Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

Frontier raises offer for Spirit to stave off JetBlue's bid

Published 06/24/2022, 05:31 PM
Updated 06/24/2022, 08:35 PM
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A logo of low cost carrier Spirit Airlines is pictured on an Airbus plane in Colomiers near Toulouse, France, November 6, 2018. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau//File Photo

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A logo of low cost carrier Spirit Airlines is pictured on an Airbus plane in Colomiers near Toulouse, France, November 6, 2018. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau//File Photo

By David Shepardson and Rajesh Kumar Singh

(Reuters) -Spirit Airlines Inc on Friday urged its shareholders to back a merger deal with Frontier Group Holdings at a meeting next week after Frontier boosted its offer for the ultra-low-cost carrier.

Spirit is the subject of a bidding war between Frontier and JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ:JBLU) Corp.

Both bidders view Spirit as an opportunity to expand their domestic footprints at a time when the U.S. airline industry is dogged by labor and aircraft shortages. Either of the deals would create the fifth-largest U.S. airline.

Under the revised terms, Frontier will bump up the cash component of the deal by $2 per share to $4.13 per share, along with 1.9126 Frontier shares in the cash-and-stock deal. Frontier will prepay $2.22 per share as a cash dividend to Spirit stockholders following approval of the transaction.

Denver-based Frontier has also increased its reverse termination fee to Spirit by $100 million to $350 million.

Spirit shareholders are due to vote on the merger deal with Frontier on June 30.

Florida-based Spirit has repeatedly rejected JetBlue's offer, saying it has a low likelihood of winning approval from U.S. regulators.

Yet, JetBlue has not given up on its quest, and has been trying to persuade Spirit shareholders to vote against the deal with Frontier.

On Monday, New York-based JetBlue sweetened its offer for Spirit by $2 to $33.50 per share in cash. Frontier's offer, at its closing price on Friday, is worth $24.29 in stock and cash.

"A JetBlue transaction faces significantly greater regulatory impediments than a Frontier transaction," Spirit said.

In a statement late on Friday, JetBlue said it continued to believe its proposal was superior to Frontier's, but said it will "more thoroughly" review and assess the revised terms of Frontier's proposal.

Both the deals are expected to face intense regulatory scrutiny. But JetBlue's Northeast Alliance partnership with American Airlines (NASDAQ:AAL) is a sticking point with Spirit.

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A logo of low cost carrier Spirit Airlines is pictured on an Airbus plane in Colomiers near Toulouse, France, November 6, 2018. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau//File Photo

The Justice Department has sued JetBlue and American to unwind the partnership. Spirit has asked JetBlue to drop the partnership if it wants a deal, but JetBlue declined.

Frontier stock closed up 6.6% on Friday at $10.54, while Spirit finished up 2.9% to $24.52. JetBlue shares gained 5.8% to close at $8.62.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.