United Airlines 2011 Annual Report Download - page 141

Table of Contents
6% Convertible Junior Subordinated Debentures. In November 2000, Continental Airlines Finance Trust II, a Delaware statutory business trust (the
“Trust”) of which Continental owns all the common trust securities, completed a private placement of five million 6% convertible preferred securities, called
Term Income Deferrable Equity Securities (the “TIDES”). The TIDES have a liquidation value of $50 per preferred security and are convertible at any time at
the option of the holder into shares of UAL common stock at a conversion rate of $57.14 per share of common stock (equivalent to approximately 0.875 of a
share of UAL common stock for each preferred security). Distributions on the preferred securities are payable by the Trust at an annual rate of 6% of the
liquidation value of $50 per preferred security.
The sole assets of the Trust are 6% Convertible Debentures with an aggregate principal amount of $248 million as of December 31, 2011 issued by
Continental and which mature on November 15, 2030. The 6% Convertible Debentures are redeemable by Continental, in whole or in part, on or after
November 20, 2003 at designated redemption prices. If Continental redeems the 6% Convertible Debentures, the Trust must redeem the TIDES on a pro rata
basis having an aggregate liquidation value equal to the aggregate principal amount of the 6% Convertible Debentures redeemed. Otherwise, the TIDES will be
redeemed upon maturity of the 6% Convertible Debentures, unless previously converted.
Taking into consideration Continental’s obligations under (i) the preferred securities guarantee relating to the TIDES, (ii) the indenture relating to the 6%
Convertible Debentures to pay all debt and obligations and all costs and expenses of the Trust (other than U.S. withholding taxes) and (iii) the indenture, the
declaration of trust relating to the TIDES and the 6% Convertible Debentures, Continental has fully and unconditionally guaranteed payment of (i) the
distributions on the TIDES, (ii) the amount payable upon redemption of the TIDES and (iii) the liquidation amount of the TIDES.
Continental Subsidiary Trust. The Trust is a subsidiary of Continental, and the TIDES are mandatorily redeemable preferred securities with a liquidation
value of $248 million. The Trust is a variable interest entity (“VIE”) because Continental has a limited ability to make decisions about its activities. However,
Continental is not the primary beneficiary of the Trust. Therefore, the Trust and the mandatorily redeemable preferred securities issued by the Trust are not
reported in Continental’s balance sheets. Instead, Continental reports its 6% convertible junior subordinated debentures held by the Trust as long-term debt
and interest on these debentures is recorded as interest expense for all periods presented in the accompanying financial statements.
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