British Midland is valued at £800m

By This Is Money
Updated: 15:18 BST, 23 May 2008

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A price tag of £800m was hung on the British Midland 航空機による group today まっただ中に rising 憶測 that Heathrow's second-largest 航空機による will 落ちる prey to a 引き継ぎ／買収 or 合併.

BMI boss: Sir Michael Bishop may be ready to talk to 航空機によるs that want BMI's 大臣の地位 of prime Heathrow slots

In 財政上の 報告（する）／憶測s showing a 近づく- 50% 低迷 in 利益（をあげる）s at the group, which 飛行機で行くs as bmi and the 削減（する）-price brand bmibaby, British Midland said it had for the first time put a valuation on its take-off and 上陸 slots at Heathrow, where it is 責任がある one in seven flights.

It said its Heathrow slots have been valued at £770m on its balance sheet which now, with other 利益／興味s, puts a 逮捕する 資産 value on the group of £800m.

The 決定／判定勝ち（する） to 解放（する） its 内部の valuation was seen as a （疑いを）晴らす signal its 創立者, chairman and 大多数 株主 Sir Michael Bishop, 65, may finally be ready to talk to the host of 航空機によるs that are after its prime Heathrow 大臣の地位 of slots.

Bishop's 30% 株主, the German 巨大（な） Lufthansa, has first 権利s on any 取引，協定 after taking out pre-emption 選択s at the time of its 投資.

While Lufthansa may baulk at 支払う／賃金ing £560m to take 支配（する）／統制する of the 残り／休憩（する） of an 航空機による that made いっそう少なく than £10m last year, the 上陸 slots are a big prize in the 時代 of Open Skies when, for the first time, Lufthansa is 許すd to run services from Heathrow to the US.

British 航空路s 長，指導者 (n)役員／(a)執行力のある Willie Walsh has made no secret of his 願望（する） to buy British Midland, though such a 取引，協定 could 誘発する a 競争 調査（する）.

Sir Richard Branson's Virgin 大西洋 has long coveted the 航空機による but Bishop has thus far 辞退するd to talk.

British Midland's underlying 税込みの 利益（をあげる）s in 2007, a year which saw British 航空路s make 利益（をあげる）s of £883m, 低迷d 45% to £9.3m.

Bishop 非難するd 落ちるing 利益（をあげる）s on the losses and 統合，差別撤廃 costs at BMED, the '中央の-運ぶ／漁獲高' 航空機による it bought in 2006 for a 削減（する）-price £30m.