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Old Dec 19, 2006 | 8:21 am
  #30  
Air Brian
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: BNA
Programs: DL PM/MM, Hilton Diamond, *wood plat, UA 1kc
Posts: 921
Originally Posted by scassett
Is'nt all this cash coming from financing that will be rolled into the new Delta, putting it in a worse financial position?
Yes.

I think the creditors will look at US's "success" with the HP merger and think twice. Can you imagine the integration nightmare in bringing DL into the fold at the same time as US can't even figure out the HP merger? Financing aside, airline mergers fail for two reasons, lack of advertised synergies resulting from incomplete operational integration and labor discontent. This proposed marriage shows signs of enormous trouble on both fronts. Also, we're forgetting the fact that the two most profitable services provided by the combined airline would either disappear or be marginalized: the shuttle will never make it and the new US mgmt will be ill-prepared for the focus on Int'l markets.
In total, for the LBO or Private Equity crowd snapping up companies with massive junk financing, this deal is attractive. However, for creditors like Boeing who sees a long term customer (more likely in an independent DL) and Coke who will be crucified if it goes along, not to mention DALPA, the prospects for a quick buck may be less attractive.
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