AAI offer extended (again)

[180ToTheMarker]

(Recasts with company confirmation; adds AirTran comment, NEW YORK dateline, byline)
By Paritosh Bansal
NEW YORK, May 17 (Reuters) - AirTran Holdings Inc. (AAI.N: Quote, Profile , Research) said on Thursday holders of nearly 57 percent of Midwest Air Group Inc. (MEH.A: Quote, Profile , Research) shares backed its hostile takeover bid, bringing it a step closer to completing the deal. "We view the significant level of tenders to date as a ringing endorsement of the business plan," said AirTran Chief Executive Joe Leonard in a statement. "We would expect Midwest's management to take this as a serious vote of no-confidence."


Midwest, which has called the roughly $389 million bid inadequate, wasn't immediately available for comment.
AirTran said 13.9 million Midwest shares, or 56.6 percent of its equity, were tendered under AirTran's cash and stock offer that expired on Thursday. AirTran on Thursday extended the offer, which is currently valued at about $15.89 a share, to June 8.
Midwest shares closed on Wednesday at $15.10.
AirTran, the 10th-largest U.S. airline by revenue, has been seeking to acquire its rival for months and has raised the bid twice.
The current offer consists of $9 in cash and 0.5842 shares of AirTran common stock for each Midwest share.
Orlando, Florida-based AirTran, parent of low-cost carrier AirTran Airways, made its initial offer worth $290 million in October and publicized it in December. It raised the offer to $345 million in January and then to $389 million in April. Milwaukee-based Midwest has asked investors to pass on the bid and has offered a stand-alone expansion plan that calls for additional routes and fleet replacement. (Additional reporting by Chris Reiter)
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved

 

[75M]

AirTran said 13.9 million Midwest shares, or 56.6 percent of its equity, were tendered under AirTran's cash and stock offer that expired on Thursday.

Done deal?

 

[Britpilot]

Looks a lot closer to a done deal.

 

[gt1900]

Midwest is still saying the offer is inadequate.. Now its gonna get ugly.. I have a feeling Midex is going to pull out all the stops to keep this from going through.. I don't think they understand how stuborn AAI is going to be.. AAI may only get 3 people on the board in June, but AAI will stay around until the next election of board members... Either way, this deal will eventually happen, its just a matter of how ugly Midex wants to make it...... If I was a major shareholder I would be pissed at Midex management.. Obviously, they are not thinking about the shareholders anymore, because the shareholders have spoken.. And Midwest isn't listening...

 

[248to2.8]

When have they ever listened to anybody but themselves? Until AAI made this offer, they were happy with the status quo. The MEH hanger won't even accomodate a plane taller than an 80, and they designed it that way on purpose.

 

[Eagle757shark]

Now that AirTran by law will have the address of each investor, they will be able to communicate individually with each shareholder AirTran's business plan. Look for more shares too be tendered at the next deadline. The shareholder meeting in mid June will be very interesting.

 

[meanstreak]

Tell me more about this poison pill they have? When and how can they use it? What does it mean? Thanks

 

[maxblast72]

Not exactly sure what the poison pill is but have heard that Midwest can issue more shares of stock that don't cost them anything to dilute the % of shares tendered to Airtran to prevent being "taken" over. Also, that we were trying to get 3 members that are Airtran friendly on the board since it takes a 75% vote to introduce the poison pill and having 3 Airtran friendly board members (out of 9) would prevent them from having a 75% vote.

 

[Max Powers]

Also Midwest can enact a Wisconsin Law which would somehow review or disallow any sort of take over if it is not in the best interests of the states citizens/employees. Or something to that effect

 

[General Lee]

Airtran wants to do something with all of the 737-700s they are getting (80 over 5 years), and since ATL didn't build an extra terminal for them (since we were in BK), they still don't have the extra space in ATL. So, they would LOVE to replace the Midwest MD82s/MD88s with new 737-700s, and expand. I think it is a good idea.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[gt1900]

General.. Your close, but I believe there is around 45 737's online right now. The original order was for a total of 100 A/C, of which AAI has sold 2 build slots.. So, that leaves 53 airplanes to come, not 80.. However, rumor is AAI is talking to Boeing for more 737's...

 

[MarineGrunt]

Midwest Air Group Comments on Results of AirTran's Unsolicited Exchange OfferMILWAUKEE, May 17, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ --
Midwest Air Group, Inc. (Amex: MEH), parent company of Midwest Airlines, today responded to the announcement by AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI) of the preliminary results of its unsolicited exchange offer, which expired yesterday and was extended until June 8. "Nothing has changed as far as control of Midwest Air Group is concerned; no shares have been purchased by AirTran," said Carol N. Skornicka, senior vice president, general counsel and secretary. "The exchange offer is subject to numerous conditions. Regardless of the number of shares tendered, AirTran would not purchase shares unless those conditions are waived or are satisfied."
Skornicka explained that several significant actions would have to be taken by the Midwest Board of Directors for those conditions to be satisfied, including waiving the provisions of Wisconsin law that protect Wisconsin corporations from hostile takeovers. "The board has declined to take action to satisfy any of the conditions," she pointed out. "While other scenarios are theoretically possible, as a practical matter, board approval would be required for AirTran to accomplish its goal of acquiring our company."
Midwest's board unanimously recommended rejection of AirTran's most recent exchange offer for a number of reasons, including its firm belief that the offer is inadequate and that it does not take into account the long-term value of Midwest's strategic plan.
The company also noted that its annual meeting of shareholders will be held on June 14, 2007, at which time Midwest shareholders will be voting for the election of three directors to the company's board of directors. The Midwest board recommends that shareholders vote for the re-election of three current directors.

 

[bladeusa]

as a 73 fo with hopes of being a 73 ca
go ahead... drag it out as long as possible..
and even then, put up a big fence..
gets me closer to upgrade.. or if necessary, closer to finding a better job.
otherwise, this contract better have some serious pay increases for fo's

 

[Max Powers]

roger that

 

[Kharma Police]

as a 73 fo with hopes of being a 73 ca
go ahead... drag it out as long as possible..
and even then, put up a big fence..
gets me closer to upgrade.. or if necessary, closer to finding a better job.
otherwise, this contract better have some serious pay increases for fo's

True Dat!!!

 

[freightdogfred]

as a 73 fo with hopes of being a 73 ca
go ahead... drag it out as long as possible..
and even then, put up a big fence..
gets me closer to upgrade.. or if necessary, closer to finding a better job.
otherwise, this contract better have some serious pay increases for fo's

Then ya better start talkin to yer MEC. The union is responsible for ensuring your interests are met, however painful it may be for the Midwest guys. It was the AA pilots union that stuck it to the TWA guys, not AA...and they were only reponding to what their pilots wanted. Mergers suck, and nice guys finish last. (and at the bottom of the list.)

 

[BR715]

I'm so tired of flying with guys who come from the military or regionals and expect to be a captain right away. Even if the Midwest deal goes through you are still going to get probably the fastest upgrade at a Major in the industry right now. So contract or no contract, you need to ask yourself a question. Do I want to be part of the team or not.

 

[Ty Webb]

. . you need to ask yourself a question. Do I want to be part of the team or not. Do I want to be part of the team or not.

Coach . . . . is that you?

:laugh:

 

[XRMEFLYER]

I'm so tired of flying with guys who come from the military or regionals and expect to be a captain right away. Even if the Midwest deal goes through you are still going to get probably the fastest upgrade at a Major in the industry right now. So contract or no contract, you need to ask yourself a question. Do I want to be part of the team or not.

How long were you here before you upgraded? Or had the opportunity to?

 

[Kharma Police]

I'm so tired of flying with guys who come from the military or regionals and expect to be a captain right away. Even if the Midwest deal goes through you are still going to get probably the fastest upgrade at a Major in the industry right now. So contract or no contract, you need to ask yourself a question. Do I want to be part of the team or not.

I'm sure you would "take one for the team" and give up your seat if a senior Midwest pilot bumbs you down a notch or two.

 

[CitationLover]

part of the plan or reactionary?

MEH just announced a code share with NWA.
http://home.businesswire.com/portal...d=news_view&newsId=20070517005998&newsLang=en

 

[Just thinking]

Team work... working as a team... not a one sided operation without regard for anyone else's contribution. Management has guided this company through difficult periods and the pilot group has proudly stood by their side and worked to achieve goals and expectations. Team work... a pilot group that approaches management to prevent furloughs. Team work is a pilot group that responds to a failure within scheduling to avoid a potential disaster during the Christmas holiday. Team work...pilots helping out gate agents, rampers, dispatch, scheduling... time and time again. Team work... a pilot group that has repeatedly performed admirably during difficult times. Team work.... a pilot group that consists of a variety of backgrounds and one that has empathy and sympathy. Plenty of furloughed pilots and others from companies that no longer exist for one reason or another.

Reasonable fences to protect the expectations for a member of the pilot group is not unreasonable. Quality of pay raise for the FO's is not unreasonable. Fixing SAP II is not unreasonable. Fixing the languange in the contract is not unreasonable. Expectations are what you showed up at the door of the training center when you accepted the job offer. Plenty of airlines have longer upgrade times. Does not make it right, does not make it wrong. If someone accepts a job offer from Air Tran (today)... their expectations will be different than someone that joined the company 3-5 years ago. What were the expectations of a Midwest pilot that was hired 3-5 years ago versus one that is hired today?

We have a great pilot group and a great product. We have great potential.

Not drinking the kool-aid.... just proud of the pilot group.

 

[Max Powers]

Thats G D Right.......No lets get out there and Picket and show those scabs how its done.

 

[Fly-By-Cable]

I think what BR715 was saying is, when he got hired with AirTran he started at 32.50 an hour just a few years ago. Today's new hires start at around 45 because of efforts of people like BR715 and many others who think this is home and will continue working at improving it. We all know that the reason AirTran has low FO pay is because it's upgrades were about 2 years when that contract was signed. With upgrade times increasing so should and Fo pay. In 6 years I've been here, things have been slowly improving over time...Did you know that our employee buses didn't even have air conditioning in them before? And that's in ATL in mid summer.
Do we bend over backward for this memagment? Absolutely. They are great at getting best deal for the company which is what made AirTran successfull. I just wish they wouldn't apply same to their labor relations. So even though it's not the best place to work for it is getting better and will continue to do so, as long as we are united as a pilot group.

Speaking of which, I just overheard 2 senior check airman on the bus talking how they are on the first page of seniority list and that they don't give a damn about the rest of pilots and just wanna sign up for the same contract we have now for next 4 years.
really hope they are a minority.

 

[Kharma Police]

Speaking of which, I just overheard 2 senior check airman on the bus talking how they are on the first page of seniority list and that they don't give a damn about the rest of pilots and just wanna sign up for the same contract we have now for next 4 years.
really hope they are a minority.[/quote]

I'm guessing they were part of the special club of pilots from Eastern?

 

[Yuppyguppy]

********************ing Scabs!!!!!

 

[RIDETHELIGHTING]

Coach . . . . is that you?

:laugh:

No sh!t
bring the the fo rates up and we will not have to upgrade to get by. Yea I new the rates when I got here. But all have been hearing since I walk thru the door is you are going to CA before you know it.

 

[717capt]

Speaking of which, I just overheard 2 senior check airman on the bus talking how they are on the first page of seniority list and that they don't give a damn about the rest of pilots and just wanna sign up for the same contract we have now for next 4 years.
really hope they are a minority.

Name Names

 

[BR715]

You guys are so sensitive. What I'm saying is in the 80s and early 90s guys who got hired at a legacy would sit in the right seat for 8 or 9 years before they could upgrade. Now guys want to show up on property at a very young airline and expect a Southwest style contract. And if they don't have it they are looking for another airline to go to within 6 months. We all need to keep working for better things. The company needs an east west flow, the union needs a better contract, yada yada yada. It will all come in time.

 

[Max Powers]

NO I WANT IT TODAY wahahahawhwhwah

Seriously though we need to do a bit more fighting than we are today