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.

 

[NJAowner]

I am not saying it does not have anything to do with WB. I do not know whether it does -- but I know I did not say it. The point I was trying to make is that for months (or years) I have read so much on this site about how afraid WB is of negative publicity. The conclusion is that since he is "so scared" the union has leverage. All I am posing is "what if he is not all that scared of negative publicity??" Well -- the negative publicity "cat is now out of the bag".

 

[Hawkered]

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.

At the end of the day, Netjets is a very small part of the BRK porfolio.

If we continue to play stupid games...we all will win stupid prizes!

This needs to be brought a close, NOW!!

 

[SpaceShipEarth]

Sooooo I've got an interview scheduled. How sound of a career move would this be? Any while your at it some winning lotto numbers would be great too

 

[CALRepublic]

Sooooo I've got an interview scheduled. How sound of a career move would this be? Any while your at it some winning lotto numbers would be great too

Rumor has it a couple of days after Netjets announced we were hiring, the website collapsed due to traffic.

Great place to work, good company, lots of potential provided the union and management get along

 

[realityman]

At the end of the day, Netjets is a very small part of the BRK porfolio.

If we continue to play stupid games...we all will win stupid prizes!

This needs to be brought a close, NOW!!

I keep hearing how we're just a small part of the BH portfolio. Just a pimple on a knat's a**.

So what? Who cares? Small things can create big waves and even bigger problems. A pimple could actually be a cancer that if just ignored could create large problems for the rest of the body later on.

End it now? Uhhhhhh, okay, I'm all for that. Would you mind telling me how we do that without taking it in the shorts? You don't seriously believe that if we stop all the union activity that JH will just pony up to the negotiating table and say, "Thanks boys. This was all just a misunderstanding. I didn't really want concessions from you. Now we can sit and talk like adults and work out a nice compromise.". So what do you think the end result will be if we let up on the pressure? Seriously, I'm all ears as to how you think this would play out.

As for BH selling us, again, so what? That could be a negative thing, but not necessarily. Depends on who buys us. I'm not all that worried about a BH sale of us right now.

Besides, good luck to BH selling a company that's in extremely contentious negotiations with FOUR unionized labor groups! What will the sales pitch be? "Do you like angry employees? Enamored with the thought of a strike? Ready to lose millions (maybe billions) while fielding complaints and lawsuits from the richest and most powerful people and companies in the world? Then boy do we have the company for you! Come on down to Crazy Warren's profit center and we'll cut you a great deal!".

The prospect I find most possible (but I don't think it's very likely) is BH just winding us down. They could. But I'm not going to worry about it until they shut our sales department down. Every day they sell another share is a five year extension to NJA's life.

Meanwhile, if we want any chance of a good contract we need to increase the pressure on JH and BH any and every way we can. Looking forward to walking in Omaha in May!

 

[fischman]

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

f.u.d.

 

[ghostrider64]

One thing is certain, none of us have seen how WB will react to such "bad" PR, as he approaches the end of days. Sell, stay or fold? Either way we shouldn't fear it, we should enjoy the "game" as it plays out. We are seeing history, as it pertains to WB's running one of his businesses, and let there be no doubt "his team" is in fact directing ALL aspects of the company.

As for folding, this seems to be the least likely option.

1) flow of new metal increasing
2) increasing sales (new and existing aircraft)
3) increasing staffing

Not typical benchmarks for a company to be shut down. If he in fact chose to do this it would still mean pilots would be needed for quite sometime to fly out the contracts, not too mention planes being sold, still need crews to fly them and demand for those planes is evident.

So what's to fear exactly? Not much from where I'm sitting. Over the past year I've been turning down jobs left and right, instead I'm sticking around to see this all unfold. It can be fun to participate in historical events.

 

[T-1GUY]

Keep the pressure on boys. They will cave.
Nows the time to stand strong !!!

 

[Hogprint]

I keep hearing how we're just a small part of the BH portfolio. Just a pimple on a knat's a**.


...Would you mind telling me how we do that without taking it in the shorts? You don't seriously believe that if we stop all the union activity that JH will just pony up to the negotiating table and say, "Thanks boys. This was all just a misunderstanding. I didn't really want concessions from you. Now we can sit and talk like adults and work out a nice compromise.". So what do you think the end result will be if we let up on the pressure? Seriously, I'm all ears as to how you think this would play out....

Yes. This. Remember, this is what the Recall was all about. Getting JH's (or the Twinky Dinks) boys in place to "play along to get along" and look what happened. They will play games until we make them negotiate in good faith.

The rest of your quote was spot on also.

 

[G4dude]

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.

You GOTTA be KIDDING.