Question for Delta/NWA guys on merger stock
 

the news reported that you guys split almost fifty million shares of the new company. This made me really curious, it seems like a success story (but so did the UAL ESOP back in the dark ages).

If anyone on here got some stock, how did it happen? Did you get restricted stock, stock in your retirement, just stock in your brokerage account, how did it work out?

How did ALPA come up with how to split up all the shares? Was it equal? Or seniority based?

Thestreet.com wrote a little bit about it, then it all died away, but the stock is way, way up, so I think this ended up being a good deal. But "good deal" and "airline mergers" are kind of opposite.

So don't give away any private details, but fill the rest of us in on how this went. I don't have any friends at DAL or NWA, they're all furloughed.

Who do you fly for? I'm a bit skeptical when I notice this is your first post.

The stock was placed in our 401K accounts and is immediately tradeable. I still have my shares and their value is north of $60,000 right now. (your mileage will vary depending on the shares rising and falling of course) Like any other asset in your 401K you won't be able to pay the mortgage with it unless you pay Uncle Sam some penalties.

The stock split was done half by equal shares and half by a seniority system.

Overall the entire merger has been a success for the Delta pilots. South pilots got about 20% in raises over 4 years and North pilots about 30%. We all have a better DC plan now. The stock is worth whatever you trade it at, but even if you traded it today the most junior pilot would probably net more than $45,000, which is not a bad howdy-do for pilots that were hired just months before the merger. Delta did not furlough last year and it looks like they may start hiring again before the end of the year. (economy, terrorism, etc. can ruin it all in a day)

The key for us in the merger was that we saw a way to add value to the corporation by facilitating and accelerating the merger synergies and then we got a piece of the pie for our troubles. Pilots can't stop a merger so they might as well get on board and get all you can in the process.

skeptical about what?

Welcome to APC. Introduce yourself.

He's a CAL VP looking for the next offer to their pilots. :D

Hahah, sometimes you have to wonder.

I was wondering the same thing.

What in the world is scary about such a mild question? I've been on APC for more than a year, but I never registered because it won't take my Yahoo account and I don't use my work one for stuff like this.

...But so what? If you don't want to converse about something interesting, then don't converse.

I had heard third-hand that you guys got the stock as pay (taxable) and I was scratching my head. It makes more sense in a retirement account. But wouldn't a big chunk of stock like this put you over the yearly IRS limits? I don't remember what they are, but I thought you couldn't put more than $45,000 or so away for the year.

Google IRC 415(c) for any given year. It will show you the qualified contribution limit for that year. What happens to any contributions that the company can't make because you've reached the limit is determined by what you've negotiated and the plan.