Sun Country Airlines files for bankruptcy......again

[marmar]

from MarketWatch:



Sun Country files for bankruptcy: report

By Shawn Langlois & Sue Chang, MarketWatch


SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Cash-strapped Sun Country Airlines filed for bankruptcy protection Monday after its owner of two years, Thomas Petters, was arrested last week for wire fraud, money laundering and obstruction of justice, The Wall Street Journal reported in its online edition.

Sun Country had run into cash problems after Petters became the target of a federal investigation for allegedly defrauding hedge funds, the newspaper said. He had resigned as chairman and chief executive of the company earlier last week, the report said.

Petters, through his company Petters Group Worldwide, bought Sun Country two years ago, adding to his portfolio of investments, which also include Fingerhut and Polaroid.

The Mendota Heights, Minn.-based low-cost carrier -- the second biggest in the state after Northwest Airlines -- said it will continue to operate and doesn't expect the filing to result in any disruptions.

Sun Country, which had previously filed for bankruptcy in 2002 before emerging with new ownership, had been looking to get a short-term loan from its owner to help get it through a slow fall season of travel and into winter, when travel generally picks up.

But Stan Gadek, the airline's CEO, said last week that he needed to distance the company, which is not being investigated, from Petters, who allegedly fleeced investors for personal enrichment and to pay off other lenders.


http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/sun-country-reportedly-files-bankruptcy/story.aspx?guid=%7BE7AC4DE0%2DBE08%2D4776%2DBA0F%2DAE9FF5904F1C%7D