NetJets Unrest Puts Warren Buffett in a Rare Pinch

[FamilyGuy]

http://www.wsj.com/articles/netjets-unrest-puts-warren-buffett-in-a-rare-pinch-1420485740

 

[gunfyter]

entered in error

 

[CALRepublic]

I read that article this morning.

Mr B. Once said "two reasons to get rid of a wholly owned company, the business is unprofitable and/or labor unrest". We've given him lots of the latter

Berkshire Hathaway had profits of $16 billion USD in 2014, and about a $60 billion cash hoard that Mr. B doesn't know what to do with. He could dump us and not even feel it

 

[T-1GUY]

FlightSafety (another Berkshire company) would take it in the shorts if he sold which he is not about to do.

 

[FamilyGuy]

I read that article this morning.

Mr B. Once said "two reasons to get rid of a wholly owned company, the business is unprofitable and/or labor unrest". We've given him lots of the latter

Berkshire Hathaway had profits of $16 billion USD in 2014, and about a $60 billion cash hoard that Mr. B doesn't know what to do with. He could dump us and not even feel it

The challenge in selling NetJets is how do you value it without Berkshire's backing? So many owners are with NJ because it is owned by Buffett and has his stamp of approval. If you take that away, it is worth a lot less.

 

[FamilyGuy]

FlightSafety (another Berkshire company) would take it in the shorts if he sold which he is not about to do.

Flightsafety has plenty of demand for their slots, so I don't see a big negative impact if NJ were sold. I also don't see Buffett being concerned about that small impact. If he wants to sell it he will. For the record, I don't think a sale is likely at this point.

 

[NJAowner]

Wind down?

Maybe he just declares that the concept isn't financially viable and winds it down over 5 years. The write off is immaterial to BH's financial statements and results in a tax savings at the same time. He has had some blunders in the past which were much more costly which investors do not seem to have held against him.

"Discuss amongst yourselves."

 

[T-1GUY]

I agree that Netjets is just a pimple on his ass. If he wants to close it he could. I don't believe he will for a second. Netjets makes money and is a market leader. He also has a fiduciary responsibility to his shareholders. The contracts will get signed and a new CEO will be brought onboard. This is all posturing and scare tactics.

 

[T-1GUY]

Flightsafety has plenty of demand for their slots, so I don't see a big negative impact if NJ were sold. I also don't see Buffett being concerned about that small impact. If he wants to sell it he will. For the record, I don't think a sale is likely at this point.

Almost 3,000 recurrents every six months, year in, year out. If I bought Netjets I would be on the phone to CAE Simuflite the very next day asking them if they would like to bid for those slots. To say that this wouldn't have a negative effect on flightSafety would be naive.

 

[CRAWDADDY]

I could be talked into accepting the Four Pillars (or whatever they're calling it this week) if Buffett was taken out.

 

[CALRepublic]

What would Mr. Buffett do if his name gets dragged through the mud? That is the question

Is not like he needs us. I could see him going. "enough, sell it or shut it down"

 

[CRAWDADDY]

He sure doesn't like bad press and had enough sycophants in the media to assure he didn't get any. Social Media has changed things as much as he tries to outlaw it.

I expect to see 19th Century anti-union railway violence on his part. The message board infiltration harkens back to The Molly Maguires.

 

[Willy21]

NJAOwner,

What is your solution for NetJets negotiations with its pilots?

 

[Blueridgeflyer]

Maybe he just declares that the concept isn't financially viable and winds it down over 5 years. The write off is immaterial to BH's financial statements and results in a tax savings at the same time. He has had some blunders in the past which were much more costly which investors do not seem to have held against him.



"Discuss amongst yourselves."

Then wind it down. What's clear to me is that BRK is no longer a fit for Netjets.

 

[SpaceShipEarth]

Anyone read all the comments below the article?

 

[gunfyter]

Anyone read all the comments below the article?

Yes we did.

Those people don't pay my bills. They didn't pay for my flight training or serve in the military to get trained.

They didn't flight instruct for $6500/yr ... or live on Regional airline pay commute and share a crash pad. They didn't take a flying job in Africa or the Middle East to build time.

They didn't fly car parts at night on demand on call 24/7... fly all night then ferry back to homeplate part 91 after 14 hours of 135 duty... for a 22 duty day.

They have no clue what it takes to make it in this business.

Netjets is hiring. Its equal opportunity employer. Those people should get their apps in and get hired

 

[NJAowner]

I am not saying I have a solution. What I am saying is that the pilots union should not assume that BH MUST eventually settle to save the business.

 

[imacdog]

WB could end all of the negative publicity with a single phone call to Columbus.

 

[NJAowner]

WB could end all of the negative publicity with a single phone call to Columbus.

That assumes he cares about it and wants to end the publicity. He could make 1 phone call and give each of you a $1,000,000 gift as well. But it doesn't mean he will. The HUGE assumption here is "how much WB cares about negative publicity?" And I guess we will all know in the next year or so??

 

[imacdog]

Perhaps. But let's not pretend that the situation with the contract negotiations has nothing to do with WB. Trying to extract concessions from employees while the company is thriving is a guaranteed recipe for major unrest.