20 buyers now circling Virgin Australia

[Arctaurus]

Regarding Palmer's action, assuming it will go to the higher jurisdiction, I would feel confident that the High Court, cognisant of the delicate situation with COVID, will stretch a decision out until after the borders are opened up, so the decision will have limited practical effect in the current crisis.

[Lookleft]

70 was always an unrealistic number in these times. Basically they were saying that they were going to restart the airline with one that would have as many airframes as Jetstar when the majority of the Jetstar fleet is parked up against a fence. Even 40 is optimistic given that Victoria is now locked down and curfewed until the middle of September. When are the keys to the front door meant to be handed over?

[SOPS]

And remember, there is no guarantee that the Vic lockdown will stop in 6 weeks. If things don’t get better, Dan may very well extend things.

[Colonel_Klink]

Originally Posted by Lookleft

70 was always an unrealistic number in these times. Basically they were saying that they were going to restart the airline with one that would have as many airframes as Jetstar when the majority of the Jetstar fleet is parked up against a fence. Even 40 is optimistic given that Victoria is now locked down and curfewed until the middle of September. When are the keys to the front door meant to be handed over?

The idea isn’t that post administration the airline has 70 aircraft flying....its more that the airline will have 70 aircraft available for it to ramp up operations over ‘x’ amount of months.

I think the number of aircraft Virgin retain will be solely dependant on how successful lease renegotiations were - the more ‘power by the hour’ leases they were able to renegotiate, the more aircraft there will be.

I find it very unlikely that Bain would fork out the money they have to buy an airline of 40 737s.

My money is on 60-75 737s.....hoping for the latter, expecting something closer to the former.

[KRUSTY 34]

Originally Posted by SOPS

And remember, there is no guarantee that the Vic lockdown will stop in 6 weeks. If things don’t get better, Dan may very well extend things.

Hello Bain, anyone home?

Surely a world savvy and experienced outfit would have considered the possibility, no probability of a second wave, third wave, spike or whatever that would effectively put an already hibernating market into a coma!

Or will they simply do what Gordon Gecko tried to do to Bluestar?

[non_state_actor]

Hello Bain, anyone home?

Surely a world savvy and experienced outfit would have considered the possibility, no probability of a second wave, third wave, spike or whatever that would effectively put an already hibernating market into a coma!

Or will they simply do what Gordon Gecko tried to do to Bluestar?

Unlike Bluestar, which was reference to Carl Icahn's job on TWA, I don't think there would be much to break up. It would be more a case of just walking away and liquidating the airline, where everyone gets zero except the staff who get paid by the government and secured creditors who get their assets.

However if they have deep pockets hanging on into next year might salvage something.

[Sunfish]

I say again; What is Bains exit strategy?

[flamingmoe]

Originally Posted by Sunfish

I say again; What is Bains exit strategy?

And will they have the same exit strategy that they had 5wks ago.

[Boeingpilot738]

Originally Posted by Sunfish

I say again; What is Bains exit strategy?

I doubt anyone here really knows, do you?

[galdian]

Originally Posted by flamingmoe

And will they have the same exit strategy that they had 5wks ago.

Unfortunately can't reference but always remember someone of note, after being questioned by a journalist about a change of stance on an issue responded:

" Well when circumstances change you have to assess, re-assess and reconsider your position; maybe your position has to change. What would YOU do?"

Suppose they might have the same exit strategy but the way things have changed unless they struck a deal with Deloittes with absolutely no downside for Bain what they walk in to (and pay for) will affect what they can sell out of, affecting their potential profit.

As with Bain it's about $$$ and NOT about the warm and fuzzies of operating aircraft I'm sure they're constantly looking at the viability of ANY investment.

Anyone who wants to believe it remains (if ever was) a "done deal" I hope for all involved you're proven correct.

Cheers

[Lookleft]

The idea isn’t that post administration the airline has 70 aircraft flying....its more that the airline will have 70 aircraft available for it to ramp up operations over ‘x’ amount of months.
I think the number of aircraft Virgin retain will be solely dependant on how successful lease renegotiations were - the more ‘power by the hour’ leases they were able to renegotiate, the more aircraft there will be.
I find it very unlikely that Bain would fork out the money they have to buy an airline of 40 737s.My money is on 60-75 737s.....hoping for the latter, expecting something closer to the former.

So what you are saying is that Bain are so good at negotiation that they will have other entities wearing the cost of having 60-75 airframes available for the new Virgin? Who pays for the staff that are needed to support that fleet size or does Bain just bring them online as the aircraft are needed? Meanwhile the C19 impact on the economy just keeps rolling along and there is very limited flying available. It reminds me of the argument that everything Singapore Airlines touches turns to gold based on the fanciful premise that because they make bucket loads of money then anything they are involved in will. I ask the question again; When does Bain actually have to commit to the purchase? Then and only then, will the staff know if they have a job.

[Ragnor]

Hrdlicka’s role comes into sharp focus as Virgin prepares for a relaunch

The role that the former Jetstar boss Jayne Hrdlicka will play in the operation of Virgin Australia is increasingly coming under sharp focus, with a growing number of suggestions in the market that the highly regarded executive could have a hands-on position with the soon-to-be revamped airline.

Ms Hrdlicka worked at Bain Consulting before running the Qantas budget airline offshoot Jetstar and later A2 milk.

She has been working alongside Bain Capital in its efforts to buy Virgin Australia, as first revealed by DataRoom on April 23.

Earlier, it was thought that Ms Hrdlicka would likely emerge as chairman of Virgin Australia under Bain Capital’s ownership or a director, but now the thinking is that her expertise of operating an airline to a tight budget will be more fully utilised once Bain Capital secures control of the carrier following the creditors vote on August 26.

Her non-compete agreement with A2 Milk expired at the end of June.

In May, Bain Australia boss Mike Murphy told The Australian that the private equity firm hoped to keep working with Virgin Australia boss Paul Scurrah but added it was too early to determine who would play what role.

However, the thinking now is that with the tough COVID-19 restrictions in place in Victoria, Ms Hrdlikca’s role with the airline could be more prominent.

Ms Hrdlicka is seen as shrewd when it comes to operating airlines and is known to have ruffled feathers among union representatives when she drove down costs while running Jetstar.

But Bain Capital may be taking a harder look at ways to cut costs as part of efforts to survive the current environment where international travel is suspended and domestic travel is largely off limits for those not only from Victoria but also Sydney.

The Australian reported in July that a key union in the Virgin Australia administration was believed to be pushing new owner Bain Capital to guarantee that Ms Hrdlicka would not have a key role in running the airline following the private equity’s $1.65bn deal struck with voluntary administrator Vaughan Strawbridge to take control of the carrier after it collapsed in April.

She was recently appointed to the board of Hawaiian Airlines and is also chairman of Tennis Australia so some suggest perhaps her schedule is already full.

Bain has already injected about $125m of capital into the airline, which some say has lessened its negotiating power with certain creditors.

However, most now believe that the buyout fund has the deal sewn up and it will be difficult for the airline’s disgruntled bond holders that are owed about $2bn to derail the proposal.

A dilemma for some, such as aircraft lessors, is whether to be paid out as creditors or renegotiate with Bain ahead of the creditors meeting.

Bain or Virgin Australia management are yet to disclose exact details of the business plan under private equity ownership or the amount that will be paid out to the bond holders.

But there has been talk that Bain could offer an update for its Virgin Australia plans in the coming days. Bain is due to make its formal DOCA proposal to the administrator on August 12.

But the bondholders were not set to learn how much they will get until they are given a formal report by the administrators, scheduled on August 19, ahead of their meeting days after.

[MelbourneFlyer]

Originally Posted by Colonel_Klink

The idea isn’t that post administration the airline has 70 aircraft flying....its more that the airline will have 70 aircraft available for it to ramp up operations over ‘x’ amount of months.
I think the number of aircraft Virgin retain will be solely dependant on how successful lease renegotiations were - the more ‘power by the hour’ leases they were able to renegotiate, the more aircraft there will be.
I find it very unlikely that Bain would fork out the money they have to buy an airline of 40 737s.
My money is on 60-75 737s.....hoping for the latter, expecting something closer to the former.s

One article said the idea was for Bain to be flying around 40 B737s but have more on hand so that if one goes tech they can swap in another because Bain's research said that OTP and reliability of schedule etc was super-important, and of course Bain would also be looking at how domestic travel and even NZ is going to come back but this will happen through to 2021, so they can't just settle for a 'baseline' fleet and then need to go out and lease more B737s every other month, especially the way that demand can do up and down as we've seen with MEL and now SYD.

I figured they would hang onto all the B737s they own, which is around 40 I think I read somewhere, and then add to this the best value leased B737 leased deals. As Virgin had probably that many leased B737s again and from a wide number of leasing firms they can probably shop around the leasing agents, maybe preference the newest B737s for greater reliability, and just cut the best deal to keep those extra B737s in the fleet, so maybe add another 10-20 to the 40 they own and they have a fleet of 60-70 all up.

[KRUSTY 34]

It may be a buyers market as far as leasing goes, and probably will be for some time?

If Bain do plan on expanding the fleet down the track however, it still might be a good idea to form a positive relationship with the various lessors.

I wonder if that’s part of their strategy?

[wheels_down]

Press announcement tomorrow in regards to initial operational structure plans from Bain. Lounges yes. International Yes. Tiger No.

Media is reporting they are maintaining the full service model, not going after Jetstar, or cutting the product back as much as previously speculated.

Profitable core, just need to cut off all the excess baggage.

[SOPS]

Just on the news here. Virgin to reduce staff by 4000. I hope it’s not true.

[MelbourneFlyer]

Originally Posted by wheels_down

Press announcement tomorrow in regards to initial operational structure plans from Bain. Lounges yes. International Yes. Tiger No.
Media is reporting they are maintaining the full service model, not going after Jetstar, or cutting the product back as much as previously speculated.
Profitable core, just need to cut off all the excess baggage.

I'd have thought International NO, at least not until next year. Lounges, well nobody doubted they were going. Tiger, everyone know it was gone. But 'full service'? I can't see that, and nobody ever expected them to go after Jetstar. Honestly the media will not have seen anything 'leaked' at this stage, this is all just speculation, largely playing safe bets but also making some dumb predictions.

[chookcooker]

Originally Posted by MelbourneFlyer

I'd have thought International NO, at least not until next year. Lounges, well nobody doubted they were going. Tiger, everyone know it was gone. But 'full service'? I can't see that, and nobody ever expected them to go after Jetstar. Honestly the media will not have seen anything 'leaked' at this stage, this is all just speculation, largely playing safe bets but also making some dumb predictions.

Thanks for the insight BNEA320

[Section28- BE]

'Apparently'- ASX announcement, accompanied by Media spiel, tomorrow Wed- 05/08/2020.....

rgds
S28- BE

[PPRuNeUser0198]

Just on the news here. Virgin to reduce staff by 4000. I hope it’s not true.

That is old news. Bain had quoted in the past that the headcount would reduce in line with the reduced fleet size. That number of 4k is on mark to what was discussed in previous interviews.