Recent problems with the new T5 Terminal at Heathrow have resulted in more problems for BA when will they recover their No1 position.

Interim Results.

Period highlights:



Profit before tax of 158 million (2009: loss of 292 million)

Revenue up 345 million due to improved yields

Costs down 1.5 per cent

Operating profit of 298 million (2009: loss of 111 million)

Quarter 2 operating profit of 370 million (2009: loss of 17 million)

Shares will de-list on Friday January 21st and shares in the new IAG (International Airline Group) starting trading in London and Madrid on 24th Jan (Monday). The total share count will increase from 1.1527bn BA shares currently (1.3389bn fully-diluted to account for existing convertible) to c.1.8559bn IAG shares (2.0411bn fully-diluted) based on the share exchange ratio and the cancellation of existing cross-holdings in each other. Market cap will therefore increase from 3.3bn at the current share price of 2.86 to 5.3bn, an increase of c.60%.
This will have an impact on IAGs weighting oin the FTSE 100 and the FTSE All Share. We expect BA (IAG) weighting would increase by 13bps (FTSE 100) and 11bps (FTSE All Share) triggering a total of approx 40mm shares to be bought passively, 4.5x its current ADV, or 6.4x the 20 day ADV.
As IAG will be listed in Madrid it is likely IBEX will keep the stock in its index so we could see additional buy of 11.4m of BAs shares from IBEX passive trackers.

Broker comment:
We still have over a week before the event, but British Airways are to have an indexing upweight in the FTSE100, post the merger with Iberia, when they become Intl Consolidated Airlines (IAG).

Timetable of events:
Friday 21st Jan 2011 - Brit Airways & Iberia suspended from trading for entire day.

Monday 24th Jan 2011 (mkt open) - Brit Airways will be replaced by IAG on a 1 for 1 basis in the FTSE100.

Monday 24th Jan 2011 (mkt close) - IAG's weighting will increase to reflect the new shs. BA's weighting within the all share rises to 29bp's from 17bp's. We think this equates to between 50mln & 70mln shs to be purchased in and around the event.