SkyWest Had Made Hostile $3.50/Share Bid For ExpressJet

[WAVIT Inbound]

Our scope and merger/acquisition language was not written to simply protect XJT pilots. If you read it the ultimate intent when all is said and done is to have an integrated seniority list, and not release control of our aircraft or flying until such an integration is complete. That's not how SKW prefers to operate. There is no way SKW gets relief from these sections of our CBA. I can't speak for others here, but I would rather see a slow death for XJT than be a link in Jerry's whipsaw chaingang for the next ? years. No fugging way. You want to buy the orange, you get the peel too.

Why do i keep hearing this from XJT guys? The arrogance of your CEO and now your pilot group will be the demise for a once great regional. SKW is not out to get you, but if you want to be responsible for taking out an airline and killing 1000's of jobs so be it.

 

[USCtrojan]

It might not happen, but that is what we would have to vote to give up. That is the key, we have it in place. My view on it is this, damned if we do damned if we don't. We decide to keep our clause (again good for all pilot groups) and Skywest says no thanks then. Then CAL says you will lose planes beginning the end of '09, year and half away. Many changes over that long of period awaits. But gives our group time and options. Or we give our clause away for some short term gains but in the long run we all still fight each who is the best performance blah, blah, blah. Either way I still look for a job starting all over at a regional because Jerry feels he can do whatever. Or I keep the clause intact and make Jerry deal with us all. I for one don't want to work at Home Depot again.

XJT HAS A $130 MILLION DOLLAR BOND DUE IN JUNE. How much cash does XJT have on hand now? Why do you think Jerry A. made his deal go down now? You guys are talking a few more years, I don't see it in your cards. XJT may not have enough cash on hand to last through the Summer. Unless they find another investor. Right now, I see one suitor....

Trojan

 

[ATRCA]

Personally, I like Hawaiian Punch better. Yum, I just had a glass this morning and I feel Greeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaat!" But in all seriousness, if you would like to get on the Christmas Kool-Aid mailing list which I started ealier this year for those ASA(pro ALPA) anti-SkyWest folks then feel free to sign up. Sign up now and you will get at least a 10 year supply of Jerry's special super hero blend. Wow, that stuff is awesome, it keeps you flying longer and higher than the traditional "branded" blend plus it won't leave you mindless after the imminent zombie like hangover. So sign up now and you too can be busting down walls with Jerry. It's a lot of secured fun even without the traditional scope blend, so don't be afraid and come on, what are you waiting for. Join the biggest happiest Kool-Aid mailing list in town. Act now or you will definitely be grounded.
Gee, I'm getting thirsty just talking about it.

Damn, you almost make it sound good. Unfortunately, I've never been into fruity drinks especially the company kind! Good luck to all.

 

[Andy Neill]

XJT HAS A $130 MILLION DOLLAR BOND DUE IN JUNE. How much cash does XJT have on hand now? Why do you think Jerry A. made his deal go down now? You guys are talking a few more years, I don't see it in your cards. XJT may not have enough cash on hand to last through the Summer. Unless they find another investor. Right now, I see one suitor....

Trojan

They show $187 million on the most recent quarter and losing 16% ($31 million) of that per quarter. If you take out the $130 million bond and the loss rate continues at $31 per quarter, that has the cash running out in five months.

If course, if you used the same math to Great Lakes 10 years ago, they would have only a month and a half left to live back then and they are still here.

 

[USCtrojan]

They show $187 million on the most recent quarter and losing 16% ($31 million) of that per quarter. If you take out the $130 million bond and the loss rate continues at $31 per quarter, that has the cash running out in five months.

If course, if you used the same math to Great Lakes 10 years ago, they would have only a month and a half left to live back then and they are still here.

Thanx. There also has to be a bingo number there. Meaning, money crosses hands daily to pay bills, offer refunds, etc. So my guess that bingo number is not $0. Probably around $30-$50 million cash on hand to deal with day to day transactions.

Trojan

 

[TheCheat]

Good Faith?

Correct me if I'm wrong, (and I work for XJT, not Skywest) but I'm pretty sure that "good faith" at Skywest went out the window the moment an ALPA drive was organized. Even though it didn't pass, the pilot group showed that they were willing to give up the "mom and pop" environment of the airline in exchange for the "us vs. them" environment that union representation brings.

The gloves have come off at Skywest, and the mom and pop days are over, union or no union.

Again, my opinion, please correct me if I'm wrong.

Namaste B1tches

 

[Andy Neill]

Remnants of it remained after each of the four union drives since 1998.

 

[XPOO]

Correct me if I'm wrong, (and I work for XJT, not Skywest) but I'm pretty sure that "good faith" at Skywest went out the window the moment an ALPA drive was organized. Even though it didn't pass, the pilot group showed that they were willing to give up the "mom and pop" environment of the airline in exchange for the "us vs. them" environment that union representation brings.

The gloves have come off at Skywest, and the mom and pop days are over, union or no union.

Again, my opinion, please correct me if I'm wrong.

Namaste B1tches

That's because the pilots turn in their cards in order to get free hot dogs and sodas. And those cool looking lanyards and pins. That's all. I guess if they ALL wanted a Union, it wouldn't have been voted down FOUR times now.

 

[MJG]

Well the CAL BOD just announced, on a Sunday no less, that they want the airline to fly solo for now, no merger.

So now I wonder how this development plays into the whole thing.

 

[WalterSobchak]

Well the CAL BOD just announced, on a Sunday no less, that they want the airline to fly solo for now, no merger.

So now I wonder how this development plays into the whole thing.

Indeed...a good question.

From Bloomberg.com: Continental Air to Shun Mergers, Remain Independent (Update1)

Sounds to me that, if Glenn Tilton's job was to come in and turn UAL into an attractive merger/acquisition target, he has failed miserably. It seems no one wants to have anything to do with them. Perhaps it is time for Tilton to don his golden parachute and allow someone who gives a damn about turning UAL into a great airline again take the reigns.

 

[siucavflight]

Date of hire

 

[Caspian27]

Date of hire

Deja Vu! You sound like US Airways East. That whole thing is going down real well too.

 

[molson247]

They show $187 million on the most recent quarter and losing 16% ($31 million) of that per quarter. If you take out the $130 million bond and the loss rate continues at $31 per quarter, that has the cash running out in five months.

If course, if you used the same math to Great Lakes 10 years ago, they would have only a month and a half left to live back then and they are still here.

What is this 130 million dollar bond everyone is talking about? This is the first I've heard of it....Is it in the XJT 10-k?

 

[Andy Neill]

What is this 130 million dollar bond everyone is talking about? This is the first I've heard of it....Is it in the XJT 10-k?

In my case, I used it in my post (with an "If" in it) based solely on trojan's statement which I took at face value. He is not one to engage in hyperbole....unless you're talking football, of course.

 

[USCtrojan]

In my case, I used it in my post (with an "If" in it) based solely on trojan's statement which I took at face value. He is not one to engage in hyperbole....unless you're talking football, of course.

Now the football comment was not very nice ;-).

Sorry, I misinterpreted June for this Summer. This based on the 8k SEC filing.

EX-99.2 3 xjt8k042408e992.htm EXPRESSJET HOLDINGS, INC. EXHIBIT 99.2

Exhibit 99.2​

[skywest, inc. logo]
Confidential

April 7, 2008​

Mr. James B. Ream
Chief Executive Officer and President
ExpressJet Holdings, Inc.
700 North Sam Houston Parkway, Suite 200
Houston, Texas 77067

Mr. George R. Bravante, Jr.
Chairman
ExpressJet Holdings, Inc.
700 North Sam Houston Parkway, Suite 200
Houston, Texas 77067

Dear Jim and George:
I enjoyed speaking with each of you by phone earlier today regarding this letter. On behalf of the Board of Directors of SkyWest, Inc., I am writing to express our interest in acquiring ExpressJet Holdings, Inc. (“ExpressJet”) and to make a proposal for such a transaction. This transaction would represent a compelling combination and excellent strategic fit for our companies, and create superior value for our respective stockholders.
We are prepared to acquire all of the outstanding shares of ExpressJet common stock at a purchase price of $3.50 per share in cash. This represents a significant 59% premium over ExpressJet’s closing price today and a 63% premium over ExpressJet’s average closing price for the last 30 days. We believe that $3.50 per share is a full and fair price for ExpressJet’s common stock and provides an attractive opportunity for your stockholders to maximize the value of their investment in ExpressJet. This transaction would not be subject to a financing condition or approval by our stockholders. We would finance the purchase price with existing cash on hand and, if appropriate, other readily available financing.
We have negotiated a new capacity purchase agreement with Continental Airlines, Inc., which will become effective upon satisfactory completion of due diligence and consummation of the proposed transaction. In connection with that agreement, Continental would consent to the change of control that would occur upon the consummation of the proposed transaction. For your information, Continental has informed us that they are not in discussions with any other carrier regarding a Capacity Purchase Agreement.
We believe that our proposal would be in the best interests of ExpressJet and its stockholders, particularly given the uncertainty in the airline sector, the high price of oil and, as outlined in your public filings, the risks of your business related to your relationship with Continental. We also believe that our proposal would be beneficial to other ExpressJet constituencies. Additionally, we believe our proposal is compelling given your current cash burn rate and the need to satisfy the redemption of approximately $130 million of convertible notes this summer.
We have engaged Raymond James as our financial advisor and Parr Waddoups and Skadden Arps as legal counsel to advise us in this transaction. We and our advisors are ready to meet with you and your advisors at any time to discuss all aspects of our proposal and to answer any questions you or they may have about the proposal.
This proposal is subject to reaching a mutually satisfactory definitive acquisition agreement, our completion of due diligence, the completion by Continental of due diligence and final approval of the transaction and Capacity Purchase Agreement by our Board of Directors. We would like to commence the due diligence and negotiation of an acquisition agreement as soon as possible. Given our familiarity with your business and the industry, we are confident that once our management team and legal and financial advisors are given access to ExpressJet’s books and records, they will be able to complete their due diligence on an expeditious and accelerated basis. Continental will coordinate its due diligence efforts with you.
This proposal is also conditioned upon ExpressJet obtaining a clarification and/or amendment, satisfactory to us, to the collective bargaining agreement (the “CBA”) between ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. and the pilots in the service of ExpressJet Airlines, as represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International (“ALPA”), dated December 1, 2004. First, we need clarification that nothing in the CBA (including, but not limited to, Section 1.D.3) would obligate us to merge the operations of ExpressJet Airlines with those of any or all of our currently-owned airline subsidiaries, or any airline subsidiaries we may acquire in the future, or otherwise apply to us or any of our subsidiaries or affiliates (other than ExpressJet and its subsidiaries). Secondly, we need the agreement of ALPA that the certain undated letter among ExpressJet, XJT Holdings, Inc., ALPA and the ExpressJet MEC, appended as pages 223 through 226 of the CBA, shall be revoked and deemed null and void, prior to the conclusion of the acquisition.
To effect this transaction, we and a newly-formed wholly owned subsidiary would enter into a definitive acquisition agreement with ExpressJet. Assuming that the conditions relating to the amendment of ExpressJet’s CBA discussed in the preceding paragraph has been fulfilled, we would be prepared to structure the transaction as a first-step tender offer followed by a second-step acquisition. The tender offer would be conditioned on the tender of a majority of the fully-diluted shares of ExpressJet’s common stock, the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, the absence of a material adverse change and other customary conditions. In order to allow for a second-step “short form” acquisition, we also would anticipate receiving a customary “top up option” to purchase an amount of ExpressJet common stock that, when added to the number of shares owned by SkyWest at the time of exercise of the option, constitutes one share more than 90% of the fully diluted shares of ExpressJet common stock. We and our legal counsel have completed a preliminary review of the transaction in light of regulatory approvals and do not foresee any impediments to the completion of the transaction.
Subject to events as they may develop, and depending upon ExpressJet’s response to our proposal, we hope to be able to discuss this with you and your Board on a non-public basis. We ask that you advise us of any plan by you to make our proposal public prior to doing so.
We hope you share our enthusiasm for the proposed transaction and we look forward to hearing from you. Please contact me as promptly as possible to discuss how we may best proceed, and in any event, please respond by next Monday, April 14th.
Sincerely yours,


Jerry C. Atkin
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
SkyWest, Inc.

 

[Whydoitry]

From annual report:

"On August 1, 2008, holders of our outstanding $134.7 million aggregate principal amount 4.25%
convertible notes due 2023 may require us to repurchase their notes. We may pay the repurchase price in cash or
in stock. The conversion of some or all of our senior convertible notes would dilute the ownership interests of
existing stockholders. Any sales in the public market of the common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes
could adversely affect prevailing market prices of our common stock. In addition, the existence of the notes may
encourage short selling by market participants because the conversion of the notes could further depress the price
of our common stock."

As it says this does not mean that XJT has to pay $134 million in cash on 8/1/08, the company can also issue stock, or a combo or the two. And that cash burn everyone likes to discuss is based on last years annual report. Let's see how the 1st quarter's financials come out.

 

[n7715x]

XJT price negotiation

$3.50

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYhCPVtrLwo

 

[Erlanger]

Apparently Skywest really wants to acquire ExpressJet. Brad Rich, Exec VP and CFO/Treasurer of Skywest, Inc released a statement over the weekend to Skywest employees stating in part that,

"Although we are disappointed that ExpressJet has openly rejected our offer, we will immediately begin a due dilligence process and continue with the negotiations."

 

[BigShotXJTdrvr]

We aren't just going to give up our scope (CBA 1/Letter 1) but I don't think we'd have any problem negotiating it away for something else.

One list with SkyWest, DOH, keep our pilot on our contract untill we have a union vote, and you can have our scope...

I would agree with this 100%. I am a doomed 8 year branded pilot. I live on the West Coast. No way I will go work for SKW Inc. with SLC, SFO, LAX and you name how many other West Coast bases, and then we at XJT get stuck with our CAL sh!tburger forever. One list DOH, CBA continues as long as ALPA is our union, and after a transition period with fences for seats and bases etc, everyone gets to bid for their seat and base, as if it were one company.

I just got most of my friends and relatives to understand that I was never a Continental pilot, even though those used to be the only pax I flew around. Now if this happens I get to explain how I work for Skywest, but not really...

 

[Erlanger]

I would agree with this 100%. I am a doomed 8 year branded pilot. I live on the West Coast. No way I will go work for SKW Inc. with SLC, SFO, LAX and you name how many other West Coast bases, and then we at XJT get stuck with our CAL sh!tburger forever. One list DOH, CBA continues as long as ALPA is our union, and after a transition period with fences for seats and bases etc, everyone gets to bid for their seat and base, as if it were one company.

I just got most of my friends and relatives to understand that I was never a Continental pilot, even though those used to be the only pax I flew around. Now if this happens I get to explain how I work for Skywest, but not really...

Good luck with your pipedream!