ATSG Announces Expiration of “Go-Shop” Period

Rhea-AI Summary

Air Transport Services Group (NASDAQ:ATSG) announced the completion of its 35-day 'go-shop' period related to its previously announced merger agreement with Stonepeak. Under the agreement, Stonepeak will acquire ATSG for $22.50 per share in cash. During the go-shop period, which ended at 11:59 p.m. ET on December 8, 2024, ATSG had the right to solicit alternative takeover proposals but received none.

The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2025, subject to ATSG shareholder approval and regulatory clearances. Goldman Sachs is serving as ATSG's exclusive financial advisor, while Evercore is advising Stonepeak.

Positive

• Definitive merger agreement with Stonepeak at $22.50 per share in cash
• Clear path to transaction completion with no competing bids during go-shop period

Negative

• None.

Insights

Financial Analyst

The expiration of the go-shop period without alternative offers strengthens the certainty of Stonepeak's $22.50 per share acquisition of ATSG. This development is significant as it effectively locks in the deal value at a 30% premium to ATSG's previous trading price. The absence of competing bids during the go-shop period suggests the market views Stonepeak's offer as fair value for ATSG's assets and operations. With major financial advisors Goldman Sachs and Evercore involved, the transaction appears well-structured. The key remaining hurdles are shareholder approval and regulatory clearance, though these are standard procedures. Investors should note that the extended timeline to H1 2025 closure indicates potential regulatory complexity in the aviation sector.

Legal Expert

The expiration of the go-shop provision without competing offers streamlines the path toward deal completion. This development reduces legal complexity and litigation risk that often arise from competing bids. The involvement of multiple top-tier law firms - Davis Polk, Vorys, Simpson Thacher and Hogan Lovells - indicates thorough due diligence and robust deal structuring. The timeline to H1 2025 suggests anticipation of detailed regulatory review, likely including antitrust considerations and potential foreign investment scrutiny given ATSG's critical infrastructure role in air cargo. Shareholder approval remains a key milestone, but the premium pricing and clean go-shop process strengthen the board's position in demonstrating fair dealing.

Transaction Is Expected to Close in the First Half of 2025

WILMINGTON, Ohio & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Air Transport Services Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATSG), a global leader in medium widebody freighter aircraft leasing, air transport operations, and support services, today announced the expiration of the 35-day “go-shop” period under the terms of the previously announced definitive merger agreement, pursuant to which Stonepeak, a leading alternative investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets, will acquire ATSG for $22.50 per share in cash. The “go-shop” period expired at 11:59 p.m. ET on December 8, 2024.

Pursuant to the definitive merger agreement, ATSG and its representatives had the right to solicit and consider takeover proposals from third parties during the “go-shop” period. ATSG did not receive any alternative takeover proposals from any third party during the “go-shop” period.

The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions, including approval of ATSG’s shareholders and receipt of regulatory approvals.

Advisors

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is acting as exclusive financial advisor to ATSG. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP and Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease LLP are acting as legal counsel to ATSG.

Evercore is acting as financial advisor to Stonepeak. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP and Hogan Lovells US LLP are acting as legal counsel to Stonepeak.

About Air Transport Services Group

Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) is a premier provider of aircraft leasing and cargo and passenger air transportation solutions for both domestic and international air carriers, as well as companies seeking outsourced airlift services. ATSG is the global leader in freighter aircraft leasing with a fleet that includes Boeing 767, Airbus A321, and soon, Airbus A330 converted freighters. ATSG's unique Lease+Plus aircraft leasing opportunity draws upon a diverse portfolio of subsidiaries including three airlines holding separate and distinct U.S. FAA Part 121 Air Carrier certificates to provide air cargo lift, and passenger ACMI and charter services. Complementary services from ATSG's other subsidiaries allow the integration of aircraft maintenance, airport ground services, and material handling equipment engineering and service. ATSG subsidiaries comprise ABX Air, Inc.; Airborne Global Solutions, Inc.; Airborne Maintenance and Engineering Services, Inc., including its subsidiary, Pemco World Air Services, Inc.; Air Transport International, Inc.; Cargo Aircraft Management, Inc.; LGSTX Services, Inc.; and Omni Air International, LLC. For further details, please visit www.atsginc.com.

About Stonepeak

Stonepeak is a leading alternative investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets with approximately $70 billion of assets under management. Through its investment in defensive, hard-asset businesses globally, Stonepeak aims to create value for its investors and portfolio companies, with a focus on downside protection and strong risk-adjusted returns. Stonepeak, as sponsor of private equity and credit investment vehicles, provides capital, operational support, and committed partnership to grow investments in its target sectors, which include communications, energy and energy transition, transport and logistics, and real estate. Stonepeak is headquartered in New York with offices in Houston, London, Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, and Abu Dhabi. For more information, please visit www.stonepeak.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”). Except for historical information contained in this communication, the matters discussed herein contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Such statements are provided under the “safe harbor” protection of the Act. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding anticipated operating results, prospects and aircraft in service, technological developments, economic trends, expected transactions and similar matters. The words “may,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “target,” “goal,” “project,” “estimate,” “guidance,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “will,” “continue,” “likely,” “should,” “hope,” “seek,” “plan,” “intend” and variations of such words and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Similarly, descriptions of the Company’s objectives, strategies, plans, goals or targets are also forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are susceptible to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors. While the Company believes that the assumptions underlying its forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that any of the assumptions could prove to be inaccurate and, accordingly, the Company’s actual results and experiences could differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in its forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, such as statements regarding the transactions contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger, by and among the Company, Stonepeak Nile Parent LLC and Stonepeak Nile MergerCo Inc. (the “Transaction”), including the expected time period to consummate the Transaction, the anticipated benefits (including synergies) of the Transaction and integration and transition plans, opportunities, anticipated future performance, expected share buyback programs and expected dividends. All such forward-looking statements are based upon current plans, estimates, expectations and ambitions that are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which are beyond the control of Air Transport Services Group, Inc. (the “Company”), that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, the expected timing and likelihood of completion of the Transaction, including the timing, receipt and terms and conditions of any required governmental and regulatory approvals of the Transaction; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the definitive agreement; the possibility that the Company’s stockholders may not approve the Transaction; the risk that the anticipated tax treatment of the Transaction is not obtained; the risk that the parties may not be able to satisfy the conditions to the Transaction in a timely manner or at all; risks related to disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the Transaction; the risk that any announcements relating to the Transaction could have adverse effects on the market price of the Company’s common stock; the risk that the Transaction and its announcement could have an adverse effect on the parties’ business relationships and business generally, including the ability of the Company to retain customers and retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with their suppliers and customers, and on their operating results and businesses generally; the risk of unforeseen or unknown liabilities; customer, shareholder, regulatory and other stakeholder approvals and support; the risk of unexpected future capital expenditures; the risk of potential litigation relating to the Transaction that could be instituted against the Company or its directors and/or officers; the risk associated with third party contracts containing material consent, anti-assignment, transfer or other provisions that may be related to the Transaction which are not waived or otherwise satisfactorily resolved; the risk of rating agency actions and the Company’s ability to access short- and long-term debt markets on a timely and affordable basis; the risk of various events that could disrupt operations, including severe weather, such as droughts, floods, avalanches and earthquakes, cybersecurity attacks, security threats and governmental response to them, and technological changes; the risks of labor disputes, changes in labor costs and labor difficulties; and the risks resulting from other effects of industry, market, economic, legal or legislative, political or regulatory conditions outside of the Company’s control. All such factors are difficult to predict and are beyond our control, including those detailed in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (and which is available at https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/894081/000089408124000016/atsg-20231231.htm), quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other documents subsequently filed by the Company with the Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and that are available on the Company’s website at https://www.atsginc.com/investors/reports-and-filings/sec-filings and at https://www.sec.gov/edgar/browse/?CIK=894081&owner=exclude. The Company’s forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that the Company believes to be reasonable but that may not prove to be accurate. Other unpredictable or factors not discussed in this communication could also have material adverse effects on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume an obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the Transaction, the Company will file with the SEC a proxy statement on Schedule 14A (the “Proxy Statement”). The definitive version of the Proxy Statement will be sent to the stockholders of the Company seeking their approval of the Transaction and other related matters.

INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT ON SCHEDULE 14A WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE THEREIN AND ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE COMPANY, THE TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS.

Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of these documents, including the Proxy Statement, and other documents filed with the SEC by the Company through the website maintained by the SEC at https://www.sec.gov/edgar/browse/?CIK=894081&owner=exclude. Copies of documents filed with the SEC by the Company will be made available free of charge by accessing the Company’s website at https://atsginc.com/investors or by contacting the Company via email by sending a message to investor.relations@atsginc.com.

Participants in the Solicitation

The Company and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of the Company in connection with the Transaction under the rules of the SEC. Information about the interests of the directors and executive officers of the Company and other persons who may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of stockholders of the Company in connection with the Transaction and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be included in the Proxy Statement related to the Transaction, which will be filed with the SEC. Information about the directors and executive officers of the Company and their ownership of the Company common stock is also set forth in the Company’s definitive proxy statement in connection with its 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, as filed with the SEC on April 11, 2024 (and which is available at https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/894081/000114036124019362/ny20017081x1_def14a.htm) and in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (and which is available at https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/894081/000089408124000016/atsg-20231231.htm). Information about the directors and executive officers of the Company, their ownership of the Company common stock, and the Company’s transactions with related persons is set forth in the sections entitled “Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance,” “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters,” and “Certain Relationships and Related Stockholder Matters” included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, which was filed with the SEC on February 29, 2024 (and which is available at https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/894081/000089408124000016/atsg-20231231.htm), and in the sections entitled “Corporate Governance and Board Matters,” and “Stock Ownership of Management,” included in the Company’s definitive proxy statement in connection with its 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, as filed with the SEC on April 11, 2024 (and which is available at https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/894081/000089408124000016/atsg-20231231.htm). Additional information regarding the interests of such participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the Transaction will be included in the Proxy Statement and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available These documents can be obtained free of charge from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241209673228/en/

ATSG

Quint O. Turner, Chief Financial Officer

Air Transport Services Group, Inc.

(937) 366-2303

Stonepeak

Kate Beers / Maya Brounstein

Corporate Communications

corporatecomms@stonepeak.com

(212) 907-5100

Source: Air Transport Services Group, Inc.

FAQ

What is the acquisition price per share for ATSG (NASDAQ:ATSG) in the Stonepeak merger?

Stonepeak will acquire ATSG for $22.50 per share in cash.

When did ATSG's go-shop period expire?

ATSG's go-shop period expired at 11:59 p.m. ET on December 8, 2024.

When is the ATSG-Stonepeak merger expected to close?

The merger is expected to close in the first half of 2025, subject to shareholder approval and regulatory clearances.

Did ATSG receive any alternative takeover proposals during the go-shop period?

No, ATSG did not receive any alternative takeover proposals from third parties during the go-shop period.