INDIANAPOLIS, June 18, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- ATA Holdings Corp (Pink Sheets:ATAHQ), the parent company of ATA Airlines, today announced that it intends to engage Jefferies & Company, Inc., SkyWorks Capital, LLC and SkyWorks Securities, LLC to raise funding to support ATA's exit from Chapter 11 reorganization. The engagement is subject to approval by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana next month.
"ATA has made tremendous progress in restructuring its routes, fleet and assets. Our codeshare agreement with Southwest Airlines provides a platform for future growth. As we complete our reorganization and emerge from bankruptcy in 2006, we need to make sure our new business plan has sufficient capital to be successful," said John Denison, ATA Airlines' CEO.
About Jefferies
Jefferies & Company, Inc., a global investment bank and institutional securities firm, has served growing and mid-sized companies and their investors for over 40 years. Headquartered in New York, with more than 20 offices around the world, Jefferies & Company, Inc., provides clients with capital markets and financial advisory services, institutional brokerage, securities research and asset management. The firm is a leading provider of trade execution in equity, high yield, convertible and international securities for institutional investors and high net worth individuals. Jefferies & Company, Inc. is the principal operating subsidiary of Jefferies Group, Inc. (NYSE:JEF) (www.jefferies.com).
About SkyWorks
SkyWorks Capital LLC and SkyWorks Securities LLC, MEMBER: NASD/SIPC, provide expertise to participants in and capital providers to the aviation and aerospace sectors across a broad spectrum of financial products. The Companies provide advisory services on financial restructurings, debt and equity offerings, asset-based financings, and mergers and acquisitions. Since inception, SkyWorks Capital LLC, and in instances where securities transactions are involved SkyWorks Securities LLC, have completed assignments for clients such as AirTran Airways, American Airlines, Chautauqua Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Independence Air, JetBlue Airways and Virgin USA, as well as for creditor committees, bank groups and investors in various corporate and structured finance transactions and restructuring and advisory assignments.
ATA Airlines, now in its 32nd year of operation, offers easy and affordable travel to 30 cities on its own flights and more than 75 destinations through its codeshare agreement with Southwest Airlines. ATA serves major business centers and popular vacation destinations in Hawaii, Florida and the Caribbean. Try ATA's 15-times-a-weekday service between New York and Chicago-Midway. For more information, visit ata.com.