Alabama pension fund buys share of US Airways. (News Briefs).

The Retirement Systems of Alabama in September purchased a 37.5 percent share of bankrupt airline US Airways for $240 million. The state employee pension fund also agreed to lend US Airways $500 million so that the airline can continue operating during the Chapter 11 bankruptcy it declared in August. US Airways, the seventh largest carrier in the country, opposed the bid until RSA CEO David Bronner promised that he was interested in a long-term investment, not a quick profit. RSA already had a stake in the welfare of US Airways, since it owns and leases planes to the airline. Bronner said he agreed to take lower payments on the $340 million of leases while the company works through bankruptcy. RSA's $240 million bid surpassed an earlier $200 million bid by investment partnership Texas Pacific Group. Texas Pacific previously rescued both Continental Airlines and America West Airlines from bankruptcy. In besting the Texas Pacific bid by $40 million, RSA also agre ed not to charge fees. The deal will give RSA five of the airline's 13 board of director seats. (Source: al.com, September 27,2002)