Ipo Valuation Case

Given the fierce competition in the airlines industry and the additional competition being offered by the new ultra-low cost carriers, it has become imperative for Southwest Airlines to find a solution that will be sustainable and insulate them verses these and any other future threats. Southwest has initiated a merger proposal with JetBlue that will result in the newly formed SouthwestBlue being much larger and able to compete for control of the North American Continent as the number one provider for customers concerned with both low-cost and excellent customer service. Because both Southwest and JetBlue have similar core values, customer service policies, and business models, it will be an easier merger than it would be for two carriers with drastically different layouts.

JetBlue is a pro at utilizing its resources and structure. As such, JetBlue has proven to be efficient in its internal environment. Out of the physical and human aspects of the internal environment JetBlue focuses on human as the key factor. JetBlue views its employees and their skills as the key to a successful structure by emphasizing elements of loyalty, satisfaction, service quality, productivity, capability, and output quality. JetBlue reflects a culture of employees that understand how to retain customers and can perform under various situations with an equally varied consumer base. In addition to human capital, JetBlue uses physical assets to set them apart from the rest. The airline fleet of JetBlue is very precisely selected. From its new Airbus A321 to its Airbus 320, JetBlue prides itself on comfort and luxury. Other perks offered by JetBlue include lower priced airfare compared to that of its competitors and in-flight entertainment options that succeed its competition. Internal weaknesses include a

A major operational cost saving involved entering the major air industry with a new fleet of Airbus aircraft. Although European made, Airbus was chosen due to their fuel efficiency, easier maintenance, and five-year warranty (Gajilan, 2003). Neeleman realized that quick turnaround time was a crucial factor in maximizing profits by simply keeping the new planes in the air longer than the competition. Because JetBlue worked largely out of secondary airports (Midway vs. O’Hare), its flights avoided more

Before David Neeleman’s non-compete agreement with Southwest Airlines expired, he envisioned the concept of starting a low-fare airline that would combine common sense, innovation, and technology and bring the humanity back into air travel (Gittel & O’Reilly, 2001). In 1998, JetBlue was born. In order for David to fulfill his goal of a “do-it-right” kind of airline, he needed to recruit superior industry veterans who were willing to start from scratch and place an emphasis on employees and customers. Each of these individuals, from the President, General Counsel, CFO, and the HR director, wanted to create an airline that was fun, had

JetBlue is an American airline company whose headquarter is located in the New York City. They are a low-cost airline who is rapidly growing in the Unites States. According to Wikipedia, “David Neeleman founded the company in February 1999, under the name "NewAir.” Many of their approach come from Southwest Airlines include low prices airfares. However, they differ in the amenities offered to the customers.

David Neeleman found JetBlue in 1999 with the mission “to bring humanity back to air travel". This goal is achieved by creating a company that offers comfortable, friendly travel at low fares and by this to differentiate themselves from the mass.

The Cost of debt is determined by using the average of YTM of the 4 JetBlue debt instruments provided in Exhibit 4. The exact value is 6.91%, and a CAPM cost of equity is determined to be 10.50% using the risk-free rate, market risk premium and comparable beta from Southwest of 1.10. The cost of capital is determined to be 6.90%. Running the DCF analysis, JetBlue is currently valued at $2.7bn. Distributing equity value over the shares outstanding gives a share price of $66.51. This proposed price of the IPO is highly overpriced, considering that the underwriters have priced it within a range of $22-$24.

JetBlue Airlines, a low-fare commercial airline, has planned to go public towards the end of 2001. During the process the firm had restructured their initial price from $22- 24 per share to $26 – 28 per share.

JetBlue has been one of the most successful airlines since it first entered the industry in December of 1999. Founder, David Neeleman, set out to succeed by offering low-cost air travel in hopes of perpetuating his services to as many people as he could across the US. He was very adamant about having a very customer oriented business that catered to the needs of all. In doing so he wanted to emphatically promote his obligation to safety, caring, integrity, passion, while allowing the customers to have fun while traveling. There motto helps portray Neeleman’s belief stating “You Above All”. His primary goals had been to follow Southwest’s objectives of offering low rates to customers, focusing on customer’s needs and comforts while distinguishing itself with their amenities. Neeleman’s other goal was to establish his low-cost leadership strategy by concentrating his airline in a large popular metropolitan area that already is already correlated with high airfare (Peterson, 2004). He then began operating based out of the New York metropolitan area at John F. Kennedy International airport with his secondary locations in Washington D.C., Boston and Los Angeles.

JetBlue Airways Corporation was formed in August 1998 as a low-fare, low-cost but high service passenger airline serving select United States market. JetBlue's operations strategy was designed to achieve a low cost, whilst offering customers a pleasing and differentiated flying experience. JetBlue has had a successful business model and strong financial results during that period, and performed well in comparison to other airline companies in the US during the period between 2000 and 2003. It had been the only other airline apart from Southwest airlines, to have been profitable during the aftermath of the September 11, 2001

Group Case: JetBlue IPO Valuation
Finance 6806, Fall 2014

Abrar Khayyat
Rajesh Maraj
Veronica Paez

November 10, 2014

Moreover, according to John Owen, JetBlue had prepared the initial registration statement with security and exchange commission (SEC) for the IPO on September 11, 2001. However, based on the September 11 attacks, they delayed IPO before it came into force. In fact, not only the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, but several events happened negatively affected the global economy during the period of going public for JetBlue. For example, the contagion of bird flu was quite severe during taking flights, which definitely influenced the demand of flights. The increasing oil price also raised the basic cost in any transportation industry. Another negative condition could be the economic downturn, including crash of the dot-com bubble and financial crisis in Asia. From this point

New technology: Internet (60% of seats were booked on-line), paperless operation, computerized, Reservation operation (not using call center)

•Neeleman offered passengers a unique flying experience by providing new aircrafts, simple and low fares, leather seats, free Live TV at every seat, pre-assigned seating, reliable performance, and high-quality customer service. JetBlue focused on point-to-point service to large metropolitan areas with high average fares or highly traveled markets that were underserved. JetBlue’s operating strategy had produced the lowest cost per available seat mile of any of the major U.S. airlines in 2001—6.98 cents vs. 10.08 cents.

JetBlue was established in 1999, and was the third airline start-up for founder and CEO David Neeleman. Neeleman managed to gather $130 million, the most ever raised for a start-up airline, from investors that included Chase Capital and financier George Soros. With the large start-up capital he purchased new Airbus A320 jets equipped with satellite TV, a first in the industry. In 2004 the company ordered an additional 30 new A320 aircrafts from Airbus. The airlines first flight was from New York to Fort Lauderdale in 2000. During the year, the airline added nine more destinations in California, Florida, New York, Utah, and