The Private Equity and Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs) team advised Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC and other existing Wheels Up investors on the definitive agreement for Wheels Up to become publicly-traded via a merger with SPAC Aspirational Consumer Lifestyle Corp. (NYSE: ASPL), in a transaction that values Wheels Up at an enterprise value of $2.1 billion.
Wheels Up is a leading provider of private aviation services in the U.S. through a fleet of owned, managed, and third-party planes.
Aspirational is a partnership of experienced consumer investors and former LVMH executives alongside global consumer-focused private equity firm L Catterton as a minority partner.
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 per share. 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).
The Goodwin team was led by Janet Roy, Jocelyn Arel, Jamie Hutchinson, Dennis O'Reilly, and included Todd Pollock.
For more details, read the press release.