced a
convertible debt exchange and the beginning of a
refinancing process, marking significant
progress in its efforts to complete a
comprehensive refinancing. Under the exchange
agreement (the "Agreement"), GTCR, a leading
private equity firm, will convert all of its
$105.7 million principal amount of Gogo's 6.0%
Convertible Senior Notes due 2022 (the "Notes")
into shares of Gogo's common stock. In addition,
on March 30, 2021, Gogo appointed Mark Anderson,
Managing Director at GTCR, to the Company's
Board of Directors.
Pursuant to the Agreement,
GTCR will receive 19.1 million shares of Gogo
common stock, based on a conversion premium of
4% plus remaining unpaid interest payments on
the Notes through maturity, bringing its total
ownership to 28.6% of Gogo's shares outstanding.
GTCR will also receive customary registration
rights. Upon completion of the equitization,
which is expected to occur by mid-April, Gogo
will have 111.1 million shares of common stock
outstanding and total debt of approximately
$1.078 billion, a reduction of $135 million from
total debt at December 31, 2020 as a result of
the Agreement with GTCR and prior convertible
note exchanges that Gogo executed in 2021. Gogo
had approximately $455 million of cash-on-hand
as of March 31, 2021.
Gogo also announced today
it has begun a process to refinance and replace
its $975 million outstanding 2024 Senior Secured
Notes and $30 million undrawn asset-based
facility.
"These two important steps
accelerate Gogo's progress in lowering our
leverage ratio and interest expense, and
creating greater overall financial flexibility,"
commented Oakleigh Thorne, Gogo's Chairman and
CEO. "As an agile, focused company with a
stronger balance sheet, Gogo will be
well-positioned to capitalize on the market
opportunity in front of us and drive sustainable
shareholder value."
Thorne continued, "GTCR has
been a strong supporter of our strategy and we
welcome their ongoing partnership. I look
forward to working closely with Mark, and the
rest of the Gogo Board, as we execute on our
shared vision to drive lasting success."
Mark Anderson commented,
"Gogo is uniquely positioned to win in the
attractive Business Aviation market. Our
increased equity investment is a testament to
our confidence in the company's long-term
strategic plan and I look forward to
collaborating with the rest of the Board as Gogo
continues to execute that plan and deliver
value."
Mr. Anderson joined GTCR in
2000 and is a Managing Director of the firm. He
currently serves on the Board of Directors of
other GTCR portfolio companies, including
CommerceHub, Jet Support Services Inc. and Vivid
Seats. Mr. Anderson also previously served on
the Board of Directors of Landmark Aviation and
Camp Systems, both prior GTCR portfolio
investments that served the business aviation
market. Before joining GTCR, Mr. Anderson worked
at Gracie Capital and at Bowles Hollowell Conner
& Co. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business
School and a BS from the McIntire School of
Commerce at the University of Virginia.