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MERGER WITH MESA AIR GROUP, INC.
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2026
Business Combination, Asset Acquisition, Transaction between Entities under Common Control, and Joint Venture Formation [Abstract]  
MERGER WITH MESA AIR GROUP, INC. MERGER WITH MESA AIR GROUP, INC.
On November 25, 2025, Legacy Republic completed the Merger with Mesa Parent with the Mesa Parent legal entity continuing as the surviving corporation. Upon closing of the Merger, Mesa Parent was renamed Republic Airways Holdings Inc. The business conducted by the surviving corporation following completion of the Merger is primarily the business conducted by Legacy Republic, and beginning on November 25, 2025, includes the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows of pre-Merger Mesa Parent and subsidiaries, and is referred to on a post-Merger basis as the “Company.” The Company is led by executive leadership of Legacy Republic. Legacy Republic designated six of seven directors to the Board of Directors of the Company, while Mesa Parent designated one of seven directors.
Legacy Republic and Mesa Parent pursued the Merger in order to enhance the scale of the combined company, both financially and operationally, to create a larger single fleet type and to provide for greater access to capital markets. In addition, the Company pursued the Merger in order to obtain extended termination dates under a new 10-year CPA with United Airlines.
In connection with the Merger and immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), Mesa Parent converted from a Nevada corporation to a Delaware corporation pursuant to a plan of conversion (the “Conversion”). At the Effective Time, each share of Legacy Republic common stock, par value $0.001 per share, (excluding (i) shares to be cancelled pursuant to the Merger Agreement and (ii) any dissenting shares for which appraisal rights were properly demanded in accordance with Delaware law) was converted into the right to receive 38.9933 (the “Exchange Ratio”) validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable shares of Mesa Parent common stock, par value $0.001, with cash paid in lieu of any fractional shares. Immediately prior to the Effective Time, each outstanding restricted stock unit (“RSU”) in respect of shares of Legacy Republic common stock that vested immediately upon closing of the Merger was cancelled, entitling the holder to shares of Legacy Republic common stock which were converted into the right to receive 38.9933 validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable shares of common stock and cash payable in lieu of fractional shares, without interest and subject to any applicable withholding tax. Additionally, each outstanding unvested Republic RSU was automatically assumed and converted into the right to receive a restricted share award in respect of
common stock after giving effect to the Exchange Ratio and subject to the same vesting terms. The Exchange Ratio gave effect to an unadjusted post-Merger capitalization of an 88.0% allocation to Legacy Republic pre-Merger shareholders, a 6.0% allocation to Mesa pre-Merger shareholders, and a 6.0% allocation (the Escrow Shares discussed below) available for repayment of certain Mesa liabilities described below for the settlement of final working capital amounts and unsettled obligations of Mesa.
Further, Legacy Republic and Mesa Parent concurrently entered into a Three Party Agreement jointly with United Airlines to give effect to actions which facilitated an orderly wind down and disposition of certain assets, extinguishment of certain liabilities, and conditions not subject to the business combination and exchange of merger consideration. The Three Party Agreement provided for, among other things, completion of the following actions at and prior to the closing of the Merger:
(i)Termination of the United CPAs among Mesa and United Airlines;
(ii)Disposition by sale of certain Canadair Regional Jet (“CRJ”) aircraft, CRJ spare engines, an Embraer Regional Jet (“ERJ”) spare engine, and Boeing B-737 spare inventories;
(iii)Repayment of substantially all trade debts, long-term debts, and remaining liabilities of Mesa Parent and subsidiaries (“Mesa Net Debt”), utilizing the cash on hand of $19.6 million and cash proceeds from asset sales set forth in item (ii) above of $8.4 million. Upon depletion of Mesa Parent cash applied for the full and final satisfaction of trade debts, long-term debts, and remaining liabilities, United Airlines provided a one-time cash payment of $23.6 million for funding at Merger closing sufficient to discharge any obligations of Mesa Parent which remained outstanding at Merger close. As of November 25, 2025, all long-term debt encumbrances of Mesa Parent prior to Merger closing were discharged through repayment of amounts due or forgiveness by the counterparty;
(iv)Transfer of all Mesa rights and obligations related to its warrant and aircraft purchase agreements with Archer Aviation Inc. related to investments in, development of, and commitment for forward purchase of eVTOL aircraft to a third party;
(v)Extension of certain CPA terms between Mesa and United Airlines, including enhanced/increased rates retrospectively from January 2025 through termination of the CPAs concurrent with Merger closing, which enhanced the ability of Mesa to discharge those debts set forth in item (iii);
(vi)Issuance of 2,853,454 shares of common stock, par value $0.001, equivalent to approximately 6.0% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company’s post-Merger common stock (the “Escrow Shares”).
Escrow Shares were settled on February 9, 2026 following completion of a 60-day review and resolution period, which shares (a) first became allocable to United Airlines in exchange for the forgiveness and repayment of certain debts and obligations of Mesa; (b) second, to the extent any of the remainder became available to the Company to repay certain liabilities which were not known at Merger closing, and (c) third, to the extent of any remainder, became available on a pro rata basis to shareholders of Mesa immediately prior to consummation of the Merger and Merger-related agreements. During 2026, Escrow Shares of 2,744,348 were allocated to United Airlines in exchange for settlement and satisfaction of adjusted Mesa Net Debt of $51.7 million, and the residual 109,106 Escrow Shares were allocated to the Company, in satisfaction of the preceding item (b) and retired as authorized by unissued shares. No Escrow Shares were available for allocation to pre-Merger Mesa Parent shareholders.
The Company recorded an equity participation right of $2.3 million as of November 25, 2025 for the value of shares reallocated to the Company in final settlement of the Escrow Shares in the condensed consolidated balance sheets and was included as a component of Merger consideration exchanged. Such amount was recorded as a reduction to additional paid-in-capital in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The amount was subsequently discharged on February 9, 2026 with resolution and final settlement of the Escrow Shares. The effect of final allocation of the Escrow Shares results in an 88.1% interest in the Company held by pre-Merger Legacy Republic shareholders, a 6.0% interest in the Company held by pre-Merger Mesa Parent shareholders; and a 5.9% interest held by United Airlines, paid in full and final satisfaction of outstanding liabilities of Mesa Parent at Merger closing. The issuance of common stock to effectuate the Merger was as follows as of November 25, 2025:
Mesa common stock outstanding as of November 25, 2025 (1)
2,792,531
Issuance of Mesa Parent RSUs at vesting concurrent with closing of Merger61,011 
Total Mesa common stock2,853,542 
Republic common stock outstanding as of November 25, 20251,004,108 
Shares of Republic RSUs issued and vested upon closing of Merger21,156 
Total Republic common stock1,025,264 
Exchange Ratio38.9933 
Resulting shares of Mesa common stock issued for Republic shares outstanding (2)
39,978,395 
Issuance of Republic restricted stock units1,264,210 
Shares of common stock of Mesa before the application of the Three Party Agreement44,096,147 
Mesa common stock issued in accordance with the Three Party Agreement (6.0% of the total Mesa shares of common stock at closing of the Merger)
2,853,454 
Total outstanding shares of common stock and restricted stock units as of November 25, 202546,949,601 
(1)The amounts presented herein reflect the impact of the Reverse Stock Split.
(2)Fractional shares were settled in cash.
On September 24, 2025, Mesa Parent effected a change in its fiscal year historically ending on September 30 to align with the fiscal year of the Company ending on December 31, which became effective on January 1, 2025.
Prior to the Merger, effective at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 24, 2025, Mesa Parent effected the Reverse Stock Split. The condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto include the effect of the 15-for-1 reverse stock split.
Further, on November 25, 2025, the Company entered into a new 10-year CPA with United Airlines and Mesa, now a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, to operate 60 E175 aircraft owned by United Airlines and operated by Mesa. Upon effectiveness of the new CPA, the Company received $49.0 million as a non-refundable up front fee funded by United Airlines to compensate for Merger-related expenses, and is recognized ratably on a straight-line basis to revenues over the 10-year term of the related CPA and was recorded to accounts payable and accrued and other expenses—related parties and other non-current liabilities—related parties in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The CPA in effect immediately prior to consummation of the Merger between Mesa Parent, Mesa, and United Airlines was terminated.
The Merger was accounted for as a reverse acquisition under provisions of FASB ASC 805, Business Combinations, using the acquisition method of accounting. Legacy Republic was designated the accounting acquirer and legal acquiree for financial reporting purposes on the basis that, immediately following consummation of the Merger, (i) shareholders of Legacy Republic hold a substantial majority of the voting interest in the Company, (ii) Legacy Republic designated six of seven director positions on the Company’s Board, and (iii) senior management of Legacy Republic retained all named executive officer positions within the Company following the Merger. The accounting for the Merger as a reverse acquisition resulted in the issuance and relinquishment of 11.9% of the pre-Merger voting interest in Legacy Republic as consideration in exchange for certain net assets of Mesa, which was measured at the acquisition date fair value of the consideration exchanged.
Merger consideration
Total Merger consideration exchanged was $120.2 million, consisting primarily of common stock, par value $0.001 exchanged. Under the reverse acquisition method of accounting for the Merger in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations, the fair value of purchase price consideration is the fair value of hypothetical stock issued to Mesa Parent pre-Merger shareholders as an estimate of the relinquished value of equity by the accounting acquirer. Merger consideration as of November 25, 2025 was as follows:
Merger consideration (in millions, except share and per share amounts)
Total shares outstanding46,949,601
Price per share at fair value (1)
$21.00 
Implied enterprise value$985.9 
Republic equity relinquished (2)
11.9 %
Equity Merger consideration at fair value117.5 
Other consideration at fair value2.7 
Total Merger consideration120.2 
(1)Closing stock price of Mesa Parent common stock at close of business immediately prior to Merger closing, November 24, 2025.
(2)Includes settlement of Escrow Shares allocable to the Company accounted for as an equity participation right in the condensed consolidated balance sheet at the closing of the Merger.
Fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed
The acquisition method of accounting to comply with ASC 805, Business Combinations, requires, among other things, that assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recognized on the condensed consolidated balance sheet at fair value as of the acquisition date, with certain exceptions. The fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed were determined using market comparisons for like assets of similar vintage and condition.
We have completed valuation analyses necessary to assess the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed and the amount of goodwill to be recognized as of the acquisition date. These fair values were based on management’s estimates and assumptions; however, the determination of fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed is preliminary and is subject to adjustment as additional information is obtained about the facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date. Due to (i) the timing of Merger-closing, (ii) the complexity of income tax estimates, and (iii) an ongoing Internal Revenue Service audit, management of the Company continues to evaluate its estimates and assumptions utilized to calculate fair values of inventories, property and equipment, goodwill, income taxes, accounts payable, and accrued and other liabilities as new information is obtained. Preliminary amounts reflected in the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed will be adjusted to reflect new information obtained, as necessary, up to one year following Merger closing with corresponding adjustments to goodwill.
The Company recorded a preliminary allocation of Merger consideration to assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values as of November 25, 2025. No additional adjustments have been made to the preliminary measurement of the purchase price allocation through March 31, 2026. The following table summarizes the preliminary purchase price allocation, including resulting goodwill:
(in millions)Provisional Fair Value
Assets acquired:
Cash and cash equivalents
$19.6 
Inventories
19.5 
Other current assets
14.5 
Other current assets—related parties
25.7 
Property and equipment
22.6 
Deferred income taxes
19.0 
Goodwill
120.4 
Other non-current assets
8.9 
Total assets acquired250.2 
Liabilities assumed:
Operating lease liability
6.6 
Accounts payable
55.3 
Accounts payable—related parties
0.7 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
65.9 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities—related parties
0.5 
Other non-current liabilities
1.0 
Total liabilities assumed130.0 
Net assets acquired$120.2 
The composition of goodwill is principally derived from the assembled workforce of Mesa, whereby management derives a benefit from the aggregation of a highly-trained technical workforce which is not separable from goodwill. No other significant intangible assets are separately identifiable from goodwill. None of the goodwill is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes.
Additionally, the Company accounted for executive compensation for severance and consulting fees payable to Mesa Parent named executive officers separately from the Merger, as the negotiation and determination of such amounts, in part, were influenced by parties to the Three Party Agreement.