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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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SCHEDULE 13E-3/A
Rule 13E-3 Transaction Statement
(Pursuant to Section 13(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934)
(Amendment No. 2)
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COMAIR HOLDINGS, INC.
(Name of Issuer)
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DELTA AIR LINES, INC.
DELTA AIR LINES HOLDINGS, INC.
KENTUCKY SUB, INC.
(Name of Person(s) Filing Statement)
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Common Stock, No Par Value
(Title of Class of Securities)
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199789 10 8
(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)
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Robert S. Harkey, Esquire
Senior Vice President - General Counsel
Delta Air Lines, Inc.
Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport
Atlanta, Georgia 30320
(404) 715-2387
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices
and Communications on Behalf of Person(s) Filing Statement)
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With Copies to:
Joseph Rinaldi
Davis Polk & Wardwell
450 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
(212) 450-4000
This statement is filed in connection with (check the appropriate box):
a. [ ] The filing of solicitation materials or an information
statement subject to Regulation 14A, Regulation 14C or Rule
13e-3(c) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
b. [ ] The filing of a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933.
c. [X] A tender offer.
d. [ ] None of the above.
Check the following box if the soliciting materials or information
statement referred to in checking box (a) are copies: [ ]
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This Amendment No.2 amends and supplements the Rule 13e-3 Transaction
Statement on Schedule 13E-3 (as previously amended, the "Schedule 13E-3") filed
on October 22, 1999 by (i) Delta Air Lines, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Delta"), (ii) Kentucky Sub, Inc., a Kentucky corporation ("Kentucky Sub") and
an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Delta, and (iii) Delta Air Lines
Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Delta Holdings") and a direct
wholly-owned subsidiary of Delta, pursuant to Section 13(e) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 13e-3 thereunder in connection with
the tender offer by Kentucky Sub for all of the issued and outstanding shares
(the "Shares") of common stock, no par value, of Comair Holdings, Inc.
("Comair"), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer
to Purchase dated October 22, 1999 (the "Offer to Purchase") and the related
Letter of Transmittal (which together constitute the "Offer"), copies of which
are filed as Exhibits (d)(1) and (d)(2) to the Schedule 13E-3.
Capitalized terms not separately defined herein shall have the meanings
specified in the Schedule 13E-3.
Item 3. Past Contacts, Transactions or Negotiations
Items 3(a)(1)-(a)(2) are hereby amended and supplemented as follows:
The first paragraph under "Special Factors - Background of the Offer" in
the Offer to Purchase that is incorporated by reference in Items 3(a)(1)-(a)(2)
of the Schedule 13E-3 is hereby amended and supplemented by deleting the last
sentence therefrom and replacing it with the following sentence: "Delta and
Comair have agreed to extend the Delta Connection Agreement on a month-to-month
basis after its expiration."
Item 4. Terms of the Transaction
Item 4(a) is hereby amended and supplemented as follows:
The first sentence of the second paragraph under "Introduction" in the
Offer to Purchase that is incorporated by reference in Item 4(a) of the Schedule
13E-3 is hereby deleted and replaced in its entirety with the following
sentences:
"Tendering shareholders who have Shares registered in their name and who
tender directly to the Depositary will not be charged brokerage fees or
commissions or, except as otherwise provided in Instruction 6 of the Letter of
Transmittal, stock transfer taxes with respect to the purchase of Shares by
Kentucky Sub pursuant to the Offer. Shareholders who hold their shares through a
broker, dealer, commercial bank or trust company should consult with such
institution as to whether there are any fees applicable to a tender of Shares."
The first paragraph under "The Tender Offer - Acceptance for Payment and
Payment for Shares" in the Offer to Purchase that is incorporated by reference
in Item 4(a) of the Schedule 13E-3 is hereby deleted and replaced in its
entirety with the following paragraph:
"Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer (including, if
the Offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of any such extension
or amendment), Kentucky Sub will accept for payment, and will pay for, all
Shares validly tendered prior to the Expiration Date and not properly withdrawn,
promptly after the Expiration Date, if the conditions to the Offer have been
satisfied or waived. In addition, subject to the applicable rules of the SEC,
Kentucky Sub expressly reserves the right to delay acceptance for payment of or
payment for Shares in order to comply, in whole or in part, with any applicable
law, including the HSR Act."
Item 4(b) is hereby amended and supplemented as follows:
The first two paragraphs under "Special Factors - Interests of Certain
Persons in the Offer and the Merger - Non-Employee Directors" in the Offer to
Purchase that is incorporated by reference in Item 4(b) of the Schedule 13E-3
are hereby deleted and replaced in their entirety with the following two
paragraphs:
"Comair and each of Peter H. Forster, John A. Haas, Gerald L. Wolken,
Robert H. Castellini, Christopher J. Murphy, III and Raymond A. Mueller (the
"Non-Employee Directors") executed certain agreements dated as of August 10,
1999, in connection with the additional services and responsibilities required
by any change in control situation. On August 10, 1999, the compensation
committee of the Comair Board authorized the terms of these agreements and such
agreements were confirmed at a meeting of the Comair Board on October 1, 1999.
Upon a "Change in Control" of Comair, each Non-Employee Director is entitled to
receive a lump-sum payment equal to
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such director's earned but unpaid director's fees for the period through and
including the date of the Change in Control and an amount equal to five times
the annual director's fees, including fees for meetings and as chairman of any
committees. The Non-Employee Directors' agreements also provide travel
privileges on Comair flights to each Non-Employee Director and his spouse for
their respective lives, and to such Director's dependent children for a
specified period. According to Comair's proxy statement for the July 2, 1999
annual meeting of Comair's shareholders, the basic annual director fee paid to
Non-Employee Directors of Comair is $20,000. In addition, each Non-Employee
Director receives $1,500 per year for each committee on which he is a member,
and committee chairmen receive an additional $1,500 annually. The acceptance of
Shares for payment in the Offer will constitute a Change in Control for purposes
of these agreements.
The foregoing description of the Non-Employee Directors' agreements does
not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
Non-Employee Directors' agreements which are filed as Exhibits (c)(8) through
(c)(13) to the Schedule 14D-9, and are incorporated herein by reference."
Item 7. Purpose(s), Alternatives, Reasons and Effects
Item 7(d) is hereby amended and supplemented as follows:
The heading "The Tender Offer - Certain United States Federal Income Tax
Consequences" in the Offer to Purchase that is incorporated by reference in Item
7(d) of the Schedule 13E-3 is hereby amended by deleting the word "Certain".
Item 8. Fairness of the Transaction
Item 8(b) is hereby amended and supplemented as follows:
The description under paragraph (b) Reasons for the Recommendation of the
Board of Directors under the heading "Special Factors - Recommendation of the
Comair Board; Fairness of the Offer and the Merger" in the Offer to Purchase
that is incorporated by reference in Item 8(b) of the Schedule 13E-3 is hereby
amended by deleting paragraph (v) and replacing it with the following paragraph:
"(v) That Morgan Stanley's analysis demonstrates that if the Delta
Connection Agreement was amended or altered as provided by the Initial Delta
Proposal or the Intermediate Proposal, the Shares might be expected to trade in
the range from $5.00 per Share to $10.00 per Share, and that the $23.50 per
Share in cash to be paid in the Offer and the Merger represented a premium of
approximately 135% to the $10.00 trading value and a premium of approximately
370% to the $5.00 trading value;"
The description under paragraph (b) Reasons for the Recommendation of the
Board of Directors under the heading "Special Factors - Recommendation of the
Comair Board; Fairness of the Offer and the Merger" in the Offer to Purchase
that is incorporated by reference in Item 8(b) of the Schedule 13E-3 is hereby
amended by adding the following immediately after paragraph (xi) thereof:
"(xii) That the $23.50 per Share in cash to be paid in the Offer and the
Merger represented a premium of approximately 31% to the closing price of the
Shares on October 15, 1999, the last full day of trading prior to the
announcement of the execution of the Merger Agreement.
While the Comair Board noted that (i) the Offer price of $23.50 was less
than the highest sales price per Share of $29.00 as reported on the Nasdaq
National Market System in the fifty-two weeks prior to the announcement of the
Offer and (ii) that the Offer price of $23.50 was less than the highest price of
$24.75 which Comair had paid for Shares in the fifty-two weeks prior to the
announcement of the Offer, the Comair Board did not consider either of these to
be material factors given the Comair Board's expectation of the price at which
the Shares might be expected to trade following the renegotiation or termination
of the Delta Connection Agreement. The Comair Board is not aware of any firm
offers made by any person other than Delta and its affiliates during the 18
months preceding the announcement of the Offer for a merger or consolidation
involving Comair or the sale or other transfer of all or any substantial part of
the assets of Comair or securities of Comair which would enable the holder
thereof to exercise control of Comair."
Items 8(c) and (d) are hereby amended and supplemented as follows:
The transaction was not structured to require the approval of at least a
majority of unaffiliated holders of Shares and a majority of the non-employee
directors of Comair have not retained an unaffiliated representative to
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act solely on the behalf of unaffiliated holders of Shares. The fairness of the
transaction to unaffiliated holders of Shares is established by the other
factors discussed in Item 8 to the Schedule 13E-3, as amended hereby.
Item 8(e) is hereby amended and supplemented as follows:
The Offer and the Merger have been approved by all of the directors of
Comair who are not employees of Comair.
Item 9. Reports, Opinions, Appraisals and Certain Negotiations
Item 9(b) is hereby amended and supplemented as follows:
The description under the caption "Special Factors - Opinion of Financial
Advisor to the Comair Board" in the Offer to Purchase that is incorporated by
reference in Item 9(b) of the Schedule 13E-3 is hereby amended and restated in
its entirety as follows:
"Comair retained Morgan Stanley to act as its financial advisor in
connection with the Offer and the Merger and related matters based upon Morgan
Stanley's qualifications, expertise and reputation. On October 16, 1999, Morgan
Stanley delivered its oral opinion to the Comair Board that, as of such date and
based upon the procedures and subject to the assumptions and qualifications
described to the Comair Board and later set forth in the written opinion of
Morgan Stanley dated October 17, 1999, the consideration to be received by the
holders of Shares pursuant to the Merger Agreement was fair from a financial
point of view to such holders (other than Delta and its affiliates).
The full text of Morgan Stanley's written opinion dated as of October 17,
1999, which sets forth, among other things, assumptions made, matters
considered, and scope and limitations on the review undertaken (the "Morgan
Stanley Opinion"), is attached as Exhibit (b)(1) to the Schedule 13E-3 (as
defined below) and is incorporated herein by reference. Holders of Shares are
urged to, and should, read the Morgan Stanley Opinion carefully and in its
entirety. The Morgan Stanley Opinion is directed to the Comair Board and
addresses the fairness of the consideration, from a financial point of view, to
the holders of Shares (other than Delta and its affiliates) pursuant to the
Merger Agreement and it does not address any other aspect of the Merger nor does
it constitute a recommendation as to whether or not holders of Shares should
participate in the Offer. The summary of the Morgan Stanley Opinion set forth in
this Offer to Purchase is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full
text of such opinion.
In arriving at its opinion, Morgan Stanley (i) reviewed certain publicly
available financial statements and other information of Comair; (ii) reviewed
certain internal financial statements and other financial and operating data
concerning Comair prepared by the management of Comair; (iii) reviewed certain
financial projections prepared by the management of Comair; (iv) discussed the
past and current operations and financial condition and the prospects of Comair,
including Comair's expected future relationship with Delta, with senior
executives of Comair; (v) reviewed the reported prices and trading activity for
the Shares; (vi) compared the financial performance of Comair and the prices and
trading activity of the Shares with that of certain other comparable
publicly-traded companies and their securities; (vii) reviewed the financial
terms, to the extent publicly available, of certain comparable acquisition
transactions; (viii) participated in discussions and negotiations among
representatives of Comair and Delta and their financial and legal advisors; (ix)
reviewed the draft Merger Agreement and certain related documents; and (x)
performed such other analyses and considered such other factors as Morgan
Stanley deemed appropriate.
In rendering its opinion, Morgan Stanley assumed and relied upon without
independent verification the accuracy and completeness of the information
reviewed by Morgan Stanley for the purposes of the Morgan Stanley Opinion. With
respect to the financial projections, Morgan Stanley assumed that they were
reasonably prepared on bases reflecting the best currently available estimates
and judgments of the future financial performance of Comair. In addition, Morgan
Stanley assumed that the Offer and the Merger would be consummated on the terms
set forth in the Merger Agreement. Morgan Stanley did not make any independent
valuation or appraisal of the assets or liabilities of Comair, nor was Morgan
Stanley furnished with any such appraisals. The Morgan Stanley Opinion was
necessarily based on economic, market and other conditions as in effect on, and
the information made available to Morgan Stanley as of, the date of the Morgan
Stanley Opinion.
In arriving at its opinion, Morgan Stanley was not authorized to solicit,
and did not solicit, interest from any party, nor did it have discussions with
any party other than Delta with respect to the acquisition of Comair or any of
its assets.
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Below is a brief summary of certain analyses performed by Morgan Stanley
and reviewed with the Comair Board on October 16, 1999, in connection with the
preparation of the Morgan Stanley Opinion and with its oral presentation to the
Comair Board on such date. Certain of these summaries of financial analyses
include information presented in tabular format. In order to fully understand
the financial analyses of Morgan Stanley, the tables must be read together with
the text of each summary. These tables alone do not constitute a complete
description of Morgan Stanley's financial analysis.
Comair management provided to Morgan Stanley projections (the "Revised
Projections") for four potential outcomes: (i) the initial proposal made by
Delta for the new operating agreement (the "Initial Delta Proposal"), (ii) the
hypothetical intended to represent a scenario between the Initial Delta Proposal
and the Comair Proposal (as defined below) (the "Intermediate Proposal"), (iii)
the last Comair proposal for the new operating agreement (the "Comair Proposal")
and (iv) a scenario which represented no ongoing relationship with Delta and the
pursuit of certain other alternatives, including code-sharing arrangements with
other carriers and other commercial arrangements (the "Alternative Business
Plan").
The current unaffected market price of the Shares was not an appropriate
means of valuation because it did not reflect the impact of the Revised
Projections and, consequently, Morgan Stanley based its analyses on the Revised
Projections. The Revised Projections are set out in the Schedule 14D-9 that was
mailed to Comair shareholders with the Offer to Purchase on October 22, 1999.
Comparable Public Company Analysis.
As part of its Comparable Public Company Analysis, Morgan Stanley compared
certain financial information of Comair with corresponding publicly available
information of a group of four publicly-traded regional airline companies that
Morgan Stanley considered comparable in certain respects with Comair (the
"Comparable Public Companies"), which group included: Mesa Air Group, Inc.;
Atlantic Coast Airlines Holdings, Inc.; SkyWest, Inc.; and Mesaba Holdings, Inc.
Morgan Stanley applied a range of multiples for the Comparable Public Companies,
based on certain market trading multiples, to operating data for Comair under
the Comair Proposal, the Intermediate Proposal, the Initial Delta Proposal and
the Alternative Business Plan to evaluate at what price the Shares might be
expected to trade in the public markets in the future based on each of these
proposals.
Morgan Stanley analyzed the profitability of the Revised Projections
versus the profitability of Comparable Public Companies. The profitability
measure used was operating income as a percent of sales.
Revised Projections Versus Profitability of Comparable Public Companies
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Comparable Companies vs. Comparable Companies vs.
Companies Comair Blended 2001 Margin Comair Blended 2001 Margin
- -------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------
Comair Proposal........... 25.5% 23.5%
Initial Delta Proposal.... 14.2% 13.5%
Intermediate Proposal..... 15.4% 15.2%
Alternative Business Plan. 12.6% 13.5%
Atlantic Coast Airlines
Holdings, Inc.......... 16.7% 16.7%
Mesa Air Group, Inc....... 8.7% 8.7%
Sky West, Inc............. 17.0% 17.0%
Mesaba Holdings, Inc...... 10.2% 10.2%
Morgan Stanley then analyzed the relative performance of Comair by
comparing certain market trading statistics for Comair with those of the
Comparable Public Companies. The market trading information used in ratios
provided below is as of October 15, 1999. The market trading information
reviewed for purposes of the valuation analysis was (i) market price to
estimated earnings per share for 1999, (ii) market price to estimated earnings
per share for 2000, (iii) projected earnings growth and (iv) market price to
estimated earnings per share for 2000 divided by projected earnings growth.
Earnings per share and projected growth estimates for Comair and the Comparable
Public Companies were based on median IBES estimates as of October 15, 1999. An
analysis of the multiples for the Comparable Public Companies yielded the
following:
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<TABLE>
1999 2000 Projected 5-Year Price/Earnings
Company Price/Earnings Price/Earnings EPS Growth to Growth
- ------------------------------------ -------------- -------------- ---------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Comair.............................. 12.1x 10.6x 17% 0.62x
Atlantic Coast Airlines
Holdings, Inc.................... 15.0x 10.4x 17% 0.62x
Mesa Air Group, Inc................. 9.0x 7.1x 13% 0.55x
Sky West, Inc....................... 10.7x 9.2x 17% 0.54x
Mesaba Holdings, Inc................ 7.1x 6.1x 18% 0.34x
</TABLE>
Based on the foregoing analysis, Morgan Stanley applied multiples of 7x to
11x to 2000 estimated earnings of Comair based on the Revised Projections, and
calculated ranges of implied share values as follows:
Trading Valuation
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<TABLE>
Equity Value
----------------------------------
Multiple Range Aggregate Per Share
2000E --------------- ------------- --------------
CY Earnings (1) Low High Low High Low High
--------------- --- ---- --- ---- --- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Comair Proposal................... $ 1.69 7.0x 11.0x $ 1,163 $ 1,827 $ 11.81 $ 18.57
Intermediate Proposal............. $ 0.89 7.0x 11.0x $ 605 $ 951 $ 6.20 $ 9.75
Initial Delta Proposal ........... $ 0.71 7.0x 11.0x $ 488 $ 767 $ 4.96 $ 7.80
Alternative Business Plan......... $ 0.83 7.0x 11.0x $ 571 $ 898 $ 5.81 $ 9.12
- --------------------
(1) Based on Management Projections.
</TABLE>
Morgan Stanley noted that the price of $23.50 proposed to be paid to the
Comair shareholders in the Offer and the Merger was above the range of the
implied per share equity values of $18.57 to $4.96.
Discounted Stock Price Analysis
As part of its discounted stock price analysis, Morgan Stanley applied the
multiples of the Comparable Public Companies to the future expected earnings of
Comair under the Comair Proposal, the Intermediate Proposal, the Initial Delta
Proposal and the Alternative Business Plan to evaluate at what price the Shares
might be expected to trade in the public markets in the future based on each of
these proposals. Morgan Stanley applied a range of earnings multiples based on
the comparable public company analysis to projected year 2003 earnings for each
of the proposals, to imply a future stock price for Comair. The implied future
stock price from this analysis was then discounted to its present value based on
a range of discount rates representing the estimated cost of equity for Comair.
As set forth in the chart below, such analysis, using a multiple range of 7x to
11x and a discount rate of 13% to 15%, yielded (i) a per share equity value of
$11.45 to $18.96 for the Comair Proposal, (ii) a per share equity value of $7.04
- - $11.66 for the Intermediate Proposal, (iii) a per share equity value of $4.99
- - $8.26 for the Initial Delta Proposal, and (iv) a per share equity value of
$6.71 - $11.11 for the Alternative Business Plan.
No company utilized in the Comparable Public Companies analysis as a
comparison is identical to Comair. In evaluating the Comparable Public
Companies, Morgan Stanley made judgments and assumptions with regard to industry
performance, general business, economic, market and financial conditions and
other matters, many of which are beyond the control of Comair, such as the
impact of competition on the business of Comair and the industry generally,
industry growth and the absence of any material adverse change in the financial
condition and prospects of Comair or the industry or in the financial markets in
general. Mathematical analyses, such as determining the average or median, is
not in itself a meaningful method of using the Comparable Public Company data.
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Discounted Stock Price Analysis
-------------------------------
<TABLE>
Equity Value
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Multiple Range Aggregate Per Share
2003 -------------- -------------- --------------
CY Earnings (1) Low High Low High Low High
--------------- --- ---- --- ---- --- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Comair Proposal.................. $ 2.49 7.0x 11.0x $ 1,127 $ 1,866 $ 11.45 $ 18.96
Intermediate Proposal............ $ 1.53 7.0x 11.0x $ 693 $ 1,147 $ 7.04 $ 11.66
$nitial Delta Proposal .......... $ 1.08 7.0x 11.0x $ 491 $ 813 $ 4.99 $ 8.26
Alternative Business Plan........ $ 1.46 7.0x 11.0x $ 660 $ 1,093 $ 6.71 $ 11.11
- --------------------
(1) Based on Management Projections.
(2) Pro Forma 2003 share price discounted at 13.0% to 15.0%.
</TABLE>
Morgan Stanley noted that the price of $23.50 proposed to be paid to the
Comair shareholders in the Offer and the Merger was above the range of the
implied per share equity values of $18.96 to $4.99.
Precedent Transaction Premiums Analysis
As part of its precedent transaction premiums analysis, Morgan Stanley
reviewed takeover premiums paid in precedent airline and "going private"
transactions. Morgan Stanley applied a range of premiums based on such
precedents to the potential trading values arrived at in the comparable public
company analysis to evaluate the potential prices for the Shares. Using publicly
available information, Morgan Stanley performed an analysis of two precedent
transactions in the regional air carrier business segments that Morgan Stanley
deemed comparable to the Offer and the Merger for purposes of an analysis of
premiums paid. The two transactions constituting the Precedent Airline
Transactions were (acquiror/acquiree): American Airlines, Inc./Reno Air, Inc.
and Mesa Air Group Inc./CCAir, Inc. Morgan Stanley calculated that the premium
to unaffected stock price in the American Airlines, Inc./Reno Air, Inc. and Mesa
Air Group Inc./CCAir, Inc. transactions was 51.9% and 24.4%, respectively, with
a mean of 38.2% and a median of 38.2%. After combining the results of the above
transactions with data from Securities Data Corporation indicating that the mean
and medium premiums paid in 76 "going private" transactions during the past five
years was 37.4% and 31.8%, respectively, Morgan Stanley calculated a range of
implied share values based on a range of premiums from 30% to 40% applied to the
values derived from the Comparable Public Company analysis set forth above:
Precedent Premiums Paid
-----------------------
<TABLE>
Equity Value
---------------------------------
Premium Range Aggregate Per Share
Current ------------- -------------- --------------
Price(1) Low High Low High Low High
----------------- --- ---- --- ---- --- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Comair Proposal.................$ 11.81 $ 18.57 30.0% 40.0% $ 1,511 $ 2,558 $ 15.36 $ 25.99
Intermediate Proposal.......... $ 6.20 $ 9.75 30.0% 40.0% $ 786 $ 1,331 $ 8.07 $ 13.65
Initial Delta Proposal ........ $ 4.96 $ 7.80 30.0% 40.0% $ 635 $ 1,074 $ 6.45 $ 10.92
Alternative Business Plan...... $ 5.81 $ 9.12 30.0% 40.0% $ 743 $ 1,257 $ 7.55 $ 12.77
- --------------------
(1) Implied trading valuation price.
</TABLE>
Morgan Stanley noted that the price of $23.50 proposed to be paid to the
Comair shareholders in the Offer and the Merger was at the high end of the range
of the implied per share equity values of $25.99 to $6.45.
Precedent Transaction Multiples Analysis
As part of its precedent transaction multiples analysis and using publicly
available information, Morgan Stanley performed an analysis of the precedent
acquisition of ASA Holdings, Inc. by Delta. Morgan Stanley
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applied the multiples from the ASA transaction to the Comair operating data to
evaluate the potential prices for the Shares under each of the proposals.
Applying the multiples of earnings paid in the ASA transaction to the expected
earnings in the Initial Delta Proposal, the Adjusted Delta Proposal and
analysts' expected earnings for Comair as compiled by IBES resulted in a range
of values for Comair of $21.96 to $16.94.
No transaction utilized in the precedent transactions analysis as a
comparison is identical to the merger. In evaluating the precedent transactions,
Morgan Stanley made judgments and assumptions with regard to industry
performance, general business, economic, market and financial conditions and
other matters, many of which are beyond the control of Comair, such as the
impact of competition on the business of Comair and the industry generally,
industry growth and the absence of any material adverse change in the financial
condition and prospects of Comair or the industry or in the financial markets in
general. Mathematical analyses, such as determining the average or median, is
not in itself a meaningful method of using precedent transactions data.
Morgan Stanley noted that the price of $23.50 proposed to be paid to the
Comair shareholders in the Offer and the Merger was above the range of the
implied per share equity values of $21.96 to $16.94.
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis
As part of its discounted cash flow analysis, Morgan Stanley analyzed the
future cash flows generated under the projections provided by Comair management
for each of the Comair Proposal, the Intermediate Proposal, the Initial Delta
Proposal and the Alternative Business Plan and discounted those cash flows under
each such proposal to the present value in an attempt to quantify the present
value of executing a business plan under each of the proposals assuming all of
the projections were achieved. Morgan Stanley performed a discounted cash flow
analysis of Comair for the fiscal years ended 2000 through 2004 based on
each of the proposals. Unlevered free cash flows of Comair were calculated as
net income plus depreciation and amortization plus deferred taxes plus other
non-cash expenses plus after-tax net interest expense less capital expenditures
less investment in working capital. Morgan Stanley calculated terminal values by
applying a range of multiples to operating income in fiscal 2004 from 6x to 8x,
representing estimated market trading multiples for regional airlines. The
unlevered cash flow streams and terminal values were then discounted to the
present using a range of discount rates from 11% to 13%, representing an
estimated weighted average cost of capital range for Comair. The discounted
values representing the aggregate values were then adjusted by adding cash and
subtracting debt to arrive at implied equity values. Based on this analysis,
Morgan Stanley calculated implied per share equity values for Comair of:
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis(1)
--------------------------------
<TABLE>
Equity Value
-----------------------------------
WACC Multiple Range Aggregate Per Share
------------- -------------- --------------- --------------
Low High Low High Low High Low High
--- ---- --- ---- --- ---- --- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Comair Proposal................ 11.0% 13.0% 6.0x 8.0x $ 2,119 $ 2,708 $ 21.20 $ 27.09
Intermediate Proposal.......... 11.0% 13.0% 6.0x 8.0x $ 1,465 $ 1,860 $ 14.66 $ 18.61
Initial Delta Proposal ........ 11.0% 13.0% 6.0x 8.0x $ 1,004 $ 1,259 $ 10.04 $ 12.60
Alternative Business Plan...... 11.0% 13.0% 6.0x 8.0x $ 1,215 $ 1,563 $ 12.15 $ 15.64
- --------------------
(1) Based on discount rates of 11.0% to 13.0%.
</TABLE>
Morgan Stanley noted that the price of $23.50 proposed to be paid to the
Comair shareholders in the Offer and the Merger was at the high end of the range
of the implied per share equity values of $27.09 to $10.04.
The preparation of a fairness opinion is a complex process and is not
necessarily susceptible to a partial analysis or summary description. In
arriving at its opinion, Morgan Stanley considered the results of all its
analysis as a whole and did not attribute any particular weight to any analysis
or factor considered by it. Morgan Stanley believes that selecting any portion
of Morgan Stanley's analyses, without considering all analyses, would create an
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incomplete view of the process underlying its opinion. In addition, Morgan
Stanley may have given various analyses and factors more or less weight than
other analyses or factors and may have deemed various assumptions more or less
probable than other assumptions, so that the ranges of valuations resulting for
any particular analysis described above should not be taken to be Morgan
Stanley's view of the actual value of Comair.
In performing its analyses, Morgan Stanley relied upon numerous
assumptions provided to it by the management of Comair with respect to Comair's
industry performance, general business and economic conditions and other
matters, including, but not limited to, assumptions relating to Comair's
deployment plan (including the number of aircraft that would be under
operation, the number and the timing of the delivery of aircraft and available
seat miles), cost constraints, passenger demand and operating margins as
related to the continuation or the termination of the Delta Connection
Agreement and the carrier market generally. The analyses performed by Morgan
Stanley are not necessarily indicative of actual value, which may be
significantly more or less favorable than suggested by such analyses. Such
analyses were performed solely as part of Morgan Stanley's analysis of whether
the consideration to be received by the holders of Shares pursuant to the
Merger Agreement was fair from a financial point of view to such holders (other
than Delta and its affiliates), and were conducted in connection with the
delivery of the Morgan Stanley Opinion to the Comair Board. The analyses do not
purport to be appraisals or to reflect the prices at which Comair might
actually be sold.
As described above, the Morgan Stanley Opinion provided to the Comair
Board was one of a number of factors taken into consideration by Comair Board in
making its determination to recommend adoption of the Merger Agreement and the
transactions contemplated thereby. Consequently, the Morgan Stanley analyses
described above should not be viewed as determinative of the opinion of the
Comair Board or the view of the management with respect to the value of Comair.
The consideration to be received by the holders of Shares pursuant to the
Merger Agreement was determined through negotiations between Comair and Delta
and was approved by the entire Comair Board.
The Comair Board retained Morgan Stanley based upon its experience and
expertise. Morgan Stanley is an internationally recognized investment banking
and advisory firm. As part of its investment banking business, Morgan Stanley is
regularly engaged in the valuation of business and securities in connection with
mergers and acquisitions, negotiated underwritings, competitive biddings,
secondary distributions of listed and unlisted securities, private placements
and valuation for estate, corporate and other purposes. Morgan Stanley has
advised Comair that, in the ordinary course of its business, Morgan Stanley and
its affiliates may actively trade the debt and equity securities or senior loans
of Comair and Delta for their own account and for the accounts of customers and,
accordingly, may at any time hold a long or short term position in such
securities. In the past, Morgan Stanley has provided investment banking services
to Delta unrelated to the Offer and Merger, for which services Morgan Stanley
has received compensation. In December 1998, Morgan Stanley acted as agent in
connection with a private placement of Delta notes for which Delta paid Morgan
Stanley a fee not in excess of $200,000, and such fee was the only fee paid by
Delta to Morgan Stanley in 1998. In July 1999, Morgan Stanley acted as one of
two "joint bookrunners" for Delta's public offering of $537.5 million principal
amount of 8 1/8% Notes due July 1, 2039. Also in July 1999, Morgan Stanley acted
as solicitation agent for a consent solicitation by Delta in respect of certain
privately held debt securities; Delta paid Morgan Stanley a fee of $500,000 for
serving in this capacity. Morgan Stanley and its affiliates may maintain
relationships with Comair and Delta in the future.
Pursuant to a letter agreement between Comair and Morgan Stanley, dated
September 23, 1999, Comair has agreed to pay Morgan Stanley: (A) if no Merger
Agreement is entered into, an "Advisory Fee" calculated depending upon the
amount of time spent on assignments, or (B) if the Offer is consummated, a
"Transaction Fee" equal to $10,000,000 against which any Advisory Fee will be
credited. The full amount of the Transaction Fee is to be paid by Comair when
control of 50% or more of the Shares changes hands. In addition to any fees for
professional services, Morgan Stanley will also be reimbursed for expenses
incurred in connection with Morgan Stanley's representation of Comair. Comair
has also agreed to indemnify Morgan Stanley and its affiliates against
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certain liabilities, including liabilities under the federal securities laws,
related to, arising out of or in connection with the engagement of Morgan
Stanley by Comair.
The foregoing summary does not purport to be a complete description of
the analyses performed by Morgan Stanley and is qualified by reference to the
Morgan Stanley Opinion attached as Exhibit (b)(1) to the Schedule 13E-3 and as
Exhibit (a)(2) to the Schedule 14D-9.
Copies of the Morgan Stanley Opinion are available for inspection and
copying at the principal executive offices of Comair during regular business
hours by any shareholder of Comair, or a shareholder's representative who has
been so designated in writing."
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SIGNATURE
After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify
that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
November 5, 1999
DELTA AIR LINES, INC.
By: /s/ M. Michele Burns
---------------------------------
Name: M. Michele Burns
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
DELTA AIR LINES HOLDINGS, INC.
By: /s/ Leslie P. Klemperer
---------------------------------
Name: Leslie P. Klemperer
Title: Vice President and Secretary
KENTUCKY SUB, INC.
By: /s/ Dean C. Arvidson
---------------------------------
Name: Dean C. Arvidson
Title: Secretary
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