Air Canada/Air Transat Deal Terminated

[DHC-1 Jockey]

https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/a ... 88140.html

MONTREAL, April 2, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada and Transat A.T. Inc. ("Transat") announced today that they have mutually agreed to terminate the Arrangement Agreement for the proposed acquisition of Transat by Air Canada.

Air Canada and Transat had originally agreed in June 2019 on the acquisition, the terms of which were subsequently amended in August 2019 and then revised in October 2020 as a result of the severe economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As previously disclosed, the acquisition was conditional on the approval of various regulatory authorities, including the European Commission ("EC"). In order to meet that key condition, Air Canada offered and enhanced a significant package of remedies, which went beyond the commercially reasonable efforts required of Air Canada under the Arrangement Agreement and what has been traditionally accepted by the EC in previous airline merger cases. Following recent discussions with the EC, it has become evident, however, that the EC will not approve the acquisition based on the currently offered remedy package.

After careful consideration, Air Canada has concluded that providing additional, onerous remedies, which may still not secure an EC approval, would significantly compromise Air Canada's ability to compete internationally, negatively impacting customers, other stakeholders and future prospects as it recovers and rebuilds from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Especially in this challenging environment, it is essential that Air Canada focus on creating the optimal conditions for its full recovery by preserving and leveraging all of its key strengths and assets including its strong employee culture.

Both Air Canada and Transat have agreed to terminate the Arrangement Agreement with Air Canada paying Transat a termination fee of $12.5 million, and with Transat no longer under any obligation to pay Air Canada any fee should Transat be involved in another acquisition or similar transaction in the future.

[rudder]

You cannot help but be impressed with the speed at which MR is moving to eliminate distractions and inefficiencies.

Seems that AC has a plan to survive without government aid, or interference.

[777Aviate]

There's probably going to be some sort of bailout for Transat. You think the liberals are gonna let a Quebec company fail?

[ToolShed]

There's probably going to be some sort of bailout for Transat. You think the liberals are gonna let a Quebec company fail?

You can not bail out just one airline.
Provincial or not.

[rudder]

There's probably going to be some sort of bailout for Transat. You think the liberals are gonna let a Quebec company fail?

You can not bail out just one airline.
Provincial or not.

TRZ is officially ‘in distress’.

Watch to see if ONEX doesn’t come sniffing around.

There is nothing stopping the QC government from offering specific assistance to TRZ, or the TRZ purchaser.

[telex]

There's probably going to be some sort of bailout for Transat. You think the liberals are gonna let a Quebec company fail?

You can not bail out just one airline.
Provincial or not.

"Watch this..."
- MP for Papineau

[Savage Poetry]

Are you telling me I studied all the 777 systems for nothing?

[Sharklasers]

Win win.
AC pilots keep their seniority and Transat pilots keep their lifestyle.
Lots of things were said in the heat of things but I’m glad it all worked out,
Good luck everyone.

[rudder]

Win win.
AC pilots keep their seniority and Transat pilots keep their lifestyle.
Lots of things were said in the heat of things but I’m glad it all worked out,
Good luck everyone.

Bigger win for AC pilots.

MR will have to revisit Rouge fleet plan. WB? Perhaps the L767’s will make a reappearance. Or perhaps another WB option?

[ToolShed]

Win win.
AC pilots keep their seniority and Transat pilots keep their lifestyle.
Lots of things were said in the heat of things but I’m glad it all worked out,
Good luck everyone.

Bigger win for AC pilots.

MR will have to revisit Rouge fleet plan. WB? Perhaps the L767’s will make a reappearance. Or perhaps another WB option?

330 and 787 are already in the pay scales. And many are taped up and sitting in used car lots.

[FL030]

Rouge is only required if Transat makes a comeback.

[Longtimer]

Some money will change hands.
The parties having concluded that European Commission approval would not be obtained - The Arrangement Agreement between Transat and Air Canada is Terminated by Mutual Consent
NEWS PROVIDED BY

Transat A.T. Inc.
Apr 02, 2021, 12:00 ET

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

Transat actively pursuing negotiations to secure long-term financing as it plans for relaunch

Transat to consider other available strategic alternatives

MONTRÉAL, April 2, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - Transat A.T. Inc. ("Transat" or the "Corporation") today announced that the contemplated arrangement with Air Canada (the "Arrangement") under the revised arrangement agreement between Transat and Air Canada dated October 9, 2020 (the "Arrangement Agreement") has been terminated by mutual agreement of Transat and Air Canada, effective immediately. The parties have reached this agreement after having been advised by the European Commission that it would not approve the transaction.

In connection with the termination of the Arrangement Agreement, Air Canada has agreed to pay a $12.5 million termination payment to the Corporation and to waive its entitlement to a $10 million termination fee in the event of an acquisition of Transat by a third party in the twelve months following termination of the Arrangement Agreement.

"This transaction, first contemplated more than two years ago, was complicated by the pandemic, and, ultimately, Air Canada reached its limit in terms of concessions it was willing to provide the European Commission to satisfy their competition law concerns," said Jean-Marc Eustache, President and Chief Executive Officer of Transat. "While both companies expected the proposed transaction to result in compelling benefits to shareholders, customers and other stakeholders, and even though we had received approval from the Canadian authorities, it has now become evident that we would not obtain the approval of the European Commission. Under these circumstances, Transat and Air Canada therefore mutually agreed that terminating the Arrangement Agreement was in our respective best interests. Now that Transat is no longer constrained by the limitations under the Arrangement Agreement, we are free to take the necessary steps to ensure a successful, long-term future, beginning by securing long-term financing to provide Transat with the flexibility to deliver on its strategic plan."

"I would like to thank our employees for their unwavering dedication and commitment throughout this process," added Mr. Eustache. "Although we are disappointed with this outcome, we are confident in the future of Transat and look forward to building back stronger as we exit the throes of the pandemic."

Details of the Termination Agreement

The termination agreement signed today between Air Canada and the Corporation provides for, among other things, the immediate termination of the Arrangement Agreement and contains a mutual release pursuant to which the parties have agreed to release one another from claims arising from, or related to, the Arrangement Agreement. A copy of the termination agreement will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

As stated above, Air Canada has agreed to pay a one-time $12.5 million termination payment to the Corporation and to waive its entitlement to a termination fee that would have been payable in the event of an acquisition of Transat in the twelve months following termination of the Arrangement Agreement by one of the parties. This agreement between the parties regarding the treatment of the termination fees entitlements contained in the Arrangement Agreement was reached after carefully considering all relevant facts and circumstances, and in the interests of moving forward from the termination of the parties' relationship with no outstanding issues. Elements considered included the following, based on the terms of the Arrangement Agreement:

a $10 million reverse termination fee payable by Air Canada to Transat upon termination if the European Commission's approval could not be obtained under any condition, meaning a full block of the Arrangement; or
a $30 million reverse termination fee payable by Air Canada to Transat if Air Canada or Transat would have unilaterally terminated the Arrangement Agreement prior to a decision by the European Commission not involving a full block of the Arrangement; and
a $10 million termination fee payable by Transat to Air Canada if, in the 12 months following the date of termination of the Arrangement Agreement, (A) an acquisition of Transat were to be consummated or effected, or (B) if Transat were to enter into an agreement for its acquisition and such acquisition were later consummated.
Finances

As previously stated, the Corporation requires new financing totalling at least of $500 million in 2021. The Corporation has been taking and will continue to take all measures available to it to preserve cash and, as previously announced, it has put in place a $250 million short-term subordinated credit facility, which matures on June 30 and will need to be replaced or extended before that date.

The Corporation is actively pursuing negotiations to secure long-term financing, including under the Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility ("LEEFF") and via prospective support from the Canadian government for businesses in the travel and tourism sector. Discussions on both topics are at an advanced stage and Transat's management is confident that a satisfactory financing will be secured in the coming weeks.

Strategic Plan

Now that Transat is no longer constrained by the limitations under the Arrangement Agreement, it is free to focus on relaunching operations under its strategic plan, including by leveraging its many competitive advantages.

As a smaller operator, Transat can be nimble and quickly adapt to ever-shifting market conditions. There is significant pent-up demand among customers in the Corporation's primary segments of leisure travel and visiting friends and relatives (VFR), which are expected to recover sooner than business travel.

Transat's smaller aircraft fleet provides greater flexibility and efficiency, and the Corporation benefits from a well-respected brand that customers love, as well as committed staff members and a strong distribution network.

Discussions with third parties

In addition, now that the Arrangement Agreement has been terminated, Transat is free to hold discussions with potential strategic and financial acquirers, including Mr. Pierre Karl Péladeau, whose investment company, Gestion MTRHP Inc., previously made (and since reiterated) a proposal to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Transat for 5$ a share. The Board intends to examine available strategic alternatives, including the pursuit of the Corporation's stand-alone business plan.

"The global air transportation and tourism industry has been among those most affected by the COVID-19 crisis. However, the arrival of vaccines brings us a light at the end of the tunnel, and Transat is well positioned to bounce back. In close to 40 years of existence, we have traversed numerous crises and each time, we emerged stronger than before, demonstrating our resilience as an organization. We look forward to a safe and healthy future, as we hopefully put this pandemic behind us," concluded Mr. Eustache.

[simply_no_one]

This was some fucking fantastic news to wake up to this morning.

[Kosiw]

Francois Legault to Justin Trudeau upon hearing the termination of this deal...."Hold my beer"

[330heavy]

Win win.
AC pilots keep their seniority and Transat pilots keep their lifestyle.
Lots of things were said in the heat of things but I’m glad it all worked out,
Good luck everyone.

Bigger win for AC pilots.

MR will have to revisit Rouge fleet plan. WB? Perhaps the L767’s will make a reappearance. Or perhaps another WB option?

For the love of god, don't vote in a Rouge 2.0 at +10% less pay scale.
-Sincerely, Canadian Aviation

[redbusdriver]

This was some fucking fantastic news to wake up to this morning.

absolutley, i rubbed one out to the news

[alkaseltzer]

Some money will change hands.
The parties having concluded that European Commission approval would not be obtained - The Arrangement Agreement between Transat and Air Canada is Terminated by Mutual Consent
NEWS PROVIDED BY

Transat A.T. Inc.
Apr 02, 2021, 12:00 ET

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

Transat actively pursuing negotiations to secure long-term financing as it plans for relaunch

Transat to consider other available strategic alternatives

MONTRÉAL, April 2, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - Transat A.T. Inc. ("Transat" or the "Corporation") today announced that the contemplated arrangement with Air Canada (the "Arrangement") under the revised arrangement agreement between Transat and Air Canada dated October 9, 2020 (the "Arrangement Agreement") has been terminated by mutual agreement of Transat and Air Canada, effective immediately. The parties have reached this agreement after having been advised by the European Commission that it would not approve the transaction.

In connection with the termination of the Arrangement Agreement, Air Canada has agreed to pay a $12.5 million termination payment to the Corporation and to waive its entitlement to a $10 million termination fee in the event of an acquisition of Transat by a third party in the twelve months following termination of the Arrangement Agreement.

"This transaction, first contemplated more than two years ago, was complicated by the pandemic, and, ultimately, Air Canada reached its limit in terms of concessions it was willing to provide the European Commission to satisfy their competition law concerns," said Jean-Marc Eustache, President and Chief Executive Officer of Transat. "While both companies expected the proposed transaction to result in compelling benefits to shareholders, customers and other stakeholders, and even though we had received approval from the Canadian authorities, it has now become evident that we would not obtain the approval of the European Commission. Under these circumstances, Transat and Air Canada therefore mutually agreed that terminating the Arrangement Agreement was in our respective best interests. Now that Transat is no longer constrained by the limitations under the Arrangement Agreement, we are free to take the necessary steps to ensure a successful, long-term future, beginning by securing long-term financing to provide Transat with the flexibility to deliver on its strategic plan."

"I would like to thank our employees for their unwavering dedication and commitment throughout this process," added Mr. Eustache. "Although we are disappointed with this outcome, we are confident in the future of Transat and look forward to building back stronger as we exit the throes of the pandemic."

Details of the Termination Agreement

The termination agreement signed today between Air Canada and the Corporation provides for, among other things, the immediate termination of the Arrangement Agreement and contains a mutual release pursuant to which the parties have agreed to release one another from claims arising from, or related to, the Arrangement Agreement. A copy of the termination agreement will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

As stated above, Air Canada has agreed to pay a one-time $12.5 million termination payment to the Corporation and to waive its entitlement to a termination fee that would have been payable in the event of an acquisition of Transat in the twelve months following termination of the Arrangement Agreement by one of the parties. This agreement between the parties regarding the treatment of the termination fees entitlements contained in the Arrangement Agreement was reached after carefully considering all relevant facts and circumstances, and in the interests of moving forward from the termination of the parties' relationship with no outstanding issues. Elements considered included the following, based on the terms of the Arrangement Agreement:

a $10 million reverse termination fee payable by Air Canada to Transat upon termination if the European Commission's approval could not be obtained under any condition, meaning a full block of the Arrangement; or
a $30 million reverse termination fee payable by Air Canada to Transat if Air Canada or Transat would have unilaterally terminated the Arrangement Agreement prior to a decision by the European Commission not involving a full block of the Arrangement; and
a $10 million termination fee payable by Transat to Air Canada if, in the 12 months following the date of termination of the Arrangement Agreement, (A) an acquisition of Transat were to be consummated or effected, or (B) if Transat were to enter into an agreement for its acquisition and such acquisition were later consummated.
Finances

As previously stated, the Corporation requires new financing totalling at least of $500 million in 2021. The Corporation has been taking and will continue to take all measures available to it to preserve cash and, as previously announced, it has put in place a $250 million short-term subordinated credit facility, which matures on June 30 and will need to be replaced or extended before that date.

The Corporation is actively pursuing negotiations to secure long-term financing, including under the Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility ("LEEFF") and via prospective support from the Canadian government for businesses in the travel and tourism sector. Discussions on both topics are at an advanced stage and Transat's management is confident that a satisfactory financing will be secured in the coming weeks.

Strategic Plan

Now that Transat is no longer constrained by the limitations under the Arrangement Agreement, it is free to focus on relaunching operations under its strategic plan, including by leveraging its many competitive advantages.

As a smaller operator, Transat can be nimble and quickly adapt to ever-shifting market conditions. There is significant pent-up demand among customers in the Corporation's primary segments of leisure travel and visiting friends and relatives (VFR), which are expected to recover sooner than business travel.

Transat's smaller aircraft fleet provides greater flexibility and efficiency, and the Corporation benefits from a well-respected brand that customers love, as well as committed staff members and a strong distribution network.

Discussions with third parties

In addition, now that the Arrangement Agreement has been terminated, Transat is free to hold discussions with potential strategic and financial acquirers, including Mr. Pierre Karl Péladeau, whose investment company, Gestion MTRHP Inc., previously made (and since reiterated) a proposal to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Transat for 5$ a share. The Board intends to examine available strategic alternatives, including the pursuit of the Corporation's stand-alone business plan.

"The global air transportation and tourism industry has been among those most affected by the COVID-19 crisis. However, the arrival of vaccines brings us a light at the end of the tunnel, and Transat is well positioned to bounce back. In close to 40 years of existence, we have traversed numerous crises and each time, we emerged stronger than before, demonstrating our resilience as an organization. We look forward to a safe and healthy future, as we hopefully put this pandemic behind us," concluded Mr. Eustache.

Hope MR starts the recalls with the newly found “savings” that they had previously budgeted to get Transat back from the red.

- ACPA can claim it as a WIN if they want
- Tell those deferring recalls to stuff it (ie. Cargojet Bollywood Star)

Transat will get pumped with liquidity that would rival the unrestricted liquidity of AC...French votes are worth at least $1000 maybe $2000/Transat worker in Trudeau’s eyes...jealous of those pilots and the job security of working for a Quebec company!!

[Sharklasers]

Transat will get pumped with liquidity that would rival the unrestricted liquidity of AC...French votes are worth at least $1000 maybe $2000/Transat worker in Trudeau’s eyes...jealous of those pilots and the job security of working for a Quebec company!!

100%!
Transat will live to burn cash another day for sure, they will thrive nestled softly the bosom of the canadian tax payer.
Transat pilots enjoy a level of job security under this federal government that AC pilots could only dream of. With any luck they may even be nationalized. All of us will look back on this day with great fondness. I think this will be the catalyst for industry aid.

[BingBong]

.

[notwhoyouthinkIam]

Transat will get pumped with liquidity that would rival the unrestricted liquidity of AC...French votes are worth at least $1000 maybe $2000/Transat worker in Trudeau’s eyes...jealous of those pilots and the job security of working for a Quebec company!!

100%!
Transat will live to burn cash another day for sure, they will thrive nestled softly the bosom of the canadian tax payer.
Transat pilots enjoy a level of job security under this federal government that AC pilots could only dream of. With any luck they may even be nationalized. All of us will look back on this day with great fondness. I think this will be the catalyst for industry aid.

I'm not calling your claim bullshit, but I have not seen any evidence that coincides with your claim.

[altiplano]

We know Transat in the Liberal party's choice carrier because that's who they hire to fly them around at election time.

We know Federal and Provincial leadership have explicitly said that (Transat) Quebec jobs were their primary concern in response to this deal, they illustrated it in their approval of and their response to the deal falling through.

They said little when AC, another Quebec based company that both employs significantly more people and pays/generates more taxes layed off and equivalent greater than 4X Transat's entire workforce.

We know JT is a Quebecer first and he believes Quebecers are most entitled and the most special among all Canadians because he has literally said so.

Transat won't fail, they are the Flag carrier of Quebec, if they were YVR or YYZ or definitely YYC based they would be toast though.

[fish4life]

We know Transat in the Liberal party's choice carrier because that's who they hire to fly them around at election time.

We know Federal and Provincial leadership have explicitly said that (Transat) Quebec jobs were their primary concern in response to this deal, they illustrated it in their approval of and their response to the deal falling through.

They said little when AC, another Quebec based company that both employs significantly more people and pays/generates more taxes layed off and equivalent greater than 4X Transat's entire workforce.

We know JT is a Quebecer first and he believes Quebecers are most entitled and the most special among all Canadians because he has literally said so.

Transat won't fail, they are the Flag carrier of Quebec, if they were YVR or YYZ or definitely YYC based they would be toast though.

All anyone needs to do is google “ Trudeau Quebec is better” and they will get a good understanding why Transat will get special treatment

[Chips&Pops]

Am I on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea right now? Cause the air sure smells salty eh