top of page
Market Hedwig

Spirit & JetBlue Merger Deal

Updated: Aug 14, 2022


JetBlue and Frontier are battling for the merger opportunity with Spirit Airlines. JetBlue wins battle for Spirit airline. The transaction would create the fifth largest airline in the U.S. But the deal is still complicated given the regulatory uncertainty. This merger could reshape the airline industry by putting pressure on the nation’s four dominant carriers.


MARKET SHARE DISTRIBUTION


As of April 2022, American had 18.4% of the U.S. airline market, followed by Southwest at 17.2%, Delta at 17.1% and United 13.9%. Alaska Airlines had 5.6% and JetBlue 5.4%. Spirit was the seventh largest at 4.8%.


DEAL STRUCTURE


JetBlue Offer:

  • All-cash deal valuing Spirit at $33.5 a share - $3.8B

  • $400mn reverse break fee

  • Special dividends will be distributed from a portion of the merger consideration

Frontier Offer:

  • Stock and Cash deal valuing Spirit at $25 a share - ($4.13 cash + 1.9 share of Frontier for 1 share of Spirit)

  • $350mn reverse break fee


DEAL RATIONALE (Form S4 - P30)


JetBlue:

  • Create a true national competitor to the dominant legacy carriers

  • More Airbus jetliners and pilots to help it compete with large carriers

  • Prevent Frontier from buying it as a potential business risk

  • Synergies - the deal would result in annual savings of $600mn to $700mn thanks to increased network reliance, schedule optimization, and economies of scale on existing cost bases

Frontier:

  • Expected to deliver a $500mn cost synergy since both Frontier and Spirits are ultra low-cost carriers

  • Quickly fill in the pilot and staffs shortage

  • To prevent Jetblue from buying Spirit


KEY FINANCIALS


(USD mn, except share price)

Source: J.P. Morgan

*Data as of market close on 12/8/2022


WHAT HAPPEN NEXT


Spirit shares rose nearly 4% in pre-market after JetBlue agreed to buy Spirit trading at $25.25 a share, while JetBlue and Frontier stocks were up 1% and 6%. JetBlue’s victory over Frontier has marked the start of a fight to get regulators to bless the deal. JetBlue has agreed to pay Spirit’s shareholders a $400mn breakup fee if the deal is prohibited by antitrust regulators.


Comments


bottom of page