Country for PR: United States
Contributor: PR Newswire New York
Monday, February 01 2021 - 22:30
AsiaNet
Wheels Up, The Leading Brand In Private Aviation, Announces Plans To Become Publicly-Traded Via SPAC Merger With Aspirational Consumer Lifestyle Corp.
NEW YORK, Feb. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --

  -- Wheels Up is democratizing private aviation with its technology-driven
     marketplace, expanding the addressable market and making private air
     travel accessible for millions of consumers 
  -- With its end-to-end approach to private aviation and proprietary
     technology, the Wheels Up Marketplace connects flyers with one of the
     industry's largest selection of private aircraft 
  -- The transaction will enable Wheels Up to accelerate marketplace growth and
     adoption, invest in adjacent lifestyle and consumer services to complement
     the platform, and drive global expansion 
  -- The transaction values Wheels Up at an enterprise value of $2.1 billion,
     and is expected to provide up to $790 million in cash proceeds, including
     a $550 million PIPE and up to $240 million of cash held in the trust
     account of Aspirational Consumer Lifestyle Corp. 
  -- PIPE investors include T. Rowe Price, Fidelity, Franklin Advisors, Durable
     Capital, HG Vora Capital Management, Third Point, Luxor Capital, and
     Monashee, among others  
  -- The transaction is expected to close in Q2 of 2021 with existing
     shareholders of Wheels Up rolling 100 percent of their equity into the
     combined company, which will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange
     under the symbol "UP"


Wheels Up Partners Holdings LLC ("Wheels Up" or the "Company"), the leading 
brand in private aviation, has entered into a definitive agreement to become 
publicly-traded via a merger with special purpose acquisition company, 
Aspirational Consumer Lifestyle Corp. ("Aspirational") (NYSE: ASPL), in a 
transaction that values Wheels Up at an enterprise value of $2.1 billion. 
Aspirational was formed and is led by a partnership of experienced consumer 
investors, including Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ravi Thakran, private 
equity veteran and former Group Chairman of LVMH Asia. Additionally, L 
Catterton, the largest global consumer-focused private equity firm, is a 
minority shareholder. Upon closing of the transaction, Wheels Up will be the 
first private aviation platform to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange 
(NYSE: UP). 

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/701884/Wheels_Up_Logo.jpg

Wheels Up Overview

Wheels Up connects flyers to private aircraft —and to one another— delivering 
exceptional, personalized experiences. Its technology-enabled marketplace will 
allow Wheels Up to do so at global scale, and democratize the private aviation 
industry, expanding the addressable market and making private aviation 
accessible to millions of consumers.  

Wheels Up was founded in 2013 by renowned entrepreneur Kenny Dichter. With 
Wheels Up, Dichter has pioneered the next evolution of private aviation, 
starting with an industry-first membership model and an exclusive fleet of King 
Air 350i aircraft. In the seven years since it was founded, Wheels Up has 
quickly become a trusted market leader and iconic brand. Several strategic 
acquisitions and an exclusive co-marketing partnership with Delta Air Lines 
have expanded Wheels Up's operational and technological footprint, creating the 
evolutionary marketplace to transform private aviation and deliver world-class 
experiences to consumers.

Today, Wheels Up is one of the largest private aviation platforms in the world, 
offering a comprehensive total aviation solution including membership programs, 
on-demand private flights across all cabin categories, aircraft management, 
whole aircraft sales, corporate solutions, signature events, and commercial 
travel benefits through its strategic partnership with Delta Air Lines. In 
2020, the Company had flown more than 150,000 passengers, utilizing its access 
to over 1,500 owned, managed, and third-party partner aircraft.

Driven by innovation and operational excellence, Wheels Up has pioneered a 
suite of intelligent, technology-driven solutions to make it easier than ever 
before to choose a safe, high-quality aircraft option that caters to a range of 
financial and travel needs. The Wheels Up app is removing the friction from 
private aviation. Flyers can view real-time inventory and purchase dynamically 
priced flights, making it possible to instantaneously search, book, and fly 
privately. The marketplace technology powering the Wheels Up platform is wholly 
proprietary and includes the leading flight management system, Avianis, that is 
powering many operators across the country and revolutionizing the industry. 

The Company's current management team will continue to lead Wheels Up. 
Aspirational's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ravi Thakran, former Group 
Chairman of LVMH South and Southeast Asia, and Australia /New Zealand and 
former Managing Partner of L Catterton Asia, will join the combined company's 
Board of Directors upon completion of the transaction. 

Management Comment

Kenny Dichter, Founder & CEO of Wheels Up:

"We are excited about crossing this milestone and our new partnership with 
Aspirational.  We believe this will allow us to actualize our founding goal of 
democratizing private aviation, through our unique membership model, suite of 
products and benefits, and by bringing the shared economy to private aviation 
through our Wheels Up app. We are looking forward to joining forces with the 
Aspirational team as we continue to accelerate our global growth and 
expansion." 

Ravi Thakran, Chairman & CEO of Aspirational:

"When we founded Aspirational, Wheels Up was exactly the kind of company we 
wanted to partner with. Kenny and his world-class team have created a truly 
iconic brand built upon years of exceptional, personalized customer 
experiences. They are a clear leader and innovator in the space and we look 
forward to working together to introduce Wheels Up to the global stage. We see 
many opportunities to leverage our experience and relationships to partner with 
other aspirational and luxury brands and to expand to international markets."

Transaction Overview

On February 1, 2021, Aspirational entered into a definitive agreement (the 
"Merger Agreement") to combine with Wheels Up through a combination of stock 
and cash financing. The transaction values Wheels Up at an enterprise value of 
approximately $2.1 billion. 

The transaction is expected to deliver up to $790 million of gross proceeds to 
the combined company, including the contribution of up to $240 million of cash 
held in Aspirational's trust account from its initial public offering in 
September 2020. The combination is further supported by a $550 million PIPE at 
$10.00 per share, including commitments from T. Rowe Price, Fidelity, Franklin 
Advisors, Durable Capital, HG Vora Capital Management, Third Point, Luxor 
Capital, and Monashee, among others. Existing Wheels Up shareholders will roll 
100 percent of their equity into the new company. Upon completion of the 
transaction, Wheels Up expects to have up to $750 million in cash on its 
balance sheet to fund operations and support new and existing business 
initiatives.1 

The transaction, which has been unanimously approved by Aspirational's Board of 
Directors and the independent directors of Wheels Up's Board of Directors, is 
expected to close in the second quarter of 2021, and is subject to approval by 
Aspirational and Wheels Up's respective shareholders and other customary 
closing conditions, including any applicable regulatory approvals.

Additional information about the proposed transaction, including a copy of the 
Merger Agreement and investor presentation, will be provided in a Current 
Report on Form 8-K to be filed today with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission ("SEC") and available at www.sec.gov.

Advisors

Connaught acted as financial advisor, Credit Suisse acted as financial advisor, 
placement agent and capital markets advisor and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & 
Flom LLP acted as legal advisor to Aspirational.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Jefferies LLC, and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC acted as 
joint lead financial advisors and Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP acted as 
legal advisor to Wheels Up.

About Aspirational Consumer Lifestyle Corp.

Launched in September 2020, Aspirational is a partnership of experienced 
consumer investors and former LVMH executives alongside L Catterton, the 
largest global consumer-focused private equity firm, as a minority partner. 
Aspirational identifies and invests in innovative, premium brands to offer 
consumers experiences that fulfil their aspirations for a healthy, balanced and 
cosmopolitan lifestyle. To learn more about Aspirational, visit 
www.aspconsumer.com.

About Wheels Up

Wheels Up is a leading provider of private aviation services in the U.S. 
through a fleet of owned, managed, and third-party planes. Its mission is to 
connect flyers to private aircraft – and one another – to deliver exceptional, 
personalized experiences. The Company has approximately 11,000 active users and 
is headquartered in New York.

For more information, please visit www.wheelsup.com.

Media Contact

Jonesworks
Email: wheelsup@jonesworks.com 
+1 212-839-0111

Kivvit 
Josh Vlasto
Email: JVlasto@Kivvit.com 
+1 917-881-9662

Investor Contact
IR@Wheelsup.com 

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of 
the federal securities laws with respect to the proposed transaction between 
Wheels Up and Aspirational. These forward-looking statements generally are 
identified by the words "believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," 
"estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," 
"should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," 
and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, 
projections and other statements about future events that are based on current 
expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and 
uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ 
materially from the forward-looking statements in this document, including but 
not limited to: (i) the risk that the transaction may not be completed in a 
timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of Aspirational's 
securities, (ii) the risk that the transaction may not be completed by 
Aspirational's business combination deadline and the potential failure to 
obtain an extension of the business combination deadline if sought by 
Aspirational, (iii) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation 
of the transaction, including the adoption of the Merger Agreement by the 
shareholders of Aspirational, the satisfaction of the minimum trust account 
amount following redemptions by Aspirational's public shareholders and the 
receipt of certain governmental and regulatory approvals, (iv) the lack of a 
third party valuation in determining whether or not to pursue the transaction, 
(v) the inability to complete the PIPE investment in connection with the 
transaction, (vi) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance 
that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement, (vii) the 
effect of the announcement or pendency of the transaction on Wheels Up's 
business relationships, operating results and business generally, (viii) risks 
that the proposed transaction disrupts current plans and operations of Wheels 
Up and potential difficulties in Wheels Up employee retention as a result of 
the transaction, (ix) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be 
instituted against Wheels Up or against Aspirational related to the Merger 
Agreement or the transaction, (x) the ability to maintain the listing of the 
Aspirational's securities a national securities exchange, (xi) the price of 
Aspirational's securities may be volatile due to a variety of factors, 
including changes in the competitive and highly regulated industries in which 
Aspirational plans to operate or Wheels Up operates, variations in operating 
performance across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting 
Aspirational's or Wheels Up's business and changes in the combined capital 
structure, (xii) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other 
expectations after the completion of the proposed transaction, and identify and 
realize additional opportunities, and (xiii) the risk of downturns and a 
changing regulatory landscape in the highly competitive aviation industry. The 
foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the 
foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk 
Factors" section of Aspirational's registration on Form S-1 (File No. 
333-248592), the registration statement on Form S-4 discussed below and other 
documents filed by Aspirational from time to time with the SEC. These filings 
identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause 
actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the 
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the 
date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on 
forward-looking statements, and Wheels Up and Aspirational assume no obligation 
and do not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether 
as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Neither Wheels Up 
nor Aspirational gives any assurance that either Wheels Up or Aspirational or 
the combined company will achieve its expectations.

Additional Information and Where to Find It 

This document relates to a proposed transaction between Wheels Up and 
Aspirational.  This document does not constitute an offer to sell or exchange, 
or the solicitation of an offer to buy or exchange, any securities, nor shall 
there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, sale 
or exchange would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the 
securities laws of any such jurisdiction. Aspirational intends to file a 
registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC, which will include a document 
that serves as a prospectus and proxy statement of Aspirational, referred to as 
a proxy statement/prospectus. A proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to all 
Aspirational shareholders. Aspirational also will file other documents 
regarding the proposed transaction with the SEC. Before making any voting 
decision, investors and security holders of Aspirational are urged to read the 
registration statement, the proxy statement/prospectus and all other relevant 
documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the 
proposed transaction as they become available because they will contain 
important information about the proposed transaction. 

Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the 
registration statement, the proxy statement/prospectus and all other relevant 
documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC by Aspirational through the 
website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. 

The documents filed by Aspirational with the SEC also may be obtained free of 
charge at Aspirational's website at www.aspconsumer.com or upon written request 
to #18-07/12 Great World City, Singapore 237994. 

Participants in Solicitation 

Aspirational and Wheels Up and their respective directors and executive 
officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from 
Aspirational's shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction. A list 
of the names of the directors and executive officers of Aspirational and 
information regarding their interests in the business combination will be 
contained in the proxy statement/prospectus when available. You may obtain free 
copies of these documents as described in the preceding paragraph.

(1) All references to cash on the balance sheet, available cash from the trust 
account and retained transaction proceeds are subject to any redemptions by the 
public shareholders of Aspirational and the payment of transaction expenses.



SOURCE: Wheels Up 
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