Delta's Creditors Approve $2.5 Billion Financing Plan

Lawyers for Delta Air Lines, the nation's third-largest carrier, said Friday in court papers that the company's creditors' committee has approved the terms of the $2.5 billion in financing that Delta has secured to emerge from bankruptcy protection.

The disclosure was made as Delta amended its reorganization plan for a second time. Other technical changes also were made to the plan, which was first filed Dec. 19 and amended on Jan. 19.

Delta's chief bankruptcy lawyer, Marshall Huebner, said the official unsecured creditors' committee's support of the exit financing is a "tremendous milestone for us as we move toward exiting Chapter 11 under our standalone plan."

The filing also provided a few new details of the behind-the-scenes discussions in recent weeks by Delta's board regarding US Airways' now withdrawn $9.8 billion hostile takeover bid.

Delta's board discussed US Airways' revised proposal several times before US Airways withdrew the bid on Wednesday, including that day. The board took no action.

"Given the withdrawal, no further action by the Delta board regarding the revised US Airways proposal is contemplated," Friday's court filing by Delta's lawyers says.

Tempe, Ariz.-based US Airways Group withdrew its bid for Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines after Delta's official committee of unsecured creditors said it supports Delta's plan to emerge from bankruptcy protection in the spring as a standalone carrier, thus rejected US Airways' merger offer.

US Airways had wanted to postpone a Feb. 7 bankruptcy hearing involving the disclosure statement to Delta's reorganization plan. But the hearing will go forward. If the disclosure statement is approved, Delta can begin soliciting votes to approve its reorganization plan.

Several creditors have objected to the disclosure statement, but Delta's lawyers are currently working to resolve those objections.

Delta is hoping to hold a confirmation hearing on its reorganization plan in April.

Delta has estimated it will be worth $9.4 billion to $12 billion if it emerges from Chapter 11 as a standalone company. That valuation did not change in the amended reorganization plan filed Friday.

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