Midwest Air Group Inc

• Brighter Skies with Airtran? <> Midwest-Tpg Deal May Prove a Pyrrhic Victory

The announcement came during a hastily called late-night news conference a year ago Saturday. AirTran Holdings Inc. had been outbid for control of Midwest Air Group Inc., the corporate parent of Midwest Airlines, by rivals TPG Capital and Northwest Airlines Corp.

• The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• August 17, 2008

• Midwest to Hire Regional Air Carrier; Change Will Result in Cut of Nearly 400 Jobs at Subsidiary Airline

After warning last year that a takeover attempt by AirTran Holdings Inc. would lead to big job cuts, Midwest Air Group Inc. was able to fend off the bid. But the job cuts have arrived anyway.

• The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• January 17, 2008

• New Life for Midwest; but Airline Faces Old Problems As Fuel Prices Climb

Its sale now complete, Midwest Air Group Inc. today begins a new life with a majority owner that has invested in other airlines and a minority owner that has been one of its fiercest rivals. But other things haven't changed, including high fuel prices, a slowing economy that is reducing air travel, and a growing competitive threat from AirTran Holdings Inc., which had mounted an unsuccessful hostile takeover bid for Midwest Air.

• The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• February 01, 2008

• Midwest Stands Pat, Rebuffs Airtran; Suitor Won't Raise Bid, Leaves It Up to Shareholders

The battle continues. With the board of Midwest Air Group Inc. on Friday rejecting the latest takeover offer from unwanted suitor AirTran Holdings, Midwest's future now rests with its shareholders.

• The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• April 17, 2007

• Questioning a Promise; Airtran Didn't Deliver in Dallas, Midwest Chief Says

AirTran Holdings Inc. says it will greatly expand air service from Milwaukee - if it can buy the corporate parent of Midwest Airlines. But Timothy Hoeksema, Midwest Air Group Inc. chairman, says AirTran cannot be trusted to keep that promise.

• The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• March 06, 2007

• Tpg to Acquire Midwest; Airline Agrees to $17-a-Share Deal; Airtran Accepts Board's Decision

TPG Capital/Northwest Airlines Corp. won, AirTran Holdings Inc. lost and Midwest Airlines will keep its name, identity and independent status, after reaching a sale agreement with TPG Capital Thursday night. TPG Capital, with financial backing from Northwest, will pay $17 a share for Midwest Air Group Inc., operator of Midwest Airlines, known for its baked-on-board chocolate chip cookies and wide seats, as well as regional carrier Midwest Connect.

• The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• August 17, 2007

• First Monday; Airtran Ceo Foresees Local Support

When Midwest Air Group Inc. announced last week that a group of its directors would discuss a possible sale of the company with AirTran Holdings Inc. and other interested parties, the likelihood of a Midwest sale to AirTran grew exponentially. The day after the announcement, AirTran Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Joe Leonard sat down with reporter Tom Daykin to talk about his quest to acquire Midwest. When AirTran first disclosed its offer to buy Midwest, a lot of Milwaukee's political and business leaders issued all these statements of support for the hometown airline. Now that it looks more likely that AirTran will acquire Midwest, do you find any of those folks singing a different tune?

• The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• February 04, 2008

• Midwest, Airtran to Talk; Airline Also Will Meet with Other Suitors As Endgame Begins

Midwest Air Group Inc. hasn't been sold yet, but Tuesday's news that a group of Midwest Air directors will begin negotiations with AirTran Holdings Inc. greatly increases the likelihood that Milwaukee's hometown airline may soon be history. A committee of five Midwest Air directors also will hold discussions with other unnamed parties "that have recently expressed interest in pursuing a transaction with Midwest," according to a company statement.

• The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• August 02, 2007

• Ceo to Take 40% Cut; Midwest Restructuring Calls for Steeper Drops in Pay for Pilots

The chief executive officer of Midwest Air Group Inc. says he's taking a 40% pay cut as part of the company's restructuring, a plan that includes demands for even deeper pay cuts from union pilots and flight attendants. CEO Timothy Hoeksema made that statement in a memo sent Wednesday to employees of Midwest Air, which operates Midwest Airlines and Midwest Connect. The carrier, battered by record-high fuel prices, hopes to restructure its finances and become a smaller, leaner operation to avoid Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

• The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• July 03, 2008

• Midwest's New Direction; Analysts Confident About Offer; Stock Market Seems Wary, but They Believe Bidder Can Close Deal

For a company that just received a sweetened buyout offer, Midwest Air Group Inc.'s stock was an underwhelming performer Monday. Some investors are concerned that the bidder, private equity firm TPG Capital, and Midwest Air might be unable to close the transaction, according to a manager at one institutional investment fund that owns a major stake in Midwest Air.

• The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• August 14, 2007