Congratulations Panther. You won this battle and like A-team, and I am sure, others at custom critical I also found this news a bit annoying (just my competitive nature comming out). You guys now have the bragging rights for #1.
But on an individual basis it will probably have little impact on the individual drivers. From what I have heard you have been staying busy before this purchase so unless the rates go up I see little change to you're bottom line.
You have been doing fine at #2 for years and I am sure I will do fine working for #2 now.
That's a heck of a deal you got getting Conways leased drivers and customer list for 7-8 million. I am sure that the price would have been much higher if Fedex would have been in on the bidding, but being that Fedex Freight is in direct competition with Conway in the LTL market and especially with a heavy west coast presence Conway would never have sold to them.
Looking at the S-1 it appears that Fenwaypartners paid about 121 to 131 million for a 78% share of Panther last year
As far as the future of Panther. I agree with Dave that looking at Fenwaypartners business model, being a private equity buy out firm, with a goal of building business's with good growth potential, they are not looking for a quick turn around on their investment. With partners such as B of A, AT&T, J P Morgan, BP/Amoco, Citicorp, Merrill Lynch, N Y Life, U S Bancorp Etc. They don't need to be in a hurry.
But if UPS or DHL would deceide that a measly 3 or 4 hundred million would be worth spending for bragging rights as the number 1 ground surface expedite company in the country and increase their overall presence it could get interesting.