Transat agrees to Air Canada's $13-a-share takeover offer, despite other bids

The company that owns Air Transat has agreed to be taken over by Air Canadafor $13 a share.

The two companies announced in Maythey had entered negotiations toward a possible deal, and gave themselves 30 days to hammer out the details.

That period expired on Wednesday, and on Thursday morning they announced a deal that wouldsee Air Canada buy Transat A.T. Inc. for $13 per share, which values the company at $520 million.

The plan is to maintain the two companies as separate entities, maintaining the two different brands, head offices and key functions in Montreal, the companies said in a release.

"This combination delivers excellent value, while also providing increased job security for both companies' employees through greater growth prospects," Air Canada CEO Calin Rovinescu said.

Transat CEO Jean-Marc Eustache said the deal represents "the ideal platform for Transat's presence and jobs inMontreal, and therefore represents the best option for all our stakeholders: employees, suppliers, partners and shareholders."

That's a veiled reference to another, ostensibly better financial offer on the table for the company. Once word of Air Canada's interest emerged in May, Montreal real estate developer Group Machdeclared it would also be interested in buying Transat, for a higher price of $14 a share.

Other bidders, including Montreal-based investment firm FNC Capital, have also expressed an interest in buying Transat, with FNC saying as recently as this week it thinks Transat is worth at least between $17 and $20 a share.

"I have informed my group that according to my presentiment, this potentially historical transaction shall not be done under 18 dollars a share," FNCfounder and presidentDominik Pigeon said this week. "This will most likely be a hard and long contest, far more [fraught] than what people currently expect."

Shareholders, regulatory agencies still hurdles

Mach reiterated their interest and desire in entering negotiations as recently as this week, but Thursday's news suggestsAir Transat's management has no interest in pursuing that option.

While the merger of the two Montreal-based airlines has the blessing of both companies' management teams, it is far from a done deal.

Shareholders will have to weigh inand regulatory agencies will have a say, as the move would consolidateCanada's airline industry in even fewer hands.

Canada's Competition Bureau confirmed to CBC News on Thursday it'saware of the share agreementand plans to review it.

"While I cannot speak to the specifics of a bureau merger review for reasons of confidentiality, under the Competition Actmergers of all sizes and in all sectors of the economy are subject to review by the commissioner of Competition to determine whether they will likely result in a substantial lessening or prevention of competition in Canada," spokespersonJayme Albert said.

Quebec Premier FranoisLegaultco-founded Air Transat in 1986, long before he entered politics, and on Thursday he gave a lukewarm endorsement of the takeover by Air Canada.

"I think it's the less worse scenario," he said of the merger. "I think that the airline business is quite controlled with not many players in Canada, you have Sunwing, WestJet, Air Canada and Transat. So, I think it was one of the three that would buy Transat and I prefer Air Canada because the headquarters are in Montreal."

As it stands, Air Canada and Transat control more than 60 per cent of the flight business between Canada and Europe, and just over 40 per cent of the flights between Canada and sun destinations in the, U.S., Caribbean and Central America.

If the deal falls apart, Air Canada wouldpay a break fee of $40 million to Transat, or Transat wouldpay $15 million to Air Canada, depending on whythe deal fell apart.

AnalystChris Murray of AltaCorp Capital saidhe believes the deal is a good one for both sides, and likely to succeed in the end.

"We view the transaction as positive for all stakeholders, seeing several complementary synergies available to Air Canada that we expect to enhance earnings in the coming years," Murraysaid.

The initial response from investors, however, was less enthusiastic. When stock markets closed on Wednesday, Transat shares were valued at$14.19 apiece above the level of both the Mach offer and the lower Air Canada offer.

When word emerged of the deal and shares began trading on Thursday, Transat shares lost seven per centand were changing hands at $13.15 a share.

Air Canada shares, meanwhile, gained almost five per cent or $1.80 to $41.06,a sign Air Canada investors lovethe deal, from their perspective.

One significant factor in favour of the deal isthe biggest single owner of both companies' shares is Montreal investment firm Letko Brosseau & Associates, which owns almost 10 per centof Air Canadaand just over 17 per cent of Transat shares.

When asked,Letko Brosseaudeclined to comment for this story.

Another investor, Vancouver-based investment firmPenderFundCapital Management Ltd., which owns about four per cent of Transat, isn't impressed with what Air Canada is offering.

"As shareholders, we believe Air Transat holds more value than is currently being offered by Air Canada, and as such welcome other interested parties coming forward with competing bids," senior investment analyst Amar Pandyatold the CBC.

Analyst Tim James at TD Securities saidhe suspects Air Canada will have to make numerous concessions to regulatory authorities and unions forthe deal to go through and may indeed have to sweeten the pot for investors a little,too.

"If shareholders end up rejecting Air Canada's current offer, we believe that there may be opportunities for Air Canada to generate value that could support a higher offer price, assuming any required concessions are not overly onerous," he said in a note on Thursday.

The move comes against the backdrop of more upheaval in the industry. Air Canada's rival,WestJet, has agreed to be purchased by buyout firm Onex Corp. for $5 billion.

• Analysis What the sale of WestJet means for Canada's airline industry