Boeing to raise up to $22 billion to shore up finances, stave off downgrade

By Utkarsh Shetti

(Reuters) - Boeing (BA) on Monday launched a stock offering that could raise up to $22 billion as the planemaker looks to strengthen its finances squeezed by an over month-long strike by its workers and preserve its investment-grade credit rating.

The move will boost Boeing's (BA) battered finances, which have worsened since roughly 33,000 of its workers represented by the machinists union walked off their jobs in September, halting production of models including its cash-cow 737 MAX aircraft.

The company is offering 90 million shares in common stock and $5 billion in mandatory convertible securities.?

"The offering is certainly favorable for credit quality. We'll factor it into our assessment of the rating in the context of continued negative free cashflow," said Ben Tsocanos, aerospace director at S&P Global Ratings.?

Boeing (BA) has never fallen below the investment-grade rating.

One investor said both the offerings were heavily oversubscribed and could end up pricing at a very small discount to the last closing price of $155. Shares were down 0.6% in afternoon trading.

If the primary offering is oversubscribed, the company has an option to issue 13.5 million shares more and can increase the mandatory convertible offering by another $750 million, according to a termsheet seen by Reuters.

Based on Friday's closing price, Boeing (BA) can raise $13.95 billion from the common stock offering and an additional $2.1 billion if the issue is oversubscribed, though such issues are typically priced at a discount to ensure enough demand. It can also raise up to $5.75 billion from the mandatory convertible offering, the term sheet said.

The offerings are expected to be priced after markets close on Monday.

The mandatory convertible securities are being marketed to investors with a dividend range of 6.0% to 6.5%, and a premium of 17.5% to 22.5% to the stock's last closing price of $155.01, for when they convert into shares at or before the maturity date of Oct. 15, 2027.?????

A capital raise is essential for Boeing (BA) to preserve its investment-grade credit rating. Rating agencies have warned that a prolonged strike may lead to a downgrade in the planemaker's credit rating, likely pushing up the cost of capital.

The planemaker was already reeling under a regulator-imposed cap on production of its MAX jets after a January mid-air panel blowout.?

The combination of labor woes and its production problems have caused it to burn cash in the last three quarters. Last week, the company reported a $6 billion third-quarter loss and said it would burn cash next year.?

The same day, striking workers rebuffed an improved contract as it fell short of their demands of a 40% wage hike and restoration of a defined-benefit pension plan, which Boeing (BA) is unlikely to reinstate.

The strike is costing the company more than $1 billion per month, according to one estimate that was released before Boeing (BA) announced it would cut 10% of its workforce.

Earlier this month, Boeing (BA) entered into a $10 billion credit agreement with banks and announced plans to raise up to $25 billion through stock and debt offerings.?

S&P warned earlier this month of a ratings downgrade if Boeing's (BA) cash balance fell below a $10 billion target or if the company had to increase leverage to meet debt maturities.

Boeing (BA) had cash and marketable securities of $10.50 billion as of Sept. 30.

It has $11.5 billion of debt maturing through Feb. 1, 2026, and is committed to issuing $4.7 billion of its shares to acquire Spirit AeroSystems and assume its debt.

Reuters had reported earlier this month Boeing (BA) was examining options to raise billions of dollars through a sale of stock and equity-like securities.

Boeing (BA) said on Monday it intends to use proceeds for general corporate purposes, which may include paying off debt.???? (This story has been refiled to add the dropped word 'shares' in paragraph 3)?

(Writing by Abhijith Ganapavaram in Bengaluru; additional reporting by Shankar Ramakrishnan in New York; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila and Alan Barona)