Brazil's Azul approves capital increase with Neeleman investment

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian airline Azul's board of directors has approved a capital increase as part of an out-of-court restructuring that gave lessors equity in lieu of nearly $550 million in obligations, the company said late on Thursday.

The capital increase of up to 3.37 billion reais ($591 million) came through the issuance of new shares, Azul said in a securities filing, with fresh investment from controlling shareholder David Neeleman, a serial aviation entrepreneur who also founded U.S. airline JetBlue.

Neeleman currently holds 67% of Azul's voting shares, with the other 33% being held by shareholders of Trip, an airline Azul acquired in the early 2010s. He is expected to lose control of the firm as part of the restructuring, but remain a major shareholder.

In addition to the equity swap with lessors and an agreement with bondholders for fresh financing, Azul is eyeing a potential tie-up with rival Brazilian airline Gol.

($1 = 5.7022 reais)

(Reporting by Gabriel Araujo in San Paulo; Editing by Nia Williams)

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