Travel Technology
businesswire | August 09, 2023
Surf Air Mobility Inc. , a regional air mobility platform aiming to sustainably connect the world’s communities, announced today that the transaction between Surf Air Mobility and Southern Airways (“Southern”) closed immediately prior to the listing of Surf Air Mobility on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “SRFM” on July 27, 2023. The combination of Surf Air Mobility and Southern will provide the basis for SAM’s anticipated expanded, nationwide regional air mobility platform. Following the close of the transaction on July 27, 2023, Surf Air Mobility has 69,742,981 basic shares outstanding and 71,603,186 fully diluted shares outstanding.
Operational and Financial Highlights, Surf Air and Southern together:
450,000 passengers across 48 cities with over 75,000 departures in 2022
Revenue of $100.6 million for the full year 2022, up 44.6% YoY on a combined basis2
Operating loss of $(111.7) million for the full year 2022, inclusive of $(33.4) million one-time transaction related expenses and $(38.2) million in stock based compensation
Cash on hand at July 27, 2023 of $34.7 million, with the ability to draw $100 million in cash advances under the GEM share subscription facility3
Aircraft financing facility with Jetstream for up to $450 million to finance further expansion
Fleet order with Textron Aviation Inc. to enable the growth of SAM’s fleet by up to 150 Cessna Grand Caravans
Exclusive provider to Textron Aviation Inc. of battery electric and hybrid electric powertrain technology for the Cessna Grand Caravan
Surf Air Mobility also announced that it will release its financial results for the second quarter of 2023 and provide outlook for the full year 2023 the week of August 14, 2023.
“Surf Air Mobility is building a regional air mobility platform to sustainably connect the world’s communities. We are thrilled to announce the completion of our transaction, combining Surf Air and Southern into Surf Air Mobility, the largest commuter airline in the US by scheduled departures. We are now well-positioned to build a platform that delivers accessible, affordable, and sustainable regional travel for our customers,” said Stan Little, CEO of Surf Air Mobility. “Our public listing is just the beginning, and we look forward to sharing our journey as we execute on our vision to advance the future of flight.”
Surf Air Mobility intends to accelerate the adoption of green flying by developing, together with its commercial partners, hybrid-electric and fully-electric powertrain technology to upgrade existing fleets. By creating a financing and services infrastructure to enable this transition at an industry-wide level, Surf Air Mobility believes it can bring electrified aircraft to market at scale and substantially reduce the cost and environmental impact of regional flying. Surf Air Mobility believes such cost and environmental impact reductions are achievable by the end of the decade, and that operating as a publicly-traded company and having efficient access to growth capital will enable and accelerate the implementation of its strategic plan.
Sudhin Shahani, co-founder of Surf Air Mobility, continued, “Our end-state is electrification, but our flywheel begins with flying more passengers via network expansion and providing solutions to operators via Aircraft-as-a-Service (ACaaS), which we believe will drive growth in the near- and mid-term. Surf Air Mobility is a scaled – and growing – regional air travel company today, and we believe our path to electrification via supplemental type certification (‘STC’) will position us as a capital efficient, technology-enabled, first mover in the regional air ecosystem.”
ABOUT SURF AIR MOBILITY
Surf Air Mobility is a Los Angeles-based regional air mobility platform expanding the category of regional air travel to reinvent flying through the power of electrification. In an effort to substantially reduce the cost and environmental impact of flying and as the operator of the largest commuter airline in the US, Surf Air Mobility intends to develop powertrain technology with its commercial partners to electrify existing fleets and bring electrified aircraft to market at scale. The management team has deep experience and expertise across aviation, electrification, and consumer technology.
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Travel Technology, Hospitality Management
Virgin Voyages | September 08, 2023
Virgin Voyages announced a $550 million funding round led by Ares Management for global expansion.
Founder Tom McAlpin transitions to Chairman of the Board, while Nirmal Saverimuttu takes over as CEO, bringing extensive experience from Virgin Voyages' early days.
Virgin Voyages looks forward to continued success and collaboration with investors, including Ares Management, to drive future growth and innovation.
Virgin Voyages, the award-winning cruise brand backed by Richard Branson's Virgin Group, has announced the completion of a $550 million fundraise led by Ares Management's Private Equity Group. This funding, including contributions from existing investors such as Virgin Group and Bain Capital, is poised to propel Virgin Voyages into international markets while enhancing the overall customer experience.
Partner and Co-Portfolio Manager of Special Opportunities in the Ares Private Equity Group, Aaron Rosen, remarked,
With this new investment alongside our partners at Virgin Group and Bain Capital, we believe the company is on strong footing to capitalize on its differentiated product and value proposition in the growing cruise industry.
[Source - Cision PR Newswire]
Established as a leading player in the industry, Virgin Voyages has swiftly gained recognition and accolades with a fleet serving various destinations and recent wins like topping the mega-ship category in Travel + Leisure's 2023 World's Best Awards and sweeping all five cruise categories in the 2023 Cruise Critic Cruisers' Choice Awards.
Alongside this development, Tom McAlpin, the founding CEO, is transitioning to the role of Chairman of the Board. Nirmal Saverimuttu is taking the reins as the new Chief Executive Officer, having formerly served as President and Chief Experience Officer. In addition, Nirmal Saverimuttu has been a foundational figure at Virgin Voyages since 2014, when he joined as Chief Commercial Officer after securing initial investments from the Virgin Group. His role expanded in 2021 to President and Chief Experience Officer, making him well-prepared to guide the brand into its next phase of growth and innovation.
Nirmal Saverimuttu, CEO of Virgin Voyages, said,
I want to send our deepest thanks, on behalf of all our Crew and the Board, to Tom for his leadership and passion for the business. We are so grateful for all he has done and are thrilled to continue to partner with him as our Chairman.
[Source – Cision PR Newswire]
Virgin Voyages is a trusted brand due to its crew's dedication and passion for offering remarkable experiences for its guests. Nirmal also expressed his anticipation of collaborating with the Ares team and Virgin Voyages' current investors to execute growth and expansion plans as the company contemplates its promising future.
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Travel Technology
businesswire | August 11, 2023
Selina Hospitality PLC the fast-growing lifestyle and experiential hospitality company targeting millennial and Gen Z travelers, today announces the launch of the Selina Members Club, an innovative shareholder benefit program. This program is aimed at deepening retail shareholder engagement and revolutionizing the way the company builds relationships with its investors. A step beyond traditional shareholder programs, the Selina Members Club forms a community around shared values and lifestyles, underlining our commitment to stakeholder inclusion and brand camaraderie.
The Selina Members Club features three membership tiers: Blue Moon, Pink Moon, and Black Eclipse, each providing a unique set of benefits. Selina's valued shareholders, upon enrollment and verification that the eligibility requirements have been met, can enjoy accommodation and food and beverage discounts, room upgrades, complimentary breakfasts, access to co-working spaces, and exclusive event invitations. The program, designed to offer personalized experiences, also includes additional benefits such as accruing more points on stays, late checkouts, and free room upgrades - all to enrich the Selina experience.
"Today, investing extends beyond the balance sheet. It's a reflection of personal values and aspirations," said Rafael Museri, Selina’s Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder. "The Selina Members Club allows our eligible shareholders to become part of the Selina community, experiencing firsthand the lifestyle that defines our brand. This reciprocal relationship deepens our connection with shareholders and elevates our brand in the experiential hospitality market."
Shareholders can unlock these unique benefits by verifying their shares in US-based brokerage accounts. Upon verification, they are promptly enrolled in the relevant membership tier provided they have held their shares for a certain period of time, and details of their exclusive benefits and how to redeem them are sent directly to them. As we embark on this exciting journey, the Selina Members Club symbolizes Selina’s commitment to our shareholders, reinforcing our core values, and redefining experiential hospitality.
”The Selina Members Club is not only a strategic move to strengthen relationships with customers who are also shareholders; it serves as an expression of gratitude for their steadfast support. As we tread a new path in the experiential hospitality market, our shareholders form a vital part of our community,” said Sam Khazary, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Corporate Development at Selina. "We extend a special thank you to retail focused investor relations agency, Equity Animal, along with our technology partner, Stakeholder Labs, for their collaboration in creating the Selina Members Club."
To join the Members Club, shareholders are invited to visit the verification portal and click on the "Connect Brokerage” button to connect their US brokerage account. Once verified and all eligibility requirements have been met, shareholders will receive an email confirming their membership tier, their benefits, and how to redeem them. Shareholders can anticipate receiving their benefits within five business days post-verification. For further information on the Selina Members Club, its unique benefits, and how to become a part of this exclusive community, please visit investors.selina.com.
About Selina Hospitality PLC.
Selina is one of the world's largest hospitality brands built to address the needs of millennial and Gen Z travelers, blending beautifully designed accommodation with coworking, recreation, wellness, and local experiences. Founded in 2014 and custom-built for today's nomadic traveler, Selina provides guests with a global infrastructure to seamlessly travel and work abroad. Each Selina property is designed in partnership with local artists, creators, and tastemakers, breathing new life into existing buildings in interesting locations in 24 countries on six continents – from urban cities to remote beaches and jungles.
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