The old chestnut back again?

Have I missed the monthly announcement on BMI?
According to Jethroes aircraft database SRB has confirmed he is trying to buy BMI

Is the old chestnut back in the air again, or has this on off situation moved forwards?

[Bazz]

Alan, it has been a possibility for a long time. SRB is on record talking about it on more than one occasion, one of which was a TV interview quite recently (last three months or so), so I think it will continue to rattle around until someone buys it.

Funny how it's always VS to buy BMi, why not the other way around???? What is the true value of BMi compared to VS?? I'm sure SRB would love to buy BMi, i'd love to buy an Aston Martin, doesn't mean i've got the money to do it.

The true value of BMi will be on the rise thanks to "open skies" & i can see all the BMi A330's (and more) flying out of LHR. BMi have the slots & the now the routes. I read recently that the 20% of BMi owned by SAS could be up for sale at the end of the year, SMB has the first option on it & will take that option.

Alan hate to steel your thunder but I believe the Jethros guy put that up after the SRB Interview on Radio 5 Live (or was it Radio 4) where he said it in an interview with the Beebs chief business reporter...the guy who presents Dragons Den!

With Bmi and UA announcing a large link up on LHR-US operations starting next March I believe (subject to government approval) I dont personally see it happening.

I was under the impression that it is never BMI buying VS due to the fact that they dont want VS, and that Bmi is owned by so many other partys thus its harder to get shareholder approval.

ALthough unlike Denzil, I believe that if SRB wants it he will get it- he has enough financial backers and other companies (which he reguarly restructures) in order to get any cash. He has sold off other parts of companies in the past to keep others afloat and so on.

Whilst we are not in on VS strategy- I personally think that VS should have gone in for Bmed if anyone. After all this would have given them a large number of slots, an aircraft type that the carrier previously operated nad some great niche routes if they decided to keep operating them.

[Pete]

Originally posted by willd

I was under the impression that it is never BMI buying VS due to the fact that they dont want VS, and that Bmi is owned by so many other partys thus its harder to get shareholder approval.

As Sir Michael Bishop owns 50% plus 1 share, he only needs his own approval. Whether he'd be able to raise the capital to buy VS is more unlikely, given the squirming LH and SAS did in recent years over the deal they did when buying their chunks of the airline.

I wasn't trying to say BMi ARE trying to buy VS, but just that it's possible!!! As for SRB wanting to buy BMi & getting what he wants, sure he'll sell what's needed but does he really want it that bad. I think he'd rather see VS making a decent profit & get it's expansion plans back on line.