KUALA LUMPUR: Capital A Bhd, the investment holding company of AirAsia, airasia MOVE (formerly known as airasia Superapp), logistics venture Teleport, and Capital A aviation services group, announced today that it has entered into a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Aetherium Acquisition Corp, a Special Purpose Acquisition Company listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange, for a proposed business combination merger with Capital A International, to be incorporated.
The proposed business combination would result in Capital A International, a new investment and strategic development company that leverages the AirAsia brand and capitalises on core capabilities in aviation, travel and hospitality and digital technologies, becoming a standalone publicly traded company in the US. With 100% equity interest in AirAsia Brand and Leasing, Capital A International intends to generate revenue from brand royalty and the leasing of aircraft. Additionally, it will be involved in tactical acquisition, incubation and partnerships to provide platforms for entrepreneurs.
The proposed business combination will be at an indicative equity value of US$1 billion based on an independent valuation of the AirAsia Brand.
“This is a coming-of-age moment for Capital A, which has morphed from AirAsia into a low-cost, value driven aviation and travel services group in five entities, the first of which that’s coming to the public market would be Capital A International. We are confident that the exposure of the US financial markets and Nasdaq listing would help us accelerate the delivery of our strategy as we improve access to capital, broaden our shareholder base and meaningfully raise our profile globally,” said Capital A CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes in a statement.
“Our proposed business combination with Aetherium serves as a testament to the growth opportunity ahead. The Asean region in recent years has emerged as one of the world’s most dynamic and fastest growing economic hubs. Yet, there are limited vehicles for which global investors can participate in the vibrancy of this pivotal market. Leveraging the strength and reach of the AirAsia brand, Capital A International will offer an exceptional opportunity to harness the investment potential of the region.”
“This new entity will present investors with the opportunity to tap into the growth of the Asean region with a high-quality profitable asset and exceptional management team. We look forward to finalising the business combination agreement in the weeks to come,” said Aetherium Acquisition Corp CEO Jonathan Chan.
Under the terms of the LOI, Capital A plans to divest all issued and outstanding share capital of Capital A International.
A detailed announcement will be made upon the signing of a definitive agreement.
