Hostile takeovers
A hostile takeover allows a suitor to take over a target company whose management is unwilling to agree to a merger or takeover. A takeover is considered "hostile" if the target company's board rejects the offer, but the bidder continues to pursue it, or the bidder makes the offer directly after having announced its firm intention to make an offer. Development of the hostile tender is attributed to Louis Wolfson.
A hostile takeover can be conducted in several ways. A tender offer can be made where the acquiring company makes a public offer at a fixed price above the current market price. Tender offers in the United States are regulated by the Williams Act. An acquiring company can also engage in a proxy fight, whereby it tries to persuade enough shareholders, usually a simple majority, to replace the management with a new one which will approve the takeover. Another method involves quietly purchasing enough stock on the open market, known as a creeping tender offer, to effect a change in management. In all of these ways, management resists the acquisition but it is carried out anyway.
US Airways Moving for Hostile Takeover of American Airlines, Has AA Unions on Board
Here is what happened with Delta
"On January 31, 2007, Delta's creditors rejected US Airways' hostile takeover attempt, and US Airways withdrew its offer to buy Delta"
Same thing happened with United
And now AMR, Also the debt will be restructured but most of it will be there until paid off, yea some stock will be issued but the majority of the debt will be there but with more favorable terms. Of course there is going to be debt shed as aircraft are returned and other changes are made.
Read Below
"Insurmountable levels of debt are another albatross around the neck of the legacy airlines. While American will likely shed or refinance some of the airline’s debt in more favorable terms while in bankruptcy, the massive debt problem for U.S. legacy airlines is still obscenely out of control. Prior to the bankruptcy action, American Airlines was carrying at least $10 billion in debt with another $7 billion in unfunded or underfunded pension liabilities. Sadly, even after bankruptcy, Delta Air Lines is still carrying $14 billion and United Airlines $13 billion in debt and pension liabilities"
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/flight...core-problems/
Again, most of the airlines shed cost and recede some of the debt but they kept most of it! Also US Airways has tried hostile takeovers with United and Delta and we are next... There is no question about it.