Gordhan offers the details of SAA going into business rescue from today

In a statement on Thursday, Public Enterprises Minister outlined the plan for struggling national airline SAA’s business rescue.

Gordhan said the board had adopted a resolution to place the company into business rescue, which had been supported by government.

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“This is the optimal mechanism to restore confidence in SAA and to safeguard the good assets of SAA and help to restructure and reposition the entity into one that is stronger, more sustainable and able to grow and attract an equity partner.

“Our desire is that the restructured airline will mark the beginning of a new era in South African aviation and must be able to bring in millions more tourists into SA; help create more jobs in tourism and related sectors of the economy and work with other African airlines to underpin and service the integration of African markets and improve dramatically intra-African trade and travel.

“It is also important that the reliance on government finances be reduced as soon as possible and to minimise disruption to SAA services, customers, staff and other stakeholders.”

He said that business rescue was a well-defined process that would allow SAA to continue operating in an orderly and safe manner and keep its planes and passengers flying under the direction of a business rescue practitioner.

During the process it is hoped that the following will come about, in Gordhan’s words:

1. Existing lenders to SAA will provide R2 billion as post-commencement finance (PCF) guaranteed by government and repayable out of future budget appropriations in order for the business rescue process to commence and to enable SAA to continue to operate.
2. Government, though National Treasury, will provide an additional R2 billion of PCF in a fiscally neutral manner.
3. The prevention of a disorderly collapse of the airline, with a negative impact on passengers, suppliers and other partners in the aviation sector in SA.
4. The full recovery of capital and interest on existing debt provided to SAA by existing lenders that is the subject of existing government guarantees will not be impacted by business rescue.
5. It will provide an opportunity to critically review the cost structure of the airline, while simultaneously attempting to retain as many jobs as possible. This reality was clearly understood in the recent wage negotiation process between the unions and the company.
6. This approach also provides a structured opportunity to reorganise the state aviation assets​ ​in a way in which they are better positioned to be sustainable and attractive to an investment partner.

“It must be clear that this is not a bailout. This is the provision of financial assistance in order to facilitate a radical restructure of the airline.”

He said a business rescue practitioner would be chosen to take charge of the business and perform the function of operating the airline with the assistance of management. The practitioner would also undertake such rationalisations as were necessary.

This means that government, as the shareholder, will not be able to interfere any more.

“This set of actions should provide confidence to customers of SAA to continue to use the airline because there will not be any unplanned stoppages of flights or cancellation of flights without proper notice should that be necessary.

“The Department of Public Enterprise will also meet on an urgent basis with the business rescue practitioner, all the unions concerned and other stakeholders, in order to create a positive set of relationships and processes, which will ensure that there is a collective approach and optimal consensus on the direction of this company.

“We thank the South African Public, customers and suppliers of SAA for their understanding and patience during this difficult time.

“This initiative demonstrates that government will undertake the necessary bold steps in order to reposition its assets in such a way that they do not continue to depend on the fiscus and thereby burden taxpayers.”

He said the legal documentation was in the course of finalisation.